Victory and Return

At Ferdinand's urging, I climbed down from my knightbeast and surveyed the surroundings. Leaving the escort knights to their debate about who had delivered the final blow to Grausam, I looked up at Ferdinand.

"Ferdinand, is it true that they've finished dealing with the city of Ehrenfest?"

"There would be no point in lying about such a thing. An Ordinance just arrived from the Aub a short while ago. It appears that Grausam and Georgine's movements were indeed coordinated."

From the timing, it seemed that when the Giebs had been stealing the land's Magic Power and Grausam had just seized the Gieb's estate, Georgine had arrived in Ehrenfest's city.

"When we sent the Ordinance, she must have been heading toward the Foundation. It seems she was somewhat relieved to learn that we had arrived here."

"What about the damage to the lower city and the Temple?"

That was what mattered most to me. If my father had settled things, did that mean Georgine had reached the Foundation? Or had they captured her near the Foundation before she could make preparations, based on the information they'd received from those captured in the area? I had no idea.

"...Unfortunately, we haven't received information that detailed yet."

It seemed the only report was that the confrontation with Georgine had been resolved. Ferdinand's words made me want to return to Ehrenfest's city as soon as possible. I couldn't stop worrying about the lower city and the Temple. If we departed right now, would we make it to Ehrenfest by nightfall?

"Then let's return to Ehrenfest as quickly as possible."

"...Wait. If we're going back, we need to properly settle affairs here as well. We can't simply leave everything as it is."

Ferdinand's warning left me at a loss for words. Honestly, since we'd managed to crush the threat of the old Werkestock, I wanted to leave the remaining matters to the local people and head straight back.

"What exactly needs to be done? When will I be able to return to Ehrenfest?"

"The rest of Gerlach can be left to the remaining knights and nobles, with the Aub giving final instructions—there's no problem there. However, you, as Aub, need to issue directives to the Ahrensbach side, and above all, we need a proper resolution with Dunkelfelger."

"A resolution?"

I understood that we couldn't ignore Dunkelfelger, which had provided such tremendous assistance. But couldn't we take them along to Ehrenfest's city under the pretense of offering thanks from the Aub, and then depart right away?

"First, a Ditter victory declaration is needed. Since you, who lured Dunkelfelger's knights into a genuine Ditter, haven't issued the declaration of conclusion, the Ditter isn't officially over. If you return to Ehrenfest as things stand, you'll have to bring Dunkelfelger's knights to a city that has only just finished fighting."

I couldn't understand why Ferdinand was making such a pained face forbidding the Dunkelfelger knights from accompanying us, so I placed my hand on my cheek and tilted my head.

"Is there a problem? They helped us tremendously, so it's important for Father to express his gratitude and appreciation from the Aub, isn't it? If we use that as a pretext, couldn't we have them accompany us and move out faster?"

"If we did that, Ehrenfest's food stores and wine cellar would be emptied."

Ferdinand shook his head with a sigh. I'd been asleep so I had no firsthand sense of it, but apparently, since departure had been postponed until I woke, the Dunkelfelger knights had been holding an endless "reflection meeting" that was really just a banquet. The food and drink in the Ahrensbach castle had been reduced to a dire state in barely a day.

After a month of preparation for war, and now that we'd finally defeated a long-standing enemy, bringing all of the Dunkelfelger knights to an already exhausted Ehrenfest would deal serious damage. The attendants who'd been listening to our conversation also wore complicated expressions. "Well, I believe Ferdinand's concerns are valid," they said.

"But we can't just send them home empty-handed, can we?"

"If you'll be discussing compensation with the Aub of Dunkelfelger later, there's no need to express our gratitude right now. First, return to Bindelwald, and use the teleportation circle to send them back through the Gate at the Dunkelfelger border. We can discuss compensation in the form of Magical Tools, but there's no reason for us to cover the banquet costs."

"You can't just do that..."

Ferdinand's suggestion to simply send them away when things were done made me grimace slightly. The Dunkelfelger knights had been faithfully accompanying us through the midnight sortie, the rescue of Ferdinand, the mop-up of Lanzanave, and the expedition to Ehrenfest. I couldn't bring myself to kick them out the moment they'd served their purpose.

While I was appealing to Ferdinand, Schtrahl arrived to report that the old Werkestock knights had been captured and sent to Bindelwald. I stepped back slightly to make room for Schtrahl.

"Ferdinand, we've captured almost all of the old Werkestock knights. Right now, the Dunkelfelger knights are chasing the Giebs who fled into the forest."

The old Werkestock knights and Giebs who'd been outside had been mostly captured alive, with the help of the Dunkelfelger knights, and they had begun recovering the scattered magic stones.

"Good. Keep at it."

"Yes, sir!"

When Schtrahl saluted and took a step back, I moved closer to Ferdinand and lightly tugged his sleeve.

"Ferdinand, they've helped us so much. We really should express our gratitude to Dunkelfelger."

"It would require an extraordinary amount of wine. And besides, no one has prepared a banquet large enough to accommodate that many people. You're planning to send them back quickly in a short campaign, which is why you hadn't considered the provisions, correct? Where do you intend to scrounge them from?"

It was true that I'd discussed providing two bells' worth of goods with the Aub of Dunkelfelger as compensation for Ferdinand's rescue. I hadn't calculated how many days' worth of meals would be needed for a group this large, and even if we started preparing a banquet now, we'd have to begin by rounding up cooks.

"The Ditter is already over, so just issue the victory declaration and send them on their way. That's the simplest solution."

"Rozemyne. Ferdinand."

"What is it, Cornelius?"

Turning at my brother Cornelius's voice, I saw Schtrahl kneeling a short distance away. Cornelius indicated that Schtrahl seemed to have something to say. He'd apparently been waiting for our conversation to pause, but when it showed no sign of stopping, he'd intervened.

"Schtrahl, what is it?"

"I forgot to mention this in my earlier report. At Bindelwald's summer estate, preparations are underway for a banquet with food and drink intended to receive the old Werkestock Giebs and knights. Might those supplies be used for the Dunkelfelger gratitude banquet?"

Now that she mentioned it, I seemed to recall hearing that Frau Lerm and the others had been making some kind of reception preparations. Ferdinand nodded thoughtfully, tapping lightly on his temple.

"That way, you wouldn't need to bring the Dunkelfelger group to Ehrenfest, and you could properly express your gratitude to the Dunkelfelger knights as you wished. If it's merely the Aub of Ehrenfest expressing thanks, wouldn't it suffice to have only the representative, Lady Hannelore, and her attendants, along with Commander Heißhitz, accompany us?"

"That's true."

I wanted the nobles of Ehrenfest to know properly that the Dunkelfelger knights had fought hard to protect Ehrenfest. But I could also understand that not everyone needed to go.

"If we leave the Dunkelfelger knights at Bindelwald, the Aub can operate the teleportation circle, and we can head to Ehrenfest at maximum speed. However, Bindelwald's food supplies aren't that abundant either. We'll need to return to Ahrensbach by tomorrow."

"Our time in Ehrenfest will be short, then."

"Yes. And it's not just the Dunkelfelger knights—Dietlinde and Leonzio, who were supposed to have gone to the central region, can't be left unattended either. Reporting to Ehrenfest, exchanging information, and showing appreciation to our allies are all important, but it's not all over yet."

If anything came up, the royal family should have already contacted Dunkelfelger and mobilized the higher-ranked duchies. I wasn't as worried about the central region as I was about Ehrenfest, but no matter how low the priority, we couldn't do absolutely nothing. I nodded.

"Even if time is short, I think I'll feel at ease if I can see the lower city and Temple of Ehrenfest with my own eyes. ...Though I might not want to leave after that."

"Don't worry. I'll tear you away."

"Doesn't that sound terribly harsh toward me!?"

Imagining myself being summarily dragged away, I glared at Ferdinand. He tilted his head. "Was it not always like this?"

"...Come to think of it, it was. I'm so nostalgic I could cry."

"Save your nostalgia for later. Send an Ordinance to the Aub, requesting that guest rooms be prepared for Lady Hannelore and the others and that the teleportation circle be made available to save time. I'm going to issue instructions to the Ahrensbach people."

Even if they were Ferdinand's attendants, bringing Ahrensbach knights along now would likely not be emotionally accepted by the people of Ehrenfest. So he was apparently going to order the Ahrensbach knights and attendants to handle Dunkelfelger's reception.

...Hosting the Dunkelfelger knights. It felt remarkably like a punishment game.

I used an Ordinance to inform my father that the Battle of Gerlach was over, that I was bringing Ferdinand and the others along with Hannelore and her group and needed permission to enter the city, that guest room preparations would be needed, and that I'd like to use the teleportation circle to save time.

"I've received word from the Aub of Ehrenfest via Ordinance. The Foundation of Ehrenfest has been protected from the invaders."

Standing on the balcony of what was likely one-eighth destroyed—no, half-destroyed—the Gieb's estate, I looked down at the knights gathered below. Using an amplification Magical Tool that Matthias had dug up from the Gieb's estate, I addressed them.

"I have secured the Foundation of Ahrensbach, and the defense of the Foundation of Ehrenfest has been confirmed. Victory is therefore certain. I hereby declare the victory and conclusion of the genuine Ditter!"

"Ooohhhh!"

The Dunkelfelger knights struck their Staves against their weapons at my victory declaration, raised them high, and let out triumphant cheers.

"Ehrenfest, which is inferior in raw strength, was able to defeat Ahrensbach and old Werkestock only because of the participation of Dunkelfelger's volunteers. Their valor and strength are the finest in Yurgenschmidt, in my estimation."

"Urahhhhh!"

"As a token of our gratitude, modest though it may be, preparations for a banquet are underway at the Bindelwald estate. Once the cleanup here is complete, please proceed there. The Ahrensbach knights will serve as guides."

Facing the Dunkelfelger knights, who had worked themselves into a frenzy that seemed impossible to contain after the victory declaration, Hannelore produced the staff of the Goddess of Water, Fairfune Mea. She then performed the religious rite that follows a Ditter victory, calming them with it.

...This rite is absolutely essential for Dunkelfelger.

The now-calm knights began to move. I addressed Hannelore, who let out a breath of relief.

"Lady Hannelore, the Aub of Ehrenfest would like to invite you to the castle as a gesture of thanks. After the Aub and I discuss matters regarding this battle, I'll need to return to Ahrensbach as quickly as possible, so the invitation is quite sudden, I'm afraid..."

We'd be traveling via teleportation circle to save time, and everyone except her attendants and Heißhitz would be staying at Bindelwald. I asked if she would still accept the invitation to the castle, and Hannelore thought for a moment before calling over Heißhitz. I explained the same thing to him as well.

"If you'd prefer to return to your duchy immediately, of course we can escort everyone to the Gate on the Dunkelfelger-Ahrensbach border. But sending them away right after the Ditter ends felt rather poor..."

"What do you think, Heißhitz? I would personally like to accept the invitation if possible..."

Heißhitz smiled. "Opportunities like this are the only reason we'd ever be allowed to set foot in Ehrenfest. Let's go."

"Lady Rozemyne, thank you for the invitation. We would be delighted to accept."

I appreciated Dunkelfelger's flexibility in seizing a small opportunity like this without raising objections about the suddenness or deviation from precedent. The royals who had demanded "three days' notice" when we'd urgently contacted them could really learn from this.

"Schtrahl, I'm counting on you."

"Yes, ma'am! I'll contact Lady Letizia as soon as we return to Bindelwald. You'll be returning tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yes. Send the Dunkelfelger knights at Bindelwald to the border Gate, then return to the castle."

Ferdinand gave Schtrahl instructions regarding Letizia, and ordered the Dunkelfelger knights to help with magic stone recovery and prisoner transport. All it took was for him to say, "If you want a reflection meeting without alcohol, you don't need to work," and the Dunkelfelger knights immediately set to work diligently. How much did these people love drinking?

"I've finished, Lady Rozemyne."

"Thank you for your hard work, Hartmut. You've been a tremendous help. The nobles and commoners of Gerlach should be able to rest a bit easier now."

Hartmut had been tasked with managing the small Holy Cups recovered from the Giebs. I had asked him to return the Magic Power that had been stored in them back to the land. As a former Chief Priest, Hartmut was the most knowledgeable about handling small Holy Cups among the nobles present here.

"We'll need to return the emptied small Holy Cups to old Werkestock. ...I wonder if the Commoners there are all right?"

"That's not for you to worry about, Lady Rozemyne. That's for the next Aub of Werkestock to consider."

Hartmut suggested telling the royal family about searching for the Temple's keys to dye the Foundation, and having them appoint a new Aub at the Lord's Conference. He was quite critical, saying that the problems had arisen precisely because they'd been trying to manage things without an Aub.

"After this, we'll return to the castle for the victory celebration. You've followed along through such an intense battle despite being a civil official. Please enjoy yourself, Hartmut."

"I'd like to tell everyone in Ehrenfest exactly how Lady Rozemyne defeated Grausam."

"...That wouldn't happen to mean exposing to everyone how I destroyed the estate with Lesser Kun, would it?"

When I asked cautiously, Hartmut nodded with a beaming smile.

"Lady Rozemyne, whose windows blazed with one Blessing of light after another, whose escort knights were driven back, yet who continued to resist. And then, she burst through the roof and eliminated Grausam. That knightbeast's form was truly magnificent. I absolutely must share it with everyone!"

"Please don't!"

I was planning to ask Father to quietly give me gold dust to fix things. I really didn't need it broadcast so dramatically.

"I'm banning you from the banquet!"

"My lady would never do something so unreasonable. ...Besides, even if I weren't here, there were plenty of witnesses."

Hartmut said this while glancing at the escort knights. Among my escort knights, Cornelius, who was closest to me as my brother, grinned.

"When I finally got permission from Ferdinand and rushed into the estate, all I could see was Grausam and white walls. I had no idea what was going on. Enlarging his knightbeast to the point of smashing through the roof to resist—that's something no one else would ever think of."

"Cornelius!"

"Grausam never would have imagined something like that, which is how Lady Rozemyne won. He never expected that all his traps could be completely avoided by a knightbeast."

"Matthias!"

As my escort knights chattered one after another about the battle and I desperately tried to stop them, Ferdinand called out to me in an exasperated tone.

"Rozemyne, the teleportation circle is lit. Hurry!"

Hannelore, already prepared in front of the teleportation circle, was giggling.

"From the mop-up battle of Lanzanave to the Battle of Gerlach, Lady Rozemyne has truly been remarkable. I'm genuinely impressed."

"It was you who was truly remarkable, Lady Hannelore."

"...If Lady Rozemyne saw it that way, then I'm happy."

...That was the only way to see it.

From the glowing teleportation circle, Father and three escort knights appeared. Seeing us lined up around the circle, his face broke into a warm smile.

"Rozemyne, you did truly well. Our deepest thanks to Lady Hannelore and the Dunkelfelger knights above all. And—welcome back. You've returned safely, Ferdinand. ...Formal greetings can wait. We're heading to the castle. Rozemyne, Ferdinand—lend me a hand."

Ferdinand and I knelt and poured Magic Power into the teleportation circle. Father raised his Staf.

"Nenryussel Ehrenfest."

Black and gold light danced, and our vision swayed and blurred.