The Stratocracy of Altair 1

This is the new series from this month's Shonen Sirius

Translator's Note 1:
The "shokoku" in the title is a word coined by the manga-ka to mean a country ruled by generals. I don't know of any convenient English word that has that meaning; the closest that I could find was "stratocracy," which means "government by the military." If someone has a better idea, I'd appreciate it.

Translator's Note 2:
This manga has a fair number of Turkish words in it. Deciphering the real Turkish from the katakana was probably the hardest part of this translation (as I don't know Turkish).

Here are some notes on the Turkish used
トルキエ Turkiye (Turkish word for Turkey)
パシャ Pasha (Ottoman title for generals)
トゥグリル・マフムート Tughril Mahmut (he's named after a Turkish ruler)
イスカンダル Iskandar (Arabic name for Alexander the Great)
ゼヘル・ザガノス Zehir Zağanos (his first name means "poison" in Turkish)
シェヒル・カリル Sehir Khalil (his first name means "city" in Turkish)
シュケル seker ("sugar" in Turkish)
ディワーン Diwan (name of the Ottoman imperial council)
クッべ・アルトウ Kubbe Alti ("under the dome" in Turkish, council chamber of the Diwan)
ビユラクパシャ Büyük Pasha ("great general" in Turkish)

01
トルキエ歴75年帝国歴451年白砂糖月3日トルキエ将国
75 Turkiye Calendar; 451 Imperial Calendar; the 3rd of Seker　The Turkiye Stratocracy
追え！
Follow him!
盗賊だ！ナイフを持っている！
It's a bandit! He's got a knife!

第5回少年シリウス　新人賞
Winner of the 5th Shonen Sirius Newcomer Prize

ここまでだ
That's far enough
盗品を置いて　手を後ろに組め
Put the goods down and join your hands behind you

入選受賞作家新連載！
A New Ongoing Series by the Prize Winning Creator!

02
あ？
Huh?
何だい坊っちゃん　警察ごっこはよそ行ってやりな　こっちゃあ急いでんだ
What are you doing, boy? Stop playing and let me by, I'm in a hurry

今従えば何もしない
If you come along quietly I won't do anything to you...
先に言っておくがあなたじゃ　俺には
I should warn you, you have no chance against me...

このガキ・・・
You brat...

03

04
ぎゃああああ
Gyaaaaaahhhh!

05
ご苦労様
Well Done,

トルキエ将国
The Turkiye Stratocracy
トゥグリル・マフムート・パシャ
Tughril Mahmut Pasha
犬鷲のマフムート将軍
"Golden Eagle" Mahmut

イスカンダル
Iskandar

06
驚異の新人、待望の初連載スタート！
The Start of the Miraculous Newcomer's Awaited New Series!

犬鷲の将軍
The Golden Eagle General

戦雲迫る刻、猛き翼舞い上がる！
When the Storms of War Gather, Fierce Wings Soar!
エキゾチック・タクティクス66P
66 Pages of Exotic Tactics!

将国のアルタイル
Shokoku no Altair
(The Stratocracy of Altair)

カトウコトノ
Kato Kotono

07
マフムート将軍！
Mahmut Pasha!

緊急の将軍会議が招集されました！
An emergency meeting of the Diwan is being convened!
至急　大円蓋の会議場にお集まりを…！
Quickly, to the Kubbe Alti!

08
帝国歴451年トルキエ歴75年白砂糖月3日
451 Imperial Calendar, 75 Turkiye Calendar, the 3rd of Seker
トルキエ将国の西の外れーバルトライン帝国との国境近くで
The western outskirts of the Turkiye Stratocracy, near the border of the Baltlein Empire

(map legend)
トルキエ将国
The Turkiye Stratocracy
バルトライン帝国
The Baltlein Empire

(eastern city)
トルキエ将国
Altun, Capital
首都　アルトゥン
of The Turkiye Stratocracy

(western city)
バルトライン帝国
St. Michael, Imperial Capital
帝都　聖ミヒャエル
of The Baltlein Empire

ひとつの死体が発見される
A body has been discovered

その死体は
The body
バルトライン帝国大臣フランツ
was that of Minister Franz of the Baltlein Empire

体には
In the body
トルキエ将国の紋章三日月の装飾をほどこした矢が刺さっていた
was an arrow bearing a crescent moon, the crest of the Turkiye Stratocracy

09
帝国側の怒りは凄まじくフランツの血も生々しい凶器の矢とともに糾弾の文章を送りつけたー曰く
The Empire's anger was fierce and it sent, along with the blood-stained arrow, a missive placing blame and reading:
申し開きあらば貴国の将軍一名を帝国帝都まで派遣されたし
"If you have a defense, send one of your country's generals to the Imperial capital.
もし七日を過ぎて明確なる返答が無き場合
If we have not received a satisfactory answer by the 7th,
我が帝国は
our Empire
大臣フランツ殺害を宣戦布告と見なし貴国との先端を開くものである
will consider the assassination of Minister Franz to be a declaration of war and begin offensive action against your country.

これを受けてトルキエ将国は急ぎ将軍会議を招集
Upon receiving this the Turkiye Stratocracy immediately assembled the Diwan
これが”犬鷲のマフムート将軍”　彼の出席する
This was the first meeting of the Diwan
初めての将軍会議であった
attended by "Golden Eagle" Mahmut

10
しかし会議は真っ二つに分裂する
However, the Diwan was divided...
こんなバカげた要求に応じることはない
We cannot obey such a ridiculous demand

戦争だ
This means war.
帝国は今後も脅威になり続けるいずれは戦うコトになる相手だ
The Empire will continue to be a threat to us, and is an opponent we will have to face eventually
開戦派
War Faction
毒薬のザガノス
Zehir Zağanos Pasha
"Poison" Zağanos
(将軍歴8年)
(8 Years as Pasha)

11
戦争はだめだ！
We can't go to war!
帝国との戦力比は10倍を超える
The Empire has more than 10 times our strength
今のトルキエには勝ち目はない
Turkiye could not win a war now
非戦派
Pacifist Faction
大都市のカリル将軍
Sehir Khalil Pasha
"City" Khalil
(将軍歴20年)
(20 Years as Pasha)

帝国は我々から戦争を仕掛けてくるとは考えていない
The Empire won't be expecting us to start the war
奇襲すれば勝機は充分にある
If we make a sneak attack, we have a good chance of achieving victory
っ…
w...
駄目だ！
No!

12
君だって12年前の戦争は覚えているだろう
You... must remember the war of 12 years ago
戦争だけは絶対に回避すべきだ
We must do all we can to avoid war

ではカリル将軍は誰かを生贄として帝国に提供しろとおっしゃるのか？
In that case, Khalil Pasha, are you saying that we should give up someone as a scapegoat to the Empire?

そうだ
Yes

ほう
oh?
では…
then...

お　お待ちください！
W... wait a minute!

13
私たちは…っ
Must we...
こんな理不尽な選択を…しなくてはいけないのですか！？
really make such an unreasonable choice!?
犬鷲のマフムート将軍
"Golden Eagle" Mahmut
(将軍歴10日)
(10 Days as Pasha)

戦争でも責任者提供でもない
Going to war or giving up the one responsible...
第三の道という選択はないのですか！？
is there really no 3rd option!?

14
そもそも
In the first place...
帝国の証言は本当なのでしょうか？
is the Empire's testimony even true?

帝国の大臣自ら国境を視察…それを発見したトルキエ兵が
...that an Imperial Minister inspecting the border was discovered by Turkiye soldiers
従者には目もくれず大臣のみを狙撃した…との事ですか
who, ignoring all of his attendants, only shot the Minister?
大臣に矢を射ったのは本当に我が将国の兵なのでしょうか？
Was it really our soldiers that fired that arrow?

新人だな
You're new,
君は
aren't you?

今は戦争か否かの話をしている
Right now we're discussing whether or not to go to war

問題が難しいからといって
Stop making objections
問題自体にケチをつけるのはやめていただきたい
just because you don't want to deal with the issue.

で…
b...
ですが…っ
but...

15
「戦争はイヤ」
"I don't want to go to war"
「責任者の提供もイヤ」
"I also don't want to offer up the one responsible"
「そもそも問題が間違っている」
"The issue is flawed in the first place"

子供か君は？
Are you a child?

我々は
We
子供の駄々につきあうほどヒマではない
don't have time to spare for a child's tantrum

議論もできないお子様はとっとと御退席願いたい
I ask that this child who can't even discuss the issue leave
っ…
w...

16
問題が間違っているから間違っていると言って
Saying there's a problem because there's a problem...
何が悪いんだ！？
What's wrong with that!?

そもそもあんな理不尽な二択があるか？イスカンダル
Do we really have to make such an unreasonable choice, Iskandar?

将軍というのは出題された二択を
Is the job of a pasha really just to
ただ解くために存在するのか！？
choose between the choices presented to them!?

違うだろ…だいたい…
No... that can't be right...

カ　カリル将軍
K Khalil Pasha

や　時間ある？
Hey. Do you have some time?
ちょっとボクと散歩しない？
Please come walk with me.

17
マフ君とこうやって話すのは初めてだねぇ
This is the first time I've talked with you like this, isn't it, Mah-kun?

将軍になってすぐにコレでは　疲れたでしょう
You only just became a pasha, and now this. You must be tired.
いいえ　国の将来を決める大事な会議　疲れたなどとは言っていられません
No. This is an important meeting for the future of our country. To say that I'm tried wouldn't do.

マフ君はまじめだねー
You sure are serious, Mah-kun
いいえ
No

18
不機嫌？
You're in a bad mood?
いいえ
No.

何で不機嫌なの？
Why are you in a bad mood?
不機嫌じゃありません
I'm not in a bad mood!

言うのも嫌なくらい不機嫌なの？
You're in such a bad mood you don't even want to admit it?

あ～ザガノスならそんなに…
Ah... if its about what Zağanos said, don't take it so...
自分に腹が立ってるだけです！
I'm just angry with myself!

19
私は…
I...
12年前の戦争で　母を亡くしました
12 years ago I lost my mother in the war
帝国軍だ！
It's the Imperial Army!
逃げろ！帝国軍が…
Run! The Imperial Army...

いい？
Understand?
母さんがいいと言うまでこの中でじっとして絶対に出てきては駄目！
Don't come out of there until I tell you that it's okay!

母さんは別の場所に隠れるから
I'll be hiding somewhere else
いい？
Okay?
い…いやだ！
N...No!

だって…どこ…に…母さんは？
I... but... where will you?
母さんは！？
What about you!?
大丈夫！
I'm be fine!

男の子でしょ　そんな泣きそうな顔しないの！
You're a boy... don't look like you're about to cry!
いい？　いい？約束して！
Okay? You understand? Promise me!

20

21

22
もう…もう…あんなコトがおこらないように…
I... I... to make sure that wouldn't happen again...

俺は…将軍にまでなったのに
I... even became a general...
俺は…っ　また…何もできない
but I... still... couldn't do anything

そうか
I see...

23
じゃあ君はこんな散歩してる場合じゃないでしょう
Then you shouldn't be taking this walk, should you?
できるコトはちゃんと全部やったの？
Have you done everything that you could?

いっ　言われなくても
I... even without being told to
できるコトをします！
I'll do everything in my power

できるコトをしに行きますので
I'm going to go do what I can
これで失礼します
Excuse me.

24
うん
Okay
行っておいで
Please go

ボクもボクにできるコトをしに…
I also have to go do what I can...
行ってくるよ
I'll be back

25
大臣に矢を射ったのは本当に
Was it really our soldiers
我が将国の兵なのでしょうか！？
that fired the arrow that killed the Minister!?

あれがおそらく
That has to be
唯一の打開策だ
the only possible solution

帝国の主張する目撃証言などいくらでも捏造できる
The Empire can falsify as much eye-witness testimony as they want...
それに比べこちらがやっていない事を証明するのははるかに難しい
it's much harder for us to prove that we didn't do it

しかし
But
トルキエ兵が手を下したのではないという証拠さえ見つければ…
if I can just find some evidence that it wasn't Turkiye soldiers...

帝国の要求はすべて撥ね除けられる！
all of the Empires demands will become meaningless!

26
っ…くそ…
...damn...

確かに国境警備の隊が大臣の遺体回収の様子を目撃していたと言うが…
...the border guards confirmed that they witnessed the recovery of the Minister's body...
それ以前に大臣一行と接触がなかったという証拠にはならない！
but there's no evidence that they had no prior contact with the Minister's party!

これは…
This...
帝国の送りつけてきた矢…か
is the arrow sent by the Empire?

27
この矢羽…
these fletching...

トルキエでは通常矢羽に犬鷲の雨覆い羽を使う…
In Turkiye we use a Golden Eagle's covert feathers...
それなのに…
however...

この矢羽には風切り羽が使われている！？
this fletching was made with flight feathers!?

鳥の風切り羽を使うのは
The use of flight feathers....

28
帝国の
that's an
伝統だ！
Imperial tradition!

失礼　こちらにカリル将軍は…！？
Excuse me Is Khalil Pasha inside...!?
カリル将軍に
Please let me...
君知らんのか？
You don't know?

なっ…
Wh...

29
カリル将軍が
Khalil Pasha has gone
帝国に！？
to the Empire!?

っ…
a...

ま…さか…っ
No way...
あなたが行かせたのか！？
you sent him!?
あっ　あな…
Y... you...

30
口を慎め　マフムート将軍
Refrain yourself, Mahmut Pasha
カリル将軍が自ら志願されたのだ
Khalil Pasha went by his own will

大将軍
Büyük Pasha...
私はもう引退間違
I'm close to retirement

どうか私をこの件の責任者として
Please send me to the Baltlein Empire
バルトライン帝国に赴かせてください
as the one responsible for the attack

私がいなくても
Even without me...
すでにこの国には若い…有能な人材が揃っております
our country already has young, capable men to take my place

31
まずい…
This is not good...
これは開戦の口実を作るための陰謀…
This was all just a conspiracy to give an excuse for war...
帝国は初めから釈明を受け入れる気などないのに！
The Empire has never had any intention of listening to our explanation!

たった今お発ちになられた
He only just left

まさか…カリル将軍は
No... Khalil Pasha
それを…承知で！？
he... accepted that!?

だ　駄目だ！
N... No!
止めてください！
I have to stop him!

は？
Huh?
また駄々をこねる気か？
You're going to throw another fit?

そ　それでは
if so then..
私も同行させていただく！
I'm going with him!

32
ん？
huh?

あ　あれっ
huh...
え　ええ？マフ君？
What? Mah-kun?

な…何で居るの？
Wh... why are you here?

できるコトをしにきただけです
I just came to do what I can

え
Wh..
ええ～
What???

33
カリル将軍
Khalil Pasha
なにもあなたほどのお方が自ら…
someone like you can't...

ボクは
I've
もう20年も将軍をやっている
been a Pasha for 20 years

つまりボクは
In other words,
12年前のあの時もちゃんと将軍をしてたんだ
I was also a Pasha 12 years ago...

それなのに
Even so...
ボクはあの戦争を止めるコトができなかった
I couldn't stop that war

34
すまなかった
Forgive me

や…
Pl...
やめてください
Please stop...

あなたがそんなコトをする必要はない！
There's no need for you to do that!
やめてください
Please stop!

35

36
もう絶対に戦争はしない
There won't be any more wars, I swear it

37
何？
What?

トルキエの使節が
An envoy from Turkiye
こちらに向かっている？
is coming here?
バルトライン帝国
The Baltlein Empire
大臣
Minister
ビルヒリオ・ルイ
Virgilio Louis

そうか…まさか本当に責任者を提供してくるとはな
I see... they're actually going to give up the one responsible...

...その使節
...that envoy

38
こちらにたどり着く前に　確実に殺せ
Make sure he's dead before he gets here

陛下
Your Highness

ただ今　間者が帰って参りましたが
Our spies have just returned, but
トルキエ将国　一向にこちらの要求に応える気配はございません
they've found absolutely no sign that Turkiye plans to respond to our demand

バルトライン帝国
The Baltlein Empire
皇帝
Emperor
ゴルドバルト11世
Goldbalt XI

39
戦は
So...
避けられぬな
we can't avoid war

顔をおあげください
Please lift your head
カリル将軍
Khalil Pasha

これは帝国の陰謀なんです！
This is all a conspiracy of the Empire!

トルキエの仕業に見せかけて帝国の誰かが大臣を殺したんです
Someone in the Empire killed the Minister and made it look like an act by Turkiye
帝国ははじめから
The Empire has
大臣殺害を口実にトルキエと戦争をするつもりだったんです！
intended to use the assassination as an excuse for war from the beginning!

40
と　すると　帝国はおそらく私たちを無事交渉の場につかせはしないでしょう
That means that the Empire has no intention of allowing us to arrive unharmed for negotiations
ここは
We...
待った
Wait

それはちょっと変じゃない？
Isn't that a little strange?

国力の差は歴然なんだよ？戦争したければ
The difference in our countries' strengths is obvious. If they wanted war...
こんな面倒なコトしなくたって勝手に攻めてくればいい
there'd be no need to go to all this trouble... they could just attack

おそらく
Probably
帝国全体が戦争を望んでるワケじゃないと思う
this means that not all of the Empire desires war

41
そうか！
I see!
では…
Then...

うん
Yes
交渉の席にさえつけたなら上手く戦争は避けられる
If we can just make it to the negotiations we can avoid this war

しかし…それでもカリル将軍が助かるかどうかは五分五分だ
But... even so Khalil Pasha only has a 50-50 chance

交渉の場に和平を望む者がいなかったあら！？誰かが仕組んだ陰謀だと信じてもらえなかったら！？
What if there is no one desiring peace at the negotiations!? What if they don't believe the conspiracy!?

そしたら
If so...
あなたは
You'll...

42
はい　はい
It's okay...

そんな泣きそうな顔しないの
Don't look like you're about to cry

いいえ
No

43
あなたの命は私が必ずお守りします
I will absolutely protect
国境を越えるまで
Until we make it to the border
将国使節団の全指揮権を私に委ねていただけませんか？
will you give me absolute authority over this group?

44
トルキエ使節団
Turkiye envoy's party

あれだ
That's it

45

46
お…おい
H...hey
待て…何かおかしくないか？
Wait... isn't something strange?
ん？
Hmm?

誰も…居ない
There's... no one here

何？
What?

47
なっ…ど…どういうコトだ！？
Hu...wh...what's the meaning of this!?
知るか！
Like I know!

とりあえず　ルイ大臣に報告だ！
Anyway, we must report back to Minister Louis!

48
よ…よし
Good...

首謀者は
So the conspirator
ルイ大臣というのだな
is Minister Louis

49
なっ
Wha...
何ィ！？
What!?

待っていたよ
I've been waiting...
あなた方を捕らえればトルキエの無実が証明できる
If I catch you I can prove Turkiye's innocence

50
くっ
Shi...

は
...li...
かまうかよ！
...like I'm worried!

殺れっ！
Kill him!

51

52
うわっ　なっ
Wh...Wha...
何だ！？
What!?

こっ
Th...
こりゃあ！？
What is this!?

羊の肉だよ
It's mutton.

何…？
What...?

53

54
あ…
Ah...
う…あ…あ…
Wa....a....

行け！
Go!
イスカンダル！
Iskandar!

55

56

57
この日帝国皇帝ゴルドバルトは将国使節の弁明を最後まで聞かぬうちに「全てを承認する」と言い残し退席
On that day, before the Turkiye envoy had even finished their explanation, Emperor Goldbalt stood and left saying "I accept it all"
これにより両国の開戦は回避された
And thus war between the two countries was avoided

58
しかし　事の発端となった
However, concerning
フランツ大臣の死について帝国は
the death of Minister Franz, the start of it all,
偶発的な事故であったとの公式見解を発表
the Empire announced that he had died in an accident
ついにはその真相が明かされることはなかった
and did not make the truth public

59
以上で
...and so
報告を終わります
we finish our report

マフ君にたすけられちゃったから
I was saved by Mah-kun
やっぱり引退までつとめさせてもらいますね
so I'll continue working until retirement

ご苦労だった
Good work
両名とも戻ってよい
You may both return

60
事態は
The situation
収束したかにみえた
appeared to be resolved

お見事だった
Good work
が…こんな幸運がいつも続くとは思わんことだ
but don't think that you'll always be so lucky

以後勝手な行動は慎め
refrain from acting on your own in the future

しかし
However

61
これこそが
This was in fact
有史以来初めて大陸全土の国家を巻き込んだ
the opening act of the "Great Lumeriana War,"
”ルメリアナ大戦”と呼ばれる戦いの幕開けであった
the first war in history to involve all nations on the continent

望むにしろ望まぬにしろ、歴史は動く。
History moves on, whether we desire it or not.