——In the Banseim camp, the officers were tearing their hair out over the reports streaming in one after another.
"Why? Why can't we overwhelm them with numbers?!"
"They should have fewer troops than us!"
"Wait — don't get ahead of yourselves. We need to forcibly organize the Landed Nobility's soldiers and—"
The root of the confusion was that Baim had launched a well-coordinated counterattack. In urban combat, no matter how much of an advantage adventurers supposedly held, numbers still mattered. It was only natural they were struggling when they had expected to simply crush the enemy by sheer weight.
They quickly reorganized their units, swapped out equipment, and launched another charge. And yet, all that reached the Banseim side were reports of their own forces being annihilated.
"...Could it be reinforcements? Just as South Baim received aid from Kartafus, perhaps Baim has as well—"
A count among the Landed Nobility — one who had retreated after taking losses — confirmed the general's words. But he was visibly irritated.
"I told you that in my report, didn't I? You're the ones who ignored it! Have you forgotten that you said the Four-Nation Alliance couldn't field a significant force?!"
The Four-Nation Alliance — a coalition of small nations. Their total military strength was probably in the tens of thousands, which was no real threat from Banseim's perspective. They were simply an opponent they didn't want getting in the way of their war with Baim.
"We wouldn't crumble over a mere few tens of thousands in reinforcements! There's a possibility reinforcements could be arriving from elsewhere too. If Kartafus got serious, they could field a hundred thousand..."
At that, the commander-in-chief slammed his fist down on the table.
"Enough with the speculation. Is it even possible to transport that scale of forces from Kartafus? Sure, if they used every ship Baim has, it might be feasible — but Kartafus is locked in a standoff with Banseim in the north. They don't have the luxury of deploying that many soldiers to another country!"
The tent fell silent. Indeed, they had scouted the surrounding situation before the invasion. Relations between the Four-Nation Alliance and Baim were ice cold — cold enough that war wouldn't have been out of the question.
"And even if Kartafus has dealings with them, I can't imagine they'd go that far."
"Regardless, we can't afford to just stand around with our arms folded—"
"A messenger! A large-scale force inside Baim has begun its advance! Th-they... they intend to attack us!"
The generals and Landed Nobility present — and the commander-in-chief — rose to their feet. They immediately began preparing to meet the assault, though their expressions varied.
"They've grown impatient and come out to us? In open battle, we have the advantage! We'll crush them!"
"Why? Why did they come out… Abandoning the battlefield they're strongest in, why…"
Each of us harbored our own thoughts as we stepped outside the command tent.
There, the cavalry of Baim had already broken through the forces stationed before the gate and poured out into the open. Yet their numbers kept swelling without any sign of slowing.
But more than that, the banners they flew were something the generals could scarcely believe.
"Why… Why are Cartaphus, the Four-Nation Alliance… and even Janpea participating!"
Great flags bearing a blue circle adorned with silver—banners none of them had ever seen before—fluttered at the center of those assembled forces.
From atop the walls of Baim, gazing down upon the battlefield from May's back, I beheld the enemy force before us—well over a hundred thousand strong.
By contrast, our side fell short of that number. In pure numerical terms, we held a slight disadvantage. But now that reinforcements from Janpea had arrived, there was no longer any point in delaying further.
Beside me, the sun-bronzed general from Janpea spoke up.
"Baim is quite cold, isn't it? Seems we'll need to dress even more warmly."
I laughed.
"True enough—we're not nearly as far south as Janpea. Well then, shall I be off?"
It wasn't as though I intended to lead the charge myself. There was simply no need to do so.
I gripped the Jewel, tore it free, and summoned a halberd into my right hand—the weapon that consumed the least magic and was the most conspicuous.
Then, raising my left hand, the blue Jewel embedded in the halberd began to glow.
"Guess it's time I actually put this thing to proper use—[Select]."
Using the Second Generation's skill,[Select], I designated the allies who had charged forward and applied my skills to them. Because of their sheer numbers, I couldn't channel anything too powerful, but…
"[Full Over][Speed]."
I cast the First Generation's skill[Full Over]and the Fourth Generation's skill[Speed]across the entirety of my forces. Just because my magic had increased didn't mean casting over an army of tens of thousands came cheap—it consumed a tremendous amount. But for me now, it was a price I could bear.
The general from Janpea and Novem, standing on the opposite side of me, raised her staff.
"Here they come. I'll hold them off."
Novem deployed a Magic Shield to protect our forces, and whether it was my Skills enhancing her abilities or not, she deflected the magic and arrows fired by the enemy. Under the broad canopy of the Magic Shield covering a wide area, our allies charged into the enemy formation.
Their breakthrough power was devastating.
"Lord Lyle, you have quite the capable subordinates as well. That man called Maxim — even in Janpea, I'd at least heard his name."
The one who carved through at the front was Maxim. In addition to Aria and Miranda, the Valkyries had also joined the charge.
"Since this is a coalition army, we're somewhat limited in the formations we can choose. A charge is all we can manage. I'd like to tighten up our coordination a bit more for the real thing, though. ……Well then, I suppose I'll head out too."
Novem said to me.
"Lord Lyle, wouldn't it be fine for you to sit this one out?"
I nodded.
"There's no need. But letting Banseim know I exist is important, isn't it? Besides — there's no need, but the more we accomplish, the better."
I gave May's flank a light kick, and she raised her front legs and broke into a sprint. Seeing me ride across the top of the wall, the Janpea generals looked somewhat startled. They probably knew Kirin could run through the air, but it was still a sight.
"We're going straight ahead like this, right?"
"That's right. Right now our allies have pushed into their main camp, so there's no risk of us getting surrounded!"
"……Lyle, that's so lame."
"Lame? Try calling it cowardly instead."
As May and I exchanged that conversation high in the sky, she headed in a dead straight line toward the enemy's main camp. The Fifth and Sixth Generation Skills fed me an accurate picture of the battlefield in real time.
I swung my halberd and cut down the knight who had been guarding the command tent. When May blasted the tent away with magic, the supreme commander of Banseim stood revealed within.
From atop my mount, I rested my halberd on my shoulder and looked down at the supreme commander.
"Forgive me for greeting you from horseback. I am the new ruler of Baim — Lyle Walt. I've come to take your heads. Now then — does anyone wish to surrende……r?"
The generals drew the weapons at their hips and glared at me in outrage. Soldiers were closing in from all around, but our allies had already approached the vicinity of the command tent — surrounding them was merely a matter of time.
The supreme commander rose to his feet and seized the decorated sword lying nearby.
"I'd heard Ceres had a brother involved, but so it's you... You're the mastermind behind this."
The surrounding generals did the same. The moment they heard my name, they spoke Ceres's name.
"So... you've fallen under Ceres's spell."
Just as I'd expected. The army's high command was likely under Ceres's control as well. And the people in Central would be the most thoroughly enchanted of all. I leapt up from May's back, swung my halberd, and brought it crashing down upon the supreme commander.
I cut him clean in half along with the decorated sword, then swept the halberd toward the generals who had closed in. The area drenched itself in blood, and the halberd began absorbing their magical energy.
The surrounding soldiers stood frozen, unable to move.
It was a matter of an instant, but the supreme commander they were meant to protect had been slain in combat. Confusion would spread through the ranks in a heartbeat.
Just as I was thinking that, Aria rode up through the torn tent on horseback, bringing our allies with her.
"Hey! Why did you rush out in front again?!"
She'd pushed herself hard to get here — Aria was slightly out of breath.
"Don't worry about me. I won't lose. More importantly... let's raise a war cry."
I took a deep breath and bellowed out.
"The supreme commander of Banseim has... been slain by yours truly, Lyle Walt!!"
A soldier hidden behind a pillar of the torn tent had been watching for an opening, so I hurled my halberd at him. It split him in two as it spun through the air, then flew back to my hand.
Aria spread my cry of victory, and the surrounding soldiers and knights took it up in chorus. One after another, Banseim's soldiers began fleeing or surrendering — though some charged forward, resolved to die fighting.
I looked down upon the supreme commander of Banseim.
"...I suppose all you can do is curse your misfortune in having made an enemy of me."
Aria dismounted and directed her subordinates to guard my surroundings. And then — perhaps she'd overheard my mutter—
"You are going to absolutely regret this."
Novem watched from atop the wall as the Baim forces were being overrun.
The wind blew, and she brushed a strand of hair from her face with a finger, her violet eyes fixed on where Lyle stood.
"Lord Lyle... you've become so splendid."
Carrying the Jewel inscribed with the Skills of the First through Seventh Generations and wielding the weapons of the Successive Heads, the current Lyle was a source of immense pride for Novem.
She had watched him grow into a young man worthy of inheriting House Walt—the Walt family, which was so special to her.
"To stand on your own feet. And to fight with such resolve... Lord Lyle, Novem is so happy for you."
Tens of thousands had fallen. Yet, gazing upon that battlefield, Novem smiled.
Night.
At the Baim Adventurer's Guild—its Eastern Branch—I had rented a meeting room.
Baldoa came to report the current situation to me.
"The soldiers of Banseim who fled number in the tens of thousands. While I doubt all of them will rejoin the remaining forces, the number of bandits will be absurd for some time. Moreover, the absorbed Baim soldiers are assaulting the captured Banseim prisoners. The soldiers of the Four-Nation Alliance don't seem to hold Baim in high regard either... fights are breaking out constantly. Um, Lord Lyle?"
Baldoa looked at me with a troubled expression.
"What is it?"
"Well, it's just... your attire is perhaps inappropriate. I understand you're exhausted, but if possible, I'd prefer you return to your room... it's difficult to know where to look."
Seeing Baldoa blush, I looked to my sides.
Aria and Miranda, having bathed and washed away the grime, were sitting beside me in outfits little more than undergarments. I was in the center on a sofa they'd brought over, the two of them leaning against me.
"They're cute, aren't they? Shall I introduce someone to you too? Ah, one comes to mind. What about the princess of Rolfis?"
"Please, don't. That's beyond my station. More to the point, what are you truly going to do with Rolfis? Within the Four-Nation Alliance, they're the only ones who likely won't be marrying you, aren't they?"
"Because Novem rejected it. Even I can't force a bride upon someone against her will. I can't defy Novem. Besides, she's... well, it just wouldn't work."
"Then don't try to push someone who wouldn't work onto me! ...Sigh, if only Lord Maxim would return soon."
I thought of Maxim. He'd taken his best friend's helmet and barricaded himself in his room with nothing but alcohol. I'd told Adele to comfort him, but I had no idea how any of them were really doing.
Baldoa leafed through the report.
"We form the squad within the next few days, then engage the remnants, correct? What will you do about Lyle, sir?"
I glanced at the two of them leaning close together.
"...I can't leave Baim, plain and simple. The ones making hostile moves need to be crushed at this stage. Dragging the merchants into it would only create more problems."
Baldoa let out a breath of relief after hearing my answer.
"That puts my mind somewhat at ease. You looked so uncertain, I was worried — but you'll do what needs to be done regardless. As expected of House Walt."
"I don't dislike pretty ideals, you know. I always keep them close. Someday I'm going to unite the continent, reduce warfare, and build a world of peace!"
"...Um, that's really—"
"Dream big! And I'll be the one to take that first step. You don't like pretty ideals?"
Baldoa gave a small smile.
"When I was a child, I did. But if I'm being honest, growing up taught me just how unattainable those ideals really are. You still believe in it, then, Sir Lyle?"
I looked Baldoa in the eye.
"I know it's impossible right now. But hundreds of years from now — maybe thousands — I'll take the first step toward that future!"
I wasn't naive enough to think conflict would disappear. But wanting peace was nothing to be ashamed of.
"After all, don't I need a goal that big? Because I'm that kind of guy. Look at me — of course I've got to work hard for the whole world."
Baldoa let out a wry laugh. From inside the Jewel, voices burst out in response, though far fewer than before.
"Thousands of years... That makes my head spin."
The Seventh Generation agreed with Baldoa.
"Well, from the First Generation onward, Lyle's lived a life of nothing but fighting. So when someone says 'peace'... all he can think is that it sounds like one long state of tension."
The Third Generation laughed too, but not in a mocking way.
"Peace, huh... It depends on what kind of state Lyle would call peace. In reality, even Baim, who sowed conflict in neighboring countries to make money, could technically be called peaceful."
That's true. That kind of peace does feel different.
"If we spend enough time on it, it does seem like an ideal could become reality."
When Baldoa said that, I nodded — while glancing at Aria and Miranda.
"Well, my own harem is in a constant state of conflict, after all. I want to sort out this situation first. Baldoa, do you have any advice?"
Baldoa looked at me.
"...Why can't you just wrap things up on a nice note? I don't have any good ideas for you. If anything, I have too many. Could you show some restraint, please? The former Saintess, for example — she's in her thirties, you know?"
I tilted my head while looking at Baldoa.
"Come now, love knows no age. Besides, my love is boundles—!"
I was still laughing when both sides pinched me. It seemed Aria and Miranda had woken up. Being jealous — how cute. Baldoa covered her face with her left hand.
"For the time being, I do understand that realizing Lord Lyle's ideals would be difficult. Please start by doing your best with the people immediately around you."
I wonder why... Baldoa had given up on me.