161 - The Fall of Selva
The city of Selva.
Positioned where the castle seemed to jut out from the walls, I watched the forces of Rolfis, our main strength.
Their scale had swelled to twenty thousand, most of whom were mercenaries. Originally, they were mercenaries hired by Zain, who had considered invading Rolfis, but as soon as they learned they wouldn't be paid, they immediately defected to Rolfis.
Thinking about how important money is, I gazed at the city of Selva as it came under attack.
On our end, we limited ourselves to drawing the enemy's attention and providing some assistance to the main Rolfis force. After all, there was almost no profit for Zain's side in this war.
The discussions had proceeded with Zain receiving the problematic border regions from the start. But that was all.
If there was almost no profit for Zain, no matter how hard we tried, it was difficult to stay motivated.
(My profits and Zain's profits are different. I have to keep the attrition of the knights and soldiers I've been entrusted with as low as possible.)
Since I didn't want to be seen as passive, I decided to fulfill the role of drawing some of Selva's military strength toward us.
Thanks to that, the enemy was diverting a fair amount of troops our way.
Looking at the movements inside the city, Selva was resisting desperately, even mobilizing its residents to withstand our attacks.
As I unconsciously gripped the orb, May, who was beside me, spoke up.
This time, I hadn't asked May to do any scouting.
Novem was in the rear treating the wounded. Clara and Miranda were supporting a separate detachment.
I also had Aria and Eva supporting other units.
Shannon and Monica were assisting the rear units as porters.
"Hey, shouldn't Lariel be the one giving orders?"
May's gaze was directed toward Crate-san. And Albano-san, equipped with the gear of the unit that had handled the dirty work during the Holy Knights era, was sitting in a chair at the main camp, resting his arm on the backrest.
The two of them were glaring at each other.
Crate-san spoke.
"We declared we would cooperate with Rolfis! What are you doing not attacking more aggressively!"
Inside the main camp tent, Crate-san slammed both hands onto a long table. Albano-san, who was cleaning his ear with the pinky of his right hand, looked at him with an exasperated expression.
"That's why people call you blockheaded. There's almost no profit for us here. Besides, it'll be a problem if the other side gets too enthusiastic. Imagine if we're the first to break through. How are they supposed to feel? They have nearly twice the manpower; if we beat them to it, they'll lose face. We should just keep our distance and trade magic."
Crate-san was too aggressive.
Albano-san was too passive.
Their opinions clashed, and the adjutant, the knight Noi Bardel, listened to both plans.
"Um, then... Lariel-dono's plan to attack aggressively and draw attention would be fine, right?"
As the gazes shifted to me, Crate-san nodded.
"I-is that the only way?"
Albano-san added.
"What did you plan to do by charging in, you? Rolfis is already moving to make this place their own. The young knights want to make a name for themselves during this opportunity. Use your head a little."
Crate-san's face turned bright red, and he grabbed Albano-san by the collar.
"Albano, who do you think is responsible for you being here—"
"The Holy Knight-sama. Did you think I'd say it was thanks to you?"
Perhaps because they were wound up on the battlefield, the two began to brawl. Receiving a "What are you going to do?" look from May, I stood up from my chair.
From the orb, I could hear the exasperated voice of the Seventh Generation.
'Good grief, they haven't grown at all.'
The Fourth Generation added.
'It's tough to leave it to those two. We really should decide on the personnel to put at the top. They're talented, but they just can't stop clashing.'
Both had strengths, but their weaknesses were also significant.
I spoke.
"If you're going to do this, please go outside. It's out of the question for the commanders to be absent from their posts."
At that, both of them separated and sat back in their chairs.
A messenger rushed into the tent.
"Report! The Rolfis units have scaled the walls! They have opened the castle gates and successfully broken through!"
It took a few days to get this far, but it was surprisingly fast. As expected, the difference in numbers was too great.
Then, Crate-san spoke.
"We'll send units too! I will personally lead the cavalry!"
Albano-san countered.
"That's why I'm telling you that you don't need to move. If you get in their way, they'll hold a grudge later."
Their opinions remained split, but I didn't offer any advice.
Since I would be leaving Zain soon, I wanted the two candidates for the next Knight Commander to gain experience. However, the two of them were hopeless.
Then, Noi-san let out a sigh.
"Let us also support Rolfis. We will pin down the soldiers on the walls. Avoid attacking the city as much as possible. Also, send a messenger to Rolfis to confirm."
Running a hand through her short black hair, Noi-san issued the orders. She had taken the ideas of both men and made a decision that was essentially a compromise.
She looked toward me, so I nodded.
The voice of the Fifth Generation echoed.
'No wonder Alette didn't bring those two in. They're too extreme.'
The Third Generation added.
'In that case, pushing either of them for Knight Commander is out of the question. Even if they're equal in rank, they'll just fight.'
Inside the tent, I watched Noi-san receiving reports and issuing instructions. Since the founding of the Holy Knights, she had been a relatively inconspicuous person.
She was the type to support others.
I sat in my chair and rested my hand on my chin. As I watched Noi-san, May peeked at my face.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hmm? Oh, just something."
(She was originally a noble, but fell from grace and became an adventurer, right? Mid-twenties... she knows hardship, and above all, as a former noble, she's received various educations. She has a personality that doesn't like to stand out, but against those two...)
I had called her to the main camp thinking of her as the Knight Commander's adjutant or vice-commander, and she was a better choice than I had thought.
(Ah, this might be good.)
As I gripped the orb, the Fifth Generation, understanding what I wanted to say, spoke.
'...For a compromise, isn't it not bad?'
The Third Generation added.
'Their personalities are too strong, so a featureless Knight Commander might provide a good balance.'
The Fourth Generation agreed.
'Not bad. Rather, if those two are around, this might actually be better...'
The Seventh Generation, perhaps thinking she was more suitable than Crate-san or Albano-san, said.
'If she has experienced hardship, then why not? She seems serious. The problem is whether those two will accept her.'
Nodding, I stood up and approached the busy Noi-san. Noi-san looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Um, did I make some kind of mistake?"
She braced herself, thinking I had come to point out an error.
I placed my left hand on Noi-san's shoulder and gave a thumbs-up with my right.
"Congratulations. You are the next Knight Commander!"
"...Eh?"
The surroundings fell silent, and for a moment, it felt as if time in the tent had stopped until the next messenger rushed in.
――The Rolfis knights who had entered the city of Selva arrived at the royal palace and detained all members of the royal family.
By the time Alette arrived, Dario, clad in golden armor, was lying on the floor surrounded by Rolfis knights.
Blood was spreading across the floor, and Alette grimaced.
(...Prince Dario, you bought too many grudges.)
Alette had come to report to the Knight Commander who had entered the royal palace. After confirming the Knight Commander's location, Alette walked briskly through the palace to find the room where the Knight Commander was.
In the unfamiliar royal palace, she asked patrolling soldiers for directions several times before arriving at the room, where Alette reported to the Knight Commander.
"Alette's unit has suppressed the Selva forces that were resisting at the west wall!"
Then, the Knight Commander, sitting in an office fit for a minister, nodded while looking at a report.
"Good work. Is that all for the report?"
Inside the city, the skirmishes had already ceased, and the flags of Rolfis were being hoisted in various locations.
Entering the second day since the breakthrough into the city, knights were heading to the Rolfis royal castle to report the victory.
Alette spoke to the Knight Commander, who looked exhausted.
"No, there is more. It's more of a personal report, or rather, a proposal."
Having achieved victory, the Knight Commander was in a somewhat good mood. He looked away from the documents and turned his face toward Alette.
"Personal, huh. What kind of proposal?"
Then, Alette—.
"Yes! The engagement of Princess Anneliese and the Knight Commander of Zain's Holy Knights—Lariel Walt!"
When Alette said that, the Knight Commander frowned.
"Are you tired?"
He replied.
But Alette was serious. She was proposing this in earnest. Lariel liked women and had his problems, but his achievements this time were greater than anyone's.
He had commanded Zain's army firmly, demonstrating his high level of command ability.
"I'm serious! He is of the lineage of a Count's house from the great nation of Banseime! Moreover, the Walt family is a prestigious name, is it not! There should be few problems regarding status. If we do this, Rolfis will gain a strong king!"
The Knight Commander recoiled slightly at Alette's eager explanation, but spoke.
"No, regardless of status, there's no point if he's been cast out... Besides, I can't imagine Zain would let him go? Was he a Holy Knight? I believe there are rumors about him and Zain's Saint."
The elf had moved to Rolfis and been singing songs.
And those rumors had reached Rolfis as well. Lariel's name was beginning to spread as a brave hero.
"Before it's officially announced, if he stops by here and announces an engagement, there should be no problem!"
The Knight Commander whispered.
"You, because you think like that, you'll always..."
"Something?"
Alette pretended not to hear and pressed the Knight Commander further. She placed both hands on the Knight Commander's desk and brought her face even closer.
"T-too close, too close! H-hypothetically. Just hypothetically, okay? Even if we can lure him out, to the Princess, a Holy Knight is a hateful opponent. To such a person... no, wait."
The Knight Commander put his hand to his mouth and thought deeply.
Alette watched him.
"It's that Princess. There's a possibility she's forgotten her hatred, along with the matter of Dario. Besides, if this succeeds, our position relative to Zain will be even higher. I hear the Knight Commander's position is only temporary? In other words, now, while there's a desire to distance ourselves from Zain..."
Alette knew that Lariel was only serving as Zain's Knight Commander temporarily. The Knight Commander knew this as well.
Removing his hand from his mouth, the Knight Commander spoke.
"Noble marriages... it's common for the will of the individuals to be secondary. However, Anneliese-sama did like heroes, didn't she?"
Alette nodded.
"His face isn't bad either. And his lineage is prestigious... Now that Dario is gone, it's the perfect opportunity!"
The Knight Commander leaned back against the backrest.
"...I'll propose it to Lombolt-dono at the castle. I'll send a fast horse. You handle the talk with Lariel-dono."
"Yes!"
Alette practically flew out of the room and hurried toward the place where Zain's units were camping—.
I, who thought everything was over after invading Selva, was for some reason invited to the royal castle of Rolfis.
I had been called by Alette-san, who said she wanted me to formally apologize for the past for the sake of future friendship.
My work was mostly finished; all that remained was to formally hand over the Knight Commander position to Noi-san in Zain.
Crate-san was opposed, and Albano-san had accepted it. When I asked Crate-san if he could handle the paperwork, he reluctantly agreed with a troubled expression.
Albano-san had left being an adventurer to become a knight of Zain. Since he couldn't do paperwork to begin with, he seemed intent on dumping all the work on Noi-san.
(Wait, I also have to go back to Zain and do the handover, right?)
The ostentatious decorations had been removed from the royal castle's audience chamber.
The Fourth Generation noted.
'Ah, so it was originally like this. I like the calm feeling.'
The Fifth Generation added.
'It was gaudy before because of the fiancée's taste. Now, regardless, I'm curious about the eyes of the Princess in front of us?'
Last time, I had a quite terrible audience, and I felt somewhat apologetic. That's why I had come with the intention of apologizing.
I had come, but—.
"Um, what are Lariel-sama's tastes?"
The Third Generation spoke in an exasperated voice.
'This isn't an apology, is it? I mean, aren't her cheeks flushed? What? Lariel, did you do something? Could it be that you've entered the 'Lariel-san' state already?'
Growth hadn't come yet. If it had, I would have rejected this audience with all my might. Because it was obvious that the result would only bring disadvantage to both parties.
Facing Princess Anneliese, who was touching her purple hair restlessly, I didn't know what to do.
I felt an indefinable terror, and a strange sweat broke out.
(No, you called me a fool the other day, didn't you?)
"T-tastes? Um... what exactly do you mean by that?"
Then, the Princess let out a "Kya!" and pressed her cheeks with both hands, twisting her body. What is this, it's terrifying.
Lombolt-san, standing beside the Princess, spoke.
"Come to think of it, Lariel-dono has many beautiful companions. Being the only man must be difficult, is it not? How about it, why not decide on a primary wife here? Besides, living as an adventurer forever must be hard."
All my companions had also been invited to the audience chamber. Lombolt-san's gaze was directed toward them. However, that gaze was not one of admiring beauties.
(What is this guy talking about?) While I was thinking that, the Seventh Generation seemed to understand and spoke to me.
'Lariel, this is a chance! It seems this Princess has fallen for you! I don't know why, and I don't want to know, but if this continues, you'll get Rolfis!'
The Third Generation added.
'O-oh, not bad. We had a big problem just now, so it might not be bad to secure a country around here. We'd be able to use Rolfis's military strength freely.'
The Fifth Generation said.
'...I have my doubts about that. I mean, it's necessary, but how should I put it... isn't that just wrong?'
The Fourth Generation dismissed the Fifth Generation's opinion.
'Let's not worry about minor problems at a time like this. Lariel, give her some hope and see how it goes. Listen, this is to win! This is necessary to win against Ceres! Be ruthless, Lariel!'
When told it was to win against Ceres, I felt somewhat scared, but I spoke to Lombolt-san.
"Y-yes, I suppose. Well, there are things that are difficult being the only man."
Then, Miranda spoke.
"Oh, how cruel. We're all being quite considerate here. More importantly, could you tell us clearly? Why did you call Lariel here?"
At Miranda's confrontational tone, the surrounding people cast slightly stern looks. But Miranda didn't flinch.
Lombolt-san replied.
"...I intended to talk about it later."
It seemed the Princess had run wild. He had apparently intended for both sides to apologize first and then call me out separately later.
"Rolfis highly evaluates Lariel-dono's achievements this time. How about it? Why not take the next throne into your hands, Holy Knight-dono?"
Inside the orb.
The Fourth Generation rejoiced.
'Yes, here it comes! Now we get Rolfis! Using this as a foothold, if we secure Zain and dominate the surroundings—'
But here, Novem, who had been smiling, opened her mouth.
"That cannot be done."
"Eh?"
I accidentally looked back too. As the surrounding gazes gathered, the dissatisfied Princess declared to Novem.
"Why! Am I not enough? It is the duty of the royal family to incorporate the blood of a peerless hero!"
The Fifth Generation inside the orb spoke.
'No, I think that's not it. Look at a more important part.'
The Seventh Generation also said.
'...Novem is opposing it? She can't possibly not understand what it means to obtain Rolfis here! Lariel, persuade Novem!'
The smiling Novem erased her smile and looked straight at the Princess with a serious expression. Then, the Princess's mouth flapped open and shut, and she became unable to say anything to Novem.
"Lariel-sama and Princess Anneliese have different social standings. Moreover, Lariel-sama has a great purpose. I do not believe a marriage with the Princess would be for the benefit of either party."
Then, Lombolt-san asked.
"A great purpose, is it?"
Novem nodded.
"Furthermore, the Walt family has a family precept. A precept observed by successive heads... I cannot say it here, but this would break it. I cannot permit this marriage."
Voices like "How rude!" could be heard from the surroundings, but there were also nobles who nodded, perhaps because there were many who had not wanted someone like me to take the throne from the start.
Lombolt-san, sensing the atmosphere, spoke.
"...I see. Personally, I am interested in the purpose. Rolfis owes Lariel-dono a great debt. If there is anything we can do to help, we shall help."
The Princess sat in her chair, looking down in disappointment with her hands on her lap.
(I feel sorry for her... but it's also a fact that I feel incredibly relieved.)
I decided to believe that she would find a good partner from now on.
We apologized for the previous audience and decided to settle the matter between both parties.
After the audience ended, while we were on our way back to Zain.
Sitting on the roof of the porter, I asked Novem, who was keeping watch with me.
The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the sun was out. While receiving the piercing sunlight, I spoke to Novem.
"Hey, why did you kick that proposal back then? If you'd accepted, we would have gotten Rolfis."
Then, Novem looked at me with a blank expression. She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"N-no, um... because she was not a person who fit the Walt family precept. No matter if she is a Princess, she does not match Lariel-sama's status."
I thrust my palm in front of Novem's face and told her to wait a moment.
"Eh, you mean... you really rejected her just because of the family precept?"
Novem smiled.
"Yes. She was not a person suitable for Lariel-sama."
It was a very wonderful smile.
With such a smile, Novem declared that the Princess was not suitable for me.
Internally.
(The First Generation who made that precept just said it randomly while drinking... but even if I said that, she wouldn't believe me, right?)
Exhausted, I said to Novem.
"The sun is getting strong, so Novem, you should go inside."
"I am fine. I can reduce the sunlight with magic. I must also protect Lariel-sama's skin."
"O-oh."
I had forgotten, but as expected, Novem was overprotective of me. From inside the orb, the voices of the successive heads could be heard.
Starting from the Third Generation.
'If Novem-chan says so, it can't be helped.'
'Thinking calmly, it would be difficult to govern the territory while taking care of that woman.'
'These guys change their tune fast.'
'But what will you do? There is a large problem that requires urgent attention. We need to find a way to solve it.'
The large problem that was right in front of us and required urgent attention.
That was—.
(Sigh, I used up all my money in this war, what am I supposed to do now...)
――It was a financial problem.