263 - The Great General
――A small building prepared in South Banseime.
The Adventurers' Guild established near the labyrinth in South Banseime was smaller than the branch in Beime, and the number of staff members working there was very few.
Those dispatched from the guild included Marianne, Ryue, and several other staff members. To make up for the lack of manpower, they recruited locally.
Few adventurers made South Banseime their home.
However, that did not mean they were idle.
Today, as well, residents of South Banseime brought requests to the guild. To such residents, Marianne would say
"I am very sorry. We are not yet prepared to accept requests in South Banseime. Therefore, we are currently unable to take on any requests."
The person was a middle-aged woman.
"That's a problem! I'm busy enough with moving and childcare! It's a simple request, so send someone out immediately!"
Facing the wife of a craftsman who had migrated from Beime, or perhaps a woman from a nearby village, Marianne explained herself many times until they left the guild. As for the number of adventurers, while there was one first-rate party regarding the labyrinth, the others were merely dreaming youths gathered from Erhart and the surrounding areas.
They didn't even know the basics of being an adventurer, and she didn't think they could possibly complete a request. Additionally, since it had just been established, there were many problems.
"Marianne-san, the merchants are complaining that they lack materials..."
When one of the staff members reported this apologetically, Marianne responded with a smile, despite her exhaustion.
"They will have to bear with it. If they want them, they can request them directly from the adventurers, or we can raise the purchase price—"
This time, it was Ryue entering the guild.
"Marianne-san, regarding the magic stones in storage, if things continue like this, there's a possibility we'll run out—"
As winter arrived, the consumption of magic stones increased. Moreover, the craftsmen were consuming vast quantities of magic stones for their crafting. It was inevitable that the magic stones managed by the guild would run low.
Calling her the Branch Manager sounded impressive, but Marianne was required to work harder than anyone else in the newly established Adventurers' Guild.
Then, Damian entered the guild. He brought three automaton maids, carried a large staff on his shoulder, and pushed up his glasses with his fingertip.
"It's quite hectic here. Or rather, what on earth is happening? The magic stones I requested haven't been delivered. At this rate, my research will be delayed—"
Behind him came the dwarf, Ratata.
"Hey, any rare metals in here? Fidel's brat says he'll lend as much as I want at a high rate to Liel's brat, so I want as much as you've got!"
The ones who brought trouble one after another were always those associated with Liel.
(I can't... I don't know if I can make it here...)
Marianne felt exhaustion every time she dealt with the troubles that flooded in one after another—.
Complaints from the South Banseime Adventurers' Guild.
I received the report while reading the tragic cries written in the documents. The one reporting was Monica, who had deployed Valkyries in various locations to monitor the state of the war.
"Chicken coward. The Banseime forces have approached the walls of Redant Fortress. They are engaging in subtle harassment to accumulate fatigue on the fortress side. I can see them gradually closing in and collecting the enemy's arrows."
I stretched in my office.
"Redant Fortress wasn't making effective moves, was it? What's the situation inside the fortress?"
Monica answered immediately.
"It seems they are requesting reinforcements. However, movement on the Beime side is said to be sluggish."
Hearing that report, I decided to withdraw the Valkyries.
"...Withdraw the Valkyries embedded in Beime. Just have them continue monitoring Redant Fortress."
The fact that Beime's movement was sluggish might mean the merchants were divided in their opinions. I had heard that when there is no clear leader, things become troublesome if opinions split. Even with a lord or a king, it becomes troublesome if the vassals are divided.
What would happen if they were merchants who prioritized their own profit above all else? I had predicted it from the start, but it was truly too cruel.
"I pity the soldiers of Beime."
Monica shrugged at me.
"The chicken coward who is just watching Beime fall into hell is equally guilty. How wonderful for you, your destination after death is definitely hell."
I laughed.
"Sorry about that. It's already decided that I'm going to hell, so I'm not scared anymore."
Since deciding to fight Celes, I had killed many people for the sake of my own fame. At this point, saying I didn't want to go to hell would likely fall on deaf ears. That is, assuming hell exists.
Monica pinched her skirt with her fingertips and bowed. That gesture was perfect, contrary to her foul mouth.
"Then this Monica shall accompany you to hell. How wonderful, the lonely chicken coward can finally be at ease. ...You're supposed to be happy about this, you know?"
I wasn't happy at all... or rather, I wasn't, but I felt conflicted about whether the afterlife even applied to an automaton.
"Now, let's stop the jokes. Complaints are coming from the guild. Apparently, there are too few adventurers and too many demands for the guild. Can we send someone?"
Monica immediately straightened her posture and looked at me.
"How about Eva, Mei, and Marina? As for Mei, she has no urgent business for the time being. If Eva calls out to her kin, I believe manpower will gather and they will challenge the labyrinth."
Eva, being from the [Nihil] clan, which was famous among elves, was relatively trusted. In addition to the elves who were singers, she was also treated favorably by the dark elf clan that lived in and managed the forest.
"Have them gather manpower and challenge it. Let's gather those with spare time and have them work inside the labyrinth. Other than that—"
While I was thinking about who to send, Mireia-san unusually asked me for a favor.
'Liel, do you have a moment?'
――The Beime Merchant Conference.
The main figures had gathered there as the war with Banseime began in earnest. A soldier captain who had witnessed the war at the fortress had been summoned and was requesting reinforcements in front of the merchants.
"The Banseime forces are advancing slowly, but they are disarming the traps as they go. We are attacking, but they have taken countermeasures and there is no sign of their advance stopping. At this rate, they will scale the first wall. Please, reinforcements!"
Regarding the soldier captain's desperate plea, one merchant asked a question. While the soldier was panicked, the merchants still showed no sign of alarm. This was because they had many soldiers protecting them and trusted the walls surrounding the city of Beime.
"It wasn't mentioned in your story, but how great are the damages on the fortress side?"
The soldier captain looked as if it were difficult to say.
"The damages on the fortress side are only some injured, there are still no casualties. But if this continues!"
Then, one of the merchants sighed.
"Even if that fortress was modified, isn't the current number already exceeding its capacity? Even if we send reinforcements now, wouldn't it just become cramped?"
From there, negative opinions regarding reinforcements came one after another.
"Reinforcements before any damage has even occurred."
"In the past, didn't they defeat enemies many times their number in even worse conditions? I think they're being a bit cowardly."
"We've sent a massive amount of supplies. Additionally, weren't they supposed to be fighting under favorable conditions?"
Receiving the accusing gazes of the merchants, the soldier captain still pleaded for reinforcements. He knew it would turn out like this if he requested reinforcements before damage occurred. That was why he hadn't reported any damage.
However, the Banseime forces, who disarmed the placed traps as if they knew they were there from the start and gradually closed in, were enough to make him feel they were dangerous.
Such cries of the soldier captain were not heeded by the merchants. However, a messenger soldier rushed into the conference room in a panic.
"What is the meaning of this? An important meeting is currently—"
As one of the merchants scolded the messenger, the soldier captain rushed to him. The messenger was exhausted, likely having ridden his horse at full speed.
"What happened? What is it!"
The messenger announced, breathless.
"T-the first wall has been breached! Nearly twenty thousand soldiers on the wall retreated to the fortress... less than half of them made it back!"
Only a few days after the start of the war, the first wall had been breached—.
――Redant Fortress.
Atop the captured first wall, Broa stretched, feeling his job was done. The knight who served as his adjutant had removed his helmet and held it under his right arm.
"Once it became clear the information was accurate, the other generals showed their motivation. The Knight Commander even launched an offensive during the enemy's retreat and pushed right up to the front of the fortress."
Broa had been on the front line until the first wall was captured, and once it was, the other generals, realizing the information was correct, had competed for credit by requesting the front line one after another.
The information had already been obtained, all that was left was to conquer the Beime side, which could only offer sporadic resistance. In that case, they were no match for Banseime.
"There are few scenes where the knights can excel in a siege. Perhaps when boarding, or chasing on horseback, or charging? Thinking about it, there are quite a few. However, the Beime side likely won't come out for a field battle, so I understand the feeling of rushing for credit."
Seeing the relaxed Broa, the adjutant cleared his throat. This was because the Banseime soldiers around them were looking at the general.
Broa also cleared his throat.
"Well, we have allies inside the fortress, and they should launch an attack from the inside as planned. But Beime is extravagant, isn't it? Supplies are like mountains. With this, even we, who were anxious about supplies, can fight with peace of mind."
From the start, Broa intended to advance by seizing the supplies of the enemy, Beime. He planned to collect Beime's arrows to replace missing ones and advance while seizing food and equipment in the same way. If he didn't, the lords would simply attack the surrounding villages and towns once they entered Beime.
"We've obtained a sufficient amount of supplies. I hope this reduces the looting a bit."
The adjutant tilted his head.
"Shouldn't a sufficient amount have already been distributed? Surely the lords won't engage in further wasteful actions—"
Broa stopped the adjutant's opinion with an eerie laugh.
"You thought that? You're still naive. Though their circumstances differ, for a lord, looting during wartime is a precious source of income. Besides, they've heard Beime is wealthy, so it'll surely be terrible. Moreover, the mercenary groups that were in Beime know the layout of the villages and the finer details inside out. I heard they haven't been able to earn for a while, so I wonder what will happen."
Broa sighed as he thought about how many atrocities the Banseime forces, unleashed after breaching the fortress, would commit. And he felt a sense of helplessness at his own inability to stop them.
"...I'll probably be ordered to standby here, but I wonder if that's for better or worse."
Watching the troubled Broa, the adjutant could do nothing but stay by his side—.
South Banseime.
I was diving into the labyrinth, accompanied by Eva, Mei, and Marina-san.
It was a labyrinth that proceeded underground, but other adventurer parties had already reached the lowest floor. There were over ten floors, but it was a relatively easy labyrinth to conquer, with many types and varieties of monsters.
Because of that, it was easy to manage as a labyrinth.
That was precisely why we left this labyrinth.
Because eventually, it would become an important source of income for South Banseime.
Eva looked at me worriedly.
"Liel, didn't you say you were busy? I heard Monica went wild when you mentioned going to the labyrinth."
Monica had work, and it would be problematic if she left, so I left her behind. Then, I simply claimed that I would come along.
"She didn't go wild. She was just annoying, appealing how capable she is, so I just left her. Besides, I don't intend to earn here for several days."
I am not an adventurer, and I won't receive a reward this time. However, I intended to pay rewards to Eva, Mei, and Marina-san, who came along.
"Or rather, is this alright, Marina-san? You were asked to stay in Beime, weren't you?"
Marina-san, wearing her usual leather coat and metal equipment only on her arms and legs, shrugged.
"I want to fight strong people. I lost to Mei, but this time I want to fight the boy too."
The way she called Mei had changed from 'little girl' to just her name. Apparently, she was a muscle-brain, and since she lost, she was following her.
More and more, she was like a woman from the first generation. If we talked, we might have gotten along.
Mei looked at me.
"Even so, what do you want to do in a labyrinth like this now? For Liel, it's too easy, right?"
To Mei, who didn't understand what I wanted to do, I briefly explained the current state of the guild.
"The guild came crying to me. Marianne-san seems to be at her limit, and if I don't help here... it would be a problem if she collapsed."
The only decent person with guild management know-how was Marianne-san. Ryue-san had come as well, but even as a full-fledged member, she was only a staff member. She was a talent to be expected in the future, but she wasn't at a stage where she could move people yet.
Mei shook her head. However, for some reason, she looked a bit sad.
"I didn't mean it like that. I mean, it would have been fine if someone else came instead of Liel. Even though there are more things that become problematic if Liel leaves."
I walked ahead in silence.
The Orb—at Mireia-san's request, I was currently spending time in the labyrinth with Mei. In truth, the guild matter was a superficial reason. I was staying by Mei's side at Mireia-san's request. I understood that, if only vaguely.
"...It's almost time, you know. There's someone whose time for parting is near. Before that, I wanted to make a little time."
Mei seemed to understand and gave a short reply.
"...I see."
Then, she muttered to herself.
"I see... parting again. Next time... we probably won't be able to meet, right?"