How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 9: Chapter 2

With Fuuga and his flying white tiger leading the way, we headed for Wedan.

Once we lowered our altitude, we knew we would be sporadically attacked by flying monsters. However, we had Naden, Ruby, and the wyvern cavalry on our side. The moment the monsters appeared, theyd be struck by lightning, scorched with flames, or torn to ribbons.

Aisha stayed with me instead of returning to the gondola, so with her reassuring presence nearby, I managed to maintain my calm.

With my arms around Aishas waist, I watched Fuuga.

There were monsters coming toward Fuuga, too, but he acted as if they didnt matter, not even readying his weapon. Every monster that came was batted to death with one swing of Durgas forepaws, so he had no need to fight any of them himself.

This had to be at least in part because he trusted Durga implicitly, but it was still fair to say he had incredible guts to be able to relax on this battlefield.

Um, sire, Aisha put in. Arent you holding me a bit tight?

It seemed Id tightened my arms around Aishas waist. Oh, sorry. I relaxed them a bit.

Hal and Ruby came up alongside us to talk.

Souma, your face is looking kind of scary, you know? Hal said.

Hearing that, I realized for the first time how tense I probably looked.

In order to get myself into a new frame of mind, I slapped my cheeks. ...Sorry. When I watch Fuuga, I cant help but feel uneasy.

Is there something that bothers you? Hal asked.

Im not sure about that myself...

Was it unease? Fear? Tension? When I looked at that mans back, a feeling I couldnt describe welled up inside me. It was different from the pure fear Id felt when attacked by Gaius VIII; it felt more like something I didnt know was slowly creeping up on me. It was a strange sensation.

Catching a look at my face, Hal spun around the arm he held his short spear with. You probably dont have to be that worried. Sure, hes the king of Malmkhitan, but thats just one country in the Union of Eastern Nations. Sure, hes strong, so I can understand why youre on guard. Still, if he picks a fight with the kingdom, hes not going to be winning it single-handedly.

Hal...

You have me, Ruby, Kaede, Young Miss Aisha, Young Miss Naden, and fifty thousand soldiers with you. So you can just sit there and act confident. Hal thumped his chest as if to say, Leave it to me.

Maybe he was trying to reassure me.

It was true: no matter how powerful a warrior he might be, I didnt think there was any way Fuuga could take us on as an individual. The man might be able to wreak havoc alone, but the kingdom had more than a hundred times his thousand soldiers. If he was just strong, there were any number of ways to handle him.

But... I had a feeling there was more to him than just that. If I looked down upon him as the king of a petty state, I felt like that was going to come back and bite me hard.

Aisha and Naden chimed in.

I will risk my life to protect you, sire, Aisha declared.

Well, Im pretty sure Im tougher than that tiger, anyway, Naden added.

...Fair enough. I was uneasy, but when everyone said to leave it to them, that lightened my spirits just a little.

Thanks, Aisha, Naden. You, too, Hal. Sorry to worry you.

Im telling you, just leave it to us, Hal said proudly. Though, Ill admit, this is kinda unexpected.

Unexpected?

Yeah. Youre fond of guys with crazy talents like his, right? Usually, Id expect you to want to recruit him. He looked a bit mystified.

I shook my head with a wry smile. What Im looking for is capable people who are willing to move forward, matching their pace with mine. There are limits to what I can do alone, after all. I want to support a large number of highly capable people. But... thats not a man who would work under someone else, or match his pace with anyone else, is he?

I didnt have the strongest intuition. I couldnt look at someone and tell how strong they were the way that Aisha and some of the others could. Still, the moment Id seen Fuugas face, Id sensed it.

That guys BAD NEWS.

It wasnt an emotion or my experience; it was something like an instinct that was setting off warning bells.

We cant afford to make assumptions with that man, I went on. If I started to think he was following me, I might find myself subservient to him before I knew it. If I try to use him, Ill be used myself, and if I try to walk beside him, Ill find myself being dragged along. Thats the sense I get. I cant word it well, but were probably not very compatible.

Not compatible, huh...

It seemed like Fuuga had sensed something similar, too. When hed looked at me, hed said I might drag him down into the mud, and that he felt like I came out of a different framework than him.

Unlike me, hed shown no signs of this bothering him, which said a lot about Fuugas natural strength.

Even if we were feeling the same thing, I was weak, so I felt a strong sense of alarm, while Fuuga was strong, so it wasnt leaving a lasting impression on him.

At that very moment, Fuuga, who was leading the way, turned back, making a U-turn to come back to us. We stopped where we were for a moment, and Fuuga pointed downward.

Souma, he said. Ive been watching the state of the battle, and it looks like the defenders are about to break on the west side. Im going to support them a bit, so do you mind if I only lead you this far?

Got it. Wedan Castles just a stones throw from here. If youd like, should we send some of our people, too?

Fuuga shouldered his crescent blade and let out a hearty laugh. Thatd help. We should be able to wrap this up quick.

Halbert, I ordered. Take half the wyvern cavalry and support Sir Fuuga.

Roger!

Ill be going on ahead, Fuuga announced.

No sooner had he said that than he slapped Durga on the back, beginning his rapid descent to the battlefield below.

Us, too, then... Halbert began.

Wait, Hal, I interrupted.

Seeing him about to follow Fuuga, I felt uncertainty all over.

I beckoned Hal to come closer, having Naden use her tail to pull their bodies close together.

With the distance closed, I told a dubious-looking Hal, Hal, if you feel yourself being dragged along by Fuuga, remember Kaede and Rubys faces.

Huh? Was that really worth calling me over to say?

Hal had a doubtful look on his face, but I nodded.

Its important. I feel like you and Fuuga are similar. When people are close to those who are similar to them, they notice it, and theyre either attracted or repelled. They can get dragged along, in other words.

Huh? Not sure I get it, but... youre serious here, right?

I put on a serious face to make sure he knew I meant it.

...Okay, Hal said. Ill keep that in mind.

Right. Ruby, you look after Hal, too.

Roger that.

Hey, thats my line! Naden cried indignantly.

With a laugh at Nadens indignation, Hal and Ruby led about fifty wyvern cavalry to follow Fuuga.

Looks like... theyre fighting hard down there, Halbert commented.

As Halbert and his men began their descent to the ground to follow Fuuga, the united forces of the Union of Eastern Nations were managing to hold back the diverse group of monsters somehow.

The soldiers of the Union of Eastern Nations were staying put in an encampment meant for field battles that was surrounded by fences and abatises (a line of sharp wooden stakes and the boughs of trees pointing outward), while archers and mages attacked with bows and magic.

This was probably a valid tactic against monsters which used no strategy or tactics, diving in without regard for their own losses. However, these monsters were intensely driven, and the fences had been broken down in some places.

The shield bearers kept clustering at the breaches, quickly plugging them, and then the ranged attack units would keep the monsters in check while the fence was rebuilt.

They would resume long ranged attacks from behind the fence, and while the enemy was confused, cavalry or other high mobility troops would come out, defeat whatever had slipped through, and pull out. That was the process that had been carried out repeatedly.

The unions forces were made up from the armed forces of a variety of countries, but because they were all using the same tactics, they were managing to coordinate fairly well.

Halbert was impressed despite himself. The union forces are doing pretty... Hm?

A sudden commotion was coming from the battlefield.

When he looked in the direction of the voices, he could see something approaching the defenders on the west side.

Thats... a rhinosaurus? Halbert wondered.

Were rhinosauruses that hideous? Ruby frowned.

There was a massive creature below, one that resembled the rhinosauruses used to carry freight in the kingdom. However, Ruby was right: this rhinosaurus looked very different from the ones in the kingdom. The horn on its upper jaw was disfigured, its body sagged as if rotten, and its flesh was exposed in places, so perhaps it ought to have been called a zombie rhinosaurus.

There were several of those zombie rhinosauruses heading for the encampment on the west side.

The commotion was the screams of soldiers terrified by it.

Thats not good, Halbert said worriedly. I dunno if its living or dead from the way it looks, but if it hits the encampment with a big body like that, itll break through easily. Its even a threat to fortress walls.

Youre right, Ruby said. We have to stop it.

Just as Halbert was about to tell his wyvern cavalry, Were going to intercept, he saw Fuuga, who had gone on ahead, ready his crescent blade.

Fuuga kicked his stirrups into Durga the white tigers belly, making his partner charge at the zombie rhinosaurus.

Ah! Hey! Damn it! Hal shouted. Were going in, too!

Halbert and his men hurried to follow. As for Fuuga, meanwhile...

Ha ha ha! Heres a target worth taking down!

Yeah, he kept Durga running onward with glee.

Just as the zombie rhinosaurus was about to hit the west side encampment and blow their fences and abatises away, Fuuga came down from right above it.

Those guys from the kingdom in the south are watching. Lets give em a real show!

And Fuugas crescent blade began sparking with electricity.

Fuuga drove Durga on, and when they landed on the back of one of the zombie rhinosauruses that was threatening the encampment, he swung the blade down at its back.

Kerbang!

There was a sound like the air being torn apart, and a thick bolt of lightning pierced the zombie rhinosaurus.

It opened a big, smoking hole maybe six meters across in the enormous rhinosauruss back.

It was hard to tell if the zombie rhinosaurus was living or dead to begin with, but putting a big hole in its body seemed to have killed it, and its sudden loss of life caused it to trip and slide along the ground with its inertia.

Even Fuugas allies were shocked and surprised by the strike.

The defenders who saw the flash of lightning the closest lost their voices at first, and when they came to their senses at last, they were mad with glee that a powerful enemy had been downed, cheering uproariously.

Halbert and his people were just as surprised.

To think a human could fire off an electric shock on Nadens level... Ruby remarked.

Thats not just lightning, Hal said. Its that powerful because it has Fuugas martial ability behind it, too. But still, its an inhuman feat.

Halbert realized his hands gripping the Twin Snake Spear were covered in sweat. He must have been awfully tense. It seemed it was his instinct more than his head that had reacted to the way Fuuga fought. He had goosebumps.

This wasnt the first time hed been awed by someones martial ability. When hed battled Aisha who was venting after Souma left her behind, Halbert had learned how frightening she was when she let loose.

However, Aisha was Soumas second primary queen-to-be, and an ally. She might have gone wild, but they hadnt been seriously trying to kill each other.

Meanwhile, as the king of a foreign nation, Fuuga wasnt guaranteed to always be on their side. Depending on the situation, Hal might someday have to fight the man.

If it came to that, theyd be the ones Fuugas power was turned against. When that happened, would he be able to stop the man?

While Halbert and his men looked on with tense expressions, Fuuga raised his voice.

I am Fuuga Haan, King of Malmkhitan! Ill handle the big ones! Officers of the union, unleash your might!

As Fuugas loud voice echoed across the battlefield, the emboldened soldiers raised their own voices in a hearty war cry. Their fear of the zombie rhinosauruses was completely wiped away by their confidence in Fuugas martial prowess.

Fuuga dived into the thick of the enemy in search of his next target.

Prioritize taking out those rotten rhinosauruses! Halbert ordered the wyvern cavalry and headed into battle himself.

The size of a zombie rhinosaurus made it difficult to intercept them with ground forces, but a concentrated attack with wyverns flames could easily take them down. Halbert took out two of them with Rubys flames, too.

Once all the zombie rhinosauruses were defeated, and the encampments safety was secured, Halbert went looking for Fuuga.

Ha ha ha! a boisterous laugh howled.

Following the noise, Halbert found Fuuga and Durga in the thick of the horde of monsters, with Fuuga swinging his crescent blade while laughing as they ran forward as if across an empty wasteland.

On a battlefield filled with bloodlust, Fuuga was not only not tense, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. There wasnt a monster that could stop that man and beasts advance.

Then things started hopping over and gathering around Fuuga.

Boing! Boing!

They were mounted soldiers who rode goat-like creatures. They carried single-edged swords shaped like the crescent moon, and bows with a unique shape. These were the pride of Fuugas kingdom Malmkhitan, the leaping cavalry.

When the leaping cavalry had gathered around Fuuga, they began following him into battle. With that large number gathered around him, Fuugas ability to break through the enemy skyrocketed.

With Fuuga at the vanguard, that group raced back and forth across the battlefield, trampling the enemy as if a twister had come through.

Fuuga was enjoying himself as much as ever, but the cavalry from Malmkhitan were fighting desperately for their lives. Even so, not one of them left the line of battle.

Halbert was watching Fuugas forces from a distance. It must be hard to keep up with Fuuga. But... no one stops following.

Halbert thought he could understand the way those cavalrymen felt.

Im sure... they must be proud.

Proud to be following Fuuga as he charged through the battlefield.

Proud to be able to fight alongside Fuuga, who showed them his overwhelming martial prowess.

The way he fought, it was like something out of a heroic legend. He jumped out in front of powerful enemies as if he were meant to do so, and then struck them down.

By fighting alongside him, his allies were probably able to savor the feeling of being a character in such a story.

Fuuga had that sort of splendor. Under such a glorious commander, they could fight to their fullest. Could there be any greater pride as a warrior?

If they can fight like that, Im sure... theyll have no regrets, no matter when they die, Halbert reflected. If they can fight for such a commander... they will have no regrets, even if they lose their lives. They will be able to accept their death has meaning, and smile as they go.

That was why the soldiers following Fuuga were struggling so desperately to stay with him. They sought to burn their lives in his blazing, blazing, deep red flames.

How... How brilliant his radiance.

If only I could be like that, too...

Stupid Hal! Ruby shouted.

Urgh?!

Hal grimaced as Rubys voice echoed loudly in his head.

He was so surprised, Halbert shuddered and nearly dropped the spears he was carrying. Before he could recover from his confusion, Rubys voice sounded in his head again.

Dont let him drag you along! Remember what Souma said!

What Souma said? Come to think of it... he did say something before we left, didnt he...?

Halbert tried to remember the words. If he recalled, they were...

If you feel yourself being dragged along by Fuuga, remember Kaede and Rubys faces.

Kaede and Rubys faces?

Halbert closed his eyes, half-doubting what he was doing, and he imagined their faces in his head.

First, Kaedes face. She had been at his side since they were kids. She had always been timid, but lately his lovely fox-eared childhood friend had learned to speak her mind more clearly.

Next, Rubys face. She had come from the Star Dragon Mountain Range to be his bride. Normally she was prickly, but she was actually a very lonely and very feminine dragon girl.

Halbert imagined how the two of them would see the way he was now. In his imagination, their expressions were a little worried.

Halberts eyes went wide in silent shock. What had he just been thinking?

Had he wanted to fight to his limit, like Fuuga and his men?

Burning a brilliant, bright red, as his life flared out?

Had he thought that, if his life could burn like that, hed have no regrets, even if he died?

...Even if it meant leaving Kaede and Ruby behind?

Like hell I could! Halbert roared to the heavens.

Eeek?! Ruby flinched.

Halbert used the handle of the spear in his right hand to whack himself in the forehead as hard as he could. The incredible thunk that resulted spoke to the fact he hadnt held back. His forehead bled a little.

Seeing Halbert suddenly bleeding, Ruby panicked. What are you doing?! Are you all right?!

...Yeah, Im fine, Halbert said, looking up at the heavens. Something warm rolled down his cheeks.

Huh...? Hal, youre crying...

Im fine. Im... fine now, Ruby.

She stared at him mutely.

Halbert wiped away the blood and tears before looking forward.

Seriously... What had he been thinking? Hed been entranced by Fuugas prowess, starting to convince himself his life was his own to do with as he pleased. Hed even tried to chase those he ought to protect, those who were trying to protect him, from his head.

It was true, he envied the life Fuuga and his followers led. But thats a life I could only live if it were me alone.

Halbert already had two fiances, Kaede and Ruby. They had been kind enough to love him, and eventually become his family. He had no desire to force a lifestyle that would burn their lives away on Kaede and Ruby, too.

As a warrior, he admired lives that burned hot and intense, like fireworks, but he wanted those he cared for to live happy lives, even if they were plain ones, full of smiles.

That wasnt something they could do if they were following Fuuga.

If Hal was the same man he had been before he met Souma, obsessed with his own glory, he might have been dragged in. But he was different now.

I have something more important than making a name for myself now!

Halbert recommitted himself, swearing that he would never make the same mistake again. Then, turning his short spear toward the battle, he said, Were going in, Ruby! Lets wrap this up, and get back to Kaede together!

Huh?! ...Right!

It seemed Halberts determination had gotten through to Ruby, as she spread her wings wide.

Then the red dragon knight descended on the battlefield.

After parting ways with Fuuga and Hals group, we headed up to a higher plateau than Wedan City, which had been built against a small mountain. We were on our way to Wedan Castle, the home of Duke Chima.

There was an intense back-and-forth battle unfolding on the battlefield below us.

I was a little worried that Hal, who had gone after Fuuga, might be drawn in by the other mans aura, but, well, Ruby was with him, so hed probably be fine.

Sire, look. Aisha pointed.

Hm?

When I looked in the direction she was pointing, there was a soldier waving a flag up on the castle walls.

Lets see... Hes signaling for us to land in the courtyard, Aisha told me, catching the detail with her excellent distance vision.

Following the orders from Wedan Castle, we landed in the courtyard with the half of the wyvern cavalry we had kept as guards.

Setting down the gondola that Tomoe and the rest were riding in, Naden turned back into human form and jumped down to the ground with Aisha. At that point, a middle-aged man quickly appeared from inside the castle, walking toward us with a relaxing smile.

Well, well, its Sir Souma Kazuya, the King of Friedonia!

With his arms spread wide, a man with a Kaiser-style mustache welcomed us with an exaggerated reaction.

He was average weight and height, and his graying black hair made him look to be about fifty years old.

Though he wore the smile of a kindly old man, which reminded me of Liscias father, Sir Albert, I felt something suspicious from him, too. I was pretty sure, out of all the men in our kingdom, he most resembled Sebastian of the Silver Deer, or Lord Weist of Altomura.

Also, behind the man, there was a pretty woman with a longsword slung over her back. She looked to be about twenty, and her beautiful, long hair that was tied together at waist-level left an impression.

On top of a hakama, she wore armor that looked like the sort used in ancient Japan. Because she looked like the sort of person with more than a passing familiarity with the martial arts, I was reminded of Komatsuhime of Shinshu Ueda, or Kiso no Yoshinakas mistress Tomoe Gozen, two similar people from the other world.

The man with the Kaiser mustache took my hand with both hands and knelt with one knee on the ground before me. The woman followed his lead in kneeling, and lowered her head. I was taken aback by the suddenness of it.

Then the man held my hand reverently over his head and said, I have already been briefed by your subordinates. I could not be more grateful that you have come all this way to assist us.

I am indeed Souma, I said. And you are?

Pardon my late introduction. I am Mathew Chima, the ruler of the Duchy of Chima.

Oh! This guy with the Kaiser mustache was Duke Chima? He was acting so obsequious, Id wondered, but... yeah, now that he said it, it was somewhat convincing.

The reason his kindly-old-man smile had felt suspicious must have been because his face as the head of a family that had survived through crafty politicking was showing through.

Please stand up, Sir Mathew, I said. As rulers of our respective nations, we are equals.

No, no, my country is a small one, even with the Union of Eastern Nations. You, the king of the great nation of the south, are far above me.

R-Right...

Th-This is tough...

It was really hard to deal with someone who was being thoroughly humble, and making a point of trying to lift me up. Hearing compliments from someone when I had no idea how they really felt didnt feel comfortable at all.

That said, since he was being friendly, I couldnt mistreat him. Was this how Gaius VIII had felt with Weist kneeling before him?

It cant be easy to talk from that position, I said. Stand up, please. You, too.

Ohh, I neglected to introduce her. This is my daughter Mutsumi. As Mathew stood up, he put his hand on her back as he spoke.

Mutsumi Chima. Then this woman was the Mutsumi, the one that Madam Maria had said was the most popular of Duke Chimas children?

She was a clever-looking beauty, that was true, so I felt like I could see why so many lords wanted her for themselves.

Mutsumi stood up and bowed to me. I am Mutsumi Chima. Thank you so very much for sending troops to aid us. You seem to have many good subordinates, Sir Souma. Thats very reassuring.

As she said that, Mutsumi glanced to my left and right.

The ones standing beside me were Aisha and Juna. If she was looking at them and calling them good subordinates, then she was likely a good enough warrior to tell how strong her opponents were just by looking. It seemed her reputation as a woman blessed with wisdom and bravery was not an exaggeration.

Madam Mutsumi, I said. Its true that they act as my bodyguards, but these two are also my fiances. The one on the right is Aisha, the one on the left is Juna.

Yes, sir. I am Aisha Udgard.

Juna Doma. Its a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Oh! Pardon me. Im Mutsumi Chima.

Mutsumi quickly apologized for treating them like common retainers before shaking their hands. Then...

Souma.

I turned, feeling a tug on my sleeve, and Naden was looking at me with her cheeks puffed up. Her upset eyes said, Im your fiance, too, so introduce me properly!

Ahem... And this is Naden, I said quickly. Shes also my fiance.

Nice to meet you, Mutsumi said. While shaking Nadens hand, she stared hard at Nadens antlers. Antlers and a scaly tail... Are you of the sea serpent race, by any chance?

Naden puffed up her slight chest and snorted. I am not. Im a dragon from the Star Dragon Mountain Range.

A dragon?! Youve formed a dragon knight contract with a dragon, Sir Souma?!

Yeah, well... were a bit of an unorthodox dragon and knight, though, I told the surprised Mutsumi, smiling wryly.

The moment he learned I had formed a contract with a dragon, I felt like Sir Mathews smile got a little deeper. My word! To have formed a contract with a dragon, even though youre not from the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom! Thats a truly heroic accomplishment. I am in awe.

Uh, no, listen, my contract with Nadens a very unusual one, and...

Dont be modest. Why, I envy those who will be lucky enough to marry you. Ive been hoping my own daughters could marry a man such as you, you know.

Urgh...

Whoa, buddy! Not so close.

He was being weirdly pushy now. And oddly eager to foist his daughter off onto me.

Juna subtly wrapped herself around my arm.

While I was wondering what was up, Juna whispered so just I could hear, Be careful. Im sure Sir Mathew wants a connection to you, sire.

A connection... Oh, a direct line, huh?

When Mathew Chima had sent a request for aid with the current demon wave, he had made public his intention to send his six capable children out to become vassals or marriage partners in response to how hard each party worked.

While it was meant as bait to lure in reinforcements, it was also a way to get his children into the service of powerful factions, or to marry into them, in order to increase his own influence.

From Sir Mathews perspective, I, as the provisional king of the largest power on the east side of the continent, was the best catch he could hope for. No matter what it took, he wanted to take this opportunity to set up a direct channel of communication.

If possible, he clearly wanted me to marry his daughter and become a relative.

That was why he was trying to promote Mutsumi, who was the most popular catch with the other lords, to me.

I dont really like his methods, though, I whispered back so that only Juna could hear.

Using his daughters betrothal as a tool. It shouldnt have been any different from what the former king, Sir Albert, had done, but this time it felt way more unpleasant.

Sir Albert had done what he had for both my future and Liscias, and hed wished for our happiness from the bottom of his heart. He hadnt been just using her as a political tool.

Juna whispered to me again, I understand how you feel, but without the ability to carry out negotiations like this, Im sure it would be difficult for him to maintain independence in an area with so many countries through just diplomacy.

...I guess youre right, I murmured.

There might be some countries and lands where it was only possible to survive through underhandedness and duplicity. It was true I didnt like his methods, but if that was this countrys secret to success, I didnt want to be judgmental.

Still, its a pain when he goes at it so hard, I muttered. Juna, could you stick close to me for a while? It has to be harder for him to bring up marriage talks when my fiance is present.

Hee hee, theres a role with perks, she giggled. Im glad I stuck around.

As she said that with a mischievous laugh, Juna was so cute I couldnt help but stare adoringly.

While we were talking, there was a sudden beating of wings. Looking up, I saw a white tiger, red dragon, and countless wyverns descending to the courtyard.

Fuuga, Hal, and the rest had returned.

Ha ha ha! Honestly, there wasnt a worthy foe in the lot of them! Fuuga announced.

Unlike Fuuga, who was lifting up his crescent blade in joyous celebration of his triumphant return, Hal was holding Rubys reins with an exhausted expression on his face.

Looking closer, there was a fresh wound on Hals forehead. What had happened out on the battlefield? Did I need to ask him about it later?

Fuuga jumped off Durga the white tiger, walking toward us with broad steps. Duke Chima, I went and took out the big ones wherever it looked like there was going to be a collapse.

Ohh, excellent, Sir Fuuga! You work with the intensity of a fierce god!

This is nothing. As long as were here, this country cant lose. With that, Fuuga winked at Mutsumi.

Mutsumi smiled, folded her hands in front of her, and bowed. I am pleased to see you return uninjured after scattering our enemies. I am awed by your prowess. Do you know no fear, Sir Fuuga?

Naw, its all so I can take you as my bride, Fuuga smirked. Ill bet I need to work even harder.

He was suddenly declaring hed make her his wife?! How bold.

Mutsumis eyes went wide for a moment when he said it, but she eventually giggled and smiled. Youre an honest man.

If I want something, I say so. If I say it, I make my wish come true. Thats my creed, Fuuga said, brimming with confidence.

If he wanted something... huh. So he was the type that lived true to his desires, and drew power from that. That made him easy to read, but Id be scared if our interests ever clashed. Once that man resolved to do something, I doubted hed ever back down.

Just then, I heard voices from behind us. Eek?!

Turning back, I saw that Hal was hugging Kaede and Ruby, who was back in her human form. He actually picked them both up.

Kaede was flailing her arms in surprise. W-Whoa, Hal?! What do you think youre doing all of a sudden?

Kaede kept protesting, but Hal didnt let the two of them go.

...Sorry, he said.

Huh? she asked, looking confused.

That I came close to forgetting you two, for even a moment... Im truly sorry, Hal said gravely.

Seeming to have picked up on something from that, Kaede gently patted Hal on the back.

Ruby was silently letting him do what he wanted, too.

I was silent. Something really must have happened out on the battlefield. But, well, as long as those two were with him, hed be fine.

Even when you seem ready to collapse, if theres someone at your side who cares for you, you can get going again. Id been through that a number of times myself up to this point. By feeling that warmth, you can reconfirm what it is you ought to be protecting.

I clapped my hands, trying to get myself back on track. Sir Mathew. The reinforcements will arrive tomorrow. Id like to discuss arrangements.

Sir Mathew nodded eagerly. Ohh, of course! We dont have time to just flap our gums out here forever. Let us go inside the castle. Come, come, Sir Fuuga, everyone, this way!

With that, Sir Mathew began to lead the way.

Before we reached the inside of the castle, I gave instructions to each of my companions who were present. Aisha, Juna, Naden, Hal, Kaede, Ruby. The six of you will come with me. The wyvern cavalry are to stand by here until further orders. Kuu and Leporina, you can do as you like, but...

I looked over at the master and servant pair from Turgis.

Kuu crossed his arms behind his head and laughed. While Bros holding war talks, maybe well take a little look around the area. Right, Leporina?

Ill come with you, but dont cause too much trouble for the people here, okay? Leporina scolded.

Ookyakya! I know that!

It seemed they were planning to wander around Wedan. Theyd just tagged along of their own accord, so that was probably fine.

That leaves Tomoe and Inugami, I said. Inugami, I want you to contact Kagetora. It can wait until youve been shown to your rooms, but can I leave that to you?

Understood. What should be done about guarding Lady Tomoe in the meantime?

Oh, right... What should we do...?

I-Ill be fine, Tomoe said quickly. Please, do your duty, Mr. Inugami.

Inugami looked concerned, but Tomoe smiled as she said that.

Holding down the fort alone, huh? I was a bit worried, but she would probably be safe inside this castle.

Well, can you wait in your room, then? I asked.

Got it, Tomoe said, snapping her hand to her forehead in a salute. How adorable.

I cleared my throat to keep myself from fawning on her, and then turned to the rest. Now then, you can all begin carrying out your orders.

On my command, each of them went into action to fulfill their duties.

We started walking to follow Sir Mathew, but... at this point, we were overlooking something.

...Hee hee!

We were overlooking the fact that Tomoes tail was swishing around as she eyed the area with fascination.

Our beloved little sister was at an inquisitive age.