*

　When the day's training is over and the civilian soldiers have returned to their barracks, the adjutant and centurion still have work to do.
　No, to call it work is a misnomer.
　They have come to study for themselves without being ordered to do so by anyone.

'Why, why, Momotaro!　Wow, we just wanted to live a peaceful life!　Gwah!'' (BUMO BUMO)
Okay, I'll see you next, Leo.

　As Mino read a sentence from the textbook, Theon nominated Leo.
　Leo stood up, his golden mane swaying.

'After slaying the demon, Momotaro looted the treasure and returned to the house where his grandfather and grandmother were waiting for him with great enthusiasm.' (Gau Gau)
Yes, Mr. Horus.
Momotaro made his grandfather and grandmother happy with their plundered treasure, but he was terrified that he would be killed like an ogre until he died. 'Congratulations!'
It's time to call it a day.

　When Theon announced the end of the class, the deputy and the eight centurions plopped down on their desks as if they had run out of steam.
　Some of them pressed their wet noses against the textbook, but Theon was not angry.
　This was because these textbooks were easy to fix.
　Since the book is simply a piece of paper that is threaded together, it is easy to pull out the dirty pages, and those parts can be duplicated and quickly replaced by a technique called printmaking.
　When Theon learned of the existence of prints, he was speechless with surprise, but apparently the method was common in Crono's hometown.

''Ugh, I'm tired.''
"It's just a little unbearable to study when you're done with training.
"Consent.

　Rizad agrees emotionlessly to the deputy's mutterings.

'So, but we have to do this much, or we won't be able to catch up with Leila!
'Yes!　I've got to learn multiplication fast!

　Deneb and Alideed stood up and inspired their second in command and the other centurion.
　Apparently, the two of them felt that Leila's growth was in danger.

''But what good is studying going to do?'' (GAWKING)
"We'll never become battalion chiefs, no matter how hard we try." (Bumo Bumo)
The old man at the Pics Trading Company said he'd hire me if I learned my lesson.
We could open a private school and make a lot of money.

　To a somewhat skeptical Leo and Horus, the twin elves replied with their small breasts.

''I like children, so I'll open a private school.'' (Gauha)
Guffaw, my enemies in business!

　White and Hiilo said, and the twin elves plopped down on the desk.
　After a moment, the twins simultaneously raised themselves up and

Well, useful or not, that is.
Ever since Master Crono came, we've been different.

　I muttered sullenly.

''Wrong..........'' (Bumo)
'If, as a matter of fact, if Crono-sama gets ahead of himself, will he do this Sekaijin Kensengen thing?
"That's a tough one.
I know. I know that was just a story to keep Leila around but maybe she'll change things up a bit.

　At those words, the nine sub-humans fell silent as if thinking.

*

　
　The core of the palace, the Old City Hall, is basically a simple brick building with hewn stone window frames.
　The new pavilion, built on the east and west sides of the old one, has a mirror-like appearance, which clearly shows the nature of the palace.

　Symmetry.

　Everything in the Ardemiran Palace was built symmetrically around the Old Town Hall.
　Everything is symmetrical, from the cobbled forecourt to the palace gates and the stables halfway between the gates and the Old Town Hall.
　This is due to the fact that at the time the Aldemiran Palace was being rebuilt, King Ramal V granted knighthoods to mercenaries under the shogunate.
　From the point of view of the old aristocracy, which prided itself on tradition and prestige, the new aristocracy was nothing more than a crude upstart, and from the point of view of the new aristocracy, the old aristocracy was nothing more than an incompetent one whose only advantage was bloodline.
　In other words, the Aldemiran Palace became a symmetric structure, with the old aristocracy gathered in the east wing and the new aristocracy in the west wing for the reason that if the old and new aristocrats who despise each other faced each other, there would be bloodshed.
　The boxcarriage carrying Crono and the others stopped in front of the entrance to the old castle building.

''Crono-sama, we have arrived!''
Thank you, Faye.

　Faye opened the carriage door and Crono slowly walked out.
　In order to participate in the ball, Crono is wearing a black-based military courtesy uniform, and Faye is wearing a white-based military courtesy uniform.
　By the way, the four cavalrymen are wearing clothes designed to resemble a military uniform.

''The moon is beautiful, isn't it?''
There is always that.

　Crono looked up at the moon floating near the zenith and said, and Faye stated flatly.

'No, it's fine,'
?

　When I shifted my gaze from Faye, who tilted her head curiously, to the carriage, I saw my adopted father, dressed in an outfit that resembled a military dress, and Myra, dressed in a black dress, about to disembark.
　Myra is wearing a bustier with shoulder straps and a fluttering skirt that looks like an evening dress.

'Really, I feel like my old self again for the first time in a long time.

　Elena came down next, wearing a one-piece dress.
　The dress was decorated with ruffles in various places and the skirt part was spread by the skeleton.

''Da, sir ... isn't that strange?''

　The last one to come down was Leila in a dress.
　The dress is of a similar design to Myra's, but without the shoulder straps and the fabric is white in color.
　Layla is trying to cover her chest area with her hands in embarrassment.

You can find a lot of people who have a lot of experience in this field.
If we get into trouble, I'm sure Dad will take care of it.

　It's very much altruistic, but in times like these, Claude Crawford is strong.

Well ... well ...

　Crono hugged Leila's shoulders and walked away with Elena in his arms.
　A soldier in a white military uniform, the sign of a knight of the Kingsguard, stood guarding the door of the old castle hall.
　As Crono and Layla approached the door, the two soldiers nodded at each other silently.

Wait, this is the lowly half-el........

　As the two soldiers crossed their spears and blocked their path, the foster father grabbed them by their heads and slammed them against the door.
　As soon as the door opened, the adoptive father threw the two soldiers away.
　The two soldiers rolled on the floor and immediately stood up and held their spears.

''Ki, you!''
'You rude man!　You've been up to no good knowing that this is Ramal V's castle house!
f*ck you!　Don't talk to me about the people who catch my son's mistress and call her despicable, rude, violent or otherwise!

　The two soldiers bit their teeth in frustration as their adoptive father blackmailed them.
　The noblemen who were chatting in the hall of the castle pavilion stopped their conversation and glared at their adopted father in disgust.
　But his adopted father smiled ferociously, as if to say that even such a situation was fun.

''Will you wait, Baron Crawford?''
Huh?

　A large man dressed in a white military uniform interrupted him, perhaps hearing the commotion.
　His adopted father was also on the tall side, but the man had a physique comparable to that of a large subhuman.
　He was probably about fifty in age.
　His short, cropped hair was a graying brown, his chest plate was as thick as an armored plate, and his arms were thick enough to be able to strangle an ox.
　He has countless scars on his face, but his eyes are round, and the way he scratches his head as if he is weak is strangely charming.

''Oh, isn't that Elnath?''
You'll always be Lord Claude, won't you?

　

''I apologize for my subordinate's rudeness. As for our........young lady, I'll notify my men to treat her as a guest, so you can put away your anger as a way to make me look good.
All right. But if you keep doing the same thing over and over you know what I mean?
We're not giving up. You two, back to your posts!

　Perhaps thinking that they couldn't crush Count Ernat's face, the two soldiers' faces returned to their original positions, mending their expressionless faces.

''Lord Claude, is that you?''
Yeah, you're my son.
Pleasure to meet you, Count Hernat.

　Separating from Leila and Elena, Crono saluted Count Ernat.
　The standard salute in the Cepheus Imperial Army was to hold his left chest with his right fist, and it was customary for the lower-ranking person to salute first.

'I am painfully aware of your concern, Lord Crono.

　If you're in a position to make a decision on whether or not to buy or sell something, you can be sure that you'll get the best deal.
　The reason why Crono, who has been in the military for less than three years even including his military school days, and Count Ernat, who is a fierce warrior, are of equal rank is due to the military arrangement.
　The Cepheus Imperial Army assigns battalions to bases as the smallest unit of organization.
　Although there is a standardized ratio of troops and types of troops, there are many places like the battalion in Crono's custody where there are more than a thousand troops but only twenty cavalrymen, which is a biased organization.
　In wartime, depending on the situation, battalions would be summoned from all over the country, or they would be cut out of the ranks to form a legion with more than 10,000 troops, and the head of the army, the imperial commander, would appoint a legion leader, who would then be appointed by His Majesty the Emperor.
　In other words, the highest rank in the Imperial Army was the battalion commander.

''I've heard of Lord Crono's military service. To be honest, I didn't like being appointed as a lord and commander of a battalion, but when you are Lord Claude's son, it makes sense.
I owe much honor to my men. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for my men who risked their lives for me.

　Count Ernat turned to his adoptive father and gave him a wild smile.