Episode 352: An Awkward War Council
Rest was led inside the fort.
Personally, he felt more like he was being “escorted” rather than “guided”… but outwardly, he was being taken along politely as a Count.
(The shoulder they’re gripping is incredibly painful, and if I wasn’t using [Hardening] magic, it would probably be crushed…)
Rest grimaced as he followed along, his shoulder held firmly.
The three Cattleya Marquis family brothers were positioned to his left, right, and rear… he heard that Yuri had another younger brother, but all of them were tall and incredibly imposing.
If this were an interrogation room and he was surrounded by these three, he might confess to crimes he didn’t even commit.
(It’s a relief their father isn’t here… I heard Yuri’s brothers are all overprotective and obsessed with her, and it seems that’s true.)
The reason they were so openly hostile towards Rest was probably because Yuri was Rest’s fiancée (?).
(In the first place, I don’t really understand that engagement… we haven’t gone through any formal procedures. It’s just that it was decided somehow, and Viola and Primula accepted Yuri as a matter of course, so it just happened at some point.)
Was that how noble marriages were?
Yuri was currently running away from home, so he didn’t think they had gone through any noble procedures.
(I think she said something about defeating her father to get him to acknowledge it… was that true?)
“Well… there are many things I want to ask, but we mustn’t mix business with pleasure. Let’s start with the war council.”
Rest was led to a room that looked like a conference room deep inside the fort.
He had been wondering where he was being taken, but it seemed to be a decent place, so he was relieved for the time being.
“The rest of you, please take your seats. Let’s organize the situation.”
Bareya sat down at one seat of the round table, and Toya sat down with one chair between them.
And… for some reason, Rest was made to sit between the two of them.
(Why am I here… !?)
“You are a Count. Among the nobles present, you have a particularly high status. I think it’s natural for you to sit next to me, don’t you?”
Bareya said sharply, apparently noticing the confusion on Rest’s face.
At this point, he couldn’t say that he wanted to sit in another seat. Rest was sandwiched between the burly men and could only shrink back.
“…………”
“…………”
Lübesse, Isis, other nobles, and knights also entered the conference room, but when Rest turned to them with a look of appeal, they immediately turned their faces away.
(Isolated and helpless… seriously…?)
“Now, let’s begin the war council.”
The discussion proceeded, ignoring Rest’s awkward feelings.
Caryas Cattleya, the only man standing in the conference room, opened the discussion.
“Currently, this fort is under attack by foreign tribes. As you have already been informed… the main force of the enemy is the Ogre Clan. We have also seen Winged Folk, Lizardfolk, and Insectoids.”
“Are there any other foreign tribes?”
“We haven’t seen any others yet. However, we are on alert.”
Caryas answered Bareya’s question politely.
“Soldier attrition is minor. We have sufficient weapons and provisions. We also have supplies from the advance team, so there is no reason for the fort to fall to the foreign tribes at the moment.”
(Is the discussion proceeding normally in this situation…? Am I the only one who feels awkward…?)
The war council proceeded, leaving Rest’s feelings behind.
“The foreign tribes do not have siege weapons. With the exception of the Winged Folk who can fly, the walls are sufficient to defend against the enemy’s attacks. Unless they have some kind of hidden trump card, we should be able to overcome this attack.”
“I see… but then I don’t understand. Why did the foreign tribes attack without any chance of winning?”
Bareya stroked his chin and groaned in a low voice.
“Did they charge in without any thought or plan? I suppose you could say it’s the work of beasts, but…?”
It was eerie.
He didn’t quite understand the intentions of the foreign tribes.
(Is it too much to think that there’s a mastermind behind the scenes…?)
Rest thought as he was sandwiched between the large men.
After that, they exchanged several reports and communications, and the war council proceeded smoothly.
The intentions of the attacking foreign tribes remained unknown.
Bareya, the leader of the advance team, became the commander-in-chief and would continue to engage the enemy.