“Alright, everyone ready?” I turned to face my fellow Generals.

“As ready as can be, Grim!” Ed pepped me up.

“At your disposal, friend.” Meil smiled confidently.

“Tch! Whatever…” Pierre clicked his tongue as he pouted with all his might.

“Hey now, don’t tell me you’re still mad about Lune being the one to lead the negotiation?” Aaron patted him on the back with a smile, “It was Cecily’s suggestion, but to be honest, I’d probably suggest the same thing if she didn’t.”

“What?! I thought we were friends!” Pierre berated him, “Ugh, whatever! I don’t care anymore, just don’t screw this up, Lune.”

“I don’t intend to.” I let out a nervous chuckle.

In reality, I was terrified out of my mind. Really, I’m just a plus one in this whole thing, a last-minute addition to the team. I’ve never even participated in a war, technically speaking, as we spent most of our time in Sulfury trying to go around the battlefield. This will be the first time I actually tread such dangerous land. And now that I think about it, wasn’t Cecily’s suggestion kind of out of the blue? She just waltzed into the room and pleaded the guys for me to do the talking. When asked why she said all that, she later told me it was because it was “The safest place on the battlefield for me according to Vivia”. I don’t particularly agree with the logic there, but if Cecily says so, I’m inclined to believe her.

“Let’s go then!” I shook the anxiety out of my hands as I separated from the line of soldiers behind me, “Everyone stay in your positions! Right now the only two people that will be meeting up in the center are the King and I.”

“Ooh, ooh!” Vivia jumped out of the crowd, “Can I come too? I know it’s sudden, but I think I could help you persuade my father into settling everything without ever having a single person draw their weapon.”

That’s… pretty sudden. She said nothing of this back at the base, which is worrying. I don’t particularly appreciate it when people aren’t transparent with me like that, but I guess she felt we’d just brush her off if she was too hasty with the suggestion. On the other hand, now I know why she was so eager to join us here, despite how dangerous it might get.

“Sure.” I felt no harm in the idea, “Vivia can go. Everyone else, you know the drill.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” The line of soldiers shouted in unison.

“Grim.” Ed stopped me one last time before I departed, “Careful, and good luck.”

“Yeah…” I felt it was finally time to start forgiving him, “Thanks. When this is done, wanna go with Meil to study up on the stars?”

“The stars?” He gasped, “Our pinkie promise, you still remember it after all this time?”

“Pinkie promises aren’t made to be broken, dummy.” I joked, “So, what do you say?”

“Of course, man.” He wiped off a single tear from his Eye, “It’d be an honor.”

“Oh, come on already!” Vivia ruined the moment as she forcefully led me by the hand, “Father’s waiting, and he gets super rowdy when that happens!”

As the First Chime could be heard ringing, the sinking feeling in my gut made it pretty hard to breathe. Her hasty and antsy pace gradually started slowing down as we approached the center of the battlefield, where the King alone stood waiting. She was dragging me by the arm for most of the way there, but I quickly tugged myself free of her grasp as soon as we stood face-to-face with King Chant himself. He certainly didn’t look all that powerful, but I knew better than to underestimate a foe.

“A pleasure to meet you.” I started off with a friendly greeting as the Second Chime rung, “My name is-!”

“Tsk. Out of order.” The King groaned, “Vivia, you chose to side with these cavemen?”

“Father, they don’t have our traditions, and this man is not accustomed to war.” Vivia defended me, “Please don’t take into account his ignorance about this, and instead instruct him properly, just like you do with everyone else.”

Hey now, that’s a rather brutally honest way to defend someone, no? Had this girl not befriended my wife, I wouldn’t have even allowed her to come with me. But then again, if she didn’t accompany me, then I would probably be having a way tougher time with the King.

“Sigh, whatever you say…” He glared back at me, “What you just heard was the Second Chime, son. We shake hands on the Second Chime. Talking is reserved for the Third.”

“A-Ah! Is that so?!” I hastily reached out my hand, only for him to firmly grasp mine in return, “U-Uhm, sir?”

“Son, what business do you have here?” He asked me with complete sincerity in his tone, “War doesn’t seem like your thing, so what do you say you Surrender and go back home?”

Glaring directly into my soul, I could feel a wave of relief wash over me as I slowly let go of his hand and started to turn back. Wait, why am I doing this? This… This familiar feeling of not being in control of my own body. It’s just like that time in the bandit camp, it’s just like…!

“Command!” I yelled out as I quickly turned back around to face him with my Eyes closed, “Nice try, but we know your tricks after what you did to Meil!”

“Ah, that monkey.” The King’s voice grew annoyed, “I let him live for a reason, to hone that Ability of his and use it for good. Honestly, of all the Generals this pitiful army has to offer, I was most hoping that he would be the one to hold this talk with me.”

“So much respect and you still refer to him in such a derogatory way?” I tilted my head, “Sounds a little paradoxical if you ask me.”

“Father, the Third Chime.” Vivia reminded us to begin the negotiations, “I’d like to request we stop these shenanigans once and for all.”

“Ah, is it already time? Well then, General, let’s get to it. Chant Carmen, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Ah, your Eyes are still closed, so you may not see it, but I’m extending my hand for you to shake.”

“Is that so?” I followed suit both with my words and actions, “In that case, I am Lune Grimheart, a butcher’s son and an aspiring adventurer. Nice to meet you.”

***

“Before anything, sir, may I ask why you started this whole war in the first place?” I decided to break the tension by being the first to ask.

“Why?” He chuckled, “Why does a Snair take over abandoned homes? Why does a person suddenly buy an entire island? Look at yourself as an example, and you’ll see that you’ve already answered your own question.”

“Wait, how do you know about all that?!” I opened my Eyes wide in astonishment before quickly remembering to close them.

“No need to worry, Lune.” Vivia reassured me, “Father doesn’t try a sly tactic twice. He won’t be using his Iro Ability anymore.”

“That is indeed the case.” The King agreed with her, “Besides, if you already know how to counter it, then trying anything now would just be a waste of time.”

“R-Right.” I slowly opened one eye before the other followed soon after, “In any case, just how much do you know about me?”

“I am the King of this continent, Lune Grimheart.” His aura engulfed the area around us, “I know every single detail about anyone born on this fine land. Not only the Kingdom of Carmen, but the entire continent too. I did my research on everyone here, who they are, the relations they’ve forged throughout the years, even the things they’ve done. For example, I know that Carter Briggs was a friend you’ve actually killed yourself in that fire that you claim was part of the attack.”

Carter Briggs? He can’t be talking about the Carter? But wait, that last name… Even Cecily claims she doesn’t know hers and her brother’s last name! This guy… If he’s actually right about this, then that only serves to make him even scarier!

“It’s no use naming off details that I myself can’t confirm.” I tried to keep my cool, “Try something that’ll hit more close to home.”

“Ah, my apologies. It seems I’ve once again overestimated you when I assumed your wife Cecily had told you about the last name.”

He already knows about Cecily and I getting married? That isn’t even written down in any legal documents yet! It’s purely a verbal promise still! This guy, he has ears everywhere…!

“Now do you understand?” He inquired again, “Do you understand how much love I harbor for you? For you, for this continent, for these people. I love you all equally, and wish only the best for each and every one of you.”

“Bullshit. If that’s really the case, then why start a war to take over my country?”

“Again, it seems you have a habit of answering your own question.” He lightly mocked me, “Don’t you understand? Ever since the Great Divide happened over a thousand years ago, countless new countries have been created for no other reason than to divide the people within them. Suddenly, your neighbor is no longer your neighbor, and your family no longer has the same nationality as you. After seeing that it was possible to unite a continent by means of war, as was the case in Sulfury, I realized that in doing this much, I could effectively remove the borders dividing Entropa. It will all fall under my jurisdiction, and you will all get equal benefits and rights in the revived Empire of Carmen.”

“What?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, “It’s just as Vivia said – you’ve gone completely mad! I know from countless stories the people I love and cherish have told me that you’re spouting nonsense! To begin with, your troops have killed and tortured countless civilians without remorse or discrimination! And you want to tell me you’re doing all this for some greater purpose?!”

“Ah, so you’ve resorted to believing in tall tales now?” The King shook his head, “Vivia mentioned you’re new to war, so I’ll give you a word of advice – in war, information is the best weapon. In your case, propaganda.”

“Propaganda?”

“It’s exactly that – people tell you about all the atrocities the people who have taken something from them have done, and you blindly believe them because they’re your dearest friends. Don’t get me wrong, it’s alright to hear them out, but in this case specifically, you shouldn’t believe anything until you see it with your own Eyes.”

“Again, what is it that you want to tell me?” I finally gave up and cut to the chase, “With all due respect, King Chant, my wife is worried sick back at base. She’s due in just a couple days, ready to pop, and just wants to see me get back safe and sound.”

“Ah, your first biological child.” He said with a nostalgic smile as he looked over at Vivia, “It reminds me of when I had my dear daughter. Parenthood is a magnificent thing, no?”

“You’re not getting the point.” I took a deep breath as I said, “I don’t want to fight in this war. Frankly, I couldn’t care less as long as all the people I love get out alive and well. I’m trying my best to see eye-to-eye with you, so that we can negotiate peace. That being said, if you want me to do that, then please tell me your end goal clearly and concisely.”

“Now you’re finally talking like a true leader!” He broke out into a fit of laughter, “Perhaps I have misjudged you after all, Lune Grimheart! You seek the wellbeing of your men first and foremost, and believe life is the first and most important right a person should have. Indeed, truly commendable.”

“Quit dodging the question.” I remained firm in my order, “Any more of this and I might just piss my pants.”

“Ew, gross!” Vivia stepped back behind me, “Father, just tell us already! I don’t want to have to see that!”

“As you wish.” He cleared his throat, “My end goal, as you refer to it, is to unify the countries of the continent under a single rule. I know the way I’m going about doing this is rather crude, but I’m sure you agree that change is a linear function. To elaborate, the more changes you wish to implement, the more drastic the actions you must take. In this case, the action just so happened to be an attack.”

“Are you sure that’s it?” I could barely hold in my excitement as I made sure to reaffirm.

“More or less.” He smiled from ear to ear as he put his hand up, “Now, what say you? Do we end this war before it even starts? Or do you go down in history as the reason millions of families, including yours, become consigned to oblivion?”

This is it! This is everything I’ve ever dreamed of when it comes to this whole war! A dream-like outcome wherein the King is reasonable and fair, and is actually the first person out of the two of us to suggest peace! I can’t believe it, with just this one simple handshake, I can turn around and go back to my friends! I can go back to the base to hug my dear wife, and soon greet my dear son or daughter! And without a single drop of blood shed, no less!

“Gladly!” I firmly grabbed hold of his hand as I shook it vigorously, “My King, with utmost respect, I hereby announce that we will be stepping down from the war effort! Please, if there’s anything you will need of me in the future, just know that we all stand for your grand plan to unite the countries of Entropa!”

“Thank you, son.” He smiled warmly, “I’m so glad there are still people like you in the world.”

And just like that, the Fourth Chime rung, and I turned around. The first person to face me in this momentous occasion was Vivia, of course. With a proud smile and tears of joy practically bursting out of her Pinkish Eyes, her wide grin was looking rather scary as she pulled out a pistol out of bosom. Next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground, shot through the heart.