At the tent near the Mobile Fortress, Shannon had been summoned again today.
Her escort, Valkyrie, stood guard in her armor on either side of Shannon as she dealt with her father, Ralph.
“Listen, Shannon. This is an important matter. It seems you don’t understand, but our power is absolutely essential—”
Listening to the same content as yesterday, Shannon interrupted Ralph’s explanation mid-sentence.
“…I already told you I don’t understand things like that, so I’m passing.”
The reason Shannon was entertaining Ralph was that if she refused, he would try to contact Lyle instead. Lyle was currently busy with coordinating meetings and opinions, and Shannon wanted to lessen his burden however she could.
At the same time, she figured that if her older sister Miranda had refused, she should too.
“You have a major handicap. I’m saying I’ll do something about that. Just shut up and follow orders.”
Shannon didn’t particularly like her father. Not only was his behavior at their family home problematic, but she also knew he looked at her with a sort of pity.
Shannon’s eyes perceived magical power. Though she couldn’t see normally, she could sense the flow of magic power quite well. No—she could see better than most people who could see.
She read that her father’s flow of magic power was deeply agitated.
As Miranda had said, the nobles she had gathered must be pressuring him to hurry. To improve his own position, Ralph was desperate too. He seemed to be considering his daughter somewhat, but that appeared secondary.
“Even if the Alliance Leader were to obtain a nation, what would happen without civil officials? It’s not just knowledge. Experience is needed. You wouldn’t understand, but it’s not enough to just be able to do paperwork. That accumulated, untransferable knowledge and experience—”
In essence, he was saying they couldn’t handle it themselves, so they should elevate him and his people.
For Shannon, this was old news. They should have joined forces earlier. If Adele or Lianne, who were screaming in Baim or Lufenst, could hear this, they would probably click their tongue in annoyance.
“Because I already told you, I don’t understand when you say things like that!”
When Shannon pretended not to understand and cut him off, Ralph slammed his fist on the table between them.
“Eep!”
Seeing Shannon flinch, Ralph decided to press his advantage. He would keep up the aggressive tone until Shannon nodded.
"You're not in a position where you can coast by on leniency! You hold a position of responsibility, yet you won't even listen. That's exactly why we're offering to support you. We'll make up for whatever you're lacking. Only then can we finally—"
However, Shannon was not about to stay silent either.
"But my sister turned me down, so she sent me here—Eep!"
The moment Shannon spoke, Ralph slammed his fist down again. He must have been desperate too. To Shannon, Ralph looked like a man trying to preserve what remained of House Cerclie while clawing back its former glory.
But Shannon was not the only one inside the tent.
"...It seems we should stop here for today. Shannon, let's head back. We'll need this space for the next meeting, so it has to be kept clear."
When the Valkyrie said that, Ralph moved to stop them.
"We're not done talking! Besides, this is a matter between father and child!"
Two Valkyrie deployed the binders on their backs, intimidating Ralph. Weapons emerged from those binders.
"We have already permitted multiple meetings on the grounds of your familial relationship. Furthermore, as you appear to believe this approach is effective, allow me to give you some advice: if you continue with this threatening manner of negotiation, we will respond in kind."
At those words, Ralph made a face as though he'd bitten into something foul, then stalked out of the tent without another word.
Shannon lowered her gaze.
The Valkyrie watched her.
"The moment he adopted that attitude, you should have told us to remove him. Miranda would never have tolerated it."
"He'll start to think that if he puts on a bold front, others will simply cave in. Well, I suppose he's just that desperate... but he's not suited for the role of negotiator. He's only exposing his own inadequacy."
Shannon recalled what Miranda had told her.
"According to my sister, he acted so brazenly because he was a retainer of the Banseim royal family. Being too deferential was no good either, but he'd grown so accustomed to his arrogant ways that when the situation changed, he couldn't keep up... She said he's useless."
Those were the words of Miranda—a sister willing to sever even her own family.
The Valkyrie began stowing their binders.
"We are aware of the circumstances. However, in this case—it was you sisters who were discarded first. Trying to pick you back up now simply because you've found a use for you... that is a mistake."
"Well, she did expose your low aptitude and various other shortcomings, so we're declining your offer of service. At worst, as long as you two remain, House Cerclie will survive. The name carries on either way. No problem at all."
"...You people are plenty cruel yourselves."
Watching the Valkyrie walk away, Shannon felt a small weight lift from her chest.
"Fidel's still the more endearing one, honestly."
She thought that as she watched Ralph depart from the tent, gazing through the window of the mobile fortress's chamber.
Monica was inside the room, reporting on the situation within the tent. Miranda was here too—equally concerned about what was happening inside.
"He's a questionable person, I'll admit, but he really is a doting father to his daughter. He's far too harsh toward everyone else. Still, he'll definitely lose."
Miranda shrugged, comparing Fidel to her own father.
"...I could at least set up a position for him. Why not help him out without going overboard?"
When I said that, Miranda shook her head.
"Declined. If you give that man an opening, he'll drain you to the marrow. He lived his whole life in the filth of the royal palace. If someone like that gets his hands on that kind of know-how, it becomes a real headache. Besides, you're not going to adopt his methods from Banseim, are you?"
I have no intention of inheriting Banseim's methods of governance. Rather, I can't inherit them.
"Let's have Adele take the lead for a while. She's been working hard over in Baim, and she's built up plenty of experience. We'll make it work somehow."
Monica beamed when she heard that.
"If she were here to hear you say that, she'd be so happy she'd be in tears of protest. I mean, she did try to carry the 'Chicken' on her shoulders. You'd expect nothing less from someone like that."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. When permission to enter was granted, Gracia stood there.
"A letter has arrived from Darion. It seems he's planning to switch over to our side."
I nodded.
"I see. Well, that makes sense. I was worried because he's so close by. And how did that other matter turn out?"
Gracia handed me a letter from Rauno. I took it and checked the contents—it looked like a success.
"Yeah, that's one worry settled."
— Darion.
The story goes back a few days.
It's a town near Central where Lyle and the others once became adventurers.
Close by, but apparently unremarkable enough that even Ceres had shown no interest in it. It wasn't particularly large, though it was a reasonably important town for Central.
Rauno had come to this town to visit Bentler Robenia, the ruler of Darion.
And also present, having been summoned there, was a big man with brown skin and red hair buzzed short.
"When I got summoned by the lord and came here…"
The one wearing a troubled expression was Hawkins, who had once worked the reception desk at the adventurers' guild. He was now an executive at Darion's adventurers' guild.
He had always been capable, and as a former adventurer himself, he was well-versed in the guild's inner workings. In Darion, he had earned enough trust to serve as the guild master's right hand.
Rauno was standing beside Bentler, grinning.
"Sorry about that. But hey, it just means the Supreme Commander took a liking to you. They clearly think highly of your abilities."
Hawkins closed his eyes as he reviewed the letter's contents.
"It's quite sentimental. Lyle and the others, who became adventurers here in Darion… no, they're the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces now, aren't they? But still, of all people, they chose me?"
The letter detailed a plan to place the adventurers' guild under national administration. At the same time, it announced that Hawkins had been selected as an executive of that new organization.
While his character and abilities had earned him the position, Lyle's personal assessment of him had played a significant role as well.
Rodonia was wearing a complicated expression as well. He was a small-statured, friendly-looking lord, but one mustn't be deceived by appearances.
For all that, he was very much a proper lord.
"I'm all for placing the adventurers' guild under national management. It's just that having our valuable people poached away… it stings for Darion."
Rodonia said this while looking at Rauno. Rauno reached for his teacup, holding off on any reply.
Hawkins rubbed the inner corners of his eyes with his fingertips.
"Would it be possible to give me time to think it over?"
Rauno nodded.
"That's certainly possible. Though I'll say this — it's a major opportunity. Also, I'll be placing a request with the adventurers' guild: securing Magic Stones and purchasing necessary materials. Sorry about it, but funds are limited, so don't expect full payment."
Upon hearing Rauno's proposal, Rodonia spoke.
"Go ahead and accept it. Our intelligence says the allied army exceeds five hundred thousand strong. We should cooperate even if it costs us."
Rauno pressed his face with his right hand.
"That's exactly the situation, I'll be blunt about it."
Rodonia was smiling.
"Well, you've got to say things like that upfront. The adventurers' guild is an independent organization, after all. …And we can't exactly afford to be glared at by the Alliance Leader."
The adventurers' guild was not a unified body. It was a collection of separate organizations that cooperated on Magic Stone management. Since they were merely cooperating with one another, there were cases where a guild might act on its own judgment.
It was entirely possible — if unlikely — that Darion's adventurers' guild might oppose Laiel contrary to Rodonia's wishes.
However, there were executives who understood the situation.
"Of course, we will immediately begin preparations to cooperate. As if we'd side with Central at this point…"
Rauno looked at Hawkins as he spoke.
"Having the ability to make that kind of judgment is valuable. In fact, in several territories, the adventurers' guilds were gathering mercenaries and sending them to Central. Wonder what they were thinking."
Because the guild was an independent organization, not every guild was led by a capable leader. Many guilds simply couldn't read the times.
Hawkins was well-versed in those circumstances as well.
"…From the perspective of mercenary companies within Banseim, joining the allied army now offers no benefit. On top of that, a war of this scale has never been seen before. They probably think the compensation is better on the losing side — Banseim's."
If you're going to lose, just run.
Still, Hawkins said, there were plenty of no-good ruffians who thought they could simply flee before the fighting even started.
When the topic turned to ruffians, Rodonia crossed his arms.
"…Ruffian subjugation. To think the Supreme Commander, who was playing the part of some noble fool's son, would return leading an army this large."
Rauno rested a hand on his chin, his stubble prickling, yet he wore an amused expression.
"So you did some ruffian hunting in Darion, didn't you? Why don't we hear the details of that? The subjugation happened, sure enough, but there were plenty of strange things about the specifics."
At Rauno's evident delight, Rodonia and Hawkins exchanged a glance. And so, Lyle began to tell the detailed story of playing the part of a noble fool's son——.
Inside a tent near the mobile fortress, I was stunned.
I never expected to run into anyone here.
"It's been a while, Clark. And Norma too."
Norma, who had served as captain during the Griffon subjugation. And Clark, who had been her vice-captain, had come to visit me. Under normal circumstances I would never have met them, but when I heard the name, I decided to go through with it.
Clark had since handed the headship over to his son at the Knight Baron house. But this time, he had come to join the allied army along with his son and some young men from his village.
"It's been too long. I've come rather belatedly to formally declare my intent to join the fight."
Unlike in eastern Banseim, near Central they were accepting people even if they didn't clearly fly their banner. After all, no one could call it betrayal with Banseim watching from behind.
There was no way we could rescue them, and demanding as much would be nothing short of tyranny.
"As for Norma—was it you and just a few others joining?"
Despite presiding over a settlement larger than Clark's, Norma had fewer participants.
She looked more tired than before.
"…I wanted to bring my younger brother along, but what if something happened—it'd be too dangerous. I asked some of the prominent members to join as well, but they were reluctant."
Clark averted his gaze from Norma and looked toward me.
"Well, you see—about the advice you gave me, I did pass it along, but there were many things that couldn't be done after the territory was already in hand. Governance doesn't seem to be going smoothly."
Previously, I had passed along to Clark the advice of the Successive Heads — the Third Generation. That must have gone well, but it seemed Norma's situation was the opposite.
Norma's eyes grew moist.
"The people I brought along are mostly unmotivated. Their equipment is clubs and wooden shields that barely qualify as shields. At this point, I have no choice but to ask for help, right?"
She looked like she was really struggling.
"Well, we did seize some weapons and armor, so I can hand a few of those over. In terms of numbers, though, the front lines are going to be rough."
"Th-that would be a lifesaver. Um, if possible, once the fighting is over, I'd like to become a Court Nobility —"
I answered Norma's wish with a smile.
"That depends on how things go. But don't worry, I won't push you into anything unreasonable."
Clark let out a sigh of relief.
"That's a relief. Almost no one here has any experience with real warfare — it's like they were just brought along for the ride."
The conflict was small-scale, and many lords had been hesitant to participate. Even those who did come would be hard to place, but I'd be in a tough spot if they didn't at least show their colors.
If word got out that the two of them had been accepted, the reactions would surely be different this time. Norma dropped her shoulders.
"If I'd known it would take this much effort to get ahead, I would've been more flattering."
Clark looked exasperated.
"I genuinely respect that aspect of our former Captain, you know. But right now, it might be better to stay quiet."
Thinking to myself that she hadn't changed at all, I let out a wry smile.