213 - Useless Liel-san
――Aria wore a look of exasperation in a room of Lusworth Castle.
The reason was simple. Liel had come to Lusworth to deliver a letter. If that were all, there would be no problem. There would have been no problem at all.
However, Queen Elsa, the master of Lusworth Castle and recipient of the letter, looked delighted as she held a gift from Liel.
It was a piece of clothing. It might be inaccurate to say it was too light for a queen's attire, but it was close to the clothing women wore in Beim.
It was far too casual for a queen to wear. Aria doubted Liel's choice, but Elsa, having received it, seemed truly happy. She tried to hide her blushing, but she looked as if she wanted to slip into the sleeves immediately.
"S-Sorry. For having you prepare souvenirs so many times."
With her face flushed, Elsa didn't project her usual aura of coldness. She was like a maiden in love.
That was what Aria found subtle.
However, Liel, showing no sign of noticing such feelings, spoke to Elsa with a smile.
"I asked about the current trends when I stopped by Beim. I heard about the size from Novem, so I think it should be fine. Oh, I didn't ask about the size myself. I just received a memo and handed it to the clerk to get the clothes."
He was utterly attentive. Aria's expression of exasperation was perhaps inevitable, as she thought he should be this meticulous all the time.
Elsa held the clothes in her hand.
"W-Will it suit me? I've always longed for this kind of thing, but I've never worn..."
Liel smiled.
"It will suit you. Unfortunately, however, I have to depart immediately. Please let me know your thoughts the next time I visit. Ah, it would also be nice to see you wearing it."
Aria's cheek twitched, wondering how such lines could just flow so easily from his mouth. To Aria, who knew the usual Liel, it almost felt as if he were a different person.
Elsa blushed and looked down, saying, "I-I understand. Next time you come..."
Aria found it ridiculous, but it was still her job to watch from the side as Elsa's guard.
Novem was in another room doing paperwork and was not present.
"I-I must write a letter! I'll write a reply quickly, so please wait a moment."
Elsa placed the clothes carefully on the desk, then took a pen and pulled paper from a drawer.
Liel watched this with a smile.
Aria approached Liel.
"What's this? Are you planning to seduce Elsa-san next?"
Liel's smile didn't waver at Aria's prickly words. However, Aria felt that Liel looked slightly troubled while smiling. And he looked lonely.
"Can you tell? There's no need to seduce her, but I do want to get along. Oh right. I have a souvenir for Aria too."
Saying so, Liel pressed something into Aria's palm.
When Aria checked it...
"...Hey, are you treating me like a child with a candy? Even Shannon-chan wouldn't be happy with this."
What was placed in her palm was a piece of candy. It was wrapped in paper, and there were three of them.
Liel put a hand to his chin.
"Really? When I gave them to her in Galleria, she was quite happy. She's pretty simple, after all."
Aria pressed her hand to her forehead, as she could easily imagine Shannon being delighted by candy.
"You're right. She would be. My mistake... No! Why is my souvenir candy!"
When Aria shouted, Elsa shifted her gaze from the letter toward Liel and the others. Then, Liel told Elsa to continue writing the letter, saying it was nothing.
"Don't make a scene. These are delicious. And they're expensive."
Aria had heard they were relatively popular and that, for candy, the price was two to three times that of ordinary ones.
"Eh, really? Then, one... Ah, it really is delicious."
Aria, who had been dissatisfied until a moment ago, regained her smile with three pieces of candy—.
――Elsa-san's letter.
'It has been a while.'
'We have come to communicate more frequently than before, and the response from both countries is proceeding smoothly.'
'I hear there is not much difference in climate between here and there, but hot days have continued recently. Please take good care of your health.'
'Also, I have sent a thank-you gift to Liel-dono for the cream from before. I would be happy if he likes it.'
'Now, to the main point. As expected, those in Lusworth who fear punishment strongly desire war to prove their innocence on the battlefield. Now that the Chancellor is gone, I believe the means of communication with the Galleria lords have been lost, but it would be wise to be careful.'
'We anticipate the time for us to move will be in two weeks. The number will be less than half of the previous time—'
――Glacia-san's letter.
'I received the honey last time. I ate it on bread, and it was exquisite. I heard it is a specialty of Lusworth, and that honey is indeed delicious. My younger brother also said it was delicious.'
'To the main point, we are ready at any time. The lords are pushing themselves to gather armaments, but it seems merchants from Beim have come and are selling them at high prices.'
'According to Liel-dono, these are stock items held over from the previous defensive battle.'
'Also, regarding the timing—'
――Elsa-san's letter.
'Recently, someone I'm interested in has appeared.'
'However, when I asked a friend, it seems he is already dating multiple women. In terms of numbers, it's apparently almost double digits; should I give up on this love?'
――Glacia-san's letter.
'What a coincidence. I too have found someone I'm interested in.'
'My friend also gives a stamp of approval, saying he has enough capability to support multiple women.'
'Furthermore, since my younger brother admires him, I've been thinking lately that it might be acceptable personally.'
'Speaking of which, my younger brother will be making his first appearance in battle in the next war, so I would like you to consider him discreetly.'
――Elsa-san's letter.
'Congratulations on that.'
'Capability, is it? Indeed, a man's capability is important.'
'Regarding your younger brother, it would be unnatural for me to handle it, so would it be acceptable if I instruct my subordinates to attack your brother's camp? After they clash, we can time our battle so that both camps withdraw.'
――Glacia-san's letter.
'Capability is important. Since he holds a title, I think the vassals will be convinced.'
'If not, I am considering using force.'
'Also, regarding my brother, Liel-dono says it is difficult. Since there are movements from both camps eager for merit, I intend to keep it to just letting him withdraw after experiencing the atmosphere of the battlefield.'
"I can't do this anymore~, I don't want to work."
Slumped over the desk, I had been spending my days repeatedly moving intensely between Galleria, Lusworth, Rolfis, and Beim.
Perhaps because of that, my physical fatigue had reached its peak. Even though I was in such a terrible state, Mei was full of energy.
In the house we used as a base in the village of Rolfis, Mei was eating bread topped with the honey souvenir from Lusworth.
The Fifth Generation watched her stuffing her mouth deliciously from within the jewel. He must have had a completely lovestruck face.
'Haa, it's so nice. It's so healing. I want to let her eat more.'
Since I was in a state where I was so tired I didn't want to move, the atmosphere inside the jewel was subtle. The Third Generation, who was also the mood maker, lacked energy.
Rather than lacking energy, he seemed to be deep in thought about various things. Mireia-san was only interacting with the Seventh Generation, and for now, she was watching the Fifth Generation's lovestruck state.
'Being lovestruck in front of your daughter, in front of a young child, is a bit...'
The Seventh Generation laughed.
'She's not even at an age to be called a daughter. Ahahaha—ha!'
A gunshot sounded from within the jewel, but since it was the usual pattern, I didn't move, remaining slumped over the desk.
After stuffing the last piece of bread into her mouth, Mei clapped her hands to brush off the crumbs and looked at me.
"Liel, are you still feeling bad? You're going to the battlefield in Lusworth the day after tomorrow, right? More importantly, you haven't eaten anything."
I looked at the honey-topped bread on the desk.
"...I don't want it. I don't want to eat, so Mei can have it. Actually, I definitely don't need it. Why am I going to the battlefield? I didn't accept a request, and I'm not getting paid. On the contrary, I'm borrowing money from Vera to go to the battlefield."
I could hear Mireia-san's giggling voice from within the jewel.
'My, Liel is such a brutal bastard, making his own woman support him so he can provide for other girls.'
I'm glad she's having fun. But just listening to it makes me sound like the worst. No, I might be the worst. No, I am the worst.
Mei took my bread and bit into it.
"We can't move if Liel doesn't go. We need you to give instructions. We're doing various things on both sides, right? Besides, that younger brother guy was really concerned."
The younger brother guy must be Reold-kun.
It's fine that he admires me, but apparently, the successive heads of the family feel uneasy in front of Reold-kun's innocent eyes. They said he's someone they'd rather avoid if possible. I reconfirmed that the successive heads also possess such a conscience.
After all, while Galleria and Lusworth will be rebuilt, in our plan, we are having them fight by putting them in our debt.
It's not that we're cooperating out of goodwill.
"...Yeah, I'm the worst. I'm the worst leech. So, let's have Novem and the others do their best on the battlefield. I'm fine with being a leech. Actually, like a leech, I don't want to do anything. I feel like right now, I could become a leech that no one can beat."
Then, the Seventh Generation spoke from within the jewel, sounding surprised.
'What on earth has happened to you, Liel! The ambitious you from a few days ago has suddenly started repeating nothing but useless statements!'
The Fifth Generation was also put off by my statement.
'You, making such statements right when the Fourth Generation disappeared...'
However, the Third Generation remained silent. Mireia-san looked subtle.
'Perhaps he's tired from being too enthusiastic? Well, he's worked a bit too hard. There will be no problem if we let him rest for a while for health management. He'll return to the usual Liel.'
I could hear everyone's exasperated voices, but more than that, I had no strength in my body and moving felt like a chore.
This sensation of having no strength in my body, and not wanting to do anything, or rather, no motivation welling up.
This was a first for me.
"Haa... I just want Novem and the others to support me."
Mei, while eating my bread, said.
"Wow, this is terrible."
Saying so, she looked at me. Inside the house, Valkyries One through Three were staring at me expressionlessly from the shadows.
What should I do... I don't even have the motivation to warn them.
――A few days later.
At the border of Galleria and Lusworth, both armies had set up camp, leading soldiers although on a small scale.
The Valkyries Glacia and Elsa, the trump cards of both armies, were positioned in the rear, and unusually, the units that were normally in the rear were glaring at each other in the front.
Despite this, in the tent of Galleria's main camp, Glacia's heart was dancing at the sight of her younger brother's splendid appearance.
The armor ordered from Beim had arrived, and the workmanship was flawless with elaborate decorations.
Reold, while wrapping himself in the unfamiliar armor, asked.
"I heard that Sister would not be moving this time, but is it truly alright?"
Glacia was also clad in armaments, and nearby, a lance with a shield on a large handle was placed horizontally on a stand.
"It's no problem. This time, we'll just clash lightly and withdraw. From this winter, I'll have you work hard in earnest, so there should be no war for a while."
From the start, preparations had been made to clash the traitors of both camps. After that, if they weakened the traitors and withdrew, they could significantly deplete their strength.
Glacia was in a good mood, as the problem that had been a source of worry for many years had been resolved in these few months.
In the tent where the siblings were, Miranda stood by as their guard. Shannon was nearby, assisting Miranda.
Shannon pulled Miranda's sleeve.
"Sister, you could pamper me that much too, you know?"
Miranda smiled and gave Shannon a flick on the forehead.
"Save your sleep-talking for when you're asleep, Shannon. Now, normally it wouldn't be strange for Liel to be on this side... but since Monica is here, I wonder if he's on that side from the start."
The one who heard Miranda's statement was Reold, who admired Liel.
"Liel-dono is coming?"
Then, Shannon shrugged her shoulders.
"That was the intention at first. But then I thought it might not be necessary."
At that, Reold said.
"I see... That's a bit disappointing."
He gave a bitter smile. It seemed he wanted Liel to see his splendid appearance in his first battle by his side. Perhaps sensing her brother's feelings...
"...Maybe it wouldn't be bad if he participated on this side for a little bit?"
Glacia said such a thing—.
In the Lusworth tent, Aria was shouting at Monica, who had come from Galleria bringing a lunch box.
"Monica! What on earth are you thinking!"
Then, Monica displayed a function unnecessary for an automaton, with tears welling up in her eyes.
"But! Because that chicken coward isn't even eating and has lost his motivation and is just idling around! I was so worried about his nutritional balance! I wanted to bring Monica's special lunch box!"
Aria grabbed the left side of the twin-tails of the fake-crying Monica and told her to return immediately.
"It doesn't matter! It's a pain to communicate if you're not over there! Even if the Valkyries are there..."
If the mass-produced Valkyries were there, the line was somehow connected, so Liel could gather information. That was how they were supposed to handle it.
Monica averted her eyes from Aria.
"...Hey."
"It's not me. It wasn't me. Those guys were talking in their sleep, saying if I'm over there, they'll be over here..."
The automatons had started acting on their own, using Liel's poor health as a catalyst, and Aria's head began to ache.
Then, Elsa, who was in the tent, was fidgeting. Today, unlike usual, she was wearing a combat costume she had specially commissioned. She seemed to be looking forward to meeting Liel.
"H-He should have arrived here by now, right? In that case, I shall also visit..."
Aria stopped her with a hand.
"Novem has gone to welcome him, so please be patient. Besides, if he doesn't show his face here, the eyes of the others—"
As Aria said that, Monica released her twin-tail from Aria's hand and stood up. Then, she gave a beautiful bow.
"Welcome back, Master. ...How is it? Isn't it a perfect movement, chicken coward?"
Apparently, Liel had entered the tent.
When Aria looked at the entrance of the tent, she was speechless.
Liel was shining. With a refreshing smile, he was in a state that made it impossible to believe he had been collapsed until a short while ago. And to Monica.
"The readiness to welcome me anywhere... Monica, I give you a hundred points."
Aria immediately noticed that this was not the usual Liel. Then, she shifted her gaze to Novem, who was standing diagonally behind Liel. Novem looked down and shook her head.
"A hundred points! I receive a hundred points from you? Surely, the upper limit isn't a thousand points, is it?"
Liel brushed back his blue hair with the fingertips of his right hand.
"Don't be stupid, it's a hundred out of a hundred. I'll throw in a gold star too."
Seeing Liel's demeanor, Monica began to tremble violently.
"He's back. My chicken coward is back... It's fever timeeeee!!"
Ignoring Monica, who screamed loudly inside the tent, Aria covered her face with both hands.
"...Why are you always like this at the most important moments?"
Novem nodded at Aria's words.
"By the time I went to welcome him, he was already... We just have to manage to get through this as it is."
Aria lamented, Novem gave up, and Monica began to dance with joy. Liel began to laugh loudly, and only Elsa, sitting in her chair, could not keep up with the situation—.