201 - Galleria
Galleria—its official name is the Duchy of Galleria.
It is a country where the Grand Ducal House of Galleria, possessing particular power among the surrounding lords, brings them all together.
The Duchy of Galleria alone possesses more territory than the previous Rolfis. However, the most impressive thing is that the surrounding lords recognize the Grand Duke of Galleria as an authority.
After departing from Beim and entering Rolfis, and then entering Galleria, I could tell the atmosphere was different.
It is a nation centered on nobility, a country where the power of the lords is great.
Sitting on the ceiling of the porter, I watched the transport convoy, which was hesitating and stopping during the tedious movement between territories, while guarding a conspicuous group of specially prepared horse carriages and large porters.
"...This is such a pain,"
The Third Head answered my mutter.
"It can't be helped. But if they know it's cargo from the Grand Ducal House of Galleria, they'll let us through for a cheap price, so just bear with it. Well, since we're passing through by handing over magic stones or materials we picked up along the way, the burden is small."
The Valkyries deployed to protect the group wore robes and made sure to show off the weapons they each held.
When monsters attacked, they reacted immediately and annihilated them. Then, they performed butchery to collect magic stones and materials.
"The lords have strong power in Banseime as well, but it's extreme here. Since the country is a subtle size, even a Baronetcy is supposedly plenty large... if one were a Baronet here, their income would likely be quite good. They'd probably have a fair amount of say, too."
The Third Head looked envious, but from my perspective, there were still many problems. Because the lords manage their own territories, some parts of the highways are well-maintained while others are not.
Every time we pass through a town, we are charged a transit tax.
We are charged a transit tax simply for using the highway.
...I could only think of it as an incredibly inconvenient country.
Passing through several territories, even before entering the Grand Ducal House's lands, the merchants were negotiating with the nobles.
"For this scale, the tax is this much—"
"No, but, this is cargo for the Grand Ducal House—"
"Payment in kind fluctuates in value, so please pay in gold coins—"
What I heard were negotiations over how much they could make us pay, and how cheaply we could get away with it. By using the magic stones and materials the merchants had obtained along the way, we were able to pass through more cheaply than expected.
However, thinking about the return trip, it was a very headache-inducing problem. If we return via this route, we'll be charged money again.
Furthermore, movement from Galleria to Lusworth is impossible.
The merchants also apparently sell their goods at a premium considering the transit taxes, but that must be a nuisance for the Grand Ducal House.
The Fourth Head was grumbling complaints.
"That many gold coins for this level of highway maintenance? Moreover, there are too many checkpoints in awkward places. They're just fleecing people because there's a lot of traffic. If they made it cheaper and put effort into highway maintenance, they could earn double. What is the lord here thinking? Are they an idiot?"
Having established the foundations of territorial management among the successive heads, the Fourth Head apparently disliked Galleria's system of control.
"Manage it properly!"
The Seventh Head was negative toward the Fourth Head's opinion.
"It has nothing to do with us. Well, I feel that the efficiency is poor, but it's not our territory, so you're worrying too much."
At the very least, Banseime was a country united around the King. There were certain common laws.
"Even with the same system, it's different,"
Miranda, who was also sitting on the ceiling, answered my mutter. She likely noticed from my mutter that I was comparing Banseime and Galleria.
"It's different from a great power. But the lords' power is certainly strong. I heard there are no court nobles, which I find unbelievable."
Apparently, the Grand Ducal House of Galleria has no court nobles. They have vassals of the Grand Ducal House, but they aren't treated as court nobles and have no peerage. Everyone seems to be treated as sub-vassals.
"A gathering of territorial nobles, then."
I operated the porter while watching the group start to move. Behind us, Clara was operating the large porter.
The soldiers who saw the porters stared at us intently, but we ignored them and passed through.
Once we entered the Grand Ducal House's territory, since we had summoned them, transit taxes and other fees were not collected.
When we arrived at the Grand Ducal House's mansion, I thought it was rare that they didn't have a castle. However, the city of the Grand Ducal House itself functioned as a fortress city.
Like Beim, it was surrounded by walls, but its characteristic was that it was smaller than Beim and had more military facilities.
Upon entering the city, we headed straight for the Grand Ducal House's mansion.
It was undoubtedly a city with a different atmosphere than Beim, but the reason it felt somewhat similar to Banseime might be because the systems were similar.
When the rare porters arrived, crowds gathered around, and children's eyes sparkled as they looked at them.
"There are no horses?"
"Maybe they're inside?"
"Idiot, if that's the case, where do you put the luggage?"
While heading for the mansion listening to the voices of the residents, Eva, who had poked only her face out from the ceiling of the porter, was fidgeting.
"S-so many people... Ah, I want to sing."
I pushed Eva, whose eyes were sparkling and who wanted people to hear her song, back into the porter.
"We don't have time, so no. It seems war is near, so please bear with it."
Eva, who refused to go inside, spoke to me while her head was being held down.
"It's always like that! There's never a time when you're not busy! So please. Just for a little while."
Exasperated, I said,
"You were the one who said local elves and those kinds of organizations are a pain, Eva. Bear with it. Once we finish with Lusworth, I'll make time in Rolfis."
In two unstable nations, it wouldn't be strange for war to start at any moment. I didn't want to stay long in such a place.
"Ugh, I knew that, but there are so few chances."
Eva complained as she returned inside the porter.
The luggage unloaded from the numerous horse carriages and the large porter was lined up at the Grand Ducal House's mansion.
The person in charge who came out of the mansion checked the luggage along with the merchants.
Most of it was equipment to be used in the war.
Among them were items that made me wonder, "Why is something like this here?" but I decided not to worry about it.
The spacious mansion was certainly a mansion befitting the Grand Ducal House. Since it's the center of the country, it wouldn't be strange to have a castle, but this is easier considering daily life.
The person in charge of the mansion, having confirmed the luggage, was giving instructions to subordinates to carry it. Then, a woman emerged from the mansion.
The woman with long silver-white hair walked toward us, her silky hair swaying.
With purple eyes and white skin, she possessed a beauty that felt somewhat artificial. She was dressed in something like a knight's attire, giving the impression of a beautiful woman in male clothing.
Her atmosphere was stiff. Furthermore, she was tall and gave the impression of a warrior.
As she walked toward me, she pointed at the porter with her thumb.
"Excuse me, but who is the owner of this thing? I wish to speak with them."
I removed my hood and greeted her.
"I am Lyell, guarding the transport convoy. I am the owner of this thing."
Monica was standing by me, and I thought she might say something in her usual manner, but she kept her mouth shut and erased her presence diagonally behind me.
(T-this girl would be competent if she just kept her mouth shut normally)
The opponent checked me with her gaze from my toes to the top of my head, then puffed out her large chest and put her hands on her hips.
"An adventurer? I'm a bit curious, but that can wait for now. ...I saw this thing moving. A horse carriage that isn't pulled by horses? It seems such things have even been developed in Beim."
It seemed she was interested in the porter.
I felt a little happy to have the porter praised.
"They aren't distributed enough to be a trend. And you are?"
The people around, especially the merchants, were flustered looking at me. The people of the mansion also had exasperated expressions looking at me.
However, that woman was smiling.
"My apologies. I am Glacia Galleria. I serve as the Grand Ducal Proxy."
I thought I had heard those characteristics somewhere, and I never imagined I would run into one of the two Great Valkyries here. However, seeing her smile, I thought she might have a gentle side...
"If I possess a large number of these, I'll need fewer horses to pull carriages. That means I can maintain more warhorses and pour them into Lusworth. Could you tell me more about this thing? If I can see the frustrated face of that witch of Lusworth, I'll buy them even if they're somewhat expensive."
Those purple eyes looked quite serious. And seeing her smile while talking about invading, she is a battle maniac.
From within the Orb, the Fifth Head, perhaps sharing the same opinion, spoke.
"H-huh? I thought these people were actually just fighting according to set rules? Don't tell me they've been conducting a real war for years? It wasn't just Alette exaggerating the story?"
—They were bewildered.
The Seventh Head was also put off.
"A real war on this scale. It's a wonder they weren't picked clean by the exhausted and ruined Selva."
As I took a step back, the opponent took a step forward. As she reached out to grab my shoulder, Monica and Novem, who was nearby, approached.
However, a blaming voice came from behind Glacia-san.
"Sister! Is that not rude to the other party!"
Glacia-san turned around and sighed as she looked at the person. She looked a bit irritated.
"This is none of your business, Reold. You're in the way."
Silver hair, drooping eyes, and purple pupils. Apparently, he is Glacia-san's younger brother. He looked younger than me.
As Glacia-san returned to the mansion, Reold-kun apologized to me.
"I am very sorry. My sister tends to get tunnel vision when it comes to war... Ah, more importantly, thank you for guarding the luggage. I am Reold. The younger brother of my sister, the Grand Ducal Proxy."
I introduced myself as well.
"I am the adventurer Lyell. Well, guarding is a request, so there's no need to thank me."
Then, Reold-kun cast his eyes down slightly and gave a bitter smile.
"No, many merchants and adventurers hold grievances until they arrive here."
Seeing Reold-kun's response, the Fourth Head gave a critique.
"This boy is a good kid at heart, but he's no good. Since she's the Grand Ducal Proxy, isn't this place patrilineal? If he can't inherit the position, I can only think he's considered unsuitable rather than just being young. Also, apologizing immediately is no good. Look around."
When I turned my gaze to the surroundings, the people of the mansion were directing rebellious looks at Reold-kun upon seeing his reaction.
The Third Head, while looking at the surrounding scene, said,
"The older sister is too strong, so everything is centered around her. But that's strange... these kinds of things usually turn into rather unpleasant stories. Because she's too strong, there are often assassinations and such. The younger brother seems easier to manipulate. I feel like the unity is weaker than what I heard."
Seeing the scene of hostility being directed from the surroundings, I felt sympathy for Reold-kun. I ended up overlapping him with myself.
(Is Reold-kun the same?)
Perhaps feeling the gazes of those around him, Reold-kun gave me a smile and returned to the mansion.
"Excuse me. I was in the way. Well then."
While his sister Glacia-san felt like a warrior, Reold-kun was a boy who gave the impression of a civil official. They were a contrasting pair of siblings.
The merchants who delivered the luggage received their rewards and left the mansion. We, the guards, accompanied them, and we would return after staying in the city for about two nights.
However, I felt that this country, which leaned extremely toward war, was a little—no, quite precarious.
—At the Grand Ducal House's mansion, Glacia had summoned Reold to her room.
The people of the mansion also looked down on Reold, who was reprimanded whenever something happened.
A younger brother unsuitable for a sister who was so strong and beautiful. He was recognized by those around him as a brother unsuitable for the Grand Duke.
But—.
"Reold, don't force yourself to follow my lead. You don't have to worry about it."
Glacia treated Reold with an attitude different from the one she usually showed in the mansion. It was the attitude of an older sister worrying about her younger brother.
Reold knew this, so...
"But if the other lords keep squeezing the merchants like that, prices will rise... even though the finances are already strained."
At a glance, Galleria looks as if the lords are united under the name of the Grand Duke of Galleria.
However, that is not the case.
They are using the Grand Ducal House to wage war with Lusworth.
"I understand your desire to worry. But if you say that too much, you will certainly be assassinated. Right now, because I don't listen to your opinions, you are looked down upon, but..."
The lords' power is strong, and even with orders from the Grand Ducal House, if someone complains about important income, the lords will rebel.
Furthermore, Glacia and Reold's parents had actually died suspicious deaths. The exhaustion from years of war and the decline of national power could not be hidden. If they didn't put on a front, those around them wouldn't follow, and the Grand Ducal House could no longer cut off those around them.
Because the moment they cut them off, the surroundings would cut off the Grand Ducal House, and the interior of the country would suddenly fall into chaos.
Glacia didn't actually want to wage war either. However, her innate talent would not allow it. As the Valkyrie of Galleria, she was required by those around her to fight.
Originally, Glacia wanted to place Reold as the Grand Duke instead of being the Grand Ducal Proxy.
However, Reold was also stubborn. He believed that any further war was useless, and in fact, the lords on the border were pleading with him.
It would be fine if they pleaded and cooperated, but it was unknown how far the lords would actually cooperate. Furthermore, the lords who did not have borders had temporary income by looting during the war. If told to stop, they were in a state where they would resist.
"Anyway, I will serve as the proxy until you reach adulthood. But you should also think of a path to live freely. As you are now, you will truly be killed."
Glacia's words were telling him to abandon the position of Grand Duke. However, that was a statement made out of worry as an older sister.
Reold said,
"...If we do that, you'll be forced into marriage, Sister. Did you forget that in the previous meeting, they said it's better to have more Valkyrie girls? Those people seriously intend to push several men onto you. That's crazy! Even you don't actually want to fight, Sister."
Glacia understood her own strength. And she knew that the surrounding lords feared it. However, Glacia could not wage war alone, and if the surrounding lords invaded, she would lose.
And to such a Glacia, several lords had proposed the joint management of Glacia.
They didn't propose it under the name of joint management, but the content was terrible.
They told Glacia to give birth to children for multiple houses. She had rejected them, but there was still a possibility that those around her might explode out of fear of Glacia's power.
That is why war had become important for Glacia. Because there was an opponent she could only fight herself—Eliza Lusworth—Glacia was alive.
If she weren't there, she might have truly been forced to give birth to children under joint management by now, and then assassinated once her use was over.
"...Even so, I cannot run away. So, at least you..."
"Sister."
The siblings who worried for each other could only speak their true feelings inside that room. From the outside, they looked united, but the inside was in tatters.
And, to put it bluntly, Galleria's current situation was checkmate—.