Settlement
Settlement
Yeah, I knew this sight.
The fundamental shitty feeling that most South Korean men share.
The military. And Combat Equipment Command Inspection. Abbreviated as combat gear inspection.
The servants moving in perfect unison right before my eyes brought back memories of that time.
"We have prepared bathwater and a change of clothes."
The gap between the calm, capable maid who responded with utterly unperturbed movements and the others sprinting around like real mad dogs could put movie direction to shame. It was like someone had put the people around them on triple speed.
"Ah, yes."
I went up to the second floor, catching the familiar lingering scent of PTSD from these strangers. Once this was over, they'd probably be kicking up a fuss about moving the furniture out and hauling stuff around again, right? Watching them go through that kind of suffering just because of a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the temporary detention center of an imperial princess brought my discharge day to mind.
"I was so fucking happy back then."
On my discharge day, a high-level emergency training situation had occurred, leaving the entire unit busy with deployment preparations while I alone remained relaxed. That scene has remained one of the most goddamn awesome memories in my entire life.
"Even after setting things up this lavishly, the moment some high and mighty types show up they have to go through even more bullshit. Guess this crap is the same wherever you go."
Of course, this was a situation that had absolutely nothing to do with me. I just decided to focus on getting myself a nice, clean wash.
Honestly, it hadn't even been a sweat-drenching training exercise, so all I really did was soak in warm water and let out a long 'aaah' while warming myself up. Anyway, after washing and changing into everyday clothes, Esmue arrived.
As I came down to the first floor with the maid, Esmue walked in wearing the same purple ceremonial attire I'd seen last time, passing through the nobility packed densely into a lobby that was neither cramped nor spacious, all of them paying their respects.
If there was a difference, it was that she had a very thick fur cloak draped over her. The cloak, which looked ready to have someone shouting 'Winter is coming' at any moment, seemed incredibly warm, but it also looked a bit too big for Esmue, as if the weight would be burdensome. She came in with an extremely impassive expression, briefly scanned the lobby, and then her gaze shifted to me as I was still coming down the stairs.
"Mm, it is I. You seem to be doing well, Eldmia."
It felt like it hadn't even been a week since I'd returned from the Empire, but just as she'd said in her letter, it really felt like we'd met again after a whole month. Looking back, I really had been running around relentlessly from one thing to another.
"It feels like not even a week has passed, yet here we are meeting again, Esmue. I regret that it is not a pleasant matter that brings us together."
At my attitude toward Esmue, everyone from the kingdom except the Empire's visitors flinched hard. But all Esmue did was lightly extend her hand toward me as I reached the first floor and request an escort.
"To me, this is a sufficiently pleasant matter. I only set aside a brief moment before heading to the royal court, so let us simply discuss the important things."
Amidst all that, the maid naturally approached without obstructing Esmue's steps and received the cloak she'd been wearing, as calm as ever. It was so fluid and natural, like a slick thief in a movie secretly stealing earrings and necklaces from their wearers, that for a moment I couldn't help but open my eyes wide and stare.
"Mm. A competent maid. Frankly, it was so spotless that I suspected you might have caught on to my scrutiny and hastily pushed a few pieces of furniture around as window dressing, but looking at that one, it seems my worries were unfounded."
The nobles flinched and convulsed again. Honestly, I kinda wanted to smear shit all over their faces too, but the ones doing the suffering were the lower ranks, not the ones at fault, so I decided to shut my mouth and stick to the facts.
"Their cooking skills are outstanding as well. Thanks to that, I've been spending my time here without the slightest discomfort."
Some nobles sent me looks of heartfelt gratitude at my answer, but I paid them no particular attention.
Take that as my apology for ignoring the fact that they'd practically replaced every single piece of furniture right down to the kitchen, and for just heading straight up to the second floor without so much as a glance... If I hadn't actually seen the servants running around with my own eyes, I'd have come back from my bath, noticed the furniture had changed, and thrown in a few barbed remarks.
After climbing the stairs like that, two black knights in full heavy armor with their visors lowered were now firmly blocking the staircase. Only then did Esmue open her mouth in that usual quiet voice of hers.
"I came with firm resolve, hearing them blather on about protection and whatnot despite dragging you off to a temporary detention center, yet your treatment is better than I expected."
"Ah, right? I was a bit flustered at first too. It's very different from how it was for Ragnis."
"You have not been subjected to anything like shoddy treatment or neglect?"
"If anything, I'm being treated way too seriously well. To the point I wonder if this makes any sense considering the things I've done."
I knew the reason. It was thanks to the enormous backing called Esmue. I'd never imagined that the trip to the Empire I'd tagged along on, simply feeling like I was helping Ragnis, would bring about such a massive change. But since it was a positive change in many ways, I just accepted it with gratitude.
"The royal family is simply handling things wisely, as befits a house that has endured seven years against the Demonfolk. Even this is only them being extremely cautious because you struck preemptively and ran wild. Had things moved according to the royal family's planned flow, you would be receiving considerably lavish hospitality by now."
"That's horrifying."
When I sincerely shuddered at the thought, Esmue looked at my reaction and smiled faintly.
"You are not without manly ambition, yet you are a person truly devoid of greed."
"Why wouldn't I have greed? I just hate being used, that's all. That's exactly what gave me such a damn headache this time around too."
"Fufu. As much as I wish I could stay up all night listening to everything that has happened, the current situation does not permit it, so it is nothing short of regrettable."
It was the empty second floor anyway, but even so, only after entering the room and using some kind of magic to check the surroundings did Esmue get down to business. Wait, was that her checking for eavesdropping or surveillance magic just now?
"Wasn't that just now you checking if there was any eavesdropping?"
"Hm? Indeed it was."
"If there had been eavesdropping, the conversation up until just now..."
"Heh. The one standing before you is me. Would it not be natural that such an act was done precisely hoping some eavesdropping would exist, so as to have a chance to exploit it in reverse?"
I was at a loss for words at her reaction of 'why are you asking something so obvious.'
"It was only a conversation that gives a mere clue of a close relationship, so it does not violate the promise made regarding you. More importantly, it is crucial that the royal family knows beforehand what actions I will take and their consequences, so sit down quickly."
At Esmue's firm demeanor as she tapped the bed with her small hand, I decided to listen intently and sat on the very edge of the bed.
Immediately, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Esmue sat sideways on my lap and hugged me.
"...Esmue?"
When I called out to the hamster who had casually committed an outrageous act and was now making satisfied humming sounds, an audacious answer came back instead.
"Since I am personally intervening, is it not only natural that there be at least this much compensation? Just listen like this."
The problem is that the audacious answer was a cowardly fact, so I had nothing to say.
"To put it bluntly, you will suffer no harm from this incident. The same goes for those around you. However, there will also be nothing you can gain from it."
"Things I can gain?"
"Honor, reward, power. Or maybe official commendation?"
"The reward is a bit of a shame, but the rest I don't need at all."
What the hell would I use those for even if I got them? I'm not going to the academy, I'm heading out to the battlefield.
When I answered indifferently, Esmue laughed, her shoulders shaking.
"I knew you would say that. Well, that is a story limited to Itisel, and there is still much you are to receive from the Empire, so it is hardly a great problem."
"You say some huge things so casually."
"Is there any reason I could not speak facts aloud?"
As she said this, Esmue gave my idle arm a dissatisfied tug and placed it around her waist, as if telling me to hold her. With Asilie, I could hug her without any special awareness or awkwardness, but with the others, it really wasn't easy.
"I will take a hard line. Since I am more interested in the card called you than anyone else, I will push forward as if to say 'hand him over if you don't need him.' I must at least do that much so that movements to use you politically will subside."
If this had merely been an internal struggle within the kingdom, there would certainly be movements attempting to exploit my seemingly reckless behavior by mobilizing other methods. Whether out of self-interest or for the public good, I wouldn't give a flying fuck, but the attempts would have existed. If even that didn't work, there would have been methods to expel me in a less aggressive form.
But they can't do that now. The only option those political snakes have right now is to hold onto me without touching me. It's not a particularly difficult reason.
Even if it wasn't the intended direction, the Empire had personally invited Ragnis and elevated her symbolism. And they unreservedly commended the achievements of her escort. For those who were sent back with smiles to then be caught up in treason and receive shoddy treatment the moment they return is a story on par with spitting in the Empire's face.
Even that in itself was a highly displeasing situation. So if someone were to say 'If that's how you're going to treat him, hand him over. I'll take him and raise him with tender loving care,' would the kingdom then just toss me to the Empire going 'Ah, we don't need this mad dog, please take him'?
They could try to make the excuse that they cast me out because I showed pro-Empire movements, and that the kingdom doesn't view the Empire in a favorable light. But that would leave them completely unable to refute the implication. Just the amount of material support the Empire has provided the kingdom over the past seven years would be astronomical, and if such rumors spread, the Empire's support would become uncertain. Naturally, that becomes the option they must avoid above all else.
And if they half-heartedly mess with me, they could end up like Envelde, turned into Wilsonmk2 in an instant. I, of course, only act within legitimate reasons, but to them I'm just a madman, so I'm a sufficient threat.
So what choice do they have? They just have to say, 'Oh no, goodness no. We have no intention of discarding such a good dog,' and then reverently keep me tucked away.
With this, the world where I remain unharmed is complete.
It was something I did fully prepared to accept any amount of trouble, but thanks to Esmue, it was actually being resolved much more easily and simply, so I could only be grateful.
I felt a little awkward, but I poured my gratitude into hugging Esmue a little more tightly.
"Wh-why are you doing this all of a sudden!"
"Because I'm grateful."
Someday it would be nice if a day came when I could properly repay this consideration.