302 - Chapter 17: Prologue
I was kicked out of my house two years ago, in the spring.
It is the season when winter ends, and one cannot help but expect something new.
As the arrival of such a season greeted me, I was looking at the mountains of documents piled up in my office. Placing both hands on the desk, I looked at my ink-stained hands and muttered.
"...No, this isn't the kind of preparation for a counteroffensive I imagined."
From the orb placed on the desk as a paperweight to keep the documents from flying away, I could hear the cheerful voice of the Third.
『You're such a fool, Lyell. Since you're the Alliance Leader, it's only natural that there's a lot of paperwork. You're obviously going to leave the field work to your subordinates.』
It was a valid point, but I had imagined myself giving various orders on the front lines. In reality, however, I was shut away in my office, surrounded by guards and chased by paperwork.
Even when I had opportunities to go outside, it was mostly speeches and meetings, which I truly detested. Inside the room, Valkyrie No. 3, today's attendant, looked pleased.
"Master, the tea is ready."
"How many cups do you plan to prepare since this morning? My stomach is already sloshing."
No. 3 repeatedly appealed to me by repeating the action of brewing tea—or rather, the action she had seemingly learned, or rather, become capable of performing.
Because of that, I had a hard time from having drunk too much tea since morning.
A few months had passed since the battle with the Walt family.
Preparations to fight Celes were underway. It would be a conflict on a continental scale, and even during the era of the Kingdom of Centras—the nation that ruled the continent before Banseime—a battle of this magnitude would have been rare.
Indeed, a large-scale war was about to begin for the first time in over three hundred years.
Among the documents were reports from the Valkyries deployed in various regions, compiled by Monica.
When I picked up the compiled reports and looked through them, they were incredibly easy to understand, paired with illustrations. There were even graphs, allowing me to understand the current situation just by looking.
"So the Fanbayle region has settled its internal affairs. It's surprising that there are countries choosing to wait and see."
With a scale like this—hundreds of thousands of troops moving on both sides—it was surprising that there were countries that decided to observe the situation. Then, the Third explained the sentiment behind that to me.
『Lyell, people can only measure things by their own world—their own common sense. With a battle of this scale, it's not strange for some countries to be unable to even make a judgment because it exceeds their imagination. Perhaps they're having internal disputes.』
Looking at the report, I asked the Third.
"...Considering that, should we deal with them after the war?"
However, the Third replied coldly.
『There's no need. If some countries only swoop in to take the best parts afterward, others will be dissatisfied. You have to keep their frustration directed outward.』
Even if we call it the unification of the continent, it isn't a success just because we win against Celes and defeat Banseime. It's only a success once the governance succeeds. After that, one becomes desperate just to maintain it.
"Well, Cartaphus is ready, and Jampea is eager, so the problem is us in the east."
That said, the forces under my command had absorbed the Walt family's army, so the numbers were sufficient. I believe I've gathered a force that isn't shameful for an Alliance Leader. If there's a problem, perhaps it's that Banseime is falling apart?
If I had more time, I could gather even more numbers, but the timing for the invasion is still not clear. No, I could invade at any time, but—.
I picked up a different report.
"...I can't believe she's actively reducing her own military strength."
—What Celes had implemented in Banseime was the construction of a grave for her father. However, her father was a member of the Walt family and a Count. Despite that, to build a grave more magnificent than that of a king, she gathered manpower, and even during a busy period, she gathered not only men but women to build a giant grave.
"What on earth is she doing?"
I could only be appalled, but the Third spoke from the orb regarding Celes's actions.
『Just as Agrissa did, she probably wants to turn the continent into a sea of blood. To be honest, I don't think our common sense applies here. Well, it is quite eerie.』
I thought she would take some kind of action because her father died, but that wasn't the case. No armies were dispatched, nor were assassins sent from Banseime. However, the most suspicious thing recently was that her father's grave had been desecrated.
It wouldn't be strange for it to be grave robbers, and I thought it might be the action of an ally with a grudge, but that wasn't it. The body had been neatly reburied.
However, since a part of the body had been taken, it was judged to be the work of the Banseime side.
The insistence on only a part was likely to ensure it was brought back safely. But something about it felt off.
"It's eerie. Well, she's been eerie from the start."
As I tried to return to work, No. 3 spoke to me.
"Master, the time for your meeting is approaching."
"...Meeting with whom? If it's Damian pressing me, tell him to go to Adele-san."
No. 3 shook her head.
"No, Marianne-san, who has become the Guild Master of South Banseime, is coming for a meeting. She says she has opinions regarding the management of magic stones."
Hearing Marianne-san's name, I stood up. In order to place the guild under national management, various rules needed to be created.
I had requested the creation of those, and as a result, Marianne-san and guild affiliates were coming to express their dissatisfaction.
If they were just desperately resisting the stripping of their vested interests, it would be possible to crush them. However, there are many things that the guild truly finds troublesome in terms of management. They bring those kinds of discussions to me.
『Adele-chan is bad at this sort of thing. Riane-chan doesn't know about adventurers, so it ends up falling on Lyell.』
It was exactly as the Third said. Moreover, these were problems that couldn't be handled carelessly. In any case, in order to strip the guild's vested interests and ensure smooth operation, I needed to listen to them.
"Sigh, I'm dreading this."
—In the royal palace of Banseime, a part of Meizel's body was delivered to Celes's room.
Hugging that thing inside the box, Celes had tears in her eyes.
"Welcome home, Father."
Saying so, she opened the box and gripped the staff with an embedded orb. As the yellow orb emitted light, the corpse she had prepared in advance began to move.
The box floated in the air, and the corpse was absorbed into it, taking on a human shape.
"...Celes, I'm home."
There stood a smiling Meizel. In the room, the figure of her mother, Claire, was also present.
"You, how pathetic. Are you still the head of the Walt family!"
To the angry Claire, Meizel looked apologetic.
"S-sorry. I intended it as a souvenir for Celes."
"Honestly, you're terribly late, Father. Let's have a grand party today."
While saying she didn't care about souvenirs, Celes frolicked while holding her parents' hands.
Agrissa, inside the orb, watched this while sitting in a luxurious chair. Inside the orb, which even had a throne, she had a posture of looking down on everything with her legs crossed.
Twining her golden hair around her fingertips, she watched the outside with purple eyes.
『...Pitiful and cute Celes. Even if they are resurrected, they are nothing more than mere vessels. No, they are incomplete even as vessels.』
Agrissa, who had completed the skill of resurrecting the dead, looked dissatisfied seeing the result.
『If it had succeeded, I could have resurrected my own parents. And the children. I don't care about the others... no, the Walt family. I shall resurrect that man who defeated me as well. He was good. Truly a fine man.』
Watching Celes looking happy while sandwiched between puppets, Agrissa smiled. Then, her expression immediately clouded. As the scenery of the outside visible from within the orb vanished, she stood up and stared at the door behind her seat.
『...Unable to even resurrect a human, yet what goddess? Well, if I had succeeded, I probably wouldn't be worshipped as a goddess now.』
Agrissa was a being born having inherited the memories of Septem. She was what would now be called Novem, and Celes. However, the memories she inherited were the negative parts—only the memories of the successive Septems serving humanity.
Her memories as a goddess were vague, and she could guess what had happened. However, Agrissa strongly retained the memories of being used and sometimes oppressed by the humanity to whom she had given everything.
Tracing her lips with her fingertip, she leaned her body against the back of the chair.
『Now then... the continent will be dyed in blood even if I remain silent. Millions of people will die. I'm looking forward to it. I can't help but be excited.』
Agrissa began to walk and entered the room of memories. There, the figures of the oppressed Septems were present.
Not in flashy, exhibitionist-like dresses like Agrissa's, but in plain, tattered clothes, there were kind-looking Septems. Those Septems were looking at Agrissa with eyes that seemed to blame her.
In that room of memories, Agrissa laughed through her nose.
『Watch from there, predecessors. I shall fulfill the duty you could not—the duty of protecting the beloved humans. Of course, not by giving everything like you did... but by stripping them of everything.』
The gazes of the silent Septems became harsh. Beings called Septem, who had unconditionally given everything to humans due to the shackles of the inherited memories.
Agrissa teased such Septems.
『Don't be angry. But I am being more helpful to humanity than you were. The reason humans kill each other is because there are too many of them. That's why I'm thinning them out for them. It's so hard. Killing beloved humans is truly painful.』
Laughing loudly, Agrissa's bewitching and beautiful appearance distorted as she laughed pleasurably.
And then she said.
『Is it that frustrating that the conclusion of the Novem I once clashed with and my own are the same? I suppose so... because that person hates humans. You can't forgive that, can you?』
The Septems began to direct pitying gazes toward Agrissa. Hating such gazes, Agrissa waved her left hand and erased the Septems.
『Irritating. I'm bored of teasing and playing.』
Saying so, Agrissa looked up.
『Now, Celes... the promised time must be near. Enjoy yourself as much as possible until then.』
Agrissa's laughter echoed through the room of memories—.
Evening.
The one who entered the room with a terrifying momentum was Novem.
I was so surprised that I stood up from my seat and almost backed away. After all, unlike usual, she was seriously angry. It wasn't like a child being scolded for doing something bad, she was truly angry.
Did I do something?
"W-what's wrong, Novem?"
When I said that while trembling, Novem steadied her breathing and straightened her posture before me.
"My apologies. However, there was something I absolutely had to confirm urgently, so I was in a rush. Now then, Lyell-sama."
Facing an intimidating Novem who was different from usual, I felt like my voice was about to crack. From the orb hanging around my neck, the Third also spoke in a panic.
『What did you do, Lyell? I've never seen Novem-chan this angry at you.』
I haven't either, so I'm troubled. But I feel like there are plenty of reasons to be scolded, yet I also feel like it's not something to be this angry about.
"W-what is it!"
"—I heard from Lord Baldoa. Is it true that you desire peace and have made it your goal?"
Hearing that, I tilted my head.
"That's all? No, I did say it. But it's not like I'm thinking about peace immediately, and my thoughts on what constitutes peace aren't even organized. I just thought it would be good if it could be realized in a few hundred or a few thousand years."
I understand it's difficult, but I believe it's wrong not to take that first step. They were words I said when I was in high spirits, but I have no intention of denying them.
However, Novem was terribly depressed.
"...It is not the delirious rambling of someone after their growth, then?"
When I spoke to Baldoa, I was in the 'Lyell-san' state the Third mentions. But it's not as if it's different from my actual opinion.
"No, so what about it?"
Novem spoke to me. More seriously than ever before.
"Lyell-sama, peace is an illusion. Moreover, it is a troublesome thing that poisons people. A world where one cannot survive without fighting is what makes people strong. Once people stop fighting, they immediately degenerate."
"What on earth happened to you? This isn't like you."
When I said that and laughed, Novem pressed in on me. Then, she grabbed both of my shoulders. Novem's fingers dug into my shoulders, and I felt pain.
I felt as though Novem's eyes were wide open and had lost their light.
"Not like me? No, I am serious. The one who is not acting like themselves is you, Lyell-sama. After fighting until now, what have you felt? What did you do when you decided to stand against Celes-sama? Lyell-sama, have you ever thought about what happens if peace is realized? If that happens, what awaits is—"
Then, Miranda entered the room. The Valkyries were with her, and she spoke toward Novem, who was pressing in on me.
"Novem, what are you doing?"
In the dim room, with the light from the window behind her, Miranda's eyes seemed to glow in the shadows. This was also scary.
Novem slowly turned around, looking at the fingers dug into my shoulder.
"M-my apologies, Lyell-sama! I will treat it immediately. However, I..."
Novem looked as if she were about to cry, but she was trying to convey something to me. When Miranda entered the room, she pulled Novem away from me.
"I'll handle it. Novem, leave the room. I'll listen to what you have to say once you've calmed down."
Surrounded by Valkyries, Novem left the room. Hanging her head, the words she muttered were—.
"—All that awaits in a world of peace... is a slow death."
That is what she said.