The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 11: Alea Iacta Est


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Copyright
 The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Vol. 11
 Carlo Zen
 Translation by Richard Tobin
 Cover art by Shinobu Shinotsuki
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
 YOJO SENKI Vol. 11 Alea Iacta Est
 ©Carlo Zen 2019
 First published in Japan in 2019 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.
 English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo through TUTTLE-MORI AGENCY, INC., Tokyo.
 English translation © 2022 by Yen Press, LLC
 Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
 The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
 Names: Zen, Carlo, author. | Shinotsuki, Shinobu, illustrator. | Balistrieri, Emily, translator. | Steinbach, Kevin, translator. | Tobin, Richard, translator.
 Title: Saga of Tanya the evil / Carlo Zen ; illustration by Shinobu Shinotsuki ; translation by Emily Balistrieri, Kevin Steinbach
 Other titles: Yōjo Senki. English
 Description: First Yen On edition. | New York : Yen ON, 2017–
 Identifiers: LCCN 2017044721 | ISBN 9780316512442 (v. 1 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316512466 (v. 2 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316512480 (v. 3 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560627 (v. 4 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560696 (v. 5 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560719 (v. 6 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316560740 (v. 7 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975310493 (v. 8 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975310868 (v. 9 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975310523 (v. 10 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975310547 (v. 11 : pbk.)
 Classification: LCC PL878.E6 Y6513 2017 | DDC 895.63/6—dc23
 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017044721
 ISBNs: 978-1-9753-1054-7 (paperback)
 978-1-9753-1055-4 (ebook)
 E3-20221102-JV-NF-ORI
 
 
 Contents
 Cover
 Insert
 Title Page
 Copyright
 Chapter I: Create a Rift
 Chapter II: Memoir
 Chapter III: The Incident
 Chapter IV: Turning Point
 Chapter V: Stage
 Chapter VI: Impact
 Appendixes: Diplomatic Relations Charts
 Afterword
 Yen Newsletter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 [chapter] I Create a Rift
 
 
 SEPTEMBER 25, UNIFIED YEAR 1927, GENERAL ZETTOUR’S OFFICE AT THE EASTERN FRONT ARMY HEADQUARTERS
 “I read through the preliminary version of Plan B. And I have to ask… Are you insane? It reads like spur-of-the-moment gambling notes you scribbled on the back of a napkin.”
 Despite the attempt to keep a level of composure, there was hesitance in Zettour’s words. If his conversation partner was his regular self, he may have picked up on this.
 Rudersdorf, however, met his words with a look of pure bewilderment.
 Damn it all, Zettour cursed in the confines of his mind.
 “Let me be clear about this. What are you trying to do here? Why would you even consider something like this?”
 “To avoid losing this war. I shouldn’t have to spell it out for you.”
 The topic of their discussion was the plan upon which the fate of the empire rested—a topic worthy of a bit more enthusiasm.
 What had happened to his friend who made the same pledge of military service, with whom he shared a vision for their nation’s future? Why did he have to verbally spar with the man he considered his blood brother?
 Zettour swallowed his initial doubts and continued to mechanically repudiate his friend as any general in his position should.
 “I’m shocked. Do you intend to set Plan B in motion the moment diplomatic overtures fail? This says we’re supposed to overthrow the government, then immediately invade Ildoa?”
 The imbecile sitting across from him gave a deep nod before continuing with a question from the bottom of his heart.
 “What do you expect to come from this?”
 Zettour was a career soldier who had watched the war develop from the inner depths of the General Staff Office. He knew the life blood of his nation was running thin.
 He had faith his understanding was accurate.
 This was why he, together with his long-time friend, struggled to find a way out of this mess with the least sacrifice.
 Zettour gave his friend a stern gaze.
 My friend, Rudersdorf, you damned fool… Just what kind of game are you up to?
 “I wish to prevent the impending collapse of our nation. Ildoa has always been a weak point in our defense, and it’s about time we fix that.” Rudersdorf raised his head a bit as he spoke.
 What an answer. It almost made Zettour want to have hope.
 “And you believe there’s something we can do to avoid our impending demise?”
 “I think it should be avoided.”
 Not could, but should. It wasn’t a question of possibility but an object of Rudersdorf’s desire.
 Is that the best he can come up with? Zettour sighed as he thought this to himself.
 Was Plan B not the product of the Empire’s exhaustion reaching a point where they could no longer entertain any other alternatives?
 And yet here I am discussing this with my old friend. This idiot.
 “I didn’t expect you to be concerned with what we should do at this stage in the game, Rudersdorf. Perhaps your foresight is becoming harder to distinguish from your