Chapter 281 - Episode 274: The Arqvist Territory During Wartime
"...Sigh."
The Viscount Arqvist estate, where the head of the house was absent due to the war. In the dining hall for live-in retainers and servants, Damian let out a sigh as Rosetta served him breakfast.
"Damian-san, you seem unusually lacking in energy~"
"This person has been doing nothing but making scatter-shot arrows every single day since December of last year, so I think he's just mentally exhausted... But then, Bart-san, the scout from the transport convoy that returned yesterday, brought instructions to make tens of thousands more," Christy explained while eating breakfast next to Damian, causing Rosetta to give a wry smile and say, "Oh my, oh my~"
"I know... I'm Noein-sama's retainer, so my job is to make what I'm told, and I understand that scatter-shot arrows are necessary because the Arqvist territory would be in danger otherwise. But, I want to make more complex things or develop something new."
"For that sake, let's pray for Noein-sama's victory. Now, hurry up and eat so you can get to work. Today is my day to report to the workshop as well."
"Yeees..."
While watching Damian munch on his barley porridge with a vacant look, Rosetta leaned closer to Christy.
"...By the way, around when will you and Damian-san get a house and start living together as a couple~?"
"Eh... that, well, perhaps after the war ends? You see, we're both busy with work right now, and the territory is in a flurry."
Christy answered while blushing and glancing toward Damian. Damian, for his part, remained oblivious to the content of their conversation, continuing to stuff his face with barley porridge.
"I see~. Living as a couple is a wonderful thing~. I hope the war ends soon~"
"...Rosetta is strong."
Christy smiled at Rosetta, who behaved as usual even though her husband, Pence, was on the battlefield. Rosetta returned the smile brightly.
"Fufufu, a soldier's wife must believe in her husband's safety and remain composed~"
.....
"Dmitri-san, is the processing of the remaining Semirawood finished?"
The workshop of Dmitri, the carpenter who ran a construction guild in the Arqvist territory. Daphne, a magic item crafter visiting the workspace, called out upon finding Dmitri.
Semirawood, used for materials for golems or pillars for large buildings, is timber, so its processing falls under the carpenter's domain. When Daphne makes golems, she orders the manufacture of the various parts from Dmitri's workshop, and upon receiving them, she applies the processing to turn them into magic items.
"Yeah, I finished it this morning... I didn't expect you to come yourself. You could have just sent an apprentice to pick it up."
"I wanted a stroll for a change of pace. Lately, I've been shut up in my own workshop doing nothing but work, so I wanted to breathe some outside air."
As the large-framed Dmitri looked down at Daphne, Daphne looked up at him as she answered.
"Is that so... the dark circles under your eyes are incredible. Are you alright?"
"It's because Noein-sama gave instructions to send three spare golems by the time the next transport convoy departs. Now is the time to push through."
A few days ago, Bart, who had returned alone ahead of the main transport convoy, had brought back urgent instructions from the Lord, Noein.
The new instruction given to Daphne was: "Since fiercer battles than expected are continuing, and it is conceivable that golem damage will increase, please manufacture and send three spare golems." In addition to that, there was work previously scheduled, such as increasing the production of explosive flame arrows.
The window of time before the main transport convoy returned and departed for the battlefield again was short. Although she now had the help of apprentices, Daphne could not avoid handling the critical tasks herself. Consequently, she was so chased by work that she had no time for a proper sleep.
"That's tough, hang in there... though I suppose me saying that doesn't provide much comfort."
"No, thank you. Well then, I'll take the parts."
"Yeah, I'll have my young lads help you carry them."
When Dmitri shouted instructions to the young laborers, the large men began to shoulder the wooden arms, legs, and torsos that would become golem parts.
.....
"—I see. Is that how the Lordberg Kingdom's Western Army successfully repelled the invader's forces?"
"Y-yes. The attacks by the golem users and the cavalry charge by Knight Commander Yuri-sama scattered the enemy with tremendous momentum. We... we of the Crossbow and Ballista units also fought hard."
Noeina, the capital city of the Arqvist territory. On a platform set up in the central plaza of the city district, a report meeting for the citizens was being held, featuring a wounded soldier who had returned from the battlefield.
The Lord's wife, Clara, took the form of asking questions to make the disabled soldier, who had lost a leg, describe the state of the battle, while the citizens gathered in the plaza surrounded the platform and listened with great interest.
"What were the invading Betumia soldiers like? Did they indeed have a terrifying appearance? Did it not seem like you could win?"
"N-no. Their formations were broken effortlessly by the golems and the cavalry charge, and they were screaming. The Western Army defeated many times more Betumia soldiers than the damage it took. Under the command of His Excellency Arqvist, those sorts of people are no match."
"That is reassuring news. You, who fought bravely even while losing a leg, are a hero of our territory. As the Lord's wife, I am proud of you."
When Clara showed a smile full of benevolence, the wounded soldier bowed his head with a tense expression. Because the wife herself praised a mere citizen as a point of pride, a small stir occurred among the crowd.
"T-that I was able to return alive is also thanks to His Excellency Arqvist. His Excellency is a wonderful person."
"Indeed, His Excellency will surely repel the invaders and protect the Kingdom and the Arqvist territory... By the way, what was the state of the other territories you saw while going to and from the battlefield?"
"T-they indeed seemed to be in chaos due to last year's poor harvest and this year's war."
"How was it compared to the Arqvist territory?"
"...There is no comparison. Compared to other places, the Arqvist territory is heaven. There is no shortage of food, and no bandits appear; there is no better territory than this."
"Those are words that make me happy as the Lord's wife as well. That the Arqvist territory can enjoy such abundance and peace is surely thanks to the Lord, His Excellency Noein Arqvist, who protects this land."
"Y-yes. I truly believe so."
"You are not only a brave hero, but also a wonderful person who respects and loves His Excellency as a citizen."
Clara said this with a laugh, and this time she directed that smile toward the citizens gathered in the plaza.
"Everyone, His Excellency Arqvist and the soldiers under his command are fighting for us at this very moment. Let us believe in the victory of all the heroes. And let us all support them from this land."
When Clara called out to the citizens gathered in the plaza, several territorial soldiers blending in with the crowd in plain clothes began to clap. That naturally spread, and loud applause echoed throughout the entire plaza.
Mai and Edgar, the retainers, watched this from the rear, slightly removed from the crowd.
"Clara-sama has, how should I put it... become very robust."
"Oh, you chose your words quite carefully."
At Mai's teasing tone, Edgar turned a subtle expression toward her.
"No, what else should I have said?"
"You could have said she's developed a twisted personality similar to Noein-sama's, couldn't you?"
"That... even for us veteran retainers, that would be impolite."
"Oh, when I have tea with Clara-sama, I always treat her with that level of familiarity. Clara-sama also speaks quite frankly with me."
"You might be able to do that given your position, but please don't lump me in with you."
"Fufufu, it's a joke."
Mai was the most senior among the female retainers and had a personal friendship with Matilda. Through that connection, she had many opportunities to speak with Clara, and now that Clara was the acting lord, she was also a tea friend for various reports.
"...Even so, she really has become strong. I didn't think she would show this kind of maneuvering."
For the citizens waiting for the return of family and friends who had gone to war, having a soldier who returned with severe injuries describe the state of the battlefield—that was the purpose of this gathering.
It certainly started with such stories, but before anyone noticed, it had turned into a propaganda rally to increase the citizens' support for Noein.
The one who guided it to become this way was clearly the organizer, Clara. The wounded soldier acting as the narrator was likely pre-arranged, and on top of that, there were plants to trigger the applause and stir up the atmosphere, showing a thoroughness to the plan.
With the year of poor harvest ending only for a great war to begin immediately, and the territory uniting to support the fight with many soldiers, including the Reserve Corps, being driven to the battlefield, fatigue had finally begun to show among the citizens.
With that in mind, Clara had planned and executed this gathering. The Lord's wife's aim had succeeded brilliantly.
"From the moment she said she would provide a place to tell the citizens about the state of the battlefield, Clara-sama probably intended for it to turn out like this."
"True. I suppose it feels like she's truly the wife of that Noein-sama... At this rate, Eleos-sama will likely grow into a tremendous figure. Since he's receiving education from that lordly couple."
"If the next lord becomes a tremendous figure, isn't that a good thing? From the perspective of retainers and citizens, it would be nothing but reassuring."
"Well, that's true, but still."
To the dead-serious face of Edgar, Mai answered with a wry smile.
In the Arqvist territory where the lord was absent, Clara and the retainers spent busy yet peaceful days while supporting Noein and the martial retainers fighting on a distant battlefield.