“…Are you in your right mind?”
I had arranged an appointment and come to Father’s study. That was his response to what I told him.
“Yes. I’m serious. I’ll take part in this war.”
I repeated exactly what I had said before.
“No.”
Father immediately and bluntly rejected my proposal.
“What could someone with the earth attribute accomplish on a battlefield?”
“Hasn’t this already become a new kind of war?”
“…!”
I immediately dismissed the reason he offered.
“Magic has become a thing of the past. If so, there should be no problem with my earth attribute. It’s unusable anyway, so earth and fire are no different.”
“…Hmph.”
Father fell silent at my words.
“If anything, I’m the most suitable person. My company has been involved in military affairs for several years, from manufacturing to distribution. I have influence with mercenaries as well. In terms of freedom of movement, I may even be the best choice.”
There was nothing false in what I said.
Convinced of that, I spoke with certainty, while Father continued to hold his tongue.
“…Is this for Shia?”
At last, he asked about my purpose.
“Yes. If I go to war, House Willard will preserve its honor.”
“I don’t see how your leaving Shia would be for her sake.”
“I have no intention of dying. And you understand, don’t you? Sister Shia has no emotional strength to spare right now.”
“…Would your absence not be even more painful for her?”
“It would be little different from marrying her off.”
“…Eisen is bedridden. You’re the only son I’ve left.”
Realizing that he couldn’t stop me by speaking of Sister Shia, Father promptly changed the subject.
“You’re the one who treated me as though I didn’t exist until now. Ha… And you expect me to take charge of a house that survives by sacrificing the only family I have, when there are any number of relatives available?”
Trying to stop me with that argument was far too convenient.
Still, even this man apparently wanted his own child to succeed him. I hadn’t expected Father to accept so readily the idea of making me—the son he had always mocked as a clod—the head of the family.
But I had no intention of bending myself for his sake.
“…Very well. I permit it. Do as you please.”
“Yes. I will.”
“I’ll arrange for you to go to the battlefield at once. Wait about a week.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“…What?”
“The initial offensive failed, and a gag order was imposed to conceal it. I managed to get past that order, and I’ve already heard the latest situation at the front from people in my company.”
“…What did you say? Acting without permission—”
“I intend to go where I’m needed most right now. A week from now will be too late.”
If I was to make use of earth magic, I should go not where our army was attacking, but where it would now be forced onto the defensive.
“I have learned of a possible enemy counteroffensive at a certain location. I intend to go there as reinforcement.”
“…You would enter a dangerous area of your own accord?”
“Stopping that offensive is precisely what will count as a contribution.”
“…Do you believe too much in your own ability? If so—”
“I don’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
There was no time to waste.
My people had desperately gathered this one piece of information. The window in which it could be used was brief.
I ended my conversation with Father as quickly as possible and left his study.
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