Inside the Jewel.
A meeting of the ancestors was underway there.
The Fourth Generation was running things.
"Then, we're talking about a defensive battle at Geoni Village."
The Sixth Generation looked frustrated.
"If we had more soldiers to work with, we could have fought them in the forest!"
The Seventh Generation was equally frustrated.
"Tch, when it comes to fighting with limited numbers, the Second and Third Generations have more experience. We should defer to them."
The Fifth Generation spoke.
"So next is how we meet them head-on. If we had a few more crossbows, we could have armed the villagers and positioned them. Hand a loaded crossbow to someone skilled, let them fire, then swap it out for a fresh one..."
The Third Generation said cheerfully.
"We already had Laiel survey the village, so if we make some adjustments to shore up the defenses, that should be enough. Whether it's a Hippogriff or a Griffon, once it sets foot in the village, we just restrain it and beat it into a pulp!"
They were probably using the Hippogriff—whose prey was human—to lure the Griffon into attacking.
Would it flee instead? That's what I thought, but according to the ancestors, "Griffons have high pride."
Not saying they're unintelligent, but even after taking a beating, they apparently won't stop coming after you.
A nasty opponent.
The Fourth Generation looked at the image floating above the round table and spoke.
A three-dimensional map of the village—the same kind that appears in my mind—had risen into view.
"The weak points are here and here, I think? Let's position knights, and have soldiers operate the crossbows in pairs. We'll need shield-bearers too."
We had nearly one hundred and seventy people available to mobilize.
It fell short of two hundred, but still, it was better than the one hundred and some we started with.
The Second Generation spoke.
"Laiel will take command. Any Monsters that make it into the village will be handled by Laiel and the others. Aria and Miranda, position yourselves where our forces are thinnest. Novem, you'll be on healing duty, so set up in the center of the village. Porter and Clara, you can stay there as well."
I asked the Second Generation.
"What should we do about Monica and Shannon?"
The Second Generation wore a troubled expression.
The reason was Monica's outfit.
Something like a maid uniform — or rather, a dress resembling one.
Even knowing she was strong, having her take the field in something like that would be problematic.
"...They'll be guarding the women, children, and elderly. Shannon, stay near Novem and assist her. It'd be easier if we had more arrows on hand, though."
The explosive arrows used at Aramsass were essentially weighted. Without the ability to reach far distances, aiming them would be difficult as well.
However, a direct hit was enough to take out a Goblin in a single blow.
With a well-placed shot, even an Orc could be felled in one strike.
The Third Generation looked at me.
"Laiel will have to carry them, I suppose. They're what's left from before, but they'll still be effective against Hippogriffs. Against Griffons, though, that might be tough."
The Third Generation explained that Griffons wouldn't flinch even if you hit them.
The Seventh Generation spoke.
"When it comes to Griffons, it'd still be easiest if you could leap onto their backs."
The Sixth Generation shared the same opinion.
"When the strong fight, it's usually some version of that. For Lyeil, who doesn't have an overwhelming advantage in power, even landing a magic attack is difficult... Fine, if that's how it has to be."
"Don't just accept that! We should pin them down and beat them all up together, right? There are spells for that kind of thing."
The Sixth Generation gives me a flat stare.
"How boring."
I'm not looking for entertainment.
As the meeting progresses, the Third Generation and the others get completely absorbed in it.
Even when I try to get a word in.
"That's exactly why we need to deploy Norma too! What's the point of having pieces you don't use?"
"That incompetent fool? He'd probably try to shake someone down for money. If anything, let's keep him in the center. Pair him with Miranda and have him serve as a guard."
"No, he's competent. He may be lacking in some areas, but he immediately handed command over to Lyeil. Not only did he survive, he maneuvered into the best possible outcome for himself. Besides, as a knight, he could probably hold his own against Goblins and Orcs."
"Deliberately letting them through to spring a trap, then burning them at the stake... We'll need more tricks than that."
"...If only these were the elites of House Walt. We could charge in and have the whole thing sorted in a single day. Oh, and let's place some traps at the thinly defended spots too. When we reinforce the walls, we should position things so we can fight from them easily..."
The ancestors grin and occasionally erupt in fury as they hammer out their battle strategies.
The conversation moves on to reinforcing the village as well, and it starts to feel less like planning a defense and more like building a fortress for war.
All I can do is watch.
The Second Generation speaks up to me.
"Those two are really enjoying themselves. Lyeil, got some free time?"
At his words, I shake my head.
"No, I need to pay close attention. It's incredibly educational."
And just like that, the Second Generation grabs me by the collar and drags me off to his room.
"Hey, I'm borrowing Lyle."
The Second Generation said that to the five who remained, but the reply came from the Fourth Generation.
He's peering seriously at the table, his left hand waving about.
"Ah, feel free to do as you like. We're still continuing."
"Eh, wait a minute!?"
I resist, but I'm pulled along by the Second Generation and taken straight to his room.
The ancestors' rooms inside the Jewel are each packed with memories.
The First Generation's is a small village.
The Second Generation's is a sight of a village that's begun to develop.
The villagers living there are present as well, but the sight is only an image. You cannot touch them.
It is the room owner's memory.
"What is it? Are you going to make me fight for real, like the First Generation? Well, I'd be grateful if I could fight a Griffon, though."
When I say that, the Second Generation shakes his head.
"I could have you do that, but you've already beaten a dragon sub-species, haven't you? A Griffon is nothing at this point. The only troublesome part is that it flies."
House Walt, which held territory on the border, also has a history of fighting continuously against Monsters.
From the First Generation onward, they wielded greatswords in battle, and the Second Generation incorporated monster subjugation into the heir's training, so everyone is experienced.
It's unbelievable that they've never gone outside, unlike the knights of the Royal Capital.
"Then, is there something? ... Rain?"
As we're walking, the sky becomes cloudy.
When the rain starts to fall, the villagers who were working earlier vanish.
Even when stepping into a puddle, no splash rose.
It was a little strange.
Through the heavy downpour, that scene was clearly visible.
"Huh, um... is that blood?"
Spreading across the ground along with the water — it was blood.
At the end of the Second Generation's gaze, a Second Generation identical to his current self was kneeling on the ground, clutching a child in his arms.
And beside him, a small child was crying—.
"Is that the Third Generation? But the one he's holding—"
'That's my firstborn.'
Next to the weeping Second Generation, a small boy was crying his eyes out just the same.
The blood flowing from the child wouldn't stop.
Nearby lay the carcass of a monster shot with arrows.
A horned rabbit.
The scene shifts.
This time, it must have been summer.
The sunlight was strong, yet there was no feeling of heat.
The Second Generation was teaching a child how to use a bow.
"Come on, you can do it!"
"Mmm!"
The image of a child straining to draw a small bow and loosing a practice arrow. That was the same firstborn the Second Generation had been holding moments ago.
Nearby, the young Third Generation was watching the scene with a vacant expression.
Ever since he was little, he'd always had an air of being somehow untethered, impossible to pin down.
When the boy loosed his arrow and it hit the target, he was overjoyed.
"I did it! I did it, Dad!"
"Well done! That's the Walt family man for you. Get stronger, and become a lord who can protect everyone!"
"Mmm!"
The image of the Second Generation and his firstborn celebrating together faded to grey, and time froze there.
I looked at the Second Generation.
"...He was a good kid. Unlike me, he was bright and honest. The villagers liked him too. I was hated, but I thought this boy would surely be beloved by the people. Since we were blessed with a second son, I figured I'd give Sly a territory someday and set him up as a branch family. He was a laid-back sort, but he loved books... so I thought he'd... be able to support [Dewey], too."
Looking at that boy, I realized something.
Brown hair, messy head.
He was the boy who had told Novem in Geoni Village that he wanted to fight. His name—I thought it was [Luka]—and he did look strikingly similar.
"It was raining. Monsters had appeared in the fields. He grabbed his bow and went out to drive them off. I wouldn't have cared if they trampled a few crops. He could have called for me... but he stepped forward to protect Sly, who had followed him out there."
I didn't know what to say.
The Second Generation continued.
"I couldn't protect him. It's the same as what the First Generation did. I was selfish. But please—at least help that boy. ...I don't want to see a child die like that. And just a little is fine, but please look after him."
"...If it's within my ability."
When I said that, the Second Generation gave a weak smile.
"Sorry, Laiel. I'm in no position to lecture the First Generation either."
With that, the image shifted.
It was a mansion.
Sleeping in the bed was the First Generation, emaciated and frail.
Beside the First Generation[Basil Walt], a middle-aged woman sat in a chair. She looked sturdy, and I understood immediately.
(So this is the First Generation's wife?)
The Second Generation stood near the bed. But he looked terribly haggard.
The First Generation strained his voice.
"…Sorry, Crassell."
Saying that, he closed his eyes.
The Second Generation clenched his fists and stood there, crying.
The middle-aged woman said to the Second Generation.
"Enough with blaming yourself. There are those who blame you, but you've done splendidly. This person was just awkward, so..."
Tears flowed from the middle-aged woman.
The Second Generation opened his mouth.
"…I wanted to become like him. Strong, admired… yet I couldn't catch up at all. And I couldn't protect him."
The Second Generation collapsed.
And then the scenery changed to a place where Skills were practiced.
The Second Generation scratched his cheek with a finger.
"…I didn't really want to show that. It's embarrassing."
"I don't think it's embarrassing. Besides, if it weren't for the Second Generation, the Third Generation would have, well..."
The Third Generation was the type to cut corners, for better or worse.
He developed the territory exactly as the Second Generation had planned, without doing anything unnecessary.
And yet, the fact that his name was carved into the history of Banseim just went to show that you never could tell how the world worked.
"…He never did anything wasteful. He didn't even practice with the bow and arrow—just swung his sword. Looking back on it now, I suppose that was the right call. But watching him, I couldn't help but worry."
The Second Generation smiled.
Then he looked at me with a serious expression.
"Also, there was something I wanted to show you. I wanted you to see it… Hey, Lael. You—"
"Yes?"
"—You can already use my Skills, can't you?"
For a moment, I felt as if my heart had been seized. Then I forced my consciousness out of the Jewel and back into my own body.
When I opened my eyes, dawn was about to break.
In the house where I had been staying in the village, the woman who owned it was already awake.
"Oh, did I wake you?"
The woman was preparing a meal, and a cheerful-looking boy came bounding into the house.
"Oh, Lael-sama is awake! I need to go tell big sister Novem!"
Luka.
The boy, who resembled the Second Generation's eldest son, appeared to have brought firewood.
Looking around, Shannon and Aria were still asleep.
Clara and Novem, who had been keeping watch, as well as Miranda, were apparently already up.
Standing behind the boy was Monika.
"My mom's amazing. This maid chopped up a ton of firewood—just whack, whack, whack—until it's piled up high. We're set for a while now!"
The woman—Luka's mother—spoke with an exasperated look.
"You have to let it dry out, so it won't be usable for a while. And did you say thank you? Say 'thank you.'"
"I did!"
Monika nodded.
"Yes. He did thank her."
And then she kept glancing over at me.
(I can tell what she's getting at, but I'm absolutely not going to do it.)
Luka's mother turned to thank Monika, and I scratched my head as I said:
"Ah, you don't need to thank her. She's an Automaton."
Both Luka and his mother stared blankly.
It seemed that calling her an Automaton hadn't helped them understand at all. That had been a mistake.
Then Monika put on a sad expression and said:
"It's all right, both of you. Even with a master like this, I will continue to serve him to the best of my ability."
I felt the accusing gazes of Luka and his mother on me, and I glared at Monika.
"That's playing dirty, you know!"
Outside of the other two's line of sight, Monika stuck her tongue out at me.
"I haven't said anything untrue."
As I seethed in frustration, Luka walked up to me.
"Laiel, you really ought to say a proper thank you. I'm pretty sure that kind of thing is totally not okay."
Lectured by the boy, I ended up being pushed into thanking Monika.
In front of the two, Monika wore a bright, beaming smile—but the moment they weren't looking, a thoroughly wicked grin crept across her face.
This woman...
Even as frustration simmered inside me, I couldn't keep up my usual banter with the two people I was indebted to. Not in front of them, at least.
So I offered my apology.
"Thanks as always, Monika... Is that good enough?"
I glared at her, and Monika replied with a triumphant look on her face.
"What a poor sport you are, Master. Oh, I need to go prepare breakfast. It's going to be a busy day today, after all."
With that, she cheerfully set off to help Luka's mother.
Luka tugged at my arm.
"Lord Laiel, what should I help with today?"
"Today? Today is... a village tour. There were places we didn't see yesterday."
"Again? When are we ever going to fight?"
Luka had insisted on joining no matter what, so he ended up contributing in the form of helping me out. Besides the village tour, I needed someone local to ask all sorts of questions about the place.
Even so, Luka's father had been killed by a Hippogriff.
In Geoni Village, where it was actually the minority to not have lost a family member to such a thing, this was far from unusual.
"Once things calm down, I'll teach you all sorts of things. Before that, though, we need to get ready. We've got a meeting right after we eat."
"A meeting? Another discussion?"
I ruffled Luka's hair.
"It's important. Now then, shall I go wake Shannon? I'd like to let Aria sleep a while longer."
Luka looked toward Shannon.
Under the blanket, you could tell by its shape that someone was sleeping with their legs wide apart. Aria was the same, snoring away heartily.
"...Lyle-sama, that guy Shannon is useless. He always runs away from work first chance he gets."
I nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I know. But it'll be fine. As long as Novem's there, he can't escape."
Luka said.
"That big sis is really something after all. Even the grumpy blacksmith dad, who's a dwarf and super stubborn, agreed to cooperate with her! Even the village adults were surprised."
I said.
"Truly impressive, Novem. Well then, let's finish our preparations quickly."
"Okay!"
Seeing Luka so bright, his mother seemed to relax a little too.
The voice heard from the Jewel was that of the Third Generation.
"...Yeah, just like their brother."
It was a voice that sounded somewhat happy, yet somewhat sad.
Having seen the memories, I could understand that feeling a little bit.
(...I need to shift my mindset.)
Thinking that, I went to wake Shannon up along with Luka.