As it turned out, I somehow managed to avoid having to go to the battlefield with them.
His Majesty was subtly giving off an "I'd-really-like-Van-kun-to-come-too~" kind of aura, but I pretended not to notice with all my might. Thanks to that effort, His Majesty finished his preparations as scheduled and departed swiftly.
I saw His Majesty and Panamera off as they left Ceat Village, but the endless column of soldiers eventually got boring. After all, they had to march in two columns to proceed along the mountain paths of the Wolfsburg Mountains.
With an army exceeding ten thousand, it takes hours from the start of the send-off until the end.
So, I tried to quietly slip away and retreat back to the lord's manor.
"...Van, where do you think you're going?"
But I was intercepted.
Well, not exactly intercepted, but I just had terribly bad timing—it seemed Yard and Sest were just about to leave Ceat Village.
They must have noticed me trying to go back and called out to me. They were walking towards me, leading a group that looked more like a mercenary band than a knight order, with a slightly different feel.
"Why are you trying to leave without seeing off your own brothers? No, more importantly, why aren't you departing?"
Yard asked with what seemed like an angry expression. No, not seemed—he was definitely irritated. If someone suddenly marches up to you all huffy, it makes you want to get huffy too.
Basically, why wouldn't I go to war? Because it's scary, obviously. Van-kun is nine years old. Asking why a tender young boy isn't going to the battlefield is just tactless. His mental age doesn't count.
So, I've decided to call Yard "Tactless Bro" in my head from now on.
Thinking such pointless thoughts, I deliberately put on a troubled smile and shook my head.
"My apologies. My territory is still weak, and sending the already scarce knights from my order to the battlefield would risk the territory's defenses. Unfortunately, I cannot leave this place."
When I said that, Yard and Sest silently looked up at the town walls. The walls, constantly under repair, were pristine, and looking up at them from below was impressively formidable.
Furthermore, the top sections of the walls were lined at even intervals with the tips of ballistae, keeping a watchful eye outward.
"......"
"...Is something wrong?"
They shifted their gaze from the walls to the adorable Van-kun (me) and stared at me with indescribable expressions.
When I asked back if they needed something, Sest twitched his cheek and spoke.
"...Huh? Wh-which territory did you say might be destroyed?"
He said this with a dry laugh, so I tilted my head in response.
"I seem to recall you both said it wasn't much of a town when you saw Ceat Village... I actually think so too, which is why I'm still anxious and feel I need to keep strengthening it."
Using their own previous words against them, I said this, and they both groaned and fell silent.
"Big Brother Yard and Big Brother Sest's stewarded city was much more impressive, right?"
When I asked that, Sest made a face and looked at Yard. Then, Yard snorted and jutted out his chin.
"O-of course it was! It was far more developed than this puny town! There's no comparison!"
Yard said this and laughed, but I sensed anxiety and unease in his expression.
Well, in a Marquis house that prioritizes affinity for the four-element magic above all, having the failed youngest son surpass them must wound their pride.
Watching these stubborn brothers, I gazed into the distance with an air of a ephemerally beautiful boy.
"That's the kind of town I aspire to build, one I can speak of with confidence... So for now, I intend to spend every moment I can strengthening it. Tactless Bro—ahem, Big Brother Yard and Big Brother Sest seem to have powerful knight orders. I'll be praying for your great successes on the battlefield, enough to cover my share as well."
I said this with a humble attitude. Yard crossed his arms and glanced back. Seeming to realize the rough-looking mercenaries were watching him, he cleared his throat and spoke.
"W-well... With my strongest knight order, it should be fine. I was just worried, that's all! I simply said it because you'd be missing a chance to gain military glory! Seems my worry was unnecessary!"
As Yard said this, Sest, perhaps relieved that their course was set, also nodded with a strained smile.
"Y-yeah, that's right. We were worried that since you can't use four-element magic, you wouldn't be able to gain any military glory... Ha, haha."
They suddenly switched to playing the part of caring older brothers who actually dote on their younger brother. But some of the mercenaries who had observed the situation objectively were smirking mockingly.
In the harsh environment of battle, where lives are traded, mercenaries can be cruel. Of course, being able to kill strangers without grudges for money is cruel in itself, but the bigger problem is their lack of loyalty to their employers.
Mercenary bands that don't betray their employers—those with strong codes of honor and humanity—are rare and command high fees. Cheap mercenary bands are often little better than makeshift bandit groups; if a battle looks lost, they might flee on their own, or if the enemy offers better terms, they'll betray you easily.
One way to judge them is by their attitude, training, and equipment.
The soldiers following Yard and Sest, who had been acting intimidatingly towards everyone around them, had mismatched equipment and sloppily worn uniforms. They looked exactly like what you'd expect if mountain bandits or thieves had attacked defeated soldiers and stolen their gear.
Just seeing their state made the caliber of the mercenaries Yard had hired obvious. Low-level, the kind Dee would joyously offer to retrain, of course.
It's baffling why they, members of a Marquis house, ended up with such a strange group, but it's none of my business since I'm not going to the battlefield.
Well, if I had to say, I'd be worried about fighting alongside them, so I'll just strictly order Murcia and the others to definitely stay on the fortress defense side.
Thinking this, I smiled and nodded at Yard and the others.
"Thank you for your concern. Well then, do your best! I'll be cheering for Big Brother Yard and Big Brother Sest's great successes!"
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