250 - Varius-kun
――Varius sat in his chair in the castle's office, looking down.
According to the rumors flowing through the city, the hostages sent to Central would not end up safe. Such information had reached even the common people, and Varius, knowing through his own information network that things would not go well, felt cornered.
Standing in the room was a knight, his right-hand man.
"Lord Varius, we can no longer refuse Central's demands. If we keep putting it on hold, the Imperial Guard will be dispatched from Central. If that happens..."
At the knight's words, Varius slammed his fist onto the desk. After a while, he spoke.
"I know. But considering my grandson and stepdaughter, being sent to Central is nothing but hell for those two. My son was made a captive of Celes in Central. Any more than this..."
The knight understood Varius's feelings. Therefore, he brought up the second and third sons who had been married off to other houses.
"What about calling back the young masters who were married off?"
Varius shook his head.
"How could I do such a thing? If I were to do it, I would have to follow etiquette and welcome the second or third sons of my sons' houses into this family. If we take a strong stance even after marrying them off, various problems will arise."
Varius had married his sons off as adopted sons-in-law to lower-ranking houses, but even so, using his status to call his sons back would cause issues. Additionally, his eldest son was alive. He even had a grandson. On the surface, there was no reason to call them back.
The knight spoke with a determined expression.
"Will you protect them, even if it means fighting a battle?"
Varius could not decide. His grandson was precious. His son had become a captive of Celes. At the very least, he wanted to protect his grandson.
However――.
"...I cannot sacrifice the territory for the sake of one grandson. But, just a little longer... I beg you."
Hearing Varius's decision, the knight nodded.
"Let us wait until the Imperial Guard arrives. I will tell them that since we are in a state of tension, we cannot easily spare our forces."
At the knight's words, Varius nodded weakly――.
Inside the Jewel.
Gathered around the round table, we were listening to the Seventh Generation's opinion.
『I know Varius-kun. I remember now. He was beside the previous Margrave Lesnou. I have never spoken with him, though.』
We had spent several days investigating Margrave Varius's character and spreading rumors in the city. It was then that the Seventh Generation remembered him, though it seemed he didn't know much about the man himself.
The Third Generation looked bored.
『Don't you know any failure stories from his childhood? He took back the Margrave Lesnou territory, didn't he?』
The Seventh Generation shook his head.
『Rather than taking it back, it became an exclave, so the Walt Family couldn't manage it. So I gave it to him. However, I was given preferential treatment regarding the boundary lines of the territory that were being disputed at the time.』
In the Seventh Generation's era, the Walt Family held the position of advisors to the royal family. This was proof of how great the Walt Family's power had become. However, it seemed that because of that, they were also pushed into dealing with troublesome matters.
The Fifth Generation spoke with exasperation.
『You actually did that despite there being little profit in it. If it were me, I'd absolutely want nothing to do with it.』
The Seventh Generation seemed to agree, but it appeared there were various circumstances for the Walt Family at the time.
『I basically hated it too. The Walt Family bore various burdens. However, it is also a fact that we wanted prestige at the time. Although the Sixth Generation took on various bad rumors, it is true that our family's position was precarious.』
Mireia-san placed a hand on her cheek and tilted her head slightly.
『Margrave Lesnou, is it? The previous one was quite incompetent... or rather, not excellent. However, looking at the territory, his son's skill is not bad.』
The urban areas, the surrounding villages――as far as she could see, he was a man who could be called a wise ruler for the people. It was clear he was working hard to protect the border with Fanbayle.
I organized the rumors gathered today.
"The rumors say he's soft on his grandson, and that his son is also excellent, among other things. He seems to be refusing to send hostages on the grounds that he cannot leave his post due to the border defenses. However, it doesn't feel like he's simply refusing to send them."
The Fifth Generation was lightly tapping his fingertips on the table at regular intervals.
『...So he intends to provide hostages? Or is it a final act of resistance... A Margrave alone cannot pick a fight with Banseime. Even if he defected to Fanbayle, this area was originally important land for Fanbayle. He'd either be robbed of it and that's the end, or be used up in a war with Banseime.』
The Third Generation looked amused. He had his hands clasped on his lap, grinning.
『Nice. One son is in Central. The other two are married off and can't get involved carelessly. I can feel his desire to not let go of his precious grandson.』
The Seventh Generation looked pleased.
『I've grown a bit fond of Varius-kun. Let's go easy on him a bit during the negotiations.』
I covered my mouth with my hand while thinking about the future.
"I'll waste a bit of time for the sake of Fanbayle. Since there is a border, I can certainly get rumors about Fanbayle, but... should we wait until the Imperial Guard arrives? It's possible the Margrave might prepare his own guards and send them to Central."
The Third Generation closed his eyes.
『If that happens, it's pitiful, but let's have a few of them get injured. Make sure not to kill them. He's an important negotiation partner. It's best not to anger him.』
As expected, he intended to have an attack carried out.
Once I made up my mind, I began thinking of a plan that would cause as little damage as possible.
――Meanwhile.
Adele and the others were working on breaking down the eastern region, bringing the Baronet with them.
The opponent this time was also a Baronet house, but the opponent had a difficult expression.
Negotiations were taking place at the opponent's mansion, while they were surrounded by the opponent's soldiers.
Adele was troubled by the opponent's demands.
"Promotion to Baron just for cooperating? Forgive me, but I believe it is simply impossible for someone with your territory's scale to be a Baron. I cannot imagine you could fulfill such responsibilities..."
At Adele's words, the opponent pinched and groomed his proud beard with his fingertips.
"If I cooperate with you, I can provide three hundred soldiers. Is that unsatisfactory? Besides, I only need to be given enough territory to fulfill my duties. Don't worry, I can handle the surrounding Knight houses however I wish, provided you prepare a certain amount of reward."
Adele glared at the Baronet sitting next to her. However, the opponent pretended not to notice. But perhaps he couldn't stay silent.
"Are you not being too greedy despite having no achievements? To have a territory on the scale of a Baron house, you would need to hold twice as much land as you do now."
The opponent laughed defiantly.
"Then I shall accept a transfer of territory. Let's see... I want territory near Central. I've grown tired of the countryside in the east."
Adele tried to break them down in small pieces, but while the Baronet houses were a nuisance, the Knight houses were also a nuisance. In Banseime, there were various Knight houses ranging from the scale of a settlement to a village.
Their demands differed, and many were not satisfied with the confirmation of their current land holdings. As Lyell had said, Adele was beginning to think it would be difficult unless she broke them down on a large scale.
Adele looked at the opponent.
"If I give preferential treatment to one person, those around them will seek an equivalent return. I simply cannot permit that."
Then, the opponent spoke with a relaxed expression.
"Then I shall leak information to Central. That Lyell Walt's party is moving around secretly, for example."
Adele glared at the opponent, but perhaps thinking of her as a mere slip of a girl, the opponent's expression did not waver.
However, the Baronet next to Adele lowered his voice.
"Then does that mean you intend to make enemies of me and those who have already promised their cooperation? That would be terrible. I would need to return immediately and devise countermeasures."
The opponent's expression turned sour. They were both Baronet houses. In terms of scale, there wasn't that much of a difference. Making enemies of the surrounding lords seemed to be painful for the opponent as well.
"...There is land where I am disputing with a neighboring lord. That has been our territory since long ago. If you help me take it back, I will cooperate."
Seeing how he folded so suddenly, it seemed he had made a very large demand. Adele was sick of these kinds of negotiations.
"Who is the neighboring lord?"
"A Baron house. Don't worry, they are an easy opponent if you are on my side. So, you will provide at least five hundred soldiers, right?"
Adele's head began to ache at the opponent's demands.
(This... just as Lyell-san said, if I don't break them down on a large scale, I won't be able to handle this.)
Having underestimated the small-scale lords, Adele was suffering a painful loss of time here――.
――A group departed from Central.
Led by the knights of Celes's Imperial Guard were three hundred soldiers of Central's regular army.
They were heading toward Margrave Lesnou's land because he had not sent hostages to Central regardless of how much time passed.
Watching the group leave the castle was Celes, moving through the corridor on a woman's back. Standing on the woman's back, she watched the group depart from the window.
"Huh~? Did I say to dispatch a unit somewhere?"
The woman looked as if she were suffering, but she was not devoted to Celes. That was exactly why she was being treated so cruelly.
Wearing tattered clothes and a collar, she was treated exactly like a dog. The reason was simple――she had not succumbed to Celes.
To Celes, such people were nothing more than amusing toys. She enjoyed playing with them, thinking it was far more interesting when they were rebellious.
The Imperial Guard Captain nearby, Bread Bumper, answered Celes with a smile.
"Celes-sama, that is the unit heading to Margrave Lesnou, who refuses to provide hostages. He is a frontier lord who is foolish enough to not follow your wishes."
Celes smiled with interest and licked her lips with her tongue.
"Aha, come to think of it, I did ask for hostages to be handed over. Rufus really was executing it seriously. I had forgotten."
A red-haired butler in a tailcoat――an automaton――spoke flatly.
"The woman you are treating like a horse was also sent as a hostage. How many people has it been now? You should fix your habit of getting bored and breaking them immediately."
Walking behind Celes was a girl――she walked dragging her long black hair, and the people around her took care not to step on it.
Celes looked at the girl, Lumel, and laughed.
"It's fine. Lumel will clean up properly. Right, Lumel?"
The girl called Lumel opened her small mouth. However, that mouth gradually grew larger, revealing sharp fangs and a large tongue, as if affirming Celes's opinion.
"You're cute, Lumel. I thought you were a foolish Kirin when you were killed for defying me, but after being brought back to life, you've become obedient and cute. Though, you can't use your skills properly, so in the end, you still can't speak."
Lumel――the girl of the divine beast Kirin who had once met and fought Celes――was a puppet of Celes, brought back to life from a corpse.
Celes ground her foot into the terrified woman.
"Tell me when you've had enough. I'll release you immediately. Aha! You're shaking. How amusing."
Finding the woman's shaking amusing, Celes sat down on the woman's back. Then, she pulled the string attached to the collar.
"Come on, let's go. Let's walk around the castle just like this today. We're going to explore the castle."
Celes's lovely laughter. The people following her were captivated by her.
Only the automaton looked at Celes with cold eyes――.
We spent our days gathering information in the city ruled by Margrave Lesnou.
I was taking a nap in my room.
No, I had sent my consciousness into the Jewel.
The location was the room of my own memories.
Facing me was Raiel, holding a katana. Whether I slashed or fired magic, Raiel dodged everything and landed attacks on me.
『No. Not at all! Your attacks are too straightforward. And you're putting too much strength into them.』
While giving me warnings, he slashed my shoulder, and next, the back of my hand. When I dropped the katana, he leaped at me and delivered a kick.
I was blown away and rolled across the ground, but Raiel anticipated it and stopped my rolling with his foot.
『Hmm, maybe this isn't at a level you can handle on your own.』
Out of breath, I looked up at Raiel. Then, Raiel showed me his arm. He rolled up his shirt sleeve, revealing faint blue lines.
"What is that?"
Raiel explained flatly. It felt somewhat polite.
『I suppose I should call it the flow of magical power? In short, they're blood vessels. Though what flows instead of blood is magical power. Since the Walt Family has polished support-type skills for generations, they should appear as blue lines. Humans have these circulating throughout their bodies.』
Then, Raiel took my arm. Reacting to Raiel's light, lines became visible on my arm as well. However, the shape was different from Raiel's.
To put it simply, they were connected, but they were in tatters. They were in a visibly terrible state.
Raiel looked at them.
『...That Celes, she tore them to shreds after stealing them. No wonder the efficiency is poor.』
Raiel put away his saber and traced the lines on my arm with his finger. Glowing lines――but Raiel's expression turned sour.
『She broke them very meticulously. She must have been terribly afraid of me.』
I stood up and asked Raiel.
"What happens if those line-like things are fixed?"
『The efficiency of operating magical power within the body increases, but since they are so magnificently shredded, even I might find it impossible to fix everything. How should I put it... even if you produce ten units of power, only two or three are being released. Even if I can treat them well, reaching six or seven would be a good result?』
Hearing those words, I said.
"Then, if I fix this, I can fight Celes――"
『That's probably impossible. Because you can't even beat the current me, there's no way you can beat Celes, who is like me with additional power layered on top. On her side, the Septem――Agrissa is also an ally. Alone, it wouldn't even be a contest.』
As I slumped my shoulders in disappointment, Raiel laughed.
『But I think that's fine for Lyell. The fact that you can't fight without someone's help... means that you need someone.』
I looked at Raiel.
"Are you saying I'm unreliable?"
『Of course not. I just thought that some things are better because they were lost. Probably. If I had tried to stop Celes, I surely would have moved alone――or with a small number. I might have managed somehow. But that wouldn't have been right.』
As I tilted my head, Raiel looked at me and laughed.
『I think Lyell is one of the completed forms, different from Celes.』