Arslan Senki Chapter 147
Aka the chapter where Hilmes made me facepalm basically every time he opened his mouth.
Having said that, I do think it was a deft touch by Arakawa to highlight that even though we have just seen Hilmes at his best, he's still carrying the same unpleasant prejudices that naturally haven't just been washed away and he's still capable of being frustratingly self-centred when it comes to failing to take responsibility (yes, it seems he really is petty enough to take the position of 'not my throne, not my problem' until Zandeh well, multiple parties really calls him out on it).
All those long, bitter years and that haughty superiority can't be erased so easily, it turns out. Especially when you're a sore loser.
My facial expression was the same as Alfarid's.
The fact that he says this because he sees Alfarid is wounded and bleeding...
And Hilmes's words here are very reminiscent of the words of the soldiers who slaughtered the Zot, dehumanising them by referring to them as creatures. A sign that the problem permeates Parsian society from the top down. A sign of how different Hilmes and Arslan are at heart. What should whether someone is 'low-born' or royalty matter, compared to their actions. That's what this chapter intends to show us. And Hilmes... is not representing the supposed top tier of Parsian society well at all.
(and Zandeh, too! he may be a puppy but I'm not going to let him off, he addresses the Zot in a similar way to Hilmes and tbh he must have been raised with this prejudice as I can't imagine Kharlan held a good view of the Zot; Kharlan's opinions likely matche Hilmes's and he passed them on to his son, who has never questioned them.)
She's right and she should say it.
Love how quick she is to call out Hilmes's hypocrisy when what he has done is magnitudes worse (Arslan having low-born retainers versus Hilmes facilitating the invasion of his whole fucking country?).
Hilmes is indignant but Zandeh is uncomfortable because he knows it's true (just as Hilmes himself should know it's true!).
It feels like Hilmes is disproportionately irritated by Alfarid for a whole bunch of reasons (her low-born bandit presence in the palace that should have been his, her association with Narsus who also rejected him in favour of Arslan) and you can see it in him just rejecting everything she says, even rejecting the reality of her and Merlaine's self-sacrificing heroism in wanting to warn the populace in favour of referring to it as 'a thief playing the righteous warrior'.
Hilmes remembers who Merlaine is, but more than just that I think in a way there's a strange kind of understanding of Merlaine's anger towards him and that burning need for revenge. After all, Hilmes was driven by something very similar for 16 years.
Oh wow, Hilmes, how gracious of you, I'm rolling my eyes.
Poor Zandeh... We knew this moment was coming.
Hilmes asking for details: yes good, there's still time for him to turn things around in this encounter.
Hilmes finally filling in the gaps in his knowledge: YES GOOD
HILMES NO.
BIGGEST FUCKING FACEPALM MOMENT OF THE CHAPTER.
This is the 'not my throne, not my problem' moment I mentioned earlier. Really got me saying 'argh!' with my hands in the air but at the same time it's very... Hilmes. Especially the comment about asking Arslan for help. Someone is still butthurt that he didn't get Rukhnabad and didn't get to be Shah.
I thought this might get revealed to Hilmes this chapter and here it is!
And you know that even without Rukhnabad, Arslan would still try!
Yep, just give up without even trying, Hilmes.
He's cynical, defeated, and allowing that defeatism to permeate everything, wrapping it up in his most unpleasant, self-pitying self. I thought he'd stopped being so self-centred, but clearly not. You know, compared to Arslan he's actually really immature.
I've screencapped a lot so I won't include Merlaine's verbal takedown of Hilmes here but it's clearly a factor in changing his mind, along with Alfarid's accusal of cowardice and Zandeh's plea for him to do something to protect the people, even if he has no soldiers. Zandeh, of course, has seen Hilmes at his best, just as we readers have, and he's trying to remind Hilmes of that now.
Hilmes can hear the Zot siblings squabbling in the background, their words and actions in opposition to his assumptions about them. He's just been called a coward by Alfarid, and Merlaine has denounced him as completely lacking humanity, while again referencing the Zot clans own morals. Hilmes recalls Kharlan's words about taking responsibility right after Merlaine has criticised him for refusing to do exactly that, saying he's 'no better than any other selfish royal.'
I think he's also starting to think about himself here as well as about the Zot. About how his preconceived notion of them as low-born bandits doesn't match with what they're doing now. About how his own behaviour doesn't match with what should be expected of someone belonging to the royal line.
I actually think he has a small moment of shame (see his lowered head) before he changes his position.
Hilmes has never displayed cowardice in battle, but Alfarid was right to call him a coward when he was preparing to wash his hands of all this and abandon Pars. In fact, she and Merlaine were right in everything they said to Hilmes this chapter, and he was wrong in all his assumptions about them. The code and conduct of the Zot Clan puts Parsian royals to shame. Alfarid is not 'playing' at being a righteous warrior, this is who she really is. And it forces Hilmes to confront who he wants to be (or maybe who he doesn't).
Of course, his temporary alliance with the Zot siblings is done in typically abrasive Hilmes style and he instantly just overrides them and takes command. But I also think it's interesting that he opens with an acknowledgement that the hatred Merlaine bears for him won't go away. I wonder how that will all resolve (sorry but my heart still says Merlaine won't make it through to the point at which he could duel Hilmes).
The comedic touch of Zandeh carrying Merlaine was much appreciated! And so they set off, looking to fight their way through the Snake King's army to exit through the gates, instead. Are they going to bump into Arslan? Or Sam?
Well that's creepy and hopefully not true, but now we know that this guy (Sanjeh) has been watching Hilmes.
And now we cut to Arslan, who is being attacked by Ghundi, the other remaining disciple.
Yikes!
Smart move.
He's just planning to sic Zahhak's soldiers on them instead.
This is quintessential Daryun, tbh.
Anyway, at the very end of the chapter a horse turns up, with Estelle on board! I've not always been the hugest fan of Estelle, but I have come to like her more and more lately and I admit it, I cheered. No sign of Don Ricardo but I'm going to trust he's there too! What will happen next? Will Daryun get that horse he wanted (even if it's no Shabrang)? Actually where is Shabrang right now?
Where is the Holy Master? Like the two disciples, he left to follow Zahhak's order to seize and destroy Rukhnabad, but it appears they all split up, or else he simply hasn't revealed his presence yet.
