95 - Chapter 6 Epilogue
In the back seat of the linked carriage leaving Central, I looked around the empty interior before glancing back at Central, where the enthusiasm had yet to cool.
With alcohol provided by the royal palace and such, the festivities in Central continued.
Originally, the linked carriage was supposed to carry many passengers.
However, the passengers, swept up in the heat of Central, ended up extending their stay.
The result was an interior that felt like a private charter.
Looking at Central, surrounded by walls in the distance, I gripped the Jewel Orb.
The people of the Fanbayle royal family.
—Riane had also departed Central.
(Thanks for everything. I hope she stays well.)
When we parted, we weren't able to talk much.
Because she looked truly sad.
The voice of The Third reached me.
『Liel, when you return, surely—』
(I know.)
As I kept worrying about what was behind me, Eva called out.
"What are you doing?"
"...I was looking at the royal capital, Central. Making a vow to return."
As I said this and sat in a nearby seat, Eva sat next to me.
"Hmm, if that's the case, then it's fine... Oh, that's right! Tell me the stories from before I joined. The stories of the characters are important, and knowing more of them will put more emotion into the songs!"
I gave a wry smile to the beaming Eva.
"There aren't many interesting stories."
"Eh? Even though you experienced your first growth in Darion, kissed an automaton in Alamsars, and scammed nobles in Central? Look, there's already this much just from what I know, so don't be stingy and tell me!"
"Who did you hear that from!"
"From everyone!"
Leaving the smiling Eva be, I looked at the party members sitting in the front.
Monica waved with a smile, and Aria's shoulders were shaking slightly.
They were laughing. They were desperately enduring their laughter.
Novem looked apologetic, and Clara was hiding her face with a book.
Miranda blew a kiss, and Shannon was grinning mischievously.
"You guys are the worst! Why did you tell her!"
At those words, Aria spoke.
"Be quiet. Eva said that if she's going to become a companion, she should know various things. Well, your actions up until now were just too intense, so it just slipped out."
I can't stand it when things "just slip out" like that!
Eva was happily taking notes.
"Hey, you're not going to turn this into a song, are you?"
"Eh? No, I don't know how it'll turn out. It depends on how I judge it after seeing everything to the end. So... will you tell me the stories of Liel that everyone else doesn't know? Just to me!"
Saying "just to me," Eva smirked at Aria and the others.
(In other words, she's threatening to turn the stories she's already heard into songs if I don't talk...)
Suddenly, everyone wore regretful expressions, but only Novem had a slightly triumphant look.
Novem, who was also a childhood friend, knew about my early childhood.
"You're playing dirty."
"I'll go this far for the sake of a song. Now, tell me properly! Hu, ry, up!"
At Eva's urging, I let out a sigh and thought for a moment.
Then, thinking that if she's going to make it into a song...
"I'll tell you, but make a promise first."
"What? If it's 'tell me but don't sing it,' I'll refuse."
I said it was different and shook my head.
"The opposite. There's a story I want you to sing."
"A story I don't know? I know quite a lot, so if Liel knows it, I think I know it too. Oh, or is it a song request!"
I—.
"The ancestors of House Walt. You don't know them either, right?"
Eva nodded, admitting she certainly didn't know them. However, perhaps not feeling interested, she showed some reluctance.
"Those kinds of stories usually have a lot of exaggeration. There are quite a few requests to sing songs about successive heads of houses. Just to make their own family home look bigger."
I said with a laugh.
"That's probably true. However, it's not like everything was good."
Hearing that, Eva nodded.
"Is that so? Then, I suppose I'll let you tell me. So, what kind of ancestors were they?"
"There are seven of them, so, let's see... shall we go in order?"
Saying so, I began to tell the story of The First.
—Inside the Jewel Orb.
The Third looked regretful.
『Regarding the matter of Liel trying to turn our stories into songs!』
The Fourth, while exasperated...
『Is it not fine to be turned into songs?』
The Third shouted at The Fourth, who didn't understand.
『Our stories will be decided based on Liel's mood! It'll be the worst if something strange is conveyed and becomes a song! Do you think you could possibly understand how I felt being called a "Righteous General"!』
The surrounding ones looked on with exasperation as The Third thrashed about, holding his head with both hands.
Sighing, The Fourth spoke.
『Now then, are there any other opinions?』
It was fine that Liel chose to fight Celes.
However, the method was still not clear.
The Fifth spoke a logical point.
『Rather, unless we understand the current situation, even if we call it a countermeasure... there's the situation of other countries, the relationship with Vanseim, and various other things.』
The Sixth said.
『The means we can take currently would be to gather information while earning funds and training Liel and the others.』
The Seventh nodded.
『To fight Celes as an individual, an elite force composed of women who are less likely to be influenced will be necessary.』
Gather soldiers and prepare an army.
Or organize a massive mercenary group and challenge Vanseim.
With assassination, even if they won, Liel would no longer be able to stand on the public stage.
The Fourth decided to leave the useless Third alone and continue the conversation.
『Assuming we have no choice but to sharpen the blade of that small elite force for now, the problem is what kind of victory we should aim for.』
What to do with Liel after the victory?
If they were careless, he might even be assassinated.
After all, Liel is also of House Walt, just like Celes.
The Seventh, who ultimately held the highest position among the five, predicted various things.
『First, it is important whether Liel stands at the front or not. If he stands at the front and decides to retire after the victory, the country will split and it will be a warring states period of competing lords. Even if we appoint someone, how do we bring in talent with enough charisma to govern a great nation?』
How Liel involves himself.
The story changes depending on that as well.
The Sixth said.
『The worst case is that even if they win, dissatisfaction gathers toward Liel, and he's assassinated just like that...』
The dissatisfied Fifth said while looking up at the ceiling.
『Bringing someone in is also difficult. There's no guarantee that person won't be charmed by Celes. Even if we make it a woman, do you think Vanseim will accept a queen after being tormented by Celes?』
The Fourth summarized the opinions.
『For now, shall we let Liel and the others acquire enough strength to fight? Well, as things are now, we can't even prepare a place to fight.』
Problems were piled high.
However, it was all something Liel had decided.
The Fifth—.
『We need to train Liel. I don't think he can win against Celes just by drilling skills into him like until now. Someone needs to train him.』
The Sixth, nodding...
『I suppose so. In other words—』
The Third suddenly interrupted the conversation.
『The strongest person among us should train him. In that case—』
Everyone nodded, and then...
『It's me.』
『It's probably me.』
『Is it me?』
『It's me.』
『It's I.』
In an instant, the place was enveloped in silence, and everyone stood up from their chairs and directed smiles at each other.
The Third said.
『Hey now, how much do you think I've fought? Just how much was I forced to fight under that piece of trash king?』
Adjusting the position of his glasses with his index finger, The Fourth said with a smile.
『It would be troubling if you thought of me as just a user of movement skills. It sounds bad to say, but I don't feel like I'd lose to The Third or any of the other heads.』
The Fifth shook his head in exasperation.
『How much do you think I was attacked by those around me, and how much did I endure to build my foundation? Bandits, soldiers, mercenaries... how many have I crushed?』
The Sixth was laughing as if intimidating those around him.
『I was the one who expanded House Walt. It sounds bad to say, but I don't feel like I'd lose even to my father, The Fifth.』
The Seventh—.
『There is no way that I, who participated in battlefields and won countless times to rebuild Vanseim, am weak. Well, the ancestors probably just want to believe they were strong.』
A dry laugh echoed in the place, and when The Fifth opened his mouth, it went straight to—.
『Don't screw with me! Shut up, you runaway brat! You couldn't beat me until the end!』
『I just couldn't go all out against an old man! Bringing up the runaway thing forever... you want to go, you bastard!』
『You think you can beat me? I'd like you to stop with the jokes.』
『Indeed. Well, since The Fourth is suited for being a civil official, he probably can't understand the feelings of a warrior.』
『Hahaha, you think you're a warrior with just that? Do you really think I've only fought on top of a desk? Because your perception is that naive, Celes probably got her hands on the yellow Jewel Orb, didn't she?』
『Listen to this glasses-bastard!』
『Don't make fun of glasses!』
『『『I'm the strongest among us!!』』』
Liel appeared before the group who had started making a racket inside the Jewel Orb.
It seemed he appeared inside the Jewel Orb because he had nothing to do during the trip.
"What are you making a fuss about? I mean, I could hear the voices even from the outside."
Before the exasperated Liel, The Third explained the current situation while enduring the urge to say various things about Eva.
『No, you see, these guys started saying who is the strongest. Liel, you understand, right?』
The Seventh said to his grandson, Liel.
『Tell everyone about my strength, Liel. In the first place, the ability to use magic started from The Fifth. Considering it only finally took shape in my generation, the strength should be clear.』
The Seventh, while exasperated, glanced at Liel, wanting to show those around him who was the strongest among them.
However, Liel crossed his arms—.
"Why has the conversation turned into that?"
The Fourth cleared his throat and then explained.
『Well, it became a matter of "if we're training Liel, the strong one should do it." See, there were many people who mistakenly thought, "then it's me."』
Liel nodded while looking at The Fourth, who was looking around and laughing.
The Sixth also said.
『You understand, right, Liel... Now, tell us who is the strongest.』
The Fifth also said.
『That's right, you know who's the strongest, right, Liel?』
Liel nodded several times, and then answered with a smile.
"Then, I just have to defeat everyone, right? What, isn't that a simple story? It'll be solved if I fight everyone."
The air in the place cooled instantly, and the successive heads exchanged glances and surrounded Liel.
The Third placed a hand on Liel's right shoulder.
The Fourth stood in front of Liel.
The Fifth placed a hand on Liel's left shoulder.
The Sixth and The Seventh moved behind him.
"Eh? Um..."
The Third said with a smile.
『I see. So you thought of it so lightly... Well, you're certainly weaker than Celes. But』
The Fourth said.
『You're underestimating us too much, Liel.』
As The Fifth put strength into his hand, Liel felt pain.
『That's right. Since it's a good opportunity, we should teach him.』
The Sixth said while laughing.
『Then shall we? We'll train you.』
"Eh, wait... The Seventh!"
Liel sought help from his grandfather, The Seventh, but the man himself was smiling.
『Don't worry. Here, even if you get wounded, you'll heal immediately. Even if your chest is pierced, you'll be unharmed in reality... Now, let's train you for the first time in a while.』
He was smiling, but only his eyes weren't.
"Eh, but, in the end, that's what this is! I'm not wrong, right! Hey, wait a minute!"
They all carried the shouting Liel, and The Fourth led them into one of the doors.
『You don't have to worry. We'll have you fight everyone. I'm sure it'll be fun, ahahaha!』
"I-I don't want toooo!!"
Liel's screams as he was carried away beyond the door became inaudible once the door closed—.