293 - Little Chick-sama
"These inferior versions... no matter how you look at it, taking care of Little Chick-sama should be my job too. Oops, before those idiots arrive, I have to quickly replace the lock on that chicken coward's bedroom."
――Night.
In front of Lyell's room, Monica, who had pulled out tools from between her skirt and apron, was quickly replacing the lock while humming a tune.
She was acting now because she was concerned that the Valkyries were suddenly getting excited about taking care of Little Chick-sama――Lyell's children.
After replacing the lock, she opened the door and spoke a single word.
"I've also installed a steel plate, so it won't be broken through so easily. If they try to force it, the chicken coward will jump awake, and the night-raid will fail... Fools, the cute Little Chick-samas are all mine!"
Monica burst out laughing, checked the steel plate she had installed inside the lock and door, and closed the door. She began to move to give the replaced key to Lyell――.
――Clinging to the wall of Rufens Royal Castle was Valkyrie No. 9.
She had been watching Monica, who was feeling relieved after replacing the lock, from outside the window. Clad in black attire and clinging to the wall, she looked exactly like a suspicious person.
"...Go ahead and be as greedy as you like. Your performance may indeed be superior... but you seem not to understand that we have the advantage in numbers. As the great people of old said: battle is a matter of numbers."
No. 9 attempted to enter through the window to tamper with the lock of Lyell's room. However, as she opened the window, entered the hallway, and landed, other Valkyries also clad in black attire appeared in front of the door at the same timing.
One jumped down from the ceiling, another appeared from the shadows――.
"Y-you all!"
As No. 9 stood up and shifted into a combat stance, No. 32 leveled the tools she had brought out to tamper with the lock.
"Are we thinking the same thing? However, since Aria-san has already incited us, we cannot back down now."
No. 51, who had her fists ready, also claimed she could not back down.
"It is the same for us. According to No. 34, the care of Little Chick-sama will be handled on a rotation basis... we cannot retreat here!"
No. 9 looked at the other two and made a proposal.
"Wait. Don't you think we can cooperate? There is no meaning in fighting here. For each other's sake, cooperation is exactly――"
Then, three Valkyries dressed in maid uniforms rushed into the area.
"We won't let you!"
"What are you doing in front of Master's room!"
"Suspicious persons. Let us eliminate them. Even if we are sisters, the moment you wear such strange clothes, you are strangers. Rivals should be erased."
While the third one said something extreme, the three in black attire attempted to persuade them.
"W-wait. If we cooperate with each other――"
Then, the Valkyries in maid uniforms spoke.
"――Too bad. We are of the Shannon faction. Even if the others obtain Little Chick-sama, it will be a long time before we do. Therefore... we decided to get in the way!"
"We won't miss the chance to obtain the uselessly cute Little Chick-sama."
"A Little Chick-sama who inherits Shannon-san's uselessness... I think that would be the best."
"How passive! To pull down the legs of others... I'm frustrated that I felt a little envious for a moment."
The automaton maids, who were supposed to be excellent, repeated a very disappointing conversation. Holding their tools and cleaning equipment, they remained frozen in front of the door, unable to move.
Watching this from afar was Lyell, who had finished his work. Seeing the scene from a distance, he headed toward his office without saying anything.
"I'll sleep in the office today. I have a blanket there."
With that, the Valkyries remained facing each other in that posture in front of the room Lyell did not return to, until morning――.
For the past few days.
I haven't returned to my own bedroom. This is because Monica gave me a new key, and in front of my room, the Valkyries were facing each other with weapons? in hand.
When I asked, they just kept talking about Little Chick-sama... or rather, it's strange that my children have already been decided to be called Little Chick-samas. What is this? It's as if everyone has acknowledged that I'm a chicken coward.
From that day on, days of sleeping in the office or different rooms continued. At one point, I even slept in General Broa's office. After talking about work, I was allowed to sleep on the sofa.
"Why do I have to run around escaping?"
When I complained, the Third Generation laughed.
"Isn't it cute, Little Chick-sama? However, it's certainly a problem that can't be left alone. Though, the timing is just bad."
The Walt family has started moving, and the inside of the royal castle is hectic, yet the Valkyries are causing useless commotion――the core is definitely exerting some kind of influence on the Valkyries. When I think about that, I can't help but feel something like the obsession of the ancients, the creators carved into the core.
In the courtyard of the royal castle, while looking at the knights and soldiers who were ready, I was thinking about such trivial things.
However, the Seventh Generation looked serious.
"...If possible, it would have been better to have at least one child. The coming battle will affect the future. In terms of settling things with Banseime, it can be called the critical moment."
The Third Generation spoke as if to caution me.
"In the battle with Banseime, yes. Celes is a separate problem, Lyell."
Even when told about children, I couldn't answer due to embarrassment and various other problems. Then, the Seventh Generation spoke.
"Lyell, come into the Orb tonight. Let us talk a bit. You grew up in various special environments. Therefore, you may not understand... but connecting bloodlines is a very important thing."
I understood what the Seventh Generation wanted to say. Gripping the Orb to show my agreement, I looked around.
Preparations for departure were complete, and the main members were gathered around. Units from the North and South Banseime had also merged, and reinforcement units from the four-nation alliance had arrived.
Cartaphus and Jampea could not participate, but even so, preparations were complete.
Equipped with blue and white armor and holding my helmet in my left hand, I looked up at the sky. White clouds were scattered and flowing across the blue sky. The morning cold eased slightly as the sun came out. The sunlight felt warm.
Novem walked toward me.
"Lyell-sama, preparations for departure are complete. Some units have already begun moving. We must hurry as well. There will be a speech after arrival."
To Novem, who was explaining the future schedule, I answered while feeling slightly exasperated.
"I already gave a speech the day before. Well, I guess that's my job too. ...Novem, the Foxus Family is also moving. You don't have to force yourself to go out――"
When I said that much, Novem shook her head.
I tried to let her step back several times, but she seemed determined not to retreat no matter what.
"Since the moment I left the Vice Territory with Lyell-sama, I have severed ties with my family. My father and brother would not hesitate even if I were there. Of course, I will not hesitate either."
With eyes that showed no fluctuation of feeling, Novem looked at me. "I see," I said, and began to walk. The main members around me followed.
"...Fighting family is painful."
I intended to mutter it in a voice no one could hear, but it seems Novem heard it. And the words Novem spoke were――.
"If it is Lyell-sama, I am sure you can overcome it. Please have more confidence in yourself."
It was the kind of words that were typical of Novem, if I should call it that.
The Foxus Family, who inherited memories and served the Walt family. A clan that inherited the power of the one called the Evil God, Novem.
I have various thoughts, but for now, I decided to focus forward――on my father, Maisel Wolt.
Night.
Lying on the bed of a porter, I sent my consciousness into the Orb.
Partly because I was summoned by the Seventh Generation, but I also vaguely understood the reason why I was summoned. If it were just to talk, he could just find a place where we could be alone.
If not, it meant the time had come for the Seventh Generation to show me what he wanted to show――to show me memories.
The Seventh Generation was waiting in the Round Table Room, but looking around, the Third Generation was not there.
"What happened to the Third Generation?"
"I had them leave. No, I suppose they thought there was no need to watch over us. After all, the memories I will show you... it's faster to just see them."
Following the Seventh Generation, who began walking toward his own memory room, I also entered the Seventh Generation's memory room.
Then, the scene that appeared was the Seventh Generation as a young child.
The young Seventh Generation――Broad Wolt, was teary-eyed.
"...Aunt."
It was the entrance of the Walt family mansion. Stopped in front of the entrance were a luxurious carriage and a baggage wagon loaded with luggage. The baggage wagon also had a roof with a canopy. Furthermore, knights attending horses were waiting around.
Important-looking luggage was loaded on the baggage wagon, and the Sixth Generation, Fines, and the Fifth Generation, Fredricks, were also showing their faces.
Fines patted Broad's head while speaking.
"Don't be so sad. For Mireia, this marriage proposal is her last chance. It would be pitiful for Mireia to be single forever."
I looked at the Seventh Generation standing next to me.
"Isn't the Sixth Generation's way of speaking a bit rude?"
The Seventh Generation nodded.
"It is. Well, she was a person who was forgiven for saying such things."
Mireia-san was laughing. The Fifth Generation, Fredricks, was keeping a certain distance and did not try to join the conversation.
"Brother, that makes me sound like an old spinster who is late to marry. Well, it is a fact. However, I understand that it is my last chance. Now then, Broad-kun."
Mireia-san crouched to match Broad's eye level and gazed at Broad with golden eyes.
"Find a better person. Someone better than me. ...Also, be careful of twisted people like me. Because Broad-kun is serious."
As she chuckled, Fines spoke from the side.
"What is it? What are you two talking about?"
To Fines, who directed a smile toward her, Mireia-san smiled and said, "It's nothing." It felt typical of Mireia-san.
Then, without looking at the Seventh Generation's face, I spoke.
"...Could it be that the Seventh Generation's first love was..."
"Probably my aunt. I didn't understand it at that age. When she was at the mansion, she was my talking partner. My father was busy, but more than that, my aunt was the only one who understood my worries."
The surrounding scenery turned gray and then crumbled away, transitioning to a different scene. There, Mireia-san and Broad were doing something in the garden.
They had prepared something like a target, and Mireia-san held a gun that could only be loaded with a single bullet.
The scene, having regained its color, began to move slowly.
"It's painful to be compared to Brother, is it? That's a problem. I think Brother recommends the halberd to Broad-kun because he wants to teach it himself. The feeling of wanting you to surpass him is probably thin."
Broad, who was looking down, raised his face slightly and looked at Mireia-san's gun.
"...Even if Father is like that, the people around me don't think so. Um, could you teach me how to handle that gun?"
Mireia-san was slightly surprised and was about to say something. However, she stopped herself, shook her head, and then directed a smile at Broad.
"Well, there's no harm in learning, so I'll teach you. When you're at my level, you can even do things like this."
Saying so, she aimed the gun without looking at the target and fired; the bullet pierced the center of the target. The bullet became embedded in the wall behind it.
"T-this is it. With this, I can be active like Father!"
Toward the rejoicing Broad, Mireia-san smiled as if slightly troubled.
"I don't think there's a need to worry that much. Even Brother isn't a perfect head of the family. I think it would be better if you aimed to be a head of the Walt family who is like Broad-kun?"
However, even after hearing Mireia-san's words, Broad looked down.
"...I've studied a lot. I've trained a lot. Even so, the people around me only talk about how amazing Father was. I know he's amazing. I'm proud of it too. But, I'm not as strong as Father."
Mireia-san comforted Broad.
"The previous Fredricks-grandfather was small, but even so, in his own way――"
"But he was strong, wasn't he! Everyone says Father and Grandfather were amazing! That the Walt family has been... a strong lineage for generations. I... I..."
I looked at the Seventh Generation. Then, the Seventh Generation looked slightly embarrassed.
"During that time, no matter what I did, I could only see the backs of my father and grandfather――the Sixth and Fifth Generations. They felt like huge walls I couldn't overtake. After all, the people around me praised them. And, furthermore. The Walt family continued to grow. That felt heavy to me."
I felt like I understood a little. My father, Maisel Wolt, was the same. He pursued being "like a noble."
Thinking about it now, he pursued it too much. I am different, having interacted with the memories from the First to the Seventh Generation and reached a conclusion from them.
The Seventh Generation, who grew up hearing about the successive heads of the family beautified through word of mouth, was under great pressure.
"The more generations pass, the heavier it becomes. I must connect it to the next. How will I be spoken of? The duties and responsibilities felt heavier as the house grew larger. The more Father won, the more the Walt family's prestige rose. But what about me? I often thought that."
As I listened seriously, the Seventh Generation gave a forced cough.
"Well, you know. What I want to say is... I want to see my great-grandchild's face."
After my mouth hung open in a blank stare, I spoke.
"Eh, that? What does that have to do with the story just now? Or rather, what are you talking about?"
When I looked at the Seventh Generation with judging eyes, the Seventh Generation made an excuse, adding gestures.
"No, I mean, look! When generations continue, various things happen, but it's not all bad things. Besides, if there are no children, the house perishes."
I certainly thought that. But when told such a thing after a conversation that seemed so serious, who would have expected it?
Then, the Seventh Generation muttered.
"...Lyell, if you fight, either Maisel or you might die. No, one of you will die. Besides, Maisel is Zenoa's child. Just as you are excellent, Maisel is also excellent. Originally, it would have been better to leave a child before fighting."
I spoke to the Seventh Generation.
"If I lose, I lose everything right there."
"Even so. There are many problems. But if there are no children, there is no one to succeed. No matter what great achievements you build, if there is no successor, you will only be carved into history. I'll say it clearly. Problems with a legal wife or factions are better than no children being born."
While I remained unable to answer, the Seventh Generation spoke.
"...To be honest, I don't want to see you and Maisel fight. But we can no longer go back."
It seemed the Seventh Generation's sense of crisis was growing because I and my father were to fight. From that appearance, I could predict that my father must be strong. To the extent that the Seventh Generation feared my victory...