259 - Chapter 14: Epilogue
From the subjugation of Agrissa to the founding of the Banseime Kingdom and the division of the continent...
Hearing that sequence of events and the relationship between the Walt family and the Foxus family, the voice of the Third Generation echoed quietly within the orb.
『Sigh, what do you mean the most important information is missing? I need to know how Agrissa was defeated... the Banseime stuff doesn't even matter, right?』
The Third Generation's disappointed expression was an unexpected reaction, even for Mireia-san and me. No, for this person, this might be the most natural response.
The Fifth Generation sat at the round table, arms crossed, looking up at the ceiling.
『Get close and slash them, huh. In other words, the ancestor of the Walt family carried that out. If the ancestor of the Foxus family, who was skilled in magic, was acting separately, perhaps they specialized in magic. That might be why they were recorded in the yellow orb for the rear guard.』
However, the Seventh Generation touched his chin with a serious expression.
『In that case, Celes is a monster in close-quarters combat as well. I am not sure if this was helpful. But truly, it was a rather... subtle story, if you will.』
All three of them described the story of the Walt family's ancestor as "subtle." While I was concerned about the Foxus family, none of the three seemed to care.
"Um, about the Foxus family—"
The Third Generation smiled.
『Hmm? Isn't it fine? The reason is a bit heavy, but the reason they served the Walt family has been revealed. Well, Novem-chan has her memories and feelings for the Walt family are too strong, so I don't know if she's looking at Liel as an individual, but you solve that yourself, Liel. I mean, the ancestor's lack of caution was just terrible, wasn't it?』
The Seventh Generation agreed with the Third.
『Even if the Walt family went around claiming now that they defeated Agrissa, it would just be a lie unless it could be proven true. Even if proven, people would probably just be like, "And?"』
The Fifth Generation looked at Mireia-san and me with a troubled expression.
『The ancestor must have been full of regret, and I'd like to do something about it... but if Liel rules the continent, the only way is to make it so that Banseime was actually the evil one and restore their honor. But if we do that...』
The three looked at each other and nodded. The Third Generation spoke on their behalf.
『To be honest, it would just look like a lie to make themselves look better. Well, people in power more or less show off like that, and that's important too. But it would just feel like, "Why now?" In fact, it's not like our consciences wouldn't prick us if we destroyed Banseime. Look, it was three hundred years ago already.』
If it had been in the past, it might have been possible to take it back and restore the ancestor's honor. That could have been the main point. However, now Banseime is too terrible to be defended. For that matter, the Walt family is also terrible. Even if the Walt family had a righteous cause, Celes's actions ruined it.
The Seventh Generation let out a sigh.
『To think that just when I thought it would be useful at the very end, it would end with such a subtle result...』
The three were disappointed, and seeing this, Mireia-san was trembling with rage.
『What is wrong with you people! You were able to learn about the legitimacy of the Walt family and the Foxus family! Please think about it for a moment. Because the Banseime family stole the ancestor's achievements, the continent split and ended up in this situation!』
However, the Third Generation's opinion remained cold.
『No, I don't think Banseime was the only reason it split. In reality, they probably wanted independence, and there must have been grievances. Besides, being unified doesn't necessarily mean people were happy.』
The Fifth Generation looked at me.
『Well, it's like this. Liel... if you can personally feel that while clearing the ancestor's regrets, it's only natural for the Banseime family to be destroyed, you'll feel more at ease. That's fine for this time. By the way, is Liel's name perhaps...』
The Seventh Generation clapped his hands as if remembering something.
『When the son and his wife were worrying about the name, the couple from the Foxus family were giving them advice! Well, it's fine, isn't it? In a long history, names can overlap.』
The Third Generation laughed.
『That's true... but it's heavy. It's heavy, Foxus family! But they took care of us, so that much is fine. Liel, since that's the case, please take care of Novem-chan.』
What a thing. The treatment of the Foxus family, who served the Walt family with their entire clan, not just their lives, was far too light.
"Um, what should I say to Novem?"
The Fifth Generation said to me.
『Think for yourself. Or rather, if you're in love with her, just accept her. Well, I don't know if Novem is looking at you as an individual, or if she's looking at the Walt family and the hero of the past through you.』
Now that he mentioned it, Novem did have different values, such as accepting a harem for me. No, if she sees me as a true member of the royal bloodline... I wonder how she sees me as an individual.
The Third Generation sighed.
『Ah~, and here I thought I'd be able to find out Agrissa's weakness. What a letdown. Why get my hopes up?』
As the trembling Mireia-san moved, she drew her gun and fired in an instant. The bullet hit the Third Generation—not. The bullet embedded itself in the chair the Third Generation was sitting in, and then disappeared.
Inside the orb. Only the voice of the Third Generation could be heard in the Room of the Round Table.
『Geez, don't be angry. I didn't say Mireia-"chan" was useless, did I? In the end, you weren't helpful, but you're cute, so I'll forgive you. After all, you're my great-granddaughter.』
Mireia-san had a frustrated expression at the Third Generation's provocation.
――The Landburg Family.
A lineage that became knights during the Third Generation's era.
They were a family of vassal knights who served the Walt family for generations, and a daughter from the Walt family had married into them. They were a solid family even within the Walt family, to the extent that they were entrusted with the old estate after the mansion was moved to manage the expanding territory of the Walt family.
The knight Vale Landburg, whom Liel admired, was the second son of the current head of this family. He currently serves at the Walt family mansion, and for that reason, he was under Celes's influence.
The head of the Landburg family was speaking with Novem.
This was an important land for the Foxus family, a place where even Celes was wary of Novem and had not laid a hand on.
Naturally, the head of the family was not under Celes's influence.
"――This is the current situation, Lord Landburg."
The man in his fifties had noticeable injuries on his body. He had many wounds from war, and now, perhaps because his body did not move as he wished, he held a cane.
"I visited the mansion but was ignored, but I never imagined it had gone that far."
Covering his face with both hands, the head of the Landburg family was disheartened.
"It is true that the state of the mansion was strange. I have confirmed that myself. But for this to happen while my younger brother was there..."
To Novem, the Landburg family was a house of high loyalty and trust. She believed that this land, founded by the first generation, was suitable as a place of refuge for Liel.
That was why Novem visited this land, confident that Celes had not laid a hand on it as promised.
Novem bowed her head to the head of the Landburg family.
"Lord Landburg, please lend me soldiers for Lord Liel's sake. Currently, the military force Lord Liel can move on his own is far too small."
The head of the Landburg family nodded. But at the same time, he called a young man into the room.
"I understand. The Landburgs are a family indebted to the Walt family. If Lord Liel is to stand, I shall provide soldiers. However, my body does not obey me. Baldor, come in."
A youth called Baldor entered the room. He was tall, with beautiful brown hair that was silky and extended down to his back.
His green eyes were sharp, and he had a trained body.
"Baldor, you've heard the story, right? You shall go to Lord Liel's side. I will send men from the territory. Take at least three hundred."
At the words of the head of the Landburg family, the youth called Baldor was slightly surprised.
"Three hundred!? Father, in the current situation, even two hundred would hinder the management of the territory—"
The head of the Landburg family, called Father, raised his cane slightly and struck the floor. Then, Baldor closed his mouth.
He spoke to Novem.
"My apologies. It seems he does not understand the gravity of the situation. However, Baldor has completed his first battle and is excellent in the eyes of a parent. He lacks a bit of experience, but he will be useful. However, three hundred is the limit for us as well. I will have the most capable young men prepared, but we cannot provide more soldiers than that."
From Novem's perspective, she had expected around two hundred. Even that would be more than ten percent of the territory's military force. Three hundred was a number that would cause problems in the governance of the territory.
However, right now, she wanted as much military force as possible.
"Thank you very much. Then, please head for the south, enter Jampea from there, and move to South Banseime by ship."
Baldor was slightly surprised.
"From Jampea to Beim, is it? The eastern region is becoming hectic, so a war will begin there. I understand. I will proceed with the preparations."
Baldor left the room with brisk movements.
Looking at Baldor's retreating figure, Novem remembered the daughter of the Fifth Generation who had once been sent as a bride to the Landburg family.
(...Everything, for Lord Liel's sake.)
No one knew which Liel the Liel Novem spoke of was—.
――Adele was holding her head while listening to the report from the Valkyries she had brought.
Liel's party had secured cooperation with Fanbayle and had even brought in Margrave Lesnou, who shared a border.
Novem and the others had secured cooperation with Jampea, and Jampea had handled the negotiations with the surrounding countries.
Yet, Adele had tried to chip away at small pieces and had not achieved much result.
"...I should have brought in larger houses."
The one comforting the depressed Adele was Maxim.
"My lady, it is not all bad. As a result, several thousand soldiers have joined our side."
Those several thousand soldiers were, to be precise, not even five thousand. If things went poorly, there was a fear they might not even reach three thousand.
Adele did not know how much the lords would actually cooperate. There might be those considering betrayal.
When she reported this to Liel, the Valkyries spoke the returned words expressionlessly.
"Is that not fine? He has given that certain thing to the lords he can trust. Even if traitors appear, it is not a problem. Lord Liel is also pleased that preparations are complete. Sigh, I wish I could have been near Lord Liel as well."
Thinking the last part was unnecessary, Adele proceeded with preparations to return to South Banseime. Recently, it had been hectic with consultations and complaints from small lords pouring in.
While understanding the reason why Liel chipped away at the large lords, Adele consulted with Maxim about the future.
"Maxim, seeing the rise in prices in the east and the way soldiers are being gathered, what do you think? What will flow into Beim—"
"――The harvest will end and it will become winter. In a little while, preparations will be complete and they will march toward Beim. It won't take two months to reach Redant Fortress."
Adele nodded with relief at Maxim's confident words. With that much time, she could move to Jampea and then take a ship back to South Banseime.
"Then, how long will Redant Fortress hold? For my part, since Beim has been reinforcing and their military force has increased, I think it will hold for more than two months—"
When she said that much, Maxim spoke to Adele with a serious expression.
"――My lady, Redant Fortress will hold for a few weeks at most. At the earliest, it will be breached in one week."
She could not believe those words.
However, Maxim had much experience participating in wars and was an excellent man as a knight. Adele trusted Maxim's words in such matters. And she also trusted Maxim.
"Surely they are reinforcing it, and the military force is greater than in our time? Even so, only a few weeks?"
"Yes, that is correct. Lord Liel might be able to repel them, but even then, there is a high possibility it will end in a draw with losses on both sides."
Adele wanted to know the reason. Simply put, Beim has strong adventurers. If such adventurers were deployed, they should be able to fight reasonably well. Adele thought so because she had seen Liel.
"I hear there are many excellent adventurers?"
"That is the difficult part. 'Excellent' means they are excellent on a squad unit, not excellent at leading a large army. Moreover, it can hardly be said that they are under control. I think an ordinary general from Banseime could breach it in a few weeks."
Adele tilted her head.
"In Lord Liel's case, it was difficult, but he annihilated the monster army, didn't he?"
Maxim scratched his head, looking troubled.
"That is the difficult part. Certainly, a monster army is a threat, and simply put, numbers are power... but well, humans are more troublesome. Also, since you are mistaken, let me correct you: Lord Liel is terrifyingly strong when leading an army."
Adele was convinced.
"It's the skills. Because the successive heads of the Walt family left such skills in the blue orb—"
Maxim smiled. Then, he shook his head at Adele.
"The talent to master them is the threat. Also, he is calm beyond belief for his age, moving matter-of-factly to solidify his surroundings. Sometimes with compassion, sometimes with coldness... I know no teenager who can move that much to achieve a goal. He has the atmosphere of an aged general; he is an opponent I would not want to fight."
Liel was highly evaluated by Maxim. But if he heard it himself, he would probably make a subtle face. And the successive heads within the orb would surely praise Maxim, saying something like he evaluated them correctly.
Adele understood Maxim's explanation with words alone. However, she seemed not to understand the more essential part.
But since Maxim said so, she accepted it and stood up.
"Well then, we must hurry with the preparations. Things are going to get busy from here, Maxim. I'm counting on you."
Being told that by Adele, Maxim's cheeks turned red and he lightly rubbed the area under his nose with his finger.
"L-leave it to me, my lady."
Around them, the Valkyries watched Maxim.
"What a waste. The serious atmosphere was so good."
"Isn't that age gap a problem?"
"However, he was a chicken coward no less than our master. Despite being left alone with her many times, he not only didn't make a move, but didn't even confess."
"...If he had confessed, I feel it would have been like a death flag."
Adele and Maxim, who could not hear the voices around them, talked about the future with smiles—.