The Doomed Fief’s Dying Lord (36)

Avenger* answered in surprise.*

“…Yes!“

Ronari explained the plan she had devised to us.

The content was detailed and clear.

“The objective is to make each unit secure the rear of another. The Varni unit will support the Astrier unit, and the Arenta unit will support the Varni unit.”

“And if the Astrier unit succeeds in breaking through, the Arenta unit’s rear will naturally be secured as well. Right?”

“That’s right.”

After answering me, Ronari looked up at Avenger.

“Then Steward, please return directly to the Varni unit. Inform them of the Astrier unit’s position and tell them to keep advancing this way. I will report the operation to the lord. After that, regarding the Arenta unit….”

“There will be no need to speak separately to the Arenta unit.”

I cut Ronari off.

She questioned me.

“Yes? Why?”

“Well, there are several reasons….”

“What are they!”

“First and foremost, it’s that you ran out onto the battlefield.”

“Why is that a reason!”

Why, indeed.

“Why is the Arenta unit called the Arenta unit?”

Ronari tilted her head in puzzlement.

But soon she seemed to understand what I meant.

“Ah, right! Father…!”

That’s right.

The Arenta unit’s name was taken from Izak’s family name.

“Your father will be racing here like a madman without being called, so there’s no need to summon him.”

“But my father won’t know I’m here!”

“Someone has already informed him.”

“Who… ? The young master, right!?”

“Why suspect me first? It wasn’t me.”

“Then who is it!”

“The person I called.”

“?“

“Look, they’re coming right now.”

I pointed to the shadows moving among the trees.

Vittorio,

the riders who chased us from Limone,

and even Pietro leading them.

They had ultimately found Ronari.

“Grandfather…?”

Instead of answering Ronari, Pietro glared at me.

‘Young master. You called Ronari out to the battlefield, didn’t you?’

I desperately pretended not to notice his look.

It’s a misunderstanding.

Not exactly a misunderstanding, but still a misunderstanding.

I did hope Ronari would do well.

But I never wished for her to act this recklessly!

Anyway, duty called.

I grabbed Ronari’s hand and pulled her along.

“Oh, young master…?”

And led her forward to Vittorio.

“As expected. You came quickly.”

“Did I not tell you to come?”

“That is so.”

On the way back from Limone, at the place where I had negotiated with Vittorio, I said this at the end.

‘We’ll see about that! Two days from now!’

Two days.

It wasn’t a reasonable time to ask of Limone’s main force of three hundred men.

They couldn’t possibly arrive in just two days.

They’re not animals with four legs, after all.

Put another way, if they truly had four legs, they might be able to make it.

So I had requested an emergency dispatch from Limone’s cavalry, including Vittorio.

‘You lot — come in two days and help us.’

In short, the “belated harvest operation” was planned on the assumption of their support.

Of course, no one except me knew that.

At last, the pieces were fully in place.

The right to finish the operation belongs to the true tactician.

I introduced Ronari to Vittorio.

“Well then, long time no see, right? This is Ronari, Strategy Analyst. From now on, please lead this operation to victory according to what she says.”

Vittorio’s gaze turned to Ronari.

Ronari did not waste any more time.

So far, the only card she could play was the Varni unit.

But now she had been given a new card: Vittorio’s cavalry.

It was a gift I had given her.

‘Play on a larger board. You are the talent worthy of that.’

Ronari cleared her throat.

“Is the cavalry composed entirely of those present here?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. The horses look tired. Give me just two minutes to think. I’ll devise a perfect plan.”

“Do so.”

Vittorio readily agreed to Ronari’s request.

The battle on the surface was virtually over.

But I had to prepare for a different fight.

Because there were two people who were furious with me.

I stood before one of them.

“Elder Pietro.”

“…Young master.“

A voice, low and heavy, confronted me.

He was staring at me with a sharp gaze.

It was a look of distrust.

[Personnel information update]

[Pietro Roderick]

[Trust: 96 93/200]

The Status Window reported the change in trust.

I was honestly surprised, but I thought it could happen.

This is trust.

It won’t just rise nicely like in a game.

I felt this trust was like a tower of cards.

It takes a long journey to build it, but it can collapse in an instant.

‘So this is my real crisis.’

First, to deal with this situation I need to know the cause.

It wasn’t hard to guess why Pietro was disappointed in me.

He probably thought I had encouraged Ronari to come this far to the battlefield.

How should I explain it?

The best response is denial.

Because that’s also the truth.

I really didn’t intend for things to go like this.

Ronari is my only S-rank.

What sovereign would want such a talented person to act recklessly?

‘But it’s hard to deny it outright….’

They haven’t even accused me yet; if I step forward to deny it first, it looks strange, doesn’t it?

And honestly, I feel a bit guilty too.

It’s partly true that I pushed Ronari.

I wanted to nurture Ronari’s talent.

I didn’t want those wings to remain trapped in a cage.

It was for my sake and for hers.

While I was pondering, Pietro preempted me.

“I won’t say much. Take Ronari and withdraw from the battlefield immediately.”

He’s taking a hard line from the start.

Is he not even giving me a chance to explain?

He is truly like a grandfather.

He cares deeply for his granddaughter.

‘What to do. I have not the slightest intention of doing as you say, elder.’

“No. Ronari still has a duty. She cannot rest yet.”

“This is not a suggestion.”

“Then what is it? An order?”

“…“

Pietro only glared at me without answering.

I sighed and said.

“Fine. Let’s stop this stupid show of wills. Elder, don’t you honestly think it’s a waste?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t play dumb. I’m talking about Ronari, the Strategy Analyst’s talent.”

“Whatever talents she has are of no concern. We are fighting to protect her, and we will not tolerate any threats made against her.”

“So, you mean to ignore Ronari’s wishes. Is that what you’re saying?”

Pietro looked deeply displeased.

Not just seeming; he was truly upset.

See? A notice just came.

[Personnel information update]

[Pietro Roderick]

[Trust: 93 89/200]

Once again, Pietro’s trust value dropped.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

A conflict of opinion between me and a talent, and the resulting drop in trust.

I had a feeling this moment would come.

But I hadn’t prepared for it.

Because I didn’t know what to do.

‘If it’s something that can be persuaded, then persuade. But what if the problem lies at a point where neither side can compromise?’

Then what should I do?

‘How what what do you mean how.’

You have to give up either the trust or my opinion.

Pietro spoke.

“You incited Ronari and now you talk about what her wishes are. I’m disappointed, young master.”

He spoke as if in contempt.

“Yes. I admit it. I made Ronari a tactician. I gave her the mysterious post of Strategy Analyst so she could act, and I praised her when she succeeded.”

“Then….”

“So.”

I cut off Pietro’s words.

And continued.

“So you want to say Ronari became my puppet, don’t you? That I tempted her into acting so recklessly and now you want her back. That’s what you’re saying.”

I smiled at that point.

With the most vile expression I could muster.

“But that’s not fair.”

“…Fair?“

Pietro’s voice, full of anger, echoed the word.

I said.

“Yes. Fair. I spent only a few weeks with Ronari. In those mere weeks I captured her heart. I wanted to open Ronari’s cage. I wanted her to flap her wings in a sky that suited her.”

I pointed at Pietro.

“But elder, you want to clip those wings. So you want to make me the villain, treat Ronari like a puppet without will, and take away her chance to protect you as if only you all have the right to fight.”

“…“

For a moment, Pietro avoided my gaze.

I did not stop.

“But Ronari has her own will and the right to fight. If you want to take that right away, convince Ronari, not me. Wouldn’t that be fairer?”

I provoked him further.

“You and Izak are Ronari’s family. You’ve been with her her whole life. So you started from a more advantageous position than I did. Yet you blame me for inciting her… If you wanted to keep her in the house and raise her like a pet, why didn’t you do so earlier? Why blame me now?”

Pietro’s hand hovered between the hilt and the scabbard.

‘But elder, I know your character. I know how strong your self-control is.’

Pietro could never draw his sword.

Even if he drew it, he wouldn’t be able to strike.

He said.

“I understand your intention, young master.”

He turned and left.

I opened the Status Window to check the results of what I had done.

Pietro’s trust level was pathetic.

[Pietro Roderick]

[Trust: 67/200]

Honestly, it was bitter.

Pietro had been one of my staunchest supporters.

He was the same during the Izak affair.

Without the elder’s help, my relationship with Izak wouldn’t be as good as it is now.

But now it had reversed.

‘Now the elder will go and tell Izak my intentions.’

At that time, Izak’s trust would naturally be smashed as well.

“Phew…”

You reap what you sow.

Still, I do not regret it.

I said what needed to be said.

Watching Pietro’s back, I thought.

For now, I’ll let him go quietly.

I’ll accept the reduced trust.

‘But I will certainly take it back someday. You are mine. My talents.’

Pietro is a wise man.

Anyway, Pietro and Izak will come to know.

That a bird does not return to the cage once it has tasted freedom.

They will think I imprisoned Ronari.

That is both true and false.

I kept her outside the cage.

She has tasted freedom and become addicted to flying.

“So let her go. Ronari is not yours.”

My words had no recipient.

I chased after Ronari with Avenger.

Ronari, driving the Limone riders and the Varni unit, joined the Astrier unit.

“Reinforcements!”

“Push forward! The ridge is right ahead!”

“We can’t let those bastards steal the glory!”

The three units pierced the enemy’s heart like a single arrow.

East of the apple orchard.

We succeeded in reaching the place where the Dungeon entrance had appeared.

“Good…!”

We could see the warriors annihilating the last of the enemy forces.

Ronari thrust her fist into the air.

It was a gesture of exultation.

I watched her.

Pietro was nearby, watching his granddaughter.

I wanted to say to Pietro, standing at a distance.

‘Well? Do you still feel like clipping her wings?’

Even if he did, I wouldn’t let him do it as he pleased.

She will fly freely even in these undergrounds.

Only now do we truly have the enemy beneath our feet.

I will give a gift to Ronari, and to everyone.

Death, pestilence, terror…

The freedom outside that cage.