247 - The Kingdom of Vanseim
The Kingdom of Vanseim.
Located in the center of the continent, it is the largest nation on the continent.
Taking over the capital of the Kingdom of Centras—the kingdom that had unified the continent at the time—it waged war against the splintered nations to build its current prosperity.
It is a great power that came to reign as the new royal family after the Vanseim family defeated Agrissa of the Kingdom of Centras.
Our party had returned to the Kingdom of Vanseim, but it had been decided that we would avoid the capital, Central.
Though inconvenient, we decided to avoid Central and head west toward the Kingdom of Fanbayle.
That was the plan, but Vanseim is a massive country.
Unlike traveling on well-maintained highways, we often found ourselves traversing paths that would make anyone question if they were actually roads. Struggling through this, we visited a village, one of our destinations.
After descending from the Porter, we arranged to stay at the home of a village notable in exchange for materials from the monsters we had defeated along the way.
A magistrate seemed to have been dispatched, but perhaps thinking we were adventurers, he granted us a single night's stay once we handed over some money.
Evening.
While the village children watched the Porter from a distance, I stretched my limbs.
"It's more comfortable than moving in a horse carriage, but just sitting for so long is tough."
At the notable's house, Monica was performing maintenance on the Porter, which was parked in a part of the garden. She seemed to be checking various parts, asking Clara to move the wheels and other components for her.
The daughter of the house came out into the garden to inform us that our rooms were ready. The girl, who had brown hair and a simple appearance, looked slightly surprised upon seeing the Porter.
"An iron carriage that doesn't need horses... so they really do exist. I thought the traveling merchants were just lying."
Porters that utilize golem magic for hauling cargo were becoming more widespread in Alamsars.
Perhaps because of that, there were people in Vanseim who knew of Porters to some extent.
Aria responded to the girl with a smile.
"Ours is a special model. They might be making plenty of them in Alamsars."
Upon hearing the name Alamsars, the girl reacted.
"Ah, that's what they said! That in Alamsars, there are many human-shaped dolls moving around, and many iron carriages that don't need horses. The merchant uncle only mentioned it as a rumor, but it was true!"
Alamsars is an academic city. I had stopped there previously to gather companions, and that was where I met Miranda, Shannon, and Damian.
Aria looked a bit happy.
"I wonder how Lyra-san is doing? ...Oops, right. Are there any other strange rumors? I've only just returned to Vanseim."
The girl thought for a moment.
"The Crown Prince married in Central. But there are many strange rumors, and to be honest, I don't know which ones are true. After all, the lady he married... Celes-sama... apparently keeps many men around her. It wouldn't be permitted for the next Queen to do such a thing, and the partner was originally supposed to be the princess of Fanbayle, so I have no idea what's actually happening."
That sounded exactly like something Celes would do.
The rumors were so absurd that those around her might think it was impossible. I handed the girl several large copper coins.
"Is there anything else?"
The girl, having received the coins, counted them and tried her best to remember. I was reminded once again that the power of money is great.
"...Ah! Beim! A formal declaration of war was made against Beim. It seems they won't be conscripting from this village, but the magistrate said we should still be prepared."
Hearing this, Aria nodded slightly.
"I wonder if they're only handling it from the east. It would be a pain to bring people from the opposite side, after all."
Vanseim was divided into east, west, south, and north centered around Central, with each sector handling the war. If a lord in a certain region requested aid, it would come from the southern sector if it were the south. When invading the east, troops were deployed from the eastern sector.
I asked the girl.
"How many are moving?"
"I don't know that much, but the adults were saying that since Beim is a strong enemy, they'll probably deploy several hundred thousand. I think we're being told to prepare because relations with Fanbayle in the west have deteriorated."
Hearing that, I thanked the girl.
"I see, thank you. We'd like to make some money from the war too... but with that many, there'll be no room for us. I guess we'll give up."
I glanced at Aria, who shrugged in agreement.
"You're right. There's no profit in participating at this scale. Steady work is best."
The two of us casually told a lie and laughed it off.
――Adele and the others were visiting a lord they were acquainted with.
Though the scale of a Baronet's house is not large, it was a family they had a relationship with, so they strongly wished to stop by.
When Adele and her party arrived, the lord, a Baronet, politely welcomed Adele and Maxim.
A Baronet who possessed a town and ruled surrounding villages was of a scale that could deploy a maximum of two hundred soldiers.
It was by no means large, but because he was trustworthy, it was the first place Adele stopped at upon entering Vanseim.
In the reception room of the lord's manor, Adele asked the lord.
"What is the current situation in Vanseim?"
The lord shook his head.
"I feel it's getting worse by the day. Huge amounts of food are being consumed by the war, and many fields have fallen into ruin; it's as if they're just rampaging. If one dares to resist, the regular army of Central, and the Walt family, will move. It's a nightmare."
The Walt family.
In Vanseim, that name signified the strongest. This was because they had saved Vanseim from crisis many times, and their influence had grown with each generation.
"...Have rumors reached you that the eldest son of the Walt family, Lyell Wolt, is moving in Beim?"
The lord nodded.
"I have heard of the incident at Redant Fort. However, as for information beyond that, whether it's true or a lie... that he captivated the Four-Nation Alliance and the Queen of Cartaphus. They truly are siblings."
Maxim, who was waiting behind Adele, twitched his cheek. While the information wasn't exactly wrong, he felt there was malice embedded in it.
Adele corrected the rumor while feeling a headache coming on.
"It certainly looks that way from the outside. However, the facts are different. I have actually met Lyell-san. He is gaining power in Beim and aims to overthrow Celes. It's not... not that he's captivating women as the rumors say, but rather it happened as a result, or he managed it through his own efforts. At any rate, he is not dangerous like Celes."
The lord looked at Maxim instead of Adele. He was looking at Adele with slightly worried eyes.
Maxim spoke.
"It is fine. My lady has not been captivated. If he had resorted to such despicable means, I would have defeated Lyell myself."
Maxim was a famous knight. The lord believed those words and continued the conversation.
"I understand. I shall believe you. Then, from Adele-dono's perspective, what are the chances of victory?"
The opponent was a lord. Adele was well aware that those of Baronet scale were the most difficult lords to handle.
In terms of scale, they were wealthier than Knightly houses. However, they were not as large as Baron houses. Yet, they possessed a decent amount of power, putting them in a very troublesome position.
The fact that many of them were adept at navigating social waters was a result of this delicate position. Therefore, Adele put it this way.
"It's a close call. It's a situation where we might barely win. We have already obtained cooperation from the Four-Nation Alliance and Cartaphus. In Beim, the Trace family and merchant houses of the same faction have moved to support us."
The lord nodded.
"The Trace family of Beim? They are quite famous. Many eastern lords know of that merchant house. I see, so they are the backers."
Adele thought to herself.
(...I'm not lying.)
Yes, she wasn't lying. In Beim, the Trace family had been dismantled, and the side that had been split off and expelled was the one providing support.
Depending on how you heard it, since a famous merchant house in Beim had become a backer, it was practically the same as saying Beim was cooperating. If the other party had known the internal situation of Beim in detail, their reaction would have been slightly different.
"Baronet, I ask for your strength. Lyell-san... Lyell-dono intends to repay the kindness of the lords who cooperated."
Hearing this, the opponent crossed his arms. Whether to continue turning a blind eye to Celes's atrocities, or to cooperate with Lyell.
The lord opened his mouth.
"...I want the security of my territory guaranteed. Also, I would like a reward prepared."
Adele found this slightly strange.
"I will also be asking the Baronet to cooperate in persuading other lords. Is the reward that immense? I believe this is a chance to expand your territory."
The lord shook his head.
"Adele-dono, you do not understand the feelings of a lord. Certainly, expanding territory is important. However, many do not think that way. As the scale grows, so does the responsibility. Many who take a wait-and-see approach are often satisfied with the status quo. That is why they do not move."
Adele nodded, thinking that made sense.
"Besides, it's a pain if one is ordered to swap territories. In that case, cash is better for me. Ah, I also want proof that my house cooperated with Lyell-dono."
Amidst this, Maxim spoke to the lord.
"There is one thing I wish to ask."
"What is it?"
"Please tell me the reason you trusted us. It will affect our future activities."
As the conversation progressed smoothly, Maxim was concerned about this. No matter how well they knew each other, he felt the other party trusted their opinion too much.
The lord said.
"...Even if we leave Celes alone, nothing good will come of it. However, with my power, there is nothing I can do. If this were a messenger from Cartaphus or the Four-Nation Alliance, I could not lend a hand. It is the same in Beim. Well, actually, various rumors have been spreading within Vanseim."
Recalling this, Adele pressed the lord.
"The incident in Darion or Alamsars? Or the Griffon slaying in Central?"
The lord said.
"All of it. Within Vanseim, when rumors of Lyell-dono in Beim began to circulate, people were hopeful."
Learning that the other party had possessed a certain amount of information from the start, Adele felt as if she had been played with a little.
However, the lord also said.
"I shall proceed with the persuasion of the surrounding lords. What I seek is the security of the territory and a reward. Some may seek different things; how will those be handled?"
Adele sat up straight and answered the lord.
"I have been given a certain amount of authority. I will handle it. Also, among lords of Baron rank or higher, who would cooperate?"
The lord crossed his arms. He looked down in silence, and after a while, looked up at the ceiling.
"Is it difficult?"
The lord said.
"A short while ago, an order was issued to lords of Baron rank or higher to send hostages to Central. Not just the heirs, but the lord's wife, fiancées... indiscriminately. There were even stories of mistresses being taken. It is in chaos, so I cannot say which ones."
At Celes's actions, Adele thought that things had become troublesome――.
After leaving the village, we headed for our next destination in the Porter.
There was a place I wanted to reach by today, so to hurry things along, I had swapped with Clara and was now operating the Porter.
Monica, Clara, and Aria were lying down resting, and Shannon was sitting on my lap.
"...You're heavy, you know?"
When I said that, Mireia-san spoke from within the jewel.
'Lyell, aren't you being cold to Shannon? Be kinder.'
Despite being told so, I spoke once more to Shannon, who was sitting on my lap.
"You're heavy, you know?"
I said it. Shannon looked back and stuck out her tongue.
"There's no place to sit, so I'm putting up with this!"
She said. In the cargo area, not only Clara and Aria, but Monica was also lying down, so space had become limited.
Mireia-san sounded lonely.
'Lyell... why has the honest Lyell become like this...'
The Seventh Generation laughed.
'Isn't it because of Auntie? Well, Auntie is also heavy in various ways.'
The sound of a gun firing was heard from within the jewel, and then it became quiet. Since this was normal, I left it alone, and Shannon looked forward from my lap.
The scenery stretched out before us, but what Shannon was looking at was a book Monica had prepared. It had letters written in it; it was a picture book for children.
"Can you see this?"
Shannon looked happy.
"I can see it. But there are only two other books besides this one, so I'm getting bored. Clara has taught me various things, though."
The specially made picture books were in color and very easy to understand. Shannon learning letters was an important matter for us as well.
The Porter rode over a slightly large stone and shook, so I held Shannon's body steady.
"Operate it properly!"
Seeing Shannon get angry in a huffy manner, I pulled her cheek and made her eyes tear up.
"It's actually quite difficult. You think you can do it like Clara?"
Clara doesn't stand out among our companions as a support, but she is excellent in that regard. Operating the Porter, and providing support via magic.
Her amount of knowledge was also vast, and she was reliable in many ways. Then, Shannon returned her gaze to the picture book and spoke.
"Why don't you just tell her properly? Lyell always forgets. That's called 'once you've caught the fish, you stop feeding it'."
"Where did you hear such a thing? Well, I'll tell her soon. More importantly, why did you come to this side? I thought you'd follow Miranda."
Shannon closed the picture book and turned back toward me.
"It's to keep an eye on you so you don't start any strange games elsewhere. Be grateful that the cute Shannon is acting as your chaperone――Ow! That hurts! I said it hurts!"
I pressed my knuckle in and laughed seeing Shannon in pain. Then, Shannon, with teary eyes, looked at me and said.
"...You, keep smiling more. Lately, you've had too many fake smiles."
And so, she opened the picture book again and resumed her studies. Being told I had too many fake smiles, I tried to talk back, but I felt that it had indeed been frequent lately. Perhaps I had made her worry.
"I guess so. Maybe that's how it is."
While looking at the unchanging scenery, I supported Shannon so she wouldn't fall from my lap.