283 - The Vice-Commander of Rolfis
――Lufence.
It is the country where the Allied Forces headquarters is located, and where Lyell is currently staying. It was once destroyed by a massive army of monsters. Visiting this country was Alette Baie, an envoy from Rolfis.
She had dressed herself carefully to meet Lyell, the leader of the Allied Forces who had moved the Four-Nation Alliance, Cartaphus, Jampea, Fanbayle... and several other nations.
Her blonde bob cut, which reached her shoulders, had grown out recently because she had been too busy to cut it. Alette was happy that she could spend a whole day relaxing under the pretext of preparing her appearance.
Though, in truth, it was Lyell who had pushed such an intense workload onto her that she felt this way...
As Alette entered the royal castle of Lufence, she was accompanied by new subordinates. This was because her previous subordinates had been promoted and were now leading their own units.
Rolfis was also suffering from a labor shortage, but that reason also played a part in this meeting.
Passing through the gates and entering the garden, she saw that the royal castle was not merely being repaired, but was being reconstructed to serve as Lyell's base of operations.
From a distance, the voices of knights training could be heard.
A rookie knight serving as Alette's adjutant saw this and spoke up.
"Are those Banseime knights? Their training is lax. If they were Rolfis knights, that level of—"
Alette glared at him for saying such a thing. Because Rolfis was a small nation, they had historically kept their training rigorous to ensure their knights were elite. However, Alette understood that while they might hold their own against equal numbers or even a slight disadvantage, it would be difficult to win against a force more than twice their size.
"You are exposing your foolishness. Understand that the mere fact that they can assemble this many people is already a threat. You may be proud of the rigorous training you've undergone, but do not underestimate your opponent."
As they entered the castle, Alette tightened her resolve, noticing that her subordinates had relaxed because the guide was also a knight from Rolfis.
Alette was leading young knights in their late teens, but the labor shortage had been severe from the start. They were rookie knights who had not yet seen the world outside of Beime, and as a result, they were stubbornly overconfident.
The guide knight let out a sigh.
"Vice-Commander Alette, you certainly have your hands full. And as for you lot, at least most of the knights and soldiers here have experienced wars on a scale of tens of thousands. Don't say strange things and provoke them."
Alette felt a bit uneasy seeing the rookie knights shut their mouths and look awkward. However, she braced herself as she entered the royal castle—.
Lying on the sofa in the office, I was listening to Monica's report while reading documents.
In North Banseime, Novem and Clara were requested for the sake of reconstruction. However, Clara, who was requested, showed reluctance and instead asked for a budget application and the arrangement of craftsmen for the practical implementation of the Porter Unit.
Novem was not present, as he was currently reconstructing several villages in Lufence along with some mages.
Aria and Miranda had both been entrusted to Maxim-san along with their units, and were leading their own forces there.
Eva was busy having meetings with the elves, and as for Mei, she had taken Marina-san with her... or rather, judging by their size, it looked like Marina-san was taking Mei... well, the two of them were hunting monsters within the territory.
And the reason why I was lying on the sofa despite being in the middle of work was—.
"Still, to summon me only to meet in an office. Well, I suppose I should think of it as a way to avoid stiff greetings in a reception room?"
It was because Ludmilla-san, the Queen of Cartaphus, had come to visit me. No, to be precise, I had summoned her.
And right now, I was being given a lap pillow by Ludmilla-san.
Monica looked at me and said.
"Summoning the queen of a great nation just because you want a lap pillow... isn't this a first for a chicken coward? And yet, you don't progress any further than this, so you really are a chicken coward. But I think that's what's great about you!"
Since she was giving me a happy thumbs-up, my face grew a bit hot as I looked at the soft sensation at the back of my head and the two large swells in my field of vision rather than the documents.
The Seventh Generation muttered.
...What a view.
The Third Generation sounded a bit envious.
I'm a butt person, so a lap pillow is... sigh, I'm envious.
What should I do... since Mireia-san isn't here, the conversation inside the jewel is leaning toward the kind of vulgar talk men have among themselves.
"...Don't say that. Honestly, if I called someone from Zain, Galleria, or Lusworth, it would only serve as a threat, so I had her come. More importantly, what happened with Clara?"
Monica's expression became serious.
"She is still refusing. Clara and Adele have poor compatibility. While Adele wants to keep the budget down, Clara basically wants to faithfully reproduce knowledge from books and such. Well, I think both of them are equally lacking in adaptability."
Are those two, who are being called lacking in adaptability by an automaton, really going to be okay? While I was thinking that, Ludmilla-san defended Clara.
"Clara is knowledgeable. She possesses knowledge in all sorts of fields. Architecture and civil engineering are among them, aren't they? Then she is a necessary talent for Beime, which is undergoing reconstruction. Even if we ignore the fact that she's somewhat inflexible. That's why I want to scout this person called Adele as well."
I looked up at Ludmilla-san.
"That's unexpected. I didn't think you'd side with Clara."
At that, Ludmilla-san chuckled.
"Is it? But I evaluate Clara highly. She is capable."
However, Monica opposed Clara going to North Banseime.
"It may be true that she is necessary for the current situation. However, Professor Damian has shown no interest in improving the Porters, making it difficult to establish a transport unit using them. Removing Clara from that would be bad for the overall picture."
Ludmilla-san narrowed her eyes slightly.
"A Porter Unit, huh. A few have made their way over here, but... hey, Lyell, why not sell that information to me? No, I'd like you to hand it over. If we can reduce the number of wagons, we can use the horses for other things. I could use that as a reason to explain this visit to my subordinates."
It wasn't a problem to give it to her. In fact, I intended to give it to her anyway.
"That's fine. However, since it's not finished, it's just a promise for now. Please dispatch several mages. Or should I have the Cartaphus knights here learn it and take it back with them?"
There were knights from various countries, and some came to investigate what was being made in the South Banseime workshop.
There were those acting for the benefit of their own countries, and it was becoming apparent that the current Allied Forces were not a monolith.
"What, how boring. From the looks of it, you intended to give it to me from the start. Well, that's fine too."
When Ludmilla-san said that, I spoke to Monica.
"Keep Clara in her current placement. However, once the Porters are completed and there are people who can operate them, send them to Beime. Until then, tell Adele-san that additional personnel will be sent. As for Clara... the craftsmen in South Banseime are at their limit. Make a request to the Four-Nation Alliance."
Then, Ludmilla-san spoke.
"No, could you wait a moment? Why not let Cartaphus take that request? We have craftsmen here as well. And we have the capacity. There are issues with transport, but we can't afford to worry about that now, can we?"
I could vaguely understand Ludmilla-san's thinking. She wanted the Porter technology, but more than that, she wanted to build some foundation for future technological development.
Within the Alliance, the movement to seek national profit had grown stronger.
If we don't defeat Ceres soon, it feels like the Alliance might collapse first.
The reception room.
I had used it several times, and perhaps as a remnant of the former royal castle's vanity, it was built quite spacious and luxurious.
Was it built glamorously so that the opponent would shrink even slightly to gain an advantage during negotiations? Or was it simply to avoid being looked down upon?
Monica, Ludmilla-san, and the knight serving as Cartaphus's guard were in the room.
Across a large table, Alette-san and the knights of Rolfis were before me.
Alette-san, while mindful of Ludmilla-san, spoke.
"Lyell-dono, I have conveyed the matter via documents, but..."
I nodded and, wearing luxurious clothes for the meeting, said to Alette-san.
"I've received reports from the Valkyries as well. It was about Rolfis's position within the Allied Forces, correct?"
Alette-san had a serious expression.
"Since we aren't used to this, many are anxious about whether communication is actually being maintained. Regardless of that, it's true that Rolfis's contribution is currently low. I acknowledge that, but there are reasons for it on our end. However, we believe that we are providing an exceptional contribution to Lyell-dono compared to the other three nations."
Zain, Galleria, Lusworth... the reason those three nations were cooperative with me wasn't just because I saved their countries. In Zain, there had been rumors about Selma-san and Aura-san for a while. Galleria and Lusworth had formally declared they would accept Glacia-san and Eliza-san.
In other words, from the perspective of those three nations, they had a marital relationship with me. As for Zain, Selma-san—never mind that.
"I understand. Therefore, from my side, I don't particularly—"
"That is problematic! There is also the matter of Rolfis's position within the Four-Nation Alliance. The problem is that it clearly looks as though only Rolfis is being treated coldly."
I looked at Alette-san.
"Are there people saying such things?"
It might be better to have Launo-san investigate, but since I've requested investigations into our own people rather than the enemy right now, Launo-san is also extremely busy.
The intelligence side was also short-handed.
"Regarding the matter of Selva, our territory certainly expanded. I am grateful for that this time as well. However, many within the country have doubts about further cooperation."
Then, Ludmilla-san burst out laughing.
"What a strange story. As if you could leave the Four-Nation Alliance at this point. Everything around Rolfis is in Lyell's hands. The answer comes immediately if you think about it. If you leave now, you'll make all the surrounding nations your enemies. Lyell isn't so naive as to fight Banseime while leaving enemies inside. If that's the case..."
Alette-san's expression didn't change, but the faces of the surrounding knights showed their emotions. Anger, agitation, and such feelings.
I stopped Ludmilla-san with my hand.
"I am grateful for Rolfis's cooperation. If the domestic situation is dire, I will accept future cooperation at a minimum. I promise that because of that, neither the Four-Nation Alliance nor Rolfis will be treated coldly."
Alette-san's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"That's why I'm saying!"
Ludmilla-san opened her mouth.
"――Rolfis has no standing, is that it? Say it clearly. What you want is an engagement between Lyell and the Princess, right? But don't forget. I'm not the only one. There is the princess of Fanbayle. And the women who have supported Lyell from the beginning. You understand that breaking into this is not easy, don't you?"
I had her come to intimidate them, but I didn't expect it to go this far—Alette-san and the others had bitter expressions. They probably tried to push the Princess onto me. Even for me, it's impossible to accept someone that Novem rejected. Or rather, I don't want any more to be added. The Third Generation says things like "I can still go!", but I think I've long since passed my limit.
From inside the jewel, I heard the Seventh Generation's voice.
"There is no such thing as an equal relationship between nations. Since ancient times, it has been impossible to make everything equal. However, it's not interesting to have problems here."
The Third Generation agreed.
"Right. It's not interesting. I mean, in Lyell's case, there are family precepts and such, but from Rolfis's perspective, they're probably feeling like 'Don't bring family precepts into a matter between nations!' But it is troublesome. Even if we betray and suppress them, how we treat them afterward is also a problem. If we're too extreme, you know... Ah, I just thought of something good."
It's definitely not something good. That much I understood.
In the reception room, the voices of Ludmilla-san and Alette-san were gradually getting louder.
"When the continent is about to move greatly, are you negotiating by hinting at defection? Or is it a plea? If you want to betray, then betray. I'll send thirty thousand soldiers immediately. You don't even need to receive a reward."
"To act like you're threatening us just because you're a great nation. You seem to have forgotten that we cooperated sooner than you. Is it the act of a great nation to come in later and take only the best parts!"
The knights of Cartaphus and Rolfis were also on edge.
In such a reception room, I spoke while apologizing in my heart.
"I understand. Since ancient times, marriage has been important. However, in the current situation, a marriage between me and the Princess is impossible. I am not in a position to marry into the family. The throne of Rolfis cannot be left vacant."
Then, Alette-san furrowed her brow.
"But, if a prince or princess were to be born—"
"Therefore, shall we proceed with a marriage between high-ranking officials? First, why not try an arranged meeting, Alette-san?"
"...M-me?"
I didn't miss the way Alette-san's expression—or rather, her eyes—sparkled.
I thought to myself.
Sorry, Baldor. It wasn't me. It was the two inside the jewel...
"Alright, with this, it'll be fine even if marriage talk comes up within Rolfis!"
"Let's have Baldor work hard to pull in the Four-Nation Alliance... especially the Rolfis camp. Oops, Lyell... make sure to properly reward Baldor later."
...I'm the worst. I sold out my subordinate.