195 - Post-War Processing
Outside the fortress, massive quantities of monsters were being thrown into a large pit and burned.
Usable materials were stripped away, and magic stones were collected. However, for those with severe damage, the materials were ignored, and only the magic stones were recovered.
Knights and mages poured oil into the pit and set it ablaze.
Amidst the smoke rising everywhere, I walked around inspecting the site wearing a mask, talking with Alette-san.
As we walked side by side, some soldiers greeted me. Among them, some clicked their tongues blatantly—.
It seemed there was great dissatisfaction among the knights and soldiers from Rolfis's side.
Alette-san apologized.
"Sorry about that. They understand it in their heads, but many can't help showing their emotions."
I shook my head slightly.
"I don't mind. I did do that much, after all. Now, where were we? The distribution of magic stones and materials, right? We'll take the Giant Kong, but for everything else, wouldn't splitting it half-and-half with Zain be fine?"
At that, Alette-san looked at me, his face twisting slightly.
"We are fine with that, but then Lariel-kun won't get a share. We were expecting you to take thirty to forty percent?"
Both Zain and Rolfis likely wanted the magic stones and materials so badly they could taste them. It would mean they wouldn't have to buy them from Beime.
"Ah, I'll just make it look like I received some. The Giant Kong's magic stone seems to be of quite high quality, and I got materials too, so I earned more than planned. It's not a problem."
It was true, but not entirely. In reality, I had support funds from merchant houses, starting with the Trace Family. Even after giving out condolence money from that, some would remain.
Besides, Zain and Rolfis needed a massive amount of magic stones and materials.
"Well, I've already discussed it with Lombolt-san and Gastone-san, so it's fine. Just take half and head back. Please don't fight over it."
When I joked, Alette-san let out a sigh.
"Do you think we have that much stamina left? Once we clean up here, I'm sending the main force back to their countries. I want them back quickly. I'm concerned about the movements of Galleria and Lusworth."
They were two nations with national power equal to or greater than that of Zain or Rolfis. Four nations of similar scale... that was the current situation around Beime.
"I heard they've been fighting quite a bit."
"...When we sent out scouts, they said it wasn't just a skirmish. Apparently, they're truly monsters. Both sides are united, led by their female heads, so there are few openings. Honestly, it would have been better if Selva had made it in time."
I could only give a wry smile. Realizing it sounded like a jab, Alette-san apologized.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"It's fine. Now then, shall we get ready? There will be people coming from Beime to collect the magic stones."
"...Why Beime? And what do you mean, 'coming to collect'?"
Seeing Alette-san's confusion, I grinned and decided to explain.
—At the Beime Guild headquarters, Gastone and Lombolt were in a heated argument with the executives.
Gastone's face was bright red.
"What do you mean, tell us to hand over the magic stones and materials we risked our lives to obtain! Furthermore, it's absurd that Beime will continue to use the fortress! To get a fortress that repelled a massive army of monsters for free is simply too much!"
The Beime executive staff listened to Gastone's claims with bitter expressions.
They had intervened and declared they would not sell the magic stones and materials. They likely intended to take them back to their own countries for use.
However, the executives had not expected the knights and soldiers of the two nations to return alive. Because of that, their plans had been thrown completely off.
The merchants were pressuring them harshly to dispose of the surplus weaponry somehow.
One of the executives spoke.
"In that case, how about an exchange for weaponry? You've lost a large amount of equipment as well, so right now... this much would be the rate."
When the exchange rate was presented, this time Lombolt's face turned bright red, looking like a boiled octopus.
"You're telling us to exchange the rewards we won by risking our lives for only this? And on top of that, we're supposed to pay the difference in cash!"
The executive apologized immediately.
"N-no, that's a misunderstanding. I understand. Then, for this amount of magic stones... how about this much for the exchange?"
The rate was changed instantly, but the two were not satisfied.
"Even normally, this rate is absurd. Are you making fools of us? We didn't want weaponry to begin with. Magic stones and materials are enough."
The guild executives were also troubled by the prospect of the two nations taking a massive amount of magic stones and materials. After all, they hadn't obtained any for several weeks, and the resources they had stockpiled had been converted into weaponry.
In other words, they had fallen into a sudden shortage of magic stones and materials.
Since this would cause problems in various places, the executives looked at each other.
"...Then, we will wipe out the remaining debts of the two nations. On top of that, how about an exchange for the weaponry we have in storage? Also, this is our absolute limit of concession."
Facing the executive's serious expression, Gastone and Lombolt looked frustrated.
The executives thought.
(No matter how they act tough, these two nations don't have the national power to defy Beime.)
When Gastone nodded, Lombolt reluctantly agreed as well. However, Gastone—.
"...It would be troublesome for us if it were everything. I'd like you to settle for seventy percent of our share at the very least."
Lombolt felt the same.
"Same here. We can't talk if we have nothing. I won't be able to persuade the others once I return to my country."
The Beime guild executives did some calculations and decided they could somehow manage the current situation with that, so they nodded with smiles.
"Very well. Beime will take seventy percent from each of the two nations' shares. We will have the weaponry prepared, and since it's also for the sake of confirmation, you may send people to transport them."
Hearing that, Lombolt looked frustrated.
"Aren't you just telling us to bear the transportation costs?"
The executive smiled.
"No, this is simply because confirmation of the quantity is necessary. You wouldn't want to do the work twice, would you?"
Lombolt and Gastone confirmed the documents prepared by the staff along with the executives. Each of them checked the contents and signed.
The Beime executives were smiling, while the shoulders of the downcast Gastone and Lombolt were shaking. The executives were convinced that they were simply shaking with frustration.
Behind the two, who they thought were so frustrated, stood Mei, dressed in the attire of Zain's shrine maiden—.
A few days later.
Soldiers from the unit being stationed at the fortress by Beime and several mercenary groups visited the fortress.
However, in addition to the mercenary groups collecting magic stones and materials, a large number of transport units were also sent.
A pompous existence called a Beime Free Knight arrived at the fortress, sat in a chair in the commander's room, and spoke to us as we stood lined up before him.
"Good work on the defense. From now on, Beime will manage this fortress. You may return immediately."
Me, Alette-san, and Noi-san were lined up.
Telling us to return immediately meant "get out right now."
"Also, this is the decision of your superiors. Beime will receive seventy percent of the magic stones and materials. It was easy since they were neatly divided into stones and materials."
Facing the new fortress commander who was intentionally provoking us, the Third Head burst out laughing.
'This guy is hopeless. Should we have him demoted too? A commander should be competent, after all.'
Mireia-san agreed, giggling.
'I agree. Now, how shall we kick him out of that chair he's sitting in?'
As soon as she agreed, she was already thinking of ways to kick him out.
(These people have too much of a bad personality.)
While I was thinking that, the Free Knight spoke.
"Ah, also, leave the cannons that were active in battle behind. It would be a nuisance if they were brought back to Beime. You won't use them, right? We'll put them to effective use."
I was stunned. Noi-san, unable to stay silent, spoke up.
"That's too much. Those cannons are—"
"It's fine!"
I stopped Noi-san and shook my head. I would behave as a lowly adventurer with little standing before the new commander.
However, the Fifth Head spat out a laugh.
'I-is this guy perhaps worrying about us?'
The Fourth Generation laughed loudly too.
'I'm moved to tears by his kindness. He's incompetent, but it's a miracle! I'll never forget this guy!'
I looked at the commander.
"...So you're telling us to leave the cannons."
"That's right. It would be a problem if such things were brought into Beime. However, you prepared them well. I can praise you for that much."
Then, the happy voice of the Seventh Head sounded.
'I, too, can praise you for your current action alone. What a wonderful man. He was a talented individual who provided us with laughter and material to kick him down of his own accord. From our perspective, that is.'
"...I understand. Well then, we have preparations to make."
Watching us leave the room looking frustrated, the new fortress commander leaned back in his chair, completely satisfied.
Incidentally, we were also completely satisfied.
(But seventy percent, huh. I was prepared for eighty or ninety, but I guess Gastone-san and the others did a good job?)
Leaving the fortress behind, we returned to Beime.
I immediately visited the Trace Family. I needed to visit the merchant houses that supported us, but I had something I had to report to Vera.
As I entered the mansion, Vera ran up to me.
"Lariel! You aren't injured, are you! If you are, I won't forgive you!"
Catching Vera as she hugged me, I gave a wry smile. At the entrance of the mansion, Vera's younger sister Gina and her lover Roland were watching us from a short distance away.
Mireia-san looked around.
'...Fidel-san isn't here. That's a bit disappointing. I wanted to provoke him to his face. I had thought of so many actions and lines for that.'
The Third Head spoke as if to comfort Mireia-san.
'It's okay. There will be plenty of opportunities to provoke him from now on. Anyway, if you just call him "Father-in-law," he'll probably exceed his limit and get angry immediately, so I'm looking forward to it!'
These people really have bad personalities.
Then, I gave Vera an apologetic expression. In all seriousness, I was truly sorry. I had followed the orders of the successive heads to hand over the cannons to that Free Knight commander.
"Um, sorry... well, I couldn't bring the cannons back. The Beime Free Knight told me to leave them at the fortress... and the guns and ammunition too. Sorry."
At that, Vera became furious.
"I don't care about that! We can just make them again. You're safe, and that's enough. Or did someone else get injured?"
When I told her that none of my companions were injured, Vera seemed relieved.
Seeing this, the Fourth Generation spoke.
'...Yeah, Vera-chan is a little bit like my wife.'
The Fifth Head also spoke nostalgically.
'This feeling of being prickly yet kind is certainly similar to Mama.'
That's what they said.
Then, the joyful Seventh Head opened his mouth.
'Now, the fun time begins. I never thought the day would come when I'd be grateful to the Beime Adventurer's Guild and merchants. Lariel, it's time for the entertainment!'
Ignoring the high-tension successive heads, I gave Vera a rough account of the defensive battle.
At the guild headquarters, Fidel, accompanied by his subordinates, slammed documents onto the desk.
The guild executives, facing Fidel, who was one of the top merchants in Beime, were trembling.
Fidel had heard the circumstances from Vera and stormed into the Beime Adventurer's Guild headquarters, which had dispatched the Free Knight.
And those documents were proof that the cannons and heavy weaponry were borrowed from Fidel. Thinking it would be a hassle if Lariel hesitated to return them, Fidel had made them sign.
"Did you read them? You should read documents over and over to confirm there are no problems. This applies not only to merchants but to you as well."
The executives had shrunk into their chairs.
"W-while we were unaware, we never thought a Free Knight would do such a thing..."
To the executive who began making excuses, Fidel shouted.
"Who told you to make excuses! All I am asking is how you intend to take responsibility! How much value do your excuses even have?"
The executives were likely feeling bitter toward the Free Knight they had dispatched. Even though they were called Free Knights, they were originally soldiers or adventurers.
The guild handled such management, while merchants maintained military power by keeping private soldiers.
In other words, the guild had essentially hijacked the equipment held by Fidel's private soldiers.
The executives apologized all at once.
"We are terribly sorry! We will recover them and deliver them immediately!"
However, Fidel was not satisfied.
"Those were loaded onto ships owned by my house. Are you telling me to set sail unarmed? I assume you'll pay for the losses during that time? You say that since the person who borrowed them is returning, you just need to prepare, and that they weren't destroyed but stolen. The borrower is a problem, but you who stole them also bear responsibility."
Lariel had explained that things might be destroyed on the battlefield, so it had been decided that there would be no compensation. Fidel had thought that much was fine.
However, it was a different story if there was a place to squeeze money from. Moreover, the guild had been useless this time. This action was born from such dissatisfaction and served as a form of retaliation.
One of the executives spoke.
"...We will bear the cost of the losses."
Then, Fidel spoke dissatisfiedly.
"A commander who acts like a thief or a mountain bandit... is he suitable as the commander of Redant Fortress? To me, he doesn't look like it at all. Why not dispatch some more decent personnel? That place is a transportation hub. I think it'll be too late once a problem occurs."
The executive responded immediately.
"Yes. We will send excellent personnel immediately. We will severely punish the commander we sent, so regarding this incident—"
"Very well. However, if it becomes known that I was robbed, I'll be looked down upon. The guild wouldn't want strange rumors, would they?"
"T-that is certainly true."
Fidel said this and smiled.
"Exactly. Exactly... so, sign this."
When he presented new documents, the executives' cheeks twitched.
"We'll make it look like I sold them. Use the cannons and guns for the fortress defense. Also, since I'll have 'twelve' new cannons and guns made, the guild will bear that cost."
In reality, the cannons handed over to the fortress were ten. None of the executives knew this, so they nodded silently.
Seeing the executives sign, Fidel nodded with a smile.
"There were truly many problems this time. But I can't blame only you. I'll speak in your defense at the next meeting."
At that, the executives thanked him.
"T-thank you very much."
"I don't know what to say to the Trace Family. This gratitude will certainly—"
"We will prepare the funds immediately."
Fidel thought to himself—.
(...That leech guy is more formidable than these people. I mean, that leech guy actually survived... he has the vitality of a cockroach.)
Walking through the streets of Beime with Eva, I had a tired expression, remembering the events from earlier.
I pressed my left shoulder with my right hand and lightly rotated my neck.
"I can't get used to the atmosphere of that place."
The scene I recalled was being surrounded by elves and asked about my experiences and feelings on the battlefield. I wondered where their enthusiasm came from.
After talking about various things, I paid the reward to the elf clan who participated and saw them off as they departed from Beime.
The traveling performer troupe of the participating elves would likely move across the continent, avoiding the Banseime side, almost immediately.
Eva was walking beside me, looking happy.
"Did something happy happen?"
Eva stopped and looked back while striking a pose. She was beautiful, so it looked like a picture, but the people around us stopped and looked at Eva with smiles.
"Actually, I'm going to appear in several songs! As the daughter of the Nihil Clan that led the elves, I will carve my name into history!"
Rather than feeling embarrassed that her name would appear, she seemed to feel happy. I gave a wry smile, thinking she had a personality opposite to mine.
I let out a sigh and led Eva toward the mansion.
"Well, as long as the rumors spread, it's fine."
Eva gave me a wink.
"It'll be fine. This event was flashy, historical, and I even paid for travel expenses and rewards, so they'll be happy to spread it. But until now, you said you didn't want to be sung about or talked about. What caused this change of heart?"
As Eva tilted her head, I looked up at the sky.
"Well, I decided to act because it became necessary. That's all. But..."
"But?"
"...I might actually have Eva sing a hero's tale someday."
When I muttered it in a volume that was barely audible, Eva grabbed my shoulder and pulled.
"Hey, what is it? Say it properly. Now I'm curious."
Laughing, I pulled Eva along and walked, leading her by the hand all the way to the mansion.
Mireia(#・∀・) "Lariel being treated like a cockroach... I cannot forgive this!"
Third Head ヘ(゜∀゜ヘ) "Exactly lol. So let's provoke him even more next time www"
Mireia .゜(*゜´∀｀゜)゜ノ "I'm looking forward to it already www I mean, the people of Beime are so kind it brings tears to my eyes."
Fourth Generation (-@∀@) "It's true. They give us weaponry, they give us money. And they gave us fame too. If we spoke ill of them, we'd probably be cursed lol"
Fifth Head ( ゜д゜) "No, seriously. I wonder how much they'll contribute to us? I'm starting to feel bad about it."
Seventh Head (・A・) "But in the end, we will certainly parasitize them. No, regulate them. There will be no mercy there."
Lariel (;´-｀).。ｏO(I'm glad "growth" didn't come this time, but today I just tatted on Vera... the one who actually moved was Fidel-san. This is bad, I'm really going to be treated like a leech guy)