When the invasion by Lyle's main force commenced, Cartavus also made its move.
It was a territory that shared a border with their own, where skirmishes had broken out frequently since long before.
An invasion would prompt an immediate response from Banseim.
At Banseim's base, a knight stood atop the fortress with his mouth agape, watching the scene of Cartavus launching a full-scale invasion before him.
"...Impossible! Why can I see flags other than Cartavus's?!"
The flags of Cartavus's neighboring states.
And facing an army unlike anything he had ever seen, the knight in charge of the fortress quickly decided to dispatch a messenger to Central.
"Send a request for reinforcements to Central! This fortress won't hold for long!"
As the messenger sprinted away, the two armies faced each other across the river.
But Banseim, completely unprepared, could not gather anywhere near enough troops even when they scrambled to mobilize.
"She makes her move while we're tangled up in the east... But even if we've lost in the east, we still have armies of several hundred thousand in the west and south. Central still has reserves to call upon!"
The commander spoke loud enough for the surrounding knights and soldiers to hear, trying to reassure them with his own words.
However, a messenger arrived at the fortress guarding the north. It brought news that Fonbeau in the west had mobilized and that Border Count Rezno had betrayed them — and that nations in the south, led by Janpear, had also taken action.
Ludmilla gazed at the fortress across the river from atop her horse.
She had attacked and defended this fortress countless times. It was a symbol of the territory Cartavus and Banseim had fought over for so long.
"Well, by now the messenger should have arrived."
At that moment, Valkyrie, riding beside Ludmilla, called out to her.
"Is there meaning in deliberately delaying our advance? Besides, it looks rather passive, doesn't it?"
Ludmilla glanced at Valkyrie and let out a soft chuckle.
"Winning without fighting is obviously the better choice. If we're a little late, they'll find out reinforcements aren't coming, and word will spread that Banseim is being attacked from all directions. The enemy's morale will plummet."
Valkyrie said, facing forward.
"If we arrive late for the merger, will that excuse suffice?"
Ludmilla wore black leather armor covering her entire body, layered atop white, expensive-looking fur. A long sword hung at her shoulder, still in its sheath.
"The north is closest to Central. I have no intention of being the first to arrive and wear down our forces. Besides, the timing of our merger is crucial. If we collapse first, it'll affect the morale of the entire coalition."
Ludmilla, who acted while also pursuing her own interests, grinned when she saw envoys arriving from Banseim for negotiation purposes after some time had passed.
In the west, the military force centered on Fonbeau — which Margrave Reznoe had let pass through — had begun its invasion of the western region.
The surrounding barons, viscounts, and landed nobility gathered their dependent retainers and prepared for a fierce resistance, but they likely never imagined that Margrave Reznoe, who was tasked with guarding the border, would let Fonbeau pass right through.
Unprepared, they were being defeated in detail before they could merge their forces.
Fonbeau, seizing this opportunity, was eager to reclaim the territories once stripped from House Walt, while Margrave Reznoe was advancing into the newly awarded lands to secure them.
And so, Barius Reznoe had seized one of the baronial manors and made it the base of the Reznoe forces.
A baron who had been brought before the margrave lay there, bound with ropes.
"Margrave! Do you even realize what you're doing?! This is an act of clear betrayal!"
Barius looked at the baron before him.
"The ones who betrayed first were the Banseim royal family. Demanding not just the heir, but even wives and daughters as sacrifices... And you — having your family taken hostage — you feel nothing about that?!"
The baron glared at Barius.
"This is the way of nobility! It's not without precedent! There have been traitors who betrayed their nation, swayed by feelings for their family!"
But Barius would not be swayed.
"Who would swear loyalty to a nation without authority? All I'm saying is that the current Banseim has no such worth. You are the ones who misread the times."
Just then, one of Barius's subordinates rushed over.
"Lord Barius, we searched the estate. As you pointed out, it appears he was already keeping a mistress. There were children as well, and they appear to be undeniably the baron's."
Barius looked down at the baron.
"...You knew your family was in danger, yet you had already prepared an heir of your own. You sold out your own family, you scum."
The baron wore a grin that bordered on madness.
"So what? It is our duty to continue the bloodline. I knew the ones taken hostage weren't safe. But so what?! If it means preserving the house, I'd throw away a hundred families if I had to! That is what we nobles are!"
Barius thought of his son, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild.
"Hmph. Still, this baron house is finished. I'll have it recorded that you died a honorable death on the battlefield. If your family is still alive, we'll take care of them on our end. Pity the family you abandoned."
As the baron was led away, Barius covered his face with his left hand.
"Lord Barius."
His subordinate spoke with concern, and Barius replied.
"...What he said may be true, but there's still a part of me that wishes for my son's safety. It's a faint hope, but if he's alive... No, I'm afraid to find out. Afraid of what's become of my son."
The knight, his subordinate, bowed his head on the spot.
She was a monstrously cruel woman — Ceres. The kind who would think nothing of striking down even those devoted to her.
Barius addressed his subordinates.
"We press on for now. If our rendezvous is delayed, they could use that as grounds to reduce our territory. We hurry to the next target and secure it."
His subordinates followed Barius as he left the room —.
——The southern front.
Jampaign would provoke Banseim, then immediately flee into the mountains to lure him into a chase.
The man was showing a strategy of fighting only on terrain that favored his forces. Whether word had spread that neighboring nations were on the move and pressing in from all sides, Banseim's side was beginning to show signs of impatience.
They wanted to finish off Jampaign quickly so they could turn to aid elsewhere.
"Well, they've underestimated us."
Jules, the king of Jampaign, wore a white cloth draped over his shoulders and wrapped around his waist atop his armor. It was trimmed with gold and quite conspicuous.
"Your Majesty, are we simply going to keep the southern troops drawn here?"
"That's part of the agreement, after all. On open ground, they do have the advantage. Well, they'll certainly pounce the moment we show our backs... though then again, the enemy might crumble first."
It was entirely plausible that the Landed Nobility in the south would hear of the continental movements and consider switching sides.
In fact, watching Banseim grow ever more passive even in battle, Jules stroked his chin.
"Now then, where might our main target—the Alliance Leader—be at the moment?"
When Jules said this, Valkyrie, who was nearby, answered him.
"He's already at the doorstep of Banseim's direct territory. He appears to be facing off against the last of the Landed Nobility."
Upon hearing this, Jules—
"The east already lost before and had its soldiers absorbed. No real resistance to speak of, I take it? In that case, we'll need to keep the southern troops firmly pinned here."
He said as much, but—
(Ideally, I'd win over the southern lords and rush to their aid, earning their gratitude. That way, I'd have no trouble finding a marriage partner for that one. I can't keep her in the country—she's nothing but trouble, so I want to push her off somewhere... hand her over, really. Ludmilla failed, it seems, so I'll need to make my move here too.)
Jules contemplated how best to foist his troublesome half-sister off on someone, all while plotting his next move—
—Approximately one hundred and ninety thousand troops surrounded the last lord's city, positioned just before Banseim's direct territory.
They were Laiel's main force, though for now they showed no signs of moving.
It wasn't so much that their rapid advance had left them winded; rather, they were taking breaks while negotiating with the other side.
Handling the negotiations were Baldoa and Maxim.
A messenger from the Count's house had arrived and was explaining the current situation, sweating profusely with an indescribable expression on his face.
Inside the tent, the messenger appeared to be desperately making excuses before the two of them.
"W-well, it's a mystery to us too, we have no idea what's going on... W-we did have our weapons raised against you, but they say that when those blue particles of light rained down, everyone came back to their senses."
Before Laiel had left.
She had released her charm on the surrounding area. That was why the belligerent count's house had suddenly turned passive.
Baldoa, while understanding the messenger's feelings —
"Won't you take a moment to calm down? You won't be able to negotiate properly in that state. I'd recommend going back and collecting your thoughts."
The messenger, turning to Baldoa —
"B-but! I can't calm down facing such a massive army. The voices of unrest inside are already growing louder —"
Maxim, crossing his arms —
"That's your concern, not ours. Calm your people down, and once you've settled on a policy, we'll resume negotiations. Well, we'll need to set a timeframe. Come back in one week for now."
Watching the messenger's shoulders slump, the two men felt a pang of guilt. After seeing the messenger off, they both let out a sigh. Baldoa, wiping away sweat —
"That buys us time, and we won't have to carry out any law enforcement operations."
Maxim was of the same opinion.
"If we charged in right away, the administration would be a nightmare. We can't advance without Laiel here. Besides, it'd be a problem if the soldiers ran amok inside the city."
The two of them had managed to send the messenger away and buy time, all while hiding the fact that Laiel was absent.
Baldoa, raising his head —
"...Somehow, Laiel's homecoming has come to fruition."
He said it looking sorrowful —.
Within the memories of the successive heads inside the Jewel, I had seen the mansion many times over.
But seeing it in person like this gave me a different impression.
"So many little details are different. The passage of time leaves its mark on a mansion too."
The fountain at the spot just past the mansion's main gate had a stone statue placed on it. But its shape was different from the statue I had seen inside the Jewel.
Novem, who was beside me, remained expressionless.
"...It was destroyed during a lovers' quarrel between Lord Maisel and Lady Claire. It was repaired, but Lady Maisel said she had grown tired of the old one."
A lovers' quarrel... My father really did have his share of the Walt family temperament.
Looking around, I could see servants who had crumpled to their knees, burying their faces in their hands. The knights I had brought along had surrounded and restrained those who had seized weapons and tried to take their own lives.
I had come to the Walt family's territory, situated to the southwest.
We had invaded with only a small party, but the Walt family knights and soldiers I had brought along guided us in, so gaining entry had been easy.
And from here on, it would be with the Jewel that I freed Ceres from her curse.
Aria and Miranda approached me.
"Rael, I brought them."
"The Walt family's butler is quite dramatic, you know. He went and wrote a suicide letter. You could say he recovers quickly, or you could say he's just impulsive."
I stood before the mansion's butler.
"...What happened to Grandpa Zell's hut?"
The butler hung his head.
"I am sorry, Young Master... I am sorry..."
Shannon, who was behind me, tugged at my clothes.
"Rael, now's not the time. He really does seem to be in complete despair. You need to let him rest."
I knew she was right, but I still addressed those around me.
"I will not permit suicide. This is an order. Furthermore, I am not currently considering any punishment. I will post guards, but starting today, rest for a while."
As I began to walk, Eva and May were surveying the mansion.
"This doesn't really feel like liberation. She looks incredibly sad—more like we're the ones who did something wrong."
"Forget that—I'm more curious about what's over there. Look, here she comes!"
Racing toward us was a single knight. Her features fell into the beautiful category, but she had a youthful, almost doll-like face.
"Get out of here! You disgrace of House Walt!!"
With a terrifying expression, she drew the sword at her hip and charged at me. A guard knight who rushed out to intercept was cut down. As the knight advanced on me, Eva and May stepped forward to block her.
I shoved them aside with my hand and drew the katana at my waist. The katana forged from rare metal through my final training let out a pale blue light.
With the momentum of drawing it from its sheath, I struck—cutting through both the knight's sword and the knight herself.
I flicked the blood off my katana and looked at the fallen opponent.
"I don't recognize you."
A knight who had been in the mansion spoke in a weak voice.
"She... she was one of Lady Ceres's favorite knights. After Lady Ceres went to the Royal Capital, she was given no attention. She talked to herself almost every day."
She had truly sworn her loyalty to Ceres from the heart. Not because of Ceres's binding curse—she had genuinely pledged her fealty.
"So there are people like that too. Understood. See to the injured guard knights. Also, confiscate every weapon. If anyone resists, you have my permission to cut them down."
After issuing my orders, I headed to the place where I had received the Jewel.
"...Grandpa Zell, I'm home. I'm sorry. I... I didn't make it in time."
The spot where not even scorch marks remained was now simply a patch of bare earth where the small house had once stood.
This was where I had once received the Jewel from Grandpa Zell.
If it hadn't been for Grandpa Zell, I wouldn't be here right now.
Eva approached us.
"I brought Lyle. Zell's family is here."
I turned around and saw Grandpa Zell's family. His grandchildren were quite large now, and his sons and daughters were well into adulthood. There were even great-grandchildren present. I briefly explained the situation and thanked the family.
Gracia, who had returned shortly after, had apparently purchased the items I had requested.
"Seems like this is all they have right now. Well, it is the season."
I accepted the bouquet and placed it where the small cabin had been.
Eliza looked around the area.
"It really was in a hidden spot."
Clara looked at me.
"Was it something you wanted to show us?"
I shook my head at Clara in denial.
"That's not it. I really did want to show it to you. To say that I'm okay now, you know? Truthfully, I intended to become a top-tier adventurer and repay Grandpa Zell for his kindness. But, I couldn't make it in time..."
Monika's tone lacked its usual lighthearted teasing.
"Your life was saved by him? Then, he is a savior to us as well. Living in that mansion while it was deranged, managing to keep your wits about you—it must have been difficult, with many trying times."
Then, Grandpa Zell's son spoke.
"Father was injured when the adventurer guild betrayed us and ran rampant through our territory. I heard he was on the cusp of advancing from soldier to knight and was pushing himself hard. The previous Head was absent, and Father fought desperately to protect everything... but he couldn't meet the previous Head's expectations, and he always regretted that."
I hadn't known Grandpa Zell had such a past.
However, I knew why the Seventh Generation had kept Grandpa Zell by his side.
"No, our grandfather was grateful to Grandpa Zell. He was meeting his expectations. Besides, he is the one who saved my life. If you ever face any trouble, please tell me. I would like the chance to protect Grandpa Zell's family."
Grandpa Zell's family shook their heads.
"Just hearing those words from you is enough for Father. Besides, we have our home and our possessions. The previous Head was very generous to us."
I thought to myself that the Seventh Generation had been considerate, too.
"Is that so? Well, if anything comes up, let me know."
With those words, [he] turned once more to look at the place where the cabin had stood.
In a quiet voice.
"...I couldn't become a first-rate adventurer, but I hope you'll forgive me, Grandpa Zell."