One day, a week had passed since Count Salzberg had received a letter from Mikoshiba Ryoma, a declaration of war, and had decided to confront him directly.
　The cavalry was advancing eastward along the highway under a thick, heavy cloud covering the sky.
　A man in armor, straddling a white horse at the front of the party, clicks his tongue in frustration as the weather looks like it's about to start raining heavily.
　This is the middle of the road to Ipyros.
　The only thing I see when I look around me is a vast area of pastureland, and there is no place to take shelter from the rain. Even if there was a bit of shade, most of the group of over a hundred people would be wet rats.

"d*mn, it looks like it's going to start coming down any minute," said the old man from Salzberg. I'm just pissed off that I have to help fight for that old a**h*le in Salzberg and now they're pissing me off with the weather.

　This large man astride a white horse stared abominably at the heavens and spat at the ground.
　He was probably in his late twenties in his age.
　His limbs were thick and well-trained, and his physique was two times larger than the surrounding soldiers.
　His face was truly masculine and vicious, and the deep scar on his right cheek in particular was eye-catching.
　Most people would no doubt judge the man as either a bandit or a mercenary when they saw him.
　However, it seems that people are not always what they seem, even in this earthly world.
　One of the knights overheard the man's dissatisfaction, and he comes over with his horse. It's his role as a close associate to appease his master's complaints, which have been repeated ever since he left the territory, with a righteous argument that doesn't antagonize him.
　After all, this man has a very tricky personality: once he thinks he's this way, he won't bend his opinion at all costs.
　It sounds good to say that he has a unique personality, but he is fatally flawed by his inability to perform the belly tricks that are essential for a nobleman.
And yet, this man has a surprisingly good eye for accurately analyzing the situation, which makes him difficult to deal with even for those around him.
　In a nutshell, it can be called a man who can't read the atmosphere.

''Young man, I fully understand your feelings, but we have no choice but to endure this place. All of the ten northern families will be sending in troops. All of the ten northern families will provide troops, all ten northern families will provide troops, and it would be too dangerous for our Baron Bertrand to refuse the Countess Salzberg's request outright.

　The knight was right on the money. That would be just as well. It's the words that have been appeasing this group since before they left the mansion of the territory.
　In total, there are ten families of nobles that have their estates in the northern part of Roselia.
　Among them, the Salzberg family, which is the only one with the title of count, boasts a huge army and ample financial resources, and has established itself as an ally of the northern region since the founding of Roseria.
　To the nobles of the north, the Countess Salzberg is a much more sensitive opponent than the king who reigns in the capital, far away from their domain.　

''That's why you're upsetting Baron Mikoshiba. First of all, how can a nobleman from the same country butt heads in this unstable situation that's why I was against it. My father and brother are fussy about their loyalty to the county and their pride as Roserian aristocrats, so in the end, they got angry and it turned into a war.

He's an upstart, after all. They say the stakes get hammered down. And it's not necessarily true that this is a helper battle. The Worthenian Peninsula is likely to be even richer than we thought, and we'll be well rewarded if we win.

　The man snorts and laughs at the knight's words with a disgusting smile on his face.

'Hmph, so that's the word of a knight serving the glorious Bertrand family. That's very noble of you.''

　It's poignant irony.
　However, it seems that the knight to whom those words were directed did not feel any pain or itch.

''It can't be helped. The pride of a knight is not enough to eat. It's a good thing that you're not the one who attacked us first. I hope you will not misunderstand this point.

You'd be a fool to show an opening if you were provoked... is that it?

　In fact, from a neutral standpoint, Mikoshiba Ryoma's assertions are perfectly reasonable.
　From the point of view of those in power, the so-called secret agents and spy agents are, in other words, thieves who steal the treasure of information. Moreover, they can be assassins or saboteurs, depending on the situation.
　They are dangerous vermin that destroy the flower garden known as the territory. Such dangerous beings were deliberately sent into the territory.
　Even in a world where it was a time of warfare and it was recognized that it was natural for nobles to send secret scouts to other nobles, there was no reason why the person who was sent to them would not feel uncomfortable.
　Even so, there are still parts that can be tolerated if it's just one or two people. They may choose to sit tight and endure the difference in strength between them and themselves.
　However, if dozens of people are sent in endlessly, it's a different story.
　It's a good thing that you're a part of the Roserian Kingdom, and although Baron Mikoshiba is an upstart, he's still a member of the Roserian aristocracy.
　It's not surprising that Mikoshiba Ryoma felt threatened by the persistence of the surrounding nobles in sending secret agents to the peninsula.
　However, no matter how provoked, it's still a battle between a baron and an earl.
　Unless there's something very special, the difference in status will shift directly into a relationship of good and evil.
(Well, it's no wonder my dad's brother changed the color of his eyes. Especially now that the Woltenia peninsula has become a treasure trove.......)
　For better or worse, aristocracy is an attempt to increase territory and accumulate wealth. This is especially true now in these war-torn times.
　It's an absolute necessity in order to preserve one's family name.
　So, if they find it tasty, they will attack in packs, like hyenas swarming over carrion.
　They will use all sorts of methods, such as threats, scaremongering, crying wolfing down, coercion, and bribery, to get at their interests.
(But wait. Well it's possible that they deliberately provoked Mikoshiba to declare war on him............that's something those guys would do)　　
　He deliberately sends an unlimited number of secret agents to inflame Baron Mikoshiba's tensions. Then, when he eventually breaks out, he crushes him with force at once.
　All that remained was the Woltenia Peninsula, which had soared in value as an important commercial port on the northern route of the western continent. The concessions will be divided among the surrounding nobility.
　It's not that I have any particular proof, but the picture of this battle is gradually beginning to emerge in my mind.
(What a nasty idea!) I can't forgive such an upstart. I can't forgive an upstart like that.
　It is true that Baron Mikoshiba is estranged from the majority of the aristocracy of the Roserian Kingdom. The majority view is that he is a drifter mercenary with no idea of which horse's bones are from, but he happened to be successful in warfare during the civil war, and obtained the status of a nobleman without regard to rank or position.　
　Moreover, if it is not so bad if they are living in the given frontier, but the Woltenia Peninsula, which had been a burden for some time, is now turning into a tasty land with great economic power, there is no reason for the aristocrats, who are entrenched in their sense of electability, to remain silent.
(But who on earth painted this picture?)
　I can assure you that he does not have the wit to plot that much against his own father and brother, even in the eyes of his immediate family's favoritism.
　Both of them are snobs who are only interested in squeezing the tax out of their fiefdoms and their daily pleasures, and they are both cowards who have never even been in battle.
(Salzberg's father?)　No, I think the flavor is a bit different for that old man to have painted. (So, is it Mrs. Julia, also known as the Poisonous Woman?
　With that thought in mind, the man dismisses his own imagination.
(No, I've never heard of Mrs. Dixon being good at this kind of conspiracy, though she's terrific at financial matters... but maybe... but... but... ...)
　The faces of the heads of the ten northern families and their entourage flashed in and out of the man's mind one by one.
　Every one of them could be the possible mastermind of a series of conspiracies.

''Young man, look over there.''

　A knight's voice brings the man, who had been buried in a sea of thoughts, back to reality.

'A golden eagle with wings spread on a red ground the Baron Galveira?

　Southwest and southeast. It was here, where roads from two directions meet facing Ipyros, that the two baronial armies were now about to meet.

''All forces halt!''

　Following the man's command, the cavalry stopped their steps.
　The width of the road is reasonably wide, but not wide enough for two armies to advance at the same time.
　So, it is necessary to adjust which of the armies will advance first.

''Wait for a moment.''

　When ordered by the knight who is close by, the man is the only one to slowly advance his horse.
　Normally, there would be no need for a man, a commander, to negotiate directly. But the man was certain.
　And apparently, the other party had also sensed the man's intentions. A man from the Galveira family's army is also coming with his horse.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. It's been a long time since I've seen you, Signis.

　At these words, the man called Signis smiled a white toothy smile and dismounted his horse and held out his hands.

'It's the same here. Roberto Beltran. It's nice to see your dumb side as always.'

Pull it out. You baronial, cold-hearted eater!　

I could say that to you.

　Swearing for a moment, they held each other's shoulders tightly.

"It's been three years... or is it four years since we've seen each other directly like this?

'Oh, I haven't seen you since we had that skirmish at the border with Hernesgura.

　Roberto responds to Signis's words with a sigh.

''Hmm, well, it can't be helped. Hmm, well, it can't be helped, as we are both in the position of being the fourth son of a baronial family.......

　Unlike the eldest son who takes over the family in an aristocratic society, the second and third sons are more likely to be an insurance policy in case something unexpected happens to the eldest son.
　And insurance is useless if no unforeseen circumstances occur.
　Naturally, the treatment for the second and third sons is generally worse than for the first son. And when it comes to the fourth son, the poor treatment is to be expected.
　They are rarely invited to participate in social gatherings among the nobles, and even if they were, it would only be worth it for the number of people in the room.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.　

I'm not sure if that's the case, Roberto, but your place is the same as always.

Yeah but isn't that the same in your place?

　Signis nodded at Roberto's question with a look of resignation on his face.

'Oh, they only use me well in these awkward situations.

　Their circumstances are very similar.
　Being born the fourth son of a nobleman of no means rich. He couldn't find a place for himself in his family. They were exceptionally talented as knights.
　In particular, their talents as warriors were outstanding. Yes, so much so that their parents and siblings did not want to give up their talents.
　The two of them were responsible for all rough affairs related to the territory, including the maintenance of security, such as taking care of the wild thieves and monsters that appeared in the territory.
　And yet, they can't interfere in the management of the territory, and their position in the family is the lowest level, so I can't help but feel sorry for them.

You can't blame them. This is one thing we can't do anything about.''

Well, yeah.

　If you are aiming for a reversal from the current situation, there is no other way but to kill your parents and siblings and take away your family's governorship, but the truth is that even if you are treated coldly, you can't let go of your immediate family's affection.
　Roberto gave a small nod to Signis's words.

It's no use doing this forever. For now, I'll let you go ahead. We'll have a drink when we get to Iphiroth. We have a lot of things to talk about.

Yeah, all right, all right. And the booze, Signis, I'm sure it's on you.

All right. I'll even buy you a drink.

　Signis smiled and nodded at Roberto's words, and then became a man on horseback again.

'Well, then, in Ipylos!

Yeah.

　Roberto slowly turned on his heel as he looked off the back of his departing old friend.
　There wasn't an ounce of doubt left in his mind that had occupied him earlier.
　Whether that would be good or bad, there was no one who could tell at this stage.
　The northern part of the Roselia Kingdom was about to enter the time of the storm right now.