*

　Early in the morning, Johnny digs in the ground with a pointed wooden stick.
　He digs and digs, and the hole is now as deep as his thighs.
　It was deeply satisfying to see the hole in the ground.
　I used to hate this kind of work, but now I don't feel so bad about it.
　Now, however, it is not a bad feeling.
　Maybe it's the satisfaction.
　I feel like I'm good at this kind of work.
　Come to think of it, Johnny's family has been involved in pioneering and farming since his grandparents' generation.
　It was in his blood.
　It was no surprise that he was suited to the steady work of farming.
　He smiles at the thought.
　I wouldn't have been able to think like this in the past.
　I would have been repulsed.
　Ironic, I think.
　I've come to the point of no return, and I've come to accept the things I used to hate.
　I miss the days when I worked as a vigilante in the Barony of Ekron.
　I'm a different person now than I was then.
　But I don't regret it.
　No, I should say that I am convinced.
　I chose to be the way I am now.
　It's a little better than a life with no choice.
　Johnny tightened his grip on the wooden stick.
　At that moment, a gurgling sound could be heard.
　It was a grumbling sound.
　No wonder.
　Last night's meal was crappy, and I haven't eaten anything since I woke up today.
　Maybe it was because he hadn't eaten breakfast, or maybe it was the lack of breakfast that made him feel lightheaded.
　But Johnny moves his hands.
　The soldiers around him are doing the same.
　If I rest my hands, they'll be suspicious.
　Sometimes I forget that I'm not an Imperial soldier.
　I keep digging, digging, digging on the ground - and my stomach bug gurgles again.
　He rested his hand and tapped his stomach with the palm of his hand.

'I'm being quiet. Even your master is hungry.

　Your master is Johnny.
　He demands that his own stomach endure his own, so he demands that you endure it too.
　I think I'm being foolish.
　Perhaps your master will look at you like you're a bug.
　To be honest, it's hard to be looked at like that.
　I'm not that hard to hit.
　But even if my master is looking at me like that, I can't stop him.
　This is an important - a ritual to build up tension.
　Tension is important.
　When the tension is high, you can move in a pessimistic situation.
　But if it's low, you won't be able to move in a less pessimistic situation.
　It's important to raise it consciously.
　Especially--.

'Ouch, ouch.'
'd*mn, the burn is twitching and my leg is...'
'Good luck. You'll be able to see a doctor when you get back to the Imperial City.
''Really? Aren't you going to be thrown out like those people who were injured in the construction of the mausoleum?

　An injured man passes in front of Johnny.
　Some have been burned.
　Some have no arms or legs.
　It's like a bunch of ghosts.
　After all, it's important to consciously raise the tension.
　Especially when you are in a situation like this - when you are in a situation where it is easy to feel down.
　I suddenly realize something.
　The wounded are bowing in front of a certain person.
　It's a man in a white military uniform.
　Roy Akbens, the leader of the Fourth Kingsguard.
　Can you kill him from this distance?
　Gently reaching for the dagger...

"Hey, what are you waiting for?
"-Oh!

　John sat down to block the view.

'Oh, I hope you don't startle me!
You'd be hard pressed to find a way around that, wouldn't you?
Yeah, that's true, but...

　John said, miffed, and Johnny interrupted him.

So what are you looking at?
I didn't see anything.
Bullshit. You were looking at Roy.
Then don't ask me about it.
Well, I know how you feel. You look like a man who's had a full meal.

　Tsk, John clicked his tongue uncomfortably.
　Apparently he thought it was convenient for him.
　It's not good that people think he was trying to kill them.
　We should go with this trend.

'I'm jealous that you have a full belly.
He's a nobleman. They eat a lot of soup with meat in it.
....

　Johnny fell silent.
　He probably should have replied, "I'm jealous of the soup with meat, ssss," he said.
　But the words didn't come out.
　Instead, a hazy feeling came up.

'I feel kind of miserable.

　Johnny muttered in a shaky voice.
　Soup with meat was not something to envy.
　He ate it at his parents' house and at Baron Crawford's mansion with a fair amount of frequency.
　He also knew of a good and cheap restaurant in the Imperial City.
　Even in the Areos Mountains, he could eat meat.
　Despite that, he still envied the soup with meat.
　And with all my heart.

''It's ... spicy.''

　Johnny turned over and muttered to himself.
　Instantly, he was shaken back.
　It was so intense that he was forced to raise the tension.
　My vision blurred with tears.
　Why is he doing this - digging in the ground with a wooden stick, like a punishment?
　And on an empty stomach.
　It's hard. It's too hard.
　I want to go home.

Why are you crying?
I'm hungry.
No choice.

　John raggedly scratched his head and took a stick-shaped object from his pocket.
　He grabbed both ends and folded them, then held one out to him.
　Johnny took it silently and stared at the stick sullenly.

You want me to chew on a wooden stick to stave off hunger? 'It's like a famine.'
Dumbass, cell phone food.
Is this the food?
Yeah, it's flour and salt mixed with water and baked.
"Thank you.

　Johnny tried to bite at it, but he couldn't.
　John grabbed his wrist.

'What?'　Is it possible that it's gold?
No. This one's really hard. A beastman might break his teeth, but a human would.
What's the food?

　Johnny stared at his portable meal.

'So I'm going to break it into little pieces and put it in my mouth to soften it up and eat it.
It's like the bread we had for dinner.
It's not as good as it looks.

　John frowned.
　I don't think it's a good idea to give them that kind of thing.
　I have a feeling that he's trying to give it to you because he's having trouble getting rid of it.
　But food is food, even if it's like this.
　Because it is made from wheat, you won't get sick.

It's still a bit big.

　Johnny grabbed both ends and tried to break it, but he couldn't quite break it because it was too short.
　He has no choice but to pull out the dagger, make a cut and break it in two.
　You can compare the two and take a bite of the slightly smaller one.

"Is it good?
That's sweet.

　It smells like bread, but I'm not sure if it tastes good.

'Well, if you put it in your mouth, the saliva will soften it up and make it edible.
Now I'm thirsty.
I can't take care of that much.

　John laughed and stared at the hole sullenly.

'You did a good job of digging it, then.
Is that so?　Isn't everyone like this?

　Johnny looked around.
　Around him, Imperial soldiers were digging in the ground with sticks.
　I don't know how deep they are actually digging, but it looks like they are digging just as much.
　By the way, not a single one of them looked like they were about to cry.
　After all, the real soldiers are different.
　I was ashamed of myself for almost crying out of hunger.

"I'm impressed that you dug so far with just a wooden stick. I'm impressed.
No, I'm not much different from the others.
No, no, seriously, you're the one who digs the deepest.
No, I'm embarrassed to be told that.

　Johnny scratched his head.
　He tried to be humble, but he didn't feel bad about being praised.
　It really made him feel like he was digging the deepest.
　But I had a bad feeling.
　A bitterness spreads in my mouth and I naturally frown.

'What a face!'
I have a bad feeling about this.
Oh, come on, don't be ridiculous.
Nothing?
Oh, I just have good news--and don't frown on it.
I don't know that I've ever heard anyone say that to me and it wasn't good news.

　My mentor would make me do outrageous things by telling me they were good and fun.
　One particularly memorable moment was when he told me he was going to make me lose my virginity.
　I followed him and found a line of blindfolded bandits lined up.
　It was a terrible experience.
　Why did I trust my master after all the pain I had suffered so much?
　It was obvious. It was because he was a complete and utter moron.
　There is no doubt that I'm still a stupidity.
　But unlike in the past, I learned to doubt.
　The bottom has been found.
　I think I'm a more sane person now.

'What kind of life are you living, farmer?
I'm not a farmer now.

　Johnny was miffed and said back.

'Don't give me that look,'
He has this look on his face. So, what's the good news?
What, you're interested in that?
I'm not saying I'm not interested. I just have a bad feeling about it.
Well, your hunch is not so good. You'll be happy to hear that. The tools for digging a hole-- Not this again.
You can't help but frown.

　Johnny tightened his grip on the wooden stick.

'If you could have prepared it, I wish you would have prepared it from the beginning. Then you wouldn't have had to do something like this punishment.
I feel the same way.

　John made a reluctant face.
　What a cringe.
　I still have a bad feeling about this.
　If I'm honest, I don't want to ask why--'

'Is there anything more?'
I told you yesterday.　I heard they're commandeering supplies in the Imperial City.
'Yeah, we talked about that too. What's wrong with that?
We're gonna have to commandeer the tools to dig a hole.
What about it?
Yeah, so are you.

　When Johnny asked again, John let out a deep sigh.
　It was similar to his master's reaction when he said something pompous.

'Did I just say something weird?'
The thought of not having the tools to dig a hole without requisitioning it makes me pessimistic, usually.
Well, that's good to know.
It's like you're somebody else's problem.
Hi, I'm not a stranger to this!　Parties!
'Oh, no, sorry, it was a figure of speech. But yeah, I know. When you're your age, you don't even think about it. You know your age when you talk to a young man.

　John said with a sigh.
　I was thrilled when he told me it was like someone else's problem, but he seemed to agree with me.
　I shouldn't. I have to be a little more careful.
　But how should I be careful?
　I thought about it, but I couldn't find an answer.

''Well it's finally time for the real battle to begin.
The truce ends this evening, you know.
God, I hate it when my people kill each other.
Yeah.

　John said disgustedly, and Johnny nodded.
　But we don't feel like we're related to each other.
　I have a stronger sense of being a person from the southern frontier than I do of being an imperialist.
　Of course, we were not educated that way.
　My parents and grandparents, strangely enough, given their historical background, did not speak of their dissatisfaction with the Empire.
　But once they found out about the historical background and the cold treatment they were receiving from the center, they were no better.
　A kind of hostility would develop.
　That feeling has lessened compared to a time, but it hasn't gone away.

"Couldn't you have done better?
That's why it's like this.

　Johnny muttered, and John spat.

*

　Night - Tilia leans back in her chair and lets out a deep sigh.
　Gently the cup is placed on the table.
　A pungent smell irritates her nasal passages.
　It's the smell of Myra's special fragrant tea (original blend).
　I move my eyes slowly.
　Then Myra is standing next to me.
　When did she arrive?
　The question arises, but is it useless to think about it?

'Come in, ma'am.'
Thank you.

　Tilia thanked him and picked up the cup.
　She supported it with both hands and exhaled with a huff.

'Thank you for the strategy meeting,'
This isn't something you should be worried about. It's just a rework of the last mission.

　Tilia brought the cup to her mouth.
　The smell is harsh and it hurts her eyes.
　She hesitates a bit and sips the cup and drinks the incense tea.
　The incense tea passes through the esophagus and reaches the stomach.
　The effect was immediate.
　Heat slowly spreads from inside the body.
　The first time it was served to me, I was surprised, but once I got used to it, it wasn't bad.
　Well, it takes a lot of courage to put my mouth on it.
　Quietly, I set the cup down and stare at the communication magic item on the table.
　'If you need anything, Robert will report back to me.

'You may have heard this before--'
What is it?
You haven't used any of those dangerous weeds, have you?
Why would you do that?

　Myra tilted her head curiously.
　The gesture seemed strangely theatrical and unsettling.

'It's a habitual taste, you know. 'Just in case.'
We don't use any grass that would interfere with the process.
'I see. But the word 'grass' makes me subtly uneasy.
If you want to use a different word, how about a leaf?
That makes me even more nervous.

　The conversation was cut short.
　Tilia let out a small sigh and propped her cheekbones on the armrest for support.

'I'm tired.'

　I whispered to myself and pressed my mouth down in a hurry.
　I wonder if I'm loosening up.

'Ma'am, please make yourself comfortable in front of me.
If a predator relaxes in front of a predator, it will die.
'I am sorry. The allegory is too broad for a lowly person to understand what you are saying, Mistress.
That's the kind of place you're talking about.

　Hmph, Tilia sniffed and blinked.

'Wouldn't it be better for you to get an early night's rest today?'
It's only just getting darker.
The sun has set, which means it is nighttime. I don't think it's a problem to rest. Besides, the price of oil has been rising recently.

　Myra turned over slightly and held her eyes.
　Tyria let her gaze wander.
　A white light illuminated the surroundings.
　It's the light from a magic item for lighting.
　No oil was used.

''Are you acting like you're crying by any chance?
Yo-yo, that's right. By the way, "yo" is a word used to describe a crying voice.
Could it be that you're making fun of me?
No, that was never my intention.
What's the point, then?
I'm just teasing you. What's up?
You're the worst!

　Tyria's voice trailed off.

'I tried to describe the impoverishment of the early days of the frontier.

　Gulp, Tilia moaned.
　Weak to be told that she was living a hard life.
　I can't think of any words to refute it.
　That's probably why Myra is citing it, though.

'So, what will you do?'
I'll be awake for a bit longer.
You said so last night. You were up late again last night, weren't you?
We had to have a plan, you know?

　Last night, he heard reports of a commandeering of supplies in the imperial capital and formulated a plan for the raid.
　He thought that the same method as last time would be dealt with, so he tried to come up with a new idea somehow.
　But the new idea didn't spark, and the same strategy as before was used.
　Scatter stones on the streets to stop them, and fight them with smoke to block their view.
　If only I could come up with a good idea now--'

''Madam, ideas don't just come to you if you take the time to come up with them.
I'm aware of that, though.
I hope you know what you're doing, sir.

　Myra said with a sigh.
　As far as she was concerned, Tilia didn't understand.
　She is fixated on the possibility of coming up with a new idea.

'We are godless. We have no choice but to take advantage of what we have and adopt the most winnable plan.'
Because I am an ungodly man.

　Tilia muttered.

'I know there's no point in asking for something that isn't there. But I'm worried that we're really doing our best. I can't face my men if I fail to leave room for them to try.
It's karma.
Yeah, I know.

　Tilia nodded and suddenly her mouth relaxed.
　Totally disgusting.
　I thought I was being vigilant, but I'm revealing my feelings.
　Are you really so tired?
　Or is this the skill of an experienced maid?

''Speaking of which, how's the situation in the Imperial City?''
We've been commandeering supplies.
It's a stupid question.

　We're in a situation where we can't even get supplies.
　With a little thought, you should have realized that the situation is not favorable.
　Should we accept Myra's advice and rest early?
　Just then--''

This is Robert. This is an emergency report.
What?

　A voice rang out from the communication magic item and Tyria straightened her residence.

''Baron Bowties has been killed.''
What did you say?
"Baron Bowties has been murdered.

　When I asked him back, Robert replied in the same tone as before.

'Are you sure?'
'Yes, sir, we've seen it on multiple routes. He was beaten to death by wounded soldiers.
Okay.

　Myra shook her head as Tyria turned her gaze to look at him.
　She thought she had sent her, but apparently that wasn't the case.
　What in the world had happened?

''Do you want to find out?''
Yeah, let me check.

　Tyria answered after a pause.
　I don't expect it to be easy to find out, and it's possible that it's just a coincidence.
　But I don't want to do nothing but get my foot in the door.

''I'll report the results of my investigation tomorrow night.''
Oh, come on.
"Yes, sir. Then we are done with the transmission.

　Tyria sticks her cheekbones in the air and thinks about the plan for the attack.
　Will there be a supply run even though Baron Bowties has been killed?
　She thinks about that and shakes her head in a small way.
　It's no use thinking about whether the supply will be made.
　The only thing to think about is what to do when the replenishment takes place.
　'Okay,' said Tyria as she sat up.

'Kane, Gaul, do you hear me?
I'm listening.
Yes, I'm here.

　When I called out to the magic item for communication, there was an immediate response.
　It's natural because it's not made to be able to talk to any other person.
　The conversation I just had was heard by everyone holding the device.

''We're changing our policy on the raid on the supply team.
I take it that this is an unchanged operation?
Yes.

　I answer Gaul's question.

'How would you change it?'
More discreetly.
'Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the raid?

　Answering Kane's question, Gaul interjected with a question.

''Don't get your priorities wrong. Our goal is to take back the throne from the false emperor Alfort.''
"Yes, sir.

　Gaul nodded honestly.

'I don't have any other questions.'
....

　I ask, but they are silent.

'Then the temporary strategy meeting is over. Rest well, both of you.
Copy that.
"Yes, sir.

　Their voices echoed and Myra gently draped a thick cloth over the communication magic item.

'Then we won't be able to hear you, will we?
'I can hear you, ma'am, please go to bed.
But...
I'm going to ask you to have a good night.
All right. We don't want you to get sick again, do we?
Thank you for your understanding.

　I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until morning anyway, but Tilia fell asleep as soon as she got into bed.



My brother!　Oh my God!

　Cecily jumped into her brother's tent.
　The tent was set up at a distance from the North-South Highway that connects the Empire to the Free City State cluster.
　To be honest, I'd rather stay at the inn, but from the Empire's point of view, Cecily and the others are rebels.
　Even lords who seem friendly cannot be trusted.
　My brother was at the table and seemed to be writing something.

'Brother!'
What is it, Cecily?

　When I raised my voice again, my brother finally looked at me.
　There had been a bit of a gap in his mind for a while now, but that feeling was strengthened by our actions together.
　I respect his equestrian skills - but.

''I received a report from the watchdog. I heard that a fast horse has rushed in from the Imperial Capital area.''
Which way are you headed?
You mentioned the north.
'I see, Master Ralph is going to ask for help from the Duke of Palatium, isn't he?
''- - Oh!　Then we have to go after it!
You wait.

　Cecily gasped and turned on her heel. Then her brother called out to her.

'Why?'
'Because my people aren't bone-dark enough to end up with just a report.

　Cecily turned and shouted, and her brother let out a sigh.
　His cheeks burned.
　He felt as if he had been called bonkers.
　He repeated a deep breath to calm himself down.

'So you can catch Hayama, then?
That's not going to happen.
My brother!

　Cecily shouted, but her brother had no idea where she was going.

It's been a long time since we left the Count of Caddo. My lady is in exhaustion mode. It's not just the same for my men and your loved ones. In contrast, the other side is in high spirits.
So what do we do now?
So, what do we do now?
My brother!

　Cecily shouted and stepped on the ground on the spot.
　I don't understand how they can stay calm at a time like this.
　If the imperial army loses, they will be done for, too.

''Do you think the Duke of Palatium will send out reinforcements?''
I'm sure they'd offer you reinforcements if you asked for help.
After all these years of neutrality?
It's...

　Cecily clammed up.
　The Duke of Palatium didn't respond to our request because he didn't want to stand in the wind of the new nobility.
　However, he also kept his distance from Alfort.

''Normally, I think it's unlikely that Duke Palatium will send out reinforcements.
I suppose it's not so lucky for us?
''No, it's unfortunate for us. If he doesn't move, Leonhard-dono won't be able to move the imperial capital. No, no, I should say that we won't be able to read Lord Leonhardt's actions.
Of course.

　Cecily nodded.
　Leonhardt is in the way of a separate force led by Princess Tilia to defeat the false emperor Alfort.
　It would be best if he remained neutral, but if he believed that and was ruined, he wouldn't be able to see it.

''Then what do we do?''
'It was a fortuitous thing for us that Lord Ralph asked the Duke of Palatium for help.

　Then my brother straightened up.

'I'm going to write a letter to the Duke of Palatium now. Would you be willing to help me?
What do you need help with?
'Just think of the text of the letter to be sent to the Duke of Palatium. The content could be something along the lines of a promise of honorable treatment if you cooperate with Princess Tilia.
I understand. By the way, what do we do when the Duke of Palatium sends out reinforcements?
I'll have the neighboring lords buy us some time. What? I don't need them to fight for me. We'll buy ourselves a lot of time just by having them check our bags.

　Cecily began to think about the sentence with admiration.