*

　Early January of the Imperial calendar forty-three years--Ralph was wrestling with papers in his office.
　The contents of these documents were wide-ranging, including reports of his arrival, applications for permission to build a camp, and reports pointing out the lack of supplies.
　Was it natural? With over thirty thousand generals gathered in the imperial capital, it would be strange if there were no problems.

''Hm, the protection of the artifacts inside Alfiruk Castle.

　Ralph read the contents of the document and stepped aside.
　It was not the job of the War Department to keep track of artifacts.
　Nevertheless, there are times when documents get mixed up that make you wonder how such things get mixed up.
　One of the reasons may be that Ralph is given a great deal of authority for the suppression of civil war.
　But the root cause is because Alfort has put the local lords in management positions.
　The chain of command is confused because they don't understand their job.
　Thus, the extra - the task of deciding if it's a case I should handle is increased.
　If it's just one or two cases, it's not much of a hassle, but if they pile up, it becomes a burden that cannot be ignored.
　In the past, I would have been frustrated.
　But now I have the luxury of smiling.
　To say I feel calm is an understatement.
　I feel a strange sense of fulfillment even though I'm just looking over the papers and signing them.
　I'm in the right place.
　That's how I feel.
　Of course, I can't be satisfied with this.
　I will go down in history as the man who won the rebellion.
　That's where I can finally heal my wounded pride.
　He will be able to feel that he has settled in where he should have settled.
　Ralph picked up another report and frowned at its unique touch.
　Or, more accurately, to the fact that he could recall from it.
　The report was written on paper from the Marquis of Erakis' estate.
　Considering the history of the rebellion, the paper from the Marquis of Erakis territory shouldn't be used.
　That much should be understood by my subordinates.
　However, there are circumstances that even Ralph has no choice but to tolerate.
　The Holy Argo Kingdom is assembling its forces near the border.
　The road is effectively blocked off - it's no longer possible to get the paper.
　More than that, it hurts that they can't move Count Ernat.
　Realistically speaking, the chances of the Holy Argo Kingdom invading the Empire are slim.
　Almost zero.
　That's clear when you consider the circumstances of the Holy Argo Kingdom.
　That country has been waging a factional war between the King's faction and the Temple faction.
　For more than ten years now, the royalists have been on the losing side, but recently, that has changed.
　The King's faction calls itself the New Temple Faction and is expanding its power with the money it has gained through trade.
　That's why they can't invade.
　Regardless of which faction is leading and assembling their forces, they will lose their power if they fail here.
　Nevertheless, since the possibility is not zero, we must be prepared.
　There is another problem.
　The lords are not able to gather their goods as they wish because they are carefully checking their cargo at the checkpoint.
　In hindsight, we shouldn't have let Dominic, the merchant chairman of the Pyx Trading Company, die in prison.
　He should have been rescued at all costs.
　With that, many large merchant associations left the imperial capital, and the only ones left now are either badly-reputed merchant associations like the Bailey Chamber of Commerce or small to medium-sized merchant associations.
　If I were to use a river metaphor, the water volume is decreasing, the flow is slowing down and the water quality is deteriorating.

''You ... incompetents.''

　Ralph let out a small gasp.
　The calm mood from earlier had disappeared somewhere.
　Even on the southern frontier there are disturbances.
　If the Imperial Army fought the rebels, they would happily pounce on them.
　Twenty thousand for the rebel army and ten thousand for the southern frontier - that's how it should be allocated.

'Utterly and abominably abominable.

　Despite being in a position to have 30,000 generals at his disposal, circumstances do not allow it.
　It reminds me of the humiliation I once had to endure.

''No ... no.''

　Ralph gave a small shake of his head.
　Certainly the situation reminded him of the past when he was dragged down by the incompetents, but only by overcoming this adversity would he be able to prove that he was better than the new nobles.
　At that moment, I heard a voice from outside.
　It seems that the deputy and someone are arguing with each other.
　After a while, there was silence - suddenly, the door opened and the Director of Finance Bowties jumped in.
　His clothes and hair were in disarray, as if he had been in a grabbing contest.

'Oh, what is the matter with you?'
What's this all about?

　Treasurer Bawties turned bright red and exclaimed.
　Huh?　Ralph tilted his head inwardly.

'What do you say?'
Why did Isabella and Ark have to die!

　Treasurer Bowties exclaimed, scratching his head in frustration.
　Then Ralph remembered that he had received a report that the Director of Finance Bowties' wife and child had been executed.
　It wasn't a big deal and he had forgotten all about it.


Why?　Why did my wife and child have to die?

　Has he not explained how he was executed?
　The execution of the wife and child of the Treasurer Bawties was self-inflicted.
　He failed to attack the rebels after they surrendered.
　This is no reason to complain about the execution.
　However, I can't say my honest opinion.


Wow, did you do that for me?
"Lefty. I suppose they thought you were too weak to surrender.
Oh, no.

　Treasurer Bawties slumped to the spot.
　Surprisingly, I can't say I'm surprised. Apparently, even a man like him has a lot of love for his wife and children.
　Ralph stood up and knelt down beside Treasurer Bowtie's. "You can use it," he said.

'Do you want me to repay the two men who have died for you?

　Treasurer Bawties looked at me as if he was huffing and puffing.

''Well you must avenge them.
....

　Treasurer Bawties cleared his throat.

'What do I do?'
We're going to have to fight, sir.
But I don't have a soldier at my disposal.
Why don't we gather them with the help of money?
....

　Treasurer Bawties cleared his throat again.
　I know he's using his position to save money, and I know that he's using his position to save money.
　If he's not going to spit it out here, he's going to go after Dominic.
　That's all there is to it.

'All right. How much do you want me to collect?
At least 10,000.
Ten thousand?
What? I only need to do this if I have to fight back against the rebels.

　You can gather that much if you don't question the quality.
　That's enough as a discarded piece of equipment to see how the rebels are coming out.

''It's ... ten thousand.
Yeah, at least 10,000.

　Treasurer Bawties stood up.

'So you can avenge your wife and children.
You can get it.
Okay.

　Treasurer Bawties nodded and left the room.
　Ralph returned to his seat and let out a small breath.
　Emotional people are easy to handle, but if you don't handle them the wrong way, you'll be in harm's way.
　He suddenly remembered the Earl of Chiron.
　Judging from the fact that he still hadn't heard from her, he must have gotten his revenge.

''........Should I have preserved Count Chiron more?

　'No,' said Ralph, shaking his head.
　The mad dog must be used up as soon as possible.
　Ralph picked up the papers.

*

...phew.

　Cecily let out a sigh as she and her brother gagged each other as they moved through the streets.
　A little more than ten days had passed since they had left Count Caddo's territory.
　It had only been that long.
　Nevertheless, the day he left Count Caddo's territory felt like a long time ago.
　He couldn't even remember what emotions he had felt at the departure ceremony.

''............Huh.
What's going on with your sighs earlier?
It's nothing.
Oh, yeah?　I always thought I was complaining about not fighting...
If you know what you're talking about, just say so!
Haha, yeah.
I thought we were going to fight you and your brothers side by side in a gag.

　My lips twitched as I looked at my brother, who was smiling cheerfully at the side.
　My brother is a genius.
　When it comes to fighting on horseback and commanding cavalry, he surpasses Leonhardt.
　In other words, he is the best cavalryman in the Empire.
　He felt inferior to such an older brother, but he was proud to fight with him.
　Ah, yes.
　I had been proud of myself at the launching ceremony.

"It's just too bad we have to deliver letters and mingle.
I'm still doing my duty, though.
How?
You're obstructing the flow of goods by coddling the neighboring lords and cities.
We don't just deliver letters and mingle. Shouldn't we, as members of Viscount Hamal's household, be putting up a spectacular fight?
''If you do that with a mere one thousand horsemen, you'll die. And I'm sure my men don't want to die as a dog either.

　His brother chuckled and stared behind him over his shoulder.
　When he looked behind him after being caught, he saw the elite figures of the Fifth Konoe Order.
　Their eyes were sharp and they seemed to want to fight - but.

''Fighting with a flourish isn't the only way to fight a war.
I wonder how much success you're getting out of this.
They're checking every cargo thoroughly and allowing the generals to walk right past it. Right now the Imperial Capital is running out of provisions and there's a lot of commotion about it.
I hope so.

　'Hmph,' sniffed Cecily.

'Oh dear, I thought the Marquis of Erakis had disciplined you and made you more mature.
My brother!

　Cecily exclaimed involuntarily.

'Wow, you have no idea how much humiliation I've suffered.
Hmm, well, they train horses too.
Horse!

　His eyes widen in astonishment.

'I'm human!
I know that. You are my sister. But I need the Marquis of Erakis to make my land prosperous.
I know that much!

　Cecily turned away.

'But that's why I was treated like a rebel. I thought your brother was going to remain a kinsman knight.'
'It would have been better in terms of spreading the risk, but I was suddenly treated like a rebel, too.

　''Haha,'' laughed his brother.

''Is His Majesty the Emperor so blind to the reasoning of things?
If you're a man of communication, there hasn't been a civil war.
Of course.

　Cecily let out a small sigh.

''Well, let's put things into perspective. If the Imperial Army wins, my family will be safe. After all, you're going to be on the side.''
A side room?

　Cecily frowned as she imagined a future where her position was worse than it was now.

'You don't like it?'
I don't want a problem.
Yeah, good luck with that.
"Okay, okay, okay, okay, I understand!

　Cecily exclaimed in desperation.

''Well come to think of it, why did the Duke of Palatium contort his face in displeasure?''
What's with the bushes and sticks?
'No, I just couldn't figure out why the Duke of Palatium was in a bad mood.
Is that something you've been worrying about?
'You mean that?　It's serious, this is serious.

　My brother said in a slightly miffed tone.
　The other day, my brother came face to face with the Duke of Palatium and was shooed away.
　He didn't exactly raise his voice, but he had a displeased expression on his face.

''In a manner of speaking, though, I think it would be better to sell a favor to this side as well. Mere neutrality will get in the way after the war.
Not the willpower of a nobleman?
''So........that's how it is. I see, as someone with the bloodline of the first emperor, I can't betray the empire, can I?

　Realizing that he wasn't making sense, his brother gave a subtle expression.
　If he meant someone who was linked to the bloodline of the first emperor, then he should side with Princess Tilia.
　Cecily could understand why, but her brother didn't seem to understand.

''Brother?''
What is it?
'The Duke of Palatium just doesn't want to stand downwind of the Duke of Erakis the Lady Crono.
Why?
Master Crono is an upstart new nobleman. I don't see how you can expect me to be attached to a man like that.
I haven't said a word about that, though.
You don't have to say it to change the outcome.

　In short, it's a matter of emotion.
　Even if you spent a million words on it, you wouldn't be able to convince him.
　In that sense, I'm glad you turned me away without a hitch.
　Thanks to that, I didn't have to waste my time.

'I see, you're well aware.
It's a matter of experience.
'Hmm, I guess I wasn't wrong to send you to Duke Erakis.
.....

　Cecily grunted.

*

　Gulb, a port city under the direct control of Emperor Kai - Crono stands on the quay and watches the unloading process.
　Timber, iron thorns and sustenance provisions were being unloaded from the docked ships.
　Some loads are unloaded by cranes, others by humans and large sub-humans.
　What is the difference between the two?
　I wondered about this, but I didn't think there was any regularity to it.
　If I had to choose, I'd say it's just that they are near the cranes.
　Maybe because the crane is not mobile.
　The crane is not fixed to the ground by stakes, but it will take time to move it.
　Unloading proceeds even while Crono is thinking about the futility of it.

'The wood and iron thorns are over here!
Which way is the bread and circuses?
"Idiots!　You're not slacking off!
Water!　You want some water?　A single brass coin!　Cold water, sir!
Unprocessed wood over there!　Here's the nail!　Get your sustenance over there!
Water. Water!
'd*mn it!　My cart!　Where's the cart!

　Goldie calls out to a group of people trying to carry wood, and a man scurries by the sustenance fodder to look around.
　Oh, shh, shh, a muscular old man with thick body hair kicks the buttocks of a young man who is taking a break from standing.
　A woman sailor calls out to people passing through the harbor, and a man who seems to be playing the role of an overseer shouts to a sailor who is advancing in a misguided direction.
　A middle-aged man yells hysterically as a large man with steam rising from his mouth drinks the water as if he were depriving him of it.
　A strange heat and anger swirls around.
　Considering his position as the commander of the imperial army, he should probably dash out and get things under control, but if he could do that, there would be no hardship.
　In fact, if he left, it would only add to the chaos.
　He was disgusted with himself for not being able to do much, but he also had come to the realization that these things were best left to those who could.
　People in charge are there to take responsibility.
　I'm sorry. When I imagine myself bowing my head in shame, saying, "This is my report of misconduct in supervision," I feel a little miserable - but I'm sorry.
　Suddenly, a warm feeling envelops my hand, and a marshmallow-like touch is pressed against my second arm.
　Boobs. They're also quite big.
　Boobs that I didn't know existed.
　I wanted to stay like this for a while longer, but I had a bad feeling about it.
　Whether or not you can avoid a crisis even if you sense it is another matter, but it's not good to not move in place when you know it's dangerous.
　It's not good and originally, you should act.
　When I looked over, I saw Nam Kornu entangling his own in Crono's arms.
　Suddenly the scene of a rat being strangled by a snake passed through his mind.
　The rat was Crono and the snake was Nam Corne.

'd*mn, I'll be strangled before I know it.
Well, that's not very polite to call it a snake.
I didn't say it was a snake.

　Nam Korne chuckled.

'It's often compared to snakes and foxes.
"Nam Ko...
This is Nam.

　Nam Corne interrupted Crono's words and said.

'I think I know what kind of life you've led, Nam.
Hmmm, that's a mistake.

　Nam Korunu smiled, but it was a thinly veiled one.
　Perhaps I'm not mistaken.
　However, Crono isn't a demon enough to not recognize his right to say, 'I'm such a woman, but I haven't lived my life the way you think I should.

''I think we need to take our time and talk to each other, together, to correct our misunderstandings, what do you think?''
No, I'm working on it.
Go ahead, dear.
Ms. Nam, you have children, don't you?
Yes, she's a widow.

　Nam Korunu said with an effort on the widow's part.

'I wonder what your husband would say?'
"The dead don't say anything.
'Well what do you think your husband would say?'
Yeah. "Huh, snakehead?

　Nam Korunu said with a nod of his head.

'Have you actually been told?'
Yes, a few times.

　I said, a little apologetically.
　I'm curious to know what kind of marriage I'm going to have to have to live with to be able to say, 'd*mn you snake,' but I'll keep my mouth shut because it could be a bush snake.

"Speaking of which, do you have children?
You don't have to talk about that right now.

　Nam Korunu's lips quirked up in a sultry manner, but he was determined not to let the child take any interest in him.

''Your children are important to you, aren't they?''
Of course, they are my treasures.
...I see.

　Crono nodded.

'So I'm enough of a sacrifice for you.
That's a terrible thing to say!
Excuse me.

　Crono raised his voice, but Nam Korunu is nowhere to be found.
　Arm-pushing on the curtain, nails on the bran.
　Well, I guess he really means it's enough for him to be the only sacrifice.
　It's not a good idea to oppose the Imperial Army in this situation.
　I don't think it's wise to side with the Imperial Army either--''

''........Scary eyes.''
Is that so?
'Yes, they are very frightening eyes. It's like looking at a stone on the side of the road, as if you think everything in this world is trivial.

　Nam Kornu muttered softly.
　Crono touched the corners of his eyes.
　I can't help but think it's something that's very overrated.

''I suppose ... you don't think anything of burning Emperor Kai's direct domain to ashes, do you?
I don't think so.

　'My heart aches,' he mutters.

'But you will, won't you?'
Well, if you must.

　If only the cost and return were worth it, but I don't need to explain that much.

"...scary people.
I'm sure everyone does.

　This one is responsible for the fate of the Seven Territories.
　What if you can't destroy a city or two?

What are you doing?

　A soft touch pressed against her opposite arm.
　Another titty.
　d*mn, tits.
　The seriousness of the atmosphere is ruined.
　Crono looked at the other side - at the priestess.

''........tits.''
No, no, I don't have tits.

　The priest said with a bit of a drawl.

Have you been drinking again?
I'm not ready to drink.

　The Priestess said as if she was miffed.
　'Oh,' said the priestess, turning her gaze to Nam Korunu.

'You're my mate, mate,'
I'm not that far removed from being a human being.

　The priest said happily, but Nam Korunu was miffed.
　If they were friends, then Nam Korunu must have been eaten by the gods.

''What about Mr. Neige?''
I don't feel much of a sense of camaraderie. I just don't feel like I can be friends with someone who wants to be a god.
Is it religious?
Hmmm, we have sympathy for each other, as if we're both living longer, but I didn't set out to be like this.

　The priest muttered sincerely.

'Do you remember the old days?'
Chosen by God, I might have thought.
Whoo-hoo!
No, I didn't say that. No, I didn't say that in a nuanced way. I said nuanced.

　I'm sure it's mostly nuanced, but there's no point in saying that.

'What's going to happen to you, Nam?
I think you could die if you wanted to.

　I'm sure it's not easy," he adds.

'I'm sorry, but I'm not going to die yet.
Okay, good luck with that.
Then I'll go with you.

　The priest and Nam Korunu left Crono almost simultaneously.
　They would go somewhere else as it was.
　Crono looked at the sea from the shore.
　After a while--.

''What's going on?''
....

　When I looked next to her, I saw Tilia standing there.
　She was dressed in the same military uniform as she was on the march.

''What's with that disgruntled look on your face?''
It's nothing.

　Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be able to press her tits against my arm.
　Shame.

'You look bored,'
I'm overseeing the work.
Really? I thought we were looking at the ocean?
It's the job of the person in charge to take responsibility.
Well, yeah.

　Tilia gave a small nod.

'Crono, what do you think is out there beyond these waters?'
Potatoes and corn.
Were they vegetables?

　Tilia said, holding her temples.

'I wonder what's at the end of the sea?'
'The earth is round, it's just going to circle back around.
....

　Tilia fell silent.

'By the way, what's wrong with Tilia?'
I was wondering if there was a ship of volunteers on its way. I still think I should be the one to greet them.
Yes.

　It would be a long time before 5,400 volunteers arrived, but they couldn't stay or stand still.

''The wood, iron thorns and provisions have arrived. All we have to do now is to act according to our plan.
The doctor is out.
Yeah.

　Tilia said, a bit miffed.

''........I wish I could give him a degree of respect.
I'll be fine.

　Tilia said in a calm voice.

'Well, I guess I'm okay with it too,'
'Then say it with confidence, and be confident.
I think it's going to have an impact.

　Hmmm, Crono groaned.
　If this was the case, he should have read some historical fiction, but if he had read it, he would have wished he had read something else more.

''Well what can I say?''
What?
I hate how things always happen that are always out of my control.
We've done something about it every time, haven't we?
With a little help from a lucky break.

　Crono cowered his shoulders.

''When ... the civil war is over.
Oh, I see. So you've made up your mind, huh?
We're not married.
Yeah?

　Tilia's shoulders slumped disappointedly.

'I'd like to stay in my domain and do all sorts of naughty things.
Wait!
I'm not waiting. Leave the job to my men and let them do their thing for a month or so. You'll be very sore, I promise.
All you care about is f*cking your mistresses.
Of course, Tilia is with me.
That sucks. You are the worst!
'It was wrong to fall in love with a man like that,'
d*mn, how did I fall in love with this guy?
Just think of it as fate, and give up.
I see.

　Tilia said as she let out a sigh.

''Huh, so this is my fate.''
No, don't take it that seriously.
Which one is it?
You don't have to accept it.

　I don't hate the word "destiny", but I want to believe that being here is the result of our own - our own choices.