——Inside Neueneal Fortress.
The room, enclosed by walls of stone, was furnished. Light filtered in through a small window.
Inside that room, Shannon was flinging the white garment she had been wearing onto the bed.
"That scumbag bastard! Using me as bait! I swear I'm going to punch his lights out!"
It was a holy maiden's outfit that Monica had made. Clara was also in the room, reading.
"I mean, yes, we did use you as bait, but among all of us, you were the only one who really looked the part, Shannon. Besides, weren't you useful in all sorts of ways this time? May keeping watch from the sky, and then investigating through Shannon's eyes… Riel doing that solo on a regular basis is honestly impressive."
This time, the ones who commanded the Holy Knights' main force as a separate detachment weren't just Shannon and Clara. Aria, Eva, May, and Monica—almost everyone had been deployed to the fortress side.
They knew their fighting strength was thin, and the route to the target had been scouted by May. May was also the one who had drawn the enemy's attention.
The "Pile Bunker" mounted on Porter was a disposable siege weapon Monica had built.
It had smashed through the gate, but broke after a single use. They had prepared two, and only one remained. According to Monica, "It's a defective product… but there's romance in it."
Right now, Monica was handling Porter's maintenance and meal prep, while the Holy Knights were gearing up for the next phase.
Aria and Eva were on lookout duty, and May had headed for Rolfis. If everything went according to plan, she would retrieve Riel and the others.
Meanwhile, Shannon was thrashing around. Clara was serving as her bodyguard and lookout.
"If I go outside, everyone will see I'm a fake in a heartbeat, so just stay cooped up in this room! That bastard—I'm definitely going to punch him!"
Clara, though exasperated…
"Well, it was harsh, I'll admit. But thanks to that, things are looking like they'll work out. Nearly forty soldiers stationed at the fortress have offered to cooperate. The knights were the ones who were truly surprised. We deliberately let them escape, and in the end only a single person actually fled."
Shannon herself had once been the daughter of a robe-noble family. She knew the ins and outs of this sort of thing.
"He probably got posted to the frontier because he's a knight with no prospects for advancement, right? He's gambling on us here, hoping to climb the ranks. After that, it's defection or something like that?"
Having absorbed the soldiers, their numbers now stood at around a hundred and fifty.
But they still weren't enough.
Clara pushed her glasses up with her fingertips, adjusting their position.
"This is where the real work begins. Let's hope Riel and the others make it back safely."
Shannon, meanwhile, said:
"My big sister's with them, so it'll be fine. Actually, aren't they about to show up? See — they're already back. Kirin are awfully convenient. They can fly, after all."
When Shannon looked outside, Clara peered out the window of the room as well. The small dot grew larger and larger, though it took a moment to recognize the shape as a Kirin —.
The ones who arrived at Noineel Fort were Aura and Selma.
When Aura climbed down from the Kirin's back — off May's back — she felt the sheer joy of her feet touching solid ground.
She wore a robe over her dress and shivered in the cold.
"…Never again. I'm never flying through the air again."
When Aura said that with a green-faced expression, Selma appeared to be in the same state, pressing a hand to her own forehead. Both of them looked pale — they had clearly been through an ordeal.
When May shifted back into human form, she addressed the two of them.
"…It took so long because you two kept making a fuss. Way too much noise."
Even May seemed to have grown tired, as she sat down on a wooden crate left inside the fort. Aria, clad in her armor, rushed over and called out to the three of them.
"What about Riel and the others?"
May shook her head.
"Not yet. They said they'd send you two ahead first and have the soldiers convinced. Also, Gastone and Novem are coming next. Apparently things feel uncertain without Novem around."
Hearing that, Aria said:
"I thought Riel would be back right away."
Seeing the slightly worried look on Aria's face, May recalled the message she had been given.
That was what Riel had told her.
"Come to think of it, Riel said Aria should be the one giving orders for a while. Because it'd be a good experience, he said."
Hearing that, Aria's expression brightened for an instant before quickly turning serious.
"...I know that. He's saying I need to step it up, right?"
May heard this.
"If that's what you think, then you're probably right. Oh, the meal's on you. And I'm going to rest for a bit. I have to head back over there again."
Watching May lie down on the wooden crate, Aria sighed and then turned to Aura and Selma.
"Thank you for your hard work. Let me show you to your rooms right away."
Hearing that, Aura gazed around the interior of the fortress.
"...So you really did take it."
She murmured, still sounding as if she couldn't believe it. Selma looked much the same, though her complexion had improved somewhat.
"At this point, we have no choice but to believe it. Aura, let's focus on what we can do for now. We'll rest a little, and then I'll give a speech to the soldiers."
Aria explained the fortress's situation to Selma.
"Um, the soldiers are being cooperative right now. They came over to our side without us even needing to persuade them."
Selma nodded.
"That doesn't make it any less necessary. Also, please assign a guard to Aura. There are bound to be some among them with less than noble intentions."
Aria nodded, left May behind, and led the two of them into the fortress——.
At the inn where I was staying in Rolfis, I stood against the wall with Novem and Miranda.
The room was neither large nor small.
We had been moving and staying somewhere nearly every day, sometimes even renting two inns and wasting money in the process.
In front of me, Gastone and Lombolt were talking.
It was about the future of Zayin and Rolfis — matters too complex for me to follow.
"Return that place? But we also—"
"I understand that. But if we don't restore national strength somehow, the future will—"
The two of them were discussing what to do afterward, because it would all be necessary once Zayin was retaken.
As I watched their private conversation, I gripped the Jewel.
The one who spoke was the Sixth Generation.
*"What's wrong? Restless? There's nothing Lyriel can do here. Even if you wanted to interject, you don't know the circumstances — you'd only be a bother to those two."*
The Third Generation addressed me as well.
*"There are matters spanning decades, things you can't understand unless you've lived there. The only way forward is to let the two of them reach an agreement."*
The Third Generation seemed content to leave national affairs entirely in their hands.
And so the two of them discussed everything, right down to what would come after Zayin was retaken.
Lombolt was wiping his forehead and the top of his head with a handkerchief. It was clear from looking at them that both men were deeply invested.
Gastone, too, wiped his head with a handkerchief before they shook hands.
Lombolt was smiling.
"Then, after we retake Zayin, that's how things will proceed."
Gastone said:
"Let's both work toward a good outcome."
The two smiled and exchanged well-wishes, but when Lombolt left the room, his expression was grim.
*(Even if Zayin can't be retaken — will he act to keep the damage to a minimum?)*
What was decided during the discussion concerned cooperation after Zayin's recapture. I'm deeply involved as well, but this time I've left it in Gastone's hands.
Looking outside, it was beginning to grow dark.
Gastone turned back to us and explained the situation.
"…Rolfis apparently cannot assist with the recapture. Furthermore, after we take Zayin back, he's asked us to lend him troops. If we accept that, we should be able to maintain Zayin's national strength more or less."
I nodded as I listened.
"Understood. After the recapture, I'll take direct action myself. I'll do exactly as Rolfis wishes."
"Thank you. And… I'm truly sorry. The current Zayin has no way to properly repay Lord Rael. You've done so much for us, and the fact that we can't offer compensation to match is the reality we face."
I smiled.
"Not at all — I stand to gain a great deal from this myself. Please take care of that other matter, as we discussed."
When I mentioned that other matter, Gastone nodded.
"Of course. It's a great benefit to us as well. But… is it truly possible?"
I told Gastone, "It is." Just then, there was a knock-knock at the window.
It was May.
I glanced at Miranda. Miranda opened the window and let May into the room.
May looked a bit tired.
"Whew, it's really been nonstop. Rael, the fortress side is going well. Once those two started persuading the soldiers, it seems like manpower has been sent out to surrounding villages and they're gathering volunteers. A few knights have joined up too, and they say the border priests are going to participate as well. Oh, and there hasn't been any movement from the surroundings. The enemy isn't attacking."
I looked at Gastone with mild surprise, and he nodded. It seemed there was a reason for their side to be sympathetic to us.
When I asked him about it:
"Many of those sent to the border belong to our faction, after all. But there are surely some among them with ill intentions. The reason the enemy isn't moving is… I'm sorry — I do have a working knowledge of military affairs, but I'm afraid I don't know the reason."
I rested my chin on my hand and pondered.
There are places where soldiers are stationed around the fortress too, right? Did something happen? Or wait — are most of them on our side… Should I go personally to tell friend from foe?
Just as the impulse to act myself was about to take hold, the Fifth Generation's voice came from the Jewel.
"…Laiel, leave this to the ones we sent. We've already prepared everything for them. If they still fail after all that, then that's all they're worth. Besides, you should trust them a little. The people around you are all incredible, you know."
Hearing the Fifth Generation's opinion, I thought how unlike him it was and nearly laughed. I held back, and turned my gaze toward Gastone and Novem.
"As planned, I'll be sending Gastone and Novem back first. Miranda, I'd like you to stay with me."
Novem hesitated for just a moment.
"Laiel, isn't it dangerous? You should be the one to return first—"
I gave Novem a smile.
"It'll be fine. They'll manage over there. Besides, even if I stay here, Miranda will be with me."
At that, Miranda shrugged her shoulders and looked a little pleased.
"Well, when you put it like me, I can't refuse. Don't worry — I'll protect Laiel."
I nodded along.
(Truly reliable. There's no need for me to protect her.)
Miranda's strength was among the top in the party. She possessed a different kind of power from Aria, and her usual composure made her dependable.
I turned to Novem.
"Go. If the enemy moves, we'll need your strength."
Novem nodded. Inside the room, May transformed into the Kirin's form, and upon stepping outside, she carried the two of them on her back through the window and vanished into the darkened skies of Rolfis.
—Night.
Inside the Jewel, I was receiving hands-on instruction from the Sixth Generation for the first time in a while.
Wielding a halberd, I faced them directly and received practical guidance.
I parried the Sixth Generation's heavy strike with my halberd and swept the shaft across to knock at his feet.
Our builds were completely different, and it was obvious I couldn't win by clashing with him head-on.
As the Sixth Generation leapt back, I stepped forward to press the attack.
That was when he was grinning at me.
He had his left hand spread open, thrust toward me.
"Go on, dodge this one! Fire Cannon!"
A massive fireball hurtled toward me, and I swept my left hand to the side.
"Ice Wall!"
It collided with the fireball, and the ice wall that materialized was blown apart, melting away. I sidestepped without hesitation and swung at the Sixth Generation.
He was clearly enjoying himself.
"Good! Stay calm at all times! Panic only lowers your odds!"
With practiced ease, he twirled his halberd, deflected my strike, and snapped a kick toward me. Then he stomped the ground, kicking dirt right into my face.
"You won't fool me with the same trick twice!"
Thanks to the Second Generation's skill—Field—I could perceive everything around me even with my eyes shut. The Sixth Generation launched a thrust at me, so I drove straight forward and thrust my halberd out.
His face was only a few dozen centimeters away, and blood sprayed from my mouth.
His halberd had pierced clean through my abdomen.
In return, I had only grazed his side at most.
The Sixth Generation grinned and pulled his halberd free. I collapsed face-first onto the ground, then rolled over onto my back.
My ragged breathing settled and the pain in my abdomen faded. I tried to stand.
That was when the Sixth Generation extended a hand toward me.
When she took my hand and helped me stand, the halberd the Sixth Generation had been holding had vanished. Then she started clapping for me.
'Well done. You pass.'
"That counts as passing?"
When I looked disgruntled, the Sixth Generation scratched her head with a wry smile.
'Fool. How long do you think I've been wielding my signature weapon? If you were actually trying to win, it would take years. But if you can hold your own like that, then I can rest easy.'
Saying that with a grin, the Sixth Generation looked at my face.
'Well then... Lyle, let me show you something interesting.'
"Something interesting?"
'Well, I feel refreshed now. Do you know why I always act so deferentially toward the Fifth Generation?'
Hearing that, I tilted my head. Now that she mentioned it, the Sixth Generation in my memories had spoken quite rudely to the Fifth Generation.
Their relationship hadn't been like this at all.
"Now that you mention it, that is strange."
'So, that's the reason. I was, among all the generations, the most... how should I put it... yes, I was nothing but a failure.'
The Sixth Generation laughed and showed me a memory.
It was inside the mansion. As the surrounding scenery shifted from the garden to the interior of a room, a single woman sat slumped on the floor, weeping.
Her clothes were in tatters.
'She's my little sister.'
When the Sixth Generation said that, I looked at the woman more carefully.
Her clothes were the kind a village girl would wear, and her hands were a mess. Her hair was in terrible condition as well. Bruises were visible on the arms and legs peeking out from her garments.
The grey, frozen scene gradually regained its color and began to move.
The Sixth Generation explained it to me.
"She was my half-sister. She'd been sent to the household of a lord who'd once been our enemy — a vassal house. She had it the worst of all."
After the Sixth Generation's sorrowful words, a woman different from the Sixth Generation's own mother was weeping in front of the woman.
When time started moving again, the woman's mother threw her arms around her daughter and held her tight.
The woman—
"I'm not a slave! I'm not going back to that house! I absolutely refuse to go back!"
Fines watched the desperately crying woman, standing there at a complete loss.
The Sixth Generation went on.
"He was a lord we absolutely had to keep under our thumb. But he opposed us at every turn, and kept switching his allegiance to other lords — barons, viscounts, things like that. He was the kind of man who changed his liege lord on a whim. That's where my half-sister was married off to. Since her bloodline was good, once she bore children, they worked her like a slave."
The Sixth Generation had clenched his fist.
(But if you do something like that...)
Just as I was thinking that, Fredricks — the Fifth Generation in his prime — walked into the room.