233 - Who Was Cornered?
――The leader, who had been running around the forest, had reached the exit with several reliable companions.
The edge of the forest――once they broke through there, what they saw was a camp ablaze, with no sign of anyone moving.
One of them checked the surroundings with a skill.
"――Leader, there are three survivors."
In a place where there had been at least five hundred people, only three had survived. It was fine if the others had escaped, but looking at the situation, it was unclear how many had actually made it out.
Blackened corpses lay scattered about, and everyone walked through the pungent-smelling area, covering their mouths with cloth.
The reason they could confirm there was no sign of enemies nearby was that they had an adventurer with such a skill. He was a reliable companion who had been with the leader for a long time.
When they found a survivor, there was a young man leaning against a burnt wooden box. He was a man who had been doing odd jobs for the mercenary group.
"Hey, pull yourself together."
One of the adventurers gave him some water, and the odd-job man woke up.
"What happened?"
When the leader pressed him, the odd-job man held his head in his hands and spoke while weeping.
"Those guys... those guys stood back up. They burned us... and were collecting the equipment. The guy who was wearing women's armor as a joke...!"
Having seen an incredibly gruesome sight, the odd-job man's breathing was erratic. Then, he told the leader something important.
"They asked everyone. 'Are you from the East Branch?' ...And when they showed their guild cards, only the adventurers from the East Branch were let go..."
Hearing this, the leader guessed that "those guys" were the Valkyries. Just when he thought he had defeated them, he had been the one defeated. He thought they used a truly unpleasant tactic, and he found it suspicious that only the East Branch adventurers were spared.
His companions likely agreed. One of them spoke to the leader.
"Leader, this is troublesome. It might have been a factional struggle within the guild. I thought it was strange. Telling us to make an example of the companions of the hero of Redant Fort."
The leader thought it was too late to be saying that now, but he looked at the few surviving companions. Being survivors, they were a capable bunch.
However, when he thought of the companions they had lost, he felt a sense of helplessness.
(How many years will it take to rebuild from here? We finally broke through the sixtieth basement floor and were recognized as first-class... Three years? Impossible. It'll take at least five. If things go poorly, ten... Even if the party is revived, I'll have retired first.)
Age-wise, he had slightly passed his prime. Even if he could fight without problems for a few more years, it wouldn't be the same from here on. Recovering as a first-class party was hopeless.
"...We're returning to Beim immediately. What about the dolls?"
As the leader stood up, the odd-job man in front of him looked at him with pleading eyes. However, the leader ignored him. This was no time to be helping.
The reliable adventurer looked around and shook his head.
"They don't seem to be nearby. We can go."
With a few of them running out as they were, the leader headed toward Beim――.
――Inside the forest.
The mercenary group leader, who had been captured by the dark elves, had an arrow in his leg.
By the time he was dragged out before Novem, there were already only a handful of survivors.
The mercenaries were bound by threads created by Miranda's skill.
Novem cast a glance toward a tree a short distance away, and the dark elves, understanding the signal, surrounded the mercenaries without moving.
The leader was kicked and collapsed in front of Novem. He looked up at Novem, grinning sneeringly.
"Show a little cuteness, little lady. Why don't you show me what's under your skirt for the road? Well, I don't expect much from a woman who's an adventurer. You might have been popular if you'd become a prostitute."
Hearing the vulgar laughter and provocation, Novem understood that the opponent had accepted his death. It could also be said that his senses had grown dull toward the concept of death.
To such a leader, Novem took a bundle of documents from her bag and placed them on the ground where he could see them.
At first, the leader thought they were some kind of documents and felt a glimmer of hope for survival. However, when he saw the contents, he furrowed his brow.
"Who is it? Who betrayed us!"
The leader glared at Novem and screamed. Written there was detailed information about the mercenary group――the kind managed by the guild.
The format and other guild-managed information were written in, making it look nothing like something a professional information broker had gathered.
The leader immediately thought there was a traitor, but Novem remained expressionless.
"No one betrayed anyone from the start. This was simply inevitable."
Novem was not lying. The guild had not betrayed the adventurers they chose as attackers, and the Lyel group, who had obtained the information from the start, had simply prepared so they could win.
The leader grew frustrated.
"...I beg you! Let me return to Beim. Can you forgive this! I'll never forgive the one who framed me! I have money hidden in Beim! So, team up with us! Let's show the guild people how terrifying we are――"
The leader seemed to feel that he had been caught up in a guild factional struggle.
Immediately after, the leader was skewered by spears by three Valkyries... Number One, Number Two, and Number Three.
Novem watched the scene.
"That's not necessary. You will disappear here. I won't let a single one of you return alive. Also, you're mistaken."
Novem leaned down toward the leader and smiled.
"The decision in Beim was unanimous. That's all."
Hearing those words, the leader's face distorted in despair, and he breathed his last. Around them, the mercenaries who had witnessed the scene began to beg for their lives all at once, but――.
"You've rampaged quite a bit. You understood what would happen if you lost, right? Besides, I prefer people who resist until the end over those who beg for their lives. Too bad for you."
The Valkyries took up their weapons and finished off the surviving adventurers.
Then, an unnatural sound was heard from a tree a short distance away. However, no one turned in that direction.
Novem ordered the corpses to be cleaned up and then withdrew from the area.
Finally, she cast a glance toward the adventurer hiding in the tree――.
An adventurer party that had said they would cooperate in Cartaphus.
Additionally, five hundred soldiers from Galleria. And five hundred soldiers from Cartaphus. Utilizing that many people, they had been waiting on the roads leading toward Beim.
They had been lying in wait, divided into several units.
Then, a group of adventurers fleeing the scene came toward us.
"Help us! We're being hunted!"
I, wearing a hood, heard that and took off my hood.
"Aren't the ones hunting you my companions? After all, you guys... launched an attack, didn't you?"
When I said that with a smile, the adventurers' expressions froze.
However, one of them was an adventurer from the East Branch. I had seen his face in the guild several times, so I nodded.
"Ah, you over there can pass. Good work."
As I said that, the adventurers' gazes gathered on that one person.
"Eh, ah? ...Huh?"
Since he seemed confused, I gave instructions with a smile.
"Please share some water and food with them. It's a long distance to Beim, so maybe it's better to let them keep something like a dagger? Ah, do you want to rest for a bit?"
The East Branch adventurer nodded awkwardly and was led further back. Then, I spoke to the other adventurers.
"Now, this is the end for you. Good work."
Then, one of them protested.
"Don't screw with me! Why does that guy get to survive while we... You guys, don't tell me you planned this from the start!"
I looked at the adventurer from a different branch and spoke.
"And if I did? You attacked someone's companions, and you didn't think you'd be let go just because you lost? I think that's strange."
Then, the adventurer took up a weapon and headed toward me.
As I put my hand on the hilt of my katana, Ludmila-san moved first. She drew her longsword, and the red blade curved and extended like a whip.
It moved as if it had a will of its own, slicing the adventurers to pieces in an instant. The adventurers fell. Then, Ludmila-san walked over from a short distance away.
Her sword had already returned to its original shape.
"They really do terrible things. No, I'm impressed they even thought of it."
I thought she sounded a bit appalled, but Ludmila-san seemed to be enjoying herself. Or rather, this person must have extensive combat experience. She wasn't shaken at all by killing people.
"...It was to win."
When I said that, Ludmila-san laughed.
"Are you worried? Even so, if you can carry out a strategy like this, I'll give you credit. You're a man who does what needs to be done when the time comes."
I don't think of myself as kind. However, it was also a fact that there was a part of me that felt bothered. I wonder if my heart is weak?
As I was thinking that, Mireia-san's voice came from within the Jewel Orb.
"Lyel, regret after you've done what needs to be done. You can always regret things later."
Then, the Seventh Generation spoke happily.
"Nice. A queen who is strong and doesn't just say pretty things... Her lineage is top-notch too. Lyel, make Ludmila your first wife."
Then, the Third Generation protested.
"Wait! I'm not saying Clara-chan. But Novem-chan sold her dowry to make money when Lyel was at his wit's end! I absolutely won't allow you to not make Novem-chan the first wife!"
The interior of the Jewel Orb was heating up. While the Third and Seventh Generations argued fiercely, only the Fifth Generation remained at their own pace.
"...The sea, you know. I wish that divine beast whale had been smaller. Then it would have been more fun. I don't care about first wives or whatever, but a small whale would be great."
While ignoring the conversation inside the Jewel Orb, I discovered an approaching group using a skill――Search――.
I immediately raised the skill to Spec, then Real Spec, in stages to acquire information on the opponents.
The opponents were the main members of the adventurers tasked with the labyrinth subjugation.
――The Trace family estate.
There, those who agreed with Gina's ideas had surrounded Fidel and the others.
Vera was also surrounded along with Fidel, and those who admired Fidel were similarly surrounded.
The existence that could be called the military power of the Trace family also sided with Gina.
Gina's neighbor, Roland, wearing a specially tailored suit, was sweating and had loosened his shirt collar slightly.
He seemed nervous.
Vera glared at Gina and spoke.
"Gina, you understand what you're doing, right?"
Her younger sister, Gina, looked at her older sister, Vera, with a slightly frustrated expression. Recently, she had been acting in a way that tried to persuade Vera and Fidel.
However, even if she resorted to force, she hadn't expected the majority of the people to side with her. Fidel was pretending to be calm as he looked at the faces of his subordinates, but he was likely indignant inside.
It was the same for Roland.
Fidel spoke.
"I had expectations for you, but I never thought you'd aim for the position of head of the Trace family. You can't support it. Gina, it's not too late. Rethink this."
Gina shook her head.
"It's you and Father who don't understand. In recent Beim, many merchant houses are unhappy with the new interests the Trace family has acquired. Because you insist on monopolizing them despite knowing this, people are appearing who want to crush the Trace family!"
There were movements to be wary of the Trace family, which was rapidly increasing its power within Beim. However, neither Vera nor Fidel were unaware of this.
"So you're saying we should give up the interests? Don't be stupid! It was a few merchants, starting with the Trace family, who invested in Lyel. If we yield to those who come along later and demand a share, it's obvious that everything will be snatched away one by one!"
Vera had actually boarded the ships and seen the work herself.
However, Gina's opinion was different.
"Will the Trace family grow and become the practical rulers of Beim? Who will be sacrificed to support such a large house? Sister, you're fine! You succeeded in business by contributing to that man! Even Father would probably approve of the marriage if he continued to grow, right? But if that happens, what becomes of me! I'll end up marrying someone I don't even like for the sake of the Trace family. Everyone around me will absolutely push me into it!"
Fidel didn't deny that. Because, putting Lyel aside, Roland didn't match her even in the current state, and if the Trace family grew, other merchant houses would definitely not stay silent about Gina's marriage.
They couldn't push Lyel aside to marry her, but what about Gina? Many people thought that, and Fidel was a merchant. He would never choose Roland.
"...Gina, it's not that I don't recognize Roland. He's capable and serious. But he's too serious to lead a merchant house. He doesn't have the capacity to support the Trace family. You know it's not all about pretty words, right?"
Fidel had also kept an eye on Roland. He was serious and hardworking. That's why he had raised him nearby and given him opportunities to interact with Vera and Gina.
However, he was also not the type of person suited to be the head of the house.
Gina seemed to understand that too. That's why Gina spoke.
"Then I'll just make the scale something that can be supported. I'll withdraw from several businesses. I've always thought weapons-related ones weren't necessary. Besides, I've already finished discussions with other merchant houses."
Hearing that, Vera spoke.
"Do you understand what that means! This isn't just a problem for the family. What about the artisans and customers we have relationships with!"
In the midst of this, Fidel spoke.
"What did you say? You said the discussions are finished――. Roland, you!"
Roland bowed his head to Fidel.
"I am sorry! However, Beim intends to crush Lyel-san. As a warning to this house. If this continues, a fierce factional struggle will truly break out within Beim. I cannot stand by and watch blood be shed."
Fidel looked at his subordinates.
"Did you intentionally not give me information? No wonder I thought information was scarce. Even you, who I had you investigate again... do you intend to watch your employer fall!"
The personnel who could be called the dark side of the Trace family were cooperating with Gina. Both Vera and Fidel found that strange. If the scale of the employer becomes smaller, the treatment will also change.
"Roland, you don't understand. Is it enough if blood doesn't flow in Beim alone? If things continue like this, Beim will create sparks in the surrounding areas and cause wars. At worst, they'll incite Banseime! Did you think it was fine as long as only Beim was peaceful!"
As Vera expressed disappointment in Roland's narrow perspective, Fidel spoke to Gina.
"Gina, stop this. It's still in time. Beim is more dangerous than you think. They relied too much on war. Why don't you understand that the time has come to organize Beim a bit here?"
Then, a man in black clothing spoke.
"That would be problematic, Fidel-sama."
"You..."
The man, who was originally an adventurer, wore a hood, and his face was not visible.
"I have my own connections. There are people who can only survive through war. After selling that many weapons, you can't suddenly act like a good person. A moderate amount of war is necessary, isn't it?"
Moderate war. Hearing that, Fidel spoke.
"You guys really don't seem to see the situation. Or have you become cowardly!"
Gina looked at Fidel and spoke sadly.
"The ones who don't see it are Father and Sister. To prevent the Trace family from shedding blood in factional struggles, and to prevent blood from flowing in Beim, I think it's fine to make the scale of the Trace family smaller."
In a sense, Gina's opinion was correct. If you think about the residents living in Beim, they are the ones who get caught in the crossfire of merchant house or guild factional struggles.
However, outside of Beim, it was different.
Vera cast a disappointed gaze at Gina.
"You... do you think the world is only Beim? Besides, you're just making excuses; you just made the scale smaller for Roland."
Gina said nothing. Vera's opinion was likely correct. However, it was also a fact that she was thinking of Beim.
Fidel spoke to persuade Gina.
"Gina, the situation is different now! The surrounding countries have united, and a great power has become adjacent. The methods used until now won't work. You can't just put out money and materials and leave the rest to mercenaries! Have you ever thought about how the surroundings view Beim!"
However, Gina's will seemed firm.
"...I strip Father of the position of head. I'm proceeding with discussions at the merchant conference, so Roland will be the head immediately. The formal marriage with me will be held as early as tomorrow. Father, Sister... I'll have you leave Beim. You may take the ship that's almost complete and Sister's ship. We can't manage them."
Fidel collapsed to his knees.
He thought he had been careful around him, but he probably hadn't thought his daughter would betray him.
Then, Vera muttered.
"...Lyel, your predictions are always right."
Gina turned into an enemy, and Beim truly came to crush them. Vera had been told this in advance, but she hadn't thought Gina would go this far.
"I underestimated her."
While releasing the collapsed Fidel, Vera spoke to her subordinates.
"...As you can see. Only those who will follow me should stay. You'll probably be kicked out of Beim, but if you're okay with that, follow me. Come on, Father!"
Patting Fidel's back, Vera encouraged him.
"Vera, do you understand? Now, all of Beim has turned into an enemy. Being kicked out of the Trace family, resisting is..."
Facing her bewildered subordinates and her depressed father, Vera drew a gun from her holster and fired it at the ceiling.
Everyone looked at Vera.
"Two state-of-the-art ships. And the crew will follow me. With this much, we can make it anywhere. As long as there's a port, the Trace family can rise again. There's no time to be whining. Come on, stand up quickly! We're going to earn money immediately. Beim isn't the only world!"
Fidel looked at Vera and nodded.
"That's... true. That's right! Two ships, and sailors... having this much left, there's no time to be depressed. I can take back as much as I want. From Gina's tone, Beim has started a great cleanup. It won't end with just kicking us out. We'll gather such people here and migrate. I'll call out to the artisans too. Start securing funds immediately! I'll make the merchants of Beim regret making an enemy of this Fidel!"
As Fidel stood up, the subordinates who admired him nodded and began to move according to his instructions. Then, Vera spoke.
"Also, I have a place in mind for migration. Shall we rely on Lyel?"
Hearing Lyell's name, Fidel made a visibly disgusted face. However.
"Hmm, he utilized us quite a bit. The guild seems to be doing something, but that parasite fellow won't die so easily. All right, this time let's be the ones to utilize him. Just wait, brat... I'll squeeze you to the marrow of your bones!"
Looking at the motivated Fidel, Vera gave a wry smile. Because up to this point... it was exactly as Lyel had predicted――.