Outside the fortress, they were throwing huge piles of Monsters into massive pits and burning them.
They stripped away usable materials and recovered the Magic Stones. For the more heavily damaged ones, they skipped the materials entirely and just harvested the Magic Stones.
Knights and mages poured oil into the pits and set them ablaze.
Amid smoke billowing everywhere, I walked around inspecting the scene with a mask over my face, chatting with Alette.
As we strolled side by side, soldiers here and there greeted me. Among them were a few who didn't bother hiding their disdain—clicking their tongues openly.
The knights and soldiers on Rolfis's side seemed particularly resentful.
Alette offered an apology.
"I'm sorry. They understand it in their heads, but emotions get the better of quite a few of them."
I gave a slight shake of my head.
"Don't worry about it. I did something worthy of that reaction, after all. Anyway, shall we get back to our discussion? The distribution of Magic Stones and materials—right? We'll be taking the Giant Kong, but beyond that, splitting half and half with Zayin should work, wouldn't you say?"
At that, Alette looked at me and grimaced slightly.
"That's fine for us, but that would leave nothing for Lyle. We were thinking of allocating you somewhere between thirty and forty percent?"
Both Zayin and Rolfis would be desperate for Magic Stones and materials—desperate enough to reach through their own throats for them. Since they wouldn't need to buy from Baim anymore, every scrap counted.
"Oh, I'll be receiving a share of course. The Giant Kong Magic Stones seem to be quite high quality, and we got our hands plenty of materials too, so we ended up making more than planned. No problems there."
That was true, but it wasn't the whole truth. In reality, I had financial support from the Trace family and several other merchant houses. Even after setting aside support funds for bereaved families, there was still plenty left.
Besides, both Zayin and Rolfis would need large quantities of Magic Stones and materials.
"Well, I've already discussed it with Lombolt and Gastone, so there are no issues. Just take your half and carry it home. Try not to fight over it."
When I cracked that joke, Alette let out a sigh.
"As if you have the energy for that? Once we finish cleaning up here, I'm sending the main force back to the country. I want to get them home in a hurry. Galleria and Rusworth's movements have me worried."
These were two nations with comparable or even greater national power than Zayin or Rolfis. Four countries of the same scale... That was the current situation around Baim.
"Apparently they've been fighting quite a bit."
"...When we sent out scouts, it turned out it wasn't just minor skirmishes. They really live up to the name 'monsters.' Both sides are united under their female heads, so there aren't many openings either. Seriously, I wish Selva were here for this."
I could only wince. Alette must have realized her comment had come off as a dig, because she quickly apologized.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine. Anyway, shall we start getting ready? There'll be people coming from Baim to pick up the Magic Stones."
"...Why Baim? And what do you mean, coming to pick them up?"
Seeing Alette's confusion, I flashed a grin and decided to explain.
—At Baim's Guild headquarters, Gastone and Lombolt were in a heated argument with the executives.
Gastone's face was beet red as he—
"What do you mean, hand over the Magic Stones and materials we risked our lives to obtain?! On top of that, you want to use the fortress yourselves as-is?! Getting a fortress that turned back an army of Monsters for free is just absurd!"
The Baim executive officers listened to Gastone's complaints with bitter expressions.
They had muscled their way in by offering to participate, only to turn around and refuse to sell the Magic Stones and materials. They were probably planning to take them back home for their own use.
Then again, the executives hadn't expected the knights and soldiers from both countries to make it back alive either. That was why their plans had gone so far off the rails.
The merchants had been riding them hard to figure out some way to offload the excess weaponry.
One of the executives spoke up.
"Then how about we trade for weapons? You must have lost a large number of weapons as well, and if you're willing, we could do... something like this."
When the exchange rate was proposed, Lombolt's face flushed red from head to toe, his expression something like a boiled octopus—
"You want us to trade the rewards we earned fighting for our lives for just this much?! And on top of that, we're supposed to pay the difference out of pocket?!"
The executive immediately apologized.
"N-No, that's a misunderstanding. Very well then. With this amount of Magic Stones... how about this much from our side?"
The rate was changed immediately, but the two were not convinced.
"Even under normal circumstances, this rate is absurd. Are you taking us for fools? We never wanted weapons in the first place. As long as we have Magic Stones and materials, that's enough."
The Guild executives were also troubled by the prospect of the two nations walking away with vast quantities of Magic Stones and materials. After all, they had been unable to obtain Magic Stones and materials for weeks, and the resources they had stockpiled had all been converted into weapons.
In other words, they were facing a severe shortage of Magic Stones and materials.
The executives exchanged worried glances, knowing that problems would crop up everywhere if things continued this way.
"...In that case, we will write off the remaining debt of both nations. On top of that, how about exchanging for the weapons we have in storage? And I should add—this is the absolute limit of our concessions."
Gastone and Lombolt looked frustrated at the executive's serious expression.
The executives thought among themselves.
*(Neither of these two nations has the national power to stand against Baim, no matter how much they posture.)*
When Gastone nodded, Lombolt reluctantly accepted as well. But then Gastone—
"...If we give up everything, we'll be in trouble too. At the very least, we'd like you to spare us—take only seventy percent of our share."
Lombolt was of the same mind.
"Same here. We can't go back empty-handed. Even if we return to our nations, we won't be able to convince anyone."
The Baim Guild executives ran the numbers, determined that they could just barely get by with this arrangement, and nodded with smiles.
"Very well. Baim will take seventy percent from each nation's share. As for the weapons, we'll have them prepared, and since this also serves as a confirmation of the quantities, please feel free to send people to transport them."
Hearing this, Lombolt looked frustrated.
"Isn't that just telling us to shoulder the transportation costs?"
The executive smiled.
"Not at all—we simply need to verify the quantities. You wouldn't want us doing things twice, would you?"
The documents prepared by the staff were reviewed by the executive officials and by Gastone and Lombolt. Each one checked the contents and signed.
The executive officials from Baim wore beaming smiles, while Gastone and Lombolt, looking downward, had trembling shoulders. They were utterly convinced that the two must be feeling frustrated.
Behind those two, who they assumed were so bitterly resentful, stood May, dressed in the garb worn by the shrine maiden of Zayin—
Several days later.
Soldiers from the units to be stationed at the fortress from Baim, along with several mercenary groups, visited the fortress.
However, beyond those, a massive number of transport units were also sent in, alongside mercenary groups tasked with collecting Magic Stones and materials.
One of the arrogant free knights from Baim came to the fortress, sat in a chair in the commander's room, and lined us up before him to deliver his instructions verbally.
"You've worked hard on the defense. From now on, this fortress will be managed by Baim. You may return immediately."
I, Alette, and Neuer—the three of us were lined up.
Telling us to return immediately meant we should leave right away.
"Oh, and this is the decision from your superiors. Seventy percent of the Magic Stones and materials will be ceded to Baim. It was nice that you'd already sorted them cleanly into Magic Stones and materials—made things easy."
In front of the new fortress commander who was deliberately provoking them, the Third Generation burst out laughing and said:
"This guy's hopeless. Let's get rid of him while we're at it. Commanders should be competent, don't you think?"
Mireia nodded in agreement, giggling.
"I concur. Now then, how shall we kick him out of that chair he's sitting in?"
The moment she was on board, she immediately started thinking of ways to kick him out.
(These people have way too malicious personalities.)
While I was thinking that, the free knight continued:
"Ah, and leave the cannon that performed so well in battle here. It'd be a hassle if it were brought back to Baim. You won't be using it anymore, right? We'll put it to good use."
I was left utterly dumbfounded. Neuer, as expected, couldn't stay silent any longer.
"That's too much! That cannon—"
"It's fine!"
I stopped Neuer and shook my head. No matter what, I had to act the part of a lowly adventurer in front of the new commander.
But the Fifth Generation was already bursting out.
*'C-Could this guy actually be looking out for us?'*
The Fourth Generation was laughing uproariously too.
*'He's so kind I'm tearing up. He's incompetent, but he's a miracle! I won't forget this guy!'*
I looked at the commander.
"...You're telling me to leave the cannon behind."
"That's right. I'd have a headache if that thing got brought back to Baim. Still, you prepared it well. That part deserves praise."
Then the Seventh Generation's voice came, sounding pleased.
*'I too can commend your actions just now. You're a fine man. An outstanding specimen who voluntarily provided us with material to laugh at and kick around — from our perspective, that is.'*
"...Understood. We'll be going, then, since we have preparations to make."
Watching us leave the room looking frustrated, the fortress's new commander leaned back in his chair, thoroughly satisfied.
For the record, we were also thoroughly satisfied.
(But seventy percent? I'd braced myself for eighty to ninety. Did Gastone and the others pull it off?)
We left the fortress behind and returned to Baim.
I headed straight for the Trace residence. I needed to visit the merchant houses that had supported us, but there was something I had to report to Vera first.
The moment I entered the manor, Vera came running up.
"Laiel! You didn't get hurt, did you?! If you did, I'll never forgive you!"
I caught Vera as she threw herself into my arms and gave a wry smile. At the entrance of the manor, Gina — Vera's sister — and her boyfriend Roland were watching us from a short distance away.
Mireia glanced around.
"So… Fidel isn't here. What a shame. I was hoping to taunt him right to his face. I had all these lines and tactics ready for it too."
The Third Generation spoke as though consoling Mireia.
"Don't worry, there'll be plenty of chances to mess with him going forward. Just call him 'Father-in-Law' and he'll fly off the handle in no time — it'll be great!"
These people really were terrible.
Then I turned to Vera with a guilt-ridden expression. In all seriousness, I truly was sorry. The Successive Heads had told me to hand the cannon over to that commander, the Free Knight, so I'd gone along with it.
"Um, I'm sorry… I, uh, couldn't bring the cannon back. Baim's Free Knight told us to leave it at the fortress… along with the guns and ammunition. Sorry."
Vera was furious.
"Who cares about that?! Just make another one! You came back safe — that's all that matters. Or did someone else get hurt?"
When I told her none of my companions had been injured, Vera visibly relaxed.
Seeing this, the Fourth Generation remarked,
"Hmm… Vera does remind me of my wife, just a little."
The Fifth Generation chimed in with a nostalgic look.
"That prickly-yet-sweet attitude — yeah, she really is like Mom."
That was what they said.
Then the Seventh Generation, looking eager, spoke up:
"Well then, here comes the fun part. I never thought the day would come when we'd be showing gratitude to adventurers' guilds and merchants in Baim. Laiel, it's time to enjoy yourself!"
Ignoring the high-spirited Successive Heads, I gave Vera a rough rundown of the defensive battle.
At the Guild headquarters, Fidel slammed a stack of documents onto his desk, his subordinates in tow.
The senior staff of the Guild on the receiving end were trembling before Fidel, one of Baim's most prominent merchants.
Fidel had stormed into the Baim Adventurers' Guild headquarters after learning the details from Vera—where they had dispatched the Free Knights.
And the documents in his hand contained proof that the cannons and heavy weaponry had been borrowed from Fidel. He had forced them to write it up, thinking it would be a hassle if Laiel dragged his feet about returning them.
"Have you finished reading? You should go over documents multiple times to make sure there are no issues. I'm not just saying this to merchants—you lot need to hear it too."
The senior staff sat in their chairs, shrinking into themselves.
"We—we didn't know! We never imagined the Free Knights would do something like this…"
As the officials began making excuses, Fidel roared at them. His mind was composed, but his expression was filled with rage.
"Who told you to make excuses! All I'm asking is how you plan to take responsibility! What value do your excuses possibly hold?"
The senior staff must have been bitterly resentful toward the Free Knights they had dispatched. Free Knights or not, they were originally soldiers and adventurers.
That kind of management fell under the Guild's purview, and merchants kept private forces to maintain military capability.
In other words, the Guild had effectively stolen the equipment belonging to Fidel's private soldiers.
The senior staff apologized in unison.
"We are deeply sorry! We will retrieve everything and have it delivered at once!"
But Fidel was not satisfied.
"That equipment was loaded onto our ships. You expect them to set sail unarmed? You'll cover the losses incurred during that period, I trust? If the party you lent them to comes back prepared and you say they weren't destroyed but stolen—sure, the borrowers are a problem, but you who stole them bear responsibility too."
Laiel had explained that equipment would be destroyed in battle, so compensation had been waived. Fidel had figured that much was acceptable.
But this was a different matter entirely when there was an opportunity to squeeze money out of them. Besides, the Guild had been useless this time around. Partly out of that frustration, and partly as payback, Fidel took this stance.
One of the senior officials spoke up.
"…We will cover the full extent of the losses ourselves."
Fidel looked displeased.
"He may look like a bandit or a mountain brigand, but does he really have what it takes to command Redant Fortress? He certainly doesn't seem the part to me. Why not send someone a bit more competent? That place is a vital crossroads too. Waiting until something goes wrong will be too late, I'd think."
The senior official quickly spoke up.
"Yes, sir. We'll dispatch a capable person right away. The commander we sent will be punished severely, so this matter—"
"Very well. But if word gets out that we were robbed, I'll be made to look like a fool. The Guild wouldn't want to deal with strange rumors either, would they?"
"That... that's certainly true."
Fidel said this with a pleasant smile on his face.
"That's right, that's right... So, sign this."
When he produced the new documents, the senior officials' faces tightened.
"We'll say I was the one who sold them to you. Use the cannons and firearms for the fortress's defense. As for the 'twelve units' of cannons and firearms, I'll have new ones made and the Guild will cover the cost."
In truth, only ten cannons had been delivered to the fortress. None of the senior officials knew this, and they simply nodded in silence.
Seeing the officials sign, Fidel nodded with a satisfied smile.
"There were quite a few problems this time. But I can't very well lay all the blame on you alone. At the next meeting, I'll speak in your defense."
At this, the senior officials hurried to express their gratitude.
"Ah, thank you so much!"
"We don't know what to say to the Trace family. This gratitude of ours will absolutely—"
"We'll have the funds ready right away."
Fidel thought to himself—
(...Those guys are one thing, but that leech of a man is the real handful. Actually, that freeloading bastard actually survived... He's got the resilience of a cockroach.)
As I walked through the streets of Eva and Baim, I thought back to everything that had just transpired, and a weary expression settled over my face.
I pressed my left shoulder with my right hand and rolled my neck lightly.
"I can't quite shake the atmosphere of that place."
The scene that comes to mind is being surrounded by the Elves, fielding their questions about the battle and how I'd felt during it. I couldn't help but wonder where all their enthusiasm came from.
After chatting at length, I paid out rewards to the Elven clans who had helped, and saw them off as they departed from Baim.
Before long, the troupe of traveling performers from those participating Elven clans would probably make their way across the continent, avoiding the Banseim side.
Eva was walking happily beside me.
"Did something good happen?"
Eva stopped in her tracks and struck a pose as she turned around. She was beautiful enough to make for a striking picture, and the people around us had stopped to watch, smiling at her.
"So it turns out, I'll be appearing in some of the songs too! As the daughter of Nihil's clan who led the Elves, I'll have my name etched into history!"
Rather than feeling embarrassed at her own name being mentioned, she seemed genuinely thrilled about it. I let out a wry smile — our personalities were complete opposites.
I sighed and led Eva toward the manor.
"Well, as long as the word spreads, I guess that's fine."
Eva gave me a wink.
"It'll be fine. This whole affair was dramatic, historic, and they even paid travel expenses and rewards on top of that — people will be happy to spread the word. But you used to say you didn't want to be sung about or talked about. What changed your mind?"
When Eva tilted her head, I looked up at the sky.
"Well, it became necessary, so I decided to act. That's all. But..."
"But?"
"...Someday, you might actually end up singing an epic ballad about me, Eva."
I muttered it at a volume too low to hear, and Eva grabbed my shoulder and pulled.
"Hey, what was that? Say it properly. Now I'm curious."
Laughing, I let Eva tug me along, still holding her hand as we walked the rest of the way to the manor.
Mireia: "They're treating Riel like a cockroach... I won't stand for it!"
Third Generation: "Exactly! That's why next time we'll push them even harder, right?!"
Mireia: "I'm already looking forward to it! Actually, the people from Baim are so kind it almost brings me to tears."
Fourth Generation: "Right? They hand over weapons, money, and reputation on top of it all. You'd be cursed for saying anything bad about them."
Fifth Generation: "No, seriously. How much have they contributed to us by now? I almost feel guilty about it."
Seventh Generation: "But in the end, they'll definitely leech off us. No—regulate us. There's no mercy whatsoever in that."
Riel thought to himself: At least "Growth" didn't show up this time, but today I really just snitched to Vera and that was it... It was Fidel who actually did something. This is bad—people are really going to start treating me like a freeloader.