282 - Factions
――The East Branch of Banseime was functioning as the headquarters of the Adventurers' Guild.
That said, Adele had rented a meeting room there to handle the reconstruction of Banseime, and she spent almost every day working there, practically living on-site.
The fact that the guild had public baths and lodging facilities was a major factor in providing an environment where she could work. At the same time, the reason she didn't use high-end accommodations was not only for the functionality of the workplace but also to handle the daily visitors.
Adele sat on a leather sofa, speaking with a former guild executive across a low table. The opponent was an executive from the North Branch――one who had once managed the adventurers related to the port.
"Banseime has managed the port until now! What is the meaning of taking it away unilaterally!"
Despite the faint dark circles under her eyes, Adele maintained her consciousness by drinking the bitter tea poured into her cup.
(Please, just go home already. I'm busy... there's no seat left for you people anymore.)
The fall of Banseime. When that happened, the upper management had retreated as quickly as possible. Because of that, and thanks to the impression manipulation by Liel and the others, the sentiment within Banseime was at its worst. In fact, she had entered the East Branch, which served as the headquarters, using a false name.
Maxim stood by behind the sofa, and several female knights were also on standby. Since she had borrowed them from the Four-Nation Alliance, the Valkyries were also present, which gave Adele peace of mind.
"...I believe you already understand, but Banseime no longer recognizes you. That is why you sought an audience using false names, isn't it?"
Adele watched as the opponent's expression twisted in frustration. It wasn't so much that she lacked the leeway to be considerate, but rather that it was a waste of time.
What Liel wanted was the guild's know-how; the guild executives who possessed――and exercised――massive power were unnecessary.
"...I would like you to accept some of the merchants who cooperated in the development of Banseime, as well as the guild executives. South Banseime would be fine. We are not coming empty-handed. You will need information regarding the labyrinths that Banseime managed, will you not?"
The opponent had anticipated that Adele and the others wanted the know-how and offered to provide the management expertise. However, Adele drank her tea with an air of disinterest.
"That will be fine. We have already secured the documents. We have also brought over the labyrinth specialist parties that were in South Banseime. Furthermore, the Adventurers' Guild will be placed under national control. The Four-Nation Alliance is already proceeding with discussions in that direction. Cartaphus and Jampea will also gradually shift in that direction. Fanbayle is also in agreement with our opinion."
"W-what does that have to do with this!"
Adele had finished her tea, so she placed the cup on the table.
"Everything. To put it bluntly, you are unnecessary――no, you are in the way."
The executive stood up. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were slightly dirty. It was obvious that he had not been living a decent life while in flight. His coming to Banseime was likely because he had been driven into a corner.
"Could it be, the way you seized our assets at the port was also..."
Adele's expression remained unchanged.
"That's right. Since rewards were necessary for this cooperation, we settled for your assets. It seems many people were squeezed for quite a bit under the pretext of being accepted into the port or being allowed to set up shops."
"Y-you people are..."
At this point, Adele revealed the truth to the opponent.
"It's not as if everything went exactly as planned. However, you moved exactly as Liel-san wanted you to, right in the palm of his hand. You are no longer useful. However――"
While watching the opponent look frustrated, Adele spoke.
"――If you sell us the management know-how, we will pay a reasonable reward. If you agree to accept a decree of banishment from Banseime... we can avoid having to use rough methods."
The surrounding female knights drew their swords. Then, Maxim also leveled his spear.
"D-don't be ridicu—"
Adele stood up.
"Weren't you the ones who banished us first? Also, several executives other than you have already accepted money and left Banseime. If you don't hand over useful information quickly, we will only pay a corresponding reward."
The man who had been an executive hung his head, gripping his hair with both hands. He was frustrated, but he also considered that selling the know-how he possessed at this stage would provide him with funds――.
――Tanya had come to see off her superior, who had become a former executive.
Along with a group leaving Banseime in the same way, her superior had decided to move to the countryside with his family. Tanya was the only one who had come to see him off.
The superior was smiling as usual.
"You're dutiful. You didn't have to come see me off. You know how we are treated in Banseime, don't you?"
Tanya looked down.
"I owe you for picking me up. Besides, you stayed in Banseime until the very end..."
The superior laughed weakly.
"It couldn't be helped. That's why I was able to extract the condition of staying in the urban area of Banseime――no, North Banseime, even with the banishment. I don't have the confidence to live too far away or in a foreign land, so I think this was for the best."
Tanya looked up with a serious expression. She clenched her fist and made a proposal to her superior.
"Considering your abilities, you are necessary for the future of Banseime. If I ask Adele-san――"
"――Add '-sama'. She is practically the acting ruler of Banseime now. Besides, if I stay, the guild staff will rely on me. With my methods, we might end up returning to the original guild. Fundamentally, what they aim for and what I aim for are different. Therefore, it will eventually create a rift. ...Besides, I'm tired. I've organized a pioneer group with the reward. I intend to spend my time leisurely, so please don't get in my way, Tanya."
Tanya was another name for Tanya. The name used during her time as a Sweeper. When the superior pushed unpleasant work onto her, he used the name Tanya instead of Tanya.
"...I'm sorry."
"My apologies. But I can't stay here. Besides, country living isn't bad. Or rather, whether the reconstruction of North Banseime can actually be achieved... it'll be harder for Tanya."
The two laughed lightly together and parted ways at the gates of Banseime――.
"...Huh?"
I think I let out a stupid sound.
In the office at Lufence Castle, I was appalled listening to Novem's report that had arrived from Banseime.
"No, so about the matter of the maid. Currently, the only one in a position that could be called Liel-sama's maid is Shannon-chan. However, rather than her taking care of you..."
It felt more like I was the one taking care of her. While she had become able to do various things on her own, Shannon was basically not suited for combat.
Helping out while following Monica, Novem, or Miranda was the best she could do. Even with her Magic Eye, she was a klutz who couldn't use it properly. I was already surprised that such a Shannon was in my maid slot, but...
"No, Monica and the Valkyries are more capable than an unskilled maid."
Then, Novem's gentle smile suddenly became scary.
"That will be a problem! Liel-sama, please understand that we are currently short-handed. Monica-san and the Valkyries have their own work. Things a maid can do must be left to a maid. Furthermore... the pushing of maid candidates has begun. Several offers have come to me through Eva-san."
"Eh, I haven't heard anything."
Then, the Third Generation spoke from within the jewel, sounding impressed.
『In my era, they were maids, talented women, or daughters of village notables. There were times I took them in to educate them for a few years. Well, I also took in daughters of houses that lost their workers in the war.』
The Seventh Generation seemed interested in the Third Generation's opinion.
『The scale of the territory is different, so in my era, while there was an educational aspect, we hired maids to do the work. Daughters of vassals would work at the Wolt house for a few years, and that served as their bridal training. However... considering the status Liel aims for, it's that, isn't it?』
『That, right. Candidates for concubines under the name of maids, or assistants to concubines? Wow, I've read about that in books. I heard those get quite messy.』
The Third Generation made a disgusted sound, yet seemed somewhat amused. The Seventh Generation was the same.
『Women love those kinds of stories, so many of those appeared in books for women. From a man's perspective, they're nothing but things you can't laugh at... I see, so Liel will have such a messy inner palace.』
No, I don't want one. As for me, I want to reject such a thing.
"I-it's fine if it's just like a helper, right? Uh, what are these maid candidates like?"
Novem remained serious.
"Since it cannot be said that a winner has been decided yet, the options are limited. As for daughters of nobles, the eldest and second daughters from Earl houses in Cartaphus are requesting it. Elven clans, hunters, performer troupes――considering Eva-san's care as well, they have stepped forward. Offers have come from Dwarves and Gnomes as well. Currently, Liel-sama does not discriminate against demi-humans, so it is thought that they want to use this opportunity to improve their status or maintain their current position."
While I was busy dealing with Banseime measures, problems had been brought in by my allies before I knew it.
"...Isn't that definitely tied to factions and various things? I hate messy factional struggles."
Then, the Third Generation laughed.
『Factions form even in small villages, you know? If there are three humans, a faction will form, so just give up. You have to control those things skillfully. I mean, we talked about this before!』
The Seventh Generation was the same.
『Well, they inevitably form. Often they are created unintentionally. However, Liel... don't gather everyone only inside the jewel anymore. We've had enough after that last time. In fact, I will absolutely refuse from now on! ...As I thought, one wife is best. Yes.』
I wanted just one too. And yet, various people kept interfering, and the fact that they increased like a snowball isn't just my responsibility! ...presumably.
Novem smiled.
"Please give up. I intend to be as mindful as possible so as not to become a burden to Liel-sama. However, not only maids..."
"What?"
"...Factions are also forming within the entire army. Maxim-dono pledges his loyalty to Adele-san, and those who purely swear loyalty to Liel-sama are Baldor-dono and Broa-dono. However, a structure is forming where Broa-dono is being pushed up by the Banseime soldiers, and everyone else is under Baldor-dono."
"Eh, Baldor is doing such a thing?"
The Third Generation spoke in an exasperated voice.
『T-h-a-t's why! Because they need a counterweight, they approached Baldor-kun, who is Liel's close aide. I bet Baldor-kun didn't want it either, right?』
Novem looked at me.
"Also, there is a slight problem with Rolfis within the Four-Nation Alliance."
"There's still more!?"
"Of the Four-Nation Alliance, only Rolfis has not put forward a woman close to Liel-sama. Thanks to that, their level of contribution within the Four-Nation Alliance is low, and morale is in a low state. Since they are surrounded by countries on our side, I don't think they can withdraw, but..."
What is this? Why are they fighting over strange things at such a busy time? I can't be wrong for thinking that, and I think I'm actually correct. However, the Seventh Generation noticed my state.
『Hmm, Liel. As the scale grows, these kinds of problems inevitably emerge. Give up.』
"I get it. I'll do something about it. ...Is it that? There's a shortage of manpower in various places?"
Novem nodded with a smile. Because that smile was cute, I decided to forgive her.
"Yes. To be honest... even if we win, we don't have enough talent to maintain the continent. The number of soldiers is coming together to some extent, but as for rear support and taking care of Liel-sama... Monica-san has her physical limits."
We haven't even won yet, so why is there a need to worry this much? I want them to focus their consciousness on the war a bit more.
――Clara was looking at the mass-produced porters seized from Banseime.
Mages. Specifically, they had gathered those in lower positions and were teaching them golem magic. The mass-produced porters for practice were built exactly like horse-drawn wagons, just without the horses.
Simple and sturdy. However, the specifications required skill from the user.
Damian, who was sitting on a wooden box in the same way and watching the scene, was yawning. He had been collecting data on the Valkyries and had probably stayed up all night again analyzing it.
Clara, having returned to South Banseime, was conducting the training of personnel to operate the porters. She had dragged Damian out because she wanted advice for that.
However, the man himself spoke.
"――It's no good. These can't be used unless the golems themselves are improved. The timeframe is short, so wouldn't it be better to rebuild them and make ones that are easier to operate?"
Clara pushed her slipped glasses back into place.
"As I thought."
"If you knew, don't ask me. You've gained considerable experience operating porters, and I think you had talent from the start. That's why you can operate the current porters. Regarding porters, you might even be capable of better operation than I am."
Being told this by Damian, who had perfected golem magic, made Clara happy. However, that fact presented a reality that was not happy for Clara.
"...In other words, to make them usable, we have to rebuild the golems themselves to make them easier to operate?"
Damian spoke while having his shoulders massaged by Number Three, the automaton that took care of him.
"Or rather, the build is bad. Like, they wanted to make them in large quantities... or they felt they had to make them in a hurry? I think they'll break if you put too much luggage on them."
Clara looked at the Banseime porters they had managed to recover. Unlike their own porters, it was difficult to feel an attachment to a form that only sought functionality.
"...What should we do. Adele was happy that the rear units could be strengthened without additional budget."
Damian looked at Clara.
"Ah~, who was it again?"
Number Three told Damian with a smile.
"The woman acting as Liel-dono's representative in North Banseime, Master."
"That girl! She's noisy about money. Or rather, it's rare for you to call her without an honorific."
Hearing Clara call Adele without an honorific, Damian seemed to find it unusual.
"I'm not good with Adele. Sigh, I wonder if it'll pass if I apply for an additional budget?"
To such a Clara, Damian smiled.
"Even with money, it might be impossible, right? Because, although old man Latata is one thing, the craftsmen of South Banseime are quite busy. I don't think you can secure their schedule."
Clara spoke with a straight face.
"...Is that person really skilled in internal affairs?"
She complained about Adele, who wasn't there. Damian also tilted his head.
"I wonder? Isn't she good with money? That pink-haired――"
"It's Riane-san."
He received advice from Number Three, but Damian, seemingly uninterested, continued the conversation――.
"Right. That person was probably more impressive."