As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: To the Capital

A few days after the mock battle, a letter from Couran ordering me to report in for a war council arrived. The venue: Couran’s very own stronghold in Semplar. The County of Semplar was located in southern Missian, a fair ways to the southeast of Lamberg. I’d never been there myself, so I didn’t know how long of a journey it was, but I’d been told that it could take up to ten days.

We set about preparing for our departure. Rietz, Rosell, and Mireille would all be going as my resident tacticians, while a number of my soldiers and Charlotte would be accompanying us as guards. We’d be traveling by horse-drawn carriage this time, on account of the length of the trip. We’d have too much luggage to get by on horseback, so bringing a carriage was the practical option.

“All right, everyone,” I said when our preparations were complete. “It’s time! We ride for Semplar!”

○

The road to Semplar wound through a lengthy stretch of flatlands, so it wasn’t a particularly treacherous journey. Well, not in terms of the road itself, anyway─the fact that we were set upon by bandits several times after leaving Canarre meant that it was quite treacherous by most standards. I’d never encountered bandits during my journeys within Canarre itself, so either Canarre was a safer county, I’d just gotten lucky, or having a carriage made the bandits peg us as wealthy.

Whatever the case, Charlotte drove off the bandits without breaking a sweat. Mages appeared to be above the typical bandit’s league, since it often only took one spell from her to make them turn tail and scatter to the winds. Charlotte could adjust her spells’ output as desired, and I didn’t want her leaving craters in our wake, so I had her stick to low-powered warning shots for the most part.

However, every once in a while, we encountered a group of brigands who refused to submit to intimidation. In those cases, we had no real choice but to kill them. It was the first time I’d seen anyone die since my father executed a criminal in front of me, and while it didn’t leave me as shaken as that first experience, it still made me sick to my stomach. I wasn’t used to death, and I didn’t want to get used to it, either.

A few days after our departure, Mireille approached me.

“Hey, look─can’t you do something about the kid for me?” she asked, looking frustrated. She was the one who most often made other people make that expression, so this was something of a rarity.

“What kid?” I asked.

“You know, the brat! Rosell! I’m telling you, it’s been one question after another from him ever since the training drill!”

“Oh, right…”

My retainers’ overall opinion of Mireille hadn’t gone up as much as I’d hoped after the mock battle, with one notable exception: Rosell’s had skyrocketed. He’d been skeptical about her abilities from day one, but ever since our skirmish, he’d started asking her so many questions that he was getting to be kind of a nuisance. Mireille had told me that she wasn’t a fan of teaching, but Rosell was so persistent that she had no choice but to start answering him every once in a while.

As a direct result, Rosell’s long-stagnant Intelligence score had grown by a full two points over a very brief period of time. It was now sitting at a healthy score of 93. I had thought for the longest time that his lack of real-world experience was the problem, but it seemed that what he’d lacked might’ve been a capable enough mentor.

Not that Rietz was someone to scoff at, of course─his Intelligence was plenty high─but at a certain point, Rosell’s abilities had grown to the extent that Rietz just didn’t have much to teach him. They felt like equals more than a teacher and his student. So perhaps someone with an Intelligence score substantially higher than Rosell’s, like Mireille, made a better teacher. Mireille wasn’t happy about that arrangement, but she’d just have to deal with it.

“Sorry to ask this, but I’d like you to keep answering Rosell’s questions. It’ll be good for him,” I replied.

“All right, fine. Don’t wanna get myself chased out, I guess. Plus, I’ve started thinking you might be right about him. Feels like he might have the makings of a decent tactician.”

“Oh, you think so?”

“Well, every once in a while, he comes up with something really out of the box. He’s a lot better at understanding stuff and thinking it through than I first thought, too. Not saying he’s got what it takes, but I can’t rule out the possibility that I misjudged him.”

“Then why not take him under your wing?”

“’Cause even I’ve got my limits,” grumbled Mireille. “The kid comes after me non-stop! Question after question without a break! I can’t go telling him off too much ’cause he’s a kid, but he’s way harder to persuade than you’d think. I just can’t deal with him.”

Guess she’s having a harder time than I thought…

I hadn’t expected her to be the sort of person who hated people approaching her for help. Still, the fact that Rosell was so interested in having her teach him felt like a step in the right direction.

Hopefully, his Intelligence will keep rising.

A few days later, we arrived in Semplar. The city was located on the coast and was surrounded by a large curtain wall. Unlike Canarre, there was no external portion of the city that was outside of the walls. It looked new as well, so I concluded that they’d been built in recent years.

The gateway into the city was close enough to the ocean that we could see the coast as we made our way inside. I hadn’t lived in a land-locked prefecture during my life in Japan and I’d seen the ocean plenty of times, but this was the first time I’d seen it in this lifetime. That said, the ocean was just the ocean, even in another world. It was big, blue, smelled like salt, and the sound of the waves lapping at the shore was calming. Everything was as I remembered it.

“So, what’s with all the water?” asked Charlotte, who looked downright puzzled. Apparently, this was her first time seeing the ocean.

“That’s the ocean. It’s my first time seeing it as well,” explained Rosell, who sounded more moved than shocked. “It’s enormous, huh? It stretches out so far that you can’t even see what’s on the other side.”

“I guess with that much water around, folks here never have to worry about going thirsty,” said Charlotte.

“Not quite,” I replied. “Seawater’s too salty to drink. If you tried, you’d get even thirstier than before.”

“Seriously? Then all that water’s useless!”

“It isn’t.”

Calling the whole ocean useless because you couldn’t drink from it felt just plain disrespectful, in a weird sort of way.

After we’d gotten our fill of the ocean, we made our way into the city of Semplar itself. Getting through the gates didn’t pose an obstacle─the guards asked a few questions, then waved us through without much fuss. It became clear as we stepped inside that Semplar either boasted a much higher population than Canarre, or at the very least had a lot more people coming and going. I had memories of my old world, so I wasn’t surprised to see streets packed to the brim with pedestrians, but Rosell and Charlotte were shocked by the sheer number of people who were out and about.

“If memory serves, Semplar has the second highest population of all the cities in Missian,” Rietz explained. The biggest, I had to assume, was the capital, Arcantez.

The size of the crowds wasn’t the only factor that made them so impactful─there was also a palpable sense of energy in the air. The streets were lined with stalls, and the hawkers who manned them were shouting their lungs out to advertise their goods. It seemed like all sorts of rare and interesting things were up for sale, so I found my attention drawn to them. However, the rational part of my brain knew we weren’t here on a shopping trip, so I held myself back.

A massive castle stood far away down the city’s main street. That, I knew, was Castle Semplar: the site of the war council. I was already planning to come back and take the full tour of the city, but for the moment, we had to make our way straight to the castle without wasting a moment.

Before we reached the castle, though, we ran into yet another wall. This one was much older than the first we’d passed through. I assumed that Semplar had once had a similar setup to Canarre, with an inner and outer city. That thought led me to the sudden realization that, considering Canarre was right on Seitz’s doorstep and that Seitz had grown more and more aggressive as of late, the town of Canarre was under-fortified at the moment. Of course, building walls took an abundance of time and money, so it wasn’t an easy problem to rectify.

Passing through the inner wall required us to present some sort of authorization. I didn’t have the sort of permit that locals would use, but I did have the letter of summons that Couran had sent me, which I showed to the guard. That gained us immediate entrance, thankfully. As we stepped into the inner city, I noted that the people here were more well-dressed and the buildings were more refined than those outside. It seemed this was where the rich people lived.

We arrived at the castle proper, I showed the guards my letter once again, and they ushered us through the outer gates.

Castle Semplar looked even more imposing up close than it had from a distance. I was certain that it was much larger than Castle Canarre. More impressive even than its size, though, was its coloration: the entire castle was a brilliant gold. I couldn’t tell if it was paint or if they’d covered the whole thing in gold leaf, but the effect was impactful regardless of the method. I’d seen plenty of castles by then, but this was the first golden one I’d encountered. I had to wonder whether that was Couran’s personal touch, or if it had always been that way. It seemed like a little too much, and the sheer excess struck me as more tacky than appealing. But as a show of wealth and power, it certainly did its job.

“We have awaited your arrival, Lord Ars Louvent,” a man said to me as I stepped inside. I recognized him as Robinson, the retainer who had accompanied Couran and I when we had our discussion back at the party. “His Lordship Couran has instructed me to escort you to him at once.”

We exchanged a quick greeting, and then Robinson led us to Couran. As we walked through the castle’s corridors, I was again struck by how opulent the place was. The carpets were colored a bright shade of red, while the walls were the same golden color on the inside as they were on the outside. We passed by several statues that seemed to be made of gold and studded with jewels along the way, as well. I had to wonder just how much gold a man could want in his life to justify this sort of design.

My train of thought was derailed, however, as a man clad in a suit of jet-black armor stepped out in front of me. His face was chiseled and handsome, and if I had to guess, I’d say he was somewhere in his late twenties. It was hard to describe what it was about him, but somehow, he gave off a sort of aura that told me he was no average individual. The man gave me the swiftest of sidelong glances, then went on his way without saying a word.

“Was that man a member of the Maitraw Company?” Rietz asked.

“Yes,” replied Robinson. “That is the current leader of the Maitraw Company, Clamant Maitraw III.”

The Maitraw Company was a band of mercenaries that Couran had taken into his service. They were purported to be the most capable group of sellswords in all of Missian, and I was already regretting missing my chance to appraise their leader. I resolved to give him a closer look the next time I had the chance.

Robinson led us onward through the castle. It was as tall as it was broad in scope, and it seemed Couran was on one of the upper floors. I lost count of how many staircases we climbed and was pretty tired by the time Robinson came to a stop and gestured at a door.

“You will find Lord Couran inside,” he explained, and I took that as permission to open the door.

“So you’ve arrived, Ars! Good,” said Couran as I stepped inside. “And you’ve brought your retainers, as promised! I have high hopes for their contributions.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“Hmm─I take it the Malkan is the renowned Rietz?”

“It is an honor to be known by a man of your station, Your Lordship. Rietz Muses, at your service.”

“And I see he’s quite the agreeable one, at that! What of the child next to you, Ars? He looks to be around your age. Is he a tactician as well?”

“Yes. In terms of pure potential, he’s the most talented individual I’ve met so far.”

“M-My name is Rosell Kischa… I-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Lordship,” Rosell somehow managed to say despite how nervous he was. Couran was the sort of high-ranking noble who exuded an air of authority, so I couldn’t blame him for feeling intimidated.

“Well, I’ll be looking forward to the insights you have to offer,” replied Couran. “And what of the girl? She strikes me as a mage, if I had to hazard a guess.”

“Yes, that’s correct. This is Charlotte Lace, who I brought along to serve as my bodyguard. She’s very capable─we were set upon by bandits several times over the course of our journey, yet she drove off every single one of them.”

“Nice meetin’ you, pops,” said Charlotte. It was such a casual way to greet a lord of Couran’s standing I almost choked.

“Ch-Charlotte!” I gasped. “Have some manners─he’s a lord! You’re supposed to call him ‘Lord Couran’ or ‘Your Lordship’!”

“Hah!” chuckled Couran. “No need to worry; I am not offended. From the perspective of a young woman like her, I’m sure I’m more than old enough to merit that sort of nickname.”

It seemed that he was an understanding enough person to laugh off that sort of casual boorishness, for all the good that did my fraying nerves.

“Lumeire has told me of an incredible mage in your employ─I presume that would be her, yes? And as for the last in your group,” said Couran, his gaze turning to Mireille. Instantly, his expression shifted. “Wh-What in the─Mireille?!”

Oh, I guess he knows her, I thought, then realized that it should have been obvious. Mireille was once powerful and esteemed enough among noble circles to be granted her own territory, after all.

Wait a minute…she told me that she was chased out of her position, right?

She’d given me that whole speech about how she’d been set up, sure, but considering what she was like, I knew I could trust that about as far as I could throw it. She’d definitely caused some sort of trouble to get herself cast out. There was no way for me to know what she’d done, but it hit me that bringing her here might’ve been a bad idea.

Of course, if Couran already knew Mireille, then it was safe to assume that he knew how talented she was. It was also safe to assume that he knew she was the sister of one of his enemy’s top tacticians. I was certain that, even knowing the risks, he would have the resolve necessary to make use of her knowledge and tactical prowess.

“So…you’re still alive,” Couran said after a long pause.

“Somehow,” replied Mireille.

“Well, I certainly can’t deny that you, of all people, have the ability to serve as a tactician,” said Couran. “That is not, however, to say I don’t have any reservations regarding this arrangement. How much do you know about this woman’s background, Ars?”

I gave Couran a quick rundown of everything I knew about Mireille, and he nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct. She is indeed the sister of one of my enemy’s tacticians, and she was also a close ally of Vasmarque himself, no less. I can by no means dismiss the possibility that she is a spy.”

“If I can get a word in edgewise,” said Mireille, “Vasmarque and I were never close. He used me, then gave me the boot. I have a grudge against the bastard like you wouldn’t believe.”

That answered one question, or at least started to: it seemed Vasmarque himself was involved in Mireille’s banishment.

“Plus, if I were a spy, why would I throw my lot in with House Louvent? Even I’m shocked that serving a petty little lordling has somehow ended up with me getting to meet you.”

“That is…reasonable, I must admit,” said Couran.

If I were just a petty baron of a tiny territory who had no particular ties to Couran, then it would make no sense for a spy to enter my service. She would’ve gone to Couran himself, or at the very least chosen a more influential lord to use for her purposes.

Couran folded his arms and sank into thought. He seemed to be weighing the costs and benefits of taking Mireille into the fold.

“How long has it been since you hired Mireille as your retainer, Ars?” he eventually asked.

“About a month.”

“And how has her behavior struck you, so far?”

I told him about Mireille’s conduct, sparing very little detail. In other words, I told him about how she’d shirked as much responsibility as possible, drank to excess at all times of the day, and caused so much trouble that she was more or less loathed by almost everyone else under me. The longer I spoke, the more I realized that if she was a spy, she had a funny way of going about her work. Most spies would have been downright desperate to earn the trust of the people they were spying on, yet she seemed to be doing the opposite, if anything.

“That isn’t enough to tell me beyond a shadow of a doubt that she isn’t a spy, but I’ll admit, it does seem unlikely. A problem remains, however: the fact that the other lords in my service will oppose her presence. We’ll have to do something about that,” said Couran after I finished. It seemed that he, at least, had decided that having her around was worth the risk. “In any case, there’s still some time left before the council begins. Until then, please make yourself at home.”

With our conversation over, Couran led us off to a luxurious chamber in another section of the castle. There we would wait for the war council to begin.

○

A few hours later, we were informed that it was time. The council was to be held in a room they called the Chamber of Debate. A large table was situated in the center of the chamber, and a map was spread out atop it. A fair number of nobles were already inside as well, seated around the table. I recognized most of them from the party I’d attended, but since their retainers hadn’t been allowed inside at the time, there were quite a few people present who I’d never seen before.

“Oh, Ars!” a voice rang out. “Couran told me that he’d invited you, but I have to say, I didn’t believe it until I saw you walk through the door!”

“Lord Lumeire!” I replied, turning to face him as he walked up to me. I hadn’t considered the possibility, but it seemed he’d been invited to the council as well. I also recognized Menas, one of his chief retainers, who was standing behind him.

“I’m impressed that Lord Couran already has you attending his councils. It seems he’s taken quite a liking to you! I’m very impressed!”

“I owe it all to you, Lord Lumeire. This is all thanks to you telling Lord Couran about me.”

Lumeire paused to consider my words.

“When you put it like that, I suppose I did bring you up a fair share of times, didn’t I? So yes, it was my doing! Though, I don’t think the tales I told were particularly tall ones. I reported the truth of your exploits, and if Lord Couran took a shine to you as a result, then you have your own efforts to thank for it.”

Just as Lumeire finished, a nearby nobleman called out to me.

“You there─you’re the boy from the party, aren’t you? What are you doing here?” he asked, looking more than a little suspicious.

“I received a personal summons to the council from Lord Couran,” I politely replied.

“You? A mere boy? And even if you were a man, House Louvent has not done enough to merit a seat at this table,” the nobleman snorted in contempt. He didn’t accuse me of anything, but his pointed glare made it clear he suspected I’d earned my invitation through underhanded means.

“What I want to know is who that Malkan he brought with him is! Can’t be his retainer, can it?” called out another noble. “Why in the name of decency would anyone bring one of those into these chambers?”

“As a matter of fact, he is my retainer, yes,” I replied.

“A Malkan, a retainer? You can’t expect me to swallow this drivel without question, can you? Malkans are an inferior breed, and if you think one of them is fit to serve nobility, I have questions about the stock you were raised from! Send him away before his stench starts to linger,” the first nobleman said, giving Rietz a look of open disgust.

“Stop right─” began Lumeire, but I held out an arm to interrupt him before he could defend us. I knew that this was a moment where I had to speak up for my people.

“Rietz is an exceptionally capable individual. His mind is as sharp as his blade, and he wields both with expert precision. He has done more for me and my household than any other. More to the point,” I continued, dropping into a sharper and less cordial tone, “I hope you recall that you stand within Lord Couran’s castle, not your own. It was under his orders that all of us were called to participate in this council. Neither I nor Rietz is under any obligation to bow to your command.”

That shut him up quick. The nobleman couldn’t seem to find the right words to respond with, so he spent a moment just glaring instead.

“Hmph! Stay, then, and prove yourselves to be the worthless fools you are. I shall enjoy the spectacle,” he jabbed, then spun about and stormed off.

“Thank you, Lord Ars,” said Rietz once the man was out of earshot.

“Defending the honor of my retainers is one of my responsibilities as a lord.”

Several people gave him very skeptical looks after that point, but nobody else seemed inclined to speak out against him.

Shortly thereafter, we took our seats around the table. It seemed that quite a large number of people had been summoned to participate in the council. I assumed the idea was that the more people who were present, the more chances there were of formulating a decent plan.

“I thank you all for answering my summons,” said Couran as he stepped into the chamber. “I would like to begin our discussion at once, and I hope to develop an overall strategy for our campaign before we adjourn.”

In other words, Couran intended to plot out the course of the whole war at this very meeting. Without a solid plan to base the movement of our troops around, even if we were to win battles on a local scale, we would have very little hope of claiming victory in the long term.

“Robinson?” said Couran.

“Yes, Milord,” said Robinson, who then spread open a rolled-up sheet of parchment, which he began reading off of. “At present, our forces number one hundred and ten thousand. We have fifty-five thousand infantrymen, thirty thousand archers, twenty thousand cavalrymen, and five thousand mages at our disposal. In regards to the latter, we are capable of providing three thousand small catalyzers, two thousand five hundred medium ones, and five hundred large ones. Our aqua magia reserves come out to an approximate total of fifty-four thousand, one hundred and thirty Ms. Our provisions, meanwhile, can keep our entire force fighting fit for years on end. As for the enemy’s forces, while we lack information on the particulars, we are aware they have twenty thousand more men than we do. That said, our men are far better equipped.”

The fact that we didn’t have clear information about the state of Vasmarque’s forces was vexing to me. No sooner than Robinson finished his speech, one of the nobles I wasn’t familiar with began to shout.

“I have a plan!” he bellowed. “Our forces are made up of strong men and their morale is high! My armies will dominate any battlefield they are dispatched to! I believe that we should march upon the enemy stronghold, Arcantez, right away! If we mobilize the full might of our combined forces, we will not fail!”

It was clear just by looking at the man that he was more of a fighter than a thinker. In fact, judging by the nature of his plan, I wasn’t convinced there was so much as a single thought running through his head at all.

“Your grasp of the situation is shallow,” said another noble with glasses. “The odds of us seizing victory with such a barbaric plan are much lower than you give them credit for.”

He seemed bright, so I appraised him and found that he had an Intelligence score of 71. The other guy, by the way, had a 41.

“The only way to guarantee victory in battle is to grasp your opponent’s weakness,” said the man with glasses. “Vasmarque’s one fatal flaw is the illegitimacy of his claim. Reason and custom dictate that the eldest son, Lord Couran, inherit his father’s household, and while Vasmarque was at one point slated to inherit the position instead, those plans were discarded. He may claim that the duke only rescinded the nomination out of respect for Lord Couran’s objection and that the duke intended to reinstate him as his successor in due time, but without the duke himself around to attest one way or the other, such claims are unsubstantiated.”

The man in glasses wasn’t done yet. He carried on, eloquently conveying his thoughts.

“Vasmarque is a capable schemer, and I’m sure he has coaxed many of our fellow lords into backing his cause, but what of the people? Do you not believe that the citizens of Arcantez question his rule? I believe that if the people of Arcantez were to denounce Vasmarque and accept Lord Couran as their true and just ruler, the war would be all but won.”

Now we’re getting somewhere!

That seemed like a reasonable strategy, as far as I could tell. Sure, he hadn’t proposed any specific methods for turning the people of Arcantez against Vasmarque, but this was a general strategy meeting, and that fell more within the realm of tactics.

“It seems your information is somewhat lacking, Mark,” said Couran. Mark, incidentally, was the name of the bespectacled lord. “Our foe is talented at rallying the people to his cause. In the time I have spent building up Semplar into Missian’s capital of trade and commerce, Vasmarque has gained the backing of citizens in cities throughout the duchy. The people of Arcantez are loyal to him, to the extent that earning their trust after he is defeated will pose a problem in its own right. So long as Vasmarque lives, gaining the support of Arcantez’s population will be all but impossible.”

“I-Is that so?” replied Mark, the color draining from his face. “My deepest apologies, Milord.”

“No need to apologize. I shall not fault anyone for expressing their opinion.”

The atmosphere around the table remained heavy. The room fell into silence, and for quite some time, nobody dared to be the next to propose a plan.

“U-Umm, m-may I say something?” asked Rosell in a trembling voice, breaking the long silence.

The gazes of all the nobles present fell upon him. Whispers began to circulate, most of them along the lines of, “That child has something to contribute?”

Rosell flinched back, terrified, but then he took a deep breath and seemed to calm down. Then, he began to speak.

“It, umm, seems like everyone’s assuming we have to claim Arcantez, but I believe the enemy will have the city well-fortified, and Castle Arcantez is the sturdiest and most defensible stronghold in all of Missian. Conquering the city would prove difficult, and so, I think we should instead focus our efforts on the next largest city under their influence, Velshdt.”

“Velshdt? What will conquering Velshdt gain us?” asked a nobleman. “We’ll never win this war unless we take Arcantez!”

“It’s true that taking Velshdt won’t guarantee our victory, but it will bring us much closer to that objective. I’m sure all of you understand the strategic importance that Velshdt holds, right?”

At that, the assembled lords fell into thought. Rosell was proposing that if they couldn’t claim the enemy’s capital, they should start small and claim the surrounding regions first. If Velshdt were to fall, then it would expose Vasmarque’s weakness and raise the odds of the lords serving under him deciding to stab him in the back. As far as I could tell, it wasn’t a bad plan at all.

“Unlike Arcantez, I do not believe the people of Velshdt hold Vasmarque in high esteem,” said Couran in a thoughtful tone. “In the worst case, claiming Arcantez by force could result in its citizens rising against us. Claiming Velshdt, however, would pose no such risk. Moreover, the castle in Velshdt is one of the oldest and most decrepit in all of Missian. I’d bet it hasn’t been fortified to withstand modern war magic, and that would make it all but impossible to defend… A sound plan, indeed.”

“The enemy will expect us to advance upon Arcantez,” said Rosell. “I propose that we do so, to start, but then divert the bulk of our forces to Velshdt, leaving a small force on the path to Arcantez to draw out their army. If all goes well, we could claim the city with ease.”

Not only had Rosell’s suggestion been approved by the commanding lord, but he’d even proposed a specific method to go about carrying it out. It was obvious that nobody was happy to have to take a child’s suggestion, and some of them were trying to come up with counter-arguments, but nobody seemed able to think up anything good enough.

“May I offer a suggestion as well?” asked Rietz. This time, the lords’ scornful gazes turned upon him.

“Please speak, Sir Rietz,” said Robinson, granting him formal permission to offer his viewpoint. With the word of Couran’s right-hand man backing him up, none of the assembled nobles had any hope of silencing him.

“I believe Rosell’s suggestion that we conquer Velshdt is sound. However, I do not believe that a feint is our best option. Not only is there a chance that the enemy will catch on and send troops to reinforce Velshdt, but the even greater danger is that they will instead send their forces here, to Semplar. If Semplar were to fall, we would find ourselves fighting at an overwhelming disadvantage. We would have to call our troops to its defense if we learned the enemy intended to strike here, which would render our surprise attack on Velshdt moot.”

“Good point,” said Rosell, nodding all the while. Rietz had indeed picked out a flaw in his plan. “That means we would either have to leave part of our forces in Semplar to guard the city or send more troops off to make the diversion more convincing.”

“If we thin out our troops, conquering Velshdt may prove difficult,” countered Rietz.

“True, but think about it this way: if the enemy’s main force in Arcantez is drawn out to attack Semplar, that means they’ll be fighting on our terms! It’s easier to set traps when you’re fighting in your own territory, for one thing. We’d be at an obvious advantage! In the best-case scenario, we may even be able to surround the enemy’s main force and wipe them out in one fell swoop!”

“That does make sense,” I said. I was indeed under the impression that as long as you were aware that the enemy would be advancing on your territory, fighting on home turf gave you the upper hand. Would that be enough to turn the tide in our favor, though? Vasmarque was known to have several talented tacticians on his side, and provoking him into attacking Semplar seemed pretty risky.

“What do you think about all this, Mireille?” I asked, turning to the third member of my party.

“I think Rosell’s got the right idea when it comes to attacking Velshdt first,” replied Mireille, who looked like she’d been about to nod off before I called on her. “I’ve seen Castle Arcantez up close and personal, and I can tell you that it won’t be easy to bring it down. The rest of the plan, though? I’d toss that out. Vasmarque and his people aren’t suckers, so there’s no way we’d fool them with such cheap tricks. I doubt they’d bother attacking Semplar at all.”

Now that Mireille had the room’s attention, the nobles began to whisper amongst themselves.

“W-Wait a moment…I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

“He called her Mireille, didn’t he?”

“Surely not that Mireille?!”

Apparently, most of them already knew of her.

Guess I should’ve expected that, since she used to be a baroness and all.

“What an honor that I’d be remembered by such esteemed guests.”

“Lord Couran!” a nobleman shouted. “Do you know who that woman is?! She was driven out from her place of authority for a very good reason!”

“And her brother is Vasmarque’s closest ally!” another yelled. “She could be a spy!”

“Hold!” shouted Couran. “I know who she is, and I was already aware that she was in attendance. Her skill is unquestionable, and I have deemed it unlikely that she is a spy. As such, I have chosen to trust her.”

Once again, none present could bring themselves to defy their direct superior’s orders. Mireille was free to speak once more.

“More than anything else, Vasmarque moves with caution. He anticipates every possible development and plans how to deal with each and every one of them in advance. I doubt we can out-plot him.”

“I believe I know better than anyone how clever the man is,” replied Couran. “But what, then, do you propose we do to overcome him?”

“I have a few plans in mind that he’d have a hard time dealing with, even if he does see them coming. First of all, the territory that Vasmarque governs shares its north-western border with the Duchy of Paradille. We could enlist their support.”

“Wait,” said Couran. “The Duke of Paradille has long despised my father, and as his children, we’ve inherited that distaste. I cannot imagine he would ally himself with Vasmarque, but by the same token, I do not believe he would offer me aid.”

“True, but the Duke of Paradille’s also part of a dying breed: he considers himself an oathbound servant of the Imperial House. If we could convince them to serve as an intermediary, the odds are high that we’d be able to get Paradille on our side. These days, the Imperial House is starved for coin, so with the wealth you wield, enlisting their aid shouldn’t be hard at all.”

“Asking the Imperial House to serve as our intermediary… I see. I do not claim to like the idea, but it may well be our best option. Moreover, Vasmarque does not have the sort of funding to his name that I do. It is a card that he would be incapable of playing.”

Couran seemed to be considering putting Mireille’s plan into action.

“Very well, then,” declared Couran. “Allow me to summarize the plan as it stands. Although our ultimate goal remains the conquest of Arcantez, we will disregard it and instead endeavor to claim Velshdt first. Furthermore, we will do so by enlisting the aid of Paradille to bolster our numbers.”

With that, the broad strokes of the plan were settled. That meant it was time to focus on the nitty-gritty little tactical details: when to appeal to the Imperial House for aid, who to send on that mission, how much money to have ready for the bribe, and so on and so forth. Everyone agreed that sending our emissary right away was the best course of action, but it would still have to wait until a variety of preparations were complete.

It went without saying that Couran wouldn’t dream of having anyone less than exceptional conduct negotiations with the Imperial House. However, with matters in Missian as they stood, handling the matter himself wasn’t feasible. Thus, it was decided that Couran’s first-born son would be entrusted with the task, with Robinson going along as his assistant.

I happened to notice that Couran looked more than a little apprehensive when he nominated his son for the task. I’d never met the son in question, but I didn’t get the impression Couran believed he was all that capable. Couran claimed that everything would work out as long as he had Robinson there to advise him, though it sort of sounded like he was talking to himself when he said that just as much as he was talking to the rest of us.

As for the money, an astonishing sum of several tens of thousands of gold coins was readied─and that was just the advance payment. A boat was to be readied to transport it. The Imperial Capital, like Semplar, was located by the coast, so traveling by sea was the quickest option. The ships at Couran’s disposal were cutting-edge by the standards of this world’s technology, and he had both a skilled navigator and a talented marine pilot under his employ, so the chances of the vessel sinking en route were next to none.

A few plans were also hashed out for what to do if the negotiations went awry. We still wouldn’t be trying to outwit our foe, though. Instead, we’d be shoring up our defenses and mounting a more direct invasion of Velshdt at the same time, attempting to gain the upper hand by way of pure tactics. In short: the idea was to keep plan B simple and straightforward.

And with that, our immediate plans were laid and the conference came to an end. The assembled lords began to leave the Chamber of Debate one by one. I, however, remained seated on account of Couran having ended the meeting with the words: “Ars! I would like you to stay for a moment.” His choice of phrasing seemed to convey he wanted me and me alone to stay, and the other lords took the hint, so it wasn’t long before I was left alone with him and Robinson in the chamber.

“You have held up your end of our bargain well, Ars. The tacticians you brought are exceptional indeed, and you have my thanks,” said Couran.

“I’m honored by your words, Milord.”

“Of course, I could take issue with your choice to bring Mireille, of all the people, but considering the circumstances, I’ll refrain from nitpicking,” he added with a smile. “Now then, to business. I have another favor I would like to ask of you.”

It seemed that thanking me was the preamble─Couran had asked me to remain behind because he wanted me to do something for him once again.

“As you are aware, I have already selected an individual to negotiate with the Imperial House. However, I have my apprehensions about sending Rengue and Robinson alone to handle the task. Are you familiar with anyone who would do well as an assistant in such negotiations?”

Rengue, of course, was the name of Couran’s son. I knew that Robinson’s Politics score was quite high already, but it seemed Couran was still unconvinced that his help alone would be enough. Either Couran was extremely cautious, or Rengue was just that unreliable.

“Rietz would be the most politically adept of my retainers,” I replied without hesitation.

“Rietz, is it…?” said Couran with a frown. “That would pose difficulties. The Imperial Capital and the surrounding regions are among the most prejudiced in all the empire when it comes to the Malkan people. I would be disinclined to send him, for his own sake.”

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

Okay, so the next highest Politics score would be… But who would that be? Rosell? No, even if his score is the highest, this is way too heavy of a task for him. Mireille and Charlotte are out of the running as well, so I guess I don’t have any retainers suited for the task.

Or so I thought, but then, at the last second, I remembered Licia.

Wait, that’s right! She has a high Politics score! Maybe she’d be able to help!

The problem, of course, was that she was my fiancée, not my retainer. She wasn’t even a part of my household yet, so giving her such a task seemed like a tall order…but I decided to let Couran know about her anyway, just for good measure.

“Your fiancée, you say? Hmm… I am less than inclined to coerce a girl such as her into going out on this sort of journey. Nevertheless, if you speak with her and her father and receive their consent, I would like you to bring her to see me.”

“Understood,” I replied. Just talking with Licia and her family sounded easy enough.

With that, Couran’s business with me was finished. We spent the night in the castle, then departed for Lamberg.

○

Arriving back at my estate and then immediately setting out to visit Licia at her home would have been rude, so instead, I decided to send her a letter expressing my desire to visit first. Essentially, I wrote that I had important matters to discuss with her regarding the war and that she didn’t need to bother preparing to welcome us as formal guests.

Well, I sent the letter to her father, Hammond, not to Licia herself. I had a feeling that he’d be opposed to the idea of sending her to the capital, so I knew I was going to have to have a discussion with him before long. Of course, I had a hard time imagining that Couran would judge him for turning down that sort of request, so I didn’t think it would be a disaster even if he dug his feet in. I wasn’t certain how helpful Licia would be in the negotiations, anyway, so I wasn’t planning on insisting.

Before I received a reply, one of my retainers came to report to me on an altogether different matter.

“I bring a report from Ben of the Shadows, Lord Ars.”

I’d known that I’d be out for some time on account of my trip to Semplar, and wouldn’t be able to receive any reports from Ben in person. And so, I’d left one of my retainers with instructions to retrieve his report and hand over the gold in my place. It seemed that had worked out as intended.

“Good work,” I replied, then opened up the report and began to read.

To begin with, it informed me that the Shadows had begun developing channels of information that would let them learn about our enemies. The report said nothing about how they were doing that, but I wasn’t going to fuss over the little details. Anyway, it went on to say that as time passed, Vasmarque was becoming more and more convinced that his occupation of Castle Arcantez gave him the upper hand in the war. As such, he would not choose to sally forth and strike the first blow at present. That was only true for the time being, though, as one of Vasmarque’s advisors had started insisting that an invasion of Perreina was their best move. Talks on the subject were still ongoing, but they were growing rather heated.

Next, the report explained that Vasmarque was attempting to forge an alliance with the Duchy of Seitz. The plan, it seemed, was to convince Seitz’s leadership to carry out an attack on Couran’s domain. Discussions with Seitz had yet to bear fruit, but it seemed they had expressed a certain degree of interest, so I couldn’t rule their alliance out. They had also tried to conduct under-the-table negotiations with both the Duchy of Paradille and the Imperial House, but both of those attempts had fallen through. Vasmarque had anticipated that Couran might attempt to ally himself with Paradille, but had written the plan off as a flight of fancy.

That concluded all the new information the Shadows had for me. The letter ended with a note that all of it had come from a single source─one of Vasmarque’s retainers─so they couldn’t guarantee it was a hundred percent reliable. Still, I was impressed that they’d managed to amass that much information about the enemies’ strategies in such a short time.

Looks like the Shadows live up to their reputation! Good thing I went to the effort of hiring them.

I knew that if Vasmarque and Seitz worked out an alliance, things would get very nasty, especially here in Canarre. Since our county was on the border with Seitz, it seemed safe to assume that we would suffer the most damage if the duchy threw itself into the war. Needless to say, that included Lamberg─there was no chance my barony would escape unscathed.

I decided to report the Shadows’ findings to Couran. I had a feeling that he had some sort of spy network of his own, and he might have already found all of this out himself, but just to be safe, it seemed like a good idea to let him know. I wrote down all the pertinent information in a letter, then sent it off right away.

A few days later, a letter arrived from Hammond granting me permission to visit him and his daughter. I wasted no time in calling together an escort and setting out for Torbequista and the Pleide family’s estate.

○

Torbequista, the barony that House Pleide ruled over, was located in the County of Canarre, so it wasn’t a far trip from Lamberg. If we kept a rapid pace, the whole journey would take less than a day. I set out first thing in the morning with Rietz and the others as my escort, and after urging our horses on for the better part of the day, we arrived in the evening.

“It’s wonderful to see you, Lord Ars!” exclaimed Licia, who was waiting to greet us upon our arrival. “It feels like it’s been so long since we last met!”

The last time we’d met, as far as I could remember, was about two months ago.

I guess that counts as a long time…

It wasn’t long enough for her to look any different, though she did have a rather extravagant dress on. It seemed she’d dressed up for the occasion.

“It’s good to see you too,” I replied.

Licia went around to greet Rietz and the rest of my escort, then turned back to me.

“Now then, allow me to lead you into the estate.”

House Pleide’s estate struck me as just a little older than my own, at least judging by its appearance. The grounds were full of flowers, which I assumed Licia had grown herself. It was the tenth day of the second month, which meant it was fall. Once the cold of winter set in, the majority of the flowers would die off, but it was still early enough in the season for quite a wide variety of them to be in full bloom.

We proceeded into the estate’s main building, the interior of which reminded me of House Louvent’s. Licia led us to a parlor where we found Hammond waiting for us.

“It’s wonderful to see you, Ars! Welcome to our abode,” said Hammond with a smile.

“It’s a pleasure to see you as well, Lord Hammond,” I replied. “Thank you for allowing us to visit you today.”

“Oh, think nothing of it! I’ve been hoping to speak with you as well, as it so happens. Come, come─have a seat!”

I sat down, and Licia took a seat in a chair beside her father.

“I do hope you’ll pardon us for being so ill-prepared to host you. I know you were gracious enough to write that we needn’t bother, but I only refrained because such joviality seemed less than suitable for talks of war.”

“No need to apologize,” I replied. “I’m grateful enough that you were willing to hear me out.”

“And on that subject, let us proceed to the matter at hand! You wrote that Licia would have to be present for our discussion as well, yes? What, may I ask, is your business with us today?”

I explained that Couran would soon be conducting negotiations with the Imperial House and the Duke of Paradille, that he was looking for assistants to aid in the negotiations, and that I had proposed Licia as a potential candidate. Licia’s and Hammond’s eyes widened when I delivered that last piece of news. They seemed shocked.

“You want Licia to play such an important role?” Hammond asked. “And are we to interpret this as an order from Lord Couran?”

“No, not an order. As things stand, I’ve merely proposed Licia as a candidate for the task. Lord Couran informed me that he has no intention of forcing her to accept the role, and specified that he would need consent from both of you before anything concrete is decided.”

“Is that so…?” murmured Hammond. “But would Licia even be capable of serving as a negotiator’s aide? She’s but a girl of thirteen, and has very little practical experience with such matters…not to mention the fact that a journey that long is liable to be fraught with danger.”

As expected, Hammond seemed reluctant to give his permission. Thus, I decided to make an effort to talk him into it.

“I have full faith in Licia’s abilities. I believe that she has an exceptional talent for this sort of negotiation─more than enough to carry out this task. In regard to the dangers, Lord Couran’s own son will be serving as the chief negotiator, so you can rest assured that their party will be well-guarded.”

Licia’s current Politics score was sitting at 89 points. She was still a single point shy of an even 90, but that was still plenty high for her to be helpful.

“Hmm… I’m Licia’s father, so I am aware of her talents. And if her guard will be that reliable, then perhaps… Yes, this may well be a learning opportunity for her… I would not be opposed to such a venture,” said Hammond. I’d managed to change his mind without too much trouble, it seemed. “What about you, Licia? What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Licia’s opinion was the sole remaining obstacle. If she agreed, I’d be able to move my suggestion forward with Couran. She spent a moment in thought, then said, “I would be willing to go, under two conditions. First, I would ask that Lord Ars accompany us on our voyage. Even with Lord Couran’s soldiers present, I would not feel safe with an escort of strangers. If Lord Ars was there, though, I would be able to rest easy.”

“Huh? Wait, me? But I have no talent for combat, and I’m not even fully grown! I’m as weak as they come! There must be someone among House Pleide’s retainers who would be a better fit for the role…”

“If you’re by my side, Lord Ars, I will be able to rest easy,” repeated Licia with a smile and a firm tone that told me she would brook no argument.

“I-I see…” I replied, for lack of a better option.

“As for my second condition… After the war is over, I would have you marry me.”

An identical look of bewilderment crossed the faces of everyone present.

“W-Wait a moment, Licia,” said Hammond. “Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for you to be thinking about marriage? Y-You are engaged to Ars, yes, but that doesn’t mean─”

“I imagine the war will carry on for about two years or so,” replied Licia. “By that point, I will be fifteen and Lord Ars will be fourteen. I would hardly call that too soon, Father!”

By Japanese standards, it was, but in this world, a marriage at the age of fourteen wasn’t anything out of the ordinary─not that you’d know it from Hammond’s reaction to Licia’s proposal. I, on the other hand, was worried about something different: promising someone you’d marry her once the war ended felt like the start of my tragic end.

That ominous bit of foreshadowing aside, I wasn’t opposed to the marriage itself. I mean, we were already engaged, so our marriage was already a matter of when, not if. My perception of Licia had changed quite a bit since I’d first met her, and I was a lot less apprehensive on that front than I used to be. From my perspective, there were nothing but upsides to marrying her, so it felt a little weird for that to be used as a condition on her part. I had to wonder if Licia had some reason why she wanted to speed our marriage along.

The main problem was that she wanted me to go to the capital with her. That would mean I’d have to leave Lamberg unattended for a lengthy period of time. Would everything be all right while I was gone?

“What do you think, Rietz? Should I go with them?” I whispered.

“Let me think… Your absence would indeed cause a fair share of inconveniences, but if you succeed in your task, you may well gain Lord Couran’s trust to an even greater degree. Moreover, I believe visiting the capital and Paradille will be a very good experience. You might even find someone talented to bring into your employ… So yes, I believe it would be in your best interests to accept.”

“Hmm…”

It occurred to me that as long as I left Rietz behind to manage things, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything going wrong back at my estate. And, as Rietz himself told me, I stood to gain quite a lot from taking on the task.

“Very well, then,” I said, looking back to Licia. “I accept your terms.”

“Wonderful! You have my thanks, Lord Ars,” Licia replied with a smile. “In that case, I too shall accept your offer and agree to serve as an advisor for the negotiations.”

“And I will not object,” added Hammond, who still seemed a little reluctant when it came to the matter of marriage. Seeing as he was her father, I couldn’t blame him.

In any case, I now had my master negotiator. Licia and I would be traveling together.

○

I needed to make plenty of preparations before I set out for the capital, so for the moment, I returned to Lamberg. Licia had her fair share of things to do as well, it seemed, and since Lamberg was closer to Torbequista than Semplar, we decided that she would first stop by my estate, after which the two of us would travel together.

Thus, preparing for the trip to Semplar had to come before anything else. I was planning on stocking up on the supplies I’d need for the capital leg once I arrived there─after all, if I brought along everything I’d need to get to the capital, I’d have way too much luggage to handle.

I also had to decide who I’d take with me. It went without saying that I would need a guard to escort me to Semplar, and although Couran’s guards would be watching over me from there to the capital, I still wanted somebody around who I knew I could trust. That was especially true because I realized Couran’s guards would prioritize his son’s safety over mine in the event of an emergency. I needed someone who could protect me and Licia if we ended up getting the short end of the stick.

I figured asking Charlotte to tag along was a good call. Since the central Empire was extra prejudiced against Malkans, I couldn’t bring Rietz, so I decided to leave him in charge of my estate instead. That left me with few retainers with high Valor scores. The next most attractive candidate was Mireille, but there was no telling what sort of trouble she’d cause if I brought her, so I decided against it.

Of course, there’s also no telling what sort of trouble she’ll get up to at the estate while I’m gone, but I’m sure Rietz will be able to keep her in line.

Rosell’s brothers had pretty decent Valor scores, so I decided to take them instead.

Next, I wrote a letter to Couran informing him that Licia had accepted the task under the condition that I go with her. I knew that it would take quite some time for a reply to arrive, so I wasn’t planning to wait to hear from him before I departed. I just had to hope he wouldn’t object to the idea of me making the journey, since that would throw a real wrench into the works. I kept telling myself that Couran’s boat would be huge and that it would be just fine, but I knew deep down that there was a chance he’d reject the plan. In the worst case, I was prepared to attempt some desperate last-minute negotiations.

A few days later, Licia arrived at my estate by horse-drawn carriage with an escort of maids and soldiers. I didn’t know when we were supposed to set sail, so my goal was to get to Semplar as fast as humanly possible, and we ended up setting out pretty much right after Licia arrived.

“Well, I’m off,” I said to Rietz.

“Safe travels to you! Know that your estate will be in good hands until you return,” replied Rietz, looking pretty glum about the idea of being left behind.

“What, not bringing me along? Bah─and I was gonna sample all the booze the capital had to offer! They get stuff in from all across Summerforth!” grumbled Mireille.

“I think the trip would be a lot more fun with Miss Mireille along for the ride,” Charlotte added, a hint of hope in her voice.

“We’re not going on vacation, people,” I sighed. “And besides, there’s plenty of booze for you here in Lamberg.”

Mireille clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Drat! Figures it wouldn’t work.”

“Lord Ars is just too stubborn,” said Charlotte.

This wasn’t the first time Mireille had tried to talk her way into the trip, and I’d turned her down on every attempt. I had a bad feeling that a drunk Mireille plus Charlotte would be a disastrous combination, and I did not want our faces ending up on wanted posters after we blew away half of the capital with magic.

“What’re the capital and Paradille like, anyway?” asked Rosell. “Be sure to bring back some souvenirs, Ars!”

“I just said we’re not going on a vacation…but yes, I’m sure I can bring something back for you.”

Rosell was a real bookworm, so I figured I’d look for some sort of rare tome that he’d appreciate.

“Well then,” said Rietz, “I shall be praying for your safe return and success in your endeavors, Lord Ars. You as well, Charlotte.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back before you know it,” I replied.

“Later!” shouted Charlotte.

And so, we set off from my estate, climbing aboard a carriage and making our way to Semplar with Licia.

○

Once again, we were set upon by bandits a few times on the road to Semplar. Once again, Charlotte drove them away with her magic without breaking a sweat.

“You’re incredible, Lady Charlotte!” gushed Licia after one particular incident, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Meh, it’s not that impressive. Taking out a few bandits is a given for someone as skilled as I am,” said Charlotte. She practically exuded smugness from every pore.

I swear, you give that girl even a hint of praise and it goes straight to her head, I thought, giving her a chilly glare. But then, I let out a reflexive shout as something jolted the carriage out of nowhere. Not just once, either─it kept bumping and swaying around as we carried along. It seemed we’d reached a road that was less than well-maintained. The shaking was so intense that I ended up falling over and catching onto Charlotte’s shoulder to support myself.

“Whoa, there! Bumpy ride, huh? I’ll keep you nice and safe, Lord Ars!” said Charlotte, who then proceeded to wrap her arms around me and pull me right into her chest. I felt my face press into something soft…and was distracted by her distinctive scent. I’d lived for thirty-five years in my previous incarnation without ever so much as touching a woman, so I wasn’t used to this sort of thing. In short: I had no idea what to do with myself.

“H-Hey, Charlotte!”

“You’ve grown a little, huh, Lord Ars? Surprised you’re this heavy,” said Charlotte, ignoring my protests. It felt like she was treating me like her little brother or something.

In the end, Charlotte kept holding me until we made it onto a more well-maintained road, where she released me. I reeled back and clutched at my pounding heart, then happened to glance over at Licia, who appeared to be smiling. I said “appeared to be” because for some reason, the smile on her face terrified me. It was hard to explain, but there was an intensity to her expression that I didn’t want directed at me.

“Lord Ars?” said Licia.

“Y-Yes?”

“I trust that Lady Charlotte’s bosom made for a comfortable cushion?” Licia asked. Her smile didn’t slip for a second, but her voice came out in an unusual and frightening monotone.

She’s gotta be mad, right? I mean, she is my fiancée, and Charlotte might be one of my retainers, but she’s also a girl! Sure, she was just keeping me upright, but she didn’t have to hug me that close. If Licia’s angry, I can’t blame her at all!

“N-No, it’s not what you th─” I began, hoping to explain myself, only to be cut off by Charlotte herself.

“Oh, right! I guess Lord Ars is a boy,” she said. “I was wondering why his heart was pounding up a storm. But hey, all boys love big breasts. You can’t blame him for it.”

Licia’s smile spasmed.

Oh, god. She’s mad. She was mad before, and she’s frothing mad after that comment.

There was no explaining my way out of the situation anymore, so I decided to just clam up and drown in my own cold sweat. Licia, meanwhile, just stared at me, unblinking, her smile never budging. I spent longer than I liked feeling like I was sitting on a bed of nails before she looked away and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

At that point, Licia scooted over to whisper in Charlotte’s ear. Just when I was wondering what she could be asking, Charlotte spoke up.

“Huh? How to make yours as big as mine? Just eat a lot─that’s all I did,” she said, out loud, ruining Licia’s efforts to ask the question surreptitiously. Licia flew into a blushing panic and shushed her, but the damage was done. I’d never seen Licia freak out like that before, though considering the subject matter at hand, I couldn’t blame her.

Unfortunately for Licia, Charlotte either didn’t understand her gesture or otherwise didn’t care, and just kept on talking without a hint of restraint.

“Y’know, I wasn’t that big myself before I moved to the estate, but I started eating way better once I got there. I think you might just be underfed, Licia.”

Uh, no. I’m pretty sure you just happened to hit your growth spurt around the time I hired you.

On the other hand, it was possible that she wouldn’t have grown as much if she’d suffered malnutrition throughout said growth spurt, so she wasn’t all wrong.

At that point, Licia glanced over at me. I did my best to look away and pretend I wasn’t listening, but it occurred to me that I wasn’t a great actor and that overplaying my lack of reaction just made it more obvious that I’d heard everything.

Whoops.

Licia let out a long, heavy sigh.

“You and Lord Ars are each hard to handle in your own right,” she muttered, her shoulders slumping with weariness.

○

We made it to Semplar unscathed. Licia seemed moved as she stared out at the city streets.

“So this is Semplar,” she marveled. “I’ve never been so far from my homeland… I’ve heard tales of the ocean, but it was hard to believe that such a vast body of water existed.”

“We’re about to ride a ship over it to get to the capital, so you’ll have plenty of time to appreciate it,” I noted.

“Just the thought of it is exciting!”

I’d been sort of worried that she’d find a journey of this length nerve-racking, but it seemed those concerns had been groundless.

Our next destination was Castle Semplar, where we brought Licia to meet with Couran.

“I take it you are Licia?” he asked. His voice sounded a little lower than usual, and that tone gave him a very intimidating air. “I am Couran Salemakhia.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Licia replied without missing a beat. “My name is Licia Pleide. I have heard many tales of your exploits and achievements, Lord Couran.”

Couran gave Licia a long, appraising glance, and then his expression softened.

“Hmm. Most girls I meet are so scared of me that they can hardly speak a word. I can see your nerves are made of stronger stuff than the average lass’s.”

Oh, was he testing her? I wondered. It made a certain amount of sense─if that was enough to leave Licia shaken, then she wouldn’t be ready for a mission of this magnitude. I had absolute faith in my power’s assessment of Licia, of course, but I could understand his desire to give her a quick test himself.

“Now then, I’ve read your letter, but for the sake of certainty, I must hear it from your lips. Do you mean to travel with the negotiators, Ars?” asked Couran, seeking my confirmation.

“Yes, on Lady Licia’s request.”

“Then I see no need to object. You are welcome to accompany the party.”

“Thank you.”

I felt more than a little relieved that he’d granted me permission.

“In fact, I find that plan the opposite of objectionable,” Couran continued. “I’m pleased to hear that you will be a part of this venture.”

“Are you saying you want me to look for more talented personnel in the capital?” I asked.

“No, not at all… Tell me, Ars─does your power allow you to perceive your own talents?”

“No, it doesn’t. I’m the only person it doesn’t work on.”

“I see. Then it may come as news to you that you have a gift for politics─or at least, you do in my eyes. I believe it’s quite possible that you, yourself, will play an important role in the negotiations.”

“D-Do you?”

A gift for politics? Me?

I’d more or less surmised that my Valor and Intelligence were less than exceptional, but I had yet to pin down my Leadership or Politics scores, even in a broad sense. I knew I wasn’t talentless, but I also never saw any particular reason to describe myself as talented. Frankly, I couldn’t think of any instance in which I’d demonstrated any sort of talent to Couran, and I was unsure where he’d gotten the idea that I had any into his head. Maybe it was just instinct? I didn’t believe I was talented, in any case, but I didn’t see anything wrong with indulging in the fantasy every once in a while.

“It will take about another week to prepare for the voyage. And, oh─it so happens that my son is visiting the castle today. I’ll introduce you to him now,” Couran said before he sent out one of his retainers to summon his son.

A short while later, the door to the room opened once more.

“You called for me, Father?” said a tall, blond-haired man. He stepped inside, along with a red-haired girl who looked about ten or so.

The boy was Couran’s son, Rengue. I could see the resemblance─even if I hadn’t been told he was Couran’s offspring, I would’ve known they were related at first glance.

Who’s the girl, though? She’s cute, yeah, but that’s about all I can…hmm?

Looking a little closer, I realized that she was wearing a style of clothing more common to boys.

Are they a boy, then? But it’s odd for a boy to have hair as long as theirs…and they’re cute enough that I can’t see them as anything other than a girl!

I decided to just appraise the two of them. First off, I took a look at Rengue.

He turned out to be more or less what I’d expected. His maximum scores were rather high, but his current scores were low. For a man of twenty to have that big of a gap between his current state and his potential, I had to assume that he was either a lazy bum or just a late bloomer.

Next, I appraised the child.

His stats ended up being just a little above average. He struck me as a jack of all trades, master of none. He was also another Salemakhia, so I had to wonder if he was Couran’s son as well.

“This is my first son, Rengue, and my third son, Teknado,” said Couran. “I intended to send Rengue on his own at first, but Teknado insisted on accompanying him. I believe that getting out of Semplar and seeing the world will be a valuable experience for him, so I granted him permission to do so.”

So he is Couran’s son, then. He’ll be joining us, huh? Guess he wants to let his kids leave the nest.

“Um, Father? Who are these people?” asked Rengue.

“They shall be accompanying you on your journey,” explained Couran. “Their names are Ars Louvent and Licia Pleide.”

I bowed and Licia curtsied as he introduced us.

“Huh?” Rengue blinked. “But they’re just children, aren’t they? Isn’t it too dangerous to send kids out on a trip like this? I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Is that your way of saying that I shouldn’t be going with you, Rengue?” asked Teknado.

“It is, yes. You shouldn’t come either,” Rengue answered in the bluntest manner possible.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’ve already received our father’s permission, so I will be going with you,” countered Teknado.

“Rest assured that your guard will be more than sufficient to protect you,” added Couran. “More to the point, Teknado’s skill with a blade is hardly lacking, even compared to your own.”

Judging by their respective Valor scores, I didn’t think he was kidding. Though to be fair, Rengue at least had a higher maximum score.

“I-I’ll prove my worth on the battlefield when the time comes!” stammered Rengue.

Couran just gave him a long, hard look, then sighed. I didn’t have a full grasp of his personality yet, but that exchange gave me the feeling that Rengue was a bit of a problem child.

“Well, if Father says it’s all right, I won’t press the matter. But that said, umm…Arms and Lillia, was it?”

Oh god, he’s forgotten our names already.

I re-introduced myself as Ars, then Licia reminded him of her name as well.

“Y-Yes, of course. Ars and Licia, you should know that this mission will mark the first of many grand achievements that I shall, um, achieve over my lifetime. A child or two perishing en route would spoil the story, so if you’re intent upon following me, I’m going to have to ask that you don’t wander off and die somewhere,” said Rengue with an air of pompous superiority. Apparently, the man had quite a high opinion of himself.

“That takes care of today’s introductions. The two of you may go on your way.”

“Yes, Father,” Rengue and Teknado replied, then left the room.

Couran turned to me once more and asked, “Ars…did you appraise Rengue?”

“I did,” I replied with a nod.

“Then I imagine you’re aware of his lack of ability, and you may have also surmised that in spite of that inadequacy, he has the utmost faith in himself and makes no effort whatsoever toward self-improvement. I can only assume I was unprepared to raise a child─even now, I fear I lack the knack for it… At least Teknado has turned out diligent in comparison,” Couran sighed. He seemed troubled by his son’s flaws.

“It’s true that Rengue’s abilities are underdeveloped, at the moment,” I replied. “But you should know that he has remarkable potential.”

Most of his ability caps were in the seventies or above, while his maximum Politics score was an impressive 91.

If he put some effort in, he could become an extraordinary person.

“Truly?” asked Couran. “I do recall you mentioning that your power allows you to perceive one’s latent abilities…”

“That’s correct, and yes, I’m certain.”

“Hmm. I see… Still, none of that matters until he puts in the requisite effort. If only something would make him want to try for once in his life.”

It was remarkable─when Couran started fretting about his children, he stopped looking like a lord and started looking like an ordinary father. I’d never had any children in either of my lifetimes, so I couldn’t relate to him.

“That’s enough of this topic for now,” Couran said. “But ah, yes─I do have one more thing I wish to discuss before you leave. It concerns your letter.”

I assumed he was talking about the letter I’d written to him based on the Shadows’ report.

I’m glad it made it to him.

“I don’t know where you found those spies of yours, Ars. It’s not every day you come across mercenaries so capable of espionage. I am very impressed, with you and them alike. I have my own way of gathering intelligence, and I was aware that some form of negotiations were being carried out between Seitz and Vasmarque, but I didn’t know how well or how far they had proceeded. If they establish an alliance, it will put us in a precarious position.”

It sounded like Couran hadn’t known about the information I sent him after all.

Good thing I bothered, I guess.

“If Seitz attacks, we will lose our current advantage,” Couran continued. “I intend to begin conducting my own negotiations with Seitz as well. Gaining their aid may well be out of the question, but I hope to ensure they do not enter the conflict as our enemies.”

“Does that mean you’ll need another negotiator?” I asked.

“Not necessarily. Our goal is to make our position look as advantageous as possible, and to that end, a successful conclusion of our negotiations with Paradille could prove fruitful. I assume Vasmarque will lure Seitz to his side by offering them a substantial reward should he emerge victorious. In other words, if Vasmarque were to lose, then Seitz’s soldiers would have died in vain. Making Vasmarque’s chances of victory appear as slim as possible could prove instrumental in preventing this alliance.”

“Does that mean that after our talks with Paradille conclude, you’d like us to proceed to Seitz?”

“It does,” confirmed Couran. “Unless you would object, of course.”

It would mean a longer journey, yes, but I didn’t have any problem with that. I knew I couldn’t speak for Licia, though.

“I would not. But tell me, what are your feelings on the prospect, Lady Licia?”

“I, too, would not object,” she replied without even a hint of hesitation.

“Good. Your ship will set sail a week from now. If you need anything in the way of supplies or resources, you need only ask. I shall provide as much as I am capable of.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

Like Couran said, a week of waiting around for our departure ensued. He procured all the provisions we asked for, so we didn’t have to lift a finger. As a result, I found myself with quite a lot of free time that week and decided to use it to get a feel for the city of Semplar. It was known as Summerforth’s capital of trade, so I thought that just looking around might prove interesting. I also had a reasonable chunk of funding on hand, so I was on the lookout for anything interesting to buy. The first time I came to Semplar, I’d been in quite a hurry, so I left the city without ever getting the chance to see the sights─this was my chance to make up for that.

I wasn’t about to go out on my own, obviously. I planned to ask Licia and Charlotte to accompany me, starting with Licia.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea!” she replied without hesitation. “This is my first time in Semplar, and an abundance of sights caught my attention as we walked through the town to reach the castle. I would love to explore it with you! I would also love to take a closer look at the ocean, as well.”

“The ocean, huh? Are you sure? You’ll be seeing so much of it in a week that you’ll be sick of it before long.”

We were scheduled to travel to the capital by boat, after all. The trip was slated to take more than just a day or two, which was plenty long to get sick of the sea.

“Wh-When you put it that way, that’s a fair point.”

“What say we look around the marketplace? They might be selling rare and exotic goods there, for all we know.”

“Semplar is famous for being a center of commerce,” Licia said with a nod. “And I am quite curious what the market looks like.”

“We have our destination, then.”

Our plan for the day was established. The next step was to ask Charlotte to join us, but when I went to see her, she told me she’d rather spend the day lazing about in her chambers.

The problem, however, was that Licia and I couldn’t just wander around without an escort, and I’d been hoping that Charlotte would fill that role. Couran would arrange for a bodyguard if we asked, but I just couldn’t bring myself to trust a stranger with my safety when Licia was in the picture. I wanted Charlotte to be out there watching our backs, and thankfully, I managed to talk her into it without putting her under too much duress.

The marketplace was located right next to the port, so the salty sea breeze graced the entire area with its distinctive scent. The market itself, meanwhile, was bustling with activity. Throngs of people walked about as merchants and hawkers cried out to advertise their wares, most of which seemed to be a wide variety of fresh fish. Some of those fish were species I’d never laid eyes on. It was my first reminder in quite some time that I was living in a world unlike the one I used to know.

One massive species with vivid red and blue stripes caught my eye. I had to wonder what sort of purpose a coloration like that could serve. Wouldn’t it make it easier for its natural predators to see it? Or was the species just so big that it had no natural predators? They were said to be quite tasty and were rather expensive as well. It seemed like you were paying more for the experience of eating something rare and exotic than the fish itself.

“Look at that, Lord Ars! It’s so cute!” squealed Charlotte. For someone who’d started the trip griping and moaning about how she’d rather stay inside, she’d ended up overflowing with enthusiasm as soon as we made it to the market.

This time, Charlotte’s attention had been captured by a cat, though unlike the cats I knew, this one’s fur was a shade of blue. Cats weren’t native to Missian, so they were considered rare and exotic animals.

“Hey there, li’l miss,” called out a nearby merchant. “Looks like you know how to cast a spell or two, eh?”

“Oh, you bet I do,” replied Charlotte with a proud grin. “There aren’t many people out there who can cast more spells than me!”

“In that case, I’ve got just the item for you!” said the merchant, brandishing his wares. “This here is a new model of mini-catalyzer! Not only are the spells you cast with it five times as powerful as the old models, but it uses half the aqua magia! And the best part? It can be yours for a single gold coin! You won’t find a bargain like this anywhere else in all of Missian!”

The guy couldn’t have sounded any less trustworthy. For one thing, I hadn’t heard so much as a peep about any new types of catalyzer. Plus, if they did exist, it would’ve made waves throughout the empire. Catalyzer technology improvement could’ve rendered any form of warfare other than the magical obsolete, after all.

“For real? That’s crazy,” said Charlotte with an air of complete credulity. It looked like she was liable to buy the thing if I left her to her own devices, so I stepped in and dragged her away from the merchant before she made a bad decision. “Oh, come on, Lord Ars! I was about to buy something super awesome!”

“Uh, no. I’m pretty sure you were getting grifted, Charlotte.”

“Grifted? What’s that mean?”

“It means he was trying to trick you into buying something useless. Think about it, if a catalyzer of that quality existed, it would be a huge deal. I would’ve heard about it by now, that’s for sure. He was lying to you.”

“I’d wager he was selling defective goods,” said Licia, jumping into the exchange. “I’ve heard stories about that sort of scam─they sell you a ‘high-powered catalyzer’ that breaks down after a single spell.”

“F-For real? Then that guy’s scum! I’m gonna go give him a piece of my mind!”

“N-No, bad idea! We don’t want to be causing a scene right now!”

That merchant struck me as the sort of person who would pick a fight if he was pushed into a corner, so I stopped her before she escalated the situation. I was starting to wonder if bringing Charlotte along might’ve been an awful idea. Thankfully, the incident seemed to have made an impression on her and she stopped taking the hawkers at their word.

“This is all so incredible,” said Licia. “I’ve never seen so many unique things in one place! Hmm…?”

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks as her gaze fell upon a blue, rose-shaped brooch.

“My, what a beautiful brooch! What sort of flower do you suppose this is? I’ve never seen one quite like it.”

Licia’s never seen a rose before? They must not be native to Summerforth, then.

The fact that it was blue meant that it wasn’t native to Earth, either, but that was beside the point. I had to wonder if blue was the standard color for roses in this world.

Licia spent a moment staring at the brooch, then looked back over at me and said, “Well then, shall we move along?”

“You’re not going to buy it? I was under the impression you’d taken quite a liking to it.”

“I do want it, yes, but I’m afraid I’ve little money on hand, so I cannot afford to be wasteful.”

The brooch wasn’t all that expensive─it cost just a single gold coin. That was affordable by my standards, so I decided that I might as well buy it for her. As a man, I felt the need to demonstrate that I could provide for her when the need arose.

“In that case, I’d be happy to buy it for you.”

“I am most grateful for the offer, Lord Ars, but at the moment, I’ve no way to return the favor,” Licia said with a shake of her head. “I do not make a habit of accruing debts that I cannot repay in short order.”

Once again, I was impressed by just how well she seemed to have her priorities sorted. I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet, however.

“I wouldn’t consider you indebted to me at all. I just wanted to buy it for you because I was hoping it would make you smile, not because I wanted you to owe me anything.”

I was speaking from the heart, but I had to admit that I was still a little embarrassed to hear the words come out of my mouth. I hadn’t thought that would be enough to sway her, but as a blush spread across her face, I realized my effort might’ve been more effective than I’d initially given it credit.

“I-I see that your silver tongue has not dulled, Lord Ars. You’ve left me with no choice─how could I turn down the gift after such a bold declaration?”

That was good enough for me. I bought the brooch, then handed it to Licia.

“Thank you very much,” she said with a broad smile as she accepted it from me. Her cheeks were still flushed as she tucked away the brooch. “This is precious indeed─I shall have to take care to choose the right moments to wear it.”

“Huh? No, You don’t have to do that. You can wear it whenever you want.”

“Hardly! This is the very first present you’ve given me, Lord Ars. I will treasure it for the rest of my life.”

Suddenly, I found myself questioning whether I should’ve gone for something a little better than a simple brooch. If she was going to treasure it for life, perhaps something more expensive was in order. Then again, people always said that the thought was what counted when it comes to gifts…

After that, we went back to touring the city, then returned to the castle. I enjoyed myself, and I was pleased to see that Licia and Charlotte had a good time as well. We ended up going out together several more times over the next week…until the day of our departure arrived.

○

It was time for us to set sail. We gathered and made our way down to Semplar’s harbor, where we found a massive, three-masted ship docked and waiting for us. I was shocked, but not by the size of the vessel─no, I was surprised by the fact that it was made out of metal rather than wood. I’d seen my fair share of boats in this world, but all of them had been made from wood. I hadn’t even realized the technology to craft one out of metal existed, so the fact that I’d be sailing on one caught me off-guard. I was no shipbuilder, but I was aware that the principle of buoyancy allowed metal ships to stay afloat back on Earth, and it seemed those rules held true here as well. The masts, I assumed, meant it was wind-powered.

“Is the ship made of metal?” Licia asked a nearby crew member.

“Yeah, that’s right,” replied the sailor.

“Then it’s a wonder that it stays afloat! How very mysterious.”

“You’re telling me. Ever heard of levitum? It’s this metal that floats in the air, all on its own. Caps out at around ten feet up if you just let it do its thing. Well, when you melt it down and mix it with iron, you get an ore that’s as strong as ever, but is light enough to float on water.”

So much for the principle of buoyancy.

“You’ll only find ships like this here in Semplar. Levitum’s some rare stuff, making a boat at this scale’s ain’t cheap, and mixing up the levitum and the iron’s not easy either. Semplar’s the one city with all the craftsmen and resources you need to make it happen,” the sailor continued. I was starting to realize we’d be traveling aboard a very valuable vessel. “And they ain’t just made of metal, either─they’re also the fastest ships in all of Summerforth! We’ve got five of ’em in our navy, and I doubt we’ll ever lose a battle at sea thanks to ’em.”

“Good day to you all, ladies and gentlemen!” a voice rang out, cutting off the conversation. I turned to look and found Couran’s son, Rengue, approaching us. Teknado was right beside him, and Robinson followed just a step behind. “And what a day it is─we couldn’t have hoped for better sailing weather! You know, this will be my first time in the capital as well. Why, I can hardly contain myself!”

There was no point in him mentioning how excited he was, considering his demeanor made it readily apparent. He didn’t seem at all apprehensive about the importance of his upcoming mission─to the contrary, he was downright chomping at the bit to get out there and explore the unknown. His brother, on the other hand, seemed nervous.

“Oh? Wait a moment,” said Rengue, glancing at me. “You’re the child who’ll be traveling with us, aren’t you? Arsh, was it?”

“Ars, actually.”

“Y-Yes, of course! My apologies… My, what a magnificent vessel! But still, to journey the seas is a treacherous thing indeed. Do take care not to get too worked up while we’re aboard, my dear Ars!”

If any of us were in danger of getting too worked up and frolicking our way off the deck, it was him, but I resisted the urge to tell him that and replied, “I won’t.”

Charlotte, on the other hand, muttered, “If anyone’s going overboard, it’s you,” under her breath, almost giving me a heart attack in the process. Thankfully, Rengue didn’t seem to hear her.

Before we boarded, the ship’s captain called everyone together to talk. All together, there were over two hundred people who I assumed served as the vessel’s crew. It took some time for everyone to gather, at which point the captain stepped to the front of the crowd. He looked middle-aged─somewhere in his forties, perhaps─and he was wearing an eyepatch. His face was rough and grizzled, as well, so it was kind of incredible just how much he looked like a stereotypical pirate. If someone had told me he’d been one at some point, I would’ve believed it without question.

“I am Jack Testin, captain of this ship,” he said, addressing all of us. “Seems we’ll have two of Couran’s brats along for the ride, so I’ll get this out of the way right now for anyone who needs to hear it: when you’re on my ship, I am your king and you will follow my orders. I don’t give a damn if you’re a kid or if you’ve never set foot on a boat in your life─if you’re a passenger on my ship, you’ve gotta carry your weight, and if you get in the way, we’ll throw you overboard… Okay, maybe not overboard, considering present company, but we’ll beat you within an inch of your sorry life, so spare us all the trouble and just do what I say.”

I was impressed that he had the guts to refer to Couran sans title, not to mention treat his children like that. I assumed he must have had history with Couran, and couldn’t help but wonder what their relationship was. The way he talked made them sound more like friends than a lord and his retainer.

I thought for a moment that Rengue would be incensed by Jack’s rudeness, but it seemed he was too intimidated to protest regardless.

“All right, all aboard, people!” called Jack, at which point we all started crossing the gangplank.

“This is such a strange sensation,” said Licia as she stepped aboard.

“This swaying’s gonna make me sick,” added Charlotte, who was also getting her first taste of being on a boat.

“Get ready─it’ll be even more noticeable once we’re moving,” I warned them.

“Oh?” said Charlotte, cocking her head. “Have you traveled by boat before, Lord Ars?”

“Huh? Uhhh… Yeah, technically,” I replied, remembering that all my experiences with boats had occurred during my former life. This was my first time aboard one since I’d been reincarnated─and this world’s boats were less equipped for smooth sailing─so I decided to try to prepare myself for a much rougher ride than I was used to.

“Cast off!” Jack shouted, his voice ringing out across the deck at a volume far louder than I’d thought the human voice was capable of. I figured he must be using sound magic to amplify his voice.

Moments later, the ship began to sail out of port.

○

Our voyage had begun. It wasn’t quite as rough of a ride as I had been anticipating, but it was a lot less comfortable than the trips I’d taken aboard modern boats in my previous life. The ride was within the acceptable limit for bumpy travel as far as I was concerned, anyway. Either the captain had a very firm hand on the rudder, boats in this world were more advanced than I’d given them credit for, or the sea was just calm that day. Regardless, I didn’t get seasick at all. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Licia, Charlotte, and Couran’s two sons.

“I believe I’m getting used to this,” moaned Licia. “My apologies for letting you witness me in such a disgraceful state, Lord Ars…”

We were below deck, and now that she was on the path to recovery, Licia was more than a little chagrined about her seasickness. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about getting nauseous, to be clear─it was more that she’d emptied her stomach in front of me. That wasn’t the sort of thing a young girl would want to do in front of people, so I’d done my best not to watch when it happened, but that didn’t seem to have helped much.

“No need to apologize,” I said. “If anything, I’m the one who should say I’m sorry! I should have explained that being on a boat could make you sick.”

The chamber we were in was a common room. The crew wasn’t allowed access, though─as it was a cabin reserved for noble passengers and their attendants. And speaking of attendants, Charlotte burst into the room just a moment later.

“No good,” she declared out of nowhere.

“What’s no good?” I asked.

“I tried to go above deck, and they said I wasn’t allowed ’cause it’s too dangerous.”

“Well, I mean, yeah.”

“But I wanna get a better look at the ocean!”

“There’s a window in your room, right? Why not just look from there?”

“Hmm… I dunno. It just feels like it’d be nicer to see it from up on the deck.”

I could see where she was coming from, but there was no denying that going above deck involved its fair share of dangers. All complaints aside, I was happy to see that Charlotte seemed to be doing well. She’d been blue in the face and moaning about how she was going to die just a little earlier.

“Oh! Good day to you,” said Teknado, who wandered into the room just a moment after Charlotte. He greeted us as soon as he noticed us, which sort of impressed me. In terms of social standing, he was miles above anyone else present, so his courtesy struck me as remarkable.

“Good day to you, Lord Teknado,” I replied. “I hope you’ve recovered from your seasickness.”

“I have, yes. My brother, however, is still in the thick of it. Last I heard, he was moaning about how he would ‘never set foot on one of these accursed vessels again.’”

I winced. From the sound of things, Rengue was even more prone to seasickness than the rest of our party.

“Pardon the intrusion,” said Robinson as he stepped inside just a moment after Teknado. He had escaped the seasickness epidemic entirely. I had to wonder if he’d spent a fair deal of time on boats. “It seems everyone has recovered, so I was hoping to discuss several matters before we arrive at the capital. Is that acceptable?”

“Lord Rengue hasn’t quite recovered yet, to my understanding,” I noted. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“I have already explained everything to Lord Rengue, so no, it will not. Though whether or not he heard a word I said to him is an altogether different matter,” he added, doing very little to mask his exasperation.

Robinson didn’t seem to hold Rengue in the highest esteem. I’d seen the two of them interact and it didn’t seem like he outright hated him, at least. If I had to describe their relationship, I would say that Robinson treated Rengue like an irresponsible younger sibling.

“Well, I’m free to hear your explanation,” I replied. Licia nodded in agreement.

“Very good. There are many matters I would like to bring to your attention before the negotiations commence. First and foremost, I should note that I do not anticipate our talks with the Imperial House to be especially fraught. Our relations with them stand in good order, and I see no reason to believe they will reject our request once we’ve supplied them with the requisite funding. The talks with Paradille, however, are a different matter altogether. Our relations with them could hardly be any worse.”

“Why is that?” I asked. “What’s put us on such bad terms with the whole duchy?”

“The source of the conflict arose after the revolution in magical technology began,” Robinson explained. “At the time, Missian and Paradille were close allies. Trouble began when it became clear that a certain variety of magistone could only be mined in Paradille─a variety that Missian’s nobility had an intense desire to own. Paradille, however, shut down any attempt at trade. The magistone in question was quite rare, and they had no intention of allowing any of it to make its way outside the duchy’s borders. Missian responded by breaking the alliance with Paradille and declaring war, hoping to obtain all the magistone they wanted in the process.”

Assuming all of that was true, it sounded like Missian was in the wrong. I had to wonder what sort of magistone could have driven them to make such a bold move.

“Ultimately, the emperor─who still possessed considerable influence at the time─intervened on Paradille’s behalf, and Missian was forced to withdraw. This all happened some time ago, but due to that incident, the Duke of Paradille lost all faith in Missian’s nobility…and it seems he’s made a point of passing that distrust down to his heirs.”

“Well, now I’m starting to wonder if it’s going to be possible to negotiate with them at all,” I sighed.

“I share your doubts,” replied Robinson with a nod. “I believe having the Imperial House backing our cause will make Paradille lend us an ear, but the duke’s grudge is quite deep-seated. I fear he will be inclined to turn us down offhand regardless. Moreover, the Duchy of Paradille has its own fair share of troubles to deal with. I cannot predict how the negotiations will turn out─their results rest upon our shoulders.”

Well, if I wasn’t feeling the pressure before, I am now!

Then again, I was effectively attending the negotiations in the capacity of an assistant’s assistant. The real expectations were resting on Robinson’s shoulders. As long as I did my best to help him out, I figured I’d be doing my job well enough.

And hey, if he doesn’t ever need help, I’m just taking a vacation on someone else’s dime! That doesn’t sound bad at all!

After several days of smooth sailing, we arrived at the capital.