The Main Family Is About to Die Out, so I, from a Branch Family, Am a Seed Provider (WN): Chapter 32

 

Episode 32: Another Role

 The pitch-black painted night sky is illuminated by the moon and countless lights of the stars, which are normally shining brightly.

 On this night, however, another light illuminated the darkness, overriding the pale starry sky.

"No way."

 As soon as I received the report from Elfie, I ran out of the mansion, and from where I looked, I normally had a faint view of Jubelia Castle in the former imperial territory.

 But now it's different.

 The castle, towering like a candle on a cake, piercing the heavens, is enveloped in a red, crimson flame, and only that area is as bright as daylight.

"...It's not like it accidentally got burned, right?"

"Probably."

 If a spark of fire that a soldier forgot to extinguish had spread like a blaze, which then spread to the castle and caused a huge fire, there might still have been salvation. In that case, the soldier would have been executed, but it would have been a small price to pay.

"What about the scouts?"

"I have already dispatched them. But none of them have yet......."

 A day on foot. Half a day on a horse and about six hours on a fast horse. So the reports are yet to come in.

"I mean, are there any other reports?"

 While we were in my room listening to the young lady's pregnancy report, if fire and smoke were detected from the castle, there would normally be a flurry of activity here. Especially if we were in enemy territory.

 But,

"Apparently, Viscount Fabian returned home temporarily this afternoon and was not present."

 Elfie, as I was wondering why there was no response at all, said so, apparently having sent her subordinates who were around in advance to investigate.

"Seriously?"

 Viscount Fabian is the nominal commander of this supply unit.

 They noticed something unusual, but since there was no commander to report it to, reports were passed back and forth from one department to another, and as a result, it seems that no one paid any attention to the situation. If it had at least reached me, I would have been able to deal with it.

"It was a bad idea not to have a second-in-command."

"He said he didn't want it, and that rootless man wanted to monopolize the few credits he could get. He can't live as a nobleman anymore, can he? Worst-case scenario, it's the death penalty."

 Unlike landowning nobles, rootless nobles cannot be punished by confiscating their territory, one step short of the death penalty. Considering the situation, Viscount Fabian's death sentence was sufficient.

 First of all, returning to one's home when one is at war is, from a different perspective, a wrongful disposition. What has he done this time?

"Apparently, the Bamingham family has recruited him to join their faction, so he went to meet them. ......"

"Is the factional meeting more important than the war?"

 While I was dismayed by Viscount Fabian's behavior, which lacked common sense, I suddenly heard a voice behind me that sounded like a bell.

"Joining the Bamingham family faction is more important to the rootless nobility than the war. In the first place, the Bamingham family itself is the first family in the kingdom to become one of the five great nobles while being a rootless noble."

"......I told you to stay at the mansion, right?"

"......It's still on the mansion grounds."

"You're not supposed to be coming out."

 When I said so softly, Lady Ritia, who was approaching with a maid from the mansion, looked away with a look of displeasure on her face.

 If a woman pregnant with a child saw a fire, the baby in her belly will have a bruise somewhere on its body. I had heard such a legend from my deceased mother, and I told the young lady to wait inside the mansion, but apparently, she did not listen to me.

"If it's a girl, she'll be born with a birthmark, you know?"

"As long as it's not its face, it's fine."

"No, that's not the point......"

"......And what if it was a man."

"Hey, you can't say that!"

"......Young master, please calm down."

 As I was arguing with the young lady, Elfie admonished me so in a harsh tone of voice while glaring at me.

 Not only Elfie, but also the female doctor who was going to the castle, and even Glass, who was by the lady's side, were staring at the two of us.

"Young master!"

 Armes approached me, calling me with a dark look on her face. Behind her, two soldiers were holding a battered and bruised female knight with red eyes, who looked somewhat familiar.

"It seems that she has escaped from the castle......"

"Thanks. This is the woman who was at the master's place, I believe. Hey, someone get her some water. Oh, and get me something to cover her.

 Her face, which was once white and beautiful as I recall, is now covered in soot and darkened, and her knightly attire is in tatters. The ample breasts of the knight pushing up the barely remaining chainmail, came into view, and I involuntarily turned my face away from her.

 I don't know about the nobles, but I can't let her be seen by a soldier who is hungry for women on the battlefield. It is not a good thing to stir up unnecessary lust.

 But that doesn't stop the young lady from saying, "Don't look!" I hope she didn't get angry and try to cover my eyes. I don't have the devilish mind to lust after such a battered woman, and the feeling of her breasts on my back is more stimulating, so please don't do that.

 Soon after, a bowl full of water was brought to me, and I gave it to the red-eyed knight, who was slightly burnt and gave her a thin blanket to wrap herself in as well.

"Can you report what happened?"

 When Elfie asked that on my behalf, the red-eyed lady knight nodded her head and breathlessly began to tell us what had happened.

"It was some time after the son-in-law returned to Gruve City. It was under the cover of darkness that the empire attacked the camp......"

 I couldn't stop the story at this point, so I stifled my desire to express something about the part where she said "son-in-law".

"Is it a night attack... what about the lookouts?"

 Elfie asked from her position as a fellow knight. But the red-eyed female knight gave a small shake of her head and replied in a bit of a stilted manner.

"That's, Danna-sama, well...... I'm not standing guard...... when attending him."

"No, the whole lookout, the whole."

 Before the affair between the master and the female knight could be revealed, I quickly interrupted her, and she turned slightly red in the cheeks and muttered, "I-I'm sorry".

 As expected, I couldn't let Lady Ritia, the daughter of the head of the family, hear about her parent's private life.

"The look-outs of the entire army was originally to be taken in turns, but I heard that Prince Lim and General Be'mond had ordered that the guards were not to do so......."

“…………”

 But, in a way, these words were so shocking that not only I, but everyone who was surrounding the female knight and listening to what was going on, fell silent.

"Are we in the Kingdom Army a bunch of idiots?"

"Y-young master!"

 Armes hurriedly stopped me in light of the publicity caused by my honest and unintentional comment. No, but I'm probably right about this. It's just too much, and if anything, I can only think that they are deliberately trying to kill people who are participating in this expedition.

"So what's the damage as far as you can tell?"

 In response to my question, the red-eyed lady knight shifted uncomfortably and began to talk a little more. However, I reminded her to leave that part out because she was about to start talking about how she was going to have sex with the head of the family....... So don't tell me about that in front of his daughter.

"As a result, Prince Lim has already escaped with Danna-sama, but instead, General Be'mond was killed......"

 I could see that almost everyone present, except Elfie, gasped at the report.

 The prince, a decorated commander, had already been defeated along with the master, and General Be'mond, the actual commander, had been killed. Moreover, it is indeed shocking to hear that one of the five great nobles died so easily.

"But the problem is from here."

"Yeah……"

 Only Elfie and I have no feelings about General Be'mond's death. It's more shocking and desperate to think about what needs to be done, and what will be done in the future, in terms of the severity of the situation.

"...What do you mean?"

 Surprisingly, it was Glass, who was waiting by the young lady's side, who raised her voice.

"I can't do anything. This is the problem."

"Huh?"

 At my words, Glass's expression was sincere for a moment. She looked at me as if to say, "What the hell are you talking about?".

"An army that has lost its commander is nothing more than a mixture of miserably confused people. They are in no condition to decide whether they should pull out or stay here."

"You can do that much, right?"

"I can't do it. The only people here who will listen to my orders are Elfie and Armes"

 Glass stared at me with a miffed look on her face. Most likely, she is dissatisfied or unhappy that they were omitted from the list of those I just mentioned. But the way she reacted, or rather, the way she responded to every single thing I say, showed that she is not obedient to my orders.

"And I say that much, but I can't do that much."

 An army that had lost its head is just that. They can't move properly and are destroyed individually. When it loses its cohesion, it is no longer an army.

"Well, that doesn't mean I won't move."

"Eh?"

 At the sound of my voice, Glass looked up. She still had a look of dissatisfaction on her face, or rather, a look of not expecting anything at all.

 Well, I can understand why she would feel that way. The reason why she was so insistent in the first place was not because she knew the big picture, but because she was thinking of her master, Lady Ritia.

"Armes."

"Yes!"

"Could you gather the guys you brought from home? I need a little more information."

"I understand!"

"Elfie, gather the nobles here. I'll lead them."

"What if they don't want to?"

"Give them the name of the Fregrance family. Fortunately, there are more landowning nobles here, and they will obey at the mere mention of the names of the five great nobles. The rootless aristocrats will surely follow too.

"I will."

 At any rate, after giving them the appropriate instructions, Elfie and Armes run off to their respective places.

 From what I've heard about the female knight brought by the master, it doesn't look like we have much time left. I don't want to take unnecessary trouble here.　

"Wait a minute. I can't overlook the fact that you just used the name of the Fregrance family without permission, and I just... mghhh!?"

"I'll apologize to death later, so please be quiet for now."

 Suppressing the young lady's mouth, I turned my gaze to Glass that was on the side.

 Unlike before, Glass only stares at me and doesn't say anything, even though I'm touching the young lady.

"You and Ojousama need to prepare to escape, stay in your room. I will send my men to escort you later."

"……I understand."

"Wait a minute!"

 My brief exchange with Glass is halted by the high-pitched voice of the young lady, who squeezes my hand painfully as I held her mouth shut.

"Ojousama. I'm sorry, but we really don't have much time, so may I ask you to bear with me here?"

 Please give me a break, it's such an emergency right now that I have to use the name of the Fregrance family. I'll be sure to report this to the head of the family and apologize to him at a later date.

"I-It's not that."

 The young lady shook her head from side to side and pointed at the red-eyed lady knight who had finished telling us about the events at the castle and asked.

"What is this son-in-law she was talking about! Don't tell me that you and me are getting married without my knowledge!?"

 ……It was a rather serious story, but I can't decide whether she is insensitive or not.

 The young lady exclaimed so with a flustered and blushing face. It is slightly off, but I guess now is the right time.

 I glanced at Glass. I see that she nodded her head in a small, imperceptible nod.

 I grab Lady Ritia's shoulders and take a deep breath.

 The young lady's eyes are fixed on me. I see my own face there, and I slowly open my mouth, which is heavier than before.

"It's me and your maid, Glass, who are getting married. I was told that directly by the head of the family today."

"Eh?"

 The moment I said that. I noticed that the young lady's eyes...... the pupils behind them widened, and shook.

"I'll tell you more about the situation later, but it seems that my father had asked the master to look for a wife, and he decided on Glass, the young lady's maid, as that partner."

 I see myself through the eyes of the young lady, looking like I just swallowed something bitter. I think to myself that it doesn't look like a face that is happy about the marriage.

"That's why, Ojousama. I am sorry for not telling you until now."

 Glass, with the same or more bitter expression on her face, told her that.

 But Glass and I don't look at each other like this because we don't like each other. We may not be the best of friends, but the only thing we have in common is a concern that made us look this way.

"You and Glass?"

"……Yeah."

 A slight silence, as if disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the world around us. As if to break the silence, an inarticulate voice came out of the young lady's mouth.

"……I."

"Ojousama!"

 I, who was looking into the eyes of the young lady in front of her, could not make the words clear with the movement of her mouth, but Glass, who was watching us from a distance, noticed it and warned her by calling her.

 But the young lady ignored her and is about to open her mouth when Glass took a step forward to stop her. I catch it out of the corner of my eye as I......

"Please tell me."

"......!?"

 I urged Lady Ritia as I looked at her in the eyes properly and clench her shoulders tightly so she can't escape.

 But once it was stopped, the young lady understood what she was about to say and began to speak as if to mend the situation.

"I-It's good!"

 Lady Ritia said so cheerfully. At first glance, her expression seems to be one of joy.

 However, I feel a prickle of pain in my heart at her congratulatory words. And at the same time, the anger towards the young lady that wells up in me, even though I am aware that it is irrational, made my hands that hold both of her shoulders even tighter.

 I look into the young lady's eyes and wait for her to say what she really feels, which she almost said earlier.

"B-because it is, isn't it? You say "circumstances," but perhaps you were chosen as a stallion because you can't find anyone to marry you? Then, you know, you have to take responsibility."

 Even though she is not knowledgeable about sex, the young lady seems to know the customs of the nobility regarding marriage, and she guessed the circumstances that led to the marriage between me and Glass.

 However, during that time, perhaps feeling uncomfortable with the way I kept staring at her, the young lady's eyes kept moving back and forth between me and the maid.

"I'm sorry glass. I'm sorry I put you in charge of us."

"N-no, for Ojousama's sake......"

"Ah, and if you make Glass cry, I won't forgive you either! Just remember that!"

 The young lady's eyes meet mine again as she said that. Her words are full of consideration for the maid whom she has allowed to follow her, and if a person who does not know the situation were to hear them, he or she would think that she is a good master who loves her vassals.

 ......But I didn't miss the trembling in her voice.

"Are you happy, Ojousama?"

"Eh?"

 At my question, the young lady slightly stiffened and fell silent. A heavy silence enveloped me and the young lady, and the bustle and noises around us became unusually loud.

"I am so happy! Why do you ask that in the first......"

"Ojousama."

 I call out to her, interrupting her in mid-sentence as she turns her face away from me.

"W-what......you don't have to be so angry. I'm happy for you, I'm really...... happy for you.

 She tried to continue even if she was interrupted, but gradually the voice became thinner.

"You meant what you were about to say earlier, right?"

"......!"

 I know I really shouldn't corner her like this and make her say it, and I know I shouldn't listen to it.

"I want to know how Ojousama really felt."

 I look straight into her eyes and draw out her true intentions, which she put away on the spur of the moment.

 And the young lady's true intention is the only reason I needed for what I'm about to do to for her sake.

 That's why……

"Please tell me, Ojousama."

 Once again, I urge Lady Ritia to bring up those words that she had put away.

"I told you honestly. Now it's Ojousama's turn."

"I understand!"

 Finally, the young lady steps forward, and suddenly her face disappears from view, and with a thud, she leans toward me and wraps her arms tightly around my back.

"......I don't like it."

"……Ojousama."

 The young lady exclaimed simply and concisely. Glass, who was watching from the side, muttered with a sad face.

"Because you are my...... my."

 I feel that I'm missing something important, but if I try to bring it up now, I'm afraid I'll make things worse, so I'm going to quietly leave it out for now.

 The only thing I can say is that the reason for the anger that is simmering in the young lady's heart is because of me and the maid who watches over her.

"Anyway, I don't want you to get married to Glass! Why Glass of all people! I don't really understand!"

 The cries of the young lady, who is more like a child, or more like an infant, might not be appropriate for a daughter of a great noble family.

 But that is why her cry is filled with pure and unadulterated wishes.

"For the most part, Glass is my precious servant, and I'm going to decide what to do with her... I don't really understand!"

 She said it twice because it's an important part, this Ojousama.

 But I understand the feeling. No one can easily let go of someone they have cherished and spent a long time with.

 Arrogant, irreverent, selfish. It is upsetting to me to see such a young lady so easily disrespected and silenced. I didn't like that.

 The young lady's hand that was placed tightly behind my back was squeezing strongly.

 I'm sure she has more to say, but for now, this is enough. After that, the person who should accept the cry of this young lady's heart should accept it.

"I don't have much time left, so I'm going...... what are you going to do?"

"What would I do?"

 When I turn the conversation to Glass, her face is tense, but behind it, I can see a complex intertwining of emotions.

"We're going to be busy, and I think you both can have an honest conversation alone now, don't you?"

“…………Is that okay?”

"What? I don't mind."

 They don't need my permission now. Besides, I know I'm not the kind of person who says no.

"Oh, I just wanted to ask one thing."

"What is it?"

 Her eyebrows are furrowed in a grimace, and her sharp eyes look at me. I can get a general idea from that reaction, so I don't have to bother asking, but, well, I will.

"What do you really think?"

 The young lady who was hugging me looked up and said, "What are you two talking about?" I ignore her and faced Glass.

"I hate it? Originally my house was the first branch of the Fregrance family."

"Oh, is that so?"

 I had heard that Glass came from a noble family, but I had not expected her to be of such high rank.

 ......I guess she didn't really like it after all.

 For the most part, I guess the pride of a former noblewoman like Glass would not allow her to marry a lowly nobleman like me.  I can't help but chuckle at the way she acts like the daughter of some great noble.

"Oh well, it's not going to work anyway."

"Huh?"

 As I said that, a venomous look appeared on Glass's face. Meanwhile, the lady, annoyed at being ignored, started scratching my back, so I simply and plainly told her.

"If I get credit for this, I can honestly tell the master that I don't want to fuck you either."

 Glass scowled when she heard my declaration, and then her expression turned sullen again. I could see the edges of her mouth twisted just a little bit though.

 In fact, I had been thinking about it ever since I heard about the marriage. I had been thinking about what I should do to refuse the proposal, and also what I could do for the young lady who was about to have everything forcibly taken away from her.......

 The young lady gave me the answer.

 As a certain deceased person once said, A pinch is an opportunity. It's when you're backed into a corner that you can find a way to make the most of it.

 If I played my part in this situation, my marriage to Glass would be off the table. If that were to happen, this marriage, which no one, including the parties involved, would be able to enjoy, would fall apart.

"Then, I wish you good luck so that it will happen."

 I release the young lady as I push her back toward Glass, receiving a not-at-all heartfelt send-off, and run toward the city square with Elfie, who has just returned.

"It is the young master and your father who would be in trouble if it collapses......"

"I don't mind this kind of payback. Besides, I don't need my father to find me a wife, I can find my own wife. So, are you ready?"

"Without fail."

 I guess Elfie is not ready to retire after all, as she ran at my pace even though she is an old, old woman, and answers in a matter-of-fact manner without even breathing heavily.

 Let's pull her out into the field once in a while, to serve as a mentor to the younger generation. That's the kind of payback this old knight deserves, along with my father.

"What is it?"

"No, nothing."

 As I think about that, Elfie gave me a suspicious look, but I ignore it and keep running, eventually arriving at a plaza in the center of the city. It seems that Elfie has gathered all the nobles and soldiers who would barely follow me.

"But what do you intend to...... what is it?"

"......No, I thought you knew what I am about to do, so I was a little surprised."

 Elfie looked at me with a furrowed brow at my surprise. But in my opinion, I thought she already understood it, so I didn't expect her to ask me what I'm about to do......

"First, we will gather outside the city to accommodate those fleeing from the castle. Then we'll get ready to go home. It would be best if we could pick up the prince and the master who escaped earlier."

"You mean retreat?"

"When the general is killed, we lose. Now we're talking about how much damage we can limit, right?"

"......Well thought out."

 For a moment, it might have been my imagination that the usual expressionless, iron-masked Elfie seemed to smile a little.

 And so the square was already filled with the 500 I had brought from my parents' territory, as well as the landowning nobles assigned to the supply unit and some of the rootless nobles.

 Quite a quick gathering. But, according to Elfie, they had noticed something unusual, but there was no commander, so they had only armed themselves so that they could move immediately in response to orders. Why they didn't call out to each other to deal with the situation if they were so inclined is a question I'll put to the back of my mind for now.

"How many people are here?"

"Roughly 2,500, I'd say."

"Half...... Well, it's a good thing we're all here. Elfie."

"Ha!"

 As I stand in a place where I can look over the roughly gathered nobles, the 2500 soldiers who had been buzzing around become quiet and look at me. Oh man, I'm getting nervous. This is the first time I have faced such a large number of soldiers with different chains of command. My stomach hurts......

 How should I talk about it? As I was pondering that, I suddenly thought of Lady Ritia when we first met.

 Arrogant, irreverent, and selfish, she was truly the daughter of a great noble. I opened my mouth dryly as if imitating the young lady of that day, thinking that the young lady of those days would be the right person for this occasion.

"You guys gathered a lot. I'm not going to introduce myself, since I'm sure you already know who I am during this war. I don't want to waste your time."

 Nervousness filled me again, but I drew my sword and barely restrained myself.

"The reason why I asked you to gather here is to briefly explain that the castle where the main force is located...... is that burning castle that you all saw, and it is definitely under attack by the enemy right now. Therefore, we are now going to secure an escape route for our allies fleeing from there."

 As I announced that, an uncontrollable stir spread in all directions, like a pebble thrown into a pond.

 Mostly anxiety and surprise while saying, "A way out?" "We?" What are you talking about?" "Who the hell is that guy......?" "Shush!". It was a stream of degrading remarks about me.

"Well, I know what everyone here is thinking. But don't worry, what we're doing has meaning. No, it's profit."

 They were not serious in any way, but the moment they heard the word "profit," the color of several nobles' faces changed a little. I think they are rootless aristocrats.

"This war, the reward was determined by your own hands, that was the rule. But we were a supply unit, so we couldn't go to the front lines. Therefore, this time it was like we are working for free...... and yet we had to meet deadlines, they complained a lot about how slow and sluggish we were and how quickly we had to do things. It was a really uninspiring war."

 Along the way, the landowning nobles were sympathizing with my complaints.

 For the landowning nobles, this war was not delicious, it was a serious free work without metaphor.

 No matter how much they say it is up to them, new land that is separated from the territory they already rule is difficult to manage, and the cost of maintaining it is ridiculous.

 In such an unwieldy war, this expedition to the Imperial capital could be seen as a war for the rootless aristocrats, if you look at it from a different perspective.

 They would like to recover at least the cost that they have spent on the war, not to say a profitable one.

"But the tide has turned. When we gallantly rushed to the frontlines and the main camp, who were fleeing from the burning castle, and when we successfully fulfilled our role and returned home, we could squeeze as much as we could out of them. And now, with an extra reward from the government."

 As expected, they were reluctant to listen to me because I was talking too much cash, but they began to listen to me more positively than they had at first. Even those who had been making fun of me seemed to have come to accept the appeal of my plan and were even willing to give it a try.

 However, they were not willing to agree to it. I could see that they wanted some kind of guarantee.

 With not much time left, I played the last card to get them to take that step.

"If you think we are going to fail, run away at your own discretion. The "commander" will take the responsibility."

 At that moment, the landowning nobles who were present, the rootless nobles who would normally be in the same position, and even the soldiers, all looked up with motivation and looked at me.

 Everyone here knows that Viscount Fabian is absent and that the reason for his absence is that he has left to attend a meeting. This is why we are in this situation, and it can't be helped that the commander is the one who took responsibility when something goes wrong.

 Yes, we have no choice. It is a change from yesterday's situation, where the more we work, the more we lose, and to some extent, if we can make up for that negative amount and do our best, it will turn into a positive.

"Alright. Looks like you've made up your mind."

 At my call, the 2,500 soldiers gathered at the battlefield all gathered together, held their swords, spears, and muskets in one hand, and raise them high to the sky.

 And I raised the sword that I had been gripping, and swung it down and shouted.

"Now, let's go to battle!"