242 - Factions
――Adele and Maxim, who had headed from Redant Fortress toward Banseime, were peeking out from a tent pitched on the bed of a specially prepared wagon.
The horses wore collars, which were magic tools. They were devices that increased the horses' stamina and speed, with a type of enhancement skill engraved upon them.
The wagon had also been modified by the blacksmith and Monica, so the ride was not bad. Valkyries clad in robes sat around them.
Maxim looked forward inside the silent wagon bed. Since the Valkyries were acting as drivers, he had nothing to do.
"...Adele-sama, it is quite quiet, isn't it?"
Maxim spoke to Adele, who was checking a map. Without taking her eyes off the map, Adele answered.
"They seem silent, but I hear they can actually converse. Monica-san is apparently managing the group through Liel-san. If we do anything strange, it will be leaked immediately."
By "strange things," she didn't just mean embarrassing things. She meant that if Adele and the others caused any trouble, Liel and the others would find out.
It was a critical period, and if they failed, they would likely be discarded by Liel and the others. Adele was aware that if they committed an act of betrayal, the Valkyries, who were powerful allies, would turn their blades toward them.
Liel was usually somewhat airheaded, but he also had a strangely severe side. Adele and Maxim both valued the fact that despite his youth, he was not impulsive and used indirect methods.
"I will be careful. However, despite the declaration of war against Banseime, Beim seems to lack a certain sense of tension..."
Maxim recalled Redant Fortress while resting his hand on his chin. Naturally, many merchants passed through Redant Fortress. Because of that, they hadn't even restricted passage. It was a response befitting a city of merchants.
Furthermore, although Banseime had declared war, it wasn't a time when they could move. Due to these circumstances, the sense of tension had somehow vanished.
"Does Beim intend to win?"
Adele let out a sigh.
"...They've had many countries dancing in the palm of their hand. They might be underestimating them. Besides, there are many highly skilled individuals in terms of individual strength. The abilities of the adventurers trained in the labyrinths managed by Beim are the real deal. The merchants seeing that are likely underestimating Banseime."
Maxim crossed his arms and looked down slightly. He was a man who had originally been a knight in Banseime, albeit a vassal. And he had been called one of the finest knights in Banseime.
The knights he had trained and competed with in the same way had been defeated by Celes, and he had learned all too well that there was a vast difference in strength between himself and Celes.
Unable to even seek revenge, Maxim had relied on Liel in Beim.
But finally, the time had come to move from Beim. While feeling irritated at Beim for underestimating Celes's strength, Maxim also felt a conflicted emotion because this was according to plan.
"Monsters and humans are different, though. I wish they wouldn't treat combat with monsters as the same as war."
Adele looked up from the map and looked at Maxim's face.
"By the time they realize that, it's too late."
Their destination was the territory of the lord-nobles resisting within Banseime—the anti-Walt family movement, which was now becoming a structure of anti-royal family resistance from Celes's perspective.
Many houses were being crushed, and it felt as if the interior of the country was being swept clean. In fact, the forces of Central, and furthermore the royal faction centered around the Walt family, were crushing the opposing forces one after another.
Among them, Adele also had to investigate the territories that showed no movement.
"Let's gather information within Banseime as well. We will head to the territories that are resisting. Depending on the situation, support may also be necessary. If we handle things well in the south, we can send support supplies from both the north and the south. The north is Cartaphus, so there's no problem, but as for the south—I just hope Jampea will cooperate."
Adele could only pray that Novem and the others, who had headed south, would be able to secure cooperation successfully.
Maxim said,
"Let's also rely on the lord-nobles who will cooperate with us. If possible, I'd like information on Central as well. It would be good if we could make it as far as Darion."
The place name mentioned by Adele and Maxim was Darion, where Liel and Novem had once become adventurers—.
Having departed Galleria, we headed for Lusworth.
However, thanks to the messenger from Rolfis, I was unable to meet Eliza-san. We headed straight for Cartaphus, and we were just about to disembark from the ship at the port of Cartaphus and head toward the castle.
This was where I parted ways with Vera.
"Liel, make sure you come back alive. Don't let anyone die. There's no point if you don't win while living."
Told this by Vera, I nodded while scratching my cheek with my fingertip.
"I got it."
I never intended to win against Celes even if I died in the first place. Winning while alive is the promise I made with the previous heads of the family.
"I'll aim to be a living great villain rather than a dead hero."
When I said that, Vera laughed a little.
"That's fine. As long as you live, even if you're a great villain. I'll follow you even to hell."
While I was blushing at those words, the Third Head added a word.
...What a good boy.
That's what he said.
Behind me, my companions, who had kept their luggage to a minimum, were waiting. Aria had put away her spear and had a sword hanging from her waist. She carried no luggage and was dressed to fight at any time.
"Liel, hurry up. The knights are waiting."
Beyond Aria's gaze, the knights who had been prepared for the location were waiting. Seeing this, Clara rested her large staff on her shoulder and pushed up her glasses slightly with her left hand.
"They seem restless. They might be concerned about the time."
Then, Vera said to me,
"It would be bad to keep Her Majesty the Queen waiting. It would cause trouble for Liel. Well then, goodbye for a while. You must come back."
Saying that, Vera winked with one eye and headed back toward the ship. She raised her right hand and waved, though she probably couldn't see it, I waved back.
Then, as I started walking toward the carriage, Monica said in an exasperated tone,
"Chicken coward. One person has a blue face. Look... they look like a sick person."
The one with the blue face was Shannon. Perhaps she couldn't fall asleep at night, she had stayed up all night, and combined with seasickness and lack of sleep, she was in a terrible state.
"...Be gentler. I'm a sick person right now."
I covered my face with my left hand.
"I'm suddenly starting to feel anxious about the journey ahead. Shannon, as soon as we get to the castle, get some rest. Monica, stay with Shannon and take care of her."
Then, Monica made a disgusted face.
"I'll do it if it's an order. In truth, I hate it. But since it's an order from a chicken coward..."
Watching the exchange with Monica, Aria started walking ahead.
"Come on, hurry up. Liel, you carry Shannon."
Aria needed to keep herself light in case something happened, and since it would be too much to leave it to the petite Clara given the eyes around them, and Monica was carrying luggage, it naturally became my job.
"...Shall I carry you on my shoulder? Or a piggyback ride?"
When I said it as a joke, Shannon grinned despite her blue face.
"Try it. If I feel like throwing up, I'll vomit all over you."
Since she really seemed like she would do it, I decided to go with a bridal carry, which I could handle.
From a short distance away, Rauno-san shook his head while looking at us.
"So this is the party of the Hero of Beim. They have quite a leisurely atmosphere."
I laughed.
"Isn't it fine? If we're tense from now on, we won't last."
Then, Rauno-san laughed too.
"That's true. ...I won't go to the castle, so I'll go to the castle town. We'll meet at the gate on the day of departure."
"Understood."
I nodded and took separate action from Rauno-san.
――Rauno, walking through the castle town, had erased his presence.
There were knights around whom he knew, and he didn't want to show his current self. Rauno was someone who had been told by the previous king that he was a disgrace to the knights and had been driven from the country.
To avoid trouble, he walked while erasing his presence with a skill.
It was then.
Loud voices could be heard from the direction of a tavern.
"Don't screw with me! What's this about becoming king if he rescues her! Is Her Majesty the Queen insane? You're telling us to pledge our loyalty to a brat like that? Don't make me a fool!"
The announcement that Liel would be taken as a son-in-law had not been officially made. However, in the castle, Ludmilla, who was the Queen, was saying she wanted Liel as a son-in-law. Rumors spread quickly, and it seemed she was spreading them on purpose.
(Dissatisfaction is only natural. I wonder how Liel and the others will move... I should tell them.)
To convey the information accurately, Rauno listened to the conversation while hiding himself.
"By the way, do you know that Rauno was in that group back then?"
When one of the trio of knights said that, another moved his eyebrows. One seemed to be a young knight who didn't know about Rauno.
"Who is that?"
"A disgrace to the knights. A man who uses peeping-like skills and does dirty work without hesitation. The previous king drove him out because he wasn't fit to be a knight. He could have even been executed."
Rauno remained unfazed even hearing the reaction of ordinary knights. He had performed dirty work as Rauno's responsibility.
And when that came to light, Rauno was exiled. To many knights, Rauno was recognized as a cruel knight.
"To think they'd use a guy like that. That fellow Liel must also be someone who uses dirty means. What 'Hero of Beim'? In Cartaphus, he'd be a chore boy at best, even if he became a knight."
Rauno let out a sigh as he watched the trio, who had grown bold from drinking and were venting their frustrations.
Then, one of them said,
"Ah, if I had been the one to save Her Majesty the Queen, I'd be the king by now."
Rauno felt like giving a wry smile. When he remembered the fact that they couldn't even take action to rescue her, couldn't even gather information, and furthermore let Larc do as he pleased, it became laughable. It was pathetic.
After listening to some more complaints, Rauno started walking as the conversation began to loop. While thinking they were just the words of drunks, Rauno felt his hometown was a bit cold to him, perhaps because he still cared somewhere.
(Colder than Beim. I guess it can't be helped since it's the north.)
Feeling a coldness that wasn't just the temperature, Rauno disappeared into the crowd—.
――In a room in the castle, Aria and Clara were sitting on either side of Liel.
Luxurious food was lined up on the table, and an orchestra was playing to welcome Liel and the others.
Maids and guard knights were around, and in front of Liel, Ludmilla sat in a particularly luxurious chair with her legs crossed.
She put a glass of wine to her lips, drank just a little, and then pulled it away. The gesture was seductive.
Aria felt a bit of jealousy looking at such a Ludmilla.
(Since she was called a princess knight, I thought she'd be a more uncouth person.)
Comparing herself, the other seemed superior in every way.
Ludmilla opened her mouth.
"Was the meal to your liking?"
Liel had a smile.
"Yes, it's very delicious. Being welcomed this much actually makes me feel a bit bad."
Ludmilla laughed a little.
"It's for my future husband. I'll do at least this much."
She boldly called him her future husband to his face without any sign of hesitation. Aria looked at Liel. He was smiling, but she felt he was somehow giving a wry smile, likely noticing because they had been together for so long.
Their relationship started from Darion. Excluding Novem, Aria had the longest relationship with Liel.
(We've been together for over a year already, but it went by in a flash.)
When winter passed and spring came, it would be a relationship of two years. Being one year older than Liel, Aria was about to turn eighteen.
She hadn't neglected the care of her red hair, but she was still an adventurer. There were times when she simply couldn't maintain it, and she wasn't the type of person to care for it meticulously in the first place. Her skin was more tanned than before, giving her the look of an adventurer.
The number of scars that wouldn't disappear had increased, and compared to Ludmilla, Aria inevitably felt a sense of inferiority.
Then, Ludmilla looked at Aria and the others.
"I've had the baths prepared. Please heal the fatigue of your journey slowly today. Also... I want to talk with those two for a bit."
The two Ludmilla specified were Aria and Clara—.
――Clara had come to the bathhouse with Aria, invited by Ludmilla.
It was a large bath, and the bath, which looked like it had been carved out of rock, had sculptures and was even decorated with gold.
A large bath—but it was said that usually only Ludmilla used it. Female knights were standing by, guarding the perimeter.
Among the many things that captured the eye in the surrounding scenery... the gazes of Clara and Aria were directed at Ludmilla's body.
They hadn't noticed because she wore clothes with little exposure. However, Ludmilla's body also had many scars, and it was a painful sight.
"It's cleaner than I thought. That guy Liel averted his gaze when he saw my body, so I thought he might have some special fetish, but it seems that's not the case. This gives me hope."
Laughing, Ludmilla was soaking in the tub with her legs extended. Since she was sitting on the stone steps, she looked as if she were sitting in a chair.
Clara and Aria watched the painful sight with bated breath. Since she had fought as a princess knight, she probably had such scars all over her body. No, it might be natural for her to have them.
"...You have... quite a lot of injuries, don't you?"
When Clara asked that, Ludmilla laughed.
"I used to be strong-willed. I often stepped forward, thinking I wouldn't lose to men, which troubled my subordinates. I almost died several times and was made to realize various things. Back then, I never thought I'd become queen."
It seemed that wearing clothes that clung to her skin in black and not exposing her bare skin was to hide the scars.
Such a Ludmilla said, looking a bit bashful,
"I might have said this, but I acknowledge concubines. He's that kind of man. I want to monopolize him, but given the scale of the goal, that would be impossible. So... you two, won't you lend me your strength?"
At the words to lend her strength, Clara was bewildered.
"Um, does that perhaps mean..."
When Aria asked timidly, Ludmilla said with a dark smile,
"That's right. It's a faction. There are over ten people now, and the number will likely increase from here, right? Then isn't it natural to have one's own faction?"
Clara thought about what she should do.
(So a faction is being formed to compete against Novem-san and Miranda-san. How troublesome.)
Seeing the two remain silent, Ludmilla said,
"Well, think about it. I'll offer better conditions than the others. After all, Cartaphus is a great power. Besides, the women of Lusworth and Galleria have poor compatibility. Furthermore, if countries are involved, it's inevitable that they can't get along."
Aria was troubled. Naturally, Clara was the same. Given how boldly she brought it up, it was also scary not knowing what criteria she used to choose them. Clara asked.
"Do you not think we have already aligned ourselves with a faction?"
Ludmilla said as if seeing through them.
"I do. But you don't have anything definitive, do you? If you did that at this stage, the party would have fallen apart immediately."
Aria stood up. Exposing her trained body, her large breasts swayed.
"Then why at this timing!"
Ludmilla said with a serious expression.
"...I have no intention of getting in the way. But the witches of Lusworth and Galleria. Those are bad. On top of not being used to men, they don't understand what men are. Possessiveness will emerge immediately. When that happens, they will certainly pull us down. In fact, if I hadn't moved Rolfis to interfere, they might have made a move on Liel. You wouldn't like that either, would you?"
It seemed that the messenger from Rolfis arriving at a convenient time was because Ludmilla was involved.
Clara remembered what Novem had told her.
'Please protect Liel-sama's chastity. You may use Aria-san and Monica-san.'
He had said that. Novem had seemed wary, but Ludmilla had also been wary.
Ludmilla looked at Clara's face.
"You knew as well? Well, it doesn't matter. It seems you've maintained a balance by the skin of your teeth until now, but you can't keep saying things like that from now on, right? For my part, I'd hate for such a grand plan to be ruined by women's problems. I won't force you to join the faction. But I'd be happy if you didn't interfere and cooperated."
Looking at the smiling Ludmilla, Aria was also stunned. Clara also realized that she didn't have the strength to keep the women in check, and she didn't trust Novem completely either.
Looking down slightly.
"I understand. I will cooperate."
Ludmilla laughed, and Aria looked at Clara with a surprised face.
"I'm happy. I investigated you, and I've wanted to keep you by my side since then."
Apparently, Ludmilla had investigated the information on Clara and the others. That meant she had reached out based on that.
Aria looked at Clara with an expression that said she couldn't accept this.
"Clara, you..."
In the bathhouse without Liel, the conflict between the women was gradually beginning to grow—.