alliance of the golden witch; chapter 14 (final family conference)

[endlesswitch]

".........A test......?"

"......Y, yes. Listen well..."
Once again, there was a call from Krauss to the guesthouse.

......And the message was......that Kinzo wanted to hold a test to see if the grandchildren had the qualifications to be the next head.
".........The head has said that the next head will not be one of my siblings...that he wants...to pick from the grandchildren..."
From Krauss's restrained style of speech, Jessica realized as his daughter that he was being forced to speak.

And she was forced to realize that the hostages were being exposed to danger even now, and that if they refused this test, there was a possibility that the hostages would be harmed.
"T, ......then......what should we do?"
"......H, ...hmm. Hold on..."

Krauss put down the receiver, then looked at the grinning Kinzo on the other side of the bars.
Kinzo gave his next order.
"Before the test, those unrelated must be removed. ..........Gohda and Kumasawa are there, I believe? It will be a problem if they hinder the test. Banish them from the guesthouse."
".........Banish, ...you say......?"
"There should be a gardening storehouse in the rose garden. Lock Gohda and Kumasawa in there. Hmm, we'll begin from there. Tell them to do it immediately. .........My weapons will be watching. If they happen to do anything questionable, I'll instantly stop the test and execute all of you as sacrifices!"
"......I, ......I understand...... ......Hello, Jessica... Listen closely to what I say......"

Krauss relayed the orders to lock up Gohda and Kumasawa...
"......What kind of test are you planning?"
"Hmm? Aah, it truly is a simple test. I only want my grandchildren to show me their resolve. Well then, I wonder what kind of results they'll show me. ......*cackle*."
Kyrie watched Krauss, who was talking with the children, looking disgusted.

......It's regrettable, but for now we cannot refuse orders.
In this dungeon, a feeble resistance won't amount to anything.

If we provoke him too much and drive him into a position where he might kill us, there will no longer be any way to stop this murderer.
......For now, the only choice left is to obey his rules without agitating him...all the while waiting for a chance......
However, if we continue to obediently follow his commands, the children might be attacked in this so-called test, and they might even lose their lives.

.........Whether we feign obedience or try to resist, ......nothing will cause the situation to improve.
Anyway, straining our eyes so that we don't let a single chance escape until the very end...is the only resistance possible now.

......While telling herself this, Kyrie watched over Krauss as he delivered Kinzo's orders......
".........Kyrie-san. Let us be patient......"
"I understand. ......It's unfortunate, but all we can do right now is wait. If only we could do something about these bars, we would be able to return to the mansion......"
"......If only we could somehow get out of here.........I, I'll try something. ...............Kinzo-san, I have a request."
"Hm, what is it, my friend?"
"We understand well that you want to test the children.........It is fine for you to do things as you desire.
Without your power, the Ushiromiya family might have been destroyed long ago. We truly understand why you want to carefully select the person who will take charge. Besides, that is what the family conference is about. We won't get in your way..."
"Hmm. Your insight is useful. That's right, this is the family conference. The final family conference, where I will select the next head. Fuhahahaha...!"
"And yet, Kinzo-san.........It is far too cold here. Since we won't interfere with your test, couldn't you take us to a slightly warmer place......?"
".................."
At Nanjo's words, the slight signs that Kinzo's mood had been improving were blown away.

Nanjo was struck with a moment of silence as Kinzo gazed at him with dangerous eyes, as though appraising him......
"......Certainly, this place is cold. It's tough on an old body. ......Master. Wouldn't it be alright if we moved them upstairs......?"
"I cannot do that!! Are you naive, Nanjoooooo...? By acting as though you'll skip this turn, you truly and splendidly advance your strategy? I'm not falling for that, you seeeee...? If you're freezing, then why not line the floor with red hot coals!!"
"M, My apologies......"

Virgilia had tried to help out, but in the end, Kinzo would not comply...
"...............You two sure are obedient. ...If you felt like it, you could easily break these bars."
"..........................."
"......Even if we break these, nothing will come of it."
"Of course. ......If you were to break these, it would mean the end of Goldsmith's game. ......All of you, as well as those humans in the guesthouse, would immediately become sacrifices for Kinzo's ceremony.
......But, surprisingly, you two might be the only ones, yes? Perhaps only you two hold the power to break out of this situation, ......right?
.........You want to reach the Golden Land, don't you? You must have many dreams you want granted, right...? *cackle*cackle*......"
".............................."
"Gaap. You musn't provoke them. ......This is not your game. It is the Master's, as well as Milady's game."
".........What is it, Ronove?"
"Oh, no, nothing. ......We were talking to the prisoners. Forgive us."
Gaap sent one final sneering smile at Kanon, then turned away.
Kanon could only bite his lower lip and shake his fists......
"..................... ......Dammit........."
"......You did well...... Good job hanging in there......"
"We're powerless...... Because we're furniture......"
"That's right, ......we're powerless. ......However, there are times that furniture is necessary, and even loved. ......Right now, we've only been stored away in the basement. ......Surely, one day, somebody will love us. Because we are necessary. ......That's why, for now, let's ignore to their provocation and bear with it.........Alright?"
"......Father. I've ordered them to lock up Gohda and Kumasawa."
"Very well. Hang up now.......Siesta Sisters. Observe the grandchildren as they lock Gohda and Kumasawa away. If they do anything suspicious, ......then in that moment, the selection test for the next head will be over."
When Kinzo made his order, the Siesta Sisters appeared behind him in a line.
"Understood, sir. ......I will scout. 556 and 410 will cover both flanks. 45 has wide-area surveillance."
"00... 556 is......"
"Ah, ............that's right. Sorry."
"She was a good kid......."
"......That's why I don't like them, nyeh. ...Good people."
"What are you doing, Siesta Sisters?! Follow my orders!"
"..............My apologies, sir. Then, let us go observe. ......Move out!"
The Siesta Sisters erased their forms simultaneously.

Nanjo and Kyrie witnessed the instants they appeared and disappeared as if by teleportation, but they interpreted this as moving in and out of the darkness in a way that only looked like teleportation, and the two could do nothing but rub their eyes...
"......Well then. I shall begin the preperations for the test. Ronove, Gaap. I'm asking you to be the examiners. Virgilia, you'll watch these rats. ........After all, two of my furniture are here. Just in case, be on your guard."
He glanced at Shannon and Kanon.
Tightly closing her eyes, Shannon gave a silent bow, while she answered wordlessly, avoiding any unnecessary actions......
"......Certainly. I'll be careful."
"Isn't this cold hard on your old body, Lia? Should I bring you a hot water bottle...?"
"Shut up. Go quickly. Gap."
"Pukukuku...! Well then, having a test as well as examiners makes for a strange experience this game. .........I do hope this development entertains Milady."
"......Come, arise, goat attendants."
Virgilia began to call out into the dark, and from that spot three massive goat-headed attendants suddenly appeared.
"From Beato's line, is it? How useful. Plus, they seem so warm. I see, so this is instead of a hot water bottle. In that case, wouldn't sheep have been better than goats?"
"Hey, you're the one wearing cashmere. ......They aren't very bright, but they faithfully follow orders and are quite dependable."
"Hmm, I leave it to you. My friend, Virgilia. ......The rest of you follow me."
With a dignified gesture, Kinzo fluttered his cloak.
Following him were Ronove and Gaap, ......as well as the three recently summoned goat attendants.
"......You three are supposed to wait here with me. Don't follow them."
The goats jumped in surprise and then came tottering back.

Kyrie, who had been watching stunned as all of this played out, couldn't help but snort.
"Heheh...... What entertaining underlings."
"L, Lord Goldsmith did not give you permission to speak freely."
...She was probably embarrassed.

Virgilia had spoken cooly, but Kyrie saw through that, and for a little while, she couldn't restrain her muffled laughter.
However on the inside, Kyrie was surprised at the number of people Kinzo had with him.

Because including Kinzo himself, at least 10 enemies had already been spotted...
......The dungeon they were currently locked in was supposedly underneath the hidden mansion called Kuwadorian.

Although this mansion had been whispered of, not even Krauss had known of its existence until today.
Are there actually several facilities like this on Rokkenjima, where many unknown henchmen that only Kinzo knows of hide...?

Just how many humans are on Rokkenjima, locked away by the typhoon...?
No, on the other hand.
Were we the only ones under the impression that there were only 18 people on this island......?
Were we, who bickered over whether Beatrice existed or not and worried about whether a 19 person existed or not, nothing more than the frogs in a well on this island...?

No wait, not only that... By now, are there actually more people on the enemy's side than on ours...?
"............Just what the hell is going on...... Witches? Demons? Magic? ......Are you telling us to believe in those? Are my eyes screwed up? Or is my head? ...I think I'm losing it........."
A mass murder by magic.
Demons forming and disappearing in thin air.

More importantly than the enemy's numbers...how should we interpret the various things thrust before our eyes that cannot be explained with the common sense of this world?
......Kyrie started to feel like she didn't know what was going on anymore, and while battling the urge to abandon everything and give up, she tried to hold onto her sanity and withstand the tragedy before her...
Obviously, Gohda and Kumasawa were quite unwilling to be locked in the rose garden shed.

.....But they were threatened that, if they resisted, the hostages' safety could not be guaranteed...
It was fairly hard to get them to agree, but once they started thinking that their safety might actually be guaranteed if the key to the gardening storehouse was to be handed to them after being shut inside, ......and when it was decided that blankets and food would be carried in for them, they were finally convinced.
"........This place is pretty chilly... I wonder how long we'll have to stay locked in here......"
"......In the worst case, it'll be until Monday morning, so a full day and night. ......I really feel bad about doing this to you two..."
George and Battler cleared a space on the floor, then spread the blankets there.
They also left the canned food, crackers, and other light snacks they had brought.
"It'll be hard for you guys to go until Monday with just this... If only we were closer to the kitchen..."
"We were told not to go to any unnecessary places. ......Looks like we're being watched. .........Damn."
"......I am honestly sorry that we cannot be of any use...... And these are the times that we are truly supposed to be at your sides......"
"It can't be helped. ......More importantly, take care of Kumasawa-san. We don't know what's going to happen. When it comes down to it, I want you to do what you can. And more than anything, I want you to be safe..."
"...Yes, I understand. ......Please, be careful everyone. Right now the Master......is taking human lives like they're pieces on a chessboard. ...Please be careful."
Gohda stared at the floor, even now unable to believe what had happened as he remembered that atrocity in the dining hall, and he hung his head in shame at his failure to fully describe that terror.
"Thank you. .........Make sure you stay on your guard. You too, Kumasawa-san."
"......And you all please take care as well...... I don't have any idea what's going on anymore......"
"Well then, ......we'll be off. Let's go, Battler-kun. Jessica-chan. ......Come on, Maria-chan too."
"............Uu-."
Looking at the painful expression on the imprisoned pair's faces, it became hard to close the shutter.

But there's no going back.
......We're being watched.
The shutter was brought down and locked.
Then George turned to the small window on the side of the storehouse.
At that side there was a small latticed window which could only admit light and ventilation.

It looked like something from a jail, making the two of them seem even more pitiable, ......but on the other hand, I'd like to think that it will protect them from Kinzo and his subordinates...
I opened the window and called out.
"......Are you all right? You're not cold, are you?"
"We're alright. We've got so many blankets after all. ......If we wrap ourselves up, we'll be just fine."
"I wish we could have brought them a kerosene stove or something......"
"......But it wouldn't have ventilation here. It's tough, but there's nothing we can do now. ......Hostages are being held against us. We can't disobey..."
".........Dammit.........If we could somehow save Kyrie and the rest......"
"Shh. ......They might hear you. .........Gohda-san, here. The key to the shutter."
"......Certainly. I'll take care of it."

Gohda took the key, and after showing it to Kumasawa, placed it in his own pocket.
There is only one key to the gardening shed's shutter.
That was being held by those who were locked up inside it.

If the children had taken it, and had it stolen from them by some chance, that would do nothing but expose the lives of those in the shed to danger.
And even with the key, the shutter could not be opened from the inside. Kinzo's demands were fufilled this way.
However, there was now no longer any way to open the shed from the outside either. This protected them.

Kinzo had ordered that they be confined, ......and we could do nothing but trust that this cold closed room would protect them.
Jessica watched this while holding Maria's hand, then looked over the thickets in the pitch-black rose garden.

......Somewhere in this darkness, somebody was hiding, watching to see whether we obeyed orders or not.
Of course, when we pointed our flashlights out there, no suspicious silhouettes appeared.

But somebody was surely out there...hiding and watching.
I was hit many times with an urge to scream at them.
......But I was able to hold that back through reason.

The four children left the area, repeatedly looking back over their shoulders.
The light from the dubious lightbulb in the gardening storehouse was seeping out slightly.

......I wonder if this insane incident will come to an end somehow, .....so that we can meet those two again.
......To George, who had closed the shutter himself, ...the resistance of the lock made it feel as though he had killed them with his own hands.
".........But even so......we can't defy them......"
"What's with this test.........Damn geezer, don't screw with us...... Killing Mom, capturing Dad for that...... I don't get it, I'll kill him...!"
"......It's alright, Jessica onee-chan. There's nothing to be sad about......"
".........Maria......"
"Soon, the witch will be revived. .........Soon we'll be able to meet in the Golden Land. ...Kihihihihihihihihi......... Ouch."
"Don't laugh indiscreetly like that. ......Seriously, a resurrection ceremony for a witch? ......Wrapping so many people up, in delusions that he should just keep to the inside of his head. ........That's gonna cost you, ...bastard..."
".........Let's return to the guesthouse. ...It'll be bad if we aren't there when Grandfather calls."
Urged on by George, everyone began walking towards the guesthouse......

At that moment, Jessica turned in a circle, facing towards the darkness of the rose garden, and roared.
"..................HEY!! Someone's watching, right?! Tell the old man...!! Tell'em I'm going to fuckin' kill him!! Let's go...!!"
Of course, there was no reply, only the howl of the wind and rain......
The children returned to the guesthouse...
...While fearing what was waiting for them up ahead...
After they left, .........from the exact point in the darkness that Jessica had yelled at, two rabbit ears sprung up...
"......S, sorsorsorry......! They found me ouuuut...!!"
"It's because you're too slow, 45, nye~h. Ni~hihihi~, Pendragon-sama's going to scold youu~♪"
"I'm sorry I'm sorry, please don't tell Pendragon-sama on meeeee!"
"Be quiet. It was obviously just a bluff. ...Gohda and Kumasawa's imprisonment confirmed. Mission complete. We'll report back."
"Ya~i, ya~i. Nihihihihihihihihi! Ouch."
"Do you want us all stuck on nothing but carrots and water because of collective responsibility? ......Let's go."
The fact that they were being watched certainly seemed to be true.
Because when they returned to the cousins' room, turned the lights on, and lied down on their beds, the phone rang again.
Earlier, seeing as it is her house, Jessica had been answering the phone, but now it was the eldest, George, who picked it up.
This time, Kyrie-san was on the other end of the phone.
George handed it to Battler out of consideration...
".........Hello. Kyrie-san? Is everything alright over there...?!"
"Thanks for worrying. ...It's agreeable for now. .....................Sorry, I've been ordered to refrain from speaking freely. Listen to what I'm going to tell you now."
The fact that they were hostages still hadn't changed.
Kinzo or one of his subordinates was listening to the conversation.

Battler restrained the urge to talk about other things, and focused on what Kyrie had to say.
"The test will be carried out by Jessica-chan, George-kun, Battler-kun, and Maria-chan, in that order. .........You'll be called out in turn, so until then, do not leave the room. The person who is called out will head to their designated location, alone."
Battler repeated it to the cousins in a way that they would understand.
"......Jessica, Aniki, me, and Maria in that order, stay in the room until we're called, right? ......Got it. ......Maria too? Even a nine year old girl...what's the damn geezer trying to force us to do, that bastard..."
"...............The fate of the Ushiromiya family rests in all of your hands. ......Do your best."
"....Mm. ...............Sure."
Battler noticed the strange nuance in Kyrie's words.
Even without any blood connection, he could still understand thanks to the long-lasting bond they shared.
By now, it's no longer the time to worry about the Ushiromiya family.
......That wasn't the message that Kyrie wanted to send.

She probably meant "there is no way for us to escape from this dungeon, and we can only wait to be rescued. Our lives are in your hands".

......Something like that.
"Yeah, leave it to me. We don't know what kind of test it is, but no problem. I'll take it gladly. ........Is it a serious test? ...Should we really, ......go all out?"
"......Yes. It's a serious test. Grandfather plans to truly test you all."
"It's useless, it's all useless. ......Some old fart on death's door is going to challenge me seriously? Let him spout nonsense AFTER he gets in the coffin. He's there, so tell him this for me: The next head is me. And my first action will be to shove my fist into your face...!"
Even without Kyrie having to repeat it, Battler's powerful declaration of war reached Kinzo's ears...
"Fuhahahahahahahaha!! Battleeeeer, I am truly looking forward to thaaat! I can't wait to see just what a man who once threw away the Ushiromiya name has attained, just what lot in life he's reached when he appears before me!! Tell him...!"
Unfortunately, Kinzo's voice was not picked up by the reciever. Therefore, Kyrie spoke for him.
"Sounds like he's more than up for the challenge. .....Alright, Battler-kun. There's no need to hold back. .........You are Rudolf's son. ......No, you are my son. Show me something I won't be embarrassed to brag about. .........I entrust everything to you.
"Understood, Mom. ........Leave the rest to me...!"
"........All of us here have lost the right to inherit the position of head. ......Now we're just the same as pieces taken off the chessboard looking on from the outside. So you'll have to fight by yourselves."
"...............Kyrie-san........"
The nuance of those words meant........

"We've already given up. So you can forget about us".
....But, ....for that very reason, I won't give up......
I'll definitely crush this test or whatever, and save everyone...!
"Well then, ......here are the instructions for the first test, Jessica-chan's. ......Head to your own room, he says."
"Your own room?"
"It seems he means Jessica's personal room in the mansion."
"......I'll hand it over to Jessica. Tell her directly for me. ......Jessica."
"He, hello..................Yes, I understand..."
"............Starting with me, huh.........I'm already prepared. I'll be back!"
In actuality, Jessica was probably feeling the fear of a girl her age.
......But she crushed those feelings and strengthened her resolve.
"Be careful, ......okay?"
"......We're probably being watched. We can't do anything stupid. All we can do is exactly as we're told."
"......They say that old geezer killed those six in the dining hall instantly, with no hesitation. .....So, if we try to fight back, we might end up the same way."
"I get it. ...........I'll pay them back."
"Don't do anything reckless. ......If you think you're in any danger, your own welfare comes first. ......If Krauss oji-san finds out that his daughter sacrificed herself for him, there's no doubt it would tear his heart apart."
"It goes the other way too. ........If Mom and Dad are both killed, and I'm the only one left, my heart would rip itself to pieces."
".................................Battler-kun. Is what you said earlier true......?"
"Yeah. .........Kyrie-san and the others are already, ......prepared for what will happen."
"Then, ...then the way things are now is just perfect. ......Everyone's lives rest on our shoulders. The hostages can't do anything while locked up. In that case, all that's left is for us to do something."
".........If something happens, run back to the guesthouse. At that time, we'll be done playing along with Grandfather's game."
"Aniki........."
"At that time we will declare war. .........Wherever they're locked up, we'll save them, and we'll deal with Grandfather accordingly."
"...... Are you sure, Aniki? ......Shannon-chan's there too."
".............................That's why I'm saying it. I'm not sitting around and waiting for my fiance to be killed. .........What scares me is not that Shannon might be killed by Grandfather.

I'm just worried you guys'll get there first・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

and clobber the damn geezer who made・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

my fiance experience terror before I do・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・."
"I see.........This really does sound like a test to see who'll be the next head."
"Yep. ......The first one to bury a fist into that old face is the next head."

George, Battler, and Jessica each forcefully nodded their heads and put their fists together.
Then Jessica headed off to her own room, as designated......

Her form disappeared into the waving darkness of the rose garden.

......Watching over that, George and Battler hardened their grips, their fists trembling.....
Left on the second floor, Maria watched Jessica's back through the window.
She wore a blank expression......
"......I wonder what everyone is getting so upset about. .........Even though when Beatrice is revived, everyone will be brought back to life."

Jessica's form was already being completely swallowed up by the darkness.
......At that time, the phone began to ring again.

Battler and George heard it and came clamoring back, but Maria picked up the receiver right away.
"..................Hello."
"M, ......Maria-sama...? It's Shannon. ......Would you please hand the phone to George-sama?"
This time it was Shannon on the phone.

And this time, the message was to tell the next person, George, where he was to go......
The Next Head