211 - Full Drive
"...Are you alright, Lyell-dono?"
In a room within the estate of the Archducal Family of Galleria, Reold-kun looked at me with concern as I lay slumped over my desk.
Reold-kun, who looked like a young boy, had been working closely with me lately.
Currently, I am handling the paperwork for the territories that the Duchy of Galleria has newly brought under its direct control. Mountains of documents are being brought in, and I am processing them.
In reality, it is supposed to be Reold-kun who is processing them, and he is apparently learning by watching my work, partly to assist me.
Or rather, Glacia-san is not particularly fond of this kind of work. Since she is fully occupied with routine duties, it seems she assigned Reold-kun to me.
"...I think I'm alright."
I had a meal with Vera in Beim, and after talking for a while, I left Eva in Beim and headed to Rolfis with Mei.
From there, I heard that Galleria had subjugated the surrounding lords and was short-handed with the aftermath, so I rushed over.
Yesterday, I also went to Lusworth to deliver a letter. The officials of Lusworth were in chaos because the Chancellor was gone. Additionally, Elsa-san was slightly troubled. This was because the documents the Chancellor had been processing were now flowing to her.
Since I left Novem and Aria by her side, those two should be able to help in various ways.
Well, Novem is fine, but I'm worried about Aria. That girl was completely useless with paperwork.
"No, your complexion is poor. Shouldn't you take a rest?"
I looked at the documents piled high on the desk. I almost let out a laugh. I process various documents and reports in Rolfis, give instructions in Lusworth, and face mountains of paperwork in Galleria.
It's strange. I'm supposed to be an adventurer.
I move around in the shadows in various ways, but why am I doing this? I had imagined physical labor for my clandestine activities.
No, considering it was similar in Zain, maybe this is just how it is.
"I'll take a little break once this is finished. Even so, the management here was quite terrible."
Looking at one of the reports, the previous lord had been collecting seventy percent in taxes. Collecting them is one thing, but he barely used any of it for the development of the territory. It felt like he just maintained the status quo, and handled the increased population or shortages through war.
It seemed he earned extra income by looting during wars. The Fourth Head inside the orb was also raging.
"Why is such a fertile land so underdeveloped! It's insane! I mean, how can people survive with seventy percent taken? If they had focused on domestic affairs earlier, they could have beaten Lusworth without even going to war!"
Well, since they were fighting wars as a matter of course, they probably weren't obsessed with winning.
"Beim is nearby, too. If they had invested money and new technology, they could have attracted people. Why did it end up like this?"
It was Reold-kun who answered my question.
"...Well, until now, it was fine without forcing ourselves to expand outward. Besides, for a long time, Lusworth was the only threat to the surrounding countries. The neighboring country, Selva, has been in a long-standing dispute between Zain and Rolfis."
Lusworth was the only threat in the vicinity. Moreover, their national strengths were balanced, and there were likely benefits to both sides in waging war. Yes, for some people.
"Did the merchant houses dislike Beim intervening? But they do buy goods from Beim periodically."
Reold-kun didn't seem to be familiar with those specific circumstances.
"I don't know. However, many lords do not want to rely on Beim. It is called the Capital of Adventurers, but many people loathe it as a gathering of death merchants, mercenaries, or bandits."
Indeed, at first glance, Beim prospers through trade.
However, many of the goods handled are weapons. The Trace family also contracts with blacksmiths and craftsmen to manufacture weapons in large quantities.
Those who consume them are adventurers and mercenaries, and considering that monsters are all over the continent, weapons always sold.
At times, they likely made a fortune by inciting wars and letting people fight. This is clear if you look at the previous handling in Zain and Rolfis.
They sent mercenary groups and sold armaments and consumables to both sides. A considerable amount of money must have moved.
"...There are probably many lords who resent me for bringing in the Trace family."
As I said this while looking at the ceiling, Reold-kun gave a wry smile.
"Yes. Many. But if we can secure the port, it will bring great profit to Galleria. It's impossible to just stick to the old ways forever."
Though he is younger than me, he seemed to be thinking about various things.
The voice of the Fourth Head echoed from the orb.
"Aaaaaaaah!! How can this method of governance actually work! If it were me, I'd be too scared to sleep at night!!"
I continued my work, ignoring the Fourth Head's screams while looking through the Galleria lord's reports.
――Miranda showed her face in the room given to Lyell.
She brought drinks and a late-night snack in her hands, knocking on the door and waiting for a response. However, no answer came from inside the room.
Miranda, who had entered the service of the Archducal Family of Galleria, reached for the doorknob, confirmed it was unlocked, and entered the room.
"Did you already fall asleep? Lye...ll?"
As the light from the hallway entered the dark room, she saw Lyell's legs lying on the sofa.
On the other of the two sofas, a boy smaller than Lyell was lying down.
Upon entering the room, Miranda turned on the light and placed the drinks and snack on the table.
Looking around the room, she saw piles of processed documents. Brushing back her light green wavy hair with her fingertips, she picked up one sheet from the pile and checked the contents.
"...Lower the tax rate slightly, and offer tax cuts for cooperation in flood control works? That brings it back to an average tax rate. Well, I suppose cooperation wouldn't be obtained otherwise."
Since Galleria is naturally fertile, the residents aren't particularly desperate, and they wouldn't participate in cooperation for just a small tax cut. This is because they can eat even without it.
Lyell, who acted while considering such circumstances, was someone Miranda could not imagine from his usual behavior.
"It's as if there's some excellent support..."
Suddenly, Miranda's gaze was drawn to the orb emitting a faint blue light at Lyell's chest.
For a moment, Celes crossed her mind. Just as the consciousness of the ruinous beauty Agrissa is sealed in an orb――a yellow orb, perhaps Lyell's orb also...
Thinking that far, Miranda shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe I'll go borrow a blanket."
Saying so, Miranda left the room――.
――Inside the orb.
The Third Head was alone with the Fourth Head in the Round Table Room. This was due to the consideration of the previous heads and Mireia.
"Now, is it finally Marks's turn? I wonder when I'll finish my role?"
Without calling him the Fourth Head, Slay, the Third Head, called his son Marks. In appearance, Marks looked older if anything.
The Third Head was aloof and, for that matter, looked young. His personality was not like an adult's. If asked who was younger, everyone would point to the Third Head.
"Father, you have the important job of compiling the 'Best of Lyell,' don't you?"
At the Fourth Head's words, the Third Head laughed loudly.
"It certainly is important! ...But there are too few judges. Don't you think we need more judges?"
The Fourth Head took off his glasses, took out a cloth, and polished the lenses.
"I don't. After all, there have been plenty so far, and I have expectations for Father's choices."
Being called Father, Slay narrowed his eyes.
"...Marks, I couldn't say it because it's embarrassing. But even if it's meaningless, even if the real us are dead, I'll say it anyway. Marks, you were a far more splendid head of the Walt family than I was. You were a son I was proud of."
As Marks put his glasses back on, he lightly wiped his eyes with the cloth. Slay noticed this but deliberately said nothing.
"...I wanted to apologize to Fredricks for various things. That guy runs away whenever I try to apologize. Could you tell him for me, Father? Tell him, 'I put you through a lot of hardship. I'm sorry.'"
At those words, Slay shook his head.
"It's not just Marks. I also pushed the position of head onto Marks without any handover. Parents leave things for children, and children for grandchildren. Regardless of whether those things are good or bad."
Marks stood up from his chair, straightened his posture, and looked at Lyell's chair. As Lyell's seat emitted a blue light, Lyell appeared there.
Slay... the Third Head, silently watched the Fourth Head.
Marks, the Fourth Head, spoke to Lyell.
"Lyell, I think I'll teach you the final skill today."
The Third Head watched the Fourth Head as he said this to Lyell with a smile. And he saw them off until the two passed through the door of memories...
"Marks, among the successive heads, you held the position of lord the longest. I put you through a lot of hardship... but you are more splendid than I."
...So, he whispered――.
It was a single road that stretched on forever.
It was also a place where the road the Fourth Head rushed along to meet the Third Head, who had fallen on the battlefield, was strongly engraved in his memory.
The Fourth Head's skill [Speed] manifested from his desire to hurry more to meet the Third Head.
Thanks to that, the Fourth Head was able to reunite with the Third Head while he was still breathing. And he was able to receive the orb passed down through generations.
White clouds in a blue sky.
Looking up at the sky, I somehow understood what the Fourth Head facing me wanted to convey. It is precisely because I understand that I say it.
"Isn't this too abrupt?"
The Fourth Head smiled.
"Do you think so? I don't. My role... no, I believe this is as far as I can help."
This time, I turned my face toward the ground and pressed my face with both hands. Tears almost came, but I spoke a joke.
"I'm busy, so let's do this when I have more time. Look, you said the atmosphere is important, Fourth Head."
The Fourth Head laughed out loud.
"No, that was for women. However, it's quite good that you remembered properly. This is something you'll need from now on, or rather, something you absolutely should master, so practice it in actual combat. Oh, with Novem-chan and the others, okay?"
Who else would there be? I steadied my breathing and looked straight at the Fourth Head.
"I want you to teach me more things, though."
"I've taught you the basics. After that, unless you worry on your own and hit a great wall, there will be no growth. Oops, I don't mean the usual 'growth,' okay?"
I gave a wry smile at the Fourth Head's words. Then, as the Fourth Head's expression became serious, he moved to my side in an instant.
Looking sideways, the Fourth Head had placed his hand on my shoulder.
"...[Full Drive]. My final stage skill. If you can master this, you might be able to stand up to Celes a little."
He only said I might be able to stand up to her. The Fourth Head did not say I could win. After all, Celes can do something close to this in almost her raw state.
As I gasped, the Fourth Head stepped back and drew a dagger from his lower back. Then, he began throwing them around.
Two, four, six, eight... by then, the Fourth Head's figure looked blurred. Before I knew it, the daggers thrown into the air were neatly embedded around me.
The Fourth Head was skillfully juggling two daggers behind me.
"...You teach in a quite extreme way, don't you?"
The Fourth Head gripped two daggers in his right hand and adjusted his glasses with his left.
"If it were just teaching the skill, another method would be fine. But I'll have you learn the way of fighting using the skill, and the way of fighting using my weapons. Did you think my style only used two daggers?"
I have sparred with the Fourth Head many times. However, I have never seen him use this many daggers until now.
"You didn't need to use them?"
"No, basically, against multiple opponents, two daggers quickly become insufficient. Besides, by using multiple skills――"
I swung my right hand sideways, and a saber appeared, deflecting the dagger. However, I only deflected one. The second one pierced my right shoulder.
As I pulled out the deeply embedded dagger, I was astonished by its power.
"...Using the First Head's skill to boost the power? Also, you deliberately shifted the aim and timing of the first one slightly."
He used the skills of the First and Second Heads to increase the power and throw the daggers with precise aim.
But the Fourth Head took two new daggers in his hands.
"Too bad. I was using the Third Head's Mind as well. It seems to have a weak effect on Lyell, but maybe just enough to dull your judgment a bit?"
As the Fourth Head took a stance with the daggers, I leaped forward and thrust my saber. However, the Fourth Head before me vanished, and I was carved up all over my body.
Arms, legs, torso, neck, and head... I was bleeding from everywhere.
"Mind isn't just for hypnosis. It can also show hallucinations. Even if the opponent resists, if there's even a tiny bit of effect, it's like this."
When I looked back, the Fourth Head was not there. Then, I heard a voice from behind again.
"It's truly just a skill that lets you move faster than usual."
I looked back, but the Fourth Head's figure was not there. This time, I heard a voice from diagonally behind, and I raised my left hand to blow away the surroundings with magic.
"Thunder Clap!"
Thunder roared, and lightning struck the surroundings. While dust clouds covered the area, I heard voices from all four directions this time.
As the dust cleared, there were dozens of Fourth Heads there.
I hurriedly readied my saber again, but pain immediately shot through my right shoulder. Next was my left thigh.
"...No matter how strong a person's resistance is, if you make them panic a little, it's like this. Honestly, the Third Head's skill is cowardly. I wonder if even I could win."
I steadied my breathing and pulled out the daggers embedded in my shoulder and thigh. I threw two daggers in a different direction than the Fourth Head, but as the Fourth Head in front of me vanished, the daggers I had thrown returned toward me with their tips pointing my way.
I deflected them with my saber and stayed alert to my surroundings. To search for presences around me, I used the Second Head's skill――Field. I also used the Sixth Head's――Search to find the Fourth Head's location.
However, even when I found a reaction, he moved the next instant, and a dagger would fly.
At times, daggers that drew large curves also flew.
Numerous daggers lay around me, and some were embedded in the ground.
I picked up one of them and threw it toward the Fourth Head's reaction. A spinning dagger, likely thrown by the Fourth Head, deflected my thrown dagger in mid-air.
"Haa, haa..."
As long as I fight inside the orb, injuries heal instantly. No, maybe I wasn't injured to begin with and was only feeling the pain.
In such a situation, I gradually became able to react to the Fourth Head's movements.
The number of daggers I deflected increased, and the number of times I was injured decreased.
The blue sky around me gradually began to cloud over, and I fought the Fourth Head in the dim light.
"You're normally strong. From what I've heard, the Fourth Head left great achievements in domestic affairs, but didn't have many achievements in combat!"
As I deflected a dagger with my saber, the dagger flew through the air and the Fourth Head caught it.
"It's because of the era. There were many bandits and monsters. I also went on many subjugations. I didn't have many opportunities for war, but there were small skirmishes between territories."
The scenery of the single road that stretched on forever had become dark under the cloudy sky.
Rain began to fall.
However, I widened my eyes.
"...It seems you've gotten the hang of it?"
I could see the raindrops falling slowly to the ground. And my reactions caught up with the Fourth Head's movements.
I leaped out and blocked the Fourth Head, who had come to slash me, with my saber.
"Good reaction. As I thought, Lyell has talent. I manifested this skill in my late twenties."
As the Fourth Head leaped back to create distance, I readied my saber again.
"...Alright, let's make this the last one."
The Fourth Head took off his glasses, tucked them into his breast pocket, and lowered his entire body. As the rain grew stronger, his movements felt even slower.
In the end, it looked as if the raindrops had stopped. And as the Fourth Head began to move, I also took a large step forward.