In the conference room of the Lufence royal castle, I was receiving a report from Lianne.
General Broa and Baldoa were present, along with Adele from the Baim front, and they were all listening to the briefing.
"Lufence has been going more smoothly than expected, since General Baldoa was already overseeing the reconstruction. We're at a solid twenty percent above projections."
The twenty percent surplus was in food. To move a massive army — no, simply to keep people going — food was essential. That was why we had been rushing to rebuild villages, restore infrastructure, and push forward development. Lufence already had plans in place, so progress had been strong.
But part of why things had gone so well was surely Lianne's ability. She had a broad vision and had been trusted completely with procuring and transporting supplies.
General Broa looked over the report with an impressed expression.
"I'm genuinely amazed we've come this far. To be blunt, with all the chaos going on, I was prepared for us to come in twenty percent short. Well, it certainly helped that Lord Laiel, our leader, is well versed in land reclamation and such. As expected of a member of the Landed Nobility, I suppose?"
It was thought that I lacked field experience, but General Broa seemed to have revised that assessment.
However, from inside the Jewel came the Third Generation's voice.
"Well, I've been teaching you all sorts of things up to now, so having me around makes that part easy. You might not expect it, but I've done actual farming work and territory development myself."
The Third Generation had been a lord during an era when his territory was expanding, and he had knowledge and experience in development matters. I had received his advice, sent people to the site, gathered further guidance, and acted accordingly.
I looked at General Broa.
"How about on your end, General?"
"Going well here too. I already had subordinates in place, and plenty of them have combat honors and real battlefield experience. So from here on out, it's just training and maintaining high morale. Although, I do have most of the men doing farm work right now to secure food supplies."
I had split things into roughly three groups, rotating them between farming duties and training.
The situation with the Baim front, though, was delicate. Every pair of eyes turned toward Adele. She spoke with her gaze lowered.
"The Baim front isn't going very well. If we reach eighty percent of our target, we'll consider that a good outcome."
Baldoa looked at Adele.
"Eighty percent? I would have thought you'd allocated a considerable amount of manpower to it?"
It probably wasn't meant as a criticism, but from Adele's perspective, it would certainly feel like one.
"We've been offering advice and guidance, but the problem is this overwhelming sense of individualism."
It seemed their desire to prioritize themselves led to clashes in opinion, resulting in delays. If they cooperated more, things would have proceeded on schedule, but even when support was dispatched, they argued over where to send it.
Baldoa was a bit exasperated.
"Lady Adele, I hesitate to say this, but I wish you would exert a firmer hand."
From Baldoa's viewpoint, it was the responsibility of the leader, Adele. However, the situation in Baim was slightly different. Just as I was about to open my mouth to offer Adele some support, Lianne spoke first.
"Baim has a rather unique method of governance. It seems they were used to deciding things through committees, so even when Adele issued instructions, that habit was hard to break."
Baldoa didn't quite seem to understand.
"If it's a committee matter, then we too—"
Lianne smiled gently.
"It's a bit different for us. Without an absolute sovereign, they spend a great deal of time reconciling each faction's demands. Even I would find it difficult, and meeting eighty percent of the target is actually a testament to Adele's capability."
Lianne looked at me, and I nodded. Adele also seemed relieved.
"Baldoa, Baim is a special case. Given that, Adele has done remarkably well."
Baldoa looked at Adele.
"My apologies. It seems I didn't truly understand the nature of Baim."
Adele shook her head.
"The fact remains, we didn't reach the objective."
Lianne then picked up a report, seemingly running calculations in her head regarding food supplies.
"Concerning the food we currently have on hand, our procurement options are also reaching their limits. Everywhere is clamoring for supplies. At this rate... fighting a prolonged campaign is going to be very difficult."
To maintain a large army, a corresponding amount of food was essential.
Moreover, we didn't have the stamina for a prolonged campaign in our current state.
I looked at Lianne.
"How long can we fight?"
"If things go well as they are now, we can manage three months. That's the absolute limit, though. To be blunt, you'll need to settle this within two months, or things will get very difficult going forward. Once we pass three months, all that'll be left is enough food to retreat."
Adele set a report down on the table.
"...In Banseim, they gather workers during this season, so labor is already in short supply. The food crisis is plain to see. It's questionable how much food remains in Central as well."
Then, Third Generation spoke to me in a serious tone.
"Rael, choose your advance route carefully. If you're not careful, you'll pass through numerous villages suffering from food shortages. If that happens... if you abandon those villages, people will say Rael discarded his own people. Avoid such villages as much as possible and advance."
I reached out with my fingertips to grab the Jewel and roll it, but Third Generation spoke in a stern voice.
"This isn't a game. You're not planning to lose to Ceres over some foolish reason like giving away alms and running out of food, are you? If Rael loses, tens of millions of people will die over the coming decades."
After a brief pause, I clenched the Jewel in my fist. Then, in the meeting chamber,
"...Rather than the shortest route, we'll choose the one that minimizes food consumption. We need to consider the worst case — no food left in Central."
Adele tilted her head.
"Huh? Um... if we don't take the shortest route, the food—"
Before Adele could finish, General Broa nodded with a grave expression.
"I see. So you're planning to avoid villages suffering from food shortages. We'd need to do some reconnaissance, but... this is an unpleasant task."
General Broa seemed to understand. Lianne had the same expression.
"The best route that balances distance and food consumption. Indeed, abandoning starving villages would damage Rael's reputation. It would also affect troop morale. We're supposed to be fighting to save the continent, yet we can't even save the people right in front of us."
Baldoa rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"...Even if you understand the logic, seeing it right in front of you is another matter."
Adele tried to speak, but Lianne silenced her with a glance.
I addressed everyone.
"Rauno... I'll have Rauno investigate. We need to have the advance route information ready. I don't think it's changed drastically in the last few months."
And so, the meeting concluded.
—After the meeting.
Adele was walking beside Lianne. Behind Lianne, at a slight distance, Valkyrie Unit 34 followed.
While walking, Adele spoke.
"For Lord Rael's reputation, rather than deliberately avoiding the shortest route, we should aim for Central while distributing food."
Lianne dismissed Adele's opinion without altering her walking pace.
"Depending on the investigation, that could be an option. However, with the lord absent, a succession, the chaos of losing a war, and the loss of many able-bodied men, the eastern region is undoubtedly facing a food crisis."
Where roads were maintained, towns and villages were plentiful. The abundance of settlements also contributed to the maintenance. Even cities followed this pattern.
Therefore, if using the roads, passing through many towns and villages was inevitable.
"So, we must help them—"
Lianne continued, her tone flat.
"Help the weak right in front of us, and increase the factors that could make us lose a battle we must win? If you want to advocate for taking the shortest route, the proper thing to do is to create a situation where that's possible first. Anyone can just make idealistic statements."
Though Lianne had supported Adele during the meeting, she now refused to entertain her opinion. Adele countered.
"We have soldiers from the eastern region in our ranks. If we carelessly abandon people, it will breed resentment."
"I'm not saying we shouldn't help. We help within the limits of what our food supplies allow. What we must prioritize is winning. I'm not being selective about means. I'm simply saying the means to victory are limited to this."
Adele clenched her teeth.
"...If you're frustrated, then propose a solution. You're not in a position to be incompetent and get away with it. Also, if you resent Lord Rael, you're blaming the wrong person."
"I understand."
Adele, having said that, walked briskly ahead of Lianne.
No. 34 watched her go.
"You really do look like the villain, Lady Lianne."
Lianne let out a sigh.
"I didn't become one by choice. If I can help, I help. I'm saying I can't help because it's not possible. You can't get your priorities wrong. Besides, without a solution or an alternative, it's nothing but empty words."
When Lianne said it was nothing more than a tasteless joke, No. 34 asked:
"Then, if there were a solution—"
"I'd review it and then decide whether to adopt it. Of course, we're already pushing food production to its limits. I've considered sending supplementary supplies, but even that isn't enough—that's the reality. Well, let's see what Lady Adele comes up with."
"You're not going to take action yourself?"
Lianne turned back toward No. 34.
"...Do you think I have that kind of time?"
No. 34 shook her head, letting her black hair sway.
"No. Lady Lianne, you've been cutting into your sleep to get work done. I'll do my best to support you too. And while we're at it, the sooner Little Chick—"
Without a word, Lianne quickened her pace. No. 34 didn't miss the faint blush on her cheeks.
"Well, well. There's definitely something there. It might not be long before you can hold Little Chick in your arms."
—By the time the meeting ended and they returned to Baim, dark circles had formed under Adele's eyes.
After turning things over in her mind, she let her shoulders droop—perhaps Lianne was right, and there was nothing to do but give up—and paid a visit to the former Eastern Branch Guild, in what was becoming the center of Baim.
Inside, her subordinates were hard at work as usual.
Then a certain smell wafted over from the guild's courtyard. It felt less like someone preparing a meal and more like someone conducting some kind of experiment.
There, Maxim—who had been supporting her—was facing off against Valkyrie.
Maxim accepted something from Valkyrie, made a face of distaste, and ate it. Then, with a grim expression:
"...It's somewhat better, but still awful. Way too awful."
Valkyrie responded to his candid opinion.
"I did prepare it a little, you know. It looks appetizing enough."
"Back when I went into the mountains during training, a senior knight made me try one, and I've had a complex about it ever since. It doesn't even look appetizing."
Tubers had been laid out there. What Valkyrie had found were tuber-like things that grew just about anywhere. While they were hearty enough to survive in the wild, they were cultivated differently—something like a mutated strain.
They tasted truly awful. Many people had bitter memories of venturing into the mountains when food was scarce and having to seek these out and eat them.
Some even said they would rather starve than eat these. Though, of course, if they truly faced starvation, they probably would.
(You have to be starving to eat them, huh? There are tons of them growing all around here, but they're in the way, so we need to get rid of them... You have to be starving to eat them?)
Adele dashed forward and snatched the tubers right out of Maxim's hands.
"M-Miss! You mustn't! Something that awful! And besides, indi—indirect—"
"Just give it to me! *chomp!*"
Adele bit into the tuber, and the indescribable awfulness that spread through her mouth moved her just slightly.
"...It's awful. But it's edible."
Seeing Adele reduced to tears, Maxim began flustering about.
"I-I'll prepare a palate cleanser right away! Hey, isn't there anything around?!"
When Maxim called out to Valkyrie, who was nearby, she wore a blank expression but seemed thoroughly displeased.
"All I need to do is go bring it, right? Honestly, I go to all the trouble of making this, and all you do is 'awful, awful'... You're getting all worked up about it."
Maxim turned to Valkyrie.
"Hey, have you all seriously lost your screws? Maybe you should go have Professor Damian tighten them for you."
Valkyrie struck a mocking posture toward Maxim. It seemed intended as a fighting stance.
"How rude! This is perfectly normal for us!"
"That's even worse! ...Wait, Lady Adele!"
Adele was eating that unappetizing potato while crying. And then, she became certain.
"It's okay. I can eat it if it's like this. So, teach me the cooking method! If it's this, we can advance along the shortest route!"
Maxim couldn't understand what Adele was saying. However, Valkyrie seemed to understand. She pinched the hem of her skirt and gave a neat bow.
"If I can be of help, I'd be happy to. Incidentally, the dish I make while teaching you—Maxim, you can dispose of it—meaning, eat it."
Maxim turned back to Adele.
"If—if you're the one making it, then I, Maxim—will eat it all, no matter how awful it tastes!"
Valkyrie shook her head with a weary expression.
"Adele, you don't need to make it. I'll make it, and Maxim will eat it. That's all."
Maxim's face turned green. However, Adele was eating the potato while crying. That potato, which normally wouldn't even be considered food, filled Adele with emotion. But it was incredibly awful.
"It's awful. It's so awful."
To those watching, it must have looked like a deeply eerie scene.
And so, Adele had just returned, but she hurriedly set off back to the Lufenst Royal Castle.