240 - Departure from Beime
――Inside the Orb.
Miranda was being sent flying and rolling across the ground in a place where a round table had expanded to become an arena.
As soon as she took a breakfall and stood up, Mireia was before her, pointing a gun and pulling the trigger with an expressionless face.
Leaning her body back to dodge the bullet, Miranda entangled threads around Mireia's arm and swung her with brute force, throwing her against the wall. However, Mireia used the knife attached to her gun to cut Miranda's threads, and while still in her dress, she planted her feet on the wall and began to run.
Pulling guns from her fluttering sleeves, she fired bullets at Miranda and then tossed the pistols away. The pistols, which required reloading after a single shot, all had knives attached, making them capable of close-quarters combat.
Miranda ran to try and dodge the bullets, but she was shot through the thigh and collapsed on the spot.
Shannon, who was crouching as if terrified, looked for an opening to use her Magic Eye, but Mireia pointed the muzzle at her――.
"Hie!"
――she cried, averting her gaze. Mireia fired a bullet at Shannon's feet, and Shannon fell backward, landing on her backside.
As Miranda's injury healed and she tried to stand up, she used magic to create a Golem.
A doll made of earth stood between Miranda and Mireia. Mireia began to walk while loading her gun, heading toward the massive Golem that exceeded three meters in height.
"Kuh!"
The Golem seemed overwhelmingly advantageous, but Miranda only considered it a way to buy time.
From Miranda's perspective, she saw the back of the large Golem as it slammed its fist down on Mireia. Immediately after, the Golem was torn to shreds and crumbled back into earth.
Beyond the crumbling Golem stood Mireia, wielding dual pistols. At the sight of her grinning, sweat trickled down Miranda's cheek.
"...This is truly unbelievable."
She had heard that her opponent was her ancestor and a member of the Walt Family, but this was beyond the norm.
To such a Miranda, Mireia spoke.
"What is this, treating me like a monster? How rude."
Putting her guns away, Mireia brushed back her hair and looked around. Seeing Shannon still sitting on the ground, she let out a sigh.
"Shannon. Your eyes should be able to do at least this much. Honestly, you're too obsessed with interfering with the mind. Look at the flow of magical power a little and search for where to strike your opponent to make them collapse."
As Miranda wiped away her sweat, Shannon looked as if she were about to cry.
"It's impossible! I can't see that much in a situation like that!"
Seeing Shannon shake her head with tears welling in her eyes, Mireia slumped her shoulders. For some time now, Miranda and Shannon had been entering the Orb to receive guidance from Mireia. Not a single one of the successive heads of the Walt Family, who were said to be inside the Orb, showed their faces.
Among them, only Mireia was actively involving herself with Miranda and Shannon.
"Shannon really is uselessly cute, isn't she?"
While exasperated, Mireia headed toward Shannon and lent a hand to help her up. Then, she brushed the dirt off her clothes with her hand. Since it would disappear if left alone, Miranda thought it was a wasted action.
"Shannon, cooperate a bit more. Fighting alone is tough."
When Miranda complained, Mireia placed a hand over her mouth.
"If you can't even defeat me alone, I fear for your future, Miranda. Understand properly what it means to become a woman of the Walt Family. Among the successive wives and daughters, there are several who are stronger than I am."
Hearing that, Miranda felt a headache coming on. It wasn't that she thought she was weak, but she was being reminded that there is always someone above.
She felt as though she had been shown the sheer scale of the abnormal clan known as the Walt Family.
"Are you saying I'm not suitable as I am now?"
At Miranda's words, Mireia wore an amused expression.
"Whether you are suitable or not... the one who decides in the end is Lariel, Miranda."
Mireia had the two of them come closer and began to speak slowly.
"I have expectations for you both. That you will support Lariel. But, at the same time, I want you both to be happy. Miranda, who resembles me, and Shannon, who inherited my eyes. My cute descendants."
Mireia drew the two of them close as she spoke. Miranda felt a bit embarrassed, and when she looked at Shannon, the latter was timidly clutching Mireia's clothes before hugging her.
Shannon didn't remember much about her mother, and Miranda also overlapped the image of her mother onto Mireia.
"...Long ago. When I was young. I could not see. Physical defects are very heavy for nobles. A failure, a disgrace... my brothers and sisters said so too. Among the vassals, there were those who detested me. That my mere presence would bring disadvantage to the Walt Family."
Mireia continued to tell the two of them.
"But, you know. My eldest brother was kind. He was clumsy, and yet he rebelled against the way of the Walt Family, always defying Father. That might be the reason, but he cherished me very much. And, Father treated me the same as my other brothers and sisters. He didn't allow the excuse of being blind. He was called a cold man, but being treated normally was very joyful for me. There are many clumsy people. People who are weak and lonely. Only such people carry the Walt Family on their shoulders... so please, support them."
Mireia directed a smile toward Miranda and Shannon. And then, with a smile――.
"Besides, the men of the Walt Family roll quite nicely in the palm of a woman's hand."
――Shannon looked on in stunned silence.
"...I thought she was telling a heartwarming story until halfway through."
She looked very disappointed. As expected, Mireia was Mireia. Miranda reconfirmed this as well.
However, Mireia spoke.
"Hm? That face is one of exasperation. Honestly, this is why children are... Listen. I will now teach you something very important. You could call it the secret to manipulating the men of the Walt Family."
Miranda reacted slightly and looked up.
"The secret?"
Shannon looked at Miranda.
"Sister... you don't have to be so eager."
Mireia hugged the two of them again and whispered in their ears――.
"It is――"
South Banseime.
Inside the prepared horse carriage, the Porter, a mass of metal, stood out.
It was early morning, and the Valkyries working around them were efficiently proceeding with preparations. They were getting ready for departure.
Among them, I held the list I had received from Novem.
"Lariel-sama, all preparations are complete. Adele-san and Maxim-san will enter Banseime first with the Valkyries who were finished earlier, heading toward Redant Fortress. As for us, we will enter another country by sea and head straight toward Banseime."
Nodding, I looked at the Porter.
The luggage was loaded, and once preparations were complete, Monica was performing the final check. Clara also accompanied her, checking the luggage in the same way.
While checking the list.
"I understand Aria and Clara. It would be helpful to have Monica on this side too. But why is Shannon coming with me? We're going to Banseime via Cartaphus, and then to Fanbayle, you know?"
Because I have the Fourth Generation's skill――Speed――, the distance we travel is very long. And since we don't have much time, we needed to hurry and secure the cooperation of Fanbayle.
However, the members on my side were Aria, Clara, Monica, and Shannon.
I understood Aria. She was a valuable combat asset.
Clara was necessary for operating the Porter.
As for Monica――she insisted on following me, so it ended up being accepted.
But, I thought Shannon could have just stayed behind.
Novem looked at Shannon, who was sitting on a wooden box, swinging her legs. The reason she was just watching the busy Valkyries was that if Shannon tried to help, she would only get in the way.
"Shannon-chan requested it. Miranda-san also approved. I, Miranda-san, Eva-san, Mei-chan, and also Marina-san will be coming this way."
I felt hesitant to leave South Banseime empty, but Fidel-san had already stepped in and was taking command.
The guild staff from Beime had begun their work, and adventurers were returning from the labyrinth with magic stones and materials.
Novem spoke.
"...Launo-san and Inis-san have also migrated to South Banseime. Launo-san says he will head to Cartaphus with Lariel-sama. I've already explained it to Vera-san, so all that's left is for her to board. It's been a while since the last ship voyage, hasn't it?"
Though she said "it's been a while," she meant the ship voyage with Vera. I averted my gaze at Novem's words.
"That was a joke. A joke truly meant to provoke..."
Novem chuckled.
"Fidel-san actually seemed to be looking forward to it. I heard that when he was told later it was a joke, he made a very complicated face. But... if it really were the first child, it would have been a bit troublesome. If it were a boy, the possibility of an heir would arise, and he would be in the position of The Legitimate Successor of the Trace family. Given the Trace family's position, it would be better if the first child were born to the legal wife. Considering the future, I wonder if Eva-san, Mei-chan, and Clara-san would be excluded from the candidates? Since noble bloodlines are more easily recognized as successors."
Novem was smiling. Her tone was gentle. And yet, the feeling that I was being blamed to this extent was surely my own responsibility.
To provoke Fidel-san, I had staged a lie that Vera was pregnant. As a result, Aria, who happened to be in the same place at the time――I kissed Aria and connected our lines, and from there, Monica found out.
Looking back, Monica had prepared baby goods, and a composition was formed where I was surrounded by the women.
My luck was bad. From Galleria, Lusworth, and Cartaphus, Glacia-san, Eliza-san, and Ludmila-san were all present.
"I'm sorry. Please spare me. I don't want to remember what happened then anymore."
When I apologized to Novem, she replied.
"My apologies. I was a little jealous myself. It is also Lariel-sama's problem, and I will follow that decision. However, I would appreciate it if you could listen to my words as one opinion."
Pushing the events of that day, which I didn't even want to remember, into the past, I accepted Novem's apology while watching the preparations proceed.
"...I want to finish this before Banseime pours into Beime."
Since Banseime declared war on Beime, Beime seemed to have become hectic.
Storing the Porter with the Seventh Head's skill, Box, I boarded the Trace family ship, the Vera Trace, taking Aria, Clara, Monica, Shannon――and Launo-san with me.
Our comrades had come to the port to see us off.
Novem, Miranda, Eva, Mei. Additionally, Marina-san, who acted together with Mei, had also come to see us off.
Fidel-san, who had taken off his jacket and was in his shirt, boarded the ship.
On the deck, Vera spoke with Fidel-san.
"I'm going now, Father."
"...Yeah, be careful. I'm not worried about you, but this time, a plague-god leech of a guy has boarded. When your chastity is in danger, do not hesitate to pull the trigger."
Isn't he saying that quite seriously? Fidel-san, who seemed to feel that way, directed hostility toward me.
Vera spoke with exasperation.
"Honestly. Just give up already. I have no intention of finding any man other than Lariel. If Lariel disappears... you won't be able to see the face of your cute grandchild. And I don't know if we can meet Gina's child."
Fidel-san held his head in his hands.
"Damn it! Using grandchildren as a joke is just too much... Every single one of them is stealing my daughter! I hate every man who laid a hand on my daughter! They should just leave the grandchildren and disappear!"
As I watched the suffering Fidel-san, the Third Head laughed inside the Orb.
"Fidel-kun is in top form today as well."
The Seventh Head also looked satisfied.
"He is quite a talent. The more you provoke him, the more he shines."
When Fidel-san stepped off the ship, he glared at me. After he descended and the gangplank was removed, Vera came to my side.
"Lariel, we'll head to Galleria and Lusworth as we are. We'll go to Cartaphus from there, but from Cartaphus, it's by land, right? Do you have everything you need?"
To the worried Vera, I said.
"No worries. Clara and Monica checked. Besides, if anything is missing, I'll buy it on the way."
Although I was no longer an adventurer, guilds in various regions still bought monster materials.
If battle with monsters was unavoidable, it was possible to defeat them, collect materials――and then sell them to obtain funds.
Monica spoke to Vera.
"Since this Monica is here, there is no need for worry. And here I thought I could take care of this liar... this Little Chick-sama of a chicken coward."
Vera also gave a wry smile. Monica seemed to have been quite happy when she heard I had a child.
Aria spoke with exasperation.
"You knew Lariel was a virgin, didn't you? Then why did you misunderstand that he had a child? Are you actually broken?"
At Aria's words, Monica flailed her twin-tails.
"The chicken coward ran away during the battle of Galleria and Lusworth, didn't he! Maybe they're actually getting along surprisingly well!"
Aria's gaze pierced through me.
"...Do you really think I'm that skillful?"
Then, Aria nodded in agreement.
"You're right. Since it's Lariel, that's probably not it. After all, he's a virgin."
While I was unable to accept being laughed at by Aria, Clara muttered.
"Aria-san is also a virgin, though."
As the atmosphere became awkward, Clara alone took a book out of the luggage and began to read.
Shannon, watching the ship begin to move, said.
"...This lineup is also quite worrying, isn't it?"