Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 257
>Chapter Title: I Don't Fly
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People were saying that the war between Lortel and the Decullan Family was just a boring string of tepid local skirmishes.
But seeing it firsthand from Lortel's main force, I could tell that wasn't the case.
‘...Looks pretty fierce.’
Even though this was the relatively rear-positioned main camp, the barracks reeked of the sharp tang of blood.
How long had we been walking while taking in the sight?
“Come in.”
The Young Patriarch Sion, leading the way, guided me to a conference room attached to the lord's castle.
“Have you been well?”
“So-so.”
“By the way, this is unexpected. Joining the fray so suddenly. So, the goal is rescuing the leader of the Kalia Mercenary Corps?”
“Well, something like that.”
I trailed off in response to the Young Patriarch Sion's question.
It was because I felt a bit awkward about it.
‘From Lortel's perspective, doesn't this feel off?’
We were nominally Lortel's staunch allies, yet here I was, jumping in not for Lortel, but to save some mercenary leader.
That said, if I had to justify it for myself, I had my reasons.
‘...I hadn't planned on joining at all originally.’
If Lortel had asked me to join, I would have gladly done so.
But Lortel hadn't pressed me, and I hadn't seen the need either.
Even though the Magic Tower was their closest ally, drawing my sword alongside them under the banner of "avenging the Impirga Family's blood" felt a bit awkward.
Still, there was one reason I decided to commit.
- Please, I beg you.
‘...No, that's not it.’
What made me commit was securing land to build my Magic Tower.
I couldn't remain the lord of a tower without a tower forever.
But from Lortel's perspective, how would this look?
‘They might think the Magic Tower prioritizes the Kalia Mercenary Corps over Lortel.’
Yet, for some reason.
The Young Patriarch showed no sign of displeasure.
He just seemed genuinely welcoming of my participation.
Like the saying goes, the thief's feet give him away? In the end, I was the one who spoke first.
“Uh... doesn't it bother you at all?”
“What?”
“Well, you know. From Lortel's standpoint, it might feel a bit off, right?”
“...? Oh, you mean the reason for joining? Hah, you're more timid than I thought. It doesn't bother me at all. From the start, if the Magic Tower joins for a reason like this, it's nothing but good news for us.”
“...Is that so?”
So, I didn't need to feel guilty?
“No matter how close an ally they are, this is Lortel's war. It's our fight to settle. But...”
That was when the Young Patriarch posed his question.
“Mind if I ask what your connection is to the Kalia Mercenary Corps?”
No reason not to.
“The leader of the Kalia Mercenary Corps is a friend's foster mother.”
“Better to just say if you don't want to tell me. I hear her foster son is an academy student.”
Yeah, I figured he wouldn't believe me.
But.
There was no way the Young Patriarch had known the personal details of some random mercenary leader from the start. Had he already investigated? In just a few hours?
As I eyed him with that question in mind, I soon realized that wasn't the case.
“But... do you perhaps remember Knight Exstr?”
“Exstr? Who's that...”
I tilted my head, and Sion tilted his in turn.
“According to Knight Exstr, you two had quite the rapport? He said you had in-depth discussions on anti-magic tactics...”
“Anti-magic tactics?”
“Maybe you'll remember if I put it like this. When you stormed the main house, there was a knight commander who swung his sword at you, right?”
“Sword at me...?”
That jogged my memory.
“That big lump?”
“...Lump? Ah, Knight Exstr is unusually burly, yes.”
Yeah, he was particularly memorable.
Not just for his massive build, but for how his attitude toward me shifted overnight to something overly friendly. And that mouth of his, chattering nonstop despite his size.
“But why him?”
“Truth is, Knight Exstr has gone missing.”
“...Missing?”
“Yeah. The Torres region battle—you know about it, right? That's when the Kalia Mercenary leader got separated too.”
They'd suffered a defeat from Decullan's ambush.
Losses that severe?
As I thought that, the Young Patriarch Sion gave a wry smile and spoke.
“It's been four days since Knight Exstr went missing. The last witness said the Kalia Mercenary Corps and the White Shield Knights were moving in the same direction.”
So that's why he knew the Kalia leader's details?
“Then...”
“Even by our family's standards, he's too valuable a talent to lose so pointlessly. But pulling forces to search for him isn't feasible right now. That leaves one of the Ten Swords to step up, but if we do that, Decullan won't sit idle.”
The Ten Swords were a powerful card, but precisely because of that, one you couldn't wield lightly.
In other words, he was an important asset, but the war made it impossible to do anything but abandon him.
That was when I grasped it.
The Young Patriarch Sion spoke up.
“You said sorry earlier?”
...No, I hadn't said sorry.
I'd just thought it might feel off from Lortel's side.
But Sion pressed on without giving me a chance to respond.
“Rescue Knight Exstr for me. How about it? That should more than make up for any awkwardness.”
A sly smile crept across Sion's lips.
The look of a fisherman who'd hooked a prize catch.
‘...Looks like I've been properly reeled in.’
Of course, since I'd committed to joining, I hadn't planned to just grab the Kalia leader and bail.
I figured on providing a moderate level of help.
But seeing the Young Patriarch Sion's expression, it felt like things wouldn't stop at "moderate."
...And sure enough.
“We rushed to devise a strategy upon hearing you'd join us.”
Snap!
Sion snapped his fingers, and Lortel's staff poured into the room.
They carried massive maps, documents, and all sorts of gear in their arms, setting up the meeting in under a minute.
I was awed by their crisp efficiency and tried to slip away.
“I'll head out now...”
“Tower Lord, take a seat.”
His voice was cold and stern now, unlike before.
Sion fixed me with the gaze of a commander.
“Speed isn't everything. We'll collaborate with Lortel. It'll serve your goals too.”
...No, I've got a compass.
But I didn't raise any objections.
The briefing had begun.
“Now, briefing on the joint Magic Tower-Lortel operation.”
The only thing I could say was one word.
“Mm.”
Just "mm."
One syllable.
* * *
The meeting ended faster than expected.
Well, "fast" meaning it wrapped up barely at dawn.
In any case, to sum up the meeting:
‘Lortel provides me intel, and I provide Lortel with force.’
The intel from Lortel was this:
Detailed maps of the Torres region, personal details on Decullan commanders, and even the forces needed for the rescue.
‘Sure, the rescue forces make sense with Exstr there... but the detailed maps and enemy commander profiles alone are huge.’
Lortel's forces were for the rescue team.
If it were just one or two people, I could handle it alone, but not for a larger group.
Knowing the terrain versus not made a world of difference. Same for the Decullan profiles to watch out for.
And Lortel...
‘They just want me to punch through the mountainous area of the Torres region after the rescue?’
Their knights couldn't bring their full strength due to the mountains blocking them. Cavalry charges were impossible.
That's why the Torres front had stalled, dragging down the other fronts too.
Honestly, it felt like I was getting the short end.
But what could I do?
‘...I've got debts to pay.’
The Troubleshooter business had earned me no small favors.
Anyway, with the meeting over and the now-empty conference room.
“Heading out right away?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded calmly at Sion's question.
“Torres is half a day away. I'll contact the garrison so you can sortie anytime from noon onward.”
“Yeah, that works.”
I nodded absently, then suddenly took a proper look at Sion.
Sunken eyes, but sharp gaze. His face was gaunter than last time. Maybe that's why?
He asked something he wouldn't usually.
“But, you okay?”
“...? Okay? With what?”
“Well... never mind.”
The reason I'd asked if he was okay was simple.
The war between Lortel and Decullan.
He was commanding it all.
Meaning he bore the full bloody cost of the war.
I'd worried he might be feeling the strain, but he didn't seem burdened.
“Then, I'm off.”
As I moved to leave the conference room.
“If you're asking if I'm feeling burdened, this body of mine is fine. I feel the responsibility keenly, but it's not a burden.”
“...Yeah?”
His voice was firmer than expected, and I blinked.
Then came Sion's counter-question.
“What about you, then?”
“...Me?”
“People project themselves onto others. The question you asked me is really one you asked yourself.”
What did that mean?
I tilted my head, and Sion chuckled softly.
“No, nothing. Just know that when I say it's not tough, I mean it. Or rather, it can't be tough in this position. When you have something to protect, strength comes from nowhere.”
“...Uh, yeah.”
Well, sounded like he was fine anyway.
The conversation wrapped there.
“Heading out for real now.”
“Safe travels.”
“You too, Young Patriarch.”
I left those short parting words and exited the conference room.
But for some reason.
‘People project themselves onto others?’
Sion's words lingered in my mind.
- What about you, then.
Was there something wrong with me?
I was deeply curious why he'd asked me that.
But I didn't turn back.
...Just.
‘What is it?’
For some reason.
Pola trembling in helpless rage, tears streaming down—overlapped with the Young Patriarch smiling brightly despite his heavy responsibilities.
...And.
- The question you asked me is really one you asked yourself.
That one line tickled my heart like a passage of enlightenment.
A nagging feeling that I didn't know something, but didn't even know what it was I didn't know.
“Argh, tch.”
I shook my head to clear the thoughts and kicked off the ground, leaping into the air.
‘Wyvern, fly.’
[I don't fly. Gimme moonlight stone.]
Tch. When I'm feeling down, it's the wyvern. What kind of spirit loves material things this much...
Won't give it 'cause it's dirty, dirty.
Anyway.
‘Half a day ahead.’
The promised land flowing with milk and honey, Arafurgin, awaited me.