conversations
listlengths 2
1.4k
| source_id
stringclasses 164
values | chapter
stringlengths 7
121
|
|---|---|---|
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A very eventful year had passed since Charlotte began working as a mage for House Louvent. Canarre, the county that Lamberg belonged to, was situated on the westernmost edge of the Duchy of Missian. In other words, it shared a border with Seitz, the duchy to the west. As a natural consequence, territorial disputes were common and small skirmishes were surprisingly frequent…and whenever one of those skirmishes arose, my father was called upon to ride into battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Over the past year, he’d had to sortie in that manner no less than five times. Charlotte went along with him, and quickly proved herself both an invaluable asset on the battlefield as well as an indispensable presence in the Louvent household. She’d grown on a personal level, as well─her Valor score had reached a total of 101."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before I knew it, she’d also ended up becoming something of a boss to the very few mages who served House Louvent, and her Leadership score had risen to 73. Something about her strange, hard-to-pin-down personality drew people to her, for reasons I couldn’t quite fathom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her contributions were so dramatic, in fact, that I’d heard that other noble families had made efforts to hire her away from us. She turned them all down, thankfully. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but part of me sort of hoped that she did it out of a sense of gratitude toward me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, meanwhile, was still serving as my personal tutor. As a natural result, he hadn’t had the chance to go out and make a name for himself on the battlefield the way Charlotte had. He had the skills for it, no question about it, and part of me wondered if he wasn’t secretly chomping at the bit to get out there and accomplish something, but when I asked him about it, he just said there could be no greater honor than educating the next head of the family. He might have been just trying to make me feel better, but I didn’t get the sense he was outright lying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Speaking of the family, the year brought with it one very happy event: the birth of my twin siblings, a boy and a girl! They’d been born two weeks ago. I’d already turned six, myself, so we were rather far apart in age─though, of course, if you took my mental age into account, I might as well have been their father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My little brother’s name was Kreiz, and my little sister’s name was Wren. Kreiz was born just a little while before Wren, so I suppose she was his little sister as well, technically. Needless to say, I appraised both of them the first chance I got!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kreiz’s status screen looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And Wren’s looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They were still infants, of course, so all of their stats were currently stuck at 1, but they both had a couple of truly remarkable maximum values!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreiz clearly took after his father. His Leadership and Valor were both outstanding, but his Intelligence and Politics scores weren’t exactly exceptional. He also had an S-ranked aptitude as an infantryman, so I had a feeling that he’d prove to be a master with the sword or the spear when he grew up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wren, in sharp contrast, had incredible Intelligence and Politics scores, but wasn’t anything special when it came to Leadership or Valor. Her A-ranked aptitude in Strategy made me hopeful that she was a master tactician in the making, however."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In short, the twins’ strong and weak points seemed to complement each other extremely well. The one problem with that theory, of course, was that women born into noble families in this world were raised with a very particular purpose in mind: marrying into other noble households. Thus, I knew that keeping Wren around in the Louvent household might prove challenging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Part of me seriously considered marching up to my father and telling him that Wren had the brains to be a master tactician, and that he should raise and educate her to fill that role. Another part of me, however, couldn’t help but wonder if that was really in her best interests. A militaristic upbringing like that would almost certainly hurt her chances at marriage, after all. Would I be spoiling her best opportunity to find happiness?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As it turned out, deciding how a child should be raised wasn’t a task I was especially prepared for! There was another factor weighing on my mind, as well: Kreiz’s remarkably high Ambition score. He was sitting at a value of 77, and a high ambition carried with it a heightened chance of betrayal. If we gave him any reason to take issue with his living situation, he might defect to another household…or even start a rebellion!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As best as I could tell, anything above a 60 in Ambition was on the high end of the spectrum. A score in the 70s was just about unprecedented. I had to make getting a handle on Kreiz’s personality a top priority, then keep him on a short leash at all times!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s enough for today, I believe,” said Rietz, lowering his sword."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We were out in the training yard, and had just finished up a lesson in swordsmanship. Knowing how to defend myself in a pinch could save my life someday, so it seemed like an important skill to obtain…but unfortunately, I hadn’t turned out to be a very fast learner. Rietz and my father were unperturbed by my lack of talent─I was only six, after all─but I could tell that age wouldn’t cure this problem. It seemed I just hadn’t inherited my father’s knack for martial arts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it wasn’t like I was hoping to charge out into battle and reap my foes like a field of grain. I didn’t really need that sort of ability, either. I could leave those matters to the people who were better suited for them, and focus on my own strong points. That perspective made me feel at least a little better as I wiped the sweat off my brow and collected myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Incidentally, Master Ars, I wonder if you’ve heard the news…” began Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“News? What news?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A family of hunters has moved into town recently. They’re known as the Kischa family, apparently, and they have three sons. The eldest and second eldest─a twelve-year-old and an eleven-year-old, respectively─are purportedly tall, muscular, and all but certain to become incredibly strong men in the future. Do you suppose we should go take a look to judge them for ourselves?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me think…” I muttered. This wasn’t the first time I’d caught wind of a supposedly incredible person of interest, only for them to turn out to be nothing special at all when I appraised them. Still, though, if these wonder-sons were already in Lamberg, I didn’t exactly have anything to lose by heading out to take a look. “Yes, we might as well go see them!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. I’ll prepare for our excursion immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, Rietz and I set off for Lamberg proper. We strolled into town and made a beeline directly for the Kischa family’s home. Unlike the first time I went into town, I made no effort to disguise the fact that I was the lord’s son. Somewhere around the sixth time I went scouting in the village, I got found out and caused a bit of a scene, and I’d been back several times since then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The villagers seemed to be used to my presence, and didn’t think much of my visits at all anymore. The disguise would’ve seemed superfluous at this point. Unlike that first incident, Rietz and I weren’t getting swarmed by excited townsfolk, and we were walking around in the open without making any effort to hide our identities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve arrived,” said Rietz. “This is the Kischa family’s home.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d stopped in front of a somewhat run-down old house. Even by the village’s low standards, it was far from a luxury dwelling. I stepped up to the door, ready to knock, only for it to be flung open in my face before I had the chance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A child burst out from the house, bawling his eyes out. He was young and scrawny enough that I couldn’t actually tell what gender he was with total certainty, but my best guess was that he was a boy. His golden hair was in dire need of a good combing, and he was even shorter, and presumably younger, than me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The child took one look at me, then spun around and sped off down the street, still crying incessantly. I didn’t even have time to appraise him before he made it out of sight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess that’s one of the Kischa kids? He didn’t look eleven or twelve, though… Oh, right! Rietz said they had three children!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rumors claimed that the two eldest children were tough as nails, but they also mentioned a younger child who I’d almost forgotten. He certainly didn’t seem to live up to his brothers’ reputations, but then again, he was still just a kid. Who could say how he’d grow?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell! Get back here, boy!” roared an enormous man who emerged from the house just a moment later. He glanced down, noticing my presence. “Who’re…? Wait─aren’t you the lord’s son?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess my outfit must’ve given me away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man’s expression shifted dramatically the moment he realized my identity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed I am!” I replied. “My name is Ars, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s the lord’s son doing in front of my home…?” the man asked, clearly skeptical."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve caught wind that the sons of the family that lives here are truly remarkable individuals, so I decided that I would like to see their capabilities for myself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! Well, that’s─that’s wonderful! My name’s Greg Kischa. Please, come inside!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg’s attitude pivoted on a dime, and he welcomed me with open arms. A moment later, he noticed Rietz and made a face like he’d taken a big bite out of a lemon, but Malkan or not, Rietz was dressed the part of a lord’s retainer, so Greg didn’t try to turn him away. Incidentally, I checked Greg’s stats and found, aside from a slightly above-average Valor score, that he was perfectly unremarkable in every regard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way,” I asked as I strolled inside. “Was the boy who ran away in tears a moment ago one of your sons?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, the boy’s name is Rosell,” Greg replied. “He’s my third son, but he’s not worth your time. The brat’s nothing compared to his brothers. He was born weak, he’s a crybaby, and nothing I tell him seems to make him shape up. Y’know why he was crying a minute ago? ’Cause I told him off for pissing the bed! The boy’s five! Hate to imagine what he’ll be like when he’s an adult.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If he’s only five, then he still has plenty of time to grow,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think? Well, he’s no lord’s son, that’s for sure! Just one look at you, and I can tell you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Rosell’ll never match that! You look to be about his age, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That “good head” on my shoulders has a solid thirty years on Rosell’s thanks to my reincarnation, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t remember perfectly, but I had a feeling I’d still wet the bed every once in a while when I was five, too."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg went on to introduce me to his other two sons. The eldest was named Gatos, while the second eldest was Marcus. The rumors certainly weren’t exaggerated: both of them were remarkably tall and sturdily built for their age, and when I appraised them, their numbers were much better than I’d expected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Both of their Leadership attributes had maximum scores in the 40s, and while they weren’t quite natural-born commanders, Gatos’s maximum Valor was 77, while Marcus’s was 75. Their current Valor scores were nothing to scoff at, either─Gatos had a 67 and Marcus a 65. All that said, their Intelligence and Politics scores were pretty awful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As far as aptitudes went, Gatos had an A-rank as an infantryman. The rest of his were all Cs or Ds, though. Marcus had an A in Archer, but Cs and Ds for everything else across the board as well. In short, Gatos would likely excel in melee combat, while Marcus would be better off as a long-distance fighter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, I wasn’t expecting them to be anything incredible. Hell, I wouldn’t have been shocked if they’d been totally useless! But apparently, sometimes rumors really were right on the money."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, what do you think?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Both of them have real potential!” I replied. “If either of them has any interest in being a soldier, then I say they should be sent off to the training grounds as soon as tomorrow!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, perfect! You two were just telling me you wanted to go out in battle and make a name for yourselves, weren’t you?!” exclaimed Greg, who was absolutely beaming. I knew he was a hunter, but apparently, he wasn’t too particular about his sons carrying on the family trade. He seemed downright excited for his sons to become soldiers, even. Gatos and Marcus were just as enthusiastic, so they immediately agreed to begin training at my family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perfect! In that case, feel free to stop by tomorrow. No time to waste!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, sir!” they exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, my business with the family was complete. I stepped outside…only to find Rosell, the boy who’d run out in tears earlier, making his way back home. On a whim, I decided to give him an appraisal. His brothers were both exceptional, after all, so perhaps he had some talent lurking deep down as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I glanced at Rosell’s stats and very nearly choked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not only did he have talent, he had the overwhelming ingenuity necessary to become a tactician the likes of which the world had never seen! The only word that could possibly describe his maximum Intelligence score was “absurd.” I couldn’t imagine there was anyone on the continent of Summerforth with a score higher than 109!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And that wasn’t all─his Politics and Leadership scores were also incredible. Valor was his only low stat, and I got the impression that he just wasn’t much of a fighter. He was also five, of course, so his current stats were all on the low side, but with the right upbringing, he could be a truly invaluable retainer in the long run."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought I’d found an excellent crop of candidates in his brothers, but Rosell was simply on another level. The Kischa family moving to Lamberg was a godsend, no question about it!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has that boy caught your attention, Master Ars?” asked Rietz, who’d noticed my astonished stare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He really has,” I replied. “He has a mind like nothing I’ve seen before, and his potential is breathtaking! If we can give him the training he needs, he’ll be an incredible tactician someday.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A tactician, you say…? Well, I wouldn’t dream of questioning your judgment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is just a matter of potential at this point, though,” I clarified. “Still, I’d like to give him the education that he deserves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, why not have him attend your lessons?” suggested Rietz. “If he’s as bright as you say, I’m sure that teaching him will be worth my time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Having him study with me? That’s a great idea, actually!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was an incredible teacher, and I was certain that under his tutelage, Rosell’s Intelligence would improve by leaps and bounds. The problem, of course, was his father. Would Greg permit us to take over his child’s education?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Throughout that whole exchange, Rosell had been standing nearby, staring at me and shivering. Tears were pooling in the corners of his eyes. It seemed that, in his mind, Rietz and I were more than a little intimidating. We hadn’t done anything in particular, though, so I was at a loss as to what could be scaring him so much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It’s not like my father’s here with us─though, if he were, I could definitely understand the impulse to break down and cry."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Rosell!” Speaking of terrifying fathers, Greg arrived just in time to give Rosell the third degree. “Where’ve you been?! And did you remember to greet the young master?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell shook his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you daft, boy?! That’s the son of Lord Raven you’re looking at! How could you not even bother to greet him?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He’s probably just shy, right? Okay, maybe really shy, considering how scared of us he seems. Then again, with a Politics score like that, I’m sure his shyness will go away with a little training. You can’t exactly be a master politician if you can’t look a stranger in the eye!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, Greg’s arrival was quite timely for my purposes. I decided to speak to him about Rosell’s education right away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Greg, Rosell,” I began, “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, if you have a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? You aren’t finished? And wait, with me and Rosell?” Greg exclaimed incredulously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite!” I replied. “You see, I can tell that Rosell has the talent to be a tactician. He’s still a child, of course, so his talent is still underdeveloped, but I’d like to give him the education that he needs to make the most of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“R-Rosell?! This wimpy little bedwetter, a tactician?! Y-You’re pulling my leg, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everyone wets the bed at some point in their life. I don’t think it’s anything to be embarrassed about,” I chided."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, but you don’t understand! The boy’s useless! He can’t even look a man in the eye, he’s built like a twig, and he’s barely grown at all since he started walking! His brothers were a thousand times better put together when they were his age!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg’s opinion of Rosell was even lower than I’d thought. I had a feeling that Greg judged his sons purely by their physical strength, and didn’t spare much thought for their smarts. Even at his current status, Rosell was surely remarkably bright for a child of his age, and if he’d been born into a family that valued education, they might have found him to be a genuine prodigy. A shame, then, that a hunter’s household didn’t offer many chances for that sort of education."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His brothers and their exceptional Valor scores probably hadn’t helped the situation, either. I’m sure he looked like a downright disappointment in comparison. And, to be fair, if you solely compared their Valor stats, he was the least capable by a mile. I had a feeling that convincing Greg of Rosell’s true potential was going to be a difficult task, which meant that my only option was to ask him as sincerely as possible, and hope he’d cut me a break."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true that Rosell has talent─of that, I’m extremely confident. If you allow him to study under me, I can guarantee that he will make a splendid tactician in the future. Will you let him attend lessons at my family’s estate?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Well… If you’re really willing to teach him, I guess I don’t have any reason to say no. You’re good with that, right, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell looked up at his father, then nodded silently. It didn’t feel like he was interested so much as he was unwilling to defy his father’s wishes, though, and he didn’t exactly look enthused. I was hoping to have him cast the deciding vote, but maybe asking a five-year-old to make their own decisions was a little much."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate it,” I replied. “In that case, I’d like to begin Rosell’s education tomorrow as well. Please bring Gatos and Marcus to the training grounds tomorrow morning, then bring Rosell to my family’s estate proper. Thank you for your time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right, will do.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Starting his education so soon seemed like asking for a lot, but I couldn’t resist. With Greg as on board as I could’ve expected, I returned home and spent the rest of the day practically trembling with excitement for the next morning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And before long, the next morning arrived!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rosell is here, Master Ars,” reported Rietz. I immediately hurried outside, where I found Greg and his son waiting for me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Master Ars! Sorry to make you come all the way out to welcome us. Come on, boy, say sorry with me!” said Greg, giving me an apologetic bow and shoving Rosell’s head down in an imitation of the gesture. “Well, I’ve got work that needs doing. You listen here, Rosell: you are not to make a nuisance of yourself! There’ll be hell to pay if you do, y’hear?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that parting comment, Greg went on his way. I turned to Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming today, Rosell!” I said, stepping toward him. “Now then, let’s head inside and─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eek!” Rosell whimpered, shrinking away from me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Am I really that scary?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His condition was a little too extreme for me to call it plain shyness. It seemed he had an almost phobic aversion to meeting new people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell, it’s all right. I’m not planning to hurt you. There’s no need to be afraid of me, I promise,” I said, flashing the least intimidating smile I could manage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell, unfortunately, wasn’t buying it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You’re lying!” he snapped. Which, incidentally, were the first proper words I’d heard him speak out loud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not,” I calmly replied. “I’m telling the truth.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No you’re not! You’re a dirty liar! You s-said I have talent, but that’s impossible! Y-You called me to your house to kidnap and enslave me! Or maybe you just did it because you thought bullying me would be fun! Y-You’re up to no good, I just know it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that once Rosell’s mouth opened, there was very little you could do to make him shut it again. I was stunned by both the speed at which the little motor-mouth could talk when he put his mind to it and the sheer degree of pure pessimism he was spouting at me. I was obviously not dealing with the most trusting of individuals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, a healthy dose of pathological skepticism could very well be an asset for a tactician, from a certain point of view. It’d certainly serve him better than being too optimistic or too credulous, at the very least. I just had to convince him that I was a person he could let his guard down around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I walked up to Rosell and planted my hands atop his shoulders. I felt him jump in fright, but I held him in place, looked him directly in his teary, sky-blue eyes, and said, “That wasn’t a lie. I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that you do have talent, and that is the reason why I called you here. I swear that I will do you no harm.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell whimpered, but it seemed that going into full-on serious mode had finally gotten through to him at least a little. His shivering felt like it was growing at least a little less violent, anyway. It couldn’t be that easy, though, and a few seconds later, Rosell broke eye contact. I could tell by that point that standing around and talking at him wasn’t going to gain me any more ground."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, follow me,” I said, then turned around and began making my way to the room where Rietz taught me my lessons. Rietz, incidentally, had been accompanying me all the while, and leaned down to whisper in my ear as we walked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m a little concerned about that boy, Master Ars. Are you sure he’s ready for this?” he asked. He had a point. Entering the estate had done nothing to clear up Rosell’s obvious anxiety, and he was glancing about wildly, keeping a constant eye on his surroundings. His guard was up impossibly high."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And then, with superbly terrible timing, my family’s pet fledgehound, Ahsis, showed up to make a mess of things."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arf, arf!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Augh, no! A b-b-beast!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant Rosell spotted Ahsis, he was on the move, zipping over to take cover behind a nearby statue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to be scared! It’s perfectly all right. Ahsis isn’t a beast or anything of the sort,” I explained, kneeling down and patting Ahsis’s head in an effort to prove that our pet really was, well, just a pet. Ahsis’s wings fluttered happily in response. “See? Cute, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wings aside, Ahsis looked like a Japanese Chin, which was far from the scariest of breeds out there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-It’s cute now, sure,” admitted Rosell. “B-But, umm…i-it might transform, for all I know! M-Maybe when it smells prey, it shapeshifts into a mighty cerberus! Wait…I see now! You brought me here to feed me to your beast, I’m sure of it! I bet it has a taste for small, tender prey! It all makes sense now!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Rosell was descending into a spiral of remarkably talkative negativity. I was starting to realize that he was just as much of an eccentric as Charlotte, albeit in a very different sort of way. In any case, Ahsis was terrifying him, so I called one of our family’s servants over to take the fledgehound out for a walk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, it’s gone. Nothing to be scared of anymore, right?” I said, trying to reassure him. However, Rosell was still glancing compulsively around at his surroundings. It took way longer than I’d expected to guide him to our study, in the end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Speaking of the study: as we walked inside, the books that filled the chamber reminded me of an important question I had to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, can you read, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d gathered over the years that this world’s literacy rate wasn’t even close to that of Japan’s. Considering the fact that he was only five, I figured that the odds of Rosell already being literate were extremely low."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Only a little,” he replied, more or less as expected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like teaching him to read will be our first order of business, then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had been illiterate at first as well, technically, but he managed to pick up the skill after only five days of studying. Meanwhile, it took me about three weeks to learn the local writing system. I really came to appreciate just how talented Rietz was after he pulled that little feat off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s maximum Intelligence score was outrageously high, so I figured that he had to be pretty quick on the uptake. He was still a kid, too, which meant that his mind was a sponge for new information. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he picked up reading even faster than Rietz had."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll study on my own today so that you can teach Rosell how to read,” I told Rietz. Leaving the task up to him while I did my own thing felt like my best bet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Surprisingly, Rosell was actually quite obedient when it came to Rietz’s lessons…possibly on account of the fact that he was scared stiff of his teacher. I was a little worried about whether he’d actually remember any of the things he learned in that condition, but I had faith that Rietz would figure something out, so I tried to focus on my own studies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Emphasis on tried, unfortunately. Without Rietz the super-teacher on my side, I wasn’t making much progress at all. Studying tactics was all well and good, but since I’d never even seen a real battle in person, a lot of the descriptions I was reading didn’t really click."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hmm. Yeah, I think it’s time to shake things up. I’ll leave the tactics to the tacticians."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to focus on history and geography instead…but that resolve didn’t last long. I ended up moving from one subject to the next without ever grasping anything new about any of them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I probably should’ve seen that coming, frankly. In my previous life, I’d consistently ranked in the lower-middle portion of my class, grade-wise. Some people had the sheer, dogged diligence to focus on their studies to the exclusion of everything else, and I was most certainly not one of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Quite a fair span of time had passed before I decided to check in on Rosell and see how many letters he’d learned while I was being unproductive. I set down my own study materials and looked over, only to find Rosell hunched over a book in complete silence. Rietz wasn’t saying a word either─just standing there, staring at his new protégé."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s going on over here?” I asked. “Don’t tell me he’s memorized all the letters already?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My new world’s standard alphabet had far fewer characters than Japanese. It was closer to English, in that respect, and since it didn’t have Japanese’s excess of written characters, it was a little easier to pick up, from my perspective. Not that easy, though! It’d been less than a single day!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, he has, difficult though it is to believe,” stammered Rietz. “He is…abnormally adept at grasping new concepts, it would seem. He learned the whole alphabet before I knew it, then said he was interested in the books, so I let him read one, and, well…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean he’s actually reading a whole book already?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. As a matter of fact, this isn’t the first one. He’s currently working his way through his third book of the day.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re kidding me,” I gaped at Rosell. “That means he’s gotten through at least three hundred pages!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, his pace is quite impressive. I’ve checked, though, and he genuinely understands and absorbs everything he reads. His ability to concentrate is remarkable. Speaking of which─I tried to speak to him while he was reading, and it was like he couldn’t even hear me! I had to wait until after he finished the volume to quiz him on its contents. Frankly, I’ve more or less been sitting here and waiting while he reads on his own. I suppose that’s just how it goes when you’re dealing with a genius…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz shook his head and shrugged. I could hardly believe that Rosell was smart enough to make even him feel awed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll admit,” continued Rietz. “I was worried that this might be too drastic of a step for him, but you’ve proven me wrong yet again. Your ability to perceive talent really does seem infallible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell took to books like a fish to water. He finished several more tomes before the day was out, only to abruptly run out of energy around dusk and collapse into a deep sleep on the spot. I ended up having to ask one of my family’s servants to carry him back to his house for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ever since then, Rosell started visiting my family’s estate daily to study alongside me. He remained wary of me and my family for the first two or three days, but eventually, he decided that we weren’t an immediate threat to his life and limb and started warming up to us. By around twenty days in, it felt like he’d completely opened up to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Rosell settled into the rhythm of his new routine, he eventually started calling Rietz Mr. Rietz─a sign of respect toward his teacher, apparently─and calling me just plain Ars. He also blazed through the books in our study at such an astonishing pace that I was worried it wouldn’t be long before he ran through all of them! Books were fairly precious and hard to come by in this world, so we didn’t exactly have a fully-stocked library on our hands, but it was still preposterous to think he could work his way through that many of them in less than a month. Why, he was already picking up pieces of knowledge and trivia that even most adults wouldn’t know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that said, his Intelligence score hadn’t gone up all that much. It was sitting at a value of 48, currently. It seemed that it took a little more than having a good memory or knowing a lot of random facts to raise your overall Intelligence. My best guess was that it had more to do with how you used the knowledge that you’d gained, and Rosell was still an inexperienced boy of five. He knew all sorts of things, sure, but he hadn’t learned how to make use of any of them, and until he managed to do so, his Intelligence was unlikely to make any significant advances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering his maximum Intelligence, though, I was very confident that he wasn’t wasting his time hitting the books. A value like that meant that he had the potential to gain some life experience and start putting the fruits of his studies to use before too terribly long, and the moment he started doing so, I expected his Intelligence to skyrocket."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short: learning as much as he possibly could while he was still young seemed like it would prove very important for Rosell’s growth, and happily enough, he’d turned out to be a major bookworm. That had the added benefit of speeding along his studies even more than ever─after all, it was always easier to learn proactively than it was to learn because you were being forced to do so. Rosell’s studies were going just about as well as I could’ve possibly expected them to…but that didn’t mean that everything was proceeding as swimmingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I kn-knew it!” Rosell sobbed. “I really am a waste of space… I never should’ve been born…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’d come over to my family’s estate to study as per usual, but when he arrived, we found him even more down in the dumps than we’d learned to expect from him. Something must have happened to him at home. Not only was he not reading, but he’d also actually curled up in a fetal position. It was like he was non-verbally screaming, Look at me, everyone! I’m depressed, okay?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This wasn’t the first time he’d shown up in that state, to be fair. Whenever his father chewed him out, he tended to mope his way over to my side. Then, I ended up hearing him out and doing what I could to cheer him up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did Greg get mad at you again?” I asked. “What was it this time?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell didn’t reply, so I knew it was probably something pretty awkward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you wet the bed again?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” grunted Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I told you before, remember? Bed-wetting’s totally normal for kids. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you do it too, Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was my turn to lapse into an awkward silence. As far as I knew, bed-wetting was a developmental issue. Little kids just weren’t built to hold it in overnight, so being mentally an adult didn’t do squat to stop it. I absolutely did wet the bed until I was around three, and I came dangerously close to keeling over dead from the shame of it every single time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, though, my body had apparently developed on the faster side of the spectrum, and it had been quite some time since my last bed-wetting incident. That was actually a bit of a problem for once, though, since telling him that I didn’t was sure to hurt his feelings. Just as I was trying to decide whether or not I should lie to him, the silence had dragged on for long enough that Rosell put the pieces together on his own."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t, do you?! I knew it! It really is just me! I can’t take this─if my weenie isn’t going to work right, I’d rather just chop it off and be done with it!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You what now?! N-No, stop! Don’t do anything crazy! Oh god, put the knife down!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had no clue why he was carrying it in the first place─for self-defense, I assumed─but Rosell pulled out an actual goddamn knife and began preparing to, well, let’s just say dismember himself. I, of course, freaked the hell out and rushed over to stop him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let go of me! Once I get rid of this, I’ll never have to be humiliated again!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, it doesn’t work like that! Cutting it off won’t stop you from wetting the bed! If anything, it’ll do the opposite, and it’ll also really, really hurt!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell froze in place and replied, “…I-It will?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, it will! Do you even have to ask?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-How much? Worse than getting kicked in the shins?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So much worse. You can’t even compare the two!” I shouted. Not that I’d ever actually cut mine off, mind you, so technically speaking, I couldn’t actually say for sure whether or not that was true."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, though, Rosell was a major scaredy-cat when it came to pain, so he eventually put the knife away. I heaved a sigh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Who knew he was the sort of person who’d go to extremes that easily? And who knew that dealing with a kid would be this exhausting?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was becoming increasingly clear that Rosell’s extreme case of pessimism was going to be an issue going forward. Being excessively optimistic would be a problem for an aspiring tactician, of course, but he was going so far in the opposite direction that it felt like it’d be trouble in its own right. I had to do something to inject a little positivity into the kid’s mindset, and I had a feeling that if I didn’t do it soon, he might be stuck this way for life."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ll talk strategy with Rietz later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Rosell went home for the day, Rietz and I got together to discuss his personality defect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I certainly agree that it’s a problem,” said Rietz. “Even setting aside its potential impact on his worth as a tactician, seeing somebody with such an appalling excess of talent act like he’s inferior is, well…rather hard to stomach.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, good. Looks like we’re on the same page."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems clear to me that Rosell’s negativity is entirely the fault of his father, Greg,” Rietz continued. “The way he belittles Rosell over every little thing has taken a toll on Rosell’s confidence.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was thinking along the same lines,” I agreed with a nod. “But what can we do about it? Would getting Greg to compliment him solve the issue?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even if we were to order Greg to praise him, it wouldn’t be genuine praise, and I believe that Rosell is smart enough to tell the difference. Personally, I think the most effective means would be to have Rosell do something that prompts his father to praise him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Getting Rosell to impress his father himself, huh…? What’s the best way for Rosell to show off how smart he is? His dad’s a hunter, so maybe catching a wild animal with some sort of clever trick is the way to go?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Here’s an idea,” I said. “How about we have Rosell come up with some new sort of trap that Greg can use to hunt more efficiently? That would prove how smart he is, no problem. What do you think?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A trap…?” muttered Rietz. He sounded a little skeptical. “I’m afraid that might prove difficult. I’m confident that Greg is already well-versed in the art of trap-making, and no matter how smart Rosell is, asking him to invent an entirely new trap out of thin air might be setting our expectations impossibly high.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Fair enough.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz did have a point. Inventing a new type of trap wasn’t exactly the easiest of tasks, especially for a child."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That said,” continued Rietz. “I doubt proposing the challenge to Rosell would be a bad idea in and of itself. True knowledge can’t be gained from books alone, after all. You have to apply what you learn to the real world. In that sense, having Rosell apply his newfound knowledge for hunting purposes could prove to be beneficial.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Plus, that sort of practice might be just what he needs to raise his Intelligence score."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Rosell exceeded our expectations and invented some spectacular new trap, he could make his father acknowledge his talents, and if he didn’t, he’d still be gaining practical skills out in the real world. As far as I could tell, there were no downsides. That settled the matter in my mind, so I asked Rietz to have Rosell start designing a trap first thing tomorrow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next morning, when Rosell arrived to study, Rietz proposed the plan we’d come up with the day before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A trap…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. You were raised in a family of hunters, so I imagine you’re familiar with the basic principles of trap-making?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell shook his head and replied, “No. What do you mean by ‘trap,’ anyway?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That certainly wasn’t the first question I’d expected him to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t know what traps are?” Rietz asked. “Your father must use indirect methods of hunting sometimes… You know, something other than simply shooting animals with a bow.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He doesn’t,” Rosell replied bluntly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. I’m surprised, to be honest. Then again, I’m hardly an expert when it comes to hunting myself,” admitted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, in my mind. If Greg didn’t know how to make traps, then Rosell probably didn’t have to make anything particularly complex to impress him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, what’re traps, Mister Rietz?” Rosell asked again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the context of hunting, the word ‘traps’ refers to devices or methods that allow you to indirectly capture your prey. A particularly well-known example you may be aware of is a pit trap. You dig a deep hole in the ground, cover it with a thin layer of branches, then cover those branches with dirt and foliage until it’s indistinguishable from the ground around it. After that, when an animal steps on the trap, the branches collapse and the animal falls into the hole.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, wow! Whoever thought that up was pretty smart,” commented Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "…I guess they sort of were, yeah."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t even remember how I’d learned about pit traps─they were just common knowledge in my mind─but Rosell had a point. Whoever made humanity’s first pit trap really must’ve been pretty darn smart."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I really think about it, though, that doesn’t seem like a very good way to hunt. It wouldn’t work at all unless an animal happened to step on the trap by coincidence,” Rosell muttered to himself, pressing a thumb into his furrowed brow. That was a little habit of his that made an appearance whenever he was deep in thought about something."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You could put food on top of the trap to lure an animal into it? Hmm, but it would still only let you catch one animal in each trap, and digging a deep hole isn’t easy. Hunting with a bow still sounds faster… You’d have to come up with something easier to build or something that could catch lots of animals at once to make it practical…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell mumbled on and on to himself, voicing every idea he came up with the moment it popped into his head. This continued for a while until Rietz spoke up again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once you’ve thought up a trap that satisfies you, I’d like you to try drawing a design for it. I have paper and a writing utensil prepared for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell blinked and replied, “I can’t draw, though.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even a simple sketch will suffice. I believe it will be much easier to understand your design with one to look at.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense. Okay, then, I’ll draw it after I’m done thinking,” Rosell agreed, then immediately dropped back into his pondering pose and started mumbling again. The kid could certainly focus, that was for sure. It was always really hard to get him to listen to you when he went into that mode."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you really think he’ll manage to make a trap?” I asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t say for sure, but I am quite curious what results he’ll produce after putting all his knowledge into making something. I think there’s a very real chance he’ll surprise us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could see that, yeah.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There wasn’t much else we could do at that point. Rosell’s challenge had begun, so we just had to watch over him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While Rosell worked on his trap, I decided to do some of my own research on the types of traps that already existed in this world. I quickly picked up on one fact that explained a lot: traps just weren’t a traditional method of hunting in Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, who came from outside the region, had made all the same assumptions about hunters using traps that I had, so I could safely conclude that they were commonly used elsewhere. That said, while Rietz was aware of traps on the whole, he didn’t have much in the way of specialized knowledge about them, so he wasn’t able to teach me very much I didn’t already know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I eventually decided to try thinking up some traps myself, but quickly found that it was a lot harder of a thought experiment than I’d first expected. To begin with, I didn’t know very much at all about the sort of animals that people usually hunted in this world. Making a decent trap without knowing about the creature you were trapping, as it turned out, was next to impossible. Rosell had all the wildlife knowledge you’d expect from a hunter’s son, though, so at least he wasn’t working with that sort of handicap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, I gave up on making my own trap not too long after I started. I was still giving the situation thought, though, and I quickly realized that Lamberg’s lack of trapping culture posed an opportunity. If Rosell came up with a good enough trap, then impressing Greg would only be the start of our potential gains─we could also send the town’s ability to produce food through the roof! We’d be killing two birds with one stone!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My expectations were high as I eagerly awaited the completion of Rosell’s design."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, several weeks later…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s finished!” declared Rosell, brandishing a piece of paper. He sounded happier than I’d ever heard him before, and I didn’t even need to ask what he’d finished. It had to be the plans for his trap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” replied Rietz. “Then let’s take a look, shall we?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah!” said Rosell. He was absolutely beaming as he spread out the plans for Rietz to see, which was really rare for him. I could tell he was really excited about finishing his creation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz carefully inspected the plans. It was Rosell’s first attempt at drawing a blueprint, so there were plenty of places that didn’t make perfect sense at a glance, and he ended up explaining them to Rietz piece by piece as he pored over the design. I decided to listen in and see what I could make of the plans as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gradually, I got a picture of what sort of trap he’d put together. First off, the prey: Rosell had decided that instead of designing an all-purpose trap, he’d make something that targeted a single species. Specifically, he’d thought up a trap that would capture a type of animal called “suws” that lived in abundance in the woods near the town."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suws looked like small wild boars, and they basically tasted like beef. Their meat reminded me less of the sort of heavily-marbled wagyu that was raised in Japan and more of the leaner beef that was imported to Japan from Australia. They also had one very distinctive trait that Rosell used to full effect for the purpose of his trap: an instinctive impulse to charge at anything that was colored yellow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first step was to fence off a large, wide-open area. Into the center of that area went the bait: a cloth that had been thoroughly permeated with the smell of apples, a suw’s favorite food. Suws had a very keen sense of smell, and would naturally gather around the trap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wouldn’t have been much of a trap if the fence didn’t have some sort of entrance, of course, but it also wouldn’t have been much of a trap if the suws could come and go as they pleased. The door would work sort of like how pet doors in my old world did, and its outside surface would be painted yellow. Suws would see the color, charge right at it, and push straight on through to the other side by virtue of momentum. The door was designed to only swing in one direction, so once the suws were inside, they were stuck unless they could somehow pull the door inward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought the trap sounded quite effective, but Rietz had other ideas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s one thing I’m concerned about,” he explained. “Just how durable will the door have to be? If it’s too brittle, we’ll run the risk of the suws breaking it, but if it’s too solid, there’s a chance they’ll hurt themselves on it, fall unconscious, and block the entrance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Suws are hard-headed, so it takes a lot to knock one out,” countered Rosell. “I think that using a solid, durable door is the right choice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Rietz with a nod. “Next, how will you deal with the suws once you’ve captured them?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’ll be a human-sized door built into the fence, so if there are only a few suws inside, you can just walk in and take care of them yourself. Suws are timid, so as long as you’re not wearing yellow, they probably won’t charge you. I think they’d be easy prey if they didn’t have anywhere to run. If there are too many trapped inside, though, you’ll have to pick them off from outside the fence with a bow, so it’d be a good idea to add a simple platform for people to stand on.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” Rietz mumbled, lapsing into thought for a moment before speaking up once more. “Shall we try building one, then? We can start with a small-scale trap, making the fence just large enough to trap two or three suws. We won’t have to make a platform that way, so it won’t cost much in the way of resources, and there’ll be no need to report the project to Lord Raven until we produce results. When we do, we can ask him for permission to construct a larger-scale trap. Does that sound acceptable, Master Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, let’s go with that plan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Man, who knew he’d manage to come up with this well-thought-out trap? He’s one hell of a five-year-old, that’s for sure!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thinking back on it, Rosell had an A-ranked aptitude in Weaponry. I’d never really considered it before, but from a certain perspective, traps sort of felt like they could fall under that category. It certainly explained a lot if they did."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, our plan was set: we’d create a usable version of Rosell’s trap! I tasked a few of my family’s servants with the actual construction. As far as materials went, the fence would be made from wood. It was a fairly simple design, all things considered: wooden posts driven into the ground with planks attached between them. We made sure to use planks that were nice and sturdy, just in case a suw decided to try to break through, and we added a small hole into one of them that would let us look inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For this first trial run, we made the enclosure about fifty square feet in total. That would fit three suws no problem, but if the trap worked a little better than planned, and even more charged in, there was a danger they’d collide with the suws already trapped inside. That didn’t seem like a fundamental design problem, though─it only really applied to the test trap, and would naturally stop being a factor when we made a larger, more practical version."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We decided to make the door from a thin iron plate. We couldn’t make it too thick or it wouldn’t swing open properly, and we couldn’t make it too thin or the suws would be able to break it down. Frankly, I had no idea what the right balance between the two extremes was, and I figured that aspect would take some experimentation to get just right. If we screwed it up, we could always make another door and try again!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We ended up heading into town to procure the yellow paint we needed to color the door. It was easy to imagine that each charging suw would scrape off some of the paint in the process, so we made sure to apply a pretty heavy layer of the stuff. The price of paint varied wildly depending on its color, but luckily enough, yellow was one of the cheaper ones, so we didn’t have to shell out much for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That just left the bait: a piece of cloth made to smell like apples. That would be easy to make, thankfully. They grew plenty of apples down in the village, so we just had to juice a few of them and get the cloth nice and soaked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, the construction process for our first trap took three days in total, from start to finish. We set it up in the very center of the woods that were just outside the town of Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“D-Do you think it’ll work?” Rosell asked anxiously as he looked over the finished trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s only one way to find out,” I replied. “But, I mean, this sort of thing always ends up being a process of trial and error. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t quite work perfectly at first so long as you keep improving every iteration!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-It doesn’t?” Rosell asked, seeming a little relieved to hear it. For someone as pessimistic as him, I guess it would be surprisingly reassuring to know that it was all right if he failed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that was left was to leave the trap behind and let it do its thing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next morning, Rosell, Rietz, and I all went out to check on the trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’ve caught something,” Rietz said the moment the trap came into view."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave it a closer look and quickly realized what had tipped him off: the paint on the door was slightly scratched. That had to be a sign that a suw had charged through it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz went over to the hole in the wall, peeked inside, and said, “There are two of them inside. It looks like they’re asleep.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell blinked and replied, “Huh? R-Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it worked?” I added excitedly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We all clustered around the hole to peek inside. It wasn’t low enough for me and Rosell to look through on our own, so Rietz lifted each of us in turn to take a look. Lo and behold, two suws were sleeping within, just like he’d claimed. Part of me was impressed that the critters had the nerve to fall asleep in such a dangerous situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, Rietz gave the door a close inspection and said, “I see no problems here. I believe this design should stand up to quite a fair amount of abuse.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, our shot in the dark when it came to the door’s durability had actually hit the mark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“D-Does that mean we can make a bigger one next?” Rosell asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t see why not,” replied Rietz. “If it works this well, it should make suw hunting quite a bit more efficient for everyone. It might even make Greg see you in a whole new light, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-My dad? Really?” asked Rosell. We hadn’t actually brought up the possibility that his father might appreciate him more if his trap turned out well. I figured that mentioning that part would put a ton of pressure on him, so I’d decided to keep it to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then,” said Rietz. “Let’s get to making a full-sized trap. I was thinking we could ask the local hunters to aid in the construction effort this time around.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good idea,” I replied. “By the way, what are we going to do with the suws we caught today?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can knock them unconscious and bring them back to the estate,” said Rietz. “I’m sure the cooks know how to butcher a suw, so we can have them for lunch. Speaking of which, you should eat with us, Rosell! I’m certain that a suw you caught yourself will taste especially delicious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz went into the trap, knocked out the suws, and carried them back to the estate, where we did indeed end up having them for lunch. Rosell devoured his portion gleefully."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, we gathered all the local hunters in the town’s meeting hall to explain the plan we wanted them to help with. I was hoping they’d give us the okay and help build the new trap without raising too much fuss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A trap to catch suws, eh?” said Greg after Rietz finished explaining the trap’s function, using a diagram he’d drawn for reference. That drawing, of course, was a more refined version of Rosell’s original blueprint. “Yeah, I see how this works…and it’s not a bad idea. If it’s as effective as you say, then it could make our suw hunts a hell of a lot easier. You’ve got as good a head on your shoulders as folks claim, Master Ars! Can’t believe you thought this up on your own!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg sounded rather impressed, but I shook my head and replied, “Actually, I wasn’t the one who thought it up at all. Rosell came up with the design.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Greg recoiled in shock, then looked over at Rosell. “You’re pulling my leg. Rosell designed this device? Impossible!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’ll recall, the last time we spoke, I told you that Rosell has immense talent. I’d encourage you to take this as proof of how intelligent your son really is. Every aspect of this trap’s design was Rosell’s work─I didn’t so much as lift a finger to help.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg gaped at his son and asked, “I-Is that true, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell nodded, which prompted the reply, “And it actually works? You’re positive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment he learned that Rosell had created the trap, Greg started questioning its quality. He was having a really hard time accepting the fact that his son wasn’t a total waste of space."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve already conducted a small-scale test of the trap, which proved highly effective. A large-scale version is likely to work just as well,” Rietz explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So essentially, we were hoping that all of you would help us build it,” I said. “Are you interested? Needless to say, the suws captured in the trap will be yours to keep, and you’re free to take note of the trap’s design and build your own in the future.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as I finished my explanation, the hunters started volunteering to help. In the end, the only one of them who didn’t immediately raise his hand was Greg, who still seemed stubbornly reluctant to be a party to our plan. Finally, though, he gave in and raised his hand as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All of you are willing, then? Perfect! In that case, we’ll begin construction tomorrow. We’ll be setting the trap up in the woods nearby. I’ll show you the location, so please gather here first thing tomorrow morning.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone showed up the next morning, as promised, and we began construction of the full-scale trap. We decided to place it in the same central location where we’d built the small-scale test trap, disassembling that one and building the new one in its place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time around, we made the enclosure about seven times larger than the test version. There were a few trees inside the area we’d be fencing off, which would make dealing with the trapped suws a challenge, so we chopped most of them down, repurposing them as materials for the fence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d have to build the viewing platform that we omitted from the test trap’s design as well. Its design was incredibly simple, and it would be about a dozen feet tall. A tower like that wouldn’t be of much use in battle, but for our purposes, it was more than sufficient."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From start to finish, the trap’s construction took six days. It wasn’t an incredibly large-scale project, and we had a lot more workers available to help out than we’d had the first time, so it wasn’t all that much harder to build than the test trap had been, in the end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you’re sure this thing can trap a suw?” asked Greg, casting a skeptical glance at the newly-finished trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s larger than the one we made as a test, but the basic principles of its design are identical. It will work, rest assured,” replied Rietz. However, Greg looked unconvinced. Only time would dispel his doubts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just like last time, we left the trap alone for a day to let it work its magic. When we gathered up again to check on our catch, Rosell showed up with massive bags under his eyes. I assumed he’d been so anxious about whether or not the trap would work, he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink the night before. He hadn’t seemed nearly that nervous when we checked on the first trap, but of course, Greg hadn’t been along to witness his results at the time. That had to have turned the pressure up to eleven."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It only took a quick glance at the door to tell that we had a catch on our hands. Once again, the yellow paint was conspicuously scratched. It was quite a bit more damaged than it had been the first time around, in fact, which most likely meant that we had trapped even more suws."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe this was a success,” said Rietz, who’d probably noticed the same signs I had. He walked up to the trap and glanced in the peephole in the wall. “There are three…no, four suws trapped inside.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“S-Seriously?” asked Greg incredulously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“L-Lemme take a look!” shouted one of the other hunters. All of them gathered around and took turns peering through the hole."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be damned, he’s right! There really are four of ’em in there!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It actually worked!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The hunters began whooping and hollering in celebration. I took a look inside as well, and there were indeed four suws within the trap. They were awake this time, licking the apple-scented cloth. Rosell took his turn to look after me, then let out a long sigh of relief when he finally saw the suws for himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just think of how much effort this’ll save us!” said one of the hunters. “No more chasing suws all over the woods!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Little buggers can really run, so if you miss your first shot, it’s all over,” said another of them. “And they’re small, too, so they’re not exactly easy targets.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’ll be a snap to hunt when they’re penned in like this, though! Gotta say, Greg, I was worried your youngest wouldn’t measure up to his brothers, but looks like he’s something special after all!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All the hunters were over the moon at the thought of the trap’s potential, and the compliments kept pouring in one after another. Rosell wasn’t used to any amount of praise, much less overwhelming praise from all sides, and was clearly bewildered. Greg, meanwhile, was bewildered in a whole different way, but he eventually walked over to Rosell and rested a hand on his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You did good, kid,” said Greg, tussling his son’s hair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell’s eyes widened with shock. Then he nodded, said “Thanks!” and cracked the biggest grin I’d ever seen on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The local hunters began putting Rosell’s trap into practical use immediately. As a direct result, they started bringing in suws far more consistently than ever before, and suw meat quickly became something of a staple food in Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since suws were so challenging to hunt using traditional means, their meat had always been considered a luxury up until that point. As such, Rosell’s innovation sent waves through the village’s culinary culture. It wasn’t long before the villagers started using suw jerky to barter, which meant that foods from other territories they hadn’t been able to get their hands on quickly grew much more readily available."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Like we’d hoped, the praise that Rosell received from his father began to chip away at his deep-seated spirit of pessimism. My father was quite pleased with the development as well, so he summoned Rosell and his father to our estate to receive a reward for Rosell’s innovation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For your contributions to Lamberg’s prosperity, I hereby grant you a reward of five gold coins,” said my father, passing the money to Rosell. That was a rather considerable sum of cash, so Greg’s eyes widened in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Incidentally, Charlotte happened to be present at the time, and I caught her muttering, “That’s worth twelve mes…” under her breath. I blinked, then quickly crunched the numbers. I’d paid five silver coins for Charlotte, and each gold coin was worth ten silver, meaning…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yeah, the actual answer’s definitely ten. I should probably make sure Charlotte gets at least a basic education before this gets out of hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Surprisingly, though, Rosell himself didn’t seem all that happy to receive the gold. If anything, he looked conflicted. He’d been over the moon when Greg praised him for his work, too─so what made this so different? Five gold coins was a lot of money, after all, and pretty much anyone would be happy to receive a sudden, unexpected windfall. I was so curious that when my father’s little reward ceremony concluded, I went over to Rosell and asked him about it directly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I just wasn’t sure if, well…I really deserve it,” explained Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course you do!” I replied. “You made something truly incredible, Rosell! It’s only natural for you to be rewarded for it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-But, I mean…now that all the hunters in the villages are using traps, they might hunt down all of the suws in the woods! If that happens, then it’ll be my fault that nobody gets to eat them anymore…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s…a pretty good point, actually. If they keep hunting suws at this rate, they might totally wipe out the local population."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a simple fact─obvious, even─but my exuberance at our success had blinded me to it. Rosell, on the other hand, was thinking ahead and keeping his mind focused on the long-term picture."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I c-can’t let that happen, right? Not after the lord gave me this much money… I have to do something, anything… But would the hunters listen to me if I asked them to release a few suws from each catch? What sort of hunter would let their prey get away on purpose? Maybe I could ask them to let young suws go…? Oh, but if their parents get killed, then the children will probably die off on their own… Maybe I should make a new trap that catches a different sort of animal? Or maybe I can come up with an even better solution…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell was back in mumble mode, focusing intently on overhunting countermeasures. The fact that he was envisioning future disasters and coming up with plans to prevent them when most people would be celebrating their accomplishments was probably a sign that his pessimistic nature hadn’t really changed overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the other hand, that exchange made me remember that, sometimes, a little pessimism could actually be a good thing. I was convinced: Rosell could turn out to be an excellent tactician just the way he was."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Interlude: Rosell’s Postscript"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My name is Rosell Kischa, and I’m the son of a hunter. I never thought I’d be anything more until I met Ars, the son of a local nobleman, and my life changed dramatically. Suddenly, I was going over to Ars’s estate day after day, just to study. He told me that I had talent when he invited me over for the first time, and I’m still not really sure what he meant by that, but I actually enjoyed studying quite a bit and didn’t mind playing along."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars is around the same age as me, but we’re worlds apart in terms of maturity. Why, Ars is practically an adult. He isn’t a scaredy-cat like me, and the way he talks sounds real adult-like somehow, too. He also has the power to see other people’s strong points, which makes Mister Rietz and the other adults really respect him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I think Ars’s power is amazing, too, but I’m also a little scared by it. What if he can actually see more than just people’s strong points? What if he can see all of the secrets I keep stowed away deep within my heart? What if he knows that I’ve been secretly taking his books back home with me to read after our study sessions end…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I would spend all of my time reading if I could, but books are far too precious to lend out to a child like me. Taking them in secret is my only choice. I don’t actually have any other secrets, but if Ars can read my mind, then that one secret is enough to get me in serious trouble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There’s only one thing to do─I have to learn as much as I can about Ars’s power! And the quickest way to go about that is to ask him directly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My power lets me see people’s talents, names, and sex,” Ars explains without a second’s hesitation. “It doesn’t let me read minds or anything like that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, okay,” I reply, immediately relieved. It’s still an incredible power, but I guess it’s not incredible in that sort of way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re worried about the books you’ve been smuggling home, I already know all about it. I didn’t have to read your mind to figure that out,” he continues."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t worry, I don’t mind at all! I just hope you’ll tell me before you borrow them in the future. It’s only polite.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I feel hesitant, but ask, “So if I ask to borrow books, you’ll actually let me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” replies Ars."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-Thank you! I’ll be sure to ask you next time, I promise!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, I’ve received formal permission to borrow Ars’s books. He really is a good guy. He lets me read his books, and he’s taught me all sorts of things, so I’m starting to grow quite fond of him. I even kind of hope that I’ll be able to repay him for everything he’s done for me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars says I can become an incredible tactician someday. I’m still not convinced, but maybe I’ll focus on studying to prove him right."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0024.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Three more years came and went, and before I knew it, I’d turned nine. Throughout that time I’d grown quite a bit taller…and stronger as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The potential issue of suw overhunting was resolved fairly easily in the end. We went to my father to ask him to intervene, and he imposed limits on the hunting of suws that would ensure the local population remained stable. The punishment for violating the regulation was rather harsh, so the local hunters all took great care to not step out of line. On the less punitive side of things, Rosell did manage to invent several new traps that were designed to capture other types of animals. As a result, the suw limitations didn’t actually do much damage to the hunters’ bottom lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, the hunting situation aside, all sorts of things had changed over the past three years. The biggest cause of those changes was the fact that recently, my father had fallen ill with concerning frequency. He developed a chronic cough that came and went for no apparent reason, usually accompanied by a fever."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, I didn’t have any sort of advanced medical knowledge from my past life, so I was unable to help diagnose his sickness. To be fair, even if I were a trained medical professional, there was no guarantee that the illnesses of this new world matched modern Japan’s. I knew that plenty of illnesses were caused by viruses and bacteria, and there was absolutely no guarantee that the viruses and bacteria in this world would be the same as those on Earth. If anything, it’d be weird if they were the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, what really mattered was that my father was afflicted with a mysterious and unidentifiable illness. Nobody knew whether it was the sort of sickness that would pass with time, or if it was one that would kill him if it wasn’t treated properly. The one thing we knew for certain was that several months had passed since his illness began, and he’d been in very poor condition ever since. Whatever he was suffering from, it definitely wasn’t benign."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I tried to insist that my father stay in our estate and conserve his strength, but he was hell-bent on going out into battle regardless of my advice. I even offered to sortie in his place, but unsurprisingly, he wasn’t about to send a nine-year-old out onto the battlefield. Eventually, I concluded that there would simply be no persuading him, and switched gears to convincing him to at least take Rietz along with him. Rietz was the one person I trusted above all others, and I knew that with him around, my father would be safe even in the event of an emergency."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In consequence, of course, when Rietz was out at war, I was left without a tutor. Conflict was becoming more and more common in Missian by the day, and before long, Rietz was away more frequently than he was at home. We’d hardly even had any time to spend together at all in recent months."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t neglected my search for talented new recruits over those three years, and I had found and hired several promising individuals, but it had been quite a long time since I came across anyone truly outstanding. I was starting to get the feeling that I’d picked out all the talent there was to find in Canarre, so moving on to a new city seemed prudent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The problem, of course, was that traveling farther away was dangerous. The odds of getting attacked by bandits along the way were concerningly high. I’d have to bolster my personal guard before I could even consider making that sort of trek, but all of our capable fighters had been sent off into battle, Rietz included."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short, long-distance travel was going to have to wait until peace was restored to the land. I really wished that would happen sooner rather than later, but I had no misconceptions about how likely that was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One chilly winter’s day, I found myself in the estate’s dining hall, warming myself by the fireplace. Winter in Lamberg didn’t set in as swiftly or brutally as it did in other parts of the world, but it was still cold enough that the extra warmth of the fire was greatly appreciated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A side effect of the cold rolling in was that fewer skirmishes broke out in the area. Nobody wanted to be out fighting in a frigid field, after all, and as a result, my father and Rietz were around more frequently. My father was at home on that particular day, so we even managed to eat a meal together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We weren’t alone, either. My siblings, Kreiz and Wren, both ate alongside us─though they also finished their meals in unison, said their thanks, and leaped up from the table well before the rest of us did. It felt like the two of them had been babies just yesterday, but they’d grown up before I knew it, and were talking and running around with reckless abandon in no time at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kids sure do grow up fast, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite being twins, the two of them didn’t look exactly alike. Kreiz had my father’s golden hair, while Wren’s hair was black, like mine. Their faces were fairly similar, but you could still tell them apart very easily even without taking their hair into account."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that’s just how it goes with fraternal twins."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s play, Big Brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s plaaay!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My siblings tugged at my sleeves, eager to drag me into their games, but I had something I had to discuss with our father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry, but you’ll have to play with Rietz for now,” I said, attempting to punt the problem onto his plate instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“C’mon, we wanna play with you, Big Brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s plaaay!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agh, okay, okay! I have to go speak with Father now, but I’ll play with you afterward, I promise! Just wait patiently until then, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That finally convinced them to run off and harass Rietz until I was ready for them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Turns out that suddenly having to deal with a pair of siblings is pretty tough! Who knew?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After they left, I moved on to the topic of conversation I’d been planning to bring up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How have you been feeling lately, Father?” I asked, approaching him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m perfectly…” my father began, then descended into a series of hacking coughs. “…Perfectly fine, thank you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a little hard to believe after a cough like that,” I replied sheepishly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s just a cough. There’s no need to worry,” said my father, before succumbing to another hacking fit. It felt like his condition had been deteriorating as of late. Perhaps the cold was to blame?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm, Father? As I’ve said before, I really do think you would be better off not marching into battle…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And as I’ve said before, that isn’t an option. Or do you expect me to tell Lord Lumeire that I can’t sortie while Missian burns around us because I have the sniffles?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When my father referred to “Lord Lumeire,” he meant Lumeire Pyres, the Count of Canarre and my father’s liege lord. He wasn’t exaggerating about Missian burning around us, either. The duchy really was teetering upon the brink of utter chaos."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Almost precisely one year ago, the Duke of Missian had collapsed. He’d barely managed to cling to life, but his illness had sent him into a coma that he had yet to wake from. He’d left a letter to be opened should he be indisposed that named his younger son his successor, but said letter’s authenticity was quickly called into question. The duke’s older son was especially loud about his suspicions and accused his brother of forging the letter outright."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I wasn’t entirely convinced that the elder brother was wrong about the letter being a forgery. Although he’d been considered inferior to his younger brother for most of his life, he’d recently found great success on the battlefield and racked up a surprising number of accomplishments. Where once the duke’s vassals feared the day that his eldest son held the duchy’s reins, now they seemed downright optimistic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, when the younger brother was named the duke’s successor, the elder found himself with an ample supply of nobles who harbored their own doubts and were willing to back him up. However, there were also plenty of nobles who firmly believed that the note was written in the duke’s hand and allied themselves with the younger brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, in no time at all, the duchy was split in two. The precise situation that everyone feared had come to pass. War was unlikely to break out in earnest while the duke still lived, but the instant he passed away, a major conflict was all but inevitable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire, the Count of Canarre, had chosen to ally himself with the elder brother. In contrast, the Count of Perreina, the county to the east, had chosen to back the younger brother. The resulting tension between the two counties had caused no small number of border skirmishes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To make matters worse, the duchy that Canarre shared a border with, Seitz, was ready and willing to take advantage of the chaos in Missian. They had already started interfering much more proactively in Canarre’s affairs. The situation could hardly have been any more perilous, and while House Louvent’s military force wasn’t especially large, we did have an unusually well-trained crop of soldiers. With a track record like my father’s, it was inevitable that he’d be sent into battle time and time again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In that case, I’m perfectly willing to sortie in your─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not on your life!” my father roared, cutting me off. “I’ve told you a thousand times, Ars. A boy who has yet to see his first battle has no business commanding an army!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had thirty years of life experience in another world, but I knew perfectly well that none of it was worth a damn when it came to knowing how to handle a real-life battle. My father was right. I couldn’t look him in the eye and declare that everything would turn out well if he left me in charge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I desperately wished that I could prove myself─that I could show him that, even at the age of nine, I was capable of taking to the field─but I knew that it was simply beyond me. And so, all I could do was clam up and turn around, ready to depart from the dining room."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0026.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, Ars,” said my father. “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned back around to face him and asked, “What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems a letter from your fiancée has arrived. I’ve entrusted it to Rietz, so feel free to read it when you can spare a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, from my fiancée?” I replied, then paused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hmm? Wait…fiancée? Surely I must have misheard him? A fiancée would be a woman I’m engaged to be married to, right?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, Father…? I think I might be misunderstanding something. Did you just say it was from my fiancée?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, did I never tell you? That’s right. You have a fiancée,” said my father, blithely turning my whole world upside down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I have…a fiancée…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. Really, this wasn’t that shocking a development, was it? I was a noble, after all! A lord’s son being engaged at an early age was perfectly reasonable! The fact that my father hadn’t said so much as a single word about it up to that point, on the other hand, was significantly less reasonable and more than a little shocking!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, wait,” I said. “I’m actually engaged? And you just…never told me? Why?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It slipped my mind,” replied my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How does your son’s engagement, of all things, “slip your mind”?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father might have looked like a shrewd and cunning individual, but every once in a while, he exposed the fact that he had a dangerously careless side to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your fiancée is the daughter of the Lord of Torbequista, a region of Canarre,” explained my father, before being interrupted by another coughing fit. After the attack subsided, he continued. “That lord, Hammond Pleide, is an old friend of mine. Around a decade ago─a year before you were born─Hammond had his third child. He already had two boys, who were six and four, but the third turned out to be his first daughter, so we vowed that if I ever had a son, he and Hammond’s daughter would be wed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father’s explanation, punctuated by the occasional cough, didn’t turn out to be the complicated political affair that I was expecting. Of course, my father was an upstart as far as nobles went. Our bloodline was far from extensive or prestigious, so expanding our circle of relatives was quite important."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Needless to say, that lack of an extended family tree would remain a problem after I inherited my father’s title. Taking that into consideration, being engaged to a genuine, by-birth noble wasn’t all that bad a deal for me. Marrying the person you fell in love with out of a pure desire to be together was considered the norm in my old world, and I couldn’t deny that part of me still fantasized about walking that path myself, but I supposed I’d just have to give up on that sort of romanticized, well, romance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, Rietz was supposedly in possession of the letter, so giving it a read seemed like the logical next step to take. Thus, I went on my way to seek him out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I eventually found Rietz in the study. Rosell, Charlotte, and the twins were all there as well. Charlotte was keeping the twins company while Rietz and Rosell were busy hitting the books. I’d tasked Charlotte to join them in their studies recently, considering her apparent lack of any sort of basic education. Judging by what I’d heard, though, her memory left much to be desired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning to you, Master Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good morning, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Master Ars. Morning.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment I stepped into the room, Rietz, Rosell, and Charlotte greeted me in turn, and I returned the gesture. All three of them had changed substantially over the last three years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To begin with, Rietz was now eighteen, and the somewhat childish roundness of his features had completely vanished. He looked every bit the adult he was. I mean, by Japanese standards, eighteen was still quite young, but Rietz had been through so many battles and seen so many of the horrors of war that there wasn’t so much of a trace of childishness left in him. He’d grown taller, too, and had to be nearing the 6’3” mark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His experience in battle had done wonders for him as well. At the moment, his stats looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Every single one of them had gone up, and all of them except for Valor were in the nineties."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell, meanwhile, was eight, and still very much a kid. He’d grown quite a bit as well, though, and was probably somewhere around 4’3”. His face was as youthful as ever, but I’d noticed he was developing something of a persistent glare, possibly thanks to how much of his time he’d spent with his brow furrowed in deep thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In sharp contrast to his appearance, his personality was as adult-like as could be. Every once in a while, he’d bust out some pearl of wisdom that even made the actual adults nearby nod in admiration! His stats looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The gains his Intelligence had made were remarkable, but that aside, only his Politics had made any real advances. I wasn’t exactly surprised, though─he’d done precisely no martial training over the past three years, and he hadn’t been out commanding troops on the battlefield, either. I made a mental note to look into having Rosell get some experience with martial arts sometime in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Last, but certainly not least, was Charlotte, who was now fifteen. She’d still looked like a child back when we first met, but she’d gone through a growth spurt since then, and had blossomed into a fully-fledged woman. Her growth in the chest area was particularly impressive─she was, in a word, stacked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That fact made it really hard to know how to react when she got it into her head to hug me out of nowhere. I had no clue why she did it, and given my meager experience with women, I didn’t know what to make of it in a ton of other ways as well. I’d known Charlotte for three years, yet the inner workings of her mind were still completely opaque to me. The one thing I could say with relative confidence thanks to my siblings was that she liked little kids."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for her stats…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…she’d made some impressive progress in some respects, and less in others. Her Leadership score had gradually grown as she went through battle after battle, but her Valor, oddly enough, had remained more or less stagnant. It had only gone up by two points over a full three years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I still didn’t have a clear grasp of what dictated the growth rates for people’s stats. I’d seen cases where people gained three whole points in a single day, but also cases like Charlotte’s where it took three years for two measly points. I did have a theory in Charlotte’s case, though: she hadn’t grown in that respect because she had no desire to improve."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d gotten the impression that Charlotte was already totally satisfied with the current level of her magic, so she wasn’t making any efforts in particular to polish her skills. To be fair, her current stats were already outlandishly high, so I couldn’t really blame her for feeling like she’d reached her peak. I just also couldn’t help but wonder how infernally powerful her magic would become if she were to completely max out her Valor, and sort of wished she’d put a bit more effort into raising it. Part of me hoped that a mage as powerful as her would show up someday and spark some friendly competition between the two of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz, did my father give you a letter?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean the one from your fiancée? He did, yes,” replied Rietz, pulling a letter from his breast pocket and handing it to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-Ars, you have a fiancée…? What’s she like?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve never met her, so I don’t know. I only found out about her a moment ago,” I explained. “Actually, I don’t even know her name yet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t? That sort of thing actually happens?” asked Rosell, sounding a little shocked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve got a fiancée, Master Ars?” asked Charlotte. “But I thought that was why you bought me! You were gonna marry me, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wrong!” I snapped. “Where in the world did you get that idea?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, okay, I see. You bought me to make me your mistress!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely not!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte snickered at me. Apparently, she’d just been making fun of me this time around. She had a bad habit of saying completely outlandish stuff in total earnest every once in a while, so I always had a really hard time figuring out when I had to take her seriously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a look at the letter. A name was printed on the front of the envelope: Licia Pleide."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that must be my fiancée’s name. I’ll have to make note of that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I opened the letter and gave it a read. The first thing I noticed was that her handwriting was clean and elegant. As for the letter’s content, it started with a simple-enough greeting, then moved to talk about her recent affairs─how she’d taken up flower gardening as a hobby, and was pleased with how beautiful her garden was turning out to be. Finally, it concluded with the words, “As we promised, I intend to pay you a personal visit in very short order. I look forward to your hospitality.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering I’d only learned of her existence a matter of minutes ago, it probably went without saying that I’d made no such promise. I had to assume that either my father had done so in my name, or my fiancée had dreamed it up herself. Considering recent events, the former seemed far more likely…but perhaps that was just wishful thinking on my part. I’d have a lot of apprehensions about marrying a girl who could dream up a promise like that and convince herself it had actually happened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Another worrisome detail was the fact that she’d written that she planned to visit “in very short order,” but hadn’t given any indication as to when exactly that would be. She probably assumed that I’d been fully briefed on the matter, so she didn’t think that level of specificity was necessary."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Incidentally, in my new world, each year consisted of three hundred and sixty days, which were split up across twelve months. Each month was precisely thirty days long, so all things considered, the system was pretty similar to the one we had back on Earth. I’d never learned why things were split up that way, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On Earth, of course, one year indicated one revolution around the sun, but I didn’t even know if this world was a proper globe, much less how the solar system may or may not be part of how it functioned. There was a sun-like object in the sky during the day, plus moon-like and star-like ones at night, so it seemed pretty likely that things worked the same way here as they had in my old world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, that day in particular was the third day of the sixth month. That was one aspect in which the new system confused me─winter spanned from the fifth month to the seventh month here. Spring went from the eighth month to the tenth, summer was the eleventh to the first, and fall was the second to the fourth. My birthday, by the way, was on the eighth day of the eighth month. But of course, all of that was pretty off-topic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Steering back to my original point, my best guess was that “in very short order” probably meant she’d be showing up somewhere from the seventh day of the month to the ninth or so. That was just blind guesswork, however, and if I wanted a clear answer, my only choice was to ask my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did the letter say, Master Ars?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Apparently, the girl I’m engaged to will be paying us a visit soon,” I replied. “Have you heard anything about that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Rietz blinked. “No, I’m afraid I haven’t. If that’s true, though, then it’s a matter of grave importance! Hosting a guest like her would require us to make numerous preparations, and we’ve done nothing of the sort! Do you know precisely when she’ll be arriving?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I don’t. I don’t remember signing off on this visit, either, though I suppose you’ve already guessed that yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, I suppose you’ll have to ask Lord Raven for the details,” said Rietz, arriving at the same conclusion that I’d reached."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went back to the dining hall, but by the time I arrived, my father had already left. The next most likely place for him to be was his room, where he’d been spending a lot of time lately recuperating from his illness. Sure enough, I found him there, and asked him about the surprise visit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh… Come to think of it, I believe I might have agreed to something along those lines, yes,” admitted my father. “It was quite a long time ago, though… Hammond said that the two of you should meet while you’re still young, and I…think I probably agreed? You have to understand, Ars, that I was fairly far into my cups at the time. I hardly remember the conversation at all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you did agree to it, then,” I sighed. “When exactly is she supposed to arrive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let me see…I believe it was the sixth…the sixth day of the sixth month? No, the fourth day! That’s it─the fourth day of the sixth month. Yes, I’m certain of it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fourth day? But, wait, that’s…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That’s tomorrow!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it is,” my father blithely replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-How can you be so calm about this?! And why did you never think to tell me anything?!” I pressed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father glanced away sheepishly, scratched his chin, and then turned back to me with a profoundly serious expression on his face and replied, “Ars. I need you to listen, and listen well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-All right,” I replied nervously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even the greatest of men make mistakes every once in a while.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I instantly regretted interpreting his expression as “serious” in any capacity. I was, frankly, appalled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz!” I shouted, turning to my ever-capable retainer, who had accompanied me to my father’s chamber. “Prepare the household to receive guests immediately!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood, Master Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Getting ready to host an ambiguous number of guests with only a single day to prepare was─not to put too fine a point on it─an absolute goddamn nightmare. Thus, the entire estate was thrown into a state of chaos."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the worst-case scenario, our preparations would prove woefully insufficient, my fiancée would be scandalized, and my engagement itself would be put into jeopardy. Forgetting about her visit was nothing short of an insult, and there was absolutely no way I could be honest with her about what had happened. I had to make it look like we’d been preparing for days, yet I had almost no time at all to make that happen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I ended up enlisting several villagers who happened to be free that day to help out with our last-minute preparations. Not only did we have to get the inside of the estate ready, but the exterior had also gone a little too long without a solid touch-up, so it needed a thorough cleaning as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We worked at a frantic pace, and all of us were so stressed that we were basically at a loss, with the sole exception of Rietz the quintessential superhuman. He kept his cool the whole time, doling out clear and precise orders to everyone around him even as he accomplished his own tasks at a blinding pace. After working with him for so many years, none of my family’s other employees dared to look down on him for being a Malkan anymore, so they allowed him to take the lead without complaint."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a final touch of hospitality, I decided to prepare a bouquet to present to my fiancée upon her arrival. Her letter had made it clear to me that she was a big fan of flowers, so I hoped the gesture would go over well. She’d written that she was especially fond of a type of flower called miramis blossoms. It seemed she appreciated the fact that they bloomed in winter, a season normally bereft of greenery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I were to compare them to an Earth flower, miramis blossoms looked an awful lot like lycoris flowers, a species of spider lily, except with white petals. We had some blooming in our estate’s garden, conveniently enough. I remembered hearing that lycoris flowers were poisonous and considered symbols of death in some sects of Buddhism, so I was a little biased against them. However, once I forced myself to look past those preconceptions, I had to admit that they were quite pretty. Miramis blossoms weren’t poisonous and had no religious significance, either, so unlike lycoris, there wasn’t any baggage to get in the way of their beauty."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I put together a bouquet of miramis blossoms, and even transplanted many miramis plants from the village into our estate’s garden just to give her an extra-good first impression. I did have some doubts about my plan─after all, would someone who grew her own flowers be happy to receive even more of them?─but upon further reflection, I decided that what really mattered was me showing off the fact that I’d taken note of her interests and was trying to cater to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, after a full day of frantic work, we’d managed to get the estate to a borderline presentable appearance. Lord Hammond was also minor nobility, ruling over a territory not much larger than that of my father’s, so I hoped his daughter wouldn’t be offended by the fact that our offerings were somewhat less than extravagant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz walked over to me as I surveyed our work. After a day like that, I could tell that even he was a little worn out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve done all we can,” he said. “Now it’s up to you to make a good first impression, Master Ars… Though of course, I doubt we have anything to worry about on that front.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks for piling on the pressure, Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, he was right. Whether or not she got a good impression of House Louvent ultimately rested on my shoulders. No matter how much we polished our estate’s appearance, if she decided that I wasn’t to her liking, then all that effort would be wasted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz seemed to have total faith in me for some reason, but to be totally honest, I had very little confidence in myself. My fiancée was a year older than me, according to my father, which would make her ten at the moment. I would’ve felt better about dealing with her if she were a little younger─ten was a tricky age for girls, to my understanding. At the age of ten, people were very much still children, but treating a child of ten accordingly was a very good way to get on their bad side."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was pretty sure that kids usually tended to develop their first crush around the age of ten, as well. I’d never been the popular type, though, and I wasn’t exactly a knockout in the looks department in this life, either. My appearance was perfectly mediocre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is this really going to go well?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t have much time to plan, unfortunately, and before I could come up with a solid strategy, she arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars, Lady Licia has been sighted! She’ll be here momentarily!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment I got the news, I hurried outside, ready to welcome her. A golden-haired girl was standing before the gateway to our estate, accompanied by a small retinue of butlers and maids. She smiled as she watched me rush out the front door, then stepped up to introduce herself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Licia Pleide,” she said, giving me an elegant curtsey as she did so. I could tell in an instant that she’d had a noble upbringing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I bowed politely and introduced myself in turn, I took a closer look at Licia. The first thing that struck me was how short she was. Boys and girls weren’t generally that far apart height-wise at the age of ten─if anything, girls tend to be a little on the taller side─but she was definitely shorter than me, in spite of the fact that I was a year younger and far from tall myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Height aside, she seemed like a calm, gentle, and beautiful girl. Her upturned eyes made her look kind, while her skin was pristine."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0028.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was, of course, still a child, and had the figure to match. I’d been visualizing her as a kindhearted girl ever since I learned she was fond of flowers, and she certainly looked the part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still, I decided to appraise her, just for good measure. She was my fiancée, not a prospective retainer, so I wouldn’t have been devastated if her stats were nothing to write home about, but if she was exceptional, then this arrangement was all the better."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wh-What the hell sort of stats are those?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her Politics score was the first to shock me. Her Intelligence was quite high as well, to be clear, but compared to her Politics, it didn’t even make me bat an eyelash. A maximum of 100! And it was already 77!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Politics was a fiddly stat to pin down. It still wasn’t entirely clear to me what having a high Politics score actually meant for a person’s abilities. Perhaps they were an exceptionally good communicator, an expert barterer, or a master of negotiations. If I had to put it into simple terms, I’d say that your Politics score represented your ability to express yourself. And then there was her Ambition. It was at 80…but why? Was she plotting to become the wife of a big-league lord or something?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d thought that she was a calm, gentle girl at first glance, but a single appraisal was all it took to shatter that impression. Sure, she was still smiling away at me, but suddenly, it looked less like the natural smile of a pleasant, kindhearted individual and more like a cold, calculated smile that was expressly engineered to give its recipient the best first impression possible. She was indeed exceptional, no doubt about it, but whether she’d prove to be the boon or bane of the Louvent household was entirely up in the air."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For all you know, maybe her Politics score represents the fact that she’s naturally charismatic and just has a way with people! Maybe it’s not calculated at all on her part! In any case, overthinking this probably isn’t going to do me any good."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm… Is something stuck to my face, perchance?” asked Licia. I’d been so stunned by the results of her appraisal that I’d ended up staring a little too obviously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I spent a second in frenzied thought, trying to come up with a decent excuse, but then one of the maids behind her spoke up first and said, “Oh, I’m sure he’s just bewitched by your beauty, Milady!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering the circumstances, that seemed as good of a stopgap excuse as any."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I owe you one, miss maid!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That’s right!” I declared, latching onto her explanation. “I was just thinking you have the loveliest smile, that’s all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, I’d never have acted like that much of a pompous flirt, but desperate times called for desperate measures and I’d never known women to get upset about being complimented…not that I’d known many women, period."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my! You flatter me,” Licia said as her cheeks grew faintly flushed. It was such a natural reaction that I had a hard time believing she was just acting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, allow me to show you into the estate,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That would be lovely! Please do,” replied Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We walked side by side through the grounds, her maids and butlers following about five paces or so behind us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lamberg truly is a wonderful place,” said Licia, breaking the silence once more. I couldn’t quite tell if she truly meant it, or if she was just being polite."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is! The land here is blessed with an abundance of nature, and the village is full of life. I’m quite fond of my own homeland, Torbequista, but to be frank, I believe that this region is even more wonderful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, it really didn’t seem like she was lying to me. I’d been worried that she’d be disillusioned by the fact that her fiancé lived in a random, insignificant corner of the countryside, but maybe those concerns were groundless?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What sort of place is Torbequista?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s out in the countryside with nature to spare, just like Lamberg, and its people are kind and caring,” Licia replied. “That being said, they’re somewhat less than bold, on the whole. We have very few achievements to speak of on the field of battle. I must admit that when I heard the tales of Lord Raven and the valiance of the troops he commands, I felt rather envious!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our idle chatter continued as we approached the estate’s main building. Normally, it would only have taken a minute or so to walk there from the main gate, but between all that talk and the occasional pause to look around, it was quite a while before we finally arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia had an exceptional talent for keeping a conversation flowing. I’d never been much of a talker, myself, so I had to give her the credit for how lively our little chat ended up being. You’d think she’d have been at least a little apprehensive about meeting her fiancé for the first time, but she certainly didn’t let it show."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She asked just the right questions to pull me into the conversation, and did an excellent job of steering it toward topics that I’d have something to contribute to. Her reactions seemed genuine as well─every time she’d laugh or gasp in surprise, it struck me as totally natural. She also made sure to compliment me whenever an opportunity arose, which put me in a pretty good mood. In fact, I was ready to completely open up to her, even though it had only been about five minutes since we’d met!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I’d been an ordinary child without memories of another lifetime, or if I hadn’t had my Appraisal skill to help me out, I figure she would’ve had me utterly charmed beyond the point of no return over those five minutes. In the back of my mind, however, I hadn’t dismissed the possibility that she was doing it on purpose…and if that was the case, then Licia was a girl I could not afford to underestimate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had a high Politics score, too, and he wasn’t nearly this skilled at the art of conversation. He wasn’t a poor conversationalist, to be clear─it just wasn’t one of his most outstanding qualities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe your Politics score and your ability to communicate aren’t actually as directly linked as I thought. Or maybe some other ability plays a factor, and I just haven’t picked up on it yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As slowly as we were walking, we did eventually reach the main building and the field of miramis blossoms I’d had planted around it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh my, miramis blossoms! And there are so many of them! How lovely!” exclaimed Licia. “Did you plant them just for me, perchance?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Actually, yes,” I admitted. “You mentioned that you loved them in the letter you wrote. I hope they’re to your liking.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re beautiful,” Licia mumbled as she looked out across the garden. “You did this all for me? It must have taken so much time. Thank you, truly,” she said, turning to face me. Her cheeks were flushed once more, and a carefree smile spread across her face. “I am deeply moved by your generosity.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her smile reminded me of my previous life. I’d always wanted to have a daughter just like her. I quickly reprimanded myself for the thought, though─getting all paternal on my fiancée was just plain weird on several levels! I’d have to marry her sometime in the future, after all, and we’d be expected to produce offspring. If I let myself start thinking of her in that light, then I could only imagine how guilty I’d feel when the time came to do the deed! Then again, that time definitely wouldn’t come until she was fully grown, so maybe I was just overthinking things."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is something the matter?” asked Licia. I’d been staring again, though this time I genuinely was charmed by her smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Normally, I would’ve shook my head frantically and tried to explain my way out of it, but I’d grown past that reaction thanks to the maid from before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies,” I said. “I was just captivated by your lovely smile, Lady Licia.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My… You certainly have a way with words, don’t you, Sir Ars?” she replied, blushing once more. If I were a real flirt, I probably would have said something about how her smile was so striking it put the miramis blossoms around us to shame, but I didn’t have the guts to do that, for better or worse. I would’ve literally died of embarrassment if I’d tried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, Licia and I stepped inside the estate’s main building. You needed a solid plan to entertain a guest like her, but fortunately, I had that under control! After escorting her inside, the next item in my itinerary was to formally welcome her to our home. The step after that was a little trickier, though. I’d planned on having lunch served, but since Licia had arrived earlier than anticipated, I was going to have to either improvise or stick to my guns and serve lunch early. That wasn’t entirely unheard of during visits like this one, at least."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After lunch, I planned to escort Licia into the town of Lamberg for a stroll─essentially, to take her out on a date. Of course, the town was far enough from our estate that we’d have to bring an escort, so it wouldn’t exactly be a private affair. We’d return to the estate after that for a moment to rest and…take a nap or something, and by that point, it would hopefully be late enough for dinner."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Speaking of dinner, I’d arranged for a performance to be staged during the meal. The Louvent household was, thankfully, at least somewhat prepared for unexpected last-minute visitors, so we had the means to muster entertainment at very short notice. A rather shocking number of our servants were trained musicians, so thankfully, said performance wouldn’t just involve watching our soldiers spar with each other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that said, our performance plans had all been made under the assumption that we’d be entertaining adults. Would a kid like Licia enjoy them at all? I had no clue, so I pretty much forced the task of getting everyone ready off on Rietz. I knew I could trust him to do something about it, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for Licia’s eventual departure, I’d prepared several gifts for her other than the miramis bouquet. I didn’t actually know how long she was planning to stay, technically, but among the aristocracy, it was supposedly poor etiquette to stick around for longer than a day, so I was fairly confident she’d be off on her way tomorrow. But if I was wrong, and she decided to linger for longer, things were probably going to get pretty hectic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could worry about that later, though. First up was her formal greeting! And, as we stepped into my home…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome, Lady Licia,” said our whole host of retainers in unison. They were gathered up inside, dressed notably more formally than they’d usually bother to be, and bowed politely as we made our entrance. The interior itself was a lot cleaner than usual, too, with miramis blossoms placed here and there as decorations and a whole host of art we usually kept in our storehouse put out on display."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, the entire household would have shown up to greet Licia, but my father was notably absent. I assumed that he was reluctant to meet with her at the moment, considering his poor health. He had a point, to be fair─there’d be hell to pay if she caught whatever he’d been afflicted with! Better safe than sorry. Less explicable, however, was Rietz’s absence. Had he been called away for something urgent?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. It seems you’ve already been informed, but my name is Licia Pleide. I thank you for your most gracious hospitality,” said Licia, addressing our retainers with a polite curtsy. A lot of nobles made a point of looking down on those beneath them on the social ladder, but it seemed she wasn’t among that number."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I may very well find myself permanently under your care in the future, so I would like to get to know you as soon as possible,” Licia continued, proceeding to go around and personally introduce herself to each member of my household’s staff, one by one. The whole household’s worth of servants was there, along with House Louvent’s mages, cavalry, and other highly-skilled troops."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your fiancée sure is pretty, Ars,” said Rosell, who was present despite not fitting into any of the aforementioned categories. He was being raised to become our house’s tactician, yes, but as things stood, he was nothing more than the third son of a hunter. Not that having him around was a problem, per se─despite his habit of treating me a little more casually than he probably should have, he was quite well-mannered, and probably wouldn’t cause any trouble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where in the world is Rietz?” I whispered back to Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Mr. Rietz didn’t think he should attend, since there’s a chance that having a Malkan around would displease the lady. Didn’t he tell you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’s still worried about all that, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s achievements in battle had won him a fair share of renown. He’d been regularly ridiculed by soldiers from the other noble houses at first, but I’d heard that fewer and fewer people dared to do so as his reputation grew. Personally, I thought that there’d be no problem with him making an appearance at this sort of function. Plus, Licia was bound to find out about him sooner or later, considering our relationship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hell, the odds were pretty decent that she already knew about Rietz! If she was going to have a problem with him, then having the two of them meet as soon as possible would be for the best in the long run. Of course, Rietz was smart enough to figure all of that out for himself, but he’d decided to hold back for the moment regardless. I could only assume he’d simply chosen to err on the side of caution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By this point, Licia was shaking the hands of everyone present and making small talk. Her smile never faltered for a second, and she was clearly smooth-talking them just as effectively as she had me. She’d given an excellent first impression to everyone in the room, that was for sure. I had to agree with everyone, too. She really did seem like a nice girl, plain and simple. However, deep down, I just couldn’t forget what I’d seen on her status screen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t just her Politics score, either─her Ambition was causing me some serious unease as well. It did make sense that someone with a Politics score like hers might be a naturally gifted communicator, yes, but when I factored in her Ambition, the odds that the way she presented herself was deliberate and calculated skyrocketed. And if that really was the case, then I knew it would only take the slightest moment of complacency for her to seize the upper hand. I couldn’t allow myself to let my guard down around her until I knew more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… She’s pretty, and she seems nice enough at a glance, but…I dunno…she’s kinda scary, too,” muttered Rosell as he watched Licia do her thing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What makes you say that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, it’s hard to put into words… I guess it’s that her smile seems almost fake. Or that what she’s saying is sort of superficial… It’s like she’s buttering us all up, or something… A-Ars, you should keep your guard up around that girl. If you don’t, I’m afraid she might p-poison you or something… Then she’d put me under her thumb and work me like a slave… P-Please, you have to keep an eye on her, no matter what!” Rosell whispered into my ear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was impressed by how sharp his intuition was. His analysis of the situation had veered off in a pretty pessimistic direction as it went along, yes, but still."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess my only options are to get to know her as well as I can, and to make sure not to put myself at risk until I’m certain I know what makes her tick. Not even Appraisal can tell me who a person really is deep down, so I’m on my own on this one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, look, it’s Charlotte’s turn!” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, crap!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I realized my mistake a moment too late. I’d never really taken the time to teach Charlotte about proper etiquette, and even after all this time, I still had no clue what was going on in the girl’s head. There was absolutely no way of predicting what she might do, but I had a terrible feeling that it might end up being something really, really rude!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We should’ve had her sit this out, not Rietz!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia stepped up to Charlotte, but instead of immediately offering her a handshake like the others, she paused for a moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh,” said Licia. “Might you be Charlotte? I’ve heard all sorts of tales about House Louvent’s master mage! They say you wield magical power like none other, and burn your enemies to ash by the score!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I assumed that the mage’s robe Charlotte was wearing had tipped Licia off to her identity. I could also practically see Charlotte’s ego inflate on the spot as she realized that her name was making the rounds among the other noble houses."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed, I am the one they call Charlotte,” Charlotte replied in a tone positively dripping with confidence. Bordering on straight-up arrogance, really. That was not how a mage was meant to conduct herself in front of a noble’s daughter, but I took some small solace in the fact that she hadn’t bungled it up too horrifically, and their exchange was over…or so I thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew it! I just wanted to say that, from one woman to another, I respect you ever so much! Please, do shake my hand!” exclaimed Licia, much to my bemusement. It was like watching a little kid get introduced to their favorite superhero."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, I suppose that could’ve gone much worse, I thought, a bead of cold sweat slowly dripping its way down my back. Charlotte’s attitude didn’t improve after the handshake, unfortunately. She wasn’t usually that insolent when she was speaking with adults, but Licia was a child, and in Charlotte’s mind, that apparently exempted her from all standards of politeness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One of these days, I have to drill some etiquette into that girl’s head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia finished making the rounds and turned to face me once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, excuse me,” she said. “Is Lord Raven not present at the moment?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father’s illness has taken a turn for the worse, I’m afraid,” I explained. “Much as he would love to meet you, he’s chosen not to do so for fear of spreading his sickness.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so…? I’m terribly concerned for him, but if he simply cannot meet with me, I will not protest. Oh, and one more question─is Rietz, the Malkan I’ve heard so much about, not around? I’ve heard all sorts of tales about his brilliance upon the battlefield, so I would love to meet with him in person.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like Rietz didn’t have to worry about Licia being prejudiced. Too bad he didn’t make an appearance, I guess. I’ll have to let him know later."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I ended up going with the early lunch plan, after which the time finally arrived for the most nerve-wracking item on our itinerary: the date. Licia and I left the estate together on foot. I couldn’t pick them out at a glance, but I knew for a fact that an escort was following us just out of sight. The idea was that having a full host of armed guards accompanying us would take the fun out of the experience, so they’d hang back and stay out of the picture unless they were needed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To be totally honest, though, I thought it would’ve been better for them to just walk with us and not bother with the pretext. After all, who knew whether they’d be able to make it to us in time if something did go wrong? Not that I was expecting any disasters─I’d certainly never been attacked in town so far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The real problem, in my mind, was the question of what we would do once we got to town. Lamberg wasn’t exactly a tourist destination. The village had zero places to go for entertainment, and I wasn’t convinced it would be even suitable for a date."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d seriously considered just staying at the estate and taking a leisurely walk through the flower gardens instead, but Rietz advised me against it. According to him, “Showing her that you’re adored by your subjects will prove to her that you’ll be an exemplary lord in the future.” Whether or not that was the right angle to take with a kid like Licia seemed a little questionable, in my mind. Then again, she was the child of a lord herself, and had probably received a specialized education, so I decided to heed his advice. Licia had already proved to be remarkably bright, so it seemed that decision had been the right one, in retrospect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now the big question was whether or not I could keep her entertained. Just talking with her the whole time would’ve been ideal, but I wasn’t the best conversationalist. Thankfully, her skill in the field seemed to make up for my lack thereof, and our conversations had proven enjoyable thus far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, it only took us a few minutes to arrive at the village. I decided to lead her to the town square. It wasn’t much of a plaza or anything, but it did have a small local marketplace set up in it. You couldn’t find much of anything worthwhile there, but every once in a while, something rare or unusual would crop up, and it was the liveliest part of town by a long shot. For lack of better options, it seemed like the right place to visit first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shall we head for the town square?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lead the way!” Licia replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I showed her to the square, as planned, but when we arrived, I quickly realized that something seemed a little off. The square was usually fairly bustling, but on that particular day, there was a bigger crowd than ever. I could hear angry shouts and bellows coming from within."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Give us our damn money back!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Like hell I will! This was a done deal! You can’t just back out of it, you rat bastards!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Between the shouting and the swearing, it was clear that whatever we were witnessing was on the verge of devolving into a brawl."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, for the… Of all the times for trouble to crop up in town! What should I do? Can I just ignore it? No, that’s not an option─I’m the son of the lord here, so ignoring the people’s problems could give Licia a terrible impression of me!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you suppose happened?” Licia muttered. She sounded worried, so as I’d feared, I was going to have to do something to resolve the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seriously, there couldn’t possibly have been a worse time for things to go wrong."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d informed the townsfolk that Licia would be coming for a visit, but I hadn’t given them detailed information on my plans for the day. In retrospect, I doubted that most of them even realized that I’d be bringing her into town."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s go ask,” I said, then walked over to one of the townsfolk who was keeping an eye on the situation from the edge of the crowd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s going on? Why the commotion?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, if it isn’t the young master!” the villager said, then furrowed his brow. “Wait…wasn’t your fiancée s’pposed to be coming ’round today…? Oh! Is that her? The lovely li’l lady over there, I mean?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia took that as her cue to introduce herself to the man, and she was just as polite with him as she had been with the staff at my family’s estate. After they finished exchanging pleasantries, the man gestured toward the crowd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, yeah, ’s a real big fuss. Pretty messy stuff, if you ask me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Messy how?” I probed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man spent a moment breaking down the situation for me. Apparently, the conflict centered around the village’s local trader. His operation was fairly small-scale, but pretty much all of the village’s craftsmen had no choice but to deal with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It all started when several craftsmen who specialized in furniture and the like came up with a new variety of home heater that they planned to sell. The heaters were to be powered by flame-aspected magistones, which the craftsmen asked the trader to acquire for them. Magistones were useful for more than just the synthesis of aqua magia─they could also be used in their raw form for a variety of purposes. Flame-aspected magistones, for instance, emitted a slight amount of heat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The details were beyond me, but apparently, it had been discovered that stimulating flame-aspected magistones with some sort of material or another would increase the heat they released. The craftsmen had taken advantage of that quality to power their newly-invented heater. My family’s estate wasn’t equipped with anything of the sort, but I was certain we’d have one soon enough if they ever managed to put their design out onto the market."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, the magistones were what caused everything to break down. The trader had ended up stocking sound-aspected magistones, not fire. The line of communications between the craftsmen and the traders had failed catastrophically somewhere along the way, and the trader was convinced that they’d asked for sound-aspected magistones to make what sounded to me like some sort of magical megaphone to sell to House Louvent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The craftsmen, of course, intended nothing of the sort. They laid into the trader for his mistake, telling him that they couldn’t make something that complicated even if they wanted to, that they didn’t want or need his sound magistones, and that he should take a long walk off a short cliff. The trader, however, stubbornly stuck to his guns and insisted that he’d been asked for sound-aspected magistones and had held up his end of the bargain. That was when the craftsmen demanded their money back, but the trader demanded that they uphold the deal and take the magistones off his hands."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All in all, I couldn’t tell who was in the wrong. Someone had clearly screwed the pooch, but there was no way of telling who. A member of House Louvent was supposed to be present when deals of this sort were made, just in case any trouble cropped up, but there’d been so few issues as of late that everyone involved had decided it wasn’t worth bothering."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If one side had been harmed by the communications breakdown, it would’ve been easy enough to pin the blame on the shoulders of whoever had profited, but as things stood, both sides were liable to suffer losses. If I stormed in and announced that everyone was at fault for not bringing in an intermediary like they were supposed to, it probably would’ve calmed the situation down for the moment, at least─but neither side would leave satisfied, and the whole thing would inevitably explode the moment I left."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe I can figure out who’s at fault if I interview the people who actually made the deal… No, that would only work if the one who made the mistake was honest about it. Isn’t there something I can do to put this trouble to bed without causing more issues down the road?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I lapsed into thought for a moment, but before I could come up with a decent plan, Licia leaned in and spoke to me in a hushed tone, saying, “Umm, Sir Ars? If I may offer a suggestion, I believe I have an idea that could resolve this matter with no ill will on either side.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do? What is it?” I asked, somewhat shocked. Could a ten-year-old like her have really figured out how to solve a situation as messy as this one? Mediating a fight did fall into the realm of politics, in a certain sense, and her Politics score was far and away above that of an average person’s, so perhaps she really did have the perfect answer in mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nobody took any measures to prevent this sort of problem from occurring,” she explained. “And both sides are equally to blame for that negligence. That means that you could bring the issue to a close by assigning the blame to one side or the other…but that would leave lingering animosity, and they would likely soon start fighting all over again. Even worse, they might end up distrusting House Louvent as a result!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded. Everything she’d said lined up with my own analysis of the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unfortunately, I doubt it’s possible to resolve the situation without either side suffering losses. That’s why the dispute escalated. I believe that to minimize the lingering animosity between the two sides, you should step in, assign an equal degree of blame to both of them, and propose a solution that costs both sides equally!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Minimizing the damage done and distributing it equally, huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a reasonable suggestion, to be sure. I had a feeling that both sides knew they were at least somewhat to blame for the problem, and were only disavowing their fault so vehemently because they had so much to lose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If the trader was left with only the advance the craftsmen had paid him, he’d come out of the deal deeply in the red, and even if the traders were able to recover that advance, they still stood to miss a major business opportunity. They’d surely already bought plenty of other materials for the heaters aside from the magistones, and developing the device couldn’t have been cheap, either. In that sense, not being able to produce them would mean a heavy loss for the craftsmen that recovering their advance wouldn’t cover."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a solution in mind,” said Licia. “I believe that the trader should be made to barter off the sound magistones he mistakenly obtained, then acquire flame magistones to replace them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Bartering them off, huh…? Now that you mention it, it’s not like sound-aspected magistones are worthless. Couldn’t the trader just return the advance he was paid and sell the magistones to someone else? Why isn’t he considering that option?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I can’t say for certain, but I presume that something about his circumstances is preventing him from doing so,” replied Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His circumstances? What could that be…?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought about it for a moment…and then an explanation finally hit me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks to the rapidly escalating conflicts cropping up all across Summerforth, the price of magistones had shot through the roof as of late. The one caveat, however, was that aqua magia made by refining low-quality magistones couldn’t actually be used to cast magic. That meant that the sort of low-quality magistones the trader was likely dealing in sold at a much lower price."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite that fact, however, it was very likely that the trader had bought his sound magistones for significantly higher than their usual market value. The craftsmen were after flame magistones, and had likely offered a high price in exchange for it. Flame magistones, I assumed, had to have been more expensive than sound magistones. I didn’t know precisely what sound magistones were used for, to be fair, but regardless, they couldn’t possibly have been more valuable than a variety that could be used to power a heater at this time of year."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of the high price they’d offered, though, the trader ended up under the impression they wanted sound magistones. In other words, he believed that they were offering to buy sound magistones from him for an excessive sum of money. I didn’t know the exact price of sound magistones, and it could’ve been higher or lower depending on how much of it was in circulation. Regardless, if the trader thought he’d be getting that high of a payout for it, he probably hadn’t bothered seeking out the best possible prices and had wound up paying slightly above the market rate for it himself. In short, he’d bought a whole pile of sound magistones that he had to sell for more than its market value, or else he’d face devastating losses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If the trader has to barter the sound magistones for flame magistones, he’ll likely end up with quite a bit less of it than the craftsmen initially ordered,” said Licia. “So, if the craftsmen are forced to pay the price they once agreed on, they would suffer heavy losses. With all that in mind, I think you should have them work out how much they would have paid for each pound of flame magistones initially, then have the craftsmen pay only slightly more than that for however much the trader manages to actually obtain. That should minimize the trader’s losses.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense,” I replied. It felt to me like the craftsmen would be getting a sort of raw deal, in the end, but on the other hand, they could make up for it by raising the price of the heaters once they were finished. I could even promise to purchase one myself for an even higher price to sweeten the bargain. We had a fireplace in the estate, yes, but a proper heater could have made life a lot more comfortable during winter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…” Licia thought for a moment longer, then nodded. “That’s all I can think of, I’m afraid. The rest will depend on how well you arbitrate the deal, Sir Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was convinced. Her plan was as good as I was going to get, and with that settled, I intervened in the argument, explained that both sides were in the wrong for not coming to my family in the first place, and offered Licia’s proposal as a means to minimize the damages all around. Neither side was wildly enthusiastic about the plan, to be sure, but I somehow managed to convince them to accept the terms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t think anyone was really happy with how the situation turned out, in the end, but at the absolute least, nobody looked like they were about to start throwing punches anymore. It seemed likely that the conflict was well and truly settled. The negotiations, however, had taken quite a long time, and the sun was already starting to set when we finished. Licia and I had no choice but to make our way back to my family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All things considered, the date was a disastrous failure. My one solace was that Licia didn’t seem particularly bothered. She’d really managed to impress me, when all was said and done─it was hard to believe that a girl of her age could come up with a way to resolve a conflict that messy, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was even more convinced than ever that the friendly, appealing way she conducted herself was calculated. If she was that smart, then reading people and playing to their desires was a piece of cake, right? Hell, part of me was starting to suspect that she’d been reincarnated into this world, just like me!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re frowning, Sir Ars,” said Licia, peeking over at my face. “Is something the matter?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no, not exactly!” I replied. “I was just thinking that this ended up being a pretty lousy date. I’m sorry about all the trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lousy? No, not at all! I was very impressed by how you conducted yourself, Sir Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Impressed? By what? All I did to help was offer your idea as a solution. I barely contributed anything at all, really.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia shook her head and replied, “The idea was mine, yes, but you’re the one who convinced them to accept it. They would never have considered your proposal so readily if they didn’t already have faith in you as their lord. It’s clear to me now that your people adore you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She certainly does know how to flatter a guy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was chagrined to realize that I’d inadvertently put myself in Licia’s debt. She hadn’t demanded a favor in return yet, but if I let myself get too indebted to someone with Ambition as high as hers, she was sure to use it as leverage sooner or later."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Paying her back right away was probably out of the picture, unfortunately, but even more than that, I wished that I could learn a little about what really made Licia tick deep down. I wouldn’t have felt safe marrying her unless I had a decent grasp of her personality. I kept brooding over the question as we walked back to my estate. Finally, our conversation took a turn that gave me the chance I needed to start learning more about her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What sort of people do you find appealing, Sir Ars? Just for the sake of reference,” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” I said, sensing an opportunity. “I suppose I like people who don’t keep secrets from me. I always appreciate spending time with people who don’t hold their true opinions back and don’t sugarcoat things. Life’s much more enjoyable that way, in my opinion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t expecting her to actually spill the beans just like that, of course, but I was hoping her reaction might give me some clues. I wasn’t exactly lying, either─even in my previous life, I’d thought that marrying a woman who didn’t mince words would have been nice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see! I’ll keep that in mind,” replied Licia. I might have been imagining it, but it felt like she’d paused for just a split second beforehand. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long enough for me to know if my response had rattled her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like dragging out Licia’s true feelings isn’t going to be quite that easy, I thought to myself as we made our way back to my estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We arrived home just in time for dinner, and after that, it was time for the entertainment I’d arranged. The performers had been preparing themselves while Licia and I were in town, it seemed, and their act went off without a hitch. The music was only the beginning─they also put on a magically-enhanced dance performance, which I personally thought was quite remarkable. Licia seemed to enjoy the whole event, so I figured I could call it a success overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the performance, all that was left was for us to say goodnight and retire to our chambers. I’d learned over the course of the day that she was, in fact, planning to return home the following morning. It seemed my assumption on that front had been safe after all. I just had to have breakfast with her, present her with her gifts, and see her off! Whether or not she’d like said gifts was still up in the air, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our date was a failure, but Licia hadn’t seemed particularly bothered by it. One way or another, the day had ended without any major problems. The only remaining issue was that I still didn’t have a handle on Licia’s personality or way of thinking at all. She couldn’t have been just a plain old nice girl, considering her Politics and Ambition scores."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meh, it’s not like today will be my only chance to figure her out. I can just put the pieces together bit by bit every time I meet her, I thought as I snapped my sheets to make my bed…and just about jumped out of my skin in shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Somebody was under my covers. At first, I thought that one of my siblings was playing a prank on me, but no, it wasn’t either of them. My bed’s occupant had blonde hair and happened to be somewhere around ten years old. In short…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is something wrong, Sir Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…it was Licia!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was so shocked, so utterly incapable of comprehending why she would be there of all places, that I didn’t even understand what she was asking."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did I startle you?” Licia asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, you certainly did,” I somehow managed to reply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could tell! Your eyes opened as wide as dinner plates, and you made the most adorable face,” she said with a grin. And not the friendly, sociable grin I’d seen her put on throughout the day, either─this was the grin of a mischievous little troublemaker."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I had no idea what she was doing in my room, and the wheels in my mind were spinning on overdrive to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do about it. I’d thought that all I had left to do that day was go to bed, but I couldn’t have been more wrong."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm,” I began. “You do know this isn’t your room, right, Lady Licia? Did one of our servants lead you to the wrong chamber, perhaps?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all! They did a splendid job and led me exactly where I was supposed to go. I simply slipped out afterward!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t lock my door, so I guess getting inside wouldn’t have been much of a challenge. Who told her which room was mine, though? I guess they wouldn’t have any reason to withhold the info if she claimed she just wanted to chat, but…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And why, exactly, did you do that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re a very composed person, Sir Ars, and not particularly expressive. I just wanted to see what sort of face you make when you’re shocked, that’s all!” Licia explained. Wasn’t much of an explanation, in my book, but maybe that was just me."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0030.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Part of me really wanted to ask where this side of her personality had been hiding all day, and Licia seemed to guess what I was thinking from the look on my face. She pushed herself into a sitting position on my bed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You told me this afternoon that you prefer being around people who speak their mind and don’t keep secrets, didn’t you? Well, I thought that, if that were the case, it would be nice to have a chance to talk, just the two of us. Scaring you was simply a bonus.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing that explanation finally helped me calm down a little. She hadn’t reacted much when I mentioned that I preferred honesty, but it seemed the statement had more of an impact on her than I’d initially thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…I’m pleased to hear it, and I would love to chat,” I replied. “I want to get to know you better, as a matter of fact.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to draw out her true nature. That said, I was still very confused as to why she’d put herself in this position. The one thing I now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that the persona she’d projected throughout the afternoon really was just an act."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh my! Now I’m all flustered,” said Licia. “But as it so happens, I was hoping to get to know you better as well. For instance, I would love to know─what do you think of me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“…What do you mean?” I cautiously asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a certain talent. When I speak with someone, I can more or less tell how they feel about me by carefully observing the look on their face. The first time we met, Sir Ars, you looked at me with immediate suspicion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A “certain talent”? She can “more or less tell” what people think of her? Could it be that she has a skill similar to my Appraisal?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was shocked to realize that she had that sort of power─almost as shocked as I was to realize that she’d been fully aware of my doubts throughout the day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Distrusting someone you’ve only just met isn’t all that rare, to be fair,” continued Licia. “Plenty of people are wary by nature. Normally, though, I can dispel that distrust simply by speaking with them for a minute or two. You, however, spoke with me for hours on end, and even worked your way out of a difficult situation thanks to my advice, yet not only did your misgivings not vanish─they deepened, of all things! And then, at the very end, you tried to draw out my true intentions with a leading question! What is it about me that you find so suspicious, Sir Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Licia spoke, I did my best to read her expression. She seemed somewhat agitated, and perhaps even a little frustrated. As best as I could tell, she was irritated that she hadn’t managed to sway my opinion of her in the way she’d hoped."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She’d earned the trust and affection of who knows how many people with her conversational skills, which probably made my immovability all the more frustrating. That was why she’d taken the risk of overplaying her hand and revealing her true nature."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come to think of it, maybe she went out of her way to hide in my bed and scare me to vent her frustration…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a talent as well, Lady Licia. I can perceive people’s abilities, aptitudes, and ambition to move up in the world,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d resolved to tell her all about my power. She opened up to me, so keeping quiet about myself wouldn’t exactly have been fair, right? Not to mention that I was going to marry her at some point. If I was going to have to tell her eventually, I figured I might as well get it over with. I couldn’t tell if she believed me, but she did look a little shocked, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s how I know that you’re overwhelmingly more ambitious than almost anyone else I’ve ever met, and that you have the political talent to back it up,” I continued. “And it’s also why I suspected that the way you were acting was just a front.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Licia just sat there silently, but finally, she spoke up once more and said, “I suppose there’s no room for doubt─that talent of yours is certainly real. After all, I’m rather aware of my own ambitions.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are they? What is it you wish to do?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s only one ambition that a Summerforthian woman could possibly have: to find a man of power and status to fall for,” she replied. Saying it was the only ambition possible seemed like a bit of an overstatement to me, but considering the world we lived in, she was probably more right than I knew."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wouldn’t you be opposed to marrying a man like me, then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. As a matter of fact, I was seriously considering breaking off our engagement prior to my departure,” Licia admitted. “After what you just told me, though, I’ve reconsidered the matter.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have? Why?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As things stand, you are indeed nothing more than the successor to a petty lord’s insignificant domain. Your power, however, changes matters. With it at your disposal, I’m confident that you will rise far beyond your current station. Thus, I’ve changed my mind. I want to marry you now, Sir Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could hardly think of a more mercenary reason to marry someone. I was the one who said that I wanted to know how she truly felt, so I’d literally asked for this, but now that I actually did know where she was coming from, I was finding it rather hard to muster a response."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m certainly happy to hear it. I’m in favor of our marriage as well,” I finally replied. I wasn’t being entirely honest─frankly, I had my fair share of worries about the whole idea. I had a feeling that Licia would be the staunchest of allies I could hope for, so long as I took care to only show her my good side. But the moment I let her catch a glimpse of my weakness, the odds were distressingly high I’d receive a dagger in the back for my trouble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t have much of a choice, though. The son of an upstart lord being engaged to marry another lord’s daughter was something of a rarity, so if I didn’t marry her, I might never get an opportunity like that again. Plus, on a more personal note, I actually found her scheming side a little charming."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Romance didn’t seem to be in the cards for the two of us, which was a shame, but I knew there was no point in setting my expectations too high. Our parents had arranged our marriage out of a sense of friendship, and I would’ve been happy if the two of us just happened to fall for each other, but Licia was clearly a hardcore utilitarian type. After everything I’d seen from her, I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn she had no interest in love on the whole."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear you say so! And with that, I bid you goodnight,” said Licia as she got off my bed. I’d thought she would want to chat for a little while longer, but no, she was already on her way out the door before I could even react."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess she’s satisfied now that she knows why I suspected her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I breathed a sigh of relief as she shut the door behind her. It had been a surprising, and somewhat harrowing, conversation, but I had managed to learn what sort of person she really was, so it was fruitful overall. I would’ve been an anxious wreck if she’d gone on her way before I pinned her personality down. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me, my mood considerably cheerier than it had been a few minutes prior."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I drifted off to sleep, I smelled something unfamiliar. It took me a little while to realize that Licia had been hiding in that very bed just moments earlier…and that I was smelling her. The aroma was so pleasant that it lulled me to sleep in no time flat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia let out a quick sigh of relief as she closed the door to Ars’s room. A moment later, she smiled─not the fake smile that she wore for show in public, and not the mischievous smile she’d worn in front of Ars moments earlier. No, this was a true, natural smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What in the world am I so happy about? Licia asked herself. But in truth, she already knew the answer: she was happy because Ars had said that he wanted to marry her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Between Licia’s ability to perceive what others thought of her, her talent for conversation, and her natural charms, the majority of the people she’d met had quickly taken a liking to her. She was beloved by all, young and old, man and woman alike, so at some point along the way, she started taking the affection that people afforded her for granted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That had made it more than a little difficult to cope with Ars’s unrelenting suspicion. She was frustrated and irritated with him─after all, what had she done to deserve his distrust?─but at the same time, she’d somehow found herself irresistibly drawn to him. Licia had yet to figure out where those feelings of hers stemmed from, but the one thing she did know for sure was that she needed Ars to fall for her, one way or another. That, clearly, was why she’d been so incredibly happy when he said he was in favor of their marriage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He does want to marry me now, yes…but it doesn’t seem like he’s fallen in love with me just yet. He will, though, one of these days! I’ll see to it that he does!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia had resolved Ars’s suspicions by revealing her true nature to him, but she knew it would take more than that to fully ensnare him with her charms. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that something so simple could steal a man’s heart."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In fact, on some level, she’d expected him to turn on her once her secret was out. She’d made her move anyway because, in her mind, being outright hated by him would have still been better than putting up with his unstated suspicion. In that sense, the fact that she’d exited the situation without earning his animosity meant that she’d come out ahead. Licia could be quite the optimist when the circumstances called for it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The beginning was an absolute disaster, though. At least I managed to fool him, I suppose…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The beginning,” of course, meant the part where she’d been caught in Ars’s bed. She’d told him that she’d wanted to see him in a state of surprise, but that was an outright lie. The simple truth of the matter was that the moment she’d fully registered the fact that it was his bed, she’d been afflicted with an irresistible urge to crawl right into it. She’d known it was an awful idea, too, but she just couldn’t stop herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Ars had walked into the room while she was still under the covers, Licia had nearly drowned in her own cold sweat. She’d barely had the time to come up with an excuse before he tried to climb into bed himself. The part where she said that the look of shock on his face was adorable, incidentally, had been entirely true."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia thought back to the smell of Ars’s bed, as well as the look on his face when he’d realized she was in it, and found herself grinning all over again. In the end, on the way back to her room for the night, she smiled the entire time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next morning, Licia ate breakfast with us, I presented her with her gifts, and then she went off on her way back to Torbequista. She gave me the brightest smile I’d ever seen when I handed her gifts to her─natural and cheerful enough that I just couldn’t imagine it was an act. Knowing her, though, even if she was genuinely pleased, the choice to show that fact off had almost certainly been deliberate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, I received a letter from her. It was a simple enough report, thanking me for my hospitality and informing me that she was taking good care of the flowers I’d given her. Etiquette dictated that I send a reply, so I wrote up a response and sent it off to her at the first opportunity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before I started receiving letter after letter from her at a remarkably fast pace. They were never about anything important, either. Just childish reports on her daily affairs and idle grumbling, for the most part. I couldn’t simply ignore them, however─again, etiquette and all─so I sent a reply each and every time. However, it wasn’t long at all before I ran out of things to write about. Forcing myself to fill up a letter every time quickly became a major source of stress in my life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why is she sending all these letters, anyway? Is she testing the extent of my vocabulary? Or maybe the answer’s surprisingly simple, and she just honestly enjoys hearing from me…? No, that’s absurd. It’s definitely not that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Aside from my ongoing correspondence with Licia, nothing in particular had changed in my life. I hadn’t found any exceptional people to recruit as of late, but regardless, I was already running up against the limitations of a small noble house’s resources. House Louvent simply didn’t have the funding to employ many more retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, a year and a half passed without any major incident…until one day, my father collapsed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0032.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the fourth day of the third month. Autumn was upon us, and I had just turned eleven."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The news of my father’s collapse came as a major shock. As of a few months prior, he’d stopped coughing entirely. We were all convinced he’d finally overcome his illness. But then one day, while he was training with his troops in the early morning, he simply fell to the ground, still as the dead. He hadn’t actually dropped dead on the spot, thankfully, but he did lose consciousness, and with no clear explanation why. He was carried into the estate, and a doctor who lived in Lamberg was immediately called in to treat him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is my father all right? Can you help him?” I asked after the doctor finished his inspection. We were sitting beside the bed where my father was resting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His life isn’t in danger, as things stand,” the doctor began, then hesitated before continuing. “But he has a high fever, it would seem. Hmm… Lord Raven was in poor health until recently, yes? I was relieved to hear he’d shaken off the malady, but I’m afraid to say that, well…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The look on the doctor’s face was all I needed to know that he wasn’t about to deliver good news."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Has my father’s illness returned?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe so,” replied the doctor. “And I now believe I know what he suffers from: a rather rare illness known as gley syndrome. The sickness itself is something of a mystery, though, I’m afraid. We have yet to determine what causes it, but a small mercy is that we do know it isn’t contagious. Its victims are likely to think themselves afflicted with a common cold, but with symptoms that persist for far longer than usual before suddenly receding. Shortly thereafter, though, the disease manifests once more in the form of a wide variety of symptoms─a high fever, a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, a propensity to fall victim to other illnesses…and, ultimately, death.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d never heard of a disease by that name, and I couldn’t remember any sickness from my old world with similar symptoms. I was never exactly an expert as far as diseases were concerned, of course, so the fact that I didn’t know of any like it didn’t mean there hadn’t been one out there somewhere."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can gley syndrome be cured?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The doctor shook his head and replied, “Not with any medicine we know of. The only option is to wait and pray the patient overcomes the disease. In most cases, though, I’m afraid they pass away within a year of the first sign of symptoms. Lord Raven is exceptionally hale and hearty, and I believe that the odds are high he’ll survive longer than the average patient, but nevertheless…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was struck dumb. Was my father going to die? The thought alone sent my mind spiraling into turmoil. I knew it would happen someday, but surely this was far, far too soon?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s important now is for Lord Raven to get plenty of rest and allow his body the time it needs to heal, the same as one would for any other illness. So long as he does, there’s still a chance he’ll pull through,” said the doctor. “I’m aware that he’s a driven man, but you must not allow him to exert himself under any circumstances. Keep him at rest in bed, no matter what. I can’t guarantee he’ll survive even if you do, but at least then he’ll stand a fighting chance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, the doctor taught us some recipes for healthy food that would keep my father’s energy levels up, boiled some herbs into a medicinal concoction for him, and then took his leave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So if he gets plenty of rest, my father might still recover? No, not might. He will recover, I’m sure of it! He’s stronger and healthier than anyone I’ve ever known! There’s no way a plain old disease would do him in!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fighting in Missian had grown less fierce of late, as well, which helped me stay optimistic. Lord Amador, the Duke of Missian who’d been on death’s door just recently, had miraculously recovered, so his sons had ceased warring with each other. It turned out, incidentally, that the duke really had named the younger of the two his successor, but in light of the conflict that arose while he was indisposed, he’d decided to withdraw that decision and reconsider the matter. Apparently, he intended to consult at length with his vassals and his sons themselves before settling the question of his successor for good."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As far as I was concerned, though, what really mattered was that thanks to the duke’s recovery, House Louvent had been called into battle far less frequently in recent months. As long as he didn’t have to fight, I was sure that my father would let himself get the rest he needed. Or at least, I desperately hoped he would…until the worst news imaginable arrived the evening of the very same day my father had collapsed: the Duke of Missian had been assassinated. The timing couldn’t possibly have been any worse."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, my father finally awoke. Seeing him conscious was a relief, to be sure, but it was obvious he was far from healthy. He seemed tired, listless, and his fever had yet to break. I was worried that telling him how serious his illness was would be shocking enough to worsen his condition, so I decided to keep the fact that it could kill him a secret for the moment, and instead just emphasized that he needed rest above all else. He actually obeyed, for once, which felt like a sign of how badly the disease was hitting him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’d be better off refraining from informing Lord Raven about recent developments,” Rietz said later, when we were out of my father’s earshot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We were discussing the matter of the duke’s assassination, and decided that telling my father about it would be best left for another day. The last thing I wanted was to make him worry about the duchy’s politics and exacerbate his illness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“While we’re at it…what do you think will happen to House Louvent from here on out?” I asked. We were in the study at the time, incidentally. I’d called Rietz and Rosell in to discuss our options. Rietz’s expertise went without saying, and Rosell’s Intelligence had grown to a total score of 89, so I figured that his opinions would be valuable as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” said Rosell. “I think it’s only a matter of time before war breaks out, to start.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was worried you’d say that,” I replied with a grimace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, yeah, it’s sort of obvious. I mean, the duke kicked the bucket without naming a successor, right? Of course that would mean war.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think, Rietz? Do you see it that way as well?” I asked, turning his way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, yes. War is all but inevitable.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Figures. The duke sure did die at the best possible moment, assuming his goal was to cause a war of succession."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The operative question, as I see it, is not whether a war will break out, but when,” Rietz continued. “Since the duke was murdered, it seems quite possible that both of his sons will claim that the other was the mastermind behind the plot. If they do, then it’s entirely possible that the fighting will begin all but immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense…but while we’re on the subject, who sent an assassin after the duke? And why now, of all times?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The assassin was captured, from what I’ve gathered, but he took his own life before they could get any answers out of him. The mastermind remains a mystery,” Rietz explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think it was one of the brothers?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I dunno about that,” said Rosell. “The succession slate was just wiped clean, as far as they’re concerned, so having their dad bumped off now seems, well, pointless. I guess it is possible that the duke had already reached a decision and opened up to someone about it, though. If the son who wasn’t chosen caught wind of that, it would’ve given them a motive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell paused for a moment to think, then continued. “It’s also possible that the assassin got sent out from another duchy. It was pretty obvious that the duke’s death would throw Missian into chaos, after all. Then again, it’s not exactly easy for a foreign assassin to slip across the border, make it all the way to the capital, and off the duke himself, so maybe that’s not so likely after all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like the perpetrator may not have been one of the brothers… Of course, it’s not like we’ll ever know for sure, what with the assassin dead and all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No amount of thinking will allow us to track down the culprit,” said Rietz. “And honestly, we simply don’t have enough information to do anything about the situation at present, so I propose we drop the subject. The real question we ought to consider is what we’ll do when war does break out. I certainly don’t imagine Lord Raven will be marching into battle for the foreseeable future, considering the state he’s in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d told Rietz and Rosell everything I knew about my father’s diagnosis, so they were both taking the grave state of his health into account."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could you lead our troops, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No, that would be unthinkable! While it’s true that House Louvent’s soldiers and servants are more accepting of me than they used to be, fighting alongside your men and leading them are two entirely different things. I’m afraid you’re the only one who can fill that void, Master Ars. The soldiers have sworn their allegiance to House Louvent, so their morale would suffer greatly if a member of the house wasn’t there to fight by their side.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Morale, huh? That’s tricky, yeah─I guess I really will have to take to the field until my father recovers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t at all certain that I’d be able to fill his shoes properly, but if I didn’t rise to the occasion, my father would have to, and that would mean his inevitable death. Thus, I had no other choice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I imagine that a summons from the Count of Canarre will precede any real fighting,” Rietz clarified. “I’m sure he’ll call a meeting soon to discuss the future of the county and decide on a course of action.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hesitated, then asked, “And my father is in no condition to attend, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Correct. Even if all he would have to do is talk, the trip alone would strain him considerably. I believe it best he doesn’t attend.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” I said, considering my options. “It feels like it wouldn’t be right for me to not attend the meeting as a representative of House Louvent…but I’ve never done anything like this before. Can I really manage it…? Agh, it’s like a mountain of problems just got dumped on my head out of nowhere! And everything was so quiet and peaceful up until just yesterday!” I moaned, clutching at my head in despair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“G-Good luck with that, I guess!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell…” I groaned, shooting him a glare. “You realize this is your problem too, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm, Master Ars?” said Rietz. “I promise that I will do everything in my power to assist you. That goes for you too, Rosell─you owe it to him to help out!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, Rosell nodded in agreement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and another thing─do you think it would be best for us to refrain from telling my father about the duke’s death at all?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe so, yes,” said Rietz. “Learning that the duke has passed is sure to drive your father to push himself past his limits despite his illness. If we want him to remain in convalescence like the doctor recommended, then we’ll have to keep that news from him. Of course,” he added with a wince, “if he does ever find out, I imagine he’ll be quite upset.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a small price to pay, in my book.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father was terrifying when he got mad, sure, but I couldn’t afford to let him scare me into spilling the beans this time around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First things first,” I continued, “we’ll probably have some time before the count’s summons arrives. Before that happens, I’ll have to spend all the time I possibly can training in swordsmanship and the art of warfare.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agreed, and I would be more than happy to serve as your instructor,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, a period of intense, diligent study and training began for me. Eleven days passed by in that manner before finally, a letter arrived from the Count of Canarre requesting Lord Louvent’s immediate presence at Castle Canarre. I set out at once with Rietz, Charlotte, and a few of my father’s older retainers accompanying me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had my apprehensions about bringing Charlotte along, truth be told, but from what I’d gathered, her achievements on the battlefield and her unplaceable personality had resulted in the other houses considering her something of a terror. I was pinning my hopes on the possibility that showing the other houses that she obeyed my commands would help me earn some respect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t sent a letter in reply, by the way, so the count and his people had no idea that I would be the one in attendance. The letter had emphasized the urgency of the meeting and requested House Louvent’s presence as soon as conceivably possible, so I’d left without wasting any time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at the city of Canarre and made our way through the gateway, into the section of the city guarded by its curtain walls, and finally to the gateway of the castle itself. A gatekeeper called out to us as we approached."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Halt! You stand before Castle Canarre, residence of the count himself! None may enter without a letter of summons!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, that’s a problem─I definitely don’t have one. What’s going on here?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Raven was a familiar face to the guards, and he was always allowed to come and go as he pleased,” Rietz whispered into my ear. “I’m afraid, however, that it might prove more complicated in your case…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Well, that puts me in a bind,” I sighed. “So what, we won’t be able to get inside?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I believe it should be possible,” said Rietz. “Charlotte’s name is quite widely known, as is mine, to a lesser extent. This particular guard does not seem to recognize us, but if we ask him to summon one of the count’s senior retainers to identify us, I believe we should be allowed inside.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded to Rietz, then turned back to the guard and declared, “I am Ars Louvent, eldest son and heir to House Louvent! As my father, Lord Raven Louvent, is currently indisposed, I have arrived to answer Count Lumeire Pyres’s summons in his place. If you doubt my identity, I would ask that you send word of my arrival to the castle and call one of the count’s senior retainers to confirm the matter. Though they may not know me, I am certain they will know some among my retainers.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The guard frowned as he listened to my little speech. He seemed more than a bit bewildered, presumably by the fact that I looked like a child, and clearly wasn’t sure what to do. Thankfully for the both of us, a more senior soldier arrived soon after to handle the situation. The gatekeeper explained the circumstances to him, and the older soldier turned to check our identities…only for his eyes to immediately widen in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“G-Gods above! That’s the Blue Reaper of Lamberg!” he shouted, his eyes glued to Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wish they’d stop calling me that. It’s such an ugly nickname,” Charlotte muttered, pouting all the while."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No kidding! When did she pick up a brutal-sounding title like that? I wondered. That was certainly the first I’d heard of it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-And the Malkan!” the soldier shouted, turning to Rietz next. “He’s the Bloodthirsty Demon of Lamberg!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave Rietz a look and asked, “‘Bloodthirsty’?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz glanced away awkwardly and replied, “I, umm…don’t recall doing anything vicious enough to earn that moniker…but, well, bloodshed is inevitable on the battlefield. People talk…and some titles are granted regardless of the bearer’s will.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, their reputations were indeed enough to confirm my identity as House Louvent’s scion, so we were led up to the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Canarre was ancient, but as far as fortresses went, it was actually on the smaller side of things. When I heard the word “castle,” I’d pictured a gorgeous, lavishly decorated palace, but this was anything but. The middle-aged man who met us at the entrance, however, was at least dressed in what I could tell was a fine and expensive set of clothing. I assumed he was one of Count Pyres’s retainers, and likely a high-ranking one at that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldier who had led us inside told us to wait for a moment, then walked over to speak with the man. A short exchange later, the middle-aged man jumped in shock, then ran over to us in a fluster and asked, “Is it true?! Lord Raven has fallen ill?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is, yes,” I replied. “And you are…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, pardon my rudeness! It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Master Ars Louvent. I am Menas Renard, retainer to House Pyres,” he explained, confirming my expectations. I gave him an appraisal, just for good measure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His scores were nothing to scoff at. None of his attributes stood head and shoulders above the rest, but on the other hand, all of them sat at very respectable values. Most of his battle-related Aptitudes were ranked at B or above, even."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems you’ve already been informed, but my name is Ars Louvent,” I said. “I’ve come here in my father’s stead. The individuals behind me are my retainers, who accompanied me to ensure my safety.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, yes, I’m well acquainted with them! We’ve fought side by side on the battlefield, haven’t we?” said Menas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite,” said Rietz with a nod, while Charlotte cocked her head in confusion. Apparently, he wasn’t ringing any bells on her end. Menas didn’t have a particularly memorable face, so I couldn’t exactly blame her for forgetting him. It was still incredibly rude, of course, but at least I wouldn’t hold it against her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas, fortunately, didn’t seem to be offended by Charlotte’s attitude as he turned back to me and said, “It’s hard to believe that Lord Raven could possibly be bedridden… What sort of sickness is he suffering from?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to the doctor who diagnosed him, he most likely has gley syndrome,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“G-Gley syndrome?! B-But, wait─wouldn’t that mean he’s in no condition to go into battle?!” exclaimed Menas. Apparently, the man was fairly well-versed in obscure diseases."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it does,” I confirmed. “The doctor gave us strict orders to ensure he stays in bed for the time being.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh no, oh no,” Menas muttered. “Of all the times! This is a grave blow, oh, what a disaster… I just know lord Lumeire will be beside himself…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was even more despondent than I’d expected, but he shook his head and rallied himself back to attention, then continued, “I-In any case, I shall show you to Lord Lumeire at once! The other lords have yet to arrive, so the plan is to only assemble once everyone is present. However, I would appreciate it if you would meet with the count in advance for good measure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” I agreed, then followed Menas into the castle. We walked for some time, then arrived at an extravagant door. I assumed that the count was waiting beyond it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would you be willing to wait here a moment?” asked Menas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas stepped inside and shut the door behind him. A few seconds passed, then…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?! Is this true?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "…a bellow rang out from within the chamber. Shortly thereafter, Menas emerged in a fluster and beckoned us inside. The moment I stepped through the door, a bearded man rushed directly over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you’re Ars?!” the man shouted. “Is it true that Raven’s deathly ill and bedridden?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, it is,” I stammered. The man’s sheer intensity had me a little taken aback."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh! My apologies,” the bearded man said. “I am Lumeire Pyres, lord of this castle and Count of Canarre. We’ve met once before, Ars, when you were just a lad! You’ve certainly grown a head or two taller since then, though. Do you remember me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, yes,” I replied. It was quite a long time ago, so my memory was hazy, but I did indeed recall his face. It wasn’t quite one of my earliest memories, but it was certainly up there. I knew that I’d appraised him, but I couldn’t remember how exactly his stats had looked─just that they were reasonably impressive. And so, I decided to appraise him again to jog my memory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His Valor was quite high, while the rest of his stats were all reasonable enough. I couldn’t quite call him a model ruler based on his stats alone, however."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no doubt, then, that your father has gley syndrome…?” he asked, though he didn’t sound very hopeful. “To tell you the truth, my own sister passed away from the very same disease. I know all too well how terrible a malady it is, and I know that Raven must be kept at rest, no matter what happens…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A relative of his had gley syndrome?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The doctor had told me it was a rare illness, so I’d been surprised to hear that Menas was already familiar with it. But suddenly, it all made sense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But look at you!” Lumeire exclaimed, his attitude shifting dramatically and a grin spreading across his face. “Barely a child of ten, yet you’re already going out into the world in your father’s place! You’re a true-born lord, lad, no mistaking it! Now then─the others have yet to arrive, so we’ll have to wait for them before we begin in earnest. Menas, show Ars and his people to their room.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, M’lord!” Menas replied, then turned to me. “Follow me, please.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas guided us to a room that had been prepared for us. It was surprisingly large, and furnished with a couch, chairs, and even a bed. Clearly, we were meant to feel at home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m guessing the count plans to discuss which of the brothers we’ll side with in the oncoming war,” I speculated when we were alone again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d think so, yes,” said Rietz. “And I imagine that Lord Lumeire has already chosen a side. Most likely, he called us here to inform us of his decision.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My best guess was that he’d choose to side with the older brother. There was a slight chance he’d ask his lords for their opinions, but I wouldn’t have anything of substance to contribute if he did. With the information at my disposal, I didn’t have any good reason to choose one brother over the other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A short while later, Menas returned to the room and declared, “The other lords have arrived, and Lord Lumeire requests your presence. Please follow me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, Menas led us through the castle’s hallways. We eventually emerged in the great hall. A circular table had been set up in its center, at which two men were already seated. I could only assume they were Canarre’s other local lords, which would make the people standing at attention behind them their retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Canarre was split up into four territories: Lamberg, Torbequista, Coumeire, and Canarre, the county’s namesake. In terms of the territories’ size and population, Canarre was overwhelmingly the largest, followed by Torbequista, Coumeire, and finally, Lamberg. It seemed natural to me that the count would directly govern the largest and most populated region, and it really was the largest by far. While Lamberg was smaller than the other two, they weren’t all that much larger."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is an honor to meet both of you!” I said, addressing the two lords at the table. “My name is Ars Louvent, and I have come here on behalf of Raven Louvent, the Lord of Lamberg.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A pleasure,” said one of the other lords, a man with blond hair. “I am Hammond Pleide, Lord of Torbequista, and I’m to understand that you were an exemplary host to my daughter some time ago. She returned from her visit in the highest of spirits.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So this is Licia’s father, I thought to myself. I can see the resemblance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m pleased to learn she was satisfied with what little hospitality we could offer,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it true, then, that Raven’s bedridden?” asked Hammond. “I’d have sworn that man could ride through hell itself and emerge no worse for the wear, if you’d asked me a week ago. Then again, knowing him, he’ll beat that illness back and return to us in no time flat. I’m not concerned.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite his protest to the contrary, I got the impression that Hammond really was worried about my father. Of course, he also knew my father well enough to not even consider the possibility that the likes of a mere disease could finish him off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’ve yet to meet, young man,” said the second lord, who looked like he was on the cusp of qualifying as elderly. He spoke in a slow, somewhat stilted tone. “I am known as Krall Orslow, and I serve as lord of Coumeire. It pains me indeed to learn that Raven could not attend today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My assumption had proven true: the two men before me were indeed both lords of Canarre. I was just about to appraise both of them, but before I had the chance, I was distracted by Lumeire’s arrival in the chamber. The two lords stood and bowed to him, so I quickly imitated the gesture."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rise,” said Lumeire. I raised my head, then followed Lumeire and the other lords’ example once more and took a seat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have my thanks for coming here on such short notice,” Lumeire began. “As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, I’ve called you here on account of the duke’s assassination and the possibility of war between his elder son, Lord Couran, and his younger son, Lord Vasmarque. I wish to take this chance to make my stance on the matter clear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was exactly what I’d expected him to do, and I was proven right once more as Lumeire declared that he intended to support Couran, the elder brother. I stuck to my plan and endorsed his decision without objection. The other lords did the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good,” said Lumeire. “I’ve nothing else to discuss with you at this moment. Return to your lands and prepare your troops for battle. That is all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wait, it is? That’s it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t believe he’d called us to the county seat for a meeting that barely lasted a matter of minutes. Upon further reflection, though, this was a decision that would carry no small amount of weight going forward, so perhaps that was why he felt the need to give the news in person. The three of us all signaled our understanding, and with that, the meeting came to an end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We ended up staying the night in the castle. I had the chance to appraise Hammond and Krall during our stay, incidentally, and neither of them struck me as particularly remarkable. The next day soon dawned, and as we finished our travel preparations and made our way out of the castle, a voice called out to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars! A moment, if you would.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was Hammond."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes? What is it?” I asked, walking over to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was hoping to ask you about my daughter, as it so happens,” he explained. “She’s been in a rather foul mood as of late. I’ve been told that you exchange letters with her quite frequently, and I was hoping you might know what has soured her so.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia’s been in a bad mood?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, I didn’t have the foggiest idea why that could be. None of the letters she’d sent lately had seemed particularly unusual at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Actually…wait a second. I read her letters, yes, and their contents seemed perfectly unremarkable, but…when was the last time I replied to one of them?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I pondered the question…and came to the inescapable conclusion that it had been quite a long time since I’d last sent a letter back to her. I’d intended to write to her, of course, but then my father collapsed, the duke was assassinated, and pretty much everything went to hell in a handbasket all at once. In the thick of all that, I’d totally forgotten to keep corresponding with my fiancée."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Okay, I’ll admit, that was pretty rude of me. But surely Licia knows everything that’s been going on lately, right? A few missed letters can’t have been enough to make her that upset…right? Unless she’s been enjoying our little pen-pal situation more than I’d expected, in which case, well, yeah. I guess that would probably put her in a pretty bad mood."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I confessed to Hammond that I’d forgotten to reply to her letters, and his face lit up in newfound understanding."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ahhh, yes, that would do it. You would hardly believe how excited my daughter is for your letters, each and every time. I understand circumstances have been keeping you busy as of late, but I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d send one her way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That settled it─if she’d been looking forward to my letters that much, I was the culprit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied sheepishly. “I’ll write to her the moment I get home.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please do,” Hammond said, then bid me farewell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, we left the castle and hurried off to Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I got home to find a letter from Licia waiting for me. Its contents were short and to the point: “It has been quite some time since I last received any correspondence from you, Sir Ars. Has something happened? Or have I done something to offend you? If so, I would appreciate it if you would tell me what it was.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was like she’d written the letter specifically to make me feel as guilty as possible. Actually, considering the way Licia operated, she really might’ve written it with that specific intent in mind. Knowing I was playing into her hands didn’t make me feel any less terrible, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wrote up a reply immediately: “You’ve done nothing wrong, Lady Licia. The simple truth is that between my father’s collapse and the assassination of the duke, I was distracted, so writing back to you slipped my mind. The fault is entirely mine, and I apologize.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, I gathered Rosell and Rietz up in the study to discuss our plans."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think the count has the right idea,” I began. “Our top priorities right now should be making sure we have enough troops, and getting them as well-equipped as possible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our army’s equipment is certainly something we can address,” said Rietz. “But I’m afraid that recruiting more soldiers will be less than feasible under current circumstances. We can ensure that our current troops are as well trained as possible, of course, but it will be difficult to truly strengthen our forces without the ability to bolster numbers.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, that makes sense,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If war breaks out before Lord Raven recovers,” Rietz continued, “I’m certain you will wind up leading our men into battle, Master Ars. As such, I believe it is of utmost importance that you learn to command the troops and allow them to acclimate to your lead. Our numbers may not be sufficient for it, but I still believe that leading the men in a mock battle would be a solid course of action.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A mock battle? That means that unlike the real deal, nobody will die if I screw up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I definitely liked the sound of that, and I figured it would make for a good experience in all sorts of ways. Hopefully, having a few mock battles under my belt would keep me from panicking when it came time for the real deal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have any ideas, Rosell?” I asked, turning to my other top advisor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… You said the count’s planning on backing the older brother, right? Does it look like he has any shot at winning?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s hard to say with the information we have right now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Gotcha,” said Rosell. “I hate to say it, but that means we’re in a really bad place. If an upstart house like the Louvents end up on the losing side of this war, they could easily get crushed. We need to make sure we end up on the winning side, no matter what happens.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense too,” I sighed. “Still, we can’t exactly defy the count’s orders, can we?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If it becomes clear that the older brother’s a lost cause, we’d either have to persuade the count to switch sides…or think about betraying him and jumping ship on our own.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Betraying the count…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Man, that’s brutal. I guess I might have to start thinking like a feudal warlord if I plan on surviving much longer, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right now, our biggest problem is that we don’t have enough information,” Rosell continued. “We can’t make plans or talk strategy without a proper understanding of the circumstances. We have to start doing anything and everything we can to learn about the current state of Missian, and we need to do it now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, but what specifically should we do?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell paused, then answered, “Ask someone to gather info for us, I guess? We could have a soldier do it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you actually think that would work?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell and I fell into thought, which Rietz took as a sign to offer his input. “As a matter of fact, a perfect option for gathering information is available to us: a band of mercenaries who call themselves the Shadows. They specialize in shadow magic, information-gathering, and espionage. They would get us exactly the information we need if we paid their fee…but their services don’t come cheap.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mercenaries…” I muttered. “Hiring them without consulting my father would probably be a step too far. Let’s consider that after he’s recovered enough to discuss the matter.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, simply learning that there was a band of mercenaries who specialized in that sort of thing was a win. Rosell was right, after all─information was, without question, our most important resource."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We can’t hire mercenaries yet,” I continued. “However, we can at least pick out a few of our soldiers who seem suited for the role and send them out across Missian. It’s better than doing nothing, at least.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well─I’ll see to it,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With our immediate course of action set in place, we brought the day’s discussion to a close. We had two priorities going forward: engaging in mock battles, and setting up the rudimentary framework of an information network."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, a couple of weeks passed by…and then, once again, the situation suddenly and dramatically changed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d spent the past weeks honing my command skills via mock battles and picking out soldiers who seemed naturally suited to spycraft. The former, frankly, hadn’t been going so well. I’d studied my fair share of tactics, but it turned out that knowing the theory of battle and applying it to real, live soldiers under my command were two very different things. From my perspective, a nearly insurmountable barrier stood between me and the leadership skills I was expected to have, that barrier being my inability to set foot on the battlefield without immediately shrinking back in terror."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even knowing that we were only practicing and that nobody was out for blood, seeing a crowd of soldiers brandishing their blades and charging toward me scared the living daylights out of me, and it was really hard to stay calm and issue orders to your men when you were abjectly terrified. If I was that bad off in a mock battle, I could only imagine the disgrace I’d make of myself when the time came to actually go to war. I was deeply concerned about my future as a military leader."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Choosing spies, meanwhile, had unfortunately proven rather difficult as well. Appraisal wasn’t nearly as useful for the task as one might expect. There was no “Spy” Aptitude, for one thing, and I could only guess which of the base stats would be most useful for that sort of information-gathering work."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It made a certain amount of intuitive sense to me that people with high Valor and Intelligence would make good spies, so I tried to search for candidates with solid scores in both of those stats. We couldn’t just pick some soldiers out of the crowd and send them off into the world with a smile and wave, of course, so Rietz was busy training them for their new positions. He’d done his fair share of spy work back when he was a mercenary, it seemed, so he had enough specialized knowledge to at least get them started."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, the fifth day of the fourth month arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve waited long enough. It’s time for me to resume my duties!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t! Please, just rest!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father had regained a considerable amount of strength, which was a good thing, but his ever-intensifying insistence that he get back to work was significantly less promising. We understood that he’d put himself at risk of a relapse if he got right back to it, but he had never been the type to sit still for long. We’d managed to keep him from doing anything risky so far, but I was very worried that we were nearing the limits of his patience."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At long last, I managed to convince him to stay in bed, then walked over to my own room. We’d staged another mock battle the day before, and I was still feeling the exhaustion from that ordeal. I’d decided to spend the day resting up and regaining my strength, and was looking forward to a nice, long nap…until I noticed Rietz charging toward me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars!” he shouted, sounding panicked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” I replied. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m planning to rest today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m aware, yes,” gasped Rietz. “However, I’ve just received news that you must hear!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What news?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seitz has mobilized an army─and they march upon Canarre!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-They what now?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, I was just as worried as Rietz. Seitz was the duchy to the immediate west of Missian, and the County of Canarre was right on the provincial border. It suddenly hit me: I’d been so preoccupied with the conflict between the brothers that I’d completely forgotten we had other potential enemies to deal with! The duke was dead, and the duchy’s major powers were actively splintering into warring factions, so it was the perfect moment for another duchy to step in and snatch up as much territory as they could get their hands on!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They say the enemy is heading for Coumeire,” Rietz explained. “They’re due to arrive within four days, and a letter from the count has arrived ordering us to dispatch our forces at once!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Coumeire was situated right on the border, while Lamberg was on the opposite side of the county, meaning we lived further away from Seitz than any other territory. That was only a small comfort, though. If Seitz was going to invade the other territories, it was only a matter of time before they’d advance upon Lamberg as well. Even if the count hadn’t ordered us into action, we would’ve had no choice but to ride to Coumeire’s aid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father had recovered considerably, but he was still in no state to ride into battle. In other words, my first stint as commander would be arriving considerably earlier than I’d expected. I was still terrified of mock battles, and yet there I was, staring down the imminent prospect of fighting on a real battlefield. The moment the reality of the situation sunk in, my heart started pounding so fast that I thought I might drop dead on the spot. I was beyond nervous, but I did my best to keep a straight face so Rietz wouldn’t realize it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I said. “We’ll sortie at once. I’ll take command of our troops.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, “Very well.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He clearly knew just as well as I did that I wasn’t up to the task, but with circumstances as they were, he couldn’t argue against the decision. I could only imagine how conflicted he felt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us made our way to the training grounds to inform our troops. Rietz explained everything he knew about the enemy forces on the way, but really, it wasn’t much. The count’s letter hadn’t even specified how many of them there were. If they’d sent a massive force, then all of Canarre’s armies combined probably wouldn’t even be able to slow them down, but Seitz had its own fair share of internal strife, so I was hopeful that we weren’t looking at that sort of all-out invasion. If they did hit us with everything they had, then we’d stand no chance of victory and would have no choice but to call for reinforcements. As for whether or not they’d actually come, I couldn’t say."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at the training grounds and informed the soldiers that we’d be marching into battle. The grounds immediately descended into a flurry of activity: some of our men armed themselves, while others ran off to gather up the soldiers who weren’t on duty at the moment. Charlotte was one of the latter, and arrived at the training grounds in a half-asleep daze. I guess she’d been out like a light until somebody showed up to get her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When everyone had finally arrived, I stood before our troops. I thought that I had to say something to them to raise their morale before we marched for the front. The second I looked out across their faces, though, the crushing reality of what I was about to do sank in once more, and my anxiety returned in full force. I had to pause for a moment, take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, then finally address the troops in as loud of a voice as I could muster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Today, we go to war to protect our homeland of Canarre! I─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My speech had started out well enough, but before I could say more than a few words, a booming voice echoed across the grounds, cutting me off. I knew that voice like the back of my hand─it was my father’s, and I turned to look at him in shock. He stormed toward me, his expression more intimidating than any I’d ever seen on his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re not ready for this, Ars,” my father bluntly stated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-Father,” was all I could muster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I knew you were hiding something from me,” he muttered, looking me right in the eye. “And I suspected that something had happened to the duke. I’ve stayed quiet until now because I know that resting will keep me alive…and I thought that stepping up to work in my place would be a chance for you to grow…but I can’t allow you to go to war in my stead, least of all when the very existence of Canarre hangs in the balance. I will go.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look on my father’s face told me that he wasn’t going to change his mind, no matter what anyone said to him. He was absolutely determined to take to the battlefield. I was horrified by the thought, however. If my father went into battle now, and if his condition worsened, there was no coming back! He would die!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Father, you’re ill!” I said, making one last attempt to appeal to his reason. “You can’t go to war!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve shaken off the worst of it. I’m no longer unable to swing a sword,” my father replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But what if you relapse? You realize you could die, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I won’t. And even if I do, I could ask for nothing more than to die protecting Canarre─protecting Lamberg and its people.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What can I say to change his mind?! The man’s absolutely hell-bent on marching off to war!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His condition had improved, clearly, and it was possible he could survive a campaign, but it was equally possible that his condition could deteriorate at any moment. The more mysterious the sickness, the more cautious you had to be. I had to do something, anything to convince him to stay home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father decided to keep me from leading our army because he didn’t think I was up to the task…and he was right. Still, I had to find a way to make him think otherwise, no matter what it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Rietz stepped up to the two of us and said, “Lord Raven, you should know that Master Ars─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Silence!” my father roared. Rietz’s mouth snapped shut."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father,” I said, doing my best to finish his thought, “I’ve been fighting mock battles to prepare myself. I’ll admit that I’m still lacking in many regards, but I swear to you that I will lead our men to glory!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And did you fight well in those ‘mock battles’ of yours?” my father asked. “I hardly need to ask─of course you didn’t. I don’t even need to see you in action to know that. You don’t have the face of a warrior yet, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I fell silent once more upon hearing those words."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What does “the face of a warrior” even mean? Is it something that only seasoned veterans like him understand?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seconds passed in silence before my father spoke up again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right…in my sickness, I almost forgot. If you’re so convinced you can go to war, Ars, I shall test you, here and now. Gullar!” my father barked, shouting out the name of one of his soldiers. “Is the man in the jail still alive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gullar, one of the older men in the force, snapped to attention and replied, “Y-Yes, he is, more or less. We didn’t think it right to execute him without your express orders.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll do it now. Bring him here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, Sir!” Gullar exclaimed as he sprinted off toward the jail."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What in the world is my father up to? What sort of test is this?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, Gullar returned to the training grounds with a man in tow. The mysterious individual was wearing manacles and absolutely filthy clothing, and he sported a scraggly, unkempt beard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who is he?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His name is Barramorda,” answered my father. “And he is a devil in human skin who murdered, assaulted, and burgled his way through the town of Lamberg until we captured him shortly before I fell ill. I intended to keep him imprisoned long enough to arrange his execution, but thanks to that damnable disease, he slipped my mind…so I’ll do it now. And you, Ars, will watch.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that is to be my test?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is. You are to watch impassively. To remain calm and composed. Should you avert your eyes, or close them, or tremble, or double over with nausea, or show even the slightest speck of distress─you fail. To go to war is to see men die by the dozens, and if that disturbs you, then you are not ready to take to the field. A leader’s ability to stay composed is worth far more than their ability to fight,” my father declared, then gestured toward Barramorda. “If you can watch this man die and not bat an eyelash, then I shall acknowledge that you are a man full grown. I will entrust my army to you and rest quietly within our home, awaiting your return.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gritted my teeth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To watch a man die…and remain completely composed? Can I do this? Could I ever even be capable of it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had never seen a battlefield. I had never seen someone die. I’d looked up pictures of corpses once in my last life out of idle curiosity, and just that was enough to make me fall violently ill and swear to never seek that sort of imagery out again. I had no idea if I’d be able to watch a man be executed right in front of me and keep my cool."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I mulled over the question, though, my father and his men were already preparing to carry out the execution. A wooden block was brought out into the field and Barramorda’s head was pressed up against it, forcing him to his knees. He struggled violently, very literally fighting for his life, but several of my father’s soldiers held him firmly in place as another with an axe stepped up to the block."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Barramorda!” shouted my father. “You stand convicted of crimes most foul, and I, Raven Louvent, lord of these lands, do hereby sentence you to death!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that final word, the soldier with the axe raised it up high, then brought it down upon Barramorda’s neck, severing his head with a single stroke. The head fell to the ground, rolling across the dirt as a jet of crimson blood gushed forth from the stump."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I watched it happen…and was shaken to the very core of my being. I felt my heart pound wildly within my chest, but I couldn’t let my father see that, so I kept my face perfectly expressionless, staring fixedly at Barramorda’s severed head until it rolled to a stop…facing me. The cold, lifeless eyes stared directly into mine…and I just couldn’t hold it back anymore as a wave of intense nausea overwhelmed me. I didn’t vomit, but I did retch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have failed,” my father coldly declared. “There’s no shame in that. Everyone reacts that way the first time. I did as well, in fact. However, if this is enough to make you lose your composure, then you are unfit to lead our troops into battle. I shall go.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I clenched my fists, staring at the ground, and my father continued, “You’ve always been a precocious child, Ars, and you’ve grown up fast, but you are still a child. It is far too soon for you to go to war… Come now, don’t worry so much. I won’t die, of that I swear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wanted to shout, You’re wrong! I’m no child! I’m a fully grown man inside, dammit! But I couldn’t. I’d been raised in a country at peace, and when it came to witnessing death, I really was no better off than a child."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t argue with him or stop him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father rode off to battle…and I was left behind at our estate to simply sit and wait for news. Rietz would occasionally send me letters from the front, updating me on how the war was progressing, so I wasn’t completely out of the loop, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Seitz army turned out to not be so large that defeating them was entirely off the table, but they still had five soldiers to every one of Canarre’s men. Everyone knew they were in for a long, drawn-out conflict, and as expected, the early stages were harsh on our side. In the end, though, the enemy was beaten back thanks in no small part to the daring exploits of House Louvent’s army, spearheaded by my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The war dragged on for about four months, and my father returned home on the twelfth day of the eighth month, a mere four days after my twelfth birthday. He seemed perfectly fine when he returned to Lamberg, but five days later, his illness returned with a vengeance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father ended up bedridden more often than not, developed a seemingly ceaseless cough, and soon lost his appetite entirely. Not eating took a toll and he quickly wasted away, growing thinner and frailer with each passing day. Finally, one month after his illness returned, his doctor came to us with grave news: my father no longer had any hope of recovery. There was no telling precisely when, but someday soon, he would die."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was my fault. If I’d been capable enough to lead our army in his stead, if I’d been strong enough to convince him I was ready, then my father would have spent those four months recuperating in our estate. Perhaps then his illness would never have returned. I did everything I could, going out to call on another doctor for a second opinion, and then a third, but they all said the same thing. Still, though, I didn’t stop searching."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had memories of my previous life, and they might have kept me from ever seeing my father as my true father. Nevertheless, I knew very well that if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive. I would never have been born again, needless to say, but I also never would have been able to lead the life I’d led. My comfortable, strife-free existence was all thanks to him, so I just couldn’t allow him to die thanks to my inadequacy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Another failure?” I muttered to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the second day of the eleventh month, so summer was just beginning. I’d brought another doctor in from the next county over, but once again, I was told that my father was beyond saving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe we should go to a bigger town. I’m thinking we should try Arcantez, the capital of Missian, next. There has to be a doctor there who can help.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t been sending our retainers out to look for doctors. No, that was a task I only entrusted to myself. Anyone who studied medicine would need a high Intelligence, so me being there meant that we could easily weed out the professionals from the quacks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master Ars,” Rietz began, then paused. He looked incredibly conflicted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Arcantez is an extremely long journey from here. A round trip will take twenty days at the bare minimum, and when we consider how long it will take to find a doctor, the trip may last even longer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” I said with a nod. “Still, I’m willing to go a little out of my way if it’ll help my father recover. I’d be worried about leaving the estate undefended in our absence, though, so you’ll have to stay behind this time. I can take Rosell’s brothers and Charlotte along as guards─I’m sure they’ll keep me safe.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not what I meant! If you’re away for too long, then…well…” Rietz trailed off again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it? Something that’s hard to say?” I asked. “Go on. Don’t hold back now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After a brief pause, Rietz finally spoke up once more. “If your search keeps you away for too long, then when the time comes, you may not be there to hear Lord Raven’s last words.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It felt like my heart had just leaped into my throat. It wasn’t that the thought had never crossed my mind─I just hadn’t been allowing myself to consider it. My father had already wasted away so much that I hardly even recognized him. The pall of death hung heavily over his face, and even when he pulled himself to consciousness, he could barely speak. It would hardly have been a surprise if he passed away the very next day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you telling me…to give up?” I finally replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “I believe that if you’re not by Lord Raven’s side when the time comes, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Think carefully, Master Ars, before you go out to search for another doctor.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gritted my teeth. The way Rietz had phrased it was so calm, so goddamn composed that it enraged me. It wasn’t his fault, though. He was simply looking at the situation objectively and telling me what he believed I needed to hear most. If anyone was at fault, it was me for refusing to look reality in the eye. I knew it…but I still couldn’t suppress my fury. At the rate things were going, I was going to say something awful to Rietz, so I spun around and left the room without speaking another word."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I figured I’d go spend some time in my room to cool my head, but on the way there, one of our estate’s caretakers called out to me. Specifically, the one who was in charge of nursing my father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Raven has stirred!” said the servant. “He’s more lucid than he’s been in months…and he says that he wishes to speak to you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was already heading for his room the moment I heard that he was awake and talking. I entered through the door to his chamber and found him in bed, alone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You called for me, Father?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve arrived, Ars? Good, good,” said my father. I was struck by how clear his voice was. He’d barely been able to talk at all these days, so it felt like it had been ages since I’d heard him speak like this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father was as emaciated as ever, but his eyes were clear and full of life. As recently as yesterday he’d had the eyes of a corpse, even when he was conscious, but no, this was the father I used to know─the father with a gaze so strong and full of purpose, he could make lesser men flinch with a mere glance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s rather warm, isn’t it?” my father observed. “What’s the date today?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The second day of the eleventh month,” I replied. “I can fan you if you’re too hot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That won’t be necessary. Summer already, though? It feels like it was springtime just yesterday. I must have slept a long, long time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You did,” I said. “And honestly, it’s been hectic without you around! We’ll be in trouble if you don’t get better soon, you know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I know, I know. An illness like this can’t keep me down─I’ll shake it off by tomorrow,” my father chuckled, then fell silent. A few seconds passed before he spoke up again. “There’s so much that I still wanted to tell you, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll listen to anything you have to say to me, Father,” I replied. “I want to hear it all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll spare you the trivial small talk, at least. Now’s not the time for that. No, I want to tell you the story of my life,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “I was not born here in Lamberg. I came from a tiny farming hamlet in a remote corner of Missian. The lord who ruled over that land was an avaricious miser of a man who bled his people nearly to death with taxes. We lived in poverty through no fault of our own. I couldn’t stand that sort of life, and around the time I turned ten, I chose to run away from home and leave the whole village behind to seek my fortune in the city.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By some twist of fate, the Duke of Missian had chosen that day to pay the town a visit. Our lord held some measure of seniority within Missian’s nobility, and he had invited the duke to a party, or something of the sort. I forget the details─it was all so long ago. Vague and scattered as my memories are, though, there’s just one thing I remember clearly.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The sight of the duke, riding through town atop a pure white steed with a host of fully-armored soldiers following in his wake. It shook me to the core, Ars. Until that moment, the only nobles I knew were the corrupt monsters who ground my family into the dirt. I never imagined that one of them could be so magnificent…so noble, in the truest sense of the word. The moment I saw him, I knew what I wanted in life. I wanted to be a man like him─a man who could stand at the head of a vast army and lead them to glory.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father’s gaze grew distant as he spun his yarn. I knew he’d been born a farmer, but I’d never heard anything else about what led him to his current station."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I taught myself to wield a blade, became a soldier, and fought like a man possessed. Eventually, Lord Lumeire recognized my achievements and appointed me a lord of my own domain.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you still want to become a duke, Father?”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0034.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh… I gave up on that dream around the time I married your mother and fathered you, Ars. I may be a petty lord, but compared to the life I used to live, what I have now might as well be heaven. I’m satisfied,” he concluded before descending into another coughing fit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you all right?!” I asked in a panic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father coughed a few more times, then finally caught his breath, sighed, and said with much chagrin, “It seems I’ve spoken too much. Ars…I leave the rest to you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t bring myself to reply, but my father kept speaking anyway. “This land of Lamberg, and everything within its borders, is a treasure. It is my life’s work. My retainers, my people, my wife, Wren, Kreiz… All of them mean the world to me, and I’m entrusting them to you now. It pains me to place this burden upon your shoulders while you’re still a child, but I have no choice. Ars─your power to see people’s potential is something special. I know you have what it takes to use it well…and to lead House Louvent down the right path.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know how you think, and I know you feel responsible for what’s become of me, but the fault does not rest with you. This is the path that I chose for myself. Now it’s up to you to stand tall and carry on the Louvent name. Do you understand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t know what to say. Answering him would have felt like admitting that he truly was on his deathbed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Say something, Ars. Please…put my mind at ease.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…” I paused, more conflicted than I’d ever been before, but finally nodded. “I do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good. Then I leave the rest…to you…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father closed his eyes and fell into a deep, peaceful slumber. He showed no signs of waking as two days passed…and on the third, he drew his final breath."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From this day onward, I, Ars, shall succeed my father Raven as the head of House Louvent!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I did as my father told me. I stood tall and proud, declaring that I would carry on his legacy for all of his retainers to hear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father had spent a lifetime building House Louvent from the ground up. Hard times were upon us, so an insignificant noble family like ours would surely struggle to survive. Thus, I had to be strong. I had to wield my power to the fullest, to help my people and my land stand firm, and to protect everything that my father held dear. I was resolved to see it done."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days after my father passed, word arrived that the eldest son of the late Duke of Missian, one Couran Salemakhia, had mustered an army. From that day forward, I would lead House Louvent through a turbulent era of war and bloodshed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0036.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The news of Couran’s mobilization arrived all too soon after my father’s death. Couran had issued a manifesto on the same day he called his troops to arms, a copy of which had made its way to even a small noble house like ours."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The manifesto was, in short, a screed written solely to attack Couran’s younger brother, Vasmarque. He pinned the assassination of their father on Vasmarque, to start, offering nothing in the way of concrete evidence to back up the claim, then took the opportunity to list each and every one of Vasmarque’s faults in what struck me as excessive detail. He claimed vehemently that his brother was unworthy of the title of duke, and that only he could serve as his father’s successor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He also reproached Vasmarque for stubbornly maintaining control of Arcantez, the current capital of Missian. It seemed Couran had demanded that his brother turn the capital over to him time after time, but his requests had always fallen upon deaf ears. Now he’d had enough, so he intended to storm the capital by force if that was what it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That last detail was particularly interesting to me because I’d had no idea that Arcantez was under Vasmarque’s control. The city was the capital of Missian in both name and practice, boasting the largest population of any city in the duchy. That, of course, meant that it had a correspondingly sizable local garrison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were only three cities in all of Missian that came close to rivaling Arcantez in scale. The closest to Lamberg was a city in the west called Maasa, and there were also similarly-sized cities in the south and the east called Semplar and Velshdt, respectively. Arcantez, by the way, was situated in central Missian."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran currently held control of Semplar, a coastal city. Access to sea routes made it a thriving trade hub and one of the most prosperous cities in all of Missian. That, in turn, meant the local government had the funds to hire mercenaries, so despite its lesser population, it gave Couran access to at least as many soldiers as Arcantez did to his brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That just left the question of who the counts ruling over Maasa and Velshdt would side with. I knew nothing about said counts, so I couldn’t even begin to guess where their loyalties rested. I needed to figure out what direction Couran was likely to march in, and to do that, I needed information."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, Rietz came to me with a report and said, “Lord Ars? A letter from Lord Lumeire has arrived. I suspect it is a summons requesting your presence at Castle Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I read the letter and found that Rietz had predicted its contents perfectly before replying, “You were right. I wonder what he wants to discuss…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I presume strategy for the oncoming conflict,” Rietz speculated. “It’s also possible he’s received orders from Lord Couran that he wishes to relay to us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. Do you think Canarre’s forces are going to be dragged into the mud this time around?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A good question,” said Rietz. “I imagine that depends on how the situation unfolds. There’s no telling who the counts of western Missian will choose to support, after all. If the Count of Maasa ends up fighting for Lord Vasmarque, the situation may prove perilous.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A very small portion of Canarre’s northeastern border was shared with the County of Maasa. Maasa boasted an army several times the size of Canarre’s, so if open conflict between the two counties broke out, we would have very little chance of winning a straight-up fight. Word had it that Perreina, the county immediately east of Canarre, would be backing Vasmarque, so if Maasa chose his side as well, Canarre would have essentially no choice but to jump aboard their bandwagon and abandon Couran’s cause."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess we’ll learn a little more about what’s going on once we make it to Castle Canarre,” I sighed. “Oh, and this will be my first formal duty as the Lord of Lamberg, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It will, yes. Though, seeing as you’ve been to the castle as the lord’s proxy already, it doesn’t quite feel like your first time, does it?” noted Rietz with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, true enough,” I agreed. Although, that said, the last time I went to Canarre was for a far simpler meeting than I knew we’d be having this time around. Considering how complicated the talks were likely to get, this still felt like my first real job."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right!” I exclaimed as a thought struck me. “While we’re already out and about, would we be able to make contact with those mercenaries you mentioned, Rietz? ‘The Shadows,’ was it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that my father was no longer with us, the question of whether or not to hire mercenaries fell entirely upon my shoulders. We were still training some of our own soldiers in the art of information-gathering, but that process had proven as time-consuming as expected, and I wanted to get our network up and running as soon as possible. Information would be absolutely vital to our decision-making process going forward─no matter how high of an Intelligence someone had, they could never make the right call without a full grasp of the situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It should be possible to make contact with them in Canarre, yes,” said Rietz. “However, they aren’t motivated exclusively by money, so I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to actually retain their services.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mercenaries who aren’t motivated by money? How is that a thing?” I asked, arching an eyebrow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s rare, but every once in a while, you’ll find a band that works for some higher purpose. The leader of the Shadows is something of an eccentric, so I can’t say for sure what standards they follow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, if we can hire them, I’d certainly like to, so please arrange a meeting with their leader for after we’re finished in the castle.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I set about choosing who would accompany us on the trip. I decided to bring along Rietz, Charlotte, and the other retainers who’d accompanied me last time, as well as Rosell. It seemed possible I was in for a genuine war council, and while I wasn’t expecting Rosell to contribute to the discussion at his age, I did think it would make for a good experience, and help him learn to be a better tactician."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once my party had gathered, we immediately set out for Castle Canarre. The trip went smoothly this time, and we arrived without incident. Unlike our first visit, the gatekeeper recognized me immediately and led us straight into the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming, Ars. It is truly a shame what happened to Raven… He will be dearly missed,” Lumeire sighed as soon as he saw me, his expression grave. “Much as it pains me to admit, though, I do not have the time to grieve his death. We shall begin our war council as soon as Lord Krall and Lord Hammond arrive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The other two lords of Canarre showed up soon after, and we gathered around the same round table as last time. Lumeire kicked off the meeting by addressing the three of us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have something important to say before we begin our council. Recently, Raven Louvent, the Lord of Lamberg, lost his life to a terrible illness. He was a dauntless man whose accomplishments on the battlefield put his peers to shame…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The other two lords didn’t seem very surprised by the news. They must have learned of my father’s death through other sources, so they simply sat there, listening in somber silence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tragic though his passing may be, now is not the time to mourn Raven’s death. We shall honor his name by fighting for the future of Canarre to our last breaths, as he did to his!” Lumeire declared, then motioned for me to stand. “As I’m sure you are aware, Ars here has inherited his father’s title and succeeded him as the head of House Louvent. Though he may be a child in body, I assure you that he is equal to us adults in spirit, and is worthy of his new station.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I should probably say something now, right? I thought for a moment before speaking up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am Ars, the new Lord of Lamberg. Young though I might be, I shall dedicate my body and soul to seeing my duties fulfilled.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was a perfectly generic greeting─perhaps a touch too generic─but I figured that was better than going overboard and making a terrible impression. Everyone present politely applauded my mini-speech, and I sat back down once they were finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Lumeire. “Let us begin our council of war. I would like to open the floor to anyone here who has a comment on the current state of our county. I will not chide you for stating or asking the obvious, so hold nothing back.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So our retainers are allowed to speak? Not just us?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced back at Rietz and the others. Rietz met my gaze and gave me a quick nod, hoping to communicate that if he had anything to say, he would do so. Rosell, incidentally, was hiding behind Rietz at the time, so I wrote him off as a non-participant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To start,” Lumeire continued, “a summary of the current state of affairs seems in order. Menas, if you’d be so kind.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, M’lord,” said Menas, the retainer I’d met during my last visit. “To begin with, you should all know that Lord Couran and House Pyres have been communicating extensively behind closed doors. Some of you may worry that Lord Couran’s decision to raise an army was foolhardy, but I assure you, he has every intention of winning the war he has chosen to wage. He has negotiated the aid of four of the western counties, Maasa included, as well as all five of the southern counties, for a total of nine counties’ worth of forces to add to his. In addition, he has contracted the services of the most famed band of mercenaries in all of Rofeille, the Maitraw Company. With a force that large, Lord Couran’s victory is all but assured.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So Lord Couran’s been hard at work behind the scenes…though I guess that’s not really a surprise. Apparently, he’s not so inept after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I felt like it was an exaggeration to say that his victory was assured, though. In my view, nothing was a sure bet in war, and his younger brother most certainly hadn’t wasted the past several months."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Only one western county, Perreina, rebuked Lord Couran’s overtures,” Menas continued. “The county is entirely surrounded by Lord Couran’s allies, yet they have still refused to disavow their allegiance to Lord Vasmarque. I have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to either bring Perreina to our side through more underhanded tactics, or otherwise crush them in battle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The County of Perreina was situated just east of Canarre, and it had been some time since any internal strife had been reported from the area. Due to that, bringing them to our side via backroom dealings seemed far less likely than simply defeating them in battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Though winning their allegiance through peaceful means may prove difficult, the losses we would sustain waging war on the county would be costly. That’s why we have decided to prioritize methods of bringing them over to us that do not involve an outright invasion. If any of you can propose such a means, now would be the time to do so.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, so the invasion’s plan B after all? That’s not what I expected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, though, I was absolutely clueless as far as ways to bring them to our side went. After all, I knew next to nothing about the county’s current state. I glanced back at Rietz just in time to see him raise his hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have an idea? Speak, then,” said Lumeire. A few others in the room scowled at the sight of Rietz, a Malkan, daring to take the floor, but Lumeire himself showed no signs of that sort of contempt. Apparently, he wasn’t one for prejudice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that it will be exceedingly difficult to bring Perreina to our side without sufficient information on their dealings,” said Rietz. “To that end, I would propose that our first priority be determining why the Count of Perreina has chosen not to side with Lord Couran despite his county’s adverse circumstances.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A sound argument,” said Lumeire with a nod. “But how, specifically, do you propose we obtain this information?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is he going to bring up the Shadows?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We hadn’t even made contact with them yet, so promising their help felt like a risk to me. Then again, if we did get them under contract, then Lumeire would probably be quite impressed with us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz surprised me, though, by instead mumbling to himself, “A good question… We’ll have to come up with a means, yes,” then shooting me a wink."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh─is he telling me to bring the mercenaries up myself? Maybe he thinks that if I make the proposal, it’ll make me look good in front of this council."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I was a little embarrassed that he’d set the stage for me that blatantly, but there wasn’t any sense in wasting the opportunity he’d created."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why don’t we hire mercenaries to gather that information for us?” I suggested. “As it so happens, I’m aware of a band that would suit the particulars of this mission perfectly.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mercenaries,” Lumeire repeated thoughtfully. “While I do have individuals trained in spycraft under my employ, I’m afraid to say that none of them are by any means experts. Are these mercenaries of yours skilled?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced at Rietz, and he nodded back to me. If he thought they had what it took, then I felt confident assuming that they weren’t a band of clowns, at the very least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are,” I replied confidently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then,” said Lumeire. “In that case, I shall leave the acquisition of information on Perreina’s internal affairs to you. That said, should you fail to retain the services of these mercenaries, or should you determine that they are unworthy of trust, I would ask that you report back to me immediately. Failure is no sin, but silent failure could be the death of us all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Looks like Lumeire’s pretty good at handling underlings, I thought to myself at the same time. I’d had my fair share of subordinates at work in my previous life, and the worst-case scenario was always one of them screwing up and failing to admit it to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The war conference came to a temporary halt soon after, so I left the castle to make contact with the Shadows."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Ugggh,” moaned Rosell, clutching at his head as he walked beside me. “I couldn’t say anything, I couldn’t ask anything…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You must have been really nervous, huh?” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Of course I was!” snapped Rosell. “That room was full of the sort of people I usually only see in my nightmares!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some of the retainers in the room had very obviously been quite battle-hardened. I mean, it was a war council, after all. I had to admit, their grizzly beards and stern expressions had been pretty intimidating, but House Louvent had its fair share of people like that as well, so I didn’t know what he meant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe he just can’t handle that many of them in a room at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I couldn’t focus on the meeting at all thanks to them,” Rosell spat. “What’d they decide on in the end?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I quickly explained that we were going to meet with the Shadows, and a profound look appeared on Rosell’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… So everything went more or less how I expected it to, then… Ugh, but I bet the mercenaries are going to be terrifying, too… M-Maybe they’ll even kidnap me and try to sell me…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not going to happen. Relax, Rosell. Even if the negotiations go south, we’ll have Rietz and Charlotte there to protect us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s pathological negativity had slightly improved since he was little, but he was still a hardcore pessimist at heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned to Rietz and asked, “So, where should we go to meet with the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re based outside of the walls, in a bar called the Tremps. I’ll lead the way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz led us through the streets until suddenly, a familiar-sounding voice rang out behind us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars! Please, wait just a moment!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I turned around and saw a golden-haired girl of around my age running toward us. I realized why I recognized that voice─because it belonged to none other than my fiancée, Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Licia!” I exclaimed, taken aback. “This is a shock! Did Lord Hammond bring you along with him?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He did,” said Licia. “Though not without putting up a fight. I just had to come along and see you, so I put my foot down! He put his foot down in regards to the council, though, so I had to wait back in our chambers until the meeting concluded.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No wonder I didn’t see you there,” I replied. “Speaking of which, it’s good to see you again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d written more times than I could count, but this was our first time seeing each other in person in a year or so. We’d managed to get together once since the day we first met, but ever since then, we’d had no direct contact. Licia had clearly grown a lot over that past year, too─she was taller, and her figure was beginning to fill out. She was thirteen, and very clearly going through a growth spurt, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that she looked so different."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, it’s been far too long!” said Licia. “You’ve grown quite dashing since we last met, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It feels as though I’ve hardly grown at all compared to you, Lady Licia. You’ve become astonishingly beautiful.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My!” Licia exclaimed with a blush, then got right down to business. “By the way, Lord Ars, I’m told you intend to meet with a band of mercenaries called the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right,” I replied. “But wait, who told you that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I may have been listening in on your conference, truth be told,” Licia admitted. “But more importantly, if you plan to meet with the mercenaries now, perhaps you’d be willing to take me along? I believe I might be helpful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I paused to consider her offer. Licia was an accomplished negotiator, and she could indeed be quite helpful when it came to bargaining with the mercenaries. On the other hand, though, a mercenary band’s base had to be dangerous, right? I had absolute faith in my guards, of course, but I still had some apprehensions about bringing her to such a seedy place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Licia,” I said, “I’m afraid that the Shadows’ base is likely quite a dangerous place.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s perfectly all right!” she replied immediately. “I’ve already received permission from my father to accompany you. Does that make a difference?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hammond actually gave her the okay?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I mulled it over once more. If her father was down for it, I didn’t see any reason not to take her along, and I’d have felt a little bad turning her down after she went out of her way to ask him. Just in case, though, I asked Rietz for his opinion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I doubt it would be an issue,” he replied. “Our destination isn’t that dangerous, really. If it were, I wouldn’t be taking you with me either, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fair enough. All right, then, Lady Licia─shall we? Just be sure not to stray too far from the rest of us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lord Ars!” Licia exclaimed with a grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We resumed our walk, now with an extra party member in tow, and eventually reached a surprisingly large building with a sign reading “Tremps” hung out front."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, Rietz,” I asked as I surveyed the building, “how did you find out about the Shadows in the first place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well,” said Rietz. “You know I used to work as a mercenary myself, of course. The band I belonged to traveled across Missian, and at one point I ended up here in Canarre. I got to know the Shadows after the leader of my mercenary band hired them for a job.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A band of mercenaries hired another band of mercenaries?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They did, yes. The Shadows are in a different line of work than we were, after all. They deal in information, espionage, assassination, and the like. We, on the other hand, specialized in traditional warfare. For a band like ours, fighting for the losing side of a war meant sustaining heavy casualties and often not getting paid on top of it. In the worst case, we could have been wiped out. That was why we hired the Shadows to gather information on the state of conflicts and sabotage our enemies. They were quite helpful, frankly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Interesting! I didn’t know there was that much variation among mercenary bands.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my band was wiped out in the end,” Rietz added with a shrug. “Our leader got too greedy for his own good, and that was that…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz seemed to sink into his own memories. Considering how many of his friends and allies must have died, I couldn’t imagine they were particularly pleasant experiences. I decided not to pry any deeper as our group walked into the Tremps."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could immediately tell that it was a popular bar. The place was bustling, and despite its vast size, there were hardly any empty seats. It was only midday, so I could only imagine how packed it would be come nightfall."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This place is as busy as ever,” Rietz commented."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Guess it’s always been this way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Shadows introduced me to the bar’s owner back in the day, so I’ll try talking to him first.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz picked out the owner and walked over to him, and the rest of us followed along. As we slipped through the crowd, I noticed that we were drawing quite a lot of attention. It wasn’t every day you saw a Malkan as well-dressed as Rietz, Charlotte’s choice of clothing made the fact that she was a mage rather obvious, and Licia and I were very clearly nobility from our attire alone. In retrospect, we weren’t exactly dressed with subtlety in mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“These stares are getting on my nerves,” muttered Charlotte. “Can I burn them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Can she what?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte’s striking features were attracting the attention of the local men, which she clearly did not appreciate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course you can’t!” I whispered back. “A few stares won’t kill us, so just bear with it. Unless things get violent, I mean─then you can burn them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fiiine,” groaned Charlotte. “Ugggh, what a drag…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was kind of taken aback. She was always so mild-mannered back at my estate, so I’d never seen this belligerent side of hers before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I just caught her in a bad mood?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, although we got plenty of attention, nobody seemed interested in giving us a hard time, so we reached the owner unmolested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a while, Alex,” said Rietz to the owner. He looked to be middle-aged, with a muscular build and a rather impressive beard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alex gave Rietz a skeptical look and replied, “A Malkan…oh, you. Rietz, was it? You were with the Kraiment Mercenaries, weren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right,” said Rietz with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thought you were dead. Heard that most of you got done in, actually, and that the few who made it out with their hides intact went their separate ways.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Kraiment Mercenaries did disband, yes, but as you can see, I’m very much alive,” said Rietz. “At the moment, I serve as a retainer to House Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A retainer? House Louvent? That’s the lord down in Lamberg, eh? How the hell’d you… Wait,” Alex paused. “I’ve heard whispers of a Malkan boy down in Lamberg who fights like a demon on his lord’s behalf. That’s you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most likely, yes,” Rietz admitted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that sure clears things up. If I remember you right, then those rumors might not’ve been all folktale after all. You were one of the tougher Kraiments, weren’t you?” Alex asked as he glanced over Rietz’s shoulder. “That kid behind you the new Louvent lordling? I heard word the old one bit it and his kid took up the mantle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Ars Louvent,” I said, jumping in to assert myself a little. “I am indeed the head of House Louvent, as well as Rietz’s employer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, good to make your acquaintance. Name’s Alex Tremps, and I’m the owner of this boozehole,” Alex said with a perfunctory bow. “So, tell me, what brings you lot here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have a job for the Shadows,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ohhh, them,” said Alex. He looked a little flustered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is something wrong?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nah, not exactly. Thing is, the leader of the Shadows who took on jobs for the Kraiments? Bloke retired about two years ago.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Rietz shouted in shock. “But the man lived for his work! Did an injury do him in?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The opposite─a wife. Said he couldn’t afford to stay in such a risky line of business anymore, and that was that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” Rietz said with a frown. “That puts us in a difficult position…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, well, the boss moved on, but the Shadows are still around,” Alex clarified. “’Course, a fair chunk of the old guard split after he left. It’s a whole new operation these days.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what do you make of these new Shadows?” Rietz asked. “Are they capable?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They put the old Shadows to shame,” Alex replied with a sly grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They put them to shame…?” repeated Rietz. It sounded like he could hardly believe his ears. “But…the old Shadows were legendary! And yet, this new crew is somehow even more skilled?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Believe it or not,” said Alex. “The new boss has a real gift for the work, and a talent for spreading the wealth, skill-wise. The rest of them’ve improved by leaps and bounds. I haven’t gotten word of them failing a single job since the old boss handed over the reins.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s astonishing,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thing is, though, this new boss is even more off than the old one. Nobody knows how the hell the Shadows decide what jobs they take these days. There’s no guarantee they’ll take you on as clients unless you meet them and ask.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then that’s what we’ll do,” said Rietz. “Can you introduce us to this new boss of theirs?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll introduce you to whoever you want me to, so long as you’ve got the coin to pay for the privilege. It’ll have to be later, though. After dark, understand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does the new boss only show up here at night?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nah, the boss is already here. It’s just that the Shadows only take on new work at night. Don’t ask me to explain it, but one way or another, I won’t be taking you to the boss until night falls. Feel free to search on your own, though, if you’re up for wasting your time,” Alex said with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering how crowded this place is, yeah, that probably would be a hopeless endeavor…if I didn’t have my Appraisal skill to save the day, that is!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alex said that the Shadows’ boss had a gift, and I was certain that meant that they’d have to have high enough stats to catch my attention. They had to have a much higher Valor than the average person, if nothing else! The fact that they wouldn’t take any jobs until night meant that searching for the boss wasn’t really a productive use of time, but I didn’t have anything better to do, so I decided I might as well look around in the meantime."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” I said to Alex. “We’ll wait here until night falls, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Suit yourself. Order some drinks and a bite to eat while you’re at it, if you feel like doing me a favor. You look a bit short for the hard stuff, but I’ve got some less boozy drinks in the back, if that’d suit your fancy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would, thank you,” I replied, then paid for both the introduction and some drinks and fruits I took the opportunity to order from him. After that, we found a table, took a seat, and waited for night to fall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we waited, I started appraising the bar’s clientele one by one, keeping a close eye out for the leader of the Shadows. The place was packed, and I appraised absolutely everyone I could find, but nobody had a status screen that screamed “leader of a band of clandestine mercenaries” to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I’m wrong about spies having high Valor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, Appraisal didn’t have an Aptitude for information-gathering listed. I was starting to tire myself out with all that staring, too, so for the moment, I decided to give up on my hunt. Instead, I called out to a nearby waitress and asked for a glass of water─I was feeling a little thirsty, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Water? Coming right up!” said the waitress. Water was readily available in the Canarre region, so the price was negligible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Come to think of it, I never appraised that waitress, did I?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was still young─probably only a year or two older than me─and her black hair was tied up in a ponytail. Her looks weren’t outstanding or anything, but I certainly would’ve called her attractive, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I mean, let’s be real─she couldn’t possibly be the Shadows’ leader."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I almost didn’t bother appraising her, but figured, hey, what did I have to lose? And so, I gave it a shot."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0038.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My jaw dropped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’s─I mean, he’s a boy?! And twenty-two years old, at that?! He’s a full-grown adult! And man, just look at those stats! So his name is Mazak? Or at least, that’s his name unless my skill’s bugging out for whatever reason."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I appraised Rietz, just to check, and his stats were the same as ever, so I was fairly confident my skill wasn’t on the fritz. Then, I appraised the waitress…I mean, the waiter one more time…and his stats were exactly the same as they’d been the first time. Apparently, they were legit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Could it be…? Could this Mazak person be the leader of the Shadows?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was the only person with the stats for it in the building, and considering said stats, I was positive that at the absolute least, he wasn’t just an ordinary waiter. It’d have been one thing if he had high stat caps, but the fact that his current stats were almost maxed out made his abnormality plain as day. He’d been through some sort of training, no doubt about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Assuming his stats were real, then Mazak had become the leader of the Shadows when he was only eighteen or nineteen. When I really thought about it, the Shadows were all about spywork, and what could be better for making your target let their guard down than looking like a teenage girl?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was no teenage girl, though─he was a man of twenty-two, shockingly enough. Did he come from a line of people who were naturally short and girly, or was it some sort of medical condition? I had a feeling that his stats probably wouldn’t have been that high if he had a developmental disorder, so I was inclined to suspect the former."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm…did you want to order something else?” Mazak asked, looking a little uncomfortable. It seemed I’d been staring a little too openly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I figured that I probably shouldn’t ask him if he was the leader of the Shadows straight-up. They didn’t take jobs during the daytime, for whatever reason, and it seemed he was fully immersed in his role as a waitress, so I had a funny feeling that if I jumped the gun, he wouldn’t take on the job at all. I might even turn him against me entirely if I revealed his identity and damaged his pride!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leaving a bad first impression was the last thing I wanted to do, so I settled on not saying anything about his true identity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m fine, thanks,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I’ll be right back with your water, then,” he said. He came back with a glass moments later, then went on his way. It was incredible─he really came across as a young girl, from his voice to the tiniest mannerisms. Even if he himself revealed his true identity, without evidence, it’d just come across as a bad joke."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see you’ve taken quite a keen interest in that girl, Lord Ars,” said Licia with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She seemed a little miffed, actually. I guess the way I’d been staring at Mazak had gotten on her nerves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to tell the truth about why I’d been watching him. No point letting Licia stew over it, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m fairly certain that ‘she’ is the leader of the Shadows,” I whispered, quietly enough that nobody outside our table would hear me. Everybody at my table, meanwhile, gaped at me in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You realize that she’s a girl who can’t be much older than me, don’t you?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, he’s a twenty-two-year-old man.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” all of my companions shouted in unison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shhhhhh!” I quickly hushed them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’re probably fine─nothing too weird about people shouting in surprise! I’m sure nobody heard the first part!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You’re joking, right?” said Rosell. “How could she possibly be anything other than a girl?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m positive,” I replied. “There’s no doubt about it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia looked a little thoughtful and said, “I’m sure a person like that could be the leader of the Shadows…but a twenty-two-year-old man? That strains credulity…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t blame her. I’d seen the appraisal results with my own two eyes, yet even I’d second-guessed them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe it,” said Rietz. “I’ve never known Lord Ars to be wrong about such matters. Though that said, I didn’t know he had the power to reveal an individual’s sex.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No surprise that Rietz would trust me. He’s known me the longest, and he’s seen time and time again how accurate my Appraisal skill is."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If that’s the boss, then why don’t we go ask him about the job right now? I’m getting sick of waiting,” said Charlotte. I quickly explained that if we jumped the gun he might not take the job at all, so she agreed to wait a little longer, though she made it clear she wasn’t very happy about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A little while later, nature called, and I got up to use the restroom. Rietz reflexively stood up to escort me, but since the bar wasn’t particularly rowdy and it would’ve been embarrassing to have someone following me to the toilet, I told him he didn’t have to bother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bet he’s going to keep his eyes glued to the restroom’s entrance anyway, but eh, that beats the alternative."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stepped into the restroom. This world did have decent enough water infrastructure, all things considered, so the toilets weren’t as unhygienic as one might assume. I finished my business, turned to leave…and nearly dropped dead of a heart attack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, kid, let’s chat. How’d you figure out I’m the Shadows’ boss?” asked Mazak, who was standing literally right in front of me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When did he get there? I didn’t notice him at all!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When he was acting like a waitress, he’d seemed like a bright, cheerful girl, but now he was staring fixedly at me, completely expressionless. He looked so calm and analytical that I was astonished. How could a single person give off two impressions so wildly different just by changing the look on his face?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’S the first time I’ve been busted, you know?” said Mazak."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As it so happened, though, I had an extremely similar question on my mind: How did he know that I knew who he was?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to play dumb and asked, “What are you talking about?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nuh-uh, that’s not gonna fly. I’m sure you thought you were whispering quietly enough, but I heard every single word you people said. You’re Ars Louvent, freshly-minted Lord of Lamberg, and you came here to hire me for a job. Then, somehow, you figured out that I was the boss, a man, and twenty-two. Feel like denying any of that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mazak had been quite a ways away from our table while we had that discussion. If he’d managed to eavesdrop anyway, then his hearing was remarkably sensitive. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have been able to get by as a spy if it weren’t. All that said, he’d let one interesting fact slip: if he didn’t know how I knew his identity, then he hadn’t overheard our entire conversation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It wasn’t easy to get in here without anyone noticing, y’know?” said Mazak. “Some weird asshole was watching the restroom like a hawk, so I had to take a back route that only the staff know about. I didn’t go to all that trouble for nothing, so you’re going to tell me how you figured me out, one way or another.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess Rietz really was watching out for me after all! Mazak got the better of him, but I can’t blame him for not accounting for a secret passage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you so curious about how I figured you out?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hiding your identity’s kind of a big deal in my line of work, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in my skills. If somebody takes me down a peg, then I’ve gotta figure out how they pulled it off. Or what, you think I’d just let you piss all over my work and walk away? Spill your guts, kid. Where’d I screw up?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You didn’t,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation. “Your act was perfect.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then how’d you know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d hit my limit─I had to fess up. I could tell that if I kept giving him the runaround, he was probably going to get violent with me, so I told him about my Appraisal skill."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The power to see other people’s abilities…?” Mazak repeated disbelievingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. You possess abilities far exceeding the average person’s, so I knew you were likely the Shadows’ leader. Incidentally, my power also lets me see your name, sex, and age. Mazak Finde, I presume?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mazak gasped. His eyes widened for just a moment, but then he shut them and sneered, “Sorry, but that’s a swing and a miss. I gave up that name ages ago. I go by Pham these days.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He changed his name? Interesting─then it looks like my skill doesn’t update that information. It must only tell me their birth name."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gotta say, though,” he continued. “That skill makes you the natural enemy of folks in my line of work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It does?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Better believe it. Like I said, you can’t get by in this field unless you can conceal your identity. That makes the way I look real convenient─nobody ever suspects the little girl in the room to be rooting around for their deepest secrets, y’know? That’s why I never let anyone other than my most trusted allies in on my identity. I don’t even let my clients see my real face. Alex and the rest of the Shadows are the only ones who know who I am.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Part of me really wanted to ask, “Then what do you do with people like me who figure your identity out?” However, I kept my lips firmly shut. It had just hit me how risky of a position I was in, and I’d already pushed my luck pretty far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve only got two options for someone with a dangerous power like yours: bring ’em over to my side, or make sure they never get the chance to work against me, if you catch my drift. You got a preference?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My heart skipped a beat out of sheer terror, then started gradually pounding faster and faster. If I chose the wrong answer, things could get very nasty, very quickly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think it goes without saying that I’d rather be on your side,” I replied. “By the way, you know I’m the head of House Louvent, don’t you? I’ve already told my retainers your identity, and if anything happens to me here, you won’t just be making enemies of my people─even the count might hunt you down. I’m sure you’d rather not get chased out of this city, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Any town works for me,” Pham snorted dismissively."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It can’t be that easy to pick up and move your whole operation, can it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pain at first, I’ll give you that, but nothing we can’t handle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what if my retainers followed you? What if they were willing to chase you to the far ends of the continent to kill you for what you did to me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d do them in before they got the chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know about that. My retainers are pretty strong.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham paused for just a moment…then cracked up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hah hah hah! Oh, don’t piss yourself, kid. I can hear your heart beating up a storm, y’know? Guess you are just a brat, though. Dunno what I was expecting.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rats! I thought I was keeping a straight face, too. How are you supposed to fool somebody into thinking you’re calm when they can literally hear your heartbeat?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was kidding,” Pham continued. “I’m not planning on making you disappear, don’t worry. I happen to like unique sorts, and though I wasn’t lying about your power being dangerous, it makes you as unique as it gets. I’d never turn down a job from someone like you. Plus, working for nobles tends to mean repeat commissions if we pull off the job, and that means spreading my identity around would bite you in the ass just as hard as it would me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out a sigh of relief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, thank goodness, he was just kidding. I seriously thought that I was about to get murdered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can tell me about the job once night falls,” said Pham. “Just sit tight until then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham struck me as a little dangerous─maybe more than a little, actually─so part of me was seriously considering backing out of this whole plan. However, after everything we’d just been through, giving up on hiring him and making a break for it felt like a surefire way to make a lifelong enemy out of him. I wasn’t particularly interested in having to watch my back for assassins at all hours, so it seemed I’d have to see this through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pham turned to leave the restroom…just in time for Rietz to burst through the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars!” he shouted a moment before his gaze fell upon Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz didn’t hesitate for a second─he’d drawn and swung his sword before I even knew what was happening. Pham, however, was just as fast, pulling a knife from his breast pocket and intercepting the swing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, Rietz! Stop!” I shouted. “He’s on our side!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Is that so? My apologies,” Rietz said, lowering his sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, kid, I’ve gotta hand it to you,” said Pham. “You were right─I would rather have you and your people on my side. I’m not gonna say I couldn’t kill this guy, but I can tell he wouldn’t make it easy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that final remark, Pham left the bathroom."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, meanwhile, turned to me and asked, “Are you sure you’re all right, Lord Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m fine, really!” I reassured him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear it. I was keeping watch, yet I didn’t notice anything was wrong at all! There must be another entrance,” Rietz commented, glancing around the bathroom. “In any case, you were right, not that I ever doubted you. He must be the current leader of the Shadows, considering how easily he blocked my strike.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Pham’s skills had impressed Rietz already."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us left the bathroom and returned to our table. A short while later, Pham emerged back onto the floor, once again in full waitress mode. I was flabbergasted─how could a person change how they came off that dramatically at the drop of a hat? Once again, I was half-convinced that he really was a totally different person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Time passed by, and finally, night fell. It wasn’t long before Alex walked on over to our table."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for waiting. I’ll take you to see Pham, the boss of the Shadows, now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We got up and followed Alex up a staircase, passing by the second floor and emerging on the third. He then unlocked a door and ushered us inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pham, your guests are… Huh? You going around showing your face off to clients these days?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No point in hiding it,” replied Pham from inside. “They already figured me out.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What…?” Alex blinked in confusion, unable to process what he’d just heard. “They figured you… What? You mean they saw you at work and picked you out as the Shadows’ leader?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s exactly what they did,” said Pham. “The boy, specifically. He’s got a weird power up his sleeve, it seems. Picked me out of the crowd at a glance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be damned,” muttered Alex, seeming downright shocked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess somebody seeing through Pham’s disguise was way beyond his expectations. Can’t blame him, though, considering how good of a disguise it is. I sure wouldn’t have been able to tell without a helping hand, myself!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“S-So Ars was right?” marveled Rosell. “She really was the leader of the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And ‘she’ really is also actually a he, I assume,” added Licia, who’d apparently still been skeptical on that front. Even after his true identity had been revealed, it was hard to see Pham as anything other than a girl. His natural voice was a little lower than the one he’d used while posing as a waitress, but it didn’t exactly scream “man” to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I’m a man. No question about it,” said Pham. Even after hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth, Licia didn’t seem totally convinced, but selling her on that point was pretty low on my list of priorities. I honestly couldn’t have cared less whether he was a man or a woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t dress like this for kicks, either,” Pham added. “Young girls are the most universally underestimated people in this whole damn world. Being able to drop into the role at a moment’s notice makes my job a hell of a lot easier, so I work here to practice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wondered why he’d bother with the whole waitress act…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had it down pat, in my book, but I had a funny feeling that Pham himself still felt there was room for improvement. Either that, or he refused to stop practicing even though the act was perfect to make sure he never lost his touch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, let’s talk business, yeah? What’ll the Shadows be getting done for you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Does that mean you’ve already decided to take the job?” I asked, bewildered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. Like I said─you’ve got a pretty unique power, and I like that. Working for you sounds like a good time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was still a bit stunned, but I quickly explained the details of the job to Pham. He crossed his arms when I finished and replied, “Hmm… The reason why Perreina isn’t giving in and joining your little alliance, eh…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can you figure it out?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stupid question. Of course we can. Turning up info like that’s our bread and butter. I’d bet we’ll have an answer for you in no time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You will? Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Give us a week and you’ll see for yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s even faster than I was expecting. I thought it’d take at least a month!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll cut you a deal, since this is our first job for you,” said Pham. “One gold for the job with a three silver advance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Three silver? That’s cheaper than I was expecting, too!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had more than enough money on hand to hire him on the spot. I’d been prepared to do some haggling if his price had been outrageous, but it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary after all. I handed over the three silver without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for the business,” Pham said as the coins clinked into his palm. “Shouldn’t take more than a week, like I said. But for safety’s sake, let’s say the deadline’s two weeks from now. Come back then, at night, and you’ll have your answer.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, our negotiations with Pham and the Shadows came to a close. In the end, it had turned out to be way less of an ordeal than I’d initially expected─I was anticipating a real interrogation. All that was left for us to do was wait and believe in Pham’s skills. And given the results of my appraisal and the quality of his disguise, that second part was going to be very easy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia spoke up as the four of us walked out into the streets: “Well, that certainly proceeded swimmingly! I came along in the hopes that I could be of some use, but it seems I missed my chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She honestly sounded a little disappointed. We’d managed to hire the mercenaries we wanted, though, so I didn’t see any need for her to feel sorry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d better say something to cheer her up, huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still, I’m glad you came along. Having you with us made the trip far more enjoyable,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? I-It did…?” Licia stammered, her cheeks flushing. She glanced away, but only a few seconds later, she looked back again, a brilliant smile on her face. “Well, it just so happens that I feel the same way! I enjoyed this excursion with you, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Out of all the smiles I’d seen Licia wear, this was definitely the brightest. It was a pure, authentic smile that looked like it came from the bottom of her heart. I believed it, too─my intuition told me that this one truly wasn’t faked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our mission concluded, we returned to stay the night at the castle. The next morning, we set off for Lamberg once more."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0040.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Two weeks later, as promised, we arrived at the Tremps. This time, though, we made sure to get there after dark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nice of you to show up,” said Pham as we stepped into his office. I’d brought Rietz, Charlotte, and a few other guards with me this time. Rosell ended up staying in Lamberg, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you manage to get the information we wanted?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Course we did,” said Pham. “But you’ll have to pay your tab before you get to hear it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I handed over the remaining seven silver coins, which Pham accepted with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks for the business.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, I’ve been wondering something. You’re not the only member of the Shadows, right?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Course I’m not. I’m the only one who talks to the clients, though. That’s the boss’s duty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, they exist, but we don’t get to meet them. I guess it wouldn’t really make sense to have the whole crew meet all their clients."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” said Pham. “Let’s get down to business, then. You wanted to know why Perreina won’t jump ship to Couran’s side of the war, yeah? Well, first up, a quick bit of basic searching led us to discover that the Count of Perreina, Rulrook Dolan, owes Vasmarque a great debt.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A debt?” I repeated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. See, Vasmarque’s endorsement is what enabled House Dolan to rise all the way to the seat of count, so Rulrook owes the man his success.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that’s why he chose to side with him?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s part of why, but it’s not that simple. The debt’s heavy, but not heavy enough to make him choose a path that’s all but sure to lead to his house’s downfall.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then he must have some other reason, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. So we dug a little deeper and turned up something real interesting,” said Pham, passing me a rolled-up letter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just read it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I unfurled the letter and began to read, only for my jaw to drop in shock. The letter was a solicitation from Vasmarque addressed to the Count of Perreina, requesting that he enter into an alliance. The letter included a list of the counts who had already pledged their loyalty to Vasmarque, along with their signatures and seals─in other words, all the houses on it were firmly on his side. Among their number were the counts who ruled over the eastern and northern counties, as well as a provisional entry for Perreina itself. None of that was particularly surprising, but there was one extra name on that list that was downright stunning: the County of Maasa, home to the largest city in western Missian."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does this really mean…?” I muttered in wonder, glancing over at Rietz, whose eyes were just as wide as mine."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The County of Maasa has sided with Lord Vasmarque?” Rietz whispered in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right,” said Pham. “And that means that as things stand, Vasmarque holds a hefty advantage. The man probably sent this letter off to the Count of Perreina because he knew that, between that advantage and the debt the count owed him, he would side with him for sure. I mean, with Maasa on Vasmarque’s side, Couran’s campaign’s all but dead in the water. Who’d board a ship that’s already sinking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And this letter is genuine? How did you get it? It can’t have been easy to obtain something this important,” I said. I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to tell whether or not the house seals on the letter were authentic, so I couldn’t say with total certainty that the whole thing was a forgery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Trade secret,” said Pham. “We can’t go blabbing about how we get our hands on stuff like that, no matter how much we trust the client. That’s need-to-know information, and if you’re not one of us, you don’t need to know. What I can tell you is that it was without a doubt obtained from Castle Perreina, the residence of the count.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ugh, trade secrets? Really? Though I guess even if I did know how he got the letter, that still wouldn’t necessarily prove it’s real. Any number of people could be trying to deceive me in this situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, if I wasn’t willing to trust Pham’s word, then there hadn’t been any point in hiring him in the first place. Lumeire had surely had his fair share of dealings with the other counts, so I decided to see if he knew more about their seals. He seemed the best bet to determine if the letter’s contents could be trusted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies for doubting you,” I said. “I hope you’ll understand that this is just…rather unbelievable news.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No skin off my back,” said Pham. “That’s all the info I have for you right now. You know where to find us if you have another job.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. The information is greatly appreciated. You don’t mind if we take this letter with us, do you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All yours.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I collected the letter and we made our way out of the bar. It was time to head back to the inn we were staying in and plan our next move."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is going to get way out of hand, isn’t it?” I speculated. “Assuming that letter is real, then Lord Couran will be rushing into this war at a major disadvantage. What are we supposed to do now…? Do you think we should deliver the letter to Lord Lumeire right away?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me think,” said Rietz, who was busy re-reading the document we’d received from Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Something about this letter feels wrong,” he eventually concluded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t trust Pham?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, that isn’t quite what I mean. I fully believe that this letter was stolen from Castle Perreina, but the problem is the Count of Maasa’s signature and seal. I believe they may be forgeries.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that would mean…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In short, it would mean that this letter could be a stratagem on Lord Vasmarque’s part. I believe that he may have forged the Count of Maasa’s signature and seal in order to pressure the Count of Perreina into committing himself to Lord Vasmarque’s cause.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would that really work?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t the Count of Perreina have seen the Count of Maasa’s real signature and seal plenty of times already?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps, but it’s far from impossible to make a forgery convincing enough to pass a cursory inspection,” replied Rietz. “I’ve heard that there are even some forgers who make a living solely by creating seals that are indistinguishable from the real thing.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… What makes you think it’s a forgery, though?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The fact that the Count of Perreina was the only one who Lord Vasmarque tried to recruit,” said Rietz. “That strikes me as extremely unnatural.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does it? But the Count of Perreina already owed Lord Vasmarque a favor. Wouldn’t it make sense for Lord Vasmarque to go after Perreina first, since he’d know their count would have the highest odds of being receptive to the offer? Especially considering that if anyone turned the offer down, the fact that an offer was made would almost definitely get leaked.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But would that information leak really work to Lord Vasmarque’s disadvantage?” asked Rietz. “I imagine that many of the western counties have allied themselves with Lord Couran in no small part because they believe that the Count of Maasa has taken his side. If he really had chosen to support Lord Vasmarque instead, then going public with that information could easily win over other allies as well. Vasmarque would have nothing to lose from the revelation…and everything to gain.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… That’s a good point, actually. But even if the seal is a forgery, it seems odd that Lord Vasmarque didn’t reach out to the Count of Canarre and try to convince him, too.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps he thought that would be overplaying his hand?” suggested Rietz. “The farther the letter spreads, the more likely that someone will notice it’s a forgery. A single message to the Count of Maasa is all it would take to prove its inauthenticity, after all. As such, it would make sense for Lord Vasmarque to only use this tactic on the one count who owed him a debt and was likely already deeply involved with his affairs.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I get it…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps we might learn something if Lord Lumeire takes the letter directly to the Count of Maasa and asks about it…? No, that would prove nothing. After all, if the letter is genuine and the Count of Maasa is involved in some sort of plot, he would have no reason to be upfront about it… In any case, yes, I believe it would be in our best interests to show it to Lord Lumeire immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought so. In that case, let’s make our way to Castle Canarre on the double!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Showing up at the castle this late at night was most certainly a breach of etiquette, but considering the urgency of the situation, I figured the count would forgive us. We made our way toward Castle Canarre, which was only a short walk away from where we were staying. There was no gatekeeper stationed outside at this time of night, but there were guards posted on watch around the perimeter of the castle, so we were able to explain the circumstances and get them to let us inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon after we entered, Menas ran up to us in a fluster."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome, Lord Ars!” he called out. “Lord Lumeire is eagerly awaiting your news regarding the Count of Perreina!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed the guards had told him why we’d come."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to come calling so late at night,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no, think nothing of it! Even a second’s delay can make a world of difference when news of this magnitude is concerned. Come, come! I’ll lead you to Lord Lumeire at once!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering the fact that we’d shown up unannounced, I was surprised by how readily we were granted an audience with the count."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe we just happened to arrive while he wasn’t busy with anything else?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas guided us to Lumeire’s room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well met, Ars,” Lumeire said as we stepped inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, and my apologies for disturbing you so late at night,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No matter. Frankly, I’ve done no small amount of second-guessing myself as to whether entrusting you with such an important task was a wise decision. I’m very impressed to see you return to me with information in hand so quickly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid you might wish to reserve your praise until after you’ve heard his report, M’lord,” noted Menas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course. There’s no telling what sort of information it is, after all,” Lumeire said, then cleared his throat. “So, let’s hear it. What have you learned?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First, I’d like you to read this,” I said, gesturing to Rietz. I’d given the letter to him for safekeeping, so he took it out and passed it to Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A letter…?” muttered Lumeire. He unfurled it and began reading. “A letter of alliance? And a list of counties pledged to Lord Vasmarque’s cause, with accompanying signatures and seals… Hmph, Perreina’s as well… What?! What is the meaning of this?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had a funny feeling that Lumeire had just reached the Count of Maasa’s signature. His jaw dropped and his eyes bulged in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-How could this be…? The Count of Maasa, siding with Lord Vasmarque? N-No, that can’t be… The Count of Maasa has always held lord Couran in the highest of esteem, and he’s never been one for deception…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Lumeire was even more shocked by the count’s apparent betrayal than we were. He did know the man personally, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Is this letter genuine?” he asked, turning his gaze back to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was obtained from the Count of Perreina’s home, so yes, in all likelihood, it is,” I explained. “However, I can’t be certain that the seal and signature of the Count of Maasa are authentic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?” asked Lumeire. I quickly explained our suspicions that the letter may have been part of Vasmarque’s scheme to lure the Count of Perreina into an alliance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Lord Vasmarque’s always been a crafty one, and I wouldn’t put this sort of scheme past him… However, the signatures and seals upon this document look indistinguishable from the real things, to my eyes,” he said as he slowly and carefully inspected the page."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire had surely seen nobles’ signatures and seals far more times than any of us, and I wasn’t about to second-guess his judgment. That said, if he was right, then it would mean we’d have no choice but to assume the Count of Maasa was our enemy. I had to wonder what sort of action Lumeire would take if he decided that was the only explanation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahem,” said Menas, who was standing off to the side and listening in on our conversation. “Might I take a look at that document?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right,” said Lumeire, passing him the letter. “I’d forgotten you have a power that comes in handy at times such as these.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas spent a moment slowly and carefully inspecting the letter, then looked up once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm, yes. I believe that the signature and seal of the Count of Maasa are indeed forgeries.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really?!” I exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed. Wait just a moment,” said Menas, who then stepped out of the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Menas possesses the power to ascertain the authenticity of signatures, seals, and the like,” explained Lumeire as his retainer left."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had no idea he had that sort of ability!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My Appraisal skill allowed me to see people’s status screens, but it had become increasingly clear that it did not allow me to tell whether or not they had special skills or abilities of their own. I was starting to appreciate that there was always a lot more to a person deep down than what little my power could tell me about them. Part of me was hopeful that my skill would evolve and start giving me that sort of info eventually, but considering the status screens hadn’t changed in the slightest since the day I was born, I figured I should keep my expectations low."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas soon returned with a second letter in hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This letter bears the genuine signature and seal of the Count of Maasa,” he explained. “To be on the safe side, I suggest we compare them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas placed the two letters side by side, lining the relevant sections up. The count’s seal, incidentally, depicted a hexagon with a circle within it, and a five-pointed star within the circle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I thought as much,” mumbled Menas. “The shape of the circle really is slightly askew…and the hexagon is slightly too small.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I couldn’t tell at all, even after he pointed the differences out. I almost thought I could see the discrepancies after staring at the seals for several moments longer, but I suspected I was just fooling myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, Menas brought out a ruler and started taking careful measurements of the two seals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, yes, I knew it! The difference is slight, but it is there. The signatures are quite similar as well, but the count’s genuine article is written in a slightly different hand than the forgery. And a forgery it is─I am now confident beyond a shadow of a doubt. The others are genuine, however, so they have likely all pledged their support to Vasmarque.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s truly important here is that the Count of Maasa’s are fake. That is a relief,” said Lumeire. I could tell that he really didn’t want to end up in a conflict with the County of Maasa. “I shall report on these matters to the Count of Maasa and Lord Couran. I’m certain that between the three of us, the problem will be settled in no time. You have done exceptionally well, Ars, and I assure you that you will be rewarded accordingly in due time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am honored by your praise, Lord Lumeire,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I felt a little awkward about being complimented over my so-called accomplishment. After all, Pham was the one who’d done all the actual work, and Rietz was the one who’d introduced me to him. Then again, taking credit for your retainers’ accomplishments did strike me as a very feudal-lord sort of thing to do."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We wound up spending the night in the castle, then returned to Lamberg the next day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few weeks passed before I received word on the plan to bring the Count of Perreina over to our side. A message finally arrived one day, informing me that the plan had succeeded and that I was to report to Castle Canarre. We set off at once, and it wasn’t long before I stood face-to-face with Lumeire once more. This time, however, I ended up attending my audience with the count on my own. Lumeire, Menas, and I were the only ones present."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well met, Ars,” said Lumeire. “Once again, allow me to congratulate you: your efforts proved instrumental in our success. Thanks to you, the Count of Perreina has agreed to side with Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am pleased beyond measure that I was able to be of service to you and Lord Couran,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As you should be. I’m not exaggerating─your work really did make all the difference. Come to think of it, I suppose I never told you, but the Count of Perreina can provide us with a certain resource of incredible strategic significance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A resource…? What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Explosive magistones. They’re an incredibly rare form of ore. Perreina is the only source of the stuff in Missian, and it is one of only four in all of Summerforth. Aqua magia refined from explosive magistones allow the user to perform truly incredible, and truly destructive, feats of magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was certainly the first I’d heard of Perreina having such an incredible resource. For a moment, I thought that having their count on our side could prove incredibly advantageous, but then it occurred to me that Perreina had been committed to Vasmarque’s side for quite a long time before they’d defected. In the worst case, Vasmarque may have already secured himself a considerable supply of magistones."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unfortunately, the Count of Perreina has informed us that Lord Vasmarque continues to help himself to the magistone reserves,” sighed Lumeire, immediately confirming my suspicions. “They’ve set up checkpoints along the border and are stopping anyone who attempts to cross with magistones on hand, but it seems the smugglers are one step ahead of Perreina’s border guards, as they continue to deliver a large quantity of magistones into Lord Vasmarque’s clutches. I can’t say with confidence that we have the upper hand in that respect.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still,” continued Lumeire in a brighter tone. “We’re far better off than we were when the Count of Perreina was trapped under Lord Vasmarque’s thumb. The tide is turning in our favor, of that I’m certain! But enough talk─I’m sure you’re anxious to see your reward. Menas!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, M’lord!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire gave Menas a wave, prompting him to step out of the room, then return moments later with two boxes loaded onto a small cart. The boxes themselves were quite different in size, with one of them quite small and the other notably large."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ll find three hundred gold coins within, altogether,” said Lumeire. “Consider it your reward for a job well done.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-Three hundred gold coins?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had expected him to reward me in gold, yes, but three hundred was far beyond my wildest expectations. I’d been anticipating closer to fifty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed,” Lumeire replied with a nod. “Lord Couran contributed his own coin to your reward. I’m ashamed to admit it, but my pockets aren’t particularly deep these days, and his money accounts for the bulk of it. The small box is my contribution─fifty gold coins in total. The remaining two hundred and fifty in the large box are your reward from Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That explained it. I hadn’t anticipated Couran personally rewarding me as well. It made sense that he had money to spare, though, considering he ruled over Semplar. Two hundred and fifty gold was probably chump change to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My sincerest thanks,” I said as I accepted the boxes. I took the cart as well, though I had a feeling they were going to be a nightmare to transport regardless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s one more thing I ought to tell you,” continued Lumeire. “Lord Couran wishes to meet you in person.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Wait, seriously?” I replied in shock. I’d helped him out, sure, but there was a world’s worth of difference between Couran’s social standing and my own."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Broadly speaking, the status of a lord was determined by the worth of the land they ruled over. Noble ranks and the status they granted used to be a far more strict affair, supposedly, but in the current day and age, they practically felt like a formality compared to the practical power that a lord wielded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Semplar, the territory that Couran ruled over, was one of the most affluent regions in all of Missian. Plus, being the son of the late duke gave him no small amount of pull. His influence was overwhelmingly greater than that of a petty lord like me, and it was a shock that he would bother going out of his way to meet with me. It seemed likely that something unusual was playing out behind the scenes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Truth be told,” said Lumeire, “I mentioned you in conversation with Lord Couran and he took quite an interest in you. Raven told me about your talent to perceive the talents of others some time ago. Well, really, he boasted to me about how you were the one who recruited Rietz and Charlotte. The moment I mentioned your capabilities to Lord Couran, he told me that he’d be most interested in meeting you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So that’s where this is coming from─it’s all about my skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to admit, Appraisal was an incredibly useful ability to have. It was no surprise that someone in Couran’s position would take an interest in it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Plans have been made to throw a party in celebration of Perreina’s recruitment,” Lumeire continued. “Perreina spent long enough sworn to the other side’s service that there’s still some lingering doubt among our allies regarding their allegiance, and the idea is that a social gathering will help dispel that skepticism. Serious stuff, I assure you. In any case, I want you to attend that party as well. This isn’t an order, and you’re welcome to refuse…but I trust you’d never even consider that an option, would you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I certainly wouldn’t,” I replied immediately. “I would be honored to attend.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been wanting to appraise Couran for quite a long time, so a party seemed like the perfect chance to not only see him, but also all the other nobles he’d forged alliances with. Knowing how capable the people on my side were could prove invaluable in the long run, so I couldn’t let a chance that good slip past me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excellent,” said Lumeire. “I’ll inform Lord Couran at once. And again, Ars, what you’ve done for us is truly commendable. I expect great things from you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lord Lumeire. I intend to do my utmost to support Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We left the castle soon after, reward money in tow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” I said. “Back to Lamberg, then?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just a moment, please,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“About the Shadows─we wound up hiring them to dig into the Perreina situation for us, yes, but have you forgotten our initial goal? Weren’t we going to ask them to supply us with information on the overall state of Missian?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A long, awkward silence followed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Right.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I really had completely forgotten. Getting information on the Count of Perreina was never our primary goal in the first place! Our initial plan was to make contact with the Shadows; Perreina was just an afterthought!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good point, yeah. And now that you mention it, we do have plenty of funds on hand! How about we make our way to the Tremps and commission some spies?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that would be an excellent idea,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That said, what am I actually going to ask them to, well, do?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could definitely get information on our allies from Lumeire, and I’d be able to look into their stats at the party I’d just been invited to, so asking about them seemed like a waste. Information on our enemies, on the other hand, would obviously prove useful, and the best place to dig up info on them was their base of operations: Arcantez."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The security at Castle Arcantez would be tight, of course, and infiltrating it for the sake of gathering information might be a challenge, even for the Shadows. That said, they wouldn’t necessarily have to get into the castle itself to find useful information. Simply gathering intel in the castle town could potentially prove incredibly helpful. As for how long we’d commission them for, I figured I’d set the contract to last as long as the war lasted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m thinking we should ask them to go to Arcantez and keep gathering as much useful information as they can manage until the war ends,” I said, summing up my thought process to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that sounds prudent to me,” said Rietz. “I should note, however, that setting the duration of the contract to the duration of the war means we’ll likely be charged a very hefty sum.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fortunately for us, we just received a very hefty sum as a reward,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With a solid plan in mind, we headed off to the Shadows’ bar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About the mission,” said Charlotte as we arrived at our destination. “Why not just hire them to kill ‘Vasmarque’ or whatever his name is and be done with it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did a double-take."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That certainly came out of nowhere!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, uh, think assassination might be a little out of the question,” I replied. “I’m sure his security’s as airtight as it gets. I guess it would bring the war to an end right away, though…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I recommend against it,” said Rietz. “An assassination of that magnitude is the sort of decision you shouldn’t be making. We have no idea what Lord Couran intends to do with his brother when the war is over, after all. Enemies or not, they are siblings, and he may plan to imprison Lord Vasmarque rather than kill him. I don’t believe we should take such a drastic step unless Lord Couran specifically requests that we do so.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, come on,” moaned Charlotte. “I thought that if you beat the enemy general, you could win the war in one fell swoop! That’s what they told me, anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say my father was the one who put that particular idea in her head. I guess it’s not exactly wrong. Definitely too drastic of a measure for the current circumstances, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of us walked into the bar. Night had already fallen, so Pham was nowhere to be found on the first floor. We explained to Alex that we were here to hire the Shadows, and a short while later, he led us up to Pham’s office."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Didn’t expect to see you again so soon, Ars Louvent,” said Pham with a subtle grin as we walked through the door. I quickly explained the details of our request, trying not to let his shockingly girly looks distract me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“‘Useful information,’ eh? Anything more specific you’d want out of us?” he asked when I finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s see… Information on the size of our enemy’s forces, their tactics, their overall strategy, the strengths and weaknesses of their nobles, information that could give us a diplomatic edge─really, I’d want you to report anything and everything you come across and believe could be significant.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arcantez… That city’s a real pain in the ass to work out of. You should know that this is gonna cost you, and if you wanna keep us working for you until the war’s over, we’re talking a span of years, potentially. What do you say to five gold a month?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Making it sixty gold a year? I can pay that,” I replied immediately. His offer wasn’t far off from the price I’d anticipated, so I didn’t bother haggling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not quite done yet, though,” added Pham. “I’ll be asking for a bit extra on top of that for any particularly important info we dig up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A bonus, huh? How will we determine your specific payment for those?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll just have to talk it out when the time comes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. No objections there.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then─consider it a done deal,” said Pham. “I’ll take the first month’s payment upfront, then I’ll send a subordinate of mine to report to you on a monthly basis. He’ll stop by here every month with a letter from me, collecting our payment for the next month in exchange.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. But if that’s how we’re doing this, I’d like to meet this subordinate of yours ahead of time,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fair enough,” said Pham with a shrug. “In that case, come back tomorrow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll do just that,” I replied, then gave him his five gold. And with that, our negotiations came to an end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We left the Tremps, stayed overnight at an inn, and went right back to the bar again the next night to meet Pham’s subordinate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Ben, and it’s nice to meet you,” said a man who I could only describe as the most unremarkable individual I’d ever met. His face had no noteworthy or particularly distinguishing features. His voice was utterly unmemorable. In fact, I had a feeling that I’d forget what he’d looked like by the next day, let alone the next month."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, if I can’t remember his face, I’ll just have to remember his stat block!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, I gave Ben a quick appraisal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His status screen turned out to be full of surprises. I’d more or less expected Ben to be a pseudonym, but I hadn’t expected his real name to be such a mouthful, to start. That would make life easier for me. Even if I forgot his face entirely, a single appraisal would let me know it was him in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Equally surprising, though, were his stats. His Leadership cap was incredibly high─high enough that he probably could’ve become a general if he’d applied himself to the task. I knew this wasn’t the time to go headhunting, but under any other circumstance, I definitely would’ve taken a shot at recruiting him to be one of my retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, if good stats were all I was looking for, I would’ve tried to recruit Pham to be one of my retainers as well. That thought raised a question in my mind: did mercenaries ever become retainers of a noble household in this world? I imagined it was possible, at least, and if having the Shadows formally enter my employ was an option, I’d definitely want to pursue it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe if I keep climbing the social ladder, it’ll end up being a possibility someday."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I introduced myself to “Ben” and then, as that left us with nothing else in particular to discuss with him or Pham, we took our leave shortly thereafter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days had passed since I received Lumeire’s reward. It was the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, at the height of summer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lamberg’s climate was pleasant enough in the winter, but summers were almost unbearably hot. This world lacked air conditioning, too, so I spent each and every day wishing that fall would hurry up and arrive already."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars?” said one of my estate’s caretakers. “A letter from Lord Lumeire has arrived for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That didn’t come as a surprise. I’d been anticipating correspondence from Lumeire, and I had a pretty good guess as to what it was: an invitation to the party he’d mentioned the last time we spoke. Sure enough, I opened the letter to find it was precisely that. The party was scheduled to take place on the thirtieth of that same month, and it would spill over into the first of the month after. The new year was celebrated in this world, and the party had been deliberately timed to commemorate the occasion. That, more than likely, meant that I could look forward to a rather lavish affair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The party would be held at Castle Perreina, and the invitation specified that I would not be allowed to bring guests. I wasn’t offended, considering that under normal circumstances, I myself probably wouldn’t have been of high enough status to get invited. And besides, even if they couldn’t attend the party, Rietz and the others would most definitely be coming to Perreina as my escorts. I would’ve liked to ring in the new year with them, if possible, but sadly, we’d have to put a rain check on that this year."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The journey to Perreina would take about three days on horseback. I decided to give us five, just to be on the safe side, so we departed for Perreina on the morning of the twenty-fifth. This time, I was riding a horse that I’d claimed as my own. It had a red coat, was on the smaller side, and was very well-behaved and easy to handle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, horseback riding was also far more tiring than I’d expected it to be, and it was, again, the height of summer. I’d never ridden a horse for days on end before, either, so by the time we reached Perreina, I was a haggard mess. We arrived on the twenty-ninth, slightly later than I’d initially anticipated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Perreina was another walled city, much like Canarre, though slightly larger. Also, like Canarre, it featured a sprawling exterior city that rested outside the curtain walls. We quickly found an inn and bedded down for a long rest. If we’d arrived just one day later, I would’ve ended up attending the party in a state of exhaustion. But thankfully, leaving early had bought me a full day to rest up and recuperate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That day passed by rather quickly, though, and before I knew it, the evening of the thirtieth had arrived. It was time for the party, so Rietz and the others escorted me to the castle’s front gate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be off, then!” I said with a wave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Best of luck,” said Rietz, who looked more than a little anxious about me going off on my own. Unfortunately, I was the only one who’d been invited, so bringing him along wasn’t an option."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t too concerned, personally. After all, a party that Couran was scheduled to attend would certainly be heavily guarded. I’d already noticed an unusual number of guards by the gate, in fact, so I seriously doubted I had to worry about being attacked partway through the festivities. Frankly, I was more worried about committing some sort of horrible faux pas myself!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I set off into the castle, leaving Rietz and the others behind. I was stopped by the gatekeeper, but I’d been sent a formal letter of invitation this time around, so I was able to show it to him and get admitted right away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Perreina appeared just as ancient as Castle Canarre, though maybe just a little bigger. As I passed through the gate and neared the keep proper, I heard the sound of a commotion coming from within."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, no─I’m not late, am I?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hurried off toward the entrance. When I got inside, I found the main hall packed with nobles, all seated and chattering away with each other. I was, however, relieved to see that nobody was bringing in food yet. In other words, the party had yet to begin in earnest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few of the other guests cast skeptical glances my way as I walked past them. I could tell they were thinking something to the tune of, “What’s this brat doing in here?” I was fairly certain that most of them were high-ranking nobles, too, so their attention was making me quite uncomfortable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Ars! You made it!” cried out a familiar voice. I turned to look in the direction it had come from and found Lumeire making his way over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This place must be full of new faces to you, so let me give you a quick introduction. First, do you see the small-statured man sitting over there? That’s Rulrook Dolan, the Count of Perreina,” Lumeire said, pointing at a middle-aged man with a small build and white hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave Rulrook a quick appraisal. For being so small and slight of build, his Valor was remarkably high. His Politics was up there as well, though his Intelligence was nothing to write home about. I could definitely tell that he was an upstart noble, just like my father had been. He struck me as a fairly capable man, all around, and I could tell that having him on our side would prove beneficial, even setting aside the resources he could provide."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire proceeded down the line, naming all of the influential nobles one after another. Almost all of them had stats that were notably higher than the average person’s. I suppose I should have expected as much from a gathering of counts, really. There were one or two that certainly didn’t impress me, though, and I was also a little concerned to find that nobody’s stats stood out to me as truly exceptional."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has Lord Couran not arrived yet?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s around, but he seems to be out of the hall at the moment,” said Lumeire. “He’ll be here to give a speech when the party officially commences, I’m sure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like that speech will be the perfect opportunity to appraise him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was excited to learn what sort of person the late duke’s son was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After finishing his explanation, Lumeire returned to his seat, and I sat down to his right. His wife, incidentally, was sitting on his left side. It seemed that many of the prominent nobles at the party had brought along their spouses, children, and siblings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were still plenty of people I hadn’t appraised yet, but just as I was getting started on that, I heard what sounded like the crashing of cymbals. The nobles’ chatter quickly ceased, and everyone stood up. I followed their example, and Lumeire leaned down to whisper, “Here he comes!” into my ear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The silence was so absolute that I heard the tapping of his approaching footsteps long before I saw him. Finally, the door at the very end of the great hall swung open and a blond-haired man stepped through it. The moment he entered the hall, every noble present bowed in unison, with me frantically imitating the gesture a second later. That had to be Couran, surely, but I was too flustered to confirm it in the moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rise,” said the man in a deep, dignified voice that carried an unmistakable air of gravitas. I raised my head and took another look at him. His outfit was truly extravagant, and he stood before the hall of nobles with an imposing presence that made it feel like he owned the place and them. I estimated that he was in his early forties; and his face was peppered with scars. Noble-born though he may have been, it was clear at a glance that he’d been through more than his fair share of battles."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was Couran─he had to be, so I appraised him on the spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be honest, his stats were jaw-dropping. They were far beyond what I’d imagined, and I had already been expecting a lot from him. The persistent rumor was that his younger brother, Vasmarque, was favored by the late duke because he was far more talented than his older sibling. If that was true, and these were Couran’s stats, I couldn’t even guess what Vasmarque’s stat block looked like."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it was always possible that the duke just hadn’t had an eye for talent. Plus, parents tended to have skewed perspectives on their children’s abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thank you all for coming here today,” said Couran, kicking off his speech. “On this evening, we close the curtain on the two hundred and tenth year since the Summerforth Empire’s founding. Tomorrow, we shall witness the dawn of a new year. Unending strife and bloodshed await us. Our empire is not what it once was, and I do not believe it will ever return to its former glory.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran paused for a moment, then continued, “Once, the great men of House Salemakhia ruled over this land of Missian as kings, not subservient proxies to some far-flung greater power. I intend to win the battle that looms before us and take back what is mine by right. I shall then unite these lands under my banner, secede from the empire, and re-establish the Kingdom of Missian!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He wants to bring back the Kingdom of Missian? Is that what he’s been after this whole time? I guess it’s not too surprising, considering the state of the empire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that my brother, Vasmarque, intends to do the exact same thing,” Couran went on. “However, Vasmarque is a craven fiend! A man such as he is unworthy of the kingdom he seeks to establish! We will triumph, my brothers in arms, and our first battle has already been won! We have seen through Vasmarque’s schemes and put an end to them before they could play out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran went on to explain the details of Vasmarque’s plot to deceive Rulrook, the Count of Perreina, into thinking that Maasa had betrayed Couran’s cause. He took care not to rebuke Rulrook for siding with the enemy, and even framed the speech as praise, congratulating him for his choice to join the winning side. Rulrook stepped to the front at that point to offer his own speech, apologizing for his support of Vasmarque and swearing to spare no efforts in supporting Couran’s cause."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, however, was not the one to see through Vasmarque’s cowardly scheme,” Couran continued once Rulrook was finished. “That honor belongs to the youngest of us─a man with talent far beyond his years. Step forward, Ars Louvent and Lumeire Pyres.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I was too stunned to react. I had not expected my name to come up like that! Lumeire whispered, “Let’s go” into my ear as he stood, helping me shake off my panic and stand up along with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why are we going up to the front? Am I supposed to give a speech?! Nobody said anything about a speech!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My one saving grace was that Lumeire had been called up with me. Hopefully, he’d be able to save my skin. It wasn’t that I was afraid of public speaking─I actually had quite a bit of experience with it, in fact─but speaking in front of a crowd of nobles who were all my superiors on the social ladder was a completely different question! I was afraid I’d be too tongue-tied to spit a single word out!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite the terror I felt, I managed to walk up to the front of the hall and stand next to Couran. Seeing him up close only reinforced the air of majesty that he projected. This was our first meeting, in any case, so I decided to err on the side of formality and bowed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is an honor to meet you in person,” I said. “Ars Louvent, at your service.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I suppose this is the first time we’ve met. I am Couran Salemakhia,” said Couran with a smile. He then turned his gaze back to the crowd. “As you can see, Ars is still but a child. Nevertheless, he has done an exemplary job serving as the lord of a territory in Canarre known as Lamberg. He is the one who saw through Vasmarque’s treachery.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A round of applause ensued, at Couran’s prompting. He then went on to praise me to the high heavens without ever actually offering any specifics as to how I discovered the nature of Vasmarque’s scheme."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe hiring mercenaries to get a job like that done isn’t considered the most honorable approach among the high-ranking nobles?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon after, Couran’s focus shifted to Lumeire, who he praised just as lavishly for choosing me for the task. He asked Lumeire if he had anything to say, and Lumeire happily obliged with a bland but inoffensive, “I pledge to do everything in my power to support your cause, Lord Couran.” He got a round of applause for it, so apparently, it went over well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed my ordeal was finally over, and I was just about to return to my seat when Couran surreptitiously passed me a letter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to come if you’d prefer not to,” he whispered in my ear. “But personally, I’d be quite pleased if you did.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To come to what, exactly? Is this letter another invitation?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was immediately worried. When a man who was several steps your superior on the social ladder said, “No need to come,” your presence was absolutely mandated. The fact that he handed it to me on the sly meant it probably wasn’t something he’d want others seeing, so I stowed the letter in my breast pocket for the moment. I’d make a trip to the toilets or go outside for a breath of fresh air to read it privately later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The party carried on, and it wasn’t long before food was brought out for us. It was all delicious─no surprise, considering Couran was in attendance. It was either the best or second-best meal I’d had since my reincarnation, most likely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A performance was scheduled after dinner. I found a program affixed to one of the walls and discovered that said performance was scheduled to drag on for a very long time. It seemed they planned to keep going until the stroke of midnight. I excused myself before the entertainment got started, made my way to the restrooms, and found a private corner in which to read the letter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When the magical dancers scheduled for the third act conclude their performance, I would like you to excuse yourself from the party and come see me. I have something to ask you, as well as something to ask of you, the letter read."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Instantly, my worries compounded. Turning a request from a lord of his standing down would be hard, no matter how unreasonable it might be. I’d have no choice but to do whatever he asked. I brooded over my options as I stowed the letter and returned to the party."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I arrived back in the hall just in time to catch the performance’s opening act. I sat through the first two of them, after which the magical dance troupe Couran had mentioned in his letter took to the stage. They cast and combined magic of all types and aspects, and frankly, it made for quite the spectacle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran led the audience in a round of applause after the performance finished, then excused himself to visit the restroom. That was my cue to slip out as well, and the moment I did, I found Couran waiting for me just outside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to see my offer caught your interest.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wouldn’t even dream of refusing,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then, follow me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran led me out of the keep, then all the way outside the castle walls. A tall, slender man was waiting for us there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This man’s name is Robinson Renjee, and he is my most trusted retainer,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Robinson Renjee, at your service,” the man said with a rather flamboyant bow. I quickly returned his greeting, then appraised him. His Leadership and Valor were both unremarkable, but he had an Intelligence of 88 and a Politics score of 91. It seemed Couran’s trust in him had been well-earned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of us set off down the city streets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Where in the world are we going? And why do we have to walk this far in the first place? Didn’t he just want to ask me for a favor?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re almost there,” said Couran. “You’ll have to forgive me for being so circuitous. I wish to ask a favor of you that I’d rather not let your fellow lords overhear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The bad feeling I had about the situation only deepened. What sort of favor would he not want the other lords to hear? Was I about to get taken advantage of by a pedo?! I’d have no hope of fighting back if things went in that direction! I’d just have to go limp and take it! The more I thought about the situation, the more anxious I became."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve arrived,” Couran finally said as he stepped in front of a small, unremarkable-looking store. It struck me as old, unfashionable, and definitely not the sort of place you’d expect the son of a duke to frequent. We walked inside…only to find that there were no other customers at all, and for that matter, not even a storekeeper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A gold coin bought us the run of the place for the evening,” Couran explained as he plopped down onto a nearby chair. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a seat on a chair that faced him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Couran. “I am about to subject you to a simple test.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A test? What’s he talking about?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lumeire told me that you have the power to perceive people’s strengths and talents. He told me you saw through to the hidden genius that lurked within a Malkan boy and a slave girl. I have a favor to ask that could only be granted by someone with a power like yours, but before I say anything more, I would like to verify that your power is real.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I get it now─this is all about my Appraisal skill!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was relieved to conclude that he wasn’t going to do anything untoward after all. I was also confused about why he’d bothered calling me all the way out here, in that case, but the relief was still winning out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” I replied. “But how exactly would you like me to prove it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A sound question. First, I would like to hear about your power in more detail. Once I know more, I can decide how I’d like to go about testing it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I quickly explained how my Appraisal skill worked to Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Leadership, Valor, Intelligence, and Politics, along with their aptitudes for a variety of roles,” he muttered when I finished. “I see. Frankly, that’s even more than I had hoped for, and it makes testing your power quite simple. I would like you to appraise both me and Robinson, and tell me the results. I know Robinson’s strengths better than anyone else, and needless to say, I’m quite acquainted with my own as well. If your information proves accurate for both of us, I will choose to believe your story. Be honest with me─if your power tells you that I have a weakness, then do not hold back for politeness’s sake.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It really was a simple test. That was no trouble for me at all. I figured that the numerical scores my skill gave me would only serve to confuse him, so I chose to summarize what they meant about their capabilities in more ordinary language instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… I am convinced. You do indeed possess the power you claimed,” said Couran with a nod when I finished speaking. “Now then, let’s move to the real matter at hand.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-All right,” I replied nervously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to be so guarded! I suppose seeking out such an excess of privacy made you nervous. I promise you that I won’t be asking anything dreadful of you, so you can rest easy,” said Couran. Apparently, I’d been doing a poor job of hiding my state of mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You inspected the capabilities of your fellow nobles at the party earlier, didn’t you?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been expecting a request at that point, not a question, so it took me a second to collect myself and answer him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I did,” I eventually replied. I had no idea what he was getting at, so I figured I’d be better off being honest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tell me, what did you make of them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I…well…let’s see… I thought they were an impressive group of individuals.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you really? Nothing about them struck you as lacking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I were to answer that question honestly, I’d have to admit that, yes, I had been rather underwhelmed. I hadn’t been lying about them being impressive, but none of them other than Couran himself had been exceptional. I’d been expecting to see some real talent gathered up there, and to be completely frank, I was a little disappointed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I stopped to consider why that might have been, though, it struck me that most nobles had their titles handed down to them. It wasn’t all that common for an upstart to claw his way up the ranks and obtain a noble title, so really, it wasn’t too surprising at all that most of them were essentially ordinary people. In any case, I decided to reply honestly, and told him that I had indeed had a thought or two along those lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d expect no less,” said Couran with a nod. “And I do not deny it. Few of my allies are incompetent, but fewer still truly excel. That applies not only to the counts, but also to the vassals who serve them─very few have made names for themselves. Even amongst my own direct subordinates, only Robinson here has proven himself truly worthy of praise.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran clearly had an eye for talent as well, though nothing quite as easy or precise as what my skill provided me with. Finally, his decision to have the conversation away from prying eyes was starting to make sense. I couldn’t imagine any noble would be pleased to hear their lord describe them as unremarkable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The greatest thorn in my side is rather evident,” Couran continued. “I speak of the lack of anyone suited to serve as my tactician, of course. I believe myself to be more clever than the average person, and Robinson’s intellect is readily apparent, but neither of us has the experience required to fill the role. Vasmarque, on the other hand, has a man on his side named Remus. Not only was he my father’s closest advisor, but he’s also the pillar that has kept Missian stable for decades.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran paused there, then sighed before admitting, “Vasmarque himself is remarkably intelligent as well. I’ve never once surpassed him academically. Worse still, his right-hand man, Thomas, is just as much of a prodigy as he is. And that’s not even mentioning her… Oh, but I suppose she was exiled? In any case, as I’m sure you’ve surmised, Vasmarque holds the upper hand in terms of his advisors’ wisdom by a substantial margin. Our forces are roughly equal in terms of strength, which means that whoever has the more capable subordinates will surely come out on top.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean to say that, as things stand, you’re going to lose?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran nodded gravely and replied, “That brings me to my request. I have heard that your power has enabled you to recruit a host of truly talented retainers into your service. Do you know of anyone you would endorse to become my personal tactician?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyone I can endorse? I’m not sure,” I carefully answered. Anyone I chose to name here would go on to serve under Couran─in other words, I’d be giving them up to him. I wasn’t about to just hand over my people that easily."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I appreciate that you wouldn’t want your own prodigies stolen away from you,” Couran clarified. “Instead, I have a proposal: I would like you to participate in my next council of war.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your council? You want me to be there?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do. Ordinarily, only the most influential of nobles would be permitted at such a conference, but I would like you to attend…and to bring someone with tactical expertise along with you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are, umm…? Are you sure someone as inexperienced as me should be present at a council like that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran shrugged and replied, “I’m sure some of those present will be unamused, but talking them down will be my responsibility. Moreover, whether or not a proposal is accepted at a council of war hinges upon whether the proposal has merit─not upon who made it. If you have a useful perspective to contribute, then my people will accept you. As I said before, while none of them truly excel, none are outright inept, either. They can tell the difference between a good suggestion and a bad one.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s just one other thing I’m somewhat concerned about,” I said. “If I were to attend, it’s possible that I may wind up bringing a Malkan along with me. Do you believe that would pose a problem?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I were to accept his proposal, I planned to bring Rietz and Rosell. That said, Rietz was a Malkan, which meant he was likely to be the subject of prejudice even at the council itself. I wasn’t convinced the lords there would listen to him at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Couran. “So that Malkan of yours is one of the ones you believe could make a decent tactician, eh? You’re right to be concerned, in a sense. I imagine that some of my subordinates would look upon him with scorn. That said, as I stated a moment ago, what he says would carry far more weight than who he is. If he puts forward an unmistakably sound proposal, then I don’t imagine any would oppose him, and even if they did, they would be quickly overruled by the majority. In the worst case, I can always silence them myself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s good to hear,” I replied. Inwardly, though, I was still shocked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Me? At a council of war? Is Couran seriously desperate enough to turn to a literal child for this sort of help?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Like Pham had said, I had no interest in boarding a sinking ship, and I was less than convinced that my help would be enough to turn the tide of war in his favor. Rietz and Rosell both had astonishingly high Intelligence scores, yes, and Rietz would surely be suited for the task, but Rosell was a lot less of a certain factor. After all, he was just a kid."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Worse still, his Intelligence score had plateaued recently. It had only gone up by one point over the past year, bringing it to a current score of 90. He studied tirelessly day after day, and he seemed to be getting smarter, but my Appraisal told a different story."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was beginning to understand that “Intelligence,” as far as my skill was concerned, was determined exclusively by one’s ability to come up with the sort of plans that would prove helpful in a battle. Rosell, meanwhile, had literally no practical battlefield experience, so it was no wonder his Intelligence wasn’t improving. That meant thrusting him into a real-life council of war out of nowhere would probably end very poorly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That left me with only Rietz to my name. Would he be able to carry Couran to victory on his own? Couran had named three notable tacticians who were supporting his brother, and when it came down to it, Rietz was more of an all-rounder than a specialized tactician. It seemed very likely he’d find himself at a disadvantage compared to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one major counterpoint, of course, was that however much I talked about not boarding sinking ships, I was more or less already aboard this one, so jumping off could prove dangerous in its own right. Did I even have it in me to betray Couran? Would Lumeire be able to do something in his capacity as count if I convinced him we were doomed? Would it even be possible for me to join up with Vasmarque on my own if things got really bad?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess I’d have to get in contact with his chief retainers through some sort of back channel. But even just getting him to accept a secret message from a no-name noble on the other side would probably be hard!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate that my offer has given you a lot to think about, Ars,” said Couran. It was like he’d seen right through me…and like he knew that I was seriously considering the merits of betraying him. “I would not dream of making an offer such as this without a corresponding promise of compensation. Assuming you bring me the tactician I need, and assuming said tactician leads me to victory over Vasmarque, I shall grant you the title of Count of Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My jaw dropped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Me? The count?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that even a possibility?” I asked. “What about Lord Lumeire?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He would be made count of a larger county. I must confess that Canarre’s proximity to the border makes it somewhat less than desirable in the eyes of the nobility. House Pyres has ruled over the county for five generations, and I imagine the current count views the region with no small amount of fondness, but if granted a more desirable title and territory in exchange, I trust he will not be discontent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could become a count if the war goes well… I could become the sort of lord who lives in an honest-to-goodness castle…?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lamberg was a pleasant enough territory, to be sure, but it had its limits, and those limits were absolute. If I remained in my current station, then I would always live with the looming threat of a more powerful lord deciding to snuff me out on impulse. I would never escape my status as small-time nobility."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Becoming the Count of Canarre would mean moving several steps up the social ladder, all at once. There was a degree of risk that we would lose the war, certainly, but making contact with Vasmarque and stabbing Couran in the back was also a gamble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, I made my choice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. I accept your offer.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0042.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for choosing to purchase and read this book! This is the author, Miraijin A, speaking!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was inspired to write a story about medieval territory management by a certain historical simulation game set in the Sengoku period of Japanese history. The game casts you as one of the many lords (or “Daimyo”) that ruled over Japan at the time, then tasks you with uniting the country under your banner. The first game in the series was released almost forty years ago, and the latest one is the fifteenth such title. It’s an incredibly popular franchise!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I consider myself a huge fan of the series, and while I haven’t played every single game that’s been released, I have sunk literally hundreds of hours into the ones I’ve tried. That probably goes to show just how much I like the games. They allow you to play as the likes of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu─historical figures so famous that everyone in Japan knows about them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Playing as the Oda or Tokugawa clan means that you start the game with an abundance of skilled subordinates, so taking over Japan is relatively easy. When I first discovered the series, I enjoyed that level of difficulty, but the longer I played, the more I grew unsatisfied. I wanted a challenge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My solution: I chose to play as a figure so obscure that only the most hardcore of history nerds would have even heard of him. I won’t say precisely who I picked, but his stats were low, and his retainers’ stats were all laughably low as well. Making him the ruler of Japan was a grueling task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That difficulty, however, just made victory all the more sweet. I quickly became obsessed, and pulled many accidental all-nighters playing the game nonstop. The sense of achievement I felt when I finally made my no-name noble the ruler of Japan is something I’ll never forget. As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World is a story that came to me as I thought back on the time I chose to play that game as a petty, insignificant lord."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This work will be my fifth published series in Japan to date. That I’ve had so many of my works published in the two years or so since I first became an author is something I never would have even dared to dream about. I started writing as a hobby, more or less, so I find the fact that so many people read and enjoy my works deeply moving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To everyone who purchased this book, everyone who read and supported the web novel version of the story, to my editor, who did their absolute best to support me throughout the writing process, and to jimmy, who drew the most wonderful illustrations I could have ever asked for, I offer my most sincere gratitude. Thank you all so, so much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And with all that said, I hope to see you again in the next volume!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0044.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Miraijin A"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Full-time author Miraijin A speaking! I’m sure plenty of people will pick up this book without having read my other works, so I’d like to introduce myself. I was born and raised in Kumamoto Prefecture, where I still reside, I’m a man, and I’m in my twenties. I enjoy reading, watching baseball, playing video games, watching anime, etc. I also love light novels, and after reading enough of them, I felt the urge to start writing one of my own! I sincerely hope you enjoy this book!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m jimmy, and I draw day in and day out! I hope you like the book!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0045.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fourteen years had come and gone since I was reborn into another world as Ars Louvent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My early childhood was idyllic. I was never exposed to the horrors of war in any real capacity, and with the help of the Appraisal skill I’d possessed since birth, I assembled a host of highly capable retainers to stand by my side, recruiting Rietz, Charlotte, Rosell, and Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Peace, however, would not last. A conflict of succession centered around the Duke of Missian’s title escalated dramatically, plunging the duchy into a state of all-out war. The side I allied myself with emerged victorious in the end, but not before countless individuals lost their lives. I came to realize over the course of that conflict that I had been reborn into a very dangerous world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That being said, the war brought me success on a personal level, earning me the position of Count of Canarre. I had become a lord of high enough standing to live in an honest to god castle. I had a fair deal of apprehensions about governing such a vast swath of territory, but thanks to my ever-capable retainers, I’d managed to more or less make the best of the situation…until, that is, a sudden invasion by our neighboring duchy, Seitz, threw Canarre into a state of crisis all over again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t think I was going to make it out of that one alive, if I’m being honest, but somehow, we managed to repel Seitz’s assault. That victory helped contribute to the ultimate triumph of the candidate for duke who I’d supported, Couran, over his rival and younger brother, Vasmarque. Couran’s victory would ultimately quell the flames of war that had consumed Missian. And then, soon after the war ended, I found myself getting married, in spite of my young age."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And that, more or less, is how my life had gone since I was reincarnated. It couldn’t have been more different from the life I’d lived back in Japan. I was a real workaholic back then, and spent the overwhelming majority of my time at home, at work, or traveling from one to the other. I was a boring man with no hobbies and no wife─in fact, I’d never even dated anyone. It was still hard to believe that someone like me had lived through life or death battles and become the ruler of a castle, and frankly, all that excitement had taken its toll. I was tired, and wanted to stay as far away from warfare as I could, for the time being."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, Missian had been united. The situation in Summerforth was still tense, to be sure, but it seemed safe to say that it’d be a little while before war broke out again. It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened, though, and I knew I had to take advantage of this moment of peace to raise Canarre into a stronger and more prosperous territory than ever, ensuring we’d have the might and resources to repel any further attacks with ease. I was dedicated to defending this land, whatever it took."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0009.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that the key to strengthening my realm was to recruit as many capable subordinates as I could find. As such, the moment I had the chance I began devoting myself wholeheartedly to an aggressive search for new talent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My Appraisal skill lets me see not only people’s current statistics, but also their latent potential and aptitudes for certain fields. In addition, the end of the war meant that I could distribute notices regarding my recruitment drive throughout the city of Canarre, as well as Lamberg, Torbequista, and Coumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before long, the day I would be conducting my first interviews arrived. I’d arranged for two sets of interviews, one today and the next three days afterward. I’d gone to great lengths in my previous recruitment drives, so I hadn’t been expecting all that many applicants to show up this time, but I was shocked by the turnout when it came time for me to meet with them. Somewhere around five hundred people had shown up in the hopes of entering my employ."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Apparently, my overwhelming victory in the war with Seitz had raised the reputations of me and my retainers in the eyes of the people. As a result, candidates had arrived not just from Canarre but also from the surrounding counties as well, all hoping to serve the up-and-coming count they’d heard so much about. A decent number of people had lost their jobs in the recent conflict, which accounted for at least part of the turnout."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, more candidates was a very good thing in my eyes…except for the fact that I could only appraise so many people in a single day. Going through five hundred people in one day was beyond my capabilities, so out of necessity, I decided to narrow it down to around a hundred and fifty people, for the time being. I would’ve gone with a first come, first served system, but unfortunately, the fact that I hadn’t anticipated this much of a turnout meant that I hadn’t had anyone keep track of who had arrived first. I made a mental note to rectify that oversight and appraise the first hundred and fifty people who arrived in sequence, next time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had the jobseekers ushered into the castle and appraised them one after another. The last time I went looking for new retainers, Canarre had been in a precarious place economically and I’d been forced to be picky about who I hired. This time, however, we had a little surplus funding to work with. Couran had rewarded me generously for my service, and the end of the war had helped bolster the local economy as well, so our tax revenue was expected to rise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d also been able to sell off the aqua magia we’d purchased for the war, as well as the stock of aqua magia we’d stolen from Seitz’s army during our previous engagement, gaining us another sizable quantity of gold. It seemed likely that we wouldn’t have to fight any battles any time soon, and I’d decided that using those resources to recruit and train talented individuals would pay off more in the long run than keeping them around for the next battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I would spend as much money as possible to help Canarre grow, in terms of both its population and its economy. In the long run, that would bolster our fighting force far more than making short-term investments in the moment ever could. It was, after all, only a matter of time before another war broke out, and I wanted to be ready for it. We’d managed to emerge victorious in the previous war despite our inferior numbers, but there was no guarantee we’d be so lucky next time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a side note, Rietz was the one who’d suggested selling our aqua magia reserves. My only real involvement had been signing off on his plan. We didn’t sell all of it, of course, but we’d kept only the bare minimum that we might need for emergencies, and I’d been surprised by just how much of the stuff we’d managed to steal. It secured us plenty of funding to hire the people I wanted to."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was planning on employing anyone I found who had average maximum stats above 65, hoping to find at least one person with stats above 80, and figured I’d also consider anyone with lower scores but high Aptitudes. Generally speaking, I’d found that if someone had at least one A-ranked Aptitude, I’d be able to find a use for them. The exception to that was people with the Mage Aptitude─in those cases, a B-rank was enough for me to take them in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My Appraisal skill gave me information about people’s place of origin and family, which meant it was easy for me to tell if anyone lied to me about either of those things. Anyone who lied to me was, in my book, suspicious enough to rule out hiring on the spot. My skill also told me about their opinions regarding their current lord, if they had one, and if they did, it seemed very likely that they were a spy, ruling them out as well. It would complicate matters if someone who had served a lord from Seitz or some other non-Missian duchy arrived, of course─I would have to have them captured and interrogated to see what they were after─but that was still just a hypothetical scenario at this point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I set about appraising the first hundred and fifty candidates, one after another. Unsurprisingly, finding people who suited my requirements wasn’t that easy. I did, however, notice that a lot more women had shown up to be appraised this time. I had to wonder if the fact that I’d chosen to hire Musia had made its way into the rumor mill. “More women than last time” didn’t mean there was an equal sample of the sexes, of course─there were still far more men, overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Out of the first fifty candidates I appraised, three were impressive enough to make the cut, all of them men with high Valor stats. None of them were truly exceptional, but they were at least capable enough that I could expect great things from them on the field of battle. Appraising the remaining hundred candidates left me with another ten prospective hires, and while none of them were above and beyond either, I was still reassured to know that I was off to a solid start in bolstering our roster of personnel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Three days later I did it all over again, this time operating on a first come, first served basis. The first candidate who arrived to be interviewed was a man with a medium build and rather narrow eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good day to you! You must be the Count of Canarre, Lord Ars Louvent himself! It’s a wonder, honestly─to think a man could become a count at your age! Oh, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Virge Sammado, fallen aristocrat hailing from the land of Paradille, at your service!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Virge blathered on and on about his background, even though I hadn’t asked about it yet. He was quite the talker, it seemed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Former nobility weren’t the most common candidates, but Virge also wasn’t the first I’d seen. In any case, I tried appraising him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His Politics score caught my attention immediately, and everything my ability told me about his history lined up with what he’d already explained to me. He wasn’t lying, it seemed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see you’re already familiar with my background, but for formality’s sake, allow me to introduce myself as well,” I said. “I am Ars Louvent, the Count of Canarre. To begin, I’d like to know why you wish to enter my service.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My own house fell to ruin on account of our debts,” explained Virge. “I was already searching for employment, and when word of the Count of Canarre’s achievements reached my ears, I knew in an instant that I belonged by your side! I’ve traveled all across Summerforth since my house’s collapse, visiting realms far afield in search of a master to serve─from Paradille to Scheutz, Seitz to Rofeille, and even the capital itself! Did you know that even in lands where you barely speak the same language, you can get by with gestures alone? But I digress─I’ve seen much and learned more throughout my travels, and I’m certain that knowledge will be a boon to you should you choose to employ me!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He’d spun that answer into an extended self-endorsement. He really did have a way with words, as well─or rather, the way he spoke sort of reminded me of how professional entertainers talked. Maybe that was his excellent Politics score at work? A part of me thought he was talking a little too much, but I’d already been thinking that we could use more people capable of diplomacy, so taking a silver-tongued man like Virge into my service felt like it could be a solid move."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, then?! Will you hire me?!” Virge exclaimed, leaning forward eagerly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wanted to, but I’d made a policy to not give applicants their results on the spot. I told him he’d be informed of my decision at some point in the near future, then had the next applicant brought in for appraisal. It wasn’t a great day, all around─in the end, I found four people in total who I wanted to hire, Virge included."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you will hire me? I had a feeling you’d make the right decision! I’ve heard rumors that you have quite the discerning eye for subordinates, and it seems they weren’t exaggerated after all!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had just informed Virge that I’d decided to bring him aboard, much to his delight. It seemed he had self-confidence to spare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, what will you have me do for you? Direct your troops on the front lines, perhaps? I’m not much for fighting, but I have wit and wisdom to spare! You might find me a surprisingly capable commander!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, that’s not what I had in mind,” I replied. His current Leadership score was quite low, after all, and even his maximum score was unimpressive. Putting him in command of troops would have been a very poor decision."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That being said, I had to wonder─what would be the right task to entrust to him? A silver tongue was a talent that could be put to use in all sorts of fields, so making him a diplomat was far from my only option. He could assuage the concerns and complaints of dissatisfied citizens, for instance, or help out with the county’s business dealings. There were all softs of domestic tasks that he could prove useful for."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the moment, Rietz was more or less in charge of managing Canarre on a domestic level. I handled all matters related to recruitment, of course, but since a lot of the intricacies of managing the territory were more or less beyond me, I’d delegated the better part of them to Rietz. He also had plenty of drills to lead for our military, so to be honest, he had too much on his plate. Braham and Zaht had started coming into their own recently, at least, which meant that he could entrust them with some small number of tasks, but his workload was still excessive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In light of all that, part of me thought that assigning Virge to serve as Rietz’s assistant for the internal affairs side of his work might be a good call. I didn’t expect him to be genuinely helpful right from the word go, of course─he’d need time to study up and learn the ins and outs of the position first─which might mean I’d just be piling more work onto Rietz’s plate in the short term. Then again, if my Appraisal skill was to be believed, Virge was remarkably capable in the field of politics and would be helpful in the long run. In the end, I decided to go with my gut and make him Rietz’s assistant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For the time being, you’ll be assisting Rietz in his duties,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz…that would be the Malkan man in your employ, wouldn’t it? Rumor has it he’s an absurdly capable warrior! You mean to say I’ll be training under his watchful eye?!” Virge exclaimed, excited by the prospect."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Does he want to be a warrior? Maybe he’s one of those people whose interests and talents just don’t match up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I didn’t mean that you’d be fighting,” I clarified. “Rietz is responsible for a variety of domestic affairs, and you’ll be helping him with that side of his work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, so I’ll be an administrator, not a warrior? I suppose it’s true that I might be more suited to that sort of field,” Virge admitted. “Very well, then! I must say, though, it seems that no matter where you go, the Malkan people are abused and enslaved. I’ve always felt for them, which makes it all the more impressive to me that Rietz is so staggeringly capable. It’s a marvel, truly!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Apparently, Virge was the sort of person who pitied Malkans rather than embracing the popular prejudices most held toward them. I was starting to think that he might be a decent person deep down."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then, no time to waste! I shall report to Rietz posthaste! Where can I find him?!” Virge asked. He was downright brimming with enthusiasm."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I called in one of the castle’s servants and had Virge escorted over to Rietz. He was clearly a man with a spirit of self-improvement, and I had high hopes that once he’d had some time to grow, he’d be very helpful for Rietz’s work."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went on to interview the other individuals who I’d chosen, picking a task to assign to each of them. Almost everyone I’d found was suitable for roles in our military, Virge aside, and by the end of it I’d managed to find a solid number of new recruits. I’d also exhausted myself, and decided to take the next day off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, I was resolved to rest up and recuperate from my recruitment efforts. My siblings, however, had other plans and came running up to me right after we’d finished eating."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars, Ars! Let’s practice sword fighting!” shouted Kreiz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no you don’t! He’s reading books with me today!” countered Wren."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of them were eight years old now, and had grown up quite a bit, but were still very much children at heart. Despite being twins their personalities could hardly have been more different, and they almost never saw eye to eye when it came to how they spent their time. The one thing they had in common was their tendency to go through this exact same argument every time I had a day to spend with them, which I couldn’t help but chuckle at. I’d always made a point of calming them down by accepting both of their invitations, but today, things played out a little differently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then─how about the two of us read together?” Licia suggested with a smile. She happened to be right beside me, and was most likely aware of how draining playing with kids could be. This was her way of trying to share my burdens."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now that’s a great idea! Nice one!” yelped Kreiz. He’d taken quite the shine to Licia, and seemed to view her as something of an older sister figure. On the other hand…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No!” Wren snapped as she turned her back to Licia. “I hate you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wren hadn’t minced words with that one, and Licia’s expression froze solid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although Kreiz had warmed up to Licia following our marriage, Wren had gone in the opposite direction. For reasons I couldn’t understand, she’d developed an intense dislike for her. I was mystified. As far as I’d observed Licia hadn’t done anything to deserve that sort of distaste, and she was great at winning people over. I had to imagine it was rare for people to so plainly dislike her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-Hey, stop that, Wren! You can’t just tell people you hate them!” I scolded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hate what I hate, and there’s no changing that!” Wren snapped back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I glanced over at Licia, and found she was still frozen stiff. Being disliked that openly must have come as quite the shock to her, but she soon shook it off, walked over to Wren, and crouched down to look her in the eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you please explain what it is you hate about me, Wren dearest?” asked Licia. “I’m sad to hear you feel that way, so please tell me what I could do to change your mind.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment Wren hung her head in silence, but finally, she began to explain herself. “Well…you’re Ars’s wife, aren’t you? But I was supposed to marry him, not you,” she sulkily muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that explains things: she’s just jealous of Licia, plain and simple. She’s still a kid, so I guess it only stands to reason she’d feel that way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Well in that case, you needn’t worry at all!” said Licia. “Ars is a very open-minded man. I’m sure he’d be happy to take you as his bride as well, in the future!”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0011.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really?” asked Wren."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course! Wouldn’t you, Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yeah, sure,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hurray!” Wren shouted, eyes sparkling with glee."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew that we were just trying to get her off Licia’s case, but even so, agreeing to marry my little sister felt pretty wrong. Then again, she was just a kid and it did ease the tension for the moment, so I was probably just overthinking it. I was confident she’ll have gotten over that particular desire by the time she grew up enough to get married, anyway."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, have you stopped hating me now?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Dunno,” Wren replied, cocking her head as she pondered the question. It seemed she wasn’t going to get over her animosity that fast."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense. We’ve barely even spoken, after all. Why don’t you tell me about your interests, Wren? What do you like?” asked Licia, doing her best to strike up a conversation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This time, Wren played along and replied, “I like my brother, and books, and flowers too!” she said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What a coincidence! I also like Ars, books, and flowers,” said Licia. She’d been rather casual about throwing me onto her list, which set my heart aflutter a little…though of course, she said as much to me on a regular basis, particularly at night in our bedroom. “Do you grow your own flowers?” Licia continued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I just look at them,” said Wren. “I don’t know how to grow them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, is that so? Well, I happen to be well-versed in botany. Would you like to try growing flowers with me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can do that?! That’s amazing! I wanna try!” Wren squealed with excitement. She and Licia had a surprising amount in common, it seemed. I had a feeling that they’d be fast friends before I knew it, and that I might not have to worry about their relationship after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess we can go practice sword fighting, then,” I suggested to Kreiz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right!” he replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us headed outside and began our practice. A few hours later, I returned to the castle, feeling drained. Kreiz still hadn’t had enough for his taste, but I just didn’t have the stamina to keep up with him. I made a mental note to work on that, and maybe take up running─if I didn’t build up my endurance, there was a chance it could come back to bite me in the long run."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the meantime, Licia and Wren seemed to have warmed up to each other. I found the two of them chatting away happily, and was relieved to see them getting along."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, watch closely! When you want to charm a gentleman, making the right expression is key! You have to tilt your head and turn your gaze up toward him, like this…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oooh, I see! Is this right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…Just what on earth is she teaching her? I wondered. Wren’s maximum Intelligence and Politics scores were both exceptional, and a friendship with Licia could lead to growth in both of those areas. Watching the two of them talk gave me the distinct feeling that Wren might turn out to be an incredibly capable woman in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, I got right back to work again. First up on the itinerary: meeting with Mireille, who had arrived at Castle Canarre to visit. She barely ever stopped by unless we had a meeting scheduled, so I had to assume she wasn’t just coming to say hi. I had her shown into the parlor, where the two of us could chat in private."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey there, kiddo,” said Mireille as I stepped into the room. “So, how’s the newlywed life working out for you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well enough, I suppose,” I replied, a little surprised that she’d jumped straight into small talk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That girl─Licia, right? She seemed like a pretty tough one. Bet she’s gonna have you whipped in no time, eh?” Mireille asked with a sneering grin. I’d thought the same myself on a number of occasions, so I couldn’t argue with her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, did you come here for something specific today?” I asked, steering the conversation back on track."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup,” said Mireille. “Remember how I told you I wanted to talk with my brother Thomas? I wanted to ask if you’d reach out to Couran about that whole deal.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I had a feeling that’s what this was about,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille’s younger brother, Thomas, had sided with Vasmarque in the recent civil war. Thomas was an exceptionally capable man, and after Vasmarque’s defeat, Couran had repeatedly attempted to convince Thomas to work for him instead. Thomas, however, remained loyal to his late lord, and had stubbornly refused to renounce that loyalty."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, however, seemed confident that she could win her brother over. I hadn’t been able to think of any other matters she would want to discuss with me, so I’d sort of figured this was what she’d be asking about, and had been proven correct."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then,” I said. “I’ll send a letter to Couran at once. When his reply arrives, I’ll get in touch and─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds like a waste of time to me,” said Mireille. “How ’bout I deliver the letter, and take care of business right after Couran reads it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That…would be more efficient if he says yes, I guess, but if he doesn’t agree to let you see Thomas, you’d have wasted your time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure, but that’s wasted time I can make up for. Figure I’ll just do some sightseeing in Arcantez, if it comes to that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You do know you’re supposed to be taking care of Lamberg, right…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, the place isn’t gonna fall to pieces if its baron goes on vacation for a little while! And hey, if something does go wrong, you can just send Rietz to handle it,” Mireille replied dismissively."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hate to say it, but Rietz is overworked as is! Then again, I managed Lamberg for long enough that if worse comes to worst, I know I could step in and settle things myself. I might have to ask Licia and Rosell for a little help, but I can’t see things getting bad enough that I’d have to call Rietz in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right. I’ll write that letter now,” I said, then set about doing just that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed clear that Mireille had a plan in mind to talk Thomas onto our side, so I started by requesting that she be allowed to meet with him, face to face. After that, I explained that we thought there was a chance he would agree to work for us as long as he was working under his sister in particular, and requested for Thomas to be made into Mireille’s retainer if it turned out that way. I knew that Couran wanted to keep Thomas on a tight leash, so there was every possibility he would turn that last request down, but on the other hand, Couran surely knew how hard it would be to bring Thomas around. With that fact in mind, I had high hopes he would see reason and accept our terms."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I finished the letter and handed it over to Mireille. “Thanks,” she said. “All right! I’m off to drag my brainless little brother back with me whether he likes it or not, so look forward to that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And just like that, she was off. She’d seemed confident in her ability to get through to Thomas, but personally, I had plenty of doubts. From what I’d been able to tell, her brother wasn’t fond of her to begin with. She’d told me to look forward to her success, but I decided to keep my expectations low and accept whatever result I got when the time arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time later, Mireille arrived in Arcantez, the capital of Missian, bearing Ars’s letter. She made the trip accompanied by two guards, which was fairly light as far as a typical baron’s escort went. Mireille was a capable enough warrior to protect herself under most circumstances, so she could feel safe traveling in a small group."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Question is, will Couran grant me an audience?” Mireille said to herself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran was the current Duke of Missian. That was a position that kept people busy in the best of times, and with the civil war having only just ended, it was all but certain he barely had a moment to spare. Mireille also hadn’t sent any advance word of her arrival, so whether or not she’d be able to see him was very much in doubt. That being said, she had one advantage that made her believe she had a good chance of getting an audience: Ars’s letter. Couran had taken quite a liking to the young count, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille made her way toward Castle Arcantez. A guard stopped her at the front gate, but when she whipped out her letter, which bore the seal of House Louvent, he changed his tune. The guard told her to wait for just a moment, then went over to give orders to another guard who was stationed nearby─likely his subordinate. That second guard ran off, and before long, Couran’s right-hand man Robinson arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, if it isn’t Mireille,” said Robinson. “What brings you to Arcantez?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The kiddo─” Mireille began, then paused to correct herself. “His Lordship Ars Louvent has entrusted me with a letter that I’m to personally deliver to Cou…to Lord Couran,” she explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Personally, you say?” asked Robinson."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, and if at all possible, I’d like for him to read it and give me his reply immediately. Can he spare some time? It’s not a long letter, so it should only take a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As it so happens, His Lordship is unoccupied at this very moment. I shall inquire with him at once,” Robinson said, then headed back into the castle, leaving Mireille to grumble under her breath about how if Couran wasn’t busy Robinson could’ve just taken her right to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few minutes later, Robinson returned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“His Lordship the Duke will see you. Right this way, please.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille followed Robinson’s lead and headed into the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Robinson led Mireille to the duke’s chambers, where she found Couran seated in a lavish chair. He looked over as she entered the room, his expression stern."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mireille…” said Couran. “What business do you have with me? Has Ars decided to relieve you of your position? I’m afraid to say that I have no intention of taking you into my service if he has.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He sure as hell─most certainly has not,” said Mireille, remembering at the last second to mind her manners around the man who now ruled Missian."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is a pleasure to see you, Lord Couran. I’ve come today to deliver a message from my master Ars,” she continued in a register so polite, she barely even sounded like herself anymore."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran scowled. “Enough of that tone. It’s unsettling, coming from you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, that so? Yeah, I’ve never been a fan of all that stuffy garbage,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“On second thought, you’d do well to act slightly less eager to abandon formality,” Couran sighed. “So, a message from Ars, you say…? Why would he send you to deliver it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’ll make sense once you’ve read it,” Mireille said as she handed the letter over."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran opened it up and scanned its contents."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He wants you to recruit Thomas for him…? Does that stand any chance of working?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure does,” Mireille said with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure you’re aware that he despises me, and I have the distinct impression that he doesn’t think highly of you either,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s still my little brother at the end of the day. As long as I can talk to him, I’ll be able to work something out─though that’s only if I can make him my personal retainer. He’s definitely not gonna accept anything else, so I’m hoping to bring him back to Canarre with me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, the letter said as much,” said Couran. “But of course, Ars’s people are my people by extension, and our only prominent enemy at the moment, Seitz, lies directly across the border from Ars’s county. There’s a pressing need to bolster Canarre’s defenses, so I have no objections to sending him additional personnel. In other words, if you truly believe you have a chance to convince Thomas, you’re welcome to try. Keeping talent like his locked up would be a waste.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran gave Mireille the go ahead, then instructed one of his men to lead her to Thomas’s cell. That said, he wasn’t being kept in Castle Arcantez’s dungeon. The dungeons were a far cry from a comfortable environment, and since Couran had always hoped to bring Thomas around eventually, he had decided to keep him locked up in a rather large room in the castle proper instead, with two armed guards stationed outside of his door at all times to ensure he wouldn’t escape."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We will accompany you during your meeting with the prisoner,” one of the guards explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d rather talk to him alone,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid I can’t allow that. Our orders were clear.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately for Mireille, the sort of soldiers who would casually defy their instructions didn’t tend to end up guarding a duke’s castle. She concluded that they weren’t going to let her talk them into giving her one-on-one time with Thomas, and gave in, allowing the guards to follow her inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The guards opened the door, and Mireille stepped into the chamber. Sitting within was Thomas Grunzeon, looking rather haggard compared to when they’d last met."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey there, Thomas,” said Mireille. “You look like you’ve been having a run of bad days, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas shot his sister a sharp glare."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you want?” he growled, his tone low and full of barely-disguised fury."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that any way to thank your big sister for coming to visit you?” said Mireille. “I was expecting tears of joy!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph. The only tears of joy I’ll shed for you will be when I get word someone’s done you in,” Thomas snapped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So harsh! Honestly, who do you even take after? Your parents must’ve been real pieces of work!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas stared at Mireille in stony silence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come on, that’s the part where you’re supposed to go ‘they’re your parents too,’ or something! Keep up, will you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really─what are you here for?” Thomas sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To talk some sense into you,” said Mireille. “How long are you planning on staying locked up in this dingy cell? Get over it and come with me. We’re getting out of here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No,” Thomas flatly and immediately replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why not? Don’t tell me you like this place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Like hell I do. I wouldn’t be caught dead serving the man who killed Lord Vasmarque, and that means I’m not moving an inch.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, good news, then: you don’t have to. You’ll be serving my lord, Ars Louvent. No need to follow Couran’s orders.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But this ‘Ars’ is Couran’s vassal, isn’t he? In other words, I’d be serving him in all but name.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can’t deny that, I guess, but I have a feeling you and Ars would hit it off if you gave him a chance. Plus, he’s got a real eye for people’s talents. More and more capable folks are going to be gathering under his banner from now on, mark my words.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then they can be his retainers instead of me. Good luck to him.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille let out an exasperated sigh at her brother’s stubborn attitude."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you so fixated on Vasmarque, anyway?” she asked. “Why swear eternal fealty to a man who got beat?”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0013.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas’s scowl grew fiercer still."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t you ever mock Lord Vasmarque in front of me again. I owe him a debt, and I’ll never forget it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hah! A debt?” scoffed Mireille. “Maybe you do, sure, but have you forgotten everything you owe me, too?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas flinched. Mireille had hit him where it hurt with that argument."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just how many times did I pull your sorry hide out of the fire when we were kids? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? You can’t think that you earned your way into Vasmarque’s service by your own talent alone, right? You’ve never been able to accomplish anything unless you’re following someone else’s orders. You’re a bit bigger these days than you were back then, sure, but otherwise, you haven’t changed a bit.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas fell into silence. A moment later, Mireille leaned forward and whispered into his ear. His eyes widened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can’t make any guarantees, of course,” Mireille said as she pulled away again. “You should meet with Ars, though, at the very least.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Thomas remained silent. “I’ll give it some thought,” he finally replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While Mireille was off in Arcantez, I worked my way through several more crops of potential new recruits. At the moment, I was seated in my office, running through a stack of papers on which I’d recorded the ability scores of all the candidates I’d appraised."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you find anyone capable enough to satisfy your standards this time, Lord Ars?” asked Rietz, who was in the room as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. “Not this time, I’m afraid,” I sighed. “Being able to appraise them helps, for sure, but when all’s said and done whether or not anyone worth hiring comes to me is all a matter of luck. I’ll just have to stay patient and keep at it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose so,” said Rietz. “We can only hope that Mireille’s efforts to recruit her brother will be a success. His presence could make a massive difference.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly? I don’t have my hopes up. He’s her brother, sure, but I don’t think that recruitment is ever going to be Mireille’s strong suit.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I couldn’t agree more,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, by the way─you know the man I sent to work under you, Virge? How’s he been doing so far? Do you think he’ll be useful?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do,” said Rietz. “He’s a rather clever man, and sensible as well, which has been a blessing. He talks a little too much, perhaps, but in a certain sense he’s turned that into one of his strong points as well. For the moment, I’ve put him in charge of responding to the townsfolk’s grievances and dealing with merchants from afar.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was somewhat relieved to hear that Virge had already proven his worth. I’d been worried that he and Rietz wouldn’t see eye to eye, and that in the worst case he might have held Rietz back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Though I must admit, I feel somewhat adrift now that my own workload has been reduced,” Rietz added."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not having too much work makes him feel lost? You’re such a workaholic it’s going to be the death of you one of these days, Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Permission to enter, Lord Ars?” a voice called out from the other side of my office’s door. I recognized it as one of my servants’ voices, and gave them permission to enter. “Lady Mireille has returned from her excursion,” the servant said as they stepped inside. “Do you have time to meet with her, Your Lordship?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed Mireille was back from Arcantez. I just had to hope that she’d brought Thomas with her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now is fine, yes,” I said. “Please bring her here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At once, Your Lordship.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few minutes later, Mireille arrived at my office."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heyo! I’m back!” she said cheerfully as she stepped inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did it go?” I asked, hoping that her good mood was a sign she’d found success."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Oh, right─Yeah, I brought him with me. Get in here!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At Mireille’s urging, a giant of a man stepped into my office behind her. There was no mistaking him. I’d only seen Thomas once before, when he was captured and brought to Castle Staatz, but his appearance was distinct enough to be unforgettable. I appraised him as well, just to be safe, and was greeted with the same high-spec status screen I’d seen the last time we met."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming to meet with me,” I said. “I am Ars Louvent, the Count of Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I get it now… You’re the kid from back then,” Thomas muttered as he laid eyes upon me. I couldn’t remember him having taken a specific note of me the first time we’d met, but apparently, he’d been aware of my presence, at the very least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I take your presence here as a sign that you’ve decided to enter into my service?” I asked. Thomas, however, shook his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Huh? Wait, then what is he here for?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t be swearing fealty to you. I can’t─at least, not yet,” said Thomas. “That said, I’m willing to spend some time working for you and your domain. It won’t take me long to figure out if you’re a lord worth serving. And of course, if you decide that I’m not worth employing, you’re free to lop my head off any time you feel like it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, Thomas was asking for something akin to a trial period. I had a feeling that Mireille had already explained about my appraisal skill to him, but from his perspective, I was still nothing more than a child. There was no telling whether he’d come to approve of me, but at the very least, this represented a step forward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I said. “I will strive to prove to you that I’m a man worthy of your loyalty.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Trial period or not, Thomas was now, for all intents and purposes, my retainer. That, needless to say, meant that I had to find a job to give him. Considering his capabilities, part of me wanted to give him a position of importance, but on the other hand, handing off a vital job to him the moment he signed on felt like it could cause more problems than it solved."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My best idea was to put him under Mireille’s direct command and have him help with the management of Lamberg. When I proposed the plan, however, Thomas was unequivocal in his opinion of it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I refuse to follow her orders,” Thomas said with a disgusted scowl."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, simmer down, you little brat,” said Mireille. “But honestly, compared to Canarre there’s just not much that needs doing over in Lamberg. I have managing the place under control, so I’d actually agree that he’d be better off doing something else.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, I asked Rietz and the others for their opinions, and wound up tasking Thomas with training Canarre’s army. The troops he’d commanded back during the battle of Velshdt had been the cream of the crop, which proved that he was a man who could be trusted to bring out our soldiers’ full potential. Rietz had been handling the task when he could up until then, so putting Thomas in charge of it would lighten Rietz’s workload even further. It seemed like an ideal setup to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Thomas’s position among my workforce was settled. I knew I could trust him to do a good job, so the only question was whether I’d be able to demonstrate to him that I was a lord worth serving. I didn’t have any specific ideas about how I could make a show of my abilities, so instead, I decided that I’d be better off just carrying out my business like I always did and hoping for the best."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day arrived, and I got right back to work. Although having Thomas working for me was a big step forward, I still couldn’t afford to stop searching for new talent to bolster my personnel pool."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our tax revenue had been on an upswing, thanks possibly to a recent warming of the local economy. I’d lowered taxes slightly in the hopes of earning the general public’s favor, and the fact that our net income had increased in spite of that looked like a sign of just how much business was booming. I made a point of walking around outside of the castle every once in a while, and the atmosphere in town alone seemed a lot livelier than they’d been before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greater tax revenue, of course, meant that I could afford to hire even more people, so my search for new talent was still far from over. I went right back to conducting interviews, as usual, but almost a full day of searching later I hadn’t come across anyone who truly suited my standards. The best I’d found were a man with a B-ranked Mage Aptitude, and another man with a B-ranked Cavalry Aptitude, both of whom I’d decided to hire. Their Valor scores were reasonable enough, though all of the rest of their stats were unimpressive. They hadn’t met my usual cutoff in terms of their overall stats, in fact, but judging by their aptitudes they would be able to do good work as a mage and a horseman in the long term."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, I reached the last candidate of the day. I still hadn’t found anyone aside from the two men before, at that point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The interviewee was a woman. She had oddly long bangs, lengthy enough to mostly cover her eyes, and as far as I could tell she was in her late teens or early twenties. Her build was just about average, and she was wearing a rather plain set of dull gray clothing. Her gaze was glued to the floor, as well─I got the sense she was nervous."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome to Castle Canarre,” I said. “I am the count, Ars Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The woman didn’t reply. Or rather, I couldn’t hear her reply, though I could see that her lips were moving. It seemed she’d just spoken incredibly quietly. I was already getting the sense that she was a rather gloomy person, and I was starting to wonder whether she was even interested in working for me. Maybe someone had forced her to apply against her will? For the moment, I decided to appraise her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her current stats were remarkably low…but some of their maximum values were rather high. Moreover, she had an S-ranked Weaponry Aptitude, which was as high as it could go. With the right training, I knew she could be a huge asset. I had a feeling that she could speed up the progress of Shin’s airship project, and could even help develop new forms of magical weaponry."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My skill informed me that she was from Missian, her parents were alive, and she had two brothers. Nothing about her background stood out as suspicious to me, so I immediately concluded that I wanted to bring her on board…but when I tried to speak with her, a problem arose─that being the fact that I tried to speak with her, but mostly failed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Enan’s voice was just so quiet, I couldn’t hear her at all. We couldn’t communicate, and when I asked her to speak up she just blushed and stared an even deeper hole in the floor. She was as unsociable as a person could get, and if it weren’t for my appraisal skill, I would have decided that she wasn’t worth hiring. In fact, even with the knowledge of how remarkable her latent capabilities were, I had my doubts about whether or not I’d be able to draw them out to their fullest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then again, finding people with latent talents that wouldn’t otherwise come to light is exactly what makes my skill so useful. I might as well give her a chance, I decided. And so, the day’s interviews ended with Enan as my final hire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, I called everyone who I’d decided to bring into my service back to the castle for a second interview."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two men, a potential mage and horseman, didn’t ring any alarm bells in the personality department. They had never cast a spell or ridden a horse, respectively, but I knew their talents would bloom with a little training and told them as much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The problems began with my final hire, Enan. Once again, she couldn’t bring herself to speak loud enough for us to have a real conversation. I was starting to suspect that something was wrong with her vocal cords and she was physically incapable of speaking at an audible volume. That would make conversation a long-term impossibility, so I ended up giving up and asking her to try communicating through the written word instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Enan looked a little abashed about the suggestion, but began answering right away. It wasn’t uncommon for uneducated people in this world to be illiterate, and I was worried that if that was the case for her all hope would be lost, but thankfully, she seemed capable of reading and writing─and for that matter, her handwriting was quite clean."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies. It has been a very long time since I’ve had the chance to speak with anyone, and I find myself unable to raise my voice,” she wrote, her hand trembling all the while."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That, it seemed, implied her quiet tone wasn’t the fault of an illness after all. I had to wonder what sort of environment she’d been living in to not talk with anyone for that long, but at the very least, this meant that she might learn to speak up again as she got used to being around people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Enan Lugez. I am sorry for being unable to so much as introduce myself to you,” Enan wrote, looking more apologetic than ever. Apparently, her inability to even say her own name was bothering her as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need for apologies. If you can’t speak, then so be it,” I said, hoping to make her feel a little better about the situation, but judging by her expression it didn’t seem to have done much to cheer her up. She started writing again just a moment later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have I truly passed your interview? I thought that such a thing would be impossible, and I can still hardly believe it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She had a point. Normally, no one would dream of employing a person who couldn’t even introduce herself, and it seemed she was a little suspicious of the fact that I planned to do so."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have something called an Appraisal Skill,” I explained. “It allows me to perceive people’s latent talents, and I’ve decided to hire you on account of yours.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a talent?” Enan wrote, looking more confused than ever. It seemed she would take a little more convincing. Her gaze dropped to the floor once more as she sunk into thought, until finally, she jerked her head back up again with a start. She was blushing, for some reason, and her hand trembled as she began to write again. “I’m terribly sorry for not realizing your intent sooner. I understand now. I could not possibly refuse your advances, so please, feel free to use my body however you see fit.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, now we’re on completely different wavelengths,” I sighed. It seemed I’d accidentally convinced her that I was only hiring her for her body, though how she’d found her way to that particular misapprehension was beyond me. I explained that she had the wrong idea, and Enan blushed brighter than ever and flew into a panic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m so sorry!” Enan said as she gave me a deep bow of apology."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I…actually heard her that time! Her voice had still been quiet, but it had reached my ears for once. Her panic had, unexpectedly, led to a breakthrough and helped her remember how to speak out loud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I… I spoke,” Enan whispered. She still looked embarrassed, but I thought I could hear a hint of joy in her tone. I, for one, was glad to see her get over the issue so quickly, considering I’d already been wondering how she’d get by if she never managed to recover her voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to see you’ve found your voice again,” I said. “I just want to make it very clear, for the record, that I am in no way hiring you for your body. As a matter of fact, I’m married.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, I see,” said Enan. “I’m terribly sorry. People have always told me that my looks are the only thing I have going for me, so I just assumed…”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0015.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was starting to get the feeling that Enan had been raised in a less than ideal environment. As a side note, her bangs were hiding her face so effectively that I couldn’t comment on her looks at all. Maybe she would have been cute if she cleaned them up a little?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, I have a talent…? What is it?” asked Enan."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can guarantee that you have a talent for crafting and building,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“D-Do I…? A talent for crafting…?” Enan repeated, puzzled by the claim. That wasn’t too surprising, considering her current stats were so low. Hopefully with a little practice, her capabilities would become apparent to her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For the time being, I decided to introduce Enan to Shin. I headed off to find him, with her accompanying me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is this really the right place…?” Enan muttered as we arrived at Shin’s workshop. She seemed bewildered by what she was seeing. “What are they even doing here?” she asked as she looked around. Considering the answer was “researching airship technology,” I couldn’t blame her for her confusion. This was probably the only workshop of its kind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is the workshop of a man named Shin,” I explained. “At the moment, he’s working on building an airship.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What in the world is an airship?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a type of vehicle that uses magic to fly. They haven’t built a functioning vessel yet, but a recent test flight was a success.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-Is that truly possible?” Enan said, eyes wide with astonishment. It seemed she’d already taken an interest. “B-But…huh? Wait, wait─does that mean that you brought me here to help him make these ‘airships’?” she continued, realizing what I was expecting of her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-N-N-N-No way, I can’t! How could I make something that incredible?! I don’t even know the first thing about magic!” Enan shouted so loudly that I could hardly believe she’d been unable to speak earlier that very same day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I’m sure that asking you to jump straight in and produce results would be a bridge too far,” I admitted. “That said, you have a talent for this sort of work, and if you study here under Shin’s guidance, you may find that talent will begin to blossom before you know it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My talent…might blossom?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Enan sunk into thought. A short while later, she began to mutter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To be honest, it’s difficult for me to believe everything you’re saying… I’ve never found a skill that I’m average at, much less talented in… But on the other hand, I hate the thought of living without ever accomplishing anything at all…so I’d like to give this a try, if you’ll allow me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t the most optimistic of declarations I’d ever heard, but she was somewhat motivated, at the very least. That motivation was key─without it, there was a very real chance that her talent would never come to the forefront. This felt like a good start."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Enan and I proceeded into the workshop. It seemed they were busy manufacturing something, at the moment. My best guess was that they were assembling another airship, and if I was right, then it seemed it would end up being a little larger than the last one I’d seen Shin test. His work, it seemed, was making steady progress."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, hey, if it ain’t Lord Ars! What brings you here today?” asked Shin, who’d been supervising the construction and shouting out orders until he noticed us. “Oh, and who’s the dame?” he added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve just taken her into my service. My intent is to have her help with your work,” I explained, jumping straight to the crux of the matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shin looked a little skeptical. “You want her to help out in the workshop? Just so you know, this work takes a lotta brawn! It’s gonna be pretty tough for a girl like her. Unless she’s got some wild muscles hidden under that shawl?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid not,” I replied, “but I’ve appraised her, and found that she has an incredible talent for crafting. She’s a complete amateur at the moment, and her knowledge in the field is lacking, but in the long term I’m certain she’ll be an asset for your airship development.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… So basically, you’re saying it’s up to me to train her up? And if she’s a total amateur, that means I’ll be starting from a total blank slate? Teachin’ her from square one?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s correct.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The airship’s already keepin’ me busy, y’know? I don’t have a ton of time to spare,” Shin sighed. “But then again, good help’s hard to come by and I was just hoping to get another hand or two on deck… I may be a genius, but doing it all on my own ain’t all fun and games. Maybe you’ve got a point. If she’s got potential, she could be worth training! That’s a big ol’ if, though,” he added with a probing glance in my direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She has talent, don’t worry. I personally guarantee it,” I replied without hesitation. I wasn’t about to start doubting my skill’s capabilities now, after everything I’d been through."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then, she’s in,” said Shin. “You saw through my talent too, so I’ll go ’head and trust in your judgment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, the matter was settled for now. How it worked out in the long term would be up to Enan and Shin. Of course, considering I’d just given him my guarantee it would work out, I would be in a bit of a fix if her talent remained dormant forever."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, new blood,” said Shin, “what am I supposed to call you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Um…ah!” squeaked Enan. “M-My name is Enan… And, umm,” she added, turning to me, “I take it this small individual would be Shin?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who the hell are you callin’ small?!” Shin bellowed, his face flushed red with fury. Apparently, his height was something of a sore subject."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I-I’m so terribly sorry!” said Enan. “I just assumed that the head of a workshop would be, well, big and muscular, so I was surprised to find myself working for such an adorable individual instead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-Adorable?!” Shin spluttered, his face growing redder than ever."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Enan was the sort of person whose mouth moved faster than her mind could keep up with. Maybe avoiding the trouble that caused, I reflected, was what had led her to be so quiet in the first place."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Shin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Probably,” I replied after a moment of hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, well ain’t that just perfect… But, whatever. I’ll look after her for now, anyway, and if I decide she ain’t cut out for this I’ll send her packing right back up to the castle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Worthless, the lot of you! Pick up the pace, or you’ll be losing battles that should be effortless, you miserable slugs!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas’s voice reverberated through the barracks. It was set up in the immediate vicinity of Castle Canarre, and was a large facility where our troops both lived and trained for the battles that were sure to come. Ever since Thomas had been assigned to oversee Canarre’s soldiers’ practice, he’d been living with them as he carried out his instruction duties."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas’s training regimen was brutal, to say the least. Rietz had never been lax with discipline to begin with, but Thomas kicked it up to a new, relentless level. The fact that he was a big, burly, and exceptionally tall man just made him all the more intimidating, and the soldiers soon found themselves terrified of him. That was intentional on his part, of course. The last thing a drill sergeant needs is for his men to look down on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Canarre’s soldiers are quite skilled, aren’t they? Thomas reflected. In spite of the jeers and abuse he threw at them, he held his men in rather high esteem. Supposedly, a Malkan called Rietz oversaw their training until I arrived. I’m impressed he brought them up to such a high standard."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just by watching his soldiers practice, Thomas had come to admire Rietz, the man who had trained them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Canarre’s soldiers worked through their drills, the sound of a massive explosion shook the barracks. That was hardly a rare occurrence, on account of the fact that a facility for Canarre’s mages to train in had been set up right next to it. The jobs of the army’s mages and more ordinary foot soldiers were different, so typically, they carried out their practice separately, coming together a few times a month for joint training sessions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That has to have been Lady Charlotte,” whispered one of the soldiers. “Her magic’s a cut above…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You never know─it might’ve been that newcomer Musia,” commented another. “She’s been getting better and better ever since we drove Seitz back from the border.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You two! Less talking, more training!” barked Thomas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, sir!” the pair of soldiers squealed, then went back to their practice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We lost the battle of Velshdt in part because I underestimated the power of Couran’s mages. The mage named Charlotte in particular─her abilities are a threat beyond all others, Thomas reflected, remembering his inglorious defeat at the hands of Couran’s army. Rietz and Charlotte… You could search the whole of Missian─no, the whole of Summerforth─and only find a handful of individuals as capable as they are. And that’s not even mentioning that Rosell child. He’s still young and inexperienced, but his mind is already astonishing. Canarre has amassed a collection of retainers far more capable than I’d ever expect from a remote border county of its nature."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas knew better than most just how hard it could be to find capable subordinates, which made the state of things in Canarre all the more mystifying to him. He thought back to the words that Mireille had whispered to him back in his cell in Arcantez."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The kid I work for’s an interesting one, y’know? Way I see it, it might be only a matter of time before Missian─no, before the whole empire’s under his thumb. In other words, it’s only a matter of time before he brings down Couran, the man you’ve got such a grudge against. Seems like a guy worth meeting, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the time, Thomas hadn’t taken her seriously. His impression hadn’t changed much upon his first meeting with Ars, either. He hadn’t struck Thomas as a remarkable person at a glance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But if he’s the reason why all of these people have gathered under the same banner, then maybe she wasn’t bluffing after all, Thomas thought. His opinion of Ars was beginning to shift. Could he have been the wild card that turned the battle against me? If so, then he bears just as much responsibility for Lord Vasmarque’s death as anyone…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No sooner had the thought crossed Thomas’s mind than he shook his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No, that’s not right. Ars may have contributed to Couran’s victory, but at the end of the day, he was only acting under Couran’s orders. If I’m going to avenge Lord Vasmarque, then there’s only one man I need to kill: the one who ordered my lord’s execution. Plus…the biggest reason why I could never serve Couran is that Lord Vasmarque told me he wasn’t fit to be the duke. I could never serve a man who occupies a seat he’s unworthy of."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas had absolute faith in the late Lord Vasmarque. No matter what, he would never question his judgment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But if Ars is worthy…then maybe he will come to blows with Couran someday. Ars doesn’t seem like the overly ambitious sort, so he won’t be the one to turn traitor…but the minute Couran decides that Ars’s power is getting out of hand, it’ll all come crashing down. If that happens, then my loyalty will lie with Ars, no question about it, thought Thomas. He felt he had a pretty good idea now of what direction he and Ars’s future was heading in. ’Course, that’s all just hypothetical. No telling whether it’ll turn out that way or not. For now, all I can do is train these soldiers up to be as fighting fit as I can make them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning, Ars,” Licia whispered into my ear mere moments after I woke up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good morning, Licia,” I muttered back to her. We were married, so it goes without saying that we shared a bed, but I still hadn’t gotten used to waking up to her face every single morning. She was so beautiful that my heart skipped a beat every time, even though I knew it was high time I acclimated to my new lifestyle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us got up and chatted as we ate breakfast together."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems like Canarre has livened up recently,” commented Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It has,” I agreed. “You wouldn’t believe how much it’s changed since I first visited this place.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had an up close and personal vantage point over the city, and so it was easy for me to tell how much it had been changing on a day to day basis. There was an energy to the city now, and it wasn’t just thanks to the war being over. Things had been improving on a domestic level as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "According to Rietz, one of my newest hires, Virge, had been doing very solid work so far. He had a natural-born silver tongue, and had been both quelling the concerns of the populace as well as making it easier for them to start up new business ventures. Rietz and Rosell had been the ones to come up with policies that would encourage Canarre’s economic growth, really, and all that was left to do was put them into practice, but Malkans still weren’t trusted by the general populace, and Rosell just wasn’t good enough at selling his ideas yet. Virge had been just the man they needed to compensate for those shortcomings and implement their plans."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Licia and I finished breakfast, I perused a variety of reports as I headed over to my office. There was very little in the way of bad news─mostly just notes telling me that the population was increasing, the economy was booming, and Shin’s research was proceeding steadily. One report, however, caught my attention."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Suspicious movements from Seitz, huh…?” I muttered to myself as I scanned the note."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That particular report had been Pham’s work. Seitz had attempted to invade Canarre, and although we’d diminished their numbers when we drove their army back, it hadn’t been such a total victory that we could afford to let our guards down. That’s why I’d decided to deploy the Shadows, asking them to report everything they could learn about Seitz down to the most minute details."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "According to this latest report, Seitz had started stepping up their production of weaponry, purchasing aqua magia from other duchies, and bolstering their army’s numbers. They’d only just suffered a major defeat, though─would they really be so eager as to charge right in again for another round? The other possibility that sprang to mind was that now that Missian had united, they expected us to invade them and were preparing for the eventuality. The second explanation seemed a lot more likely to me, but I couldn’t be certain I wasn’t missing something."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Canarre’s own army had remained unchanged after the war ended. Seitz didn’t seem likely to pose a threat for the immediate future, so I’d decided to invest most of our money into the economy and the development of airships. It seemed, however, that it was about time for Seitz to come back onto our radar, which meant bolstering our military’s numbers would be a good idea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as I was thinking I’d have to discuss the matter with Rietz, Rietz himself happened to step into my office to deliver a report. “Good morning, Lord Ars! I’ve received word that I wanted to pass on to you as soon as possible,” he said. He sounded just a little flustered, so I decided asking for his advice could wait until after I’d heard what he had to say, and gestured for him to go on. “It seems a band of mercenaries has arrived in Canarre, and are seeking a contract with House Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mercenaries…?” I muttered. “I’m guessing these ones aren’t specialized like the Shadows, right? They’re the sort of mercenaries who’d be fighting alongside our army for money?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s correct,” said Rietz. “The band in question is of middling size, with around two hundred members. They don’t have much of a reputation, and I’m unaware of how capable they may be, but I’m certain that judging their abilities will be the simplest of tasks for you, of course.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d just been thinking about bolstering our troops’ numbers when lo and behold, a band of mercenaries arrived on my doorstep. I could hardly have asked for more convenient timing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have you already read the Shadows’ report, by the way?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” I replied. “It looks like Seitz is making some suspicious moves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So it seems,” Rietz agreed. “That’s not a guarantee that they’ll be attacking in the near future, but it would do us well to be prepared for such an eventuality, just in case. Canarre’s population has risen of late, and we’ve been bolstering out troops in proportion to that growth, but I can’t guarantee we’ll be prepared should worse come to worst.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Rietz had already been thinking along the exact lines I’d been planning to question him on. “I agree─bulking up our army seems like a necessary step. First things first, I suppose I should meet with those mercenaries and decide whether or not I want to take them in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I arranged for the leader of the mercenary band to be brought to me at once. Rietz set out to lead him to the castle, and he returned before long with a brawny man who looked to be somewhere in his thirties. He was unshaven, and his face struck me as rather rugged as well. He looked capable at a glance, but of course there was no way of telling whether that impression was correct or not without appraising him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the leader of the Grandeur Band, Ulberht Seon. Thanks for your time,” said the mercenary, his face stuck in a complete deadpan. I returned the greeting, and Ulberht went on to explain the history and accomplishments of his mercenary band to me. He listed off the battles they’d been involved in, and explained what they’d achieved in the process."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Most prospective employers would have judged the band’s worth by Ulberht’s explanation, but my appraisal skill made that step unnecessary for me. Taking a look at Ulberht’s abilities would allow me to figure out how capable his band would be, at least to some extent. Even if his soldiers were exceptional as individuals, they wouldn’t be worth much as a group if their commander wasn’t up to snuff."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I more or less tuned out Ulberht’s explanation and focused on appraising him instead. His current Leadership was at 65, his Valor was 71, his Intelligence was 55, and his Politics 45, with all of those scores sitting close to their maximum values and none of his Aptitudes standing out as particularly excellent. He wasn’t incapable, by any means, but he didn’t strike me as the sort of man who would excel as a leader either. There was a chance that some of his subordinates would be more impressive, of course, but it wasn’t like I could have one of them take his place as leader unilaterally, meaning I had no choice but to conclude that he and his men wouldn’t be an exceptional fighting force all around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That being said, the fact that they wouldn’t be above and beyond didn’t mean they weren’t worth my time. The quality of our soldiers made a huge difference, of course, but at the end of the day quantity reigned supreme. It’d be a big problem if they were so incapable that they held the rest of our troops back, but their leader’s stats struck me as acceptable enough to make that unlikely, and I could see hiring them being a worthwhile move…though of course, that all depended on how much they were asking for. If Ulberht named a figure that was out of my budget, I was prepared to see him out the door."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How much are you hoping to be paid for your services?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our standard rate’s fifteen gold a month,” said Ulberht. “And that’s in addition to room and board, which we’d be expecting you to provide.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fifteen gold…” I repeated to myself. Considering the increase in tax revenue brought about by the economic upswing, it wasn’t an unaffordable rate, and fifteen gold for the services of two hundred soldiers didn’t seem like a bad deal in and of itself…but when I factored in the costs of feeding and housing all those men as well, it started to feel like a much less reasonable sum."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I have a word, Lord Ars?” Rietz asked, then leaned in to whisper in my ear. “How would you rate his abilities?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s not incapable, but not exceptional either,” I whispered back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… In that case, I believe it would be best for you to turn him down.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think so? Weren’t you just saying that we needed more men?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We would do well to bolster our forces, but there’s no need for us to jump on the first mercenary company who happens to come our way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think there’ll be more of them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do. I believe that Canarre is a very attractive target for mercenaries looking for work, at this particular moment. Not only is the improvement of our economy a sign that we have money to spare, we also stand across the border from Seitz, an enemy of Missian, meaning that the chances of a conflict breaking out are high. Considering those two factors, I would not be at all surprised if more mercenary companies came to offer their services in the near future.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense,” I muttered. I recalled that Rietz had been a member of a mercenary band himself, at one point. Presumably, he would be very familiar with the circumstances of their trade. I decided that this was a moment to trust in his judgment─if more mercenaries were bound to show up, then it made no sense to jump the gun and hire the first group to reach our doorstep."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies, but I’m afraid we will not be contracting your services at this time,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Ulberht after a slight pause, looking a little disappointed. “We’re planning on sticking around in town for the next week or so, so feel free to get in contact if you change your mind. I’ll be staying at an inn called the Rahbek if you need to find me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bid Ulberht goodbye, and had him shown out of the castle. I consulted with a few of my other retainers over the course of the day, and concluded that it had been a good idea to turn him down for the time being."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, Rietz was proven correct when more mercenaries arrived to call on me. It wasn’t just one band this time, either─three groups all arrived at almost the same time. Rietz had been right on the money, though that wasn’t much of a surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In terms of scale all three groups were smaller than the Grandeur Band, with each of them offering around fifty men a piece. That, of course, meant that I would have to pay less to both hire and house them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I interviewed the captains of the first two bands, appraising each of them, and found their abilities to be decent enough, but not impressive. I was starting to get the impression that truly capable mercenaries would be able to sell themselves on name recognition alone. There likely weren’t all that many bands out there that hadn’t earned a decent amount of fame yet despite being exceptional."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Around the time I was coming to that conclusion, I called in the third band’s leader for appraisal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the leader of the Bangle Mercenaries, Locke Cidre,” said the man who arrived to represent the third group. He was rather handsome, with slicked-back hair and a youthful appearance all around. I gave him an appraisal at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His stats were quite solid, though the fact that he’d told me a different surname than my skill identified had me a little curious. His first name was the same, at least, so it seemed possible there was a mundane explanation for the inconsistency─surnames could change depending on one’s family circumstances, for example. That was nothing compared to the Shadows, most of whom had declared completely different names than my skill displayed for them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Judging by Locke’s ability scores, it seemed safe to say that he was competent. His maximum Leadership of 85 was particularly noteworthy─it wasn’t every day I came across someone with a score like that. Troops led by a commander with a high Leadership score would, of course, grow stronger as well. He only had around fifty men, making his force a somewhat small one, but I could still see quite a bit of potential in him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took the time to glance at the profile my skill displayed for Locke as well. He was from the duchy of Ansel, it seemed, which was where the capital of the empire was located. He hailed from a county called Bangle in the duchy’s northwest, and had presumably named his mercenary band after his homeland."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nothing else about his profile stood out to me, with the exception of his abundance of siblings. Apparently, he had five older brothers, one younger brother, two older sisters, and three younger sisters─twelve siblings in total, counting Locke himself. Two of the older brothers and one of the younger sisters had already passed away. Clearly, he’d been born into a rather unusual family. Maybe that had something to do with why he’d given me a last name my skill didn’t pick up on? It could be that he’d been given up for adoption on account of his parents just having too many kids, for instance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, nothing about Locke’s profile made him stand out as a potential problem to me. That meant all that was left was to ask him about his desired wages, and when I did, he named a quite reasonable price of five gold a month. That meant that hiring him was well within my means, and I wasn’t about to let talent like his pass me by."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I said. “Five gold a month is an acceptable rate, and as such, I would be happy to form a contract with you and your men.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You…would? Really?” said Locke. He seemed more bewildered than happy to hear the news. “Oh, that is…pardon me,” he added a moment later. “It’s just that me and my men have yet to rack up much in the way of achievements. We’ve been turned down by one lord after another, to tell the truth. If you’re really willing to hire us, well, I couldn’t be happier.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, so they’re inexperienced? Locke’s abilities seemed high, considering. I had to wonder if he’d formed his band recently."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So long as our contract remains in effect, I solemnly swear to wield my blade for the glory of House Louvent,” Locke declared with a deep bow. His demeanor didn’t strike me as very mercenary-like, but then again, it wasn’t unheard of for former nobles to take up the sellsword lifestyle, so that was probably just an unfounded bias on my part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be counting on you,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so I formed a contract with the Bangle Mercenaries."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several other bands of mercenaries arrived after I brought the Bangle Mercenaries aboard, but none of them were remarkable enough for me to offer them any real consideration. In the end, the Bangles were the only group I decided to hire. I stationed them on the western side of Canarre, near the border with Seitz. The neighboring duchy was still biding its time, for the moment, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before they decided to prod our defenses again, and I wanted the border to be locked down when that time came."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fact that public order had started deteriorating in the vicinity played a factor, as well. Seitz’s defeat in the recent war had dealt a serious blow to their soldiers’ morale, and a fair number of deserters had begun to crop up. Some of those former soldiers turned to banditry, and the sheer size of Seitz’s army meant that before long there were quite a few deserters-turned-brigands to deal with, many of whom crossed over the border into Canarre. Placing the Bangles in the west meant that they could keep the peace and watch the border all at once, which couldn’t have suited me better. I had high hopes that they would prove their worth in no time flat."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0017.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few weeks had passed since I’d hired the Bangle Mercenaries, and I’d already started receiving reports about their success in the ongoing conflict with the Seitzan bandits. I’d also continued my recruitment efforts over that span of time, and happily enough had found ten individuals with notable magical abilities, two of whom also had high Cavalry aptitudes. I was still quite a ways off from forming the mounted mage unit I was hoping to build, but that objective was drawing closer, step by step."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I found a dozen capable close-combat fighters, as well, who I assigned to Braham’s elite unit of soldiers. Considering Braham’s long-term potential, I knew that someday, his team could be the most capable fighting force in all of Missian. That being said, their commanding officer still had a long way to go before that potential could be realized."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As far as the short term went, I’d brought a capable squad of mercenaries into my service and found quite a few individuals to hire as well, so I decided to call my recruitment effort to a close for the time being. Overextending could put our finances in jeopardy, and I had to train up everyone who I’d already found, which would be harder and less efficient the more of them there were. I was still far from satisfied with our total numbers, but I figured that this would be a good time to pause the effort for a month or two and reassess things after my break."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one problem with that plan was that when there wasn’t any appraising for me to handle, there wasn’t all that much else left on my plate. I’d delegated most of the actual management of the county to my retainers, and if I tried to jump in and help out on that end of things, I knew I’d just hold them back. I couldn’t just sit back and relax, though, and after spending some time pondering my options I decided to return to an old habit of mine: studying up on the world I’d been reincarnated into."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d done quite a lot of independent research when I was younger, but lately, I’d slipped out of the routine. Many of my retainers were seemingly inexhaustible wellsprings of knowledge, and there may not have been much of a point to cramming more trivia into my own brain, but on the other hand it just seemed wrong for a count to be as ignorant as I currently was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the past, Rietz had been responsible for teaching my lessons. He was way too busy for that now, though, and Rosell was likewise busy with his own studies and research. I couldn’t ask either of them to spare time for me. I considered studying on my own─I knew I’d make better progress if I had someone to teach me, I just couldn’t think of any options that would make that happen. In the end, I decided to go at it alone and shut myself up in the study to hit the books."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I recall, you’ll be taking today off appraisals and studying instead, yes?” asked Licia the next morning as we were preparing for the day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right,” I confirmed. “I have to do something productive with my time, after all─a count can’t be seen slacking off.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, I’d like to join you, if you wouldn’t mind! As the wife of a count, there’s plenty that I need to learn as well,” said Licia. She was brimming with motivation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Studying with her sounded great to me, and I didn’t have any particular reason to refuse, so I gave her a nod. “All right, then. I’d be glad to have you accompanying me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us made our way to the castle’s library together. Partway there, however, I heard a familiar voice call out to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, Lord Ars! Good morning!” shouted the ever-loquacious Virge. “Lovely day out, isn’t it? Beautiful weather like this makes me want to drop everything, run outside, and exercise my heart out, but alas, today I must coop myself up indoors and process paperwork! A shame, such a shame!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, is that so? Good luck with that,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, I’ve heard you won’t be performing any appraisals today? What will the two of you be doing instead?” Virge asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re planning on spending the day studying in the library,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, truly? How very industrious of you! Oh, I know─if you’re going to study, I recommend you visit the lecture hall! Thomas has been teaching lessons there, it seems, and I’m sure he’d be happy to see you come listen to him. As a matter of fact, I believe he’s running one right now!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thomas is? Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Quite! Knowledge and skill go hand in hand, after all─it’s a vital component of any soldier’s training! Though of course, not everyone can participate. I understand that only a small number of individuals who lead their own brigades are in attendance. I can’t imagine he’d turn you down, though, Your Lordship!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was all news to me, but it was true that being a capable leader required as much knowledge as it did martial skill. I didn’t know what subjects Thomas was teaching, but considering how smart he was, I felt confident that he could cover all sorts of fields. In any case, I didn’t see the harm in checking it out for myself. I glanced at Licia, who met my gaze and gave me a nod, signaling that she was interested as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for telling me about this,” I said to Virge. “I’ll go give it a look right away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived in Castle Canarre’s lecture hall to find that Virge had been correct, and Thomas’s lesson was just about to begin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t mind if you want to sit in…but it could make things a little difficult,” Thomas said when I asked if I could attend as well. It sounded like I had his approval, at least, if not his wholehearted welcome."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The lecture hall was quite large, with enough space for at least a hundred people or so to sit in, but there were only ten gathered up for the lesson at the moment. I took a seat, and Licia sat down to my right. She seemed rather excited, and I had a feeling she was quite motivated to learn. I didn’t know if the subject Thomas would be teaching would be relevant to our duties, but I decided to learn from her example and apply myself as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham occupied the seat in front of me. He led a strike force of elite troops, but he was also still far from the brightest bulb in the box, so studying was of particular importance for him. Or at least, it was from my perspective─he seemed much more interested in getting back to his training."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, hey, does any of this stuff even matter? Can’t we get back out into the field already?” Braham moaned at Thomas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Keep griping like that, and you’ll be getting a different sort of lecture before you know it,” Zaht quickly scolded from the seat next to Braham’s. He’d been assigned to serve as Braham’s second-in-command, and it seemed that position had caused him no small amount of stress."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Canarre is home to a large number of individuals with great potential, but the one thing it lacks is individuals with an advanced education,” said Thomas, who didn’t bat an eyelash at Braham’s grumbling. “It’s only natural for those who lead to apply themselves to their studies. In other words: shut your mouth and listen.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t argue with that assessment. As a natural consequence of my willingness to hire anyone, irrespective of social standing, I had an unusual number of commoners in my employ. Talented as they were, they hadn’t had the access to the sort of education that nobles were given. I knew that they’d pick it up quickly as long as they had someone to teach them, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, Braham does need to hit the books more,” said Charlotte, who was sitting to my left."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Look who’s talking! I snapped internally. Charlotte hadn’t been planning on attending the lecture at first. She’d only shown up because she’d learned that Licia and I would be going, and had decided on the spot that she’d tag along as well. I was no closer to getting a read on what drove her than I’d been the day we met. Musia was sitting on Charlotte’s other side, by the way, though she was serious enough about her studies that she’d been planning on participating from the start."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Braham and you both need to study up,” Thomas snapped back, his face twitching with irritation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What, me? What are you talking about? I’ll have you know I know all sortsa stuff,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, really? Then how about you list all the counties in Missian, aside from Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A lengthy pause ensued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Uhhh,” said Charlotte, “there’s the one by the ocean…S-Semplan? And then there’s, uhhh… Ar… Ar… Arcantara?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Semplar and Arcantez,” sighed Thomas. “You don’t even know the name of your own duchy’s capital?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t need to know that junk to win battles!” Charlotte confidently declared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Thomas’s words seemed to stick in his throat. He’d had a very up close and personal experience with Charlotte’s capabilities during the battle of Velshdt, and couldn’t come up with a counterargument. Rather, it looked to me like he was lamenting the fact that he’d lost to a dullard like her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I promise you that if you don’t do something to correct your lack of knowledge, it’ll come back to bite you in the long run,” Thomas finally said. “Let’s try another question: you know all the magical aspects, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course I do!” said Charlotte with a smug grin. “There’s the one that makes fire and the one that makes water, to start! Then there’s the one that makes light, and, uhhh, the one that blows stuff up! There’s one that lets you do stuff with dirt too…oh, and one that makes big noises! Hmm… Think that’s all of ’em, probably?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not even close to all of them, you imbecile!” shouted Thomas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, seriously?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Conventional knowledge states that there are twenty aspects in total,” Thomas sighed before listing them out one by one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Apparently, the known magical aspects were sound, flame, water, shadow, explosion, steel, force, lightning, darkness, earth, light, healing, ice, wind, profane, time, illusion, spirit, wood, and knowledge. I’d studied them myself, and had thought that I’d memorized the list, but that was a long time ago and it seemed quite a few of them had slipped my mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That many? For real? I’ve only used five, or something,” Charlotte commented incredulously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It goes without saying that not all aspects are available in Missian,” said Thomas. “Casting magic requires aqua magia, and creating aqua magia requires an ore known as magistones. Particular sorts of magistone, meanwhile, can only be found in certain duchies. Missian has deposits of explosion-aspected magistones, for instance, and when a duchy has the only deposits of a certain aspect to be found, they’re prone to monopolizing it, strictly regulating the degree to which they’re sold to other duchies. As a side note, while I claimed there were twenty aspects, those are just the known ones. It’s said that there are more aspects that have yet to enter the realm of public knowledge, their very existence kept a tightly-guarded secret by those who are in the know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d never heard anyone talk about secret aspects of magic before. I had to wonder if there were aspects that only the Duke of Missian’s house knew about, but ruled the idea out just as quickly. After all, if that were the case then either Couran or Vasmarque would have used it during the civil war. Unless the aspect in question wasn’t particularly powerful, of course, but if that were the case, then what need would there be to hide it?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Which duchies hold a monopoly over which types of magistones, in specific?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Missian controls the explosive magistone supply, and Seitz has a monopoly over steel,” said Thomas. “I’m to understand that Seitz didn’t make use of that advantage in the recent conflict. Steel-aspected magic tends to be used for defensive purposes, so I suppose they don’t make a point of working it into their offensive tactics. The healing magistone supply is controlled by Paradille, time and spirit by Ansel, and profane by Scheutz. Finally, Rofeille controls illusion and force while Canshiep controls ice and knowledge.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Should I take that to mean that the remaining ten aspects aren’t monopolized by any duchy in particular?” Licia followed up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right,” Thomas confirmed. “That doesn’t mean you can dig them up just anywhere, though. Some regions don’t have access to the more common magistones. Lightning and wood-aspect magistones are a lost cause in Missian, for instance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia was engaging with Thomas’s lecture on a deep level. I was very impressed by her studious nature─almost as much as I was unimpressed with Charlotte’s. She was the one who needed to know about the minutiae of magic more than anyone, and yet somewhere along the way she’d slumped over onto her desk and fallen asleep. If anyone needed to take a leaf out of Licia’s book, it was her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t long before Thomas noticed his unconscious pupil and let out a sigh that struck me as more tired than angry. “I suppose forcing her to learn anything past the bare minimum would be counterproductive anyway,” he muttered. “You─the one next to her! Musia, was it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hyee─Y-Yes?!” squealed Musia, who had been listening intently this whole time. Thomas seemed to be staring right through her, and Musia seemed to be so nervous, she was petrified."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your job’s to learn as much as you possibly can and support Charlotte,” said Thomas. “Consider yourself the second-in-command of our mage division.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…huh? The second-in-command?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you acting like this is a surprise?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-Because it is! I’m still a novice! There’s no way I could manage a job like that!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re second only to Charlotte in terms of ability, aren’t you?” said Thomas. “And even if you don’t think that’s true now, it will be before long. You need to study up while you can.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-Whaaat?!” Musia wailed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her promotion had taken her by surprise, but frankly, it had only been a matter of time before she ended up in that position. She had the talent, and while her current skills were already nothing to scoff at, they were also growing at a rapid pace. To top it all off she was studious and diligent, making her the perfect complement to her captain Charlotte’s lackadaisical attitude. Charlotte, in turn, seemed to have taken quite a liking to Musia, and was very unlikely to protest her promotion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz was in charge of our military assignments. I had the ultimate right of veto, but I’d never had any cause to oppose his decisions, so for all intents and purposes Musia’s rank was up to him. He seemed to have a high opinion of her, so I had a feeling that he would have put her in a position of command as she gained more experience anyway."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, our lesson on magic came to an end. Musia was left in a state of despair, muttering about how she now had to buckle down and study even though she was already busy with her magic practice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas wasn’t finished, though─he still had lessons on tactics and battle formations to teach. Those were areas that I generally left up to my retainers to handle, but it felt important for me to have at least a basic understanding of what to do in battle, so I listened with rapt attention. It was a given that I’d be taking those lessons seriously, but what I hadn’t expected was for Licia to be just as attentive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see! You can use sound magic to issue orders,” Licia muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm… Do you really think you’re ever going to need to know how to command a battle?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm…? What sort of question is that?!” Licia snapped. “I’m the wife of a count! It’s possible that I’ll be called upon to lead your troops, and I have to be prepared when the time arrives!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What sort of time would that even be? I wondered, but I had a feeling she’d just get more upset if I asked her that, so I kept the question to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, okay then,” I said instead. “I’m glad to see you acting so studious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hee hee! Oh, you flatter me,” said Licia with a slight blush and the cutest smile in the world. “I was never taught any of these subjects back home, so this is all very enlightening! Let’s study together again some time, shall we?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Certainly,” I agreed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, Thomas’s lesson came to a close."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! Finally finished,” Charlotte mumbled as she sat up and stretched. She’d barely listened to any of the lessons at all, yet for some reason, she was acting like she’d accomplished something."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, on Charlotte’s other side, Musia, who’d been studying for all she was worth, looked exhausted. I had a feeling that she was going to go through a lot of hardship thanks to her captain, but considering Charlotte showed no interest in shaping up, somebody had to fill the role of supporting her. Musia had just drawn the short straw."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0019.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, let’s hit up the training ground,” said Braham as he hauled himself to his feet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Zaht, who also looked rather drained as he followed along."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht had silently listened to the whole lecture, but Braham had slacked off to the bitter end. Being seated behind him had made it very easy to notice how distracted he’d been. To be clear, it didn’t seem like Thomas was fooled either. He knew that Braham wasn’t paying attention to him, but had given up on him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I checked on Braham’s Intelligence score, for reference, and found that it was slightly higher than before, but still sitting at an unimpressive 31. His Leadership had gone up slightly as well, bringing it to a total of 59, but that still wasn’t the sort of score I’d want for someone I could give control of a large army. His Valor was as high as ever, at least, and I knew that some studying could improve his current failings, but whether or not that would happen was another question entirely."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte was just as disinterested in studying as Braham, but her overwhelming magical capabilities gave her the ability to swing the course of a battle in our favor, regardless of her personal Intelligence score. Plus, she had a remarkable sort of charisma that helped her when it came to taking command─the other mages in her division all followed her orders to the letter. Braham had no such advantage, so unless he hit the books and learned some tactics, his theoretical strongest score, his Leadership, would never reach its full potential."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Braham himself couldn’t find some motivation, there wouldn’t be any improvement in his situation. I couldn’t force him to study, after all─that ran the risk of angering him so much, he’d defect to another county. I couldn’t afford to let a man with talent like his go, no matter what, which meant my only choice was to watch over him and hope for the best."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Licia and I passed by Thomas on our way out of the lecture hall, Licia briefly turned to him. “Today’s lesson was very informative! Thank you, and I look forward to the next one,” she said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re coming again, huh…? Have it your way, I guess,” replied Thomas. He seemed a little surprised that she intended to keep participating."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is us being here a problem?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not exactly,” Thomas muttered. “It makes things a bit harder, but it’s nothing I can’t deal with. And seeing as you got Charlotte to show up, it’s not without its upsides.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to hear it,” I replied. The fact that Charlotte had attended didn’t change the fact that she hadn’t paid any attention, but I supposed it was still better than her not showing up, period."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and while we’re at it, I have a question,” said Thomas. “How did Braham end up in Canarre?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Braham?” I said. “He was one of the captive soldiers that I appraised after we won the battle of Velshdt. He had exceptional talent, so I recommended that Lord Couran try to recruit him, but in the end he requested to be sent to Canarre instead.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Exceptional talent? Really…?” Thomas muttered skeptically. “He knows how to fight, I’ll give him that much, but I heard nothing but bad rumors about him back when we were both in Velshdt.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! So, you knew him before you came here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah,” said Thomas with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was a little surprised. Considering how unimportant of a mission Braham had been entrusted with in Velshdt, I hadn’t imagined he was well-known among its defenders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He was pretty famous in Velshdt, in the worst sense of the word. He was a hell of a fighter, but also a hell of an idiot─the sort of man who has no idea what to do the minute an actual battle breaks out. He managed to achieve something every once in a while, though, which earned him a fair share of admirers. That’s how he ended up leading a squad in spite of everything.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” I said. “It sounds like he was rather notorious, in a sense.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll admit he’s not as much of an idiot as I thought back then, but talented…? Are you sure about that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely. Someday, Braham will be one of the most esteemed generals in the whole Summerforth Empire.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham’s maximum Leadership score was 102─higher even than Rietz and Mireille’s. I’d appraised more people than I could count in my search for subordinates, and I’d still never met anyone with a Leadership score higher than his. With the right training and encouragement, I knew he could become the greatest general the continent had ever seen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A great general? Him…? That’s hard to believe, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out,” Thomas said incredulously. Considering how much of an idiot Braham came across as, asking Thomas to believe he had that sort of potential may have been asking the impossible. Not even I could say with total certainty he’d reach his potential, considering how many difficulties he was having at the moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll be on our way, then,” I said. Licia and I bade Thomas farewell, then returned to our room together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Thomas’s lesson wrapped up, Braham headed for the training grounds along with Zaht, his second-in-command. Braham had always loved working out and made a point to train whenever he had a moment to spare. Zaht, meanwhile, made a point of accompanying him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” Braham murmured as they walked along. He seemed to be pondering something."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht looked rather puzzled. Generally speaking, Braham wasn’t the sort of person to worry─or, for that matter, think─about much of anything. He was a man who lived by his instincts, and it was a shock to see him contemplating something, particularly considering they’d only just finished their lesson for the day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Zaht,” said Braham, “do you think there’s any point to studying all that tactics junk? Because I’m pretty sure the best way to get stronger’s to keep training, personally!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht paused to roll his eyes before answering Braham’s question."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I do think there’s a point,” he said. “The more you understand tactics, the easier it becomes to win battles. It’s necessary.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tactics, huh? I dunno…aren’t those all just cowardly tricks to get an edge on your enemy, in the end? What’s the point of winning if you’ve gotta cheat to do it? The way I see it, real men fight head on, fair and square!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Think of it this way, if you go into a winnable fight and lose because you didn’t have any sort of tactical plan, then none of that fair play stuff matters anymore.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you just win instead!” declared Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If only it were that easy,” Zaht muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s that supposed to mean? When have I ever lost?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You told me yourself that Rietz beat you, didn’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh!” Braham winced. “W-Well, yeah, he did…but that was a duel! I’m talking about big battles!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll grant you that you haven’t been with House Louvent for long enough to have engaged in many battles yet, and you haven’t lost as a result…but didn’t you end up joining House Louvent in the first place because they recruited you after you lost to them?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Agh,” Braham moaned. He couldn’t argue against a verifiable fact."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham thought back to one of the battles he’d fought at Velshdt, before he joined House Louvent. The first image that came to mind was that of himself performing glorious, valorous deeds on the battlefield, charging straight into a force twice the size of his own and claiming the enemy leader’s head in an instant. The enemy army had collapsed, and he’d even been rewarded for his service."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A grin spread across Braham’s face as he basked in the memory, while Zaht cringed off to the side. It wasn’t the only one, either─Braham remembered all sorts of battles in which he’d achieved great things."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup, no doubt about it! I’ve never lost! I’ve turned the tide of battle over and over, and losing against Couran’s army wasn’t my fault at all!” Braham declared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you forget everything that doesn’t match up with the ideal little world you think you live in?” sighed Zaht. “I have a feeling you’ve failed at least as much as you’ve succeeded.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rude! N-No way that could be true!” Braham shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The old Braham would have stopped there, content to believe in his idealized memories of his achievements. The new Braham, however─the Braham who had ever so slightly matured since he arrived in Canarre─had the presence of mind to think it through just a little longer, and realize that he had committed a few minor blunders. More than a few, in fact. Remembering one had opened the floodgates, and mistake after mistake soon came back to him in rapid succession."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was the time he’d led the vanguard in a charge only to fall into an enemy trap, ultimately causing his force to lose the battle, for instance. Then there was the time he’d disregarded his orders, broken ranks to go on the attack, and caused his army’s formation to collapse. Braham had caused all sorts of trouble during his time in Velshdt, and only now was that fact sinking in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh,” Braham groaned, the color draining from his face as a terrible possibility struck him. “Hey, Zaht. I think I’m just jumping to conclusions here, but…can I ask you something?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Feel free,” said Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did everyone back in Velshdt treat me like garbage…because they thought I was stupid?” asked Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, most likely,” Zaht replied instantly, with a look on his face that said Why are you asking the obvious?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham’s jaw dropped."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re kidding, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wrong. I don’t know much about what happened in Velshdt, but that’s the only reasonable explanation I can think of.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham fell silent. A bead of sweat dripped down his brow as he brooded furiously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Zaht…?” Braham finally said. “You know all that stuff we just learned? Think you could, uhh, help me review it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Certainly,” said Zaht, his expression shifting to one that shouted Thank the gods, he’s finally figured it out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia and I decided to attend Thomas’s next lesson as well, which was once again focused on military tactics. I could tell why Thomas had been Vasmarque’s most trusted advisor: he was incredibly well-versed in the subject, and taught us all sorts of practical tactics that you’d never find in written treatises."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Of course, I say practical in the sense that they could be used in the real world─whether or not I ever would was much more in doubt. I’d been into battle before and almost certainly would again, though, so I figured there was no harm in learning what I could, and doing my best not to forget it. Thomas apparently taught lessons not related to war sometimes as well, which I imagined were a little more applicable to my purposes. I had a feeling he’d know all sorts of interesting tidbits that I wouldn’t be able to learn from anyone else."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, the lesson proceeded along, but Braham quickly caught my attention. He hadn’t taken the first lesson I’d attended seriously at all─in fact, he’d barely even listened to it─but this time, he was paying careful attention. He seemed to be hanging on Thomas’s every word, and was even asking questions to make sure he understood the lesson’s content."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was such a dramatic about-face in attitude that even Thomas seemed bewildered. I had a feeling he’d never seen Braham act so diligent before. Not that it was a bad thing, of course! Braham had Valor to spare, but was lacking in Intelligence, so if he’d gotten it into his head to take his studies seriously, I could only see it as a positive development. Still, I had to wonder: where had this sudden change come from?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you say something to Braham?” Thomas asked, finding an opportunity to whisper to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, nothing at all,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really? Then why’s he acting so serious all of a sudden? I can’t figure out what makes him tick. Is he putting on a show to make it look like he’s a decent student in front of you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That didn’t seem right, considering he’d made no such effort the first time I attended a lesson. He’d had a change of heart since then, but what had prompted it was a mystery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seeing him act like that’s creeping me out, but I guess it’s not a bad thing. He’s better at picking things up than I expected,” said Thomas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That proved something I’d already suspected: as long as Braham listened, he wasn’t bad at understanding what people told him at all. His maximum Intelligence score was reasonable enough that I’d always figured he wasn’t inherently stupid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s one hell of a fighter, too. If I can just drill what being on a battlefield actually means into his head, then who knows? Maybe he’s got the potential to lead a unit after all. He’s still worlds away from being the greatest general in all of Summerforth, though! Hah hah hah!” Thomas chuckled as he went along on his way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few weeks came and went, over the course of which I attended several more of Thomas’s lessons. I didn’t go every day, of course. It almost felt like I’d returned to my school days when I did, and I’d come to enjoy it quite a bit, but I couldn’t put off resuming my appraisals and finding new people to hire forever, so I knew I’d have to call it quits before too long."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham was still taking his lessons seriously. Part of me had expected his shift in attitude to last for a day, at most, and I was rather impressed he’d kept it up for so long. He really had had a change of heart, it seemed, which led me to try appraising him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His newfound diligence had already borne fruit, it seemed. Braham’s Intelligence score was a lot higher than it had been before. 45 still wasn’t an incredible score, to be sure, but it was something. His Leadership, however, was only at 68. It had gone up by much less than I’d anticipated, though upon further consideration, it struck me that Leadership was the sort of stat that improved through real-world experience leading troops on the battlefield. Just studying wasn’t enough for it to improve by leaps and bounds, and the slight gains he’d achieved were impressive enough as-is."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "68 was a low enough score that I was still too scared to give him control of a large army, but at the very least, it reaffirmed the potential I’d seen in him. I was starting to think that the next time a battle broke out, having him take charge of a larger squad might be for the best. His growth was encouraging, in any case, but there was just one small factor that had me worried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugggh,” Braham sighed listlessly. He was usually so energetic that it was sort of a problem, but ever since he’d started taking his studies seriously, he’d seemed rather down in the dumps. I had to wonder if those facts were related, somehow. The change had been so sudden it wasn’t hard to imagine something had happened to prompt it, after all…but since it had turned him into such a good student, I decided to just sit back and let it play out for the time being."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In a training ground in Canarre, Zaht Brouzdo was taking on his immediate superior, Braham Joe, in a five-versus-five mock battle. Magic was off the table for this engagement─they would battle with traditional weaponry alone. Zaht and Braham had each taken charge as the leaders of their five-man divisions, and commanded their soldiers with the goal of disabling the enemy leader."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Grr,” Zaht grunted with irritation. It had been a tough fight so far. Braham was all but unbeatable in single combat, and Zaht had only won a small number of one-on-one matches against him, but team bouts were supposed to be a different matter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the past, Braham had never bothered to give more than the simplest of orders and had spearheaded his unit’s charges, in spite of the fact that his defeat would mean the end of the match. All that Zaht typically had to do was arrange for Braham to end up facing off against several troops at once, and they could handle him. He’d still managed to claim a victory or two thanks to his exceptional level of skill, but the balance of victories still leaned in Zaht’s favor when compared to their one-on-one record."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Recently, however, things had changed. Braham had become much better at keeping his cool in battle, and had stopped charging in without a plan. Moreover, he’d started being much more proactive and specific with his orders. He still made plenty of tactical blunders, but Zaht found himself hard pressed to claim a solid victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, flank ’em!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Much to Zaht’s chagrin, he realized too late that he’d left Braham’s men the perfect chance to slip around behind him─a chance that Braham was quick to take advantage of. By the time Braham had given the order, it was already too late to stop it. Zaht’s group was flanked, disarmed, and defeated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Letting the enemy get behind you puts you in a tough spot! Better be careful about that from now on!” Braham pointed out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well aware, thank you,” grumbled Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham’s attitude about his victories had shifted as well. In the past, he would frolic like an ecstatic child whenever he won a match, but recently, he’d learned to keep his cool. Even now Braham had furrowed his brow, sinking into thought. As best as Zaht could tell, he was reviewing the mock battle he’d just fought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He really has changed, thought Zaht. At first I wondered why I’d been assigned to work for an idiot kid like him, but these days, I’m starting to change my mind…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht had traveled all over the continent of Summerforth, and through his many experiences had become a rather worldly man. He fought his first battle in his early teens, having chosen to go to war because living out his days as a common peasant struck him as boring. Eventually, however, the commanding officer who led his squad chose to break away from the army and take his men with him. Zaht was living like a bandit before he knew it, and he’d realized that a situation like that could only end poorly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that ill-fated venture, Zaht took a stab at bounty hunting and spent some time as a mercenary as well. He tried out all sorts of careers, living through his fair share of battlefield massacres in the process. The number of men he’d killed had passed the point where he could count them on his fingers a long time ago, and he’d seen plenty of friends and allies meet violent ends as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, he found himself drifting into the service of House Louvent, where he was assigned to serve as the second-in-command of an elite squad of soldiers. Compared to everything he’d been through up to that point it was a pretty cushy job, but the caveat that it involved working under Braham’s command was a bitter pill to swallow. That being said, Zaht was the sort of man who found motivation in adversity. He believed that Braham’s ineptitude would be exposed one day, and that when it happened, it would be the perfect chance for him to take over as the squad’s new leader."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’ve heard the count has some sort of power that lets him see people’s talents. Never thought much of that, but maybe there’s some truth to it after all, Zaht reflected. His skepticism about Ars’s ability was beginning to fade. But then again, if his power is real and he decided to assign me to work under Braham, then that would mean I’m less talented than he is, right? And that would mean that there’s no chance I’ll ever get to take over as captain… Though on the other hand, if Braham does turn out to have some sort of outrageous talent, then working under him might not be such a bad deal after all. As long as we can achieve enough, I might be able to move up in House Louvent’s ranks, even as the second-in-command."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht was a very ambitious man, but his end goal wasn’t to stand at the very pinnacle of his chosen hierarchy. As long as he could climb to a somewhat high station, he could be satisfied with it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is Braham really that talented, though? Zaht wondered once more. He was opening up to the idea that his superior wasn’t completely worthless, but he wasn’t sold yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Zaht…do you think I’m learning?” Braham suddenly asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say so,” Zaht answered honestly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really? Then how do you think I stack up to Rietz and Thomas these days?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Zaht blinked. “Uh, well, I’d say you still have a long ways to go before you’re on their level.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew it,” Braham muttered with a frustrated grimace. “Fighting’s all I know, so I thought I could at least be the best at it…but I guess I’ve still gotta put more effort in,” he continued, his frown taking on an edge of resolve."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The best, huh? thought Zaht. He felt a twinge of something close to envy as he watched Braham unflinchingly declare his desire to surpass all others. Zaht had been through too much to not know his own limits, and as such, those were words that he could never bring himself to speak."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, let’s go another round!” shouted Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Another…?” Zaht sighed. They had already fought five bouts that day alone, with barely any time to rest in between, and Zaht was exhausted. One would think that Braham would have been just as tired, but by all appearances he was still raring to go. He was truly a man whose stamina knew no bounds."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. Let’s get to it,” said Zaht. Many more matches would happen before Braham was finally satisfied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, my retainers and I gathered up in Castle Canarre for one of our regular meetings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve been thinking it’s about time for me to get back to looking for more people to recruit. Does anyone have any objections?” I asked, kicking the discussion off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“None. I believe that would be for the best,” Rietz agreed immediately. “We have the financial leeway to bring more people aboard, and as Canarre’s population rises, so too does the workload involved in managing the county. Frankly, we could use the help.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Think you could send a few people my way, this time? Lamberg’s population’s been on the rise too, and I’ve had a lot more problems to deal with,” chimed in Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Haven’t you already delegated the better part of your responsibilities as the baron?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nah,” she replied. “That’s the thing─there’ve been so many issues that I’ve had to handle a ton of the petty stuff myself. If you can get me someone who has what it takes to handle all that junk lickety-split for me, that’d be great.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Come to think of it, I guess Mireille has been paying a lot fewer visits to Castle Canarre as of late. Maybe that’s why?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suppose sending a few people your way wouldn’t be an issue,” I began, only for Rietz to jump in and cut me off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mustn’t, Lord Ars. Mireille’s goal is to reduce her own workload as far as she can manage. If she wishes to remain the Baron of Lamberg, then it’s only natural for her to deal with the bulk of the barony’s concerns. If there’s any problem with the current state of Lamberg, it’s that she hasn’t been carrying out that sort of duty up until now. If she finds herself doing everything she can and still fails to address all of the barony’s concerns, then you should consider granting her new personnel,” said Rietz. He had a point, and everyone knew it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Okay, but if the workload keeps growing at the rate it has been, it’s only a matter of time before it’s too much! Might as well plan ahead, right…?” Mireille interjected hopefully."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If the workload becomes too much for you, feel free to raise the issue in a future meeting,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You know, when you put it that way, it might be getting to that point already…? I can’t handle all the work on my plate alone, so if you could send just one or two─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re going to lie to us, at least put effort into your deception,” Rietz snapped. Mireille’s desperation was honestly kind of hard to watch, so I appreciated him shutting her down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“C-Come on, kiddo, cut me a break! How’s a girl supposed to drink her evenings away when she has so much work to do?!” Mireille shouted, turning to me and giving up on trickery entirely."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Needless to say, the fact that she was telling the truth now didn’t make me feel any more inclined to humor her than I had been before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll shelve Mireille’s request for support for the time being, then,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The shock on Mireille’s face was palpable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph! Fine, then. Guess I’ll just have to run the people I already have through the grinder until they can deal with it all on their own,” she grumbled to herself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just don’t go too crazy on them, okay?” I cautioned. I had a bad feeling how things would shape up if I left her to her own devices. “So then, moving along, does anyone have anything else to report?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As a matter of fact, yes,” said Rietz. “We’ve received reports of a group of bandits that have made their way into the County of Canarre. A number of raids have been reported already. I believe that we should address the issue with all due haste.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Bandits?” I repeated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed,” said Rietz. “It seems the bulk of their numbers are made up of former Seitzan soldiers. In other words, they’re experienced fighters and are much more dangerous than your typical brigands on an individual basis. Moreover, their numbers are nothing to scoff at. It seems likely that taking half-hearted measures against them would cost us dearly, so I propose that we dispatch a large, capable band of troops to eliminate them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The standard practice when bandits started making trouble within the county’s borders was to send the army to take care of them. The fact that Rietz was raising the matter as a proposal in a meeting rather than handling it as a matter of course told me that when he said the bandits’ numbers were considerable, he wasn’t kidding. That told me, in turn, that whoever was leading them was quite capable. Rietz was right─this didn’t sound like an enemy we could afford to underestimate, and we couldn’t let a group that dangerous run rampant for long. We’d have to take care of them quickly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I considered sending Mireille or Rietz, since they were such capable commanders. Giving them a relatively large force to lead would solve the issue in no time, surely…but then my gaze fell upon Braham, who was also in attendance. Something was different about him this meeting. Normally, he would’ve been the first person to throw his hand into the air and volunteer for the job, but this time he was just sitting there, listening to the exchange."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks to Braham’s recent diligence when it came to his studies, he had matured. That said, he still had a ways to go. His Intelligence had grown by leaps and bounds, but his Leadership was still stalled out. I had a feeling that no amount of book learning would help it, either─he had to get out there and get some real-world experience in order to improve further. It seemed to me that he’d found himself in something of a growth spurt, which meant that giving him some battlefield experience might be for the best. His squad of elite troops had grown recently, as well, and I wanted to get some perspective on just how capable they were."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would like to entrust the extermination of the bandits to Braham. Does anyone object?” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Grunted all of my retainers in unison. Even Braham’s eyes were wide with shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm… Might I ask for your rationale in choosing him, Lord Ars?” asked Rietz, apprehension written all over his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Braham’s skills have improved dramatically, and although these bandits may be a difficult foe to deal with, I’m confident he has what it takes to win,” I explained. “I’d also like to give his unit a test and see if they’re as elite as we hope they are.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But, nevertheless… Doesn’t this task call for someone like me or Mireille, who─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re already busy, aren’t you? And Mireille was just complaining about her workload a moment ago.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right?! Quit trying to dump even more work on my head, you!” Mireille cut in, quick to shut down any attempt to entrust her with the job. “And, I mean, why not give it to him? The kiddo sure seems to think Braham’s up to snuff, so might as well let him take a shot at it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have a point, I suppose,” Rietz conceded. His trust in my eye for talent convinced him to drop the argument."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait a moment! Do you really mean you want me to do this?!” Braham shouted just as I was about to declare the matter settled. His tone was as aggressive as ever, but I noted that his word choice, at least, seemed just a little more polite than usual."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you not want the job?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I didn’t say that…but, well,” Braham replied, then hesitated for a moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was an odd reaction, coming from a man who tended to have an excess of confidence in his own capabilities. His attitude really did seem to have gone through a major shift."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few seconds of silence later, he seemed to make up his mind. “Understood. Please leave the elimination of the bandits to me!” Braham declared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After we determined that Braham would be handling the bandit problem, the rest of the meeting moved on without a hitch. We weren’t facing any other major issues at the moment, it seemed, so it wasn’t long before we wrapped up and I began to head back to my room to take a break. As I walked along, though, a voice rang out behind me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you pick me to take care of the bandits?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I turned around to find Braham standing behind me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because I thought you could handle it,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But that doesn’t make sense!” said Braham. “I’ve been doing a lot of studying lately, and it’s made me realize that I’ve been fighting like a total lunatic my whole life. I could probably deal with a few small-time bandits, no problem, but this is supposed to be a dangerous band, right? I don’t know if I can handle them…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, I understood what had prompted the change in Braham’s attitude. All it had taken was a little studying to make him realize how inexperienced he was. Doing so had dealt a fatal blow to his confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And yet, he had agreed to take on the task. Clearly he’d realized that he’d grown, on some level─I just had to find the right thing to say to him to give him the encouragement he needed. I considered my words carefully, then spoke up once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The fact that you’ve learned to reflect on your mistakes is proof that you’ve grown,” I said. “I’ll admit that up until recently, I had too many apprehensions to assign you to a task like this. As you are now, however, I’m confident you can handle it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve been applying yourself to your tactical studies, haven’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve been studying, yeah, and I memorized a bunch of stuff, but I’ve never used any of it for real…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you can. You have the talent and ability to put everything you’ve learned about leadership into practice. I guarantee it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham fell silent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your second-in-command, Zaht, is a capable man as well,” I added. “If you end up not knowing what to do, you can just ask him for help and it’ll turn out just fine. I think you already know this, but the troops I’ve assigned to you are Canarre’s finest.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a few moments longer, Braham didn’t say a word. Finally, he looked me in the eye."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood! I’ll give it a try!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look on his face told me that he’d gotten over his hesitation. Braham sprinted out of the castle at top speed, and I felt safe knowing that I wouldn’t have to worry about him this time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After receiving his orders to deal with the bandits, Braham wasted no time in gathering up his troops."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Orders from the count!” he said. “We’re heading out to mop up some bandits! Get ready, men─we’re giving this mission everything we have, and then some!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Bandits?” one of the soldiers scoffed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sounds like a walk in the park,” commented another."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "None of Braham’s soldiers seemed concerned about their task. This was far from the first time they’d been ordered to take care of brigands that had been causing trouble in the county, and usually, they’d found themselves stronger and better-armed than the foes they faced. They had yet to meet bandits that posed a real challenge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It won’t be so easy this time!” Braham shouted. “We’re not dealing with just any bandits─these are former Seitzan soldiers, and there are a lot of them! Brace yourselves for a real fight, because that’s what we’re gonna get!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That declaration gave Braham’s soldiers at least a little pause. He waited for just a moment, then continued. “The enemy’s holed up in northwestern Canarre. They’ve taken control of an abandoned fort, and are using it as their headquarters.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A fort?” said one of Braham’s soldiers. “Abandoned or not, that means they’ll be in a solid defensive position─and there are a lot of them, on top of it? This might be rough.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right,” said Braham. “First things first…we’ll need information on the enemy, so we’ll send out scouts to get a lay of the land.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A look of surprise came across the faces of every one of Braham’s men. Gathering information was the most basic of tactical common sense…and was also something that Braham hadn’t bothered to do at all for as long as they had known him. Typically, his tactic of choice had been to charge first and ask questions never. His soldiers were aware that he’d taken a studious turn, but they had all been under the impression that he wouldn’t change so quickly. This came as quite the surprise to them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham chose several soldiers to serve as scouts, and sent them off to survey the bandits’ fort."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, the scouts returned to report on the bandits’ stronghold. It seemed that the former Seitzan soldiers had been hard at work, and had restored the fort’s defensive capabilities to some extent. Worse still, there were even more of them than initial reports had suggested. They weren’t just a band of ex-soldiers anymore─they’d taken in some of Canarre’s homegrown brigands as well, along with a number of has-been mercenary bands. Their force was growing stronger by the day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In terms of weaponry, the former soldiers were reasonably well-equipped, but the bandits that had joined them later on didn’t have much in the way of fine arms and armor. In addition, the scouts hadn’t sighted a single mage among the enemy’s number. If they had the capacity to use magic then Braham’s squad would have very little hope of dealing with them alone─they would have had no choice but to call in reinforcements."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good work, men!” said Braham after his scouts concluded their report. “There sure are a lot of them, though, aren’t there…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maybe we should ask for some support?” suggested Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham lapsed into thought. If the enemy’s numbers were too great for his men to deal with, then requesting backup was his only choice. Braham, however, didn’t think that things had reached that point─they were formidable, yes, but not unbeatable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy’s tougher than we anticipated, but not so tough that we can’t take ’em,” Braham finally said. “Not like they’ll be pelting us with spells or anything, right? The count gave me this mission personally, too, so we can’t crawl back to him and ask for another troop to lend us a hand.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t this also an important enough mission that we can’t risk failing?” noted Zaht."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, but think about it─bringing in reinforcements means spending more money and using up more provisions to get the task done. It’d take time to get the other troops ready, too, which means we wouldn’t be able to chase them as quickly. We can’t let an operation of this scale stick around for any longer than we have to.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s true, I suppose,” Zaht conceded, still sounding rather worried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I thought we couldn’t take ’em no matter what, I’d give in and say that we should ask for help…but I doubt it’s that far out of hand yet. You wouldn’t want to betray the count’s expectations by running back to him, whining about how we can’t beat that many bandits, and asking for backup, would you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht found himself unable to dispute Braham’s logic. He was just as invested in maintaining their squad’s elite reputation as Braham was, and knew that in the worst case, failing to show results could get him removed from his position as second-in-command, shutting off his path up the ranks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. Guess I was being too cautious,” Zaht said, throwing his weight behind Braham’s plan. “I have to say, though─you’re using your brain a lot more today than usual.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hey, are you calling me an idiot?! I’m over that, and you know it!” Braham shouted. Zaht’s casual jab had touched a nerve. “We’re not charging in without a plan this time, if I have anything to say about it! We’re working out some tactics, and following them to the letter!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tactics?” repeated Zaht. “Feel like cluing us in on the specifics?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I, uh,” Braham began, then faltered. “We’ll figure that out right now, as a team!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Guess I shouldn’t have expected you to mature that much overnight,” Zaht sighed, though internally, he admitted to himself that Braham not wanting to charge in without a plan was a sign that he’d grown quite a bit already. “These bandits are building up their numbers, right? Seems they’ve done it rather quickly, too, so I’m guessing they’re taking in anyone and everyone who comes their way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d say so, yeah,” Braham agreed. “They wouldn’t have been able to recruit that many people that fast otherwise.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, the way I see it, that means they aren’t putting much effort into checking the backgrounds of the people they recruit─and that means that it wouldn’t be hard for us to slip an infiltrator into their ranks.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham blinked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh…oh! I get it! We can send in spies to turn the battle in our favor when it breaks out! Let’s do it!” he shouted, latching onto Zaht’s proposal without a second thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? No, wait,” said Zaht. “I know I’m the one who came up with the idea, but a mission like that would be dangerous, not to mention difficult. Shouldn’t we give this a little more thought before we settle on it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph… Right, fair enough,” said Braham. “Infiltrating the enemy’s ranks would be dangerous, yeah. Maybe we should send in someone who’s tough enough to make a break for it and survive if things go south…? All right, I’ve got it! I’ll infiltrate the enemy’s fort!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ll what?!” Zaht shouted in horror."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m the best fighter in our whole squad, so if things get dangerous, I’m the one who’s most likely to make it out alive!” Braham explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re also our captain!” shouted Zaht. “This isn’t the sort of mission you can send a commanding officer on! And while I’ll admit that you have the highest odds of surviving if the mission goes wrong, we should be sending whoever has the highest odds of making the mission go right!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What, are you saying I wouldn’t be able to pull it off?” asked Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” Zaht flatly replied. “You’re the last person I’d trust to make it into the enemy camp without raising any alarms.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” Braham grunted, unable to deny it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I should be the infiltrator,” said Zaht."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? No, wait, you’re my second-in-command! You can’t just─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You were prepared to send yourself─the captain─just a moment ago, so I don’t want to hear it. I’m sure you’ll be able to manage without your second-in-command around, and I may not let it show, but I’ve run with some pretty tough outfits in the past. Sneaking into a bandit camp’s a task I’m well-suited for.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But it’ll be dangerous!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know it will, but I give myself decent odds of making it out if worse comes to worst and I have to run. Plus, pulling off a task like this could convince the count to give me a personal reward, when all’s said and done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Is that seriously what you’re aiming for…?” asked Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes,” replied Zaht with the slightest of smirks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, have it your way. The job’s yours,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Consider it done,” replied Zaht. “That said, this will be hard to pull off if I’m going it alone. May I select a few other troops to infiltrate the fort with me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Go right ahead,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht picked out a number of soldiers to accompany him, then set off on his mission without delay."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The northwest regions of Canarre were once host to a large mine. Near that mine was a town in which its workers had lived. Given the mine’s importance to the county, a fort and walls had even been raised to protect the town. When the deposits of ore ran dry, however, the mine lost its significance and the fort was abandoned. It remained that way for many years, all but forgotten…but now, it was as bustling as it had ever been. The fort had been occupied by bandits, who had turned it into their personal citadel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht approached the fort with four soldiers he’d chosen accompanying him. They were all clad in the sort of worn and ragged clothing you’d expect from bandits, and Zaht had gone out of his way to choose men with surly, intimidating appearances. You’d never think they were anything other than a gang of brigands."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A pair of guards stood before the fort’s front gate. Zaht approached them without hesitation, and it wasn’t long before the guards noticed him and his crew."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who the hell’re you people?!” shouted one of the guards, doing his best to intimidate Zaht and his men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is Lord Vigo’s domain!” added the other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, well I’ve got business with Lord Vigo,” replied Zaht. This was the first time he’d heard of the man, but he did his best to make it sound like he was in the know."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What sorta business?” asked one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Me and my crew were running in the mountains ’round Paradille until their army raided our hideout. We lost most of our gang and the hideout along with ’em, and we’ve been on the run ever since, till we heard about this place,” said Zaht, going far out of his way to sound much gruffer than he would ever speak under normal circumstances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What, so you wanna join us?” asked a guard."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right,” Zaht confirmed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well sorry, pal, but we’re full up. Lord Vigo’s decided that we’re not takin’ in anyone else, unless they’ve got some real major skills to offer. Go find some other crew to take your sorry hides in.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That wasn’t the reaction that Zaht had expected, but he didn’t so much as flinch. “Doesn’t sound like that’s gonna be necessary,” he said. “You want skills, we’ve got ’em. If you need men who can swing a sword like the best of ’em, then you need us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, well aren’t you a big talker,” said one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, and I’ll bet you he’s all talk,” the other said with a sneer. The two of them burst into laughter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, have it your way. We’ll prove it,” said Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Prove it how?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll take on the both of you. Two on one. You can feel free to come at me like you mean to kill me, but I don’t wanna go making any enemies here, so I’ll be sure to leave you alive. If I live, then you know we’re your men. That work for you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The hell’re you talking about, pal?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not good enough? In that case, we’ll say that I only pass if I can take the both of you out within ten seconds. How about that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that, the guards’ brows furrowed with anger."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be? Think you can make fun of us?” spat one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ll be a corpse ten seconds from now!” shouted the other."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two guards drew the short swords they carried at their waists. Zaht was carrying a blade as well, but he didn’t bother to reach for it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’re you waiting for?! Draw!” shouted one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I said I wasn’t going to kill you, didn’t I? Why would I use a sword?” said Zaht. “Don’t worry─I can handle you two just fine without one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve got one hell of a death wish, moron!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By that point, the guards were frothing mad. They leaped at Zaht simultaneously, but their movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. Zaht could see through their attacks with ease, and dodged them without wasting a single movement before delivering a heavy elbow strike to one of the guards’ jaws. The guard slumped to the ground, his brain addled by the blow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other guard was taken aback for just long enough for Zaht to slip in a jab to his face, knocking him off balance. He took that chance to send a kick at the guard’s sword arm, nailing him in the elbow. The guard’s grip went slack, and his sword fell to the ground, only for Zaht to scoop it up and press its blade to the disarmed bandit’s throat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d call this my win, huh?” said Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh,” the guard groaned, then clicked his tongue. “Fine! We’ll take you to Lord Vigo.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To the guards’ credit, they acknowledged their defeat and let Zaht’s band into the fort. As they passed inside Zaht noted that the bandits had put some work into restoring the place. Although they hadn’t managed to bring it anywhere close to the standards of a newer structure, it was still better than one would expect from a typical bandit hideout. Ordinarily, bandits lived in ramshackle hovels that they built themselves or impromptu lodgings set up in caves. It was very rare for any to be found living in proper structures like this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the guards led Zaht to Vigo, he mulled over the details of his mission. His first task was to make his way into the fort and convince the bandits to accept him and his men into their numbers. Then, when night fell, they would make their way to the fort’s front gate and watchtower, take out all the bandits on guard duty, then wait in the watchtower until the rest of Braham’s force arrived, at which point they would open the gate. The final result: a surprise attack in the dead of night. The bandits would be caught asleep and unprepared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a normal band of brigands, that would be all it would take to deal with the issue once and for all. These, however, were former Seitzan soldiers. Even if caught off guard and asleep, the odds were good they would still put up some amount of resistance. As such, Zaht’s other objective was to assassinate their leader, Vigo, if the opportunity arose. Without a leader to command them, the bandits would be unable to coordinate a defense against the surprise attack, fall into confusion, and put up very little resistance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were plenty of dangers involved in carrying out an assassination, so Zaht would only make an attempt if the perfect opportunity presented itself. Even if he couldn’t take out their leader, the surprise attack would put Braham’s force at an advantage. However experienced and capable of coordinating a defense Vigo was, the odds would still be in Braham and Zaht’s favor. If attempting an assassination would run a substantial risk of blowing Zaht’s cover, then it just wasn’t worth it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Around the time Zaht finished mulling over the plan, Vigo came into sight. He was a large, muscular man with an unkempt beard and messy hair to match. He also wore equipment that had come from the Seitzan army, meaning he was likely a former soldier."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who’re they?” asked Vigo."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“New blood. They say they wanna work for you,” said one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Vigo grunted. “Thought I told you that we already have enough people. Or, what, are you saying these ones would be useful?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seems like. We came at one of them two on one, and he did us both in… It looks like they’ve got what it takes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That so?” said Vigo, sizing up Zaht and his men with a look of interest. “You─what’re you called?” he asked Zaht."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rubius,” said Zaht. His real name hadn’t spread far and wide across the county, but considering he was dealing with former Seitzan soldiers there was a small but real possibility they’d heard of him. Using a false name would prevent that from being a problem."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you’re tough, Rubius,” said Vigo. “Well then, why bother working for me? Don’t tell me you’re planning on bumping me off and taking my place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hate to say it, but I’m not that much of a risk-taker,” said Zaht. “Judging by the rumors I’ve heard, I figure that working for you will keep things nice and stable for me, at least for now. With a fort like this to hole up in, even if the army of Canarre sets its sights on you, they won’t be able to run you out of the county that easily.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph,” Vigo snorted derisively. “You’re pretty boring for a tough guy, huh? Gotta hand it to you, though─if that’s what you’re after, you’ve picked the right place. If you don’t have anywhere else to go, then suit yourself. You’re free to stick around here for now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht had earned Vigo’s approval so easily, it was almost disappointing. That, perhaps, explained why his force had grown so large in such a short amount of time─he was apparently a very accepting person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We owe you one. If anyone decides to pick a fight, you can count on us defending you on the front lines,” Zaht lied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But seriously, though─why come to us, of all places?” asked Vigo. “If you’re that tough, why not give up on the outlaw life, join an army somewhere, and move up in the world?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I could find an army that’d take in a bandit like me, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Zaht replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Well, I was in Seitz’s army up until just a few months back, and I was a raider right up until I joined them. Climbed pretty high up in the ranks before I jumped ship, too. Look in the right places, and you’ll find a legit outfit that’ll take you in,” said Vigo."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you were climbing the ranks, then how’d you end up going back to banditry?” asked Zaht."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Stuff happened,” said Vigo. “The noble I was working for lost a battle, and most of his money along with it. Folks like me who’d been brought in from outside were the first to be let go, and that left me without any other options. He was nice enough to tell me about this fort, at least, so I’ve gotta give the guy some credit.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? That explains a lot,” Zaht muttered to himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fact that a Seitzan leader had told Vigo about the fort struck him as significant. Maybe it was an act of compassion on Vigo’s former commander’s part…or maybe he had less benevolent intentions. Sending a group of former soldiers to live in an abandoned fort in Canarre seemed like a surefire way to sow chaos in the fort’s vicinity. Maybe it had been an attempt at getting payback for Seitz’s defeat, or maybe it had been an attempt to weaken the county in preparation for another, more successful invasion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One way or another, I’ll have to tell Rietz about this as soon as I get the chance, thought Zaht. The thought that bringing back important strategic information would raise his standing with his superiors almost brought a smile to Zaht’s face, but he held it back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, can’t say I like the thought of putting my life on the line, then getting cut loose the second the coffers run dry. I think I’m more suited for the bandit life,” said Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh! Suit yourself,” Vigo scoffed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht and his men were given a tour through the fort. They hadn’t roused any suspicion, and had blended in with the rest of the bandits in no time at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile, Braham and his men lurked in a forest near the fort where they’d set up camp, careful not to let the bandits discover them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It looks like Zaht’s crew’s made it in!” reported a scout who’d been sent out to watch over the fort."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Great! Now we just have to wait for night to fall, keep an eye on the fort, and rush in the moment we see them take out the people on watch,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, sir! I’ll head back to keep lookout on the fort right away!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once the guards had been eliminated, Zaht and his infiltrators would send a signal to Braham’s unit. They were under strict orders to flee if the bandits caught on and the mission was compromised─after all, they could always come back with a new plan of attack in the event this one failed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few hours passed by, and the sun sank below the horizon. Braham’s unit prepared themselves for battle, knowing the order to move out could come at any time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, the scout that had been sent out returned once more. “They’ve sent the signal!” he reported to Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! Let’s move out, men!” Braham ordered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that command, Braham’s elite unit began to depart. They crept through the forest, silently but swiftly making their way toward the fort."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t long before they’d made it to the fort’s immediate vicinity. As they drew closer, the front gate creaked open."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s do this! Charge!” Braham said, then led his troops into the fort."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After taking down the bandits’ lookouts with ease, Zaht and his men settled in to wait for Braham and the others to arrive. In the meantime, Zaht considered his options."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "These bandits are less prepared than I expected. I guess having a defensible base of operations made them let their guards down? Still, it’s hard to believe they let total outsiders have free rein of the place the very same day they showed up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that the bandits had never even considered the possibility that anyone would try to infiltrate their fort."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If they’re this open to attack, then maybe assassinating Vigo would be worth the risk after all. I’m sure we’ll win one way or another, if the surprise attack works out, but if he manages to rally a defense we might suffer more casualties than we have to. It seemed like he knew what he’s doing, but if I can catch him asleep in bed, he won’t stand a chance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht informed the rest of his crew that he was going to attempt the assassination they’d planned, then set out without delay, descending the watchtower and making his way into the fort proper. Vigo, he knew, would be sleeping in the chamber where they’d first met him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht crept along silently, and made his way to Vigo’s chamber without being spotted. The room had a door, but that door wasn’t locked. Zaht pushed the door open and slipped into the chamber. He stepped toward the bed, where he was expecting to find Vigo…and was surprised to instead find it empty."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An instant later, Zaht realized that he wasn’t alone in the room. He spun about to look behind him, and backstepped just in time to dodge the axe that had swung down at him from overhead. It had happened so quickly that it left Zaht shaken, his heart pounding like a drum, but he kept himself under control and didn’t lose his composure. He’d been through enough battles to collect himself in a fraction of a second."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Nice reflexes. Didn’t think you’d dodge that one,” said the man with the axe: none other than the bandits’ leader, Vigo himself. “Lemme guess, someone put a price on my head and you’re hoping to collect, right? You smell like a bounty hunter, and I’ve got a good instinct about these things!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Relief washed over Zaht. This was not, it seemed, the worst-case scenario. If Vigo thought he was a bounty hunter, then he hadn’t figured out that he was with the army of Canarre, and the mission hadn’t been compromised after all. Braham’s sneak attack would still come as a total surprise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you knew all along, then why’d you let me in your fort?” growled Zaht, playing along with Vigo’s misapprehension."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Easier to act like my guard’s down and take you out when you have a go at me than play the long game,” said Vigo. “Missed my chance to finish you in one attack, but still beats having you stalking me for days on end. If you let bounty hunters hang around for too long, they have a way of making you regret it. Speaking of, looks like your flunkies aren’t joining us. They on lookout duty, or something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Zaht said with a glare. The truth, of course, was that his allies were still up in the watchtower, waiting for the rest of Braham’s squad to arrive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Suit yourself,” said Vigo. “You’re the leader, I can tell that much, so once you’re dead it’ll be easy enough to mop up your bounty hunter friends. Hear that, boys? Come out and say hello!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At Vigo’s prompting, a cluster of bandits emerged from a variety of hiding places in the room. Zaht’s eyes darted back and forth as he assessed the situation. He counted five bandits that had been waiting for the signal─six foes in total, including Vigo."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re a pretty tough guy,” said Vigo, “but I bet you’re not tough enough to bring down a half dozen of us, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht silently drew his sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’ve been backed into a corner plenty of times, but I don’t think I’ve ever been in this bad of a predicament before, he thought to himself. In spite of the knowledge that he could be dead in a matter of seconds, his mind was clear. The ability to keep calm when worse came to worst was part of how he had survived for as long as he had."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I can’t win this on my own…but I can buy time. If I can just hold out until the captain shows up, he’ll mop up whatever’s left of them for me. Can’t say I like the idea of having him bail me out…but then again, this isn’t the old captain we’re talking about. The way he’s been acting these days, I can put up with it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Firm in his belief that Braham would save him, Zaht threw himself into battle with the bandits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, where’s Zaht?” Braham asked after meeting up with the soldiers that had accompanied Zaht in his infiltration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He went off to take out the bandits’ leader, Vigo,” the soldier replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He did? How long ago was that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right after we dealt with the lookouts, so it’s been a pretty long while now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a bad feeling about this… All right! We’re heading for wherever this Vigo person’s likely to be first!” Braham ordered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers who’d infiltrated the fort knew where Vigo’s chamber was, so Braham got a detailed description of the path there, then headed into his fort with the rest of his men. That many soldiers tromping through the fort was impossible to conceal, of course, and one of the bandits woke up due to the noise and came out to investigate…only to run face-first into Braham’s whole troop. The bandit’s eyes widened, and he spun about to flee. Clearly he’d realized in an instant that he couldn’t take on that many invaders on his own, and was hoping to alert his leader that they were under attack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s getting away! Bring him down!” Braham ordered one of his nearby men, who was carrying a bow. His force was composed not only of skilled swordsmen and spearmen, but expert archers as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldier Braham had singled out loosed an arrow that flew true, piercing the bandit straight through the back of his head and killing him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nice work!” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He and his men made their way deeper into the fort, dealing with any bandits who noticed them as quickly as possible to ensure the element of surprise wouldn’t be compromised yet. Thankfully, Braham’s archers were in peak condition and didn’t let a single bandit escape them. Progress was steady, and before long, Braham and his men found themselves before the door to Vigo’s chamber."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham immediately noticed a voice from inside the room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re one persistent son of a bitch, you know that?! Tell you what─throw down your sword, and I promise I’ll make your death quick and painless! You’re only making this harder for all of us by drawing it out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The clash of metal on metal rang out a moment later. It seemed someone was fighting inside. Vigo had been so preoccupied by his battle with Zaht that Braham’s incursion had gone unnoticed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham burst through the door without a moment’s delay. Within the chamber he found Zaht, wounded but still standing, as well as the bandits who had engaged him. The bandits, meanwhile, took immediate notice of Braham and of the soldiers behind him a second later. Looks of dazed incomprehension came across their faces─apparently, they couldn’t keep up with the sudden development."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Graaah!” Braham shouted as he charged into the room and thrust his spear toward Vigo’s chest. It had happened so quickly that Vigo had no time to react. He didn’t even try to dodge, and the spear pierced straight through his heart."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What─ugh,” Vigo grunted, then coughed up blood and collapsed to the floor. He’d been struck down before he could even figure out what had happened to him. Braham’s men streamed in behind him and made short work of the remaining bandits as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Zaht! You okay?!” Braham shouted as he rushed to Zaht’s side."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m fine. Just scratches,” said Zaht, who seemed unbothered by the wounds he was covered in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Upon a second inspection, Braham realized that it was true─each of the cuts was shallow and superficial. Zaht had skillfully fended off the bandits, dodging the bulk of their attacks without sustaining any severe injuries. However, enough scratches still added up. He’d lost quite a bit of blood, and was hardly in great condition."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What were you thinking?! You nearly got yourself killed!” shouted Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wouldn’t die that easily,” grunted Zaht. “And more importantly, the guy you just killed was the bandits’ leader, Vigo. With him out of the picture, we have this in the bag. Chasing them down’s going to be a hassle, though, so let’s get this battle underway before they have the chance to make a break for it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, you sure made taking care of this guy easy enough─thanks for keeping him occupied!” said Braham. “Okay, men! Let’s mop up the rest of these bandit scumbags!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At Braham’s order, the fight to reclaim the fort and eliminate the bandits that remained within began. Though, it was hardly a fight at all. Without Vigo to command them, the bandits proved incapable of coping with Braham’s surprise attack. He and his soldiers swept through the fort with ease, encountering almost nothing in the way of serious resistance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve already lost! Give up now, and we’ll spare your lives!” Braham declared as the battle reached its final stages."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The bandits’ numbers had thinned dramatically, and those who remained had no hope of turning the tide. The desperation that came over them when they realized there was nowhere to run led to them putting up more of a fight than expected. Braham saw that his force was suffering losses, and decided to offer the bandits the chance to surrender in an effort to bring the fighting to an end before his casualties started piling up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In a battle with soldiers who fought to protect their lord or their homes, you could be all but certain your foes would fight to the death. Bandits, however, held no such scruples and valued their lives above all else. The moment surrender was offered as an option, they threw down their weapons without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, in the span of a single night, the fort was stormed and the bandit gang that had settled within it was annihilated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham and his squad soon found themselves on the road to Castle Canarre, apprehended bandits in tow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks for bailing me out, Captain. I wouldn’t have made it if you’d arrived even a minute later,” said Zaht. He’d been given first-aid on the spot, and had bandages wrapped around him. You’d think he would have been in extraordinary pain, but he seemed nonplussed by his situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What kinda captain wouldn’t come running when one of his men’s in a tight spot? Anyway, I’m just glad this went as well as it did!” Braham replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The question is, will I receive a bonus for my work this time…?” Zaht muttered to himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who knows?” Braham said, then paused. “Wait. Is that why you ran off to take out Vigo on your own?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t believe you’d even imply such a thing. I did it to take pressure off the rest of the squad and minimize our casualties, of course. Any reward would just be a fringe benefit.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, really…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, really,” Zaht insisted in a complete deadpan."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham seemed less than convinced. “Well, you did make a huge difference this time, I guess,” he sighed. “Don’t worry─I’ll be sure to tell Rietz and the count about all of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for that,” Zaht said, still unperturbed. “Oh, that reminds me. I have a piece of potentially concerning information for you to pass on to Rietz, while you’re at it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Vigo used to be a Seitzan soldier, as you know, but it seems things run a little deeper than we thought. Apparently, the noble who dismissed him from the army also informed him of the abandoned fort. That’s how he found it and took it over.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huuuh,” said Braham. “So he was looking out for his men, even when he had to let ’em go? Sounds like a nice guy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I, umm,” Zaht stammered. “I guess that’s an optimistic way to look at it, sure…but you do remember that we just fought a war with Seitz, right? Doesn’t something about them sending ex-soldiers into our territory feel a little malicious to you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? So, wait… You’re saying some Seitzan noble told Vigo about the fort so he’d move into Canarre, build up a whole bandit crew, and start wreaking havoc? They wanted all that to happen?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m saying it’s a possibility.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I get it now,” said Braham. “Feels like we might be overthinking this…but if that is true, then wouldn’t it mean that Seitz is chomping at the bit to invade us all over again?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Exactly,” said Zaht. “I’m not sure what Rietz will make of it, but it feels like something he should be informed of.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agreed. I’ll let him know,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, Braham and his squad arrived at Canarre. The bandits they’d taken captive were shut up in the local jail, for the time being. In the long term, they would be judged and punished based on the local laws regarding banditry. Considering they had surrendered, the odds that they would be executed were rather low. More than likely, they would be required to perform manual labor and work off their sentence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham, meanwhile, headed straight for the castle’s offices, where he reported the success of his mission to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, you eliminated the threat with virtually no casualties on your part?” said Rietz as he raised an eyebrow in surprise. “I have to admit that I had my worries when Lord Ars recommended you for this task, but it seems you have grown by leaps and bounds. I’m impressed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-Thank you!” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had a reputation for being quite harsh with anyone other than Ars. He wasn’t the sort of person who would deliver offhanded compliments, and yet this time, he’d openly praised Braham. Braham knew what a big deal that was, and found himself grinning as the fact sank in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will discuss your reward for this accomplishment with Lord Ars at a later date. In any case, well done,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood! Just doing my best, like always!” Braham excitedly declared, then left the room."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0021.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days had passed since I’d given Braham his mission to deal with our bandit problem, and I had yet to hear back about how it had turned out for him. To be honest, I was starting to get a little worried. Had it really been a good idea to put a task like that on his shoulders?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yes, Braham needed real-world experience in order to grow further, but “putting the cart before the horse” would be an understatement if I sent him out too soon and got him killed in the process. I was starting to think that I should have started by putting him up against a weaker, safer opponent. It was too late to reconsider my choice, though, so all I could do was accept things as they were and keep faith in him. Still, I just couldn’t help but feel pessimistic about the whole affair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, one of Castle Canarre’s servants arrived. “Lord Ars? Rietz says he has a report for you. Is now a good time?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh! Maybe this is about the bandit mission?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t doing anything particularly important at the time, so I decided to head down to the office where Rietz was waiting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars! My apologies for making you come all the way here,” Rietz said as I stepped inside. He was waiting for me with Braham at his side."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s perfectly fine,” I said. “More importantly, you’ve returned, Braham!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right! We stormed the fort that the bandits were holed up in, took out their leader, and shut down the whole operation! A few of my men were wounded, but we didn’t suffer any losses─all of us made it back alive!” Braham reported."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excellent work!” I said. My praise came from the bottom of my heart─I couldn’t overstate the relief and joy that I felt upon hearing that all of my worries were misplaced and he’d won the day after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While I was at it, I took the opportunity to appraise Braham and check his stats. His Leadership score had risen all the way to 77, from a score of 68 the last time I’d checked it. I was shocked to think that a single bandit extermination mission could result in such a dramatic improvement. On the other hand, he’d been up against former Seitzan soldiers who’d occupied a fortified position, so for all intents and purposes it hadn’t been much different from a full-blown battle. Perhaps that explained his exceptional growth?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He still had plenty of room to grow, even with the leap he’d just taken. I was starting to think that his Leadership might break into the eighties before I knew it, which would put him on par with genuine top-class generals. Sending Braham into live combat clearly hadn’t been a mistake after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I went on to have Braham describe the details of how the mission had gone. It seemed that the MVP of the battle had been his second-in-command, Zaht. A chill ran down my spine when Braham described how close to death Zaht had come─he was a truly capable man who I definitely didn’t want to lose. His Leadership score wasn’t impressive, so he wasn’t suitable for a position of command, but since the rest of his stats were all high he made for a remarkable advisor. In fact, he’d been the one to come up with the plan that won the day. As I’d anticipated, Braham and Zaht seemed to make an excellent team. I decided to give both of them a special reward for their achievements this time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve both met and exceeded my expectations, Braham,” I said. “You can look forward to some extra gold coins for both you and Zaht as reward for your services.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?! Me too? Are you sure?” asked Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very,” I replied. “You’ve done an exemplary job leading your squad, and you deserve credit for ensuring that Zaht made it out alive as well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-Thank you very much!” Braham shouted, sounding almost moved. He gave me a deep bow of gratitude. “And, umm…ah, right! I almost forgot! There’s something else I have to report to you!” he continued, shooting back upright a moment later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "According to Braham, the leader of the bandit gang he’d wiped out─whose name, apparently, had been Vigo─had taken over the fort after being dismissed from the Seitzan army by the noble that had recruited him. Furthermore, that noble was the one who had told him about the fort in the first place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Yes, this does seem to have been part of a Seitzan plot,” Rietz said thoughtfully after Braham finished his explanation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You think so too?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t say with complete certainty, but it strikes me as probable,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d reached the same conclusion. It just seemed too convenient for Seitz to have been anything other than deliberate. There was always the slight chance that teaching Vigo about the fort had been nothing more than an act of mercy on his former lord’s part, but if that had been the case, it would have made much more sense to give him a formal endorsement and help him get a more respectable job within Seitz itself. By all rights, there was no need to send him all the way into Canarre, much less to teach him about a fort he could take over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think this means that Seitz is planning another invasion?” I asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s possible,” said Rietz. “Still, the fact that they chose such roundabout tactics also serves as proof that they’re aware they stand at a disadvantage. The ambiguous nature of this incident makes it difficult to justify a counterattack on Missian’s part─after all, we have no clear evidence that Seitz was at fault─so it’s likely they believed it would let them chip away at our defenses without risking a counterattack. It’s clear that they have no intention of making peace with us, so I see this as a means of harassment in anticipation of another invasion in the long term.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” I said. “So we don’t have to worry about Seitz knocking on our door anytime soon. On the other hand, this surely won’t be the last time they try to test our defenses like this.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Correct. I believe that an extra dose of vigilance is in order,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d managed to resolve the issue before any major harm could be done, this time, but if we’d been slower about handling the bandits they could’ve inflicted some serious damage. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how Seitz would hassle us next, but one way or another, we needed to be prepared for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you. This was very important and useful information, and I hope you’ll convey my gratitude to Zaht as well,” I said to Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will do! And whatever the enemy’s plotting, you can count on me to take care of ’em!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Braham,” Rietz sighed. “Try not to let this victory go to your head, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah! R-Right, of course. Sorry, Rietz.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment Braham’s ego started to inflate, Rietz stepped in to chide him. Much as Braham had changed, it was clear that on a basic level, he was still the same person as ever. That said, he’d carried us through a crisis and grown by leaps and bounds in the process, so I was ready to call this a victory worth celebrating. I just had to hope he’d keep that pace up and, eventually, turn into a general even more capable than Rietz and Mireille."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, Rietz and I were walking through the main street of Canarre. Our objective: to search for new recruits the old-fashioned way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d gotten pretty used to sending out word of my recruitment drives and waiting for candidates to come see me in the castle, but I figured that there wouldn’t be any harm in going back to my roots and walking through town to appraise people I happened to come across as well. After all, some people who might make good retainers wouldn’t think to come to the castle on their own initiative…and, frankly, I also just wanted to get out and walk around a little for the fun of it. That was actually the bigger reason, if I was being completely honest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz had accompanied me as my bodyguard. I couldn’t exactly walk around on my own, considering there was no telling what sort of schemes Seitz might have been getting up to. I’d chosen Rietz for the task myself─he’d been quite busy lately, and I thought that taking what more or less amounted to a break to walk around Canarre would be good for him. That being said, he was taking his guard duty a little too seriously, perhaps. In fact, he seemed even more high-strung than ever, and I was starting to worry this would just tire him out even more. My plan may have backfired, unfortunately."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz, it’s the middle of the day,” I said. “Nobody’s going to attack us when we’re out in the open like this. You should try to relax a little.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Relax…? How could I do such a thing? I can’t risk exposing you to danger, Lord Ars, especially considering the troubles with thievery that Canarre’s been facing,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d heard about the city’s burglar troubles as well. A notably crafty and vicious group of them had arrived in the area. Apparently, they hadn’t just been stealing valuable goods─they’d also been abducting people. I’d mobilized our forces to hunt them down, but so far, we hadn’t had any success on that front. For all the trouble they’d been causing, they were also very good at lying low when the heat was on them, which made them a very troublesome problem to solve."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The group of bandits we’d driven out of an old fort, it seemed, had only been the start of Canarre’s problems. We’d seen more and more troublesome groups move into the county as of late. That, unfortunately, struck me as inevitable─as the population grew, so too would the number of troublemakers we’d have to deal with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I walked all the way to the city’s central plaza, appraising people as I went, but I had yet to find anyone that caught my eye. That wasn’t unexpected, to be clear. I knew very well that exceptional people weren’t so easy to find, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if I’d gone the whole day without finding even one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Lord Ars, look─there’s a group of people wearing very unusual clothing,” Rietz muttered to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I checked in the direction he’d gestured, and picked out a trio─two young men and one young woman─standing near the center of the plaza. They were indeed dressed in a very unusual manner, by Canarre’s standards: their clothes looked very similar to traditional Japanese garb. Actually, their facial features struck me as distinctly Japanese as well, just like mine had been in my previous life. One of them was a man of medium build, the other a larger, more muscular man, and the third a small-statured girl with long, messy hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you suppose they’re from another continent? Why would people like them be in Canarre?” asked Rietz, a note of suspicion entering his voice. To be fair, being skeptical of strangers was more or less a bodyguard’s job, especially when they were so unusual in appearance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I, on the other hand, found myself feeling a strange sense of familiarity with the mysterious trio, maybe on account of my previous life as a Japanese person. It’s not like I had no doubts, of course─I may have been Japanese in my past life, but I’d been living in this world for a long time now, and was no longer as naive as I used to be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of them were clustered around the billboard near the center of the plaza, looking at the various recruitment posters on display there. I took that to mean that they knew the local language─they wouldn’t have been staring at the poster so intently if they couldn’t read it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment I wondered if they were searching for a lord to serve, but it was too early to make that conclusion for sure. House Louvent’s recruitment poster wasn’t the only one on display on that billboard, so it was possible they hadn’t been thinking about that sort of position at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was, however, clear to me that they were looking for work in Canarre, and I knew that would be a pretty tall order for foreigners like them. I decided to appraise them─after all, if they were capable enough then I’d have no problem with bringing them into my employ. I decided to start with the man with the medium build. His hair was gray, and his features were rather attractive on the whole. He also had a sword hung from his belt, which on a second glance seemed to be rather finely-made. I took a close look at him, and activated my skill."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Born on the twentieth day of the sixth month, 194 Imperial Era, in Tenn City, nation of Yoh. Has eight older brothers, five older sisters, one younger brother, and one younger sister. Parents, eight older brothers, and five older sisters have passed away. Younger brother and sister both alive. A serious and diligent individual. Likes rice balls. No hobbies in particular. Enjoys the company of kind women."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even his name, Rikuya Fujimiya, screamed “Japanese” to me. The fact that every single one of his stats had a maximum score of 75 also made him something of a rarity. He didn’t have one single area he excelled in, but it seemed like he could make an excellent all-rounder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What really caught my attention was his place of birth, a country called Yoh. I’d never heard of a nation by that name before, though then again, I knew next to nothing about any of the lands that lay outside the continent of Summerforth. The fact that all of his older siblings and his parents were dead was quite something, too. I’d appraised plenty of people who’d lost their parents, but losing thirteen siblings on top of it seemed like a lot to deal with, to say the least. It wasn’t uncommon for children to die young in this world, but the fact that he’d had that many siblings to begin with made me wonder if there was something unusual about his family circumstances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I moved on to appraise the muscular man next. His head was shaven, and he was exceptionally tall, with the sort of face that gave him a naturally intimidating aura."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Born on the thirteenth day of the fourth month, 196 Imperial Era, in Tenn City, nation of Yoh. Has nine older brothers and six older sisters. Father, eight older brothers, and five older sisters have passed away. Mother, one older brother, and one older sister alive. A laid-back individual who loves meat. Enjoys eating and taking naps. Likes tall women."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The burly man’s stats had extreme highs and lows, to say the least. His Valor score was remarkable─I’d gotten the impression that he was tough from his appearance, and in this case, looks hadn’t been deceiving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I also took note of the fact that he was also a Fujimiya. Maybe he and Rikuya were siblings? They looked nothing like each other, but then again, Rikuya’s mother was dead while Takao’s was still alive. If they were half-siblings then the extreme differences in their appearances would all make sense. In fact, the more I thought about it the more likely it seemed to me, though I supposed I would have to ask to be certain."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, I appraised the girl. She looked young, with rather scruffy black hair. Her gaze had a certain sharpness to it which gave her an intimidating air for someone so short, and she was rather attractive as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Born on the first day of the second month, 195 Imperial Era, in Tenn City, nation of Yoh. Has nine older brothers, five older sisters, and one younger brother. Father, eight older brothers, and five older sisters have passed away. Mother, one older brother, and one younger brother alive. A logical and rational person. Loves sweets, and enjoys collecting ancient relics. Likes smart men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So her name’s Maika…? I thought to myself. Her Intelligence score was incredibly high, though on the other hand, her Valor was one of the lowest I’d ever seen. She was, presumably, not built for combat. Her Leadership was low too, so I couldn’t see her going out in battle. Her stats were just as unbalanced as Takao’s, though in the exact opposite direction, and her family name was also Fujimiya. Were all three of them siblings, maybe?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika was short, even for a girl, and her figure was so childlike that I’d assumed she’d be the youngest of the group, but as it turned out she was a year older than Takao. I felt a little bad for thinking it, but to be honest, I never would’ve guessed that she was seventeen. She looked like she was my age."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All around, the three of them were quite the remarkable trio. Rikuya didn’t excel in any one area but had no weaknesses either, Takao had incredible Valor, and Maika had remarkable Intelligence. I had no doubt that they’d make excellent retainers, and wanted to recruit them at all costs."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have those three caught your eye, Lord Ars?” asked Rietz. It seemed he’d noticed that I was observing them, and he’d known me for long enough to more or less guess what I was thinking at times like these."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They have,” I said. “I appraised them, and they’re all quite talented. I’d love to bring them into my service, if I can…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, before I could finish my explanation, a shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You there! Child!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned to look and found Maika glaring at me, her brow furrowed with what seemed at a glance to be fury."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you staring at us!” she shouted. “What are you after?! Has my overwhelming talent terrified you so much that you’ve decided to have me assassinated?! Or has my beauty so bewitched you that you’ve chosen to abduct me and make me your own?! Confess your crimes, wicked one!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Clearly, my stare had not gone unnoticed─and had caused one hell of a misunderstanding, to boot. I frantically shook my head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, nothing of the sort! I’d never do either of those things, or anything like them!” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then why were you staring at me?!” Maika shouted back. Her attitude had become so menacing at that point that Rietz felt the need to step between us, standing at the ready in case she tried anything."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Grr… Wh-What? Are you trying to start something?” Maika growled as she flinched away from Rietz. She definitely wasn’t much of a fighter, considering the results of my appraisal, so it struck me as a natural reaction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Rikuya─who’d been reading the fliers on the billboard─noticed what was happening and came rushing over. He had a sword hung at his hip, which meant that if I let this misunderstanding carry on for any longer it could prove very dangerous, especially considering that Rietz’s hand had just dropped to the hilt of his weapon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Brother!” said Maika. “Excellent timing! This boy was─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For just a moment I was worried that a fight was about to break out…but then Rikuya proved me wrong and cut Maika off by driving his fist straight into her skull. It was such a solid blow that I actually heard the impact."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aaaaaaugh!” Maika shrieked as tears pooled in her eyes. “Wh-What are you doing, Brother?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you doing?! I told you a thousand times not to bother the locals, didn’t I?!” Rikuya shouted back, then turned to me. “A thousand apologies! She means no harm, she just has no common sense!” he said, giving me a deep bow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come on, you too! Show some shame for once!” Rikuya added as he grabbed the back of Maika’s head and forced her to bow as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that, Rietz seemed to decide that they weren’t a threat after all and released his sword’s hilt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to apologize. She didn’t cause any harm, after all. Please, no need to bow,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya and Maika straightened up once more. “M-Many thanks, good sir,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh…” Maika grumbled unhappily."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll be on our way, then,” said Rikuya. He was all too excited to make an exit, but considering I was hoping to recruit him and his siblings, I couldn’t let that happen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” grunted Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are the three of you looking for work?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, yes,” Rikuya hesitantly acknowledged. Skepticism was written all over his face─he clearly didn’t understand why a child would be asking him that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good! It just so happens that I have a position I could recommend you for. Are you interested?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? You do?” Rikuya said disbelievingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do! Perhaps I should introduce myself, to start,” I said. “My name is Ars Louvent, and the man accompanying me is called Rietz Muses.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, is that so…? Well, umm, you can call me Rikuya Fujimiya,” Rikuya replied, matching my introduction with his own in spite of his misgivings."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars Louvent…that’s the name of the Count of Canarre, isn’t it? And I just saw a flier indicating that he was searching for retainers to take into his service. I think I understand now─you’ve perceived our capabilities and decided to recruit us, haven’t you?” said Maika. Her brother still hadn’t managed to swallow the situation, but she, in sharp contrast, had figured out exactly what was happening from my name alone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t be ridiculous,” scolded Rikuya. “How could a child like him possibly be the─?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rumor has it that the count’s only fourteen. Haven’t you heard, Brother?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We only just arrived in this town, so of course I haven’t! Wait…where did you hear about that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I overheard someone discussing it at the pub. Surely you were listening, too?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t make a point of eavesdropping on people, or memorizing conversations I happen to overhear, either,” Rikuya sighed. I, meanwhile, made a mental note that Maika was both very observant and also had quite the memory. “I’ll admit that he’s dressed rather well. I assumed you were the scion of some well-to-do family…but is it true? Are you the count?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well! That’s certainly remarkable, but I’m sure you’re not trying to solicit us to be your retainers. I can only assume you’re hoping to recruit us for a less savory task that most common folk wouldn’t be able to handle…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, no. I was hoping to take you into my formal service,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seriously…?” muttered Rikuya. He was in a state of utter shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh heh heh! No need to be so startled, Brother. The cause is clear: my talents were too great for me to conceal!” Maika said with a sneering grin, her arms crossed triumphantly. “It’s high time I introduced myself. I am Maika Fujimiya, the most talented tactician in all of Yoh!” she declared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re smart, and I won’t deny it, but someone who’s never won a battle can hardly call herself a talented tactician,” sighed Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph! I would have accolades to my name by now, if only our late father and brothers hadn’t failed to carry out my brilliant strategy,” countered Maika. I wasn’t following their exchange─clearly, the two of them had been through quite a lot that only they would understand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And honestly,” Rikuya continued, “anyone meeting you for the first time would assume that you’re just some random shrimp, based on first impression alone. He can’t have been aiming for you in particular.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sh-Shrimp?!” Maika shrieked indignantly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not that impressive at a glance, either… Oh, of course, Takao! You can tell how strong he is just by looking at him. He must be the one the count was after!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Family or not, there are some things that not even you’re allowed to say about me, Brother!” Maika shouted. Her righteous fury might have been quite intimidating if it weren’t for the fact that she was so tiny."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, where is Takao?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya spun around to search for the third member of their trio. I looked as well, and spotted him sprawled out on the ground by the billboard. Apparently, he was asleep."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unbelievable…he’s sleeping on the street again,” Rikuya groaned, clutching his head. Apparently, this was a recurring issue with him. “Well, the guy sleeping over there is named Takao. He’s exactly as strong as he looks, but he’s also about as smart as a sack of bricks. I can’t say he’d make for the best retainer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually,” I said, “I was hoping to recruit him anyway, along with the two of you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh…?” Rikuya blinked. “You mean, you want him so badly that you’ll take us in too, just to ensure he agrees to join you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not quite. I believe that all three of you have talents that would be useful to me,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How could you possibly know that?” asked Rikuya, which was fair enough. I was about to give him a quick explanation of my Appraisal skill, but before I could, I was interrupted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh heh heh! I’m certain now─my talent is far too overwhelming to ever hope to conceal!” Maika said, her arms crossed and a smug smirk spreading across her face once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, but…just look at her,” protested Rikuya. “Not only is she a shrimp, but you’d think she has a brick for a brain listening to the way she usually talks! Most people would never even consider hiring her unless they’d had the time to get to know her!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, you─Again?! You won’t get away with it this time!” Maika shouted. Apparently, being called a shrimp twice in a row was too much for her to look past. She started battering Rikuya with her fists…but she was both quite weak and very bad at punching, so Rikuya just ignored her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Um… Your Lordship?” whispered Rietz. “I’ll admit that they’re an interesting bunch, but are you sure about taking these three in as your retainers?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering how our encounter with them had gone so far, his worries were understandable. I was starting to worry a little, myself. Takao and Maika in particular clearly had unbalanced personalities to match their unbalanced stat distributions. But, when all was said and done, I knew their talent was the real deal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m certain it’ll be fine,” I whispered back. “They don’t seem to trust us, though, so can you help me try to talk them into it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Around that time, Maika gave up on her not-so-relentless assault and stooped over, gasping for breath. “I’ll…let you off…with that…for today,” she wheezed. Rikuya, of course, hadn’t been so much as scratched, so her effort didn’t seem to have borne any fruit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maika took a moment to catch her breath, then gave me an appraising glance. “Hmm. Well, I’ll admit, I’m well aware that I look like little more than a cute, precious little girl, at a glance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you knew that already, then why chew me out over it?” sighed Rikuya. “And wait, did you just call yourself cute?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve picked a poor quip to question, Brother,” said Maika with a glare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know what…? If that’s how you see yourself, then who am I to argue?” said Rikuya. I’d been expecting him to fire back, but he’d just let it slide instead. As a side note, Maika did have a point─she was rather cute, when all was said and done."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Moreover,” Maika continued, picking up her previous thought, “women’s skills are undervalued, by and large. Not to mention that we are outsiders to these lands! It is indeed suspect that one would try to recruit us on a first meeting, considering all these circumstances…and yet, I am inclined to trust him anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why’s that?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You read the flier on the billboard, did you not? It said that anyone with talent would be welcomed, regardless of race or sex. And to top it off, the man who’s accompanying him is clearly unlike most Summerforth natives in appearance. He’s a Malkan, I believe─a race subject to terrible prejudice in these lands.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A Malkan…? That does ring a bell, now that you mention it. Are you sure he’s one of them, though?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve never seen one myself, but he matches the characteristics I’ve been told of. If he’s one of the count’s close associates, we can take it to mean that the flier was not exaggerating about his willingness to employ anyone.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I understand that, but it just doesn’t seem like a good enough reason for him to hire us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He claims that he’ll take anyone with talent into his service. In other words, he believes himself capable of discerning those with talent at a glance! I don’t know whether he does have that capability, or whether he just got lucky this time, but one way or another it’s clear that he’s identified us as talented enough to interest him.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll admit…it would be incredible if he had the ability to judge talent that easily, but at a glance? Really? Surely he’d have to test us, or at least interview us?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Only he could explain how it works. Perhaps it is just a matter of taking one look at us. And it’s not as if interviews and tests can tell you whether someone will prove useful in the long run either, can they?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…” Rikuya muttered. It seemed that Maika had at least partially sold him on her line of thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That said,” Maika continued, “considering he chose to solicit our help so readily, I’m almost inclined to believe he does have the power to see through talent at a glance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika had sussed out the possibility of my Appraisal skill from a single look at one of my recruitment posters. It was clear that she was as smart as my skill had claimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it true? Can you perceive people’s talents?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can,” I replied. Trying to keep it secret would have just set the conversation back at that point."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And does it really only take a glance for you to do it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seriously…? I can hardly even imagine what I could’ve done with a power like that. Maybe then… No, no point in dwelling on it,” Rikuya muttered to himself with a shake of his head. “Does this ability of yours let you see people’s current abilities, or their full potential?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Both,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Both…? I’ve been told I’m quite skillful, and I’ve never had much difficulty with any task I was given, but on the other hand, I’ve never found anything I truly excel at either. I’ve been treated as a prodigy and a jack of all trades, but at the same time, I know plenty of people also refer to me as a master of none,” said Rikuya, launching into a very abrupt and personal monologue. “I always wished that I’d someday discover a latent talent slumbering within me. I gave up on that dream long ago…but if you’re trying to recruit me, then should I take that to mean that I do have some form of untapped potential?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…umm,” I floundered, then decided to be honest with him. “To be honest, no. You don’t have any single ability that stands out above the others, but you are capable in all fields, which makes you a very solid candidate in my book.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“C-Capable in all fields…? Yes, well, that…certainly makes it sound nice, but…should I take that to mean that when everyone called me a jack of all trades, master of none, they were…right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You could also call yourself an all-rounder!” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the same damn thing!” Rikuya groaned. I was starting to appreciate that he had a real chip on his shoulder regarding his abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How dare you?!” shouted Maika, wheeling about on me. “My brother is very sensitive about the fact that he’s a common, if not mediocre man with no distinguishing traits in particular to speak of! Calling him an all-rounder is tantamount to calling him a waste of space!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Common? Mediocre? No distinguishing traits?!” Rikuya repeated, sinking deeper and deeper into depression as Maika’s word choice carved his self-esteem to pieces."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“See?! Look what you’ve done! He’s inconsolable!” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks to you, you idiot!” Rikuya wailed. He looked like he was on the verge of tears."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Brother, Sister…I’m hungry,” said Takao. I hadn’t even noticed him approach the other two from behind─in fact, I’d thought he was still asleep. He was certainly up now, though, and rubbing his rumbling stomach."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We just ate, didn’t we? Tough it out,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That wasn’t a meal. That was just a snack,” moaned Takao."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Any normal person would call that a meal, and we don’t have the money to keep shoveling food down your gullet! Wait until dinner.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao’s shoulders slumped with disappointment. Shockingly intense disappointment, actually. A body that big took a lot of food to fuel, it seemed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I get the picture. You want to hire us…” Rikuya said, turning to me, crossing his arms, then sinking into thought. “But…no. That’s out of the question. You’ll have to find someone else.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure about that? I assure you you’ll be satisfied by our wages,” I said. Becoming a count’s retainer would have put them on the sort of salary that most people could only dream of."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not about the money,” said Rikuya. “I mean, I’ll admit, we are pressed for cash…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, why?” I pressed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s complicated,” said Rikuya. I didn’t get the sense he wanted to tell me any more than that, and considering we’d only just met, pressing for details felt like a bad idea."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should know, Brother, that if we agree to serve this boy, it will allow us to achieve our own objectives at a far greater pace,” chimed in Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh,” Rikuya grunted, then paused to mull the matter over once more. Maika seemed enthusiastic about our offer, at least, but Rikuya soon shook his head once again. “No, no, we can’t. Becoming someone’s retainer just isn’t on the table.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well,” Maika said, then didn’t press the issue any further. For all her assertiveness, it seemed she’d entrusted Rikuya with the final say when it came to big decisions like this."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re honored to receive such a generous offer, but I’m afraid to say that we must respectfully decline,” said Rikuya, turning to me and offering a formal refusal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t want to give up on them, but on the other hand, I didn’t know what to say to bring them around. As I tried to come up with my next move, however, Rietz stepped in to lend a hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a shame─isn’t it, Lord Ars?” he said, then turned his gaze to Rikuya. “Might I ask how long the three of you intend to stay in Canarre?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll be here a while if we can find work, but otherwise, we’ll be moving on to the next town before long,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. In that case, might I offer you an alternate opportunity? The name of House Louvent carries great weight in these parts, and if Lord Ars were to offer you his endorsement, you might find it much easier to find employment,” suggested Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, I get it! That means that at the very least we’ll keep them around in Canarre, and they’ll owe us a favor on top of it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya had kept his reasons for not wanting to become my retainer vague, but there was still a chance that their circumstances would change with time. I was immediately on board with Rietz’s idea."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Seriously?!” exclaimed Rikuya. “And right after we turned you down…? You’re a real stand-up guy, aren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Brother…” Maika sighed. “You’re being far too credulous. He’s hoping to keep us in town so he can win us over and ultimately recruit us. Doing us a favor will make it harder for us to turn down his requests in the future. Men of their stature don’t extend purposeless pity.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d almost had Rikuya, but unfortunately, his sister had seen through our intentions. On the other hand, we hadn’t been making an effort to conceal them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I see,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That being said, I believe their offer is still worth taking,” Maika continued. “Unmistakably foreign though we are, the word of the count will surely allow us to find work. Wandering aimlessly as we have so far, on the other hand, offers no such guarantee. Accepting their referral will not obligate us to become the count’s retainer, so I see little reason for you to refuse.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have a point,” Rikuya said, then lapsed into thought again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If this can get us work, I think we should do it. Work means we can eat more,” Takao chimed in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you seriously have nothing but food on your brain…? I guess it is important, though, so fair enough,” said Rikuya. Finally, he seemed to come to a decision and turned to face Rietz, his expression firm and formal. “We will gladly take you up on your most gracious offer,” he said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz. “In that case, please make your way to Castle Canarre tomorrow. We can discuss the details then.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0025.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, we’d managed to tie the three of them down in Canarre for the time being. There was no guarantee I’d be able to win them over, but at least it was a start, and it was certainly better than having them wander off to some other county. For the time being, though, we said our goodbyes and returned to the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for helping out back there, Rietz. That was some quick thinking,” I said after we’d split up with the Fujimiya trio. His offer to introduce them to a suitable job had turned the situation around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No need to thank me! I just did what was natural,” Rietz replied, embarrassed by my compliment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, do you know anything about a country called Yoh? I think they said that’s where they’re from, didn’t they?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve heard the name,” said Rietz. “If memory serves, it’s located on an island to the far southeast of Summerforth. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the nation itself, though. My apologies.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s fine,” I said. “I was just thinking that they had a lot going on, and if we could just figure out what their circumstances were, it might make it easier to recruit them. The girl, Maika, seemed open to the idea of becoming my retainer, at least.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I see what you mean… It’s possible that Rosell might know more. The breadth of his knowledge is remarkable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell absorbed information like a sponge. Not only was his memory superb, but he also made a point of reading any and every book he could get his hands on. He was the most knowledgeable of my retainers by far, so I figured Rietz had a point─Rosell really might know a thing or two about Yoh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to seek Rosell out and ask if he knew anything. To that end, I headed straight for the castle’s library. As expected, I found him within the chamber, writing something with piles of books strewn about his vicinity. Rosell’s daily activities were quite varied─he’d read books, come up with new tools and weapons, and even plan out new policies for Canarre with Rietz. At the moment, he seemed to be compiling his many ideas into a readable form."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you have a minute, Rosell?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Ars! What’s up?” Rosell replied. He made a habit of concentrating so hard he wound up in his own little world and hadn’t noticed me enter the room at all, but talking to him snapped him out of his trance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was hoping you might be able to fill me in on something. Do you know anything about a country called Yoh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yoh? Yeah, I do,” Rosell replied immediately. “It’s an island nation located southeast of Summerforth. They’re dealing with a lot of the same issues the empire is─they’ve got a civil war going on, apparently. I read that in a book that was written a pretty long while ago, though, so it might’ve already settled down by now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A civil war…?” I muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup,” said Rosell with a nod. “The people there are supposed to look pretty different from Summerforth folks. Oh, and I guess civil wars happen all the time over there, so a lot of its inhabitants are used to war. Supposedly, they’d already developed advanced martial arts and swordsmanship techniques way back before the Summerforth Empire was even founded. I know about that because of records about a band of mercenaries from Yoh that showed up back in the day and wreaked havoc over here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell carried on for some time, dumping every bit of info on the country that he had to offer. The study of foreign nations wasn’t his specialty by any means, so I was pretty impressed by the sheer depth of his knowledge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you want to know about Yoh, anyway?” Rosell asked when he’d hit a stopping point in his lecture. I quickly explained about our encounter with Rikuya and his siblings. “Oh, huh! That’d do it. You always go after the weird ones when you’re looking for retainers,” Rosell replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just don’t like letting exceptional people slip away from me,” I countered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fair enough,” said Rosell. “I wonder why they turned you down, though? Finding any sort of job is tough for foreigners, so you’d think that an offer like that would’ve been a great opportunity for them…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell, it seemed, was just as mystified by Rikuya’s refusal as I had been. A moment later, however, an idea seemed to occur to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Wait a minute─did you say their surname was Fujimiya?” he said. “I’m pretty sure that’s the name of Yoh’s ruling house.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Their ruling house? You mean they’re royalty?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup,” said Rosell. “From what I remember, the recent civil war broke out because House Fujimiya’s authority was starting to deteriorate.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Could that mean that the Fujimiyas lost the civil war, and the survivors ended up fleeing to the empire?” I asked. If the document Rosell had read about the civil war was that old, then it seemed plausible that the war had already come to an end by now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe…but just because they have the royal family’s name doesn’t mean they’re part of it,” said Rosell. “They might just be faking it, for one thing, and supposedly, Fujimiya’s not that uncommon of a surname, so it might just be a coincidence. That wouldn’t happen in Summerforth, since falsely claiming the imperial family’s name is a crime, but that’s not the case in other places.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” I said with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It did feel like I might have been jumping to conclusions…but on the other hand, my appraisal’s results had told me that the three of them had a ridiculous number of siblings, and that Rikuya’s mother was dead while both Maika’s and Takao’s were alive, meaning they were only half-siblings. Them being royalty explained the polygamy. The sword that Rikuya was carrying hadn’t looked like the sort of weapon that a commoner could get his hands on, either. Even if they weren’t part of the ruling family itself, it seemed likely that they came from a noble background in some capacity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Them being royalty would explain why they didn’t want to become my retainers, though, wouldn’t it?” I said. “If they were royals before the civil war forced them into exile, then serving a different noble family wouldn’t sit right with them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And being a manual laborer would? Wouldn’t that be even more humiliating?” Rosell countered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That depends on what sort of manual labor we’re talking about, I guess. But you can always quit that sort of job whenever you feel like it. That’s not so easy when you’re serving a lord, is it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Becoming a lord’s retainer was a serious obligation that involved swearing an oath of fealty. It wasn’t the sort of casual arrangement that you could step away from on a whim. Some nobles would see that sort of act as treasonous, and it wasn’t unprecedented for people to be executed for it. I certainly had no intention to be that uncompromising, and would probably have let one of my retainers go if they’d insisted, but I knew I was an exception in that regard. I wasn’t planning on carrying out any executions, at least, which may have meant that I was still a little too naive for the troubled times I lived in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who knows if they see it that way? You’d have to ask them,” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True enough… But okay, here’s a question, if they did turn me down because they’re royalty, then how could I go about convincing them to change their minds?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” Rosell muttered, then lapsed into a lengthy period of thought. He seemed to be struggling with the question. It was a tough one, to be fair─one’s lineage was a hard thing to negotiate with, and I didn’t even know where to start. There may not be an easy solution to this one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For now, I guess you’ll just have to meet with them again and see how the conversation goes,” Rosell finally said. “That should let you clear up whether or not they’re those Fujimiyas, as well.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I guess that makes sense,” I admitted. It seemed like the natural conclusion to reach. I didn’t know whether or not they would come out and admit that they were royalty, but at the very least, talking with them again would be a step in the right direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thankfully, Rietz’s quick thinking had led to them promising to come to Castle Canarre the very next day. I’d almost certainly have the chance to talk with them once more then, and resolved to take advantage of it and clear away some of my lingering questions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, I received word that Rikuya and his siblings had arrived at Castle Canarre. Rietz and I headed out to greet them at once. We found them standing in the entry hall, gawking at the castle’s interior."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So this is Castle Canarre…” Rikuya muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will we get to eat lots of good food today, Brother?” asked Takao."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you ever think about anything other than food…? We came here to talk about work, not to eat!” Rikuya snapped back, much to Takao’s obvious disappointment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We guided the three of them to the office. I wanted to jump right into discussing their backgrounds, the circumstances that had led them to Missian, and the reasons why they didn’t want to work for me, but I figured it would be best to keep my word and discuss their employment options first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you really willing to find us jobs?” Rikuya asked skeptically as the discussion kicked off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” said Rietz. “You’ve arrived in Canarre during a period of economic growth, and jobs are abundant as a result. What sort of field would you prefer to work in?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A field in which my boundless wit and wisdom shall be put to good use!” declared Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm…meaning a field in which you’ll have to do a lot of thinking?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Quite!” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hold on a second,” said Rikuya, cutting back into the exchange. “That’s all well and good for you, sure, but there’s no way Takao could cut it in a job like that! It’s heavy lifting or nothing for him!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Heavy lifting? And how do you expect a frail, delicate woman such as I to do work like that?!” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Clearly, getting the three of them the same job was a lost cause. “Why don’t the three of you try working in different fields?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“D-Different fields…?” Maika repeated apprehensively. “W-Well, yes, I suppose that’s a reasonable thought, and while I would be perfectly all right with it, my brothers would be ever so forlorn without me! For their sake, we should find employment that all three of us can participate in…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What she’s trying to say is that even though she acts like a bigshot, she’s pretty timid when she’s on her own. It’d probably be for the best to keep us together,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-Who are you calling timid?! I’m just watching out for you and Takao!” Maika shot back in a fluster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right, sure, we’ll go with that,” said Rikuya. “Anyway, setting Maika aside, Takao can’t really be trusted to work on his own,” he added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If eating was a job, I could do that alone,” said Takao."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Case in point,” Rikuya sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to agree─the idea of sending Takao out to work on his own made me more than a little nervous. That said, I was also drawing a blank when it came to jobs that would allow both Maika and Takao to excel, considering their opposing strong points."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe we’re approaching this from the wrong direction. We should not be looking for employment─we should be looking for an opportunity to start an enterprise of our own,” Maika said out of the blue, diverging from the line of thought we’d been traveling down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“An enterprise?” Rietz repeated skeptically. “I’m afraid that starting any sort of business would require funding…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that’s one thing we don’t have,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But we could…if you would part with your beloved sword,” Maika replied, eyeing the blade that Rikuya was carrying."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wha─?!” Rikuya spluttered. “I-I’ve told you before that I’m not selling this under any circumstances! I’m sure you haven’t forgotten that discussion!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I haven’t forgotten, no, but I remain unconvinced! It’s hardly a practical blade to begin with. If we want to make the most of its merits, we should sell it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You know that’s not an option! How are we supposed to bring anyone over to our side when we return home without it?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph! If that sword were truly that potent of a symbol, we would never have had to make our way to Summerforth. If we want to win allies then we need money before all else.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not true, and you know it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The conversation had taken a rather contentious turn, and I had no idea why. Neither Rikuya nor Maika seemed to have any interest in filling the rest of us in on the context of their argument."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about you, Takao?! What do you think?!” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” grunted Takao. “I’ll do whatever you say, Brother…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“See?! That makes this two versus one!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Takao,” said Maika, “if we sell the sword, then we’ll have plenty of money to feed you anything your heart desires.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Okay, then let’s sell it,” said Takao."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh heh heh! Two versus one indeed,” said Maika with a smirk."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-Hey! That’s not fair! No dragging Takao into this!” snapped Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Big words from the man who started it, Brother!” shouted Maika. By this point, the two were openly glaring at each other."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What makes you think this sword would sell for a high price in the first place?” asked Rikuya. “There’s no reason to believe that a Summerforthian would have any idea what it’s worth!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In our homeland, that blade would be considered a treasure so valuable, one could hardly assign a price to it…but I do not know how highly it would be appraised here, I admit,” said Maika. “However, considering the materials it’s made of, I can hardly imagine it would fetch a low price.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would you mind if I took a look at that sword?” said Rietz, joining the conversation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you’d like,” Rikuya said. He unbuckled the sword from his waist and held it out to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was a slightly curved blade, similar in shape and structure to the katanas I’d seen in my previous life. Its sheath was red, with golden detail work that I suspected had been crafted from actual gold. The guard seemed to be made from gold as well, with blue gemstones set in it, and the pommel was made in the same fashion, gemstones and all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will you draw it for me?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure,” said Rikuya, who then did just that. The blade proved as beautiful as its hilt. I didn’t know very much about swords, but I could tell that it had been made by a skilled craftsman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… It’s shaped somewhat like a scimitar,” observed Rietz. “Its edge is finely honed, and I believe the gems in its hilt are blue diamonds…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Blue diamonds? Aren’t those incredibly expensive…? Though, wait, I guess that was back on Earth. Who knows how much they’re worth in this world?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The craftsmanship of the scabbard and hilt are both remarkable, and the materials they’re made from are no less fine. Judging by the blade, I imagine it would be of practical use in battle as well,” said Rietz. “I think it’s likely that if you could find a noble who collects weaponry as a pastime, they would be willing to pay a rather high price for it. It would sell for over a hundred gold coins, at the minimum.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A hundred?! Isn’t that an incredible sum of money?!” gasped Rikuya. Ten gold coins was enough money to live on for a year, meaning the sword was worth a decade’s worth of living expenses. It was no wonder he was stunned to hear it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika, however, seemed less than pleased."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d think it would be worth much more than that,” she said. “I would have valued it at a thousand, myself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I did say at the minimum,” said Rietz. “There’s no telling how highly a collector would value a piece such as this without finding one and showing it to them. I will say, however, that I would not be surprised if someone out there was willing to pay a thousand gold for it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A thousand is on the table…?” Rikuya said. He spent a moment gawking at the sword in his hand, then gulped. He’d presumably known that selling it was an option, but hadn’t realized just how valuable it truly was. His decision to not sell the sword under any circumstances, it seemed, was beginning to waver."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A hundred gold wouldn’t be sufficient to ensure our enterprise’s foundation, so I’d sooner sell it to someone who values it more highly,” said Maika. “Oh, I know! Our intention today was for you to introduce us to a place of employment, but would you be willing to search for a buyer for the sword instead? We would surrender a portion of the profit to you as a commission, of course! You stand much to gain!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey! S-Stop making it sound like we’re already committed to selling it!” shouted Rikuya. Maika had been all ready to start negotiating the deal, but he wasn’t quite ready to take that step yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph! Why so stubborn?” asked Maika. “For all we know, selling the blade could solve all our problems in one fell swoop!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh,” grunted Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The terms you propose are most attractive to us, so if you are willing to part with the sword, we would be very interested in pursuing the opportunity,” said Rietz. I had to agree─I couldn’t think of any downsides to the arrangement from House Louvent’s perspective."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya stared once more at the sword, agonizing over his options. As precious as it was to him, the offer of over a hundred gold coins was compelling to someone who was all but broke. I would’ve thought he’d sell it in an instant, and the fact that he had to think it over so carefully told me just how important he considered the blade to be."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re in dire need of funds, I’ll admit,” Rikuya finally said, “but this sword is worth so much more than any sum of money… If we were in Yoh, then it would be considered too valuable to ever put a price on. Even a thousand gold coins doesn’t come close to approaching its true value.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True though that may be, returning to Yoh is beyond us. There’s no sense wishing for the impossible,” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Grr…” Rikuya growled in lieu of an actual argument. There was nothing he could say to refute her claim."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By that point, I’d gathered from their argument that the sword had some sort of incredible significance and value by the standards of their home country. I was starting to get curious about its history. It had clearly been made by an incredible craftsman, but would that be enough to make it just that valuable?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is that sword? Is it really that valuable in your homeland?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This sword is an heirloom, passed down through House Fujimiya for generations,” explained Rikuya. “It’s known as the Wyrmsbane Blade, and as its name would imply, it is said that it was used to slay a dragon in an age long past.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A dragon…?” I repeated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t seen a single dragon since I was reincarnated in my new world. In fact, I wasn’t entirely sure if they existed at all─there certainly weren’t any in Summerforth, at least. Rumor had it they lived in other regions of the world, but frankly, I viewed those tales with intense skepticism. I’d seen dogs with wings and cats with horns since I was reincarnated, so I knew that there were creatures in this world that hadn’t existed on Earth, but I had yet to see any monsters straight out of a work of fantasy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, the fact that the sword had been “passed down through House Fujimiya for generations” told me that, as expected, they were almost certainly not your everyday family of commoners. The Fujimiyas likely came from a high place in Yoh’s societal structure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have another question,” I said. It felt like I had plenty of pretext to throw caution to the wind and ask about their origins, at that point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did some looking into Yoh since we last met, and learned that the nation’s royal family goes by the name of Fujimiya. Am I safe in assuming that the three of you have some association with the royal line?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A look of shock passed across Rikuya and Maika’s faces."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You researched us?” Rikuya stammered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So word of Yoh’s affairs has spread as far as Summerforth,” muttered Maika. “Strange. I’d thought next to no trade was conducted between our nations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve told a bunch of people we’re from Yoh, and they always made it seem like they had no idea where that is,” added Takao, who seemed to be taking the news much more in stride than his siblings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyway, I think it’s clear by now that you aren’t bad people…so I suppose I can share the truth,” Rikuya said after gathering his resolve. “We are indeed of House Fujimiya, the original ruling family of Yoh─and I am the current head of said house.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just like that, he’d revealed his identity. We’d already predicted as much, of course, but it was still quite something to learn for sure that they were royalty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maika and Takao were born to different mothers, but they are also members of the royal family,” Rikuya continued. “However, a rebellion occurred within our kingdom. Our father, the king, was killed along with the vast majority of our relatives. We barely managed to make it out alive, bringing the sword with us, and fled to a foreign country.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” I said with a nod. Them ending up in Summerforth now made complete sense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I call us royalty, but I should make it clear that if we were to return to our nation, we would be executed on the spot,” Rikuya added. “We have no authority in these lands, so for all intents and purposes, we’re nothing more than commoners for the time being. In fact, as foreigners, our standing is lesser than that of the local peasantry. If you hope to make use of our status, I regret to inform you that we have little to offer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I had no such intention,” I immediately clarified."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Wyrmsbane Blade has traditionally been inherited by the successor to the Fujimiya line,” Rikuya said as he held the sword aloft. “In other words, it’s the symbol of the king of Yoh.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, the blade’s priceless nature made perfect sense to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you sure you should be selling something so precious to begin with?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“At this moment, we need money above all else. Our goal is to return to Yoh and restore House Fujimiya to its former glory. We’ll need soldiers to accomplish that, and money to hire them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You hope to restore your house to power?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” said Maika. “We have no intention of ending our lives in exile.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika’s expression made it clear that she was serious, but I had to wonder: was their goal really achievable? Gathering up soldiers in Summerforth to launch an invasion of Yoh seemed like quite the task…though then again, the empire was hardly lacking in mercenaries for them to employ. Some of them would surely be willing to fight in a foreign land, as long as they were paid enough for the task, so if the Fujimiyas could build up a big enough warchest, I couldn’t rule it out. That being said, I also couldn’t imagine that defeating an entire nation’s military would be that easy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The state of Yoh’s magical technology is underdeveloped compared to that of Summerforth. If we assemble enough talented mages from these lands, then victory will be feasible,” Maika explained confidently. Considering the sort of earth-shaking effects that well-used magic could have on a battlefield, part of me believed her─if their enemies weren’t capable of using it, then maybe they did stand a chance of winning."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate your need for funding,” said Rietz, “but if the sword truly holds that much significance, then perhaps you would be better off keeping ahold of it? The three of you will need to find allies in Yoh upon your return, and bringing others around to the side of House Fujimiya will likely be easier with the sword on hand. In contrast, if the king in exile returns without the sword that legitimizes his reign, it seems likely that you’ll be treated as nothing more than an upstart.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“R-Right! That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to say this whole time!” said Rikuya. “What was your name─Rietz? You understand how all this works!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll admit that bearing the blade would make our task easier upon our return, but ours is a position that demands careful prioritization,” said Maika. “We stand in a position of powerlessness, and as such, in our hands the sword is nothing more than a meaningless trinket. Were we to return to Yoh with nothing more than the sword in hand, the usurpers would claim it from us and bring our quest to an end. We will never stand a chance without the power to oppose our foes, and selling the sword is the fastest and most certain means to gain that power. Moreover, allies and legitimacy can both be won with power, whether or not we bear a symbol of our rule. You need look no further than the current government of Yoh to see that─they reign without the sword in hand, do they not?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could see Maika’s point. Making the money they needed through hard work alone would be a challenge, and a time-consuming one, at that. I wasn’t sure how long it had been since they were driven out of Yoh, but the more time passed, the more entrenched its current rulers would become, thus making it harder and harder for the Fujimiyas to regain control. It was in their best interests to gather up the forces they needed as quickly as possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have no certain means of restoring House Fujimiya to power. As such, our only option is to pick the path that grants us the highest odds of success,” Maika concluded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh…” Rikuya groaned, unable to come up with a counterargument. Still, some part of him seemed reluctant to sell the sword. I could tell just how much it meant to him. “But how am I supposed to call myself the head of House Fujimiya without it? If I sell the sword, not even I will be convinced my claim is legitimate,” he added in a quiet mutter, glancing anxiously at the Wyrmsbane Blade."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mustn’t be so timid, Brother. You are, without question, the head of House Fujimiya and the rightful king of Yoh. You and you alone bear a legitimate claim to that title, whether or not that sword is in your hands. If you lose your drive to rid your kingdom of the pretender that sits upon your throne─if you lack the spirit to declare yourself king─then what will you have left?” scolded Maika, doing her best to raise Rikuya’s spirits."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I should note that if you were to become my retainers for a time, you would be able to reach your goals without having to part with your sword. Won’t you reconsider your choice on that front? I believe the salary I would offer you is quite considerable, and if I’m able to strengthen my territory in the long term, I might even be able to provide you with troops to aid in your endeavor,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This seemed like my best shot at soliciting them one more time. Of course, if I loaned them some of my troops and they managed to reclaim their own country, that would mean the end of their service. On the other hand, it would also mean that the king of a foreign nation would owe me a personal favor, which felt like a pretty big deal in its own right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya paused for a moment to mull over my suggestion, then shook his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I’m afraid not. My position as a member of Yoh’s royalty does not allow me to enter into the service of another. Moreover, if I were to become your retainer and overthrow the government of Yoh, I would seem to be doing so on your behalf. That, in turn, would make Yoh a vassal state of the Summerforth Empire, would it not?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, umm…think you might be overthinking this a little?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, no, he’s right,” said Maika. “That would indeed leave us with no recourse should you seek to claim Yoh as the property of House Louvent. You’re quite the schemer for one so young and seemingly innocent, aren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not what I was going for, I swear!” I shouted. I’d genuinely just been thinking about forging friendly relationships, and had stumbled my way into a terrible misunderstanding in the process."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought there would be little harm in becoming your retainers, at first, but in doing so I was being too eager to rely on the goodwill of others. If we can forge our own path to success, then that would be for the best,” said Maika. Not only had I not won them over, it seemed that I’d lost the interest of the one Fujimiya who’d been open to the idea before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come to think of it, you said you were planning on starting a business, didn’t you? Are you confident that you can make it work?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh heh heh! With the funding we need, I am certain that all will proceed as planned… But I’m afraid I cannot share the details with you! I can’t have you imitating my methods, after all!” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She seemed very confident, but in a way that made me a little suspicious of what she was planning. I’d known someone in my previous life who had founded a business, claiming that there was no chance of it failing, only for the company to crumble, leaving my acquaintance under a mountain of debt in the process. I wasn’t convinced that Maika would go down that same road, per se, but I was a little worried now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t mean to imply any ill will on your part, but I’m afraid that as the head of House Fujimiya, I cannot allow myself to enter your─or anyone’s─service, barring the most extreme of circumstances,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The last bit of his statement caught my attention. I wasn’t sure what “the most extreme of circumstances” would entail, but one way or another, it was clear that bringing him around wouldn’t be easy. I wanted as many talented individuals on my side as I could find, but in this case, it seemed my only choice was to give up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, with that settled, we must talk of selling the Wyrmsbane Blade! Let’s move this discussion along, shall we?” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Wait a second! Are we really selling it? Really?!” protested Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You understand that it’s our only option, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Rikuya sank into thought─this time for several minutes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I need some more time to think about this,” he concluded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maika sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Must you be so confoundingly indecisive…?” she grumbled with a shake of her head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As promised, we went on to introduce the three Fujimiyas to a potential workplace. They were almost entirely broke at the moment, so they needed to find some source of funding as soon as possible for the sake of putting food on the table."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We ended up finding an inn that was willing to hire them. Canarre’s population was booming, and more and more travelers were arriving from outside of the county as a result. That meant an increase in demand for temporary lodgings, which had led to more and more new inns opening their doors. The already-existing businesses were doing their best to increase the scope of their operations, as well, so workers were in high demand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The work at that sort of establishment largely consisted of manual labor, but inns also needed employees with a head for figures to handle the money, meaning that all three Fujimiyas would be able to do work that suited them in the same place. House Louvent had made efforts to support the local inns, so finding a place that would hire them with our endorsement was quite easy. Things went so smoothly, in fact, that by the time our talks were finished they were scheduled to begin working the very next day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So I’m to work as an underling at an inn…? I suppose beggars can’t be choosers,” Maika grumbled. Considering the fact that she was former royalty, I couldn’t blame her for being upset."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for giving us this opportunity. I swear that we will repay this debt someday,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed!” piped up Maika. “If our business goes as planned, we’ll likely choose Canarre as our base of operations. When that time comes, we will assuredly pay you back!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a feeling that might take a while,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It will not! We shall repay our debts before you know it! And we’ll be back to discuss our sale of the sword in short order, as well!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, the Fujimiyas departed from Castle Canarre. It seemed there was little hope of recruiting them as my retainers, but if they had a positive effect on the state of the city of Canarre independently, then introducing them to a job seemed well worth the effort. I had high hopes things would turn out for the best."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time later, the Fujimiya siblings found themselves in the room that their live-in job had provided them. Their work for the day was finished, and they were taking the opportunity to rest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ughh, I am exhausted! This was not part of the deal we reached! I was under the distinct impression I would not be asked to do manual labor, and look how long that lasted!” Maika shouted. Her exhaustion had put her in a paradoxically high-strung state of mind. She had indeed been hired to do clerical work, in theory, but the inn had had so many customers that evening that she’d been pulled away from her calculations and asked to wait tables, clean, and even do a smattering of heavy lifting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Was it really that bad? We’re getting fed, so I’m super satisfied. I wish I could work here forever,” said Takao, who seemed more pleased than tired. The owner of the inn had provided him with an extra-large meal to reward him for his hard work, and apparently, that was all it took to sell him on the arrangement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t even joke about that,” snapped Maika. “Our goal is to quit this job and attain independence as soon as possible! We seek to accomplish an outrageous objective, and every minute we spend gaining funds and seeking out troops lowers the chances of our invasion succeeding. The fact that the Count of Canarre has acknowledged our talents is a boon─it’s possible that he might support us if we try to establish our enterprise in this city. I don’t like the thought of seeking his aid over and over, but beggars can’t be choosers. In any case, our plans will begin in earnest whenever our brother decides to sell the Wyrmsbane Blade,” Maika concluded as she glanced over at Rikuya, who was still mulling over his options as he stared at his sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” muttered Rikuya. “Are we sure about this, though…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think we should sell it too,” said Takao. “People in town have been giving it weird looks.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Weird looks?” said Rikuya. “Do you mean that they were thinking about stealing it? You’ve always had a pretty good sense for these things.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao’s strength wasn’t his only asset in battle. He also boasted remarkable instincts, which among other things bolstered his defenses, making him a force to be reckoned with."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s clearly valuable, after all,” said Maika. “In that sense, it may be in our best interests to rid ourselves of it posthaste.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How would anyone even steal it from us, though?” asked Rikuya. “I’m always carrying it with me, and if someone tried to take it from us by force, Takao and I could surely drive them off. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to defend ourselves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Fujimiya siblings had been thrust into danger a number of times since arriving in Summerforth. Each time, however, they had pooled their strengths and overcome the challenges that faced them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s dangerous to assume that because all has gone well up until now, all will go well in the future. Some men will go so far as to kill for money, and dying to protect the blade would be the height of pointlessness,” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know that, but still,” Rikuya sighed as he gazed at his sword. “To be honest, I’ve started to think that it’d be for the best to sell it as well. Without this blade in my hands I’ll be nothing more than a commoner, but that will not change the fact that the blood of the Fujimiyas flows through my veins. I would not be able to stand proud and declare myself the head of House Fujimiya without the blade…but that is a problem that I must overcome, whether or not I part with it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Precisely,” said Maika. “Whether in Yoh or Summerforth, those who hold power hold the right to deem what is just. Such is the nature of the era we live in─to show weakness is to invite death. Perhaps you alone do not stand a chance against the monsters who brought House Fujimiya to ruin, Brother, but with all three of our powers combined, we can overthrow them even without the Wyrmsbane Blade. Is that not so, Takao?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah,” said Takao. “And then we’ll be able to eat all we want, and sleep like logs.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That…is not precisely the reassurance I had in mind, but it will suffice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maika, Takao,” Rikuya muttered, his gaze full of emotion as he looked upon his siblings. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind. “All right. I’ll do it. I’ll sell the sword!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well!” said Maika. “In that case, no need to hesitate─let us make for Castle Canarre tomorrow! The count’s people are trustworthy, and will surely find a buyer for us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agreed,” said Rikuya. “I don’t even want to think about how badly we’d get ripped off if we tried to sell it to some random merchant.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And lots of money will mean lots of food,” said Takao."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You should know, Takao, that the money from selling the blade will all go into our enterprise’s warchest! We won’t be using so much as a coin from it to buy food,” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Takao gasped, a look of shock and horror passing across his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, it’s not quite that bad. We can splurge on some nice food at least once, right?” said Rikuya in an effort to console his brother. A moment later, he glanced over at the room’s window, a suspicious expression coming across his face. “Hmm…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, Brother?” asked Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not sure. I thought I saw something moving outside for a moment…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Perhaps we’re being spied upon. Did you notice anything, Takao?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wasn’t paying attention to the window, so I dunno.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fair enough,” said Rikuya. “It’s possible we’re being targeted by a burglar, so keep your guard up.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Takao nodded, his expression resolute."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A report arrived at my office in Castle Canarre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems the Fujimiya siblings are hard at work in the inn we introduced them to,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? That’s good to hear,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That being said, I do have some concerns,” Rietz continued. “For one thing, the sword in Rikuya’s possession strikes me as far too valuable for a normal person to carry around.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True enough,” I said. “Takao seemed pretty tough, but if enough people jumped them at once, there’s a chance they wouldn’t be able to fight their way out of it no matter how capable he is.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d taken steps to impose harsh penalties on crime and had bolstered the town guard in Canarre as well, which had helped improve the state of public order on the whole. Still, we hadn’t cleared the bandits out of the county, so crime was a factor we had to pay attention to. The Wyrmsbane Blade, meanwhile, was so conspicuously valuable that it was easy to imagine a criminal setting their sights upon it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and I also have a report from Pham,” Rietz continued. “I believe that you’ll want to hear this, if you have a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From Pham? Go ahead,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We had requested that Pham and the Shadows investigate a gang of thieves that have been on something of a spree in Canarre as of late. However, it seems that in spite of their capabilities, the Shadows have been unable to catch any of them in the act. They’ve speculated that the thieves may be in possession of some sort of magical tool that’s enabling their exploits.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was the first that I’d heard of Pham’s crew investigating a local band of thieves. I would have thought that tracking down petty criminals like them would have been a simple feat for the Shadows, and was surprised to hear that it hadn’t been going well. Apparently, their opponents this time around were more skilled than expected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The mention of a mysterious magic tool, however, is what caught my attention. The rate of progress in Summerforth’s magical technology was rapid enough that figuring out who had made it would be a lost cause─magical tools of unknown origin seemed to be everywhere, as of late. Most of them were junk, and catalyzers were the only tool that had found any use on the field of battle so far, but every once in a while a tool turned up that had real, practical use. If this band of thieves had one of those tools in their possession and was using it to throw the Shadows off their tail, then tracking them down might be a difficult task indeed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do they have any idea what sort of tool it might be?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One that eliminates all noise made by the user, apparently,” replied Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was by no means an expert on magical theory, but that sounded like an application of sound magic, if I had to hazard a guess. Regardless, being able to muffle the noises you made would make burglary far easier."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Several dozen break-ins have been reported so far,” Rietz continued. “The Shadows’ intent is to put more personnel on this case and expand the range of their investigations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just hope they track the thieves down quickly,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come to think of it, if a band of thieves who’re that capable are operating in Canarre, wouldn’t that put the Fujimiyas in a pretty dangerous spot? I made a mental note to send them a warning when I had the chance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Late that night, Takao’s eyes shot open as he sensed a presence in the room he was sleeping in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Somebody just snuck in, he thought to himself. Two somebodies, in fact. It was too dark for him to discern their ages or sexes, and they weren’t making any sounds in particular. Takao had only been able to notice them thanks to his almost superhuman sense for the space around him. Rikuya and Maika had yet to realize that anything was wrong. Both of them were still sound asleep, judging by the rhythm of their breathing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He could tell that the intruders were making their way toward Rikuya, and the instant they stepped within Takao’s reach, he shot up from his bed and tackled them at a speed one wouldn’t think possible for a man of his size. Takao was a large, powerful man, but he wasn’t slow by any means. Speed was one of his greatest assets. His athleticism was exceptional across the board."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao’s wild charge sent the intruders crashing into the wall. It was a solid blow, and their impact with the wall was substantial, but it hadn’t made the slightest noise. Takao thought that was strange, but didn’t bother trying to figure out what it meant. Fighting was his wheelhouse─thinking, not so much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite having been sent flying halfway across the room, the intruders were back on their feet in no time. Takao, it seemed, wasn’t the only exceptional fighter in the room. They took up combat stances, drawing knives from hiding places in their clothing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao was unarmed, but he didn’t flinch away from his assailants’ blades. He was a master of barehanded combat, and was confident that he could easily bring down an armed opponent, so he didn’t hesitate to square off against the intruders and prepare for a fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What in the…?” Rikuya muttered as Takao’s tackle roused him from his slumber. He sat up, blearily looking around the room, then took in a sharp breath, his eyes shooting open in alarm. It was quite dark, but what little light there was in the room was enough for him to make out the intruders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya grabbed the Wyrmsbane Blade in a flash, shooting to his feet, drawing the sword, and taking up a combat stance. He did not, however, immediately attack. With his vision impaired due to the lack of light, a careless strike could turn into a miss, leaving him open to counterattack. As sudden as the incursion was, Rikuya was capable of keeping cool-headed enough to move with prudence and not set himself up for failure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, both sides stared each other down. Finally, the trespassers made the first move, aiming not for Rikuya or Takao, but rather Maika, who was still fast asleep. They made a beeline toward her, as if they could see with perfect clarity despite the near-total darkness. Clearly, they were used to operating in the dark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya and Takao had both expected the enemy to come at them, and were caught off guard by the unexpected move. Their reactions came at a slight delay, and though Rikuya caught on quickly enough to try to stop them, he wasn’t quite fast enough. One of the intruders had already pressed their knife to Maika’s throat. A moment later, they pulled some sort of magical tool out from a pocket, fiddled with it, then began to speak."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Freeze,” the intruder said in a seemingly male voice. “I think you know what’s gonna happen if either of you so much as twitch.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao and Rikuya’s expressions stiffened. Maika, meanwhile, had finally woken up, and the knife pressed to her neck along with the intruder’s words filled her in on the pertinent details of the situation. A look of panic flashed across her face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll start easy─hand over the sword,” said the intruder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya drew in a sharp breath, his eyes widening. The unstated implication was clear: if he didn’t surrender the sword, Maika’s life would be forfeit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t give it to him, Brother,” Maika said, her expression now resolved. “We have no reason to think he’ll spare me, even if you do hand it over!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I will, all right. If I kill you, then that monster might take the both of us out,” said the intruder as he glanced at Takao. “I’m not convinced we could take him, even two on one. Plus, I’m not saying we’ll let you go once we have the sword. One way or another, you three will be following our orders for the time being,” he added in a firm and confident tone. He knew how valuable of a hostage Maika was─apparently, he’d looked into them in advance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. We’ll do as you say,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Brother…” Maika muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya had no intention to take Maika’s advice this time. Going along with their assailants’ orders seemed less than likely to guarantee his and his siblings’ eventual release. The intruders would want to leave as little evidence of their crime as possible, after all, so the odds that all three of them would be killed after they gave up the sword seemed rather high. If he chose to give up on Maika, keep the sword, and fight back, then he and Takao, at least, would likely survive…but in Rikuya’s mind, losing Maika wasn’t an option. He chose to risk all three of their lives to save hers in the moment, and held out the sword to his attackers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Smart move,” said one of the intruders as he took the sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, what do we do with ’em now? Kill ’em?” asked the other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re thieves, not murderers. We don’t kill unless we’ve got no other option. We’ll take them back to the hideout and throw them in a cell, to start. We can talk it out with the boss after that. The big one should fetch a nice price as a slave, at least…and hey, maybe we’ll even be able to ransom them to their relatives. You never know,” said the first intruder, his tone calm and collected. “For now, tie the big one’s hands. You hear that? Not a move from you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The thief who was closer to Takao brought out a length of rope and bound his hands behind his back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, now follow us,” said the first intruder. With Maika still held hostage, the Fujimiyas had no choice but to obey. Rikuya kept quiet and followed his attackers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Fujimiyas and their captors left the inn and made their way through the city streets. Not many people were out and about at this time of night, but the fact that thieves had been operating within the city had the town guard patrolling in greater numbers than usual. The thieves, however, seemed to have a reasonable idea of where the guards would be stationed. Between that and their sound-erasing magical tool, they managed to evade the patrols."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika was still being held at knifepoint, meaning that Rikuya and Takao couldn’t raise the alarm without risking her life. Even if they’d been willing to try, it seemed that the magic tool muffled not only noises made by the user, but by anyone else in the immediate vicinity as well. Rikuya couldn’t make any loud noises, even if he wanted to. In the end, he and his siblings were brought to the thieves’ hideout without being discovered by the guards."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went out to warn the Fujimiyas about the recent string of burglaries in Canarre, only to be informed by the innkeeper that all three of them had vanished. One evening they’d gone to bed, and the next morning they were gone without a trace, leaving the innkeeper under the impression that they’d run out on him. That had left the innkeeper at a lack of manual laborers, and he was all too eager to come complaining to House Louvent about the issue. Thankfully, Rietz had taken care of that problem by dispatching some of the castle’s servants to help out until we could find replacements."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you really think the three of them ran away, though?” I wondered out loud. Rikuya had seemed to be motivated, from my perspective, and the other two had made a point of following his directions. If he’d dedicated himself to his work, I was certain they would have as well. It would be one thing if they’d vanished after a few months, but it had only been a matter of days. Them running away after that short a span of time just didn’t make sense, considering their attitudes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wonder about that as well,” said Rietz. “The inn in question only just opened its doors, and the workload was apparently rather heavy, but they still didn’t strike me as the sort of people who would steal away in the night without a word.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s what I was thinking,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Still, if they didn’t run away, what could explain their absence?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess…they might’ve been kidnapped?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There were no signs of a disturbance in their room, though. It wasn’t left in perfect order, apparently, but not to an unusual degree for a room that was occupied.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Takao and Rikuya both know how to fight, so if there had been a struggle, you’d think there’d at least be a few bloodstains…and the innkeeper would’ve heard something if there’d been a fight, too,” I stated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering what we knew, assuming that they’d left on their own initiative did seem the most reasonable conclusion. Rikuya had struck me as a motivated worker, but he was also former royalty. He might have decided that lowly work like he’d been asked to do was demeaning."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Put out a search for them, just in case,” I ordered. “For all we know, they might’ve been caught up in some sort of trouble…though if they did run away, then they’re probably long gone from Canarre, I guess.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wonder what’s going to happen to us…?” Rikuya muttered to himself. At the same moment Ars was speculating about what had become of the Fujimiyas, Rikuya and his siblings found themselves locked up in a cell in the thieves’ hideout."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps we’ll be saved…but I wouldn’t put money on it,” Maika replied with an air of resignation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The thieves’ hideout was located in a rough part of Canarre. From the outside it looked like an ordinary dwelling, but the building featured an expansive basement containing both a jail and a warehouse where the thieves stored their ill-begotten loot until they were able to fence it. The entrance to the basement was well-hidden, and was unlikely to be discovered anytime soon. In other words, it would be very difficult for anyone to get in and find the prisoners who were kept there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m starving,” Takao groaned, his stomach rumbling at the same moment. They had been fed, technically, but they’d each been given little more than a slice of bread, which wasn’t anywhere near enough to satisfy Takao’s appetite."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should have abandoned me, Brother,” said Maika. “At least then two of us would have remained free.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“D-Don’t even start! You know I could never leave you to die!” Rikuya snapped back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You must be able to if the need arises! It would have been the most rational and effective choice to make. A king must be capable of making the right decision when the time comes, no matter how cold or callous that decision may seem.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t care how rational it might be─if being a king means having to leave my sister to die, then they can keep the damn throne for all I care!” Rikuya shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh. “You are far too soft, Brother…but I suppose I must thank you for saving my life, regardless of the consequences. I would, for the record, prefer not to die if at all possible,” she added, her tone growing bashful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You should have opened with that,” grumbled Rikuya as he mussed up Maika’s hair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“S-Stop that! You know full well that I’m not a child anymore!” Maika shouted. Her face flushed red as she shook off Rikuya’s hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m so hungry…” Takao moaned. He hadn’t been paying any attention to his siblings’ exchange, and was slumped over on the floor."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0027.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey there,” a voice rang out. It came without warning from outside of the cell, and the Fujimiya siblings reflexively turned to look in its direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A tall man with a narrow face stood outside the cell. His hair was carefully styled, with facial hair that was equally well-groomed. Even his clothes were clean and proper. At a glance, he looked more like a well-off merchant than a burglar."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I know that man, Rikuya thought to himself. He’d caught a glimpse of the burglar back when they had arrived at the hideout. The other thieves had called him “boss,” which made his position in their organization rather clear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, tell me─do you have any relatives with some spare cash on hand? We’d be happy to return you to them safe and sound, if a big enough ransom’s on the table,” said the man."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya paused to think. He had been chased out of his nation, and so for all intents and purposes, he had no relatives to speak of at all. Nobody other than his siblings had accompanied him to Summerforth. Plus, he wasn’t close enough to the owner of the inn he’d been working at to expect the man to pay a ransom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The only person Rikuya could think of who may have fit the bill was Ars. He had seemed to value Rikuya and his siblings’ talents, so there was at least some small chance that he’d be willing to pay a ransom to guarantee their safety. Even so, Rikuya couldn’t bring himself to bring up Ars’s name. In his mind, to do so would have been to trouble a man who had already gone out of his way to help him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“None,” Rikuya finally replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, really?” said the man. “Strange, considering the sword you were carrying. I have a hard time believing you could get your hands on something like that without connections to someone well-to-do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We stole that sword back in our homeland. We ended up here because we had to flee the authorities,” Rikuya replied. He had a feeling that revealing his true status would be a terrible idea, and chose to lie instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, so that thing’s stolen goods? Who knew! Guess I should’ve expected you to be a pauper, considering you were working at an inn. I figured that if foreigners like you had family, they’d be willing to pay a pretty penny for you. Foreign folks in Summerforth tend to stick together, you know?” said the man with a disappointed shake of his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What did you do with the sword?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sold it, of course. Got a pretty decent price for it, too. Now we just have to figure out what to do with you,” the thieves’ boss said before pausing to think. “I’m leaning toward selling you as slaves. It’s the only good option. The kid’s gonna be a tough sell…but then again, she’s got a decent enough face, and some buyers are the sorta freaks who like ’em young.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?” asked Maika. Her expression indicated that she didn’t understand what the thieves’ boss was insinuating. Having been raised as royalty, her knowledge regarding the more vulgar side of society was lacking─or, rather, nonexistent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The big guy’ll fetch a good price, at least,” the boss continued, ignoring Maika’s question. “I know a noble who was just looking for a tough fighter-type the other day.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An establishment in the duchy of Ansel had made a business out of pitting the strongest slaves they could find against each other in combat, inviting in large audiences to watch and bet on the bloodbath. As a result, slaves who could fight were in high demand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, you can fight, right? How good are you?” asked the boss."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m hungry…” Takao groaned in reply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Figure it’d take at least two guys at once to take you down, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m hungry…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, too good to talk to me, is that it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When he gets hungry, he never talks about anything else. He can’t, really,” Rikuya explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The hell? Well, whatever. He looks piss-weak right now, and we can’t let him go dragging down his price on us. Hey! Bring some food over─lots of it!” the boss shouted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Comin’ up!” one of his underlings replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, a towering pile of meat and bread was brought into the cell. Takao’s eyes shone with excitement as he dug in without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, Brother─these people might be nice after all!” said Takao after he’d finished his meal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They most certainly are not! They’re planning to sell us, you know?!” snapped Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That just leaves you,” the boss said, looking to Rikuya next. “You look…huh. What is your deal? Can’t say you look particularly remarkable in any real way…but you’re a man, I guess, so we can sell you off for manual labor, or whatever.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey! You could at least put a little more thought into it!” Rikuya shouted indignantly. Being called unremarkable by a burglar, of all people, had touched a very sensitive nerve."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s gonna take a little while to get all the preparations for selling you done, so we’ll be keeping you here for a while. Don’t go trying to escape now, you hear? Make one move toward breaking out, and we’ll kill you on the spot,” the boss said with a dangerous glint in his eyes before going on his way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It looks like we’ll be making it out of here alive, at least… But on the other hand, we’ll be sold to different places. Sounds like they’ll be using Takao as a fighter, and Maika as…ugh, Rikuya thought, trying not to dwell on what the future had in store for his sister."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya didn’t know for sure where he’d be sold, but if he was to be used for manual labor, then the odds were decent his conditions wouldn’t be unbearable. The same could not be said for his siblings, though. No matter how capable a warrior Takao was, he could only go up against so many worthy opponents before his luck ran out and he was killed or maimed. Maika, on the other hand, could very well be sold into such terrible circumstances that death would be the far preferable option."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It looks like breaking out’s our only option, then. But how…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The burglars had guards constantly stationed outside the cell, with no gaps between their shifts, and Rikuya saw little reason to doubt their boss’s words. They seemed prepared to kill their prisoners at the first sign of defiance. Even if he and his siblings made it out of their cell, escaping the building would be a tall order. There were just too many criminals around for them to slip out unnoticed, and though Takao was a capable unarmed fighter, he couldn’t take on that many opponents at once and emerge victorious."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’ll get our chance, though, one way or another. Panicking and trying to force a breakout will just set us back. I have to wait for an opportunity, and be prepared to take it when it arrives."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Having concluded that there was nothing he could do for the time being, Rikuya decided to keep calm and settled in for a long wait."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days had passed since the Fujimiya siblings had disappeared. Our search had turned up no leads at all in that time, so we ended up calling it off. We had other pressing matters─like the string of burglaries in Canarre─to take care of, so devoting resources to looking for them when the odds were good they weren’t even in town anymore just didn’t feel worthwhile. For all I knew, I might never see them again…or so I thought, until a chance encounter turned the situation on its head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems a merchant has requested an audience with you, Lord Ars. Will you meet with him?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A merchant…? I thought to myself. This wouldn’t be the first time a businessperson had arrived at the castle in the hopes of selling me something. I generally preferred to leave that sort of decision up to Rietz, but the purchase of anything pricey required me to sign off on it, so I often tagged along for the talks with the merchants for simplicity’s sake."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When merchants showed up, they usually came bearing rare magical tools or works of art to show me. Some of the tools they’d brought in the past had been quite handy for my day-to-day lifestyle, and I’d made a point of picking up the ones that looked particularly useful. Art, on the other hand, wasn’t something that interested me, so I rarely bothered with those. They were expensive anyway, so I wouldn’t have been able to afford many of them regardless. That being said, I’d been thinking about how forging deeper ties with other nobles would be a diplomatic necessity recently, and I knew that giving works of art as presents would be a good way of demonstrating my friendship. Our finances were doing a little better than before, so I figured it might be the right time to start snapping the occasional art piece up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had the merchant shown into Castle Canarre’s parlor, where I met with him. This time, he turned out to be a man with an amiable expression who looked like he was in his thirties, or thereabouts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A pleasure to meet you! My name is Thoenes Camchar,” said the merchant. “I am a merchant based out of Canarre, and I’ve recently come across a very unusual item. I knew at once I had to give our fair city’s count the opportunity to make it his own, and came here with all due haste to show it to you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d heard the merchant’s name before, but I’d never met him myself until now. Canarre was bustling with merchants these days, so I hadn’t come even close to putting names to all of their faces yet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thoenes set a long, slender box down on the table before him, then removed its lid. My eyes widened with shock as I glanced inside, and when I looked over at Rietz, I found that he looked just as astonished. I didn’t exactly need to ask why."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m inclined to believe that this blade was forged by a foreign craftsman! Inspect, if you will, the intricate design of its scabbard. That’s real gold, you know, and…er… Your Lordship? I see you’re quite enraptured by the sword─has it caught your interest, perhaps?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was indeed a sword within the box, and a sword that Rietz and I couldn’t tear our eyes away from. We weren’t entranced by its beauty, to be clear. No, we were stunned by the fact that it was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Rikuya’s Wyrmsbane Blade. The sword was so distinctive that there was no mistaking it, and the idea that another sword that looked just like it had made its way to Canarre was unthinkable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The question, then, was how it had ended up in a merchant’s hands. Had the Fujimiyas decided to sell it? If so, why hadn’t they contacted us in the hopes of finding the buyer who would give them the best possible price for it? Maika had expressed her intention of doing just that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t judging them for selling to a local merchant, per se. Putting a proper price on it would require dedicating a fair amount of time to asking around and seeing how much various buyers would be willing to pay. Selling it to the first merchant they came across seemed like a bit of a waste in terms of profit, but if they needed money as soon as possible, it was a reasonable choice to make."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, Maika’s goal had been to establish a business of her own, and she’d wanted every scrap of coin that she could get her hands on in order to do it. Considering that, it seemed very unlikely that she’d choose speed over profit, whether or not she asked for House Louvent’s help in finding a buyer. The alternative, then, was a simple assumption: the sword had been stolen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Rietz spoke up to ask the same question I wanted an answer to."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who did you obtain this blade from?” he asked, his tone and expression considerably harsh. Suddenly, our negotiations had turned into an interrogation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The merchant picked up on the shift in tone and seemed aware that this was no trivial matter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm,” he stammered anxiously, “I purchased it from another merchant in Canarre named Mister Lobke! It seems he’s fallen on hard times and was willing to let it go for a very reasonable price, so I snapped it up without a second thought.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lobke… Is he a rather heavyset man who runs a shop in Canarre’s southern district?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes! Th-That’s the man…but, um, I must ask─is something the matter with this sword?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s a very high chance that it’s stolen goods. We’ll be conducting an investigation, just to be safe.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“S-Stolen goods?!” the merchant shrieked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The buying and selling of stolen goods was, needless to say, prohibited by law in Canarre. Those who were taken advantage of and inadvertently dealt in such items weren’t punished, but anyone who refused to cooperate with an investigation was assumed complicit by default. In other words, a merchant who bought a stolen item unknowingly would have to cooperate, no matter how unfair the investigation seemed to them. And because burglars were a thorn in the side of legitimate merchants, very few of them protested the current state of the law."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“V-Very well, then,” said Thoenes, who had gone deathly pale. “I’ll tell you everything I know about the sword, but before we begin, I want to make it very clear that I had no clue it had been obtained illegitimately! I swear on my honor, Your Lordship!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We understand,” Rietz replied reassuringly. “And to be clear, we have yet to confirm the sword was stolen to begin with. This is just a suspicion, for now─a full investigation will determine the truth.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thoenes went on to tell us everything he knew, which admittedly wasn’t all that much. He’d purchased the sword from Lobke for eighty gold coins, it seemed, implying that Lobke had paid even less than that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That news deepened our already-roused suspicions. Rietz had priced the sword at a hundred gold coins, minimum, and it was very difficult to believe that the Fujimiyas had willingly sold it for less than that. On the other hand, if the sword had been stolen, then the thieves would have been motivated to get it out of their hands as soon as possible. It was very common for goods of unclear worth to be sold for well below their true value as a matter of expediency."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think, Rietz? Was it really stolen, or did Rikuya sell it himself?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Considering what we know, I think it was stolen. I was suspicious when I’d heard that they’d fled in the night to begin with─none of them struck me as the sort of people who would do such a thing,” Rietz replied. It seemed he’d had the same hunch as I had. “Operating under the assumption that it was stolen, it seems likely that the culprits were the same burglars we’ve been attempting to apprehend. There was no evidence that a robbery took place, and the band we’re seeking has a history of leaving no evidence behind, so the pieces seem to fit together. In other words, even not taking the fate of the Fujimiyas into account, I see this as an opportunity for us to bring the burglars to justice.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good point,” I said. “But what do you think happened to the three of them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s possible that they were kidnapped, or─much as I hate to consider it─killed. Though to be fair, the burglars don’t have a history of murder, so I would be surprised if that were the case. It’s possible that there are factors at play we aren’t even considering, of course.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If the sword was stolen, do you think there’s a chance that the Fujimiyas decided to go get it back themselves?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Given the complete lack of sightings reported during our search, I would say that’s extremely unlikely. The three of them stand out enough that if they were investigating the burglars, someone would have noticed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That seemed reasonable enough to me…which, unfortunately, left them having been kidnapped or killed the only plausible explanations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There were no signs of a struggle in the inn, so it’s difficult to imagine they were killed on the spot,” said Rietz. “In other words, we can assume they were abducted for some period of time, at the very least─and if that’s the case, then their captors would benefit far more by selling them than killing them. As such, I believe they’re still alive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That logic checked out with me…or at least, I wanted to believe it was the case. “One way or another, we have to find these burglars fast. Can I leave that to you, Rietz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. I’ll contact the Shadows and begin an investigation at once,” Rietz replied, then left to get to work on the double."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several days had passed since Rikuya and his siblings had been confined in the burglars’ cell, and he still had yet to reach a decision regarding what his next move should be. Their captors had proven even more vigilant than expected, and their cell was kept constantly under watch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, Rikuya conferred with Maika with a whisper. Unfortunately, she had yet to come up with any ideas either, beyond staying quiet and biding time until an opportunity presented itself. Rikuya knew, however, that the longer they waited, the more likely they would be split apart and sent their separate ways. That, above all else, was an outcome he wanted to avoid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I never want to lose another family member. Never again, Rikuya thought as the memories of what had happened back in Yoh resurfaced in his mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ever since the era in which his grandfather ruled over the nation, House Fujimiya had been in a state of gradual decline. Rikuya’s grandfather was by no means a bad person, but as a monarch, he had proven lacking. He was as indecisive as a person could be, and that trait proved detrimental to his ability to rule. Furthermore, he was far too kindhearted a man to dispatch the sort of judgments that effective rulers needed to on occasion. His vassals’ disobedience remained unpunished, in all but the lightest of senses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Under the reign of Rikuya’s grandfather, the lords who ruled over the various regions of Yoh were able to amass more and more power and influence of their own. By the time Rikuya’s grandfather passed on and his father ascended to the throne, House Fujimiya had already lost the respect of its followers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya’s father could hardly have been more different from the previous king. He was a bold and decisive man who excelled when it came to taking the initiative, and immediately sought to reassert control over the nation and bring the uppity nobility back under control. That, however, proved to be a fatal mistake─the policies he attempted to put into place sowed the seeds of rebellion, and all of Yoh was soon embroiled in an age of vicious warfare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those were the troubled times that Rikuya had been born into. Being royalty he was just one of many siblings, and being on the younger side, he had not received the sort of education one would give to the heir apparent. Instead, he had been trained to support whichever elder sibling wound up inheriting the throne. Rikuya never doubted that that was the role he would one day fall into…until the war grew in intensity, and the Fujimiyas found themselves at a lack of commanding officers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One by one, Rikuya’s brothers─each a capable warrior in his own right─were called into battle, and one by one, they met their ends at the rebels’ blades. Rikuya was close with his siblings, and the pain of losing them never lessened. Each death carved a gash into his heart that would never heal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As time wore on, House Fujimiya found itself fighting a losing war. Ultimately, their final stronghold was surrounded by the enemy forces. The castle featured a secret escape route known only to the king and his family, but Rikuya’s father chose not to use it. He would perish when the castle fell, instead giving his royal blade to Rikuya and urging him, along with Takao and Maika, to escape in his stead. At the king’s order the three siblings fled through the secret passage, boarded a boat, and escaped from Yoh altogether."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the time of their escape, a number of the Fujimiya trio’s elder sisters were still alive. They had decided among themselves, however, that the more people who fled the more likely they were to be caught en route, and had resolved to send only the three youngest among them away. That left Rikuya with a profound guilt weighing upon his conscience. He had argued with all his might against the decision, not wanting the three of them to be the only ones left alive, but in the end he’d been unable to convince his other sisters to accompany him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Traveling through the secret passage, of course, wasn’t enough to ward off pursuit. The journey from the castle to the ocean was fraught with close calls with groups of soldiers who were searching for Rikuya and his siblings, and they just barely managed to reach the coast and board a ship sailing for Summerforth. Their lives had been saved…but all of their older siblings, along with their parents, had been slain."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya was hellbent on protecting Maika and Takao, come what may. He was more than willing to sacrifice himself for their sake, and in that light, he’d managed to come up with just one plan. Putting it into action would likely doom him…but at the very least, it could save his siblings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Abandon that line of thought, Brother,” said Maika. She’d been watching his expression, and seemed to have seen through what he was planning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wasn’t─” Rikuya began, then reconsidered. “Look, you said it yourself, didn’t you? It’s more logical to sacrifice one of us than to let all three of us get captured and killed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was a circumstantial truth, not a universal one. More to the point, you are the only one of us who cannot be sacrificed, no matter the circumstances. You have to live on and become king.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why me? Why can’t you be king?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because I’m a woman, obviously.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, then what about Takao?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you truly believe he’s up to the task?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "RIkuya glanced over at Takao. The burglars had just delivered their food, and Takao returned Rikuya’s gaze with a satisfied, complacent grin. Rikuya had to admit that it was very hard to imagine his brother serving as a monarch after seeing him in this light."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You are the only one of us who can fill the role, Brother. Neither Takao nor I can become king and carry on House Fujimiya’s legacy,” Maika stated definitively."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, you know what? I can’t either,” Rikuya muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Brother…that’s not─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true, and you know it as well as I do. I don’t have what it takes. Even if I did have the talent to rule, it’s far beyond me to overthrow Yoh’s current rulers and reclaim the throne! I know you understand that!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika didn’t say a word. She couldn’t bring herself to disagree. As a member of House Fujimiya, spending the rest of her life in Summerforth would be unbearable. She’d mulled over plan after plan to return to her homeland and reinstate her house’s rule, but in truth, she was well aware that the obstacles that stood between her and the accomplishment of that objective were close to insurmountable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The one thing I can do is make sure my brother and sister survive. Won’t you allow me even that much, at the end of it all?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The end…? Of course I couldn’t,” Maika replied with a sharp glare. “To start, sacrificing yourself wouldn’t be enough to turn this situation around for the two of us. You would die in vain.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Rikuya said, then explained the plan he’d come up with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. I would have rather you kept that idea to yourself,” Maika said indignantly after Rikuya had finished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It might work, though, don’t you think?” replied Rikuya. “I might die, sure, but the two of you would make it out alive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Only in the best case. In the worst, all three of us would perish─and that’s far and away the most likely outcome.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I guess, but if we don’t do something, all three of us are gonna be sold as slaves.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And being enslaved is better than being dead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure? Being a slave means having your dignity and humanity stripped away from you. Does that even count as living, in your book?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I happen to value my life over my dignity,” said Maika, though her tone lacked its usual self-assuredness. She had a pretty good idea of the sort of horrors and indignities that a life of slavery would entail."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A life in slavery for me would be one thing, but you and Takao could end up in situations so terrible, I don’t even want to think about them. I can’t risk that happening. No decent brother would ever allow it,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They claimed they would have Takao fight for sport, did they not? I can see your point, in his case─a life of combat is no easy thing, and he may not even last a year, if worse comes to worst. My case, however, confuses me. What did he mean that ‘freaks’ would be interested in me? What would they have me do?” asked Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You, uh…don’t want to know,” Rikuya muttered. “And I’m not letting it happen, so you don’t need to know, either.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What could that possibly mean…? I’m more curious than ever now!” Maika asked apprehensively. The grave look on Rikuya’s face wasn’t doing her nerves any favors. “I-In any case, I cannot endorse a plan that leaves you to be sacrificed, Brother. On this, I will not budge!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sister?” said Takao, who’d been happily stuffing his face until just a moment beforehand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it, Takao? I don’t have any food for you, if that’s what you’re wondering,” replied Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not that. We made a promise when we left Yoh, didn’t we? We agreed that we’d do what our brother tells us to as much as possible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya and Maika were both gobsmacked. They’d been expecting Takao to ask about food, not to join the conversation with a very serious interjection."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right, you did! So keep your promise, already!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You’re forgetting the most important part! We promised to obey his word, except for cases where his judgment is plainly mistaken!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So that’s what you’d call this? You think I’m making an unambiguous mistake?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh,” Maika grunted, unable to refute Rikuya’s argument. The truth was that she couldn’t make any such claim whatsoever, but she wasn’t ready to give up yet. “Listen to me, Takao. Wouldn’t you be sad if our brother perished?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I would, yeah, but it’s his decision, right? If he thinks this is for the best, I’ll do it. I’m too stupid to figure these things out, so I think that’s the right choice,” Takao stated. His expression was grief stricken, but his absolute faith in Rikuya had overruled his emotions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How dare you, Brother?” said Maika after a moment of hesitation. “After all that talk of not wanting to sacrifice me, what gives you the right to turn about and sacrifice yourself? Do you not see your own hypocrisy?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I’m a hypocrite, then what does that make you? You’re the one who kept going on about how we should always make the most logical decisions we can, aren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Grr… Must you quibble so…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Never thought I’d hear the day you accused me of quibbling,” Rikuya retorted. Maika had far more of a way with words than he did, so it was quite rare for him to find himself on the winning end of an argument. “Look, I’m not saying that sacrificing myself is the right thing for me to do. I’m saying it’s what I want to do, so I’m doing it. That’s all there is to it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t be serious,” Maika replied. “That’s a terrible reason to do something so drastic!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s life. When it comes down to it, most drastic choices are driven by emotion, not logic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika fell silent. She understood now how firm Rikuya’s convictions were, and knew that trying to change his mind was a lost cause. Rikuya paused for a moment as well, then spoke on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maika, Takao─the two of you have what it takes to cover for the other’s weaknesses. You make a good team, and you’ll do just fine, even without me. You could even reclaim the throne, no trouble. I mean, okay, I can’t imagine Takao being the king if I’m being honest, but you could easily be the first queen in Yoh’s history, Maika─don’t you think? You’re the sort of person who can pull off feats that nobody else could manage, so I’m sure you could find a way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No more of this talk. I have no intention to listen to your dying wishes,” muttered Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Rikuya explained the details of his plan to Takao as well, then settled in to wait for the moment he’d put it into action."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few hours passed by, over the course of which Rikuya and his siblings kept a diligent watch over the guards posted outside of their cell. Two guards were kept by the cell the majority of the time, but on rare occasions, there were brief periods where only a single guard stood watch. The Fujimiyas were watching and waiting for one of those moments to come about."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shift’s up,” a guard declared as he arrived at the cell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Kay,” one of the two current guards replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hope we sell ’em soon and can be done with this,” the other grumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The time had arrived─after the shift changed, only one guard was left outside the cell. Rikuya signaled Maika with a glance, and for a moment, Maika seemed to hesitate, wondering if she could truly go through with their plan. She quickly resigned herself, however, and shouted the words that set everything into motion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m through with you, Brother! I’ve had enough! Taste my fists, you miserable fool!” Maika shouted, at the same time launching herself toward Rikuya, fists flailing. She was trying her best to punch him, though given how weak she was, he hardly even felt the impacts. Maika soon found herself in more discomfort than Rikuya, in fact─all those punches tired her out in no time, and tears soon pooled in her eyes as the pain started to build."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How dare you call your own brother a miserable fool! You’re dead!” Rikuya shouted back, then leaped upon Maika with a terrifying ferocity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The guard, who hadn’t been expecting his prisoners to go after each other’s throats, started to panic. From the burglars’ perspective, Maika was valuable merchandise, and any injuries she sustained would reduce that value drastically─or eliminate it altogether, if worse came to worst and she died. The guard couldn’t afford to let their fight play out unimpeded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, you two! Cut that out!” the guard shouted. He wavered for a moment, then pulled out the cell’s key, opened the door, and stepped inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was the moment Takao had been waiting for. He stepped behind the guard and headbutted him directly in the back of his skull. Takao’s forehead impacted with the force of a large, hefty stone, and the guard dropped to the floor in a heap. Assuming that Takao was harmless since his hands were bound had proven to be a fatal error on his captors’ part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…that worked out,” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because he was a fool. Luck was on our side─now let’s hope it lasts,” Maika retorted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya had to agree. No matter how scared the guard was that Maika could be killed, opening the cell that easily was a sign that he was not the smartest man they could’ve chosen to keep watch. Rikuya relieved the guard of his sword and sliced the ropes that had bound Takao’s hands. Rikuya and Maika, incidentally, hadn’t been restrained at all. Apparently, the burglars hadn’t thought much of their ability to put up a fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” said Rikuya. “Here’s where the real challenge starts.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They’d managed to escape from their cell, and the next step of the plan was for Rikuya to act as a decoy, drawing the burglars’ attention while Takao and Maika fled their hideout. Fighting their way out would have been a lost cause─Takao was mighty, but there were too many enemies for him to deal with all of them. If Rikuya could capture the attention of the bulk of their forces, however, then few enough burglars would be left to try to stop Takao and Maika that they would theoretically be able to break through and make it outside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya, on the other hand, would be left to face off against the entire enemy force at once. His death would be all but guaranteed, and in the event that the enemy didn’t fall for his diversion or defeated him quicker than planned, all three of the Fujimiya siblings could wind up dead. Unfortunately, there was just no way to guarantee their escape, considering the situation they were in, and Rikuya had proposed the plan knowing the risks it entailed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you remember how to get to the exit from here?” asked Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course. My memory would never fail me,” replied Maika."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good. In that case, I’ll head out first. Wait until you think I have their attention, then get moving,” Rikuya said before stepping out of the cell, the guard’s sword in hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maika and Takao would bide their time until Rikuya’s diversion was in full swing, then slip out using the chaos as cover. It wasn’t the most elaborate plan, and there were plenty of ways in which it could fail. All it would take was for Maika to misjudge the moment to make her move and the whole attempt would amount to nothing, but her only choice was to make the most of the opportunity while it lasted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Brother…” Maika muttered, her voice quiet and feeble. She sounded like she might break down in tears at any moment, and Rikuya heard her, but he didn’t so much as turn around. Now that they had taken out the cell’s guard, there was no turning back. The plan was already in motion, and from here on, it was do or die."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya stepped out of the hideout’s jail. The whole hideout was located underground, and the jail in particular was two floors deep. That floor was mostly occupied by storage rooms and the like, while the floor above served as the burglars’ living space. Rikuya had been brought through the basement’s first floor on the way to his cell, so he more or less remembered the base’s layout, and knowing Maika’s memory she would have an even more detailed understanding of the structure than he did."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A staircase led from the basement’s first floor to the surface. There would be burglars in the above-ground section of the house as well, and there was little hope of Rikuya luring them into his distraction, but thankfully, only a skeleton crew had been present when they passed through the house. Takao would be able to wipe up numbers like those on his own without difficulty."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To start, Rikuya headed for the staircase to the basement’s first floor. He didn’t even make it all the way there before he ran into one of the burglars, however. The two men noticed each other at the same instant, and the burglar’s eyes widened for just a moment as he put two and two together. Soon, his befuddled expression shifted into one of alarm, and he shouted “We’ve got a jailbreak!” at the top of his lungs."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From Rikuya’s perspective, the alarm being raised worked out just fine. His whole goal was to provide a diversion, after all. That being said, if he couldn’t get to the first floor in time the whole plan would go up in smoke, so he stepped forward and drew his sword across the burglar’s throat in a flash. The man let out a sputtering gargle as he collapsed, blood spewing from the gash in his neck, and Rikuya dashed past him at top speed, making his way up the stairs."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A number of burglars who had been near the staircase came running, drawn by the noise, but Rikuya cut each of them down in a single stroke and made it up to the basement’s first floor. He emerged into a vast chamber, where a crowd of burglars lay in wait for him─apparently, they had decided that fighting in a narrow stairwell would put them at a disadvantage. They did their best to surround Rikuya, but his appearance had been so sudden that they didn’t quite have the numbers to box him in. A gap on the left side of their formation gave Rikuya the opportunity he needed, and he was swift enough to take advantage of it and slip free."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t let him get away!” roared one of the burglars behind Rikuya. He glanced over his shoulder to find the whole crowd that had tried to surround him closing in on him en masse. They didn’t have the presence of mind to realize that Takao and Maika were nowhere to be found, so Rikuya smirked as the knowledge his plan was working sank in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He wasn’t out of the woods yet, though. More burglars arrived in front of him, blocking his path on two fronts. Thankfully, there was a room just to his right that he could slip into. Rikuya fled through the door, and the burglars swarmed after him─more than ten of them, as best as he could tell. He didn’t know how many members their band had, but his best estimate was somewhere around twenty. In other words, he’d captured the majority of their attention."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This is going better than I expected, Rikuya thought to himself. He was almost certainly about to be killed, yet he felt a slight sense of relief. He wouldn’t be able to witness Takao and Maika’s escape, but with this many of their captors distracted, he knew it wouldn’t be difficult for them to slip away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, you’re cornered now, that’s for sure. What possessed you to pull a stupid stunt like this?” asked the burglars’ boss. Rikuya hadn’t realized it in the chaos, but it seemed he’d been one of the people pursuing him. A moment later, the boss raised an eyebrow. “Hm…? Where’re the other two?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who knows?” replied Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The boss paused, then turned to his subordinates."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, boys─find the other two, and─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya knew what was about to happen. The boss had figured out his plan, and was about to send his men to find Rikuya’s siblings, which was an outcome he had to prevent at all costs. He threw himself at the boss, cutting him off before he could finish his command."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The boss clicked his tongue with irritation at Rikuya’s assault. He was, unsurprisingly, a cut above his flunkies, and parried Rikuya’s attack with ease in spite of Rikuya having the element of surprise. As his sword locked with Rikuya’s, he shouted “Find the other two! This one’s a distraction!” to the rest of his men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Allow us to spare you the trouble of searching!” a woman’s voice rang out, as if in response to the boss’s order."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What the hell?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A trio of screams followed immediately afterward. Rikuya had no idea what had just happened, so he took a moment to reassess the situation. It didn’t take long for him to find his explanation: he spotted Takao at the back of the group of burglars, laying into them with his fists, and Maika behind him, doling out orders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What are you doing?!” Rikuya shouted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A force caught unawares is a force doomed to defeat!” Maika shouted back. “With their attention focused upon you, I decided this was our perfect chance to strike!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You idiot! That wasn’t the plan!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re the only idiot here, Brother! When has one of your plans ever been better than mine?! Now, Takao─charge! Scatter our foes to the winds!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Takao was still unarmed, but he was prepared to carry out Maika’s orders nonetheless. He punched and kicked at the burglars, each swipe of his massive limbs sending another enemy falling to the floor. The onslaught was so sudden and ferocious that the burglars began to descend into a state of panic, and a surge of hope shot through Rikuya as he watched their formation begin to crumble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe, he thought, this might just actually work!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tch… It’s just never as easy as it should be,” the bandit boss grunted. He was keeping his cool, in contrast to his men─being made of stronger stuff was probably what had made him the leader in the first place."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya, on the other hand, realized that if he could bring the bandit boss down, the rest of them would surely be routed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Graaahhhhhh!” he roared as he pressed the attack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” the bandit boss grunted. Rikuya was pouring every bit of strength he had into his onslaught, but it wasn’t working out as he’d hoped. The bandit boss shifted to a defensive fighting style, barely managing to intercept Rikuya’s sword at the last second."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Calm down, people! Don’t panic! We have them outnumbered─go at them all at once, and we can win this!” he shouted, even as he warded off Rikuya’s assault."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The bandit boss’s words were exactly what his men had needed. They regained their composure, facing Takao as a united front and coordinating their attack in an attempt to bring him down. Takao, however, was far faster than an ordinary man, and continued dodging their attacks while slipping in the occasional punch, each of which brought down another burglar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh!” Rikuya chuckled. “Thought you could beat Takao if you just kept your cool, huh? Feeding him was a big mistake. When his stomach’s full, Takao can fight at a hundred twenty percent of his usual power!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya was more confident than ever that he and his siblings would win the day…but that confidence wouldn’t last. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he noticed one of the burglars bearing down on Maika out of the corner of his eye. The man held a mace, and was charging at full tilt toward her, ready to crush her skull with a single swing. Maika, meanwhile, hadn’t even noticed that the burglar was there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rikuya acted in a flash. He abandoned his duel with the burglars’ boss, focusing all his attention upon saving his sister. He sprinted toward her, making it to Maika’s side just in time to leap between her and the burglar…and in doing so, took the blow himself. The mace impacted heavily into Rikuya’s head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“B-Brother…?” Maika muttered in stunned disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The blow had been a heavy one. The shock was severe, and agonizing pain raced through Rikuya’s skull."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya’s sense of balance abandoned him, and Maika’s terrified wail echoed in his ears as he collapsed to the ground. He felt a pulsing sensation where the mace had impacted, and knew from the lukewarm wetness spreading across his cheek that he was bleeding profusely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess this is it, Rikuya thought as his consciousness began to fade. Memories of his past flashed through his mind, fading away into the darkness that consumed him. Moments before Rikuya slipped away into that darkness himself, one last shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the name of House Louvent, I, Rietz Muses, order all of you to freeze!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Judging by the noise-erasing magical tool we seized from their base and the variety of stolen goods we recovered, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that the individuals who abducted the Fujimiya siblings are indeed the thieves we’ve been tracking for some time now,” reported Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good to know,” I said with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To make a long story short, we had come to the conclusion that the Wyrmsbane Blade had been stolen rather than sold. With that tidbit of extra information to guide them, Rietz and his men had managed to track down the burglars’ hideout and rounded the whole gang up in a single raid. All of the members we’d found in the hideout were locked up in Castle Canarre’s prison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that these bandits were the sort who took quite a lot of care selling their stolen goods, on the whole, but Rikuya’s sword had been an exception. Since he was a foreigner, they had assumed that the odds of his belongings being identified as stolen goods were low, and they’d been unusually casual about fencing the sword as a result. Lobke, the man who had sold it to Thoenes, had initially insisted that he hadn’t known it was contraband either, but it hadn’t taken long for him to cave under the pressure and admit that he knew the whole time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lobke had been well aware of the dangers of dealing in stolen goods, but his business had been on the downswing and the sword’s tremendously low price had been too much of a temptation for him to resist. His poor decision proved helpful for us, in the long run─he had given us a description of the man who had sold him the sword, which we’d been able to use to follow his trail through the city, eventually tracking him back to the bandits’ hideout without much difficulty at all. The base was already in a state of moderate chaos when Rietz and his men arrived, thanks to the Fujimiyas’ well-timed escape attempt, and the burglars had found themselves incapable of resisting Rietz’s force. They’d been subdued and arrested in no time flat."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0029.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maika and Takao made it out of the fiasco without any major injuries to speak of. Rikuya, however, was a different story. He’d been brained by a burglar’s mace, and the injury the blow had left him with was a serious one. He was still unconscious and in critical condition, it seemed. He hadn’t received lethal levels of brain damage, at least─the blood loss, apparently, was the most dangerous factor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This world’s level of medical expertise wasn’t very high on the whole, and while healing magic was a thing, the aqua magia needed to cast it was monopolized by Paradille and we didn’t have any access to it whatsoever. Blood transfusion technology, meanwhile, hadn’t been developed yet, so that was off the table as well. According to the doctor who we’d had look at him, whether or not Rikuya would recover was a question of whether his vitality was up to snuff."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wonder if Rikuya’s going to pull through…?” I muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s hard to say. I’m afraid there’s little I can do to help, as far as medical matters are concerned. He seemed like a young and healthy man, at the very least, so with any luck…” Rietz said, trailing off before reaching a clear conclusion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that point in our conversation, Maika and Takao arrived to join us. The moment Maika saw me, she rushed over and practically shouted, “Please… I’m begging you! Save my brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her eyes were bloodshot, and their lids swollen. Clearly, she’d spent quite some time in tears."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll do everything we can. I’m sure he’ll make it…or at least, I hope so,” I said, shifting to a less certain tone at the last moment. Considering how dicey the situation looked, it would have felt irresponsible to make too definite of a promise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please… Don’t let him die… I’m begging you, please…save him…” Maika implored over and over again. She was trembling violently, and her tears once again streamed down her cheeks. She’d struck me as a strong-willed and unflappable woman when we’d first met, but her attitude now could hardly have been further from that impression. This, I imagined, was her true self."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. Our brother would never die,” said Takao. In sharp contrast to Maika, he didn’t seem shaken in the slightest. I could tell that he had absolute faith that Rikuya would pull through, come what may. His steadfast calm seemed to get through to Maika, at least a little, pulling her out from the depression she’d sunk into."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few anxious hours passed by, and finally, a report arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rikuya has regained consciousness!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where am I…?” Rikuya muttered, glancing around at his surroundings."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rikuya had awoken in a soft, comfortable bed, gazing up at a white ceiling. He tried to sit up, but instead flinched and let out a yelp of pain as a sharp, piercing jolt of agony shot through his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The noise drew the attention of a woman wearing a maid’s uniform, who came running over in a fluster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s awake! The patient’s awake!” the maid bellowed excitedly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh─it’s true! I’ll report to Lord Ars at once!” a second voice rang out in response, this one sounding like it belonged to a middle-aged man."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Where is this place…? And who are these people…? Wasn’t I fighting those burglars just a moment ago? thought Rikuya. His mind had yet to catch up with the situation he’d found himself in. And wait─did that man say Ars just now?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An image of the young count he’d met just days before drifted through Rikuya’s mind. He tried to recall more and figure out what had brought him to this place, but before his effort bore fruit, a middle-aged man wearing a white robe sat down in front of him and began closely observing him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?” the man asked as he extended two fingers in the air."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Two,” replied Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How about now?” continued the man, adding in a second hand and raising six fingers in total."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Six… What’s the point of all this?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good, good. No abnormalities, then,” said the man, ignoring Rikuya’s question─much to his frustration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, where are Maika and Takao? Um, I mean… Have you seen a small girl and a huge man somewhere around here?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, those two? They’ll be here any minute now, I’d imagine.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Any minute now?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before Rikuya had the time to question the man’s words, the room’s door flew open."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika burst into the room, tears streaming down her face as she charged over to Rikuya and threw her arms around him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Brother, you fool! You utter imbecile! You would’ve died if Sir Rietz had arrived even a moment later! Can you imagine how I would have felt if you’d gotten killed protecting me?!” Maika wailed as she pounded her fists into Rikuya’s chest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maika’s words─the way she’d said that he protected her─finally jogged Rikuya’s memory and reminded him of how he’d been hurt. The fact that Ars and Rietz had also stepped into the room, meanwhile, told him that his life had been saved, if only just barely."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess that means this must be Castle Canarre…and that I owe these people my life, Rikuya thought with a slight sigh. He looked back at his sister, who was still embracing him. He couldn’t see her face, but the occasional faint shudder made it clear that she was still sobbing her eyes out, and it pained Rikuya’s heart to know that he’d made her worry about him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry,” Rikuya whispered as he returned Maika’s hug and gently stroked her hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few weeks had passed since Rikuya regained consciousness. We kept him in the castle’s sickroom for some time to make sure he got enough rest to recover, but he had proven surprisingly resilient, and his wound had healed at a remarkable pace. He was back on his feet again far quicker than I’d anticipated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a side note, I had of course decided to return the Wyrmsbane Blade to Rikuya. Lobke had been forced to give Thoenes his money back, and was banned from doing business in Canarre ever again as punishment for the crime of dealing in stolen goods. In any case, now that Rikuya had recovered, it seemed like the right time to give his sword back, and so I went out to do just that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Wyrmsbane Blade…?” Rikuya said with an air of shock as I presented the sword to him. “You got it back for me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s one way of looking at it, but from my perspective, this sword is what led us to the burglars’ hideout,” I said, offering it to him. Rikuya, however, didn’t accept the blade. “What’s wrong? It’s yours again, so go ahead and take it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid I can’t,” said Rikuya with a shake of his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Huh? But wait, why? I couldn’t make any sense of Rikuya’s intentions, and was left in a state of bafflement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How could I possibly let you return the Wyrmsbane Blade to me after everything that’s happened?” said Rikuya. “I already owe you my life. I can’t allow myself to become any more indebted to you than I already am.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not trying to put you in my debt,” I said. “And besides, the people who stole it and imprisoned you were criminals working in Canarre─the territory that House Louvent rules! I have an obligation to protect my people from criminals like them, so if anything, I owe you an apology for allowing you to be hurt.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? No, stop that! Do you realize how disgraceful it is to be apologized to by the person who just saved my life?! I owe House Louvent a great debt─that’s the truth, and you won’t be able to convince me otherwise!” Rikuya insisted. He then pushed the Wyrmsbane Blade away from him as if to demonstrate that he had no intention of reconsidering."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I, on the other hand, knew how much of a problem not getting the sword back would be for Rikuya and his siblings. I paused for a moment to think about how I could convince him to take it, but in the end, Rikuya spoke first."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know I have no right to ask this after turning you down so many times, but would you consider allowing us to serve you as retainers of House Louvent?” asked Rikuya. “If you’ll have me, I swear I will serve you to my fullest ability and repay you for what you’ve done for me. Please.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I certainly don’t have any problem with taking you into my service…but are you sure about this? You’re royalty, aren’t you?” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, sure, but I guess you could say I’ve realized that some things are more important to me than being king. I appreciate that I’m asking a lot from you, but still─I hope you’ll take us in,” said Rikuya with a deep bow. He’d gone from swearing to never serve me to begging me to take him─quite the remarkable change of heart, all around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“C-Consider that a request from me as well!” shouted Maika, who had just been listening to the exchange up to that point. “I may not seem impressive, but you’ll find that I have quite the sharp mind! Takao is exactly as capable of a warrior as he looks. As for our brother…well, he doesn’t have any stand-out talents, but he also has no glaring defects and will be able to handle any task you set him to with a modicum of competence! You’ll find him more useful than you’d think, I promise!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey! Were you even trying to make me sound good?!” Rikuya shouted indignantly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fortunately for him, I didn’t need to be convinced that the three of them would be useful. I already knew that very well, and although they’d turned me down twice before, I didn’t hold a grudge over it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If the three of you are willing to serve me, then I would be most pleased to have you. I’m sure we’ll do great things together,” I agreed without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you… Thank you so much! I swear to you that you will not regret this!” Rikuya said, bowing down once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve made a wise decision indeed by taking me into your service, Master,” said Maika."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m sorry, ‘master’?” I repeated. I’d only just made her my retainer a second ago, and she’d already taken to calling me by an inexplicable title."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Being a retainer means I’ll get to eat lots of good food, right? I’m okay with that,” said Takao, to nobody’s surprise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The fact that we’re bound to serve another lord is no reason for you to give up on your dreams of kingship, Brother,” said Maika. “We need only strive to raise our master to the pinnacle of power! Once we’ve made him Emperor of Summerforth, we can have him grant us this land of Missian as a reward, and with the Missian army at our beck and call, we can storm the shores of Yoh and reclaim your just title!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“E-Emperor?!” I stammered, aghast at what I was hearing. I had no plans or interest in climbing that far up the social ladder! My chief concern was surviving through an era of bloody civil warfare, not coming out on top of it!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You realize that would make us nothing more than invaders, don’t you?” said Rikuya."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph! If they didn’t want an invasion on their hands, then they should never have driven us into exile,” said Maika. “In any case, the more I think about it the more I realize that this is far and away our most realistic option. With the unique power our master wields at his side, rising to the status of emperor is a most achievable goal.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hey, stop that!” I said, jumping into the exchange. “You can’t go around talking like that, seriously! I’m not planning on becoming emperor! I just want to live in peace and quiet!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ambitions so meager will never amount to anything, Master,” said Maika. “And more to the point, these turbulent times will not come to a close until a new emperor is chosen! Claiming the title for yourself is the quickest way to gain the peace you desire!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That sounds great, except for the constant warfare I’d have to go through between now and then! And anyway, I’m not cut out to be an emperor─” I began, only to be interrupted by an unexpected voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m in favor of this plan. Lord Ars is indeed a man most suited to the emperor’s throne,” said Rietz, jumping into the conversation out of nowhere. I hadn’t even realized that he’d been listening. “Only a man such as he─a man who does not judge his followers by race or by sex, and who treats his people with fairness and impartiality─has the right to rule over this land.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Look, I’m telling you…ugh, fine. I’ll admit that moving up a little further in the world will make things easier for us, but trying to become the emperor’s going way too far! Sorry, but that’s one expectation I can’t live up to!” I said, closing the book on that conversation. I then made a mental note to keep a tight rein on my followers’ expectations in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so Rikuya, Maika, and Takao became my three newest retainers."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0031.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Over the course of just a few months, I had recruited a whole host of capable retainers, including Virge, Enan, Rikuya, Maika, and Takao. That wasn’t even the whole of my accomplishments─I had also managed to bring Thomas into the fold, albeit on a trial basis, and contracted the Bangle Mercenaries to fight for me. Braham had grown massively as well, getting over a number of the bad habits borne of his inexperience. I had brought in new people left and right, and those who were already working for me were developing in the right direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Having more people on my side was a good thing, of course, but I was well aware that the larger our roster of personnel became, the more likely my retainers were to start developing interpersonal conflicts. As such, I decided to hold a celebratory banquet in the hopes of deepening the bonds between all of my allies. The banquet would be held in Castle Canarre, and since only my closest allies would be attending I decided to forgo putting on any shows or performances and instead simply treat everyone to a lavish feast. That, I figured, would leave everyone satisfied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Time sped by, and before I knew it, the day of the banquet arrived. My retainers all gathered up in a room in the castle, dressed in their finest clothing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would like to thank all of you for gathering here today,” Rietz said, addressing the crowd. “Thanks to an economic upturn and the abundance of this year’s harvests, along with the steady development of excavation sites that have increased our magistone output, I believe it’s safe to say that Canarre is on the rise in more ways than one. Furthermore, I believe that all of you, the count’s personal retainers, deserve a fair share of the credit for our success.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I thought Rietz’s speech was a little stiff. I wouldn’t have minded if he’d been more casual, or at least talked about less dry topics. Charlotte had decided that this was going to take a while, and let out a not quite subtle yawn."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let us all continue to work together to raise House Louvent to even greater heights, and let us provide a warm welcome to those among us who are newer to the fold! Today, we celebrate!” Rietz finally concluded, leading everyone in a toast. I joined in as well, though since I wasn’t old enough to drink yet I settled for a cup of juice instead of alcohol."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I really am impressed. House Louvent has gained so many new followers, and you perceived the talents of every last one of them!” Licia, who was standing beside me and sipping her own glass of juice, said admiringly. “I don’t believe I’ve met quite a number of them, in fact… Are those three from a foreign country?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed Rikuya and his siblings had caught her attention. “Yes, actually─they’re from a country called Yoh,” I explained. “They’re siblings, believe it or not, and their names are Rikuya, Maika, and Takao Fujimiya. They’re my newest retainers. I’d actually forgotten that I had yet to introduce you to them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is my first time seeing them, yes! They’re siblings? Truly?” said Licia, giving the trio a somewhat skeptical glance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why, good evening to you!” said Virge, stepping up to me and Licia. “I must say, Lord Ars, you’re looking positively dashing tonight, and your lady bride is as lovely as could be! And truly, what a wonderful party you’ve thrown for us─we’re ever so obliged! To think that our numbers have grown so much! What a pleasure it is to make so many new friends and compatriots, and what a wonderful day today is shaping up to be!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia and I returned Virge’s long-winded greeting, only for him to say, “Oh, but look at the time─I must make the rounds and say a word to all the others! Tah tah!” and wander into the crowd before we’d even had the chance to have a proper conversation with him. He made his way over to Mireille first, then Rosell, then the Fujimiya siblings and Charlotte in turn, spending just a brief moment in conversation with each. He was a restless man, to say the least. I had to wonder if he just didn’t feel at ease unless he was talking with someone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-Why are there this many people here…? Oh, no, no no no no… I think I’ll just go home…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are ya stupid, or something?! You’re just gonna leave when we’ve got a golden opportunity to chow down for free?! And anyway, it’s high time you figured out how to hold a damn conversation! If this isn’t the right time to practice talkin’ to people then when is?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-Not now, that’s for sure! As far as I’m concerned it’s a miracle that I can even talk to you, Shin! How am I supposed to talk to anyone when I’m surrounded by strangers…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I overheard bits and pieces of a conversation between Shin and Enan, who happened to be nearby. The two of them weren’t technically my retainers in the same way everyone else was─they’d never sworn loyalty to me, or anything─but I’d invited them to the banquet anyway. I’d expected Shin to attend and Enan to turn the offer down, but apparently Shin had decided to bring her along with him by force, much to her displeasure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, hey, it’s Lord Ars and his wife,” Shin piped up as he noticed us. “Thanks for calling us up to the castle for this!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just hope you enjoy yourselves,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know I will! You really went all-out on the grub, and I’m gonna stuff my face with it! Oh, and while we’re at it, turns out Enan’s a pretty useful gal after all. Think we might have some good news coming your way before you know it… And oh, man, does that meat over there ever look good!” said Shin, who proceeded to wander off toward the dish that had caught his eye."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When he said to expect good news, do you suppose he was talking about the airship?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most likely, I figure,” I replied. “Maybe they’re almost finished with it! You never know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s so exciting! Let’s ride it together when it’s finished!” said Licia, her eyes sparkling with glee."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When she put it that way, taking an airship trip together didn’t sound bad at all…except for the part where flying vessels were inherently dangerous in all sorts of ways, of course. Even after Shin got his ships off the ground, I had a feeling it could take some time before they were ready to start taking on passengers. We’d have to wait."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, there he is! Evening, Lord Ars!” said Braham, who wound up being the next to approach us. Judging by the plates full of meat he held in each hand, he was already enjoying the banquet to the fullest. “This stuff’s seriously tasty, y’know?! Want some?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I accepted Braham’s enthusiastic offer, and sampled some of the meat as well. He was right─it was delicious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y’know that Takao guy who showed up the other day? He’s crazy tough!” Braham said as I chewed. “I sparred him one-on-one a little while back, and it just might’ve been the closest fight I’ve ever been in! And he doesn’t seem to know his way around a weapon yet, so with a little training, I think he’s gonna get even more crazy-dangerous! Can I have him in my unit? Please?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Braham had challenged Takao to a duel before I even knew they’d become acquainted. He made it sound like he’d won, though not necessarily by a large margin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry, but Takao’s off the table. I’ll be having him, Rikuya, and Maika all working together,” I replied. My intention was to found a new unit for the Fujimiya siblings to take collective command of. They’d only just joined forces with me, though, so I was still a ways off from putting that plan into action."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oooh, right. Yeah, makes sense, since they’re related and all,” said Braham, giving up with remarkable ease."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m told that your unit has been doing incredible work lately! That’s very impressive,” Licia chimed in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham blushed brightly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Impressive? No way, I’m still just getting started,” he said. It was very clear to me that the compliment had gone straight to his head, but at the very least he’d learned to act like he was being modest about it. Just a little while ago he would’ve been singing his own praises before I knew it, so I considered this progress, in its own sort of way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Get off of me, you miserable woman!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey! Is that any way to talk to your big sister, huh?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are you─Stop that… Ah! Hey, kid! Help me out over here!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas shouted to me next, walking in my direction and dragging Mireille─who was clinging stubbornly to him─along with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hello, Mister Thomas and Miss Mireille!” said Braham, who had stiffened up the second he saw the two of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you doing this time, Mireille?” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Isn’t it obvious? She’s being an obnoxious drunkard,” said Thomas with a scowl. “You’re the count, so you’re the only one with the authority to have her thrown out of the castle, and it’s high time you used it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think throwing her out would be a little too harsh,” I said, then turned to his sister. “H-Hey, Mireille, you’re making Thomas uncomfortable! You should cut it out.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, hey, it’s you, kiddo! You wanna hug too?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is not what I said!” I shouted in protest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Please, you can’t make jokes like that in public! I thought as I glanced over at Licia. She was smiling, technically, but since we’d gotten married I’d learned to pick out the little nuances of her expressions, and I knew for a fact that this was one of the smiles that meant her mood was about to take a severe turn for the worse."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! Oh, I’m just kidding! Lady Licia’d have my hide if I tried anything, and I damn well know it,” said Mireille. “Huh? Hey, look, it’s Braham!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hello, Miss Mireille,” Braham repeated enthusiastically."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Looks to me like you’ve gone and grown on us again, huh? You used to be just another plain ’ol idiot, but now you’re more like the nice li’l boy next door, or something! Still look dumb as a post, though.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you! I still have a lot of work to do, but I’ll be giving it my all to better myself!” replied Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“G-Great,” said Mireille. She seemed a little taken aback to see Braham reply so positively to her backhanded encouragement. “Hmm. Y’know, you always seemed like such a moron I couldn’t see you any other way, but now that you’ve cleared that up a bit, you’ve got a pretty cute sorta babyface thing going… Huh? Are you…totally my type?” Mireille added, catching the rest of us as off guard as she’d been caught just a moment before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What do you mean, your type?” said Braham, a hint of concern creeping into his expression."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, you know what I mean!” said Mireille. “So, Braham, you have anything planned after the banquet’s done?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Braham blinked. “Uh, no, not really. I was just gonna go straight to bed after I finished eating.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Iiinteresting! In that case, how about the two of us slip away and─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I don’t really get all that sorta stuff! Bye!” Braham shouted, then fled the scene without wasting a second."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, nuts. He sure didn’t let me down easy,” grumbled Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You weren’t gentle with your approach either, so of course he didn’t,” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, true enough. Looks like I’ll have to take my time bringing him around,” said Mireille, licking her lips as she watched him go."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could only shake my head. I wasn’t interested in shutting down my retainers’ love affairs, but I had a feeling that Mireille’s in particular could be way more trouble than they were worth, and made a mental note to consider banning her in specific from flirting with any of my other followers. Thankfully, she was drunk enough that if my luck held, she’d have forgotten all about Braham by the next morning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y’know, if I marry Braham, that’d make you his little brother,” Mireille said as she elbowed Thomas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop saying these awful things, woman!” Thomas bellowed in reply."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Honestly, though, I had Braham pegged as a tough but useless idiot, and look at him now, all grown up and stuff! Looks like you’ve brought a buncha new people in lately too, and I bet they’re all just as useful, eh? That power of yours sure is working wonders, kiddo,” Mireille continued, the look on her face shifting to something much more serious than before. “Keep bringing ’em in at this rate, and keep growing Canarre, and you might just find yourself turning into one of the most powerful counts in Missian! Hell, you might already be one of ’em for all I know,” she added with a somewhat satisfied grin. “Then again, there’s such a thing as getting too powerful, too quickly. That can draw in all sorts of bad attention, so better keep an eye out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to take Mireille’s warning to heart. She was right, after all─the stronger that Canarre grew as a county, the more wary of us Seitz would become. For all I knew, even Couran might start seeing me as a threat if I pushed my luck too far. Thankfully, my relationship with him was friendly, for the moment, and I hadn’t gotten the sense that he felt any hostility toward me yet. Couran was also a very broad-minded person, so I figured he would see Canarre’s growth as a positive development…or at least, I wanted to believe that was the case."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good evening to you, Lord Ars…and to your lovely companion, as well,” said Rikuya, who picked that moment to approach me with Maika and Takao at his side."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good evening, and a pleasure to meet you,” said Licia. “I am Ars’s wife, Licia Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-His wife?! You’re married?!” Rikuya yelped in shock. I gathered that someone my age getting married was not the norm in Yoh─though of course, when I put it that way we’d tied the knot pretty early by Summerforthian standards as well. My father had apparently waited until his late twenties to get married, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph─if he’s married, then that sinks my plan to wed him myself and tie our families together straight away,” grumbled Maika."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Wait, what? Is that really what you were going for?!” asked Rikuya, aghast."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just a jest, of course.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Make it more obvious next time, please!” Rikuya groaned. He always seemed to make a point of calling out Maika’s more eccentric behavior. “Oh, I’m sorry, I should have already introduced myself. My name is Rikuya Fujimiya, and I’ve recently entered House Louvent’s service,” he continued, turning back to Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I am his sister, Maika Fujimiya!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m Takao Fujimiya…and there’s so much good food here, I think this is the happiest day of my entire life,” said Takao, finishing off the trio’s introductions with a smile so broad, I didn’t doubt his claim for a second."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You always say that whenever there’s enough good food on the table to satisfy you,” Rikuya said with a shake of his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, kiddo, are those three the new retainers you got the other day?” asked Mireille, who’d still been loitering nearby."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I confirmed her guess, then introduced her to the three of them, pulling Thomas into the exchange while I was at it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yoh… Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I drank some great booze in Semplar once that was supposed to be an export from Yoh. Yeah, I’m sure of it─it was real good stuff,” said Mireille, pausing for a moment to bask in the memory of a drink long passed. “And now that I look at her…isn’t that Maika kid totally my type?” she added, a distinct glimmer of interest entering her eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’s hopeless. Thomas was right─I should’ve driven her out of the castle while I had the chance, for her own sake."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your…type? Does that mean you like me?” asked Maika with a cock of her head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It sure does,” said Mireille with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Interesting! I don’t know why you’ve taken a liking to me, but I don’t dislike it when people appreciate me!” said Maika with a smile that told me she didn’t have the foggiest idea what sort of dubious thoughts were going through Mireille’s mind at that very moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, gods, she’s adorable… I’ve always wanted to corrupt an innocent little girl like her,” Mireille muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yup. Definitely hopeless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I resolved to never, ever invite Mireille to an event where alcohol would be served again…though I had a funny feeling that she’d find a way to show up uninvited, regardless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, you. I’m gonna have to ask you to stop leering at my sister now,” said Rikuya, stepping in to give Mireille a piece of his mind before I had the chance to stop her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?” grunted Mireille. “Look, guy, mediocre men don’t interest me. Take a hike, ’kay?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wha─You did not just call me mediocre to my face!” shouted Rikuya. Mireille had just happened to pick out his sorest subject, and for a moment I thought the two of them were going to come to blows."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Mireille,” I interjected in a last-ditch effort to keep things peaceful, “they’re opening up a few bottles of some really nice alcohol over on the other side of the room! We only have a few, though, so you’d better hurry if you want some!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-What?! Gotta go, bye!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And just like that, Mireille was gone in a flash. My story hadn’t been a complete lie, for what it’s worth. They really were passing out drinks on the other side of the room─it’s just that those drinks weren’t anything special, in truth. Considering how drunk Mireille already was, though, I was pretty confident she wouldn’t be able to tell the difference."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0033.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You certainly have some…eccentric retainers, don’t you?” said Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t deny that,” I admitted, “but if I made a list of my most eccentric followers, I think Maika and Takao would end up in the top ranks.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, I suppose I can see that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One moment─Takao, I can accept, but I don’t appreciate you treating me like an eccentric as well, Master!” Maika irritably interjected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The three of you are from Yoh, I believe? What sort of place is your homeland? I’m afraid I know next to nothing about it,” said Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm─where to start…” said Maika. “It’s an island nation, for one thing. Our diets consist largely of fish, and the locals are a rather hot-blooded bunch, on the whole. Civil wars are common, and thanks to the ousting of the royal family, I believe the land is likely controlled by a variety of feuding warlords at the moment. That’s just speculation, of course. For all I know, some nobleman somewhere has become the new king and united Yoh under his banner.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… It sounds rather like Summerforth, then, at least when it comes to the civil wars. Our emperor is still alive and well, of course… You said your royal family was defeated? That must have been quite the difficult period for everyone involved.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, it certainly was,” Rikuya awkwardly muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We had decided that there was no need to spread around his family’s royal status without reason, so for the time being me, Rietz, and Rosell─who we’d gone to for information on their homeland─were the only ones who knew. I was considering letting Licia in on the secret later on, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, we’d better go introduce ourselves to everyone else,” Rikuya said, then led his siblings off to speak with the other guests."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I watched them go, a little worried about how that would work out, but thankfully, their socializing seemed to proceed without any serious issues. They kept their introductions simple and to the point, and it seemed things would work out between them and everyone else just fine, much to my relief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rest of the banquet passed by without incident, and eventually, the evening’s celebration drew to a close. It had been a roaring success, and it seemed to me that the bonds between my retainers had strengthened. Considering how much I was planning on expanding their numbers in the long term, I had a feeling that we’d be having a lot more of these gatherings in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well done,” said Boroths Heigand. He was currently working out of Fort Purledo, located in the Purledo county of Seitz, and had just received a report from a spy he had dispatched to gather information."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the disastrous invasion of Missian that Boroths had overseen, his standing had fallen so dramatically that he had half expected to be exiled or executed for his failure. The Duke of Seitz, however, had chosen not to punish Boroths in any particular capacity and instead had once again instructed him to seize control of Canarre by any means necessary. Boroths’s instructions were clear: to bring Ars Louvent over to Seitz’s side, or if that proved impossible, to put an end to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On those objectives, Boroths and the duke were very much in agreement. Ever since the failure of his first invasion, Boroths had prioritized building up his forces, sabotaging Canarre’s capacity to defend itself, and gathering information about the enemy while he was at it. Canarre, unfortunately, seemed to have a very capable network of spies themselves running counterintelligence, and Boroths’s agents hadn’t been able to obtain as much information as he’d hoped. Worse still, the brigands-turned-soldiers that Boroths had dismissed from the army and sent into Canarre to wreak havoc had apparently been exterminated before they could cause much damage to speak of."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I see now that he simply has too many capable followers for these plans to work. Half measures won’t be enough to win us the day…and we don’t have the time to build up a force strong enough to claim Canarre by brute force. I’m running out of options."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One point in Boroths’s spies’ reports had been consistent: the Count of Canarre had been taking more and more individuals into his service as time wore on. There was no way of judging how capable those newcomers were yet, of course, but Boroths was confident that more and more monstrous talents would be taking to the field on Canarre’s side in the near future."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As if the personnel situation wasn’t dire enough, Canarre’s economy was also going through an upswing. The state of affairs was favorable for Missian on the whole, but Canarre in particular had been implementing one exceedingly rational policy after another. Canarre’s officials had proven capable of interfacing with its people, as well, and civilian enterprises had been speeding along at a breakneck pace. It was plain to see that Canarre was developing at a rate that put the other counties of Missian to shame. If that economic boom were to spread to the neighboring counties as well, then they would soon be a threat that Seitz couldn’t ignore."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I need to snip this in the bud…and to that end…I suppose an assassination is the only means I have left."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Boroths knew what he had to do, but resolving to assassinate a political figure and carrying that assassination out were two very different matters. None of Boroths’s personal retainers had the skills to succeed at such a task, and so he had concluded that his only choice was to hire a third party…but information on capable killers-for-hire wasn’t easily obtained, either. Boroths had learned of one master assassin so far, and had sent his men to find them, but as time passed by no report seemed to be forthcoming."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By that point, Boroths was starting to panic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have we still not managed to make contact with Zetsu?” he asked one of his nearby retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s still no word, sir,” the retainer replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… I’m starting to wonder if the information we received was even true in the first place,” Boroths said with a shake of his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, another of Boroths’s men burst into the chamber. “A report’s come in, Sir Boroths! We’ve found Zetsu!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have?! Excellent!” said Boroths, a look of relief coming across his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’ve agreed to speak with you, and are waiting in the parlor at this moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The parlor? Understood─I’ll leave at once.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Boroths stood up and headed for the parlor. At long last, the assassination of Ars Louvent would be set into motion."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0035.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One morning in the magical training grounds near Castle Canarre, Musia was hard at work practicing her spellcraft. It was one of the mage battalion’s days off, officially, so Musia was the only mage in the area."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were many different ways for a mage to practice their magic, from actual, practical spellcasting to training the speed of their incantations. Practical training consumed aqua magia, and while that was by no means prohibited, Musia wasn’t the sort of person who could bring herself to request permission to do so during her own private training sessions. She felt bad for consuming resources on her own, and so she prioritized forms of practice that didn’t need any expenditures."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Working pretty hard for a day off, eh?” Charlotte called out as she stepped into the training grounds."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, Charlotte! Good morning,” Musia replied with a polite bow. “What are you doing here? I thought we didn’t have any training scheduled today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just out on a walk. I was in the area and figured you might be in here, so I decided to take a peek, and looks like I was right!” said Charlotte. “Practicing your incantations, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes!” replied Musia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You know it’d be better practice if you actually cast the spells, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Well, yes, I know that, but considering how much aqua magia that would use, it just feels wrong to go that far when nobody even asked me to be practicing today…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, no worries there. I talked Rietz into getting us a whole supply of aqua magia just for practicing with the other day. Having a stock ready for battle’s important and all, but if we wanna be useful when the time for fighting comes, we need to get in as much practice as we can─or that’s what I told him, anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, wow!” said Musia. “You managed to talk Rietz into something this time? That’s amazing!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh heh!” Charlotte chuckled proudly, then paused. “Wait, was that a compliment, or were you making fun of me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh… I-It was a compliment, of course! Hurray! Having lots of aqua magia for practice sounds amazing!” shouted Musia, playing up her excitement as best as she could manage. Fortunately for her, Charlotte seemed convinced by the act and grinned as she crossed her arms."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then─I’ll take you up on that and use some right away,” Musia continued, then set about preparing to cast a proper spell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia brought out a small catalyzer for her practice. Canarre’s mages occasionally practiced spellcasting using medium or large catalyzers as well, but never in this training ground in particular. Medium and large-scale spells were too powerful, and risked blowing the whole place to pieces. As such, those drills were almost always conducted far outside the city limits. The variety of spells that could be cast using a small catalyzer was limited, but one could still get used to the feeling of casting a destructive spell and refine one’s aim using the smaller variety easily enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia faced one of the targets that had been set up for Fire Bullet practice and cast her spell. The resulting ball of flame slammed right into the target, producing a blast far larger than one would expect from a small catalyzer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A typical mage’s Fire Bullet would result in a modest explosion, at most. Hitting a person with one would cause some nasty burns, but a single blast wouldn’t be enough to finish anyone off. Musia’s Fire Bullets, however, produced a very respectable blast. Even a fully-armored warrior would be killed by a direct hit the vast majority of the time. It was a very impressive spell…and yet, Musia didn’t seem satisfied. She knew very well, after all, that her spell’s potency paled in comparison to the Fire Bullets that Charlotte could cast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte’s Fire Bullets brought about truly massive explosions, on a scale that most mages could only rival by casting with a mid-sized catalyzer or using explosive-aspected aqua magia. Compared to hers, Musia’s spells were nothing special."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia went on to cast several more Fire Bullets. The power of her spells had been inconsistent at the beginning of her career as a mage, but recently, she’d managed to reach a degree of stability. These days, her spells were powerful across the board."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve grown,” Charlotte said quietly. She looked almost moved by Musia’s progress."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m still nothing compared to you. I have have to work even harder,” Musia replied in a rather serious tone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Trying to catch up to me, are you? Somebody’s getting ambitious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Ah, N-No, that’s not exactly… I just thought I could try to follow your example and get a little closer to you, that’s all…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, really? Well, sounds like I’d better get some practice in so you don’t blow past me,” said Charlotte. Musia’s determination, it seemed, had lit a fire in her. “Let me in on this session.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, o-okay!” said Musia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of them spent the morning practicing their spells together."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really are incredible, Charlotte,” said Musia, admiring her fellow mage after they had wrapped up their practice session. Musia’s magical power had grown as of late, but it was still a far cry from the sort of power that Charlotte wielded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can’t deny it,” replied Charlotte, who was enjoying the praise. “Anyway, we can’t go using any more aqua magia than this for just the two of us, so we’d better head back for today.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right! Of course!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Musia and Charlotte packed up and headed back toward the castle proper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, I’ve heard that some new mages will be joining the unit tomorrow,” Musia said, striking up a conversation during the trip back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? That so?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You hadn’t heard?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Actually, now that you mention it, that does sound sorta familiar. Slipped my mind up until now, though.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You forgot about it…?” said Musia, her expression aghast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How many are we getting this time, again?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Five, and Lord Ars’s Appraisal identified all of them as having a talent for magic! I have a feeling that they’ll surpass me in no time if I’m not careful, so I’ll have to be even more diligent about practicing from now on…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just five, huh? Wish he could get a whole bunch of ’em all at once, one of these days.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I don’t think that finding capable mages is quite that easy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I guess, and a few new people’s sure better than nothing. I think I’ll have to step in and give everyone a personal lesson in magic tomorrow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That sounds great!” Musia replied, though in truth, she was somewhat conflicted about the proposal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte, for all her strengths as a mage, was not much of a teacher. Musia herself had struggled to understand Charlotte’s directions early on in her career, so she knew that very well. She’d gotten a grasp of Charlotte’s unique manner of giving instructions, but she worried that the new mages wouldn’t be able to follow their commanding officer’s logic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess I’ll have to step in and help her, if that’s what it comes to…though I’m not sure I’ll be able to do any better than she does, Musia thought to herself. For better or for worse, she would do what she could to help the unit’s new mages through the early stages of their training."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, the five new mage recruits gathered up at the magical training grounds to meet the rest of the unit. All five of them were men. Although one’s sex made no difference when it came to magical ability, society at large viewed warfare as a man’s world, and so the majority of those who responded to Ars’s recruitment drives were male in spite of his best efforts to the contrary."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m the leader of Canarre’s mages, Charlotte Lace. Good to work with you!” Charlotte said to the new recruits."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A stir ran through the mages as they heard their commander’s name."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So she’s the Charlotte Lace?” said one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I heard that back in the war with Seitz, she turned the battlefield into a real hell on earth…” whispered another."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte’s reputation preceded her not just in Canarre, but all throughout Missian. Many of the rumors revolving around her were unsettling, to say the least, and people tended to look upon her with terror more often than with respect."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Starting today, I’ll be teaching you everything you need to know about magic. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to speak up,” Charlotte continued. The new soldiers let out a collective sigh of relief as they realized that their leader wasn’t as scary as they’d anticipated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia and the rest of the unit’s mages introduced themselves next, and the new mages followed their example. After that, it was time for their training to begin. The new mages were each given a catalyzer and told how to cast their spells. Musia watched over Charlotte, worrying all the while how her instructions would go over."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "None of the new mages had ever cast a spell before. Although magic did have practical applications outside of battle, the majority of magical tools were far too valuable for common folk to ever afford them or even have the chance to use them. All five of the new recruits came from modest backgrounds, and their lifestyles would never have led them into contact with magic if they hadn’t been taken into Ars’s service. That being said, Ars’s power proved its worth once again as they each succeeded casting spells one after the other, producing remarkably powerful results for their first attempts─though none of them came close to equaling Charlotte’s destructive potential, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not bad for your first try, but none of you have what it takes to make a difference in battle just yet. ’Course, that’s what training’s for! You’ll get there,” Charlotte said after she’d finished observing the new mages’ spells."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What should we do to make our magic more powerful, Ma’am?” asked one of the new recruits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“More powerful, huh? Hmm,” Charlotte began. She spent a moment pondering the question. “Basically, you just pack your spells full of all the take-that-guy-down energy you can work up,” she finally answered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All the…what?” said the new mage, a look of blank incomprehension on his face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia couldn’t take it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“U-Umm,” she said, sliding into the exchange, “essentially, Charlotte is trying to say that if you want to make your magic more powerful, you have to focus on succeeding. The more clearly you can envision the way you want your spell to play out, the more likely it will be to turn out that way!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, that’s the ticket. It’s all about visualizing!” said Charlotte with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Losing your composure will also cause your magic’s power to lessen, so you need to keep a clear head at all times,” Musia continued. “It’s also a skill that you can build up over time! Your magic is like a muscle─the more you use and train it, the stronger it grows. There are also certain foods that make it easier to raise your magical potential, so the longer you spend training with our unit to be a mage, the more your power will develop!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The new mages all seemed quite impressed by Musia’s explanation─and they weren’t alone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, huh! Really?” chimed in Charlotte herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "‘Ch-Charlotte, why are you surprised by that?! You should know all of this already!” said Musia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not really? My magic was plenty strong from the start,” countered Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia let out a sigh of exasperation. Her fears had been justified: when it came to magic, Charlotte was simply too much of a genius to be a half-decent teacher."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The training of the new recruits continued, and Charlotte’s explanations remained borderline incomprehensible to her pupils. Musia’s attempts to clarify those explanations, on the other hand, were exceedingly straightforward and easy to follow, allowing the new mages to get a grasp of the essentials. Thanks to Musia, by the time their first day of practice came to a close they had become capable enough spellcasters that no one would ever have guessed they’d only picked up a catalyzer for the first time earlier that same day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re incredible, Musia─I can actually use magic now! Thank you so much!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d never cast a single spell before today, so when I heard I was going to be a mage I couldn’t stop doubting myself, but I managed it without a problem! This is such a relief, and it’s all thanks to you, Musia!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The fledgling mages Musia had taught thanked her one after another, and she found herself unsure of how to react."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, um, well… I think today going well has more to do with your talent than my teaching, really… I’m glad to hear that I was at least a little helpful, though,” she said with a slight blush."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…” Charlotte muttered as she watched the scene play out. “You know, I think you might be a better teacher than I am. Not that I ever wanted to teach anyway, I guess. Okay, that settles it─you’re in charge of training the newbies from now on!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Musia grunted. “W-Wait, I’m in charge of them?! I-I couldn’t possibly! That’s way too much responsibility!” she protested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’ll be fiiine, trust me! This feels like one of those right person in the right place at the right time sorta deals, or whatever they say!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m…the right person…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And while we’re at it, why don’t you give everyone else some pointers too? I know some of our troops are starting to lag behind the rest, so I figure they could use it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? I-I don’t know… You mean you want me to train mages who joined the unit before me? I couldn’t possibly…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why not? I’m the only one in the unit who knows her stuff better than you, at this point. Actually, I’m pretty sure everyone’s dying to know how you got so good so fast.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-Are they, really?” asked Musia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup! They’re chomping at the bit to find out, I’m sure of it!” Charlotte insisted. “I’m not forcing you, though. If you’re too busy with your own training to deal with ’em, I’ll give up on that idea.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia paused to consider her options."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is this really all right? I’m so inexperienced myself…how could I possibly train other mages? she wondered, a sense of unease beginning to grow within her. But then again, it did seem like my advice helped the new recruits improve…and if this is the one thing I can do to help out the unit as a whole…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia wavered for just a moment longer, then made up her mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. I’ll do it!” she replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks! You start tomorrow, ’kay?” Charlotte said with a grin."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0037.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia began instructing the rest of the mages in her unit the very next day. Just as Charlotte had predicted, many of their mages-in-arms were excited to learn all the tips and tricks she had to teach them, and that’s exactly what she did, in a manner they all found easy to digest. Her friendly attitude made a difference, as well, helping improve the mages’ motivation to improve their skills. In no time at all, they were practicing away with a far greater fervor than their usual sessions prompted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just two weeks later, Musia’s lessons had already borne fruit. The mages of Charlotte’s unit had improved their skills dramatically, and Charlotte was more than a little pleased to see it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t believe how far they’ve all come in just a couple weeks! I owe you one this time, Musia!” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-But I didn’t do much at all! It’s thanks to everyone’s hard work, not me!” Musia protested, though in spite of her humility she was clearly pleased by her leader’s praise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry about all this, though,” Charlotte continued. “You’ve been so busy teaching that you haven’t had much time to practice yourself, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s true, I haven’t, but, actually… I think that teaching everyone has helped me improve my own magic, as well,” Musia replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? How’s that work? You haven’t been practicing, have you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, no…but I think that teaching them has helped me notice all sorts of little things that I could be doing better, I suppose…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huuuh! That’s sure something. Here─try showing me just how much better you’ve gotten.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” Musia agreed, then began preparing to cast her spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, she set up a small catalyzer and conjured up a Fire Bullet. This time, however, the resulting explosion was remarkably large. She had almost never been able to manifest magical power of that scale before, and yet now, she was able to cast several Fire Bullets in a row, each as destructive as the last. It was plain to see that she had grown since the last time she’d trained with Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wow. You really have gotten better,” said Charlotte, her eyes wide with shock. Musia’s spell hadn’t quite reached the levels of power that Charlotte could put out, but the gap between the two of them had shrunk. Suddenly, Charlotte came to realize that Musia catching up to her wasn’t such a laughing matter after all. “Seriously, having you train everyone was the right choice in all sorts of ways! You’re improving, everyone else is improving, and I got to spend the whole time slacking off!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I’m not so sure that last part was an upside, really,” Musia interjected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think things are gonna be pretty busy for you from now on, but keep up the good work!” Charlotte replied. All responsibility for the unit’s training had been handed off…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I will! Thank you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…but fortunately, Musia was ready and willing to accept it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, yeah─thanks to Musia, the mage unit’s better than ever!” said Charlotte as she wrapped up her report at one of our regular meetings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia, who was sitting beside her, looked mortified to see herself put on such a pedestal. The way Charlotte had described it Musia had proven to be an incredibly skillful teacher, and thanks to her guidance, the majority of the mages in their unit had improved their skills by leaps and bounds."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d known that Musia had the talent to be an incredible mage, but the fact that she was a skilled teacher as well had escaped me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Actually, my skill doesn’t display anything about people’s teaching ability in their status blocks, so there was no way for me to figure that out from the get go!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have to wonder, though─if it was this easy for them to improve this quickly, then what the hell has their old teacher been doing this whole time?” Thomas muttered─though not quietly enough for Charlotte to miss it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hey, was that supposed to be an insult?! I’ve been doing my damndest to teach them, I’ll have you know!” Charlotte shouted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, right. I guess she’s been handling all the instruction up until now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I really thought about it, considering that Charlotte had been capable of casting mind-bogglingly powerful spells from the start without ever receiving any instructions, asking her to teach anyone about magic was a lost cause."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, right, one more thing! Looks like teaching all the other mages helped Musia get way stronger too,” Charlotte added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That came as a surprise to me. I’d expected that Musia’s progress would have slowed since she’d been paying so much attention to tutoring the others, but apparently, I couldn’t have been more wrong about that. I decided to appraise her and see for myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte was right─all of Musia’s stats had improved, and her Valor score was getting very close to its maximum value. Generally speaking, the closer stats got to their caps the harder it became to increase them, but I had a feeling that Musia would reach her maximum Valor in no time at all. Her Leadership had grown dramatically as well, and I had to wonder if the respect she’d gained from her fellow soldiers had something to do with that increase. Regardless, it seemed that her skill with magic wasn’t the only area she’d improved in thanks to her lessons."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering that all of her stats had been in the forties when I first met her, it was remarkable just how much she’d improved. Not just remarkable, actually─given how little time had passed since I’d recruited her, the rate she’d grown at was nothing short of unbelievable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "People with Valor scores in the seventies or above weren’t too rare, but people with Valor that high and a high Mage Aptitude were very hard to find. Charlotte and Musia were the only ones in Canarre’s whole fighting force, in fact. Considering how important mages were in modern warfare, it seemed safe to say that Musia had become one of our army’s most valuable assets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that I was looking at Musia’s stats again, it also struck me how balanced her maximum values were. I was starting to consider giving her command of her own unit of mages in the future. After all, if we kept bringing in more capable casters, Charlotte would probably have difficulties commanding all of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for providing guidance to the rest of our mages, Musia,” I said. “Having more capable mages on our side is a massive asset to Canarre, and as such, I’ve decided to grant you a reward for your efforts on top of your usual salary.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Musia yelped. “A reward?! F-For me, of all people?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Consider it a sign of how valuable I consider the work you’ve been doing. I trust nobody objects?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "None of my other retainers spoke up to protest the decision. And so, Musia’s reward was set in stone. A few days later I presented her with twenty gold coins─a sum of money so large she literally fainted on the spot the moment I handed it over to her."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0039.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, Braham’s squad of elite soldiers was hard at work running through exercises in the Canarre military’s training grounds. The squad’s members were elite in more than name alone─only the most exceptional soldiers in the military were selected to join the group. That meant that, by and large, the squad’s members were already quite capable at the time they began working under Braham…but there were some exceptions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey… Do you really think that guy has what it takes to keep up with the squad?” Braham asked his second-in-command, Zaht, as the two of them watched their men run through their exercises."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham didn’t need to specify which soldier he was talking about. One of them, a rather slender and short young man, was conspicuously inept. His name was Kuura, and he was not only unathletic but also all but useless when it came to wielding weaponry."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good question,” said Zaht. “It’s pretty hard to believe, just watching him…but apparently, he’s got talent buried deep down somewhere, and we’re supposed to find a way to drag it out of him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, but do you believe that? Just look at him! I’ve never seen anyone with less talent,” said Braham. He just couldn’t believe that a man like Kuura could ever manage to toughen up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The count’s power claims otherwise,” Zaht said with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… But even Lord Ars has to get stuff wrong every once in a while, right?” Braham countered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s possible, but it also doesn’t make a difference, as far as we’re concerned. He told us that Kuura has talent and asked us to train him, so that’s what we have to do, one way or another.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham sighed deeply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, true ’nuff. We’ll just have to put him through the wringer and tell Lord Ars if it doesn’t look like he’s gonna shape up,” he said, confident that within a few days at most, he’d be reporting to Ars that Kuura was a washout. “Anyway, training him’s in your hands, Zaht. Good luck with that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-What?! You want me to do it?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht wasn’t even slightly excited to hear his new assignment, but unfortunately for him, he also wasn’t the sort of person who would ever disobey a commanding officer’s direct order. And so, Zaht begrudgingly took over Kuura’s martial education."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, Braham’s mind was blown."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I don’t believe it,” he muttered, his eyes as wide as dinner plates as he watched Kuura run through his drills."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham had known that Kuura and Zaht had been training together, but what he hadn’t anticipated was how quickly those sessions would bear fruit. Kuura’s lack of athleticism hadn’t been remedied, to be clear. He looked as weak and emaciated as ever. What had changed, however, were his results in battle. Kuura had just engaged several far larger and stronger soldiers in practice duels, and had defeated each and every one of them in sequence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What the hell am I looking at? How is he this good all of a sudden?” Braham asked Zaht, the man who was presumably responsible for Kuura’s explosive growth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s got good eyes,” Zaht flatly explained. “I’m not just talking about his vision, though that’s good too─I mean he’s one of the most observant people I’ve ever met. He can more or less tell what his opponent’s about to do, just by watching the way they move in anticipation of it. He’s still weak, of course, but that’s offset by his incredible knack for swordsmanship. He may not have much muscle, but he’s incredible at bringing out the full potential of what he does have.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess that’d do it. Speed and power are the most important factors in a fight, usually, but if you’re observant enough you can make up for not being fast, and if you’re good enough with a sword you can make up for not having much power,” said Braham. “But wait a sec─he has a knack for swordsmanship? I thought he was awful at that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He was, until I started training him,” said Zaht. “Once he picked up the fundamentals, he started improving at a breakneck pace. Most people with talent show it from the very start, but I guess he needed a little boost first. He’s a rare breed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He really improved that much…?” muttered Braham in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“His strength and stamina still have a long way to go, so he has his limits. Put him up against a tough enough opponent, and he won’t be able to win even if he can see through their movements. Once he’s put on some muscle, though, I have a feeling he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh… More than anything, I’m shocked that I couldn’t pick any of this out at first,” Braham groaned as he watched Kuura engage in yet another practice match."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say this is less a matter of you having no eye for people, and more a matter of Lord Ars’s power being something else,” said Zaht. “If Kuura had asked to join a unit I was leading, I would’ve given him a test and then turned him down on the spot. I certainly don’t think I would’ve guessed that his swordsmanship would improve this quickly. Some people have talent hidden away inside them, and in Kuura’s case, all of his talent was hidden so deep, it might as well have been buried. The fact that anyone could pick it out is a wonder.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess Ars’s power really can see through any talent, no matter how hidden it is, and he’s gonna keep picking people out for this squad…” Braham muttered. “Just how incredible are we gonna be in the long run?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say that depends on whether or not you can shape up, Captain.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?! Ars is the one who picked me to be the leader, you know?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He really is impressive, isn’t he? If you’d come to me and asked to be my retainer, I would’ve turned you down without a second thought.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could you at least pretend to have some respect for me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was kidding. Anyway, if we want to be the elites people keep calling us, we’d better get back to training,” Zaht said, then set off to join his men in their drills."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, during one of Braham’s unit’s scheduled breaks, Braham and Zaht were strolling through the streets of Canarre together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why do I have to spend my day off walking around town with you, Captain?” Zaht sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why’re you making it sound like that’s a bad thing?” Braham shot back. “And anyway, I told you about how I figured it’d be good to get some bonding time with my second-in-command, didn’t I?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, no, you didn’t. You dragged me out here without a word of explanation,” Zaht said with a roll of his eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh.” said Braham. “Really? Well, whatever! That’s the goal, so let’s have a blast!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What kind of goal is that even supposed to be…? And where are we going, anyway?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The market, to start! Figured we’d get something for lunch afterward, then play it by ear from there.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you don’t even have a plan. Fabulous. I’ll tag along, but I hope you’re planning on paying for the meal.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?! Y-You mean, like, for both of us?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t it a captain’s job to provide for his men?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh… F-Fine, sure! Grub’s on me today!” said Braham with a grimace. “Anyway,” he continued as he looked out across the city street, “Canarre sure has changed a lot, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s certainly more crowded these days,” Zaht agreed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It hadn’t been all that long since Braham and Zaht took up residence in Canarre, but the change was still striking to them. The city was far livelier than it had been when they’d first arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought this place was pretty quaint compared to Velshdt back when I first got here, but I think there might be as many people here now as there were back there,” Braham mused as he thought back to the last city he’d lived in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My understanding is that Velshdt is the third largest city in all of Missian, by population,” said Zaht. “If you’re right about that, then the change might be even more incredible than I gave it credit for.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, I’m just judging by looks here! No clue how many folks are actually around. But anyway, more people’s a good thing for sure! Means we’ll have an easier time finding recruits, for one thing. No wonder we’ve been getting so many new faces in the unit!” Braham said with a grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, Braham and Zaht arrived at the city’s marketplace. Canarre’s main street had been bustling, and the market was even more packed. The area was practically overflowing with people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yikes,” muttered Braham. “We’re gonna have a rough time buying anything, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Were you looking for something in particular?” asked Zaht."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? I mean, nothing super specific…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then there’s no point in bothering. Let’s leave.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Wait a second! I, uhh… Right! I wanted to see if they had any weird weapons in stock! And books! I wanted some of those too!” exclaimed Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht gave his captain a blank stare. “The weapons are one thing, but books? Can you even read, Captain?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I can read, dammit! Say that again to my face, I dare you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“R-Right, sorry,” Zaht said, flinching in the face of Braham’s rage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham took a deep breath, then continued, “We’ve been getting more merchants in town lately, and that means a bigger variety of stuff in the market─and that includes stuff that’s never been available in Canarre before.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That would make sense,” said Zaht. “I’ve never been much for crowds, so I’ve never been to a place like this before, but if there’s that much available here then maybe this visit wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why, are you looking for something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could be… I wouldn’t turn down some nice alcohol.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’d better not pull a Mireille on me, Zaht.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not nearly as much of a drinker as she is, don’t worry. I just enjoy a nice drink as much as the next person.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m kinda surprised, honestly,” said Braham. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you drinking before.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That would be because I haven’t, lately,” replied Zaht. “Not to mention that even when I do, the alcohol never seems to have much of an effect on me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh! Well, I’m pretty sure there’ll be plenty of booze for you around here. I hear some of the guys in our unit brag about how they picked up a bottle of some rare drink or another in the market, every once in a while.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham and Zaht walked through the marketplace, searching for stores that stocked the items they were interested in. It wasn’t long at all before Zaht found a store with alcohol that caught his attention, which he purchased on the spot. It was a rare import from the Duchy of Ansel that he’d sampled before, and he purchased it in no small part out of nostalgia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham, meanwhile, found a weapon that caught his attention: an unusually narrow variety of sword that was used for thrusting attacks called a rapier. Zaht had been rather skeptical of the design and asked if Braham actually meant to use it in battle, and Braham had replied that he just thought it looked neat, and bought it anyway. It didn’t seem like he had much interest in actually using the weapon at all. As for books, Braham wasn’t able to find anything along the lines of what he was looking for, and didn’t end up making any purchases."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, I’m getting pretty hungry! Let’s go find somewhere to stop for lunch,” Braham eventually said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Works for me,” agreed Zaht with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“More restaurants these days too,” said Braham. “This city’s just getting nicer and nicer the more people show up and the more it grows!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have a point…but not everything a rising population brings is for the better,” noted Zaht."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahh, yeah, I know what you mean,” Braham agreed as he glanced at a beggar who happened to be sitting by the wayside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As the population of Canarre grew, so too grew the population of poor and unemployed residents. There was just no way to build enough houses for all of the new people flowing into the city, which inevitably led to a ballooning homeless population."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re gonna have to do something about that eventually, huh?” Braham mused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If by ‘we’ you mean Rietz, then yes,” said Zaht. “I’m sure he’s already hard at work coming up with a solution. Considering how abrupt the population boom has been, though, I have to wonder if he’ll be able to keep up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a tough problem, all right,” Braham groaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not to mention that a larger population means more crime.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True enough…and keeping the peace is part of our job, since we’re in the army and all,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No sooner had the words left his mouth than Braham noticed a somewhat young, obviously impoverished man approaching a well-dressed woman who was walking along further down the street. Something about the way the man was acting struck Braham as suspicious, and sure enough, the moment he was close enough to the woman the man snatched the bag she was carrying and set off at a sprint."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thief! Thief!” the woman screamed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In an instant, Braham took off in pursuit of the man. The thief had a substantial head start, but Braham was a much faster runner and closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What the─Who’s that?! How’s he so fast?!” the thief yelped as he glanced over his shoulder and saw Braham bearing down on him. He wasn’t a slow runner by any means, but even compared to him, Braham’s pace was downright unbelievable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The thief decided to shake Braham off his trail by ducking into a back alley, but he didn’t even manage to make it that far before Braham caught up to him. That must have made the thief panic, because the next thing he knew he’d tripped over his own feet and slammed face-first into the street. Braham didn’t let that opportunity slip past him, and pinned the fallen thief to the ground."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“L-Lemme go!” the thief shouted. He struggled wildly, but Braham’s grip proved far too strong for him to shake off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, calm down! You’re a thief, right? You just stole that bag, didn’t you?” shouted Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I didn’t! It’s mine!” the thief yelled back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I saw you take it from someone,” Braham sighed. “If you can’t think up a better excuse, you might as well not bother.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before the woman the bag had been stolen from and Zaht came running."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-Thank you so much for catching him!” said the woman. The thief had dropped her bag when he fell, and the woman quickly scooped it up again. “I must do something to thank you…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need for that! We’re with the army─all in a day’s work,” said Braham. The woman thanked him profusely once more, then went on her way. “Question is, what’re we going to do about him?” Braham said, looking back at the fallen thief."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We should turn him over to the guards who’re in charge of this district,” said Zaht. “For all we know, this might not be his first offense.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Each district of Canarre was watched over by a squad of guards, who were in turn associated with the army of Canarre. Braham ended up bringing the thief to the local division, where he turned him over to the proper authorities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Phew! Guess we ended up being on the job today after all, eh? Sure didn’t see that coming,” said Braham once the handoff was complete."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Crime’s on the rise, so it’s not too shocking,” said Zaht. “I’ve heard they’re hiring more and more guards, but there still aren’t enough on patrol to keep the peace yet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seemed like the guy we caught turned to crime because he couldn’t make a living any other way…” Braham mused. “Do you think that if we can make Canarre more and more prosperous, crime will start to go down, too?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s hard to say,” said Zaht. “I’ve been to bigger cities than this, and in my experience there’s always a stark gap between the rich and the poor, no matter where you go. It’s easy to talk about bringing in wealth and prosperity for everyone, but making it happen never seems to be quite that simple.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That so? Well, one way or another, I’m sure it’ll all work out in the end. House Louvent’s in charge, after all, and they’ve got all the right people to sort this stuff out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True enough. There’s Rietz, to start, and also Charlotte, Rosell, and Mireille. Every one of them is a genius in their field─and of course you can’t forget Lord Ars and the power he wields that brought them all together.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-Hey, aren’t you forgetting someone?” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hm?” Zaht grunted. “Oh, right─Thomas. He may not be in House Louvent’s formal employ yet, but he’s still a remarkable man.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not him!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean the Fujimiya siblings? They’ve only just come into the picture and haven’t achieved anything yet, but judging by what few interactions I’ve had with them so far, I’m expecting good things.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not them, either! Dammit, Zaht, you’re doing this on purpose! There’s another handpicked genius right here with you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right here? Oh…do you mean me? I hate to say it, but I know that I don’t measure up to the others. I’m more capable than the average person you can find on the streets, though, I’ll give you that much.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I said with you! Of course I didn’t mean you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht let out a lengthy sigh and replied, “You do know how conceited people who call themselves geniuses in public come across, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I knew it! You were doing it on purpose!” Braham exploded. Zaht’s shoulders shook with barely repressed laughter as he watched his commander devolve into a rage. “I’ll have you know that Lord Ars specifically told me that I have what it takes to be the greatest commander in the whole world! Making fun of me’s the same thing as making fun of the count himself!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fair enough─I must have been mistaken. My apologies,” said Zaht in a profoundly insincere tone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not sure I buy that…but an apology’s an apology, so you’re off the hook,” Braham said, somewhat reluctantly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Braham and Zaht set out to find lunch, then made their way back home again."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0041.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you very much for purchasing volume five of this series. This is Miraijin A, speaking!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Due to the continued support of all my readers, this series will be receiving an anime adaptation! Ever since I became a writer, I’ve dreamed that someday one of my works would be turned into an anime and reach an even broader audience. I’m truly moved to think that that dream is coming true. I couldn’t be happier─thank you all so much!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It took several months after my editor told me this series would be receiving an anime adaptation for me to believe the news, to be honest (lol). It was great to see the news finally announced in public, and I’ve been able to observe all sorts of parts of the adaptation process. All of this is totally new to me, naturally, and it’s been a very valuable experience!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The anime is scheduled to be broadcast in 2024. Speaking as the series’s author, I can hardly wait for it to begin, and I like to think that my readers are just as excited. The story of As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World still has a long way to go, and I hope that the anime adaptation will bring in more and more fans! I’ll keep writing away to meet the expectations of all the readers who are anxiously awaiting the next installment!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you very much for continuing to read this series!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0042.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 5"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Miraijin A"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thank you very much for purchasing the fifth volume. This series is getting an anime adaptation! It’s scheduled to broadcast next year, and I hope all of you watch it! [English Editor’s Note: The anime should be out now, so go check it out!]"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Congratulations on the anime adaptation! I can’t wait! New characters have been showing up left and right in the novels lately. Thanks for reading!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World | As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-05-[Vertical][Kobo]/p-0043.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This summer, my father died. Though he was born a peasant, his innate courage and valorous deeds allowed him to deftly climb the ranks of society. He was even granted a noble title, albeit a minor one, before his life was cut short at the age of thirty-nine."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father had long suffered from a chronic illness. Before he took ill, he was a strong and sturdy man, but as the days passed by and his sickness took its toll, his vitality faded. He was eventually an emaciated husk, barely recognizable as the man I once knew."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When he passed, his final breaths came so quietly and softly that I almost thought he’d fallen asleep. My father had suffered so terribly for so long, but at the very end, as he slipped away from us, he looked peaceful─tranquil, even. The moments before death, it would seem, have a way of relieving us of all our anguish."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day of his funeral service arrived, and my father was laid to rest atop a bonfire. Cremation was far from a universal practice in the Summerforth Empire, and some regions went so far as to prohibit it, but it was simply the way things were done in our territory. Watching the flames crackle and dance before me, watching the plume of smoke waft up overhead, drove in the reality of the situation: my father was dead and gone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Truth be told, thanks to certain complications in my personal history, I had never fully accepted the fact that he was my father. That didn’t change the fact that he was the person I trusted and respected above all others in this world, though. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I can’t allow myself to cry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew what I had to do next, and if I was going to pull it off, I couldn’t break down. Not here."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the funeral, I gathered my father’s closest subordinates. I stood before them, clad in the most impressive outfit I owned, doing everything in my power to present myself as a grown man─or at least as close to one as I could manage. Then, head held high, I made my declaration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From this day onward, I, Ars, shall succeed my father Raven as the head of House Louvent!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was the twelfth year since my life in Japan had ended. Twelve years after I died and was reborn in this world."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My own death had come so abruptly that it was downright anticlimactic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was a thirty-five-year-old man, living out an utterly mediocre existence in a country called Japan. I was born into an average family, went through elementary, middle, and high school without incident, graduated from an average college, and found a job at an average company that paid me a salary of around four and a half million yen a year─a perfectly unexceptional wage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The only part about my life that wasn’t ordinary to a fault was the fact that I never got married. Considering Japan’s rapidly declining birth rate, though, for all I knew, that might have also been within the realm of average."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The fact that I never had a girlfriend either probably counted as abnormal, however. I’d describe my looks as, well, average, so I suppose my personality must’ve ruined any chance at romance for me. I’d often been told that I was too passive for my own good…and that I was too absent-minded just as often."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The people who told me that weren’t wrong, either. I never found anything that really sparked my enthusiasm, aside from my lifelong love of books, and I just didn’t have it in me to be proactive about things that didn’t catch my attention. That might have had something to do with why I never found a girlfriend, actually. After all, I never met a girl who I genuinely fell for."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, let me set the scene for you: it’s Monday morning and I’m just about to walk out the door, dejected at the thought of going back to work after a blissful weekend of freedom. I step outside, my favorite briefcase in one hand and my key in the other, and just as I’m about to lock the door behind me, wham! I gasp in shock and pain as a jolt of unbearable agony shoots through my chest! My hands tremble, and my key and briefcase fall to the ground. I clutch at my chest, but it doesn’t help─it hurts so much I can’t breathe or even remain standing. Moments later, I join my bag on the concrete."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What is this?! What’s going on?! I try to process the situation, but the pain is so intense that I can’t focus. I can’t even think. The world goes dim, my consciousness fades, and I sink into a pit of darkness, tormented by pain worse than anything I’ve felt before, not even understanding what just happened to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a woman’s face. I couldn’t even begin to make sense of why that would be, so I tried to take a step back and put the pieces that had brought me there together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I remembered leaving for work, to start, just like I always did. Then I remembered trying to lock my door, being overcome by pain, collapsing, and passing out. The next thing I knew, I was waking up with a woman’s face in front of me. Her features were attractive, but clearly indicated she wasn’t Japanese. She was probably Caucasian, as best as I could tell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Okay, so if the chest pain knocked me out, I guess this is probably a hospital?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If that were true, though, you’d think the woman would have been wearing a nurse’s uniform or something. I definitely didn’t know her, either─I’d remember if one of my friends was a Caucasian woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps the weirdest part of it all was the way she was looking at me. It was the sort of gentle, loving expression an affectionate pet owner might give their beloved dog. It certainly wasn’t the look you’d give some random guy who’d passed out and gotten himself carted off to a hospital."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t take long for the woman to say something, but that didn’t answer any questions. I couldn’t understand a single word that came out of her mouth. It was a foreign language, obviously, but it wasn’t one I’d ever heard. I was pretty confident I could have picked out one of the world’s more commonly-used languages, even if I couldn’t speak any of them myself, so whoever she was, I assumed she must have been from some smaller nation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I tried to say something to her…and failed. I could move my mouth just fine, but for some reason, I couldn’t form words. I could make a sort of “ahhh” noise, and I could manage “oooh” just fine, but that was my limit. I tried moving the rest of my body without much more luck. I was moving, technically, just not how I wanted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I squirmed about, my own hand entered my field of vision. It was small. Shockingly small, even. Almost like a baby’s hand, in fact."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mind was a mess of question marks. At long last, I convinced myself that surely I’d just been seeing things, but when I took another look at my hand, that theory crumbled away. It was just as tiny as before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What the hell? Is this some kind of joke? Or, could it be…I died? Have I been reincarnated?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew enough about Buddhism to be familiar with the concept of the souls of the dead being reborn in a different form. The historical Buddha taught that to live is to suffer─that human souls are bound to the cycle of reincarnation, doomed to be born, die, and be born again, over and over, trapped in a cycle of pain all the while. Only through training and discipline could enlightenment be reached, and only through enlightenment could a soul escape the cycle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t enlightened, that was for sure, so apparently, I’d been shipped off for another trip through the cycle. That didn’t explain why I had all of my memories, of course, but at the very least, I was convinced of one thing: something extremely abnormal had happened to my body. That understanding, however, didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t speak, move, or do anything. All I could do was wait."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And, as I waited, the powerful urge to sleep washed over me. I was in a baby’s body, after all. Unable to withstand the intense fatigue, I quickly drifted off into the land of slumber."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0009.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several months had passed since my birth, and I’d gradually picked up an understanding of the local language. In doing so, I’d begun to answer some of the many, many questions that plagued me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To start, I learned that my new, post-reincarnation name was Ars Louvent. Though oddly enough, I couldn’t actually remember my former name at all. I remembered my old life itself easily enough, but my name was just gone, somehow. That didn’t really bother me, though. Having two names for myself would probably have just been confusing, so I quickly convinced myself that the bout of forgetfulness was for the best."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next piece of info I picked up: there was a high likelihood that I wasn’t on Earth anymore. My main point of evidence in favor of that conclusion came from the fact that this probably-new world’s technological level was extremely low compared to Earth’s. Not only did they not have TVs, radios, or smartphones, but they hadn’t even worked out electricity! Oil lamps were the most advanced form of lighting available."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It went beyond just lighting, too. On the whole, I couldn’t find any of the conveniences of modern society I was so used to in my new home. I’d be able to rationalize that away if we were poor, but the house I lived in was huge and opulent, tech level aside. I had a hard time believing that a family living in a house like that could be impoverished. I suppose I might’ve just been born into an exceedingly eccentric family, though, so it was hard to draw any definitive conclusions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did have one other reason for believing I wasn’t in my old world anymore: my family was keeping an animal the likes of which I’d never seen as a pet. It was almost like a dog, but I’d definitely never seen a dog with a pair of wings sprouting from its back during my time on Earth. They weren’t just for show, either─it could fly several feet in the air by flapping them. Though, wings aside, it bore a striking resemblance to a breed of dog called the Japanese Chin, and its name was Ahsis."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now, I didn’t know everything about Earth, but I was still pretty confident that we didn’t have winged, flying dogs back there. The conclusion that I was probably in another world seemed more or less inescapable. I didn’t know what sort of world I was in yet, but the winged dog made me suspect it landed somewhere on the fantasy side of the spectrum."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In short: I’d gotten wrapped up in a situation I was extremely unprepared for."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, three years passed by in the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As you’d probably guess, by the age of three I was totally capable of talking and walking around on my own. I finally had a solid grasp of the local language, and I’d begun to reach an understanding of the state of the world around me, as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To start: as expected, the world I’d been born into was indeed definitely not the Earth I used to know. My new home was apparently in a nation called the Summerforth Empire, located on the continent of Summerforth. I’d definitely never heard of a country with a name like that on Earth, much less a continent, and I knew my history well enough to be pretty sure they’d never existed at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then, of course, there was the discovery that magic was real in this world. It was a power that could bring about mysterious, inexplicable phenomena─starting fires, manifesting water from nowhere, that sort of thing. Seeing real-life magic used right before my very eyes was what finally convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was in another world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Another revelation: apparently, the Louvent family I’d been born into was a noble household. House Louvent ruled over a territory called Lamberg, a small region consisting of around two hundred households and a total population of about a thousand. I was the family’s first son, which meant that I would one day inherit the area."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I was very worried about that whole business. I lived my last life as an office drone, after all! How could somebody like me end up ruling over anyone? Maybe I could just delegate the practical affairs of rulership to a trusted subordinate or two and spend the rest of my life idling my time away?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, and there was one last thing I discovered during the first three years of my new life: the fact that I was born with a power that people around me definitely did not possess."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“G’morning to you, Young Master!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good morning!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, I decided to pay a visit to the training grounds right next to my family’s estate. House Louvent technically had about a hundred and twenty troops ready to mobilize, but the vast majority of them were really just farmers. The only thing that made them soldiers was the fact that they’d occasionally steal a moment out of their busy schedules to make their way over to train for battle, running through drills on swordsmanship and archery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really spend your fair share of time here, don’t you, Young Master?” noted one of the soldiers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And he’s only three!” added another. “He’ll be a fearsome warrior when he grows up, I tell you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers were always happy to see me. Apparently, the idea of a three-year-old taking an interest in martial arts was enough to give them a good first impression of me. Truth be told, though, I was never interested in martial arts at all. I was interested in people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I looked out over the training grounds and focused my gaze on a man who was thrusting a spear. Then, I activated my power: the power of Appraisal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Appraisal was the name of the special ability I’d been born with. All I had to do to use it was stare at someone for long enough, and then I would instantly learn all sorts of information about whoever I was appraising. When I say “someone,” by the way, I mean it. I could only appraise people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To be clear, it wasn’t like someone came up and told me, “Oh, that power you’re using is called Appraisal!” or anything like that. I named it myself, actually. “Appraisal” just seemed like an appropriate name for a skill that let me peer into a person’s detailed abilities and traits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I stared at the man, a sort of black screen materialized before my eyes with all the information I could obtain about him displayed on it. I knew from experience that I was the only one who could see the screens. That particular man’s looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The format of the status screens just so happened to bear a striking resemblance to that of the menus in a historical strategy game I was quite fond of, so I knew exactly how to interpret them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "LEA stood for Leadership: the ability to effectively command an army."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "VAL was Valor: a person’s combat prowess."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "INT meant Intelligence: ergo, how quick-witted they could be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "POL was Politics: their ability to conduct negotiations and handle administrative work."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, Ambition represented how likely they were to betray their superiors if the opportunity arose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The numbers on the left indicated their current score, while the numbers on the right indicated their maximum potential. Breaking the numbers’ meanings down, the scale went something like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "100+: Inhuman"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "90: Excellent"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "80: Great"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "70: Good"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "60: Average"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "50: Mediocre"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "40: Bad"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "30: Hopeless"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or something to that effect. At the very least, that was how the scale went in the game I used to play. I’d gone out of my way to appraise as wide a variety of people as I could manage, and everything had seemed to more or less line up with the game’s systems so far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Next up, the Aptitudes. They were scored on a letter-based system, with D representing the lowest possible score and S the highest:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Infantry: the ability to fight at close range."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Cavalry: the ability to fight on horseback."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Archer: the ability to fight at range with a bow and arrow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mage: the ability to wield magic for combat purposes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fortification: the ability to construct and maintain castles."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Weaponry: the ability to both create and handle weapons."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Naval: the ability to battle aboard a ship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Aerial: the ability to battle in the air…probably? I wasn’t entirely sure what that Aptitude referred to, as it wasn’t from the game."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Strategy: the ability to think tactically and turn the tides to your advantage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Incidentally, the one person I couldn’t appraise was myself. Looking at my hand or my abdomen didn’t allow me to bring my status screen up, and looking at my face in a mirror didn’t do the trick, either. It was a real disappointment, honestly─I would’ve loved to know what my own talents were."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, back to Mister Millais, who I’d just appraised. His Valor satisfied the bare minimum standards for decency, at least, but everything else was more or less a wash. On the other hand, stats like his were probably just about normal for a rank-and-file foot soldier. Pretty much all of his fellow soldiers fell into the same basket: middling Valor, terrible everything else. Some of them didn’t even have a decent Valor score."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was one thing that caught my attention about Millais, though: his aptitude as an Archer was remarkably high. In other words, he’d probably be pretty skilled with a bow, if he got his hands on one. And yet, there he was, out on the field training with a spear. He’d been practicing his spearmanship the last time I saw him, and I couldn’t remember ever seeing him so much as hold a bow. Was he just not interested in archery? I decided to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? D-Did you need something, Young Master?” Millais stammered in a panicked reply. “And wait, you know my name?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why don’t you ever use a bow?” I asked, pushing past his confusion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A bow? ’Cause bows are a coward’s weapon, of course! Real men don’t stand off in the back lines, shooting away when their enemy can’t even reach ’em─they fight up close and personal!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wow, what an incredibly banal answer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If that was all that was keeping him from making use of his talent, I figured stepping in to intervene was probably best. He had a B-rank aptitude for bows, so surely he’d be reasonably effective fighting with one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You should give bows a try!” I urged him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh, seriously?” Millais moaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have the talent for them! Just try it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Look, kid, just because you’re the lord’s son─” began Millais, almost certainly intending to turn me down again. But just then, the other soldiers who were training nearby started giving him a look. Specifically, it was the “You know you can’t actually turn down a personal request from Lord Louvent’s son, right?” glare."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Millais hesitated for a moment, then sighed and replied, “All right, fine, I’ll do it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers didn’t know about my appraisal ability, of course. They probably just wanted to get on their lord’s good side by way of his son."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Never drawn a damn bow in my life,” grumbled Millais as he picked up a nearby bow, then turned to face the archery targets and nocked an arrow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oi, Millais!” shouted one of the other soldiers, who specialized in archery himself. “You’re way too far for a beginner! You’re not even gonna reach the targets at that range, much less hit ’em! Move closer!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, stay right here,” I commanded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was all my idea in the first place, so Millais stayed rooted to the spot. He drew the bowstring back as far as he could, then let it loose."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0011.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The arrow sailed cleanly through the air…and landed dead-center in the target. He’d hit the bull’s eye. Everyone except me was stunned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The hell…?” whispered one of the more experienced soldiers. “How’s a beginner shoot like that…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“B-Beginner’s luck, that’s all! Oi, Millais! Let’s see you do that again, eh?!” shouted another of them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Millais drew his bow once more, and again, his arrow thudded perfectly into the target’s center. One perfect shot might’ve been a fluke, but two in a row was too much to write off so easily. The nearby soldiers were flabbergasted all over again. Even Millais’s jaw had dropped so far that it was practically touching the ground."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Millais? Do us all a favor and use a bow from now on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve got the knack for it, man!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hate to break it to you, but you were always lousy with a spear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other soldiers clustered around Millais, and it wasn’t long before he caved in the face of their praise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, I guess being an archer wouldn’t be that bad! What’s a little cowardice on the battlefield if it keeps you breathing, eh? Ha ha ha!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And just like that, the matter was settled. It was almost shocking how quickly he went from “archers aren’t real men” to “maybe bows are fine after all.” Honestly, he seemed a little too shallow for his own good."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But anyway, how’d you know, Young Master?” asked one of the soldiers. “What tipped you off that Millais was a born marksman?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rest of the soldiers turned to face me as well, looking more than a little curious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wonder─if I explain that I have a special power that allows me to see their stats, will they believe me?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was no telling how that revelation might go over, so in the end, I settled on a simple, one-word answer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was sitting down with my family for a meal the day after my encounter with Millais. My father in this new world, Raven Louvent, sat directly in front of me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Raven was an exceptionally tall man with a rugged face and a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes. To be completely honest, I was rather scared of him. This was, after all, a man who had been born at the bottom rung of society, a mere peasant, and yet he’d managed to climb all the way up to a noble title by virtue of his valorous deeds alone. He was a terror on the battlefield, capable of engaging ten average soldiers on his own and emerging from the brawl unscathed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His stats, incidentally, looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short, he had the exceptional leadership and valor required to rally an army of any size and lead them to victory: a natural-born general, through and through. On the other hand, his grasp of political matters was rather tenuous. That was probably why he’d contented himself with his status as the lord of a small, unimportant territory."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After we finished eating, my father looked over at me and said, “Ars. I’ve been told that you discovered Millais has a talent for archery yesterday.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you did so by ‘instinct,’ was it? It seems those instincts of yours are nothing to scoff at. Polish that skill, Ars. The ability to identify people’s talents is invaluable for a lord.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is that really the sort of advice you should be giving to a three-year-old? I guess I’m not exactly acting my age, though, so I should probably cut him some slack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was still Raven’s only child, and it occurred to me that I might’ve given him the misapprehension that all kids developed as quickly as I had."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll take that advice to heart,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several months came and went, over the course of which I turned four. As I grew, I learned more and more about the circumstances I’d been thrust into, and, well, let me put it bluntly: my future looked grim."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It might have been more accurate to say that the future of the entire Summerforth Empire looked grim, actually. From what I could tell, the odds of some sort of strife breaking out in the nation in the immediate future were incredibly high."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The empire dominated the entire continent of Summerforth. In other words, it had no external enemies to speak of at all. There were other nations out there, of course, but mounting an invasion of Summerforth would have involved sending their armies on an extended voyage beforehand, making the empire a less-than-attractive target."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The strife I was worried about, then, was internal: a civil war. The upper echelons of the Summerforth Empire’s power structure were so flagrantly corrupt that it was almost laughable. As a result, several peasant uprisings had already broken out all over the nation. My father had been sent to suppress one just recently, in fact."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With each revolt that was put down, though, another sprung up, and the emperor’s hold over the nation was growing weaker and weaker with each passing day. Local lords, in consequence, were growing more autonomous and less inclined to bow to the empire’s word."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Small skirmishes between feuding local lords had already begun to crop up on occasion, and the ruling authorities just didn’t have the power or influence left to do anything about them. In short, the country was a mess, and battles were breaking out all over the place at the drop of a hat. Troubled times indeed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the rate things were going, I could easily picture the empire collapsing entirely. Free from the threat of intervention, the lords of each region might escalate their minor skirmishes into all-out wars. Speaking as the first son of a noble family, I was incredibly distressed to realize what sort of era I’d been born into. The odds of me getting sent out into battle over and over were horrifyingly high, and if I’d inherited my father’s title by that point, I’d be commanding our army as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Part of me desperately wished that I’d been born into a peaceful era, fated to live out a mundane life pushing papers, but I was in no position to fantasize about what could have been. The last time I was born, I wound up in modern Japan, a nation that was about as peaceful as possible. I didn’t know the first thing about battle! I wasn’t even convinced I’d be able to function on a basic level on a battlefield!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just how long will I be able to survive in such a turbulent era?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My mind was full of worries, but one thought took precedence above all else."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I don’t want to die."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My last life had ended abruptly at the early age of thirty-five. I had a laundry list of goals I’d left unaccomplished and experiences I’d failed to have. I did not want to let my second shot at life end as early as my first did! I wanted to fade away into the grasp of senility, surrounded by a small army of grandchildren!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What could I do to stay alive, though? I thought as hard as I could, desperate to find something I could do, when suddenly, my father’s words echoed through my mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The ability to identify people’s talents is invaluable for a lord.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s it! People!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I just had to gather up all the most talented and exceptional individuals I could find, make them into my retainers, and let them bolster Lamberg’s power and influence! That would lower my chances of meeting a sudden and violent end for sure! After all, in the sort of turbulent times the empire was rushing toward, the most important resources you could have were power and influence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That settled it. I’d put my Appraisal ability to work, gathering up all of the most talented subordinates I could get my hands on! I got right to it, too: the moment I set that goal, I left our estate and wandered out into town, looking for my first recruit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The territory the Louvent family ruled over, Lamberg, was home to a town of the same name. About eighty percent of the region’s population lived in the town of Lamberg, and my family’s estate happened to be located nearby. Even on foot, it only took about five minutes to reach the town."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I set off on my own. Lamberg was a relatively peaceful region, so wandering around without anyone there to supervise me wasn’t especially dangerous. My parents told me not to go out on my own, of course, but taking a guard into town would’ve made me stick out like a sore thumb. My whole goal was to keep quiet and observe the townsfolk, so the last thing I wanted was to draw attention. I even made sure to pull my hood up, just to minimize the chance anyone would recognize me as the local lord’s son."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took me about eight minutes to make it to town. I was just four years old, so you couldn’t blame me for walking a bit slower than an adult."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The town of Lamberg was about as ordinary as provincial villages got. Its populace was primarily made up of farmers, ranchers, hunters, and the like, and its atmosphere was calm and peaceful across the board. There was plenty of food to go around, too, which might have had something to do with why the villagers seemed quite healthy on the whole."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With a population of somewhere near eight hundred people, it was on the large side for a village. I knew that appraising everyone who lived there would be an infeasible task, so I decided to start by checking out anyone who seemed to be on the younger side of things. Conveniently enough, a young man was busy toiling away nearby, so I appraised him on the spot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hmm… Not exactly great numbers, huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At a second glance, I realized that I’d actually seen that young man at our estate’s training grounds. That made me realize something: since the village’s young men were all liable to be conscripted if things took a turn for the worse, most of them probably came over for training every once in a while. In other words, the odds were good that I’d already appraised the majority of the village’s young men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess I should move on to the women, then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By this world’s standards, women were judged as being unfit for the battlefield, and it was close to impossible for them to climb the social ladder. Things were more or less the same here as they were in medieval Japan, in that sense. I’d yet to find a woman with a high Valor score, but women seemed just as likely to have high Leadership, Intelligence, or Politics scores as the men, so I wasn’t about to rule out recruiting a woman to be one of my retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I set off once more to appraise all the women I could find, but unfortunately, pretty much everyone was on the low end of average. I even appraised a few kids, but none of them had any eye-catching, exceptional stats, either. It appeared my quest was going to be harder than I’d initially thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The ability to appraise people was great in practice, but being able to pick out exceptional talent wasn’t actually useful at all if I couldn’t find anyone with talent. I’d appraised so many people that I was starting to feel a case of eyestrain coming on, too─using my Appraisal skill was apparently sort of hard on my vision. I was just about to throw in the towel for the day when suddenly, an angry shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Get the hell outta my store! I don’t have nothin’ to sell to the likes of you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced in the direction of the commotion just in time to see a boy get thrown out of a nearby shop, landing on his hands and knees in the street. His dark complexion and distinctive facial features set him immediately apart from the Lamberg locals. I and the people I’d grown up around were fairly close to Caucasian, appearance-wise, whereas the boy looked more like a heavily-tanned Japanese person."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That kid’s a Malkan, isn’t he?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh, disgusting! What’s one of those doing in our town?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Probably just drifted along until he wound up here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The nearby villagers broke out into hushed conversation, which finally reminded me that I’d heard of the boy’s ethnicity before. The Malkans were a race of people who lived in an overseas nation, far away from the continent of Summerforth. The boy before me was the spitting image of how I’d heard them described."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Malkans were extraordinarily rare in the Summerforth Empire, but it wasn’t like there were none around. Most of them were the descendants of slaves who’d been brought to the empire against their will generations ago, and the people of Summerforth bore a deep-seated prejudice against Malkans on the whole. Seeing such open and undisguised discrimination turned my stomach, honestly, but I knew that if I tried to step in and help him, I’d be putting my own reputation at risk. I did decide to appraise him, though, just for good measure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I couldn’t believe my eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It’s… It’s…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s Nobunaga himself!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This mystery boy’s stats were so overwhelmingly high, so flawless, and he was the spitting image of a warlord so legendary there wasn’t a single person in Japan who didn’t know his name: Oda Nobunaga! Obviously, I just meant his stats were the spitting image of Nobunaga’s in that one historical strategy game I used to play, but still. He was young, and had yet to reach his full potential, but what bone-chilling potential he had!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To think the random boy I saw getting tossed into the street like a stray cat would turn out to be Nobunaga’s doppelgänger! Life really does throw you curveballs! Looks like his name’s Rietz Muses. Well, I can’t let him keep languishing away on the streets! I’m making him my retainer one way or another!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering his race, recruiting him was a surefire way to draw no small amount of scrutiny toward myself, but weighed against the merits of having him on my side, I honestly couldn’t have cared less about all that stuff. I sprung into action right away, trotting right over to him!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re having a hard time, aren’t you?” I called out to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz shot a sharp glare in my direction, but his expression softened as soon as he realized that I was a child."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You shouldn’t talk to people like me,” he replied, picking himself up off the ground. “The adults will get mad with you. This isn’t your problem, so hurry up and get out of here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Apparently, he was actually concerned that I’d get myself in trouble. Now that I’d had a closer look at his face, I was struck by just how handsome he was. If this were Japan, I figured he’d probably have gotten scouted as an idol or something. His black hair was cut short, and he was quite tall─probably somewhere above 5’6” or so. Considering the fact that he was only fourteen, surely he’d push past six feet by the time he was fully grown."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, his looks weren’t exactly a priority, as far as I was concerned. With stats like those, I’d want to make him my retainer no matter what he looked like!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I knew the risks before I approached you. I’d like you to become my retainer,” I replied, cutting straight to the chase."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Uh, umm, you mean you want to play make-believe?” asked Rietz with a somewhat strained smile. “L-Look, I’d love to play with you, honestly, but this really isn’t a good time for me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed he’d taken my request as the nonsensical ramblings of a child who didn’t know better. Which, to be fair, was a reasonable conclusion. I hadn’t even told him I was the local lord’s son yet, after all!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, that’s not what I meant,” I quickly clarified. “My name is Ars Louvent, and I am the son of the lord who presides over this village. I believe that you are an individual of incomparable talent, so I would like you to become my retainer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s forced smile vanished in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The lord’s son? You?” he asked, shooting me a skeptical look."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Again, I couldn’t blame him. I hadn’t wanted to let my identity be exposed, so I’d disguised myself in a set of threadbare rags. The locals might’ve recognized me if they took a good look at my face, but Rietz was almost certainly not from Lamberg, so there was no way he would have known who I was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyway,” I said, cutting off his objections, “if you need help, I’m offering it. Come with me!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not so sure about this,” replied Rietz. Most likely, he was hesitating over putting his faith in a literal child. Before he could turn down my offer, though, he was interrupted by a loud growl from his stomach."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you hungry?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, yeah. So?” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have plenty of food at my family’s estate. Come with me, and you can eat your fill.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well…” Rietz mumbled hesitantly. The prospect of a meal was hard for him to pass up. Finally, he made his decision and replied, his face slightly flushed, “Umm, well…all right. Lead the way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As we walked back to my family’s estate, Rietz took the opportunity to introduce himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come to think of it, I never told you my name, did I? I’m Rietz Muses. You said you’re called Ars Louvent, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right!” I replied. This seemed like as good of an opportunity as any to ask him about himself, so I decided to dig a bit deeper. “How did you end up in Lamberg, Rietz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a long story. I was traveling with a band of mercenaries until just recently, but most of our group was wiped out in a war we were hired to fight in. Everyone capable of leading us was killed, so the survivors ended up going our separate ways. I don’t have anywhere to go home to, so I ended up more or less wandering at random until I happened to find my way here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could only imagine how hard going through all that had been on him. Considering his capabilities, though, surely he would’ve been able to make a living easily enough in a different band of mercenaries, or maybe as a bodyguard? I went ahead and asked, but Rietz was less than optimistic about his prospects."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No way,” he replied. “Nobody would hire a no-name Malkan kid like me. My kind aren’t trusted around these parts. I was only allowed in my last band because my parents were part of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It made sense when he put it that way. Nobody would hire a bodyguard they felt they couldn’t trust, and most mercenary leaders probably wouldn’t be excited about the idea, either. Of course, most people also wouldn’t reach out to a random boy on the street and ask him to be their retainer, so weird things happened sometimes! Though, to be fair, if I hadn’t been able to appraise him and didn’t know that he had Nobunaga-level capabilities, I probably wouldn’t have been that reckless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A short period of walking and talking later, we arrived at my family’s estate. Rietz’s jaw dropped as my home came into view."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You live here?” he asked, gaping all the while."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do! I told you I was the lord of Lamberg’s son, didn’t I?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s actually true…? Uh, I mean, please excuse my behavior! I wouldn’t have spoken so flippantly if I’d realized!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Think nothing of it!” I proudly replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Wait, hold up…” said Rietz. “If you really are the son of a lord, then does that mean all that talk about making me your retainer wasn’t a joke, either…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course! I was entirely serious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What?!” Rietz shouted in astonishment. It was such a shocking revelation that he obviously had no clue how to react."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to take him inside, find him something to eat, and then go petition my father to make him into one of our family’s retainers. Before I could follow through on my plan, however, a man burst out of the house and rushed over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master Ars!” the man shouted. “Were you gallivanting around outside again?! For the love of mercy, please put an end to this behavior! You realize it will be my head on a plate if anything happens to you, don’t you?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man’s name was Krantz, and he was the Louvent family’s steward. A man of almost fifty years of age, Krantz had served my family for decades and had been entrusted with the task of serving as my caretaker."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be happy to listen to your lecture in a moment, Krantz,” I replied. “But first, would you mind preparing a meal?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A meal? Have you not eaten yet?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, not for me,” I clarified, gesturing toward Rietz. “I meant for him, actually.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm?” said Krantz, glancing behind me. “H-Him?! Why, he’s a Malkan! What are you thinking?! How could you bring a filthy wretch like him into your lord father’s estate?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Krantz’s face flushed red as he reprimanded me. I wasn’t at all happy about Rietz being treated with such open contempt, but I knew that protesting it then and there wouldn’t get me anywhere. Hatred for the Malkan people was deeply rooted in Summerforth’s culture─or, at the very least, everyone I’d met thought Malkans to be an inherently inferior race. It was considered common sense, so it wouldn’t be easy to change people’s minds. It would take a lot more than a debate with a child, that was for sure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I appreciate your concerns,” I replied, “but for the moment, please bring him a meal on the double. He’s teetering on the brink of starvation!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t know if Rietz was actually anywhere close to starving to death, of course, but I thought that appealing to the urgency of the situation would be my best shot at getting through to Krantz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” Krantz replied, after a moment of hesitation. “Malkan or not, it would pain my conscience to see a child starve to death. He’ll be driven out the moment he’s finished eating, though!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Krantz stormed back into the house to prepare a meal, and I was left to wonder about just how astonishingly prejudiced the man had turned out to be. Would I even be allowed to make Rietz my retainer if that was how an otherwise reasonable person reacted to him?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No, whether or not I’m allowed to isn’t the question. I will make him my retainer, no matter what! Rietz has the sort of talent I can’t possibly afford to pass up! I only just met him, and I can already tell how indispensable he’ll be for my future! I will not let him slip away from me over something like this!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, Krantz returned with bread and water for Rietz, who thanked him and dug in without hesitation. The bread was obviously old, stale, and flavorless, but watching Rietz devour it, you’d have thought it was the most delicious thing in the world."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then, send him away!” demanded Krantz, turning to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid that’s not an option,” I replied, standing my ground. “You see, I brought him here to make him my retainer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-What?! Have you gone mad?! How could you─what?!” Krantz babbled in incoherent shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I intend to discuss the matter with my father!” I declared. Ignoring Krantz, I grabbed Rietz by the hand and pulled him toward my father’s room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Father!” I cried as I burst into his room. “Please make this boy into one of our retainers!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father, as best as I could tell, had been writing a letter. My sudden entrance didn’t break his concentration in the slightest, though. He didn’t even look up until he’d finished writing, at which point he finally turned his attention to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By ‘this boy,’ I presume you’re referring to the Malkan child?” asked my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded, prompting him to shake his head and reply, “I will do no such thing. Making a Malkan into one of our retainers would be an act of unprecedented foolishness. Send him away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He concluded with a sigh and a scowl that told me he was unamused by me disrupting his work with this nonsense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess it’s not going to be that easy after all. I can’t afford to back down, though!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Father, this boy─Rietz Muses─is exceptionally talented! Failing to take him into our service would be an immense loss for our family!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Listen to me, Ars,” replied my father. “Malkans are overwhelmingly inferior to us Summerforthians in every aspect. There is no such thing as a talented Malkan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was the widespread belief regarding Malkans throughout the whole Summerforth Empire: that Malkans were clearly and fundamentally inferior as a race. Now, I’d only met one Malkan so far, that being Rietz himself, but he alone was enough to make me doubt the narrative that society at large was feeding me. If a Malkan could be as exceptional as Rietz was, then how could there possibly be that much of an inherent difference between them and Summerforthians?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I cannot speak for Malkans on the whole,” I replied. “However, I can say that Rietz has undoubtedly been blessed with incomparable talent and wisdom. I appreciate that you have your doubts, so why not put him to the test? That way you can see for yourself how exceptional he is.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father paused for a moment to consider my proposal. Eventually, he spoke up once more and said, “What makes you so certain that this boy is talented?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can just tell.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I recall you picked out Millais’s talent with the bow in much the same way, yes?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right! I feel the same sort of hunch about Rietz as I did back then. My instincts are telling me that he has talent beyond anything I’ve ever seen before.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father looked me straight in the eye. His gaze was sharp and intimidating, but I didn’t let it sway me, and stood my ground. A moment later, he turned to Rietz, who also met his gaze unflinchingly. Perhaps the trials his life had put him through had prepared him for this sort of probing scrutiny."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well,” declared my father. “If you’re so certain, then I shall put him to the test, as you suggested. If I’m convinced that he is indeed talented, I will employ him as a soldier.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All right! I actually got his permission!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Being hired as a rank-and-file foot soldier wouldn’t exactly put Rietz at the top of the social ladder, but whatever my father claimed about Malkan inferiority, I knew for a fact that he was a man who valued ability above all else at heart. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Rietz would prove himself in battle and rise to a higher standing in the long run. Plus, even if the opportunity didn’t present itself, I could just give him a boost as soon as I inherited my father’s title."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The test will be a simple one,” my father continued. “The boy and I will spar. If he defeats me, he passes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that confidence I’d just built up came crashing down. My father had a score of 94 in Valor, while Rietz was sitting at 70 points in total. He had a maximum score of 90, so with proper training, he might have had a chance. However, as things stood, his odds of success were slim."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm, Father?” I nervously spoke up. “You should know that Rietz is still young─he’s only fourteen. I’m afraid that winning a duel against a man of your age and skill may be next to impossible for him.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You said he’s talented, didn’t you?” replied my father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, yes, but…you’re also gifted with an incredible, innate talent for combat, Father. I believe that Rietz will be well-matched against you once he’s had time to grow and mature, but without that opportunity, he would hardly stand a chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I won’t fight seriously,” my father conceded. “I’ll give the boy an advantage.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What sort of advantage he’d give and to what extent he’d be giving it weren’t exactly clear to me, but I still felt reassured. As long as Rietz had a leg up somehow, he had a shot. I had a feeling my father had already given all the ground he was willing to offer, anyway, so taking him up on these terms seemed like my best bet. Thus, I nodded in agreement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll have our bout in the training grounds. Follow me,” said my father, standing up and walking out of the room. Rietz and I hurried along after him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we walked, Rietz leaned over and whispered, “Umm, Ars…err, that is, Master Ars, why would you go so far to make someone like me your retainer? Are you doing this out of sympathy?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I explained my reasons to my father just a moment ago,” I replied. “Weren’t you listening?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean all that talk about me having talent? But…there’s no way I actually─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re good at fighting, aren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes. I’ve been told I have a deft hand in battle more than once, but that’s all! I don’t have any other talents to speak of.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s where you’re wrong. Not only are you a skilled warrior, but you can command troops, you have an astonishing intellect, and the instincts of a seasoned politician dwell within you! You have it all!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m telling you, I definitely don’t!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You just haven’t had the opportunity to put those skills to use, that’s all! Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of chances to show off while you’re serving House Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Will I…?” asked Rietz, his skepticism written all over his face. I could tell he wasn’t satisfied with my explanation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come to think of it, I never actually asked him if he wanted to be my retainer, did I? I was so excited to have him around, I brought him all the way here without even thinking to check! This certainly won’t do!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you opposed to working for House Louvent?” I asked, looking over at Rietz once more. “If so, I can tell my father to call the whole test off.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no, I’m honored by the offer,” said Rietz. “If anything, it seems too good to be true! But, well…that raises questions, you know? Malkans like me aren’t welcome anywhere on this continent, so we have to be cautious about these things.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not trying to trick you, I promise! And I’m afraid it’s not set in stone whether we’ll even be able to follow through with this. I should warn you that my father’s test is likely to be a harsh one. I have faith that you’ll pass, though!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hearing all of that from me seemed to help Rietz gather his resolve. I, meanwhile, was just relieved that he wasn’t going to turn down the job. Shortly thereafter, the three of us arrived at the training grounds."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several soldiers were running through drills when we arrived. The moment they noticed us, their expressions stiffened up in unison. My father coming down to the training grounds wasn’t unheard of, so they weren’t surprised by his appearance─no, they were worried. My father was an exceptionally harsh instructor, and things always got a bit tense when he decided to stop by."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not here to train you today,” said my father. Instantly, all that ambient tension faded away. “I’m here to test this boy, that’s all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers had been so focused on my father that they hadn’t even noticed Rietz, but at that point, their gazes finally turned to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re testing a Malkan kid?” one of the soldiers asked incredulously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am,” replied my father. “According to Ars, he’s exceptionally talented. Assuming that’s true, I don’t see any reason not to take him in as a foot soldier.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A hushed clamor rose among the soldiers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A Malkan, talented?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hah, as if!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The young master gets some wild ideas in his head sometimes, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "None of them believed in Rietz’s talent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eh, that’s fine. He’ll just have to prove it to them!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have wooden swords over there. Take one,” said my father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” replied Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them took up their training blades and faced each other."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I told you I would give you an advantage, and here it is: our match will continue for three minutes. If you manage to land even a single blow on me, we’ll consider it your victory. You can receive as many hits as you like until time runs out, or until you surrender. Gratz! Bring me an hourglass!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right away!” said Gratz, one of my father’s men. He sprinted over to the nearby storehouse and quickly returned with a three-minute hourglass."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An unskilled swordsman would have been hard-pressed to land a single strike on my father. As a matter of fact, none of the soldiers gathered around us had ever managed the feat in single combat. Considering Rietz’s Valor and his A-rank aptitude in Infantry, though, I had a feeling he’d be able to pull it off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it…” said my father. “You have yet to declare your name to me. If I’m going to fight a man, I want to hear his name from his own mouth first.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Rietz Muses,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I am Raven Louvent, head of House Louvent. Now then─show me what you’re capable of!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A moment later, Gratz turned the hourglass and the match began. My father took the initiative, bringing his sword down with crushing force in a swing that betrayed a level of agility you wouldn’t have expected from a man of his musculature. A blow like that to the head could easily knock a man unconscious, or even kill him in the worst case."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Faced with that level of technique, an amateur would likely panic and fall over backward, but Rietz had clearly seen his fair share of battle. He kept his cool, stepping away and avoiding my father’s swing entirely before immediately springing forward again and going on the offensive."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0013.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father, however, was not so easily caught off guard. In spite of the force of the attack he’d unleashed a split-second before, he regained his balance and evaded Rietz’s attack with ease. Rietz’s eyes widened in shock─it was probably sinking in that my father was a top-tier swordsman, not just a simple musclehead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, my father went on the attack. Rietz was shaken, but he didn’t let his surprise get the better of him, and intercepted my father’s blade with his own. A spectacularly fast exchange of blows began."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The nearby soldiers had been making a mockery of the match at first, but as they watched the duel unfold, they quickly fell silent. Not one of them had ever managed to hold their own against my father in single combat. My father went well out of his way to not kill or even seriously injure his opponents when he sparred, and they knew it, but even when he was holding back, they almost always ended up disarmed and defeated in a matter of seconds."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not only could the soldiers not land a hit on my father, but they were also hardly even capable of having a proper match with him! These were actual soldiers who’d undergone no small amount of training, but against my father, they might as well have been children. But now there he was, fighting at what was certainly closer to his full strength than they’d ever seen against an actual, literal child who never retreated so much as a step. Nobody who knew how strong my father was could possibly have heckled a match like that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As well as he was fighting, though, Rietz was gradually beginning to lose ground. At the beginning of the match, he’d attacked about as much as he defended, but as time went by he gradually shifted more and more to the defensive. About half of the hourglass’s sand had fallen, but neither fighter had landed a clean blow. That was no surprise in Rietz’s case, but the fact that my father hadn’t gotten in a single strike was something else entirely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I watched, it struck me that in a real fight, your opponent landing a hit could very well mean instant death depending on where they hit you. Both Rietz and my father were likely experienced with live combat, and given they’d lived to see another day, it stood to reason that neither of them had taken very many hits, if any at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That led me to wonder if the so-called “advantage” my father had given Rietz would really make much of any difference. I was starting to worry."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is Rietz going to lose? I can’t rule out the possibility!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After going as far as I had to strike the deal, backpedaling and renegotiating if Rietz lost probably wasn’t going to fly. My father would surely acknowledge Rietz’s talent after a fight like this, but he was the sort of person who never went back on the letter of his word, its spirit be damned. Any chance of him taking Rietz in would be sunk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I kept my eyes glued to the match, praying that Rietz would somehow manage to land a strike, even if only by pure chance. The sand in the hourglass was depleting rapidly, and it wouldn’t be long before the match concluded. Not even my father could fight at full strength forever, though, and it seemed fatigue was setting in─his movements were beginning to slow ever so slightly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was almost like Rietz had been waiting for that opportunity. He mustered up his strength and swung his blade with all his might. It was an attack born of resolve, of the fact that he knew it might be his last chance. He aimed for my father’s leg, and my father must not have seen a targeted blow coming. He couldn’t defend in time, so Rietz’s sword struck his shin true."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers stood stock-still, paralyzed in dumbfounded astonishment. They couldn’t understand what they’d just witnessed. My father was still on his feet, and showed no sign that the blow to the shin had hurt him. It was an old truism that the shin was so hard to toughen up that even the legendary warrior-monk Benkei couldn’t help but cry when he was hit there, but apparently, my father wasn’t so easy to bring to tears."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, Rietz had undeniably succeeded at landing a blow. Not only had he won per the rules of the match, but he’d also won the duel by any reasonable standard of judgment. I imagined that if they fought a few more rounds, my father would probably have come out ahead in total victories, but this time, Rietz had won the day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The bout is yours,” admitted my father, though not without a moment of frustrated silence beforehand. “As promised, I’ll take you into my employ as a soldier.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I breathed a sigh of relief. Rietz had done it─his position as a soldier of House Louvent was secured. The soldiers around us, meanwhile, were stunned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“G-Gods above, that kid’s incredible!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you see that? He won!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A Malkan, of all the people…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not one of them could object to taking Rietz in after the display they’d just witnessed. None of them would’ve had the guts to stand against my father’s decision in the first place, of course, but having someone as strong as Rietz on their side could be nothing but beneficial for them; I didn’t imagine they would’ve complained regardless. Adding even a single capable soldier to your side reduced the odds of your horrific death on the battlefield, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father returned his wooden sword to the rack, then approached me and stated, “It’s just as you said. Rietz has an undeniable talent for battle. He’ll be a swordsman to be feared someday, I’m sure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One fight was all it took for my father to appreciate the depths of Rietz’s abilities. In truth, of course, fighting was only one of Rietz’s many talents─he was actually even more stunningly capable when it came to his skills as a commander, tactician, and politician."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You perceived Millais’s talent with a bow before, Ars, and this time you saw something in Rietz that no one else could. I’m starting to suspect that you have something, yourself─a power that makes you truly special,” my father continued. Had he realized that I was capable of Appraisal? “I’ve told you this before, but the ability to identify people’s strong points is a truly indispensable skill for a lord to possess. Identifying them is merely the first step, though, and if you stop there, you won’t last long in this line of work. You have to know how to use those talents, not just how to pick them out.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, my father was throwing the sort of concepts at me that most reasonable people would never even consider discussing with a four-year-old. That said, his words really did give me some food for thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Knowing how to use your people’s talents… He’s absolutely right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However many talented individuals I gathered up, if I couldn’t help them make full use of those talents, they’d be nothing but pearls before swine─the swine, in this instance, being none other than me. And wasting their talents wasn’t even the worst-case scenario. If someone as exceptional as Rietz decided I wasn’t worth their service, I could very well find myself shipped off to the slaughterhouse before I knew it. This was a lesson that I would have to take to heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That said,” my father added. “If your power to perceive the strengths of those beneath you is genuine, and if you do learn to make full use of those strengths, there’s no telling how high you could rise in society. We live in an era of strife and chaos, but even in these turbulent times, you could climb to the pinnacle of the aristocracy…or even claim the emperor’s throne.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The emperor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, my father believed that I could quell the discord that was sweeping through Summerforth, and become a leader fit to define an epoch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t picture myself becoming someone that important, and I wasn’t interested in doing so, either. Could you imagine just how much of a pain in the ass being an emperor would be? I’d be perfectly content gaining just as much influence as it took to keep me alive, and no more, thank you very much!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha ha ha! I’m joking, Ars,” my father suddenly bellowed. “A noble from a backwater like this, becoming the emperor? Hah! I wouldn’t expect that much from you. So long as you stay alive and carry on the Louvent family’s name, I’ll have no complaints.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father, cracking a joke?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a relief to know he wasn’t serious, in any case. For a moment, my father kept cackling and patting me on the head, then finally left to return to his room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After he departed, the soldiers descended upon Rietz, swarming around him and asking him to spar with them as well. It seemed they were eager to get a taste of his capabilities firsthand. Unfortunately for them, the intensity of his match with my father had left him so exhausted that his hands were shaking too hard to even hold his sword properly. His next bout would have to wait until another day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, Rietz officially became one of my family’s retainers! That was an achievement, to be sure, but there was one problem left to solve: his housing situation. The rest of my family’s soldiers were all Lamberg folk with homes in the village, so they all lived in town. Our only two options were to find an unoccupied house and have Rietz stay in town, or find a place for him to live on our estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I asked my father what we should do, and he told me that Rietz could live in a currently unoccupied room in the servants’ quarters. I was all for that plan─he’d almost certainly face all sorts of persecution if he had to live in the village, and sparing him that treatment was for the best. In exchange for his lodgings, he would work around the house in addition to fighting as one of our soldiers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m still not so sure about this,” said Rietz after everything was settled. “Do you really want someone like me working for you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This again?” I replied. “I swear, I must have told you that I want you here thirty times by now!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was giving Rietz a tour around our estate. One of our servants was initially tasked with the job, but it seemed like the perfect opportunity to chat with Rietz and get to know him better, so I volunteered to take over those duties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have, but I just can’t believe it! Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined serving a noble family!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We may be nobles, but our territory is tiny, and our influence even smaller,” I countered. “Plus, you’ve technically only been hired on as a soldier! It’s not exactly a dream position.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You don’t understand. I’d just about given up on finding someone willing to give me the time of day, much less hire me! Any position is a dream come true for a person like me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A wistful look appeared on Rietz’s face. He was probably thinking back on all the misery he’d suffered through. A moment later, he knelt down on one knee and bowed his head to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If it weren’t for you, Master Ars, I’m certain I would’ve died in a ditch somewhere out in the wilderness. I cannot possibly thank you enough for giving me this chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t have to thank me,” I replied. “I made you my retainer because I expect great things from you! I’m confident that you’ll be an incredible asset.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will be! I swear that I’ll work myself to the bone to repay you for the kindness you’ve shown me today!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz pledged his service to me, and I chose to take his oath at face value. I knew that he was a man I could trust to never betray me─a man who would pull me back from the brink of defeat time and time again. In that moment, it felt as if our future together had been set in stone."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0015.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Interlude: Rietz’s Postscript"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "About a week has passed since I, Rietz Muses, entered the service of House Louvent through what I can only describe as a series of miracles."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Malkans like me are scorned and despised no matter where we go. I don’t even want to think back on everything I’ve gone through as a result of society’s contempt for people like me. That didn’t entirely change after I began my life in the Louvent estate, to be fair, but the fact that I’m consistently well-fed and clothed makes my new lifestyle feel downright heavenly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’m only able to live in such comparative comfort thanks to Ars and his decision to make me one of his retainers. I swore to pay him back with a lifetime of service, and each morning, I quietly reaffirm that oath to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz?” says Ars one morning. “I’ll be going into town today to scout for talent, and I’d like you to accompany me as my guard!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ars, the boy I consider my benefactor, is a mere four years old. He looks the part, as well, with childish features and big, round eyes that are, frankly, downright adorable. The elevated manner in which he speaks betrays an unusual level of thought and sophistication for a boy of his age, though, and he conducts himself with an astonishingly stately bearing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It’s like a grown adult is lurking within his childlike shell, so I can hardly believe he’s really a child at all. I have to wonder just how in the world he’d been raised to turn out this way, and whether the process can be replicated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I reply. “I would be happy to accompany you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The thought of turning down his request doesn’t even cross my mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us set out for the village, which is just a short walk away. The locals look upon me in a less-than-kind manner, as always, but with Ars by my side, nobody dares to openly harass me. I’m used to being glared at, so I don’t pay them any mind in particular as we stroll through town. Eventually, Ars chooses a place by the side of the road to stop, and carefully watches the people as they pass by."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm, Master Ars? I understand that we’re here to look for talented individuals…but do you intend to do so by simply, well, looking?” I ask. I had assumed we would be seeking out people with an interest in serving the nobility, then giving them some sort of test. Literally just watching people come and go strikes me as a strange way to go about this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can tell what a person’s talents are just by looking at them,” Ars replies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can…huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just by looking at them? Is that even possible? I suppose he did discern my talent with a sword at a glance, so maybe it is?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not only had Ars never seen me wield a blade at the time he declared I had a talent for them, he hadn’t even seen me hold one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If he’s telling the truth, though, and possesses a truly astonishing ability, then I can only imagine how incredible his achievements will be in the long term. We live in a world where the vast majority of people’s futures are decided for them the moment they’re born, so there could be vast numbers of talented individuals stuck in jobs that don’t suit them, just waiting to be discovered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that man has a seventy in Intelligence!” Ars exclaims as a young man walks past us. “I thought I’d already checked all the men─I must have missed him somehow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What in the world does that mean?” I ask, perplexed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To put it simply, it means that there’s a high likelihood that he’s smart. I’m going to talk to him!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time there isn’t a doubt in my mind: judging how smart somebody is at a glance is, quite frankly, impossible. Ars, however, really does run over to speak with the man, and as I listen to their discussion, I realize that he really is quite sharp. Certainly more intelligent than your average passerby, as far as I can judge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars invites him to become one of House Louvent’s retainers, but the man shoots the offer down without a second thought. Apparently, he isn’t interested in serving anyone other than himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s just how it goes sometimes,” says Ars with a shrug. “On to the next candidate!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He doesn’t seem especially perturbed by the man’s refusal, and immediately moves on with his search."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ars calls out to several people over the course of the day, and each time, they prove that his judgment is on the mark. Eventually, I realize I may well have entered the service of a truly incredible person."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0016.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several months had passed since Rietz became one of House Louvent’s retainers. Over that short period, he’d already proven himself in battle, and the people around him were finally beginning to realize that his intellect was just as exceptional as his skill with a blade."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father had fought by Rietz’s side several times, at that point, and was among those who had realized how clever he really was. He ended up tasking Rietz to read a book as a test, and Rietz responded by breezing through it at record speed and summarizing its contents in perfect detail. Even my father was astonished by that spectacle!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was quickly decided that Rietz would be given as high a level of an education as possible, and his standing in the household grew to the point that even though he was still a mere soldier in theory, nobody would have thought to call him one in practice. A formal education had done wonders for his Intelligence, as well, which was sitting at a current score of 89. It wouldn’t be long before he broke into the 90s, at the rate things were going. Finally, my father gave Rietz a new position in the household, which meant he would no longer be going out into battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, Master Ars, it’s time for us to begin your studies for the day!” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Right, he had been appointed to oversee my education!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that moment in time, Rietz was the most knowledgeable member of the Louvent household. Considering he’d only started focusing on his education a matter of months beforehand, the leaps and bounds he’d taken were truly mind-bending. Meanwhile, as the house’s eldest son, my education was considered a priority, so Rietz was entrusted with the job in the hopes that he would train me to be skilled with both the pen and the sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I, by the way, had spent the past several months so absorbed in my search for talent that I’d unfortunately let my quest to learn everything there was to know about my new world fall to the wayside. Having Rietz around to teach me the ways of the world couldn’t have suited my purposes better."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz stood before me, a book in hand. “Today, we’ll be discussing the current state of the Summerforth Empire,” he explained, opening the book up and setting it down on the table in front of me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A map of the empire, and by extension the entire continent of Summerforth, was drawn on his chosen page. It wasn’t much of a map, though─in fact, it seemed downright slipshod. Apparently, this world had yet to master the art of cartography."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s see,” began Rietz. “I believe we’ve already discussed how the continent used to be home to seven kingdoms, and how their unification signified the birth of the empire?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right!” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I already knew the seven countries that formerly occupied the continent. The Kingdom of Rofeille had been in the continent’s northeast regions, to start. The northwest was home to the Kingdom of Canshiep, while the Kingdom of Ansel was in the eastern-central region, and the Kingdom of Scheutz took up the central-west. Between Ansel and Scheutz, at the very heart of the continent, sat the Kingdom of Paradille. Finally, the Kingdoms of Seitz and Missian were down south, with Seitz in the southwest and Missian in the southeast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The nearest continent to Summerforth was across a channel, and the Kingdom of Ansel, which was located closest to that channel, had gained an edge over the other kingdoms by way of foreign trade. Ansel gradually amassed more and more power, and ultimately mounted an all-out invasion of its surrounding nations. The ensuing war of conquest proved successful, and the king of Ansel, Anathis Bydoras, proclaimed himself an emperor. Thus, the Summerforth Empire was born."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The old kingdoms’ names weren’t just a historical curiosity, incidentally. They were still used to refer to regions in the modern era. The Kingdom of Rofeille, for instance, corresponded to a modern-day duchy of the same name. The Kingdom of Canshiep became the Duchy of Canshiep, and so on and so forth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Each duchy was ruled by a governor formally known as a duke. The dukes tended to be either descendants of the imperial line, or the descendants of monarchs who chose to surrender and swear fealty to the Kingdom of Ansel in the early stages of the war."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The territory we lived in, Lamberg, was located in the Duchy of Missian. Missian was characterized by its seasonal climate and expansive flatland, which made the territory ripe for agriculture. Its population was quite large as well, so it struck me as a pleasant region all around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This year marks the two hundred and thirtieth anniversary of the Summerforth Empire’s founding,” explained Rietz. “Of course, the empire currently stands on its last legs. The dukes hardly lend an ear to the emperor’s orders, and the duchies grow more and more independent with each passing day. Nevertheless, the power wielded by the imperial line is still far from insubstantial. The Bydoras family holds direct control over a considerable swath of territory, and it’s not entirely unthinkable that the empire could regain its former glory under the command of an especially capable leader.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is the current head of the Bydoras family capable?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The current head of the family, Bydoras XII, is an eight-year-old child. His retainers hold the true power, it would seem. I don’t know the details myself, but it would seem there’s no single individual who holds all the cards. A variety of factions are vying for influence, and frankly, I don’t get the impression it’s going especially well for any of them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They’re focusing on political infighting while the empire falls to ruin around them? Sounds like I shouldn’t expect much from the imperial family."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To be clear,” Rietz continued, “the Bydoras family is hardly exceptional in that sense. In fact, it’s quite likely that we’ll be seeing a conflict of succession here in Missian before long.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The current Duke of Missian, Lord Amador Salemakhia, is quite old. There’s been no word of him falling ill, but the odds are very good he’ll pass away before the decade is done. Furthermore, Lord Amador has two sons. Under ordinary circumstances, the eldest would inherit his title, but the younger of the two is exceptionally talented when compared with his elder brother. Word has it that Lord Amador himself is unsure which son he intends to name as his successor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Needless to say,” Rietz went on, “if he passes away before reaching a decision, war is all but guaranteed. And even if he does name an heir, the odds of conflict breaking out are considerable. Both brothers have expressed a desire to inherit the title, after all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A war of succession…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the sort of conflict that could spiral horribly out of control. Small-scale skirmishes weren’t particularly uncommon, from what I understood, but a real, large-scale war had yet to occur in my lifetime."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If such a war were to break out, and if my family were to throw their weight behind the losing side, then it was possible we’d lose our territory. On the other hand, if we were to ally with the victors and prove our worth in battle, expanding our territory was very much also on the table. Of course, my father would almost certainly still be alive if any of this ever happened, so deciding which side to support would fall on his shoulders. I had to wonder if he was already planning for that eventuality."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who do you think my father would choose to support?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I understand that Lord Raven is inclined to back the elder brother, but regardless, he wouldn’t be in a position to make that decision,” Rietz answered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, that’s right!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It had entirely slipped my mind that my father was not, in fact, a direct vassal of the Duke of Missian. Each duchy of the Summerforth Empire was divided up into counties. Around ten or so counties per duchy was typical, and each county was managed by a local count. Lamberg was a part of the County of Canarre, and my father’s direct superior was the Count of Canarre. I guess if I were to write it out like a modern address, it’d go something along the lines of: Lamberg, County of Canarre, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, the point was that the count would be responsible for choosing which of the brothers Canarre would support, so my father had no say in the matter. I suppose he at least had the count’s ear, though, so his opinion might play a factor in the final decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who do you think should inherit the title, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You want my opinion? Hmm… I’ve never met either of them, so I’m afraid it’s hard for me to judge.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d thought Rietz would have an answer ready for me, considering how high his Intelligence and Politics scores were, but I supposed that was asking too much when he had so little information to work with. I had a feeling that when the time finally came, my Appraisal skill was going to come in handy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I could get a chance to evaluate their skills, and the skills of their closest allies while I was at it, I figured I’d be able to easily determine which brother had the higher odds of coming out on top. Then I’d just have to convince my father to see things my way and have him convince the count in turn. We’d be on the road to certain victory in no time!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For local lords with small domains like House Louvent, I believe this state of affairs presents an opportunity. In a war of this nature, proving yourself in battle could be all it takes to be promoted all the way to count. It may well be in our interests to be as prepared as possible for that development,” concluded Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We spent a while longer immersed in our studies, and finally, the day’s lesson concluded. I, of course, wasted no time in suggesting our next activity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! I think it’s time for us to head out on our usual personnel hunt! We’ll need as many skilled subordinates as we can gather if we want to be prepared for a war of succession, after all!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then. I’ll accompany you,” replied Rietz. He’d been coming along on my headhunting missions more often than not recently, largely to serve as my personal guard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d appraised the vast majority of the local villagers already, so I’d started expanding my search to the nearby towns, as well. A few Lamberg locals were skilled enough to be of some use, and I’d recruited a number of them, but unfortunately, I’d yet to find a single person with the sort of raw talent Rietz had. Venturing out to the nearby towns posed a certain degree of risk, of course, but I knew I had nothing to fear with Rietz there to protect me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shall we?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” agreed Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the two of us stepped out from the estate, a voice rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars! Going into town again today, are you?” called my father from the training grounds. He’d just finished running through his swordsmanship drills, it seemed, and he wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked over to us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right!” I replied. “I’m off to look for more talented new recruits!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said my father with a nod. “As it happens, I have a favor to ask. I want you to find someone proficient with magic, next.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With magic?” I parroted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. Magic will be a critical factor in the battles to come, and a force that can’t use it may as well not even take to the field. I don’t have the knack for it, myself, and I don’t have nearly enough men serving under me who do. If you find anyone with a talent for magic, I want you to bring them to me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was far from knowledgeable in that field. I’d only used it once, on my father’s orders. I’d had to pour a mysterious red liquid into some sort of strange device and chant a short spell, which produced a tiny ball of fire that leaped through the air."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, it seemed that the test was something of a failure. My father told me that I clearly wasn’t suited for magic, and he never let me use it again. That was pretty disappointing, honestly─I’d been downright moved to cast my very first spell, and I really wanted to give it another go someday."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess I just didn’t have a talent for magic, in the end. That said, if it was possible to determine someone’s talent in the field with a single, simple test, I had to wonder why my father even had to bother sending me out to hunt for a magic user at all. Or maybe I had it wrong─maybe it wasn’t easy to find talent, and my results made that fact painfully clear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” I agreed. “I’ll search for someone who excels in magic!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Best of luck,” my father replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, I set off for town with Rietz, eager to make my father proud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We made the journey to town on horseback. I couldn’t actually ride yet, so Rietz had to more or less hold me in his arms as he literally took the reins. Thankfully, his S-ranked Cavalry aptitude wasn’t just for show, and he was an impressive enough horseman to make even my father sing his praises."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On horseback, the trip from Lamberg to the next town took roughly two hours. We were planning on staying there for two days."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know much about magic, Rietz. Is there anything you can teach me?” I asked partway through the trip. We had all that time, so a crash course on the subject seemed like the perfect way to use it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Magic? Let’s see…” replied Rietz. “Are you already familiar with the basics?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes! I’ve used it once, myself. I poured some sort of red stuff into a weird device, chanted a spell, and it just worked.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that sounds about right. The ‘weird device’ was a catalyzer and the red liquid is called aqua magia. Magic is cast by loading a catalyzer with aqua magia and reciting an incantation. The aqua magia is expended in the process.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Catalyzers and aqua magia, huh? I have a feeling I should remember those words."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the past, the incantations required to cast spells were incredibly long, so their output was considered insufficient to be used in battle. As a result, magic was more or less considered a party trick,” Rietz continued. “The invention of catalyzers, however, rewrote the rulebook. They allow for shorter incantations and amplify the effects of spells, making magic a practical and lethal weapon. The proliferation of magical warfare in Summerforth began about a decade ago, and it has spread to a dramatic degree since then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, so magic’s a new thing? It hasn’t been used for ages? That’s sort of a surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So aqua magia’s like magical fuel?” I asked. “Is it easy to get?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Aqua magia is made by liquefying a type of stone called magistone. Magistones aren’t especially rare, but the demand for it has skyrocketed in recent years, so the price has risen accordingly. Supplying a magical combat unit with aqua magia would cost a considerable sum of money.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So it’s expensive, huh…? And House Louvent doesn’t exactly have the highest income…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lamberg was a small territory to begin with, and we didn’t have any local specialties or notable natural resources to boast of. The territory brought in very little money, all things considered. We were scraping by; that was the best I could say for our finances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even if we can’t put an entire unit together, having just one skilled mage in our army could make all the difference,” said Rietz. “I’m sure we’ll be able to find at least one person to fill that role. Let’s make that our priority for this excursion.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sounds like a plan,” I quickly agreed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A long, bumpy horse ride later, we’d arrived at our destination: Canarre, a city that served as both the namesake and central hub of the County of Canarre. It was a properly fortified city, too, surrounded by a spectacular curtain wall."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The wall didn’t contain the entirety of the city, to be clear─plenty of large, well-constructed buildings stood outside the fortifications as well. I took that as a sign of how long this region had been at peace. The people here didn’t see a need to keep their homes all that soundly defended, it seemed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The walls themselves were built in the era before the unification of Summerforth, and were naturally more than a little time-worn as a result. At the very center of the town stood Castle Canarre: the home of House Pyres, the head of which served as Canarre’s count."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I started by strolling around the part of town that was outside the walls. In the present day, the only people who were allowed within the walls were those of the upper class. As the son of a lord, I qualified, of course; I could have gone inside if I’d wanted to, but my goal was to find personnel, and going into the walls didn’t seem necessary for that purpose. There were plenty of people in the city outside, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And there really were plenty of people. The total population of the town was supposedly somewhere in the vicinity of fifty thousand, and the thought of appraising all of them was already making my eyes water. Thankfully, appraising literally everyone wasn’t even on the table─I was planning on centering my search around the poor in particular."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The problem with coming out to a city like this was that even if I did find someone exceptional, the odds were high that they’d refuse to enter into my family’s service. After all, who would want to move from the big city to a provincial hamlet like Lamberg? It wasn’t like we had the funding to offer an enormous salary in exchange or anything, either."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As such, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to hire anyone unless they were in serious need of money. The people who’d been living in Lamberg all their lives were basically the only exception to that rule. And if scouting out affluent individuals was a lost cause, I just had to turn my eye to those in need!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, let’s get searching!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I scanned the crowd from horseback, keeping a keen eye out for anyone who looked relatively destitute. I didn’t hit pay dirt right away, though. I found some people with reasonably remarkable talents, don’t get me wrong, but I was looking for someone with talent as a mage in particular, and I wasn’t planning on chatting up anyone who didn’t fulfill that requirement. I didn’t need them to be as incredible as Rietz or anything, but if their highest stats were in the mid-60s, I didn’t feel the need to go out of my way to scout them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All that squinting and eye strain got the better of me eventually, and I happened to also have worked up an appetite. We decided to take a break and dismounted to find something in the market to fill our stomachs. As we walked into the marketplace, though, I noticed something surprising out of the corner of my eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, is that…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a closer look, and indeed, I hadn’t been seeing things. A cage stood in the market, and within that cage stood a cluster of people with placards hung around their necks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A slave trader,” muttered Rietz as he followed my gaze."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Slavery was a common practice in the not-so-distant history of certain cultures back on Earth, but I’d never been confronted with the reality of the slave trade until that moment. My first impulse was revulsion at the thought of buying a human being, but a moment later, a second thought struck me: Who’s to say that slaves can’t be just as talented as any other person?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Going this route would certainly simplify the negotiation process for bringing them in as a retainer, as well. The problem, of course, was the question of price. I’d brought a chunk of funding with me to serve as an advance payment for anyone I recruited, but would that be enough?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No point speculating─I should take a look at them before doing anything else."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s have a look at the slaves before we eat,” I said to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The slaves?” asked Rietz. “Are you planning to buy one?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One of them might have talent, for all we know!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s…true, I suppose,” Rietz replied. He seemed more than a little hesitant, but he didn’t try to dissuade me, so we approached the cage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took a moment to appraise everyone there, one by one. None of the numbers that were coming up were particularly impressive, though. Just as I was about to give up, my gaze fell upon a particular girl."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My eyes widened in shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A 92 in Leadership, a 116 in Valor, and an S-ranked aptitude as a mage…? Those numbers are insane!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her other stats weren’t anything to write home about, to be fair, but her strong points were undeniably out of this world. Hell, her Valor was on par with my father’s, and she hadn’t even reached her full potential yet!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A person’s capability in combat was determined by a combination of their Valor score and their aptitudes. As such, no matter how high your Valor was, if you were fighting in a field you had a D-ranked aptitude in, you wouldn’t be very effective at all. All of the girl’s aptitudes other than Mage were D, so in all likelihood, she wouldn’t be useful for anything other than magic on the field of battle, but that Mage aptitude! That alone would make her an overwhelming force in battle!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had long, blue hair and a face so perfectly proportioned you’d think she was a living doll. She’d surely be beautiful when she grew up…not that I even cared. I was set! I’d buy her no matter what, bring her back to Lamberg, and have her be our army’s resident mage!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How much for that Charlotte girl?” I asked the slave trader."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, her? Five silver. Why, you want ’er?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Five silver…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Five gold coins─with each being equivalent in value to ten silver─was enough to cover a typical adult’s living expenses for a year. From that perspective, five silver was hardly an outrageous price. I checked on the other slaves’ prices as well, and found that on average, the men were priced higher than the women. People probably thought men would be more valuable for manual labor purposes, I assumed. Charlotte was young and attractive, which was most likely why her price was set a little higher than the other female slaves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the moment, I had five gold coins on hand. In other words, more than enough money to make the purchase feasible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“P-Pardon me, Master Ars?” said Rietz. “I hope you’re not actually planning on buying that girl…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am!” I replied immediately. “She has an unbelievable talent for magic!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, uh, don’t mean to doubt your eye for such things, but she is a girl. We can’t exactly send her out onto the battlefield… Or rather, I don’t believe Lord Raven would ever allow us to do so.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In this world, it was broadly accepted that women were not suited for combat. It wasn’t an unfamiliar perspective to me─plenty of cultures back on Earth had similar values, after all. If I were to bring a girl back with me and say I planned to have her serve as a soldier, I’d probably raise even more eyebrows than I did when I brought in Rietz the Malkan to be one of our retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "People might start thinking I’m some sort of maniac, in the worst case! But then again, no matter what they think of me at first, seeing her literally work her magic should shut them up nice and quick."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s important, Rietz, is that she has an unmistakable aptitude for magic that we can’t ignore! Passing up this chance just because she’s female would be foolish!” I declared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz frowned, but remained silent. Apparently, he’d given up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I passed the slave trader a gold coin. He gave me five silver in return, thanked me, then brought Charlotte out of the cage. Leading her over to me, he passed me the chain connected to the collar around her neck as well as the key to the collar itself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t about all that collar business, though. I knew that if I was judging her correctly, she’d go on to accomplish truly incredible feats in battle. Having a woman like that wear a collar just felt wrong to me, so I immediately reached up to unlock it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Whoa there, kiddo, not so fast!” snapped the slave trader. “She might be obedient, but trust me─you’d be better off keeping her on a leash!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be fine, thank you,” I replied, removing Charlotte’s collar without a second thought. She just stood there, not running away or even moving at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why did you take it off?” Charlotte eventually asked. That was my first time hearing her voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I have no intention of keeping you as a slave,” I replied. “I paid for you because I want you as one of my family’s retainers. A collar isn’t appropriate attire for someone of that station, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte cocked her head. I got the impression she didn’t really understand what I was talking about."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tell you what─I’m pretty hungry. Let’s go get some food, and I can give you the details while we eat!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I found some food at a nearby market stall, and we had a quick meal. Well, Rietz and I did, but it seemed Charlotte wasn’t hungry, as she declined to eat with us. After we finished, I decided it was time to formally introduce ourselves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then, my name is Ars Louvent and this is…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz Muses. Nice to meet you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Charlotte Lace. Likewise,” she replied. The way she spoke was sort of flat─almost monotone, even."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As I said a moment ago, I bought you from that slave trader because I want to make you one of my family’s retainers,” I explained. I went on to tell Charlotte that I was the son of the lord of Lamberg. “So, if possible, I’d like you to come back with us and work for my household. What do you say?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The son of a lord? Okay,” replied Charlotte immediately. “I don’t have anywhere else to go, so I wouldn’t mind being a retainer. I’m a girl, though. I don’t know why you’d want me for a position like that. Did you think I was a boy or something? I know I don’t have much of a chest, but I’m a girl through and through. Should I prove it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before I even had time to ask her how she planned to prove it to me, Charlotte had already stood up and started pulling down her trousers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no, stop!” I shouted frantically. “I already know you’re a girl! You don’t have to prove anything!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…?” replied Charlotte, cocking her head. “I guess that makes sense. Nobody would mistake a girl as pretty as me for a boy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Did she just call herself pretty? I mean, she’s not wrong, but still, wow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Rietz leaned in, his voice a whisper, and said, “M-Master Ars, don’t you think this girl is…a little strange? Are you really sure about this?” he asked with concern."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t care if she’s a little strange, as long as she has talent!” I replied, though it didn’t seem to do much to assuage Rietz’s worries."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So tell me, why do you want a girl like me as a retainer?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because you have a talent for magic,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For magic?” said Charlotte, cocking her head again. “I’ve never used magic at all, though. How could I possibly have the talent for it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could immediately tell she was speaking the truth─she’d genuinely never used magic before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s weird, I thought. With a Valor score that high, I assumed she had some real combat experience. Her maximum value’s crazy high, sure, but that doesn’t explain how someone so inexperienced could have a current Valor score that’s that huge!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t have any doubts about my own Appraisal skill, but just in case, I decided to have her use some magic for us and see what happened. Fortunately, I’d had Rietz bring the necessary materials along."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz? I’d like to have her use some magic for us, as a test,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well. However, the middle of the city is hardly the place for such a thing. We should leave town first, Master Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right! Good point.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, Charlotte, and I made our way out to a plain just outside the city limits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” I said the moment we arrived and confirmed there wasn’t anyone else nearby. “Let’s do it! Think you can show us some magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz produced the tools Charlotte would need for her test: a catalyzer and a leather flask full of aqua magia. The catalyzer was a sphere that was about the same size as a baseball, with writing in an alphabet I didn’t recognize inscribed across its surface. A chain was attached to it, and all you had to do to use it was loop it around your neck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To start, Rietz had to fill the catalyzer with aqua magia. Part of the catalyzer was basically a lid, and removing it allowed access to the reservoir inside. Rietz took off the lid and poured a very small portion of the thick, viscous liquid into the device. Catalyzers were made to use up all of the aqua magia you put into them, regardless of how much. As a natural result, people couldn’t cast multiple spells in a row with one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then, put this on,” said Rietz, recapping the catalyzer and passing it over to Charlotte. She did as he said and hung it around her neck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do I do now?” she asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Once you’re wearing it, all you have to do is recite an incantation,” explained Rietz. “I only brought flame aqua magia with me today, so you’ll want to use some form of fire magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” I interjected, my ears perking up at a new piece of information. “Wait, does that mean there’s more than one type of aqua magia?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’ve only ever seen the red stuff! Could there be a bunch of them?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, there is. Some are blue, some green─there’s all sorts, really,” Rietz confirmed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do the different colors mean?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Different types of magic have different aspects, and the color of the aqua magia indicates what magical aspects it’s capable of evoking. Red aqua magia, for instance, allows you to use flame-aspected magic. For simplicity’s sake, people tend to call it flame aqua magia as a result. Blue aqua magia allows you to use water-aspected magic, so it’s water aqua magia, while green allows the use of wind magic, and is wind aqua magia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How many aspects are there?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Too many to list. The three I already mentioned aside, there’s lightning, darkness, light, ice, sound, poison, shadow, profane, healing, force, etcetera, etcetera.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was pretty much blowing my mind. He’d listed off more magical aspects than I could’ve imagined, and there were even more of them he hadn’t bothered mentioning. And wait, how were dark-aspected magic and shadow-aspected magic even any different?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Flame magistones are commonly mined in Missian,” Rietz continued. “So most of the aqua magia in circulation in this region is flame-aspected. I believe the second most common form of aqua magia in the area would be sound-aspected, if memory serves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sound… What would you even use sound magic for? I guess you could send signals on the battlefield with it, or something? Or maybe you could make noises loud enough to burst people’s eardrums?! No, wait, that would be just as bad for your troops as it would be for your enemy’s. Scratch that plan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can you teach me the incantation?” asked Charlotte. I was so caught up in Rietz’s impromptu lesson that I sort of forgot about her for a minute there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, excuse me. Right away,” said Rietz, who turned back to her and began instructing her on the process. “The spell I’d like you to use today is called Fire Bullet. The incantation goes, ‘O bolt of flame, burn my foe to ash.’”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that incantation. It was the same spell that I had used. When I cast it, an orb of flame had whizzed out in a straight line ahead of me and detonated the moment it hit something. “Detonated” might have been overstating it a bit, though─it was more of a pop than an explosion, really. That was probably on account of me rather than the spell, however, and considering Charlotte’s sheer, raw talent, I had a feeling we were about to witness a much bigger fireball."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, and when you cast magic, you have to hold a hand out before you,” added Rietz. “The catalyzer won’t activate otherwise.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Left? Right?” Charlotte asked bluntly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whichever your dominant hand is. It’ll be easier to aim that way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Left, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Guess Charlotte’s a lefty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The field we were standing in was dotted here and there with trees, and Rietz told Charlotte to use one of them as a target. She picked the tree nearest to us, held her palm out toward it, and chanted the spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O bolt of flame, burn my foe to ash.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For just an instant, the catalyzer let out a flash of light, and at the exact same moment, the Fire Bullet burst out from Charlotte’s hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And I mean it burst out, at a tremendous speed. It rocketed across the field, hitting the tree dead center."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0018.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before I could even process that, a thunderous roar swept across the field as an enormous explosion engulfed the tree. When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, there wasn’t even a charred trace of the trunk left. All that remained was an enormous crater, centered upon the point where a tree had stood tall a couple of seconds ago."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz and I stood there, stock-still, our mouths agape. When I cast that spell, its destructive potential was roughly equivalent to that of a firecracker. I knew that magic could be more or less effective depending on who was using it, but I was aghast that the difference could be that stark."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That was…pretty good, right?” I mumbled in amazement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“P-Pretty good doesn’t even begin to describe it…” muttered Rietz in response. “I’ve seen plenty of mages on the battlefield, but I’ve never seen a Fire Bullet like that before… Was that really your first time casting a spell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte simply nodded in reply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then there’s no doubt about it. She’s a magical prodigy,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t really need the confirmation, honestly. Watching her cast a single spell was enough to sell me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once again, Master Ars, your eye for talent has proven its worth,” added Rietz, turning to me with a look of the utmost respect in his eyes. “I’m beyond impressed─you truly are incredible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte’s aptitude for magic was the real deal, and with firepower like that on the table, I couldn’t possibly imagine my father turning her away, girl or not. I was convinced that I’d be able to make her one of our retainers without much fuss. We’d initially planned on staying in Canarre for two days, but I considered our mission thoroughly accomplished, and we decided to return to the estate immediately."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The three of us mounted our horse together. I was barely bigger than a toddler, and Charlotte was far from fully grown as well, so the horse didn’t have too much trouble bearing all of our weight. It couldn’t quite gallop at full speed, though, so the trip back was noticeably slower than the journey to Canarre had been."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t believe I had this sort of talent hidden away in me,” Charlotte suddenly muttered to herself. “They say the heavens never grant two blessings at once, but I guess I’m an exception.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Wait, then what’s your other blessing?” I asked, my curiosity piqued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My face.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Somebody sure has tons of self-esteem. Like, a weirdly high amount of it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Again, though, she wasn’t wrong, so I couldn’t bring myself to call her out on it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte was hard to get a handle on in general, really. I still had no idea what sort of person she was. I remembered what my father had told me: finding people with talent was the first step, but it wouldn’t amount to anything if I didn’t know how to use their talents, as well. That meant that having a solid grasp on my retainers’ personalities was an absolute must."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to start by asking about Charlotte’s history, and one question on that subject immediately sprang to mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How did you end up getting enslaved, Charlotte?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a long, tragic story,” she replied. And of course it was, so she most likely didn’t want to talk about it. I decided not to pry further, but she surprised me by continuing her story. “I never knew my parents, and I grew up in the slums.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oof! Yeah, we’re off to a pretty heavy start. I bet slum life was so hard that she eventually had no choice but to let herself get sold off, or something along those lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Life in the slums was hard…for pretty much everyone else, but I was more or less the boss of all the town’s slum brats.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, scratch that theory. She was a boss? I guess it doesn’t make much of a difference whether you’re a boy or a girl when you’re a little kid. And considering her crazy Leadership score, it’s not a surprise that she’d end up in that sort of position."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The lord who ruled over the area was a real tightwad. He taxed his people to their last copper while he lived in luxury. I hated his guts, and it’d been so long since we’d managed to get food that my kids were on the brink of starving, so I decided to go steal from his mansion’s kitchen. Long story short, I got caught. Most thieves get executed on the spot, but since I’m a real looker, he decided to sell me off instead.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t say she’d brought it upon herself, but I also couldn’t say she hadn’t walked right into it. Then again, if the lord in question really was that much of a tyrant, and if her only choices were to steal food or die, I couldn’t blame her for turning to theft."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So? Did you shed a tear?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not quite, sorry… You don’t sound all that torn up about it, either.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh. True enough.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, I met with a wall of impenetrable indifference. Talking to her wasn’t doing much at all to help me figure her out as a person, and the circumstances of her enslavement didn’t give me very many clues, either."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few hours of getting tossed around by our horse’s canter later, we arrived at my family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We made it back around dusk. The moment we arrived, I hurried off to find my father and ask him to make Charlotte one of our retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely not,” said my father, just as I expected. “What are you thinking, Ars? You’d make a girl a mage? Men fight to protect women, not to see them driven out onto the field of battle!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought you would say that,” I replied. “However, I believe that her talent for magic will fill that crucial void in your army! That’s why I brought her back with me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father gave me a skeptical glance. Just then, Rietz stepped in to back me up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master Ars speaks the truth, Milord. The girl, Charlotte Lace, possesses a talent for magic the likes of which I’ve never seen.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, our desperate appeal finally seemed to get through to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well,” my father sighed. “I’ll give her one chance to demonstrate this supposed talent of hers. If she’s the unprecedented genius you claim her to be, I’ll take her under my command as a mage.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was time for another test! We moved outside to find an appropriate location for Charlotte to show off her magic. Knowing what she was capable of, I figured that having her cast anything on the training grounds would be incredibly dangerous, so I decided to find a different, wide-open space for the event."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, we settled on an abandoned field. It had been cultivated at one point, but was now overgrown with weeds and thick undergrowth. We put a wooden box out into the center of it to serve as her target. Meanwhile, the rumor that we were putting Charlotte to the test had spread among my father’s men, who all gathered to watch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A girl? And she’s supposed to be a mage?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wouldn’t be so hasty─she’s another one that the young master hand-picked for the job!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right, but come on! This time he has to be going a step too far.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can women even use magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Take a close look at her! With a face like that, maybe the young master’s planning on taking her as his bride?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s four, jackass!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to disregard their color commentary. Charlotte’s magic would shut them up before long, anyway."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Go on, then,” said my father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At his prompting, Charlotte began preparing to cast her spell. Setting up a catalyzer was a simple enough process that she’d learned how to do it just by seeing Rietz run through the steps once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte extended her arm, holding her palm out toward the box, and chanted her incantation. A Fire Bullet burst forth from her hand, sailing across the field and scoring a direct hit on the box."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The ensuing explosion was, somehow, even more enormous than on her first try. It seemed that lone attempt had been enough practice for her to improve her magical ability substantially. It was hard─and terrifying─to imagine just how dangerous she’d become if she had the chance to get some real practice in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers, by the way, were all gawking in bug-eyed horror. I could literally see the nervous sweat begin to drip down their faces. Even my father was openly shocked, for once. I’d never seen his jaw drop like that before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment, silence reigned. Then, at last, my father pulled himself together enough to speak."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then. We have ourselves a mage.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0020.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Interlude: Charlotte’s Postscript"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My name is Charlotte Lace, and about a week ago, I got recruited to be some lord’s retainer. Couldn’t even begin to explain how or why. I’ve lived hand to mouth my whole life─even before I was enslaved─so if this new job of mine means I get to live in a big, clean mansion and eat an actual meal every single day, I’ll count myself lucky."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, Charlotte! Are you getting used to the lifestyle here?” asks the source of my newfound fortune, a little lordling called Ars. I nod and give him a grunt of agreement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’s the one who paid my way out of slavery, all to “make me his retainer,” so it’s thanks to him that my life’s taken a turn for the better. He looks like a cute little brat at first glance, but I figured out pretty quickly that he’s actually more of a cute little weirdo. He talks like a fully-grown adult, for one thing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Speaking of Ars being weird, there’s one question I still haven’t gotten a decent answer to. When we first met, he told me that he wanted me to work for his family because I have a talent for magic. Turns out he was right. I guess I really do have more of a knack for it than most people. I thought he was just talking me up, but after arriving at his estate, I got the chance to see a couple other folks cast a few spells. Honestly? They were sorta pathetic. At the very least, they didn’t have anywhere close to the sort of power my spells seem to pack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So, yeah, I guess Ars was right, and I really do have a talent for magic. But how the hell did he figure that out? I’d literally never cast a single spell before we met. Anyway, since he’s around and apparently up for a chat, I may as well ask him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can tell what people’s talents are at a glance! It’s an ability of mine,” he explains. “That’s why, the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew for a fact that you had a talent for magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh, really?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’ve never been good at, like, showing my emotions or any of that stuff, so he probably can’t tell, but I’m honestly really shocked on the inside. I mean, what? He can just look at people and tell their talents, just like that? Didn’t know that was a thing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just for magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean, your talents?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ars hesitates for a moment, then shakes his head and replies, “No, that’s not all. You probably also have a talent for leading soldiers into battle.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do I have any talents that aren’t all about fighting?” I ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I, uh…can’t say for sure, but you don’t have any that my power can discern.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh… Too bad.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s kind of a letdown. Then again, I’m enjoying myself plenty with magic already. If I can only have one big talent, at least I got a good one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m off to practice,” I say, giving Ars a wave and heading toward the training grounds."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If magic’s my thing, I may as well get real good at it."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0021.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A very eventful year had passed since Charlotte began working as a mage for House Louvent. Canarre, the county that Lamberg belonged to, was situated on the westernmost edge of the Duchy of Missian. In other words, it shared a border with Seitz, the duchy to the west. As a natural consequence, territorial disputes were common and small skirmishes were surprisingly frequent…and whenever one of those skirmishes arose, my father was called upon to ride into battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Over the past year, he’d had to sortie in that manner no less than five times. Charlotte went along with him, and quickly proved herself both an invaluable asset on the battlefield as well as an indispensable presence in the Louvent household. She’d grown on a personal level, as well─her Valor score had reached a total of 101."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before I knew it, she’d also ended up becoming something of a boss to the very few mages who served House Louvent, and her Leadership score had risen to 73. Something about her strange, hard-to-pin-down personality drew people to her, for reasons I couldn’t quite fathom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her contributions were so dramatic, in fact, that I’d heard that other noble families had made efforts to hire her away from us. She turned them all down, thankfully. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but part of me sort of hoped that she did it out of a sense of gratitude toward me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, meanwhile, was still serving as my personal tutor. As a natural result, he hadn’t had the chance to go out and make a name for himself on the battlefield the way Charlotte had. He had the skills for it, no question about it, and part of me wondered if he wasn’t secretly chomping at the bit to get out there and accomplish something, but when I asked him about it, he just said there could be no greater honor than educating the next head of the family. He might have been just trying to make me feel better, but I didn’t get the sense he was outright lying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Speaking of the family, the year brought with it one very happy event: the birth of my twin siblings, a boy and a girl! They’d been born two weeks ago. I’d already turned six, myself, so we were rather far apart in age─though, of course, if you took my mental age into account, I might as well have been their father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My little brother’s name was Kreiz, and my little sister’s name was Wren. Kreiz was born just a little while before Wren, so I suppose she was his little sister as well, technically. Needless to say, I appraised both of them the first chance I got!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kreiz’s status screen looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And Wren’s looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They were still infants, of course, so all of their stats were currently stuck at 1, but they both had a couple of truly remarkable maximum values!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreiz clearly took after his father. His Leadership and Valor were both outstanding, but his Intelligence and Politics scores weren’t exactly exceptional. He also had an S-ranked aptitude as an infantryman, so I had a feeling that he’d prove to be a master with the sword or the spear when he grew up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wren, in sharp contrast, had incredible Intelligence and Politics scores, but wasn’t anything special when it came to Leadership or Valor. Her A-ranked aptitude in Strategy made me hopeful that she was a master tactician in the making, however."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In short, the twins’ strong and weak points seemed to complement each other extremely well. The one problem with that theory, of course, was that women born into noble families in this world were raised with a very particular purpose in mind: marrying into other noble households. Thus, I knew that keeping Wren around in the Louvent household might prove challenging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Part of me seriously considered marching up to my father and telling him that Wren had the brains to be a master tactician, and that he should raise and educate her to fill that role. Another part of me, however, couldn’t help but wonder if that was really in her best interests. A militaristic upbringing like that would almost certainly hurt her chances at marriage, after all. Would I be spoiling her best opportunity to find happiness?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As it turned out, deciding how a child should be raised wasn’t a task I was especially prepared for! There was another factor weighing on my mind, as well: Kreiz’s remarkably high Ambition score. He was sitting at a value of 77, and a high ambition carried with it a heightened chance of betrayal. If we gave him any reason to take issue with his living situation, he might defect to another household…or even start a rebellion!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As best as I could tell, anything above a 60 in Ambition was on the high end of the spectrum. A score in the 70s was just about unprecedented. I had to make getting a handle on Kreiz’s personality a top priority, then keep him on a short leash at all times!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s enough for today, I believe,” said Rietz, lowering his sword."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We were out in the training yard, and had just finished up a lesson in swordsmanship. Knowing how to defend myself in a pinch could save my life someday, so it seemed like an important skill to obtain…but unfortunately, I hadn’t turned out to be a very fast learner. Rietz and my father were unperturbed by my lack of talent─I was only six, after all─but I could tell that age wouldn’t cure this problem. It seemed I just hadn’t inherited my father’s knack for martial arts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it wasn’t like I was hoping to charge out into battle and reap my foes like a field of grain. I didn’t really need that sort of ability, either. I could leave those matters to the people who were better suited for them, and focus on my own strong points. That perspective made me feel at least a little better as I wiped the sweat off my brow and collected myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Incidentally, Master Ars, I wonder if you’ve heard the news…” began Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“News? What news?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A family of hunters has moved into town recently. They’re known as the Kischa family, apparently, and they have three sons. The eldest and second eldest─a twelve-year-old and an eleven-year-old, respectively─are purportedly tall, muscular, and all but certain to become incredibly strong men in the future. Do you suppose we should go take a look to judge them for ourselves?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me think…” I muttered. This wasn’t the first time I’d caught wind of a supposedly incredible person of interest, only for them to turn out to be nothing special at all when I appraised them. Still, though, if these wonder-sons were already in Lamberg, I didn’t exactly have anything to lose by heading out to take a look. “Yes, we might as well go see them!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. I’ll prepare for our excursion immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, Rietz and I set off for Lamberg proper. We strolled into town and made a beeline directly for the Kischa family’s home. Unlike the first time I went into town, I made no effort to disguise the fact that I was the lord’s son. Somewhere around the sixth time I went scouting in the village, I got found out and caused a bit of a scene, and I’d been back several times since then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The villagers seemed to be used to my presence, and didn’t think much of my visits at all anymore. The disguise would’ve seemed superfluous at this point. Unlike that first incident, Rietz and I weren’t getting swarmed by excited townsfolk, and we were walking around in the open without making any effort to hide our identities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve arrived,” said Rietz. “This is the Kischa family’s home.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d stopped in front of a somewhat run-down old house. Even by the village’s low standards, it was far from a luxury dwelling. I stepped up to the door, ready to knock, only for it to be flung open in my face before I had the chance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A child burst out from the house, bawling his eyes out. He was young and scrawny enough that I couldn’t actually tell what gender he was with total certainty, but my best guess was that he was a boy. His golden hair was in dire need of a good combing, and he was even shorter, and presumably younger, than me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The child took one look at me, then spun around and sped off down the street, still crying incessantly. I didn’t even have time to appraise him before he made it out of sight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess that’s one of the Kischa kids? He didn’t look eleven or twelve, though… Oh, right! Rietz said they had three children!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rumors claimed that the two eldest children were tough as nails, but they also mentioned a younger child who I’d almost forgotten. He certainly didn’t seem to live up to his brothers’ reputations, but then again, he was still just a kid. Who could say how he’d grow?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell! Get back here, boy!” roared an enormous man who emerged from the house just a moment later. He glanced down, noticing my presence. “Who’re…? Wait─aren’t you the lord’s son?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess my outfit must’ve given me away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man’s expression shifted dramatically the moment he realized my identity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed I am!” I replied. “My name is Ars, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s the lord’s son doing in front of my home…?” the man asked, clearly skeptical."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve caught wind that the sons of the family that lives here are truly remarkable individuals, so I decided that I would like to see their capabilities for myself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! Well, that’s─that’s wonderful! My name’s Greg Kischa. Please, come inside!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg’s attitude pivoted on a dime, and he welcomed me with open arms. A moment later, he noticed Rietz and made a face like he’d taken a big bite out of a lemon, but Malkan or not, Rietz was dressed the part of a lord’s retainer, so Greg didn’t try to turn him away. Incidentally, I checked Greg’s stats and found, aside from a slightly above-average Valor score, that he was perfectly unremarkable in every regard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way,” I asked as I strolled inside. “Was the boy who ran away in tears a moment ago one of your sons?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, the boy’s name is Rosell,” Greg replied. “He’s my third son, but he’s not worth your time. The brat’s nothing compared to his brothers. He was born weak, he’s a crybaby, and nothing I tell him seems to make him shape up. Y’know why he was crying a minute ago? ’Cause I told him off for pissing the bed! The boy’s five! Hate to imagine what he’ll be like when he’s an adult.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If he’s only five, then he still has plenty of time to grow,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think? Well, he’s no lord’s son, that’s for sure! Just one look at you, and I can tell you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Rosell’ll never match that! You look to be about his age, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That “good head” on my shoulders has a solid thirty years on Rosell’s thanks to my reincarnation, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t remember perfectly, but I had a feeling I’d still wet the bed every once in a while when I was five, too."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg went on to introduce me to his other two sons. The eldest was named Gatos, while the second eldest was Marcus. The rumors certainly weren’t exaggerated: both of them were remarkably tall and sturdily built for their age, and when I appraised them, their numbers were much better than I’d expected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Both of their Leadership attributes had maximum scores in the 40s, and while they weren’t quite natural-born commanders, Gatos’s maximum Valor was 77, while Marcus’s was 75. Their current Valor scores were nothing to scoff at, either─Gatos had a 67 and Marcus a 65. All that said, their Intelligence and Politics scores were pretty awful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As far as aptitudes went, Gatos had an A-rank as an infantryman. The rest of his were all Cs or Ds, though. Marcus had an A in Archer, but Cs and Ds for everything else across the board as well. In short, Gatos would likely excel in melee combat, while Marcus would be better off as a long-distance fighter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Honestly, I wasn’t expecting them to be anything incredible. Hell, I wouldn’t have been shocked if they’d been totally useless! But apparently, sometimes rumors really were right on the money."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, what do you think?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Both of them have real potential!” I replied. “If either of them has any interest in being a soldier, then I say they should be sent off to the training grounds as soon as tomorrow!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, perfect! You two were just telling me you wanted to go out in battle and make a name for yourselves, weren’t you?!” exclaimed Greg, who was absolutely beaming. I knew he was a hunter, but apparently, he wasn’t too particular about his sons carrying on the family trade. He seemed downright excited for his sons to become soldiers, even. Gatos and Marcus were just as enthusiastic, so they immediately agreed to begin training at my family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perfect! In that case, feel free to stop by tomorrow. No time to waste!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, sir!” they exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, my business with the family was complete. I stepped outside…only to find Rosell, the boy who’d run out in tears earlier, making his way back home. On a whim, I decided to give him an appraisal. His brothers were both exceptional, after all, so perhaps he had some talent lurking deep down as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I glanced at Rosell’s stats and very nearly choked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not only did he have talent, he had the overwhelming ingenuity necessary to become a tactician the likes of which the world had never seen! The only word that could possibly describe his maximum Intelligence score was “absurd.” I couldn’t imagine there was anyone on the continent of Summerforth with a score higher than 109!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And that wasn’t all─his Politics and Leadership scores were also incredible. Valor was his only low stat, and I got the impression that he just wasn’t much of a fighter. He was also five, of course, so his current stats were all on the low side, but with the right upbringing, he could be a truly invaluable retainer in the long run."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought I’d found an excellent crop of candidates in his brothers, but Rosell was simply on another level. The Kischa family moving to Lamberg was a godsend, no question about it!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has that boy caught your attention, Master Ars?” asked Rietz, who’d noticed my astonished stare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He really has,” I replied. “He has a mind like nothing I’ve seen before, and his potential is breathtaking! If we can give him the training he needs, he’ll be an incredible tactician someday.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A tactician, you say…? Well, I wouldn’t dream of questioning your judgment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is just a matter of potential at this point, though,” I clarified. “Still, I’d like to give him the education that he deserves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, why not have him attend your lessons?” suggested Rietz. “If he’s as bright as you say, I’m sure that teaching him will be worth my time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Having him study with me? That’s a great idea, actually!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was an incredible teacher, and I was certain that under his tutelage, Rosell’s Intelligence would improve by leaps and bounds. The problem, of course, was his father. Would Greg permit us to take over his child’s education?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Throughout that whole exchange, Rosell had been standing nearby, staring at me and shivering. Tears were pooling in the corners of his eyes. It seemed that, in his mind, Rietz and I were more than a little intimidating. We hadn’t done anything in particular, though, so I was at a loss as to what could be scaring him so much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It’s not like my father’s here with us─though, if he were, I could definitely understand the impulse to break down and cry."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Rosell!” Speaking of terrifying fathers, Greg arrived just in time to give Rosell the third degree. “Where’ve you been?! And did you remember to greet the young master?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell shook his head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you daft, boy?! That’s the son of Lord Raven you’re looking at! How could you not even bother to greet him?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He’s probably just shy, right? Okay, maybe really shy, considering how scared of us he seems. Then again, with a Politics score like that, I’m sure his shyness will go away with a little training. You can’t exactly be a master politician if you can’t look a stranger in the eye!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, Greg’s arrival was quite timely for my purposes. I decided to speak to him about Rosell’s education right away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Greg, Rosell,” I began, “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, if you have a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? You aren’t finished? And wait, with me and Rosell?” Greg exclaimed incredulously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite!” I replied. “You see, I can tell that Rosell has the talent to be a tactician. He’s still a child, of course, so his talent is still underdeveloped, but I’d like to give him the education that he needs to make the most of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“R-Rosell?! This wimpy little bedwetter, a tactician?! Y-You’re pulling my leg, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everyone wets the bed at some point in their life. I don’t think it’s anything to be embarrassed about,” I chided."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, but you don’t understand! The boy’s useless! He can’t even look a man in the eye, he’s built like a twig, and he’s barely grown at all since he started walking! His brothers were a thousand times better put together when they were his age!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg’s opinion of Rosell was even lower than I’d thought. I had a feeling that Greg judged his sons purely by their physical strength, and didn’t spare much thought for their smarts. Even at his current status, Rosell was surely remarkably bright for a child of his age, and if he’d been born into a family that valued education, they might have found him to be a genuine prodigy. A shame, then, that a hunter’s household didn’t offer many chances for that sort of education."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His brothers and their exceptional Valor scores probably hadn’t helped the situation, either. I’m sure he looked like a downright disappointment in comparison. And, to be fair, if you solely compared their Valor stats, he was the least capable by a mile. I had a feeling that convincing Greg of Rosell’s true potential was going to be a difficult task, which meant that my only option was to ask him as sincerely as possible, and hope he’d cut me a break."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true that Rosell has talent─of that, I’m extremely confident. If you allow him to study under me, I can guarantee that he will make a splendid tactician in the future. Will you let him attend lessons at my family’s estate?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Well… If you’re really willing to teach him, I guess I don’t have any reason to say no. You’re good with that, right, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell looked up at his father, then nodded silently. It didn’t feel like he was interested so much as he was unwilling to defy his father’s wishes, though, and he didn’t exactly look enthused. I was hoping to have him cast the deciding vote, but maybe asking a five-year-old to make their own decisions was a little much."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate it,” I replied. “In that case, I’d like to begin Rosell’s education tomorrow as well. Please bring Gatos and Marcus to the training grounds tomorrow morning, then bring Rosell to my family’s estate proper. Thank you for your time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right, will do.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Starting his education so soon seemed like asking for a lot, but I couldn’t resist. With Greg as on board as I could’ve expected, I returned home and spent the rest of the day practically trembling with excitement for the next morning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And before long, the next morning arrived!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rosell is here, Master Ars,” reported Rietz. I immediately hurried outside, where I found Greg and his son waiting for me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Master Ars! Sorry to make you come all the way out to welcome us. Come on, boy, say sorry with me!” said Greg, giving me an apologetic bow and shoving Rosell’s head down in an imitation of the gesture. “Well, I’ve got work that needs doing. You listen here, Rosell: you are not to make a nuisance of yourself! There’ll be hell to pay if you do, y’hear?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that parting comment, Greg went on his way. I turned to Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming today, Rosell!” I said, stepping toward him. “Now then, let’s head inside and─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eek!” Rosell whimpered, shrinking away from me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Am I really that scary?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His condition was a little too extreme for me to call it plain shyness. It seemed he had an almost phobic aversion to meeting new people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell, it’s all right. I’m not planning to hurt you. There’s no need to be afraid of me, I promise,” I said, flashing the least intimidating smile I could manage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell, unfortunately, wasn’t buying it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You’re lying!” he snapped. Which, incidentally, were the first proper words I’d heard him speak out loud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not,” I calmly replied. “I’m telling the truth.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No you’re not! You’re a dirty liar! You s-said I have talent, but that’s impossible! Y-You called me to your house to kidnap and enslave me! Or maybe you just did it because you thought bullying me would be fun! Y-You’re up to no good, I just know it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that once Rosell’s mouth opened, there was very little you could do to make him shut it again. I was stunned by both the speed at which the little motor-mouth could talk when he put his mind to it and the sheer degree of pure pessimism he was spouting at me. I was obviously not dealing with the most trusting of individuals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, a healthy dose of pathological skepticism could very well be an asset for a tactician, from a certain point of view. It’d certainly serve him better than being too optimistic or too credulous, at the very least. I just had to convince him that I was a person he could let his guard down around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I walked up to Rosell and planted my hands atop his shoulders. I felt him jump in fright, but I held him in place, looked him directly in his teary, sky-blue eyes, and said, “That wasn’t a lie. I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that you do have talent, and that is the reason why I called you here. I swear that I will do you no harm.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell whimpered, but it seemed that going into full-on serious mode had finally gotten through to him at least a little. His shivering felt like it was growing at least a little less violent, anyway. It couldn’t be that easy, though, and a few seconds later, Rosell broke eye contact. I could tell by that point that standing around and talking at him wasn’t going to gain me any more ground."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, follow me,” I said, then turned around and began making my way to the room where Rietz taught me my lessons. Rietz, incidentally, had been accompanying me all the while, and leaned down to whisper in my ear as we walked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m a little concerned about that boy, Master Ars. Are you sure he’s ready for this?” he asked. He had a point. Entering the estate had done nothing to clear up Rosell’s obvious anxiety, and he was glancing about wildly, keeping a constant eye on his surroundings. His guard was up impossibly high."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And then, with superbly terrible timing, my family’s pet fledgehound, Ahsis, showed up to make a mess of things."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arf, arf!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Augh, no! A b-b-beast!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The instant Rosell spotted Ahsis, he was on the move, zipping over to take cover behind a nearby statue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to be scared! It’s perfectly all right. Ahsis isn’t a beast or anything of the sort,” I explained, kneeling down and patting Ahsis’s head in an effort to prove that our pet really was, well, just a pet. Ahsis’s wings fluttered happily in response. “See? Cute, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wings aside, Ahsis looked like a Japanese Chin, which was far from the scariest of breeds out there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-It’s cute now, sure,” admitted Rosell. “B-But, umm…i-it might transform, for all I know! M-Maybe when it smells prey, it shapeshifts into a mighty cerberus! Wait…I see now! You brought me here to feed me to your beast, I’m sure of it! I bet it has a taste for small, tender prey! It all makes sense now!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Rosell was descending into a spiral of remarkably talkative negativity. I was starting to realize that he was just as much of an eccentric as Charlotte, albeit in a very different sort of way. In any case, Ahsis was terrifying him, so I called one of our family’s servants over to take the fledgehound out for a walk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, it’s gone. Nothing to be scared of anymore, right?” I said, trying to reassure him. However, Rosell was still glancing compulsively around at his surroundings. It took way longer than I’d expected to guide him to our study, in the end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Speaking of the study: as we walked inside, the books that filled the chamber reminded me of an important question I had to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, can you read, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d gathered over the years that this world’s literacy rate wasn’t even close to that of Japan’s. Considering the fact that he was only five, I figured that the odds of Rosell already being literate were extremely low."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Only a little,” he replied, more or less as expected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like teaching him to read will be our first order of business, then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had been illiterate at first as well, technically, but he managed to pick up the skill after only five days of studying. Meanwhile, it took me about three weeks to learn the local writing system. I really came to appreciate just how talented Rietz was after he pulled that little feat off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s maximum Intelligence score was outrageously high, so I figured that he had to be pretty quick on the uptake. He was still a kid, too, which meant that his mind was a sponge for new information. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he picked up reading even faster than Rietz had."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll study on my own today so that you can teach Rosell how to read,” I told Rietz. Leaving the task up to him while I did my own thing felt like my best bet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Surprisingly, Rosell was actually quite obedient when it came to Rietz’s lessons…possibly on account of the fact that he was scared stiff of his teacher. I was a little worried about whether he’d actually remember any of the things he learned in that condition, but I had faith that Rietz would figure something out, so I tried to focus on my own studies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Emphasis on tried, unfortunately. Without Rietz the super-teacher on my side, I wasn’t making much progress at all. Studying tactics was all well and good, but since I’d never even seen a real battle in person, a lot of the descriptions I was reading didn’t really click."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hmm. Yeah, I think it’s time to shake things up. I’ll leave the tactics to the tacticians."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to focus on history and geography instead…but that resolve didn’t last long. I ended up moving from one subject to the next without ever grasping anything new about any of them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I probably should’ve seen that coming, frankly. In my previous life, I’d consistently ranked in the lower-middle portion of my class, grade-wise. Some people had the sheer, dogged diligence to focus on their studies to the exclusion of everything else, and I was most certainly not one of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Quite a fair span of time had passed before I decided to check in on Rosell and see how many letters he’d learned while I was being unproductive. I set down my own study materials and looked over, only to find Rosell hunched over a book in complete silence. Rietz wasn’t saying a word either─just standing there, staring at his new protégé."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s going on over here?” I asked. “Don’t tell me he’s memorized all the letters already?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My new world’s standard alphabet had far fewer characters than Japanese. It was closer to English, in that respect, and since it didn’t have Japanese’s excess of written characters, it was a little easier to pick up, from my perspective. Not that easy, though! It’d been less than a single day!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, he has, difficult though it is to believe,” stammered Rietz. “He is…abnormally adept at grasping new concepts, it would seem. He learned the whole alphabet before I knew it, then said he was interested in the books, so I let him read one, and, well…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean he’s actually reading a whole book already?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. As a matter of fact, this isn’t the first one. He’s currently working his way through his third book of the day.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re kidding me,” I gaped at Rosell. “That means he’s gotten through at least three hundred pages!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, his pace is quite impressive. I’ve checked, though, and he genuinely understands and absorbs everything he reads. His ability to concentrate is remarkable. Speaking of which─I tried to speak to him while he was reading, and it was like he couldn’t even hear me! I had to wait until after he finished the volume to quiz him on its contents. Frankly, I’ve more or less been sitting here and waiting while he reads on his own. I suppose that’s just how it goes when you’re dealing with a genius…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz shook his head and shrugged. I could hardly believe that Rosell was smart enough to make even him feel awed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll admit,” continued Rietz. “I was worried that this might be too drastic of a step for him, but you’ve proven me wrong yet again. Your ability to perceive talent really does seem infallible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell took to books like a fish to water. He finished several more tomes before the day was out, only to abruptly run out of energy around dusk and collapse into a deep sleep on the spot. I ended up having to ask one of my family’s servants to carry him back to his house for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ever since then, Rosell started visiting my family’s estate daily to study alongside me. He remained wary of me and my family for the first two or three days, but eventually, he decided that we weren’t an immediate threat to his life and limb and started warming up to us. By around twenty days in, it felt like he’d completely opened up to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Rosell settled into the rhythm of his new routine, he eventually started calling Rietz Mr. Rietz─a sign of respect toward his teacher, apparently─and calling me just plain Ars. He also blazed through the books in our study at such an astonishing pace that I was worried it wouldn’t be long before he ran through all of them! Books were fairly precious and hard to come by in this world, so we didn’t exactly have a fully-stocked library on our hands, but it was still preposterous to think he could work his way through that many of them in less than a month. Why, he was already picking up pieces of knowledge and trivia that even most adults wouldn’t know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that said, his Intelligence score hadn’t gone up all that much. It was sitting at a value of 48, currently. It seemed that it took a little more than having a good memory or knowing a lot of random facts to raise your overall Intelligence. My best guess was that it had more to do with how you used the knowledge that you’d gained, and Rosell was still an inexperienced boy of five. He knew all sorts of things, sure, but he hadn’t learned how to make use of any of them, and until he managed to do so, his Intelligence was unlikely to make any significant advances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering his maximum Intelligence, though, I was very confident that he wasn’t wasting his time hitting the books. A value like that meant that he had the potential to gain some life experience and start putting the fruits of his studies to use before too terribly long, and the moment he started doing so, I expected his Intelligence to skyrocket."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short: learning as much as he possibly could while he was still young seemed like it would prove very important for Rosell’s growth, and happily enough, he’d turned out to be a major bookworm. That had the added benefit of speeding along his studies even more than ever─after all, it was always easier to learn proactively than it was to learn because you were being forced to do so. Rosell’s studies were going just about as well as I could’ve possibly expected them to…but that didn’t mean that everything was proceeding as swimmingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I kn-knew it!” Rosell sobbed. “I really am a waste of space… I never should’ve been born…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’d come over to my family’s estate to study as per usual, but when he arrived, we found him even more down in the dumps than we’d learned to expect from him. Something must have happened to him at home. Not only was he not reading, but he’d also actually curled up in a fetal position. It was like he was non-verbally screaming, Look at me, everyone! I’m depressed, okay?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This wasn’t the first time he’d shown up in that state, to be fair. Whenever his father chewed him out, he tended to mope his way over to my side. Then, I ended up hearing him out and doing what I could to cheer him up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did Greg get mad at you again?” I asked. “What was it this time?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell didn’t reply, so I knew it was probably something pretty awkward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you wet the bed again?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” grunted Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I told you before, remember? Bed-wetting’s totally normal for kids. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you do it too, Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now it was my turn to lapse into an awkward silence. As far as I knew, bed-wetting was a developmental issue. Little kids just weren’t built to hold it in overnight, so being mentally an adult didn’t do squat to stop it. I absolutely did wet the bed until I was around three, and I came dangerously close to keeling over dead from the shame of it every single time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, though, my body had apparently developed on the faster side of the spectrum, and it had been quite some time since my last bed-wetting incident. That was actually a bit of a problem for once, though, since telling him that I didn’t was sure to hurt his feelings. Just as I was trying to decide whether or not I should lie to him, the silence had dragged on for long enough that Rosell put the pieces together on his own."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t, do you?! I knew it! It really is just me! I can’t take this─if my weenie isn’t going to work right, I’d rather just chop it off and be done with it!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You what now?! N-No, stop! Don’t do anything crazy! Oh god, put the knife down!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had no clue why he was carrying it in the first place─for self-defense, I assumed─but Rosell pulled out an actual goddamn knife and began preparing to, well, let’s just say dismember himself. I, of course, freaked the hell out and rushed over to stop him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let go of me! Once I get rid of this, I’ll never have to be humiliated again!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, it doesn’t work like that! Cutting it off won’t stop you from wetting the bed! If anything, it’ll do the opposite, and it’ll also really, really hurt!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell froze in place and replied, “…I-It will?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, it will! Do you even have to ask?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-How much? Worse than getting kicked in the shins?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So much worse. You can’t even compare the two!” I shouted. Not that I’d ever actually cut mine off, mind you, so technically speaking, I couldn’t actually say for sure whether or not that was true."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, though, Rosell was a major scaredy-cat when it came to pain, so he eventually put the knife away. I heaved a sigh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Who knew he was the sort of person who’d go to extremes that easily? And who knew that dealing with a kid would be this exhausting?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was becoming increasingly clear that Rosell’s extreme case of pessimism was going to be an issue going forward. Being excessively optimistic would be a problem for an aspiring tactician, of course, but he was going so far in the opposite direction that it felt like it’d be trouble in its own right. I had to do something to inject a little positivity into the kid’s mindset, and I had a feeling that if I didn’t do it soon, he might be stuck this way for life."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ll talk strategy with Rietz later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Rosell went home for the day, Rietz and I got together to discuss his personality defect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I certainly agree that it’s a problem,” said Rietz. “Even setting aside its potential impact on his worth as a tactician, seeing somebody with such an appalling excess of talent act like he’s inferior is, well…rather hard to stomach.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, good. Looks like we’re on the same page."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems clear to me that Rosell’s negativity is entirely the fault of his father, Greg,” Rietz continued. “The way he belittles Rosell over every little thing has taken a toll on Rosell’s confidence.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was thinking along the same lines,” I agreed with a nod. “But what can we do about it? Would getting Greg to compliment him solve the issue?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even if we were to order Greg to praise him, it wouldn’t be genuine praise, and I believe that Rosell is smart enough to tell the difference. Personally, I think the most effective means would be to have Rosell do something that prompts his father to praise him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Getting Rosell to impress his father himself, huh…? What’s the best way for Rosell to show off how smart he is? His dad’s a hunter, so maybe catching a wild animal with some sort of clever trick is the way to go?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Here’s an idea,” I said. “How about we have Rosell come up with some new sort of trap that Greg can use to hunt more efficiently? That would prove how smart he is, no problem. What do you think?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A trap…?” muttered Rietz. He sounded a little skeptical. “I’m afraid that might prove difficult. I’m confident that Greg is already well-versed in the art of trap-making, and no matter how smart Rosell is, asking him to invent an entirely new trap out of thin air might be setting our expectations impossibly high.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Fair enough.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz did have a point. Inventing a new type of trap wasn’t exactly the easiest of tasks, especially for a child."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That said,” continued Rietz. “I doubt proposing the challenge to Rosell would be a bad idea in and of itself. True knowledge can’t be gained from books alone, after all. You have to apply what you learn to the real world. In that sense, having Rosell apply his newfound knowledge for hunting purposes could prove to be beneficial.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Plus, that sort of practice might be just what he needs to raise his Intelligence score."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Rosell exceeded our expectations and invented some spectacular new trap, he could make his father acknowledge his talents, and if he didn’t, he’d still be gaining practical skills out in the real world. As far as I could tell, there were no downsides. That settled the matter in my mind, so I asked Rietz to have Rosell start designing a trap first thing tomorrow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next morning, when Rosell arrived to study, Rietz proposed the plan we’d come up with the day before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A trap…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. You were raised in a family of hunters, so I imagine you’re familiar with the basic principles of trap-making?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell shook his head and replied, “No. What do you mean by ‘trap,’ anyway?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That certainly wasn’t the first question I’d expected him to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t know what traps are?” Rietz asked. “Your father must use indirect methods of hunting sometimes… You know, something other than simply shooting animals with a bow.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He doesn’t,” Rosell replied bluntly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. I’m surprised, to be honest. Then again, I’m hardly an expert when it comes to hunting myself,” admitted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, in my mind. If Greg didn’t know how to make traps, then Rosell probably didn’t have to make anything particularly complex to impress him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, what’re traps, Mister Rietz?” Rosell asked again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In the context of hunting, the word ‘traps’ refers to devices or methods that allow you to indirectly capture your prey. A particularly well-known example you may be aware of is a pit trap. You dig a deep hole in the ground, cover it with a thin layer of branches, then cover those branches with dirt and foliage until it’s indistinguishable from the ground around it. After that, when an animal steps on the trap, the branches collapse and the animal falls into the hole.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, wow! Whoever thought that up was pretty smart,” commented Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "…I guess they sort of were, yeah."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t even remember how I’d learned about pit traps─they were just common knowledge in my mind─but Rosell had a point. Whoever made humanity’s first pit trap really must’ve been pretty darn smart."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I really think about it, though, that doesn’t seem like a very good way to hunt. It wouldn’t work at all unless an animal happened to step on the trap by coincidence,” Rosell muttered to himself, pressing a thumb into his furrowed brow. That was a little habit of his that made an appearance whenever he was deep in thought about something."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You could put food on top of the trap to lure an animal into it? Hmm, but it would still only let you catch one animal in each trap, and digging a deep hole isn’t easy. Hunting with a bow still sounds faster… You’d have to come up with something easier to build or something that could catch lots of animals at once to make it practical…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell mumbled on and on to himself, voicing every idea he came up with the moment it popped into his head. This continued for a while until Rietz spoke up again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once you’ve thought up a trap that satisfies you, I’d like you to try drawing a design for it. I have paper and a writing utensil prepared for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell blinked and replied, “I can’t draw, though.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even a simple sketch will suffice. I believe it will be much easier to understand your design with one to look at.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense. Okay, then, I’ll draw it after I’m done thinking,” Rosell agreed, then immediately dropped back into his pondering pose and started mumbling again. The kid could certainly focus, that was for sure. It was always really hard to get him to listen to you when he went into that mode."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you really think he’ll manage to make a trap?” I asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t say for sure, but I am quite curious what results he’ll produce after putting all his knowledge into making something. I think there’s a very real chance he’ll surprise us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could see that, yeah.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There wasn’t much else we could do at that point. Rosell’s challenge had begun, so we just had to watch over him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While Rosell worked on his trap, I decided to do some of my own research on the types of traps that already existed in this world. I quickly picked up on one fact that explained a lot: traps just weren’t a traditional method of hunting in Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, who came from outside the region, had made all the same assumptions about hunters using traps that I had, so I could safely conclude that they were commonly used elsewhere. That said, while Rietz was aware of traps on the whole, he didn’t have much in the way of specialized knowledge about them, so he wasn’t able to teach me very much I didn’t already know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I eventually decided to try thinking up some traps myself, but quickly found that it was a lot harder of a thought experiment than I’d first expected. To begin with, I didn’t know very much at all about the sort of animals that people usually hunted in this world. Making a decent trap without knowing about the creature you were trapping, as it turned out, was next to impossible. Rosell had all the wildlife knowledge you’d expect from a hunter’s son, though, so at least he wasn’t working with that sort of handicap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, I gave up on making my own trap not too long after I started. I was still giving the situation thought, though, and I quickly realized that Lamberg’s lack of trapping culture posed an opportunity. If Rosell came up with a good enough trap, then impressing Greg would only be the start of our potential gains─we could also send the town’s ability to produce food through the roof! We’d be killing two birds with one stone!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My expectations were high as I eagerly awaited the completion of Rosell’s design."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, several weeks later…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s finished!” declared Rosell, brandishing a piece of paper. He sounded happier than I’d ever heard him before, and I didn’t even need to ask what he’d finished. It had to be the plans for his trap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” replied Rietz. “Then let’s take a look, shall we?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah!” said Rosell. He was absolutely beaming as he spread out the plans for Rietz to see, which was really rare for him. I could tell he was really excited about finishing his creation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz carefully inspected the plans. It was Rosell’s first attempt at drawing a blueprint, so there were plenty of places that didn’t make perfect sense at a glance, and he ended up explaining them to Rietz piece by piece as he pored over the design. I decided to listen in and see what I could make of the plans as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gradually, I got a picture of what sort of trap he’d put together. First off, the prey: Rosell had decided that instead of designing an all-purpose trap, he’d make something that targeted a single species. Specifically, he’d thought up a trap that would capture a type of animal called “suws” that lived in abundance in the woods near the town."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suws looked like small wild boars, and they basically tasted like beef. Their meat reminded me less of the sort of heavily-marbled wagyu that was raised in Japan and more of the leaner beef that was imported to Japan from Australia. They also had one very distinctive trait that Rosell used to full effect for the purpose of his trap: an instinctive impulse to charge at anything that was colored yellow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first step was to fence off a large, wide-open area. Into the center of that area went the bait: a cloth that had been thoroughly permeated with the smell of apples, a suw’s favorite food. Suws had a very keen sense of smell, and would naturally gather around the trap."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wouldn’t have been much of a trap if the fence didn’t have some sort of entrance, of course, but it also wouldn’t have been much of a trap if the suws could come and go as they pleased. The door would work sort of like how pet doors in my old world did, and its outside surface would be painted yellow. Suws would see the color, charge right at it, and push straight on through to the other side by virtue of momentum. The door was designed to only swing in one direction, so once the suws were inside, they were stuck unless they could somehow pull the door inward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought the trap sounded quite effective, but Rietz had other ideas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s one thing I’m concerned about,” he explained. “Just how durable will the door have to be? If it’s too brittle, we’ll run the risk of the suws breaking it, but if it’s too solid, there’s a chance they’ll hurt themselves on it, fall unconscious, and block the entrance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Suws are hard-headed, so it takes a lot to knock one out,” countered Rosell. “I think that using a solid, durable door is the right choice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Rietz with a nod. “Next, how will you deal with the suws once you’ve captured them?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’ll be a human-sized door built into the fence, so if there are only a few suws inside, you can just walk in and take care of them yourself. Suws are timid, so as long as you’re not wearing yellow, they probably won’t charge you. I think they’d be easy prey if they didn’t have anywhere to run. If there are too many trapped inside, though, you’ll have to pick them off from outside the fence with a bow, so it’d be a good idea to add a simple platform for people to stand on.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” Rietz mumbled, lapsing into thought for a moment before speaking up once more. “Shall we try building one, then? We can start with a small-scale trap, making the fence just large enough to trap two or three suws. We won’t have to make a platform that way, so it won’t cost much in the way of resources, and there’ll be no need to report the project to Lord Raven until we produce results. When we do, we can ask him for permission to construct a larger-scale trap. Does that sound acceptable, Master Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, let’s go with that plan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Man, who knew he’d manage to come up with this well-thought-out trap? He’s one hell of a five-year-old, that’s for sure!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thinking back on it, Rosell had an A-ranked aptitude in Weaponry. I’d never really considered it before, but from a certain perspective, traps sort of felt like they could fall under that category. It certainly explained a lot if they did."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, our plan was set: we’d create a usable version of Rosell’s trap! I tasked a few of my family’s servants with the actual construction. As far as materials went, the fence would be made from wood. It was a fairly simple design, all things considered: wooden posts driven into the ground with planks attached between them. We made sure to use planks that were nice and sturdy, just in case a suw decided to try to break through, and we added a small hole into one of them that would let us look inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For this first trial run, we made the enclosure about fifty square feet in total. That would fit three suws no problem, but if the trap worked a little better than planned, and even more charged in, there was a danger they’d collide with the suws already trapped inside. That didn’t seem like a fundamental design problem, though─it only really applied to the test trap, and would naturally stop being a factor when we made a larger, more practical version."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We decided to make the door from a thin iron plate. We couldn’t make it too thick or it wouldn’t swing open properly, and we couldn’t make it too thin or the suws would be able to break it down. Frankly, I had no idea what the right balance between the two extremes was, and I figured that aspect would take some experimentation to get just right. If we screwed it up, we could always make another door and try again!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We ended up heading into town to procure the yellow paint we needed to color the door. It was easy to imagine that each charging suw would scrape off some of the paint in the process, so we made sure to apply a pretty heavy layer of the stuff. The price of paint varied wildly depending on its color, but luckily enough, yellow was one of the cheaper ones, so we didn’t have to shell out much for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That just left the bait: a piece of cloth made to smell like apples. That would be easy to make, thankfully. They grew plenty of apples down in the village, so we just had to juice a few of them and get the cloth nice and soaked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, the construction process for our first trap took three days in total, from start to finish. We set it up in the very center of the woods that were just outside the town of Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“D-Do you think it’ll work?” Rosell asked anxiously as he looked over the finished trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s only one way to find out,” I replied. “But, I mean, this sort of thing always ends up being a process of trial and error. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t quite work perfectly at first so long as you keep improving every iteration!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-It doesn’t?” Rosell asked, seeming a little relieved to hear it. For someone as pessimistic as him, I guess it would be surprisingly reassuring to know that it was all right if he failed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that was left was to leave the trap behind and let it do its thing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next morning, Rosell, Rietz, and I all went out to check on the trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’ve caught something,” Rietz said the moment the trap came into view."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave it a closer look and quickly realized what had tipped him off: the paint on the door was slightly scratched. That had to be a sign that a suw had charged through it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz went over to the hole in the wall, peeked inside, and said, “There are two of them inside. It looks like they’re asleep.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell blinked and replied, “Huh? R-Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So it worked?” I added excitedly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We all clustered around the hole to peek inside. It wasn’t low enough for me and Rosell to look through on our own, so Rietz lifted each of us in turn to take a look. Lo and behold, two suws were sleeping within, just like he’d claimed. Part of me was impressed that the critters had the nerve to fall asleep in such a dangerous situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, Rietz gave the door a close inspection and said, “I see no problems here. I believe this design should stand up to quite a fair amount of abuse.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, our shot in the dark when it came to the door’s durability had actually hit the mark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“D-Does that mean we can make a bigger one next?” Rosell asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t see why not,” replied Rietz. “If it works this well, it should make suw hunting quite a bit more efficient for everyone. It might even make Greg see you in a whole new light, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-My dad? Really?” asked Rosell. We hadn’t actually brought up the possibility that his father might appreciate him more if his trap turned out well. I figured that mentioning that part would put a ton of pressure on him, so I’d decided to keep it to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then,” said Rietz. “Let’s get to making a full-sized trap. I was thinking we could ask the local hunters to aid in the construction effort this time around.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good idea,” I replied. “By the way, what are we going to do with the suws we caught today?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can knock them unconscious and bring them back to the estate,” said Rietz. “I’m sure the cooks know how to butcher a suw, so we can have them for lunch. Speaking of which, you should eat with us, Rosell! I’m certain that a suw you caught yourself will taste especially delicious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz went into the trap, knocked out the suws, and carried them back to the estate, where we did indeed end up having them for lunch. Rosell devoured his portion gleefully."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, we gathered all the local hunters in the town’s meeting hall to explain the plan we wanted them to help with. I was hoping they’d give us the okay and help build the new trap without raising too much fuss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A trap to catch suws, eh?” said Greg after Rietz finished explaining the trap’s function, using a diagram he’d drawn for reference. That drawing, of course, was a more refined version of Rosell’s original blueprint. “Yeah, I see how this works…and it’s not a bad idea. If it’s as effective as you say, then it could make our suw hunts a hell of a lot easier. You’ve got as good a head on your shoulders as folks claim, Master Ars! Can’t believe you thought this up on your own!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greg sounded rather impressed, but I shook my head and replied, “Actually, I wasn’t the one who thought it up at all. Rosell came up with the design.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Greg recoiled in shock, then looked over at Rosell. “You’re pulling my leg. Rosell designed this device? Impossible!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’ll recall, the last time we spoke, I told you that Rosell has immense talent. I’d encourage you to take this as proof of how intelligent your son really is. Every aspect of this trap’s design was Rosell’s work─I didn’t so much as lift a finger to help.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Greg gaped at his son and asked, “I-Is that true, Rosell?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell nodded, which prompted the reply, “And it actually works? You’re positive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment he learned that Rosell had created the trap, Greg started questioning its quality. He was having a really hard time accepting the fact that his son wasn’t a total waste of space."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve already conducted a small-scale test of the trap, which proved highly effective. A large-scale version is likely to work just as well,” Rietz explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So essentially, we were hoping that all of you would help us build it,” I said. “Are you interested? Needless to say, the suws captured in the trap will be yours to keep, and you’re free to take note of the trap’s design and build your own in the future.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as I finished my explanation, the hunters started volunteering to help. In the end, the only one of them who didn’t immediately raise his hand was Greg, who still seemed stubbornly reluctant to be a party to our plan. Finally, though, he gave in and raised his hand as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All of you are willing, then? Perfect! In that case, we’ll begin construction tomorrow. We’ll be setting the trap up in the woods nearby. I’ll show you the location, so please gather here first thing tomorrow morning.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone showed up the next morning, as promised, and we began construction of the full-scale trap. We decided to place it in the same central location where we’d built the small-scale test trap, disassembling that one and building the new one in its place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time around, we made the enclosure about seven times larger than the test version. There were a few trees inside the area we’d be fencing off, which would make dealing with the trapped suws a challenge, so we chopped most of them down, repurposing them as materials for the fence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d have to build the viewing platform that we omitted from the test trap’s design as well. Its design was incredibly simple, and it would be about a dozen feet tall. A tower like that wouldn’t be of much use in battle, but for our purposes, it was more than sufficient."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From start to finish, the trap’s construction took six days. It wasn’t an incredibly large-scale project, and we had a lot more workers available to help out than we’d had the first time, so it wasn’t all that much harder to build than the test trap had been, in the end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you’re sure this thing can trap a suw?” asked Greg, casting a skeptical glance at the newly-finished trap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s larger than the one we made as a test, but the basic principles of its design are identical. It will work, rest assured,” replied Rietz. However, Greg looked unconvinced. Only time would dispel his doubts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just like last time, we left the trap alone for a day to let it work its magic. When we gathered up again to check on our catch, Rosell showed up with massive bags under his eyes. I assumed he’d been so anxious about whether or not the trap would work, he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink the night before. He hadn’t seemed nearly that nervous when we checked on the first trap, but of course, Greg hadn’t been along to witness his results at the time. That had to have turned the pressure up to eleven."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It only took a quick glance at the door to tell that we had a catch on our hands. Once again, the yellow paint was conspicuously scratched. It was quite a bit more damaged than it had been the first time around, in fact, which most likely meant that we had trapped even more suws."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe this was a success,” said Rietz, who’d probably noticed the same signs I had. He walked up to the trap and glanced in the peephole in the wall. “There are three…no, four suws trapped inside.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“S-Seriously?” asked Greg incredulously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“L-Lemme take a look!” shouted one of the other hunters. All of them gathered around and took turns peering through the hole."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be damned, he’s right! There really are four of ’em in there!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It actually worked!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The hunters began whooping and hollering in celebration. I took a look inside as well, and there were indeed four suws within the trap. They were awake this time, licking the apple-scented cloth. Rosell took his turn to look after me, then let out a long sigh of relief when he finally saw the suws for himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just think of how much effort this’ll save us!” said one of the hunters. “No more chasing suws all over the woods!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Little buggers can really run, so if you miss your first shot, it’s all over,” said another of them. “And they’re small, too, so they’re not exactly easy targets.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’ll be a snap to hunt when they’re penned in like this, though! Gotta say, Greg, I was worried your youngest wouldn’t measure up to his brothers, but looks like he’s something special after all!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All the hunters were over the moon at the thought of the trap’s potential, and the compliments kept pouring in one after another. Rosell wasn’t used to any amount of praise, much less overwhelming praise from all sides, and was clearly bewildered. Greg, meanwhile, was bewildered in a whole different way, but he eventually walked over to Rosell and rested a hand on his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You did good, kid,” said Greg, tussling his son’s hair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell’s eyes widened with shock. Then he nodded, said “Thanks!” and cracked the biggest grin I’d ever seen on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The local hunters began putting Rosell’s trap into practical use immediately. As a direct result, they started bringing in suws far more consistently than ever before, and suw meat quickly became something of a staple food in Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since suws were so challenging to hunt using traditional means, their meat had always been considered a luxury up until that point. As such, Rosell’s innovation sent waves through the village’s culinary culture. It wasn’t long before the villagers started using suw jerky to barter, which meant that foods from other territories they hadn’t been able to get their hands on quickly grew much more readily available."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Like we’d hoped, the praise that Rosell received from his father began to chip away at his deep-seated spirit of pessimism. My father was quite pleased with the development as well, so he summoned Rosell and his father to our estate to receive a reward for Rosell’s innovation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For your contributions to Lamberg’s prosperity, I hereby grant you a reward of five gold coins,” said my father, passing the money to Rosell. That was a rather considerable sum of cash, so Greg’s eyes widened in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Incidentally, Charlotte happened to be present at the time, and I caught her muttering, “That’s worth twelve mes…” under her breath. I blinked, then quickly crunched the numbers. I’d paid five silver coins for Charlotte, and each gold coin was worth ten silver, meaning…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yeah, the actual answer’s definitely ten. I should probably make sure Charlotte gets at least a basic education before this gets out of hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Surprisingly, though, Rosell himself didn’t seem all that happy to receive the gold. If anything, he looked conflicted. He’d been over the moon when Greg praised him for his work, too─so what made this so different? Five gold coins was a lot of money, after all, and pretty much anyone would be happy to receive a sudden, unexpected windfall. I was so curious that when my father’s little reward ceremony concluded, I went over to Rosell and asked him about it directly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I just wasn’t sure if, well…I really deserve it,” explained Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course you do!” I replied. “You made something truly incredible, Rosell! It’s only natural for you to be rewarded for it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-But, I mean…now that all the hunters in the villages are using traps, they might hunt down all of the suws in the woods! If that happens, then it’ll be my fault that nobody gets to eat them anymore…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s…a pretty good point, actually. If they keep hunting suws at this rate, they might totally wipe out the local population."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a simple fact─obvious, even─but my exuberance at our success had blinded me to it. Rosell, on the other hand, was thinking ahead and keeping his mind focused on the long-term picture."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I c-can’t let that happen, right? Not after the lord gave me this much money… I have to do something, anything… But would the hunters listen to me if I asked them to release a few suws from each catch? What sort of hunter would let their prey get away on purpose? Maybe I could ask them to let young suws go…? Oh, but if their parents get killed, then the children will probably die off on their own… Maybe I should make a new trap that catches a different sort of animal? Or maybe I can come up with an even better solution…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell was back in mumble mode, focusing intently on overhunting countermeasures. The fact that he was envisioning future disasters and coming up with plans to prevent them when most people would be celebrating their accomplishments was probably a sign that his pessimistic nature hadn’t really changed overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the other hand, that exchange made me remember that, sometimes, a little pessimism could actually be a good thing. I was convinced: Rosell could turn out to be an excellent tactician just the way he was."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Interlude: Rosell’s Postscript"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My name is Rosell Kischa, and I’m the son of a hunter. I never thought I’d be anything more until I met Ars, the son of a local nobleman, and my life changed dramatically. Suddenly, I was going over to Ars’s estate day after day, just to study. He told me that I had talent when he invited me over for the first time, and I’m still not really sure what he meant by that, but I actually enjoyed studying quite a bit and didn’t mind playing along."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars is around the same age as me, but we’re worlds apart in terms of maturity. Why, Ars is practically an adult. He isn’t a scaredy-cat like me, and the way he talks sounds real adult-like somehow, too. He also has the power to see other people’s strong points, which makes Mister Rietz and the other adults really respect him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I think Ars’s power is amazing, too, but I’m also a little scared by it. What if he can actually see more than just people’s strong points? What if he can see all of the secrets I keep stowed away deep within my heart? What if he knows that I’ve been secretly taking his books back home with me to read after our study sessions end…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I would spend all of my time reading if I could, but books are far too precious to lend out to a child like me. Taking them in secret is my only choice. I don’t actually have any other secrets, but if Ars can read my mind, then that one secret is enough to get me in serious trouble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There’s only one thing to do─I have to learn as much as I can about Ars’s power! And the quickest way to go about that is to ask him directly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My power lets me see people’s talents, names, and sex,” Ars explains without a second’s hesitation. “It doesn’t let me read minds or anything like that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, okay,” I reply, immediately relieved. It’s still an incredible power, but I guess it’s not incredible in that sort of way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re worried about the books you’ve been smuggling home, I already know all about it. I didn’t have to read your mind to figure that out,” he continues."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t worry, I don’t mind at all! I just hope you’ll tell me before you borrow them in the future. It’s only polite.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I feel hesitant, but ask, “So if I ask to borrow books, you’ll actually let me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” replies Ars."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-Thank you! I’ll be sure to ask you next time, I promise!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, I’ve received formal permission to borrow Ars’s books. He really is a good guy. He lets me read his books, and he’s taught me all sorts of things, so I’m starting to grow quite fond of him. I even kind of hope that I’ll be able to repay him for everything he’s done for me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars says I can become an incredible tactician someday. I’m still not convinced, but maybe I’ll focus on studying to prove him right."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0024.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Three more years came and went, and before I knew it, I’d turned nine. Throughout that time I’d grown quite a bit taller…and stronger as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The potential issue of suw overhunting was resolved fairly easily in the end. We went to my father to ask him to intervene, and he imposed limits on the hunting of suws that would ensure the local population remained stable. The punishment for violating the regulation was rather harsh, so the local hunters all took great care to not step out of line. On the less punitive side of things, Rosell did manage to invent several new traps that were designed to capture other types of animals. As a result, the suw limitations didn’t actually do much damage to the hunters’ bottom lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, the hunting situation aside, all sorts of things had changed over the past three years. The biggest cause of those changes was the fact that recently, my father had fallen ill with concerning frequency. He developed a chronic cough that came and went for no apparent reason, usually accompanied by a fever."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, I didn’t have any sort of advanced medical knowledge from my past life, so I was unable to help diagnose his sickness. To be fair, even if I were a trained medical professional, there was no guarantee that the illnesses of this new world matched modern Japan’s. I knew that plenty of illnesses were caused by viruses and bacteria, and there was absolutely no guarantee that the viruses and bacteria in this world would be the same as those on Earth. If anything, it’d be weird if they were the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, what really mattered was that my father was afflicted with a mysterious and unidentifiable illness. Nobody knew whether it was the sort of sickness that would pass with time, or if it was one that would kill him if it wasn’t treated properly. The one thing we knew for certain was that several months had passed since his illness began, and he’d been in very poor condition ever since. Whatever he was suffering from, it definitely wasn’t benign."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I tried to insist that my father stay in our estate and conserve his strength, but he was hell-bent on going out into battle regardless of my advice. I even offered to sortie in his place, but unsurprisingly, he wasn’t about to send a nine-year-old out onto the battlefield. Eventually, I concluded that there would simply be no persuading him, and switched gears to convincing him to at least take Rietz along with him. Rietz was the one person I trusted above all others, and I knew that with him around, my father would be safe even in the event of an emergency."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In consequence, of course, when Rietz was out at war, I was left without a tutor. Conflict was becoming more and more common in Missian by the day, and before long, Rietz was away more frequently than he was at home. We’d hardly even had any time to spend together at all in recent months."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t neglected my search for talented new recruits over those three years, and I had found and hired several promising individuals, but it had been quite a long time since I came across anyone truly outstanding. I was starting to get the feeling that I’d picked out all the talent there was to find in Canarre, so moving on to a new city seemed prudent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The problem, of course, was that traveling farther away was dangerous. The odds of getting attacked by bandits along the way were concerningly high. I’d have to bolster my personal guard before I could even consider making that sort of trek, but all of our capable fighters had been sent off into battle, Rietz included."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In short, long-distance travel was going to have to wait until peace was restored to the land. I really wished that would happen sooner rather than later, but I had no misconceptions about how likely that was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One chilly winter’s day, I found myself in the estate’s dining hall, warming myself by the fireplace. Winter in Lamberg didn’t set in as swiftly or brutally as it did in other parts of the world, but it was still cold enough that the extra warmth of the fire was greatly appreciated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A side effect of the cold rolling in was that fewer skirmishes broke out in the area. Nobody wanted to be out fighting in a frigid field, after all, and as a result, my father and Rietz were around more frequently. My father was at home on that particular day, so we even managed to eat a meal together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We weren’t alone, either. My siblings, Kreiz and Wren, both ate alongside us─though they also finished their meals in unison, said their thanks, and leaped up from the table well before the rest of us did. It felt like the two of them had been babies just yesterday, but they’d grown up before I knew it, and were talking and running around with reckless abandon in no time at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kids sure do grow up fast, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite being twins, the two of them didn’t look exactly alike. Kreiz had my father’s golden hair, while Wren’s hair was black, like mine. Their faces were fairly similar, but you could still tell them apart very easily even without taking their hair into account."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that’s just how it goes with fraternal twins."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s play, Big Brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s plaaay!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My siblings tugged at my sleeves, eager to drag me into their games, but I had something I had to discuss with our father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry, but you’ll have to play with Rietz for now,” I said, attempting to punt the problem onto his plate instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“C’mon, we wanna play with you, Big Brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s plaaay!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agh, okay, okay! I have to go speak with Father now, but I’ll play with you afterward, I promise! Just wait patiently until then, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That finally convinced them to run off and harass Rietz until I was ready for them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Turns out that suddenly having to deal with a pair of siblings is pretty tough! Who knew?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After they left, I moved on to the topic of conversation I’d been planning to bring up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How have you been feeling lately, Father?” I asked, approaching him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m perfectly…” my father began, then descended into a series of hacking coughs. “…Perfectly fine, thank you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s a little hard to believe after a cough like that,” I replied sheepishly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s just a cough. There’s no need to worry,” said my father, before succumbing to another hacking fit. It felt like his condition had been deteriorating as of late. Perhaps the cold was to blame?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm, Father? As I’ve said before, I really do think you would be better off not marching into battle…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And as I’ve said before, that isn’t an option. Or do you expect me to tell Lord Lumeire that I can’t sortie while Missian burns around us because I have the sniffles?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When my father referred to “Lord Lumeire,” he meant Lumeire Pyres, the Count of Canarre and my father’s liege lord. He wasn’t exaggerating about Missian burning around us, either. The duchy really was teetering upon the brink of utter chaos."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Almost precisely one year ago, the Duke of Missian had collapsed. He’d barely managed to cling to life, but his illness had sent him into a coma that he had yet to wake from. He’d left a letter to be opened should he be indisposed that named his younger son his successor, but said letter’s authenticity was quickly called into question. The duke’s older son was especially loud about his suspicions and accused his brother of forging the letter outright."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I wasn’t entirely convinced that the elder brother was wrong about the letter being a forgery. Although he’d been considered inferior to his younger brother for most of his life, he’d recently found great success on the battlefield and racked up a surprising number of accomplishments. Where once the duke’s vassals feared the day that his eldest son held the duchy’s reins, now they seemed downright optimistic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, when the younger brother was named the duke’s successor, the elder found himself with an ample supply of nobles who harbored their own doubts and were willing to back him up. However, there were also plenty of nobles who firmly believed that the note was written in the duke’s hand and allied themselves with the younger brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, in no time at all, the duchy was split in two. The precise situation that everyone feared had come to pass. War was unlikely to break out in earnest while the duke still lived, but the instant he passed away, a major conflict was all but inevitable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire, the Count of Canarre, had chosen to ally himself with the elder brother. In contrast, the Count of Perreina, the county to the east, had chosen to back the younger brother. The resulting tension between the two counties had caused no small number of border skirmishes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To make matters worse, the duchy that Canarre shared a border with, Seitz, was ready and willing to take advantage of the chaos in Missian. They had already started interfering much more proactively in Canarre’s affairs. The situation could hardly have been any more perilous, and while House Louvent’s military force wasn’t especially large, we did have an unusually well-trained crop of soldiers. With a track record like my father’s, it was inevitable that he’d be sent into battle time and time again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In that case, I’m perfectly willing to sortie in your─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not on your life!” my father roared, cutting me off. “I’ve told you a thousand times, Ars. A boy who has yet to see his first battle has no business commanding an army!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had thirty years of life experience in another world, but I knew perfectly well that none of it was worth a damn when it came to knowing how to handle a real-life battle. My father was right. I couldn’t look him in the eye and declare that everything would turn out well if he left me in charge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I desperately wished that I could prove myself─that I could show him that, even at the age of nine, I was capable of taking to the field─but I knew that it was simply beyond me. And so, all I could do was clam up and turn around, ready to depart from the dining room."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0026.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, Ars,” said my father. “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned back around to face him and asked, “What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems a letter from your fiancée has arrived. I’ve entrusted it to Rietz, so feel free to read it when you can spare a moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, from my fiancée?” I replied, then paused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hmm? Wait…fiancée? Surely I must have misheard him? A fiancée would be a woman I’m engaged to be married to, right?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, Father…? I think I might be misunderstanding something. Did you just say it was from my fiancée?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, did I never tell you? That’s right. You have a fiancée,” said my father, blithely turning my whole world upside down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I have…a fiancée…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head. Really, this wasn’t that shocking a development, was it? I was a noble, after all! A lord’s son being engaged at an early age was perfectly reasonable! The fact that my father hadn’t said so much as a single word about it up to that point, on the other hand, was significantly less reasonable and more than a little shocking!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, wait,” I said. “I’m actually engaged? And you just…never told me? Why?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It slipped my mind,” replied my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "How does your son’s engagement, of all things, “slip your mind”?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father might have looked like a shrewd and cunning individual, but every once in a while, he exposed the fact that he had a dangerously careless side to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your fiancée is the daughter of the Lord of Torbequista, a region of Canarre,” explained my father, before being interrupted by another coughing fit. After the attack subsided, he continued. “That lord, Hammond Pleide, is an old friend of mine. Around a decade ago─a year before you were born─Hammond had his third child. He already had two boys, who were six and four, but the third turned out to be his first daughter, so we vowed that if I ever had a son, he and Hammond’s daughter would be wed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father’s explanation, punctuated by the occasional cough, didn’t turn out to be the complicated political affair that I was expecting. Of course, my father was an upstart as far as nobles went. Our bloodline was far from extensive or prestigious, so expanding our circle of relatives was quite important."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Needless to say, that lack of an extended family tree would remain a problem after I inherited my father’s title. Taking that into consideration, being engaged to a genuine, by-birth noble wasn’t all that bad a deal for me. Marrying the person you fell in love with out of a pure desire to be together was considered the norm in my old world, and I couldn’t deny that part of me still fantasized about walking that path myself, but I supposed I’d just have to give up on that sort of romanticized, well, romance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, Rietz was supposedly in possession of the letter, so giving it a read seemed like the logical next step to take. Thus, I went on my way to seek him out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I eventually found Rietz in the study. Rosell, Charlotte, and the twins were all there as well. Charlotte was keeping the twins company while Rietz and Rosell were busy hitting the books. I’d tasked Charlotte to join them in their studies recently, considering her apparent lack of any sort of basic education. Judging by what I’d heard, though, her memory left much to be desired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning to you, Master Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good morning, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Master Ars. Morning.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment I stepped into the room, Rietz, Rosell, and Charlotte greeted me in turn, and I returned the gesture. All three of them had changed substantially over the last three years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To begin with, Rietz was now eighteen, and the somewhat childish roundness of his features had completely vanished. He looked every bit the adult he was. I mean, by Japanese standards, eighteen was still quite young, but Rietz had been through so many battles and seen so many of the horrors of war that there wasn’t so much of a trace of childishness left in him. He’d grown taller, too, and had to be nearing the 6’3” mark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His experience in battle had done wonders for him as well. At the moment, his stats looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Every single one of them had gone up, and all of them except for Valor were in the nineties."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell, meanwhile, was eight, and still very much a kid. He’d grown quite a bit as well, though, and was probably somewhere around 4’3”. His face was as youthful as ever, but I’d noticed he was developing something of a persistent glare, possibly thanks to how much of his time he’d spent with his brow furrowed in deep thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In sharp contrast to his appearance, his personality was as adult-like as could be. Every once in a while, he’d bust out some pearl of wisdom that even made the actual adults nearby nod in admiration! His stats looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The gains his Intelligence had made were remarkable, but that aside, only his Politics had made any real advances. I wasn’t exactly surprised, though─he’d done precisely no martial training over the past three years, and he hadn’t been out commanding troops on the battlefield, either. I made a mental note to look into having Rosell get some experience with martial arts sometime in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Last, but certainly not least, was Charlotte, who was now fifteen. She’d still looked like a child back when we first met, but she’d gone through a growth spurt since then, and had blossomed into a fully-fledged woman. Her growth in the chest area was particularly impressive─she was, in a word, stacked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That fact made it really hard to know how to react when she got it into her head to hug me out of nowhere. I had no clue why she did it, and given my meager experience with women, I didn’t know what to make of it in a ton of other ways as well. I’d known Charlotte for three years, yet the inner workings of her mind were still completely opaque to me. The one thing I could say with relative confidence thanks to my siblings was that she liked little kids."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for her stats…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…she’d made some impressive progress in some respects, and less in others. Her Leadership score had gradually grown as she went through battle after battle, but her Valor, oddly enough, had remained more or less stagnant. It had only gone up by two points over a full three years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I still didn’t have a clear grasp of what dictated the growth rates for people’s stats. I’d seen cases where people gained three whole points in a single day, but also cases like Charlotte’s where it took three years for two measly points. I did have a theory in Charlotte’s case, though: she hadn’t grown in that respect because she had no desire to improve."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d gotten the impression that Charlotte was already totally satisfied with the current level of her magic, so she wasn’t making any efforts in particular to polish her skills. To be fair, her current stats were already outlandishly high, so I couldn’t really blame her for feeling like she’d reached her peak. I just also couldn’t help but wonder how infernally powerful her magic would become if she were to completely max out her Valor, and sort of wished she’d put a bit more effort into raising it. Part of me hoped that a mage as powerful as her would show up someday and spark some friendly competition between the two of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz, did my father give you a letter?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean the one from your fiancée? He did, yes,” replied Rietz, pulling a letter from his breast pocket and handing it to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-Ars, you have a fiancée…? What’s she like?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve never met her, so I don’t know. I only found out about her a moment ago,” I explained. “Actually, I don’t even know her name yet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t? That sort of thing actually happens?” asked Rosell, sounding a little shocked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve got a fiancée, Master Ars?” asked Charlotte. “But I thought that was why you bought me! You were gonna marry me, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wrong!” I snapped. “Where in the world did you get that idea?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, okay, I see. You bought me to make me your mistress!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Absolutely not!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte snickered at me. Apparently, she’d just been making fun of me this time around. She had a bad habit of saying completely outlandish stuff in total earnest every once in a while, so I always had a really hard time figuring out when I had to take her seriously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a look at the letter. A name was printed on the front of the envelope: Licia Pleide."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that must be my fiancée’s name. I’ll have to make note of that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I opened the letter and gave it a read. The first thing I noticed was that her handwriting was clean and elegant. As for the letter’s content, it started with a simple-enough greeting, then moved to talk about her recent affairs─how she’d taken up flower gardening as a hobby, and was pleased with how beautiful her garden was turning out to be. Finally, it concluded with the words, “As we promised, I intend to pay you a personal visit in very short order. I look forward to your hospitality.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering I’d only learned of her existence a matter of minutes ago, it probably went without saying that I’d made no such promise. I had to assume that either my father had done so in my name, or my fiancée had dreamed it up herself. Considering recent events, the former seemed far more likely…but perhaps that was just wishful thinking on my part. I’d have a lot of apprehensions about marrying a girl who could dream up a promise like that and convince herself it had actually happened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Another worrisome detail was the fact that she’d written that she planned to visit “in very short order,” but hadn’t given any indication as to when exactly that would be. She probably assumed that I’d been fully briefed on the matter, so she didn’t think that level of specificity was necessary."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Incidentally, in my new world, each year consisted of three hundred and sixty days, which were split up across twelve months. Each month was precisely thirty days long, so all things considered, the system was pretty similar to the one we had back on Earth. I’d never learned why things were split up that way, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On Earth, of course, one year indicated one revolution around the sun, but I didn’t even know if this world was a proper globe, much less how the solar system may or may not be part of how it functioned. There was a sun-like object in the sky during the day, plus moon-like and star-like ones at night, so it seemed pretty likely that things worked the same way here as they had in my old world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, that day in particular was the third day of the sixth month. That was one aspect in which the new system confused me─winter spanned from the fifth month to the seventh month here. Spring went from the eighth month to the tenth, summer was the eleventh to the first, and fall was the second to the fourth. My birthday, by the way, was on the eighth day of the eighth month. But of course, all of that was pretty off-topic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Steering back to my original point, my best guess was that “in very short order” probably meant she’d be showing up somewhere from the seventh day of the month to the ninth or so. That was just blind guesswork, however, and if I wanted a clear answer, my only choice was to ask my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did the letter say, Master Ars?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Apparently, the girl I’m engaged to will be paying us a visit soon,” I replied. “Have you heard anything about that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Rietz blinked. “No, I’m afraid I haven’t. If that’s true, though, then it’s a matter of grave importance! Hosting a guest like her would require us to make numerous preparations, and we’ve done nothing of the sort! Do you know precisely when she’ll be arriving?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I don’t. I don’t remember signing off on this visit, either, though I suppose you’ve already guessed that yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, I suppose you’ll have to ask Lord Raven for the details,” said Rietz, arriving at the same conclusion that I’d reached."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I went back to the dining hall, but by the time I arrived, my father had already left. The next most likely place for him to be was his room, where he’d been spending a lot of time lately recuperating from his illness. Sure enough, I found him there, and asked him about the surprise visit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh… Come to think of it, I believe I might have agreed to something along those lines, yes,” admitted my father. “It was quite a long time ago, though… Hammond said that the two of you should meet while you’re still young, and I…think I probably agreed? You have to understand, Ars, that I was fairly far into my cups at the time. I hardly remember the conversation at all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But you did agree to it, then,” I sighed. “When exactly is she supposed to arrive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let me see…I believe it was the sixth…the sixth day of the sixth month? No, the fourth day! That’s it─the fourth day of the sixth month. Yes, I’m certain of it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fourth day? But, wait, that’s…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That’s tomorrow!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it is,” my father blithely replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-How can you be so calm about this?! And why did you never think to tell me anything?!” I pressed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father glanced away sheepishly, scratched his chin, and then turned back to me with a profoundly serious expression on his face and replied, “Ars. I need you to listen, and listen well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-All right,” I replied nervously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even the greatest of men make mistakes every once in a while.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I instantly regretted interpreting his expression as “serious” in any capacity. I was, frankly, appalled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz!” I shouted, turning to my ever-capable retainer, who had accompanied me to my father’s chamber. “Prepare the household to receive guests immediately!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood, Master Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Getting ready to host an ambiguous number of guests with only a single day to prepare was─not to put too fine a point on it─an absolute goddamn nightmare. Thus, the entire estate was thrown into a state of chaos."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the worst-case scenario, our preparations would prove woefully insufficient, my fiancée would be scandalized, and my engagement itself would be put into jeopardy. Forgetting about her visit was nothing short of an insult, and there was absolutely no way I could be honest with her about what had happened. I had to make it look like we’d been preparing for days, yet I had almost no time at all to make that happen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I ended up enlisting several villagers who happened to be free that day to help out with our last-minute preparations. Not only did we have to get the inside of the estate ready, but the exterior had also gone a little too long without a solid touch-up, so it needed a thorough cleaning as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We worked at a frantic pace, and all of us were so stressed that we were basically at a loss, with the sole exception of Rietz the quintessential superhuman. He kept his cool the whole time, doling out clear and precise orders to everyone around him even as he accomplished his own tasks at a blinding pace. After working with him for so many years, none of my family’s other employees dared to look down on him for being a Malkan anymore, so they allowed him to take the lead without complaint."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a final touch of hospitality, I decided to prepare a bouquet to present to my fiancée upon her arrival. Her letter had made it clear to me that she was a big fan of flowers, so I hoped the gesture would go over well. She’d written that she was especially fond of a type of flower called miramis blossoms. It seemed she appreciated the fact that they bloomed in winter, a season normally bereft of greenery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I were to compare them to an Earth flower, miramis blossoms looked an awful lot like lycoris flowers, a species of spider lily, except with white petals. We had some blooming in our estate’s garden, conveniently enough. I remembered hearing that lycoris flowers were poisonous and considered symbols of death in some sects of Buddhism, so I was a little biased against them. However, once I forced myself to look past those preconceptions, I had to admit that they were quite pretty. Miramis blossoms weren’t poisonous and had no religious significance, either, so unlike lycoris, there wasn’t any baggage to get in the way of their beauty."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I put together a bouquet of miramis blossoms, and even transplanted many miramis plants from the village into our estate’s garden just to give her an extra-good first impression. I did have some doubts about my plan─after all, would someone who grew her own flowers be happy to receive even more of them?─but upon further reflection, I decided that what really mattered was me showing off the fact that I’d taken note of her interests and was trying to cater to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, after a full day of frantic work, we’d managed to get the estate to a borderline presentable appearance. Lord Hammond was also minor nobility, ruling over a territory not much larger than that of my father’s, so I hoped his daughter wouldn’t be offended by the fact that our offerings were somewhat less than extravagant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz walked over to me as I surveyed our work. After a day like that, I could tell that even he was a little worn out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve done all we can,” he said. “Now it’s up to you to make a good first impression, Master Ars… Though of course, I doubt we have anything to worry about on that front.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks for piling on the pressure, Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, he was right. Whether or not she got a good impression of House Louvent ultimately rested on my shoulders. No matter how much we polished our estate’s appearance, if she decided that I wasn’t to her liking, then all that effort would be wasted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz seemed to have total faith in me for some reason, but to be totally honest, I had very little confidence in myself. My fiancée was a year older than me, according to my father, which would make her ten at the moment. I would’ve felt better about dealing with her if she were a little younger─ten was a tricky age for girls, to my understanding. At the age of ten, people were very much still children, but treating a child of ten accordingly was a very good way to get on their bad side."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was pretty sure that kids usually tended to develop their first crush around the age of ten, as well. I’d never been the popular type, though, and I wasn’t exactly a knockout in the looks department in this life, either. My appearance was perfectly mediocre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is this really going to go well?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t have much time to plan, unfortunately, and before I could come up with a solid strategy, she arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars, Lady Licia has been sighted! She’ll be here momentarily!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The moment I got the news, I hurried outside, ready to welcome her. A golden-haired girl was standing before the gateway to our estate, accompanied by a small retinue of butlers and maids. She smiled as she watched me rush out the front door, then stepped up to introduce herself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Licia Pleide,” she said, giving me an elegant curtsey as she did so. I could tell in an instant that she’d had a noble upbringing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I bowed politely and introduced myself in turn, I took a closer look at Licia. The first thing that struck me was how short she was. Boys and girls weren’t generally that far apart height-wise at the age of ten─if anything, girls tend to be a little on the taller side─but she was definitely shorter than me, in spite of the fact that I was a year younger and far from tall myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Height aside, she seemed like a calm, gentle, and beautiful girl. Her upturned eyes made her look kind, while her skin was pristine."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0028.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was, of course, still a child, and had the figure to match. I’d been visualizing her as a kindhearted girl ever since I learned she was fond of flowers, and she certainly looked the part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still, I decided to appraise her, just for good measure. She was my fiancée, not a prospective retainer, so I wouldn’t have been devastated if her stats were nothing to write home about, but if she was exceptional, then this arrangement was all the better."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wh-What the hell sort of stats are those?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her Politics score was the first to shock me. Her Intelligence was quite high as well, to be clear, but compared to her Politics, it didn’t even make me bat an eyelash. A maximum of 100! And it was already 77!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Politics was a fiddly stat to pin down. It still wasn’t entirely clear to me what having a high Politics score actually meant for a person’s abilities. Perhaps they were an exceptionally good communicator, an expert barterer, or a master of negotiations. If I had to put it into simple terms, I’d say that your Politics score represented your ability to express yourself. And then there was her Ambition. It was at 80…but why? Was she plotting to become the wife of a big-league lord or something?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d thought that she was a calm, gentle girl at first glance, but a single appraisal was all it took to shatter that impression. Sure, she was still smiling away at me, but suddenly, it looked less like the natural smile of a pleasant, kindhearted individual and more like a cold, calculated smile that was expressly engineered to give its recipient the best first impression possible. She was indeed exceptional, no doubt about it, but whether she’d prove to be the boon or bane of the Louvent household was entirely up in the air."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For all you know, maybe her Politics score represents the fact that she’s naturally charismatic and just has a way with people! Maybe it’s not calculated at all on her part! In any case, overthinking this probably isn’t going to do me any good."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm… Is something stuck to my face, perchance?” asked Licia. I’d been so stunned by the results of her appraisal that I’d ended up staring a little too obviously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I spent a second in frenzied thought, trying to come up with a decent excuse, but then one of the maids behind her spoke up first and said, “Oh, I’m sure he’s just bewitched by your beauty, Milady!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering the circumstances, that seemed as good of a stopgap excuse as any."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I owe you one, miss maid!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That’s right!” I declared, latching onto her explanation. “I was just thinking you have the loveliest smile, that’s all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, I’d never have acted like that much of a pompous flirt, but desperate times called for desperate measures and I’d never known women to get upset about being complimented…not that I’d known many women, period."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, my! You flatter me,” Licia said as her cheeks grew faintly flushed. It was such a natural reaction that I had a hard time believing she was just acting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, allow me to show you into the estate,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That would be lovely! Please do,” replied Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We walked side by side through the grounds, her maids and butlers following about five paces or so behind us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lamberg truly is a wonderful place,” said Licia, breaking the silence once more. I couldn’t quite tell if she truly meant it, or if she was just being polite."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is! The land here is blessed with an abundance of nature, and the village is full of life. I’m quite fond of my own homeland, Torbequista, but to be frank, I believe that this region is even more wonderful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, it really didn’t seem like she was lying to me. I’d been worried that she’d be disillusioned by the fact that her fiancé lived in a random, insignificant corner of the countryside, but maybe those concerns were groundless?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What sort of place is Torbequista?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s out in the countryside with nature to spare, just like Lamberg, and its people are kind and caring,” Licia replied. “That being said, they’re somewhat less than bold, on the whole. We have very few achievements to speak of on the field of battle. I must admit that when I heard the tales of Lord Raven and the valiance of the troops he commands, I felt rather envious!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our idle chatter continued as we approached the estate’s main building. Normally, it would only have taken a minute or so to walk there from the main gate, but between all that talk and the occasional pause to look around, it was quite a while before we finally arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia had an exceptional talent for keeping a conversation flowing. I’d never been much of a talker, myself, so I had to give her the credit for how lively our little chat ended up being. You’d think she’d have been at least a little apprehensive about meeting her fiancé for the first time, but she certainly didn’t let it show."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She asked just the right questions to pull me into the conversation, and did an excellent job of steering it toward topics that I’d have something to contribute to. Her reactions seemed genuine as well─every time she’d laugh or gasp in surprise, it struck me as totally natural. She also made sure to compliment me whenever an opportunity arose, which put me in a pretty good mood. In fact, I was ready to completely open up to her, even though it had only been about five minutes since we’d met!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I’d been an ordinary child without memories of another lifetime, or if I hadn’t had my Appraisal skill to help me out, I figure she would’ve had me utterly charmed beyond the point of no return over those five minutes. In the back of my mind, however, I hadn’t dismissed the possibility that she was doing it on purpose…and if that was the case, then Licia was a girl I could not afford to underestimate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had a high Politics score, too, and he wasn’t nearly this skilled at the art of conversation. He wasn’t a poor conversationalist, to be clear─it just wasn’t one of his most outstanding qualities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe your Politics score and your ability to communicate aren’t actually as directly linked as I thought. Or maybe some other ability plays a factor, and I just haven’t picked up on it yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As slowly as we were walking, we did eventually reach the main building and the field of miramis blossoms I’d had planted around it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh my, miramis blossoms! And there are so many of them! How lovely!” exclaimed Licia. “Did you plant them just for me, perchance?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Actually, yes,” I admitted. “You mentioned that you loved them in the letter you wrote. I hope they’re to your liking.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re beautiful,” Licia mumbled as she looked out across the garden. “You did this all for me? It must have taken so much time. Thank you, truly,” she said, turning to face me. Her cheeks were flushed once more, and a carefree smile spread across her face. “I am deeply moved by your generosity.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her smile reminded me of my previous life. I’d always wanted to have a daughter just like her. I quickly reprimanded myself for the thought, though─getting all paternal on my fiancée was just plain weird on several levels! I’d have to marry her sometime in the future, after all, and we’d be expected to produce offspring. If I let myself start thinking of her in that light, then I could only imagine how guilty I’d feel when the time came to do the deed! Then again, that time definitely wouldn’t come until she was fully grown, so maybe I was just overthinking things."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is something the matter?” asked Licia. I’d been staring again, though this time I genuinely was charmed by her smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Normally, I would’ve shook my head frantically and tried to explain my way out of it, but I’d grown past that reaction thanks to the maid from before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies,” I said. “I was just captivated by your lovely smile, Lady Licia.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My… You certainly have a way with words, don’t you, Sir Ars?” she replied, blushing once more. If I were a real flirt, I probably would have said something about how her smile was so striking it put the miramis blossoms around us to shame, but I didn’t have the guts to do that, for better or worse. I would’ve literally died of embarrassment if I’d tried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, Licia and I stepped inside the estate’s main building. You needed a solid plan to entertain a guest like her, but fortunately, I had that under control! After escorting her inside, the next item in my itinerary was to formally welcome her to our home. The step after that was a little trickier, though. I’d planned on having lunch served, but since Licia had arrived earlier than anticipated, I was going to have to either improvise or stick to my guns and serve lunch early. That wasn’t entirely unheard of during visits like this one, at least."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After lunch, I planned to escort Licia into the town of Lamberg for a stroll─essentially, to take her out on a date. Of course, the town was far enough from our estate that we’d have to bring an escort, so it wouldn’t exactly be a private affair. We’d return to the estate after that for a moment to rest and…take a nap or something, and by that point, it would hopefully be late enough for dinner."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Speaking of dinner, I’d arranged for a performance to be staged during the meal. The Louvent household was, thankfully, at least somewhat prepared for unexpected last-minute visitors, so we had the means to muster entertainment at very short notice. A rather shocking number of our servants were trained musicians, so thankfully, said performance wouldn’t just involve watching our soldiers spar with each other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that said, our performance plans had all been made under the assumption that we’d be entertaining adults. Would a kid like Licia enjoy them at all? I had no clue, so I pretty much forced the task of getting everyone ready off on Rietz. I knew I could trust him to do something about it, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for Licia’s eventual departure, I’d prepared several gifts for her other than the miramis bouquet. I didn’t actually know how long she was planning to stay, technically, but among the aristocracy, it was supposedly poor etiquette to stick around for longer than a day, so I was fairly confident she’d be off on her way tomorrow. But if I was wrong, and she decided to linger for longer, things were probably going to get pretty hectic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could worry about that later, though. First up was her formal greeting! And, as we stepped into my home…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Welcome, Lady Licia,” said our whole host of retainers in unison. They were gathered up inside, dressed notably more formally than they’d usually bother to be, and bowed politely as we made our entrance. The interior itself was a lot cleaner than usual, too, with miramis blossoms placed here and there as decorations and a whole host of art we usually kept in our storehouse put out on display."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Under normal circumstances, the entire household would have shown up to greet Licia, but my father was notably absent. I assumed that he was reluctant to meet with her at the moment, considering his poor health. He had a point, to be fair─there’d be hell to pay if she caught whatever he’d been afflicted with! Better safe than sorry. Less explicable, however, was Rietz’s absence. Had he been called away for something urgent?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. It seems you’ve already been informed, but my name is Licia Pleide. I thank you for your most gracious hospitality,” said Licia, addressing our retainers with a polite curtsy. A lot of nobles made a point of looking down on those beneath them on the social ladder, but it seemed she wasn’t among that number."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I may very well find myself permanently under your care in the future, so I would like to get to know you as soon as possible,” Licia continued, proceeding to go around and personally introduce herself to each member of my household’s staff, one by one. The whole household’s worth of servants was there, along with House Louvent’s mages, cavalry, and other highly-skilled troops."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your fiancée sure is pretty, Ars,” said Rosell, who was present despite not fitting into any of the aforementioned categories. He was being raised to become our house’s tactician, yes, but as things stood, he was nothing more than the third son of a hunter. Not that having him around was a problem, per se─despite his habit of treating me a little more casually than he probably should have, he was quite well-mannered, and probably wouldn’t cause any trouble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where in the world is Rietz?” I whispered back to Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Mr. Rietz didn’t think he should attend, since there’s a chance that having a Malkan around would displease the lady. Didn’t he tell you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’s still worried about all that, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s achievements in battle had won him a fair share of renown. He’d been regularly ridiculed by soldiers from the other noble houses at first, but I’d heard that fewer and fewer people dared to do so as his reputation grew. Personally, I thought that there’d be no problem with him making an appearance at this sort of function. Plus, Licia was bound to find out about him sooner or later, considering our relationship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hell, the odds were pretty decent that she already knew about Rietz! If she was going to have a problem with him, then having the two of them meet as soon as possible would be for the best in the long run. Of course, Rietz was smart enough to figure all of that out for himself, but he’d decided to hold back for the moment regardless. I could only assume he’d simply chosen to err on the side of caution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By this point, Licia was shaking the hands of everyone present and making small talk. Her smile never faltered for a second, and she was clearly smooth-talking them just as effectively as she had me. She’d given an excellent first impression to everyone in the room, that was for sure. I had to agree with everyone, too. She really did seem like a nice girl, plain and simple. However, deep down, I just couldn’t forget what I’d seen on her status screen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t just her Politics score, either─her Ambition was causing me some serious unease as well. It did make sense that someone with a Politics score like hers might be a naturally gifted communicator, yes, but when I factored in her Ambition, the odds that the way she presented herself was deliberate and calculated skyrocketed. And if that really was the case, then I knew it would only take the slightest moment of complacency for her to seize the upper hand. I couldn’t allow myself to let my guard down around her until I knew more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… She’s pretty, and she seems nice enough at a glance, but…I dunno…she’s kinda scary, too,” muttered Rosell as he watched Licia do her thing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What makes you say that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, it’s hard to put into words… I guess it’s that her smile seems almost fake. Or that what she’s saying is sort of superficial… It’s like she’s buttering us all up, or something… A-Ars, you should keep your guard up around that girl. If you don’t, I’m afraid she might p-poison you or something… Then she’d put me under her thumb and work me like a slave… P-Please, you have to keep an eye on her, no matter what!” Rosell whispered into my ear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was impressed by how sharp his intuition was. His analysis of the situation had veered off in a pretty pessimistic direction as it went along, yes, but still."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess my only options are to get to know her as well as I can, and to make sure not to put myself at risk until I’m certain I know what makes her tick. Not even Appraisal can tell me who a person really is deep down, so I’m on my own on this one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, look, it’s Charlotte’s turn!” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, crap!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I realized my mistake a moment too late. I’d never really taken the time to teach Charlotte about proper etiquette, and even after all this time, I still had no clue what was going on in the girl’s head. There was absolutely no way of predicting what she might do, but I had a terrible feeling that it might end up being something really, really rude!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We should’ve had her sit this out, not Rietz!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia stepped up to Charlotte, but instead of immediately offering her a handshake like the others, she paused for a moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh,” said Licia. “Might you be Charlotte? I’ve heard all sorts of tales about House Louvent’s master mage! They say you wield magical power like none other, and burn your enemies to ash by the score!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I assumed that the mage’s robe Charlotte was wearing had tipped Licia off to her identity. I could also practically see Charlotte’s ego inflate on the spot as she realized that her name was making the rounds among the other noble houses."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed, I am the one they call Charlotte,” Charlotte replied in a tone positively dripping with confidence. Bordering on straight-up arrogance, really. That was not how a mage was meant to conduct herself in front of a noble’s daughter, but I took some small solace in the fact that she hadn’t bungled it up too horrifically, and their exchange was over…or so I thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew it! I just wanted to say that, from one woman to another, I respect you ever so much! Please, do shake my hand!” exclaimed Licia, much to my bemusement. It was like watching a little kid get introduced to their favorite superhero."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, I suppose that could’ve gone much worse, I thought, a bead of cold sweat slowly dripping its way down my back. Charlotte’s attitude didn’t improve after the handshake, unfortunately. She wasn’t usually that insolent when she was speaking with adults, but Licia was a child, and in Charlotte’s mind, that apparently exempted her from all standards of politeness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One of these days, I have to drill some etiquette into that girl’s head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia finished making the rounds and turned to face me once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, excuse me,” she said. “Is Lord Raven not present at the moment?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father’s illness has taken a turn for the worse, I’m afraid,” I explained. “Much as he would love to meet you, he’s chosen not to do so for fear of spreading his sickness.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so…? I’m terribly concerned for him, but if he simply cannot meet with me, I will not protest. Oh, and one more question─is Rietz, the Malkan I’ve heard so much about, not around? I’ve heard all sorts of tales about his brilliance upon the battlefield, so I would love to meet with him in person.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like Rietz didn’t have to worry about Licia being prejudiced. Too bad he didn’t make an appearance, I guess. I’ll have to let him know later."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I ended up going with the early lunch plan, after which the time finally arrived for the most nerve-wracking item on our itinerary: the date. Licia and I left the estate together on foot. I couldn’t pick them out at a glance, but I knew for a fact that an escort was following us just out of sight. The idea was that having a full host of armed guards accompanying us would take the fun out of the experience, so they’d hang back and stay out of the picture unless they were needed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To be totally honest, though, I thought it would’ve been better for them to just walk with us and not bother with the pretext. After all, who knew whether they’d be able to make it to us in time if something did go wrong? Not that I was expecting any disasters─I’d certainly never been attacked in town so far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The real problem, in my mind, was the question of what we would do once we got to town. Lamberg wasn’t exactly a tourist destination. The village had zero places to go for entertainment, and I wasn’t convinced it would be even suitable for a date."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d seriously considered just staying at the estate and taking a leisurely walk through the flower gardens instead, but Rietz advised me against it. According to him, “Showing her that you’re adored by your subjects will prove to her that you’ll be an exemplary lord in the future.” Whether or not that was the right angle to take with a kid like Licia seemed a little questionable, in my mind. Then again, she was the child of a lord herself, and had probably received a specialized education, so I decided to heed his advice. Licia had already proved to be remarkably bright, so it seemed that decision had been the right one, in retrospect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now the big question was whether or not I could keep her entertained. Just talking with her the whole time would’ve been ideal, but I wasn’t the best conversationalist. Thankfully, her skill in the field seemed to make up for my lack thereof, and our conversations had proven enjoyable thus far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Anyway, it only took us a few minutes to arrive at the village. I decided to lead her to the town square. It wasn’t much of a plaza or anything, but it did have a small local marketplace set up in it. You couldn’t find much of anything worthwhile there, but every once in a while, something rare or unusual would crop up, and it was the liveliest part of town by a long shot. For lack of better options, it seemed like the right place to visit first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shall we head for the town square?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lead the way!” Licia replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I showed her to the square, as planned, but when we arrived, I quickly realized that something seemed a little off. The square was usually fairly bustling, but on that particular day, there was a bigger crowd than ever. I could hear angry shouts and bellows coming from within."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Give us our damn money back!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Like hell I will! This was a done deal! You can’t just back out of it, you rat bastards!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Between the shouting and the swearing, it was clear that whatever we were witnessing was on the verge of devolving into a brawl."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, for the… Of all the times for trouble to crop up in town! What should I do? Can I just ignore it? No, that’s not an option─I’m the son of the lord here, so ignoring the people’s problems could give Licia a terrible impression of me!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you suppose happened?” Licia muttered. She sounded worried, so as I’d feared, I was going to have to do something to resolve the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seriously, there couldn’t possibly have been a worse time for things to go wrong."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d informed the townsfolk that Licia would be coming for a visit, but I hadn’t given them detailed information on my plans for the day. In retrospect, I doubted that most of them even realized that I’d be bringing her into town."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s go ask,” I said, then walked over to one of the townsfolk who was keeping an eye on the situation from the edge of the crowd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s going on? Why the commotion?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, if it isn’t the young master!” the villager said, then furrowed his brow. “Wait…wasn’t your fiancée s’pposed to be coming ’round today…? Oh! Is that her? The lovely li’l lady over there, I mean?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia took that as her cue to introduce herself to the man, and she was just as polite with him as she had been with the staff at my family’s estate. After they finished exchanging pleasantries, the man gestured toward the crowd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, yeah, ’s a real big fuss. Pretty messy stuff, if you ask me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Messy how?” I probed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man spent a moment breaking down the situation for me. Apparently, the conflict centered around the village’s local trader. His operation was fairly small-scale, but pretty much all of the village’s craftsmen had no choice but to deal with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It all started when several craftsmen who specialized in furniture and the like came up with a new variety of home heater that they planned to sell. The heaters were to be powered by flame-aspected magistones, which the craftsmen asked the trader to acquire for them. Magistones were useful for more than just the synthesis of aqua magia─they could also be used in their raw form for a variety of purposes. Flame-aspected magistones, for instance, emitted a slight amount of heat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The details were beyond me, but apparently, it had been discovered that stimulating flame-aspected magistones with some sort of material or another would increase the heat they released. The craftsmen had taken advantage of that quality to power their newly-invented heater. My family’s estate wasn’t equipped with anything of the sort, but I was certain we’d have one soon enough if they ever managed to put their design out onto the market."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "However, the magistones were what caused everything to break down. The trader had ended up stocking sound-aspected magistones, not fire. The line of communications between the craftsmen and the traders had failed catastrophically somewhere along the way, and the trader was convinced that they’d asked for sound-aspected magistones to make what sounded to me like some sort of magical megaphone to sell to House Louvent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The craftsmen, of course, intended nothing of the sort. They laid into the trader for his mistake, telling him that they couldn’t make something that complicated even if they wanted to, that they didn’t want or need his sound magistones, and that he should take a long walk off a short cliff. The trader, however, stubbornly stuck to his guns and insisted that he’d been asked for sound-aspected magistones and had held up his end of the bargain. That was when the craftsmen demanded their money back, but the trader demanded that they uphold the deal and take the magistones off his hands."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All in all, I couldn’t tell who was in the wrong. Someone had clearly screwed the pooch, but there was no way of telling who. A member of House Louvent was supposed to be present when deals of this sort were made, just in case any trouble cropped up, but there’d been so few issues as of late that everyone involved had decided it wasn’t worth bothering."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If one side had been harmed by the communications breakdown, it would’ve been easy enough to pin the blame on the shoulders of whoever had profited, but as things stood, both sides were liable to suffer losses. If I stormed in and announced that everyone was at fault for not bringing in an intermediary like they were supposed to, it probably would’ve calmed the situation down for the moment, at least─but neither side would leave satisfied, and the whole thing would inevitably explode the moment I left."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe I can figure out who’s at fault if I interview the people who actually made the deal… No, that would only work if the one who made the mistake was honest about it. Isn’t there something I can do to put this trouble to bed without causing more issues down the road?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I lapsed into thought for a moment, but before I could come up with a decent plan, Licia leaned in and spoke to me in a hushed tone, saying, “Umm, Sir Ars? If I may offer a suggestion, I believe I have an idea that could resolve this matter with no ill will on either side.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do? What is it?” I asked, somewhat shocked. Could a ten-year-old like her have really figured out how to solve a situation as messy as this one? Mediating a fight did fall into the realm of politics, in a certain sense, and her Politics score was far and away above that of an average person’s, so perhaps she really did have the perfect answer in mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nobody took any measures to prevent this sort of problem from occurring,” she explained. “And both sides are equally to blame for that negligence. That means that you could bring the issue to a close by assigning the blame to one side or the other…but that would leave lingering animosity, and they would likely soon start fighting all over again. Even worse, they might end up distrusting House Louvent as a result!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded. Everything she’d said lined up with my own analysis of the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Unfortunately, I doubt it’s possible to resolve the situation without either side suffering losses. That’s why the dispute escalated. I believe that to minimize the lingering animosity between the two sides, you should step in, assign an equal degree of blame to both of them, and propose a solution that costs both sides equally!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Minimizing the damage done and distributing it equally, huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a reasonable suggestion, to be sure. I had a feeling that both sides knew they were at least somewhat to blame for the problem, and were only disavowing their fault so vehemently because they had so much to lose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If the trader was left with only the advance the craftsmen had paid him, he’d come out of the deal deeply in the red, and even if the traders were able to recover that advance, they still stood to miss a major business opportunity. They’d surely already bought plenty of other materials for the heaters aside from the magistones, and developing the device couldn’t have been cheap, either. In that sense, not being able to produce them would mean a heavy loss for the craftsmen that recovering their advance wouldn’t cover."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a solution in mind,” said Licia. “I believe that the trader should be made to barter off the sound magistones he mistakenly obtained, then acquire flame magistones to replace them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Bartering them off, huh…? Now that you mention it, it’s not like sound-aspected magistones are worthless. Couldn’t the trader just return the advance he was paid and sell the magistones to someone else? Why isn’t he considering that option?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I can’t say for certain, but I presume that something about his circumstances is preventing him from doing so,” replied Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His circumstances? What could that be…?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought about it for a moment…and then an explanation finally hit me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks to the rapidly escalating conflicts cropping up all across Summerforth, the price of magistones had shot through the roof as of late. The one caveat, however, was that aqua magia made by refining low-quality magistones couldn’t actually be used to cast magic. That meant that the sort of low-quality magistones the trader was likely dealing in sold at a much lower price."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite that fact, however, it was very likely that the trader had bought his sound magistones for significantly higher than their usual market value. The craftsmen were after flame magistones, and had likely offered a high price in exchange for it. Flame magistones, I assumed, had to have been more expensive than sound magistones. I didn’t know precisely what sound magistones were used for, to be fair, but regardless, they couldn’t possibly have been more valuable than a variety that could be used to power a heater at this time of year."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of the high price they’d offered, though, the trader ended up under the impression they wanted sound magistones. In other words, he believed that they were offering to buy sound magistones from him for an excessive sum of money. I didn’t know the exact price of sound magistones, and it could’ve been higher or lower depending on how much of it was in circulation. Regardless, if the trader thought he’d be getting that high of a payout for it, he probably hadn’t bothered seeking out the best possible prices and had wound up paying slightly above the market rate for it himself. In short, he’d bought a whole pile of sound magistones that he had to sell for more than its market value, or else he’d face devastating losses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If the trader has to barter the sound magistones for flame magistones, he’ll likely end up with quite a bit less of it than the craftsmen initially ordered,” said Licia. “So, if the craftsmen are forced to pay the price they once agreed on, they would suffer heavy losses. With all that in mind, I think you should have them work out how much they would have paid for each pound of flame magistones initially, then have the craftsmen pay only slightly more than that for however much the trader manages to actually obtain. That should minimize the trader’s losses.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense,” I replied. It felt to me like the craftsmen would be getting a sort of raw deal, in the end, but on the other hand, they could make up for it by raising the price of the heaters once they were finished. I could even promise to purchase one myself for an even higher price to sweeten the bargain. We had a fireplace in the estate, yes, but a proper heater could have made life a lot more comfortable during winter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…” Licia thought for a moment longer, then nodded. “That’s all I can think of, I’m afraid. The rest will depend on how well you arbitrate the deal, Sir Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was convinced. Her plan was as good as I was going to get, and with that settled, I intervened in the argument, explained that both sides were in the wrong for not coming to my family in the first place, and offered Licia’s proposal as a means to minimize the damages all around. Neither side was wildly enthusiastic about the plan, to be sure, but I somehow managed to convince them to accept the terms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t think anyone was really happy with how the situation turned out, in the end, but at the absolute least, nobody looked like they were about to start throwing punches anymore. It seemed likely that the conflict was well and truly settled. The negotiations, however, had taken quite a long time, and the sun was already starting to set when we finished. Licia and I had no choice but to make our way back to my family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All things considered, the date was a disastrous failure. My one solace was that Licia didn’t seem particularly bothered. She’d really managed to impress me, when all was said and done─it was hard to believe that a girl of her age could come up with a way to resolve a conflict that messy, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was even more convinced than ever that the friendly, appealing way she conducted herself was calculated. If she was that smart, then reading people and playing to their desires was a piece of cake, right? Hell, part of me was starting to suspect that she’d been reincarnated into this world, just like me!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re frowning, Sir Ars,” said Licia, peeking over at my face. “Is something the matter?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no, not exactly!” I replied. “I was just thinking that this ended up being a pretty lousy date. I’m sorry about all the trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lousy? No, not at all! I was very impressed by how you conducted yourself, Sir Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Impressed? By what? All I did to help was offer your idea as a solution. I barely contributed anything at all, really.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia shook her head and replied, “The idea was mine, yes, but you’re the one who convinced them to accept it. They would never have considered your proposal so readily if they didn’t already have faith in you as their lord. It’s clear to me now that your people adore you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She certainly does know how to flatter a guy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was chagrined to realize that I’d inadvertently put myself in Licia’s debt. She hadn’t demanded a favor in return yet, but if I let myself get too indebted to someone with Ambition as high as hers, she was sure to use it as leverage sooner or later."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Paying her back right away was probably out of the picture, unfortunately, but even more than that, I wished that I could learn a little about what really made Licia tick deep down. I wouldn’t have felt safe marrying her unless I had a decent grasp of her personality. I kept brooding over the question as we walked back to my estate. Finally, our conversation took a turn that gave me the chance I needed to start learning more about her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What sort of people do you find appealing, Sir Ars? Just for the sake of reference,” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” I said, sensing an opportunity. “I suppose I like people who don’t keep secrets from me. I always appreciate spending time with people who don’t hold their true opinions back and don’t sugarcoat things. Life’s much more enjoyable that way, in my opinion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t expecting her to actually spill the beans just like that, of course, but I was hoping her reaction might give me some clues. I wasn’t exactly lying, either─even in my previous life, I’d thought that marrying a woman who didn’t mince words would have been nice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see! I’ll keep that in mind,” replied Licia. I might have been imagining it, but it felt like she’d paused for just a split second beforehand. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long enough for me to know if my response had rattled her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like dragging out Licia’s true feelings isn’t going to be quite that easy, I thought to myself as we made our way back to my estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We arrived home just in time for dinner, and after that, it was time for the entertainment I’d arranged. The performers had been preparing themselves while Licia and I were in town, it seemed, and their act went off without a hitch. The music was only the beginning─they also put on a magically-enhanced dance performance, which I personally thought was quite remarkable. Licia seemed to enjoy the whole event, so I figured I could call it a success overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the performance, all that was left was for us to say goodnight and retire to our chambers. I’d learned over the course of the day that she was, in fact, planning to return home the following morning. It seemed my assumption on that front had been safe after all. I just had to have breakfast with her, present her with her gifts, and see her off! Whether or not she’d like said gifts was still up in the air, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our date was a failure, but Licia hadn’t seemed particularly bothered by it. One way or another, the day had ended without any major problems. The only remaining issue was that I still didn’t have a handle on Licia’s personality or way of thinking at all. She couldn’t have been just a plain old nice girl, considering her Politics and Ambition scores."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meh, it’s not like today will be my only chance to figure her out. I can just put the pieces together bit by bit every time I meet her, I thought as I snapped my sheets to make my bed…and just about jumped out of my skin in shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Somebody was under my covers. At first, I thought that one of my siblings was playing a prank on me, but no, it wasn’t either of them. My bed’s occupant had blonde hair and happened to be somewhere around ten years old. In short…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is something wrong, Sir Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…it was Licia!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was so shocked, so utterly incapable of comprehending why she would be there of all places, that I didn’t even understand what she was asking."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did I startle you?” Licia asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, you certainly did,” I somehow managed to reply."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I could tell! Your eyes opened as wide as dinner plates, and you made the most adorable face,” she said with a grin. And not the friendly, sociable grin I’d seen her put on throughout the day, either─this was the grin of a mischievous little troublemaker."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I had no idea what she was doing in my room, and the wheels in my mind were spinning on overdrive to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do about it. I’d thought that all I had left to do that day was go to bed, but I couldn’t have been more wrong."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm,” I began. “You do know this isn’t your room, right, Lady Licia? Did one of our servants lead you to the wrong chamber, perhaps?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all! They did a splendid job and led me exactly where I was supposed to go. I simply slipped out afterward!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t lock my door, so I guess getting inside wouldn’t have been much of a challenge. Who told her which room was mine, though? I guess they wouldn’t have any reason to withhold the info if she claimed she just wanted to chat, but…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And why, exactly, did you do that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re a very composed person, Sir Ars, and not particularly expressive. I just wanted to see what sort of face you make when you’re shocked, that’s all!” Licia explained. Wasn’t much of an explanation, in my book, but maybe that was just me."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0030.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Part of me really wanted to ask where this side of her personality had been hiding all day, and Licia seemed to guess what I was thinking from the look on my face. She pushed herself into a sitting position on my bed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You told me this afternoon that you prefer being around people who speak their mind and don’t keep secrets, didn’t you? Well, I thought that, if that were the case, it would be nice to have a chance to talk, just the two of us. Scaring you was simply a bonus.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing that explanation finally helped me calm down a little. She hadn’t reacted much when I mentioned that I preferred honesty, but it seemed the statement had more of an impact on her than I’d initially thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well…I’m pleased to hear it, and I would love to chat,” I replied. “I want to get to know you better, as a matter of fact.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to draw out her true nature. That said, I was still very confused as to why she’d put herself in this position. The one thing I now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that the persona she’d projected throughout the afternoon really was just an act."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh my! Now I’m all flustered,” said Licia. “But as it so happens, I was hoping to get to know you better as well. For instance, I would love to know─what do you think of me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“…What do you mean?” I cautiously asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a certain talent. When I speak with someone, I can more or less tell how they feel about me by carefully observing the look on their face. The first time we met, Sir Ars, you looked at me with immediate suspicion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A “certain talent”? She can “more or less tell” what people think of her? Could it be that she has a skill similar to my Appraisal?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was shocked to realize that she had that sort of power─almost as shocked as I was to realize that she’d been fully aware of my doubts throughout the day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Distrusting someone you’ve only just met isn’t all that rare, to be fair,” continued Licia. “Plenty of people are wary by nature. Normally, though, I can dispel that distrust simply by speaking with them for a minute or two. You, however, spoke with me for hours on end, and even worked your way out of a difficult situation thanks to my advice, yet not only did your misgivings not vanish─they deepened, of all things! And then, at the very end, you tried to draw out my true intentions with a leading question! What is it about me that you find so suspicious, Sir Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Licia spoke, I did my best to read her expression. She seemed somewhat agitated, and perhaps even a little frustrated. As best as I could tell, she was irritated that she hadn’t managed to sway my opinion of her in the way she’d hoped."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She’d earned the trust and affection of who knows how many people with her conversational skills, which probably made my immovability all the more frustrating. That was why she’d taken the risk of overplaying her hand and revealing her true nature."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come to think of it, maybe she went out of her way to hide in my bed and scare me to vent her frustration…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a talent as well, Lady Licia. I can perceive people’s abilities, aptitudes, and ambition to move up in the world,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d resolved to tell her all about my power. She opened up to me, so keeping quiet about myself wouldn’t exactly have been fair, right? Not to mention that I was going to marry her at some point. If I was going to have to tell her eventually, I figured I might as well get it over with. I couldn’t tell if she believed me, but she did look a little shocked, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s how I know that you’re overwhelmingly more ambitious than almost anyone else I’ve ever met, and that you have the political talent to back it up,” I continued. “And it’s also why I suspected that the way you were acting was just a front.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Licia just sat there silently, but finally, she spoke up once more and said, “I suppose there’s no room for doubt─that talent of yours is certainly real. After all, I’m rather aware of my own ambitions.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are they? What is it you wish to do?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s only one ambition that a Summerforthian woman could possibly have: to find a man of power and status to fall for,” she replied. Saying it was the only ambition possible seemed like a bit of an overstatement to me, but considering the world we lived in, she was probably more right than I knew."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wouldn’t you be opposed to marrying a man like me, then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, quite. As a matter of fact, I was seriously considering breaking off our engagement prior to my departure,” Licia admitted. “After what you just told me, though, I’ve reconsidered the matter.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have? Why?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As things stand, you are indeed nothing more than the successor to a petty lord’s insignificant domain. Your power, however, changes matters. With it at your disposal, I’m confident that you will rise far beyond your current station. Thus, I’ve changed my mind. I want to marry you now, Sir Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could hardly think of a more mercenary reason to marry someone. I was the one who said that I wanted to know how she truly felt, so I’d literally asked for this, but now that I actually did know where she was coming from, I was finding it rather hard to muster a response."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m certainly happy to hear it. I’m in favor of our marriage as well,” I finally replied. I wasn’t being entirely honest─frankly, I had my fair share of worries about the whole idea. I had a feeling that Licia would be the staunchest of allies I could hope for, so long as I took care to only show her my good side. But the moment I let her catch a glimpse of my weakness, the odds were distressingly high I’d receive a dagger in the back for my trouble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t have much of a choice, though. The son of an upstart lord being engaged to marry another lord’s daughter was something of a rarity, so if I didn’t marry her, I might never get an opportunity like that again. Plus, on a more personal note, I actually found her scheming side a little charming."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Romance didn’t seem to be in the cards for the two of us, which was a shame, but I knew there was no point in setting my expectations too high. Our parents had arranged our marriage out of a sense of friendship, and I would’ve been happy if the two of us just happened to fall for each other, but Licia was clearly a hardcore utilitarian type. After everything I’d seen from her, I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn she had no interest in love on the whole."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear you say so! And with that, I bid you goodnight,” said Licia as she got off my bed. I’d thought she would want to chat for a little while longer, but no, she was already on her way out the door before I could even react."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess she’s satisfied now that she knows why I suspected her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I breathed a sigh of relief as she shut the door behind her. It had been a surprising, and somewhat harrowing, conversation, but I had managed to learn what sort of person she really was, so it was fruitful overall. I would’ve been an anxious wreck if she’d gone on her way before I pinned her personality down. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me, my mood considerably cheerier than it had been a few minutes prior."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I drifted off to sleep, I smelled something unfamiliar. It took me a little while to realize that Licia had been hiding in that very bed just moments earlier…and that I was smelling her. The aroma was so pleasant that it lulled me to sleep in no time flat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia let out a quick sigh of relief as she closed the door to Ars’s room. A moment later, she smiled─not the fake smile that she wore for show in public, and not the mischievous smile she’d worn in front of Ars moments earlier. No, this was a true, natural smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What in the world am I so happy about? Licia asked herself. But in truth, she already knew the answer: she was happy because Ars had said that he wanted to marry her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Between Licia’s ability to perceive what others thought of her, her talent for conversation, and her natural charms, the majority of the people she’d met had quickly taken a liking to her. She was beloved by all, young and old, man and woman alike, so at some point along the way, she started taking the affection that people afforded her for granted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That had made it more than a little difficult to cope with Ars’s unrelenting suspicion. She was frustrated and irritated with him─after all, what had she done to deserve his distrust?─but at the same time, she’d somehow found herself irresistibly drawn to him. Licia had yet to figure out where those feelings of hers stemmed from, but the one thing she did know for sure was that she needed Ars to fall for her, one way or another. That, clearly, was why she’d been so incredibly happy when he said he was in favor of their marriage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He does want to marry me now, yes…but it doesn’t seem like he’s fallen in love with me just yet. He will, though, one of these days! I’ll see to it that he does!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia had resolved Ars’s suspicions by revealing her true nature to him, but she knew it would take more than that to fully ensnare him with her charms. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that something so simple could steal a man’s heart."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In fact, on some level, she’d expected him to turn on her once her secret was out. She’d made her move anyway because, in her mind, being outright hated by him would have still been better than putting up with his unstated suspicion. In that sense, the fact that she’d exited the situation without earning his animosity meant that she’d come out ahead. Licia could be quite the optimist when the circumstances called for it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The beginning was an absolute disaster, though. At least I managed to fool him, I suppose…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The beginning,” of course, meant the part where she’d been caught in Ars’s bed. She’d told him that she’d wanted to see him in a state of surprise, but that was an outright lie. The simple truth of the matter was that the moment she’d fully registered the fact that it was his bed, she’d been afflicted with an irresistible urge to crawl right into it. She’d known it was an awful idea, too, but she just couldn’t stop herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Ars had walked into the room while she was still under the covers, Licia had nearly drowned in her own cold sweat. She’d barely had the time to come up with an excuse before he tried to climb into bed himself. The part where she said that the look of shock on his face was adorable, incidentally, had been entirely true."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia thought back to the smell of Ars’s bed, as well as the look on his face when he’d realized she was in it, and found herself grinning all over again. In the end, on the way back to her room for the night, she smiled the entire time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next morning, Licia ate breakfast with us, I presented her with her gifts, and then she went off on her way back to Torbequista. She gave me the brightest smile I’d ever seen when I handed her gifts to her─natural and cheerful enough that I just couldn’t imagine it was an act. Knowing her, though, even if she was genuinely pleased, the choice to show that fact off had almost certainly been deliberate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, I received a letter from her. It was a simple enough report, thanking me for my hospitality and informing me that she was taking good care of the flowers I’d given her. Etiquette dictated that I send a reply, so I wrote up a response and sent it off to her at the first opportunity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before I started receiving letter after letter from her at a remarkably fast pace. They were never about anything important, either. Just childish reports on her daily affairs and idle grumbling, for the most part. I couldn’t simply ignore them, however─again, etiquette and all─so I sent a reply each and every time. However, it wasn’t long at all before I ran out of things to write about. Forcing myself to fill up a letter every time quickly became a major source of stress in my life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why is she sending all these letters, anyway? Is she testing the extent of my vocabulary? Or maybe the answer’s surprisingly simple, and she just honestly enjoys hearing from me…? No, that’s absurd. It’s definitely not that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Aside from my ongoing correspondence with Licia, nothing in particular had changed in my life. I hadn’t found any exceptional people to recruit as of late, but regardless, I was already running up against the limitations of a small noble house’s resources. House Louvent simply didn’t have the funding to employ many more retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, a year and a half passed without any major incident…until one day, my father collapsed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0032.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the fourth day of the third month. Autumn was upon us, and I had just turned eleven."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The news of my father’s collapse came as a major shock. As of a few months prior, he’d stopped coughing entirely. We were all convinced he’d finally overcome his illness. But then one day, while he was training with his troops in the early morning, he simply fell to the ground, still as the dead. He hadn’t actually dropped dead on the spot, thankfully, but he did lose consciousness, and with no clear explanation why. He was carried into the estate, and a doctor who lived in Lamberg was immediately called in to treat him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is my father all right? Can you help him?” I asked after the doctor finished his inspection. We were sitting beside the bed where my father was resting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His life isn’t in danger, as things stand,” the doctor began, then hesitated before continuing. “But he has a high fever, it would seem. Hmm… Lord Raven was in poor health until recently, yes? I was relieved to hear he’d shaken off the malady, but I’m afraid to say that, well…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The look on the doctor’s face was all I needed to know that he wasn’t about to deliver good news."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Has my father’s illness returned?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe so,” replied the doctor. “And I now believe I know what he suffers from: a rather rare illness known as gley syndrome. The sickness itself is something of a mystery, though, I’m afraid. We have yet to determine what causes it, but a small mercy is that we do know it isn’t contagious. Its victims are likely to think themselves afflicted with a common cold, but with symptoms that persist for far longer than usual before suddenly receding. Shortly thereafter, though, the disease manifests once more in the form of a wide variety of symptoms─a high fever, a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, a propensity to fall victim to other illnesses…and, ultimately, death.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d never heard of a disease by that name, and I couldn’t remember any sickness from my old world with similar symptoms. I was never exactly an expert as far as diseases were concerned, of course, so the fact that I didn’t know of any like it didn’t mean there hadn’t been one out there somewhere."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can gley syndrome be cured?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The doctor shook his head and replied, “Not with any medicine we know of. The only option is to wait and pray the patient overcomes the disease. In most cases, though, I’m afraid they pass away within a year of the first sign of symptoms. Lord Raven is exceptionally hale and hearty, and I believe that the odds are high he’ll survive longer than the average patient, but nevertheless…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was struck dumb. Was my father going to die? The thought alone sent my mind spiraling into turmoil. I knew it would happen someday, but surely this was far, far too soon?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s important now is for Lord Raven to get plenty of rest and allow his body the time it needs to heal, the same as one would for any other illness. So long as he does, there’s still a chance he’ll pull through,” said the doctor. “I’m aware that he’s a driven man, but you must not allow him to exert himself under any circumstances. Keep him at rest in bed, no matter what. I can’t guarantee he’ll survive even if you do, but at least then he’ll stand a fighting chance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, the doctor taught us some recipes for healthy food that would keep my father’s energy levels up, boiled some herbs into a medicinal concoction for him, and then took his leave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So if he gets plenty of rest, my father might still recover? No, not might. He will recover, I’m sure of it! He’s stronger and healthier than anyone I’ve ever known! There’s no way a plain old disease would do him in!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fighting in Missian had grown less fierce of late, as well, which helped me stay optimistic. Lord Amador, the Duke of Missian who’d been on death’s door just recently, had miraculously recovered, so his sons had ceased warring with each other. It turned out, incidentally, that the duke really had named the younger of the two his successor, but in light of the conflict that arose while he was indisposed, he’d decided to withdraw that decision and reconsider the matter. Apparently, he intended to consult at length with his vassals and his sons themselves before settling the question of his successor for good."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As far as I was concerned, though, what really mattered was that thanks to the duke’s recovery, House Louvent had been called into battle far less frequently in recent months. As long as he didn’t have to fight, I was sure that my father would let himself get the rest he needed. Or at least, I desperately hoped he would…until the worst news imaginable arrived the evening of the very same day my father had collapsed: the Duke of Missian had been assassinated. The timing couldn’t possibly have been any worse."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, my father finally awoke. Seeing him conscious was a relief, to be sure, but it was obvious he was far from healthy. He seemed tired, listless, and his fever had yet to break. I was worried that telling him how serious his illness was would be shocking enough to worsen his condition, so I decided to keep the fact that it could kill him a secret for the moment, and instead just emphasized that he needed rest above all else. He actually obeyed, for once, which felt like a sign of how badly the disease was hitting him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’d be better off refraining from informing Lord Raven about recent developments,” Rietz said later, when we were out of my father’s earshot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We were discussing the matter of the duke’s assassination, and decided that telling my father about it would be best left for another day. The last thing I wanted was to make him worry about the duchy’s politics and exacerbate his illness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“While we’re at it…what do you think will happen to House Louvent from here on out?” I asked. We were in the study at the time, incidentally. I’d called Rietz and Rosell in to discuss our options. Rietz’s expertise went without saying, and Rosell’s Intelligence had grown to a total score of 89, so I figured that his opinions would be valuable as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” said Rosell. “I think it’s only a matter of time before war breaks out, to start.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was worried you’d say that,” I replied with a grimace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, yeah, it’s sort of obvious. I mean, the duke kicked the bucket without naming a successor, right? Of course that would mean war.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think, Rietz? Do you see it that way as well?” I asked, turning his way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, yes. War is all but inevitable.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Figures. The duke sure did die at the best possible moment, assuming his goal was to cause a war of succession."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The operative question, as I see it, is not whether a war will break out, but when,” Rietz continued. “Since the duke was murdered, it seems quite possible that both of his sons will claim that the other was the mastermind behind the plot. If they do, then it’s entirely possible that the fighting will begin all but immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense…but while we’re on the subject, who sent an assassin after the duke? And why now, of all times?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The assassin was captured, from what I’ve gathered, but he took his own life before they could get any answers out of him. The mastermind remains a mystery,” Rietz explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think it was one of the brothers?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I dunno about that,” said Rosell. “The succession slate was just wiped clean, as far as they’re concerned, so having their dad bumped off now seems, well, pointless. I guess it is possible that the duke had already reached a decision and opened up to someone about it, though. If the son who wasn’t chosen caught wind of that, it would’ve given them a motive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell paused for a moment to think, then continued. “It’s also possible that the assassin got sent out from another duchy. It was pretty obvious that the duke’s death would throw Missian into chaos, after all. Then again, it’s not exactly easy for a foreign assassin to slip across the border, make it all the way to the capital, and off the duke himself, so maybe that’s not so likely after all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like the perpetrator may not have been one of the brothers… Of course, it’s not like we’ll ever know for sure, what with the assassin dead and all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No amount of thinking will allow us to track down the culprit,” said Rietz. “And honestly, we simply don’t have enough information to do anything about the situation at present, so I propose we drop the subject. The real question we ought to consider is what we’ll do when war does break out. I certainly don’t imagine Lord Raven will be marching into battle for the foreseeable future, considering the state he’s in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d told Rietz and Rosell everything I knew about my father’s diagnosis, so they were both taking the grave state of his health into account."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could you lead our troops, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No, that would be unthinkable! While it’s true that House Louvent’s soldiers and servants are more accepting of me than they used to be, fighting alongside your men and leading them are two entirely different things. I’m afraid you’re the only one who can fill that void, Master Ars. The soldiers have sworn their allegiance to House Louvent, so their morale would suffer greatly if a member of the house wasn’t there to fight by their side.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Morale, huh? That’s tricky, yeah─I guess I really will have to take to the field until my father recovers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t at all certain that I’d be able to fill his shoes properly, but if I didn’t rise to the occasion, my father would have to, and that would mean his inevitable death. Thus, I had no other choice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I imagine that a summons from the Count of Canarre will precede any real fighting,” Rietz clarified. “I’m sure he’ll call a meeting soon to discuss the future of the county and decide on a course of action.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hesitated, then asked, “And my father is in no condition to attend, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Correct. Even if all he would have to do is talk, the trip alone would strain him considerably. I believe it best he doesn’t attend.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” I said, considering my options. “It feels like it wouldn’t be right for me to not attend the meeting as a representative of House Louvent…but I’ve never done anything like this before. Can I really manage it…? Agh, it’s like a mountain of problems just got dumped on my head out of nowhere! And everything was so quiet and peaceful up until just yesterday!” I moaned, clutching at my head in despair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“G-Good luck with that, I guess!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell…” I groaned, shooting him a glare. “You realize this is your problem too, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm, Master Ars?” said Rietz. “I promise that I will do everything in my power to assist you. That goes for you too, Rosell─you owe it to him to help out!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, Rosell nodded in agreement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and another thing─do you think it would be best for us to refrain from telling my father about the duke’s death at all?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe so, yes,” said Rietz. “Learning that the duke has passed is sure to drive your father to push himself past his limits despite his illness. If we want him to remain in convalescence like the doctor recommended, then we’ll have to keep that news from him. Of course,” he added with a wince, “if he does ever find out, I imagine he’ll be quite upset.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a small price to pay, in my book.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father was terrifying when he got mad, sure, but I couldn’t afford to let him scare me into spilling the beans this time around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First things first,” I continued, “we’ll probably have some time before the count’s summons arrives. Before that happens, I’ll have to spend all the time I possibly can training in swordsmanship and the art of warfare.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agreed, and I would be more than happy to serve as your instructor,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, a period of intense, diligent study and training began for me. Eleven days passed by in that manner before finally, a letter arrived from the Count of Canarre requesting Lord Louvent’s immediate presence at Castle Canarre. I set out at once with Rietz, Charlotte, and a few of my father’s older retainers accompanying me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had my apprehensions about bringing Charlotte along, truth be told, but from what I’d gathered, her achievements on the battlefield and her unplaceable personality had resulted in the other houses considering her something of a terror. I was pinning my hopes on the possibility that showing the other houses that she obeyed my commands would help me earn some respect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t sent a letter in reply, by the way, so the count and his people had no idea that I would be the one in attendance. The letter had emphasized the urgency of the meeting and requested House Louvent’s presence as soon as conceivably possible, so I’d left without wasting any time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at the city of Canarre and made our way through the gateway, into the section of the city guarded by its curtain walls, and finally to the gateway of the castle itself. A gatekeeper called out to us as we approached."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Halt! You stand before Castle Canarre, residence of the count himself! None may enter without a letter of summons!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, that’s a problem─I definitely don’t have one. What’s going on here?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Raven was a familiar face to the guards, and he was always allowed to come and go as he pleased,” Rietz whispered into my ear. “I’m afraid, however, that it might prove more complicated in your case…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Well, that puts me in a bind,” I sighed. “So what, we won’t be able to get inside?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, I believe it should be possible,” said Rietz. “Charlotte’s name is quite widely known, as is mine, to a lesser extent. This particular guard does not seem to recognize us, but if we ask him to summon one of the count’s senior retainers to identify us, I believe we should be allowed inside.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded to Rietz, then turned back to the guard and declared, “I am Ars Louvent, eldest son and heir to House Louvent! As my father, Lord Raven Louvent, is currently indisposed, I have arrived to answer Count Lumeire Pyres’s summons in his place. If you doubt my identity, I would ask that you send word of my arrival to the castle and call one of the count’s senior retainers to confirm the matter. Though they may not know me, I am certain they will know some among my retainers.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The guard frowned as he listened to my little speech. He seemed more than a bit bewildered, presumably by the fact that I looked like a child, and clearly wasn’t sure what to do. Thankfully for the both of us, a more senior soldier arrived soon after to handle the situation. The gatekeeper explained the circumstances to him, and the older soldier turned to check our identities…only for his eyes to immediately widen in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“G-Gods above! That’s the Blue Reaper of Lamberg!” he shouted, his eyes glued to Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wish they’d stop calling me that. It’s such an ugly nickname,” Charlotte muttered, pouting all the while."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No kidding! When did she pick up a brutal-sounding title like that? I wondered. That was certainly the first I’d heard of it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-And the Malkan!” the soldier shouted, turning to Rietz next. “He’s the Bloodthirsty Demon of Lamberg!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave Rietz a look and asked, “‘Bloodthirsty’?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz glanced away awkwardly and replied, “I, umm…don’t recall doing anything vicious enough to earn that moniker…but, well, bloodshed is inevitable on the battlefield. People talk…and some titles are granted regardless of the bearer’s will.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, their reputations were indeed enough to confirm my identity as House Louvent’s scion, so we were led up to the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Canarre was ancient, but as far as fortresses went, it was actually on the smaller side of things. When I heard the word “castle,” I’d pictured a gorgeous, lavishly decorated palace, but this was anything but. The middle-aged man who met us at the entrance, however, was at least dressed in what I could tell was a fine and expensive set of clothing. I assumed he was one of Count Pyres’s retainers, and likely a high-ranking one at that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldier who had led us inside told us to wait for a moment, then walked over to speak with the man. A short exchange later, the middle-aged man jumped in shock, then ran over to us in a fluster and asked, “Is it true?! Lord Raven has fallen ill?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is, yes,” I replied. “And you are…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, pardon my rudeness! It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Master Ars Louvent. I am Menas Renard, retainer to House Pyres,” he explained, confirming my expectations. I gave him an appraisal, just for good measure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His scores were nothing to scoff at. None of his attributes stood head and shoulders above the rest, but on the other hand, all of them sat at very respectable values. Most of his battle-related Aptitudes were ranked at B or above, even."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems you’ve already been informed, but my name is Ars Louvent,” I said. “I’ve come here in my father’s stead. The individuals behind me are my retainers, who accompanied me to ensure my safety.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, yes, I’m well acquainted with them! We’ve fought side by side on the battlefield, haven’t we?” said Menas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Quite,” said Rietz with a nod, while Charlotte cocked her head in confusion. Apparently, he wasn’t ringing any bells on her end. Menas didn’t have a particularly memorable face, so I couldn’t exactly blame her for forgetting him. It was still incredibly rude, of course, but at least I wouldn’t hold it against her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas, fortunately, didn’t seem to be offended by Charlotte’s attitude as he turned back to me and said, “It’s hard to believe that Lord Raven could possibly be bedridden… What sort of sickness is he suffering from?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to the doctor who diagnosed him, he most likely has gley syndrome,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“G-Gley syndrome?! B-But, wait─wouldn’t that mean he’s in no condition to go into battle?!” exclaimed Menas. Apparently, the man was fairly well-versed in obscure diseases."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it does,” I confirmed. “The doctor gave us strict orders to ensure he stays in bed for the time being.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh no, oh no,” Menas muttered. “Of all the times! This is a grave blow, oh, what a disaster… I just know lord Lumeire will be beside himself…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was even more despondent than I’d expected, but he shook his head and rallied himself back to attention, then continued, “I-In any case, I shall show you to Lord Lumeire at once! The other lords have yet to arrive, so the plan is to only assemble once everyone is present. However, I would appreciate it if you would meet with the count in advance for good measure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” I agreed, then followed Menas into the castle. We walked for some time, then arrived at an extravagant door. I assumed that the count was waiting beyond it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would you be willing to wait here a moment?” asked Menas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas stepped inside and shut the door behind him. A few seconds passed, then…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?! Is this true?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "…a bellow rang out from within the chamber. Shortly thereafter, Menas emerged in a fluster and beckoned us inside. The moment I stepped through the door, a bearded man rushed directly over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you’re Ars?!” the man shouted. “Is it true that Raven’s deathly ill and bedridden?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, it is,” I stammered. The man’s sheer intensity had me a little taken aback."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh! My apologies,” the bearded man said. “I am Lumeire Pyres, lord of this castle and Count of Canarre. We’ve met once before, Ars, when you were just a lad! You’ve certainly grown a head or two taller since then, though. Do you remember me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, yes,” I replied. It was quite a long time ago, so my memory was hazy, but I did indeed recall his face. It wasn’t quite one of my earliest memories, but it was certainly up there. I knew that I’d appraised him, but I couldn’t remember how exactly his stats had looked─just that they were reasonably impressive. And so, I decided to appraise him again to jog my memory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His Valor was quite high, while the rest of his stats were all reasonable enough. I couldn’t quite call him a model ruler based on his stats alone, however."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no doubt, then, that your father has gley syndrome…?” he asked, though he didn’t sound very hopeful. “To tell you the truth, my own sister passed away from the very same disease. I know all too well how terrible a malady it is, and I know that Raven must be kept at rest, no matter what happens…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A relative of his had gley syndrome?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The doctor had told me it was a rare illness, so I’d been surprised to hear that Menas was already familiar with it. But suddenly, it all made sense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But look at you!” Lumeire exclaimed, his attitude shifting dramatically and a grin spreading across his face. “Barely a child of ten, yet you’re already going out into the world in your father’s place! You’re a true-born lord, lad, no mistaking it! Now then─the others have yet to arrive, so we’ll have to wait for them before we begin in earnest. Menas, show Ars and his people to their room.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, M’lord!” Menas replied, then turned to me. “Follow me, please.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas guided us to a room that had been prepared for us. It was surprisingly large, and furnished with a couch, chairs, and even a bed. Clearly, we were meant to feel at home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m guessing the count plans to discuss which of the brothers we’ll side with in the oncoming war,” I speculated when we were alone again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d think so, yes,” said Rietz. “And I imagine that Lord Lumeire has already chosen a side. Most likely, he called us here to inform us of his decision.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My best guess was that he’d choose to side with the older brother. There was a slight chance he’d ask his lords for their opinions, but I wouldn’t have anything of substance to contribute if he did. With the information at my disposal, I didn’t have any good reason to choose one brother over the other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A short while later, Menas returned to the room and declared, “The other lords have arrived, and Lord Lumeire requests your presence. Please follow me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, Menas led us through the castle’s hallways. We eventually emerged in the great hall. A circular table had been set up in its center, at which two men were already seated. I could only assume they were Canarre’s other local lords, which would make the people standing at attention behind them their retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Canarre was split up into four territories: Lamberg, Torbequista, Coumeire, and Canarre, the county’s namesake. In terms of the territories’ size and population, Canarre was overwhelmingly the largest, followed by Torbequista, Coumeire, and finally, Lamberg. It seemed natural to me that the count would directly govern the largest and most populated region, and it really was the largest by far. While Lamberg was smaller than the other two, they weren’t all that much larger."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is an honor to meet both of you!” I said, addressing the two lords at the table. “My name is Ars Louvent, and I have come here on behalf of Raven Louvent, the Lord of Lamberg.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A pleasure,” said one of the other lords, a man with blond hair. “I am Hammond Pleide, Lord of Torbequista, and I’m to understand that you were an exemplary host to my daughter some time ago. She returned from her visit in the highest of spirits.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So this is Licia’s father, I thought to myself. I can see the resemblance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m pleased to learn she was satisfied with what little hospitality we could offer,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is it true, then, that Raven’s bedridden?” asked Hammond. “I’d have sworn that man could ride through hell itself and emerge no worse for the wear, if you’d asked me a week ago. Then again, knowing him, he’ll beat that illness back and return to us in no time flat. I’m not concerned.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite his protest to the contrary, I got the impression that Hammond really was worried about my father. Of course, he also knew my father well enough to not even consider the possibility that the likes of a mere disease could finish him off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we’ve yet to meet, young man,” said the second lord, who looked like he was on the cusp of qualifying as elderly. He spoke in a slow, somewhat stilted tone. “I am known as Krall Orslow, and I serve as lord of Coumeire. It pains me indeed to learn that Raven could not attend today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My assumption had proven true: the two men before me were indeed both lords of Canarre. I was just about to appraise both of them, but before I had the chance, I was distracted by Lumeire’s arrival in the chamber. The two lords stood and bowed to him, so I quickly imitated the gesture."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rise,” said Lumeire. I raised my head, then followed Lumeire and the other lords’ example once more and took a seat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have my thanks for coming here on such short notice,” Lumeire began. “As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, I’ve called you here on account of the duke’s assassination and the possibility of war between his elder son, Lord Couran, and his younger son, Lord Vasmarque. I wish to take this chance to make my stance on the matter clear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was exactly what I’d expected him to do, and I was proven right once more as Lumeire declared that he intended to support Couran, the elder brother. I stuck to my plan and endorsed his decision without objection. The other lords did the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good,” said Lumeire. “I’ve nothing else to discuss with you at this moment. Return to your lands and prepare your troops for battle. That is all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wait, it is? That’s it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t believe he’d called us to the county seat for a meeting that barely lasted a matter of minutes. Upon further reflection, though, this was a decision that would carry no small amount of weight going forward, so perhaps that was why he felt the need to give the news in person. The three of us all signaled our understanding, and with that, the meeting came to an end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We ended up staying the night in the castle. I had the chance to appraise Hammond and Krall during our stay, incidentally, and neither of them struck me as particularly remarkable. The next day soon dawned, and as we finished our travel preparations and made our way out of the castle, a voice called out to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars! A moment, if you would.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was Hammond."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes? What is it?” I asked, walking over to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was hoping to ask you about my daughter, as it so happens,” he explained. “She’s been in a rather foul mood as of late. I’ve been told that you exchange letters with her quite frequently, and I was hoping you might know what has soured her so.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia’s been in a bad mood?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, I didn’t have the foggiest idea why that could be. None of the letters she’d sent lately had seemed particularly unusual at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Actually…wait a second. I read her letters, yes, and their contents seemed perfectly unremarkable, but…when was the last time I replied to one of them?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I pondered the question…and came to the inescapable conclusion that it had been quite a long time since I’d last sent a letter back to her. I’d intended to write to her, of course, but then my father collapsed, the duke was assassinated, and pretty much everything went to hell in a handbasket all at once. In the thick of all that, I’d totally forgotten to keep corresponding with my fiancée."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Okay, I’ll admit, that was pretty rude of me. But surely Licia knows everything that’s been going on lately, right? A few missed letters can’t have been enough to make her that upset…right? Unless she’s been enjoying our little pen-pal situation more than I’d expected, in which case, well, yeah. I guess that would probably put her in a pretty bad mood."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I confessed to Hammond that I’d forgotten to reply to her letters, and his face lit up in newfound understanding."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ahhh, yes, that would do it. You would hardly believe how excited my daughter is for your letters, each and every time. I understand circumstances have been keeping you busy as of late, but I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d send one her way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That settled it─if she’d been looking forward to my letters that much, I was the culprit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied sheepishly. “I’ll write to her the moment I get home.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please do,” Hammond said, then bid me farewell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, we left the castle and hurried off to Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I got home to find a letter from Licia waiting for me. Its contents were short and to the point: “It has been quite some time since I last received any correspondence from you, Sir Ars. Has something happened? Or have I done something to offend you? If so, I would appreciate it if you would tell me what it was.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was like she’d written the letter specifically to make me feel as guilty as possible. Actually, considering the way Licia operated, she really might’ve written it with that specific intent in mind. Knowing I was playing into her hands didn’t make me feel any less terrible, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wrote up a reply immediately: “You’ve done nothing wrong, Lady Licia. The simple truth is that between my father’s collapse and the assassination of the duke, I was distracted, so writing back to you slipped my mind. The fault is entirely mine, and I apologize.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, I gathered Rosell and Rietz up in the study to discuss our plans."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think the count has the right idea,” I began. “Our top priorities right now should be making sure we have enough troops, and getting them as well-equipped as possible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our army’s equipment is certainly something we can address,” said Rietz. “But I’m afraid that recruiting more soldiers will be less than feasible under current circumstances. We can ensure that our current troops are as well trained as possible, of course, but it will be difficult to truly strengthen our forces without the ability to bolster numbers.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right, that makes sense,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If war breaks out before Lord Raven recovers,” Rietz continued, “I’m certain you will wind up leading our men into battle, Master Ars. As such, I believe it is of utmost importance that you learn to command the troops and allow them to acclimate to your lead. Our numbers may not be sufficient for it, but I still believe that leading the men in a mock battle would be a solid course of action.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A mock battle? That means that unlike the real deal, nobody will die if I screw up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I definitely liked the sound of that, and I figured it would make for a good experience in all sorts of ways. Hopefully, having a few mock battles under my belt would keep me from panicking when it came time for the real deal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have any ideas, Rosell?” I asked, turning to my other top advisor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… You said the count’s planning on backing the older brother, right? Does it look like he has any shot at winning?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s hard to say with the information we have right now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Gotcha,” said Rosell. “I hate to say it, but that means we’re in a really bad place. If an upstart house like the Louvents end up on the losing side of this war, they could easily get crushed. We need to make sure we end up on the winning side, no matter what happens.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense too,” I sighed. “Still, we can’t exactly defy the count’s orders, can we?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If it becomes clear that the older brother’s a lost cause, we’d either have to persuade the count to switch sides…or think about betraying him and jumping ship on our own.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Betraying the count…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Man, that’s brutal. I guess I might have to start thinking like a feudal warlord if I plan on surviving much longer, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right now, our biggest problem is that we don’t have enough information,” Rosell continued. “We can’t make plans or talk strategy without a proper understanding of the circumstances. We have to start doing anything and everything we can to learn about the current state of Missian, and we need to do it now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, but what specifically should we do?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell paused, then answered, “Ask someone to gather info for us, I guess? We could have a soldier do it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you actually think that would work?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell and I fell into thought, which Rietz took as a sign to offer his input. “As a matter of fact, a perfect option for gathering information is available to us: a band of mercenaries who call themselves the Shadows. They specialize in shadow magic, information-gathering, and espionage. They would get us exactly the information we need if we paid their fee…but their services don’t come cheap.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mercenaries…” I muttered. “Hiring them without consulting my father would probably be a step too far. Let’s consider that after he’s recovered enough to discuss the matter.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, simply learning that there was a band of mercenaries who specialized in that sort of thing was a win. Rosell was right, after all─information was, without question, our most important resource."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We can’t hire mercenaries yet,” I continued. “However, we can at least pick out a few of our soldiers who seem suited for the role and send them out across Missian. It’s better than doing nothing, at least.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well─I’ll see to it,” Rietz replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With our immediate course of action set in place, we brought the day’s discussion to a close. We had two priorities going forward: engaging in mock battles, and setting up the rudimentary framework of an information network."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, a couple of weeks passed by…and then, once again, the situation suddenly and dramatically changed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d spent the past weeks honing my command skills via mock battles and picking out soldiers who seemed naturally suited to spycraft. The former, frankly, hadn’t been going so well. I’d studied my fair share of tactics, but it turned out that knowing the theory of battle and applying it to real, live soldiers under my command were two very different things. From my perspective, a nearly insurmountable barrier stood between me and the leadership skills I was expected to have, that barrier being my inability to set foot on the battlefield without immediately shrinking back in terror."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even knowing that we were only practicing and that nobody was out for blood, seeing a crowd of soldiers brandishing their blades and charging toward me scared the living daylights out of me, and it was really hard to stay calm and issue orders to your men when you were abjectly terrified. If I was that bad off in a mock battle, I could only imagine the disgrace I’d make of myself when the time came to actually go to war. I was deeply concerned about my future as a military leader."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Choosing spies, meanwhile, had unfortunately proven rather difficult as well. Appraisal wasn’t nearly as useful for the task as one might expect. There was no “Spy” Aptitude, for one thing, and I could only guess which of the base stats would be most useful for that sort of information-gathering work."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It made a certain amount of intuitive sense to me that people with high Valor and Intelligence would make good spies, so I tried to search for candidates with solid scores in both of those stats. We couldn’t just pick some soldiers out of the crowd and send them off into the world with a smile and wave, of course, so Rietz was busy training them for their new positions. He’d done his fair share of spy work back when he was a mercenary, it seemed, so he had enough specialized knowledge to at least get them started."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, the fifth day of the fourth month arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve waited long enough. It’s time for me to resume my duties!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t! Please, just rest!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father had regained a considerable amount of strength, which was a good thing, but his ever-intensifying insistence that he get back to work was significantly less promising. We understood that he’d put himself at risk of a relapse if he got right back to it, but he had never been the type to sit still for long. We’d managed to keep him from doing anything risky so far, but I was very worried that we were nearing the limits of his patience."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At long last, I managed to convince him to stay in bed, then walked over to my own room. We’d staged another mock battle the day before, and I was still feeling the exhaustion from that ordeal. I’d decided to spend the day resting up and regaining my strength, and was looking forward to a nice, long nap…until I noticed Rietz charging toward me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars!” he shouted, sounding panicked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” I replied. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m planning to rest today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m aware, yes,” gasped Rietz. “However, I’ve just received news that you must hear!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What news?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seitz has mobilized an army─and they march upon Canarre!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-They what now?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, I was just as worried as Rietz. Seitz was the duchy to the immediate west of Missian, and the County of Canarre was right on the provincial border. It suddenly hit me: I’d been so preoccupied with the conflict between the brothers that I’d completely forgotten we had other potential enemies to deal with! The duke was dead, and the duchy’s major powers were actively splintering into warring factions, so it was the perfect moment for another duchy to step in and snatch up as much territory as they could get their hands on!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They say the enemy is heading for Coumeire,” Rietz explained. “They’re due to arrive within four days, and a letter from the count has arrived ordering us to dispatch our forces at once!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Coumeire was situated right on the border, while Lamberg was on the opposite side of the county, meaning we lived further away from Seitz than any other territory. That was only a small comfort, though. If Seitz was going to invade the other territories, it was only a matter of time before they’d advance upon Lamberg as well. Even if the count hadn’t ordered us into action, we would’ve had no choice but to ride to Coumeire’s aid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father had recovered considerably, but he was still in no state to ride into battle. In other words, my first stint as commander would be arriving considerably earlier than I’d expected. I was still terrified of mock battles, and yet there I was, staring down the imminent prospect of fighting on a real battlefield. The moment the reality of the situation sunk in, my heart started pounding so fast that I thought I might drop dead on the spot. I was beyond nervous, but I did my best to keep a straight face so Rietz wouldn’t realize it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I said. “We’ll sortie at once. I’ll take command of our troops.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, “Very well.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He clearly knew just as well as I did that I wasn’t up to the task, but with circumstances as they were, he couldn’t argue against the decision. I could only imagine how conflicted he felt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us made our way to the training grounds to inform our troops. Rietz explained everything he knew about the enemy forces on the way, but really, it wasn’t much. The count’s letter hadn’t even specified how many of them there were. If they’d sent a massive force, then all of Canarre’s armies combined probably wouldn’t even be able to slow them down, but Seitz had its own fair share of internal strife, so I was hopeful that we weren’t looking at that sort of all-out invasion. If they did hit us with everything they had, then we’d stand no chance of victory and would have no choice but to call for reinforcements. As for whether or not they’d actually come, I couldn’t say."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at the training grounds and informed the soldiers that we’d be marching into battle. The grounds immediately descended into a flurry of activity: some of our men armed themselves, while others ran off to gather up the soldiers who weren’t on duty at the moment. Charlotte was one of the latter, and arrived at the training grounds in a half-asleep daze. I guess she’d been out like a light until somebody showed up to get her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When everyone had finally arrived, I stood before our troops. I thought that I had to say something to them to raise their morale before we marched for the front. The second I looked out across their faces, though, the crushing reality of what I was about to do sank in once more, and my anxiety returned in full force. I had to pause for a moment, take a few deep breaths to calm myself down, then finally address the troops in as loud of a voice as I could muster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Today, we go to war to protect our homeland of Canarre! I─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My speech had started out well enough, but before I could say more than a few words, a booming voice echoed across the grounds, cutting me off. I knew that voice like the back of my hand─it was my father’s, and I turned to look at him in shock. He stormed toward me, his expression more intimidating than any I’d ever seen on his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re not ready for this, Ars,” my father bluntly stated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-Father,” was all I could muster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I knew you were hiding something from me,” he muttered, looking me right in the eye. “And I suspected that something had happened to the duke. I’ve stayed quiet until now because I know that resting will keep me alive…and I thought that stepping up to work in my place would be a chance for you to grow…but I can’t allow you to go to war in my stead, least of all when the very existence of Canarre hangs in the balance. I will go.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look on my father’s face told me that he wasn’t going to change his mind, no matter what anyone said to him. He was absolutely determined to take to the battlefield. I was horrified by the thought, however. If my father went into battle now, and if his condition worsened, there was no coming back! He would die!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Father, you’re ill!” I said, making one last attempt to appeal to his reason. “You can’t go to war!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve shaken off the worst of it. I’m no longer unable to swing a sword,” my father replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But what if you relapse? You realize you could die, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I won’t. And even if I do, I could ask for nothing more than to die protecting Canarre─protecting Lamberg and its people.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What can I say to change his mind?! The man’s absolutely hell-bent on marching off to war!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His condition had improved, clearly, and it was possible he could survive a campaign, but it was equally possible that his condition could deteriorate at any moment. The more mysterious the sickness, the more cautious you had to be. I had to do something, anything to convince him to stay home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father decided to keep me from leading our army because he didn’t think I was up to the task…and he was right. Still, I had to find a way to make him think otherwise, no matter what it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Rietz stepped up to the two of us and said, “Lord Raven, you should know that Master Ars─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Silence!” my father roared. Rietz’s mouth snapped shut."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Father,” I said, doing my best to finish his thought, “I’ve been fighting mock battles to prepare myself. I’ll admit that I’m still lacking in many regards, but I swear to you that I will lead our men to glory!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And did you fight well in those ‘mock battles’ of yours?” my father asked. “I hardly need to ask─of course you didn’t. I don’t even need to see you in action to know that. You don’t have the face of a warrior yet, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I fell silent once more upon hearing those words."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What does “the face of a warrior” even mean? Is it something that only seasoned veterans like him understand?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seconds passed in silence before my father spoke up again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right…in my sickness, I almost forgot. If you’re so convinced you can go to war, Ars, I shall test you, here and now. Gullar!” my father barked, shouting out the name of one of his soldiers. “Is the man in the jail still alive?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gullar, one of the older men in the force, snapped to attention and replied, “Y-Yes, he is, more or less. We didn’t think it right to execute him without your express orders.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll do it now. Bring him here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, Sir!” Gullar exclaimed as he sprinted off toward the jail."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What in the world is my father up to? What sort of test is this?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, Gullar returned to the training grounds with a man in tow. The mysterious individual was wearing manacles and absolutely filthy clothing, and he sported a scraggly, unkempt beard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who is he?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His name is Barramorda,” answered my father. “And he is a devil in human skin who murdered, assaulted, and burgled his way through the town of Lamberg until we captured him shortly before I fell ill. I intended to keep him imprisoned long enough to arrange his execution, but thanks to that damnable disease, he slipped my mind…so I’ll do it now. And you, Ars, will watch.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that is to be my test?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is. You are to watch impassively. To remain calm and composed. Should you avert your eyes, or close them, or tremble, or double over with nausea, or show even the slightest speck of distress─you fail. To go to war is to see men die by the dozens, and if that disturbs you, then you are not ready to take to the field. A leader’s ability to stay composed is worth far more than their ability to fight,” my father declared, then gestured toward Barramorda. “If you can watch this man die and not bat an eyelash, then I shall acknowledge that you are a man full grown. I will entrust my army to you and rest quietly within our home, awaiting your return.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gritted my teeth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To watch a man die…and remain completely composed? Can I do this? Could I ever even be capable of it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had never seen a battlefield. I had never seen someone die. I’d looked up pictures of corpses once in my last life out of idle curiosity, and just that was enough to make me fall violently ill and swear to never seek that sort of imagery out again. I had no idea if I’d be able to watch a man be executed right in front of me and keep my cool."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As I mulled over the question, though, my father and his men were already preparing to carry out the execution. A wooden block was brought out into the field and Barramorda’s head was pressed up against it, forcing him to his knees. He struggled violently, very literally fighting for his life, but several of my father’s soldiers held him firmly in place as another with an axe stepped up to the block."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Barramorda!” shouted my father. “You stand convicted of crimes most foul, and I, Raven Louvent, lord of these lands, do hereby sentence you to death!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that final word, the soldier with the axe raised it up high, then brought it down upon Barramorda’s neck, severing his head with a single stroke. The head fell to the ground, rolling across the dirt as a jet of crimson blood gushed forth from the stump."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I watched it happen…and was shaken to the very core of my being. I felt my heart pound wildly within my chest, but I couldn’t let my father see that, so I kept my face perfectly expressionless, staring fixedly at Barramorda’s severed head until it rolled to a stop…facing me. The cold, lifeless eyes stared directly into mine…and I just couldn’t hold it back anymore as a wave of intense nausea overwhelmed me. I didn’t vomit, but I did retch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have failed,” my father coldly declared. “There’s no shame in that. Everyone reacts that way the first time. I did as well, in fact. However, if this is enough to make you lose your composure, then you are unfit to lead our troops into battle. I shall go.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I clenched my fists, staring at the ground, and my father continued, “You’ve always been a precocious child, Ars, and you’ve grown up fast, but you are still a child. It is far too soon for you to go to war… Come now, don’t worry so much. I won’t die, of that I swear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wanted to shout, You’re wrong! I’m no child! I’m a fully grown man inside, dammit! But I couldn’t. I’d been raised in a country at peace, and when it came to witnessing death, I really was no better off than a child."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t argue with him or stop him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father rode off to battle…and I was left behind at our estate to simply sit and wait for news. Rietz would occasionally send me letters from the front, updating me on how the war was progressing, so I wasn’t completely out of the loop, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Seitz army turned out to not be so large that defeating them was entirely off the table, but they still had five soldiers to every one of Canarre’s men. Everyone knew they were in for a long, drawn-out conflict, and as expected, the early stages were harsh on our side. In the end, though, the enemy was beaten back thanks in no small part to the daring exploits of House Louvent’s army, spearheaded by my father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The war dragged on for about four months, and my father returned home on the twelfth day of the eighth month, a mere four days after my twelfth birthday. He seemed perfectly fine when he returned to Lamberg, but five days later, his illness returned with a vengeance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father ended up bedridden more often than not, developed a seemingly ceaseless cough, and soon lost his appetite entirely. Not eating took a toll and he quickly wasted away, growing thinner and frailer with each passing day. Finally, one month after his illness returned, his doctor came to us with grave news: my father no longer had any hope of recovery. There was no telling precisely when, but someday soon, he would die."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was my fault. If I’d been capable enough to lead our army in his stead, if I’d been strong enough to convince him I was ready, then my father would have spent those four months recuperating in our estate. Perhaps then his illness would never have returned. I did everything I could, going out to call on another doctor for a second opinion, and then a third, but they all said the same thing. Still, though, I didn’t stop searching."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had memories of my previous life, and they might have kept me from ever seeing my father as my true father. Nevertheless, I knew very well that if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive. I would never have been born again, needless to say, but I also never would have been able to lead the life I’d led. My comfortable, strife-free existence was all thanks to him, so I just couldn’t allow him to die thanks to my inadequacy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Another failure?” I muttered to myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was the second day of the eleventh month, so summer was just beginning. I’d brought another doctor in from the next county over, but once again, I was told that my father was beyond saving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe we should go to a bigger town. I’m thinking we should try Arcantez, the capital of Missian, next. There has to be a doctor there who can help.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t been sending our retainers out to look for doctors. No, that was a task I only entrusted to myself. Anyone who studied medicine would need a high Intelligence, so me being there meant that we could easily weed out the professionals from the quacks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master Ars,” Rietz began, then paused. He looked incredibly conflicted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Arcantez is an extremely long journey from here. A round trip will take twenty days at the bare minimum, and when we consider how long it will take to find a doctor, the trip may last even longer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” I said with a nod. “Still, I’m willing to go a little out of my way if it’ll help my father recover. I’d be worried about leaving the estate undefended in our absence, though, so you’ll have to stay behind this time. I can take Rosell’s brothers and Charlotte along as guards─I’m sure they’ll keep me safe.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not what I meant! If you’re away for too long, then…well…” Rietz trailed off again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it? Something that’s hard to say?” I asked. “Go on. Don’t hold back now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After a brief pause, Rietz finally spoke up once more. “If your search keeps you away for too long, then when the time comes, you may not be there to hear Lord Raven’s last words.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It felt like my heart had just leaped into my throat. It wasn’t that the thought had never crossed my mind─I just hadn’t been allowing myself to consider it. My father had already wasted away so much that I hardly even recognized him. The pall of death hung heavily over his face, and even when he pulled himself to consciousness, he could barely speak. It would hardly have been a surprise if he passed away the very next day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you telling me…to give up?” I finally replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “I believe that if you’re not by Lord Raven’s side when the time comes, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Think carefully, Master Ars, before you go out to search for another doctor.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gritted my teeth. The way Rietz had phrased it was so calm, so goddamn composed that it enraged me. It wasn’t his fault, though. He was simply looking at the situation objectively and telling me what he believed I needed to hear most. If anyone was at fault, it was me for refusing to look reality in the eye. I knew it…but I still couldn’t suppress my fury. At the rate things were going, I was going to say something awful to Rietz, so I spun around and left the room without speaking another word."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I figured I’d go spend some time in my room to cool my head, but on the way there, one of our estate’s caretakers called out to me. Specifically, the one who was in charge of nursing my father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Raven has stirred!” said the servant. “He’s more lucid than he’s been in months…and he says that he wishes to speak to you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was already heading for his room the moment I heard that he was awake and talking. I entered through the door to his chamber and found him in bed, alone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You called for me, Father?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve arrived, Ars? Good, good,” said my father. I was struck by how clear his voice was. He’d barely been able to talk at all these days, so it felt like it had been ages since I’d heard him speak like this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father was as emaciated as ever, but his eyes were clear and full of life. As recently as yesterday he’d had the eyes of a corpse, even when he was conscious, but no, this was the father I used to know─the father with a gaze so strong and full of purpose, he could make lesser men flinch with a mere glance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s rather warm, isn’t it?” my father observed. “What’s the date today?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The second day of the eleventh month,” I replied. “I can fan you if you’re too hot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That won’t be necessary. Summer already, though? It feels like it was springtime just yesterday. I must have slept a long, long time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You did,” I said. “And honestly, it’s been hectic without you around! We’ll be in trouble if you don’t get better soon, you know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I know, I know. An illness like this can’t keep me down─I’ll shake it off by tomorrow,” my father chuckled, then fell silent. A few seconds passed before he spoke up again. “There’s so much that I still wanted to tell you, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll listen to anything you have to say to me, Father,” I replied. “I want to hear it all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll spare you the trivial small talk, at least. Now’s not the time for that. No, I want to tell you the story of my life,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “I was not born here in Lamberg. I came from a tiny farming hamlet in a remote corner of Missian. The lord who ruled over that land was an avaricious miser of a man who bled his people nearly to death with taxes. We lived in poverty through no fault of our own. I couldn’t stand that sort of life, and around the time I turned ten, I chose to run away from home and leave the whole village behind to seek my fortune in the city.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By some twist of fate, the Duke of Missian had chosen that day to pay the town a visit. Our lord held some measure of seniority within Missian’s nobility, and he had invited the duke to a party, or something of the sort. I forget the details─it was all so long ago. Vague and scattered as my memories are, though, there’s just one thing I remember clearly.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The sight of the duke, riding through town atop a pure white steed with a host of fully-armored soldiers following in his wake. It shook me to the core, Ars. Until that moment, the only nobles I knew were the corrupt monsters who ground my family into the dirt. I never imagined that one of them could be so magnificent…so noble, in the truest sense of the word. The moment I saw him, I knew what I wanted in life. I wanted to be a man like him─a man who could stand at the head of a vast army and lead them to glory.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father’s gaze grew distant as he spun his yarn. I knew he’d been born a farmer, but I’d never heard anything else about what led him to his current station."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I taught myself to wield a blade, became a soldier, and fought like a man possessed. Eventually, Lord Lumeire recognized my achievements and appointed me a lord of my own domain.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you still want to become a duke, Father?”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0034.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Heh… I gave up on that dream around the time I married your mother and fathered you, Ars. I may be a petty lord, but compared to the life I used to live, what I have now might as well be heaven. I’m satisfied,” he concluded before descending into another coughing fit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you all right?!” I asked in a panic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father coughed a few more times, then finally caught his breath, sighed, and said with much chagrin, “It seems I’ve spoken too much. Ars…I leave the rest to you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t bring myself to reply, but my father kept speaking anyway. “This land of Lamberg, and everything within its borders, is a treasure. It is my life’s work. My retainers, my people, my wife, Wren, Kreiz… All of them mean the world to me, and I’m entrusting them to you now. It pains me to place this burden upon your shoulders while you’re still a child, but I have no choice. Ars─your power to see people’s potential is something special. I know you have what it takes to use it well…and to lead House Louvent down the right path.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know how you think, and I know you feel responsible for what’s become of me, but the fault does not rest with you. This is the path that I chose for myself. Now it’s up to you to stand tall and carry on the Louvent name. Do you understand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t know what to say. Answering him would have felt like admitting that he truly was on his deathbed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Say something, Ars. Please…put my mind at ease.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…” I paused, more conflicted than I’d ever been before, but finally nodded. “I do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good. Then I leave the rest…to you…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My father closed his eyes and fell into a deep, peaceful slumber. He showed no signs of waking as two days passed…and on the third, he drew his final breath."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From this day onward, I, Ars, shall succeed my father Raven as the head of House Louvent!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I did as my father told me. I stood tall and proud, declaring that I would carry on his legacy for all of his retainers to hear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father had spent a lifetime building House Louvent from the ground up. Hard times were upon us, so an insignificant noble family like ours would surely struggle to survive. Thus, I had to be strong. I had to wield my power to the fullest, to help my people and my land stand firm, and to protect everything that my father held dear. I was resolved to see it done."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days after my father passed, word arrived that the eldest son of the late Duke of Missian, one Couran Salemakhia, had mustered an army. From that day forward, I would lead House Louvent through a turbulent era of war and bloodshed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0036.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The news of Couran’s mobilization arrived all too soon after my father’s death. Couran had issued a manifesto on the same day he called his troops to arms, a copy of which had made its way to even a small noble house like ours."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The manifesto was, in short, a screed written solely to attack Couran’s younger brother, Vasmarque. He pinned the assassination of their father on Vasmarque, to start, offering nothing in the way of concrete evidence to back up the claim, then took the opportunity to list each and every one of Vasmarque’s faults in what struck me as excessive detail. He claimed vehemently that his brother was unworthy of the title of duke, and that only he could serve as his father’s successor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He also reproached Vasmarque for stubbornly maintaining control of Arcantez, the current capital of Missian. It seemed Couran had demanded that his brother turn the capital over to him time after time, but his requests had always fallen upon deaf ears. Now he’d had enough, so he intended to storm the capital by force if that was what it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That last detail was particularly interesting to me because I’d had no idea that Arcantez was under Vasmarque’s control. The city was the capital of Missian in both name and practice, boasting the largest population of any city in the duchy. That, of course, meant that it had a correspondingly sizable local garrison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were only three cities in all of Missian that came close to rivaling Arcantez in scale. The closest to Lamberg was a city in the west called Maasa, and there were also similarly-sized cities in the south and the east called Semplar and Velshdt, respectively. Arcantez, by the way, was situated in central Missian."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran currently held control of Semplar, a coastal city. Access to sea routes made it a thriving trade hub and one of the most prosperous cities in all of Missian. That, in turn, meant the local government had the funds to hire mercenaries, so despite its lesser population, it gave Couran access to at least as many soldiers as Arcantez did to his brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That just left the question of who the counts ruling over Maasa and Velshdt would side with. I knew nothing about said counts, so I couldn’t even begin to guess where their loyalties rested. I needed to figure out what direction Couran was likely to march in, and to do that, I needed information."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, Rietz came to me with a report and said, “Lord Ars? A letter from Lord Lumeire has arrived. I suspect it is a summons requesting your presence at Castle Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I read the letter and found that Rietz had predicted its contents perfectly before replying, “You were right. I wonder what he wants to discuss…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I presume strategy for the oncoming conflict,” Rietz speculated. “It’s also possible he’s received orders from Lord Couran that he wishes to relay to us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. Do you think Canarre’s forces are going to be dragged into the mud this time around?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A good question,” said Rietz. “I imagine that depends on how the situation unfolds. There’s no telling who the counts of western Missian will choose to support, after all. If the Count of Maasa ends up fighting for Lord Vasmarque, the situation may prove perilous.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A very small portion of Canarre’s northeastern border was shared with the County of Maasa. Maasa boasted an army several times the size of Canarre’s, so if open conflict between the two counties broke out, we would have very little chance of winning a straight-up fight. Word had it that Perreina, the county immediately east of Canarre, would be backing Vasmarque, so if Maasa chose his side as well, Canarre would have essentially no choice but to jump aboard their bandwagon and abandon Couran’s cause."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess we’ll learn a little more about what’s going on once we make it to Castle Canarre,” I sighed. “Oh, and this will be my first formal duty as the Lord of Lamberg, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It will, yes. Though, seeing as you’ve been to the castle as the lord’s proxy already, it doesn’t quite feel like your first time, does it?” noted Rietz with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, true enough,” I agreed. Although, that said, the last time I went to Canarre was for a far simpler meeting than I knew we’d be having this time around. Considering how complicated the talks were likely to get, this still felt like my first real job."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right!” I exclaimed as a thought struck me. “While we’re already out and about, would we be able to make contact with those mercenaries you mentioned, Rietz? ‘The Shadows,’ was it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that my father was no longer with us, the question of whether or not to hire mercenaries fell entirely upon my shoulders. We were still training some of our own soldiers in the art of information-gathering, but that process had proven as time-consuming as expected, and I wanted to get our network up and running as soon as possible. Information would be absolutely vital to our decision-making process going forward─no matter how high of an Intelligence someone had, they could never make the right call without a full grasp of the situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It should be possible to make contact with them in Canarre, yes,” said Rietz. “However, they aren’t motivated exclusively by money, so I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to actually retain their services.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mercenaries who aren’t motivated by money? How is that a thing?” I asked, arching an eyebrow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s rare, but every once in a while, you’ll find a band that works for some higher purpose. The leader of the Shadows is something of an eccentric, so I can’t say for sure what standards they follow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Well, if we can hire them, I’d certainly like to, so please arrange a meeting with their leader for after we’re finished in the castle.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I set about choosing who would accompany us on the trip. I decided to bring along Rietz, Charlotte, and the other retainers who’d accompanied me last time, as well as Rosell. It seemed possible I was in for a genuine war council, and while I wasn’t expecting Rosell to contribute to the discussion at his age, I did think it would make for a good experience, and help him learn to be a better tactician."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once my party had gathered, we immediately set out for Castle Canarre. The trip went smoothly this time, and we arrived without incident. Unlike our first visit, the gatekeeper recognized me immediately and led us straight into the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming, Ars. It is truly a shame what happened to Raven… He will be dearly missed,” Lumeire sighed as soon as he saw me, his expression grave. “Much as it pains me to admit, though, I do not have the time to grieve his death. We shall begin our war council as soon as Lord Krall and Lord Hammond arrive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The other two lords of Canarre showed up soon after, and we gathered around the same round table as last time. Lumeire kicked off the meeting by addressing the three of us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have something important to say before we begin our council. Recently, Raven Louvent, the Lord of Lamberg, lost his life to a terrible illness. He was a dauntless man whose accomplishments on the battlefield put his peers to shame…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The other two lords didn’t seem very surprised by the news. They must have learned of my father’s death through other sources, so they simply sat there, listening in somber silence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tragic though his passing may be, now is not the time to mourn Raven’s death. We shall honor his name by fighting for the future of Canarre to our last breaths, as he did to his!” Lumeire declared, then motioned for me to stand. “As I’m sure you are aware, Ars here has inherited his father’s title and succeeded him as the head of House Louvent. Though he may be a child in body, I assure you that he is equal to us adults in spirit, and is worthy of his new station.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I should probably say something now, right? I thought for a moment before speaking up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am Ars, the new Lord of Lamberg. Young though I might be, I shall dedicate my body and soul to seeing my duties fulfilled.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was a perfectly generic greeting─perhaps a touch too generic─but I figured that was better than going overboard and making a terrible impression. Everyone present politely applauded my mini-speech, and I sat back down once they were finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Lumeire. “Let us begin our council of war. I would like to open the floor to anyone here who has a comment on the current state of our county. I will not chide you for stating or asking the obvious, so hold nothing back.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So our retainers are allowed to speak? Not just us?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced back at Rietz and the others. Rietz met my gaze and gave me a quick nod, hoping to communicate that if he had anything to say, he would do so. Rosell, incidentally, was hiding behind Rietz at the time, so I wrote him off as a non-participant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To start,” Lumeire continued, “a summary of the current state of affairs seems in order. Menas, if you’d be so kind.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, M’lord,” said Menas, the retainer I’d met during my last visit. “To begin with, you should all know that Lord Couran and House Pyres have been communicating extensively behind closed doors. Some of you may worry that Lord Couran’s decision to raise an army was foolhardy, but I assure you, he has every intention of winning the war he has chosen to wage. He has negotiated the aid of four of the western counties, Maasa included, as well as all five of the southern counties, for a total of nine counties’ worth of forces to add to his. In addition, he has contracted the services of the most famed band of mercenaries in all of Rofeille, the Maitraw Company. With a force that large, Lord Couran’s victory is all but assured.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So Lord Couran’s been hard at work behind the scenes…though I guess that’s not really a surprise. Apparently, he’s not so inept after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I felt like it was an exaggeration to say that his victory was assured, though. In my view, nothing was a sure bet in war, and his younger brother most certainly hadn’t wasted the past several months."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Only one western county, Perreina, rebuked Lord Couran’s overtures,” Menas continued. “The county is entirely surrounded by Lord Couran’s allies, yet they have still refused to disavow their allegiance to Lord Vasmarque. I have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to either bring Perreina to our side through more underhanded tactics, or otherwise crush them in battle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The County of Perreina was situated just east of Canarre, and it had been some time since any internal strife had been reported from the area. Due to that, bringing them to our side via backroom dealings seemed far less likely than simply defeating them in battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Though winning their allegiance through peaceful means may prove difficult, the losses we would sustain waging war on the county would be costly. That’s why we have decided to prioritize methods of bringing them over to us that do not involve an outright invasion. If any of you can propose such a means, now would be the time to do so.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, so the invasion’s plan B after all? That’s not what I expected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, though, I was absolutely clueless as far as ways to bring them to our side went. After all, I knew next to nothing about the county’s current state. I glanced back at Rietz just in time to see him raise his hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have an idea? Speak, then,” said Lumeire. A few others in the room scowled at the sight of Rietz, a Malkan, daring to take the floor, but Lumeire himself showed no signs of that sort of contempt. Apparently, he wasn’t one for prejudice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that it will be exceedingly difficult to bring Perreina to our side without sufficient information on their dealings,” said Rietz. “To that end, I would propose that our first priority be determining why the Count of Perreina has chosen not to side with Lord Couran despite his county’s adverse circumstances.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A sound argument,” said Lumeire with a nod. “But how, specifically, do you propose we obtain this information?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is he going to bring up the Shadows?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We hadn’t even made contact with them yet, so promising their help felt like a risk to me. Then again, if we did get them under contract, then Lumeire would probably be quite impressed with us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz surprised me, though, by instead mumbling to himself, “A good question… We’ll have to come up with a means, yes,” then shooting me a wink."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh─is he telling me to bring the mercenaries up myself? Maybe he thinks that if I make the proposal, it’ll make me look good in front of this council."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I was a little embarrassed that he’d set the stage for me that blatantly, but there wasn’t any sense in wasting the opportunity he’d created."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why don’t we hire mercenaries to gather that information for us?” I suggested. “As it so happens, I’m aware of a band that would suit the particulars of this mission perfectly.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mercenaries,” Lumeire repeated thoughtfully. “While I do have individuals trained in spycraft under my employ, I’m afraid to say that none of them are by any means experts. Are these mercenaries of yours skilled?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced at Rietz, and he nodded back to me. If he thought they had what it took, then I felt confident assuming that they weren’t a band of clowns, at the very least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are,” I replied confidently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then,” said Lumeire. “In that case, I shall leave the acquisition of information on Perreina’s internal affairs to you. That said, should you fail to retain the services of these mercenaries, or should you determine that they are unworthy of trust, I would ask that you report back to me immediately. Failure is no sin, but silent failure could be the death of us all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Looks like Lumeire’s pretty good at handling underlings, I thought to myself at the same time. I’d had my fair share of subordinates at work in my previous life, and the worst-case scenario was always one of them screwing up and failing to admit it to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The war conference came to a temporary halt soon after, so I left the castle to make contact with the Shadows."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Ugggh,” moaned Rosell, clutching at his head as he walked beside me. “I couldn’t say anything, I couldn’t ask anything…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You must have been really nervous, huh?” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Of course I was!” snapped Rosell. “That room was full of the sort of people I usually only see in my nightmares!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some of the retainers in the room had very obviously been quite battle-hardened. I mean, it was a war council, after all. I had to admit, their grizzly beards and stern expressions had been pretty intimidating, but House Louvent had its fair share of people like that as well, so I didn’t know what he meant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe he just can’t handle that many of them in a room at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I couldn’t focus on the meeting at all thanks to them,” Rosell spat. “What’d they decide on in the end?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I quickly explained that we were going to meet with the Shadows, and a profound look appeared on Rosell’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… So everything went more or less how I expected it to, then… Ugh, but I bet the mercenaries are going to be terrifying, too… M-Maybe they’ll even kidnap me and try to sell me…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not going to happen. Relax, Rosell. Even if the negotiations go south, we’ll have Rietz and Charlotte there to protect us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s pathological negativity had slightly improved since he was little, but he was still a hardcore pessimist at heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned to Rietz and asked, “So, where should we go to meet with the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re based outside of the walls, in a bar called the Tremps. I’ll lead the way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz led us through the streets until suddenly, a familiar-sounding voice rang out behind us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars! Please, wait just a moment!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I turned around and saw a golden-haired girl of around my age running toward us. I realized why I recognized that voice─because it belonged to none other than my fiancée, Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Licia!” I exclaimed, taken aback. “This is a shock! Did Lord Hammond bring you along with him?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He did,” said Licia. “Though not without putting up a fight. I just had to come along and see you, so I put my foot down! He put his foot down in regards to the council, though, so I had to wait back in our chambers until the meeting concluded.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No wonder I didn’t see you there,” I replied. “Speaking of which, it’s good to see you again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d written more times than I could count, but this was our first time seeing each other in person in a year or so. We’d managed to get together once since the day we first met, but ever since then, we’d had no direct contact. Licia had clearly grown a lot over that past year, too─she was taller, and her figure was beginning to fill out. She was thirteen, and very clearly going through a growth spurt, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that she looked so different."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, it’s been far too long!” said Licia. “You’ve grown quite dashing since we last met, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It feels as though I’ve hardly grown at all compared to you, Lady Licia. You’ve become astonishingly beautiful.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My!” Licia exclaimed with a blush, then got right down to business. “By the way, Lord Ars, I’m told you intend to meet with a band of mercenaries called the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right,” I replied. “But wait, who told you that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I may have been listening in on your conference, truth be told,” Licia admitted. “But more importantly, if you plan to meet with the mercenaries now, perhaps you’d be willing to take me along? I believe I might be helpful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I paused to consider her offer. Licia was an accomplished negotiator, and she could indeed be quite helpful when it came to bargaining with the mercenaries. On the other hand, though, a mercenary band’s base had to be dangerous, right? I had absolute faith in my guards, of course, but I still had some apprehensions about bringing her to such a seedy place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Licia,” I said, “I’m afraid that the Shadows’ base is likely quite a dangerous place.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s perfectly all right!” she replied immediately. “I’ve already received permission from my father to accompany you. Does that make a difference?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hammond actually gave her the okay?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I mulled it over once more. If her father was down for it, I didn’t see any reason not to take her along, and I’d have felt a little bad turning her down after she went out of her way to ask him. Just in case, though, I asked Rietz for his opinion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I doubt it would be an issue,” he replied. “Our destination isn’t that dangerous, really. If it were, I wouldn’t be taking you with me either, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fair enough. All right, then, Lady Licia─shall we? Just be sure not to stray too far from the rest of us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lord Ars!” Licia exclaimed with a grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We resumed our walk, now with an extra party member in tow, and eventually reached a surprisingly large building with a sign reading “Tremps” hung out front."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, Rietz,” I asked as I surveyed the building, “how did you find out about the Shadows in the first place?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well,” said Rietz. “You know I used to work as a mercenary myself, of course. The band I belonged to traveled across Missian, and at one point I ended up here in Canarre. I got to know the Shadows after the leader of my mercenary band hired them for a job.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A band of mercenaries hired another band of mercenaries?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They did, yes. The Shadows are in a different line of work than we were, after all. They deal in information, espionage, assassination, and the like. We, on the other hand, specialized in traditional warfare. For a band like ours, fighting for the losing side of a war meant sustaining heavy casualties and often not getting paid on top of it. In the worst case, we could have been wiped out. That was why we hired the Shadows to gather information on the state of conflicts and sabotage our enemies. They were quite helpful, frankly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Interesting! I didn’t know there was that much variation among mercenary bands.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, my band was wiped out in the end,” Rietz added with a shrug. “Our leader got too greedy for his own good, and that was that…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz seemed to sink into his own memories. Considering how many of his friends and allies must have died, I couldn’t imagine they were particularly pleasant experiences. I decided not to pry any deeper as our group walked into the Tremps."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could immediately tell that it was a popular bar. The place was bustling, and despite its vast size, there were hardly any empty seats. It was only midday, so I could only imagine how packed it would be come nightfall."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This place is as busy as ever,” Rietz commented."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Guess it’s always been this way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Shadows introduced me to the bar’s owner back in the day, so I’ll try talking to him first.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz picked out the owner and walked over to him, and the rest of us followed along. As we slipped through the crowd, I noticed that we were drawing quite a lot of attention. It wasn’t every day you saw a Malkan as well-dressed as Rietz, Charlotte’s choice of clothing made the fact that she was a mage rather obvious, and Licia and I were very clearly nobility from our attire alone. In retrospect, we weren’t exactly dressed with subtlety in mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“These stares are getting on my nerves,” muttered Charlotte. “Can I burn them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Can she what?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte’s striking features were attracting the attention of the local men, which she clearly did not appreciate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course you can’t!” I whispered back. “A few stares won’t kill us, so just bear with it. Unless things get violent, I mean─then you can burn them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fiiine,” groaned Charlotte. “Ugggh, what a drag…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was kind of taken aback. She was always so mild-mannered back at my estate, so I’d never seen this belligerent side of hers before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I just caught her in a bad mood?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, although we got plenty of attention, nobody seemed interested in giving us a hard time, so we reached the owner unmolested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a while, Alex,” said Rietz to the owner. He looked to be middle-aged, with a muscular build and a rather impressive beard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alex gave Rietz a skeptical look and replied, “A Malkan…oh, you. Rietz, was it? You were with the Kraiment Mercenaries, weren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s right,” said Rietz with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thought you were dead. Heard that most of you got done in, actually, and that the few who made it out with their hides intact went their separate ways.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Kraiment Mercenaries did disband, yes, but as you can see, I’m very much alive,” said Rietz. “At the moment, I serve as a retainer to House Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A retainer? House Louvent? That’s the lord down in Lamberg, eh? How the hell’d you… Wait,” Alex paused. “I’ve heard whispers of a Malkan boy down in Lamberg who fights like a demon on his lord’s behalf. That’s you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most likely, yes,” Rietz admitted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that sure clears things up. If I remember you right, then those rumors might not’ve been all folktale after all. You were one of the tougher Kraiments, weren’t you?” Alex asked as he glanced over Rietz’s shoulder. “That kid behind you the new Louvent lordling? I heard word the old one bit it and his kid took up the mantle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Ars Louvent,” I said, jumping in to assert myself a little. “I am indeed the head of House Louvent, as well as Rietz’s employer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, good to make your acquaintance. Name’s Alex Tremps, and I’m the owner of this boozehole,” Alex said with a perfunctory bow. “So, tell me, what brings you lot here?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have a job for the Shadows,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ohhh, them,” said Alex. He looked a little flustered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is something wrong?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nah, not exactly. Thing is, the leader of the Shadows who took on jobs for the Kraiments? Bloke retired about two years ago.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” Rietz shouted in shock. “But the man lived for his work! Did an injury do him in?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The opposite─a wife. Said he couldn’t afford to stay in such a risky line of business anymore, and that was that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” Rietz said with a frown. “That puts us in a difficult position…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, well, the boss moved on, but the Shadows are still around,” Alex clarified. “’Course, a fair chunk of the old guard split after he left. It’s a whole new operation these days.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what do you make of these new Shadows?” Rietz asked. “Are they capable?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They put the old Shadows to shame,” Alex replied with a sly grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They put them to shame…?” repeated Rietz. It sounded like he could hardly believe his ears. “But…the old Shadows were legendary! And yet, this new crew is somehow even more skilled?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Believe it or not,” said Alex. “The new boss has a real gift for the work, and a talent for spreading the wealth, skill-wise. The rest of them’ve improved by leaps and bounds. I haven’t gotten word of them failing a single job since the old boss handed over the reins.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s astonishing,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thing is, though, this new boss is even more off than the old one. Nobody knows how the hell the Shadows decide what jobs they take these days. There’s no guarantee they’ll take you on as clients unless you meet them and ask.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then that’s what we’ll do,” said Rietz. “Can you introduce us to this new boss of theirs?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll introduce you to whoever you want me to, so long as you’ve got the coin to pay for the privilege. It’ll have to be later, though. After dark, understand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does the new boss only show up here at night?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nah, the boss is already here. It’s just that the Shadows only take on new work at night. Don’t ask me to explain it, but one way or another, I won’t be taking you to the boss until night falls. Feel free to search on your own, though, if you’re up for wasting your time,” Alex said with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering how crowded this place is, yeah, that probably would be a hopeless endeavor…if I didn’t have my Appraisal skill to save the day, that is!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Alex said that the Shadows’ boss had a gift, and I was certain that meant that they’d have to have high enough stats to catch my attention. They had to have a much higher Valor than the average person, if nothing else! The fact that they wouldn’t take any jobs until night meant that searching for the boss wasn’t really a productive use of time, but I didn’t have anything better to do, so I decided I might as well look around in the meantime."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” I said to Alex. “We’ll wait here until night falls, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Suit yourself. Order some drinks and a bite to eat while you’re at it, if you feel like doing me a favor. You look a bit short for the hard stuff, but I’ve got some less boozy drinks in the back, if that’d suit your fancy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would, thank you,” I replied, then paid for both the introduction and some drinks and fruits I took the opportunity to order from him. After that, we found a table, took a seat, and waited for night to fall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we waited, I started appraising the bar’s clientele one by one, keeping a close eye out for the leader of the Shadows. The place was packed, and I appraised absolutely everyone I could find, but nobody had a status screen that screamed “leader of a band of clandestine mercenaries” to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I’m wrong about spies having high Valor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately, Appraisal didn’t have an Aptitude for information-gathering listed. I was starting to tire myself out with all that staring, too, so for the moment, I decided to give up on my hunt. Instead, I called out to a nearby waitress and asked for a glass of water─I was feeling a little thirsty, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Water? Coming right up!” said the waitress. Water was readily available in the Canarre region, so the price was negligible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Come to think of it, I never appraised that waitress, did I?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was still young─probably only a year or two older than me─and her black hair was tied up in a ponytail. Her looks weren’t outstanding or anything, but I certainly would’ve called her attractive, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I mean, let’s be real─she couldn’t possibly be the Shadows’ leader."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I almost didn’t bother appraising her, but figured, hey, what did I have to lose? And so, I gave it a shot."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0038.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My jaw dropped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’s─I mean, he’s a boy?! And twenty-two years old, at that?! He’s a full-grown adult! And man, just look at those stats! So his name is Mazak? Or at least, that’s his name unless my skill’s bugging out for whatever reason."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I appraised Rietz, just to check, and his stats were the same as ever, so I was fairly confident my skill wasn’t on the fritz. Then, I appraised the waitress…I mean, the waiter one more time…and his stats were exactly the same as they’d been the first time. Apparently, they were legit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Could it be…? Could this Mazak person be the leader of the Shadows?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was the only person with the stats for it in the building, and considering said stats, I was positive that at the absolute least, he wasn’t just an ordinary waiter. It’d have been one thing if he had high stat caps, but the fact that his current stats were almost maxed out made his abnormality plain as day. He’d been through some sort of training, no doubt about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Assuming his stats were real, then Mazak had become the leader of the Shadows when he was only eighteen or nineteen. When I really thought about it, the Shadows were all about spywork, and what could be better for making your target let their guard down than looking like a teenage girl?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was no teenage girl, though─he was a man of twenty-two, shockingly enough. Did he come from a line of people who were naturally short and girly, or was it some sort of medical condition? I had a feeling that his stats probably wouldn’t have been that high if he had a developmental disorder, so I was inclined to suspect the former."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm…did you want to order something else?” Mazak asked, looking a little uncomfortable. It seemed I’d been staring a little too openly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I figured that I probably shouldn’t ask him if he was the leader of the Shadows straight-up. They didn’t take jobs during the daytime, for whatever reason, and it seemed he was fully immersed in his role as a waitress, so I had a funny feeling that if I jumped the gun, he wouldn’t take on the job at all. I might even turn him against me entirely if I revealed his identity and damaged his pride!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Leaving a bad first impression was the last thing I wanted to do, so I settled on not saying anything about his true identity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m fine, thanks,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? I’ll be right back with your water, then,” he said. He came back with a glass moments later, then went on his way. It was incredible─he really came across as a young girl, from his voice to the tiniest mannerisms. Even if he himself revealed his true identity, without evidence, it’d just come across as a bad joke."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see you’ve taken quite a keen interest in that girl, Lord Ars,” said Licia with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She seemed a little miffed, actually. I guess the way I’d been staring at Mazak had gotten on her nerves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to tell the truth about why I’d been watching him. No point letting Licia stew over it, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m fairly certain that ‘she’ is the leader of the Shadows,” I whispered, quietly enough that nobody outside our table would hear me. Everybody at my table, meanwhile, gaped at me in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You realize that she’s a girl who can’t be much older than me, don’t you?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, he’s a twenty-two-year-old man.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” all of my companions shouted in unison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Shhhhhh!” I quickly hushed them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’re probably fine─nothing too weird about people shouting in surprise! I’m sure nobody heard the first part!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You’re joking, right?” said Rosell. “How could she possibly be anything other than a girl?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m positive,” I replied. “There’s no doubt about it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia looked a little thoughtful and said, “I’m sure a person like that could be the leader of the Shadows…but a twenty-two-year-old man? That strains credulity…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t blame her. I’d seen the appraisal results with my own two eyes, yet even I’d second-guessed them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe it,” said Rietz. “I’ve never known Lord Ars to be wrong about such matters. Though that said, I didn’t know he had the power to reveal an individual’s sex.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No surprise that Rietz would trust me. He’s known me the longest, and he’s seen time and time again how accurate my Appraisal skill is."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If that’s the boss, then why don’t we go ask him about the job right now? I’m getting sick of waiting,” said Charlotte. I quickly explained that if we jumped the gun he might not take the job at all, so she agreed to wait a little longer, though she made it clear she wasn’t very happy about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A little while later, nature called, and I got up to use the restroom. Rietz reflexively stood up to escort me, but since the bar wasn’t particularly rowdy and it would’ve been embarrassing to have someone following me to the toilet, I told him he didn’t have to bother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bet he’s going to keep his eyes glued to the restroom’s entrance anyway, but eh, that beats the alternative."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stepped into the restroom. This world did have decent enough water infrastructure, all things considered, so the toilets weren’t as unhygienic as one might assume. I finished my business, turned to leave…and nearly dropped dead of a heart attack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, kid, let’s chat. How’d you figure out I’m the Shadows’ boss?” asked Mazak, who was standing literally right in front of me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When did he get there? I didn’t notice him at all!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When he was acting like a waitress, he’d seemed like a bright, cheerful girl, but now he was staring fixedly at me, completely expressionless. He looked so calm and analytical that I was astonished. How could a single person give off two impressions so wildly different just by changing the look on his face?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’S the first time I’ve been busted, you know?” said Mazak."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As it so happened, though, I had an extremely similar question on my mind: How did he know that I knew who he was?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to play dumb and asked, “What are you talking about?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nuh-uh, that’s not gonna fly. I’m sure you thought you were whispering quietly enough, but I heard every single word you people said. You’re Ars Louvent, freshly-minted Lord of Lamberg, and you came here to hire me for a job. Then, somehow, you figured out that I was the boss, a man, and twenty-two. Feel like denying any of that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mazak had been quite a ways away from our table while we had that discussion. If he’d managed to eavesdrop anyway, then his hearing was remarkably sensitive. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have been able to get by as a spy if it weren’t. All that said, he’d let one interesting fact slip: if he didn’t know how I knew his identity, then he hadn’t overheard our entire conversation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It wasn’t easy to get in here without anyone noticing, y’know?” said Mazak. “Some weird asshole was watching the restroom like a hawk, so I had to take a back route that only the staff know about. I didn’t go to all that trouble for nothing, so you’re going to tell me how you figured me out, one way or another.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess Rietz really was watching out for me after all! Mazak got the better of him, but I can’t blame him for not accounting for a secret passage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why are you so curious about how I figured you out?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hiding your identity’s kind of a big deal in my line of work, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in my skills. If somebody takes me down a peg, then I’ve gotta figure out how they pulled it off. Or what, you think I’d just let you piss all over my work and walk away? Spill your guts, kid. Where’d I screw up?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You didn’t,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation. “Your act was perfect.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then how’d you know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d hit my limit─I had to fess up. I could tell that if I kept giving him the runaround, he was probably going to get violent with me, so I told him about my Appraisal skill."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The power to see other people’s abilities…?” Mazak repeated disbelievingly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. You possess abilities far exceeding the average person’s, so I knew you were likely the Shadows’ leader. Incidentally, my power also lets me see your name, sex, and age. Mazak Finde, I presume?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mazak gasped. His eyes widened for just a moment, but then he shut them and sneered, “Sorry, but that’s a swing and a miss. I gave up that name ages ago. I go by Pham these days.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He changed his name? Interesting─then it looks like my skill doesn’t update that information. It must only tell me their birth name."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gotta say, though,” he continued. “That skill makes you the natural enemy of folks in my line of work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It does?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Better believe it. Like I said, you can’t get by in this field unless you can conceal your identity. That makes the way I look real convenient─nobody ever suspects the little girl in the room to be rooting around for their deepest secrets, y’know? That’s why I never let anyone other than my most trusted allies in on my identity. I don’t even let my clients see my real face. Alex and the rest of the Shadows are the only ones who know who I am.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Part of me really wanted to ask, “Then what do you do with people like me who figure your identity out?” However, I kept my lips firmly shut. It had just hit me how risky of a position I was in, and I’d already pushed my luck pretty far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve only got two options for someone with a dangerous power like yours: bring ’em over to my side, or make sure they never get the chance to work against me, if you catch my drift. You got a preference?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My heart skipped a beat out of sheer terror, then started gradually pounding faster and faster. If I chose the wrong answer, things could get very nasty, very quickly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think it goes without saying that I’d rather be on your side,” I replied. “By the way, you know I’m the head of House Louvent, don’t you? I’ve already told my retainers your identity, and if anything happens to me here, you won’t just be making enemies of my people─even the count might hunt you down. I’m sure you’d rather not get chased out of this city, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Any town works for me,” Pham snorted dismissively."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It can’t be that easy to pick up and move your whole operation, can it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s a pain at first, I’ll give you that, but nothing we can’t handle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what if my retainers followed you? What if they were willing to chase you to the far ends of the continent to kill you for what you did to me?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d do them in before they got the chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t know about that. My retainers are pretty strong.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham paused for just a moment…then cracked up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hah hah hah! Oh, don’t piss yourself, kid. I can hear your heart beating up a storm, y’know? Guess you are just a brat, though. Dunno what I was expecting.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rats! I thought I was keeping a straight face, too. How are you supposed to fool somebody into thinking you’re calm when they can literally hear your heartbeat?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was kidding,” Pham continued. “I’m not planning on making you disappear, don’t worry. I happen to like unique sorts, and though I wasn’t lying about your power being dangerous, it makes you as unique as it gets. I’d never turn down a job from someone like you. Plus, working for nobles tends to mean repeat commissions if we pull off the job, and that means spreading my identity around would bite you in the ass just as hard as it would me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I let out a sigh of relief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, thank goodness, he was just kidding. I seriously thought that I was about to get murdered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can tell me about the job once night falls,” said Pham. “Just sit tight until then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham struck me as a little dangerous─maybe more than a little, actually─so part of me was seriously considering backing out of this whole plan. However, after everything we’d just been through, giving up on hiring him and making a break for it felt like a surefire way to make a lifelong enemy out of him. I wasn’t particularly interested in having to watch my back for assassins at all hours, so it seemed I’d have to see this through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pham turned to leave the restroom…just in time for Rietz to burst through the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars!” he shouted a moment before his gaze fell upon Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz didn’t hesitate for a second─he’d drawn and swung his sword before I even knew what was happening. Pham, however, was just as fast, pulling a knife from his breast pocket and intercepting the swing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, Rietz! Stop!” I shouted. “He’s on our side!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Is that so? My apologies,” Rietz said, lowering his sword."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, kid, I’ve gotta hand it to you,” said Pham. “You were right─I would rather have you and your people on my side. I’m not gonna say I couldn’t kill this guy, but I can tell he wouldn’t make it easy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that final remark, Pham left the bathroom."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, meanwhile, turned to me and asked, “Are you sure you’re all right, Lord Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I’m fine, really!” I reassured him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear it. I was keeping watch, yet I didn’t notice anything was wrong at all! There must be another entrance,” Rietz commented, glancing around the bathroom. “In any case, you were right, not that I ever doubted you. He must be the current leader of the Shadows, considering how easily he blocked my strike.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Pham’s skills had impressed Rietz already."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us left the bathroom and returned to our table. A short while later, Pham emerged back onto the floor, once again in full waitress mode. I was flabbergasted─how could a person change how they came off that dramatically at the drop of a hat? Once again, I was half-convinced that he really was a totally different person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Time passed by, and finally, night fell. It wasn’t long before Alex walked on over to our table."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for waiting. I’ll take you to see Pham, the boss of the Shadows, now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We got up and followed Alex up a staircase, passing by the second floor and emerging on the third. He then unlocked a door and ushered us inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pham, your guests are… Huh? You going around showing your face off to clients these days?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No point in hiding it,” replied Pham from inside. “They already figured me out.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What…?” Alex blinked in confusion, unable to process what he’d just heard. “They figured you… What? You mean they saw you at work and picked you out as the Shadows’ leader?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s exactly what they did,” said Pham. “The boy, specifically. He’s got a weird power up his sleeve, it seems. Picked me out of the crowd at a glance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be damned,” muttered Alex, seeming downright shocked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess somebody seeing through Pham’s disguise was way beyond his expectations. Can’t blame him, though, considering how good of a disguise it is. I sure wouldn’t have been able to tell without a helping hand, myself!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“S-So Ars was right?” marveled Rosell. “She really was the leader of the Shadows?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And ‘she’ really is also actually a he, I assume,” added Licia, who’d apparently still been skeptical on that front. Even after his true identity had been revealed, it was hard to see Pham as anything other than a girl. His natural voice was a little lower than the one he’d used while posing as a waitress, but it didn’t exactly scream “man” to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I’m a man. No question about it,” said Pham. Even after hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth, Licia didn’t seem totally convinced, but selling her on that point was pretty low on my list of priorities. I honestly couldn’t have cared less whether he was a man or a woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t dress like this for kicks, either,” Pham added. “Young girls are the most universally underestimated people in this whole damn world. Being able to drop into the role at a moment’s notice makes my job a hell of a lot easier, so I work here to practice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wondered why he’d bother with the whole waitress act…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had it down pat, in my book, but I had a funny feeling that Pham himself still felt there was room for improvement. Either that, or he refused to stop practicing even though the act was perfect to make sure he never lost his touch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, let’s talk business, yeah? What’ll the Shadows be getting done for you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Does that mean you’ve already decided to take the job?” I asked, bewildered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right. Like I said─you’ve got a pretty unique power, and I like that. Working for you sounds like a good time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was still a bit stunned, but I quickly explained the details of the job to Pham. He crossed his arms when I finished and replied, “Hmm… The reason why Perreina isn’t giving in and joining your little alliance, eh…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can you figure it out?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stupid question. Of course we can. Turning up info like that’s our bread and butter. I’d bet we’ll have an answer for you in no time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You will? Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Give us a week and you’ll see for yourself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s even faster than I was expecting. I thought it’d take at least a month!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll cut you a deal, since this is our first job for you,” said Pham. “One gold for the job with a three silver advance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Three silver? That’s cheaper than I was expecting, too!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had more than enough money on hand to hire him on the spot. I’d been prepared to do some haggling if his price had been outrageous, but it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary after all. I handed over the three silver without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks for the business,” Pham said as the coins clinked into his palm. “Shouldn’t take more than a week, like I said. But for safety’s sake, let’s say the deadline’s two weeks from now. Come back then, at night, and you’ll have your answer.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, our negotiations with Pham and the Shadows came to a close. In the end, it had turned out to be way less of an ordeal than I’d initially expected─I was anticipating a real interrogation. All that was left for us to do was wait and believe in Pham’s skills. And given the results of my appraisal and the quality of his disguise, that second part was going to be very easy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia spoke up as the four of us walked out into the streets: “Well, that certainly proceeded swimmingly! I came along in the hopes that I could be of some use, but it seems I missed my chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She honestly sounded a little disappointed. We’d managed to hire the mercenaries we wanted, though, so I didn’t see any need for her to feel sorry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d better say something to cheer her up, huh?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still, I’m glad you came along. Having you with us made the trip far more enjoyable,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? I-It did…?” Licia stammered, her cheeks flushing. She glanced away, but only a few seconds later, she looked back again, a brilliant smile on her face. “Well, it just so happens that I feel the same way! I enjoyed this excursion with you, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Out of all the smiles I’d seen Licia wear, this was definitely the brightest. It was a pure, authentic smile that looked like it came from the bottom of her heart. I believed it, too─my intuition told me that this one truly wasn’t faked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our mission concluded, we returned to stay the night at the castle. The next morning, we set off for Lamberg once more."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0040.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Two weeks later, as promised, we arrived at the Tremps. This time, though, we made sure to get there after dark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nice of you to show up,” said Pham as we stepped into his office. I’d brought Rietz, Charlotte, and a few other guards with me this time. Rosell ended up staying in Lamberg, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you manage to get the information we wanted?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Course we did,” said Pham. “But you’ll have to pay your tab before you get to hear it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I handed over the remaining seven silver coins, which Pham accepted with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks for the business.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“By the way, I’ve been wondering something. You’re not the only member of the Shadows, right?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Course I’m not. I’m the only one who talks to the clients, though. That’s the boss’s duty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, they exist, but we don’t get to meet them. I guess it wouldn’t really make sense to have the whole crew meet all their clients."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” said Pham. “Let’s get down to business, then. You wanted to know why Perreina won’t jump ship to Couran’s side of the war, yeah? Well, first up, a quick bit of basic searching led us to discover that the Count of Perreina, Rulrook Dolan, owes Vasmarque a great debt.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A debt?” I repeated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. See, Vasmarque’s endorsement is what enabled House Dolan to rise all the way to the seat of count, so Rulrook owes the man his success.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that’s why he chose to side with him?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s part of why, but it’s not that simple. The debt’s heavy, but not heavy enough to make him choose a path that’s all but sure to lead to his house’s downfall.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then he must have some other reason, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. So we dug a little deeper and turned up something real interesting,” said Pham, passing me a rolled-up letter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just read it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I unfurled the letter and began to read, only for my jaw to drop in shock. The letter was a solicitation from Vasmarque addressed to the Count of Perreina, requesting that he enter into an alliance. The letter included a list of the counts who had already pledged their loyalty to Vasmarque, along with their signatures and seals─in other words, all the houses on it were firmly on his side. Among their number were the counts who ruled over the eastern and northern counties, as well as a provisional entry for Perreina itself. None of that was particularly surprising, but there was one extra name on that list that was downright stunning: the County of Maasa, home to the largest city in western Missian."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does this really mean…?” I muttered in wonder, glancing over at Rietz, whose eyes were just as wide as mine."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The County of Maasa has sided with Lord Vasmarque?” Rietz whispered in disbelief."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right,” said Pham. “And that means that as things stand, Vasmarque holds a hefty advantage. The man probably sent this letter off to the Count of Perreina because he knew that, between that advantage and the debt the count owed him, he would side with him for sure. I mean, with Maasa on Vasmarque’s side, Couran’s campaign’s all but dead in the water. Who’d board a ship that’s already sinking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And this letter is genuine? How did you get it? It can’t have been easy to obtain something this important,” I said. I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to tell whether or not the house seals on the letter were authentic, so I couldn’t say with total certainty that the whole thing was a forgery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Trade secret,” said Pham. “We can’t go blabbing about how we get our hands on stuff like that, no matter how much we trust the client. That’s need-to-know information, and if you’re not one of us, you don’t need to know. What I can tell you is that it was without a doubt obtained from Castle Perreina, the residence of the count.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ugh, trade secrets? Really? Though I guess even if I did know how he got the letter, that still wouldn’t necessarily prove it’s real. Any number of people could be trying to deceive me in this situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, if I wasn’t willing to trust Pham’s word, then there hadn’t been any point in hiring him in the first place. Lumeire had surely had his fair share of dealings with the other counts, so I decided to see if he knew more about their seals. He seemed the best bet to determine if the letter’s contents could be trusted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies for doubting you,” I said. “I hope you’ll understand that this is just…rather unbelievable news.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No skin off my back,” said Pham. “That’s all the info I have for you right now. You know where to find us if you have another job.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. The information is greatly appreciated. You don’t mind if we take this letter with us, do you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All yours.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I collected the letter and we made our way out of the bar. It was time to head back to the inn we were staying in and plan our next move."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is going to get way out of hand, isn’t it?” I speculated. “Assuming that letter is real, then Lord Couran will be rushing into this war at a major disadvantage. What are we supposed to do now…? Do you think we should deliver the letter to Lord Lumeire right away?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me think,” said Rietz, who was busy re-reading the document we’d received from Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Something about this letter feels wrong,” he eventually concluded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You don’t trust Pham?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, that isn’t quite what I mean. I fully believe that this letter was stolen from Castle Perreina, but the problem is the Count of Maasa’s signature and seal. I believe they may be forgeries.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that would mean…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In short, it would mean that this letter could be a stratagem on Lord Vasmarque’s part. I believe that he may have forged the Count of Maasa’s signature and seal in order to pressure the Count of Perreina into committing himself to Lord Vasmarque’s cause.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would that really work?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t the Count of Perreina have seen the Count of Maasa’s real signature and seal plenty of times already?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps, but it’s far from impossible to make a forgery convincing enough to pass a cursory inspection,” replied Rietz. “I’ve heard that there are even some forgers who make a living solely by creating seals that are indistinguishable from the real thing.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… What makes you think it’s a forgery, though?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The fact that the Count of Perreina was the only one who Lord Vasmarque tried to recruit,” said Rietz. “That strikes me as extremely unnatural.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does it? But the Count of Perreina already owed Lord Vasmarque a favor. Wouldn’t it make sense for Lord Vasmarque to go after Perreina first, since he’d know their count would have the highest odds of being receptive to the offer? Especially considering that if anyone turned the offer down, the fact that an offer was made would almost definitely get leaked.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But would that information leak really work to Lord Vasmarque’s disadvantage?” asked Rietz. “I imagine that many of the western counties have allied themselves with Lord Couran in no small part because they believe that the Count of Maasa has taken his side. If he really had chosen to support Lord Vasmarque instead, then going public with that information could easily win over other allies as well. Vasmarque would have nothing to lose from the revelation…and everything to gain.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… That’s a good point, actually. But even if the seal is a forgery, it seems odd that Lord Vasmarque didn’t reach out to the Count of Canarre and try to convince him, too.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps he thought that would be overplaying his hand?” suggested Rietz. “The farther the letter spreads, the more likely that someone will notice it’s a forgery. A single message to the Count of Maasa is all it would take to prove its inauthenticity, after all. As such, it would make sense for Lord Vasmarque to only use this tactic on the one count who owed him a debt and was likely already deeply involved with his affairs.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I get it…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps we might learn something if Lord Lumeire takes the letter directly to the Count of Maasa and asks about it…? No, that would prove nothing. After all, if the letter is genuine and the Count of Maasa is involved in some sort of plot, he would have no reason to be upfront about it… In any case, yes, I believe it would be in our best interests to show it to Lord Lumeire immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I thought so. In that case, let’s make our way to Castle Canarre on the double!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Showing up at the castle this late at night was most certainly a breach of etiquette, but considering the urgency of the situation, I figured the count would forgive us. We made our way toward Castle Canarre, which was only a short walk away from where we were staying. There was no gatekeeper stationed outside at this time of night, but there were guards posted on watch around the perimeter of the castle, so we were able to explain the circumstances and get them to let us inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon after we entered, Menas ran up to us in a fluster."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Welcome, Lord Ars!” he called out. “Lord Lumeire is eagerly awaiting your news regarding the Count of Perreina!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed the guards had told him why we’d come."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry to come calling so late at night,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, no, think nothing of it! Even a second’s delay can make a world of difference when news of this magnitude is concerned. Come, come! I’ll lead you to Lord Lumeire at once!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering the fact that we’d shown up unannounced, I was surprised by how readily we were granted an audience with the count."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe we just happened to arrive while he wasn’t busy with anything else?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas guided us to Lumeire’s room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well met, Ars,” Lumeire said as we stepped inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, and my apologies for disturbing you so late at night,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No matter. Frankly, I’ve done no small amount of second-guessing myself as to whether entrusting you with such an important task was a wise decision. I’m very impressed to see you return to me with information in hand so quickly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid you might wish to reserve your praise until after you’ve heard his report, M’lord,” noted Menas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course. There’s no telling what sort of information it is, after all,” Lumeire said, then cleared his throat. “So, let’s hear it. What have you learned?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“First, I’d like you to read this,” I said, gesturing to Rietz. I’d given the letter to him for safekeeping, so he took it out and passed it to Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A letter…?” muttered Lumeire. He unfurled it and began reading. “A letter of alliance? And a list of counties pledged to Lord Vasmarque’s cause, with accompanying signatures and seals… Hmph, Perreina’s as well… What?! What is the meaning of this?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had a funny feeling that Lumeire had just reached the Count of Maasa’s signature. His jaw dropped and his eyes bulged in shock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-How could this be…? The Count of Maasa, siding with Lord Vasmarque? N-No, that can’t be… The Count of Maasa has always held lord Couran in the highest of esteem, and he’s never been one for deception…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Lumeire was even more shocked by the count’s apparent betrayal than we were. He did know the man personally, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Is this letter genuine?” he asked, turning his gaze back to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It was obtained from the Count of Perreina’s home, so yes, in all likelihood, it is,” I explained. “However, I can’t be certain that the seal and signature of the Count of Maasa are authentic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you mean?” asked Lumeire. I quickly explained our suspicions that the letter may have been part of Vasmarque’s scheme to lure the Count of Perreina into an alliance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Lord Vasmarque’s always been a crafty one, and I wouldn’t put this sort of scheme past him… However, the signatures and seals upon this document look indistinguishable from the real things, to my eyes,” he said as he slowly and carefully inspected the page."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire had surely seen nobles’ signatures and seals far more times than any of us, and I wasn’t about to second-guess his judgment. That said, if he was right, then it would mean we’d have no choice but to assume the Count of Maasa was our enemy. I had to wonder what sort of action Lumeire would take if he decided that was the only explanation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahem,” said Menas, who was standing off to the side and listening in on our conversation. “Might I take a look at that document?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that’s right,” said Lumeire, passing him the letter. “I’d forgotten you have a power that comes in handy at times such as these.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Menas spent a moment slowly and carefully inspecting the letter, then looked up once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm, yes. I believe that the signature and seal of the Count of Maasa are indeed forgeries.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really?!” I exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed. Wait just a moment,” said Menas, who then stepped out of the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Menas possesses the power to ascertain the authenticity of signatures, seals, and the like,” explained Lumeire as his retainer left."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had no idea he had that sort of ability!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My Appraisal skill allowed me to see people’s status screens, but it had become increasingly clear that it did not allow me to tell whether or not they had special skills or abilities of their own. I was starting to appreciate that there was always a lot more to a person deep down than what little my power could tell me about them. Part of me was hopeful that my skill would evolve and start giving me that sort of info eventually, but considering the status screens hadn’t changed in the slightest since the day I was born, I figured I should keep my expectations low."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas soon returned with a second letter in hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This letter bears the genuine signature and seal of the Count of Maasa,” he explained. “To be on the safe side, I suggest we compare them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas placed the two letters side by side, lining the relevant sections up. The count’s seal, incidentally, depicted a hexagon with a circle within it, and a five-pointed star within the circle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I thought as much,” mumbled Menas. “The shape of the circle really is slightly askew…and the hexagon is slightly too small.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Honestly, I couldn’t tell at all, even after he pointed the differences out. I almost thought I could see the discrepancies after staring at the seals for several moments longer, but I suspected I was just fooling myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, Menas brought out a ruler and started taking careful measurements of the two seals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, yes, I knew it! The difference is slight, but it is there. The signatures are quite similar as well, but the count’s genuine article is written in a slightly different hand than the forgery. And a forgery it is─I am now confident beyond a shadow of a doubt. The others are genuine, however, so they have likely all pledged their support to Vasmarque.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s truly important here is that the Count of Maasa’s are fake. That is a relief,” said Lumeire. I could tell that he really didn’t want to end up in a conflict with the County of Maasa. “I shall report on these matters to the Count of Maasa and Lord Couran. I’m certain that between the three of us, the problem will be settled in no time. You have done exceptionally well, Ars, and I assure you that you will be rewarded accordingly in due time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am honored by your praise, Lord Lumeire,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I felt a little awkward about being complimented over my so-called accomplishment. After all, Pham was the one who’d done all the actual work, and Rietz was the one who’d introduced me to him. Then again, taking credit for your retainers’ accomplishments did strike me as a very feudal-lord sort of thing to do."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We wound up spending the night in the castle, then returned to Lamberg the next day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few weeks passed before I received word on the plan to bring the Count of Perreina over to our side. A message finally arrived one day, informing me that the plan had succeeded and that I was to report to Castle Canarre. We set off at once, and it wasn’t long before I stood face-to-face with Lumeire once more. This time, however, I ended up attending my audience with the count on my own. Lumeire, Menas, and I were the only ones present."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well met, Ars,” said Lumeire. “Once again, allow me to congratulate you: your efforts proved instrumental in our success. Thanks to you, the Count of Perreina has agreed to side with Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am pleased beyond measure that I was able to be of service to you and Lord Couran,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As you should be. I’m not exaggerating─your work really did make all the difference. Come to think of it, I suppose I never told you, but the Count of Perreina can provide us with a certain resource of incredible strategic significance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A resource…? What is it?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Explosive magistones. They’re an incredibly rare form of ore. Perreina is the only source of the stuff in Missian, and it is one of only four in all of Summerforth. Aqua magia refined from explosive magistones allow the user to perform truly incredible, and truly destructive, feats of magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was certainly the first I’d heard of Perreina having such an incredible resource. For a moment, I thought that having their count on our side could prove incredibly advantageous, but then it occurred to me that Perreina had been committed to Vasmarque’s side for quite a long time before they’d defected. In the worst case, Vasmarque may have already secured himself a considerable supply of magistones."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unfortunately, the Count of Perreina has informed us that Lord Vasmarque continues to help himself to the magistone reserves,” sighed Lumeire, immediately confirming my suspicions. “They’ve set up checkpoints along the border and are stopping anyone who attempts to cross with magistones on hand, but it seems the smugglers are one step ahead of Perreina’s border guards, as they continue to deliver a large quantity of magistones into Lord Vasmarque’s clutches. I can’t say with confidence that we have the upper hand in that respect.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still,” continued Lumeire in a brighter tone. “We’re far better off than we were when the Count of Perreina was trapped under Lord Vasmarque’s thumb. The tide is turning in our favor, of that I’m certain! But enough talk─I’m sure you’re anxious to see your reward. Menas!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, M’lord!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire gave Menas a wave, prompting him to step out of the room, then return moments later with two boxes loaded onto a small cart. The boxes themselves were quite different in size, with one of them quite small and the other notably large."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ll find three hundred gold coins within, altogether,” said Lumeire. “Consider it your reward for a job well done.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-Three hundred gold coins?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had expected him to reward me in gold, yes, but three hundred was far beyond my wildest expectations. I’d been anticipating closer to fifty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed,” Lumeire replied with a nod. “Lord Couran contributed his own coin to your reward. I’m ashamed to admit it, but my pockets aren’t particularly deep these days, and his money accounts for the bulk of it. The small box is my contribution─fifty gold coins in total. The remaining two hundred and fifty in the large box are your reward from Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That explained it. I hadn’t anticipated Couran personally rewarding me as well. It made sense that he had money to spare, though, considering he ruled over Semplar. Two hundred and fifty gold was probably chump change to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My sincerest thanks,” I said as I accepted the boxes. I took the cart as well, though I had a feeling they were going to be a nightmare to transport regardless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s one more thing I ought to tell you,” continued Lumeire. “Lord Couran wishes to meet you in person.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Wait, seriously?” I replied in shock. I’d helped him out, sure, but there was a world’s worth of difference between Couran’s social standing and my own."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Broadly speaking, the status of a lord was determined by the worth of the land they ruled over. Noble ranks and the status they granted used to be a far more strict affair, supposedly, but in the current day and age, they practically felt like a formality compared to the practical power that a lord wielded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Semplar, the territory that Couran ruled over, was one of the most affluent regions in all of Missian. Plus, being the son of the late duke gave him no small amount of pull. His influence was overwhelmingly greater than that of a petty lord like me, and it was a shock that he would bother going out of his way to meet with me. It seemed likely that something unusual was playing out behind the scenes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Truth be told,” said Lumeire, “I mentioned you in conversation with Lord Couran and he took quite an interest in you. Raven told me about your talent to perceive the talents of others some time ago. Well, really, he boasted to me about how you were the one who recruited Rietz and Charlotte. The moment I mentioned your capabilities to Lord Couran, he told me that he’d be most interested in meeting you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So that’s where this is coming from─it’s all about my skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to admit, Appraisal was an incredibly useful ability to have. It was no surprise that someone in Couran’s position would take an interest in it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Plans have been made to throw a party in celebration of Perreina’s recruitment,” Lumeire continued. “Perreina spent long enough sworn to the other side’s service that there’s still some lingering doubt among our allies regarding their allegiance, and the idea is that a social gathering will help dispel that skepticism. Serious stuff, I assure you. In any case, I want you to attend that party as well. This isn’t an order, and you’re welcome to refuse…but I trust you’d never even consider that an option, would you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I certainly wouldn’t,” I replied immediately. “I would be honored to attend.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been wanting to appraise Couran for quite a long time, so a party seemed like the perfect chance to not only see him, but also all the other nobles he’d forged alliances with. Knowing how capable the people on my side were could prove invaluable in the long run, so I couldn’t let a chance that good slip past me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excellent,” said Lumeire. “I’ll inform Lord Couran at once. And again, Ars, what you’ve done for us is truly commendable. I expect great things from you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lord Lumeire. I intend to do my utmost to support Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We left the castle soon after, reward money in tow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” I said. “Back to Lamberg, then?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just a moment, please,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“About the Shadows─we wound up hiring them to dig into the Perreina situation for us, yes, but have you forgotten our initial goal? Weren’t we going to ask them to supply us with information on the overall state of Missian?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A long, awkward silence followed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Right.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I really had completely forgotten. Getting information on the Count of Perreina was never our primary goal in the first place! Our initial plan was to make contact with the Shadows; Perreina was just an afterthought!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good point, yeah. And now that you mention it, we do have plenty of funds on hand! How about we make our way to the Tremps and commission some spies?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that would be an excellent idea,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That said, what am I actually going to ask them to, well, do?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could definitely get information on our allies from Lumeire, and I’d be able to look into their stats at the party I’d just been invited to, so asking about them seemed like a waste. Information on our enemies, on the other hand, would obviously prove useful, and the best place to dig up info on them was their base of operations: Arcantez."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The security at Castle Arcantez would be tight, of course, and infiltrating it for the sake of gathering information might be a challenge, even for the Shadows. That said, they wouldn’t necessarily have to get into the castle itself to find useful information. Simply gathering intel in the castle town could potentially prove incredibly helpful. As for how long we’d commission them for, I figured I’d set the contract to last as long as the war lasted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m thinking we should ask them to go to Arcantez and keep gathering as much useful information as they can manage until the war ends,” I said, summing up my thought process to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that sounds prudent to me,” said Rietz. “I should note, however, that setting the duration of the contract to the duration of the war means we’ll likely be charged a very hefty sum.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fortunately for us, we just received a very hefty sum as a reward,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With a solid plan in mind, we headed off to the Shadows’ bar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“About the mission,” said Charlotte as we arrived at our destination. “Why not just hire them to kill ‘Vasmarque’ or whatever his name is and be done with it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did a double-take."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That certainly came out of nowhere!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, uh, think assassination might be a little out of the question,” I replied. “I’m sure his security’s as airtight as it gets. I guess it would bring the war to an end right away, though…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I recommend against it,” said Rietz. “An assassination of that magnitude is the sort of decision you shouldn’t be making. We have no idea what Lord Couran intends to do with his brother when the war is over, after all. Enemies or not, they are siblings, and he may plan to imprison Lord Vasmarque rather than kill him. I don’t believe we should take such a drastic step unless Lord Couran specifically requests that we do so.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, come on,” moaned Charlotte. “I thought that if you beat the enemy general, you could win the war in one fell swoop! That’s what they told me, anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say my father was the one who put that particular idea in her head. I guess it’s not exactly wrong. Definitely too drastic of a measure for the current circumstances, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of us walked into the bar. Night had already fallen, so Pham was nowhere to be found on the first floor. We explained to Alex that we were here to hire the Shadows, and a short while later, he led us up to Pham’s office."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Didn’t expect to see you again so soon, Ars Louvent,” said Pham with a subtle grin as we walked through the door. I quickly explained the details of our request, trying not to let his shockingly girly looks distract me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“‘Useful information,’ eh? Anything more specific you’d want out of us?” he asked when I finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s see… Information on the size of our enemy’s forces, their tactics, their overall strategy, the strengths and weaknesses of their nobles, information that could give us a diplomatic edge─really, I’d want you to report anything and everything you come across and believe could be significant.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Arcantez… That city’s a real pain in the ass to work out of. You should know that this is gonna cost you, and if you wanna keep us working for you until the war’s over, we’re talking a span of years, potentially. What do you say to five gold a month?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Making it sixty gold a year? I can pay that,” I replied immediately. His offer wasn’t far off from the price I’d anticipated, so I didn’t bother haggling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not quite done yet, though,” added Pham. “I’ll be asking for a bit extra on top of that for any particularly important info we dig up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A bonus, huh? How will we determine your specific payment for those?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll just have to talk it out when the time comes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. No objections there.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then─consider it a done deal,” said Pham. “I’ll take the first month’s payment upfront, then I’ll send a subordinate of mine to report to you on a monthly basis. He’ll stop by here every month with a letter from me, collecting our payment for the next month in exchange.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. But if that’s how we’re doing this, I’d like to meet this subordinate of yours ahead of time,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fair enough,” said Pham with a shrug. “In that case, come back tomorrow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll do just that,” I replied, then gave him his five gold. And with that, our negotiations came to an end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We left the Tremps, stayed overnight at an inn, and went right back to the bar again the next night to meet Pham’s subordinate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Ben, and it’s nice to meet you,” said a man who I could only describe as the most unremarkable individual I’d ever met. His face had no noteworthy or particularly distinguishing features. His voice was utterly unmemorable. In fact, I had a feeling that I’d forget what he’d looked like by the next day, let alone the next month."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, if I can’t remember his face, I’ll just have to remember his stat block!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, I gave Ben a quick appraisal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His status screen turned out to be full of surprises. I’d more or less expected Ben to be a pseudonym, but I hadn’t expected his real name to be such a mouthful, to start. That would make life easier for me. Even if I forgot his face entirely, a single appraisal would let me know it was him in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Equally surprising, though, were his stats. His Leadership cap was incredibly high─high enough that he probably could’ve become a general if he’d applied himself to the task. I knew this wasn’t the time to go headhunting, but under any other circumstance, I definitely would’ve taken a shot at recruiting him to be one of my retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, if good stats were all I was looking for, I would’ve tried to recruit Pham to be one of my retainers as well. That thought raised a question in my mind: did mercenaries ever become retainers of a noble household in this world? I imagined it was possible, at least, and if having the Shadows formally enter my employ was an option, I’d definitely want to pursue it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe if I keep climbing the social ladder, it’ll end up being a possibility someday."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I introduced myself to “Ben” and then, as that left us with nothing else in particular to discuss with him or Pham, we took our leave shortly thereafter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days had passed since I received Lumeire’s reward. It was the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, at the height of summer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lamberg’s climate was pleasant enough in the winter, but summers were almost unbearably hot. This world lacked air conditioning, too, so I spent each and every day wishing that fall would hurry up and arrive already."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars?” said one of my estate’s caretakers. “A letter from Lord Lumeire has arrived for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That didn’t come as a surprise. I’d been anticipating correspondence from Lumeire, and I had a pretty good guess as to what it was: an invitation to the party he’d mentioned the last time we spoke. Sure enough, I opened the letter to find it was precisely that. The party was scheduled to take place on the thirtieth of that same month, and it would spill over into the first of the month after. The new year was celebrated in this world, and the party had been deliberately timed to commemorate the occasion. That, more than likely, meant that I could look forward to a rather lavish affair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The party would be held at Castle Perreina, and the invitation specified that I would not be allowed to bring guests. I wasn’t offended, considering that under normal circumstances, I myself probably wouldn’t have been of high enough status to get invited. And besides, even if they couldn’t attend the party, Rietz and the others would most definitely be coming to Perreina as my escorts. I would’ve liked to ring in the new year with them, if possible, but sadly, we’d have to put a rain check on that this year."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The journey to Perreina would take about three days on horseback. I decided to give us five, just to be on the safe side, so we departed for Perreina on the morning of the twenty-fifth. This time, I was riding a horse that I’d claimed as my own. It had a red coat, was on the smaller side, and was very well-behaved and easy to handle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, horseback riding was also far more tiring than I’d expected it to be, and it was, again, the height of summer. I’d never ridden a horse for days on end before, either, so by the time we reached Perreina, I was a haggard mess. We arrived on the twenty-ninth, slightly later than I’d initially anticipated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Perreina was another walled city, much like Canarre, though slightly larger. Also, like Canarre, it featured a sprawling exterior city that rested outside the curtain walls. We quickly found an inn and bedded down for a long rest. If we’d arrived just one day later, I would’ve ended up attending the party in a state of exhaustion. But thankfully, leaving early had bought me a full day to rest up and recuperate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That day passed by rather quickly, though, and before I knew it, the evening of the thirtieth had arrived. It was time for the party, so Rietz and the others escorted me to the castle’s front gate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be off, then!” I said with a wave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Best of luck,” said Rietz, who looked more than a little anxious about me going off on my own. Unfortunately, I was the only one who’d been invited, so bringing him along wasn’t an option."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t too concerned, personally. After all, a party that Couran was scheduled to attend would certainly be heavily guarded. I’d already noticed an unusual number of guards by the gate, in fact, so I seriously doubted I had to worry about being attacked partway through the festivities. Frankly, I was more worried about committing some sort of horrible faux pas myself!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I set off into the castle, leaving Rietz and the others behind. I was stopped by the gatekeeper, but I’d been sent a formal letter of invitation this time around, so I was able to show it to him and get admitted right away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Perreina appeared just as ancient as Castle Canarre, though maybe just a little bigger. As I passed through the gate and neared the keep proper, I heard the sound of a commotion coming from within."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, no─I’m not late, am I?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hurried off toward the entrance. When I got inside, I found the main hall packed with nobles, all seated and chattering away with each other. I was, however, relieved to see that nobody was bringing in food yet. In other words, the party had yet to begin in earnest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few of the other guests cast skeptical glances my way as I walked past them. I could tell they were thinking something to the tune of, “What’s this brat doing in here?” I was fairly certain that most of them were high-ranking nobles, too, so their attention was making me quite uncomfortable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Ars! You made it!” cried out a familiar voice. I turned to look in the direction it had come from and found Lumeire making his way over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This place must be full of new faces to you, so let me give you a quick introduction. First, do you see the small-statured man sitting over there? That’s Rulrook Dolan, the Count of Perreina,” Lumeire said, pointing at a middle-aged man with a small build and white hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave Rulrook a quick appraisal. For being so small and slight of build, his Valor was remarkably high. His Politics was up there as well, though his Intelligence was nothing to write home about. I could definitely tell that he was an upstart noble, just like my father had been. He struck me as a fairly capable man, all around, and I could tell that having him on our side would prove beneficial, even setting aside the resources he could provide."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire proceeded down the line, naming all of the influential nobles one after another. Almost all of them had stats that were notably higher than the average person’s. I suppose I should have expected as much from a gathering of counts, really. There were one or two that certainly didn’t impress me, though, and I was also a little concerned to find that nobody’s stats stood out to me as truly exceptional."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has Lord Couran not arrived yet?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s around, but he seems to be out of the hall at the moment,” said Lumeire. “He’ll be here to give a speech when the party officially commences, I’m sure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sounds like that speech will be the perfect opportunity to appraise him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was excited to learn what sort of person the late duke’s son was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After finishing his explanation, Lumeire returned to his seat, and I sat down to his right. His wife, incidentally, was sitting on his left side. It seemed that many of the prominent nobles at the party had brought along their spouses, children, and siblings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were still plenty of people I hadn’t appraised yet, but just as I was getting started on that, I heard what sounded like the crashing of cymbals. The nobles’ chatter quickly ceased, and everyone stood up. I followed their example, and Lumeire leaned down to whisper, “Here he comes!” into my ear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The silence was so absolute that I heard the tapping of his approaching footsteps long before I saw him. Finally, the door at the very end of the great hall swung open and a blond-haired man stepped through it. The moment he entered the hall, every noble present bowed in unison, with me frantically imitating the gesture a second later. That had to be Couran, surely, but I was too flustered to confirm it in the moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rise,” said the man in a deep, dignified voice that carried an unmistakable air of gravitas. I raised my head and took another look at him. His outfit was truly extravagant, and he stood before the hall of nobles with an imposing presence that made it feel like he owned the place and them. I estimated that he was in his early forties; and his face was peppered with scars. Noble-born though he may have been, it was clear at a glance that he’d been through more than his fair share of battles."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was Couran─he had to be, so I appraised him on the spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be honest, his stats were jaw-dropping. They were far beyond what I’d imagined, and I had already been expecting a lot from him. The persistent rumor was that his younger brother, Vasmarque, was favored by the late duke because he was far more talented than his older sibling. If that was true, and these were Couran’s stats, I couldn’t even guess what Vasmarque’s stat block looked like."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it was always possible that the duke just hadn’t had an eye for talent. Plus, parents tended to have skewed perspectives on their children’s abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thank you all for coming here today,” said Couran, kicking off his speech. “On this evening, we close the curtain on the two hundred and tenth year since the Summerforth Empire’s founding. Tomorrow, we shall witness the dawn of a new year. Unending strife and bloodshed await us. Our empire is not what it once was, and I do not believe it will ever return to its former glory.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran paused for a moment, then continued, “Once, the great men of House Salemakhia ruled over this land of Missian as kings, not subservient proxies to some far-flung greater power. I intend to win the battle that looms before us and take back what is mine by right. I shall then unite these lands under my banner, secede from the empire, and re-establish the Kingdom of Missian!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He wants to bring back the Kingdom of Missian? Is that what he’s been after this whole time? I guess it’s not too surprising, considering the state of the empire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that my brother, Vasmarque, intends to do the exact same thing,” Couran went on. “However, Vasmarque is a craven fiend! A man such as he is unworthy of the kingdom he seeks to establish! We will triumph, my brothers in arms, and our first battle has already been won! We have seen through Vasmarque’s schemes and put an end to them before they could play out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran went on to explain the details of Vasmarque’s plot to deceive Rulrook, the Count of Perreina, into thinking that Maasa had betrayed Couran’s cause. He took care not to rebuke Rulrook for siding with the enemy, and even framed the speech as praise, congratulating him for his choice to join the winning side. Rulrook stepped to the front at that point to offer his own speech, apologizing for his support of Vasmarque and swearing to spare no efforts in supporting Couran’s cause."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, however, was not the one to see through Vasmarque’s cowardly scheme,” Couran continued once Rulrook was finished. “That honor belongs to the youngest of us─a man with talent far beyond his years. Step forward, Ars Louvent and Lumeire Pyres.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I was too stunned to react. I had not expected my name to come up like that! Lumeire whispered, “Let’s go” into my ear as he stood, helping me shake off my panic and stand up along with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why are we going up to the front? Am I supposed to give a speech?! Nobody said anything about a speech!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My one saving grace was that Lumeire had been called up with me. Hopefully, he’d be able to save my skin. It wasn’t that I was afraid of public speaking─I actually had quite a bit of experience with it, in fact─but speaking in front of a crowd of nobles who were all my superiors on the social ladder was a completely different question! I was afraid I’d be too tongue-tied to spit a single word out!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite the terror I felt, I managed to walk up to the front of the hall and stand next to Couran. Seeing him up close only reinforced the air of majesty that he projected. This was our first meeting, in any case, so I decided to err on the side of formality and bowed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is an honor to meet you in person,” I said. “Ars Louvent, at your service.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I suppose this is the first time we’ve met. I am Couran Salemakhia,” said Couran with a smile. He then turned his gaze back to the crowd. “As you can see, Ars is still but a child. Nevertheless, he has done an exemplary job serving as the lord of a territory in Canarre known as Lamberg. He is the one who saw through Vasmarque’s treachery.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A round of applause ensued, at Couran’s prompting. He then went on to praise me to the high heavens without ever actually offering any specifics as to how I discovered the nature of Vasmarque’s scheme."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe hiring mercenaries to get a job like that done isn’t considered the most honorable approach among the high-ranking nobles?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon after, Couran’s focus shifted to Lumeire, who he praised just as lavishly for choosing me for the task. He asked Lumeire if he had anything to say, and Lumeire happily obliged with a bland but inoffensive, “I pledge to do everything in my power to support your cause, Lord Couran.” He got a round of applause for it, so apparently, it went over well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed my ordeal was finally over, and I was just about to return to my seat when Couran surreptitiously passed me a letter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to come if you’d prefer not to,” he whispered in my ear. “But personally, I’d be quite pleased if you did.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To come to what, exactly? Is this letter another invitation?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was immediately worried. When a man who was several steps your superior on the social ladder said, “No need to come,” your presence was absolutely mandated. The fact that he handed it to me on the sly meant it probably wasn’t something he’d want others seeing, so I stowed the letter in my breast pocket for the moment. I’d make a trip to the toilets or go outside for a breath of fresh air to read it privately later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The party carried on, and it wasn’t long before food was brought out for us. It was all delicious─no surprise, considering Couran was in attendance. It was either the best or second-best meal I’d had since my reincarnation, most likely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A performance was scheduled after dinner. I found a program affixed to one of the walls and discovered that said performance was scheduled to drag on for a very long time. It seemed they planned to keep going until the stroke of midnight. I excused myself before the entertainment got started, made my way to the restrooms, and found a private corner in which to read the letter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When the magical dancers scheduled for the third act conclude their performance, I would like you to excuse yourself from the party and come see me. I have something to ask you, as well as something to ask of you, the letter read."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Instantly, my worries compounded. Turning a request from a lord of his standing down would be hard, no matter how unreasonable it might be. I’d have no choice but to do whatever he asked. I brooded over my options as I stowed the letter and returned to the party."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I arrived back in the hall just in time to catch the performance’s opening act. I sat through the first two of them, after which the magical dance troupe Couran had mentioned in his letter took to the stage. They cast and combined magic of all types and aspects, and frankly, it made for quite the spectacle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran led the audience in a round of applause after the performance finished, then excused himself to visit the restroom. That was my cue to slip out as well, and the moment I did, I found Couran waiting for me just outside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to see my offer caught your interest.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wouldn’t even dream of refusing,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then, follow me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran led me out of the keep, then all the way outside the castle walls. A tall, slender man was waiting for us there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This man’s name is Robinson Renjee, and he is my most trusted retainer,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Robinson Renjee, at your service,” the man said with a rather flamboyant bow. I quickly returned his greeting, then appraised him. His Leadership and Valor were both unremarkable, but he had an Intelligence of 88 and a Politics score of 91. It seemed Couran’s trust in him had been well-earned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of us set off down the city streets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Where in the world are we going? And why do we have to walk this far in the first place? Didn’t he just want to ask me for a favor?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re almost there,” said Couran. “You’ll have to forgive me for being so circuitous. I wish to ask a favor of you that I’d rather not let your fellow lords overhear.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The bad feeling I had about the situation only deepened. What sort of favor would he not want the other lords to hear? Was I about to get taken advantage of by a pedo?! I’d have no hope of fighting back if things went in that direction! I’d just have to go limp and take it! The more I thought about the situation, the more anxious I became."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve arrived,” Couran finally said as he stepped in front of a small, unremarkable-looking store. It struck me as old, unfashionable, and definitely not the sort of place you’d expect the son of a duke to frequent. We walked inside…only to find that there were no other customers at all, and for that matter, not even a storekeeper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A gold coin bought us the run of the place for the evening,” Couran explained as he plopped down onto a nearby chair. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took a seat on a chair that faced him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Couran. “I am about to subject you to a simple test.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A test? What’s he talking about?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lumeire told me that you have the power to perceive people’s strengths and talents. He told me you saw through to the hidden genius that lurked within a Malkan boy and a slave girl. I have a favor to ask that could only be granted by someone with a power like yours, but before I say anything more, I would like to verify that your power is real.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I get it now─this is all about my Appraisal skill!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was relieved to conclude that he wasn’t going to do anything untoward after all. I was also confused about why he’d bothered calling me all the way out here, in that case, but the relief was still winning out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” I replied. “But how exactly would you like me to prove it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A sound question. First, I would like to hear about your power in more detail. Once I know more, I can decide how I’d like to go about testing it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I quickly explained how my Appraisal skill worked to Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Leadership, Valor, Intelligence, and Politics, along with their aptitudes for a variety of roles,” he muttered when I finished. “I see. Frankly, that’s even more than I had hoped for, and it makes testing your power quite simple. I would like you to appraise both me and Robinson, and tell me the results. I know Robinson’s strengths better than anyone else, and needless to say, I’m quite acquainted with my own as well. If your information proves accurate for both of us, I will choose to believe your story. Be honest with me─if your power tells you that I have a weakness, then do not hold back for politeness’s sake.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It really was a simple test. That was no trouble for me at all. I figured that the numerical scores my skill gave me would only serve to confuse him, so I chose to summarize what they meant about their capabilities in more ordinary language instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see… I am convinced. You do indeed possess the power you claimed,” said Couran with a nod when I finished speaking. “Now then, let’s move to the real matter at hand.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-All right,” I replied nervously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to be so guarded! I suppose seeking out such an excess of privacy made you nervous. I promise you that I won’t be asking anything dreadful of you, so you can rest easy,” said Couran. Apparently, I’d been doing a poor job of hiding my state of mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You inspected the capabilities of your fellow nobles at the party earlier, didn’t you?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been expecting a request at that point, not a question, so it took me a second to collect myself and answer him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I did,” I eventually replied. I had no idea what he was getting at, so I figured I’d be better off being honest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Tell me, what did you make of them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I…well…let’s see… I thought they were an impressive group of individuals.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did you really? Nothing about them struck you as lacking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I were to answer that question honestly, I’d have to admit that, yes, I had been rather underwhelmed. I hadn’t been lying about them being impressive, but none of them other than Couran himself had been exceptional. I’d been expecting to see some real talent gathered up there, and to be completely frank, I was a little disappointed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I stopped to consider why that might have been, though, it struck me that most nobles had their titles handed down to them. It wasn’t all that common for an upstart to claw his way up the ranks and obtain a noble title, so really, it wasn’t too surprising at all that most of them were essentially ordinary people. In any case, I decided to reply honestly, and told him that I had indeed had a thought or two along those lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d expect no less,” said Couran with a nod. “And I do not deny it. Few of my allies are incompetent, but fewer still truly excel. That applies not only to the counts, but also to the vassals who serve them─very few have made names for themselves. Even amongst my own direct subordinates, only Robinson here has proven himself truly worthy of praise.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran clearly had an eye for talent as well, though nothing quite as easy or precise as what my skill provided me with. Finally, his decision to have the conversation away from prying eyes was starting to make sense. I couldn’t imagine any noble would be pleased to hear their lord describe them as unremarkable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The greatest thorn in my side is rather evident,” Couran continued. “I speak of the lack of anyone suited to serve as my tactician, of course. I believe myself to be more clever than the average person, and Robinson’s intellect is readily apparent, but neither of us has the experience required to fill the role. Vasmarque, on the other hand, has a man on his side named Remus. Not only was he my father’s closest advisor, but he’s also the pillar that has kept Missian stable for decades.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran paused there, then sighed before admitting, “Vasmarque himself is remarkably intelligent as well. I’ve never once surpassed him academically. Worse still, his right-hand man, Thomas, is just as much of a prodigy as he is. And that’s not even mentioning her… Oh, but I suppose she was exiled? In any case, as I’m sure you’ve surmised, Vasmarque holds the upper hand in terms of his advisors’ wisdom by a substantial margin. Our forces are roughly equal in terms of strength, which means that whoever has the more capable subordinates will surely come out on top.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean to say that, as things stand, you’re going to lose?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran nodded gravely and replied, “That brings me to my request. I have heard that your power has enabled you to recruit a host of truly talented retainers into your service. Do you know of anyone you would endorse to become my personal tactician?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyone I can endorse? I’m not sure,” I carefully answered. Anyone I chose to name here would go on to serve under Couran─in other words, I’d be giving them up to him. I wasn’t about to just hand over my people that easily."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I appreciate that you wouldn’t want your own prodigies stolen away from you,” Couran clarified. “Instead, I have a proposal: I would like you to participate in my next council of war.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your council? You want me to be there?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do. Ordinarily, only the most influential of nobles would be permitted at such a conference, but I would like you to attend…and to bring someone with tactical expertise along with you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are, umm…? Are you sure someone as inexperienced as me should be present at a council like that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran shrugged and replied, “I’m sure some of those present will be unamused, but talking them down will be my responsibility. Moreover, whether or not a proposal is accepted at a council of war hinges upon whether the proposal has merit─not upon who made it. If you have a useful perspective to contribute, then my people will accept you. As I said before, while none of them truly excel, none are outright inept, either. They can tell the difference between a good suggestion and a bad one.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s just one other thing I’m somewhat concerned about,” I said. “If I were to attend, it’s possible that I may wind up bringing a Malkan along with me. Do you believe that would pose a problem?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I were to accept his proposal, I planned to bring Rietz and Rosell. That said, Rietz was a Malkan, which meant he was likely to be the subject of prejudice even at the council itself. I wasn’t convinced the lords there would listen to him at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Couran. “So that Malkan of yours is one of the ones you believe could make a decent tactician, eh? You’re right to be concerned, in a sense. I imagine that some of my subordinates would look upon him with scorn. That said, as I stated a moment ago, what he says would carry far more weight than who he is. If he puts forward an unmistakably sound proposal, then I don’t imagine any would oppose him, and even if they did, they would be quickly overruled by the majority. In the worst case, I can always silence them myself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s good to hear,” I replied. Inwardly, though, I was still shocked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Me? At a council of war? Is Couran seriously desperate enough to turn to a literal child for this sort of help?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Like Pham had said, I had no interest in boarding a sinking ship, and I was less than convinced that my help would be enough to turn the tide of war in his favor. Rietz and Rosell both had astonishingly high Intelligence scores, yes, and Rietz would surely be suited for the task, but Rosell was a lot less of a certain factor. After all, he was just a kid."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Worse still, his Intelligence score had plateaued recently. It had only gone up by one point over the past year, bringing it to a current score of 90. He studied tirelessly day after day, and he seemed to be getting smarter, but my Appraisal told a different story."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was beginning to understand that “Intelligence,” as far as my skill was concerned, was determined exclusively by one’s ability to come up with the sort of plans that would prove helpful in a battle. Rosell, meanwhile, had literally no practical battlefield experience, so it was no wonder his Intelligence wasn’t improving. That meant thrusting him into a real-life council of war out of nowhere would probably end very poorly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That left me with only Rietz to my name. Would he be able to carry Couran to victory on his own? Couran had named three notable tacticians who were supporting his brother, and when it came down to it, Rietz was more of an all-rounder than a specialized tactician. It seemed very likely he’d find himself at a disadvantage compared to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one major counterpoint, of course, was that however much I talked about not boarding sinking ships, I was more or less already aboard this one, so jumping off could prove dangerous in its own right. Did I even have it in me to betray Couran? Would Lumeire be able to do something in his capacity as count if I convinced him we were doomed? Would it even be possible for me to join up with Vasmarque on my own if things got really bad?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess I’d have to get in contact with his chief retainers through some sort of back channel. But even just getting him to accept a secret message from a no-name noble on the other side would probably be hard!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I appreciate that my offer has given you a lot to think about, Ars,” said Couran. It was like he’d seen right through me…and like he knew that I was seriously considering the merits of betraying him. “I would not dream of making an offer such as this without a corresponding promise of compensation. Assuming you bring me the tactician I need, and assuming said tactician leads me to victory over Vasmarque, I shall grant you the title of Count of Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My jaw dropped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Me? The count?!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that even a possibility?” I asked. “What about Lord Lumeire?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He would be made count of a larger county. I must confess that Canarre’s proximity to the border makes it somewhat less than desirable in the eyes of the nobility. House Pyres has ruled over the county for five generations, and I imagine the current count views the region with no small amount of fondness, but if granted a more desirable title and territory in exchange, I trust he will not be discontent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could become a count if the war goes well… I could become the sort of lord who lives in an honest-to-goodness castle…?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lamberg was a pleasant enough territory, to be sure, but it had its limits, and those limits were absolute. If I remained in my current station, then I would always live with the looming threat of a more powerful lord deciding to snuff me out on impulse. I would never escape my status as small-time nobility."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Becoming the Count of Canarre would mean moving several steps up the social ladder, all at once. There was a degree of risk that we would lose the war, certainly, but making contact with Vasmarque and stabbing Couran in the back was also a gamble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thus, I made my choice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. I accept your offer.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0042.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for choosing to purchase and read this book! This is the author, Miraijin A, speaking!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was inspired to write a story about medieval territory management by a certain historical simulation game set in the Sengoku period of Japanese history. The game casts you as one of the many lords (or “Daimyo”) that ruled over Japan at the time, then tasks you with uniting the country under your banner. The first game in the series was released almost forty years ago, and the latest one is the fifteenth such title. It’s an incredibly popular franchise!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I consider myself a huge fan of the series, and while I haven’t played every single game that’s been released, I have sunk literally hundreds of hours into the ones I’ve tried. That probably goes to show just how much I like the games. They allow you to play as the likes of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu─historical figures so famous that everyone in Japan knows about them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Playing as the Oda or Tokugawa clan means that you start the game with an abundance of skilled subordinates, so taking over Japan is relatively easy. When I first discovered the series, I enjoyed that level of difficulty, but the longer I played, the more I grew unsatisfied. I wanted a challenge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My solution: I chose to play as a figure so obscure that only the most hardcore of history nerds would have even heard of him. I won’t say precisely who I picked, but his stats were low, and his retainers’ stats were all laughably low as well. Making him the ruler of Japan was a grueling task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That difficulty, however, just made victory all the more sweet. I quickly became obsessed, and pulled many accidental all-nighters playing the game nonstop. The sense of achievement I felt when I finally made my no-name noble the ruler of Japan is something I’ll never forget. As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World is a story that came to me as I thought back on the time I chose to play that game as a petty, insignificant lord."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This work will be my fifth published series in Japan to date. That I’ve had so many of my works published in the two years or so since I first became an author is something I never would have even dared to dream about. I started writing as a hobby, more or less, so I find the fact that so many people read and enjoy my works deeply moving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To everyone who purchased this book, everyone who read and supported the web novel version of the story, to my editor, who did their absolute best to support me throughout the writing process, and to jimmy, who drew the most wonderful illustrations I could have ever asked for, I offer my most sincere gratitude. Thank you all so, so much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And with all that said, I hope to see you again in the next volume!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0044.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 1"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Miraijin A"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Full-time author Miraijin A speaking! I’m sure plenty of people will pick up this book without having read my other works, so I’d like to introduce myself. I was born and raised in Kumamoto Prefecture, where I still reside, I’m a man, and I’m in my twenties. I enjoy reading, watching baseball, playing video games, watching anime, etc. I also love light novels, and after reading enough of them, I felt the urge to start writing one of my own! I sincerely hope you enjoy this book!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m jimmy, and I draw day in and day out! I hope you like the book!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-01-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0045.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The city of Arcantez wasn’t always a provincial capital. It existed before the Summerforth Empire’s founding, over a thousand years ago, when Missian was still an independent kingdom. Even then, it served as the realm’s ever-flourishing seat of power. In the modern day, Arcantez boasted a population of over five hundred thousand people. Few cities in Summerforth could claim to rival it in terms of sheer scale."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Arcantez was situated at the very center of the city, and it towered over the buildings around it. It was the largest castle in all of Missian. The jet-black stone it was built from had earned it the popular nickname the Onyx Citadel. The stone itself was called royal onyx, and it was known for being sturdy and resistant to weathering. Needless to say, stone with those qualities was highly sought after, and royal onyx fetched quite a high price on the market. The castle was built a hundred years after the Kingdom of Missian’s founding, and it told a tale of the realm’s past prosperity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Deep within the Onyx Citadel was a room known as the Chamber of Debate. A round table was set up in the very center of that room. On this day in particular, a cluster of nobles was gathered up around it, engaged in a war council."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So our plan to entice Perreina to our side has failed,” said a man with long, black hair that reached his shoulders. His name was Vasmarque Salemakhia. He was the second son of the recently deceased Duke of Missian. At the moment, he was engaged in a power struggle with his elder brother, Couran, with the title of duke on the line."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So it seems. I have to wonder how they pulled it off. It wasn’t a bad plan in my book. Then again, it’s also no skin off our backs─even if Perreina sides with the enemy, we still hold the advantage,” said a man who sat to the right of Vasmarque. His name was Thomas Grunzeon, and he was acknowledged as Vasmarque’s right-hand man. In contrast to his lord, Thomas’s head was close-shaved, though an ample beard covered the lower half of his stern face. He was also exceptionally tall and sported a muscular build. One might have thought him to be a downright musclehead, at a glance, but in truth, his mind was just as honed as his body."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nonetheless, Perreina’s betrayal is a hefty blow indeed,” mumbled an older man who sat to Vasmarque’s left. This tiny, white-haired, aged man’s name was Remus Ives. He had served the Duchy of Missian for decades as one of its wisest and most eminent tacticians. He was also the Count of Lomak, a county that was adjacent to Arcantez. These three outstanding leaders served as the core of the war council, and they drove the conversation forward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy’s forces number a hundred and fifty thousand,” said Vasmarque. “Considering the fact that they’ll have to leave troops behind to guard their borders, we can assume their effective fighting force will be around ten thousand less than that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And we’ve a hundred and eighty thousand that stand ready to mobilize,” added Remus. “Strength of numbers is ours, but alas, their troops have the edge in both training and skill. The west has always held the upper hand in military might, and word is that Lord Couran has hired the Maitraw Company to fight under his banner. All things considered, we ought to assume our sides stand on even footing.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fair ’nuff, but it’s not like their commanders are anything to write home about, Couran aside,” Thomas noted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In terms of personnel, we have the overwhelming upper hand, yes,” agreed Vasmarque with a nod. “The odds of our loss are slim.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque had taken a long, objective look at the war he was about to wage, and had concluded that it was in his favor. He did not, however, believe that his victory was one hundred percent secured. He was not a man prone to imprudence, and he would not declare preemptive victory until he knew for a fact that he had won."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What has become of your sister, Thomas?” asked Vasmarque."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Her?” said Thomas, cocking his head. “Hell if I know. Out drinking herself under a table somewhere, most likely.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And where would she be doing that?” Vasmarque pressed. “I have a mind to let bygones be bygones and bring her back into my service.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No sooner had the words left his mouth than the room descended into an uproar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You can’t be serious, Milord! You’d let her be your retainer again?” asked Thomas, aghast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can’t deny that she has the talent,” said Vasmarque. “And if recruiting her fails, then at the very least we’ll want to bring her back to the castle and lock her up until this is all over. Imagine the headache if she decided to side with Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s…well, that’s fair enough,” said Thomas. “However, I don’t have the faintest clue where she could be right now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“None at all? Not even a guess?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“None,” Thomas sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A woman like her is hard to miss. You’ve heard no rumors? Nothing? And not just Thomas─does anyone here have any information at all?” Vasmarque added, turning to address the rest of the room. Unfortunately, though, he was met with nothing but frowns and the shaking of heads. “Hmph. I see, then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Trust me, Milord, she’s either dead in a ditch or off in some other duchy,” said Thomas. “And even if she were in Missian, no lord on Couran’s side would ever stoop to employing her. Skilled or not, the woman’s nothing more than an alcoholic these days.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose you have a point,” muttered Vasmarque. He still felt uneasy, but he decided to cast that woman from his mind for the moment, for better or worse."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0009.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After my first life in Japan came to an abrupt end, I was reborn in another world and granted the name Ars Louvent. The Louvents were a noble household who ruled over a barony called Lamberg, and I was the Baron’s first son and heir. I was also born with a certain skill: Appraisal, the ability to perceive the stats and abilities of the people around me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, the nation I was born into─the Summerforth Empire─was going through some rather troubled times. Civil wars were breaking out left and right. I swiftly determined that my sole chance at surviving to see adulthood would be to use my skill to recruit as many talented retainers as possible and bolster our domain’s strength. So far, that plan had borne fruit. I’d managed to track down and recruit Rietz, Charlotte, and Rosell, three exceptional individuals who had all agreed to serve me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Things had been relatively smooth sailing so far. Thanks to my retainers’ talents, I’d managed to rack up several achievements to my name. I’d even been given the chance of a lifetime to increase the size of my territory. In that moment, I made an oath to myself not to let that opportunity slip by me. I would become the Count of Canarre, whatever it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After my talk with Couran concluded, we made our way back to the party. We hadn’t been away long, as best as I could tell. My internal clock told me it hadn’t been much more than twenty minutes. The party continued as the night wore on, and eventually, the new year arrived. By that time, a fair number of nobles seemed to have drunk themselves into a stupor or otherwise departed from the hall, so the place was less packed than it had been in the beginning. Thirty minutes or so after we rang in the new year, the party came to a close and I retired to a room that had been prepared for me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The mood the next morning couldn’t have been further separated from the celebratory tone of the night before. In anticipation of the upcoming war, Couran decided to take the opportunity to give the nobles who had sided with him a summary of his plans. In short, he informed us that he’d be calling a series of war councils to start, after which his invasion of his brother’s territory would begin in earnest. This wasn’t a matter of the far-flung future, either─he ordered us to be prepared to rally our troops at a moment’s notice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, our gathering came to a close. I met up with Rietz and the rest of my entourage, and together we set off for Lamberg once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“War councils, you say…?” muttered Rietz. We’d arrived back at my estate, and I’d just finished explaining to him that I might need him and Rosell to accompany me to Couran’s meetings. “That’s quite the hefty responsibility to bear… I’ve grown used to providing Lord Raven my opinions over the course of the battles we fought together, but Rosell is inexperienced in the field.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. That’s what I was worried about, too,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Participating in meetings of this nature will be a valuable experience for him, but I’m afraid I can’t say that he’ll have anything to contribute. For now, at least,” Rietz continued."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed he and I were on the same page. Rosell’s Intelligence was high, to be sure, so I didn’t want to write him off, but it was very hard to imagine he could come up with a scheme that would get the better of the enemy’s tacticians."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I could say the same about myself, to be honest,” Rietz added. “The enemy’s tacticians are far more experienced than I am in the field of war, and there are several of them and only one of me. To be frank, I have very little confidence in my ability to overcome their schemes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yeah, that’s fair enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was starting to question my decision to take Couran up on his proposal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, if you find an exceptional tactician to fill the role, that could change everything,” noted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Talented recruits don’t grow on trees, you know,” I sighed. I had no choice but to hope that Rietz and Rosell would somehow manage to pull something out of their hats. Especially Rosell─if he could make it past the plateau his skills had hit by gaining some real-world experience, I just knew he could grow far beyond his current capabilities. His maximum Intelligence score was 109! I couldn’t imagine more than a few people in the world having greater potential than that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that moment, one of our servants burst into the room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Urgent news, Lord Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve received word that a member of the Shadows has arrived at the Tremps!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s been a month already…? Understood─we’ll leave at once!” I replied. I’d stationed one of my retainers in Canarre, just to make sure that the transfer of information between us and the Shadows went well. I assumed he must have sent the message that my contact had arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” said Rietz. “Might I suggest that you ask the Shadows to help look for talented recruits?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You think I should ask the Shadows to help with my headhunting? Is that even something they can do?” I asked, cocking my head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t imagine it would be impossible,” said Rietz. “They may not be capable of analyzing people with your precision and accuracy, but considering their leader Pham’s capabilities, I’m certain they can judge talent.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, that makes sense,” I agreed with a nod. “I can just appraise anyone they bring to me before I decide whether to hire them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that would be for the best,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t convinced that finding helpful recruits would be that easy, but I also couldn’t see any particular reason not to give it a try. Failing would be better than not trying at all. Plus, I knew that Arcantez had a massive population. The odds seemed high that there’d be at least a few people with latent talent that I could make use of."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With a plan in place and a new request for the Shadows, we prepared to set out for Canarre and the Tremps."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We arrived at the Tremps to find our contact Ben already there, waiting for us. I didn’t recognize him at first glance, but I’d taken care to remember his rather ostentatious real name. So it only took a single appraisal to verify his identity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The boss’s report’s in this letter. It’s all yours,” said Ben, handing the letter in question over to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I opened it up and gave it a read. The first item the report addressed: the Shadows’ attempt to infiltrate Castle Arcantez. They’d made an effort, it seemed, but the citadel’s security turned out to be airtight, and they’d determined that sneaking in would be impossible. That meant they’d have to resort to more roundabout tactics. The report said that they were working on making connections with a senior retainer employed in the castle, who they would use to sneak an agent in under the guise of the retainer’s assistant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the moment, they were working on gathering information to decide who they should start ingratiating themselves with. As a result, they didn’t have anything in the way of useful info to report on at the current time. That concluded the report. Once I’d finished reading it, I handed over their payment for the next month to Ben."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This looks to be in order,” said Ben as he counted the coins. “I think we’ll have something more helpful on the next report, so look forward to it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will. Thanks,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t mention it. See you next month,” said Ben, standing up to leave."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just a minute!” I interjected before he left the table. I still hadn’t asked him about my other request. “There’s actually something else I wanted to ask. Do you have a minute?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can squeeze it in. What’s the job?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I explained that I was looking for recruits, and was hoping that they’d take note of anyone promising they came across and send them House Louvent’s way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, that should be easy enough,” said Ben once I finished. “But what if we mess up and send you someone worthless? Will you dock our pay or something?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, nothing of the sort,” I replied. “The opposite, in fact. If you do find someone useful, I’ll give you a bonus of twenty gold coins.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Twenty gold, eh? Got it. I can’t promise anything until I get in touch with the boss, but I have a funny feeling he’ll be up for the job.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Great, thanks.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That concluded our business in Canarre, so we set off for my estate once again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time later, in the capital city of Arcantez, Ben made contact with Pham in a shadowy back alley to deliver his report."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A headhunting job, eh?” Pham muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think?” asked Ben."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m pretty good at picking out folks who can handle the sort of jobs we deal in,” said Pham. “But spy work’s a far cry from the soldiers that he’ll be wanting. Not so sure I can tell who’s suited for that business.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do we turn the offer down, then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, he said there’s no penalty for sending him worthless chumps, right?” asked Pham with a sly grin. “And we get a hefty bonus if we happen to hit paydirt. Sounds like a solid deal, if you ask me. Not like we have anything to lose by taking a shot at it, so we might as well send a few people his way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. Guess it’s headhunting season for us, then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mhm. Tell the others for me, will you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“On it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ben left to inform the rest of the Shadows of their new mission. Pham, meanwhile, returned to his own place of work."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even after relocating to Arcantez, Pham had continued working at a local bar to aid in his intelligence-gathering operation. At the moment, he was employed at a pub known as Kentlan’s. He’d also kept up old habits in the sense that, just like when he worked at the Tremps, Pham did so in the guise of a cute, youthful waitress. Nothing loosened up a person’s lips like a drink or two, and Pham knew it. Even better, most people were prone to underestimating a young girl’s ability to understand the things they talked about, prompting them to spill the proverbial beans more often."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kentlan’s wasn’t frequented by any of the retainers employed in Castle Arcantez. It was, however, the preferred watering hole for some of the castle’s guards and servants, and they were less than prudent when it came to telling tales of the retainers who worked above them. Pham learned what sort of people they were, what their duties were, where they went in their free time─even their likes and dislikes. The idea was that collecting enough of that sort of info would allow Pham to curry favor with an easily influenceable retainer and secure himself a job as a servant within the castle itself through them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An operation like that, of course, was a lot easier to plan than it was to execute. In this day and age, the castle’s servants weren’t recruited from the general populace, but rather born into the role. A multitude of families had served within the castle for generations, passing their positions and trades down to their descendants. It wasn’t impossible to earn a place within the castle if someone in a position of power took a liking to you, but it wasn’t easy either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fortunately for the Shadows’ paychecks, that was only Pham’s current objective. The rest of their agents were busy with their own distinct operations to gather information, each of them conducted in a manner that fit their strengths. Pham expected that every member of his band other than him would have relevant and useful information to contribute this month."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m back, everyone!” Pham announced as he stepped into Kentlan’s. His tone of voice, expression, and mannerisms were so different from how they’d been during his discussion with Ben that he was unrecognizable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rin!” said Lartz, the proprietor of Kentlan’s. “What’d that guy want with you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rin was the name that Pham had chosen to go by while he operated in Arcantez. He explained to Lartz that Ben was his older brother, and made up a tale about how Ben was such a doting sibling that he felt uneasy if he didn’t come to see his sister in person every once in a while. Lartz swallowed the story without a second thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was right around noon, and the bar was almost devoid of customers. Unlike the Tremps, Kentlan’s clientele dried up during the daytime. At this time of day, Pham didn’t have much to do other than clean the place…or at least, that was the usual case."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You open?” a somewhat husky, but distinctly feminine, voice rang out as the door swung open. It seemed Kentlan’s had a midday customer for once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, welcome…ugh! You?!” Lartz choked as he turned to look at the new arrival. She was an exceptionally tall woman, enough so that her height would be notable even if she’d been a man. That wasn’t to say she was mannish in appearance, though─in fact, she was beautiful beyond words. The sparkle of insight in her eyes left an impression: this woman was a force to be reckoned with. Her worn and ragged outfit, on the other hand, left the impression that she was a penniless vagabond, though her golden necklace raised all sorts of questions. Even at a glance, it was clear she was no ordinary woman."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mireille! Since when were you back in town?” asked Lartz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey there, Lartz,” said Mireille. “It’s been, what, two years now? Man, you’ve still got a face like a wrung-out towel─who pissed on your chips this morning?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re here to insult me, then you can turn right around and get the hell outta my bar,” snapped Lartz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m kidding,” laughed Mireille. “You might not be a looker, but I’ll never get tired of that mug of yours. I swear I saw a fish that looked just like you the other day.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“One more word and I’ll run your ass outta here,” growled Lartz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really can’t take a joke, huh? Anyway, I’ll have the usual.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What ‘usual’?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, you forgot already? Bowl of samella, loaf of bread, and booze.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Samella was a tomato-based vegetable and chicken soup. The dish was characterized by how long it had to be simmered before it was complete."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You expect me to remember your order when you haven’t been here in ages?” Lartz grumbled. “Now that you mention it, though, I don’t think I’ve seen you order anything other than samella.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What can I say? This joint’s samella tastes just like the stuff my old lady used to make. Not saying it’s good, mind you, but I just get the urge to eat it every once in a while.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would it kill you to compliment my cooking?” snapped Lartz as he went off to prepare Mireille’s meal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham, meanwhile, had watched their whole exchange with keen interest. This “Mireille” woman had caught his eye─she was clearly not your average patron, so he decided to look into her and get a feel for what sort of person she was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who’s she?” Pham asked, sidling up to Lartz as he cooked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm? Oh, that’s Mireille. She’s an old regular here and a nasty drunk.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That cured Pham’s curiosity in an instant. Apparently, his first impression had been off the mark─the woman was nothing more than a hopeless bum."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who’s that cutie you’ve got over there with you?” Mireille called from across the bar."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Her name’s Rin,” Lartz shouted back. “She’s a new hire. Real looker, ain’t she?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” Mireille gave Pham a long, appraising look. Something about the way she stared at him felt unsettling. It was like she could see right through him, somehow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, she turned away and muttered, “Eh, none of my business,” whatever that meant. In an instant, Pham’s opinion of her once again pivoted. He could tell on an instinctual level that this was a woman to be cautious around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ahhh, yeah, that’s the stuff! Tastes just like it used to!” said Mireille as she dug into the meal Lartz had made for her. Pham, who had brought the dish to her table, watched as she ate. For all her insults, she made it look like the most delicious meal in the world. Mireille polished off her food, drained her glass in a single swig, then shouted, “Another, barkeep!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Comin’ right up,” said Lartz. He refilled her glass, set it down in front of her, then leaned onto the bar. “So? Where’ve you been skulking around these past two years?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All over Summerforth. I’ve been traveling. I took the grand tour of all seven duchies and their major cities. You’d be surprised at how much the culture, the food, even the language and how the people look can vary from duchy to duchy. Guess that’s a given, since they used to be their own countries and all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” muttered Lartz. “Never been outta Arcantez myself, let alone to another duchy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And for a barkeep like you, that sorta lifestyle works just fine.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sounds to me like you’re mocking me again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But y’know what?” continued Mireille, ignoring Lartz’s protest. “No matter where I went, I couldn’t find a noble willing to take me in! Bastards don’t know talent when they see it─not one of them!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If anyone took a look at you and saw talent before they saw danger, they’d be just as crazy as you are,” jabbed Lartz. “Not to mention that you’ve got the manners of a wild animal. I’d bet money you went up to most of those nobles and insulted ’em to their faces, right? Hell, you’re lucky you didn’t offend anyone enough to put an end to you then and there.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Etiquette’s the worst standard to judge character by,” countered Mireille. “When I judge someone, I’m judging whether or not they’re capable─nothing else. The rudest son of a bitch on the continent could be the best candidate for the position, for all you know, and if you can’t figure that out, you’ve got no right to be lordin’ it up over others. And anyway, it’s not that I didn’t get run through by some lordling ’cause I was lucky. Trust me─they tried. I just turned the tables on ’em every time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Boasting ’bout that just proves my point, y’know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The longer the conversation dragged on and the more Pham eavesdropped, the more curious he became. Who was this woman? No ordinary person would talk about traveling the continent and looking for a lord to serve, that was certain. And even though she hadn’t managed to find a lord who’d take her up on the offer, she seemed to have absolute faith in her own abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, weren’t you a noble?” asked Lartz. “Why not just go running back to your little upper-crust family?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Considering the state of things, I could do that. Thing is, I’ve got my pride, y’know? I’m not about to go crawling back to a man who gave me the boot, begging him to take me on as a retainer again.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Heh! Sure you aren’t,” chuckled Lartz. “I never believed you worked in the castle to begin with, myself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did, so your loss.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She worked in the castle…? thought Pham. The only castle they could have been referring to was Castle Arcantez. That meant there was a chance that this mystery woman would have at least some degree of inside information on the citadel. On the other hand, he knew it had been at least two years since she was driven from her position, so she knew nothing about the current state of affairs. Not to mention the obvious question of whether or not she was making all of this up in the first place. Pham hesitated─was it worth putting in the effort to ply Mireille for information?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Anyway, I had myself quite the fortune built up when I left, y’know? But I used it all up on my trip, and now I don’t have a coin to my name. How’s a girl supposed to get by without an income in this day and age?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not a coin to your name, eh?” Lartz chuckled for just a moment before his expression darkened. “Wait. Not a coin to your name? You mean ‘not a coin to my name after I pay my tab,’ right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lartz, please. Have I ever been careless with my word choice? I mean I don’t have a coin to my name right now, so I don’t have the cash to pay for anything. I just happened to know a joint with a kindhearted owner who’d be happy to treat an old regular to a meal on the house.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, it has been a long time,” Lartz began, only to shoot Mireille a glare. “As if! Have two years on the road addled your brain, woman?! You’re paying back every copper you owe me!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, someone’s a miser! Look, I hate to say it, but I can’t hand over coppers I don’t have. This one’s on you for not making me pay in advance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve met burglars less brazen than you,” growled Lartz. “Anyway, that necklace you’ve got on looks like it’d fetch a coin or two. If you can’t pay with cash, you’ll have to pay with that instead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have you lost your mind, Lartz? You think a meal and a couple of drinks could possibly be worth a piece like this? And even if they did, I’m not handing it over to anyone. If I didn’t have this necklace on, I’d look like a dead-broke vagabond!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No worries there─that’s already what you are. It’s pay with your goods or pay with your body, no third way about it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, so that’s how you see me?” said Mireille with a salacious grin. “Sorry, though, you can’t get your hands on a beauty like me for that cheap!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean I’ll have you work your tab off, you maniac! Don’t you go putting words in my mouth!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? You mean you want me to do your chores?” asked Mireille, looking positively scandalized."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. And if you don’t like the sound of that, you can hand over the necklace and go on your way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eh, not like I have anywhere else to go. You win, I’ll do your dirty work. What a disaster today’s turned out to be, I swear…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Took the words right outta my mouth,” grumbled Lartz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, Mireille wound up working at Kentlan’s. Pham had no clue what to make of the development, but he did know one thing: whatever was happening, it had him more than a little unsettled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh, I’m exhausted,” moaned Mireille. She and Pham were on the second floor of Kentlan’s, alone in a room together. Their room, specifically. On account of Kentlan’s lacking any vacant bedchambers, it was decided that the two of them would have to share one for the moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re, umm…Rin, was it?” said Mireille. “I’m not planning to be here for long, but good working with you until I split.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Likewise,” Pham replied with a smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seems we’ve got some time on our hands, so what say we get to know each other?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right,” agreed Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“First up, then─what’s a guy like you doing dressed like that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pham was only shaken once in a blue moon, and this was one of those all too rare moments. Never in his wildest dreams had he anticipated Mireille seeing through his disguise. Maybe if she’d seen him disrobed, sure, but she’d had no such opportunity, and he hadn’t planned on giving her one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m a girl!” said Pham, making a show of pouting. There was always a chance that she was just joking around, so it was too soon to overreact and admit that he was in disguise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry, I’ve already got your number. You put a lot of effort into that disguise, I can tell, but it’s not enough to fool me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You know, I try my best to be a nice person, but even I get mad sometimes!” said Pham, doing his damnedest to keep up the act. “Why would you treat me like a boy? You’re so mean!”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0011.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille smiled…then, in the blink of an eye, reached out for Pham’s groin. Pham’s reflexes kicked in and he dodged backward, only to realize a split second later that he’d just messed up big time. The groin was a man’s biggest weak point. Even someone like him, who was used to pain, would be rendered immobile for at least a second or two by a solid strike to the unmentionables. Those precious few seconds could be a matter of life and death in battle, so defending his groin from attack was a matter of pure, deeply-ingrained reflex for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now that was one hell of a reaction,” said Mireille with a smirk. “Guess that rules out you being a plain ol’ cross-dresser, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham knew that if his true profession hadn’t already been exposed, then Mireille was more than a little suspicious of him. His cover being blown was a shock, of course, but even more so than that, he was preoccupied by how outrageous of a woman she’d turned out to be─enough so that he found himself questioning her sanity. What kind of person would go straight for someone’s groin with such little pretext? He hadn’t seen it coming, so it took him a moment to compose himself and come up with an excuse."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve always attracted the wrong sort of attention, and I’ve gotten good at dodging when people try to grab me thanks to that,” said Pham. “That, and you’re right─I am a boy. I have some circumstances that’ve forced me to pretend to be a girl, though. You know how it is. Please don’t tell Lartz, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham had decided to give up on hiding his sex. He knew that sticking to a cover that had already been blown would just call the rest of his story into question. By admitting that she was right about one thing, he hoped to encourage her to believe the rest of what he told her in the process. Thankfully, his sex was the least damaging thing she could’ve figured out about him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. That’s a dangerous look in your eyes…but I’ll leave it at that, for now,” said Mireille. She still had her doubts, but it didn’t seem like she wanted to press the issue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm… You don’t think it’s weird for a boy to dress like this…?” asked Pham, feigning an air of tragic anxiety."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s weird, sure, but I don’t give a damn. Not like you’re hurting anyone, and hey, everyone’s got a little weirdness going on deep down.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, okay. Thank goodness…” Pham sighed. “The truth is…I do have reasons for dressing this way,” he added, then proceeded to tell a tale to justify his cross-dressing that was as heart-wrenching as it was untrue. By revealing a fabricated past, he hoped to clear away Mireille’s doubts and trick her into revealing her own past at the same time. Pham was, at this point, invested in figuring out just who she was and what made her tick."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… You’ve had it pretty rough too, haven’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“‘Too’?” repeated Pham, eyes wide. “You mean you’ve been through something like that as well, Miss Mireille?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sure have. And y’know what, why not? I’ll make an exception and let you in on my whole history,” said Mireille. And just like that, she launched into her life story. “Y’know the Duke of Missian? The one that kicked the bucket a while back? Well, when I was younger, he met me and my little brother, and decided we had the talent to serve him. He had a good eye for people, too. My brother had a knack for battle and ended up as Vasmarque’s right-hand man. I, meanwhile, ended up getting appointed baroness of a territory of Arcantez called Pelnolla. Used to be the barony the duke’s house ruled over, so he had the power to hand it right off to me. I did my part in battle, too─won the man a fair few victories of my own.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, wow,” gasped Pham. “Does that mean that you’re nobility?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh, I was…until I got stripped of my title, anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why did they do that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could’ve been any number of things,” replied Mireille with a shrug. “Bad behavior, unconventional methods of ruling over my barony─I think it was something along those lines. ’Course, that was just the pretext.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You mean it wasn’t the real reason? Then what was?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That…is a secret,” said Mireille with a sly grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aww,” Pham pouted. He hadn’t been planning to sell the information he extracted from her, to be clear. No, Pham was interested in Mireille herself and was considering suggesting her as a candidate to serve as Ars’s newest retainer. Assuming her story was true, she had the potential to be useful. Her personality seemed liable to cause problems, but if the recruitment went through, there’d be no need for Pham himself to bother plying her for information. And, above all else, even if she turned out to be worthless, there wouldn’t be any consequences for letting her take her shot at the position. Pham resolved himself to recommend her for the job."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, Miss Mireille? You were talking about wanting to serve a lord earlier, weren’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm? That’d be nice, yeah,” Mireille replied. “I’ve got nowhere else to go. ’Course, searching for a patron hasn’t been getting me anywhere so far.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think I know someone who might be just right for you. Would you like to hear more?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After asking the Shadows to help look for promising recruits, I decided that I should chip in and made a trip to Canarre to look for people on my own. I’d been there plenty of times for that precise purpose before, but the city was large enough that I knew I wasn’t even close to appraising everyone with potential. I was looking out for someone with the skills to be a tactician in particular, but the task turned out to be as difficult as I’d feared it would be."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had found an inn in Canarre to stay at while I conducted my search, so it had been some time since I’d last returned to my estate. I’d informed my retainers about my extended absence, so if anything happened back home, I’d receive a timely report on the matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One evening, I found myself at the inn with Rietz and a few of my other retainers. Charlotte hadn’t accompanied us this time─she was busy training up the rest of our army’s mages. Strengthening the forces we already had was just as important as recruiting new ones, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell had also accompanied me, but he wasn’t staying at the inn with us. Telling him that he might have to attend a war council seemed to have lit a fire under him, and he’d asked that I give him more chances to study. He’d already read through all the books at my estate, though, so I ended up asking Lumeire if he could let Rosell look into the books at Castle Canarre. Thankfully, Lumeire was happy to oblige, and Rosell had taken to spending his nights at the castle as a result."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The inn we were staying at was quite close to the Tremps. I’d made sure to inform the pub’s owner, Alex, where we were staying. That way, Ben would be able to report to me the moment he arrived in town. Of course, it hadn’t been very long at all since his last report, so I wasn’t expecting that to happen any time soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My expectations, however, were overturned when Alex arrived at my door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, Lord Ars! Ben’s here to see you,” he said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Already?” I asked, surprised."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ayup. Says they found a recruit for you to meet.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that was even more of a shock. I hadn’t expected them to find anyone that fast. Alex looked apprehensive, though, which confused me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is just my opinion, but I think you oughta keep your hopes low. Their ‘recruit’ just looks like some washed-up lady to me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So the Shadows brought a woman over?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was yet another surprise. Women were looked down upon in our society, and it was rare for people who lacked the ability to see their true potential to take them on as retainers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Did she do something that impressed Pham?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In any case, I’d like to meet her,” I replied. “Is she in the usual room?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alex nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then we’ll leave at once. Rietz?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of us stepped outside and made for the Tremps. We arrived at our destination soon after, climbed the stairs, and stepped into the room where we always met our contact with the Shadows. Standing inside was Ben, whose face struck me as unremarkable and unmemorable as ever, alongside a woman whose presence was so intense that I almost didn’t notice Ben at all for a second."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was very tall, looking to be around the same height as Rietz or so. Her rather unkempt black hair reached down to her waist, and the look in her eyes was so piercing that for a moment, I was overwhelmed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t tell me you’re the Baron of Lamberg?” asked the woman as I stared at her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I’ll be. You’re still just a brat, aren’t’cha?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was not the sort of attitude one was supposed to take with a noble. It was downright rude in general, and I noted that Rietz was already frowning at her. I’d never been bothered by a little impoliteness, though, so it didn’t get to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“May I assume that you’ve come here to enter my service?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. I wasn’t expecting a kid, but at this point, I don’t even care. I’ll take what I can get.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s expression grew even more irate. It seemed he didn’t appreciate the implication that the woman was settling for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your name?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mireille Grunzeon,” she replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Grunzeon. That name rings a bell─where have I heard it before?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I knew it was familiar, but I just couldn’t bring the specifics to mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Guess I might as well start with an appraisal, I thought. However, before I had the chance, Mireille spoke up again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, I hear you’ve got a good eye for people, eh, kiddo? Or that’s what Rin told me, anyway. Kind of a dubious talent for someone your age to have, gotta say.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I decided to reply before I used my skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, yes, but who is ‘Rin’?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ben sidled up to me and leaned down to whisper, “That’d be the boss,” in my ear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I whispered back to ask what all the whispering was about. He explained that since Mireille wasn’t working for me yet, they were keeping her in the dark about the Shadows. Ben still had a ton of information left to share with me, and he was currently pretending to be an ordinary bystander who was just waiting around to discuss something unrelated with me. Pham had discovered Mireille, and Ben was pretending to be his big brother. Anyway, the whole thing they had going on seemed way too complicated for my tastes, so I decided not to delve into the details."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0013.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’re you two whispering about? Feel like letting me in on the fun?” asked Mireille. “Not that I care, I guess. So, how about it? Is your eye for talent telling you that I’ve got what it takes?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Give me just a moment,” I replied, then appraised her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her status screen was, in a word, astonishing. Her Leadership was high, but her Intelligence was even higher─a maximum score of 103 put her in the absolute top tier of stats I’d seen. Even better, her current score had already broken the hundred mark, meaning she had a higher Intelligence than both Rosell and Rietz. Plus, while her Valor of 70 and B-ranked Mage aptitude didn’t tower above the competition, they were rather high. Perhaps her high Valor was related to her height and the athleticism that it implied in my mind?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her Politics, however, was pretty low. That wasn’t too much of a shock, since she didn’t seem to be the cooperative sort. It wasn’t the biggest downside, and overall her stats were pretty fantastic. But there was one point that grabbed my attention most: her Ambition. It was sitting at a score of 100. Up until this point, I’d thought 99 was the maximum score, but apparently, that had been a faulty assumption."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An Ambition of 100 was outrageous. I’d never seen someone with a score like that before─never even imagined it. Hell, I’d been shocked when I saw Licia’s score of 80! And yet, Mireille was a full twenty points above her? Even if I did bring her to my side, it felt like it was only a matter of time before she’d betray me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hmm…this is a real stumper."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her stats were exactly what I’d been hoping for. An Intelligence as high as hers was ideal for my purposes. Considering her age, I assumed she’d been through a lot, and that those experiences had led to her developing her current score. Rosell had great potential in the long run, but in the current moment, she had him beat by a hefty margin. Even better, Mireille could teach Rosell an awful lot. If I were to hire her, I knew she’d make the perfect instructor to take over Rietz’s current role."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The merits of bringing her into my fold were impossible to ignore, but so was her Ambition score. I knew not to judge her on that one factor, though, so I decided to interview her to try to get a feel for her personality."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To start, I’d like you to tell me a little about your origins,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My origins, eh? Sure, makes sense. Can’t imagine there’s a lord out there who’d take someone in as a retainer without knowing where they came from.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was more or less what I’d done when I offered Rietz and Charlotte positions among my retainers. In retrospect, it was rather careless of me. Then again, it wasn’t like I could’ve afforded to let talent like theirs go, so maybe my imprudence was for the best."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille began to tell me her life story. She explained how she’d risen to a position as a Missian noble, and achieved great things in battle. A woman becoming a lord was rare in this region, and she was supposedly a household name in her home territory, but I’d never heard of her, and I had some doubts about whether the whole of her story was true. Of course, I had to keep in mind that Lamberg was quite far away from the barony she claimed to have ruled over. It was plausible that I’d just never heard of her thanks to that distance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any event, Mireille’s stint as a baroness had been a brief one. She lost the position about a year after she was granted it. Her territory was also just about as small and insignificant as Lamberg, which backed up the idea that her celebrity had been a very local affair. Considering her stats, I was convinced that if she’d remained a lord, she could’ve ended up renowned throughout the whole duchy. Instead, she’d been cast out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As for the reasons behind her losing her title, Mireille claimed that she’d been blamed for matters beyond her control. I couldn’t say with any certainty whether that was true, but it was possible. This was also around the time that it came out that she had a little brother who was working as Vasmarque’s right-hand man."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That helped me put the pieces together. Couran had told me about a man named Thomas Grunzeon who was one of Vasmarque’s most trusted advisors. According to Couran, Thomas was an extraordinarily intelligent individual. That, coupled with their shared last name, had me convinced: Mireille’s little brother was the very same man. And if that assumption proved true, then the odds were good she had at least some degree of inside information regarding his methods. I couldn’t have asked for a more capable tactician under these circumstances."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was, however, still curious about why our enemies had chosen to drive her away. The fact that she’d managed to work her way up to a lordship in spite of society’s views on women implied that she had to be pretty darn capable. If they drove her out anyway, there was probably a good reason."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She must’ve caused some sort of big problem, right?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was more than a little apprehensive about the possibility."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t dream of second-guessing your judgment when it comes to recruitment and personnel, Lord Ars,” said Rietz, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “But this woman strikes me as dangerous. I would recommend against bringing her into your service.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dangerous? How so?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I’m afraid it’s hard for me to explain in specific terms. Call it instinct, if you will. She framed herself as the victim of conspiracy in regard to her dismissal, but we have to account for the possibility that she is deceiving us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed I could count Rietz’s vote as a solid “nay,” then."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m going to have to think carefully about this one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Think you could give me an answer before I fall asleep over here, kiddo? Arcantez wasn’t exactly an afternoon stroll away from here, so I’m pretty worn out,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took one last moment to assess the situation. A very important factor I hadn’t taken into account yet was that if I didn’t hire her, it was very possible my enemies would take her into their service once more. Whatever had caused her dismissal, it had happened years ago. Given the turbulent political climate, it seemed possible that they would decide to let bygones be bygones if it meant getting her talent again. I did not want her as a foe, that was for sure─she could cause me all sorts of problems."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That left me with one choice: I would take Mireille on as one of my retainers. In the end, I just couldn’t bring myself to say no to a talent like hers. I knew I’d regret it if I let her slip away from me. Her personality might become an issue, sure, but that just meant I’d have to learn to work around her foibles. And if it turned out she was too much for me, then, well, I’d just have to deal with that problem. This wasn’t a Licia-type situation, after all─I wouldn’t be bound to Mireille for life if I made her my retainer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve made up my mind,” I announced. “I have determined that you are an exceedingly capable individual. I would very much like to take you into my service.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, would you?” said Mireille with a grin. “Guess this means you do have an eye for talent, kid. I wouldn’t come all the way out here just to say no, so this sorta goes without saying, but I’m in. I’ll be your retainer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure about this?” asked Rietz, leaning down to whisper directly into my ear in a more urgent tone than last time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I also think she’s dangerous, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s exceptional,” I replied. “I’ve decided that the merits outweigh the risks. Hiring her is our best option.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Well, if you say so. I’ll trust your judgment, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He still sounded apprehensive, but at the very least, he wasn’t going to oppose my decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was already after dark, so we ended up staying the night in Canarre. The next morning, we set off to bring Mireille back to my estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days had passed since I’d brought Mireille into my service. Things had been quiet so far, and I had yet to receive notice that Couran would be calling a war council meeting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was sitting in my room when I heard Rietz’s voice from outside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars? May I speak with you for a moment?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come in,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you,” said Rietz as he stepped inside. I could tell that he was in a somewhat sour mood. “I was hoping to talk with you about Mireille…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about her?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm…” Rietz hesitated for a moment, then spoke up once more. “I apologize for my insolence, Lord Ars, but I have concluded that she is unfit to serve as your retainer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille had only been my retainer for a matter of days, and she’d already proven herself to be something of a handful. In fact, this was far from the first time I’d received a complaint about her from one of my other retainers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The situation in Missian was unstable, but open conflict had yet to break out. As such, I’d tasked Mireille with training our troops and acting as Rosell’s teacher. Her Valor score was high, and she had a decent Infantry aptitude as well. She was capable enough in combat to defeat the average man one-on-one without difficulty. That wasn’t the extent of her talents, though─she was also competent in the realm of magic, and had taken on the training of our mages. The one problem: her motivation. She would frequently slack off and not show up, and even worse, she’d encourage others to do the same."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll acknowledge that she is quite capable, but she does not have a temperament suitable to her position. Just this afternoon, she neglected to finish her work in favor of returning to her room and sleeping. Even when she does bother making an appearance at the training grounds, her instructional methods are more often than not haphazard and unenthusiastic. When asked to reassess her attitude, she’ll make some nonsensical excuse about how ‘everyone has an off-day every once in a while,’ making it clear that she has no intention of improving her work ethic. She is talented, yes, but that does not change the fact that on the whole, her presence is a detriment to House Louvent!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By the end of his speech, Rietz’s face was beet-red. If one thing was clear to me above all else, it was the fact that he was very, very upset. Unfortunately for him, my mental arithmetic assigned more weight to Mireille’s abilities than his did. I still couldn’t bring myself to let go of her in spite of her eccentricities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m coming in, Ars!” called Rosell from outside, moments before he barged into my room. He looked just about as upset as Rietz was. “We need to talk about Mireille. I know you said she’d be teaching me from now on, but I can’t take it anymore!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell wasn’t the sort of person who was easily angered, but for once, he seemed furious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What happened?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, for one thing, she’s a lazy bum who spends most of her time asleep!” Rosell began. “That wouldn’t be so bad if it were the sole problem, but when she does wake up, she starts talking about how ‘reading’s a waste of time’ and takes me outside to run around doing this or that! Then when we’re finished and I ask what the point of it all was, she’ll tell me to ‘think about it and figure it out’! I know she’s just making excuses, though! She’s making fun of me, plain and simple! I don’t even need a teacher anymore, so I don’t care if she spends all her time asleep, but I will not tolerate her getting in the way of my studies!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I sighed. Apparently, Rosell had built up quite the grudge in just a few days."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hmm─could it be that we just don’t understand what it is that Mireille’s trying to accomplish?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I still didn’t feel like I had a solid grasp of her personality, so I couldn’t say what her goal with all of this was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "More and more complaints about Mireille’s behavior kept rolling in from my other retainers. They all tended to fit into the same broad categories, too. They were either about her utter lack of work ethic or about how she’d said something offensive to someone. Her popularity among House Louvent’s employees was falling by the day. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to evaluate her performance until I’d seen how she handled herself in battle, but it was becoming clear that I’d need to give her situation some more thought before that time arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as I was thinking that I’d have to give her a personal talking-to, I heard a thunderous roar from somewhere outside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What in the world was that?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whatever it was, it scared me half to death!” said Rosell."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0015.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of us hurried outside to figure out what in the world that noise had been, though not before taking a moment to arm ourselves. It wasn’t unthinkable that we were under attack, and we had to be prepared for the worst. As we sprinted out of the estate, the soldiers who’d been out on the training grounds joined up with us to investigate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It didn’t take long to track down where the noise had originated. There was a copse of trees just a short ways away from my estate, the better part of which had been transformed into a crater. My mind flashed back to the time we’d had Charlotte test her magic out in a field, and speaking of which, Charlotte and Mireille were standing at the edge of the crater together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Damn,” said Mireille. “Didn’t know we had a mage with that sorta talent. I’m shocked, not gonna lie.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That wasn’t even my full power,” boasted Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For real? Let’s see you shoot another, then.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No can do! Sto-ooop!” I bellowed, charging in to stop Charlotte before she took it upon herself to turn the rest of the copse into a scorched wasteland. If she’d been casting spells, then the ear-splitting explosion made perfect sense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“L-Lord Ars,” said Charlotte, who was shocked to see me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stopped to take a deep breath and asked, “Charlotte…why?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Miss Mireille told me she wanted to see me cast a spell, so I did,” explained Charlotte. She was more or less the sole exception among my retainers when it came to Mireille, and had taken quite the shine to my newest recruit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, using magic that powerful is dangerous, and it could cause a panic!” I shouted. “You couldn’t have considered holding back?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That wouldn’t have been nearly as fun,” said Mireille. “I heard that Charlotte was something special, so I wanted to see what she could do when she goes all out. She blew my expectations away, that’s for sure!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you didn’t feel like informing me before you attempted this little experiment?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh. Yeah, my bad. But I swear, I didn’t think it’d be that wild.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t seem like her intentions had been bad, and it wasn’t like I failed to see how Charlotte’s magical firepower could have surpassed her wildest expectations. However, my opinion wasn’t the problem. The rest of my retainers’ pent-up resentment was already close to hitting critical mass, and her insincere non-apology was the spark that set that resentment ablaze and converted it into pure rage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you kidding me?!” shouted one of my soldiers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Enough is enough, dammit!” added another. The entire contingent of retainers who’d followed me outside was starting to turn against her, and by “her,” I meant Mireille. Charlotte was the one who’d cast the spell, but nobody seemed interested in blaming her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s your problem, people? You want me to quit? Is that it?” asked Mireille as their jeers continued. She seemed as proud and arrogant as ever, even in the face of all that abuse. “Well, that’s the kid’s call to make. What do you think? Do I get the boot?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I…” I began, then paused to think. “I don’t intend to relieve you from my service. That said, I may consider it if things continue as they’ve gone so far.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. Well, that’s a bit of an issue from my perspective,” said Mireille. “I’m just being myself, y’know? Kinda hard to change who I am as a person at this age. Besides, I’m the sort of person who proves her worth on the battlefield, not during peacetime.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, she’s not planning on working on her attitude at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’d been eager to place the blame for the loss of her barony on some conspiracy, but I was starting to suspect that it was a simple matter of her superiors getting sick of her crap and deciding she wasn’t worth the trouble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can’t say I wanna quit, though,” Mireille added. “Oh, I know. You said something about a practice battle coming up soon, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a policy of getting all of House Louvent’s troops together for practice battles on a regular basis, and the next one was scheduled to occur in just two days. It would be the first one Mireille would participate in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How ’bout this,” said Mireille. “If I prove my stuff in your practice battle, you don’t kick me out. Sound fair?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before I could give her an answer, everyone behind me broke out in protest over her terms. I, however, thought that it was a very good idea. I’d brought her into my service in the hopes that she’d be an asset in battle, after all. So long as she proved herself useful on that front, I was willing to turn a blind eye to her eccentricities…until the current war was over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Listen to me,” I said, turning to face the crowd. “I’ve judged Mireille’s talent for myself, and I assure you that she has an incredible knack for battle. I acknowledge that she has no small number of flaws outside of that field, but assuming she manages to produce results in this next mock battle, I hope you’ll overlook those problems.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My retainers weren’t happy to hear that, but they begrudgingly accepted my terms and stopped heckling Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "House Louvent carried out mock battles regularly. We did our best to emulate the feel and circumstances of a real battlefield, but it went without saying that we weren’t about to go killing off our own men during practice. As such, a few things set these sessions apart from the real deal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our skirmishes were dictated by a set of broad rules. To start, battles were fought between two forces of fifty men, plus their commanding officers. The scenario often revolved around one side arriving to assault Lamberg, while the other side sallied forth into a nearby field to mount a defense. Thus, one force was designated the attacking army and the other the defenders. The attackers would start a fair distance away and march upon the town, while the defenders would set up in the plains nearby to intercept them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Victory was won by either taking out the enemy force’s commander, or otherwise by forcing them to surrender. Each force consisted of thirty infantrymen, fifteen archers, and five mages. We didn’t field any cavalry in our mock battles, and our infantrymen were armed with wooden swords. Getting hit by one of those still hurt like hell, but everyone was also equipped with armor and protective gear, so there was almost no danger of anyone dying."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The archers, meanwhile, were using wooden arrows with tips that had been both blunted and wrapped with a bundle of cloth dipped in red paint. The same paint was applied to the infantry’s swords─that way, it was always obvious when someone had landed a fatal blow on their foe. If someone was hit in the head, the chest, or anywhere else that proved fatal, they were declared dead and taken out of the exercise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As for the mages, fire magic was too dangerous to use in any capacity, so it was banned outright. There was such a thing as defensive fire magic, but it was only used to defend against offensive fire magic, so with the latter banned, there was no point in using the former. Further complicating matters was the fact that the only types of aqua magia that weren’t rare and valuable in Missian were flame- and sound-aspected. In short, the sole type of magic that could be used in our drills was sound. Sound magic had very few offensive applications, but it was important for stuff like delivering orders to your troops from a range, which made it an essential tool in battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The commander of the defenders would be Rietz, while I would be taking charge of the attacking team. Commanding an army to assault my own barony was a strange feeling, to say the least! Mireille would also be supporting the attacking team, while the defenders had Rosell and Charlotte on their side. Rosell, by the way, had started taking part in these exercises not too long ago, and had been more or less serving the role of a tactician."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte was a powerful tool in their arsenal, in theory, but with only sound magic to work with, she wasn’t as threatening as she otherwise would’ve been. That didn’t change the fact that they were at an advantage overall, of course, but you also had to take into consideration the fact that even though this was practice, a lot of our soldiers would still hesitate to swing a sword at me. In short, comparing our advantages and disadvantages wasn’t so simple."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, meanwhile, had asked to be put on my team. She didn’t explain why, but I assumed she was hoping that if she was on my team, our soldiers would listen to her orders. She wasn’t popular among my troops, and there was a real danger that they’d ignore her commands if she gave them directly. It would be another story, however, if she were advising me and I were passing on her suggestions to the rest of our force. As far as I was concerned, having Mireille on my team meant I’d have a much easier time evaluating her skills, so I didn’t object to the plan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two days after we agreed to Mireille’s trial, the day of the mock battle arrived. I’d spent the past two days worried that a war council would be called at the worst possible moment and we’d have to discard this whole plan, but nothing of the sort ended up happening."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Me and my fifty-soldier squad set out from the estate, traveling about half a mile away from Lamberg. We’d stage our assault on Lamberg from there. When we first started doing these drills, I’d thought that having to walk all the way out and back again would put the attacking team at a disadvantage, but I soon realized that plenty of factors worked to the attackers’ advantage as well. It wasn’t so easy to say which side was the more favorable role, but regardless, this was a training drill, not some sporting event. A little imbalance in the scenario wasn’t always a bad thing. Learning how to compensate for your disadvantages and how to make use of your advantages was part of what made these exercises worth running."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As we made our way out to our team’s starting point, Mireille struck up a conversation with me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know this is just a drill, but this’ll be my first battle in ages.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will it, now?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup. I used to all but live on the battlefield, but I haven’t taken part in a good fight since I got chased out. What about you? Had your first campaign yet, kiddo?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not yet, no,” I admitted. I had yet to witness a real battle so much as once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That so? Guess you are still a kid, then. Little practice skirmishes like this are fun and games compared to the real deal, y’know? You’d better keep that in the back of your mind. If you start thinking you’ll get used to combat through these little matches, you’ll be in for a rude awakening when the time comes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know that already,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Should’ve guessed. You seem like a sharp one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d heard about the trials and terrors of real battles from more than a few people, and I’d gotten the impression that they were rather horrific. The practical application of magic to warfare was a recent development, so modern battlefields were a lethal storm of spells of all varieties. Tactics, on the other hand, had yet to catch up to that dramatic paradigm shift, and as such, tacticians who could think on the fly, break free of the established theories, and come up with countermeasures to the enemy’s magic were essential to any army. We would only have access to sound magic this time around, but even that meant our armies would have access to quite a wide variety of spells, and countering their effects was no simple matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Back on Earth, wars in the Middle Ages were a lot less nasty than you might expect in terms of the number of casualties and fatalities. In this world, however, war was a lethal affair, and even a single conflict could claim a tremendous number of lives. It wasn’t like most armies would bust out their powerful spells in minor skirmishes, though, so I didn’t imagine I’d be seeing that sort of devastation anytime soon. That wasn’t the case for large-scale battles, however. I’d heard that losses in the tens of thousands were by no means unheard of."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was rare for military leaders to command from the front these days due to such high losses. The logic was simple: if you were marching in the front of your army’s ranks, the odds were good that you’d be dead before the day was done. There were exceptions to that rule─my own father had charged out to lead his troops by example, hacking and slashing his way through the battlefield. The fact that he’d managed to lead like that and come out of each and every engagement alive was unexpected."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A small hut had been designated as the starting point for the attacking team. I led my force up to it, then commanded them to halt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then─I’ve come up with a few plans for us to consider, so let’s go over our options,” said Mireille, her tone and expression taking a sudden turn. She sounded calm, all things considered. “Magic-wise, we’ve got sound, and that’s it. We also only have medium-sized catalyzers on hand, which means we can use a maximum of thirty M’s worth of aqua magia per side. That means we’ve got four spells in our arsenal today, so we won’t have to come up with anything complicated to win this one.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Catalyzers, the tools used to cast magic, came in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The one we’d used to test Charlotte’s magic way back when was a small catalyzer that was roughly the size of a baseball. Medium catalyzers were just about basketball-sized, while large ones were around the size of those rubber exercise balls that people sat on. As you might expect, a metal device of that size was heavy and hard to move around, so they were transported using carts. We wouldn’t be using any of those in this practice battle. Hell, House Louvent didn’t even own any!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The bigger the catalyzer, the larger the volume of aqua magia you could pour into it. That made a big difference, since higher-level spells required a massive amount of aqua magia. Large-sized catalyzers were used primarily to cast that sort of battlefield-changing super spell. As a side note, the unit of measurement used for aqua magia was M. A small catalyzer could fit three Ms of aqua magia, while the mediums each side could use for the mock battle could fit thirty. Not having anything bigger wasn’t an issue because we didn’t have the funds to be blowing much more aqua magia than that during practice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So the four types of magic we’ll be able to use today are, umm…Hyper Voice, Rumble, Transmit, and Noise Trap, right?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Each of the available spells had different effects. Hyper Voice amplified the volume of the caster’s voice. Rumble created a thunderous roaring noise that could, in theory, distract or disturb your enemy. Transmit allowed you to send sounds across long distances, but there were a bunch of caveats─you had to use a specific sort of catalyzer, for one thing, and you could only send sounds to another catalyzer of the same variety. You had to know a number associated with the catalyzer you were transmitting to, and you couldn’t even transmit complex sounds, meaning speech was off the table. Just to make things even more complicated, the maximum possible transmission distance was determined by the caster’s magical ability. The final spell was less complicated, at least: Noise Trap was another spell that made a loud roaring noise, but only when somebody passed through an area you designated as you cast the spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With medium-sized catalyzers, those four spells would be our entire repertoire for the day. As far as their aqua magia expenditures went, Hyper Voice required two Ms, Rumble and Transmit took three, and Noise Trap took ten. In terms of practicality, Hyper Voice and Transmit were both used to convey information across a battlefield. Noise Trap was also useful, since setting the spell up in strategic locations would allow you to detect the enemy’s movements without keeping an active guard posted. Rumble, however, was a bit of an exception─as far as I knew, it was pretty useless in actual combat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I bet they’ll try to ambush us,” said Mireille. That theory seemed convincing to me, considering ambushes had proven to be effective in our practice skirmishes thus far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The tough part about being on the defending side was that if you tried to mount your defense in the precise location where your troops started, the enemy would know your army’s location and you’d lose the initiative. Losing out in that manner meant putting yourself at a notable disadvantage, and when you had the precise same number of troops as your enemy, that sort of disadvantage would decide the outcome of the battle in your foes’ favor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Moving your troops out from their defensive position to set up an ambush, on the other hand, had the opposite effect. It could gain you an overwhelming advantage if things went well, and even if you didn’t manage to pull the surprise aspect off, you wouldn’t be fighting on your enemy’s terms."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That might make it sound like there were nothing but upsides to attempting an ambush, but there were a fair few downsides as well. Three situations could bring an end to the match: if a commanding officer was neutralized, if one side surrendered, or if the attacking team managed to slip at least thirty of its troops into the town of Lamberg, in which case the defenders would lose. On the flip side, if the attacking team didn’t manage to accomplish any of those objectives by sunset, the match would be called in favor of the defenders. In other words, if the defenders abandoned their defensive position, the attackers could win by marching right on into town."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was only one proper road leading into Lamberg from where my team was located. That said, my army was small enough that traveling cross-country was practical. That meant it wouldn’t be easy for our opponents to predict which route we’d take into town. Typically, the defenders would send out scouts to locate the enemy force. Those scouts would then report back on the attackers’ movements via the Transmit spell, and the defenders would set up an ambush along the attackers’ chosen route."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And of course, we’re up against Rietz,” said Mireille. “If we did march straight in, he’d catch us in an ambush and wipe us out without breaking a sweat.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re not wrong about that, but I’m surprised you’re giving him that much credit,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re not the only one with an eye for people. I’m not half-bad, either, and I can tell that he’s got a real impressive head on his shoulders, and isn’t the careless type. If I had to pin his biggest flaw down, I’d say it’s that he takes himself too seriously. You hear people go on and on about how Malkans are inferior, but it only takes one guy like him to show how stupid that belief is. Did you pick him out as a retainer ’cause you figured out he was talented at a glance too, kiddo?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right,” I confirmed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then that power of yours might be something special. No matter where you go in the Empire, Malkans get a rough lot in life. I bet Rietz went through some tough times before he joined up with you, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He…did, yes,” I answered, a little hesitant. When I first met Rietz, he’d lost any semblance of a place where he belonged and had seemed just about ready to give up and die. He’d made a living for himself with a band of mercenaries up until that point, which might’ve been a decent environment compared to what other Malkans went through."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz has the potential, no doubts there. The other kiddo you’ve got training to be a tactician, though─Rosell, right? Hate to say it, but he’s not cut out for the role.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you say that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, I should rephrase that. It’s not that he’s not cut out to be a tactician. It’s just that he’ll never be first-rate, no matter what he does. He’s got the brains, don’t get me wrong! Little guy’s as smart as they come. But you have to be more than just smart to be a tactician. You have to be creative─to have the ingenuity to come up with schemes that your enemy could never possibly see coming, which is something he lacks.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille had a very respectable Intelligence score herself, so I couldn’t dismiss her view of Rosell offhand. That said, Rosell’s Intelligence cap, according to my Appraisal skill, was 109 points. If that was accurate, yet he somehow wasn’t cut out to be a tactician, then I couldn’t even begin to guess what sort of person would be suited to the role."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille might be decent at judging people, but maybe she just can’t see deep enough in Rosell’s case to give him the credit he deserves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, Rosell’s been complaining that your way of teaching is, well, pretty strange. Is that because you decided that he doesn’t have any talent?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That, and ’cause I’ve never been one for teaching,” Mireille readily admitted. “I do feel the urge to teach people a trick or two when it looks like they’ve got what it takes, but that’s about it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. In that case, I think you’ll find yourself wanting to teach Rosell for real before too much longer,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille arched an eyebrow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? You’ve got an awful lot of faith in your ability to judge people, don’t you, kiddo?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re getting off-topic. We should figure out a plan and move out as soon as possible. Got anything cooking, Mireille?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing too complicated. We’ll just send someone over to pretend they’ve double-crossed us, leak false info to the other side, and ambush them when they come looking for us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now it was my turn to arch an eyebrow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you think they’ll fall for that? You think they’ll believe that one of my men would betray me in a training exercise?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Eh, should work just fine. I’ve got a few tricks in mind,” replied Mireille. Then, she explained what she was plotting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That…does make sense,” I said when she finished. “That might trick Rietz and Rosell.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You think? Good. Then let’s pick someone to send out.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I chose the soldier who’d be playing double agent, and we put Mireille’s plan into motion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the same time, Rietz’s army was holding their ground in the position they’d started at. Rietz had sent out a few soldiers to scout out the enemy, determine their movements, and report back using the Transmit spell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Transmit spell’s capability to transmit information was rudimentary. Casting the spell expended some of the aqua magia within the associated catalyzer, and the specialized catalyzers designed for the spell were made to emit a knocking noise when their aqua magia was expended. As such, while transmitting human speech was impossible, transmitting coded messages with a series of knocks could allow mages to communicate with each other. Rietz had sent out one such mage along with one regular soldier to scout ahead and had just received their report."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seems they’re on the move,” Rietz muttered. His scouts had informed him that Ars’s team of attackers was beginning to mobilize. He’d already told the scouts to continue observing and reporting after the enemy army began to march, so there was no need for him to send a reply. That was important, since casting the Transmit spell didn’t allow one to send a message back without expending more precious aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where’re they headed?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In two different directions,” replied Rietz. “It seems they’ve split their forces, with one traveling along the road and the other through the woods. Lord Ars is proceeding with the group on the road, so our scouts will be following them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Scouting was, traditionally, a one-mage job. If you sent two mages out to report back, you’d burn through too much aqua magia to transmit all the relevant information. Although splitting your forces meant that neither group would be capable of taking on the enemy’s main contingent, you would also more or less guarantee that your enemy would only know the location of one of your two troops. It wasn’t an unreasonable plan, given the circumstances."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz and his troops were stationed on a road to the south of Lamberg. The road continued onward due south, and if you followed it for long enough, you would reach the starting point for Ars’s forces. Woodlands occupied the areas to the east and west of the road. The western woodlands were dangerous enough that they’d been declared out of bounds for the training exercise, but a known and safe route through the eastern woods made them fair game. A safe route wasn’t necessarily an easy route, however, and if you didn’t move with caution, you could get lost. Traveling that way was far from simple."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now we just have to decide how we deal with them,” Rietz muttered. There were any number of ways he could counter the attacking team’s chosen strategy. Choosing one enemy troop to crush first with his full might was an obvious option, but splitting his own forces to handle both at once had its advantages as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Rietz and Rosell were just beginning to discuss their options, a booming voice rang out, “Can you hear me, Rietz?! This is Shamal, from the attacking team! I want to talk!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shamal was one of House Louvent’s mages. It seemed he’d cast Hyper Voice to deliver his message."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s this about?” Rietz wondered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I say we ignore it,” cautioned Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve chosen to betray Lord Ars today, but I do it for his own sake!” Shamal’s voice rang out again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To betray him…? Is he offering us information?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s an obvious trap,” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… But think about the circumstances surrounding this battle,” replied Rietz. The instant that the concept of betraying Ars for his own sake was broached, he’d understood what Shamal was alluding to. If Mireille failed to lead Ars to victory in this battle, it was reasonable to assume that Ars would decide she hadn’t contributed in the manner he’d hoped, which would in turn lead to her expulsion from House Louvent. Considering the widespread distaste that Ars’s retainers held for her, it wasn’t implausible that one of them would decide to betray him here. “I think we should hear him out, just in case.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz ordered that Shamal be brought to him, and Shamal explained the details of Mireille’s strategy to Rietz. According to him, Mireille had plotted to have the contingent in the forest pretend that they’d fallen under attack from a real enemy force and sound the alarm. When Rietz’s troops rushed in to provide backup, the remaining portion of Ars’s troops on the road would mount a surprise attack and wipe the defenders out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That plan…doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of the rules, does it?” sighed Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, well, it’s not like the rules were all that clear cut,” noted Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, because under ordinary circumstances, nobody would consider putting a plan like that into action. It wouldn’t make for good training material.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If there was any chance that a genuine enemy attack had occurred, then Rietz would have to rush in, whether or not he realized that it might be a trap. It would defeat the purpose of a training exercise of this nature. Nobody had tried to carry out an underhanded stratagem like that, so there had never been any reason to prohibit them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I wouldn’t put it past that woman to come up with something so brazen,” Rietz noted. “Her grasp of common sense is tenuous.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But she’s not their leader, is she? Ars is. Wouldn’t he stop her?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps, but she’s a glib one. She may have talked Ars into going along with her scheme…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz could feel that he was missing something. Mireille had a way with words, to be sure, but Ars was no fool. He couldn’t believe that his lord had fallen for such a trick."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes…you’re right. Everything I’ve just told you is a lie,” said Shamal, shocking everyone present."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” grunted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s as you guessed, Rietz. Mireille told me to pretend to betray her and feed you false information. The thing is, I really hate that woman’s guts,” Shamal said, launching into an extended description of how and why he despised the tactician, concluding with a simple sentiment: “The way I see it, I might as well betray her for real while I have the chance. The plan I told you about before is a lie, but I’m about to tell you what she’s really up to now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, Shamal launched into a second explanation of Mireille’s true scheme. In short, her plan started with the leaking of false information to Rietz’s army. She would allow them to get the jump on Ars’s flank, but only briefly─at the most critical possible moment, when their sneak attack was being launched, Shamal would cast Rumble. The spell did nothing more than make a loud and unnerving noise, but when said noise was coming from the center of their own formation, it would shock Rietz’s soldiers and throw off their operation. It would also have a secondary purpose: functioning as the signal for the attacking team to break down the defenders’ ambush and turn the tables on them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think you should pretend to have fallen for their trap,” said Shamal. “After all, the whole operation hinges on me casting Rumble. If I don’t do that, we’re left with an actual surprise attack that they won’t be prepared for, and once Mireille’s plan fails, she’ll be chased out of House Louvent. Please, Rietz─make the right call!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz fell silent. He couldn’t decide whether or not to trust Shamal’s claim. It went without saying that both of the man’s stories could be fabrications, but his final tale was consistent with his motivations, so it seemed plausible. He didn’t appear to be lying, but Rietz didn’t know him well enough to say whether or not he was a skilled enough actor to pull off such a ruse, and Rietz wasn’t dumb enough to take someone’s word at face value."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. I’ll trust you,” Rietz lied. He didn’t trust Shamal by any means, but he’d chosen to play along for the time being."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Shamal was lying, then it was only a matter of time before the fact would be exposed, and the attacking team’s next move would become that much easier to predict. If he was telling the truth, on the other hand, then as he’d said, a sneak attack could lead to an easy victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz didn’t believe that he’d made the best possible choice…but at this point in time, he hadn’t the foggiest idea what a terrible mistake he’d just made."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz directed his troops to march forward. Their destination: the location that Shamal had identified as the position where the attacking team would carry out their operation. Ars would be present in that unit, according to Shamal’s information. He also provided a map with the precise location marked on it, and according to Rietz’s scouts, Ars’s unit was already on the move toward that position."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before moving out, Rietz had to confirm one last thing with Shamal: the status of the division that Ars had sent into the woodlands. Shamal explained that they were insurance. If Rietz somehow managed to escape unharmed from the ambush, the backup troops in the woodlands would pursue him and finish him off. Just to be on the safe side, Rietz decided to dispatch ten of his own soldiers to hold that extra division off long enough for the main force to deal with Ars."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That wasn’t the only precaution that Rietz took, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, before we move out, I’ll be taking your catalyzer. I’m sure you understand,” Rietz said to Shamal. His knowledge of the enemy’s plan wasn’t clear, and if Shamal was working for them and did cast Rumble to call in a surprise attack, Rietz and his men would be sitting ducks. Fortunately, Shamal handed over his catalyzer─a small-sized one─without protest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That’s strange, thought Rietz as he inspected the device. Catalyzers all had numbers inscribed into them. When a mage cast Transmit, the incantation involved reciting the number associated with the catalyzer they wanted to send a noise to. Something seemed wrong about the number on the catalyzer that Shamal handed over, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This catalyzer’s number is 23159…but that’s not Shamal’s number, is it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Each catalyzer in House Louvent’s possession was assigned to a specific individual. Keeping the numbers consistent reduced the possibility of the flow of information becoming tangled. Furthermore, one of the rules for their practice battles was that you were not allowed to use Transmit to send information to the opposing team. Rietz wasn’t a mage himself, and as a result, he hadn’t had enough exposure to the catalyzers to memorize all of their numbers, but he still had the strangest feeling that Shamal’s was off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But if this is the wrong number…did his break? Or does he have two?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A catalyzer breaking down wasn’t unheard of, but it would have been odd for Shamal to have already been casting spells early enough in the drill to get one swapped out. Rietz wasn’t sure whether or not Shamal would have had to cast anything to tell that his own catalyzer was broken, but the probability that he was carrying two seemed higher overall. If Shamal had two catalyzers, it would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he intended to betray Rietz. Otherwise, he would have handed the spare over as well─there’d be no need to keep it hidden."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz knew that House Louvent’s mages all had the catalyzer numbers and their assignments memorized, so he went over to Charlotte in secret and asked her what Shamal’s was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Shamal’s number?” said Charlotte. “Uh, think that was…22134? Wait, no, 23112? Hmm…nah, sorry, no clue.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My apologies,” sighed Rietz. “I should have asked someone else.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He’d forgotten that Charlotte was bad at memorization, and hadn’t committed any of the catalyzer numbers to memory. Her overwhelming magical ability made her an unstoppable force on an actual battlefield, but her inability to use Transmit meant that she was an impediment in a mock battle, if anything."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz found a different mage to ask about the numbers instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“23159? No, that’s Tenks’s number. Shamal’s is 23111.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought so,” said Rietz with a grimace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oooh, 23111? Dang, I was pretty close,” grumbled Charlotte, who had tagged along with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would save us a lot of trouble if you’d memorize the numbers yourself, you know?” Rietz sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why’s his number different, though?” Charlotte asked. Rietz explained his theory, and she nodded in understanding. “Oh, he has two of ’em? That’d do it for sure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is strange for a mage to be carrying another mage’s catalyzer,” explained the mage who’d confirmed Rietz’s suspicions about the numbers. “Each catalyzer has a certain feel to it, and it’s much easier to cast with one that you’re used to.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fact that a mage found the situation so unnatural only deepened Rietz’s suspicions. Nothing had been proven yet, but this left him with one option: to search Shamal for a second catalyzer. Shamal was opposed to the check at first, but he gave in and allowed himself to be searched. Lo and behold, Rietz soon found a second catalyzer that he’d hidden."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So tell me, why did you have two of these?” asked Rietz. Shamal didn’t say a word, and Rietz shrugged. “No need to hear it from the horse’s mouth─I already know your answer. According to my scouts, Ars’s unit has reached the location you told us about and is standing by. You were going to wait until we were almost upon them, then use your second catalyzer to cast Rumble. Well, sorry to say, but that plan is a wash now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Tell me about it,” Shamal sighed. “You’re right about everything. Man, I’ve made a real mess of this operation.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that passing over the borrowed catalyzer rather than his own had been nothing more than a careless mistake."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then, new plan. We’ll pretend that we’ve fallen for their scheme and head straight for Ars’s unit. They’ll be counting on that Rumble spell to alert them of our presence, which means they won’t see us coming,” said Rietz. He was convinced that the battle was already all but over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, yeah, at this point, I’m sure they think they’ve already won,” chuckled Mireille with a smirk as she explained how Rietz would be directing his forces."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To sum her plan up in the simplest way possible, she had designed it under the deliberate assumption that her enemies would see through her scheme. Mireille had set Shamal up in a way that made him screwing up and revealing the details of her plan to Rietz and his troops the most likely outcome. According to her, nothing put a person off-guard like the misguided belief that they’d seen through their enemy’s plans. She’d made her fake plan as convoluted as possible to aid in that effort because if the plan that Shamal leaked was too straightforward, Rietz might end up questioning its authenticity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was impressed. Mireille’s plan betrayed a remarkable level of psychological analysis on her part. The scouts that we’d sent had reported that Rietz’s troops were already on their way to our position, so now we just had to wait until he was closer to spring our trap and defeat him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once Rietz’s army was close enough to ours, we would move to a new location. Casting Transmit required a mage to chant a spell, and that took a hefty period of time. If we could relocate our troops and attack Rietz’s army from a blind spot before his scouts had the time to report back to him, we could catch him and his men off-guard and enter the battle at a massive advantage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, there’s no guarantee that your plan will succeed. Rietz and his people might not have caught on to the part you needed him to figure out,” I noted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I’m not too concerned about that,” said Mireille with a smirk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Rietz had missed Mireille’s convoluted setup, he’d still have made his way to our position. The difference was that in that instance, he would’ve been doing so without letting his guard down. That would require some major alterations to the plan, but it wasn’t a major problem."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All that said, our scouts had reported that Rietz and his troops were moving at a faster pace than usual. They were rushing forward in a manner consistent with them believing they’d seen through our strategy and dropping their guard as a consequence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just a little while later, one of the mages on my team received a message through their catalyzer. That was the signal we’d been waiting for─it was time for us to move out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, let’s get a move on,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right,” agreed Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave the order, and my entire squad began to move out. Rietz’s team wasn’t quite close enough to see with the naked eye yet, so me and my troops were able to move off to the side of the road and circle behind his group without being noticed. I knew that the slightest delay in setting up our trap could have spelled doom for our whole operation, so I urged my forces to move as fast as possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before Rietz’s troops came into view, and we managed to circle around them without getting spotted. Rietz had ordered his troops to a stop. My best guess was that he was receiving a report from his scouts at that very moment, and I wasn’t about to give him the time to act on the information they’d sent him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "First, I ordered our archers to open fire. We peppered Rietz’s formation from behind with arrows, thinning their ranks in an instant. That threw their remaining force into a state of mayhem, but Rietz was a competent enough leader to rally them back into formation before the clash began. Unfortunately for him, that preemptive strike by our archers had taken its toll. It was a hard fight, to be clear─much harder than expected, considering we’d gotten the jump on him─but in the end, our team emerged victorious."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My team has won the day, and we have Mireille’s strategy to thank for it,” I declared, addressing all of my troops after the battle was done. “As such, her employment with House Louvent will not be terminated.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A lot of my troops didn’t look very happy about how things had turned out, but they had agreed to the terms and they weren’t the sort to break promises. In the end, nobody spoke out against my decision."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That said,” I continued, turning to Mireille. “I can’t rule out the possibility that I’ll cast you aside if you continue to cause problems. I expect you to be on your best behavior.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right, right,” replied Mireille with a dismissive wave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, at least she can’t say she wasn’t warned now."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was pretty skeptical she’d heed said warning, but in any case, Mireille had earned her place as a retainer of House Louvent."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0017.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days after the mock battle, a letter from Couran ordering me to report in for a war council arrived. The venue: Couran’s very own stronghold in Semplar. The County of Semplar was located in southern Missian, a fair ways to the southeast of Lamberg. I’d never been there myself, so I didn’t know how long of a journey it was, but I’d been told that it could take up to ten days."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We set about preparing for our departure. Rietz, Rosell, and Mireille would all be going as my resident tacticians, while a number of my soldiers and Charlotte would be accompanying us as guards. We’d be traveling by horse-drawn carriage this time, on account of the length of the trip. We’d have too much luggage to get by on horseback, so bringing a carriage was the practical option."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, everyone,” I said when our preparations were complete. “It’s time! We ride for Semplar!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The road to Semplar wound through a lengthy stretch of flatlands, so it wasn’t a particularly treacherous journey. Well, not in terms of the road itself, anyway─the fact that we were set upon by bandits several times after leaving Canarre meant that it was quite treacherous by most standards. I’d never encountered bandits during my journeys within Canarre itself, so either Canarre was a safer county, I’d just gotten lucky, or having a carriage made the bandits peg us as wealthy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Whatever the case, Charlotte drove off the bandits without breaking a sweat. Mages appeared to be above the typical bandit’s league, since it often only took one spell from her to make them turn tail and scatter to the winds. Charlotte could adjust her spells’ output as desired, and I didn’t want her leaving craters in our wake, so I had her stick to low-powered warning shots for the most part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, every once in a while, we encountered a group of brigands who refused to submit to intimidation. In those cases, we had no real choice but to kill them. It was the first time I’d seen anyone die since my father executed a criminal in front of me, and while it didn’t leave me as shaken as that first experience, it still made me sick to my stomach. I wasn’t used to death, and I didn’t want to get used to it, either."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days after our departure, Mireille approached me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, look─can’t you do something about the kid for me?” she asked, looking frustrated. She was the one who most often made other people make that expression, so this was something of a rarity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What kid?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You know, the brat! Rosell! I’m telling you, it’s been one question after another from him ever since the training drill!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, right…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My retainers’ overall opinion of Mireille hadn’t gone up as much as I’d hoped after the mock battle, with one notable exception: Rosell’s had skyrocketed. He’d been skeptical about her abilities from day one, but ever since our skirmish, he’d started asking her so many questions that he was getting to be kind of a nuisance. Mireille had told me that she wasn’t a fan of teaching, but Rosell was so persistent that she had no choice but to start answering him every once in a while."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As a direct result, Rosell’s long-stagnant Intelligence score had grown by a full two points over a very brief period of time. It was now sitting at a healthy score of 93. I had thought for the longest time that his lack of real-world experience was the problem, but it seemed that what he’d lacked might’ve been a capable enough mentor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not that Rietz was someone to scoff at, of course─his Intelligence was plenty high─but at a certain point, Rosell’s abilities had grown to the extent that Rietz just didn’t have much to teach him. They felt like equals more than a teacher and his student. So perhaps someone with an Intelligence score substantially higher than Rosell’s, like Mireille, made a better teacher. Mireille wasn’t happy about that arrangement, but she’d just have to deal with it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry to ask this, but I’d like you to keep answering Rosell’s questions. It’ll be good for him,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, fine. Don’t wanna get myself chased out, I guess. Plus, I’ve started thinking you might be right about him. Feels like he might have the makings of a decent tactician.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, you think so?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, every once in a while, he comes up with something really out of the box. He’s a lot better at understanding stuff and thinking it through than I first thought, too. Not saying he’s got what it takes, but I can’t rule out the possibility that I misjudged him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then why not take him under your wing?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“’Cause even I’ve got my limits,” grumbled Mireille. “The kid comes after me non-stop! Question after question without a break! I can’t go telling him off too much ’cause he’s a kid, but he’s way harder to persuade than you’d think. I just can’t deal with him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Guess she’s having a harder time than I thought…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t expected her to be the sort of person who hated people approaching her for help. Still, the fact that Rosell was so interested in having her teach him felt like a step in the right direction."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hopefully, his Intelligence will keep rising."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, we arrived in Semplar. The city was located on the coast and was surrounded by a large curtain wall. Unlike Canarre, there was no external portion of the city that was outside of the walls. It looked new as well, so I concluded that they’d been built in recent years."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The gateway into the city was close enough to the ocean that we could see the coast as we made our way inside. I hadn’t lived in a land-locked prefecture during my life in Japan and I’d seen the ocean plenty of times, but this was the first time I’d seen it in this lifetime. That said, the ocean was just the ocean, even in another world. It was big, blue, smelled like salt, and the sound of the waves lapping at the shore was calming. Everything was as I remembered it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, what’s with all the water?” asked Charlotte, who looked downright puzzled. Apparently, this was her first time seeing the ocean."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the ocean. It’s my first time seeing it as well,” explained Rosell, who sounded more moved than shocked. “It’s enormous, huh? It stretches out so far that you can’t even see what’s on the other side.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess with that much water around, folks here never have to worry about going thirsty,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not quite,” I replied. “Seawater’s too salty to drink. If you tried, you’d get even thirstier than before.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seriously? Then all that water’s useless!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It isn’t.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Calling the whole ocean useless because you couldn’t drink from it felt just plain disrespectful, in a weird sort of way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After we’d gotten our fill of the ocean, we made our way into the city of Semplar itself. Getting through the gates didn’t pose an obstacle─the guards asked a few questions, then waved us through without much fuss. It became clear as we stepped inside that Semplar either boasted a much higher population than Canarre, or at the very least had a lot more people coming and going. I had memories of my old world, so I wasn’t surprised to see streets packed to the brim with pedestrians, but Rosell and Charlotte were shocked by the sheer number of people who were out and about."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If memory serves, Semplar has the second highest population of all the cities in Missian,” Rietz explained. The biggest, I had to assume, was the capital, Arcantez."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The size of the crowds wasn’t the only factor that made them so impactful─there was also a palpable sense of energy in the air. The streets were lined with stalls, and the hawkers who manned them were shouting their lungs out to advertise their goods. It seemed like all sorts of rare and interesting things were up for sale, so I found my attention drawn to them. However, the rational part of my brain knew we weren’t here on a shopping trip, so I held myself back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A massive castle stood far away down the city’s main street. That, I knew, was Castle Semplar: the site of the war council. I was already planning to come back and take the full tour of the city, but for the moment, we had to make our way straight to the castle without wasting a moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before we reached the castle, though, we ran into yet another wall. This one was much older than the first we’d passed through. I assumed that Semplar had once had a similar setup to Canarre, with an inner and outer city. That thought led me to the sudden realization that, considering Canarre was right on Seitz’s doorstep and that Seitz had grown more and more aggressive as of late, the town of Canarre was under-fortified at the moment. Of course, building walls took an abundance of time and money, so it wasn’t an easy problem to rectify."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Passing through the inner wall required us to present some sort of authorization. I didn’t have the sort of permit that locals would use, but I did have the letter of summons that Couran had sent me, which I showed to the guard. That gained us immediate entrance, thankfully. As we stepped into the inner city, I noted that the people here were more well-dressed and the buildings were more refined than those outside. It seemed this was where the rich people lived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We arrived at the castle proper, I showed the guards my letter once again, and they ushered us through the outer gates."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Semplar looked even more imposing up close than it had from a distance. I was certain that it was much larger than Castle Canarre. More impressive even than its size, though, was its coloration: the entire castle was a brilliant gold. I couldn’t tell if it was paint or if they’d covered the whole thing in gold leaf, but the effect was impactful regardless of the method. I’d seen plenty of castles by then, but this was the first golden one I’d encountered. I had to wonder whether that was Couran’s personal touch, or if it had always been that way. It seemed like a little too much, and the sheer excess struck me as more tacky than appealing. But as a show of wealth and power, it certainly did its job."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We have awaited your arrival, Lord Ars Louvent,” a man said to me as I stepped inside. I recognized him as Robinson, the retainer who had accompanied Couran and I when we had our discussion back at the party. “His Lordship Couran has instructed me to escort you to him at once.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We exchanged a quick greeting, and then Robinson led us to Couran. As we walked through the castle’s corridors, I was again struck by how opulent the place was. The carpets were colored a bright shade of red, while the walls were the same golden color on the inside as they were on the outside. We passed by several statues that seemed to be made of gold and studded with jewels along the way, as well. I had to wonder just how much gold a man could want in his life to justify this sort of design."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My train of thought was derailed, however, as a man clad in a suit of jet-black armor stepped out in front of me. His face was chiseled and handsome, and if I had to guess, I’d say he was somewhere in his late twenties. It was hard to describe what it was about him, but somehow, he gave off a sort of aura that told me he was no average individual. The man gave me the swiftest of sidelong glances, then went on his way without saying a word."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Was that man a member of the Maitraw Company?” Rietz asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes,” replied Robinson. “That is the current leader of the Maitraw Company, Clamant Maitraw III.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Maitraw Company was a band of mercenaries that Couran had taken into his service. They were purported to be the most capable group of sellswords in all of Missian, and I was already regretting missing my chance to appraise their leader. I resolved to give him a closer look the next time I had the chance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Robinson led us onward through the castle. It was as tall as it was broad in scope, and it seemed Couran was on one of the upper floors. I lost count of how many staircases we climbed and was pretty tired by the time Robinson came to a stop and gestured at a door."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You will find Lord Couran inside,” he explained, and I took that as permission to open the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’ve arrived, Ars! Good,” said Couran as I stepped inside. “And you’ve brought your retainers, as promised! I have high hopes for their contributions.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm─I take it the Malkan is the renowned Rietz?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is an honor to be known by a man of your station, Your Lordship. Rietz Muses, at your service.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And I see he’s quite the agreeable one, at that! What of the child next to you, Ars? He looks to be around your age. Is he a tactician as well?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes. In terms of pure potential, he’s the most talented individual I’ve met so far.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“M-My name is Rosell Kischa… I-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Lordship,” Rosell somehow managed to say despite how nervous he was. Couran was the sort of high-ranking noble who exuded an air of authority, so I couldn’t blame him for feeling intimidated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’ll be looking forward to the insights you have to offer,” replied Couran. “And what of the girl? She strikes me as a mage, if I had to hazard a guess.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s correct. This is Charlotte Lace, who I brought along to serve as my bodyguard. She’s very capable─we were set upon by bandits several times over the course of our journey, yet she drove off every single one of them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nice meetin’ you, pops,” said Charlotte. It was such a casual way to greet a lord of Couran’s standing I almost choked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ch-Charlotte!” I gasped. “Have some manners─he’s a lord! You’re supposed to call him ‘Lord Couran’ or ‘Your Lordship’!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hah!” chuckled Couran. “No need to worry; I am not offended. From the perspective of a young woman like her, I’m sure I’m more than old enough to merit that sort of nickname.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that he was an understanding enough person to laugh off that sort of casual boorishness, for all the good that did my fraying nerves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lumeire has told me of an incredible mage in your employ─I presume that would be her, yes? And as for the last in your group,” said Couran, his gaze turning to Mireille. Instantly, his expression shifted. “Wh-What in the─Mireille?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, I guess he knows her, I thought, then realized that it should have been obvious. Mireille was once powerful and esteemed enough among noble circles to be granted her own territory, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wait a minute…she told me that she was chased out of her position, right?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She’d given me that whole speech about how she’d been set up, sure, but considering what she was like, I knew I could trust that about as far as I could throw it. She’d definitely caused some sort of trouble to get herself cast out. There was no way for me to know what she’d done, but it hit me that bringing her here might’ve been a bad idea."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, if Couran already knew Mireille, then it was safe to assume that he knew how talented she was. It was also safe to assume that he knew she was the sister of one of his enemy’s top tacticians. I was certain that, even knowing the risks, he would have the resolve necessary to make use of her knowledge and tactical prowess."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So…you’re still alive,” Couran said after a long pause."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Somehow,” replied Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I certainly can’t deny that you, of all people, have the ability to serve as a tactician,” said Couran. “That is not, however, to say I don’t have any reservations regarding this arrangement. How much do you know about this woman’s background, Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave Couran a quick rundown of everything I knew about Mireille, and he nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, that’s correct. She is indeed the sister of one of my enemy’s tacticians, and she was also a close ally of Vasmarque himself, no less. I can by no means dismiss the possibility that she is a spy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I can get a word in edgewise,” said Mireille, “Vasmarque and I were never close. He used me, then gave me the boot. I have a grudge against the bastard like you wouldn’t believe.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That answered one question, or at least started to: it seemed Vasmarque himself was involved in Mireille’s banishment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Plus, if I were a spy, why would I throw my lot in with House Louvent? Even I’m shocked that serving a petty little lordling has somehow ended up with me getting to meet you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is…reasonable, I must admit,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If I were just a petty baron of a tiny territory who had no particular ties to Couran, then it would make no sense for a spy to enter my service. She would’ve gone to Couran himself, or at the very least chosen a more influential lord to use for her purposes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran folded his arms and sank into thought. He seemed to be weighing the costs and benefits of taking Mireille into the fold."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How long has it been since you hired Mireille as your retainer, Ars?” he eventually asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“About a month.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And how has her behavior struck you, so far?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I told him about Mireille’s conduct, sparing very little detail. In other words, I told him about how she’d shirked as much responsibility as possible, drank to excess at all times of the day, and caused so much trouble that she was more or less loathed by almost everyone else under me. The longer I spoke, the more I realized that if she was a spy, she had a funny way of going about her work. Most spies would have been downright desperate to earn the trust of the people they were spying on, yet she seemed to be doing the opposite, if anything."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That isn’t enough to tell me beyond a shadow of a doubt that she isn’t a spy, but I’ll admit, it does seem unlikely. A problem remains, however: the fact that the other lords in my service will oppose her presence. We’ll have to do something about that,” said Couran after I finished. It seemed that he, at least, had decided that having her around was worth the risk. “In any case, there’s still some time left before the council begins. Until then, please make yourself at home.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With our conversation over, Couran led us off to a luxurious chamber in another section of the castle. There we would wait for the war council to begin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few hours later, we were informed that it was time. The council was to be held in a room they called the Chamber of Debate. A large table was situated in the center of the chamber, and a map was spread out atop it. A fair number of nobles were already inside as well, seated around the table. I recognized most of them from the party I’d attended, but since their retainers hadn’t been allowed inside at the time, there were quite a few people present who I’d never seen before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Ars!” a voice rang out. “Couran told me that he’d invited you, but I have to say, I didn’t believe it until I saw you walk through the door!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Lumeire!” I replied, turning to face him as he walked up to me. I hadn’t considered the possibility, but it seemed he’d been invited to the council as well. I also recognized Menas, one of his chief retainers, who was standing behind him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m impressed that Lord Couran already has you attending his councils. It seems he’s taken quite a liking to you! I’m very impressed!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I owe it all to you, Lord Lumeire. This is all thanks to you telling Lord Couran about me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire paused to consider my words."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When you put it like that, I suppose I did bring you up a fair share of times, didn’t I? So yes, it was my doing! Though, I don’t think the tales I told were particularly tall ones. I reported the truth of your exploits, and if Lord Couran took a shine to you as a result, then you have your own efforts to thank for it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as Lumeire finished, a nearby nobleman called out to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You there─you’re the boy from the party, aren’t you? What are you doing here?” he asked, looking more than a little suspicious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I received a personal summons to the council from Lord Couran,” I politely replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You? A mere boy? And even if you were a man, House Louvent has not done enough to merit a seat at this table,” the nobleman snorted in contempt. He didn’t accuse me of anything, but his pointed glare made it clear he suspected I’d earned my invitation through underhanded means."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What I want to know is who that Malkan he brought with him is! Can’t be his retainer, can it?” called out another noble. “Why in the name of decency would anyone bring one of those into these chambers?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As a matter of fact, he is my retainer, yes,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A Malkan, a retainer? You can’t expect me to swallow this drivel without question, can you? Malkans are an inferior breed, and if you think one of them is fit to serve nobility, I have questions about the stock you were raised from! Send him away before his stench starts to linger,” the first nobleman said, giving Rietz a look of open disgust."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stop right─” began Lumeire, but I held out an arm to interrupt him before he could defend us. I knew that this was a moment where I had to speak up for my people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz is an exceptionally capable individual. His mind is as sharp as his blade, and he wields both with expert precision. He has done more for me and my household than any other. More to the point,” I continued, dropping into a sharper and less cordial tone, “I hope you recall that you stand within Lord Couran’s castle, not your own. It was under his orders that all of us were called to participate in this council. Neither I nor Rietz is under any obligation to bow to your command.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That shut him up quick. The nobleman couldn’t seem to find the right words to respond with, so he spent a moment just glaring instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph! Stay, then, and prove yourselves to be the worthless fools you are. I shall enjoy the spectacle,” he jabbed, then spun about and stormed off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Lord Ars,” said Rietz once the man was out of earshot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Defending the honor of my retainers is one of my responsibilities as a lord.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several people gave him very skeptical looks after that point, but nobody else seemed inclined to speak out against him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shortly thereafter, we took our seats around the table. It seemed that quite a large number of people had been summoned to participate in the council. I assumed the idea was that the more people who were present, the more chances there were of formulating a decent plan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thank you all for answering my summons,” said Couran as he stepped into the chamber. “I would like to begin our discussion at once, and I hope to develop an overall strategy for our campaign before we adjourn.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, Couran intended to plot out the course of the whole war at this very meeting. Without a solid plan to base the movement of our troops around, even if we were to win battles on a local scale, we would have very little hope of claiming victory in the long term."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Robinson?” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Milord,” said Robinson, who then spread open a rolled-up sheet of parchment, which he began reading off of. “At present, our forces number one hundred and ten thousand. We have fifty-five thousand infantrymen, thirty thousand archers, twenty thousand cavalrymen, and five thousand mages at our disposal. In regards to the latter, we are capable of providing three thousand small catalyzers, two thousand five hundred medium ones, and five hundred large ones. Our aqua magia reserves come out to an approximate total of fifty-four thousand, one hundred and thirty Ms. Our provisions, meanwhile, can keep our entire force fighting fit for years on end. As for the enemy’s forces, while we lack information on the particulars, we are aware they have twenty thousand more men than we do. That said, our men are far better equipped.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The fact that we didn’t have clear information about the state of Vasmarque’s forces was vexing to me. No sooner than Robinson finished his speech, one of the nobles I wasn’t familiar with began to shout."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a plan!” he bellowed. “Our forces are made up of strong men and their morale is high! My armies will dominate any battlefield they are dispatched to! I believe that we should march upon the enemy stronghold, Arcantez, right away! If we mobilize the full might of our combined forces, we will not fail!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was clear just by looking at the man that he was more of a fighter than a thinker. In fact, judging by the nature of his plan, I wasn’t convinced there was so much as a single thought running through his head at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your grasp of the situation is shallow,” said another noble with glasses. “The odds of us seizing victory with such a barbaric plan are much lower than you give them credit for.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He seemed bright, so I appraised him and found that he had an Intelligence score of 71. The other guy, by the way, had a 41."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The only way to guarantee victory in battle is to grasp your opponent’s weakness,” said the man with glasses. “Vasmarque’s one fatal flaw is the illegitimacy of his claim. Reason and custom dictate that the eldest son, Lord Couran, inherit his father’s household, and while Vasmarque was at one point slated to inherit the position instead, those plans were discarded. He may claim that the duke only rescinded the nomination out of respect for Lord Couran’s objection and that the duke intended to reinstate him as his successor in due time, but without the duke himself around to attest one way or the other, such claims are unsubstantiated.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man in glasses wasn’t done yet. He carried on, eloquently conveying his thoughts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Vasmarque is a capable schemer, and I’m sure he has coaxed many of our fellow lords into backing his cause, but what of the people? Do you not believe that the citizens of Arcantez question his rule? I believe that if the people of Arcantez were to denounce Vasmarque and accept Lord Couran as their true and just ruler, the war would be all but won.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now we’re getting somewhere!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That seemed like a reasonable strategy, as far as I could tell. Sure, he hadn’t proposed any specific methods for turning the people of Arcantez against Vasmarque, but this was a general strategy meeting, and that fell more within the realm of tactics."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems your information is somewhat lacking, Mark,” said Couran. Mark, incidentally, was the name of the bespectacled lord. “Our foe is talented at rallying the people to his cause. In the time I have spent building up Semplar into Missian’s capital of trade and commerce, Vasmarque has gained the backing of citizens in cities throughout the duchy. The people of Arcantez are loyal to him, to the extent that earning their trust after he is defeated will pose a problem in its own right. So long as Vasmarque lives, gaining the support of Arcantez’s population will be all but impossible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Is that so?” replied Mark, the color draining from his face. “My deepest apologies, Milord.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to apologize. I shall not fault anyone for expressing their opinion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The atmosphere around the table remained heavy. The room fell into silence, and for quite some time, nobody dared to be the next to propose a plan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm, m-may I say something?” asked Rosell in a trembling voice, breaking the long silence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The gazes of all the nobles present fell upon him. Whispers began to circulate, most of them along the lines of, “That child has something to contribute?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell flinched back, terrified, but then he took a deep breath and seemed to calm down. Then, he began to speak."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It, umm, seems like everyone’s assuming we have to claim Arcantez, but I believe the enemy will have the city well-fortified, and Castle Arcantez is the sturdiest and most defensible stronghold in all of Missian. Conquering the city would prove difficult, and so, I think we should instead focus our efforts on the next largest city under their influence, Velshdt.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Velshdt? What will conquering Velshdt gain us?” asked a nobleman. “We’ll never win this war unless we take Arcantez!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true that taking Velshdt won’t guarantee our victory, but it will bring us much closer to that objective. I’m sure all of you understand the strategic importance that Velshdt holds, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that, the assembled lords fell into thought. Rosell was proposing that if they couldn’t claim the enemy’s capital, they should start small and claim the surrounding regions first. If Velshdt were to fall, then it would expose Vasmarque’s weakness and raise the odds of the lords serving under him deciding to stab him in the back. As far as I could tell, it wasn’t a bad plan at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unlike Arcantez, I do not believe the people of Velshdt hold Vasmarque in high esteem,” said Couran in a thoughtful tone. “In the worst case, claiming Arcantez by force could result in its citizens rising against us. Claiming Velshdt, however, would pose no such risk. Moreover, the castle in Velshdt is one of the oldest and most decrepit in all of Missian. I’d bet it hasn’t been fortified to withstand modern war magic, and that would make it all but impossible to defend… A sound plan, indeed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The enemy will expect us to advance upon Arcantez,” said Rosell. “I propose that we do so, to start, but then divert the bulk of our forces to Velshdt, leaving a small force on the path to Arcantez to draw out their army. If all goes well, we could claim the city with ease.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not only had Rosell’s suggestion been approved by the commanding lord, but he’d even proposed a specific method to go about carrying it out. It was obvious that nobody was happy to have to take a child’s suggestion, and some of them were trying to come up with counter-arguments, but nobody seemed able to think up anything good enough."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I offer a suggestion as well?” asked Rietz. This time, the lords’ scornful gazes turned upon him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please speak, Sir Rietz,” said Robinson, granting him formal permission to offer his viewpoint. With the word of Couran’s right-hand man backing him up, none of the assembled nobles had any hope of silencing him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe Rosell’s suggestion that we conquer Velshdt is sound. However, I do not believe that a feint is our best option. Not only is there a chance that the enemy will catch on and send troops to reinforce Velshdt, but the even greater danger is that they will instead send their forces here, to Semplar. If Semplar were to fall, we would find ourselves fighting at an overwhelming disadvantage. We would have to call our troops to its defense if we learned the enemy intended to strike here, which would render our surprise attack on Velshdt moot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good point,” said Rosell, nodding all the while. Rietz had indeed picked out a flaw in his plan. “That means we would either have to leave part of our forces in Semplar to guard the city or send more troops off to make the diversion more convincing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we thin out our troops, conquering Velshdt may prove difficult,” countered Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True, but think about it this way: if the enemy’s main force in Arcantez is drawn out to attack Semplar, that means they’ll be fighting on our terms! It’s easier to set traps when you’re fighting in your own territory, for one thing. We’d be at an obvious advantage! In the best-case scenario, we may even be able to surround the enemy’s main force and wipe them out in one fell swoop!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That does make sense,” I said. I was indeed under the impression that as long as you were aware that the enemy would be advancing on your territory, fighting on home turf gave you the upper hand. Would that be enough to turn the tide in our favor, though? Vasmarque was known to have several talented tacticians on his side, and provoking him into attacking Semplar seemed pretty risky."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think about all this, Mireille?” I asked, turning to the third member of my party."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think Rosell’s got the right idea when it comes to attacking Velshdt first,” replied Mireille, who looked like she’d been about to nod off before I called on her. “I’ve seen Castle Arcantez up close and personal, and I can tell you that it won’t be easy to bring it down. The rest of the plan, though? I’d toss that out. Vasmarque and his people aren’t suckers, so there’s no way we’d fool them with such cheap tricks. I doubt they’d bother attacking Semplar at all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that Mireille had the room’s attention, the nobles began to whisper amongst themselves."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Wait a moment…I’ve seen her somewhere before.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He called her Mireille, didn’t he?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Surely not that Mireille?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Apparently, most of them already knew of her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Guess I should’ve expected that, since she used to be a baroness and all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What an honor that I’d be remembered by such esteemed guests.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Couran!” a nobleman shouted. “Do you know who that woman is?! She was driven out from her place of authority for a very good reason!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And her brother is Vasmarque’s closest ally!” another yelled. “She could be a spy!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hold!” shouted Couran. “I know who she is, and I was already aware that she was in attendance. Her skill is unquestionable, and I have deemed it unlikely that she is a spy. As such, I have chosen to trust her.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, none present could bring themselves to defy their direct superior’s orders. Mireille was free to speak once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“More than anything else, Vasmarque moves with caution. He anticipates every possible development and plans how to deal with each and every one of them in advance. I doubt we can out-plot him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe I know better than anyone how clever the man is,” replied Couran. “But what, then, do you propose we do to overcome him?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a few plans in mind that he’d have a hard time dealing with, even if he does see them coming. First of all, the territory that Vasmarque governs shares its north-western border with the Duchy of Paradille. We could enlist their support.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait,” said Couran. “The Duke of Paradille has long despised my father, and as his children, we’ve inherited that distaste. I cannot imagine he would ally himself with Vasmarque, but by the same token, I do not believe he would offer me aid.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True, but the Duke of Paradille’s also part of a dying breed: he considers himself an oathbound servant of the Imperial House. If we could convince them to serve as an intermediary, the odds are high that we’d be able to get Paradille on our side. These days, the Imperial House is starved for coin, so with the wealth you wield, enlisting their aid shouldn’t be hard at all.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0019.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Asking the Imperial House to serve as our intermediary… I see. I do not claim to like the idea, but it may well be our best option. Moreover, Vasmarque does not have the sort of funding to his name that I do. It is a card that he would be incapable of playing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran seemed to be considering putting Mireille’s plan into action."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, then,” declared Couran. “Allow me to summarize the plan as it stands. Although our ultimate goal remains the conquest of Arcantez, we will disregard it and instead endeavor to claim Velshdt first. Furthermore, we will do so by enlisting the aid of Paradille to bolster our numbers.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, the broad strokes of the plan were settled. That meant it was time to focus on the nitty-gritty little tactical details: when to appeal to the Imperial House for aid, who to send on that mission, how much money to have ready for the bribe, and so on and so forth. Everyone agreed that sending our emissary right away was the best course of action, but it would still have to wait until a variety of preparations were complete."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It went without saying that Couran wouldn’t dream of having anyone less than exceptional conduct negotiations with the Imperial House. However, with matters in Missian as they stood, handling the matter himself wasn’t feasible. Thus, it was decided that Couran’s first-born son would be entrusted with the task, with Robinson going along as his assistant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I happened to notice that Couran looked more than a little apprehensive when he nominated his son for the task. I’d never met the son in question, but I didn’t get the impression Couran believed he was all that capable. Couran claimed that everything would work out as long as he had Robinson there to advise him, though it sort of sounded like he was talking to himself when he said that just as much as he was talking to the rest of us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for the money, an astonishing sum of several tens of thousands of gold coins was readied─and that was just the advance payment. A boat was to be readied to transport it. The Imperial Capital, like Semplar, was located by the coast, so traveling by sea was the quickest option. The ships at Couran’s disposal were cutting-edge by the standards of this world’s technology, and he had both a skilled navigator and a talented marine pilot under his employ, so the chances of the vessel sinking en route were next to none."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few plans were also hashed out for what to do if the negotiations went awry. We still wouldn’t be trying to outwit our foe, though. Instead, we’d be shoring up our defenses and mounting a more direct invasion of Velshdt at the same time, attempting to gain the upper hand by way of pure tactics. In short: the idea was to keep plan B simple and straightforward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And with that, our immediate plans were laid and the conference came to an end. The assembled lords began to leave the Chamber of Debate one by one. I, however, remained seated on account of Couran having ended the meeting with the words: “Ars! I would like you to stay for a moment.” His choice of phrasing seemed to convey he wanted me and me alone to stay, and the other lords took the hint, so it wasn’t long before I was left alone with him and Robinson in the chamber."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have held up your end of our bargain well, Ars. The tacticians you brought are exceptional indeed, and you have my thanks,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m honored by your words, Milord.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course, I could take issue with your choice to bring Mireille, of all the people, but considering the circumstances, I’ll refrain from nitpicking,” he added with a smile. “Now then, to business. I have another favor I would like to ask of you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that thanking me was the preamble─Couran had asked me to remain behind because he wanted me to do something for him once again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As you are aware, I have already selected an individual to negotiate with the Imperial House. However, I have my apprehensions about sending Rengue and Robinson alone to handle the task. Are you familiar with anyone who would do well as an assistant in such negotiations?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rengue, of course, was the name of Couran’s son. I knew that Robinson’s Politics score was quite high already, but it seemed Couran was still unconvinced that his help alone would be enough. Either Couran was extremely cautious, or Rengue was just that unreliable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz would be the most politically adept of my retainers,” I replied without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rietz, is it…?” said Couran with a frown. “That would pose difficulties. The Imperial Capital and the surrounding regions are among the most prejudiced in all the empire when it comes to the Malkan people. I would be disinclined to send him, for his own sake.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh. I didn’t know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Okay, so the next highest Politics score would be… But who would that be? Rosell? No, even if his score is the highest, this is way too heavy of a task for him. Mireille and Charlotte are out of the running as well, so I guess I don’t have any retainers suited for the task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or so I thought, but then, at the last second, I remembered Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wait, that’s right! She has a high Politics score! Maybe she’d be able to help!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The problem, of course, was that she was my fiancée, not my retainer. She wasn’t even a part of my household yet, so giving her such a task seemed like a tall order…but I decided to let Couran know about her anyway, just for good measure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your fiancée, you say? Hmm… I am less than inclined to coerce a girl such as her into going out on this sort of journey. Nevertheless, if you speak with her and her father and receive their consent, I would like you to bring her to see me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied. Just talking with Licia and her family sounded easy enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Couran’s business with me was finished. We spent the night in the castle, then departed for Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Arriving back at my estate and then immediately setting out to visit Licia at her home would have been rude, so instead, I decided to send her a letter expressing my desire to visit first. Essentially, I wrote that I had important matters to discuss with her regarding the war and that she didn’t need to bother preparing to welcome us as formal guests."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, I sent the letter to her father, Hammond, not to Licia herself. I had a feeling that he’d be opposed to the idea of sending her to the capital, so I knew I was going to have to have a discussion with him before long. Of course, I had a hard time imagining that Couran would judge him for turning down that sort of request, so I didn’t think it would be a disaster even if he dug his feet in. I wasn’t certain how helpful Licia would be in the negotiations, anyway, so I wasn’t planning on insisting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before I received a reply, one of my retainers came to report to me on an altogether different matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I bring a report from Ben of the Shadows, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d known that I’d be out for some time on account of my trip to Semplar, and wouldn’t be able to receive any reports from Ben in person. And so, I’d left one of my retainers with instructions to retrieve his report and hand over the gold in my place. It seemed that had worked out as intended."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good work,” I replied, then opened up the report and began to read."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To begin with, it informed me that the Shadows had begun developing channels of information that would let them learn about our enemies. The report said nothing about how they were doing that, but I wasn’t going to fuss over the little details. Anyway, it went on to say that as time passed, Vasmarque was becoming more and more convinced that his occupation of Castle Arcantez gave him the upper hand in the war. As such, he would not choose to sally forth and strike the first blow at present. That was only true for the time being, though, as one of Vasmarque’s advisors had started insisting that an invasion of Perreina was their best move. Talks on the subject were still ongoing, but they were growing rather heated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Next, the report explained that Vasmarque was attempting to forge an alliance with the Duchy of Seitz. The plan, it seemed, was to convince Seitz’s leadership to carry out an attack on Couran’s domain. Discussions with Seitz had yet to bear fruit, but it seemed they had expressed a certain degree of interest, so I couldn’t rule their alliance out. They had also tried to conduct under-the-table negotiations with both the Duchy of Paradille and the Imperial House, but both of those attempts had fallen through. Vasmarque had anticipated that Couran might attempt to ally himself with Paradille, but had written the plan off as a flight of fancy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That concluded all the new information the Shadows had for me. The letter ended with a note that all of it had come from a single source─one of Vasmarque’s retainers─so they couldn’t guarantee it was a hundred percent reliable. Still, I was impressed that they’d managed to amass that much information about the enemies’ strategies in such a short time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like the Shadows live up to their reputation! Good thing I went to the effort of hiring them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that if Vasmarque and Seitz worked out an alliance, things would get very nasty, especially here in Canarre. Since our county was on the border with Seitz, it seemed safe to assume that we would suffer the most damage if the duchy threw itself into the war. Needless to say, that included Lamberg─there was no chance my barony would escape unscathed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to report the Shadows’ findings to Couran. I had a feeling that he had some sort of spy network of his own, and he might have already found all of this out himself, but just to be safe, it seemed like a good idea to let him know. I wrote down all the pertinent information in a letter, then sent it off right away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, a letter arrived from Hammond granting me permission to visit him and his daughter. I wasted no time in calling together an escort and setting out for Torbequista and the Pleide family’s estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Torbequista, the barony that House Pleide ruled over, was located in the County of Canarre, so it wasn’t a far trip from Lamberg. If we kept a rapid pace, the whole journey would take less than a day. I set out first thing in the morning with Rietz and the others as my escort, and after urging our horses on for the better part of the day, we arrived in the evening."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s wonderful to see you, Lord Ars!” exclaimed Licia, who was waiting to greet us upon our arrival. “It feels like it’s been so long since we last met!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The last time we’d met, as far as I could remember, was about two months ago."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess that counts as a long time…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t long enough for her to look any different, though she did have a rather extravagant dress on. It seemed she’d dressed up for the occasion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s good to see you too,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia went around to greet Rietz and the rest of my escort, then turned back to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, allow me to lead you into the estate.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "House Pleide’s estate struck me as just a little older than my own, at least judging by its appearance. The grounds were full of flowers, which I assumed Licia had grown herself. It was the tenth day of the second month, which meant it was fall. Once the cold of winter set in, the majority of the flowers would die off, but it was still early enough in the season for quite a wide variety of them to be in full bloom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We proceeded into the estate’s main building, the interior of which reminded me of House Louvent’s. Licia led us to a parlor where we found Hammond waiting for us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s wonderful to see you, Ars! Welcome to our abode,” said Hammond with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a pleasure to see you as well, Lord Hammond,” I replied. “Thank you for allowing us to visit you today.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, think nothing of it! I’ve been hoping to speak with you as well, as it so happens. Come, come─have a seat!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I sat down, and Licia took a seat in a chair beside her father."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do hope you’ll pardon us for being so ill-prepared to host you. I know you were gracious enough to write that we needn’t bother, but I only refrained because such joviality seemed less than suitable for talks of war.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to apologize,” I replied. “I’m grateful enough that you were willing to hear me out.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And on that subject, let us proceed to the matter at hand! You wrote that Licia would have to be present for our discussion as well, yes? What, may I ask, is your business with us today?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I explained that Couran would soon be conducting negotiations with the Imperial House and the Duke of Paradille, that he was looking for assistants to aid in the negotiations, and that I had proposed Licia as a potential candidate. Licia’s and Hammond’s eyes widened when I delivered that last piece of news. They seemed shocked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You want Licia to play such an important role?” Hammond asked. “And are we to interpret this as an order from Lord Couran?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not an order. As things stand, I’ve merely proposed Licia as a candidate for the task. Lord Couran informed me that he has no intention of forcing her to accept the role, and specified that he would need consent from both of you before anything concrete is decided.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that so…?” murmured Hammond. “But would Licia even be capable of serving as a negotiator’s aide? She’s but a girl of thirteen, and has very little practical experience with such matters…not to mention the fact that a journey that long is liable to be fraught with danger.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As expected, Hammond seemed reluctant to give his permission. Thus, I decided to make an effort to talk him into it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have full faith in Licia’s abilities. I believe that she has an exceptional talent for this sort of negotiation─more than enough to carry out this task. In regard to the dangers, Lord Couran’s own son will be serving as the chief negotiator, so you can rest assured that their party will be well-guarded.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia’s current Politics score was sitting at 89 points. She was still a single point shy of an even 90, but that was still plenty high for her to be helpful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I’m Licia’s father, so I am aware of her talents. And if her guard will be that reliable, then perhaps… Yes, this may well be a learning opportunity for her… I would not be opposed to such a venture,” said Hammond. I’d managed to change his mind without too much trouble, it seemed. “What about you, Licia? What are your thoughts on the matter?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia’s opinion was the sole remaining obstacle. If she agreed, I’d be able to move my suggestion forward with Couran. She spent a moment in thought, then said, “I would be willing to go, under two conditions. First, I would ask that Lord Ars accompany us on our voyage. Even with Lord Couran’s soldiers present, I would not feel safe with an escort of strangers. If Lord Ars was there, though, I would be able to rest easy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Wait, me? But I have no talent for combat, and I’m not even fully grown! I’m as weak as they come! There must be someone among House Pleide’s retainers who would be a better fit for the role…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you’re by my side, Lord Ars, I will be able to rest easy,” repeated Licia with a smile and a firm tone that told me she would brook no argument."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I see…” I replied, for lack of a better option."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As for my second condition… After the war is over, I would have you marry me.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "An identical look of bewilderment crossed the faces of everyone present."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Wait a moment, Licia,” said Hammond. “Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for you to be thinking about marriage? Y-You are engaged to Ars, yes, but that doesn’t mean─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I imagine the war will carry on for about two years or so,” replied Licia. “By that point, I will be fifteen and Lord Ars will be fourteen. I would hardly call that too soon, Father!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By Japanese standards, it was, but in this world, a marriage at the age of fourteen wasn’t anything out of the ordinary─not that you’d know it from Hammond’s reaction to Licia’s proposal. I, on the other hand, was worried about something different: promising someone you’d marry her once the war ended felt like the start of my tragic end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That ominous bit of foreshadowing aside, I wasn’t opposed to the marriage itself. I mean, we were already engaged, so our marriage was already a matter of when, not if. My perception of Licia had changed quite a bit since I’d first met her, and I was a lot less apprehensive on that front than I used to be. From my perspective, there were nothing but upsides to marrying her, so it felt a little weird for that to be used as a condition on her part. I had to wonder if Licia had some reason why she wanted to speed our marriage along."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The main problem was that she wanted me to go to the capital with her. That would mean I’d have to leave Lamberg unattended for a lengthy period of time. Would everything be all right while I was gone?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think, Rietz? Should I go with them?” I whispered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let me think… Your absence would indeed cause a fair share of inconveniences, but if you succeed in your task, you may well gain Lord Couran’s trust to an even greater degree. Moreover, I believe visiting the capital and Paradille will be a very good experience. You might even find someone talented to bring into your employ… So yes, I believe it would be in your best interests to accept.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It occurred to me that as long as I left Rietz behind to manage things, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything going wrong back at my estate. And, as Rietz himself told me, I stood to gain quite a lot from taking on the task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then,” I said, looking back to Licia. “I accept your terms.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wonderful! You have my thanks, Lord Ars,” Licia replied with a smile. “In that case, I too shall accept your offer and agree to serve as an advisor for the negotiations.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I will not object,” added Hammond, who still seemed a little reluctant when it came to the matter of marriage. Seeing as he was her father, I couldn’t blame him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, I now had my master negotiator. Licia and I would be traveling together."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I needed to make plenty of preparations before I set out for the capital, so for the moment, I returned to Lamberg. Licia had her fair share of things to do as well, it seemed, and since Lamberg was closer to Torbequista than Semplar, we decided that she would first stop by my estate, after which the two of us would travel together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, preparing for the trip to Semplar had to come before anything else. I was planning on stocking up on the supplies I’d need for the capital leg once I arrived there─after all, if I brought along everything I’d need to get to the capital, I’d have way too much luggage to handle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I also had to decide who I’d take with me. It went without saying that I would need a guard to escort me to Semplar, and although Couran’s guards would be watching over me from there to the capital, I still wanted somebody around who I knew I could trust. That was especially true because I realized Couran’s guards would prioritize his son’s safety over mine in the event of an emergency. I needed someone who could protect me and Licia if we ended up getting the short end of the stick."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I figured asking Charlotte to tag along was a good call. Since the central Empire was extra prejudiced against Malkans, I couldn’t bring Rietz, so I decided to leave him in charge of my estate instead. That left me with few retainers with high Valor scores. The next most attractive candidate was Mireille, but there was no telling what sort of trouble she’d cause if I brought her, so I decided against it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, there’s also no telling what sort of trouble she’ll get up to at the estate while I’m gone, but I’m sure Rietz will be able to keep her in line."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s brothers had pretty decent Valor scores, so I decided to take them instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, I wrote a letter to Couran informing him that Licia had accepted the task under the condition that I go with her. I knew that it would take quite some time for a reply to arrive, so I wasn’t planning to wait to hear from him before I departed. I just had to hope he wouldn’t object to the idea of me making the journey, since that would throw a real wrench into the works. I kept telling myself that Couran’s boat would be huge and that it would be just fine, but I knew deep down that there was a chance he’d reject the plan. In the worst case, I was prepared to attempt some desperate last-minute negotiations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, Licia arrived at my estate by horse-drawn carriage with an escort of maids and soldiers. I didn’t know when we were supposed to set sail, so my goal was to get to Semplar as fast as humanly possible, and we ended up setting out pretty much right after Licia arrived."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m off,” I said to Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Safe travels to you! Know that your estate will be in good hands until you return,” replied Rietz, looking pretty glum about the idea of being left behind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, not bringing me along? Bah─and I was gonna sample all the booze the capital had to offer! They get stuff in from all across Summerforth!” grumbled Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think the trip would be a lot more fun with Miss Mireille along for the ride,” Charlotte added, a hint of hope in her voice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re not going on vacation, people,” I sighed. “And besides, there’s plenty of booze for you here in Lamberg.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille clicked her tongue in frustration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Drat! Figures it wouldn’t work.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars is just too stubborn,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This wasn’t the first time Mireille had tried to talk her way into the trip, and I’d turned her down on every attempt. I had a bad feeling that a drunk Mireille plus Charlotte would be a disastrous combination, and I did not want our faces ending up on wanted posters after we blew away half of the capital with magic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’re the capital and Paradille like, anyway?” asked Rosell. “Be sure to bring back some souvenirs, Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I just said we’re not going on a vacation…but yes, I’m sure I can bring something back for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell was a real bookworm, so I figured I’d look for some sort of rare tome that he’d appreciate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then,” said Rietz, “I shall be praying for your safe return and success in your endeavors, Lord Ars. You as well, Charlotte.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks. I’ll be back before you know it,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Later!” shouted Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, we set off from my estate, climbing aboard a carriage and making our way to Semplar with Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, we were set upon by bandits a few times on the road to Semplar. Once again, Charlotte drove them away with her magic without breaking a sweat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re incredible, Lady Charlotte!” gushed Licia after one particular incident, her eyes sparkling with admiration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Meh, it’s not that impressive. Taking out a few bandits is a given for someone as skilled as I am,” said Charlotte. She practically exuded smugness from every pore."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I swear, you give that girl even a hint of praise and it goes straight to her head, I thought, giving her a chilly glare. But then, I let out a reflexive shout as something jolted the carriage out of nowhere. Not just once, either─it kept bumping and swaying around as we carried along. It seemed we’d reached a road that was less than well-maintained. The shaking was so intense that I ended up falling over and catching onto Charlotte’s shoulder to support myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Whoa, there! Bumpy ride, huh? I’ll keep you nice and safe, Lord Ars!” said Charlotte, who then proceeded to wrap her arms around me and pull me right into her chest. I felt my face press into something soft…and was distracted by her distinctive scent. I’d lived for thirty-five years in my previous incarnation without ever so much as touching a woman, so I wasn’t used to this sort of thing. In short: I had no idea what to do with myself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-Hey, Charlotte!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve grown a little, huh, Lord Ars? Surprised you’re this heavy,” said Charlotte, ignoring my protests. It felt like she was treating me like her little brother or something."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the end, Charlotte kept holding me until we made it onto a more well-maintained road, where she released me. I reeled back and clutched at my pounding heart, then happened to glance over at Licia, who appeared to be smiling. I said “appeared to be” because for some reason, the smile on her face terrified me. It was hard to explain, but there was an intensity to her expression that I didn’t want directed at me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars?” said Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I trust that Lady Charlotte’s bosom made for a comfortable cushion?” Licia asked. Her smile didn’t slip for a second, but her voice came out in an unusual and frightening monotone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’s gotta be mad, right? I mean, she is my fiancée, and Charlotte might be one of my retainers, but she’s also a girl! Sure, she was just keeping me upright, but she didn’t have to hug me that close. If Licia’s angry, I can’t blame her at all!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No, it’s not what you th─” I began, hoping to explain myself, only to be cut off by Charlotte herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right! I guess Lord Ars is a boy,” she said. “I was wondering why his heart was pounding up a storm. But hey, all boys love big breasts. You can’t blame him for it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia’s smile spasmed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0021.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, god. She’s mad. She was mad before, and she’s frothing mad after that comment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was no explaining my way out of the situation anymore, so I decided to just clam up and drown in my own cold sweat. Licia, meanwhile, just stared at me, unblinking, her smile never budging. I spent longer than I liked feeling like I was sitting on a bed of nails before she looked away and I could breathe a sigh of relief."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that point, Licia scooted over to whisper in Charlotte’s ear. Just when I was wondering what she could be asking, Charlotte spoke up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? How to make yours as big as mine? Just eat a lot─that’s all I did,” she said, out loud, ruining Licia’s efforts to ask the question surreptitiously. Licia flew into a blushing panic and shushed her, but the damage was done. I’d never seen Licia freak out like that before, though considering the subject matter at hand, I couldn’t blame her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately for Licia, Charlotte either didn’t understand her gesture or otherwise didn’t care, and just kept on talking without a hint of restraint."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y’know, I wasn’t that big myself before I moved to the estate, but I started eating way better once I got there. I think you might just be underfed, Licia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Uh, no. I’m pretty sure you just happened to hit your growth spurt around the time I hired you."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, it was possible that she wouldn’t have grown as much if she’d suffered malnutrition throughout said growth spurt, so she wasn’t all wrong."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that point, Licia glanced over at me. I did my best to look away and pretend I wasn’t listening, but it occurred to me that I wasn’t a great actor and that overplaying my lack of reaction just made it more obvious that I’d heard everything."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia let out a long, heavy sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You and Lord Ars are each hard to handle in your own right,” she muttered, her shoulders slumping with weariness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We made it to Semplar unscathed. Licia seemed moved as she stared out at the city streets."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So this is Semplar,” she marveled. “I’ve never been so far from my homeland… I’ve heard tales of the ocean, but it was hard to believe that such a vast body of water existed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re about to ride a ship over it to get to the capital, so you’ll have plenty of time to appreciate it,” I noted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just the thought of it is exciting!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been sort of worried that she’d find a journey of this length nerve-racking, but it seemed those concerns had been groundless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our next destination was Castle Semplar, where we brought Licia to meet with Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I take it you are Licia?” he asked. His voice sounded a little lower than usual, and that tone gave him a very intimidating air. “I am Couran Salemakhia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A pleasure to meet you,” Licia replied without missing a beat. “My name is Licia Pleide. I have heard many tales of your exploits and achievements, Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran gave Licia a long, appraising glance, and then his expression softened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. Most girls I meet are so scared of me that they can hardly speak a word. I can see your nerves are made of stronger stuff than the average lass’s.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, was he testing her? I wondered. It made a certain amount of sense─if that was enough to leave Licia shaken, then she wouldn’t be ready for a mission of this magnitude. I had absolute faith in my power’s assessment of Licia, of course, but I could understand his desire to give her a quick test himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then, I’ve read your letter, but for the sake of certainty, I must hear it from your lips. Do you mean to travel with the negotiators, Ars?” asked Couran, seeking my confirmation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, on Lady Licia’s request.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then I see no need to object. You are welcome to accompany the party.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I felt more than a little relieved that he’d granted me permission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In fact, I find that plan the opposite of objectionable,” Couran continued. “I’m pleased to hear that you will be a part of this venture.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you saying you want me to look for more talented personnel in the capital?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not at all… Tell me, Ars─does your power allow you to perceive your own talents?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, it doesn’t. I’m the only person it doesn’t work on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Then it may come as news to you that you have a gift for politics─or at least, you do in my eyes. I believe it’s quite possible that you, yourself, will play an important role in the negotiations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“D-Do you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A gift for politics? Me?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d more or less surmised that my Valor and Intelligence were less than exceptional, but I had yet to pin down my Leadership or Politics scores, even in a broad sense. I knew I wasn’t talentless, but I also never saw any particular reason to describe myself as talented. Frankly, I couldn’t think of any instance in which I’d demonstrated any sort of talent to Couran, and I was unsure where he’d gotten the idea that I had any into his head. Maybe it was just instinct? I didn’t believe I was talented, in any case, but I didn’t see anything wrong with indulging in the fantasy every once in a while."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It will take about another week to prepare for the voyage. And, oh─it so happens that my son is visiting the castle today. I’ll introduce you to him now,” Couran said before he sent out one of his retainers to summon his son."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A short while later, the door to the room opened once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You called for me, Father?” said a tall, blond-haired man. He stepped inside, along with a red-haired girl who looked about ten or so."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The boy was Couran’s son, Rengue. I could see the resemblance─even if I hadn’t been told he was Couran’s offspring, I would’ve known they were related at first glance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Who’s the girl, though? She’s cute, yeah, but that’s about all I can…hmm?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looking a little closer, I realized that she was wearing a style of clothing more common to boys."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Are they a boy, then? But it’s odd for a boy to have hair as long as theirs…and they’re cute enough that I can’t see them as anything other than a girl!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to just appraise the two of them. First off, I took a look at Rengue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He turned out to be more or less what I’d expected. His maximum scores were rather high, but his current scores were low. For a man of twenty to have that big of a gap between his current state and his potential, I had to assume that he was either a lazy bum or just a late bloomer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Next, I appraised the child."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His stats ended up being just a little above average. He struck me as a jack of all trades, master of none. He was also another Salemakhia, so I had to wonder if he was Couran’s son as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is my first son, Rengue, and my third son, Teknado,” said Couran. “I intended to send Rengue on his own at first, but Teknado insisted on accompanying him. I believe that getting out of Semplar and seeing the world will be a valuable experience for him, so I granted him permission to do so.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So he is Couran’s son, then. He’ll be joining us, huh? Guess he wants to let his kids leave the nest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Um, Father? Who are these people?” asked Rengue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They shall be accompanying you on your journey,” explained Couran. “Their names are Ars Louvent and Licia Pleide.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I bowed and Licia curtsied as he introduced us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Rengue blinked. “But they’re just children, aren’t they? Isn’t it too dangerous to send kids out on a trip like this? I don’t think this is a good idea.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that your way of saying that I shouldn’t be going with you, Rengue?” asked Teknado."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is, yes. You shouldn’t come either,” Rengue answered in the bluntest manner possible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I appreciate your concern, but I’ve already received our father’s permission, so I will be going with you,” countered Teknado."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rest assured that your guard will be more than sufficient to protect you,” added Couran. “More to the point, Teknado’s skill with a blade is hardly lacking, even compared to your own.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Judging by their respective Valor scores, I didn’t think he was kidding. Though to be fair, Rengue at least had a higher maximum score."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’ll prove my worth on the battlefield when the time comes!” stammered Rengue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran just gave him a long, hard look, then sighed. I didn’t have a full grasp of his personality yet, but that exchange gave me the feeling that Rengue was a bit of a problem child."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, if Father says it’s all right, I won’t press the matter. But that said, umm…Arms and Lillia, was it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh god, he’s forgotten our names already."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I re-introduced myself as Ars, then Licia reminded him of her name as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course. Ars and Licia, you should know that this mission will mark the first of many grand achievements that I shall, um, achieve over my lifetime. A child or two perishing en route would spoil the story, so if you’re intent upon following me, I’m going to have to ask that you don’t wander off and die somewhere,” said Rengue with an air of pompous superiority. Apparently, the man had quite a high opinion of himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That takes care of today’s introductions. The two of you may go on your way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Father,” Rengue and Teknado replied, then left the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran turned to me once more and asked, “Ars…did you appraise Rengue?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did,” I replied with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I imagine you’re aware of his lack of ability, and you may have also surmised that in spite of that inadequacy, he has the utmost faith in himself and makes no effort whatsoever toward self-improvement. I can only assume I was unprepared to raise a child─even now, I fear I lack the knack for it… At least Teknado has turned out diligent in comparison,” Couran sighed. He seemed troubled by his son’s flaws."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true that Rengue’s abilities are underdeveloped, at the moment,” I replied. “But you should know that he has remarkable potential.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Most of his ability caps were in the seventies or above, while his maximum Politics score was an impressive 91."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If he put some effort in, he could become an extraordinary person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Truly?” asked Couran. “I do recall you mentioning that your power allows you to perceive one’s latent abilities…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s correct, and yes, I’m certain.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. I see… Still, none of that matters until he puts in the requisite effort. If only something would make him want to try for once in his life.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was remarkable─when Couran started fretting about his children, he stopped looking like a lord and started looking like an ordinary father. I’d never had any children in either of my lifetimes, so I couldn’t relate to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s enough of this topic for now,” Couran said. “But ah, yes─I do have one more thing I wish to discuss before you leave. It concerns your letter.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I assumed he was talking about the letter I’d written to him based on the Shadows’ report."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’m glad it made it to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t know where you found those spies of yours, Ars. It’s not every day you come across mercenaries so capable of espionage. I am very impressed, with you and them alike. I have my own way of gathering intelligence, and I was aware that some form of negotiations were being carried out between Seitz and Vasmarque, but I didn’t know how well or how far they had proceeded. If they establish an alliance, it will put us in a precarious position.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It sounded like Couran hadn’t known about the information I sent him after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Good thing I bothered, I guess."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If Seitz attacks, we will lose our current advantage,” Couran continued. “I intend to begin conducting my own negotiations with Seitz as well. Gaining their aid may well be out of the question, but I hope to ensure they do not enter the conflict as our enemies.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does that mean you’ll need another negotiator?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not necessarily. Our goal is to make our position look as advantageous as possible, and to that end, a successful conclusion of our negotiations with Paradille could prove fruitful. I assume Vasmarque will lure Seitz to his side by offering them a substantial reward should he emerge victorious. In other words, if Vasmarque were to lose, then Seitz’s soldiers would have died in vain. Making Vasmarque’s chances of victory appear as slim as possible could prove instrumental in preventing this alliance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does that mean that after our talks with Paradille conclude, you’d like us to proceed to Seitz?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It does,” confirmed Couran. “Unless you would object, of course.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It would mean a longer journey, yes, but I didn’t have any problem with that. I knew I couldn’t speak for Licia, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would not. But tell me, what are your feelings on the prospect, Lady Licia?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, too, would not object,” she replied without even a hint of hesitation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good. Your ship will set sail a week from now. If you need anything in the way of supplies or resources, you need only ask. I shall provide as much as I am capable of.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Like Couran said, a week of waiting around for our departure ensued. He procured all the provisions we asked for, so we didn’t have to lift a finger. As a result, I found myself with quite a lot of free time that week and decided to use it to get a feel for the city of Semplar. It was known as Summerforth’s capital of trade, so I thought that just looking around might prove interesting. I also had a reasonable chunk of funding on hand, so I was on the lookout for anything interesting to buy. The first time I came to Semplar, I’d been in quite a hurry, so I left the city without ever getting the chance to see the sights─this was my chance to make up for that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t about to go out on my own, obviously. I planned to ask Licia and Charlotte to accompany me, starting with Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think that’s a wonderful idea!” she replied without hesitation. “This is my first time in Semplar, and an abundance of sights caught my attention as we walked through the town to reach the castle. I would love to explore it with you! I would also love to take a closer look at the ocean, as well.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The ocean, huh? Are you sure? You’ll be seeing so much of it in a week that you’ll be sick of it before long.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We were scheduled to travel to the capital by boat, after all. The trip was slated to take more than just a day or two, which was plenty long to get sick of the sea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-When you put it that way, that’s a fair point.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What say we look around the marketplace? They might be selling rare and exotic goods there, for all we know.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Semplar is famous for being a center of commerce,” Licia said with a nod. “And I am quite curious what the market looks like.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have our destination, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our plan for the day was established. The next step was to ask Charlotte to join us, but when I went to see her, she told me she’d rather spend the day lazing about in her chambers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The problem, however, was that Licia and I couldn’t just wander around without an escort, and I’d been hoping that Charlotte would fill that role. Couran would arrange for a bodyguard if we asked, but I just couldn’t bring myself to trust a stranger with my safety when Licia was in the picture. I wanted Charlotte to be out there watching our backs, and thankfully, I managed to talk her into it without putting her under too much duress."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The marketplace was located right next to the port, so the salty sea breeze graced the entire area with its distinctive scent. The market itself, meanwhile, was bustling with activity. Throngs of people walked about as merchants and hawkers cried out to advertise their wares, most of which seemed to be a wide variety of fresh fish. Some of those fish were species I’d never laid eyes on. It was my first reminder in quite some time that I was living in a world unlike the one I used to know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One massive species with vivid red and blue stripes caught my eye. I had to wonder what sort of purpose a coloration like that could serve. Wouldn’t it make it easier for its natural predators to see it? Or was the species just so big that it had no natural predators? They were said to be quite tasty and were rather expensive as well. It seemed like you were paying more for the experience of eating something rare and exotic than the fish itself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Look at that, Lord Ars! It’s so cute!” squealed Charlotte. For someone who’d started the trip griping and moaning about how she’d rather stay inside, she’d ended up overflowing with enthusiasm as soon as we made it to the market."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time, Charlotte’s attention had been captured by a cat, though unlike the cats I knew, this one’s fur was a shade of blue. Cats weren’t native to Missian, so they were considered rare and exotic animals."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey there, li’l miss,” called out a nearby merchant. “Looks like you know how to cast a spell or two, eh?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, you bet I do,” replied Charlotte with a proud grin. “There aren’t many people out there who can cast more spells than me!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, I’ve got just the item for you!” said the merchant, brandishing his wares. “This here is a new model of mini-catalyzer! Not only are the spells you cast with it five times as powerful as the old models, but it uses half the aqua magia! And the best part? It can be yours for a single gold coin! You won’t find a bargain like this anywhere else in all of Missian!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The guy couldn’t have sounded any less trustworthy. For one thing, I hadn’t heard so much as a peep about any new types of catalyzer. Plus, if they did exist, it would’ve made waves throughout the empire. Catalyzer technology improvement could’ve rendered any form of warfare other than the magical obsolete, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For real? That’s crazy,” said Charlotte with an air of complete credulity. It looked like she was liable to buy the thing if I left her to her own devices, so I stepped in and dragged her away from the merchant before she made a bad decision. “Oh, come on, Lord Ars! I was about to buy something super awesome!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Uh, no. I’m pretty sure you were getting grifted, Charlotte.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Grifted? What’s that mean?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It means he was trying to trick you into buying something useless. Think about it, if a catalyzer of that quality existed, it would be a huge deal. I would’ve heard about it by now, that’s for sure. He was lying to you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d wager he was selling defective goods,” said Licia, jumping into the exchange. “I’ve heard stories about that sort of scam─they sell you a ‘high-powered catalyzer’ that breaks down after a single spell.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-For real? Then that guy’s scum! I’m gonna go give him a piece of my mind!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No, bad idea! We don’t want to be causing a scene right now!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That merchant struck me as the sort of person who would pick a fight if he was pushed into a corner, so I stopped her before she escalated the situation. I was starting to wonder if bringing Charlotte along might’ve been an awful idea. Thankfully, the incident seemed to have made an impression on her and she stopped taking the hawkers at their word."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is all so incredible,” said Licia. “I’ve never seen so many unique things in one place! Hmm…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks as her gaze fell upon a blue, rose-shaped brooch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My, what a beautiful brooch! What sort of flower do you suppose this is? I’ve never seen one quite like it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia’s never seen a rose before? They must not be native to Summerforth, then."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The fact that it was blue meant that it wasn’t native to Earth, either, but that was beside the point. I had to wonder if blue was the standard color for roses in this world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia spent a moment staring at the brooch, then looked back over at me and said, “Well then, shall we move along?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re not going to buy it? I was under the impression you’d taken quite a liking to it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do want it, yes, but I’m afraid I’ve little money on hand, so I cannot afford to be wasteful.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The brooch wasn’t all that expensive─it cost just a single gold coin. That was affordable by my standards, so I decided that I might as well buy it for her. As a man, I felt the need to demonstrate that I could provide for her when the need arose."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In that case, I’d be happy to buy it for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am most grateful for the offer, Lord Ars, but at the moment, I’ve no way to return the favor,” Licia said with a shake of her head. “I do not make a habit of accruing debts that I cannot repay in short order.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once again, I was impressed by just how well she seemed to have her priorities sorted. I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet, however."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wouldn’t consider you indebted to me at all. I just wanted to buy it for you because I was hoping it would make you smile, not because I wanted you to owe me anything.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was speaking from the heart, but I had to admit that I was still a little embarrassed to hear the words come out of my mouth. I hadn’t thought that would be enough to sway her, but as a blush spread across her face, I realized my effort might’ve been more effective than I’d initially given it credit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I see that your silver tongue has not dulled, Lord Ars. You’ve left me with no choice─how could I turn down the gift after such a bold declaration?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was good enough for me. I bought the brooch, then handed it to Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you very much,” she said with a broad smile as she accepted it from me. Her cheeks were still flushed as she tucked away the brooch. “This is precious indeed─I shall have to take care to choose the right moments to wear it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? No, You don’t have to do that. You can wear it whenever you want.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hardly! This is the very first present you’ve given me, Lord Ars. I will treasure it for the rest of my life.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, I found myself questioning whether I should’ve gone for something a little better than a simple brooch. If she was going to treasure it for life, perhaps something more expensive was in order. Then again, people always said that the thought was what counted when it comes to gifts…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After that, we went back to touring the city, then returned to the castle. I enjoyed myself, and I was pleased to see that Licia and Charlotte had a good time as well. We ended up going out together several more times over the next week…until the day of our departure arrived."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was time for us to set sail. We gathered and made our way down to Semplar’s harbor, where we found a massive, three-masted ship docked and waiting for us. I was shocked, but not by the size of the vessel─no, I was surprised by the fact that it was made out of metal rather than wood. I’d seen my fair share of boats in this world, but all of them had been made from wood. I hadn’t even realized the technology to craft one out of metal existed, so the fact that I’d be sailing on one caught me off-guard. I was no shipbuilder, but I was aware that the principle of buoyancy allowed metal ships to stay afloat back on Earth, and it seemed those rules held true here as well. The masts, I assumed, meant it was wind-powered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is the ship made of metal?” Licia asked a nearby crew member."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, that’s right,” replied the sailor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then it’s a wonder that it stays afloat! How very mysterious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re telling me. Ever heard of levitum? It’s this metal that floats in the air, all on its own. Caps out at around ten feet up if you just let it do its thing. Well, when you melt it down and mix it with iron, you get an ore that’s as strong as ever, but is light enough to float on water.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So much for the principle of buoyancy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ll only find ships like this here in Semplar. Levitum’s some rare stuff, making a boat at this scale’s ain’t cheap, and mixing up the levitum and the iron’s not easy either. Semplar’s the one city with all the craftsmen and resources you need to make it happen,” the sailor continued. I was starting to realize we’d be traveling aboard a very valuable vessel. “And they ain’t just made of metal, either─they’re also the fastest ships in all of Summerforth! We’ve got five of ’em in our navy, and I doubt we’ll ever lose a battle at sea thanks to ’em.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good day to you all, ladies and gentlemen!” a voice rang out, cutting off the conversation. I turned to look and found Couran’s son, Rengue, approaching us. Teknado was right beside him, and Robinson followed just a step behind. “And what a day it is─we couldn’t have hoped for better sailing weather! You know, this will be my first time in the capital as well. Why, I can hardly contain myself!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was no point in him mentioning how excited he was, considering his demeanor made it readily apparent. He didn’t seem at all apprehensive about the importance of his upcoming mission─to the contrary, he was downright chomping at the bit to get out there and explore the unknown. His brother, on the other hand, seemed nervous."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? Wait a moment,” said Rengue, glancing at me. “You’re the child who’ll be traveling with us, aren’t you? Arsh, was it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars, actually.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course! My apologies… My, what a magnificent vessel! But still, to journey the seas is a treacherous thing indeed. Do take care not to get too worked up while we’re aboard, my dear Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If any of us were in danger of getting too worked up and frolicking our way off the deck, it was him, but I resisted the urge to tell him that and replied, “I won’t.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte, on the other hand, muttered, “If anyone’s going overboard, it’s you,” under her breath, almost giving me a heart attack in the process. Thankfully, Rengue didn’t seem to hear her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before we boarded, the ship’s captain called everyone together to talk. All together, there were over two hundred people who I assumed served as the vessel’s crew. It took some time for everyone to gather, at which point the captain stepped to the front of the crowd. He looked middle-aged─somewhere in his forties, perhaps─and he was wearing an eyepatch. His face was rough and grizzled, as well, so it was kind of incredible just how much he looked like a stereotypical pirate. If someone had told me he’d been one at some point, I would’ve believed it without question."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am Jack Testin, captain of this ship,” he said, addressing all of us. “Seems we’ll have two of Couran’s brats along for the ride, so I’ll get this out of the way right now for anyone who needs to hear it: when you’re on my ship, I am your king and you will follow my orders. I don’t give a damn if you’re a kid or if you’ve never set foot on a boat in your life─if you’re a passenger on my ship, you’ve gotta carry your weight, and if you get in the way, we’ll throw you overboard… Okay, maybe not overboard, considering present company, but we’ll beat you within an inch of your sorry life, so spare us all the trouble and just do what I say.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was impressed that he had the guts to refer to Couran sans title, not to mention treat his children like that. I assumed he must have had history with Couran, and couldn’t help but wonder what their relationship was. The way he talked made them sound more like friends than a lord and his retainer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I thought for a moment that Rengue would be incensed by Jack’s rudeness, but it seemed he was too intimidated to protest regardless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, all aboard, people!” called Jack, at which point we all started crossing the gangplank."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is such a strange sensation,” said Licia as she stepped aboard."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This swaying’s gonna make me sick,” added Charlotte, who was also getting her first taste of being on a boat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Get ready─it’ll be even more noticeable once we’re moving,” I warned them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?” said Charlotte, cocking her head. “Have you traveled by boat before, Lord Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Uhhh… Yeah, technically,” I replied, remembering that all my experiences with boats had occurred during my former life. This was my first time aboard one since I’d been reincarnated─and this world’s boats were less equipped for smooth sailing─so I decided to try to prepare myself for a much rougher ride than I was used to."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Cast off!” Jack shouted, his voice ringing out across the deck at a volume far louder than I’d thought the human voice was capable of. I figured he must be using sound magic to amplify his voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moments later, the ship began to sail out of port."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our voyage had begun. It wasn’t quite as rough of a ride as I had been anticipating, but it was a lot less comfortable than the trips I’d taken aboard modern boats in my previous life. The ride was within the acceptable limit for bumpy travel as far as I was concerned, anyway. Either the captain had a very firm hand on the rudder, boats in this world were more advanced than I’d given them credit for, or the sea was just calm that day. Regardless, I didn’t get seasick at all. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Licia, Charlotte, and Couran’s two sons."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe I’m getting used to this,” moaned Licia. “My apologies for letting you witness me in such a disgraceful state, Lord Ars…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We were below deck, and now that she was on the path to recovery, Licia was more than a little chagrined about her seasickness. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about getting nauseous, to be clear─it was more that she’d emptied her stomach in front of me. That wasn’t the sort of thing a young girl would want to do in front of people, so I’d done my best not to watch when it happened, but that didn’t seem to have helped much."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to apologize,” I said. “If anything, I’m the one who should say I’m sorry! I should have explained that being on a boat could make you sick.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The chamber we were in was a common room. The crew wasn’t allowed access, though─as it was a cabin reserved for noble passengers and their attendants. And speaking of attendants, Charlotte burst into the room just a moment later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No good,” she declared out of nowhere."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s no good?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I tried to go above deck, and they said I wasn’t allowed ’cause it’s too dangerous.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I mean, yeah.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But I wanna get a better look at the ocean!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s a window in your room, right? Why not just look from there?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I dunno. It just feels like it’d be nicer to see it from up on the deck.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could see where she was coming from, but there was no denying that going above deck involved its fair share of dangers. All complaints aside, I was happy to see that Charlotte seemed to be doing well. She’d been blue in the face and moaning about how she was going to die just a little earlier."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh! Good day to you,” said Teknado, who wandered into the room just a moment after Charlotte. He greeted us as soon as he noticed us, which sort of impressed me. In terms of social standing, he was miles above anyone else present, so his courtesy struck me as remarkable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good day to you, Lord Teknado,” I replied. “I hope you’ve recovered from your seasickness.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have, yes. My brother, however, is still in the thick of it. Last I heard, he was moaning about how he would ‘never set foot on one of these accursed vessels again.’”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I winced. From the sound of things, Rengue was even more prone to seasickness than the rest of our party."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon the intrusion,” said Robinson as he stepped inside just a moment after Teknado. He had escaped the seasickness epidemic entirely. I had to wonder if he’d spent a fair deal of time on boats. “It seems everyone has recovered, so I was hoping to discuss several matters before we arrive at the capital. Is that acceptable?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Rengue hasn’t quite recovered yet, to my understanding,” I noted. “Is that going to be a problem?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have already explained everything to Lord Rengue, so no, it will not. Though whether or not he heard a word I said to him is an altogether different matter,” he added, doing very little to mask his exasperation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Robinson didn’t seem to hold Rengue in the highest esteem. I’d seen the two of them interact and it didn’t seem like he outright hated him, at least. If I had to describe their relationship, I would say that Robinson treated Rengue like an irresponsible younger sibling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I’m free to hear your explanation,” I replied. Licia nodded in agreement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very good. There are many matters I would like to bring to your attention before the negotiations commence. First and foremost, I should note that I do not anticipate our talks with the Imperial House to be especially fraught. Our relations with them stand in good order, and I see no reason to believe they will reject our request once we’ve supplied them with the requisite funding. The talks with Paradille, however, are a different matter altogether. Our relations with them could hardly be any worse.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why is that?” I asked. “What’s put us on such bad terms with the whole duchy?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The source of the conflict arose after the revolution in magical technology began,” Robinson explained. “At the time, Missian and Paradille were close allies. Trouble began when it became clear that a certain variety of magistone could only be mined in Paradille─a variety that Missian’s nobility had an intense desire to own. Paradille, however, shut down any attempt at trade. The magistone in question was quite rare, and they had no intention of allowing any of it to make its way outside the duchy’s borders. Missian responded by breaking the alliance with Paradille and declaring war, hoping to obtain all the magistone they wanted in the process.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Assuming all of that was true, it sounded like Missian was in the wrong. I had to wonder what sort of magistone could have driven them to make such a bold move."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ultimately, the emperor─who still possessed considerable influence at the time─intervened on Paradille’s behalf, and Missian was forced to withdraw. This all happened some time ago, but due to that incident, the Duke of Paradille lost all faith in Missian’s nobility…and it seems he’s made a point of passing that distrust down to his heirs.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, now I’m starting to wonder if it’s going to be possible to negotiate with them at all,” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I share your doubts,” replied Robinson with a nod. “I believe having the Imperial House backing our cause will make Paradille lend us an ear, but the duke’s grudge is quite deep-seated. I fear he will be inclined to turn us down offhand regardless. Moreover, the Duchy of Paradille has its own fair share of troubles to deal with. I cannot predict how the negotiations will turn out─their results rest upon our shoulders.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, if I wasn’t feeling the pressure before, I am now!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then again, I was effectively attending the negotiations in the capacity of an assistant’s assistant. The real expectations were resting on Robinson’s shoulders. As long as I did my best to help him out, I figured I’d be doing my job well enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And hey, if he doesn’t ever need help, I’m just taking a vacation on someone else’s dime! That doesn’t sound bad at all!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After several days of smooth sailing, we arrived at the capital."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So this is the capital,” I muttered to myself as I stepped off the deck of the ship. Looking out over the cityscape, I was struck by how the design of the buildings was subtly different from the ones I was used to back in Missian. I’d thought that Semplar was huge, but the capital was even larger, with its most eye-catching feature being the enormous castle in the center of the city. It was, without a doubt, the biggest castle I’d ever seen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now, we were still in Summerforth, but I hadn’t forgotten that every duchy of the empire had been its own country at one point, so I was expecting there to be plenty of things I wasn’t familiar with. I’d heard, for instance, that there were linguistic differences between the various duchies. I wondered if I’d even be able to communicate well in the capital. I decided to ask Robinson to assuage my worries."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The people here will understand you, yes,” he replied, much to my relief. “There are peculiarities to the speech here, as you’ve heard, but I doubt you’ll have any trouble. Some duchies speak different languages, but their nobility will be familiar with our tongue.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I took that to mean the people in the capital spoke a different dialect. As long as they could understand me, I figured it wouldn’t be an issue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been so long since we’ve been on dry land that not feeling the ship rocking is making me feel unsteady,” noted Licia as she stepped off the ship. I knew what she meant─when you spend long enough on a boat, you stop noticing that rocking sensation until you step onto land and it feels like the whole world’s moving beneath you."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Rengue stepped onto the dock, a tall, long-haired man walked up to him, gave him a deep, formal bow, and began to speak."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We have anxiously awaited your arrival, Lord Rengue Salemakhia, Lord Teknado Salemakhia. I bid you and your attendants welcome to the Imperial Capital of Ranverth. The Imperial House stands ready to provide you and yours the utmost hospitality.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The man was wearing what looked like a butler’s uniform, and several similarly-dressed individuals were lined up behind him. It struck me that while the words he spoke were more or less indistinguishable from the language I spoke, his intonation was unlike what I was used to. I assumed he was attempting the Missian dialect, but the characteristic intonation of his own natural dialect was still showing through."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, it seemed clear that he and the rest of the retinue had been sent to greet us by the Imperial House. That led me to realize we weren’t unexpected visitors. Couran must have gotten into contact with them and informed them of our journey while we were preparing for the trip. The tall man in front looked quite competent at a glance, so I gave him an appraisal just for good measure. However, he ended up not having any stand-out abilities after all. I learned that his name was Den Martinez, at least."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Anyway, I’d been worried that Rengue would end up putting on airs when confronted with one of the Imperial House’s servants, but much to my relief, his reply was polite and cordial. Come to think of it, if he weren’t capable of at least the bare minimum when it came to etiquette, he would never have been sent to negotiate with the emperor himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Den Martinez,” said the butler, “I serve as steward to His Majesty the Emperor. Please, allow me to guide you to the castle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We took Den up on his offer and made our way toward the emperor’s fortress. That involved walking a fair distance through the streets of the capital, and frankly, my first impression wasn’t positive. The streets were filthy, and there were beggars on every corner. I could tell that the populace here was impoverished, which was strange, considering that seaside cities like this one tended to flourish on account of the trade that flowed through them. On the other hand, I’d heard that the Imperial House itself was in dire financial straits, and I imagined that the state of their seat of power was a reflection of that. I had to assume their current leaders had wasteful spending habits, didn’t know how to bring in a decent income, or possibly both."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Ranverth was large, even viewed from a distance, but as we drew closer, its sheer scale became more and more evident. Den led us up to the gates, where we found a very short man arguing with one of the guards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I said no, dammit! Outta the question!” roared the guard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“C’mon, I know you can do something! We’re mates, ain’t we?!” pleaded the man. Now I was starting to see the slight differences between our dialect and the local one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Since when’ve I been your mate?! And even if I were, you wouldn’t be gettin’ through this gateway!” snapped the guard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I swear to you, my theories are all sound! I know the airship’ll fly if you use these blueprints to build it! Let me through, please!” the man shouted, waving around a rolled-up sheet of parchment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dunno what you’re talkin’ about, and I don’t care, either! You’re not passin’ through, and that’s the end of it! Off with you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Blueprints for an airship?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, the man had my full attention. The stat blocks that my skill gave me had an aptitude for “Aerial” listed, but I’d never heard of any sort of military operations conducted in the air. I’d always been curious about what that meant, but so long had passed without an answer that I’d more or less given up on trying to figure it out. Could it be that the skill was referring to airships that had yet to be invented? And could this man be holding the plans for those very vessels? I couldn’t help but wonder, so I decided to appraise him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His name, it seemed, was Shin Seimallo, and he was still quite young─only seventeen at present. His stats were high for someone of his age, though, with his Intelligence standing out. What caught my eye, however, were his S-ranked Aptitudes for Weaponry and Aerial combat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You again?” sighed Den as we approached the gate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” grunted Shin. The look on his face told me that Den’s arrival was not a positive development, and the way he beat a hasty retreat a moment later reinforced that assumption."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who was that?” asked Rengue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“His name is Shin,” replied Den. “He claims to have designed a flying ship, and that if provided with enough funding and manpower, he’ll be able to build it. Unfortunately, he’s an ill-bred commoner who nobody in authority would ever humor. He makes his way to the gates time and time again, begging to be heard. It would be a shame if someone so young were to be executed for his insolence, but I’m afraid I can’t see the situation turning out any other way…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… My father has been putting resources into airship development as well, as it so happens, but I’ve been told the creation of a functional ship is still a long way off. We haven’t heard of a single successful attempt across all of Summerforth, in fact. I have a hard time believing that an uneducated commoner would make that final, pivotal breakthrough!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That answered one question. As I’d suspected, a functional airship had yet to be invented. As far as Shin was concerned, I could tell he was more than a little boorish, at least on a first impression, but my skill told a different story. An S ranking in Weaponry and Aerial plus a high Intelligence made it believable that he could be the one to revolutionize the field, though far from guaranteed, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The invention of a functional airship would be a very big deal, and I was tempted to recruit him. It was pretty obvious that nobody in the capital was inclined to take him under their wing, so I had a feeling that he’d jump at the opportunity to work for me. I resolved to broach the subject with him if I happened to run into him again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies for the delay. Please follow me,” Den said, then led us through the gates and into the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Coming straight from Castle Semplar, the decor in Castle Ranverth seemed rather modest. No artwork decorated the hallways, and I had to assume that the Imperial House’s lack of funds was to blame."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“His Majesty the Emperor is expecting you,” explained Den as we walked through the castle. “I shall lead you to the audience chamber at once.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sounds like we’ll be meeting him right away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was aware there was a chance I’d get to meet the emperor despite my comparatively low status, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We stepped into the audience room. A throne was set up in the very center of the chamber, though nobody was seated atop it at the moment. Instead, a man stepped forward. His red hair was on the longer side, and something about his features felt sinister. He looked to be in his mid-twenties or so, as far as I could tell, and he was dressed in an expensive and somewhat ostentatious outfit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I welcome you, Lord Rengue and associates. I am Shakhma Dolyze, Chancellor of the Summerforth Empire,” said the man, his words carrying a sense of grace and refinement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t know what the chancellor’s duties were, but I had to assume it was a position of great power."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe he’s something like a regent, and he manages the government in the emperor’s place? But the emperor himself could be handling those matters by now…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, Shakhma appeared to be an important person, so I decided to appraise him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not bad stats at all…but that Ambition!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered that the current emperor of Summerforth was still quite young─only five years older than I was, which would make him seventeen. He had succeeded the throne at the age of eight, and last I’d heard, he was a puppet to his advisors. An emperor like that having a chancellor with an Ambition score of ninety was concerning, to say the least. Part of me had to worry for his safety."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I shall summon the emperor momentarily. Please wait here,” said Shakhma, who then left the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A moment later, a voice rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Make way for His Majesty, the Emperor of Summerforth!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Petty lords like me had no hope of ever being granted an audience with the emperor. We were, however, trained on the appropriate etiquette for such an occasion, just in case. It wasn’t all that complicated─you just had to bow deeply when he entered the chamber and rise once he bade you to do so. The problem was that Charlotte was with us. She hadn’t received instruction in any sort of etiquette, much less etiquette regarding the Imperial House. I glanced back to see if she was following our example, only to find her standing upright and yawning. Fortunately, I managed to whisper frantic instructions to her, get her to bow, and bow myself before the emperor made it into the chamber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I heard footsteps drawing closer. I couldn’t see what was happening, but I could tell that somebody had entered the room. I had to assume it was the emperor himself. Eventually, a voice rang out, “You may rise,” in a slow tone. I looked up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We are the twelfth Emperor of Summerforth, Charles Bydoras,” said the young man sitting atop the throne before us. My first impression of him was that he looked remarkably, well, unremarkable. His garb was of the finest quality and he wore a crown upon his head, but his face was as ordinary as they came."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t like I was under the impression that nobility guaranteed good looks or anything! It’s just that, well, I assumed the emperor himself would be a handsome man, or at least have the sort of face that exuded a sense of charisma, somehow. But no, instead, I was faced with a man who looked so ordinary that I would never have imagined he was the emperor if he’d dressed like a commoner."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0025.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, I stood before the emperor and was beyond curious how capable he was, so I appraised him on the spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His stats were the definition of unexceptional. The one point that made him remarkable was his Ambition─he had a score of zero, the lowest I’d ever seen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess when you’re guaranteed the position of emperor from birth, there’s nothing else left for you to aspire to."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, plenty of duchies were already moving toward independence, so I couldn’t say with confidence that he was the preeminent authority in Summerforth. If he had any aspirations to bring the duchies under his heel, I had to assume his Ambition would be a little higher, so I was left to conclude that he was just an unambitious person by nature."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, the emperor had made his introduction, and Rengue followed suit by giving a rather overblown introduction of his own. Then, Shakhma spoke up once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” he said. “Let us proceed to the matter at hand. In my capacity as chancellor, I shall hear your request on His Majesty’s behalf. Though I have already been apprised of the details of your visit, I would begin by hearing them in your own words, if you would be so kind.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed we wouldn’t be negotiating with the emperor after all. Rengue took the lead, explaining that we were hoping they would help mediate our talks with Paradille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I trust that you would pledge some form of tribute to His Majesty in return for this intervention?” asked Shakhma."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” replied Rengue. “We are willing to offer twenty thousand gold coins in advance, with a further twenty thousand to be paid should our negotiations succeed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Twenty thousand… It seems the rumors of Semplar’s prosperity were not exaggerated,” Shakhma muttered, sounding downright shocked. “His Majesty would certainly be able to put funding of that quantity to good use. However, before we proceed, there is something I would like to ask you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, go right ahead,” said Rengue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Should your father, Lord Couran, emerge victorious from his war and unite Missian under his banner…what does he intend to do next?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? What do you mean?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean to ask whether you intend to act in opposition to Imperial rule. To put it in simpler terms, I have apprehensions regarding Missian. Does your father intend to declare independence and rule over the duchy as an independent kingdom?” asked Shakhma. Rengue was shaken, and visibly so. “If you do harbor such intentions, then I believe it goes without saying that His Majesty will not lend you his support under any circumstances.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, of course we,” Rengue began, then faltered. Couran had made his intention to declare independence clear, so Shakhma’s suspicions were valid. Rengue, unfortunately, was well aware of that, and if he was to lose his composure in a moment of panic, it would be a death sentence for our negotiations."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Couran has no desire or intention to declare independence, Your Lordship,” said Robinson, jumping in to save the day. “He has sworn an oath of fealty to His Majesty the Emperor, and he has not forgotten the weight of that commitment.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you would be…?” asked Shakhma, raising an eyebrow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please forgive my insolence, Your Lordship. I am Robinson Renjee, retainer of House Salemakhia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sir Robinson, then,” said Shakhma. “Tell me─does your lord truly value his oath to the Imperial House? When the ruling house of Rofeille rose in rebellion and pointed their swords at us, we called upon Missian for aid…but to no avail. Not a single regiment was sent to defend the emperor you swore to serve. I would hardly call that an action befitting a loyal vassal. Perhaps you, however, would beg to differ?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Respectfully, Your Lordship, Lord Couran held no sway over that decision. At that point in time, his father, Lord Amador, held the position of Duke of Missian. The decision to withhold reinforcements was indeed made from a position of disloyalty, but said disloyalty was the work of the duke alone. As it so happens, Lord Couran opposed his father’s decision and argued that Missian should intervene on the empire’s behalf, though tragically, his pleas fell upon deaf ears.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was all but certain that Robinson’s story was an outright lie. It was rather impressive that he could lie so well and with such little hesitation. I had to wonder if he’d anticipated this line of questioning in advance…but no, if he had, he would have briefed Rengue on the appropriate response, and there would’ve been no need for Robinson to intervene. It seemed he was lying off the cuff."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Vasmarque, on the other hand, has inherited his father’s treasonous inclinations,” Robinson continued. “Should he gain control of Missian, it is all but guaranteed that he will make a bid for independence. Lord Couran has raised his forces in opposition to his brother to prevent such a thing from coming to pass.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that so…?” asked Shakhma. I couldn’t tell if he was convinced yet, but Robinson had delivered his story with such confidence that I almost believed it myself, even knowing for a fact that he wasn’t being honest. “And what guarantee can you offer to prove you are telling the truth?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would not dare lie to you before His Majesty the Emperor, Your Lordship. Every word I have spoken is the honest truth, and I am certain that Lord Rengue will corroborate my claims.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah,” grunted Rengue. “Y-Yes, of course. My father’s retainer speaks true indeed. I swear it upon the emperor’s name.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rengue was in a state of panic. It wasn’t hard to tell that, and I was worried that he might cast suspicion upon Robinson’s whole story. I wasn’t sure if Shakhma had believed every word of it, but he acquiesced to our request and agreed to offer the emperor’s backing in our negotiations with Paradille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had learned one thing from the first round of negotiations: if Missian were to declare its independence in the future, the Imperial House would do everything in its power to prevent it. Of course, there would be a lot of strife even if we hadn’t talked up our loyalty, but it would only be worse after we so blatantly claimed that we had no intentions of doing anything of the sort. If Missian declared independence after all that, the odds of us ever reconciling with the empire were nonexistent. I had to wonder if we’d overstepped by making such a claim, but I figured it was better than letting the negotiations end in failure, and it was too late to take it back now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We shall send a letter to the Duke of Paradille shortly,” said Shakhma as the negotiations came to a close. “We would ask that you remain in the capital until we receive a reply.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, despite an unexpected question derailing the whole meeting, our negotiations with the Imperial House came to a successful conclusion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I did what I had to, but I fear I may have gone too far,” muttered Robinson after we departed from the audience chambers. We’d found a quiet place where we knew for a fact that nobody could hear us, and settled down to discuss what had transpired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You do? Why?” asked Rengue. “You weathered the storm! It seems like it all turned out well to me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not only did I tell the emperor a bald-faced lie, but I also swore that I was speaking the truth,” Robinson explained. “After I delivered such a firm and unambiguous statement, Lord Couran’s eventual declaration of independence will make the empire lose face. War is an inevitability.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I doubt they would turn a blind eye to our independence regardless,” replied Rengue."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True, but without this sort of open provocation, we would have a much easier time suing for peace. I’m certain Lord Couran does not wish to declare independence, only to be plunged into an endless war with the empire.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm, hmm. I see…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As such, I fear the outcome of our talk with the emperor was far from ideal. Would you concur, Lady Licia? How would you have conducted yourself, were you in my position?” Robinson asked, turning to Licia. It felt like he was testing her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me see… To start, I do not believe that you made a poor decision, Sir Robinson. Ensuring that the Imperial House will aid in our negotiations was our first and foremost priority, and you prioritized the success of our objective above all else. I admire your ability to speak before the emperor himself with such confidence and grace. That said, if I had been in your position…hmm…” Licia trailed off there. It seemed she’d opened with a compliment to soften the blow of her true opinion. “I don’t believe I would have chosen to swear fealty with such absolute certainty. We know how great the Imperial House’s need for funding is, and when Lord Rengue told the chancellor how much we were willing to offer, he almost gave in right there. I was stunned by the sum as well, in fact! I believe that the negotiations would have worked out even had we taken the risk of showing a small degree of disrespect. You could have, for instance, feigned offense at the implication that Lord Couran would be disloyal and implied that you intended to withdraw the offer. The Chancellor may have even apologized!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All that said, in terms of maximizing the chances of the negotiations succeeding, your method was superior, Sir Robinson. As such, I would hesitate to say you made a poor decision.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No,” said Robinson with a shake of his head. “In retrospect, I believe your method may have been the best option available to us. It would entail a degree of risk, to be sure…but considering the current state of the empire, I doubt they had the leeway to reject the funding we were offering. If I were a more skilled negotiator, I may have been able to dodge or deflect the question. My inadequacies have never been more painfully apparent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that is all water under the bridge. Let us move to more pressing matters,” Robinson said, picking himself up again with remarkable speed. He was a man with remarkable mental resilience. “We have some time before our talks with Paradille begin. I have dispatched a spy, who I trained, to the capital of Paradille, with instructions to report on anything regarding the state of the duchy that may aid us in our negotiations. I believe that the spy will be arriving with information any day now, and once we’ve learned all we can, we should determine our overall diplomatic strategy. I would like the two of you to participate in that discussion, Lord Ars, Lady Licia. I trust you’re willing?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” I replied. “That’s the whole reason we made this journey.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d feel pretty guilty if I went home without ever helping!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia replied that she would be happy to participate as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, you are welcome to do as you please until my spy reports in. Oh, and I almost forgot─I doubt this will serve any purpose in future negotiations, but did you happen to appraise His Majesty the Emperor and his chancellor, Lord Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did, yes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If possible, I would be interested in hearing anything you’ve learned.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, of course,” I said, then explained the details of their stats to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” replied Robinson with a thoughtful nod. “So the emperor is an ordinary person, and Shakhma is capable, but likely treacherous.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Correct,” I confirmed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you─this has been most enlightening. I must say, I’m astonished that your power can even judge a man’s loyalty! It is an astonishing ability indeed, and I hope that I am never forced to stand in opposition to you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t clear to me why Robinson had wanted to learn about their abilities. Either he was just curious, or he was thinking past the upcoming negotiations and preparing for the the inevitable outcome where Missian declares independence. I assumed the latter was the case, given that Robinson didn’t seem like the sort of person who would ask that sort of question to satisfy his curiosity, and did seem like someone who would think several steps ahead of the present moment. Not that it mattered to me either way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was still exhausted from the trip, so I spent the rest of that day resting at an inn. The next day, however, I was free to do as I pleased, so I had to think about what I wanted to accomplish while I was in the capital. In the end, I decided to just walk around, see the sights, and look for potential recruits. I’d already gathered that the people of the capital were more impoverished than I’d expected, so I had a feeling I’d have decent luck recruiting anyone who stood out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was on a fast track to becoming the Count of Canarre, if the war went well, and if that happened, I’d need more talented retainers than ever. Plus, even if I wasn’t looking at an oncoming promotion, having more capable help was never a bad thing. Thus, I set out into the city with Charlotte as my guard and Licia as an unexpected tagalong."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm, Licia?” I asked when she made her intent to join me clear. “You know that I’m looking for recruits, right? I doubt this is going to be very fun for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You could hardly be more mistaken! Anything is fun so long as I’m with you, Lord Ars. Besides, I’m interested in watching you put your power to use.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s there to watch? All I do is look at people.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you sure that’s all there is to it? You don’t have some sort of special trick?” Licia pressed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t, no.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is she trying to figure out what makes my appraisals work, or something?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then─why don’t you tell me about that man’s abilities?” Licia suggested, pointing to a brawny man who was standing nearby."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to humor her and appraised him, painfully aware of Licia staring at me as I did so. His Valor was a little above average, but the rest of his abilities were awful─he was a real musclehead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, finished,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes. And I wasn’t surprised by the results─he’s as strong as he looks, but he doesn’t have what it takes to lead soldiers or think deeply about much of anything.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” said Licia, still staring intently at me. “It’s true, then─you don’t do anything special, at least as far as I can tell. To be honest, I suspected that you were using magic to enable your talent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does that sort of magic even exist?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If it does, I have yet to hear of it. However, new forms of magic are being discovered on a near-daily basis, so I cannot rule out the possibility. This does seem to be particular to you, though, which raises all sorts of questions. Were you born with that ability?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I was,” I replied. “But you’re the same way, aren’t you? Don’t you have the ability to tell how people feel about you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do, but I wasn’t born with it. I obtained that sense of how people perceive me after spending a very long time observing others and taking note of their mannerisms. I believe that anyone could learn to do what I do, provided they invest enough effort into the task, but your power is different. Perhaps God has chosen to favor you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t believe for a second that just about anyone could obtain Licia’s preternatural sense, but she was right that my power was downright impossible to learn. I had to assume that having been reincarnated from another world had something to do with how I obtained the ability. This sort of thing was rare, but I couldn’t rule out the possibility that other people had powers similar to it, even if Licia wasn’t one of them. Regardless, I soon went back to searching for recruits, and Licia went back to staring at me all the while."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Lord Ars,” Charlotte suddenly piped up. “If you’re searching for new hires, mind looking for someone who can use magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A mage, huh? Never hurts to have more of those around…but honestly, with you by my side, I don’t think I’m lacking in the magic department.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, but I’ve been to battle a bunch of times, right? And the biggest thing I’ve learned is that magic is crazy important,” said Charlotte. “My spells are the best, don’t get me wrong, but none of our other mages are worth much. We could use a few more folks who know their stuff.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had a point. I’d never witnessed a real battle, but I’d been told how pivotal magic’s role in war was more times than I could count. The one problem was that people with a talent for magic were hard to find. A B-ranked Aptitude for magic was high, and very rare to boot. I was pretty sure Charlotte was the only person I’d ever seen with a rank above A, and I could count the number of A-rankers I’d found on one hand. In fact, the only one I could remember offhand was one of the Shadows─Ben, maybe? At the very least, I knew for a fact that I hadn’t found any other S-rankers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t mind keeping an eye out for magic users, but they’re pretty rare, so don’t get your hopes up.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, are they?” replied Charlotte, a little disappointed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“House Pleide has no skilled mages at all,” said Licia. “I think you’re even more remarkable of a person than you realize, Lady Charlotte!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Remarkable… I like the sound of that,” Charlotte muttered as Licia’s compliment went right to her head in record time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We spent a lot of time walking around the capital, but in the end, I didn’t find anyone with a notable talent for magic. Just as I was getting tired enough to suggest returning to the inn, I heard a familiar voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Please, I’m begging you! I just need a loan! I’ll pay you back before you know it, I swear!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I turned to look…and found a small-statured young man prostrating himself before a man who looked like a merchant. It took me a minute, but I remembered where I’d seen the young man before: he was Shin Seimallo, the person who’d claimed he could build an airship when we first went to see the emperor. Unfortunately, his supplications seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, as the merchant departed without saying so much as a word."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0027.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hellfire!” Shin shouted, standing up and stomping the ground in a rage. At that point, he noticed that I was watching him and shot me a sharp glare. “What’s your problem?! This ain’t a show, brat!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess staring at him while he was bowing and scraping was a little rude of me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then beat it before I get even madder!” Shin roared. He was in a truly foul mood, though after prostrating in public and still getting turned down, I couldn’t blame him. I could tell that I was going to have a hard time making him to listen to me, but I also knew that if I left now, I might never see him again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Let’s give talking a try, at least!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I have something I’d like to discuss, you see,” I told him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? You wanna talk to me?” said Shin, his glare growing sharper still."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could it be that this man has some sort of talent, Lord Ars?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He a mage?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. Well, he can use magic to some extent, but that’s not the talent that caught my eye.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, boo! Let’s go, then. We don’t need him,” Charlotte grumbled. She wasn’t one for delicacy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Look me in the eye and say that again, ya surly little harlot! If you want a fight, you’re doin’ a damn fine job of pickin’ one!” Shin shouted, now enraged."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She’s not, really! You have the wrong idea!” I yelled, jumping in between the two of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Charlotte, shut up for a second!” I whispered over my shoulder, then turned back to Shin. “Ahem! My name is Ars Louvent, and I come from Lamberg, a district of the County of Canarre in Missian.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Missian? No wonder you talk like a buncha bumpkins,” commented Shin. In my book, he was the one who was talking funny, but that sort of thing was just a matter of perspective."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your name is Shin Seimallo, correct?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-How’d you know that?!” asked Shin, a wary look in his eyes. The truth was that I’d learned it by appraising him, but I decided to claim that Den had told me about him after our encounter with Shin at the castle gates. “Oh, so you’re the one who was with the butler back then. I thought you looked familiar.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s how I learned about your ambition to build an airship. I’m very interested in your plan, and as it so happens, I am the head of a noble household back in Missian.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A noble household? You’re a lord? But you’re just a brat!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My father passed away while I was young, and I inherited his title,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, so you’re like the emperor, eh? And wait─did’ja say you’re interested in my airship?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am, yes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-For real?! Then take a look at this!” Shin shouted as he forced the airship blueprints he was carrying into my hands. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to make heads or tails of them, but I took a look anyway, just for good measure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Needless to say, after a couple moments inspecting the plans, I came away with maybe even less of an idea about whether or not it would fly than I’d had before I looked. All that I could say for sure was that it was designed to fly using principles unlike those that the planes and blimps on Earth used. As best as I could tell, Shin’s design was supposed to work using some sort of magical whatsit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So? What do you think? I can build it, I’m positive!” Shin insisted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid I’m not well-versed in the field of aeronautics, so I can’t tell at all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh? You’re not? Then give that back!” snapped Shin as he snatched the plans away from me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To be clear, I’m not knowledgeable in the field, but I am very interested.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I mean, who wouldn’t be? It should be obvious that airships are the future.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree. And while I lack the expertise to say whether or not your plans are feasible, I can say with certainty that you have the talent to make one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh? How would you know somethin’ like that?” Shin asked. I gave him a quick explanation about how I had the power to perceive people’s strengths, and he nodded in understanding. “Oh, gotcha… If it made you believe I’ve got real talent, then your power must be the real deal, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d been a little worried that springing the truth on him out of nowhere would just make him more skeptical, but to my surprise, he believed me without question."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He must believe in his own abilities to a ridiculous degree…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You said you’re a lord, right…?” asked Shin, a hint of hope creeping into his voice. “D-Does that mean you’ll fund me?! See, I’ve been thinkin’ I could build my ship if I had the resources, but I’m broke!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How much would you need?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I could make a small one with about a thousand gold!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A thousand gold… I’m afraid that’s out of my budget at the moment.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a feeling that Couran would loan me the money if I asked him, but the consequences if Shin’s project failed would be pretty dire in that case. The odds of him succeeding were quite high, to be sure, but I wasn’t quite prepared to bet on it. That left me with just one choice: to become the Count of Canarre and commission the project afterward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Missian is on the brink of war at the moment, but if my side emerges victorious, my territory will expand,” I explained. “My income will increase at that point as well, and I’ll likely have a thousand gold to spare. If everything goes as planned, I’d like to fund your project when that time comes.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“R-Really?! That means I’m in for a real wait, eh? Wait, doesn’t that mean I’d have to pack up and move to Missian?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” mumbled Shin, hesitating for a moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t ask you to commit yourself to this arrangement right away,” I clarified. “I’ll be in the capital for some time longer, so just try to decide before I leave.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shin, however, shook his head and immediately replied, “Nah, all good. I’ll go. No matter how hard I work, nobody’s ever gonna spare me a copper here─the locals wouldn’t know talent if it hit ’em with a brick! Stickin’ with you’s my best shot of making my dream a reality.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that so? In that case, feel free to accompany us when we return to Missian. How should we get in contact with you when the time comes?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shin gave us his address, then ran off to prepare for the journey."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, it seemed my day of headhunting had been a success. I’d recruited a budding engineer who just might build me an airship someday."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I spent the next two days looking for more potential new hires, but didn’t find anyone who lived up to my standards. After that, a message arrived from Robinson informing us that the spy from Paradille had arrived. He wanted to discuss our strategy for the upcoming negotiations, so Licia and I went over to his room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The inn we were staying at was a very high-class establishment, and since we were traveling on Rengue and his father’s dime, we’d rented out the whole place."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for coming,” said Robinson as we stepped into his room. I glanced around and found that he was alone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to thank us─this is what we’re here for. Will Lord Rengue and Lord Teknado be arriving later?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The two of them will not be participating in this discussion,” replied Robinson."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, weird."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could see why Teknado would be left out, but I’d been certain that Rengue would attend. Had he refused to participate? Or had Robinson refrained from inviting him, since he would likely get in the way? Whatever the case, I didn’t have a problem with his absence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Before we begin, I have news to share,” said Robinson. “It seems the war in Missian has begun.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Already?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So it would seem. Lord Couran made the first move, marching his troops into the County of Alpharda, which lies between Semplar and Velshdt. Meanwhile, Vasmarque launched a surprise attack upon Ludawson, a district of the County of Faama. One of Missian’s larger magistone mines is located in Ludawson, which gives the territory great strategic value. I believe his strategy is to use the minimum number of forces necessary to seize locations of that general nature, depriving us of necessary resources while his own troops are bolstered. One of Vasmarque’s tacticians is known for his surprise attacks, and I suspect that they will prove to be a major thorn in our side.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t expected the war to escalate already, and I hadn’t expected the enemy’s tactics to be so hard to deal with. It seemed we’d be fighting a losing battle if we let the war drag out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, forget all that, let’s move to the topic at hand. To begin with, I will provide some necessary context regarding Paradille itself. Paradille is the least populated duchy in all of Summerforth, and it also shares borders with nearly every other duchy in the Empire. As a natural consequence, it has faced a disproportionate degree of aggression from other duchies that view it as an easy target. There are, however, a number of reasons why Paradille has yet to fall under the control of another duchy,” Robinson continued. “For one, a mountain range known as the Ruffords runs along the duchy’s northwest and western border, placing a physical barrier between it and two of its neighboring duchies, Scheutz and Canshiep. The presence of the mountain range makes mounting an invasion from either of those directions difficult. Another significant factor is the strength of Paradille’s military. Not only are their troops skilled, but Paradille is also the duchy with consistent access to healing magic, which gives them a significant advantage. Their numbers may not be remarkable, but they are still a fighting force no less capable than any other duchy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced at a nearby map. Paradille was in the center of Summerforth, so that explained how they hadn’t been spared invasion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As for the information my spy provided, it would seem Paradille faces several problems at the present moment,” said Robinson, moving on to the next topic. “A series of crop failures have left the duchy in a state of near-famine. Plus, Paradille’s relations with Scheutz have deteriorated. It seems the ruling powers of Scheutz are seeking a means to traverse the mountains and mount an invasion of Paradille. From Scheutz’s perspective, Paradille is the perfect staging ground from which to conquer the rest of the continent, and the healing magic enabled by Paradille’s magistone mines is a prize far too valuable to ignore. My spy also reported that the mines’ output of healing magistone has been diminishing by the year.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It sounds like they have a lot on their plate right now. That works in our favor, doesn’t it? Their conflict with Scheutz has to be a pressing issue on their minds, so provoking Missian can’t be on their current list of priorities. In the worst case, they could end up fighting us and Scheutz on two fronts.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No matter how capable Paradille’s military was, I had a hard time imagining they would be able to defend their duchy under conditions like those."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Quite. There should be many benefits to forging an alliance with us, from Paradille’s perspective. Though they would have a difficult time turning the tide on Scheutz alone, with Missian’s help, it would not be beyond the realm of possibility. The abundance of Missian’s harvests gives us another means of influence as well─we have plenty of food to offer. Frankly, there are very few downsides to our proposition, and if the duke were a reasonable individual, I don’t believe he would turn us down. However…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re not dealing with a reasonable man?” I guessed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. It would seem the current duke has a rather limited grasp of the principles of diplomacy. Before their relations worsened, Scheutz was making an effort to ally with Paradille. Such a pact would have enabled Scheutz’s military to pass through Paradille to the other duchies, allowing them easy access to the entire continent. Paradille is staunch in their policy of not allowing other duchies access to their healing magistone, and it’s hard to believe an alliance with Scheutz would have led to a change in that policy, but if Scheutz were to fight alongside Paradille’s forces, it wouldn’t have made a difference. The alliance seemed almost too good to be true, and Scheutz pursued it with fervor, but talks fell apart on account of Paradille’s duke. It seems he decided that the alliance would be to Paradille’s detriment for rather emotionally-driven reasons. Considering Paradille has nothing to gain from a conflict with Scheutz, I would not hesitate to call that attempt at diplomacy a catastrophic failure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So he’s the sort of ruler who lets his emotions get the better of him?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had a bad feeling that could spell doom for our negotiations as well, since he was already predisposed to loathe Missian."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Furthermore, the duke is not the only one who bears Missian ill will. The people of Paradille hold us in just as low esteem. I fear that even if they were to send troops to support our cause, those troops would be fighting with very low morale,” said Robinson. With that, the report from his spy was settled and we were ready to move along. “Now then─after taking into account the information that I have shared, I would like to discuss our options.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What can we offer them in exchange for their cooperation against Vasmarque?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Gold, food, various other resources, and military aid. In short, we have the means to resolve the majority of the problems Paradille is facing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Judging by that phrasing, I got the impression that Robinson was prepared to offer a very generous reward for Paradille’s help. With that many bargaining chips on our side, you’d think the alliance was already a done deal, but if the duke was that liable to govern based on his emotions and whims, I knew it might not be enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How about we spread a rumor that Vasmarque intends to ally with Scheutz and invade Paradille once he unites Missian?” I suggested. “It’s a plausible move for him to make, so we wouldn’t be lying, and since we have some time before the negotiations start, we should be able to lay the groundwork.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Interesting… That would incentivize Paradille to ensure Vasmarque does not gain control of Missian, yes,” said Robinson. “And you’re right, I believe we have ample time to spread such a rumor. That said, there’s a real possibility that the duke will not consider a mere rumor worthy of his consideration. But then again, there’s no harm in trying…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He had a point─that alone wouldn’t be enough to ensure the negotiations’ success."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you think, Lady Licia?” I asked, turning to face her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm…” Licia paused for a moment to consider the matter. “I’m afraid that no matter how many benefits our alliance may offer them, I doubt Paradille will accept. We lack the single most important factor that a successful negotiation requires.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And that is…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Trust. If Paradille is operating under the assumption that we will not keep our promises, then no amount of food, money, or reinforcements will sway them. And even if we spread rumors that Vasmarque intends to invade Paradille, I fear that the duke will be inclined to assume that Lord Couran would do the same. If he does, such rumors would gain us nothing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can’t argue with that. But doesn’t that leave us at a standstill? How are we supposed to gain their trust?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We didn’t have an excess of time before the negotiations were set to begin, so dispelling years of distrust in that short period seemed like a pretty tall order, if not downright impossible. This was a deep-seated grudge we were dealing with, and it wasn’t the sort one could wave away as a minor misunderstanding. Were the negotiations doomed from the very beginning? I knew Vasmarque had abandoned the idea of getting Paradille on his side, but had he been right to give up?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That is the question indeed. Being as His Majesty the Emperor has agreed to mediate, I don’t believe that regaining Paradille’s trust is entirely impossible. It will require no small amount of groundwork before the negotiations begin, however.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What sort of groundwork?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia leaned forward and began explaining the particulars of her plan. “In essence, I believe that if the duke can be convinced that Lord Couran’s loyalty to His Majesty is genuine, he will accept that Lord Couran will honor the terms of our agreement.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And how, specifically, will we convince the duke that Lord Couran is loyal?” asked Robinson."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe we should establish a line of contact with one of the duke’s chief retainers. I do not believe that every last member of Paradille’s government will stand in opposition to these negotiations. Why, I would be surprised if there isn’t at least one among their number who will advocate for an alliance with Missian. If we can convince that person that Lord Rengue and Lord Couran hold the deepest loyalty toward His Majesty and the empire, then they may be able to convince the duke in a manner that we never could. Moreover, we know that the Imperial House and the ruling House of Paradille share a close relationship, and are at least somewhat aware of each other’s internal affairs. If we can convince someone from the Imperial House to make contact in our stead, we will have a much easier time carrying out these preparations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So we’d be getting at the Duke of Paradille by way of one of his retainers, and getting at that retainer by convincing someone on the Imperial side to do it for us. The duke did seem to trust information that came from the emperor. The question, of course, was whether or not anyone on the imperial side of the equation would hear us out. Considering that they were the ones enabling the negotiations, they’d likely be inclined to facilitate their success, if for no other reason than the promise of more gold. Robinson’s declaration of Couran’s loyalty during the last round of talks might have worked in our favor, I reasoned─after all, the imperials would be under the impression that Couran ruling over Missian was an easier situation to deal with than if Vasmarque took control."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That strikes me as a reasonable proposal,” said Robinson. “However, I don’t believe that the duke is so naïve as to trust that sort of information unconditionally, even if it does come to him by way of the emperor himself. He will take steps to verify whether or not Lord Rengue’s supposed loyalty is a fabrication. As such, we would have to take steps to ensure that ample proof of Lord Rengue’s loyalty makes its way into the duke’s hands.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agreed,” said Licia. “Any claim we make will need proof to substantiate it. But if this plan were to succeed, I believe it would surely sway the duke in favor of approving our alliance. Of course, the most important factor is and will remain our eloquence and ability to respond to the duke’s questions and claims during the negotiations themselves.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, the success or failure of our plan would hinge on Rengue and the rest of the negotiation team’s ability to make themselves seem trustworthy. Unfortunately, I had a feeling that would be the hardest obstacle of all to surmount."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, I’m sure Robinson will be able to pull us through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe that will do for tonight,” said Robinson. “I thank the both of you for your most valuable perspectives. I shall speak with my contacts in the emperor’s employ, and if I find they cannot be swayed to help us, we can come up with a different plan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thus, the evening’s strategy meeting came to a close."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, Robinson succeeded in convincing someone in the emperor’s circle to help us. It seemed they had already sent a message to the Duke of Paradille asking him to participate in talks with Missian, but his reply had been less than encouraging, asking for some time to consider the matter and promising nothing─not even that he would hear us out. Robinson convinced them to send a new message, though, and this time not to the duke, but to a prominent noble in Paradille: the Lord of House Staured. Said lord was very close with the duke, and was one of the few people who the duke trusted. Lord Staured also had connections with the Imperial House, so he seemed like the perfect individual to use as a proxy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The messenger returned about ten days later with a response from Lord Staured, indicating he was willing to attempt to persuade the duke to speak with us. In the meantime, Rengue had begun taking action to prove his loyalty to the emperor. Specifically, he’d taken to flying into fits of rage whenever anyone badmouthed the emperor in his presence, which happened often when out and about in the capital. He’d also made a point of loudly discussing how talented the Imperial House was at policy-making, how incredible it was that they’d ruled over the empire for so long, and how disrespecting them was downright treasonous every time he and Robinson ate out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was no telling when one of the emperor’s people might be watching Rengue, so he was forced to keep up the act at all times, and it wasn’t long before it started taking a toll on the poor man’s nerves. It didn’t help that he wasn’t an exceptional actor, to say the least─I was worried that nobody would believe he was being sincere."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days after the message from Lord Staured arrived, another message from the Duke of Paradille came, in which he stated that he’d be willing to take part in the negotiations. Rather than inviting us to Paradille, he said that he would be traveling to the capital himself. That wasn’t what I’d expected, but on further consideration, it made sense─he may have felt that since the emperor’s representatives would be mediating, it would be disrespectful to ask them to travel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days after the message came in, the duke’s retinue arrived in the capital and made their way to the castle. We wouldn’t begin the talks right away, it seemed─the first day we’d just exchange greetings and attend a welcome party. The negotiations would begin in earnest the day after. I wanted to get this deal hashed out as soon as possible, but building a foundation of friendship would raise the odds of the negotiations proving successful, which seemed to be the purpose of the whole thing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When we met the Duke of Paradille, we did so in the presence of the emperor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have come in response to His Majesty the Emperor’s summons. I am Mahkfa Sarcassia, Duke of Paradille,” said the duke. He was a middle-aged man with a very no-nonsense sort of look on his face, which was well-proportioned in a way that made me imagine he’d been quite handsome in his prime. If I had to guess, I’d have put his age somewhere around forty or so, but I knew an appraisal would sort that question out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His stats weren’t bad, but they also didn’t mark him as exceptional. He was also quite a bit older than he looked. A few of Mahkfa’s retainers were standing behind him, and I appraised all of them as well, for good measure. Most of them had high Valor, which led me to assume Paradille appointed the strong to positions of importance. Valor aside, though, they didn’t strike me as very remarkable, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One man, however, was an exception. His stats were rather astonishing, even though he was short, plain, and stood at the back of their formation. The man’s status window looked like this:"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unlike his fellow retainers, his stats were high except for his Valor. He hadn’t fulfilled his true potential yet, but his ability caps were high enough that if he did, he could make something of himself. Still, considering his position in the duke’s procession and his forgettable appearance, I had a feeling I was the only one who’d realized how much potential he had. I decided to pay special attention to Bamba, knowing that if I didn’t take caution with him, he could pose serious problems for us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the emperor greeted Mahkfa, it was Rengue’s turn to exchange pleasantries with the duke. The two of them were quick and to the point with the process─they were polite enough, but I could tell there was a degree of lip service going down. Paradille’s language, I noted, was indistinguishable from Missian’s. It seemed Ansel, Missian, and Paradille all spoke a similar dialect. Scheutz’s and Seitz’s dialects, in contrast, were apparently a lot different."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once all the formalities were out of the way, the evening’s main event began: a catered party intended to deepen the bonds of friendship between everyone present. The emperor wasn’t expected to dine with lower nobility and made an early exit. Rengue, Shahkma, Mahkfa, Robinson, and the others, however, all dined at the same table. I, meanwhile, made a point of seeking out Bamba. I was always curious about people as talented as him, and I wanted to hear what he thought about the upcoming negotiations. I eventually found him eating alone in a corner of the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I join you?” I asked as I walked up to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Youngling…” muttered Bamba as he glanced up at me. “You’d do well to keep your distance from me. There’s no telling when the seal of darkness inscribed upon my right hand may lash out at you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Did he just say “seal of darkness,” or did I mishear him?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was a term I hadn’t heard thrown about before, so I decided to dig a little deeper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sorry, I’m not sure I follow. What exactly is a ‘seal of darkness’?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No sooner had I been born than a devil laid its curse upon me, carving its seal into my flesh and soul─that is the seal of darkness,” replied Bamba. “Should it come undone, it will transform me into a devilish form, to run rampant and destroy all around me…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What? Like, seriously, what? Since when did this world have devils, or any of this other stuff, for that matter?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Granted, this world did have magic and plenty of creatures unlike anything on Earth, but devils seemed a step too far for me to accept. Something felt off about all this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“May I take a look at this ‘seal’ of yours?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’re interested, youngling…?” Bamba said, then showed me the back of his right hand, where I saw a mark shaped like a skull. That mark, however, was smudged in several places. It was obvious that he’d drawn it himself with some kind of ink."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your, uh, ‘seal’ is a bit smudged.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Bamba blinked, then looked at the back of his hand. “Gah! Hell’s bells! D-Do you have any ink on hand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid I don’t. So, umm…I take it you drew that yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, n-no, of course not…! Ahem! Worry not, youngling. Today is a day of balance─a day when the seal is calm. That’s why it looks a little smudged,” he explained, making stuff up on the spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was astonished. As best as I could tell, I was dealing with a genuine, hardcore edgelord. Back in my old world, most people who went through that sort of phase did so in their early teenage years, but this guy was twenty-two! I had to wonder if something about society here resulted in people succumbing to their cringiest instincts later on in life. That, or this particular guy had just always been like this."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But those stats…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I felt the need to give him another appraisal just to make sure I hadn’t been seeing things, and no, he really did seem to have remarkable abilities. I started wondering if my power might have been on the fritz and decided to talk to him some more to figure out what his deal was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So…my name is Ars Louvent,” I said, trying to restart the conversation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And most call me Bamba Phanamahmaf,” replied Bamba. “I see, then─so you are Ars Louvent…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Have you heard of me somewhere?” I asked, a little taken aback. Could it be that my power had gained me a degree of notoriety?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, not at all. This is the first time I’ve heard the name.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“…Okay. Right. So, why did you make it sound like you already knew me?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because putting it that way gives the statement a certain gravitas,” explained Bamba."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That settles it. He’s useless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I spent a little longer talking with him, but all I took away from the conversation was that he was an enormous weirdo, so I decided that it was time to abandon all subtlety and just ask him what I wanted to know."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, Sir Bamba, what are your thoughts regarding the negotiations that are about to unfold?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm─well, we can’t trust anything your boss tells us, especially not the part about him being loyal to the emperor.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why would you say that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, setting aside this Rengue Salemakhia fellow, his father Couran is known to be a capable commander and a man of great accomplishments. It’s very hard to believe that a man such as him would feel heartfelt loyalty toward the current emperor. Great men only bear true loyalty toward men as great or greater than they are,” Bamba explained, throwing the emperor under the bus in the process."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Lord Mahkfa has sworn his loyalty to the emperor, hasn’t he?” I pointed out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His lordship has his fair share of eccentricities,” said Bamba, which had horrifying implications. What would it take to make a man like him describe someone as eccentric? It looked like Mahkfa and Rengue were having an ordinary conversation to me, at least. “That said, there’s plenty to be suspicious of, but there are also plenty of advantages to forging a pact with your side. We’ll just have to dig deeper on a couple of matters first.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What matters would those be?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not for your ears─for the moment, at least.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed, then, that he was planning on grilling us once the negotiations kicked off. I still wasn’t quite sure if he was capable or not, but I was convinced that he was a man I’d have to keep a close eye on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The next day, the negotiations began in earnest. They would transpire under the watchful eye of the emperor himself, where those who had sworn loyalty toward him would, in theory, not dare attempt to deceive the other party. We were operating under the hope that Licia wouldn’t have to be an active participant, but she’d come along just in case things went south."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The talks started simply enough: Rengue stated for the record what Couran wanted from the Duke of Paradille, and what Missian could offer him in exchange. I noticed a shift in Mahkfa’s expression as Rengue laid out our terms─they were, after all, rather generous. Mahkfa asked a few questions, which Rengue answered with practiced ease. By all appearances, the process was going quite well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just when I thought we might earn that alliance with a lot less trouble than I’d anticipated, Bamba, the man I’d met at the party the night before, raised his hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“With permission, I would like to ask a question of Lord Rengue,” he said in a completely different tone than the one he’d used the night before. Gone were the flowery, half-baked metaphors and blunt frankness─this time, he spoke with grace and level-headed consideration. I was shocked to realize that the man could tone it down when the need arose."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you are?” asked Rengue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Bamba Phanamahmaf, at your service. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Lordship,” said Bamba, his manners impeccable. His attitude had shifted so dramatically that I was starting to wonder if everything I’d heard the night before had been a hallucination."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And your question?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We have received word that you and your father, Lord Couran, claim a remarkable degree of loyalty toward His Majesty the Emperor. If I may be frank, however, I cannot help but harbor doubts as to the veracity of those claims.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need for doubts. The rumors are true.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Alas, Your Lordship, I am afraid we are left with little choice but to question a claim so bold. Once, when Rofeille raised its standard in rebellion, Lord Mahkfa was the only duke in the land to rally his troops in defense of the emperor you supposedly serve. Much as I’ve thought through the circumstances, I cannot for the life of me imagine any reason why Missian would have been unable to do the same.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Robinson stepped in to offer his defense─the same defense he’d used when Shakhma raised the same objection. Bamba smiled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. So the previous duke and Vasmarque are alike in their opposition to imperial rule, while Lord Couran holds true to his vows. I am afraid, however, that there still remain some details that do not add up. If Lord Couran were truly so fervently loyal, would he not have disregarded his father’s orders and rode out in support of the emperor alone, if need be? I’ve reviewed the records of the conflict, and I could not help but notice no account of anyone matching Lord Couran’s description arriving to reinforce His Majesty’s army.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For just a moment, Robinson paused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Couran was still young at the time, and was not yet a warrior of the renown he boasts today,” he eventually explained. “He was in no position to support an army.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so? Nevertheless, I cannot help but think that if he were truly as loyal as you claimed, he would have rushed to the front to do his part regardless. I certainly would, were I in the same position. I’m afraid I have no choice but to conclude that for all his pretense of loyalty, at heart, he felt the need to prioritize his own safety over that of the man he serves.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Couran is a man of remarkable intellect,” said Robinson. “And he is well-aware of his own station and limitations. As the successor to his father’s domain, he bears a great deal of responsibility upon his shoulders, and he knows that his demise would spell disaster for the land House Salemakhia rules over. It was only after extensive thought that he chose to remain in Missian, and he did so with the greatest of reluctance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, but your words merely prove my point,” Bamba countered. “The way I see it, a willingness to cast rationality aside in favor of the one you serve is the mark of true loyalty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is your personal opinion, and one that you’ll find is far from universal. Lord Couran believed that rather than ride out on his own, he could serve the emperor better by remaining in Missian and petitioning his father to change his mind. The fact that his efforts proved unsuccessful is a tragedy, but such is the way of things.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Bamba’s interrogation continued for some time, and Robinson matched him question for question. I was sure that most of his replies were outright lies, so I found myself both impressed by how capable he was at twisting the truth and also struck with the realization that I’d do well not to trust him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” Bamba eventually said, turning to Rengue. “Might I ask, Lord Rengue, whether you profess the same loyalty to His Majesty that your father claims?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course,” said Robinson. “Lord Rengue is as loyal and devoted as─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid, Sir Robinson, that I was addressing His Lordship personally,” interjected Bamba, cutting Robinson off. “Being as he is in attendance, I would very much like to hear him express his intentions in his own words.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed he’d determined that Robinson was unlikely to slip up, and had shifted his attention to Robinson’s less eloquent superior."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rengue, of course, asserted his loyalty as well, but Bamba cocked his head and asked, “Is that truly so? I consider the information that I obtain for myself to be what is most trustworthy, and I have done no small amount of digging to determine where your loyalties lie.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rengue hesitated. He was shaken by Bamba’s words. He’d done his best to put on a pretense of loyalty toward the emperor, but it seemed he knew his act was less than foolproof."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I trust, Lord Rengue, that you are aware of the consequences that will befall you should you choose to lie before His Majesty?” Bamba pressed, his tone taking on a threatening edge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Rengue─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am speaking with Lord Rengue and would ask that you hold your tongue!” snapped Bamba, cutting Robinson off once more as he tried to come to Rengue’s defense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rengue was panicking. From what I could tell, he had no idea what to say. From a calm and detached perspective, Bamba had nothing in the way of conclusive evidence to disprove Rengue’s loyalty─or at the very least, if he did have evidence, he did not have it on hand. For all we knew, the most he had were rumors and hearsay. My best guess was that Bamba was dialing up the pressure because he didn’t know the truth, and was testing Rengue to see whether he had a guilty conscience."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When all was said and done, all that Rengue had to do was confidently declare his loyalty, and we’d be out of the woods. But he didn’t─couldn’t─and the longer he spent waffling, the more suspicious he appeared. Robinson was at a loss, which meant that if anyone was going to save Rengue, it would have to be me. But what could I do?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An idea struck me at just the moment I needed it. I decided to jump into the conversation and do my best to turn the situation around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If I may, it seems quite evident that you harbor doubts regarding Lord Rengue’s loyalty. Might I ask what it is that has made you so very suspicious?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Our suspicions are a matter of necessity,” replied Bamba. “Our ability to trust your word is contingent upon the assurance that you would not dare to lie in front of His Majesty, and one who has not sworn loyalty to him wouldn’t dare to bear such compunctions.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“From my point of view, all citizens of Summerforth owe His Majesty their loyalty,” I countered. “Frankly, I can’t understand why you’re being so insistent. Unless you’re projecting, perhaps? Tell me, are you predisposed to see disloyalty in others on account of your own lack of faith in the empire?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My goal was to disrupt Bamba’s momentum by turning his accusations back on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Frankly, I am offended,” said Bamba. “On what basis do you dare accuse us of disloyalty?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“None. However, I believe you have failed to consider the implications of your persistent line of questioning. The way you’ve chosen to press this issue almost makes it seem like you have very little faith in His Majesty’s ability to gain and maintain the loyalty of his followers.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Bamba opened his mouth, ready to refute my point, but before he could get the chance, Mahkfa spoke up instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well put. Let us move on, Bamba. Any further discussion of this matter would be disrespectful toward His Majesty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Bamba did as he was told, albeit reluctantly. I’d known that my argument was flimsy even as I delivered it, but it had somehow carried us through the crisis."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that point, Rengue either managed to calm down or had received instructions from Robinson while I was the center of attention. One way or another, he managed to declare his loyalty in unambiguous terms, which nobody moved to question. After that, a formal document was drawn up that Rengue, Mahkfa, and Shakhma (acting on behalf of the emperor) applied their personal seals to. The emperor’s seal made it official: under his mediation, our negotiations had concluded, and Paradille would be obligated to come to our aid against Vasmarque."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have my sincerest gratitude, Lord Ars. We were in a precarious situation, but your help pulled us through,” said Robinson after the negotiations concluded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was just speaking off the cuff. I’m glad to have been of service, though,” I replied. I meant it, too─I’d thought that bringing Licia along would end up being the extent of my contributions, so the fact that I’d managed to pitch in felt nice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you as well, Lady Licia. Your suggestion to make Lord Rengue’s loyalty to the emperor known in advance proved to be quite an asset. I must admit that if I’d come here on my own, the talks would not have ended this favorably,” Robinson continued, then paused to breathe a sigh of relief. “I’m just glad that Paradille has accepted our terms. This will turn the tide in our favor, without question.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll be negotiating with Seitz next, right?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, of course─regarding your next step, Lord Couran has instructed that if the negotiations with Paradille proved successful, the two of you should be sent back to Missian while I proceed to Seitz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He did?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. It seems Seitz’s domestic affairs have taken a turn for the worse. The situation within the duchy is turbulent enough that they won’t have any troops to spare. I’m only going to confirm the state of things in person.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d known that Seitz was on somewhat shaky ground, but I hadn’t expected things to go south at such a convenient time. It struck me that Couran was a very lucky man, considering this meant Vasmarque’s most plausible source of reinforcements was off the table. I’d always heard that fortune played just as vital of a role as skill when it came to war, and I was starting to understand how true that was. Right now, it felt like Couran stood a good chance of coming out ahead in this war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our preparations to begin the trip home were already complete, but since I still had to make contact with Shin, I asked to for some more time. Then, I started by visiting the address he’d given me. My plan was to meet him and tell him that we were ready to depart for Missian whenever he was finished with his own preparations."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Already done over here! I’m good to go any time,” said Shin without hesitation. I’d more or less expected him to be ahead of the game, and it seemed I was right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good! Then it’s time for us to depart. For formality’s sake, allow me to reintroduce myself: I am Ars Louvent, Baron of Lamberg. I hope to make our relationship a mutually beneficial one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Same to you,” said Shin. We shook hands, then set out to finish our final preparations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I just had a little shopping left to do, personally. Rosell had asked me to bring something back for him, so I was doing some last-second souvenir hunting. I would’ve felt bad about only buying something for him, so I decided to get stuff for Rietz and the rest of my retainers as well. I didn’t fuss too much over prices─I just picked out something that each of them would appreciate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once I’d finished my souvenir shopping, we boarded our boat and set sail for Semplar. Robinson remained in the capital on his own. It seemed he’d be traveling to Seitz by land, which would make for a quicker journey overall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The voyage to Semplar was no faster or slower than it had been on the way to the capital, and we arrived without incident. Many of Couran’s retainers were waiting for us at the docks when we landed. They informed me that Couran was pleased with our efforts, and wished to meet at our soonest convenience. Rengue, Teknado, Licia, and I all set off to see him, while Charlotte and Shin retired to another chamber in the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When we met with Couran, he began by thanking, congratulating, and rewarding Rengue and Teknado for their efforts. Rengue looked absolutely giddy throughout the whole process, and I got the sense that he wasn’t used to receiving his father’s praise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After he finished with them, Couran turned to me and Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is good to see both of you again as well. I’ve been told that you played quite an active role in the negotiations’ success, and I would like to reward you accordingly.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t think that I’d done much at all. Sure, I pulled Licia into the proceedings, which was at least some sort of accomplishment, but that wasn’t a big deal. Still, I wasn’t about to turn down a reward. In the end, Couran presented both of us with a hundred gold coins each as thanks for our efforts."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hope to continue to be of service to you, Your Lordship,” I said as I accepted the reward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be holding you to those words. Thanks to your success, we now have the upper hand. You may have heard that our assault upon the County of Alpharda has already begun, but frankly, it hasn’t been going well thus far. Vasmarque’s surprise attacks have claimed many strategic locations that we’ve been unable to reclaim─as things stand, our prospects are grim. With Paradille on our side, however, the tables are sure to turn!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My main takeaway from this new information was that as things stood, the war was very much not progressing in our favor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran soon dismissed Rengue, Teknado, and Licia, but asked that I stay behind for a moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have a favor to ask of you,” he said as soon as the others had left."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What favor would that be?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would like you to deliver this letter to Lumeire,” Couran explained, passing me a note. “It contains instructions on his deployment. I have withdrawn my troops from Alpharda. Once Paradille’s assault on Arcantez has begun, the chance of Alpharda being attacked will diminish, even if it is only defended by a small unit. We shall amass our forces and bring their full might down on our enemies. I’ve received word from Paradille that they intend to commence their attack on the twentieth day of the fourth month, so we will time our advance to coincide with theirs.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was currently the nineteenth day of the third month, meaning that the attack would commence almost one month from now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At the moment, Lumeire is under orders to bolster Missian’s defenses in anticipation of an attack from Seitz,” Couran continued. “But with Seitz in a state of chaos, an attack of that nature seems less than likely. Lowering our guard on the border with Seitz to bolster our main attacking force should not pose any troubles in the long term. I intend to have Lumeire lead Canarre’s forces to Semplar, and I would ask that you march with him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied. It seemed the time had come: I would be participating in my first military campaign. The thought made me a little nervous."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just one month from now, I’ll be going into battle…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have high hopes for what you and yours will contribute on the battlefield. Though, if all goes as planned, Alpharda will fall in short order.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, my private audience with Couran came to an end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The war had already started, but with Paradille’s involvement and Missian’s troops being called into battle, it felt to me like it was only just now getting into full swing. Canarre had a large population compared to the other counties in Missian, so the fact that we would be involved implied that this was going to be a large-scale battle─and the bigger the battle, the more people would wind up dead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I started to get cold feet, but shook my head and slapped my cheeks to snap myself out of it. I was a baron, and that meant I was in no position to let myself be scared of combat. I’d be disgracing my father’s legacy if I let that sort of cowardice show!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon after, we set off on the final leg of our trip back to Canarre. I planned on stopping by Lamberg before delivering Couran’s letter to Lumeire, and that was where I’d be seeing Licia off on her journey to Torbequista."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I trust that you’ll keep your promise once the war ends,” Licia said to me as we were saying our goodbyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By that, she meant the promise that I would marry her when that time came. I was a little shaken by the prospect, but managed to reply, “Of course,” without missing a beat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just so you know, if you break your promise…” added Licia, her words trailing off ominously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gulped, “If I break my promise…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A brief silence fell, and eventually, Licia just smiled at me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll see you soon, Lord Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, right! See you soon.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And then she left without ever clarifying what she’d do to me. Oddly enough, that left me feeling more terrified by the prospect than learning her plans. I wasn’t going to break the promise, so there wasn’t any need for me to be scared, but I was starting to understand that I’d have to propose the instant the war came to a close, for fear of the consequences. That prospect was pretty terrifying, but I’d have all the time in the world to think about it. For now, I made my way back home."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0029.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Master? I have a question, if you’ve got a moment,” asked Rosell in a rather amiable tone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille glanced over at him, then rolled her eyes and replied, “Since when was I your master, Rosell? I’m pretty sure I’d remember taking on a disciple.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh? You mean I can’t call you that…?” said Rosell. He looked like a sad little puppy who’d been abandoned out in the rain, and Mireille had no clue how to react."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille had never been the merciful sort. She could order stunning acts of brutality without batting an eyelash, but for some reason, she just couldn’t seem to muster up her callous side when Rosell was concerned. Something about him was just so tragic, so frail, and whenever he looked at her like that, her deepest instincts started screaming that she could not allow this sad little pipsqueak to come to harm."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the end, she sighed and said, “Y’know what? Whatever. Knock yourself out,” accepting him as her apprentice in the process."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All traces of sadness vanished from Rosell’s face in the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I will! Thank you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille just rolled her eyes again, unable to understand why he was dead set on being her apprentice. She knew that what’s done is done, though, and took the time to answer his question. Rosell’s capacity for learning was remarkable, and she was stunned every time he demonstrated it. Mireille had always prided herself on her intelligence, but clearly, the kid’s mind was just made of different stuff."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille and Rosell spent time studying together before adjourning for a break."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, I wonder when Ars will be getting back?” muttered Rosell. Ars had departed from Lamberg to journey to the capital several weeks ago."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not for a while, I bet. The capital’s not exactly a quick stroll away from here. I just hope he doesn’t get himself killed out there.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know what you mean, but he’s not the only one I’m worried about…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that moment, Rietz stepped into the room and asked, “Hm? Am I interrupting your studies?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no, not at all! I was just asking my master a few questions.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, meanwhile, muttered, “Speak of the devil,” under her breath, just quiet enough that Rietz couldn’t hear her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m taking a break at the moment. We were just chatting.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Chatting with Mireille…?” said Rietz with a skeptical glance at Rosell’s newfound master. “I hope you haven’t been teaching him anything untoward.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You and your unfounded accusations!” countered Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-That’s right! She hasn’t been teaching me anything bad at all!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then what have the two of you been discussing?” asked Rietz, still skeptical."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We, umm,” Rosell began, then floundered. At just that moment, however, a pair of servants passed behind Rietz, gossiping loudly enough to be overheard."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Come to think of it, I’m surprised Lord Ars isn’t home yet!” said one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The estate sure feels empty without him, doesn’t it?” agreed the other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh. Oh, no, Rosell thought with a wince, then glanced back over at Rietz. His expression had been neutral up until a moment ago, but the second the servants’ words reached his ears, Rietz began to tremble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“L-Lord Ars… He still isn’t back yet…? But why…?” Rietz muttered. “Could something have gone wrong…? Maybe he’s in danger, and if he is…th-this is no time for me to be standing around! I have to hurry to Lord Ars’s side!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-Mr. Rietz, no!” shouted Rosell as he leaped forward, grabbing Rietz by the arm the second before he lost his composure and dashed out of the estate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Un-Unhand me, Rosell! I have to find Lord Ars!” Rietz wailed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars tasked you with watching over his estate, didn’t he?! He can take care of himself! He’ll be fine!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But… But he’s─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s in the capital! Do you realize how far that is?! You have to learn to have faith in him!” Rosell pleaded. After some time, Rietz seemed to regain his bearings."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This had been a persistent problem since Ars had left on his journey. If Rietz so much as heard his master’s name, he broke down in fits of worry. Rietz had borne an incredibly strong sense of loyalty toward Ars and internalized the idea that it was his job to protect him from any and all potential threats. This, it turned out, meant that when Rietz wasn’t capable of protecting Ars─or, for that matter, knowing if he was being threatened─his imagination ran wild and he had to be restrained, a task which fell upon the shoulders of Rosell and House Louvent’s servants. Rosell had been in a near-constant state of worry that someday he’d be too late and Rietz would vanish into the wilderness, rushing to Ars’s side, common sense be damned."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0031.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes… Yes, you’re right… I have to believe in him… I have to be here to welcome him back when he returns home!” he declared, returning to his usual self."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell took one last look at Rietz to make sure he wouldn’t relapse, then heaved a sigh of relief. Nobody had worked harder than Rietz since Ars had left, and at this point, the Louvent estate could hardly function without him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille watched as Rietz went on his way to take care of some menial task or other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That guy sure takes his job seriously, huh?” she said as she stifled a yawn. “Okay, that’s enough studying for today. I’ve got a bottle with my name on it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aww,” Rosell whined as Mireille stood up and waltzed out of the room without another word."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately for her, Rietz was still close at hand and happened to see her leave."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Are you finished with your studies? In that case, do you think you could lend me a hand?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille didn’t curse out loud, but considering the look that crossed her face, her feelings on this development were apparent. She knew that when Rietz asked for a favor, the odds of it being a massive chore were high. And if she told him she was off to find herself a drink, he would force her to help him instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It just so happens that I’ve made plans to train the troops out in the yard today, and I’d appreciate your help,” Rietz continued."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, c’mon, I’m sure you can handle a little training session on your own!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps, but an extra pair of hands does wonders for efficiency. And if you’re not helping Rosell study, I don’t imagine you have other plans. You should be free.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was true, yes. Mireille had been outmaneuvered, but she wasn’t about to let herself go down without a fight. She’d get out of that tiresome training session no matter what it took. So, she resorted to desperate measures: turning tail and running as fast as her legs could carry her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey! Wait!” Rietz shouted, then took off in hot pursuit. Seeing as he was not only faster than Mireille, but also more well-acquainted with the estate’s layout, it wasn’t much of a chase. He caught her without difficulty, then dragged her off to help with the soldiers’ training."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars still isn’t home, huh?” said Kreiz, Ars’s younger brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He went to some place called the capital,” said Wren, Kreiz’s twin sister. The two of them were chatting as they lounged about in their room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At this particular moment in time, the twins were six. They’d grown considerably over the past few years, both physically and─to an extent, anyway─mentally. They’d even begun devoting themselves to the sort of rudimentary studies most children started with."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreiz had also started learning the fundamentals of swordsmanship. Ars had appraised both of them when they were born and had found that Wren had the potential to be remarkably bright, while Kreiz was a master of warfare in the making. The twins had never resembled each other in appearances, and their talents were just as mismatched."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” shouted Kreiz. “Let’s go play outside! I wanna ask Rietz to teach me how to fight!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Outside?” huffed Wren. “But playing inside’s so much more fun!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wren’s sluggishness and Kreiz’s enthusiasm cut a stark contrast with each other. One was a born and bred homebody, while the other was a natural wild child. That was a third manner in which they were opposites."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, fine, then I’m going out on my own!” Kreiz declared, then rushed out the door without even waiting for a response."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Kreiz! Wait!” Wren called after him. She didn’t want to go outside, but staying inside on her own would surely be boring, so she chased after him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two of them sped down the estate’s hallways until they found Rosell in the dining hall. That was a welcome sight─Rosell often played with the twins. In their eyes, he was kind, knowledgeable, and knew how to tell an excellent story. All in all, the two of them were extremely fond of him. They had, in fact, decided to ask him to play with them again today, but as they rushed into the dining hall, Kreiz skidded to a halt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s wrong?” Wren asked with a quizzical cock of her head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“L-Look!” replied Kreiz, pointing across the room─not at Rosell, but past him, toward a woman with long, black hair. It was still the middle of the day, but she already seemed to be partway into a tankard of spirits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Wren─isn’t she…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“M-Mireille,” Wren whispered in fear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The twins had yet to speak to the newest arrival at the estate. It wasn’t that they hadn’t had the chance to speak to her, they’d had ample opportunity, but had chosen to avoid her each and every time. Why? Simply put: she scared the living daylights out of them. Mireille had a sharp glare, a wild and imposing manner, a villainous sneer that got all the worse whenever she laughed, and most of all, an apparent contempt for children. There was nothing about her that would endear her to kids of the twins’ age."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They wanted to run over and talk to Rosell, but the fact that he was mid-conversation with their household bogeywoman was a major obstacle, and for a moment, they found themselves at a standstill. Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t long before Rosell caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of his eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Kreiz, Wren! What are you two up to?” he called out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The twins panicked. This was not going according to plan. Rosell was all smiles as he beckoned them, but they were just too scared to bring themselves to walk over…until Kreiz decided that nobody likes a scaredy cat, mustered up his courage, and strode across the room. Wren wasn’t at all excited about the idea, but the invisible pressure exerted by her brother’s advance ended up dragging her along for the ride."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” grunted Mireille as the twins approached her. “Who’re these runts?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, you haven’t met them? They’re Ars’s twin siblings, Kreiz and Wren. They’re still only six─aren’t they adorable?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm─the kiddo’s siblings, eh…? Wait, you said they’re twins? They sure don’t look it, huh? Guess it’s true that some twins look just the same, and others don’t resemble each other at all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kreiz and Wren shrank back under the pressure of Mireille’s stare, quivering in fear. Rosell, fortunately, picked up on their terror and intervened."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Master, please, don’t scowl at them like that! Look at them, they’re terrified!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Someone woke up on the rude side of the bed today, huh?” countered Mireille. “I wasn’t scowling, I was just looking at them! Excuse me for having a scary face!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You could make an effort, at least! Try smiling at them!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, nah, bad idea. Kids don’t like it when I smile.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh. Oooh,” said Rosell as he pictured one of Mireille’s usual grins and realization dawned. She had a point─a smile like that was liable to scare children away from her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But anyway, that’s not even the point,” Mireille continued, pausing to take a swig from her tankard. “I just had Rietz shove his chores off on me, I’m exhausted, and I just sat down to revitalize myself with a nice, stiff drink─why should I have to placate a couple of brats now? You know I hate kids!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell just gave her the stare of a boy who’d sat through too much of his master’s nonsense. A moment later, a thoughtful look appeared on Mireille’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Though, hmm… If they’re the kiddo’s little siblings, then it wouldn’t hurt to get in their good graces,” she muttered, then smirked as she looked over at Kreiz and Wren. “All right, get over here, you two! It’s high time the three of us got some bonding in!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The twins found the sneering grin on her face horrifying and spun around to flee."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s okay!” said Rosell before they could make a break for it. “She’s not as scary as she looks, I promise!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell was a known factor for the twins, and between their trust in him and the gentleness of his tone, his words got through to them. They timidly approached and took a seat close to Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, want a sip?” Mireille asked, offering her tankard to the two of them. “It’s the good stuff!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t give them alcohol! They’re children!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m kidding, god! So, you, the boy…Kreiz, I think? You planning on being some sorta warrior when you grow up?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kreiz nodded vigorously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I’m gonna learn to fight and help protect my big brother!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? That’s some real resolve for a runt like you. Y’know, you wouldn’t guess it, but I’ve seen my fair share of battles. I’ve got a lot of stories I could tell you, if you wanna lend an ear.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, Mireille began regaling the twins with her war stories. Before they knew it, Kreiz and Wren had forgotten their fear and were hanging onto her every word. She told them about her spectacular exploits on the battlefield and the fearsome strength of her enemies, simple tales that any child could appreciate, at first. As she got deeper into her cups, however, her stories started drifting in a somewhat untoward direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She told them, for instance, about a time she caught her foes in a trap and picked them off in a one-sided slaughter, about the particulars of her torture methodology, about how she’d slipped out of an enemy’s trap and dodged death by a hair’s breadth, and about some of the more gruesome ways in which her former allies had met their ends. In short: stories that one should never, ever tell to children for fear of traumatizing them. Kreiz, who it bears repeating was six and thought of war as a spectacular and heroic affair, was shaken to his core and stunned speechless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, and then there was this one time─must’ve been when I was twenty or so─anyway, I was up against this real nasty son of a bitch with a whole─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-Master, stop!” wailed Rosell, who just couldn’t take it anymore. “That’s enough! Look what you’ve done to poor Kreiz!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Mireille paused there and took a look at her audience for the first time since several stories ago. They’d been paying such close attention at the start that she’d assumed they were just listening in enraptured silence. In truth, Kreiz was trembling with abject horror."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hey, what’s wrong, kid?” asked Mireille. Kreiz, in lieu of an answer, shot to his feet and bolted out of the dining hall in a flash."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“K-Kreiz, wait!” called Wren, who followed along right after him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell let out a long, weary sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Those aren’t the sort of stories you should ever tell to a six-year-old, Master.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh. That so? Brats sure are picky about these things, huh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was right around the time that Rietz stepped into the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did something happen? Master Kreiz and Mistress Wren just dashed past me like they’d seen a ghost!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell summed up the recent sequence of events, and Rietz turned to Mireille with a look of exhausted disdain on his face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What, you’re blaming me?!” she asked, lashing out preemptively."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, it is your fault,” said Rosell. “And after Ars said that Kreiz had the potential to be a swordsman, too! What are we supposed to do if he ends up too scared of fighting to polish that talent?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In contrast to Rosell’s concern, Rietz just smiled. He’d watched over the twins since their birth, and he knew a thing or two about their personalities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to worry about that,” he said. “Master Kreiz is quite the strong-minded child.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As it turned out, Kreiz’s ultimate destination after he heard Mireille’s horrific tales was the training grounds. He took up a short practice sword designed for children, then began running through his swordsmanship drills. Wren, meanwhile, took a seat on a nearby stool to watch him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Weren’t those stories we just heard scary, Kreiz?” she asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah!” Kreiz shouted back as he swung his blade, his expression a portrait of determination. “They were scary, so I have to get stronger! It’s the only way I’ll be able to protect Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wren felt a little impressed as she watched her brother train with such earnest resolve. She thought he was amazing, but at the same time, she felt a lurking sense of danger. Wren was a clever one, and she knew that this could lead to Kreiz getting himself caught up in a real mess."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t take things too far, Wren thought to herself with a nod, promising herself that she’d guide her brother true as she watched him work."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0033.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“L-Lord Ars! Welcome home!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No sooner had I stepped into my estate than Rietz sprinted up to me, shouting an enthusiastic welcome. I assumed he’d already been informed of my impending arrival and had been waiting in the entryway to be there the instant I made it back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s good to be back. And thank you for keeping the place intact in my absence, Rietz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Think nothing of it, Milord. I’m just glad to see you safe and sound! Now then, I’ll have to organize a welcome party at once, and─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, wait─no time for a party,” I clarified before Rietz could go overboard. “I know I’ve only just arrived, but I’ll have to leave for Canarre right away.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For Canarre? Why?” Rietz asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have a message to deliver from Lord Couran. I’m planning on setting out tomorrow.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Still, even if we don’t have time for a party, we can’t let your homecoming go unacknowledged! I’ll arrange for our dinner tonight to be a lavish one!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, he hurried off to give the news to the cooks who worked at my estate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wow. Rietz didn’t even look at me, did he?” Charlotte grumbled with a pout. “He completely ignored me! Talk about rude!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She wasn’t wrong. In fact, Rietz hadn’t spared her or Shin the slightest of notice. Considering Shin was a fresh new arrival, the fact that Rietz hadn’t seemed to realize he was there was almost impressive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just how relieved to see me was he?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, a thought struck me: Shin was from the capital, and everything I’d heard suggested that people in the capital were egregiously racist when it came to Malkans. I glanced over at Shin, wondering what he would think of Rietz and his position among my retainers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So this is the Louvent estate, eh? Not much to look at, but eh, I knew he was a small-timer. No real surprise there,” Shin happened to mutter to himself just then. It seemed he wasn’t feeling especially polite at that particular moment, but he also didn’t seem to have felt anything in particular about Rietz’s appearance. Still, I decided to clear up my newfound doubts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, Shin─you saw that I have a Malkan in my employ. If you have any complaints regarding the matter, now would be the time to air them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A Malkan?” Shin blinked. “Oh, yeah, I guess he was, huh? That’s pretty rare for a noble house, isn’t it? I couldn’t give two hoots who you hire as long as you let me build my airship, though. That junk ain’t my problem.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was starting to realize he was an apathetic person when it came to just about everything other than airships."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon, I reunited with Rosell and Mireille as well. The two of them seemed to have gotten quite a bit of bonding done while I was out of the house. I spent the afternoon passing out the souvenirs I’d bought for everyone, and when night fell, I was treated to a more luxurious dinner than we’d usually serve. Everyone asked me all sorts of questions while we ate─what the capital was like, what the emperor seemed like, that sort of thing. I, meanwhile, asked if anything unusual had happened in Lamberg while I was away, and was relieved to hear that nothing had gone wrong in my absence. We hadn’t received any new info from the Shadows, either."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day I set out for Canarre, Lord Couran’s message in hand. I arrived in the early afternoon, made my way to the castle, and was ushered in to meet with Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars! Welcome, welcome!” he said as I stepped into the chamber. “I take it your mission from Lord Couran ended without incident?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It did, yes. The negotiations were a success.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Were they? That’s wonderful news! Lord Couran will have the upper hand now, no doubt about it!” Lumeire exclaimed. “I’m told you have a message for me─could it be that he’s ordered us to set forth?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m impressed, Lord Lumeire─that’s correct,” I replied, then handed him the letter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire opened it up, gave its contents a read, then nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, it is as I suspected. There’s little chance that Seitz will go on the offensive. That’s why the first thing I did after I learned about the turmoil across the border was send word to Lord Couran. To my knowledge, one of Seitz’s most powerful noblemen rose against its duke in rebellion, and several other lesser nobles followed his example to stage uprisings of their own. The ruling powers of Seitz are in no position to send their troops over to another duchy, that much is for certain.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was my first time hearing any of the specifics about what had happened in Seitz. From the sound of things, their duke didn’t strike me as the most capable of leaders."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I intend to amass Canarre’s forces here in Canarre City, then set out for Semplar,” Lumeire informed me. “Today is the first of the fourth month, so I’m not certain that bringing all our men there by the twentieth will be feasible…but in any case, we will do what we can. As for you, Ars, I would like you to return to Lamberg and bring your troops here at once.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied, then hurried on off back to Lamberg without missing a beat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment I got back to my estate, I issued orders for our troops to prepare to march. This time around, I intended to take Rietz, Charlotte, Mireille, and Rosell with me, leaving only Shin behind. He seemed satisfied with that arrangement─apparently, he planned on using the time I was away to hash out any last flaws or tricky details in his airship plans. I was a little worried about how the estate itself would get along in our absence, but some of my servants had been working there since before I was born, so upon further reflection, I figured they’d be able to keep the place running just fine."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that moment in time, House Louvent’s standing military was two hundred men strong. We’d bolstered our numbers the past several years, but we were still a very small force in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, I led my men to Canarre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We weren’t the first group to arrive in the county’s capital, but we also weren’t the last. That meant we’d be spending some time on standby while we waited for the other lords to assemble, and I decided to use that period to wrap up a bit of outstanding business I had in Canarre. Specifically, I was planning on asking the Shadows to shift their priorities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that as the war progressed and battles became more frequent, I would feel the need to call upon their services in different ways. It seemed reasonable to assume that they could be a huge help in securing us a route into an enemy castle we had to capture, for instance. As such, I asked them to withdraw from Arcantez for the time being and scout Velshdt instead. I offered them the same rates I’d been paying for their work in Arcantez and requested that the information they gained be brought to me in Semplar, since I couldn’t exactly go gallivanting back to the Tremps every single time they had a report for me. Our meeting place would have to change as time went on, depending on the course the war wound up taking."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ben, my contact with the Shadows, wasn’t present in Canarre at that particular moment. I had a retainer who I’d tasked with accepting all the information that the Shadows brought to us, though, so I entrusted him with the task of informing Ben of my new priorities and requesting that further information be brought to Semplar. I had no way of knowing when they’d show up with my first report, and it was possible that I’d have already moved before that time came, so I told my retainer to hurry off to Semplar the moment my message was delivered and stay there to accept any reports if our timelines didn’t mesh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few hours after I settled my business with the Shadows, the Lord of Torbequista, Hammond Pleide, arrived at almost the same time as the Lord of Coumeire, Krall Orslow. Torbequista and Coumeire were both larger and more populated territories than Lamberg, so both of them had brought more troops along than I had provided. Of course, “more troops” was relative─Hammond led a force of three hundred and fifty men, while Krall’s troops numbered only two hundred and fifty, so my contribution didn’t feel too inadequate in comparison. All told, around four thousand soldiers ended up arriving in Canarre City."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When everyone was there, Lumeire stepped up to address us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Soldiers of Canarre! You have done well to answer my call,” he cried. “As we speak, the capital of our fair Duchy of Missian, Arcantez, lies in the traitorous hands of a pretender to the throne: Vasmarque! Lord Couran, the true and just ruler of Missian, has requested that we join with his army and reclaim what is rightfully his! We ride to his aid, and we ride to cast Vasmarque out! We shall begin our campaign by occupying the city of Velshdt, which has chosen to side with the enemy. Once Velshdt falls, Arcantez will fall in short order! Soldiers of Missian─today, we march to glory and victory!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Over four thousand voices rose in an uproarious battle cry. Their shout rang out loud enough that it shook the ground beneath our feet. With that, Lumeire led us out of the city, and our march to Semplar began."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We arrived in Semplar on the eighteenth of the month, several days after our march began. A tremendous number of soldiers had already gathered in the city by the time we got there. From what I saw, the best estimate was that close to sixty thousand soldiers were present in Semplar, with another ten thousand scheduled to arrive before long. It seemed Couran’s goal of beginning his offensive the day after tomorrow would be met, and if the remaining ten thousand men didn’t arrive for whatever reason, we wouldn’t be pushing back the schedule to wait."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In total, Couran’s army numbered a hundred thousand strong. The thirty thousand soldiers unaccounted for were either defending strategically significant locations or already on the move to retake sites that had been lost to Vasmarque. Even with thirty percent of his troops elsewhere, the sheer scale of his army astonished me. The thought of all those soldiers going into battle at once had me more nervous than I’d ever been before. Just how large-scale would the battles before me be?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two days remained until Paradille was scheduled to begin its attack, and I knew that I had to pull myself together. I couldn’t humiliate myself in front of my retainers. I had to resolve not to lose heart no matter what horrors I ended up witnessing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Two days later, on the twentieth, we received word that Paradille had begun its invasion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The time has come!” shouted Couran as he addressed his army. “We march upon the County of Alpharda!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that command, I and the rest of his massive host began to advance on our first target."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I bring urgent news, Your Lordship! Mahkfa Sarcassia, the Duke of Paradille, has led a force of thirty thousand across the border! They’ve crossed over into the County of Lund, claimed the city of Menpha with ease, and are advancing upon Castle Lund!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The report arrived without warning. Vasmarque and his advisors were gathered in Castle Arcantez’s Chamber of Debate at the time, engaged in a war council, and the moment he heard the news, Vasmarque’s famously unreadable expression let slip a rare hint of displeasure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasmarque’s most trusted confidant, Thomas Grunzeon, his tactician, Remus Ives, and the rest of his advisors sitting at the round table in the chamber’s center were all astonished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is this certain? There are no doubts?” Vasmarque asked the soldier who had delivered the message."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m afraid so, Your Lordship,” replied the soldier. “His movements would suggest that Mahkfa’s objective is to make his way here, to Arcantez. Word has it that he’s convinced you are an enemy to the emperor, so he’s decided to mount a campaign to keep you from rising against him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An enemy to the emperor…?” Vasmarque muttered, losing himself in thought. “Well, I suppose he’s not entirely mistaken.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, a second soldier burst into the room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I come bearing a report, Your Lordship! Couran has sallied forth from Semplar, and has marched into the County of Alpharda with an army over fifty thousand strong! They’re making their way toward Castle Kranpless at a rapid pace!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that, the room fell into deathly silence. Vasmarque’s advisors were capable enough to understand how perilous their situation had become."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So Couran and Mahkfa have forged an alliance…” Remus mumbled, his brow furrowed. “This spells trouble for our cause─of that, there can be no mistake.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right, and there’s no time to waste,” added Thomas, who turned to Vasmarque. “What’s the situation in Seitz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All contact with Seitz’s leadership has ceased since the rebellion began,” replied Vasmarque. “I have very little hope they will be able or willing to provide reinforcements.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Figured as much,” Thomas sighed. “Suppose it’s our own damn fault for thinking we could rely on them.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For them to have allied with Paradille, however… I can only assume the emperor’s men served as an intermediary,” mused Vasmarque. “Even with imperial backing, it couldn’t have been easy to lure Mahkfa into an alliance…but it wouldn’t have been impossible, either. It seems Couran has managed to betray my expectations.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Alas, what’s done is done,” said Remus. “We ought to be thinking of countermeasures, not wallowing in regrets! The enemy aims for Velshdt, of that we can be certain, and if we lose it, we’ll lose all trace of advantage we have left. It’s a small mercy that to take Velshdt, they’ll have to first conquer Alpharda and Samkh.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve got about thirty thousand men in and around Velshdt,” added Thomas. “We should assume they’re sending in all their troops, not just the ones we’ve seen. Worst case, we could be dealing with somewhere around eighty thousand. I’d love to say we should take this chance to conquer Semplar while it’s undefended, but Paradille’s attack rules that right the hell out. We’ve got the upper hand in terms of numbers, but Paradille’s troops aren’t the type to mess around. If we give them the chance, they’ll sweep in and take our heads before we know it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And if our allies in Alpharda learn how perilous their situation is, they may surrender,” stated Remus. “The Count of Alpharda has always been an opportunist. I’ve little doubt he’ll betray us at the first sign of weakness on our part. Samkh, at least, is led by Your Lordship’s loyal followers. I would not think that they would betray you, but alas, their army is weak, and Castle Samkh is old and decrepit. They will crumble under the slightest pressure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque, Thomas, and Remus began a heated discussion, analyzing every last detail of their predicament. Not even the most ardent of optimists could describe their situation as advantageous, and while many ideas were proposed, none seemed to be the masterstroke they needed to save their campaign."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems we’ve no choice,” Remus eventually muttered. “We must find a way to protect Velshdt with what few forces we have available.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque paused for a moment to consider Remus’s words, then nodded to himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thomas, make your way to Velshdt and take command of their forces. You will be fighting at a disadvantage, but I have faith that your abilities will carry the day. If you buy us the time we need for the rebellion in Seitz to be quelled, the chance for a counterattack will present itself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As you command, Milord,” said Thomas. “I swear to you that I’ll make Couran squeal like the swine he is!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasmarque scrawled a quick letter to the Count of Velshdt, handed it to Thomas, and sent him on his way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under Couran’s command, we led our troops into the County of Alpharda. The Count of Alpharda maintained his stronghold in a region known as Kranpless. The count had lived in the barony that was Alpharda’s namesake in the past, but had moved his base of operations to Kranpless as a matter of convenience. The relocation of the capital wasn’t enough of a justification to change the cities’ names, so the County of Alpharda was ruled from a seat not located in Alpharda, the city. Incidentally, I’d heard of a few other counties that had gone through similar processes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A checkpoint existed on the Alphardan border, but with the size of our army, breaking through was more or less trivial. It wasn’t even a fight: the border’s guards took one look at Couran’s force and surrendered. Alpharda’s soldiers, it seemed, weren’t much for loyalty─nor, as it turned out, was their count. Partway through our advance on Kranpless, a message from the count arrived, stating his intention to surrender to Couran. Apparently, he’d heard about the size of our army, realized that with Paradille’s invasion on Vasmarque’s plate, there were no reinforcements coming, and threw in the towel."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The count’s surrender was not, however, unconditional. In short, he demanded that he be allowed to maintain his position as Alpharda’s ruler. A number of Couran’s followers took umbrage to that─why should a man who sided with the enemy be allowed such generous terms, they asked─but the opportunity to take Alpharda without losing a single man was too good to pass up. Plus, refusing his terms would have sent a message to the other counties that offering to surrender wasn’t worth the effort. As such, Couran decided to accept the count’s deal, and Alpharda fell without any real fight to speak of. After spending so much time steeling my resolve for my first campaign, it felt like a bit of an anticlimax to see the battle end before it even began."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the fall of Alpharda, Couran ordered for messages to be sent to every other county in the vicinity of Velshdt urging their immediate surrender and stating that those who chose to give up would be allowed to keep their station, as the Count of Alpharda had. It wasn’t long before a reply arrived from a county called Muta indicating that they had decided to surrender as well. The armies of Muta and Alpharda totaled around eight thousand, all of whom became a part of our main force."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not long afterward, Couran called all the prominent nobles within his army together in one of Castle Kranpless’s chambers for a war council. I was allowed to attend once more and got to bring Rietz, Mireille, and Rosell with me, though I ended up attracting the same sort of unpleasant attention as I had the first time. Thankfully, everyone who would have been inclined to complain had already gotten that out of their systems during that first council, so we didn’t face any direct harassment this time around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Couran. “Our next objective is the conquest of Samkh. We cannot expect this foe to capitulate as easily as the last, I’m afraid. The Count of Samkh is a cousin of the Count of Velshdt, and their bond is strong. The Count of Velshdt, meanwhile, is Vasmarque’s brother-in-law. It’s hard to believe that any of them would cast aside their allegiance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "From what I knew, Vasmarque was married to the older sister of the Count of Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With an army our size, the chance of defeat is less than one in a million,” Couran continued. “However, there is always a possibility that our enemy will prove unexpectedly resourceful, and I have no desire to lose men on account of my complacency. I intend to proceed with caution and ensure my plan of action accounts for all contingencies.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The council began, and Couran’s followers started to offer their suggestions. One advocated for a surprise attack, while another noted that while the Count of Samkh would not betray Vasmarque, the same was not true of his retainers. The latter plan was shot down on account of the count’s retainers being known for their loyalty, while the former was rejected due to the risks far outweighing the benefits─surprise attacks were a go-to tactic for forces that were outnumbered and fighting at a disadvantage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Figuring out what our enemy’s next move will be is vital,” Rosell eventually suggested. “Given the circumstances, I doubt they’ll be aiming to defeat us in battle─no, they’ll be doing their best to stall for time. Although Vasmarque is fighting at a significant disadvantage now, with enough time, Seitz may overcome its internal turmoil and send reinforcements, or Paradille could be forced to retreat, enabling Vasmarque to send backup. I know none of that is certain, but my point is that the tides could turn against us at a moment’s notice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm─perhaps. I can’t say I wouldn’t consider just that, in his position. We may be in a position where we can win this war, but we have not won yet. If Vasmarque feels he’s been backed into a corner, he’ll begin plotting to catch us by surprise, or, as you said, he may feel that stalling for time is his best hope,” said Couran. He seemed to agree with Rosell’s line of thought. “As for how he’ll stall for time… Given the trends of the era, I imagine he’ll hatch some scheme involving magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe so as well,” replied Rosell. “There are plenty of ways you can set traps with magic, and I think he’ll use them to try to stall our advance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had come to understand that there were a wide variety of trap spells out there. They all tended to operate off a similar principle: you would cast them on a particular location, and they would activate when someone crossed into their area of effect. They weren’t foolproof. One could be trained to spot places that had been trapped, so sending soldiers who had undergone such training to scout an area was common practice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d go so far as to guess he’s already begun setting traps,” Rosell continued. “We’ll have to proceed with caution to ensure we don’t get caught in them, but the longer we take the more traps he’ll have time to prepare. If we don’t advance now, at the quickest pace possible, we’ll find it difficult to make progress down the line.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Couran. “Thankfully, we’re more than prepared to deal with trap magic. We shall mobilize the majority of our traphunters and proceed as fast as possible in their wake!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We went on to discuss the specifics of the plan─who would take point, which route we would travel, and the like─then called the meeting to a close."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our invasion of the County of Samkh had begun. As promised, Couran mobilized all of his magical traphunters, and as Rosell predicted, they found and disabled an astonishing number of magical traps in our path. Fortunately, Couran’s men were up to the task and our main force was able to proceed unharmed─for the most part, anyway. Unlike in Alpharda, Samkh’s rulership had not chosen to roll over and surrender, so we clashed with enemy troops on several occasions, but each time we overcame them with little difficulty and moved along."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then,” said Couran, “our next move is to capture Vakmakro. If we succeed there, Samkh will be within our grasp!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He had called a war council once again, this time to discuss the capture of a key strategic point between us and the county capital. Vakmakro was one of the County of Samkh’s major cities, and it was also located near the capital city of Samkh itself. If we wished to conquer Samkh, then the fort that stood in Vakmakro had to fall first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Though the fort itself wasn’t especially well-known, it was still all but guaranteed that the place would be stuffed with magical traps to prevent a direct invasion. Sending a unit to sneak in and disable the traps was too risky, so we were trying to work out a way to take the fort without resorting to that or a frontal assault. Couran had already called for Vakmakro’s surrender, to which we’d never received a reply, and the soldiers occupying the fort seemed to be settling in for a drawn-out siege. They were going to do everything they could to delay our march."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lumeire!” said Couran. “I want you to lead the assault on Vakmakro.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship,” Lumeire replied with a bow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire’s the vanguard?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was part of Lumeire’s force, which meant it was time for me to experience a real battle first-hand. The skirmishes up to this point had been quick and easy efforts, so we had yet to see a proper engagement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Prepare your men for battle, Ars,” Lumeire said to me as we hustled off to get ready for the upcoming assault."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we’re able to claim Vakmakro without difficulty, we’re sure to wind up in Lord Couran’s good graces. Tell me, do you have a proposal for how we should carry out the assault?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not…offhand,” I replied, caught off-guard by the question. “I’ll give it some thought. What about you, Rietz? Do you have any suggestions?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… I’m afraid that without any information on their forces or the fort itself, it would be difficult to formulate a plan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The fort’s walls aren’t particularly tall, and it’s not big enough to accommodate many troops,” said Lumeire. “It seems their magical defenses are lacking, as well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so?” replied Rietz. “In that case, it seems rational to let our mages play a central role in our assault.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I nodded. We had Charlotte on our side, so if the enemy was unprepared for a magical bombardment, we could hit them where it hurt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say their defenses are lacking?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Broadly speaking, you need a mage to defend against a mage,” said Lumeire. “That’s as true in a siege as it is anywhere else, and there are specific spells intended for defending castles. There are also extra-large catalyzers made for that purpose. Without one of those catalyzers, the strength of your magical defenses and the area you can safeguard diminishes. Catalyzers like those take up as much space as a turret in and of themselves─why, we had to remodel a tower in Castle Canarre to install one of them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d never heard of a catalyzer of that scale. I’d thought there were only three sizes, but it made sense that defending a castle would merit something larger. Thinking back, I remembered that one of Castle Canarre’s towers had some sort of strange writing inscribed onto its walls. I hadn’t made much of it at the time, but knowing what I did now, I had to assume that tower was the catalyzer he was referring to."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to our scouts, the fort does have a catalyzer tower, but judging by its design, it’s an old and outdated model. I should think that our mages are capable of penetrating its defenses.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. Fortunately, Charlotte is an exceptional mage. I think she’ll be able to break through the fort’s defenses without issue.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very good. I have spared little expense in training my mages…though none of them measure up to Charlotte’s reputation, of course! I shall requisition large catalyzers and aqua magia from Lord Couran’s stores, and then we’ll mount our attack!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire was able to obtain the catalyzers without issue and gave the order for us to march. We advanced toward Fort Vakmakro, trailing behind a troop of magical traphunters who disabled all of the booby traps on our path. Before long, a small fort that I assumed to be our target came into view. It was more or less as it had been described: not only was it rather small, but its walls were also quite low. Given that this was a strategically significant location, the fort’s unimpressive nature led me to assume Samkh wasn’t a very wealthy region."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The time has come,” said Lumeire. “But how should we go about staging the assault? Shall we blow the walls away with explosive magic, then storm the place afterward?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe it would be in our best interests to not decimate the fort, Your Lordship,” Rietz gingerly suggested. “I’m sure Lord Couran wishes to use this fort after we seize it, and damaging its defenses will make it easier for our enemies to reclaim it in the future. That, in turn, could lead to a severing of our supply chain, which could spell disaster for our invasion.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A fair point,” replied Lumeire. “Though even if we were to take the fort without damaging it, it’s hardly all that defensible to begin with. What’s to stop them from reclaiming it, intact walls or not?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not much, but an intact fort stands more of a chance of surviving an assault than one that’s been halfway obliterated. That goes double in the case of a surprise attack─large catalyzers are too heavy to move around at a rapid pace, so the enemy won’t have access to the sort of magic that we do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, yes. Indeed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Large catalyzers were close to the size and shape of an exercise ball, and they were heavy enough that it took at least two people to drag them around in a cart. Speed and stealth were the most vital components when it came to the success or failure of a surprise attack, and having to bring one of those with you would cripple your ability to pull off either. A mid-sized catalyzer was more practical under those conditions, but it seemed to me that even Fort Vakmakro’s outdated defenses would be enough to repel that sort of firepower."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, while I wouldn’t recommend destroying the walls, damaging part of them shouldn’t pose a problem. I’m certain our troops are capable of rebuilding a single wall, if necessary.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm─so, we destroy a segment of the wall with magic, then storm the fort using that entrance?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I believe that’s the perfect plan. Though, it remains to be seen how many traps they’ve set in the interior of the fort. I would recommend we send some of our most skilled traphunters in alongside the first wave of troops.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, our strategy was set in stone. We began the operation the very next day, starting with Charlotte’s magical offensive. She stood before a large catalyzer filled with explosive aqua magia and began chanting her incantation. This would be my first time seeing an explosion spell cast in person, so I didn’t know what to expect."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Charlotte’s incantation came to an end, a red-hot globe of fire burst into being before her, rocketing off toward the fort at an astonishing velocity. Then, moments before it impacted the wall, the fireball detonated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The sheer scale of the explosion was awe-inspiring. We were pretty far from the fort, but I could still feel the shockwave. However, when the smoke cleared, the fort’s wall was still standing─in fact, it was untouched!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I asked Rietz what had happened, and he explained to me that, “Weak or not, this fort has some degree of magical defenses. I doubt they’ll withstand another spell, however─I’d wager that one blast has already strained them to their limits.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d never gotten a sense of how magic worked, and I couldn’t pretend to understand the details, but I took that to mean that magical defenses had a set degree of durability. Lo and behold, Charlotte’s second spell proved Rietz right─this time it reached the wall before detonating, and blew said wall to smithereens."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0035.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, wow,” I marveled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Charlotte’s work is a sight to behold, indeed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte, meanwhile, shot me a smirk, then cast another fireball just for good measure, widening the gap in the wall. A gaping hole had been opened in the fort’s defenses, but we weren’t planning on rushing forward. Instead, we watched and waited as enemy troops gathered by the broken wall…then once again activated our catalyzers, this time to cast flame-aspected magic. The other mages who had accompanied us joined Charlotte this time, and in the blink of an eye the hole in the wall─and the soldiers in that vicinity─were engulfed in a raging inferno. I was too far away to make out what was happening in there, but judging by the intensity of the flames, I assumed the enemy soldiers had been quite literally burned to ashes. Only then did Lumeire give the order to advance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Charge!” he bellowed, leading his soldiers on a mad dash through the gap in the wall and into the fort."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I, on the other hand, was left behind. I couldn’t fault Lumeire for deciding to leave me behind─I was self-aware enough to realize that I would have just slowed him and his troops down. Rietz had been prepared to sally forth, as far as I could tell, but had ended up holding back to watch me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before we received word that the remaining enemies in the fort had surrendered. Apparently, the one-two punch of the wall being blown to bits and a sizable chunk of their forces being burned to death had done a number on the survivors’ morale, so the whole fort had descended into a state of panic. None of them had imagined that their defenses would fail right away, which meant that they hadn’t realized they’d be facing Charlotte. No, her name still hadn’t finished making the rounds in Missian, so they probably weren’t aware of her at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, with the fort’s defenders falling into disorganized chaos, storming the place hadn’t been an issue even with all the traps. Before long, the enemy’s leader had decided that the situation was hopeless and given the order to surrender in hopes of sparing his troops’ lives. All things considered, Fort Vakmakro had fallen with unexpected ease."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the battle was over, those of us who’d been left in the rearguard made our way up to the fort to help in the post-battle cleanup. Before I could step into the fort myself, Rietz held out a hand to stop me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars…I think it would be for the best if you didn’t look inside.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It didn’t take much thought to realize what he meant. The battle had just concluded, so it was easy to imagine that the inside of the fort was a veritable hellscape. In particular, the area that had been devastated by magical flames was in an unspeakable state."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Nevertheless, I knew that I had to witness all of it─I couldn’t run away. Lumeire may have been in command of this operation, but my retainers had still been responsible for the deaths of countless soldiers. I believed that averting my eyes from the consequences of my actions was unconscionable for a person of my status. Plus, on a more practical note, I knew that I’d end up setting foot on battlefield after battlefield in the future, and the quicker I got used to seeing corpses, the less likely I would be to panic and screw up at the worst possible moment. Familiarity with the horrors of war could mean the difference between life and death."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no need to shelter me, Rietz,” I said, brushing past him. “I’ll be going inside.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, Milord.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz sounded reluctant, but he understood where my resolve was coming from and didn’t try to stop me again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I stepped into the fort along with Lumeire and his men, and as expected, past the wall was a field of corpses. It was hellish─worse than anything I’d ever seen before─and a sudden wave of nausea almost overcame me. I just knew Rietz would worry if he saw me retching, so I fought it back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A fair number of the bodies had been reduced to charcoal by our flame magic, and in a sense, those were the easiest to look at. I couldn’t recognize them as human bodies, even when standing right next to them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t the only one experiencing my first battlefield─Rosell had come along as well, and he couldn’t tear his eyes off the horrors around us. Rosell was still a child, and a part of me worried that exposing him to a mountain of charred and brutalized bodies might not have been the best thing for his psychological development, but at the very least, he didn’t seem to be so shaken he’d lost himself. The rest of my retainers were used to this sort of thing, so they barely paid any mind to the sight at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We proceeded deeper into the fort, where we came across a group of people who had been disarmed and tied up. They were, I assumed, the fort’s surviving soldiers and commanding officers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What will you do with them now that we’ve won?” I asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It is up to Lord Couran to decide. That said, though circumstances have led us to come to blows, these men are our fellow Missian countrymen. I’m confident that His Lordship will spare their lives. We won’t be letting them go until this affair has been resolved, but take care to ensure that they’re kept safe and comfortable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied. I couldn’t predict how Couran would react to the prisoners, but I agreed with Lumeire, since I couldn’t imagine him ordering their executions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several of the prisoners were looking at us with clear and undisguised animosity in their eyes. Their leader may have ordered his troops to surrender, but I got the sense that not all of the troops had been pleased with his decision. Some of them were fiercely loyal toward the Count of Samkh, and I had a horrible feeling that their executions would prove unavoidable…though of course, I could always petition Couran for mercy if it came to that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then─we must have this fort back in a defensible state on the double. I leave that task in your capable hands, Menas,” said Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Milord,” replied Menas. He was one of Lumeire’s most trusted retainers, and given his B-ranked aptitude for Fortification, I presumed he was knowledgeable when it came to those sorts of repairs. Menas gathered up a few of Lumeire’s mages and started giving them directions on how to mend the wall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, umm, about the bodies,” I said to Lumeire. “I think it would be a good idea to lay them to rest, if that’s an option.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My proposal wasn’t motivated by respect for the dead─I just didn’t think I could tolerate being around them for that much longer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A fine point. Our casualties were few, but we did lose some men, and as I said a moment ago, our enemies were also fellow countrymen. They ought to be treated with respect in death.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire ordered a few of his men to begin preparations for a funeral service. Cremation was standard practice in Missian, and after bodies were burned, the bones of the dead were buried in graves. The local customs were similar to those of Japan, all things considered. We could identify our own casualties, and I assumed their remains would be returned to their families, but there was no way for us to determine who our fallen enemies had been. We burned them together and laid their bones to rest in a mass grave."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After we’d finished dealing with the corpses, all that was left was for us to wait for Couran to make his way to the fort. I couldn’t seem to calm down as I waited, which was no surprise─it would have been more surprising if I had been calm after witnessing all those bodies. Rietz, Charlotte, and the others all seemed fine, but I was beginning to understand that I just wasn’t built for the battlefield. Even ignoring my mental weakness, I was also frail and had never had much of a mind for tactics. Frankly, I didn’t think I was of much use at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not even my Appraisal ability was useful─it wasn’t like I could tell everyone to stop fighting and spare an enemy soldier if I realized they were talented. It was kill or be killed on the battlefield, and I wasn’t naïve enough to think that sort of softness would fly. I wanted to end this war as soon as possible, receive my promised promotion to Count of Canarre, and redouble my efforts to seek out and recruit more capable retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I mulled over my plans for the future, Rietz stepped up to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s been a development, Lord Ars,” he said. “It seems Pham has made his way here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?” I gasped, stunned by the news."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why would Pham be here? I thought I asked the Shadows to infiltrate Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He wishes to speak with you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then─I’ll be right there,” I replied, then set off to find Pham without wasting a second."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, there. Been a while,” said Pham as Rietz and I approached him. We’d found him just a short ways away from the fort, accompanied by the retainer who I’d tasked with working as my point of contact with the Shadows. It seemed he was the one who had informed Rietz of Pham’s visit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Considering the fact that I asked you to move your operation to Velshdt in my last message and you’re here instead, I’m guessing something about the request wasn’t to your liking?” I said, cutting straight to the point at hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’d better believe it. I mean, if the particulars of a job are gonna change that much, I wanna hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Miscommunication can be fatal in this line of work.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That makes sense, I guess."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In retrospect, completely shifting the objective of his operation based on a message he didn’t even know had come from me seemed a little unwise, yes─not to mention that our working relationship didn’t go back very far, and he didn’t have any particular reason to trust me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, it just so happened that I was beginning to rethink my plan to have him infiltrate Velshdt. Conquering the city was going to be the most formidable obstacle in our path, certainly, but there were still several forts and castles to deal with first, and not all of them were going to be as easy to topple as Fort Vakmakro."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I figured the Shadows’ skills might help us take those castles down. They could disable traps that had been set up within them, for instance, or open their gates from the inside, or poison the soldiers stationed there, or set fire to their provisions and ensure they couldn’t withstand a long-term siege. Having a group like theirs on our side would open up all sorts of options."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d spoken with Rietz about my idea earlier."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see… Yes, I believe that would be wise. It could be much quicker and easier to claim the forts in our path with the Shadows’ aid,” he’d replied at the time. “Of course, I can’t say with certainty whether participating in battles is at all their forte.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fair enough. Still, there’s no harm in asking.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And ask was what I did, in the end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If possible, I was hoping the Shadows would be willing to help us in battle. Specifically, I’d be asking for you to infiltrate castles, disable traps, open gates─that sort of thing. Are any of those activities that your people are willing to engage in?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Willing? That’s our bread and butter, if anything,” replied Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, it is?” I asked, a little surprised."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we all have our strong points, ’course. My specialty just happens to be infiltration and sabotage.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yeah, I can see that being helpful in a siege."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“’Course, I’ll be charging you a lot more for it than I was for gathering information. Think you can afford our rates?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How much are we talking?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A minimum of two hundred gold per infiltration. We’ll be putting our lives on the line, so it’s a fair rate, by my measure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s…a little outside my budget,” I admitted with a wince. “However, I believe Lord Couran would be willing to pay you at that rate.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your general, right? Meh, no skin off my back─all coin is worth the same,” replied Pham with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed I’d have to bring Pham up to Couran the next time I had the opportunity. Given that Couran had faith in my Appraisal skill, I had a feeling he’d be willing to play along."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, guess you had second thoughts about the Velshdt thing?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Right. I’m changing my request. We’ll be staging assaults on numerous enemy bases in the immediate future, and I would like the Shadows to be available in case we end up needing your services. I’d like you to travel with our army for the time being, if that’s doable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Works for me,” Pham immediately agreed. He explained that while some of the other members of the Shadows had accompanied him, they’d be holding back and tailing our forces rather than traveling with us. If he ended up needing them, Pham had methods for calling them over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pham himself, incidentally, would have to stay by my side while traveling with our troops, and explained that he’d be playing the role of my maid to explain his presence. The story would be that he’d been so worried about his─or rather, “her”─beloved master that she’d been unable to stop herself from running off to join me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was kind of astonishing how fast he changed into his maid outfit. I didn’t even catch where he’d been keeping the thing! I also had to wonder why he’d had it on him, given that he’d had no idea he’d wind up impersonating my maid when he came to see me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I always keep my disguise kit on hand,” Pham explained before I even had the chance to ask. My questions must have shown through on my face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shortly thereafter, the three of us returned to the fort. Pham’s maid act was flawless, and not a single person even began to suspect him of anything untoward. He’d told us to call him Rin while he was in his maid persona. Even Charlotte, who’d met him before, was taken in and asked me when I’d hired a maid like her…though when I explained that “she” was Pham, it turned out that Charlotte had just forgotten about him altogether."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We didn’t meet him that long ago, did we?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell remembered everything about our meeting with Pham, and much to my surprise, Mireille took one look at him and said, “Oh! Is that you, Rin?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took me up until that moment to remember I’d hired her on Pham’s recommendation, and I assumed that he’d already been using the Rin persona back when he’d first met her. Mireille didn’t seem to have seen through to his true identity, though I had a feeling that she at least had her suspicions. I had mentioned to her that I had a band of skilled spies in my employ, and she seemed like the sort of person who’d put those pieces together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, is that you, Mireille? It’s been ages!” exclaimed Pham, barely missing a beat before dropping into character."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, good to see you. Got myself a new lord to serve thanks to your reference.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, congratulations!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks. And hey, that maid outfit really suits you! I could just eat you right up,” said Mireille with a mischievous smirk. If she had seen through Pham’s identity, I didn’t get the sense she was planning on pointing it out…or at least, not until she walked up to me and whispered, “So, just how good of a spy is he?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yeah, of course she’d figure it out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s good, no doubt there. His group managed to infiltrate a castle and steal a letter.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… Sounds like little ol’ Rin’s quite something─if that is his real name. Anyway, what’s his role in their operation?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s the leader.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The leader?! But he’s just a kid!” Mireille gaped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He may look like a kid, but he’s twenty-two.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No kidding? I figured out he was a guy easily enough, but I didn’t see that one coming, that’s for damn sure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Speaking of which, how’d you figure out he was a guy?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, you can tell just by looking at him, right?” replied Mireille with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Uh, no… In fact, I doubt I’d have ever figured it out if I couldn’t appraise him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hell, there were times I couldn’t believe it even after I’d appraised him. I still had my doubts, on some level─it wasn’t like I’d ever seen any concrete evidence one way or another. He’d told me he was a boy, and my infallible Appraisal skill had corroborated that claim, but his cross-dressing was just so convincing that I couldn’t help but question that reality…and yet somehow, Mireille had seen through it in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe she’s been cross-dressing this whole time and knows from experience… She’s never struck me as feminine, come to think of it…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re thinking something real rude right now, aren’t you?” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, not at all!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, keep it that way! Anyway, if he can work his magic when we get to Castle Samkh, the county will more or less be ours already. We’ve got ’em outnumbered, and if they lose their main stronghold on top of it, surrender’ll be their only option.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oddly enough, Mireille didn’t seem all that excited about the thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is there something wrong with that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nah, not exactly. I just thought this war would test me, y’know? Thought it’d give me a real thrill. Guess I’ll just be bored from here to Velshdt,” Mireille said as she stifled a yawn. It seemed that the ease with which we’d claimed Fort Vakmakro had made her lose motivation. I hoped I could count on her to find it again when we needed her, but I was starting to get pretty concerned about her attitude."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We spent a few days after that in the fort. Eventually, our report reached Couran and he arrived to meet us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Splendid work, Lumeire! I’m astonished─to think you’d claim the fort with almost no losses! Well done, my man!” said Couran, singing our commanding officer’s praises the moment he arrived. “And you deserve commendation as well, I’m sure. I imagine your service proved invaluable, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not at all, I barely did anything.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! No need for such humility─I’ve already heard that Charlotte, one of your retainers, proved instrumental in your victory!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That, I couldn’t deny. Charlotte’s presence had made all the difference, and I had a hard time imagining the fort’s wall would have fallen so fast without her. I’d done some asking around after the battle ended, in fact, and had learned that even though the fort’s magical defenses were weak, it would have taken an ordinary mage far longer to penetrate them. It seemed the defenders’ state of disorder had been sparked in no small part by those defenses falling much sooner than anyone could have anticipated. In that sense, Charlotte was more or less the battle’s MVP."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What shall we do with the soldiers we took prisoner, Milord?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… If at all possible, I’d absorb them into my own army to get them to fight for my cause,” said Couran. “But I’m sure some of them would refuse to swear loyalty to me. Those who follow me can be spared, but the rest will have to be put to death.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was more or less how I’d expected him to treat the captives. I’d actually made a point of not appraising them because I’d known it might come to this. If I found out that one of them was talented, and if that soldier refused to swear fealty to Couran, I wouldn’t put it past myself to beg for them to be spared, and that would sour Couran’s opinion of me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had no confidence in my ability to sit back and watch a soldier with Nobunaga-level stats get beheaded. Of course, considering that human life was equally weighted whether or not the human in question was talented, the way I was viewing the whole issue was kind of messed up. I knew that on an intellectual level. I just couldn’t help but feel that executing somebody with talent was an unbearable waste. Long story short: I’d resolved to only appraise the prisoners after it had been determined that their lives would be spared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars,” said Couran, “have you appraised the prisoners yet?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not yet,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then you should do so at once. I would prefer not to kill someone with the potential for greatness.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Does that mean he might spare someone if I say that they’re talented enough, even if they don’t swear fealty to him? It’d be way too dangerous to let them go, so maybe he’s planning on throwing them in jail until they change their mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was something to be celebrated, but it led to an immediate, much less appealing realization: by identifying someone as not talented, I would be sentencing them to death. The thought was a little distressing, to say the least, but I couldn’t deny the rationality of the solution. I knew that I could lie and claim that all of them were talented, but that sort of ruse would be easy to see through. I’d have to put pity to the side, tell the truth, and accept whatever came from it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I set about appraising the prisoners. There were just about fifty of them in total, and it took me some time and quite a bit of eye strain, but I eventually appraised them all. None of them turned out to have the sort of superhuman talents I’d found in Rietz and Charlotte, but five of them were rather remarkable by more ordinary standards, and three of those individuals had refused to defect to Couran’s side. Those three were dragged away, still tied up, and I was told they’d be transported to Castle Kranpless, which had a jail they wouldn’t be breaking out of any time soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers who had agreed to serve Couran were released from their bonds and told to remain in Fort Vakmakro, where they’d serve as part of its guard. That left just twenty soldiers who neither had exceptional talents nor were willing to disavow their former masters. There were actually thirty of them at first, but after some persuasion, ten of them had been convinced that their loyalty wasn’t worth their lives and had agreed to switch sides. The remaining twenty were those who had refused to serve Couran come hell or high water. Eventually, Couran concluded that convincing them otherwise would be impossible and ordered their execution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The twenty soldiers were lined up on their knees, their heads laid down upon stools. An equal number of executioners stood to the side, axes held at the ready. I wasn’t required to witness the deed being done, but I decided that it would only be right for me to see it through. They were dying because I hadn’t picked them out as being talented, so I felt I had an obligation to see this through to the end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d witnessed an execution before, just once, and the man who had been killed back then was a criminal and a murderer─the lowest of the low. These men weren’t criminals, though. If anything, their refusal to betray their cause proved their loyalty and sincerity. I almost couldn’t bear to watch…but I forced myself to anyway."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do it,” said Couran. The executioners’ axes fell, and the prisoners’ heads plopped to the ground, which was soon stained red by the blood flowing from the stumps of their necks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I watched it all, from start to finish, without averting my gaze once. This time, nausea didn’t overtake me. Part of that was because I was starting to grow desensitized to violence, but mostly, my disgust at the spectacle was overwhelmed by the sorrow I felt at the senselessness of their deaths. Some of them were still young─they couldn’t even have been twenty yet. Taking part in a battle meant putting your life on the line, and I knew they’d accepted the possibility of their deaths, but I still couldn’t help but grieve for the futures that had been denied to them. I could only pray that, like me, they would be reincarnated and granted another chance at life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the prisoners’ bodies were cleared away, Couran gathered all of his commanding officers and advisors for a meeting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fort Vakmakro is ours,” he said. “I wish to keep this momentum going and claim Castle Samkh next. Once the castle is in our hands, our control over the county at large will be indisputable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm…may I suggest something?” I asked, raising my hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As you will.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In regards to our attack on Castle Samkh, I believe that the services of a group of spies I’m acquainted with could prove helpful. If we have them lay the groundwork for our assault, it could make claiming the castle much easier. And since we’ll still have plenty of fighting to do before Velshdt falls, we should do whatever we can to expend as few men and resources on Castle Samkh as possible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh?” said Couran, raising an eyebrow. “Would these spies of yours happen to be the same band who pilfered the letter that brought Perreina to our side? If so, their abilities have already been thoroughly proven. This could be a tenable plan indeed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is correct, yes. There’s just one thing─their services come at quite the cost. They want at least two hundred gold coins to get the job done. That sort of cost is beyond my means, I’m afraid, but if you would be willing to hire them…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Two hundred gold is more than affordable,” Couran said without hesitation. “Their skills have already been proven, as I said, and I trust your ability to judge their worth. I look forward to the benefits their services will provide.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, it didn’t take much convincing at all to get Couran to foot the Shadows’ bill. I was relieved to know that they’d be on our side going forward. I hadn’t heard much about Castle Samkh, but I knew it wouldn’t fall as easily as Fort Vakmakro."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would like to hear what these spies will do for us directly from their leader, if possible. Will you bring him to our next council?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm… I’d like to, but their leader makes a point of not exposing his identity in public. I doubt it would be easy to convince him to attend a meeting like this,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. Understandable, I suppose, considering his profession. In that case, I shall leave it to you to serve as an intermediary. As far as my priorities for their services are concerned, I would be most interested in them opening the gates, disabling any magical traps within the castle, or destroying their supplies of aqua magia. Any of those would make our assault far easier.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I blinked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You want to destroy their aqua magia? With all due respect, won’t our forces be able to use them once we’ve seized the castle?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our supplies are more than ample already. The potential to gain a surplus is worth less to me than reducing our enemies’ ability to drive us off.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. I’ll see to it that your message is delivered.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good,” said Couran. “And with that, I call this meeting to a close. We shall decide upon a date for our assault as soon as Ars’s spies inform us their work is complete.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the council disbanded, I went out to find Pham. The moment I made contact with him, I launched into negotiating for the Shadows’ services."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re hoping to hire you to open Castle Samkh’s gates, disable any magical traps you find inside, and destroy their stocks of aqua magia. Will that be possible?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A three-parter, eh…? Should be doable. I’ve taken a look at Castle Samkh before, and from what I could tell the place isn’t locked down very tight. Shouldn’t be hard to slip right in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And how much would you charge for the task?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For all three objectives? Two hundred and fifty gold, with fifty paid up front.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood. I’ll speak with Lord Couran about paying your advance. Is there any way for you to inform us when your work is finished?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, that won’t be a problem. We’ll have Ben standing by outside the castle, and he can use sound magic to send a message once we’re done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perfect,” I replied. All things considered, our negotiations concluded without a hitch. I reported back to Couran on the matter, and as expected, he approved the advance payment without question."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, we began our advance upon Castle Samkh, taking great care not to wander into any magical traps along the way. We set up our encampment in a wide-open field a short ways away from the castle, close enough that the moment we received word that the gates had been opened, we’d be able to storm inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy showed no signs of sallying forth to engage with our army─it seemed they were intent on settling in for a long siege. There’d been no reports of the castle receiving reinforcements from Velshdt, and Rosell and Mireille theorized their goal was to stall as long as they could using as few troops as possible, thus buying Velshdt more time to prepare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Assuming the troops who remained in Castle Samkh knew all this, they were prepared to fight to the death. They weren’t lacking in morale, that was certain, and I knew that soldiers who were prepared to die were far more dangerous than those who valued their lives. Breaking a siege by force wasn’t impossible, by any means, but it would take time and involved sacrificing quite a few of our troops. It seemed my choice to rely on espionage had been a good one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve received another request from Lord Couran,” I told Pham, who I’d met to update him on our plans. “He wants you to open the gates after dark, if possible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We were hoping to catch the castle’s defenders off-guard, and they’d more likely notice the gates opening during the middle of the day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Didn’t need to tell me that,” replied Pham. “That was our plan from the start.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Well, good.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right─we’ll be sneaking into the castle, so this’ll be the last you hear from me for a while. Ben will contact you as soon as we’re finished laying the groundwork. You remember what Ben looks like, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I, umm…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I remembered how unmemorable Ben’s appearance was. I’d taken to recognizing him by his real name instead, which was unique, to say the least: Alexandros Vermandolt. I figured that if I saw a person who looked unremarkable, but had that name upon appraisal, I could be certain it was Ben, so I told Pham I remembered him for simplicity’s sake."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, Pham set off for the castle. I was pretty sure some of the other Shadows would be sneaking in with him─not that I could see them─and I said a quick prayer for their success, then settled in to wait for their report."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The County of Samkh was situated in the eastern reaches of Missian, and Castle Samkh was the single most strategically significant structure in the county. That significance was part of the reason why tensions within the castle were running so high."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I knew they’d take Vakmakro, but I never thought it would happen this soon,” muttered Fredore Bandle, the reigning Count of Samkh. His long and bushy beard covered the lower half of his face, but it wasn’t enough to hide the obvious traces of fatigue that colored his complexion. He’d hardly slept a wink since hearing the news of Couran’s troops marching on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fredore had known that Fort Vakmakro’s defenses wouldn’t hold under pressure, but it had come as quite a shock to hear that it had fallen in a day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m told that one of the enemy’s mages was fearsomely powerful,” said the retainer who had brought Fredore the news."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fearsome indeed. And now we’re supposed to stand up to that very same mage?” Fredore grumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran’s army had set up an encampment near his castle. They had yet to lay siege to the structure, nor had they attempted a direct assault, but Fredore knew it would be coming any minute. The best he could hope to do was stall for time, and he was certain Couran was aware of that fact as well, so he expected an all-out offensive soon. They were just taking their time preparing for the attack─there was no telling when they’d go on the offensive, and the castle’s residents had to be alert for fear of getting caught unawares by a sneak attack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you certain this was wise, Milord?” asked the retainer. “You could have petitioned Lord Kanses for reinforcements.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And I’m sure he would have been happy to provide. My cousin has always been too generous for his own good,” Fredore sighed. “Sending us soldiers would have been a foolish decision on his part, though. Losing this battle is inevitable, but if we hope to win the war, we must delay the enemy here for as long as possible, using as few troops and resources as we can manage.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kanses Bandle, the Count of Velshdt and Fredore’s cousin, would have been eager to aid him, and Fredore knew it. Unfortunately, he knew just as well that doing so would have spelled doom for Kanses in the long run."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve trapped this castle to the nines, and we’ll be making our enemies’ lives hell even after they claim it. Couran’s strategy will fail, and this is where it will all fall to pieces,” said Fredore with a malicious smirk. He’d made peace with the fact that he would die before the battle was over, and he’d ensured that the only soldiers who remained in Castle Samkh all shared his resolve."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Later that night, Fredore had found the time to take a brief nap. Nervous as he was, no one could stay awake forever. However, he’d chosen a poor moment to catch up on his rest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s an emergency, Milord!” a soldier bellowed as he burst into Fredore’s bedchamber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Has it begun?!” Fredore shouted as he leaped out of bed, certain that Couran had commenced his assault."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, it’s not the enemy,” the soldier sputtered. “It’s our aqua magia storehouse! There’s been an explosion, and our reserves have been wasted!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-They what?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All of our flame and explosion-aspected aqua magia is gone! We won’t be able to repel an enemy assault at this rate!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Despite having just been roused from a dead slumber, Fredore was as wide awake as he’d ever been. The shock was just that intense. The castle’s aqua magia reserves were meant to supply an enormous catalyzer installed within the keep. It would have allowed them to rain hell down upon an attacking army, gouging away at their numbers and dealing a massive blow to their morale. It was painfully easy for Fredore to understand just how much the loss of that capability would set his castle’s defenses back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have we been infiltrated?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I believe so…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the spy?! Have you found him?! This will only get worse if you don’t catch him! The aqua magia could be the least of our worries! He could throw the damn gates open, in the worst case! We wouldn’t last a day! Find him! Find him now!” Fredore shrieked, his face pallid with panic and anger."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Milord!” the soldier shouted, then spun around to search for the spy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that precise moment, however, a thunderous noise rang out. Fredore had heard such sounds before─it was the noise generated by a Rumble spell, and a noise that almost always spelled trouble. Fredore felt a sinking sensation in his gut the second he heard it, and a moment later, that feeling was proven all too prescient as a voice, enhanced to many times its natural volume by sound magic, echoed through the castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Attack! We’re under attack! The north gate’s been breached!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Night had long since fallen, but Couran’s encampment outside of Castle Samkh was abuzz with activity. His soldiers stood at the ready, prepared to begin their assault at any moment. I didn’t anticipate that I’d be participating in said assault, however─nor would Couran, Lumeire, or any of the army’s other high-ranking commanding officers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As far as I understood the plan, the moment the gates opened, a group of Couran’s most elite soldiers would rush inside to secure the gatehouse. Earlier that evening, Ben had found me and informed me that the Shadows would tell us that the gate was open by way of a Rumble spell. I’d already informed Couran, who in turn had informed his soldiers, so that spell would be the signal that set the whole operation off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, the distinctive sound of a Rumble spell echoed across the plains. It was too dark out to see what was happening in detail, but I could tell that the entire army had started moving out. Our assault on Castle Samkh had begun."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now we just have to hope the castle falls with little resistance,” muttered Couran, who was standing nearby."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, shouts, screams, and the enemy’s magically-enhanced messages and orders began to ring out, accompanied by the occasional explosion. Those last noises I could attribute to our own mages, who’d been supplied with explosive aqua magia for this particular mission. Charlotte, however, was not among them─she and Rietz were both with me, standing by as part of our reserve force."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, on the other hand, had chosen to participate in the initial attack. In her own words, “I’ll lose my edge if I don’t get a decent fight in one of these days!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was a little caught off-guard by that, considering what a lazy bum she came off as most of the time. On the other hand, she was as strong as most men, and a capable fighter to boot. She’d chosen to wield a glaive in this particular battle: a weapon that resembled a spear with a sword attached to one end. It was on the hefty side of things, but Mireille swung it around with practiced ease."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille had trained with a wide variety of weapons, it seemed, but the glaive was her personal favorite. She’d also brought along a small catalyzer, enabling her to wield magic as well. I knew well how tough Mireille was, but I had to admit, I was still a little worried about her. She didn’t seem like the sort of person who would die in vain, so those worries were likely groundless, but still."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We stood there, waiting for word from our invading force. After a far too brief period, a single soldier rushed over to deliver a report."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Castle Samkh has fallen, Your Lordship! The enemy is routed, and the Count of Samkh has been apprehended!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well done!” Couran shouted. “And with such speed! You certainly didn’t take your time!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems the enemy planned their defense around magical traps within the castle walls,” the soldier explained. “By the time we arrived, however, every single one of them had been disabled. The spies you sent in may well have won us the day.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Did they, now? Then you are owed a fair share of credit for introducing them to us, Ars,” said Couran, turning to me. “Thanks to your contribution, we’ve claimed Castle Samkh with ease. I see once again that I was right to turn to you for help.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was happy to receive his praise, but I also felt a little uncomfortable considering that, once again, I hadn’t done much on the actual battlefield."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, I wish to speak to the count. Bring Fredore here at once.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Milord!” the soldier replied, then spun about and rushed back toward the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I soon learned that we’d taken an awful lot of captives this time around. That, I assumed, meant I’d be put to use for the same sort of judicial process as at Fort Vakmakro. I wasn’t at all excited by the prospect, but I knew that if Couran ordered me to do so, I’d have very little choice in the matter. All I could do was prepare myself for when the moment came."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I tried to steel my nerves for that development, a woman wearing a maid uniform stepped up to me. It took me a moment longer than it should’ve to realize that “she” was, in fact, Pham. His work complete, he’d returned to me much quicker than I’d anticipated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nicely done,” I whispered to ensure nobody around us overheard me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Great, thanks. So, think you could throw a bonus onto that payment?” Pham asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What for?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There was an unexpected factor we took care of for you,” he explained. “We could’ve ignored it, but you might’ve lost half your army if things went south, so we figured you’d prefer we get it done.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? Start over, and actually explain it this time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The basement was rigged with a real nasty, specialized magical trap. Long story short, they were ready to blow the whole damn place up, castle and all. Whoever set the thing up must’ve been an incredible mage─dunno who it was, and considering it looked like it was cast around a hundred years ago, they’re probably dead. Point is, it was a real pain in the ass to disarm.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0037.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were going to blow up the entire castle?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, if the castle ever fell and its defenders were killed, they had a system in place to ensure the structure itself wouldn’t be used against them. That was a rather crafty move, and the fact that Pham’s crew had disarmed it saved us from incurring massive losses. I did have to wonder how much of a “pain in the ass” disarming the trap had been, considering the plan had gone according to schedule, but I decided not to question it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll negotiate with Lord Couran on your behalf,” I promised."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You do that,” Pham said, then left just as quickly as he’d appeared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Count of Samkh, Fredore Bandle, was brought to us. Our soldiers had to carry him, on account of him being bound hand and foot. His beard was the first thing I noticed about him. It was long and didn’t seem particularly well-kept. It was downright scraggly, even. His height wasn’t remarkable─I would’ve described it as average─and he had a muscular build that told me he could hold his own in a fight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "According to Couran, Fredore would not join his side no matter what we said or did to him. Killing him, however, would bring all sorts of complications with it, so Couran had decided to spare his life for the moment. In the long term, however, keeping him jailed had the potential to be even more tiresome, so it wasn’t the easiest of decisions to make. In any case, his capabilities wouldn’t play a factor in his fate, so I decided to refrain from appraising him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hello, Fredore,” said Couran. “I hardly need to ask, but for the record: have you any interest in becoming my subordinate?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you would have me,” Fredore said, hesitating for just a moment. “I would enter your service and fight by your side, Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran looked taken aback. That was not the answer he’d been expecting. His shock was only visible for a moment─it wouldn’t do to let his true feelings show during this sort of conversation─but that single instant was enough to tell me how surprised he was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fredore went on to tell us about how he’d fallen into conflict with his cousin, how he had no end of doubts regarding the manner in which Vasmarque conducted himself, and a wide variety of other explanations for his decision. Still, even with all those factors taken into consideration, it was hard to believe he was willing to side with us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unless… Wait… Of course!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The pieces finally clicked together the moment I remembered the trap that Pham mentioned. Fredore, in all likelihood, had no idea that it had been disabled. It seemed plausible that Fredore was plotting to lure Couran into the castle under the pretense of surrendering, then light the whole place up, killing both of them in the process. Unfortunately for his scheme, the trap that the whole plot centered around had already been dealt with. His self-sacrificing assassination attempt would never come to fruition."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” said Couran after Fredore finished his explanation. “I understand your position, and I would gladly─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Might I have a word, Your Lordship?” I asked, interrupting him before he could make any promises."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I thought you would want to hear a piece of information the spies I hired passed to me a moment ago. It seems there was an unbelievably dangerous trap set up within Castle Samkh that they’ve managed to disable.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” Fredore shouted in shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As such, if you intended to lure Lord Couran into your castle and end his life, you should know the effort would be wasted.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Impossible,” Fredore stammered. One look at him was enough to convince Couran my story was true, and he asked me for the details, which I readily provided, from the particulars of the trap to the plan I assumed Fredore had concocted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… Judging by how the good count has reacted to this news, I assume it’s all true. I never knew such a trap was possible─it seems I’ll have to be more vigilant than ever, going forward. Your spies will be rewarded generously for their service, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh!” grunted Fredore, the color draining from his face. He may have lost his castle in the span of a single night, but I presumed he thought he’d still be able to redeem himself by taking Couran with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Shall I assume, Fredore, that everything you just told me was a fabrication?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fredore didn’t respond. Instead, he just glared at Couran with a gaze as cold as ice and as baleful as hellfire. I would’ve been shaken to see someone give me that sort of look, but Couran seemed unmoved. It was, I supposed, the composure of a man who’d managed to maintain a position of power for years on end in the unstable environment that was the Summerforth Empire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lock him up in the castle jails,” Couran commanded. “Don’t let him out, no matter what happens.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Milord!” replied one of the nearby soldiers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Speak with his surviving followers as well. Those who are willing to swear fealty to me shall be spared, while those who refuse will be appraised by Ars. As before, I will take his report regarding their talents into consideration, then decide who will be jailed and who will be executed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon, a procession of prisoners was brought before me. Some of Fredore’s soldiers had fled toward Velshdt, but the majority of them had been captured. I wouldn’t have to appraise an entire castle’s worth of troops, since the successful escapees, those who were slain in battle, and the small number who agreed to swear allegiance to Couran made up most of the castle’s soldiers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The appraisals, if you would,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right,” I replied. I had way more people to deal with than I’d had back at Fort Vakmakro. However, I had no choice but to do what I could. It took quite some time, but I managed to make it through all of them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nobody struck me as truly exceptional this time around, though I did find that one of their commanding officers had a Valor of 88, which put him far above the mid-seventies score I’d expect from people in his position. Seven others seemed skilled enough that killing them would have been a waste, but that was about it. Once again, I was surprised by how rare talented individuals were. I was starting to appreciate just how lucky I’d been to meet Rietz and the others when I was young."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I told Couran everything I’d seen, sparing no detail, and he declared that those who would not serve him would be put to death the next day. Then, we retired to Castle Samkh to rest and discuss our strategy for the next stage of the war."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now that was the workout I’d been looking for!” said Mireille. She’d started drinking the second she got back from the assault on Castle Samkh. She’d sustained a few minor flesh wounds, but thankfully, she seemed fine."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just don’t go taking any unnecessary risks, please,” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Risks? Hah! You think I’d get myself killed in a place like this?” Mireille replied indignantly. “You should’ve come along, Rietz!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps I should have. It has been too long since my last engagement,” Rietz replied. It seemed he was a little more battle-hungry than I’d thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t get to fight this time. I wanna hurry up and take on someone who’s worth my time!” Charlotte grumbled. I was starting to suspect that people with high Valor scores were just more combative on the whole."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Meh, you wouldn’t have had much luck there. We only faced grunts and small fries this time around. Hope we’ll get some real opponents in the next battle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She’s planning on fighting again next time?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, right! I got some good info from one of the prisoners,” Mireille continued. “Seems my little brother got sent over to Velshdt!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your little brother?” I repeated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, he’s one of Vasmarque’s flunkies. Not exactly top-shelf material, but he is my brother, so he’s got a little more fight in him than the trash we dealt with here. Taking Velshdt might be an actual struggle! This is gonna be fun!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You seem awfully excited to go to war with your own brother,” I observed. “Wouldn’t most people be upset about that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Upset? Why?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean, isn’t it normal to not want to fight your family?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oooh, I get it. We used to get along okay, sure, but not so much these days. I’d be fine with killing him if it came to that,” Mireille casually explained. It didn’t seem like she was putting on a front, either─there was no sense of familial affection in how she talked about her brother. I was once again reminded that Mireille had a very unusual way of looking at the world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What sort of person is your brother, Master?” asked Rosell. He’d taken to calling her “Master” in the time I’d been away from my estate, it seemed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm─good question… He used to be a brainless little moron, but he learned to use his head a little as he grew up. I’ve heard rumors that he’s Vasmarque’s right-hand man these days, if you can believe it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Doesn’t that mean he’s kind of amazing?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hard to say. He’s smarter than the average peasant, for sure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was having a hard time telling if she held her brother’s capabilities in high esteem or not. I couldn’t imagine Vasmarque would have sent him to Velshdt if he was incompetent, though. If he were, that would be a sign that Vasmarque was awful at choosing his most trusted subordinates."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, it was clear that the fight for Velshdt would be harder than the conquest of Castle Samkh in terms of its leadership, its garrison, and the sturdiness of the castle itself. We would still have them outnumbered, but that didn’t mean we’d be able to just waltz in and storm the place this time. Castle Samkh might have proven simple to claim, but I couldn’t let myself get used to that sort of good fortune. I’d have to plan and prepare with great caution before our next engagement. Conveniently enough, it wasn’t long before Couran gathered his retainers for a meeting regarding the imminent conquest of Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The battle for Castle Samkh is won, and thanks to your valiant efforts, our victory came at negligible cost! All of you have my sincerest thanks,” Couran said as our latest council of war began."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He went on to explain that our next move would be to bring the entirety of the County of Samkh under our control. We’d claimed the castle, but there were still pockets of resistance elsewhere in the county, and we couldn’t claim to have conquered Samkh until all of them were eliminated. Luckily, there weren’t all that many of them, so he didn’t anticipate the mop-up process would take an egregious amount of time. Couran declared who would be responsible for suppressing the remaining resistance in Samkh, and neither I nor Lumeire were among them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that discussion concluded, we moved to the primary topic at hand: the strategy for our invasion of Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To begin with,” said Couran. “Rosell. What are your thoughts on the matter?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe that we should carry out our attack with all due haste─even quicker than we swept through Samkh,” Rosell replied. After all the plans he’d contributed to so far, it seemed Couran and the rest of his followers had formed quite a high opinion of Rosell and his perspective. Virtually no one looked down on him on account of his age anymore, and even the nobles present lent his words serious consideration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t imagine our enemy anticipated that we would advance this quickly, and I’m certain they aren’t yet prepared to face us. If we take advantage of this opportunity to strike several key strategic locations, it could prove instrumental in the long term.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed,” said Couran. “As it so happens, I had the same thought. Pressing our advantage will incur no small number of risks, but I believe it is for the best. We will have to claim Castle Staatz before an invasion of Castle Velshdt is feasible, of course, and Castle Staatz is known for being nigh impregnable. If we give them the time to improve their defenses, the losses we’ll incur will be severe─and needless to say, the fewer casualties now, the easier our eventual invasion of Velshdt will become.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s other advisors spoke up one after the other to advocate for his and Rosell’s plan. I was motivated to get the war over with as quickly as possible, so I also agreed with that course of action. I thought that nobody was going to object until suddenly, Mireille leaped into the conversation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait a minute─bad plan. You’ll get us all killed at this rate,” she said. I was a little surprised. I’d expected her to be the sort of person who’d be all for seizing the initiative. “I’m guessing you haven’t heard that my brother’s gonna be in charge of the enemy’s forces from now on, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have, in fact, been informed of that matter. To my understanding, Thomas has been stationed in Velshdt to coordinate their defense.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I shouldn’t have to tell you that you need to tread lightly. Ambushes are my brother’s specialty. If your army has a weakness that can be exploited, he’ll see through it and hit you right where it hurts most when you least expect it. Rush into a battle with him, and you’ll regret it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I must admit, you would know Thomas better than any of us,” said Couran. “However, I cannot dismiss the possibility that you’ve chosen to advocate for a passive strategy out of a desire to not see your own brother slain.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re kidding, right? My brother’s one of the enemy’s key advisors! Do you realize how far up in the world I’d move if I offed him? Why would I not want him dead? If he were here, I’d chop his head off myself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have very little regard for your own family, it would seem,” said Couran with a frown."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m surprised you’d criticize me for that, considering you’re trying to kill your brother for the title of duke.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran fell silent. That, it seemed, was a point he couldn’t argue against. Unfortunately, it was also not a point he’d be pleased with, and Mireille was my subordinate. If I didn’t chastise her, I knew it would reflect poorly on me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s enough, Mireille,” I said. “You’ve spoken out of turn.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hm? Oh, right. My bad.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t convinced she understood what was wrong with what she’d said, but I was grateful that she apologized anyway."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For the record, I’m not saying this ’cause he’s my brother─I’m saying it ’cause keeping that in mind will increase our odds of victory.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, I understand very well now that compassion does not motivate your actions,” said Couran. “Nevertheless, if we do not seize the initiative here, I cannot see how we’ll ever hope to topple Castle Staatz.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not saying we have to slow our advance to a crawl or anything,” replied Mireille. “I just mean that moving faster than we already are would open us up to attacks. You can see how that would be a problem, yeah?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So you propose that we advance at the same rate as before?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. I think our current pace strikes just the right balance between speed and caution.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And if we progress at the same rate, will we be able to claim Castle Staatz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good question. They’ll be bolstering their defenses, so we should start working out a plan for taking down a fully fortified castle, just in case.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What would such a plan entail? Sending in spies as we did for Castle Samkh?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’d be a tough trick to pull off twice. Our enemies aren’t stupid, and when they learn how quickly the castle fell, it won’t be hard for them to figure out that spies were to blame. Their guards will be wary of that sort of trick, and no matter how skilled your spies are, it’d be hard to pull off a job when your target’s ready for you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wouldn’t be convinced of that until I’d asked Pham for his perspective, but I had to admit that infiltrating a fort that was alerted to your presence did sound much harder than infiltrating a fort that was unaware of the danger you posed. All of that, however, left a question burning in my mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But wait, Mireille,” I said. “In that case, how should we take down the castle?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve got plenty of options. We could find a way to blackmail one of their commanders or leak false info to throw their defenses into chaos. We could lure the defenders out of the castle and into a trap or declare a ceasefire, then ambush them the second they lower their guard. We could take this in all sorts of directions, but I can’t say which would be the most effective yet. First things first, we need more info. Those spies of yours might not be able to bring the whole castle down again, but they can do that much for us, can’t they? And hey, even if they can’t make it into the castle to get the juiciest info, tidbits gleaned from the surrounding area could make all the difference.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was convinced by her logic. It wasn’t like we’d be able to clean up the resistance in the County of Samkh and proceed directly to Castle Staatz─there were smaller forts on the border that we’d have to deal with, so we’d have plenty of time to gather information. Couran seemed to agree, as he declared that he would refrain from moving forward with excessive haste. We’d gather information on Castle Staatz, then iron out a concrete plan once we had a clear picture of what we were dealing with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our invasion of Velshdt would begin soon. If we emerged victorious, it would increase Couran’s odds of defeating Vasmarque and claiming his place as the Duke of Missian."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My ultimate goal was to make the land I lived in as prosperous and peaceful as possible. If Couran defeated Vasmarque and granted me the position of Count of Canarre, as promised, I’d have taken a major step toward the fulfillment of that objective. War was far from my area of expertise, but I was resolved to do everything in my power to help lead us to victory."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0039.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you for purchasing volume two of As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World! This is the author, Miraijin A, speaking."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This volume is scheduled for publication right around the end of the year. 2020 has been quite difficult in all sorts of ways on a global scale, but on a personal level, I’ve managed to publish multiple books and have had my stories used as the basis for comic adaptations. It’s been a good year for me, all things considered. I have nothing but gratitude for the good people at Kodansha for publishing this book despite these turbulent times, and I’m truly grateful beyond words for my readers who bought the novel."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The first volume of Reincarnated Aristocrat focused primarily on the main character’s quest to assemble a team of talented followers, but this second volume is centered around the conflict between a pair of brothers who each seek to rule over Missian. How did that new plot structure feel to you? I certainly hope you found it entertaining."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ve always loved historical stories that engage with battles and political maneuvering alike. I’ve read all sorts of comics and novels based on Japan’s Warring States Period and the Records of the Three Kingdoms, and I love watching historical dramas set in those eras. Needless to say, I’ve played my fair share of video games based on the subject as well! This volume was extra fun for me to write due to all that knowledge─though with the fun came a newfound understanding of just how difficult stories like this are to tell. Depicting battles and politics requires an incredible degree of knowledge and descriptive ability, and writing a story involving those things was no easy task. I felt a clear and pressing need to improve my skills as I wrote."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several new characters were introduced to the cast this volume. Stories that center around medieval conflicts like this one tend to have a ton of characters, and I know it might be hard for my readers to remember all of them, but trust me: it gets confusing for us authors sometimes, too! Personally speaking, I find that the more retainers there are in a story like this the more interesting it becomes, so I’m planning to add tons of characters as the story progresses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I intend to bring the story of the war in Missian to a conclusion of sorts in the next volume. This installment was full of battles that our heroes won surprisingly easily, but you can expect them to have a harder time in the next one! That means I’ll have plenty of opportunities to push Rietz, Charlotte, and the others into the spotlight. And, as I implied a moment ago, we’ll be seeing some new characters as well! I’ll do my best to write a book that my readers will enjoy, so I hope I see you again when volume three is published!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0040.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 2"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Miraijin A"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This is Kumamoto resident and full-time author Miraijin A speaking! The spread of the coronavirus has turned 2020 into a real mess, but personally speaking, I got a ton of books published, had some of my stories turned into manga, and my favorite baseball team, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, won the Japan Series! It was a pretty good year for me, all around, and I hope that the virus will settle down and that next year will be even better!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m the illustrator, jimmy! I’m pretty much nocturnal─I just can’t shake the habit. I hope you like the book!"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-02-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0041.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The invasion of Velshdt has begun. I know that you’re all up to the task, and I’ll be expecting you to give it your best,” I, Ars Louvent, said to my assembled retainers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would put my very life on the line for your sake if the circumstances called for it, Lord Ars,” replied Rietz. “The conquest of Velshdt will be a pivotal step toward our ultimate victory in this war. We can be certain that our accomplishments will earn you the fame and respect you deserve, and as such, I will spare no effort!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was far and away the most devoted out of all my retainers, and the most capable to boot. I had absolute faith in his abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My magic’ll make this a piece of cake,” said Charlotte. Her confidence was well and good, but I couldn’t help but think she was taking our upcoming battles a little too lightly. On the other hand, her magic was almost unimaginably powerful, and she was right in the sense that it would be a major asset in battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think the pressure’s gonna kill me… Oh, god, my stomach,” groaned Rosell, who looked pallid. His tactical genius was unfortunately accompanied by an inclination toward catastrophic pessimism─in short, he had his strong points and weak points."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should try to relax a little, Rosell,” I said, in the hopes of alleviating some of his tension."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-This is going to be an incredibly important stage of the war! We can’t afford to lose, and that means we can’t afford to relax for even a second!” Rosell snapped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Kid’s got a point,” added Mireille with an air of knowing authority. “You can never tell what’s gonna happen on the battlefield, no matter how hard you think through the situation.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille had the most experience in the field out of all my retainers, and her stats were remarkably high as well. The one issue that kept me from putting too much faith in her was her personality. She had quirks, to say the least."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It struck me that I was wrapped up in a situation that was out of my league, considering what my previous life had been like. Before my reincarnation I was just your everyday white-collar office worker in Japan. With that in mind, the idea of me becoming a baron in another world and leading an army into a battle with the fate of the whole duchy on the line was just absurd. I wasn’t built for this sort of drama, and every once in a while the whole scenario felt surreal beyond description. I didn’t have a choice, though: I’d been born into the aristocracy, and that meant I had to do everything in my power to fulfill my role."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A soldier burst into the meeting room in Castle Velshdt, the single most important strategic location in all of the County of Velshdt. “News from Samkh!” he shouted. “The castle has fallen, and is occupied by the enemy!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Count of Velshdt, Kanses Bandle, had been in the middle of a war council at the time, but the soldier now had his full attention. “Th-That can’t be,” he muttered. “First Vakmakro fell with stunning speed, and now Castle Samkh has suffered the same fate…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Samkh was not a fully-fortified citadel, but it was situated in a more defensible location than Fort Vakmakro. It had also been defended by Kanses’s very own cousin, Fredore, a man in whom Kanses had the utmost of faith. For the castle to have fallen nigh instantaneously was news that exceeded even the most pessimistic scenarios Kanses had considered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s a setback I sure didn’t see coming… Do we know anything about how the castle fell?” asked Thomas Grunzeon, a master tactician who had been dispatched to aid in the defense of Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid not, Your Lordship!” replied the soldier. “We were told the castle fell, but nothing about how it happened.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then,” said Thomas with a nod. “It’s only a matter of time before the specifics find their way to us…but I’d bet the enemy has a skilled spy in their number.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A spy?” repeated Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t add up otherwise. The castle wouldn’t have fallen so fast without a man inside,” said Thomas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But surely Fredore would have ensured his castle was defended against such sabotage?” asked Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He probably had,” Thomas admitted. “I’d bet he just didn’t do enough.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. Then perhaps we should redouble our own defenses in that regard,” said Kanses with a thoughtful frown. “Speaking of Fredore, what happened to him? Does he still live?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The Count was captured by the enemy,” said the soldier. “He may live, or he may have been executed.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” Kanses sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A man like Fredore would be a valuable hostage,” Thomas noted. “I think there’s a good chance they’d keep him alive, just in case.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A subtle hint of relief flashed across Kanses’s face. He was fond of his cousin, and would have been bereaved to learn of his passing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thomas,” Kanses said, “what do you believe our enemy’s next move will be?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Conventional tactics would call for a swift assault on Castle Staatz. That’d give them a solid staging ground to take on the rest of the county from, and they know we weren’t prepared for Samkh to fall that quickly. They’ll be looking to take advantage of our lowered guard and rush in before we’ve finished preparing for their assault.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In which case it would behoove us to prepare our forces to mount a defense as soon as possible,” said Kanses."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s the ticket,” agreed Thomas with a nod. “The good news is that if they make the moves I’m expecting them to, we’ll have a decent shot at winning this.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How so?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The faster you march an army like theirs, the more openings you end up leaving for a surprise attack to catch you off guard.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. And if I recall, such ambushes are your specialty.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. I don’t know if I’d be able to take out Couran himself, but I should be able to sever their supply chain and bring their advance to a standstill.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re blessed to have a man with your skills on our side,” said Kanses. He’d been worried that Samkh’s sudden fall would spell the imminent end of his rule, but Thomas’s reassurances made him feel a slight resurgence of hope."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no guarantee that the enemy’ll rush in like I’m hoping, though. Some of them probably know that surprise attacks are my standard procedure, and there’s a chance they’ll be on guard as well. If that ends up being the case, they’ll either move in at a more normal pace or try to pull some other maneuver,” Thomas said, then sank into thought for a moment. “To start, we should make sure we’re prepared to deal with any spies that try to slip their way in. We’ll send troops to the forts near the front, too, and have them prepare for battle posthaste. After that, well, that depends on what sort of new info comes in.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood. I’ll send word to the commanders of every fort at once,” said Kanses, then hurried off to begin penning his messages. In them, he included notes regarding Castle Samkh’s fall, the fact that they should be prepared for an imminent invasion, and that they should be extra alert for the possibility of spies. Finally, he added that any information regarding the enemy should be relayed to him at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Velshdt’s soldiers were few in number, but their preparations for a long, painful defense had begun nonetheless."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0009.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The execution of the prisoners we’d captured during our conquest of Castle Samkh was carried out within the castle itself. It was a gruesome scene, but I’d witnessed enough horrors since the war began that I was starting to get a little used to them. I knew that I couldn’t let myself be shaken by that sort of thing if I was going to get by as a noble in this world, so I decided to think of my desensitization as a good thing─though on the other hand, I knew that I couldn’t let myself get too desensitized and start being unaffected by death."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As for my next moves, I requested that the Shadows gather information throughout the County of Velshdt. I considered having them look into Castle Staatz, but ended up deciding to have them check out the important strategic locations between us and the castle first."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Assaulting Castle Staatz right after our conquest of Castle Samkh would be impossible, given the current state of things. The County of Velshdt had a number of highly-defensible forts spread throughout it, and if we rushed ahead and let our guards down, it was very possible we’d find our advance stymied. And so, I told the Shadows to get me information on all the castles and forts we’d need to take down before we could march on Castle Staatz proper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That bit of reconnaissance aside, our forces were occupied with wiping out the remaining resistance in the County of Samkh, as we’d previously planned. There weren’t many enemy soldiers left, thankfully, and gaining total control over the county didn’t take long at all. Before I knew it, the county had fallen into Couran’s hands, and it was time for us to turn our attention to the conquest of Velshdt in earnest. Led by Couran, the bulk of our forces sallied forth from Castle Samkh, and needless to say, I was part of that group."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our first step toward conquering Velshdt was taking over a stronghold called Fort Valdsen. The fort was located in close proximity to the border with Samkh, and if we managed to claim it, it would serve as an excellent staging ground for the rest of the invasion. The one problem, however, was that Fort Valdsen was far from poorly defended. Not only were its fortifications sound, but it was watched over by a commander who was well known for his competence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When we stopped to rest partway through our march, Couran called his commanding officers together for a council."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A frontal assault would cost us, but I’m afraid I see no other option,” he said as he solicited us for advice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So far, Couran’s invasion had progressed with a rather low rate of casualties. On top of that, a fair number of the common soldiers from regions we’d already conquered had joined us. In total, we actually had more soldiers on our side than we’d started with. Staging a frontal assault would have its fair share of advantages─the most important of which was the speed with which it could be carried out─but we were sure to lose plenty of men in the process. Couran, it seemed, felt that at the present moment we were more pressed for time than we were for troops."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Losing a few troops here and there might not be a disaster, but if we want to take down Fort Valdsen head-on, we’re also gonna need to expend a hell of a lot of aqua magia,” commented Mireille. “That’s something you should keep in mind.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A frontal assault would involve a similar tactic to the one we’d used to bring down Fort Vakmakro: blasting a hole in the outer walls with powerful siege magic, then storming in through that opening. Vakmakro’s unimpressive magical defenses and Charlotte’s superlative magical talent had enabled the tactic to be quite effective back then, but Fort Valdsen was supposedly much more prepared to ward off that sort of assault. It would take an awful lot of high-level magic to pierce through the fort’s defenses, and that would involve using up a ton of aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I also believe we should keep our aqua magia expenditures at a minimum,” chimed in Rietz. “After all, there’s no telling how much of it our enemies may be holding in reserve.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Aqua magia, is it?” Couran muttered as he furrowed his brow. “I’ll grant you the point, but the fact remains that we have little in the way of alternative options. Would you have us lay siege to the fort? I’m sure you realize we don’t have that sort of time to spare.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“While we’re on that subject,” said Rosell, “I’m guessing that Fort Valdsen’s commander is operating under orders to stall us for as long as possible. I doubt that he’ll be inclined to go on the offensive, considering the circumstances.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That made the prospect of siege warfare even less appealing. If a fort’s defenders never chose to rush out for an attack, it could take an interminable amount of time for them to run out of resources and be forced to give up. Under the current circumstances, a siege just wasn’t an option for us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, if a direct assault would be too costly and a siege too lengthy, what would you propose as a better option?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seems to me that we should look into taking over the fort without fighting at all,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Taking over the fort without fighting?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In other words, I presumed, she was suggesting we find a way to convince the fort’s defenders to join our side. In the best case, that would allow us to secure victory without spilling a drop of blood or wasting an excess of time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is that feasible?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hard to say,” replied Mireille with a shrug. “Seems worth giving it a try, though. The enemy knows they’re fighting at a disadvantage, and I’m sure some of them aren’t interested in dying in vain. And in the worst case, we can just go for a frontal assault when subterfuge fails.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A fair point indeed,” said Couran. “Perhaps there is merit to making an attempt. I am convinced─we will begin by making an effort to coax the enemy into defecting and supporting our cause.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that decided, our next step was to figure out who would be responsible for carrying out the scheme. “Does anyone have a proposal for who would be well-suited to bringing the enemy around?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One by one, the assembled nobles stepped up to volunteer themselves for the task. A few of them claimed to be acquaintances with the commander of Fort Valdsen, and I assumed Couran was likely to choose one of them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I nominate the kiddo I work for to handle the job,” said Mireille before Couran could reach a decision, much to my bemusement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait, why me?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because you’ve got a real knack for negotiations,” said Mireille. “Plus, your power could give you some insight into what the guy wants from us, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My power doesn’t make me all-knowing!” I snapped back, though in truth, the enemy commander’s Ambition score would give me a degree of insight into whether or not it would be possible to convince him to sell out his current lord. If his Ambition was low, I’d know that we’d have to dangle a very tempting incentive in front of him to make him even consider the proposal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars is an indispensable asset to my army,” said Couran. “I am less than inclined to send him out to participate in negotiations that could prove dangerous.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They don’t have to be, though,” said Mireille. “Why not start by sending a letter saying you want to talk with their commander? If he’s open to that, we can start the real negotiations. Knowing he’s willing to talk to us at all will let us know if it’s even worth trying to bring him over to our side, and if he agrees to the talks in advance, I have a hard time imagining he’ll murder our negotiator.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nevertheless, we can’t rule out the possibility he’ll take such an extreme step,” pointed out Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we were that obsessed with worst-case scenarios, we wouldn’t be sending the kid out onto the battlefield either,” countered Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm,” said Couran, once again lapsing into thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille was as silver-tongued as ever, and had backed him into a corner. I, meanwhile, was beside myself with worry that she’d go a step too far and infuriate him. Part of me wanted to tell her that if she had that much of a way with words she should just go handle it on her own, but on the other hand, I could imagine her insulting the enemy commander to his face and ruining the negotiations before they even began."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What are your thoughts on the matter, Ars?” asked Couran, turning to me next."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t sure how dangerous the task would be, honestly, but I was certain that the points Mireille had made were sound. We stood to gain quite a lot if we managed to pull the mission off, and Couran had proven generous with monetary rewards for that sort of accomplishment in the past. I was never one to turn down the chance to make some money, but the question was whether or not I could manage it. Frankly, I wasn’t at all sure I was up to the task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was worried that failure would lower Couran’s opinion of me, of course, but more than that, I was worried that screwing this up would delay the conquest of Velshdt. Considering that my biggest goal was to win this war as fast as possible, it didn’t make sense to overextend myself in search of glory if that meant risking a delay. I was leaning toward leaving it up to one of the nobles who was acquainted with the enemy leader…but when I paused to take a closer look at the nobles in question, I noticed that all of them had high Valor but low Politics scores. Suddenly, I found myself doubting whether they could handle the job on a basic level."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We did have people with high Politics scores on our side─there was Robinson, for one thing─so it didn’t seem necessary for me to play a part. However, I had a feeling that my Appraisal skill would be at least somewhat useful in this sort of under-the-table negotiation. I soon came to the conclusion that it would be best to send me along with one of the nobles who knew the commander, or maybe Robinson, and have me serve as the primary negotiator’s support."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m willing to take on the task,” I said, “but I don’t think that I’m capable of succeeding alone. That being said, if I had someone like Sir Robinson or an acquaintance of the enemy leader along with me, I believe we may be able to accomplish this mission.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm─so you wish for Robinson to lend you his aid?” Couran asked, then paused to consider my proposal. “I’ll grant you that sending Robinson would improve the odds of your success, but at the same time, it would make our losses all the greater should negotiations fail… Though I suppose that sending someone the commander knows would lessen the likelihood he would choose to slay the lot of you. Nevertheless, I shall have to assign a skilled guard to accompany you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed to me that Couran had made up his mind, and as I suspected, it wasn’t long before he’d drafted a letter to send to Fort Valdsen. That was our attempt to test the waters, in a sense. If the enemy commander literally killed the messenger, we’d know there was no choice but to claim the fort by force. The messenger, however, returned in short order."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The leader of the forces at Fort Valdsen, Lord Ruper, is willing to engage in talks with us,” the messenger reported."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The talks were set to take place on enemy grounds, and we wouldn’t be allowed to bring our weapons with us. I had a sword─not that I could use it─which was taken from me before the negotiations began. I wasn’t excited about the idea of our group being unarmed, but I was told that the enemy’s party would be leaving their weapons behind as well, which made me feel at least a little more secure. This meant that the escort Couran assigned to us was disarmed as well, of course, but I figured that if they were as tough as he seemed to think they were, they wouldn’t need weapons to protect us if worst came to worst."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of all those precautions, the talks weren’t to be held within the enemy fort itself. We’d be meeting their party in a garden just outside of the fort’s front gates. It seemed the idea was that this would serve as safe ground, where we’d be able to tell immediately if anyone nearby was armed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A round table had been set up in the middle of the garden, before which a middle-aged man was sitting. As we approached, he stood up and spoke."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well met,” said the man. “It is good to see you once more, Sir Volance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Likewise, Sir Ruper,” said Volance, the noble who’d been sent along with us on account of him knowing Ruper. That exchange confirmed to me that we were speaking with the fort’s commanding officer. Apparently, Volance and Ruper had fought side by side in some conflict in the past. They weren’t friends, per se, but they were at least acquaintances, and their connection was the least tenuous option available to us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would the men behind you be Sir Robinson and Sir Ars?” asked Ruper."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That is correct,” confirmed Volance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ruper gave me a quizzical look, which was understandable, considering I was very conspicuously still a child. My presence here was odd, especially knowing how important these talks would be. To Ruper’s credit, though, he didn’t choose to voice his doubts, instead directing us to have a seat. I obliged, then appraised him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The usual status window popped up right away…or so I thought, but an instant later the writing was obscured as the window was filled with what looked like TV static. A jolt of surprise ran through me─had I lost the ability to use my skill?─but thankfully, just a moment later, the window returned to its normal appearance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What the heck was that? I wondered. Nothing of the sort had ever happened before, but since I could read his stats now, I decided to try not to obsess over it and keep my head in the moment. I shook the surprise off, then gave Ruper’s stats a look."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ruper’s stats were nothing to sneeze at, and his ambition was on the higher side of things. That explained why he’d been willing to talk with the enemy in the first place. I figured that a man as capable as he was, with an Ambition as high as his, might very well be less than satisfied with the hand his superiors had dealt him in this war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that I knew his stats, I just had to figure out how to use that as a tool in our negotiations. I didn’t know how useful my insight was, but at the very least I’d be able to see through to his true Ambition even if he was the type who’d make an effort to hide it."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0011.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As far as the rest of his stats went, his Valor was low, but everything else was high across the board. I could tell he wasn’t the sort of person who’d fight on the front lines. That plus his high Ambition gave me an image of a careful, thoughtful man who harbored quite the scheming nature deep down. If I was right, then as long as we laid out the merits of betraying his current master, he would be willing to jump ship. He was fighting at an undeniable disadvantage, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran had given us a summary of the perks we could use to lure him to our side, the most major of which was offering him a position as count after the invasion was over. Once Vasmarque and his followers were defeated, a number of Missianite counties would be bereft of their counts, and Ruper would be able to step in to take one of their places. Our allies probably wouldn’t be happy about that position being handed off to a former foe, but in Couran’s mind, the immediate benefits outweighed that long-term issue. With an offer like that on the table it seemed there’d be no good reason for him to turn down our proposal…but I wasn’t convinced it’d be that easy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The negotiations began with a period of perfunctory small talk between Ruper and Volance. I could tell in an instant that they didn’t know each other very well, just from the way they spoke to each other. Before long, Robinson seized an opportunity to step in and steer the conversation toward our true objective. When he proposed that Ruper join forces with us, though, Ruper’s response came swiftly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have sworn loyalty to Lord Vasmarque and Lord Kanses,” said Ruper. “As such, I am afraid I must humbly decline your offer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t tell if he was turning us down because he couldn’t bring himself to take the offer, or because he thought we wouldn’t trust him if he jumped on the offer without hesitation. Robinson followed up by explaining that we could guarantee him a position as count should he accept, but that did nothing to sway him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What’s there not to like about the deal? I figured someone with as high of an Ambition as him would be dead set on moving up in the world, I thought. It just didn’t make sense. If his compunctions were so strong he’d never betray his current master, then why had he agreed to the negotiations in the first place? Was he putting on a front, and secretly wavering deep down? Or maybe he doubted our sincerity? If he was as cautious as he seemed, then he might have harbored the suspicion that Couran would sooner cut him loose and pretend the deal never happened than appoint Ruper to his promised position and risk inciting the wrath of his other subordinates."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What could we do to gain his trust, though? Maybe we could sign the agreement in blood, or something? Couran had expressed a willingness to offer some extreme incentives if it would lure Ruper onto our side, so surely he’d be willing to spare a spoonful of blood or two for the cause! And if that failed, well, the only idea I could come up with was just arguing the man into submission. Robinson and Volance both seemed to be drawing a blank on that front, so I was going to have to step in and take the lead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you, perhaps, unconvinced that you’ll be offered the position of count in the end?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, that is not the issue at hand. You see, I do not wish to be a traitor,” said Ruper, but not before hesitating for just a moment. That told me that he was questioning his decision."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I assure you, Lord Ruper, that Lord Couran proposed this offer in complete sincerity,” I said. “He will keep his promise─I believe he would go so far as to sign a blood oath to that effect, should you require it. In fact, I would be willing to ask him to do so at once, and I have every confidence that he will agree without hesitation.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nevertheless─” Ruper began, but I wasn’t quite finished yet, so I cut him off before he could say another word."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should know, Lord Ruper, that Lord Couran is appalled at the thought that a man of your standing has been wasted on a fort like this. He told me as much himself.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ruper fell silent. If he hadn’t been wavering before, I was confident he was now. Finally, he spoke once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Betraying my liege would be a stain upon my character. A man who is known as a traitor would have little hope of earning the trust of the citizens within his realm. I find myself questioning whether ascending to the position of count would hold any meaning under those circumstances,” he explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh, I get it─this is a question of reputation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do not believe your good name would suffer at all, under these circumstances,” I explained. “At the moment, your force is beset by a far superior foe. Anyone could see that you stand no chance of victory, and most importantly, you were not responsible for putting yourself in this position. No, the fault lies with Vasmarque and Kanses, the men who laid out the strategy for this county’s defense. If they intended to hold this fort, they would have sent reinforcements a long time ago, yet it seems to me that the Count of Velshdt has no intention of supplying any such support.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The groundwork was laid. Now, I just had to strike the finishing blow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I may presume to speculate upon your count’s intentions, I would guess that he ordered you to buy time, and nothing more. In other words, he has chosen to sacrifice you. It pains me, Lord Ruper, to think that a man of your talents would be cast aside so flagrantly. Your superiors have failed in their judgment, and in doing so, they have failed you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even I was surprised by just how fast the argument had come to me, and how eloquently I’d laid it out. Maybe being born into the aristocracy and speaking with so many different people over the course of my life had made me a better conversationalist? In any case, I told Ruper that we didn’t expect an immediate answer, and that we would give him two days to think our offer through. With that, our talks concluded─and from my perspective, they’d concluded favorably."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Two days passed by before I knew it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I expect we’ll receive Ruper’s response before long,” said Couran. “Do you believe he will choose to turn traitor, Ars?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“At the very least, I felt like he was considering it,” I replied. By the end of my talk with him, it had seemed like Ruper was intrigued by the possibilities. I felt that, all things considered, I’d done a good job of using the information I’d gained about his personality and Ambition to convince him, and I thought there was a decent possibility that my efforts would bear fruit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Couran!” shouted a soldier. “A messenger has arrived bearing word from Sir Ruper!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good. Let him through,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The messenger was guided to us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for lending me your ear, Your Lordship,” he said. “Lord Ruper has requested that I inform you of his intent.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I waited with bated breath. His next words would determine whether our plan had failed or succeeded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“His Lordship thought long and hard regarding the merits of your proposal,” said the messenger. “Although he owes a great deal to Lord Kanses, the Count of Velshdt, he also acknowledges the truth that as the eldest successor to the duke, Lord Couran bears a stronger claim to the duchy than Lord Vasmarque. In light of this fact, and in light of the fact that he holds a responsibility to ensure that his retainers and his family are not used as sacrificial pawns, Lord Ruper has decided to accept your proposal and fight beneath your banner. Fort Valdsen formally offers you its surrender, Lord Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow, we’d pulled it off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excellent!” said Couran. “The fort is ours, and we’ve barely expended any time or soldiers in the process! This is a major step toward our ultimate victory, and once again, we owe the achievement to you, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t contribute much,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! Now’s not the time for humility! It’s the time to revel in our accomplishment─and to that end, let us pay our new fort a visit!” said Couran. He was clearly in the highest of spirits thanks to our stunning success."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran led our forces toward Fort Valdsen. There was still a chance that their surrender was a trap, so we proceeded with some caution, but when we arrived, we found the gates flung open. Ruper stood in the entryway alongside his now disarmed troops, and when they saw Couran approaching the fort they all bowed down in unison. It seemed they were making a formal gesture of surrender."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I bid you welcome, Lord Couran,” said Ruper, maintaining his bow all the while. “I, Ruper Roozton, do hereby pledge my service to your cause and offer up my men to supplement your forces.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran didn’t bother dismounting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rise,” he commanded, then waited for Ruper and his men to look up at him before continuing. “I accept you and yours under my command. Henceforth, you shall fight under my banner to take Velshdt by storm and cast Vasmarque down from his pretender’s throne!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ruper bowed once more and replied, “I will serve you to the best of my ability, Your Lordship!” he declared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed we didn’t have to worry about a trap after all. On that day, Fort Valdsen fell to Couran without a fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon after the success of our scheme to lure Ruper and his men over to our side, it was decided that a banquet would be held in celebration. I ended up seated with my retainers, eating and drinking as we chatted away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’ve outdone yourself this time, Lord Ars,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I just hope it’s earned me a little credit from Lord Couran,” I replied. “In any case, it does feel like the tide of battle is turning in our favor, doesn’t it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So far, our campaign had been a series of encounters almost entirely devoid of allied casualties. Enemy casualties, on the other hand, had been plentiful when they proved necessary, which wasn’t even always the case. Couran had held the advantage in numbers to begin with, and that disparity had grown so much that it was starting to feel like the rest of the war would be a walk in the park."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is no time to let our guards down,” said Rosell, almost as if he’d heard my thoughts and felt the need to dissuade me from them. “The enemy can’t afford to lose any more ground to us, and that means they’ll be fighting to the death from here on out. I think we’ll be seeing a real large-scale battle before much longer.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Meh,” chimed in Mireille. “A battle you can’t afford to lose is a battle you can’t afford to lose, no matter how many of ’em you’ve plowed through before it. That’s just how it goes in war, and we can’t afford to lose any of the battles we’re about to fight.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0013.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She made it sound like the idea of her letting her guard down was absurd in the first place─though then again, she was also well on her way to drowning herself in booze, so she might’ve just been talking off the cuff."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that participating in a large-scale battle would mean that the slightest mistake could lead to my death, and I was in no hurry to die. Especially considering I hadn’t lived that long yet! I resolved that keeping myself alive would have to be my top priority."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time later, I decided to appraise the newest additions to the army: Ruper’s men. I knew that recruiting someone who’d already sworn service to Couran was a lost cause, and it didn’t feel like I really had much to gain, but I also didn’t have anything to lose and decided there wouldn’t be any harm in giving them a check. When I appraised the first man, though, I was in for a shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” I grunted as I looked at his status screen. It looked the same as ever for the most part, listing his name, sex, age, status, and aptitudes, but there, at the very bottom of the screen, a new block of info was displayed. For the first man I appraised, that block read: Born on the twentieth day of the eleventh month, 183 Imperial Era, in Millast, County of Velshdt, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Has two older brothers and one younger sister. Father and mother are alive and well. Short-tempered, and loves dried meat. Enjoys horseback riding and fancies women in their forties and above. Has absolute faith in his lord and master, Ruper."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Suddenly, my skill gave me access to a massive quantity of personal information! I appraised a few other people…and was met with similar results. My skill, which had remained static in its effects for years, had gone through a significant evolution!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But why, though? And why now? I wondered. Was it based on the number of times I’d used it? Or perhaps my age? Maybe using my power to its fullest potential in the negotiations had bumped me over the edge? The change had been so abrupt, I couldn’t pin down a concrete explanation. In retrospect, it seemed plausible that the odd glitch my skill had displayed when I appraised Ruper the other day was a warning sign that this was about to happen."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Whatever the reasoning behind the change, though, I had a wealth of new information at my disposal. I knew my new abilities could very well make future negotiations and attempts at subterfuge easier. Of course, it could also seriously creep people out if I used it without careful consideration, since it wouldn’t exactly be a good look to know things about people that they’d never shared with you. I’d have to be extra cautious about that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I also had a moment of hesitation when I tried to decide whether or not I should use my new power on my retainers. It seemed that the information block in the new status screens always reported on the individual’s opinion of their current lord. Would it be all right for me to know what my own people thought of me?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This feels like it’s skirting dangerously close to invasion-of-privacy territory… But then again, I do like the idea of knowing where their true loyalties lie… That seems like important information for a lord to have."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That settled it in my mind: I’d appraise my retainers and learn what they thought about me. I decided to start with Rietz, and took a look at his basic stats and growth while I was at it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At long last, it seemed that all of his stats had made it into the nineties. His Valor was capped out, even! Rietz was a very diligent person, and I knew for a fact that he’d never let up on his training, which seemed to be paying off well for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All right, now for the important part─let’s see what the new section says about him…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s lower status read: Born on the thirtieth day of the fifth month, 189 Imperial Era, in Redroot, County of Cornlent, Duchy of Seitz, Summerforth Empire. Parents have passed away; has one younger sister. Diligent, earnest, and not even remotely picky when it comes to food. Enjoys studying and training. Has an interest in broad-minded women. Bears a strong sense of loyalty toward his lord and master, Ars."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In hindsight, I barely even needed to bother checking Rietz out on that front. I was starting to think it would’ve been a better idea not to bother─I didn’t need to know what his taste in women was. On the other hand, to the best of my knowledge, he’d never had any real relationship with a member of the opposite sex."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe I’ll introduce him to a broad-minded girl, if I ever happen to come across one…though I guess an Imperial girl would have to be broad-minded to court a Malkan like him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d also learned his birthday, which was noteworthy given that it was the twenty-fifth day of the fifth month. In other words, his birthday was just five days away! That being said, Rietz didn’t know when he’d been born, and we’d always celebrated his birthday on a day we’d picked out arbitrarily. Switching over to his actual birthday would’ve just felt wrong, somehow. I was also a little surprised to learn that he hadn’t been born in Missian, and wondered if he was even aware of that himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His parents had already passed away…but he had a sister? That was news to me, and the status page’s phrasing implied that she might still be alive, too. If it reported on his parents’ death, it stood to reason in my mind that it would report on hers as well. The Summerforth Empire was huge, of course, so even if she was alive, the odds of finding her seemed very low, but my sentimental side made me want to do everything I could to reunite them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next up, I appraised Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her stats hadn’t improved much, on the whole. She still had plenty of room to grow in the Valor department, though, so I had high hopes she’d step it up eventually. That brought me to the important part: the new, detailed information on her personality. Charlotte’s thought processes had always been an enigma in my mind, so I was interested in the results."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her status page read: Born on the fifth day of the eleventh month, 192 Imperial Era, in Ampare, County of Maasa, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Parents have passed away. Has a simple and straightforward personality. Loves sweets. Enjoys casting magic and sleeping. Has an interest in people who are willing to spoil her. Thinks of her lord and master Ars as her little brother."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m sorry, she thinks of me as what?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t remember a single time that she’d acted like an older sibling for me in any capacity. In fact, I mostly remembered taking care of her. That being said, it was good to know that she wasn’t harboring any deep-seated resentment toward me, and I’d already known most of the other stuff my appraisal had told me about her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell’s appraisal came next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His stats had risen so much since I’d appraised him a few months earlier, it was like I was looking at a different person. I had to assume that between participating in a war and getting tutored by Mireille, his recent experiences had done him a world of good. His abilities were astonishing considering he was only eleven, and the fact that he still had room to grow was mind-boggling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As for the extra information on him, it read: Born on the sixth day of the ninth month, 199 Imperial Era, in Torbequista, County of Canarre, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Father is alive and well; mother is deceased. Has two brothers. Pathologically pessimistic. Likes vegetable soup and enjoys reading. Has yet to develop an interest in the opposite sex. Considers his lord and master Ars his best friend."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His best friend, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was just relieved to learn that he didn’t think poorly of me. Of course, I hadn’t been worried about him, Rietz, or Charlotte to begin with─no, the person I was concerned about was Mireille. I could only begin to guess what went on in her mind behind that poker face of hers, so I went ahead and appraised her. Her stats hadn’t changed at all since the last time I checked, which wasn’t too much of a surprise considering she’d been close to capped out in everything already. It would take more than a few skirmishes to raise her skills."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, my eyes fell upon the important part, her detailed info panel. It read: Born on the fifteenth day of the sixth month, 181 Imperial Era, in Arcantez, County of Arcantez, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Parents have passed away. Has one younger brother. Prone to unconventional thinking. Loves alcohol, and drinks all the time. Romantically interested in people younger than her (regardless of gender). Considers her lord and master Ars amusing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That didn’t clear much up at all, and it didn’t feel like a sign of uncompromising loyalty, either. Then again, Mireille didn’t seem like the type who’d bear loyalty toward anyone, and I didn’t even need to appraise her to figure that out. It seemed I wouldn’t be able to let my guard down around her any time soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I also couldn’t help but be surprised by her preferences. The “regardless of gender” part made it pretty clear that Mireille was bisexual. Once again, it felt like I’d trampled all over any reasonable standards of privacy, especially considering the part about her being into people younger than her. I’d never gotten the impression she was looking at me in that light, but I knew I’d end up being hyper-vigilant around her from now on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That wrapped up my appraisal of my inner circle of retainers. As best as I could tell, everyone except for Mireille was more or less trustworthy. I also resolved not to mention my skill’s evolution to anyone unless it became necessary. After all, the skill’s new info panel had the potential to give me a ton of information that people definitely wouldn’t want me to have. I’d have to be careful not to let any of those details slip out going forward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day after our celebration, Couran called a council of war once more. Winter had arrived in Missian, and it was getting colder and colder by the day. I’d heard that this year’s winter was supposed to be relatively mild, but we still might see snow toward the end of the sixth month or so. Snow would cause our advance to slow to a crawl, and our goal was to press as far forward as we could manage before the elements delayed our onslaught."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now then,” said Couran, “the time has come to discuss our assault on Castle Staatz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Indeed, with Fort Valdsen in our hands, we had the foothold we needed to move on to Castle Staatz, the citadel that guarded a road we’d need to travel to reach Castle Velshdt. Without bringing Staatz under our control, it would be difficult to march our troops on the capital en masse. Although the castle was built on a flat plane, it featured tall ramparts and was built from materials that would stand up to a magical assault quite effectively. Worse still, its magical defenses were reportedly as solid as they could get."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The castle was, in short, extremely well defended. Storming it by force would be an incredibly hard task, but given our sheer superiority in numbers, it was not an impossible one. We’d also heard all about the commander who was tasked with protecting the castle from Ruper, and according to him, the odds of said commander choosing to turn traitor were low. We’d either have to storm the castle or lay siege to it─no other options presented themselves this time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have a clear path from Fort Valdsen to Castle Staatz, with one exception─here,” said Couran, pointing to a location on the map of Velshdt he’d spread out in front of him. A mark at that position, just a little to the northwest of Castle Staatz, was labeled Castle Rolto. “If we march on Castle Staatz and leave Castle Rolto unaddressed, then there’s a chance the forces there will advance on our rear flank after we pass them. Given that the enemy cannot afford to lose Castle Staatz, I expect they’ll send reinforcements in from Velshdt proper, and with Rolto’s forces behind us, we’ll be caught in a pincer attack. We cannot allow that to happen, so Castle Rolto must fall.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could see what Couran meant. Castle Rolto was in an inconvenient location. Considering how important Castle Staatz was for Velshdt, I had to imagine that Castle Rolto had been built for the specific purpose of reinforcing it in times of need."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All that being said,” Couran continued, “if we were to attempt an assault on Castle Rolto before anything else, it stands to reason that reinforcements from Castle Staatz and Velshdt would come to catch us in a pincer attack once again. As such, I have come to the conclusion that our best option is to split our forces into two units and attack both castles simultaneously. What are your thoughts on this proposal?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was in no position to argue against the idea. Our overwhelming numerical advantage meant that there were very few demerits to splitting our troops up, so it felt like a solid strategy all around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I shall take command of the force that will claim Castle Staatz,” said Couran. “Lumeire, meanwhile, will lead the assault on Castle Rolto.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Me, Your Lordship?” said Lumeire, his eyes wide with astonishment. Apparently, this was well beyond his expectations."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, you,” said Couran. “Is there a problem?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all!” said Lumeire. “If such is your will, Lord Couran, I swear I will lead your men to victory!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Lumeire would be leading the attack on Castle Rolto, I reasoned, I would be assigned to that division as well. Frankly, though, I was as surprised to see him put in a position of command as he was. There were several other lords in Couran’s force who were ranked higher than him, and seeing him elevated above them seemed like a sign that he’d earned Couran’s trust. Whatever his motivations, though, the decision was set in stone: Lumeire would lead the assault on Castle Rolto."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our intelligence suggested that Castle Rolto was garrisoned with five thousand men. Couran chose to assign Lumeire ten thousand men to lead in the attack─which was double our enemy’s numbers. Furthermore, while we were in theory leading an assault on the castle, in practice our main objective was to ensure that they couldn’t dispatch reinforcements to Castle Staatz. They wouldn’t be giving up the castle without a fight, but we didn’t need them to give up the castle at all. We had to wait for them to try and send reinforcements to Staatz, at which point they’d have to sally forth into a field battle, where we could wipe them out and take the castle largely uncontested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That said,” Couran continued, “while I have no doubt you will win the day with such overwhelming numbers, Ruper has informed me that Castle Rolto’s garrison boasts a rather large cavalry contingent for the sake of dispatching troops to the defense of Castle Staatz as quickly as possible. Not only is this division skilled, but you will likely be fighting them on an open field─terrain in which cavalry reigns supreme. A numerical advantage may not be enough to guarantee victory, and I have decided to task the Maitraw Company with supporting your force. Fighting in open fields is their specialty, and I trust they will serve you well.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Maitraw Company…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was a name I’d heard a few times before. They were said to be some of the most skilled and famous mercenaries around, but as far as I’d seen, they hadn’t accomplished anything noteworthy in the war so far. That wasn’t necessarily to their discredit, to be fair─it’s hard to stand out in battle when your army barely fought to begin with."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Come to think of it, I missed my chance to appraise their leader, Clamant, didn’t I?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He wasn’t present at the council, so I’d have to make that happen when I met him later on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As expected, I was tasked with supporting Lumeire in the attack on Castle Rolto. The plan was met with the approval of Couran’s advisors, and before long, we were making our preparations to split off from the main force. Thankfully, our bloodless victory over Fort Valdsen meant that our troops were all well-rested and ready to sortie. We were ready before I knew it, and it was decided that we’d march on the fort in two days’ time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I still can’t believe that I was given command,” Lumeire said to me. “I’m guessing that you had just as much to do with this as I did, Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Me?” I replied. “But how? I thought this was a sign that Lord Couran has faith in you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps, but that’s not the whole of it. You and your people will be playing a vital role in the battle to come. I suspect that Lord Couran would’ve preferred to leave the force in your hands, but couldn’t justify the decision. You are still just a lad, after all. That’s why he chose me─because I serve as your lord, and can therefore act as your proxy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I think you’re reading a little too deeply into this,” I countered. I found the theory plausible, in truth, but coming out and saying that would’ve been a bad idea no matter how carefully I phrased it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have to wonder about this Maitraw Company that will aid us in the battle, though,” Lumeire continued. “I don’t make a habit of trusting mercenaries. Lord Couran claims that their skills are unrivaled, but I can’t help having doubts. All I can do is hope they prove their worth, unless…yes, of course! I have an idea, Ars─Have you met with Clamant, the head of the company?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve seen him in passing,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And did you appraise him?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid not,” I admitted. “I intended to, but I missed the chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No matter─in fact, this works out well,” said Lumeire. “I had already intended to speak with Clamant myself. Will you come along when I do?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Without a moment’s delay, Lumeire sent out one of his men to find Clamant and bring him to us. It only took a few minutes for the messenger to return, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where’s Clamant? Could you not find him?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I found him,” said the messenger, “but he told me that if someone wishes to speak with him, they’ll have to come to him. I explained that the Count of Canarre himself had summoned him, but he seemed unmoved! I’ve never met a more insolent man.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so? Well, I suppose it would only be right for us to go to him, seeing as we’re the ones who wish to talk. One can hardly expect manners from a mercenary,” said Lumeire. Plenty of nobles would end up frothing with rage if they were treated that impolitely, but Lumeire had always struck me as a level-headed person. “Lead us to Clamant, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“V-Very well, Your Lordship!” said the messenger, who proceeded to do just that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We found Clamant training with a group of soldiers a short ways outside of the fort. I’d caught a glimpse of him once back in Castle Semplar, and he had the exact same aura about him now as he’d had back then. He was not an ordinary person, and you could tell with a single glance. Maybe that was why I remembered his face, even though I’d only caught a glimpse of him before. If Ben had the sort of face you’d forget as soon as you lost sight of him, then Clamant occupied the opposite end of the spectrum: he was a man who left a powerful and lasting impression."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When we arrived, Clamant was sparring with the soldiers. He wasn’t dueling them, though─he was fighting them one on five, deflecting the blades of his foes with ease and grace. His swordsmanship was a sight to behold, and I reached the conclusion that he’d have an S-ranked aptitude associated with it before I even bothered appraising him. We watched him at work for some time before he and the soldiers paused for a break."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Magnificent,” said Lumeire as he strode up to Clamant. Clamant, however, turned to look at Lumeire without saying a word, his expression as cold and immovable as steel. I had to admit, the man was a little frightening. Lumeire, though, seemed completely unshaken and kept talking. “You live up to your company’s good name. I’ve never seen finer swordsmanship.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My swordsmanship is nothing special,” grunted Clamant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Surely you jest!” said Lumeire. “After a display like that?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My areas of expertise are the spear and the bow,” said Clamant. “Especially when I’m on horseback. Fighting on foot isn’t my specialty.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If that wasn’t a demonstration of your specialties, then I shudder to imagine what your areas of expertise do look like,” replied Lumeire, and frankly, I had to agree. I also couldn’t help but feel a dose of healthy skepticism, so I appraised him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Born on the tenth day of the third month, 181 Imperial Era, in Valka, County of Valka, Duchy of Rofeille, Summerforth Empire. Father deceased; mother alive and well. A pragmatic man with a fondness for meat of all varieties. Enjoys training. Has an interest in strong women."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, that sure is one hell of a Valor score!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that his claim to not be much of a swordsman was not a lie after all, on a relative scale. He did have an A-ranked Infantry aptitude, but his S-ranked Cavalry aptitude might very well have made his swordsmanship seem like nothing special in comparison. Perhaps he just had incredibly high standards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Though he was skilled, Clamant’s supposed pragmatism made me a little worried that he’d choose to retreat the moment the tide of battle started turning against him─though, it occurred to me that most mercenaries would behave that way. In any case, said skills meant that it seemed worthwhile to put our faith in him for the time being."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who are you?” asked Clamant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am Lumeire Pyres, Count of Canarre,” answered Lumeire. “I have been entrusted with the role of commander over the force bound to attack Castle Rolto, and I have come to meet with the mercenaries who were assigned to support our division.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph. So the servant from before was yours?” asked Clamant, who seemed unmoved by the knowledge he was speaking with a count."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And who’s the kid?” said Clamant, glancing over at me next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Ars Louvent,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t give a damn what your name is,” said Clamant, “but I do give a damn about how you look like you’re sizing me up. I don’t like it. Stop.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Did he somehow sense that I was using my skill on him?"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0015.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was new─I’d never seen anyone catch on to the fact that I’d appraised them like that before. I had to assume that either it was a coincidence, or that the man’s instincts and senses bordered on the superhuman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire chatted with Clamant for a little longer, but eventually, the mercenary brought the conversation to a rather abrupt and unilateral close by returning to his training."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire turned to me as Clamant left and asked, “So, did you appraise him? Not that I even need to hear the results to know that he’s no ordinary man.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I did, yes,” I replied. “Not only is he a brave and valorous man, but he’s also a remarkable leader. I have no doubts that he’s capable of helping us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is he, now? Then I suppose there remains no room for doubt…except, of course, for the question of his motivation,” he added, still sounding a little concerned."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t as worried as Lumeire seemed to be, personally. Mercenaries earned a living by fighting, which meant that not fighting would put their livelihood in jeopardy. That wasn’t to say they’d charge headfirst into a disadvantageous conflict, but so long as we held the advantage of numbers, I didn’t think we’d have anything to worry about."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shortly afterward, Lumeire gave the order to prepare to march. Before we started moving out, I found the time to ask Pham to gather information on Castle Rolto for me. I wasn’t looking for any detailed insider information this time─I just wanted to know about any conspicuous enemy movements, how many soldiers were stationed there, and his general impression of the castle on the whole. It was more or less just scouting work, so thankfully, his price wasn’t steep this time around. That would give me all the info I’d need about the castle, which I hoped would help me cope with any unexpected developments."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, the day of our march arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The conquest of Castle Rolto will prove instrumental for Lord Couran’s campaign,” declared Lumeire as he addressed his troops. “We shall emerge victorious─defeat is not an option! Our army outnumbers the enemy two to one, and we stand at a great advantage, but do not allow these favorable conditions to lull you into a sense of complacency! We fight with our all! Now, march!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, the army began its trek toward Castle Rolto."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile in Castle Rolto, the lord of the fortress had called an extended conference with his most trusted advisors to address their perilous circumstances."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I must admit…I failed to anticipate Lord Ruper’s betrayal,” muttered the lord, a man named Jean Tendory. At the age of twenty-two, he was rather young for his position. He had long, blonde hair and handsome features that didn’t suit the look of resignation on his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Jean had been acquainted with Ruper, and knew him as an earnest, faithful man, but that impression had been shattered by his unexpected act of treachery. In truth, it had never been an accurate impression at all. Deep down, Ruper had always harbored an ambition to advance in station─Jean had simply failed to see through to his real motivations. He wasn’t alone, either. Kanses, the man who had assigned Ruper to watch over Fort Valdsen, had been taken in by his persona as well. Ruper had spent his whole life hiding his ambitions, and that had finally paid off for the man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I bring news, Your Lordship,” said a messenger who had just arrived on the scene. “The enemy’s army has split into two divisions! One marches upon Castle Staatz, while the other appears to be making its way here!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As expected,” Jean sighed. “How many men are headed our way?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Over ten thousand,” said the messenger. “We’ve also received reports that the Maitraw Company marches among their ranks.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So ten thousand men wasn’t enough for them? They just had to hire the most dangerous mercenaries around as well?” Jean groaned. His own garrison numbered some five thousand troops. If the enemy’s soldiers were poorly trained, then Jean felt confident in his ability to prevail against superior numbers, but the Maitraw Company was renowned for the ruthless competence of its members. Their presence on the battlefield lowered Jean’s odds of turning the situation around."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It doesn’t matter how many of them there are!” shouted one of Jean’s advisors. “We must sortie at once and ride to Castle Staatz’s aid! We await your command, Lord Jean!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well said!” spoke up another. “Our cavalry is unrivaled! No enemy line is too sturdy for us to break through!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Rolto was renowned for its cavalry unit, and a great number of skilled horsemen had gathered to serve as part of it. So great was their confidence in their skills that even hearing they were outnumbered two to one wasn’t enough to make any of them falter. Jean himself was well known for his capable horsemanship, and had led the cavalry unit into battle on many occasions to great success."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait,” said Jean, holding out a hand to calm down his impassioned advisors. “Don’t get ahead of yourselves. Our cavalry is unrivaled, true, but the enemy’s forces are nothing to scoff at. If we take on numbers like theirs without a plan, our effort will be doomed from the outset.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean to say we should think up a strategy?” asked one of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Exactly. Or rather, I’ve already begun putting one into practice.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed. Though whether or not it bears fruit, of course, is still to be determined.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“News, Your Lordship!” shouted yet another messenger as he burst into the room. “I come bearing a missive from Lord Handar!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It finally arrived?!” shouted Jean as he received the letter, tearing it open to read on the spot. A grin then spread across his face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We might just win this battle after all,” Jean muttered, then leaped to his feet and shouted out an order to his men. “Prepare to sortie at once!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Partway through the march to Castle Rolto, we paused to set up camp and bed down for the night. As we ate dinner that evening, I noticed that Charlotte was scowling at her food."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is tasteless,” she muttered despondently."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Frankly, I was with her on that one. The trail rations we’d been provided to eat while we were on the move hadn’t been cooked with palatability in mind. We had rock-hard bread, watery soup, and other less than satisfying provisions available. That being said, this wasn’t anything new. We’d been eating like this for a very long time now, and I had no idea why Charlotte would be complaining about it all of a sudden."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve been eating this food for weeks,” said Rietz, who must have felt the same way I did. “Why complain about it now?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just ’cause I haven’t been complaining doesn’t mean it hasn’t been disgusting! I’ve hated this godawful slop this whole time, and I can’t take it anymore!” Charlotte shouted. “Doesn’t this bother you, Rietz?! When was the last time we had good food?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m used to it,” said Rietz with a shrug. “I’m surprised you aren’t, considering the environment you grew up in.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I couldn’t eat decent food back then, sure, but the moment you have your first good meal, you can never go back! You’re with me, right, Lord Ars?!” said Charlotte, passing the buck to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t changed my mind in the past minute, and I did more or less agree with her in spirit, but I still couldn’t let myself take her side."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can’t expect good food on the battlefield,” I said. “You’ll just have to put up with it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-Aren’t I supposed to be older than you?! Why do you have to sound so mature?!” gasped Charlotte. Of course, if you counted my previous life, I was considerably older than her in a mental sense."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I dunno, I think I get where she’s coming from,” said Mireille. “Y’know what makes it easier to deal with, though? Just keep thinking about how good your first real meal’s gonna taste when the fighting’s finally over. Lemme tell you, there’s nothing like your first bite of real food after weeks of war rations.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I never thought about it that way. Let’s wrap this war up as soon as possible,” replied Charlotte with an approving nod. It didn’t feel like the best possible way to drive her into battle, but I was glad to see her feeling motivated nevertheless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, and this stuff helps too. Couple swigs of this, and you won’t even care how bad the food is!” Mireille added, suddenly pulling out a bottle she must’ve tucked somewhere in her shirt. I could only assume that “this” meant “a stiff drink.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah!” shouted Rosell the second he caught sight of the bottle. “You know you’re not supposed to be drinking, Master!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, come on─why not?” grumbled Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All sorts of reasons! It’d be bad enough if the soldiers on the front lines were drunk, but you need to be clearheaded to do your work! How are you supposed to strategize when you’re too busy tripping over your own two feet?!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s just a little sip, kid! Y’know, a swig or two makes it easier to think clearly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No it doesn’t! That’s not how alcohol works!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell lunged forward to snatch the bottle out of Mireille’s hand, but she pulled it back and held it over her head. Considering the difference between their heights, that was checkmate. Rosell was left jumping ineffectually, trying and failing to reach the bottle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! Try again when you’ve grown a head or two taller!” Mireille cackled, then tried to take a drink…only for Rietz, who was almost as tall as her and also standing right behind her, to snag the bottle right out of her hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m confiscating this.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What?! Dammit, Rietz, give that back!” shouted Mireille, but Rietz was too fast for her. It took a few minutes of keep away, but eventually, she resigned herself to her fate and gave up on retrieving her booze."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Son of…a bitch,” she muttered between panting, heaving gasps. “I swear…I’ll get you for this…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Mireille collapsed to the ground. I found myself wondering: was it a good idea to give a woman like her command over an army?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day, we resumed our advance on Castle Rolto."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, kiddo! Looks like we’ve got a report from the Shadows,” said Mireille as we marched. She was using a specially designed catalyzer to keep in touch with them by way of the Transmit spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Transmit’s range wasn’t unlimited, but the Shadows had quite a few agents on the job, and had a relay system set up to deliver reports at great speeds over vast distances. This time, they’d sent a message to inform us that a force of around five thousand soldiers─exactly the number we’d anticipated─had sortied from Castle Rolto about a half hour earlier. Transmit was only capable of translating simple, basic noises, by the way, but those who knew the appropriate codes could still send and receive coherent messages. Mireille was very proficient with that system, so I’d entrusted her with the duty of receiving all our messages."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I immediately went to report what I’d learned to Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just as expected, then,” he said when I was finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems that way, yes,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If the enemy’s on the move, we should set up our formation here and block the road,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why do you say that?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy force is mostly comprised of cavalry, and they’ll be in a hurry to back up Staatz. If they don’t take the Pran Highroad, they’ll never make it in time, so there’s almost no chance they won’t pass through here. If they don’t, that means they’ll be traveling off-road, and they’ll lose the advantage their cavalry would give them, so we can just chase after them and wipe them out.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed like a solid plan to me. Since our objective was to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching Staatz, shutting down the road made total sense. Lumeire agreed, and we began setting up our battle formation without delay. The enemy would likely arrive within a day or so, so we decided to pick a nearby location to serve as our battleground."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The place we ended up choosing wasn’t perfect terrain for our purposes, but getting our ranks sorted and ready was the higher priority. We constructed a makeshift palisade to stand in front of our troops and help break the brunt of the enemy’s charge. We’d been carrying a stock of wood with us, so we were at no lack of materials and the work went quickly. With that, all we had left to do was wait for the enemy to arrive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We may have had twice the number of troops as our enemy, but their fighting force was not to be underestimated. Nothing left an army shaken like a head-on cavalry charge, and if our troops were thrown into a state of disorder, it wasn’t unthinkable that we could lose. I knew very well that my life was on the line, so I resolved to stay calm and be ready for any possibility as I watched the battle unfold."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As we waited for the enemy force to arrive, Mireille received another report through her catalyzer. I assumed that our spies were reporting in to say that the enemy was close, but as it turned out, I couldn’t have been farther from the truth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh…?” said Mireille with a smirk. “Well, that sure makes this more interesting.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t know how to decode a Transmit spell, so I had no idea what she was talking about."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What did they say?” I asked, already worried. What was interesting to Mireille tended to be concerning by my standards─her worldview was incomprehensible to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y’know how we were assuming that the enemy army would head straight here? Well, they didn’t,” said Mireille. “They took an unexpected route. Our spies tailed them to a place called the Daldoll Moor, where they rendezvoused with another army. Now they’re heading our way.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I blinked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Boiling it down to the important part: they got reinforcements,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Reinforcements?” I repeated incredulously. “From where?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Judging by the flag they’re flying, it’s the army of House Serdoura. Their head’s the current Count of Balton.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The County of Balton, I recalled, was located in the northeastern reaches of Velshdt, close enough to send reinforcements to Castle Rolto in a pinch. The factor that made this a shock, though, was that I’d heard the Count of Balton had claimed neutrality in the conflict between Couran and Vasmarque. We’d been acting under the assumption that they weren’t an active threat, but it seemed that choice was coming back to bite us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How many of them are there?” I asked. In the best-case scenario, only a few of the barons in Balton had decided to side with Vasmarque and sent troops. That would mean several hundred troops─a thousand at most─and wouldn’t put our plans in jeopardy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Five thousand minimum, from the sound of it,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That meant we were facing the worst-case scenario: in just a brief period of time, the entirety of the County of Balton had thrown its lot in with Vasmarque. This development was beyond our wildest expectations. The enemy’s force was now equally matched with or superior to ours in terms of numbers. I dashed off to report the news to Lumeire, and he was shaken enough to call together an emergency council on the spot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This is an unprecedented crisis,” said Lumeire. He and all the nobles in his force had gathered up in a tent at the center of our formation for an emergency council of war. I was attending with all my retainers, of course. “The enemy has joined up with reinforcements, and their force now rivals ours in number. As matters stand, our victory is far from assured. What shall we do? Request aid from Lord Couran?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Reinforcements? I’m not sure,” said Rosell. “I doubt they’d make it here in time. I don’t know how far Lord Couran’s force has advanced at the moment, but the enemy will be here before we know it. Considering the time it will take to send the message, plus the time required for reinforcements to get here, I can’t imagine they’ll make it before it’s too late.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Lumeire. “Then what if we were to request reinforcements, leave a rearguard to delay the enemy’s advance, and retreat until we converge with Lord Couran’s troops and go on the offensive once more?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We may be able to bolster our numbers in time with that plan, yes,” Rosell said, though he still sounded apprehensive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have no idea what you people are so concerned about,” said Clamant, who was participating in the discussion as well. “The enemy has as many troops as we do? Then each of our men just has to kill one of theirs. It’s simple.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If only things were so simple,” sighed Lumeire. “However, our enemy’s troops are notoriously skilled, and their morale is high. Our men, on the other hand, have been anticipating an effortless rout, not a fight on even terms. I fear their morale will be low due to the sudden shift.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They may be skilled, but not more skilled than we are. We will not lose,” said Clamant. “Or do you doubt our ability?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No, no, I’m well aware of the Maitraw Company’s strength. Nevertheless…” Lumeire trailed off. Reading between the lines, I presumed that he was concerned he couldn’t trust the mercenaries. There was no telling whether they’d choose to withdraw on account of the even numbers, especially if the tide of battle started turning against us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let it be known that we will earn every coin that has crossed our palms. That is our way of life, and Couran Salemakhia has granted us a substantial down payment for our services. We will not withdraw until we have worked off that balance,” said Clamant. I assumed he’d guessed what Lumeire was worried about."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m against falling back too,” said Mireille. “They have as many men as us, not more─it’s not like we’re fighting at a disadvantage. We might as well take a swing at them before we talk about running away.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Master,” said Rosell, “we’re dealing with a force centered around a cavalry division! If we try to withdraw after engaging with them, it’s possible that they’ll break through our rearguard, catch up with the main force, and wipe us out. Then they’ll be able to catch Lord Couran’s force unaware and pin them between their army and the army from Staatz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fair point,” said Mireille. “But falling back and asking Couran to send us troops would be a problem for his front, too. There’s no point in stopping the troops from Balton if Couran can’t handle Castle Staatz in the meantime. Don’t lose sight of our ultimate objective.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true,” said Rosell. “But if worst comes to worst and the main force is caught in a pincer attack, the casualties could prove insurmountable. Our offensive could end then and there, and building our forces back up would take time we don’t have─and that’s not even considering the possibility that Lord Couran himself could be taken captive. A loss is a loss, yes, but not all failures are equal in terms of consequences… But then again, making our stand here and winning is the best possible outcome by far… What are our chances…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was mostly talking to himself, at that point, and drifted off into furious thought. I could tell that he had ideas, but also that we were in a very difficult position."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe we should engage the enemy as planned,” said Rietz. “There’s no sense in fighting an unwinnable battle, but the outcome of this engagement is far from set in stone. The enemy’s morale may be high, but in their elation at doubling the size of their force, they may disregard the need for caution and advance upon us recklessly. I believe that is a state of affairs that we can take advantage of.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps… What of you, Ars? What are your thoughts on this predicament?” asked Lumeire, turning to me next."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If I were being honest, I would’ve liked nothing better than to turn tail and flee on the spot. Going up against an army five thousand strong was scary enough, and the thought of taking on ten thousand men was downright terrifying. I knew that was just my emotional response getting the better of me, though, and that a withdrawal was not the right choice on a tactical level."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t had the chance to appraise the enemy leader, so I couldn’t be sure we held an advantage in terms of personnel, but at the very least I knew that some of our people were hard to beat. The odds of them having retainers more capable than ours seemed low, and it did seem likely that they would be in a hurry, which would open up opportunities to turn the tide, even if our troops were left dispirited by the surprise reinforcements. Plus, running away without putting up a fight wouldn’t endear us to Couran! When I looked at the situation in totality, standing and fighting felt like the best path forward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe we should engage the enemy as planned,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see,” Lumeire replied with a nod, then asked the rest of the nobles in attendance for their opinions. In the end, the majority sided with me and Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, then,” said Lumeire once he’d finished his consultation. “We will make our stand here! Prepare to engage the enemy, on the double!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, a noise rang out from Mireille’s catalyzer─the sound generated by a Transmit spell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah. That’ll be a report from the Shadows.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her catalyzer kept emitting noises for longer than I was used to. It went on long enough that I started to worry if she’d even be able to decode the message, but thankfully, those concerns turned out to be groundless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“New info about the enemy army,” Mireille reported. “They’re moving fast, and should be here in about ten hours or so. They’re in a hurry, that’s for sure, and it sounds like their morale’s running high.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then they must be rushing to reinforce Castle Staatz, as expected,” I commented. It seemed like an obvious decision to make, on their part. If they took their time, then the fortress could fall before they even arrived. Setting traps seemed like the best way to turn the odds in our favor, but as to what sort of traps we’d use, I was at a loss. Magical traps weren’t very easy to lay─we’d need around three days or so to get them all set up, so they were out of the question in this scenario."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think I’ve come up with our best possible option,” said Rosell, breaking his long silence as his pondering came to an end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have a plan?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do,” said Rosell with a nod. “I’ve thought up a way we can bait the enemy into a situation more favorable to us. First off, you’re aware of the forest behind our current position, yes?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course,” confirmed Lumeire. The road we’d traveled had wound its way through the forest, and we were set up just a short ways away from its outskirts. We’d considered intercepting the enemy reinforcements within the forest, at first, but back then we’d still thought we had the advantage of numbers and had decided that fighting in an open field would give us the best chance of leveraging that advantage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll conceal our troops within the forest,” said Rosell. “Then we’ll bait them in toward our position, and rain arrows and magic down upon them when they enter our range. Cavalry are vulnerable to ambush tactics, especially from long range. I’m certain a sneak attack will throw their ranks into chaos, and our infantry will be hiding as well, ready to catch our foes in a pincer attack and decimate them while they’re off guard!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Luring them into an ambush, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering the hurry our foes were in, it felt plausible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, I don’t think so,” said Mireille. “They may be rushing ahead and throwing caution to the wind, but they’ll at least be sending out scouts ahead of their main force. They won’t be completely oblivious to what we’re up to, so they’ll catch on for sure if all we do is hide and hope for the best.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What if we put on an act, then?” said Rosell. “We can make a big show of some of our troops fleeing, then take up position past the treeline. If we can manage to trick them and make them think that our chain of command has broken down, they’ll be more likely to assume they have the upper hand and fall into our trap.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“An act, you say? Perhaps…but our force is far from a small one,” pointed out Rietz. “Communicating the plan to all of our men in secret and ensuring they feign retreat well enough to convince our foes would be a challenge, and has the potential to damage our troops’ morale to boot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was a little worried about that part,” admitted Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Meh, morale’ll work itself out. I know a trick or two that’ll help us there,” said Mireille. She seemed confident that she could raise our force’s spirits if the need arose. Considering her history of leading troops into battle, I assumed her confidence was well founded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who should play the part of our retreating force, then?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Having the Maitraw Company play that role will be our most convincing option,” said Rosell. “It wouldn’t be at all strange for negotiations with our mercenaries to break down prior to the battle, causing them to retreat. The benefits to using them are twofold, as well─I’m sure our enemies are wary of them, given their reputation, and if they think we won’t have them on our side, they may lower their guards.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I could see the Maitraws pulling off a surprise attack─but I could also see them deciding to turn tail and make a break for it,” said Mireille, paying no regard whatsoever to the fact that Clamant himself was in attendance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have no objections to this plan,” Clamant said in response. “If you tell me to do it, I’ll get it done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I wonder about that,” said Mireille. “What do you think, kiddo?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t see any reason to distrust him, myself. My Appraisal skill didn’t give me the power to see through to his innermost thoughts, even after its evolution, but from what I knew of the man, he just didn’t have a good motive to withdraw. It’d be one thing if he were morally opposed to surprise attacks, but he seemed like the sort of man who would win by any means necessary, no matter how much he dirtied his hands in the process. He was supposed to be pragmatic, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that Clamant is worthy of our trust,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I’ll sign off on this plan,” said Mireille. “Whether or not it works will all come down to whether our commanding officers can pull it off, though.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We had a plan, then─but of course, the final decision on whether or not to follow through with it was Lumeire’s to make. He spent quite some time weighing his options, but ultimately, he chose to take up our strategy and send Clamant and his men on a feigned retreat. I just had to hope that our enemies would be taken in by the act…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A number of hours later, the enemy force was drawing close to our position. As for our own troops, they were more than a little shaken up by the Maitraw Company’s apparent last-second departure. If we were going to raise their morale before the battle, now was the time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Listen well, my men!” bellowed Lumeire. “The Maitraw Company has withdrawn, but we have received a report that reinforcements from Lord Couran’s main force are inbound! They will arrive within a matter of hours, and even lacking the Maitraw Company’s support, we will have the means to emerge victorious!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Needless to say, no such reinforcements were on their way. Mireille was the one who’d come up with that aspect of the plan. I had a feeling that the brighter soldiers might’ve been able to figure out that they were being fed lies, but I also had it on good authority that most of our men weren’t especially bright and would fall for the story hook, line, and sinker. The idea was that even if the supposed loss of troops damaged their morale, the knowledge that more men would be coming to replenish our numbers would raise it right back up again. As expected, the moment Lumeire made his announcement, I could see his soldiers’ expressions brighten. Their worries were wiped away in the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, the enemy force was close enough for us to see on the horizon. The time for battle had arrived, but they didn’t charge toward our encampment right away. Instead, they came to a halt a fair distance away. Clearly, they weren’t planning on charging in without taking the time to assess the situation first. They were close enough to see, but that was on account of the flat, wide open nature of the terrain─they were still well out of the range of our archers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re keeping their distance, huh…” I muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Perhaps they suspect we’re up to something?” suggested Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a possibility that the enemy had managed to learn we were expecting reinforcements, but even if they had, they’d also know that said reinforcements were supposed to be a fair distance away. It didn’t seem like a good enough reason for them to display this sort of caution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After an extended period of observation, the enemy army began to march. A regiment of men mounted upon enormous horses charged toward us, raising a ferocious battle cry and leading a massive crowd of infantrymen in their wake. Seeing their charge begin, Lumeire gave our troops the order to prepare to stop them in their tracks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I shivered as I watched the cavalrymen plow toward us. I’d seen cavalry in action during our military drills a number of times, but this was my first time witnessing this many of them in action all at once. I could feel the ground tremble with the thuds of countless hoof falls, the sensation intense enough that for a second, I thought it might be an earthquake. If our frontline soldiers gave in to fear and broke formation, our whole army would be thrown into chaos."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, the enemy cavalry entered our archers’ effective range. Our archers let loose a volley of arrows, which rained down into their ranks like rain. It was then that their cavalry’s skill became most apparent: they swatted some arrows out of the air, dodged others, and emerged almost unscathed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our mages, meanwhile, were handicapped by the fact that we hadn’t brought a large catalyzer along with us. Those were considered siege weapons, and weren’t employed in field battles. The same was true of explosion-aspected aqua magia, of which our supply was limited. The only forms of magic available to us at the moment were fire and sound, and fire was the only one of those two with any offensive potential."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Given those limitations, our mage regiment resorted to shooting off volleys of synchronized fire magic using small and mid-sized catalyzers. If we were dealing with poorly-trained, unprepared cavalry, that might have been enough to break their charge, but unfortunately for us, our foes were very ready for our attack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Among the enemy’s host were horse-mounted mages, capable of casting even at a full gallop. Those mages cast protective spells that shielded their entire regiment from our mages’ rain of fire. Magic was something only those with talent could use to begin with, and casting on horseback took incredible skill, but the difficulties involved in training a horseback mage were outweighed by the benefits they brought to a cavalry regiment in an era where magic dominated the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Defensive magic? Who cares?” Charlotte muttered, then held her mid-sized catalyzer aloft and began to chant, reciting the incantation for Blaze: a powerful fire spell. Charlotte had the power to turn Fire Bullet, the lowest-level fire spell out there, into an earth-shaking explosion. In her hands, a mid-level spell like Blaze was capable of outputting a terrifying amount of firepower, and sure enough, her fireball shattered the enemy’s magical barrier and slammed into their ranks, blowing away scores of horsemen in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” Charlotte exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We can always count on your magic,” I commented. For a moment I thought that her spell might’ve halted the enemy’s charge, but unfortunately, we had no such luck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Don’t you dare break formation, you craven whoresons! Anyone who turns tail here will die by my blade when the battle’s over!” bellowed an enormous man at the head of the enemy’s ranks. His cry was so loud that I assumed he’d cast Hyper Voice at first, but then I realized that he was carrying a long halberd rather than a catalyzer. His voice was just naturally that loud. I could tell in an instant that he was a remarkable individual."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, who was close at hand on horseback, nocked an arrow to his bowstring and took aim at the massive man. Rietz was good at just about everything, and archery was no exception─his aptitude in the field was A-ranked. He had the precision and skill to calculate a trajectory that would send his arrow into the man’s forehead, but the man swatted the arrow out of the air before it met its mark. Rietz loosed several more arrows, each as accurate as the first, but to no avail."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s a tough one,” Rietz muttered. I had to assume that the man had a very high Valor score, though he was too far away for me to appraise him and get any specific numbers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy’s cavalry was all but upon our outermost ranks. Their mages cast fire magic to obliterate the palisades that we’d set up to bear the brunt of their charge, but our own mages wielded defensive magic to intercept the attacks. A few segments of the palisade still caught fire, and the horsemen took advantage of those gaps to slip through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our spearmen were ready to intercept them on the other side, but they proved incapable of stopping all of our foes in their tracks. Too many of them breaking through would spell doom for our formation, so we ordered troops to move in and support the weakened areas. The enemy’s charge had done its job, though, and the situation in the front lines was deteriorating."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm─they’re better than I thought. We might’ve lost if this were a fair fight,” Mireille casually commented."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is this really the time?!” I snapped. “We still might lose if our plan doesn’t work out!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, no need to worry about that,” said Mireille. “In a sense, being at a disadvantage works in our favor. The enemy won’t suspect a thing if we withdraw now, and we can lure them right into our trap. Of course, it wouldn’t do for our ranks to completely collapse, so I suppose we’ll have to take action before it comes to that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille and Rosell rushed off to speak with Lumeire, and soon after, the order was given for our army to begin a retreat. We’d be fighting a defensive battle as we fell back toward the forest. Fighting as you retreated was a difficult prospect to begin with, of course, and the enemy’s core unit being made up of cavalry made the move all the more challenging. We’d be fighting an uphill battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fall back! Fall back!” Lumeire shouted as our troops began to move. If we wanted our retreat to proceed smoothly, it was essential for someone to act as our rearguard. They would be responsible for retreating and holding off the enemy at the same time. The moment the order to retreat was given, a unit that had been assigned to the role in advance leaped into action. Their commanding officer directed the unit─which was made up of spearmen─to intercept the enemy cavalry and keep them from harrying the rest of us as we fled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The task did not prove to be an easy one. The horsemen were fast, which made their advance difficult to stop. It was very possible that one or more of them could slip through our rearguard’s line at any given moment. Worse still, our enemies had come prepared for such a scenario and were capable of steering their horses through the slightest of gaps."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was where our mages entered the picture. Blowing our foes away with direct attacks wasn’t all they were good for─they could also use sound magic to frighten their mounts, or form walls of flame to block off routes of attack. The soldiers were smart enough to know that magical fire walls weren’t all that dangerous if you just barreled through them, but horses were another matter. They would be too scared to get anywhere near the barriers, which meant they could serve as an effective deterrent. Those magical defenses gave our spearmen the time they needed to come running and drive the cavalry away from our main force once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our enemy, however, really was well-trained. Not even magic was enough to keep them scared away for long, and it was inevitable that some of them would manage to make their way through our rearguard’s defenses. In those cases, it was necessary for some of our fleeing soldiers to split off and back the rearguard up. We had to keep a careful balance maintained between our front and rear units─if we sent too many soldiers to guard the rear, then we risked being unable to break through if the enemy sent soldiers around to cut us off within the forest. Being surrounded and pinned was the worst-case scenario, so we had to use as few troops as possible to hold them back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thankfully, our initial rearguard seemed to be doing a very good job. Only a few horsemen slipped through, so we had to send a minimum amount of troops back to mop them up. The bulk of our force was still concentrated in the front of our formation, leaving very little reason to worry we might be cut off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just a little longer and we’ll make it to the forest,” I muttered. It seemed that, in spite of everything, we were close to pulling our plan off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If the rearguard had failed and the enemy cavalry had charged into our back line, we would’ve been routed for sure. I could only imagine what would’ve become of me─I wasn’t even sure if I would’ve made it out alive. I was mounted on a horse, just in case, but I wasn’t much of a rider and doubted that I could’ve outran trained horsemen. I felt more than a little relieved as we broke through the treeline and advanced into the forest, still far ahead of the enemy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank goodness,” I sighed. “It looks like we’ll live to see tomorrow after all.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even if they had caught up with us, I would never allow you to die here, Lord Ars,” said Rietz. Coming from him, it sounded convincing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve made it to the forest, yes─but the question now is whether the enemy will follow us,” said Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Looking at it from their perspective, we just turned tail and ran like a bunch of sniveling cowards,” said Mireille. “They’ve got nothing to lose and plenty to gain by pursuing us, as far as they know. That is, unless their leader’s got good instincts…but I didn’t exactly get the impression that the guy leading their charge was the sort who could see a trap like this coming.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t had the chance to appraise him, but still, I had to agree with her assessment. I then realized it would be worth going out of my way to appraise the enemy’s leadership in the future, even if it took a bit of risk to pull it off. That would give me a much more informed perspective from which to make this sort of call."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, there we go,” said Mireille as a message came in through her catalyzer. “The enemy’s advancing into the forest after us. Looks like they have no idea they’re playing right into our hands, too. They’re not being very careful about it at all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed, then, that our plan had gone off without a hitch. There was just one factor that still had me worried: even after entering the forest, we’d still seen no sign of the Maitraw Company. I was starting to get concerned that they might not be here at all. It was either that, or they were incredibly good at hiding themselves. I glanced around, trying to catch at least a glimpse of one of their men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry. They’re keeping in touch and standing by,” said Mireille, who must’ve noticed my restless behavior. “And even if they hadn’t told me, I could tell they’re out there. They’re hiding pretty damn well, but not well enough to fool me. Still, it’s a pretty impressive job, considering how many of them there are. Looks like the Maitraw Company has earned its reputation─they’re as good at ambushes as they are in a fair fight.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In spite of my anxiety, I decided to take her word for it as we advanced deeper into the woods. We marched onward until it felt like we were somewhere near the heart of the forest, at which point Lumeire ordered our troops to come to a halt. The men, of course, were distressed by the command. They were under the impression that the battle was lost and we were fleeing for our lives, but now they were supposed to form back up and confront the enemy all over again?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The time, then, had come to share the true plan with our force and explain that the mercenaries who had supposedly fled were, in fact, waiting in ambush all around us. The enemy was closing in fast enough that there was no longer any danger of our men ruining the operation with their lousy acting, and we could open up about our actual objectives. Thankfully, that calmed them down and it wasn’t long before we’d reconstructed our battle formation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We moved our archers and mages into the cover of the surrounding foliage, where they joined forces with the Maitraw Company’s men. Our plan was to launch an all-out assault from the enemy’s flanks the moment the company reported that all of the enemy cavalry had entered the woods. There was very little doubt left that their cavalry made up the bulk of their forces, and if we could catch their entire advance unit in a trap and wipe them out, the remaining soldiers would have no chance of defeating us. The only option I could imagine being left for them at that point would be to withdraw and return to their castle, which would mean we’d accomplished our objective."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before long, the cavalry unit was upon us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Given up on running away, have you?!” shouted the massive man at the head of their formation, a confident and perhaps slightly complacent grin plastered across his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man hadn’t the foggiest idea he was walking right into a trap. I appraised him, and found that his name was Dan Allest. He had an 82 in Leadership and a 99 in Valor, but all of his other stats were quite low. His S-rank in Cavalry was quite something, at least. It felt like a waste to let someone with a Valor score like his perish, but I also knew that bringing him down would help turn the tide of battle in our favor, considering what it would do to his men’s morale."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Or perhaps you think you can still turn this battle around? Ha ha ha! Fools! These woods will be your graveyard!” Dan continued. His attempt at blustery intimidation was pretty played out, I had to say, but thankfully, I didn’t have to listen to any more of it on account of the Maitraw Company choosing that precise moment to launch their attack. A flurry of arrows and spells shot through the trees, peppering the enemy ranks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?!” cried out Dan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s an ambush!” shouted one of his men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Maitraw Company couldn’t have picked a better time to spring their trap. With archers and mages on both flanks, there was very little our foes could do to defend themselves. Not even their previously formidable magical barriers could save them─those, after all, took time to cast, making them impossible to bring out at a moment’s notice. Worse still, the Maitraw Company seemed to have a large number of skilled archers in their employ, and the arrows raining down upon the enemy flew with incredible accuracy. There was nothing they could do, and scores of cavalry fell in what felt like the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The enemy’s behind us, Commander!” shouted one of Dan’s remaining men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?! How?!” Dan roared. It had taken them far too long to notice our movements, and now they were surrounded. The complacent grin that had shown he was confident in his victory was nowhere to be found─now, Dan looked downright frantic. That spell of panic didn’t last, though, and a moment later, he forced himself to calm down again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve walked into a trap, and have enemies on all sides, but this battle’s not over yet! Their front line is weak─charge through them, find their leader, take his head, and we’ll win the day yet! Grit your teeth and follow my lead!” Dan bellowed as he spurred his horse forward, galloping toward our position. His men could hardly let their leader charge forth on his own, so they followed in his wake."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“For all their strengths, cavalry also don’t have many options at a time like this,” said Mireille. “That’s the face of a man who knows this is do-or-die.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In short, we can’t let our guards down,” added Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their read on the situation seemed right on the money. With their backs against the wall, Dan’s troops had chosen to make their last stand and fight like madmen, staking their lives in an attempt to break through and kill Lumeire. The fact that they were still listening to their commanding officer and still maintaining their formation and morale, even as they were under attack from all sides, was yet another sign of just how well-trained these men were."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While the initial volley had caught them off guard, they were now aware that they were under attack and began raising their magical defenses. Between that and the fact that each and every one of them was a skilled fighter, our own troops found themselves rapidly overwhelmed. Their leader Dan, in particular, was running amok through the battlefield, cleaving several men with each swing of his massive halberd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dan’s rampage did not escape Rietz’s notice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll handle the leader,” he said, spurring his horse forward."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My first instinct was to let him go. Dan was dealing incredible damage to our formation, and bringing him down would deal a massive blow to the enemy’s morale. However, I couldn’t help but harbor a nagging doubt that someone as strong as him could beat Rietz. And Rietz was one man who I absolutely could not allow to die on me, under any circumstances."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I have to stop him!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait!” I shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But, Your Lordship,” Rietz began to protest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I say you let him take his shot,” said Mireille before Rietz could articulate himself. “We need to take that guy down one way or another, unless we wanna risk this whole plan falling to pieces. People like him have a way of forcing their way out of traps like this, no matter how absurd the odds against them are. A girl like me doesn’t stand a chance against a monster like him, and that means if anyone’s going to do the deed, it’ll have to be Rietz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see your point,” I began, “but─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A proper lord has faith in his retainers. You know that, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille’s words struck a chord with me. I was trying to prioritize my people’s safety in the moment, and neglecting to consider whether that would be in their best interests in the long run. And besides, I was far from convinced that Rietz would lose. I took a deep breath, then turned to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Can you beat him, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can,” said Rietz without hesitation. He’d witnessed Dan’s ferocious might, but he didn’t show so much as a hint of fear. He was confident that he would emerge victorious."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” I said. “Then do it. Engage the enemy’s leader, and bring him down!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship!” Rietz replied as he sped off, making a beeline toward Dan."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At Ars’s command, Rietz galloped through the woods, spurring his horse forward toward Dan with a halberd held at the ready. Rietz favored polearms over a sword or a bow when he engaged in mounted combat, and the halberd was his weapon of choice. Soon, his skillful horsemanship brought him up to a short distance away from Dan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dan, meanwhile, was battling away on the frontlines, scattering his foes with each wide, cleaving swing of his halberd."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Flee, peons! Flee! My business is with your leader! Clear a path to his head, and you might get to keep yours!” he bellowed. Hardened and well-trained though the soldiers on the frontlines were, the sheer force of Dan’s might and presence sent the bulk of them scattering in fear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz, however, was a different matter. He galloped into Dan’s path, intercepting Dan’s halberd with his own. That single strike was all that Rietz needed to understand just how powerful a foe he was facing, while Dan sensed that Rietz was no ordinary opponent. Rietz looked slender and frail at a glance, but the size of his muscles belied their strength. In a contest of pure brawn, the men were evenly matched."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh? I’ve never met a Malkan who could cross blades with me,” said Dan with a raised eyebrow as he took in Rietz’s appearance. “These aren’t your lands. What business do you have on a Missian battlefield?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m certainly not here to exchange pleasantries with the likes of you,” Rietz curtly replied, then raised his halberd and shot Dan a pointed glare. “I intend to claim your head, and offer it to Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So some oddball on the other side took you on as their retainer? Can’t say I don’t see the logic. Anyone strong enough can make a decent servant, be they a Malkan or a gorilla,” said Dan, readying his own weapon in turn. “You should know the name of the man who’s about to kill you. I am Dan Allest.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz Muses.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With their names declared, the two warriors charged forward and began a furious mounted duel. Each of them was a master in his own right, and their skill was a stunning thing to behold. To lesser men, fighting on horseback would be a hindrance─one simply couldn’t take up a stable stance while mounted. Rietz and Dan, however, swung their weapons with unimpaired power and grace, their movements in such perfect unison with their horses’ one would think they shared a perfect mental connection with the creatures. The horses dodged and leaped about the field while their riders delivered blow after blow, trying to sneak a fatal strike into their foes’ blind spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From an outside perspective, the two of them looked evenly matched, but on closer observation, one might have noticed a pall of panic spreading across Dan’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Damn, he’s good, thought Dan. And a hell of a lot stronger than he looks… His blows are fast, heavy, and he knows how to feint, too. He’s no ordinary soldier, that’s for damn sure!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before he knew it, Dan found himself fighting a purely defensive battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Graaah!” shouted one of Dan’s men, who rushed in to back up his leader. Rietz didn’t miss a beat, dodging the attack effortlessly and slicing the man in half with a single stroke, but it proved enough of a distraction to open him up to attack for a brief moment. Dan wasn’t the sort of man who’d give up that sort of opportunity for the sake of honor─if he had a chance to slay his enemy, he’d take it, and he meant to do just that, swinging his halberd for Rietz’s neck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This was not, however, Rietz’s first battle by a long shot. He knew that dropping his guard could mean instant death, and the moment he realized that Dan’s attack was coming from an angle he couldn’t intercept, he gave up on blocking it altogether, instead twisting to the side and dodging the strike. In the same motion, he unsheathed a dagger with his left hand, striking back while Dan was too committed to his swing to stop his momentum."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agh!” Dan shouted as Rietz’s slash landed and a spray of blood erupted from his right arm. It was a deep cut, and Rietz could tell how effective it had been from the feel of the strike alone. Dan wouldn’t be able to parry Rietz’s attacks with his arm in that state, and now it was Rietz’s turn to seize the advantage and bring his halberd down with all his might. Dan tried to raise his guard, but as expected, his injured arm wasn’t up to the task. His halberd fell limply to his side, and just like that, Rietz cleaved through his neck in a flash."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dan’s head toppled from his shoulders. Blood sprayed out from the stump of his neck as his head plummeted toward the ground until Rietz caught it midair and hoisted it aloft."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dan Allest is slain!” he cried at the top of his lungs, the news resounding across the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I watched Rietz’s battle from afar, and reflected on just how incredible a person he was as he brought down the enemy’s monster of a commander. I’d been on the edge of my saddle with worry, but in the end, my fears had been groundless. With that, the enemy’s chain of command had been severed, and Dan’s death sent an immediate wave of distress through the rest of his men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The time is now! Wipe them out!” shouted Rietz, rallying his fellow soldiers onward. The rest of the front line had been cowed by the might of the enemy cavalry, but this stunning development helped them regain their momentum. Taking advantage of the enemy’s confusion, they brought down one rider after the next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One soldier who appeared to be the enemy’s second-in-command did his best to bring his subordinates back into formation, but unfortunately for them, he didn’t seem to be a capable leader and it wasn’t going well. Eventually, their force broke under the pressure of our concentrated attack, and the remaining survivors scattered in all directions, fleeing into the woods. The thick foliage and lack of roads, of course, meant that those who rode into the trees couldn’t gallop at full pace, making them sitting ducks for our archers and mages. Those who turned around and fled back the way they came, meanwhile, were cut down by the Maitraw Company."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What was once a very sizable enemy contingent had been just about slain to the man. We’d made massive gains in the battle at large, and in almost no time at all. We had yet to defeat the lord of Castle Rolto, to be fair, but with their cavalry regiment decimated, they’d lost their most powerful weapon by far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we press this advantage, we can defeat the lord who leads their army!” shouted Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had assumed that the rest of the enemy force would have fled, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Instead, they’d advanced on the forest in an attempt to save their encircled cavalry division. We held more of a numerical advantage than ever now, and what troops they had left weren’t anywhere near as dangerous as their cavalry had been. To make matters even worse for our foes, their hurried advance had left them with no time to come together in a proper formation, leaving them unprepared to fend off our attack. In my eyes, our victory was all but assured."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our first move was to declare to their remaining forces that Dan Allest was dead. It seemed he was a well-known man among their troops, and the news of his death sent obvious waves of shock through their ranks. The Maitraw Company took advantage of their distress by choosing that moment to launch a preemptive attack, charging forward with Clamant at their head. There were only around five hundred or so of them, but each of them rode a horse and was strong in their own right. They crashed into the enemy lines, striking down their foes left and right and sending their army into a state of pandemonium."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Claim Jean’s head!” commanded Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As our whole army surged forward, a few enemy soldiers began to break ranks and flee. Their leader Jean, however, seemed to have no intention of falling back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Retreat is not an option! We fight to the bitter end!” he shouted, his voice amplified by sound magic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No amount of encouragement could change the fact that his troops were at a severe disadvantage, though. They were outnumbered, their chain of command was crumbling, and in the end, they were unable to recover from all the setbacks they’d faced. Our men mowed them down, one after another, and before long the troops who’d come from outside the county to reinforce Jean’s army began to retreat en masse. After some time, Jean himself was slain. The battle was over, and we had won."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With Jean dead and his army routed, there was nothing left to stop us from marching on and occupying Castle Rolto. The vast majority of the enemy forces had sortied along with their leader, leaving only a skeleton crew to stay behind at the castle. In light of their lord’s death, those troops quickly surrendered, leaving the stronghold to us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The occupation of the castle hadn’t been one of our initial objectives, but it was deemed necessary on account of the County of Balton’s forces. The five thousand reinforcements they’d sent to help Jean hadn’t been wiped out, and they also didn’t represent the county’s entire standing army. There were still more soldiers left in the County of Balton, and while the risk of them mounting an offensive was minimal, it also wasn’t a factor we could afford to disregard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As such, our objective shifted. While once our only goal was to stop the advance of Jean’s army, now we were tasked with occupying Castle Rolto and keeping the County of Balton’s army in check. In theory, having the castle under our control would prevent them from moving about freely. Last but not least, after Castle Rolto was under our control, a banquet was called to celebrate our success."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What a battle! What a victory! And we owe it all to you, Ars!” shouted Lumeire. He was red-faced, inebriated, and in the highest of spirits. At the end of the day our casualties had been quite minor, and in his eyes that meant that the battle had been an overwhelming success."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t think I can take the credit for this one,” I replied. “My retainers deserve your praise more, and Rietz in particular.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your retainers are certainly a cut above, I’ll admit! They’re enough to make a man downright envious! I saw Rietz’s duel, you know? Dan was a fearsome foe, but Rietz cut him down with ease! Splendid, my boy!” Lumeire gushed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He wasn’t the only one singing Rietz’s praises that evening. All the soldiers who’d witnessed his moment of heroism were abuzz with excited discussion about him. The better part of the army had taken him rather lightly up to now on account of his Malkan heritage, but slaying an enemy leader seemed to have done wonders when it came to broadening most of their perspectives. They knew now that they’d been underestimating him, so Rietz’s popularity with his fellow soldiers had skyrocketed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That wasn’t to say that all of them had abandoned their prejudices, of course, and some of those who still didn’t think much of Rietz seemed quite irked by all the attention he was getting. I considered taking steps to ensure that they didn’t get the chance to attack him…but considering how physically and mentally tough Rietz was, I figured he could take care of himself if push came to shove."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, good food, how I’ve missed you! This is almost too delicious!” said Charlotte between mouthfuls. After all that complaining about our trail rations, she was so excited by the feast that she ended up shoveling her meal down with voracious enthusiasm. I had to admit that eating something with flavor for the first time in ages did make it taste a lot better than usual. I’d put away my fair share of dishes as well, though I wasn’t even close to keeping up with her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gra hah hah! Keep the booze flowing!” bellowed Mireille. She’d been banned from drinking while we were on the war trail, and wetting her whistle for the first time in weeks had done wonders for her mood. The war wasn’t over yet, but I figured this was as good a time as any to let her cut loose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I, in contrast, had found myself in a corner of the banquet hall where I could sit down, eat, and survey the crowd. As I did so, I happened to find my attention drawn to Rosell. He seemed to be deep in thought, mulling something over with a frown on his face. He’d never been the type to participate in the more raucous side of this sort of gathering, and his age meant that he couldn’t drink even if he were into that sort of thing, seeing as this world had the same values about children drinking as my old world had. While Rosell being off to the sidelines was nothing unusual, the air of anxiety he gave off as he pondered got me curious. I considered letting my retainers air their worries to me as part of my responsibilities as a lord, so I decided to go chat him up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Rosell,” I said as I drew close to him. “Something on your mind?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You could say that,” said Rosell. “Tell me, Ars…what do you think about how everyone’s behaving?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not sure what to say, honestly. They just won a major victory, so I think it’s good for everyone to take this chance to celebrate.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s exactly the problem! You’re all taking this too lightly! Yes, we dealt with the reinforcements before they reached Staatz, and sure, we took the castle, but everyone’s still making merry when our biggest objective is still up in the air! We haven’t won until the main force conquers Castle Staatz!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed he was already thinking about─or rather, fixating on─what was to come in the near future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have a point. But as long as the reinforcements they were hoping for never come, I don’t think Castle Staatz stands much of a chance, does it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re being way too optimistic, Ars. We need to get a handle on the state of the war as soon as possible, and maybe even send reinforcements of our own to back the main force up. Though then again, I suppose that if they’re on track for an easy victory, staying here and keeping our eyes peeled for the Balton army could be worthwhile too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re right about that. We can’t let our guards down. Lord Couran would’ve sent a messenger if he’d already taken Castle Staatz, and we’ve received no such thing so far. It seems more likely than not that the battle has yet to be decided, as things stand.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Staatz’s defenses were rumored to be impregnable. It was a mountain citadel, which made it a rarity given that most of Missian was made up of flatlands. I wouldn’t have been at all surprised to learn that the assault on the castle was moving at a snail’s pace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, maybe you do have a point…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You should ask the Shadows to survey Castle Staatz’s current status!” said Rosell. “That’ll give us the info we need to plan our next move for sure!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He seemed very enthusiastic about the recommendation, and I knew very well how smart Rosell was. I was starting to feel a little anxious after everything he’d told me, as well, so I decided to take him up on the idea and ask the Shadows to look into Castle Staatz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I called Pham over to discuss the new plan. He was also participating in the banquet, though he’d arrived in his maid disguise and was stone cold sober, unlike most everyone else. I was glad to see that I’d be able to have a proper conversation with him, even at a time like this."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So? What’s the job this time?” asked Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I want you to look into the current status of Castle Staatz,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More information gathering, eh? You know you’ve got scouts for that sort of grunt work, right?” said Pham with a roll of his eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe, but I don’t trust our scouts to be even half as fast and accurate as your crew,” I countered. Clandestine operations were just one of the Shadows’ many areas of expertise─they were also capable of collecting information with incredible speed and precision. I probably could’ve tasked them with something more challenging, considering how good at their jobs they were, but I couldn’t change the fact that what I needed above all else at that moment was basic information."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0017.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have it your way. As long as you have the coin for the job, of course,” said Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Naturally,” I replied. I was glad to see him take the job in spite of his grumbling, and I expected him to head off and get to work right away, but instead, he spoke directly to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, you have some sorta power that lets you see what people are capable of, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. What about it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d given him a basic explanation of my skill back when I first met him. I’d managed to see through his disguise and realize he was a guy, and Pham had interrogated me about how I’d managed to do so."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s that power of yours say about me? What are my capabilities like? Good? Useless?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was a surprise. I hadn’t taken Pham for the sort of person to ask a question like that. I’d assumed he was the type to have a perfect understanding of his own strengths, and to go through life with absolute confidence in his abilities. I didn’t have any particular reason not to tell him, though. I’d appraised him before, and I’d seen that while he didn’t excel in all areas, he did have remarkably high Valor and Intelligence stats, which meant that he was capable indeed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Guess I don’t need to ask,” Pham continued. “I’m plenty competent, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right. You seem very confident about that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I do have a pretty decent grasp of what I’m capable of. What I can’t do is know where everyone else falls on the spectrum, and explaining what you can do to someone is harder than you’d think. That power of yours is something that anyone in a position of authority would want. Hell, I’m just the leader of a band of mercs, and even I want it,” said Pham. He seemed to regard my power quite well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ars Louvent,” he continued. “I’ve got a feeling you could go big places.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d always gotten the impression that Pham looked down on me, but apparently, I’d been mistaken. To the contrary, the way he was acting now made it seem like he had a high opinion of me, much to my surprise."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, duty calls,” Pham said, then went off to work. I had the strangest feeling that he’d had something else he wanted to say to me, but I figured I might’ve just been imagining it. Even if he did have something he wished to discuss, another opportunity was sure to present itself before long, so I saw no reason to drag it out of him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Shadows were on their way to scope out Castle Staatz, and until they returned, the rest of us would just have to stand by in Castle Rolto and wait for news."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0019.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While Ars’s contingent laid claim to Castle Rolto, Couran and his division were hard at work carrying out their advance on Castle Staatz. The enemy had attempted to obstruct their progress by deploying troops to major roads on the way to the castle, but Couran’s army proved too massive to delay for long. His sheer numerical advantage was demoralizing for his foes, and what little opposition there was to his advance quickly retreated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d think they were hoping to buy themselves more time than this. They don’t have a surplus of it,” Couran calmly speculated as he watched the enemy force fall back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They may have fewer troops available than we’d planned for,” said Robinson, Couran’s right-hand man and an ever-valuable source of analysis on the state of the war. “Castle Staatz is said to be a mighty fortress, but if the difference in numbers is that vast, they may still find it impossible to defend it against our force.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And that’s not even considering our aqua magia reserves,” noted Couran. “Magic rules the modern battlefield, and even the sturdiest fortifications can’t withstand it forever. We’ll maintain our momentum and press the attack!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s forces moved onward, their morale soaring to greater and greater heights, never once noticing the trap that they were about to stumble into."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kanses, the Count of Velshdt, Thomas, Vasmarque’s trusted tactician, and Stefan Dolucha, the Baron of Staatz, had all gathered up in the study of Castle Staatz to discuss the state of the war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The momentum of our enemy’s advance has far exceeded what we expected,” Kanses muttered, his voice dispirited. “At this rate, not even Castle Staatz itself will be able to hold them off for long…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Worry not, Lord Kanses! My castle once repelled an army tens of thousands strong! No matter how many men they throw at our walls, I swear to you that we won’t let them best us!” said Stefan. He was a man with a large build and a fearsome countenance, his face decorated with a variety of scars he’d earned in the countless battles he’d participated in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas, however, did not share Stefan’s optimism."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Castle Staatz is well-fortified, Sir Stefan, I’ll grant you that, but the era of one fortress holding off tens of thousands of men is long gone. Now that magic’s in play, there’s no such thing as an impregnable castle anymore, and Couran’s force has enough explosive aqua magia in stock to level this place a dozen times over.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“U-Ugh,” grunted Stefan. His displeasure was obvious, but he had no counterargument to Thomas’s claim. Far from it─his ample experience in battle told him that Thomas was correct."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we want to hold onto this castle, we can’t let its walls do all the work for us. We’ll have to have all sorts of tricks ready for them to help us win this battle,” Thomas continued with a malicious smirk."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Should I take that to mean you have a plan in mind?” asked Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s simple, really. If their magic’s their scariest weapon, we just have to take it away from them. We’ll aim to take out the enemy’s explosive aqua magia reserves,” Thomas explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… That would make a great deal of difference, but surely our enemy knows how important their aqua magia is? Do you believe they’ll just let us destroy it?” countered Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I happen to know what sort of man Couran is,” said Thomas. “He’s a soldier and statesman born, but he’s missing that one last, little piece that lets a man follow through and makes him great. That’s what sets him and Lord Vasmarque apart. He’s got the upper hand right now, to be sure, but that just means he’s all the more likely to let his guard slip.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm. And you’re so certain of this that you feel confident your plan will succeed?” asked Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, no need to worry about that. Just leave it all to me,” replied Thomas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, a man dressed in a light, nondescript fashion arrived to deliver a message to Thomas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The enemy’s aqua magia reserves are on the move,” the messenger reported."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good! About time,” said Thomas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There are fewer troops guarding it than anticipated,” the messenger continued. “There’s one problem, though…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What is it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The reserves have been split up for transportation, and there’s no way of telling which unit is carrying their explosive aqua magia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So they’re keeping their reserves spread out,” said Thomas. “They could lose every drop of their fire aqua magia and not miss it, as long as the explosive aqua magia’s untouched… Maybe Couran’s taking this more seriously than I gave him credit for.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Explosive magic had the potential to tear down the castle’s walls outright, and posed far and away the greatest danger to its defenders. If their stock of the requisite aqua magia had been dispersed throughout a number of units, then it would be much harder to eliminate all of it with any degree of certainty. An assault on the convoys would become a gamble, and Thomas was not a gambling man."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Thomas!” shouted another of Thomas’s men, who arrived as he was mulling over the problem. He had sent out a number of his subordinates to scope out Couran’s army and get a grasp of the situation. “Our scouts in the vicinity of Castle Samkh have reported new information regarding the enemy units carrying their explosive aqua magia! It’s split up among five units that are all separate, and we have scouts tailing each of them at this very moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are you absolutely sure about that?” asked Thomas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, my lord! It seems the enemy troops have grown complacent after their recent victories. Several of their soldiers let the information slip after we plied them with alcohol, and since they all told the same story, we’ve determined that it’s reliable!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that changes things. I guess I wasn’t giving Couran too little credit after all─he’s been keeping his men on far too long of a leash. I bet he thinks he’s already won. We’ll move out at once!” said Thomas as he stood up from his seat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Already?” Kanses asked, shocked. “And you plan to lead the attack yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we’re going to take advantage of this opening, then we can’t waste a minute,” Thomas explained. “Plus, this operation could turn the tide of battle. Of course I have to see it through in person.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, I suppose that makes sense… Very well, then. I’ll entrust this task to you, Thomas,” said Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Consider it done,” Thomas replied with a confident smirk."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas handpicked five squads to participate in his plan, and instructed each of them to lay in ambush along roads that the enemy convoys would be traveling. Sending one larger unit to carry out the attack wasn’t an option─if the enemy managed to send word to the other convoys after the first was assaulted, their guards would be raised and the rest of the mission would be jeopardized. They’d have to carry out their attacks simultaneously in order to maintain the element of surprise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, since each convoy was traveling a different route, carrying out simultaneous attacks upon them was easier said than done. That was where magic entered the picture: they would use sound magic to keep in contact with the other squads. Specially designed catalyzers allowed long-distance communication by way of the Transmit spell, but that spell was not without limitations: it could only send sounds across a distance proportional to the size of the catalyzer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Large catalyzers could cast Transmit across great distances, but were less than portable and wouldn’t be practical for Thomas’s operation. Mid-sized catalyzers, on the other hand, would just barely be able to send sounds across the distances necessary, assuming everything went as planned. In the end, Thomas decided that the mid-sized catalyzer option was enough, and equipped each unit with a catalyzer and a mage to operate it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas himself would not join up with any one particular unit. Instead, he took up position at a point equidistant from the sites where the ambushes would be carried out, accompanied by a mage capable of casting sound magic. From there, he could give instructions to all five units at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas waited, carefully gauging the right moment to strike. After waiting there for a long period of time, when each unit reported in sequence that they had eyes on their target convoy, Thomas turned to his mage and said, “Give them the order to attack.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The mage cast Transmit at once, sending Thomas’s order out to all five squads. The squads, in turn, sprung their ambushes without delay. Soon, reports of each squad’s success began coming in one after another, which Thomas replied to by instructing them to withdraw from the battlefield with all due haste. Out of the five units tasked with the job, four reported complete success. The final squad, however, had been up against skilled foes. They’d proven too much for Thomas’s men to handle, and had escaped with their cargo intact."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, so it goes,” said Thomas with a shrug. “Even if one of them got away, we’ve still come out far ahead today. Tell the last squad to withdraw.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Thomas and his mage fell back as well, making for Castle Staatz once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They what?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran’s face flushed with shock and fury when he heard the report. The five convoys transporting his army’s stock of explosive aqua magia had been targeted with pinpoint precision, and the ambushes had resulted in the loss of all but a fifth of their aqua magia supply."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It seems the details of our transportation channels were leaked to the enemy. We arranged for the aqua magia to be split up and transported by multiple convoys in an effort to protect them, but that decision has backfired,” said Robinson."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran scowled and clicked his tongue with frustration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we’d transported all of it together, then an unforeseen disaster or an enemy raid could have wiped out our entire supply in one fell swoop. Splitting it up may have prevented that worst-case scenario, yes, but barely… How much aqua magia was the remaining convoy transporting?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Frankly, very little,” Robinson answered. “Not enough to bring down the walls of Castle Staatz, anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s frown grew deeper still. He had been counting on an overwhelming advantage in the upcoming conflict, and this news was a painful blow to his plan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We left behind a stock of excess aqua magia in Semplar, didn’t we? Have all of it brought here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well, Your Lordship,” said Robinson. “However, I’m afraid that transporting that stock here will take quite some time…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All the more reason to send word on the double. If winter falls before the castle is in our hands, then our plans to take Velshdt will be set back.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As you command. I’ll have a messenger sent to Semplar right away,” Robinson replied, then departed to carry out his orders. Couran was left to cross his arms and groan at the miserable situation he’d found himself in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day after I dispatched the Shadows to look into the state of things at Castle Staatz, Lumeire called together a council of war where I reported on my decision. It would take some time for word to arrive, and until then, it was decided that we would hold our position and monitor any movements of the County of Balton’s army."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, the Shadows returned with news for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve gotten a handle on the situation in Staatz,” reported Ben, who’d been dispatched to speak with me. His face was as plain and unmemorable as ever, though after many meetings with him, I’d learned to recognize him without confirming his identity with an appraisal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s hear it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Starting with the biggest point, the castle hasn’t fallen yet. It looks like it’s been a pretty close fight, and both sides are struggling.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t too surprised to hear that. Couran’s army was far larger than Staatz’s defending force, but I’d accurately predicted that the castle’s defenses would make it a difficult target to deal with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is Castle Staatz just that defensible, then?” I asked, hoping to confirm my theory."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that too,” said Ben, “but reinforcements from Castle Velshdt reached Staatz and wreaked havoc on Couran’s troops. They ambushed shipments of aqua magia, and managed to take out most of Couran’s explosive aqua magia in the process. Seems that’s what’s slowing him down more than anything else.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was grave news, to be sure. Explosive aqua magia was the functional equivalent of siege engines in this world. Bringing a castle down without it was a tall order, and Castle Staatz’s magical defenses were sturdy to begin with. The loss of that much aqua magia would make conquering it a much harder task. The situation was even worse than I’d anticipated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What’s Couran doing to deal with the issue? Is there a delivery of explosive aqua magia inbound?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, but by the time it gets to him it’ll be winter, and storming the castle will be harder than ever,” said Ben. It was currently the sixth month, which was around the time that the cold started setting in. It did seem quite possible that winter would arrive before the battle was finished unless the situation changed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s forces were already encamped near the castle, presumably, so it wouldn’t be impossible for them to stage an assault in the wintertime. That being said, carting around provisions and resources was a lot harder when you had piles of snow in the way, which had the potential to cripple their ability to start a real fight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The coldest period of the year lasted from the end of the sixth month through the start of the seventh, and once that period passed, the snow would melt and the battle could resume in earnest. In the grand scheme of things it wouldn’t be that long of a delay, but time was of the essence and ending the battle even a day sooner could prove pivotal. Wasting somewhere around twenty days was very much something we’d be better off avoiding if possible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good work. That’s very good to know,” I said to Ben, then went to report what I’d learned to Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When Lumeire heard what I had to say, a frown passed across his face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How could this be…? I never dreamed the situation could be this grim,” he muttered. “Isn’t there anything we can do to help?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We can set out to aide Lord Couran’s forces,” I said. “We have a decent stock of explosive aqua magia here at Castle Rolto. I don’t know if it’ll be enough, but anything helps.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree that we should send aid to Lord Couran,” said Lumeire. “But how we go about sending it isn’t such an easy decision to make.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean by that?” I asked. Rushing off to Castle Staatz on the double seemed like the obvious method to me, and for that matter, I couldn’t think of any alternatives."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aside from simply rushing to Lord Couran’s aid, we could also stage our own assault from a different direction, catching Castle Staatz’s defenders unprepared. A characteristic trait of defensive magic is that their strength is not evenly distributed. There are weak points in any barrier system, and if we can catch the enemy off guard and attack one of those weak points, we may be able to break through. There are two paths from here to Castle Staatz, as well: the road we took to get here, and another, smaller route. If we were to take that path and attack the enemy without warning, we may very well emerge victorious.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t a proposal without risks. If the enemy was aware that Castle Rolto had fallen, then it was possible their defenses would be prepared for such an attack. Even so, it still seemed probable that a surprise attack would be more effective than walking up and joining the main force."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Staging a surprise attack makes sense to me,” I said, “but I think it would be a good idea to speak with everyone else before we settle on a plan.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I couldn’t agree more,” said Lumeire, “but we should choose a course of action as soon as possible. Call together the most exceptional of your retainers at once.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It didn’t take long to bring my retainers together, and we commenced our council without delay. To start, I explained the current state of things at Castle Staatz to everyone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see. It seems the situation is dire indeed,” said Rietz after I was finished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your brother was supposed to be in Velshdt, right, Master?” Rosell asked, turning to Mireille. “Do you think he’s helping defend Staatz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I give it nine out of ten odds he is, yeah. I always taught him to zero in on his enemy’s weakest link and take it out, and it looks like he’s putting that method to good use in this battle,” said Mireille. She sounded quite blasé about the matter, considering that those teachings were the reason why Couran was in such a tough spot at the moment. She had taught her brother everything he knew ages ago, of course, so I supposed there wasn’t any real reason for her to be ashamed of her actions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Lumeire and I have discussed the matter, and agreed that the situation is grave enough to merit backing Lord Couran up,” I explained. “That said, Lord Lumeire has also proposed that traveling in secret and striking the enemy at their weakest point in an ambush could prove even more effective.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was hoping to hear all of your opinions on my proposal,” said Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How much explosive aqua magia does this castle have in stock?” asked Mireille. “My answer could change depending on what we have to work with. If it’s a lot, then just delivering it to them would be our safest bet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We have about three hundred Ms worth of it on hand,” I said. I’d anticipated the question and looked into our stockpile before the council started."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That puts us in dicey territory. A single spell from a large catalyzer burns about thirty Ms. If we catch them off guard, aim for their barrier’s weakest point, and have Charlotte do the casting, we could take down one of their walls in two or three shots. Head-on, though, three hundred Ms worth of magic wouldn’t even be enough to bring down the barrier.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So then our only option is a surprise attack?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not necessarily. We could stage an ambush to distract the enemy, as well. We’d have to get into contact with…” Mireille paused and scowled. “Lord Couran beforehand to make sure he could coordinate with the feint, though.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A diversion, huh…?” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Personally, I’m down for the actual sneak attack,” Mireille continued. “We’d just have to pin down their defenses’ weak point, then have Charlotte blow a hole in their walls before they could do anything about it. Then, we send our troops storming in through the hole all at once, have them open the gates, break the catalyzers keeping their defenses up─y’know, just raise hell. At that point, it’d only be a matter of time before we could storm the main keep and bring it under our control. At least, I assume that’s the general plan. Storming the castle would mean plenty of fighting, and I’ve gotta say, I like the sound of that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t of a mind to settle on a plan based on whether or not Mireille would get to indulge her bloodlust, but still, she’d made a compelling case and I was half-convinced that the surprise attack plan was our best bet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I agree that a surprise attack is a good idea…but I’m concerned about the part where we have to find their defenses’ weak point,” said Rosell. “Do we have any documents regarding the layout of Castle Staatz?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve searched this castle’s archives and found a document that includes a simple map of Castle Staatz. That being said, it doesn’t include anything that would be considered state secrets, such as the locations of traps,” Lumeire answered, then spread the map in question out on his desk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Their walls seem to enclose a pretty big area,” I muttered as I looked over the document. “Who knows how long it’d take to starve them out in a siege.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed there was a whole town within the castle’s curtain walls, which led me to the realization that ordinary townsfolk could get wrapped up in the battle to come."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This’ll be the weak point we need,” said Mireille, pointing at a wall located on the castle’s northwestern edge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How do you know?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You need mages to man your magical defenses─there’s no way around that. The more skilled the mage, the stronger the barrier they can deploy. Thing is, one person can’t cover a castle this big on their own. They’ll need at least thirty or so mages for the job, I’d say, and that’s the minimum. The most important section of the castle wall to defend’ll be the main entrance on the south side─after all, if that gate gets blasted open, the enemy could surge in all at once and storm the place. That’ll be where their defenses are strongest. The northwestern side, meanwhile, doesn’t have a gate at all and is located at the top of a slope, which means it’d be hard to assault at the best of times. The odds of an attack coming from that direction are low, so I imagine they’ll have one of their less capable mages guarding it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Lumeire with a nod. “But wouldn’t the fact that it’s a difficult stretch of the wall to assault pose problems for our troops as well?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s why we have to coordinate with Lord Couran,” said Mireille. “If we can get him to launch a feint at the right moment, their attention will be focused on the main gate and we’ll have higher odds of pulling it off. I can think of plenty of other plans that would get us through, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With the enemy’s eyes on the main gate, they’d be unprepared to handle a surprise attack from a different direction. The plan seemed like a good one─we could up the odds of the entire operation succeeding with a little coordination."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe the time has come, then, to contact Lord Couran regarding our plan. We can settle on the details once we’ve heard from him about the state of his force,” Lumeire said, then began drafting a letter to send to Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s forces had set up their encampment a short distance away from Castle Staatz. Couran himself sat in the headquarters they’d raised, running through the state of the war in his mind and searching for a plan that could win him the day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is waiting it out our only option? he pondered. The battle started off so well─how has it come to this…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The starting stages of the campaign had left Couran optimistic. His troops had fought their first engagement after reinforcements from Velshdt had attempted to block their path, and the battle had ended with those reinforcements fleeing in a total rout. He’d won battle after battle from that point onward, working his way to the vicinity of Castle Staatz itself. That was when his forces had lost the majority of their explosive aqua magia in a single day, and everything started going wrong."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran was left with very few resources capable of damaging the castle’s outer walls. His force had been at a lack of competent mages to begin with, and with their stockpile of aqua magia so low, there was no chance of them blasting their way through the castle’s gates. Ever since then, his army had maintained their position, sitting and waiting for an aqua magia delivery that would arrive after winter had finished setting in. That would cause major delays in the army’s supply chain, rendering them unable to fight a protracted battle and buying their foes more time still."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Preventing that outcome was Couran’s highest priority, but it wasn’t the only problem he faced. His army’s provisions were an issue as well. He had brought an extravagant quantity of food with him, but the longer the campaign dragged on, the more likely it became that he would have to retreat to restock and regroup. That was just one more reason why bringing the castle down before winter rolled in would be a major victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Considering the state of things, though, that may not even be possible… We’ve picked out weak points in the castle’s defenses, but we lack the aqua magia to even break through those. And even if we do manage to do so by some miracle, the wall we’d destroy would be in a highly disadvantageous location. Unless the enemy let their guard down to an astonishing degree, we’d have no hope of staging an assault…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran was beginning to think that his only choice would be to steel himself to make some sacrifices and attempt to claim the castle without the help of magic. Castle Staatz was strategically significant enough that taking it would be worthwhile, even if he did lose a large chunk of his troops in the process. That being said, if he were to accept the loss and mount an offensive, then fail to take the castle, it would put his campaign in a dire state and force him to withdraw from the county. That could give the enemy an opportunity to reclaim the castles and forts that Couran had already conquered, rendering everything he’d gained meaningless. That, above all else, was something he had to avoid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If only Ars and his followers were here, I’m sure they could dream up a plan to drag us out of this mire,” Couran sighed. Preventing the forces at Castle Rolto from marching on his army had been an important task, and he’d felt the need to entrust it to someone he had faith in, but as of late he’d begun to question his judgment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Couran!” said a soldier who came sprinting into the headquarters. “A letter has arrived for you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who is it from?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It bears the mark of Lord Lumeire!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire─in other words, Ars’s superior. That meant that the letter could very well contain a plan dreamed up by Ars himself, and with that thought in mind, Couran unfolded it without wasting a moment. Within, he found a proposal for a surprise attack and a request that his army coordinate with Lumeire’s in said attack’s execution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A surprise attack… Yes, I see… This could very well break us out of our deadlock. If I act as if I’ve given up and decided to mount an all-out offensive, the enemy will turn all their attention onto me. That means they’ll neglect the rest of the castle’s defenses… The question, however, is whether or not the force I sent along with Lumeire is up to the task of storming the castle. Castle Staatz’s garrison is sizable, and it won’t be easy for Lumeire to fight his way to the defensive catalyzers and their mages. Perhaps I should send a division─of two thousand, say─to maneuver around the castle in secret and back up Lumeire and his troops."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His mind abuzz with ideas, Couran began drafting his reply to the letter at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the success of Thomas’s plan to eliminate the enemy’s aqua magia supplies, he, Kanses, and Stefan once again gathered in Castle Staatz’s study."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The situation could be far worse,” said Kanses after reviewing the current state of the war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I must admit that the difference in numbers puts us at a disadvantage, but thanks to Sir Thomas’s brilliant stratagem, the enemy’s aqua magia reserves have been decimated. They may attempt to mount an attack regardless, but this castle will not prove so easily stormed,” said Stefan with an air of confidence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I doubt they’ll be going on the attack for a while yet…but I also don’t think we should underestimate Couran,” said Thomas. “He’s not the type of man to let a loss like this pass by without striking back, and he may still have a trick or two up his sleeve.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How do you mean?” asked Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I haven’t verified this for sure, but I’ve gotten a few reports that somebody who looks an awful lot like my sister’s been sighted traveling with Couran’s troops.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your sister? You mean Mireille?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. Doesn’t look like they’ve given her any real authority, though, so for all I know she won’t be that much of a problem. She could never make the most of her talents working under someone who doesn’t trust her.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I recall when her name first caught my attention. She caused quite the stir, and word had it she was a woman of prodigious talent…but I can hardly believe she would take up arms against her own brother.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even if Mireille isn’t plotting something on their behalf, we can’t afford to give them the chance to reclaim an advantage,” said Thomas. “Now’s our chance. We need to take aim at their weakest link and win this war in one fell swoop.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kanses’s eyes widened at the prospect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A weakness that could earn us victory in a single blow? Does such a thing even exist?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It does. Couran himself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A skeptical look came across Kanses’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Couran himself? I’m not one to sing my enemy’s praises, but Couran is a man of many talents. I’ve fought by his side many a time, and know how formidable he is firsthand.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Formidable, yes─and that’s what makes him their biggest vulnerability,” said Thomas. “By all rights, Couran shouldn’t be out on the battlefield. He should be back in Semplar, letting his vassals do the fighting for him. If Couran dies, then the war is over. Hardly any nobles would carry on his cause, and soon all of Missian would unite behind Lord Vasmarque. Couran has a son, yes, but that son is inexperienced and would find little support among his father’s former allies. Leading his troops himself was a risk, but Couran was unwilling to leave the command of his army to one of his men because he’s formidable enough to do the job better than anyone under his lead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’re suggesting we strike Couran down on the battlefield?” asked Kanses. “I’ll admit, that would be an ideal outcome…but is it feasible?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Couran knows that if he kicks the bucket, it’s all over for his cause. He’ll be under heavy guard, no doubts there. That’s where I come in, though. There’s all sorts of ways to kill a man, and I know for a fact I can find the most likely one to pull the job off.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m glad to have a man as reliable as you on my side,” said Kanses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks for that. I’ll be moving my plan to deal with Couran forward, and in the meantime, I want the two of you to bolster the castle’s defenses. Even the best-laid plans can fail, and if Couran manages to keep his head, we’ll be in for a tough fight.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” said Kanses with a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Their strategy settled, Thomas began laying out the particulars of Couran’s imminent assassination."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A letter from Couran arrived at Castle Rolto. Lumeire opened it up at once and read its contents out loud. Couran had written to us in regard to the surprise attack we’d proposed, and began his letter with open praise, stating, “The state of this war has taken a disadvantageous turn, and your proposal to catch the enemy off guard could not have come at a better time. You have my gratitude.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran went on to theorize that our current troops wouldn’t be enough to pull the attack off, so he offered to lend us men from his own division, specifying a time and place at which we could make contact with them. Furthermore, he wrote that he would be launching an attack on Castle Staatz in three days’ time, and requested that we time our surprise attack to coincide with his offensive. Finally, he closed the letter by telling us to send him a response if there were any problems with the plan as he’d outlined it, but otherwise to begin our operation at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are your thoughts?” Lumeire asked, addressing me and my retainers. “Do you think we’re ready to take action?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t believe there are any flaws in particular with this plan,” said Rietz. “That said, I do think we’d do well to review our information on the enemy’s castle over the course of our march.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell and Mireille concurred, meaning the decision was unanimous. It would take three days for us to travel from Castle Rolto to Castle Staatz, meaning that if we wanted to time our attack with Couran’s, we would have to depart right away. Fortunately, we’d been prepared for such an eventuality and our troops were already set to move out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well, then! We march on Castle Staatz!” Lumeire commanded. And just like that, our journey began."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our trip to Castle Staatz proceeded at a steady pace. We moved with as much stealth as we could manage, doing our best to not alert the enemy to our presence. I’d instructed the Shadows to move on ahead of us and keep watch over the area around Castle Staatz as well. That being said, I wanted Pham to stay nearby in case something unforeseen happened and I needed to change my instructions for them, so he ended up assigning one of his subordinates to handle all that intelligence gathering in his stead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, we made contact with the soldiers that Couran had sent to help us. Their presence bolstered our numbers, and in turn raised the odds that our surprise attack would be a success. Soon afterward, the Shadows reported in with new information. Specifically, Ben was the one who made contact with me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve noticed some suspicious movements around Castle Staatz,” said Ben. “A unit of mages made their way outside the castle walls, carrying a large-sized catalyzer with them. It looks like they’re trying not to be spotted.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Where are they going?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re making their way up a nearby mountain─one that would give them a vantage point over Couran’s entire army. Our best guess is that they’re trying to mount a surprise attack.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That, I knew, could pose trouble. A surprise attack now could deal major damage to Couran’s forces."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you talking about Mount Tourai?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s the one,” confirmed Ben."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thought so. That’s the only mountain that could give them a view of the whole army. But that’s strange… They could see the whole army, yeah, but Mount Tourai’s so far away from Lord Couran’s encampment, there’s no way they could cast spells at a long enough distance to do any damage. And stealth-wise, it’d be one thing if it were a squad of infantrymen, but bringing a large catalyzer means they’d be moving at a crawl! The odds of them getting spotted en route were high, and they should’ve known it… What’re they playing at?” he muttered. It seemed he couldn’t grasp the enemy’s plan, this time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, I see what’s going on here. Thomas would,” sighed Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Would what? Have you figured out his plan?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup. Most likely, he’s trying to take out Couran.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What makes you say that?” I asked. She seemed confident enough in her theory that I assumed it had to have a basis."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I told you before that my little brother’s working for the enemy, right? Well, I’m pretty sure this operation’s his doing,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is she trying to say that she knows how her brother thinks well enough to predict his every move?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What sort of operation is it, exactly?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s true that not even a large catalyzer could deal any damage from that sort of range…if they were using it to cast offensive magic. That’s not their plan, though─they’ll be casting a spell called Downpour, which generates a heavy rainstorm in a localized area. They’d be able to use Downpour to make it rain on Couran, even at that long of a distance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, so they make it rain on him…and then what?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Couran’s encampment is set up on barren soil. The roads in the area haven’t been well maintained, and the ground goes muddy at the slightest hint of rain. A proper rainstorm means they’ll be operating in a bog, and that means the army will lose its mobility. To top it all off, the sound of the rain will muffle any suspicious noises. Thomas’s plan is to immobilize Couran, rob him of his sense of hearing, then carry out a surprise attack while he’s unprepared. I’d bet he has units of soldiers setting up the ambush already─they’ve just managed to go undetected so far.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And the goal of that ambush…is to assassinate Lord Couran?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s about the gist of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My first instinct was to question whether a plan like that would be easy to pull off. For one thing, it seemed like it would be simple for Couran to wipe the unit of mages out. It was such a glaring flaw in the theory that I decided to ask about it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why would Lord Couran just allow their mages to climb the mountain unopposed?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Because he has no idea what they’re trying to do. At that distance, even mages would look harmless at a glance, so he’d assume they were up to something unrelated and decide that he couldn’t spare the troops to deal with them. He might also suspect that they were trying to lure him into a trap.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had a point there. When you don’t know what your enemy’s after, a single careless move has the potential to lose you your head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The death of Lord Couran would put our force in an unprecedented predicament,” said Rietz. He needn’t have bothered mentioning it, though, since I already understood that all too well. Without Couran to lead us, our invasion would lose all vestige of legitimacy and would inevitably collapse. I, meanwhile, would lose all hope of ever moving up in the world, and would even stand to lose the position I currently held. I could not allow Couran to die, no matter what."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll have to send a message to Lord Couran at once, and tell him to eliminate the unit heading for the mountain!” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’d be great if it worked, but odds are good the warning wouldn’t make it to him in time,” said Mireille. “It might not even be possible for his men to head them off anymore, considering how late in the game we’re learning about all this.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, yes…but…” I stammered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I said the odds are good they wouldn’t make it in time─good, not certain,” said Mireille. “So, yes, we should send somebody to help. Someone fast enough to make it there in time, and tough enough to pull Couran out of a deathtrap.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ben and Pham’s faces sprang to mind, and as luck would have it, Pham was still present in our unit. I’d be able to ask him to take on the task immediately."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can ask the Shadows to save him, then,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Your spies, huh…? Guess they do stand the highest chance of pulling it off,” replied Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll talk to them right away!” I declared before rushing off to find and commission Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The big lord’s gonna bite it, huh? Tough break,” said Pham when I finished explaining the situation. He didn’t sound even remotely concerned about the problem, though of course, when all was said and done, it wasn’t his problem. “I assume we’ll be getting paid for this?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course. How much would you want for the job?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want something other than money, actually,” said Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’d never asked for a non-monetary reward before, so I was a little taken aback."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you want, then?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“For you to make us your retainers.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come again?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The thing about being a mercenary is it’s not stable living, and I’ve never been a fan of that sorta lifestyle. I’ve been carrying on our old leader’s legacy up until now, but I’ve started thinking that if I come across someone who looks worth serving, it might be time to give up on being a sellsword and go official.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you think I’m worth serving?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right. Your power to see through people is something else, and you’ve got a silver tongue that could compete with the best of ’em. There’s a lot about you that tells me you’re going places, and I wouldn’t mind tagging along for the ride.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Saying he wouldn’t mind serving me was a rather condescending way to ask me to take him into my service, but on the other hand, there was very little I would’ve liked more than having the Shadows under my formal employ. I’d gotten the impression that Pham had wanted to talk to me about something the last time I sent him out to scout around, and now I had to wonder if that something had been the matter of him formally joining up with House Louvent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I wasn’t just imagining him having a high opinion of me after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, if he hadn’t brought it up himself, I might’ve asked him to be my retainer at some point in the near future. The Shadows’ services had become an essential cornerstone of my operations, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well. I would be glad to accept you into my service.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then this deal’s sealed. Let’s try to make this arrangement a long-lasting one…assuming we pull this mission off to begin with, I mean.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With those ominous parting words, Pham sped off to rescue Couran from the mortal peril he’d soon find himself in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ever since his plan to bring down Castle Staatz had been set in stone, Couran had been biding his time, waiting for the moment to strike. By the current schedule, tomorrow would be the day that he staged an all-out assault on the fortress. He had faith that he would manage to bring it under his control within the day, assuming Lumeire’s troop did their job."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, I’m not entirely without worries, Couran thought. He’d received a report that a group of enemy soldiers had been spotted lugging a large catalyzer away from the battlefield and toward Mount Tourai. No matter how long Couran spent pondering the matter, he just couldn’t think of any reason why sending a unit there would be to his enemy’s benefit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was no way they could attack his army with magic from that distance, but the fact that Thomas was working with his foe meant that he couldn’t discount the possibility the move was part of some elaborate scheme. Much as it pained Couran, so long as he couldn’t determine what the enemy was up to, he knew that taking action would be too dangerous, so he was forced to just monitor the situation instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My deepest apologies, Lord Couran,” said Robinson. “It is my duty to see through this sort of scheme, yet I find myself lacking any useful insight…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to agonize over the matter, Robinson,” said Couran. “After all, we’ve no guarantee that this is an enemy plot to begin with!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As far as he was concerned, so long as he couldn’t identify any schemes that the enemy might be carrying out, he might as well assume that they were just coping with some unexpected trouble of their own. There was no guarantee they were trying to accomplish something damaging to his cause after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, the steady patter of rainfall began to ring out from outside Couran’s headquarters. Not just a drizzle, either─it was a sudden and heavy downpour."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rain?” Couran said quizzically. “How strange. The sky was clear as could be just moments ago.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Unusual indeed…” mumbled Robinson."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Going from clear skies to a sudden rainstorm was unusual in this part of the world, but far from unheard of. Couran, however, couldn’t help but feel a vague sense of unease at this new development."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Couran!” shouted a mage who came rushing over at a frenzied sprint."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What is it?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This rain─it’s not natural! It’s the work of magic! Most likely, the troops on Mount Tourai used their large catalyzer to cast it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Water magic?” said Couran. “I suppose Velshdt is a source of water-aspected magistones… But why would they─?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“An ambush! It’s the only explanation!” shouted Robinson."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We must order our troops to ready themselves for battle at once,” said Couran. “But our words won’t carry in this storm… Mage! I have need of your sound magic!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Milord!” said the mage, who began preparing a spell at once. However, shouts and cries began to ring out throughout the camp long before he finished his work."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-We’re under attack!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hellfire!” roared Couran. The battle had begun before he could even warn his men, much less give them orders. Now that his troops were in a panic, they were less likely to hear or heed his words than ever. Having fought on many a battlefield, Couran knew that his predicament was a grave one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re after your life, Lord Couran! Please, flee at once!” shouted Robinson."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran had already drawn the same conclusion, but running away was easier said than done. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that his foes’ trap was well-laid, and that they were sealing off all potential escape routes. The rain made it difficult to tell when they were drawing near, as well, reducing Couran’s ability to take the initiative. The wrong choice could usher him to an early grave."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nevertheless, Couran did what he could. To start, he called out to all the soldiers within earshot of him, ordering them to form up and protect him. Couran intended to hold position, defending himself as best as he could until more of his men came running to save him. He’d ordered the mage from before to use sound magic to command the rest of his troops first to calm themselves, and second, to make their way to Couran’s position."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His foes, however, proved more clever than Couran had counted on. They were on him before he knew it, and they were skilled fighters to boot. Couran kept his most elite soldiers within his proximity as a matter of course, but now, those elites were being overwhelmed. Finally, an enemy soldier broke through their lines and dashed toward Couran himself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran parried his foe’s blow with his blade, then cut him down before he could strike again. That wasn’t the end, though. Moments later, several more soldiers slipped past Couran’s guard and set upon him, intent on claiming his head. Couran fought his best, and performed admirably considering the circumstances, but doing battle with several skilled fighters at once was a tall order. Defeating multiple elites acting in unison bordered on the impossible, and while Couran managed to cut down three of his foes, the final remaining enemy slipped an attack past his guard, aiming for his neck."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I can’t dodge! Am I done for?! Is this where I meet my end?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In that split second, Couran resigned himself to his fate…but before his foe could lop his head off his shoulders, a gash opened in the soldier’s neck. He collapsed to the ground in a spray of blood, dead on the spot. Someone had dispatched him with the throw of a single knife. Couran wheeled about in shock to look at the knife’s owner, and was shocked once more to find that his savior appeared to be a mere child. In truth, of course, he was nothing of the sort. He was Pham, and he had arrived in the nick of time to prevent the assassination from going as planned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham dashed through the battlefield, cutting down one foe after the next. Couran, meanwhile, couldn’t contain his astonishment to see what he assumed was a little girl slaying his enemy’s elite strike force with ease. Soon, though, Couran shook off his shock, took up his sword once more, and rejoined the battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While Pham and Couran slew the enemy’s most skilled soldiers, Ben was nearby, slowly but surely whittling away at their less capable counterparts. He’d never been one for flashy displays, but what he lacked in style he made up for in consistent, unassuming skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By this point, the vicinity had descended into a chaotic melee. Couran, Pham, and Ben found themselves standing back to back to back, guarding each other’s blind spots."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know you. Aren’t you Ars’s maid?” asked Couran. He’d only caught glimpses of Pham in the past, but the supposed maid’s face had stuck in his mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m one of the Shadows,” Pham replied, still striking down his foes even as he spoke. “I’m here to rescue you under Ars’s orders.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I do know you─Ars speaks highly of your skills,” said Couran. “I hate to put a damper on your attempted rescue, but this situation seems…well, less than survivable. We’re rather outnumbered.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran’s foes, taking advantage of their superior coordination, had seized the opportunity to descend on his position en masse. No matter how elite of a fighter his newfound ally may have been, he knew that coping with numbers like those would be all but impossible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No need to worry. I have a plan,” said Pham. “Any minute now…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Any minute…?” Couran repeated, when suddenly, the world was engulfed in darkness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was like night had fallen in the blink of an eye. Shouts and cries of confusion rang out all around him, and at the same time, the clash of blades and screams of his men as they were slain ceased. No matter how experienced a soldier might be, seeing a daylit battlefield be plunged into the dark of night was something no man could be prepared for, and as a result, the fighting had ceased in an instant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Couran hesitated, Pham whispered into his ear, “Whatever you do, don’t raise a ruckus. This will only last a matter of minutes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then, he took Couran’s hand and set off at a run, leading the lord along. He and Ben moved with such confidence one might’ve thought they could see in the dark, withdrawing from the battlefield with Couran in tow and their enemy none the wiser. As soon as they’d cleared the outskirts of the conflict, they began to sprint away as fast as their legs could carry them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What was that?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A type of shadow magic,” said Pham. “Shadow-aspected aqua magia’s precious stuff, and I try to conserve it, but that used up the last of my supply. We’ll be doing slow business until we can stock up again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can rest assured that you’ll be well rewarded for your service today,” said Couran. “I owe you both my life and my heartfelt gratitude.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My employer’s already scheduled to reward me…but I won’t turn down a bonus.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three men made their way up a nearby hill and looked out across the battlefield. A few minutes later, Pham’s shadow magic faded away, just as he’d claimed, and just a moment after that, a voice amplified by sound magic boomed out across the battlefield: “We’ve found Couran! He’s here!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That voice, however, came from an entirely different direction than Couran had run in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is this your doing as well?” asked Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just a bit of insurance,” answered Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks to the chaos sown by the shadow and sound magic, the enemy attack lost all cohesion. It wasn’t long before Couran’s men began to gain the upper hand, and sensing that the tide was turning against them, the attackers withdrew as quickly as they’d come."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re retreating, then? I just hope Robinson and the others made it out of this alive… I must return to my men at once and prove to them that I’m all right.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran had come to the conclusion that Thomas had, in all likelihood, led the surprise attack himself. The troops that had fallen on Couran’s army had been too coordinated─they were clearly operating under the command of a capable leader, and Thomas fit that bill. That, of course, would mean that at the present moment, Thomas was not in Castle Staatz, and that in turn would mean that if ever there was a moment to mount an attack, it was now. Couran had to make contact with his troops, bring them back under control, and order them to assault the castle as soon as possible. He knew that the knowledge he was alive would help bring his allies together in short order, so he rushed back to his encampment as fast as possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Couran! You’re all right!” Robinson shouted as Couran strode back into his headquarters. By this point the rain had passed, vanishing as the darkness had."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see you are unharmed as well, Robinson,” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. I cannot tell you how relieved I am to see you safe, Your Lordship. I must admit I feared the worst, but I rallied our troops and drove the attackers off in the hopes you would return to us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you were the one who turned the situation around? I can always count on you, Robinson.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You honor me with your words, Your Lordship. May I presume this is the man who saved you from your plight?” asked Robinson, turning to Ben. He was standing at Couran’s side, but Pham, it seemed, had vanished."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, though there was another as well. I have to assume he would rather not draw attention to himself, being a spy by trade.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A spy…” said Robinson. “Could these be the Shadows that Lord Ars has spoken of?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are, and they’ve lived up to their reputation on this day,” Couran confirmed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We owe a great deal to Lord Ars, don’t we? I’ve lost track of how many times he’s pulled us from peril.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very true. He’s brought together a remarkable group of retainers,” Couran agreed. He was beyond impressed that Ars had not only seen the attack coming, but had also dispatched Pham and Ben to prevent the worst. “But this is no time to talk─we must make haste! Let us gather our forces and march on Castle Staatz at once!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You mean right now, Your Lordship? But the attack has only just passed, and the men are still shaken!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The attack has only just passed, and that is why now is our moment. I believe that Thomas was among our attackers, and if he’s outside the castle walls, he won’t be able to help coordinate their defense. Without his guiding hand, the enemy will have to respond off the cuff, and Lumeire will have a higher chance of success in his own surprise attack.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I see. But what of the men? How do we calm them down?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll handle that,” said Couran, who then called over one of his mages and had them cast Hyper Voice upon him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His words now amplified to many times their normal volume, Couran delivered a powerful speech to his men. He proclaimed that the enemy had made a terrible mistake, and that in their error they had granted their foes the ultimate chance to seize Castle Staatz. Couran knew very well that nothing calmed an army down more than hearing their general declare that victory was certain, and the knowledge that Couran was alive and that they’d been granted a chance to strike back raised his soldiers’ spirits dramatically."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s one problem dealt with,” said Couran. “Now then─use your sound magic to tell our entire force to move out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The mage did just that, casting spell after spell to signal other divisions of Couran’s army who were camped nearby that the time had come. The final battle for Castle Staatz had begun."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Couran made it out alive, and is leading his troops toward Castle Staatz.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I heaved a sigh of relief as Pham reported on his and Ben’s success. I wouldn’t have to face the utter disaster of Couran’s death after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good work, you two,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I hope you remember your promise,” said Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do, and I intend to honor it. As of this moment, I declare you and your Shadows retainers of House Louvent.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thanks for that,” said Pham with a nod. Considering I would’ve taken on any member of the Shadows as my retainer at the drop of a hat if given the chance, though, I still felt like I was getting my cake and eating it too. It certainly didn’t feel like I’d rewarded them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew when I get the chance,” Pham continued. “No need for secrecy now that we’re with you for the long haul, though I think all of us have better things to do at this particular moment.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As things stood, Pham and Ben were the only members of his crew I’d met. I didn’t even know how many of them there were, and I was eager to get the details, but like Pham said, this wasn’t the right time. Couran had started advancing on Castle Staatz, and from what I’d heard, he was moving fast. I had to report to Lumeire and get our own offensive rolling as soon as possible. I found him and explained the situation without a moment’s delay."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d expect no less from Lord Couran. He’s not one to hesitate at times like these,” said Lumeire when I’d finished my explanation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thomas sure brought this one on himself by taking personal command of the ambush! Moving quickly was the right idea. It’s the best way to take advantage of the situation,” said Mireille with an approving nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If Lord Couran’s attack has begun, then it’s time for us to enact our side of the plan as well,” said Lumeire. “We’ll stage our surprise attack on Castle Staatz at once. Prepare to march!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At Lumeire’s command, our troop geared up at a rapid pace and began to advance on the castle. We’d be coming at it from the northwest, and moved as fast as we could while still remaining inconspicuous enough to not catch the enemy’s attention. That effort proved a success, and we arrived at the staging grounds for our attack without alerting anyone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As our map had indicated, the northwestern wall of the castle was located at the top of an incline. Even if we managed to break through it, climbing the slope would take a fair deal of time. By the time we arrived, though, the assault on the main gate had already begun, and we could hear the sounds of a pitched battle even from a great distance away. The bulk of the enemy’s forces were sure to be occupied at the gates, though I still wasn’t convinced that the circumstances would allow our surprise attack to succeed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The time has come, my men!” said Lumeire. “Lord Couran’s force has already engaged the enemy, and we must follow his example without delay! We shall break through the curtain walls and storm the castle!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that, Lumeire’s mages began making their preparations. Charlotte would be casting using large catalyzers, three of which had been in stock at Castle Rolto. We’d filled all three of them with aqua magia in advance, so really, all we had to do to prepare for the attack was set them up with a clear line of fire to the wall."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since explosive aqua magia was in such short supply, we’d decided that only our most capable mage would be entrusted with the spellcasting on this mission. That, of course, meant the task fell to Charlotte. She stood before one of the catalyzers, chanted an invocation, and unleashed a powerful explosive spell that flew through the air and detonated prior to impacting the castle walls, intercepted midair by an invisible barrier. That, surely, was the enemy’s defensive magic at work, and it had prevented us from breaking through the walls in a single shot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess nobody expected Castle Staatz’s defenses to fall so easily."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph,” Charlotte grunted with frustration at the fortress’s sturdiness. “Next!” she called, moving over to the next catalyzer in line. The first blast she’d fired had expended all the aqua magia in the catalyzer, but she still had two more to go. We’d be in trouble if she used up all three catalyzers’ worth of aqua magia without managing to blow a hole in a wall, so a group of nearby soldiers was already hard at work refilling the first catalyzer just in case we wound up needing it again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte fired off a second blast, but the barrier remained as sturdy as ever. With two explosive charges unleashed, I had to assume the enemy was aware that they were under attack from an unexpected direction. We had to bring that wall down in a hurry, or we’d be in trouble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her third shot crashed through the barrier and impacted against the wall, sending fractures racing through it but not quite bringing it down."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, one more shot!” Charlotte shouted, rushing back to her first catalyzer. That final spell did the trick, and a segment of Castle Staatz’s outer wall crumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good! The Maitraw Company will take the vanguard, and the rest of us will follow in their wake!” shouted Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” said Clamant. When we planned our assault on the castle, it had been decided that once the wall collapsed, he and his mercenaries would be the first ones to charge in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The vanguard was an important role, but it was also a dangerous one. I’d half expected a mercenary like him to refuse the assignment, but to my surprise, when Lumeire asked if he would be willing, Clamant had agreed without question. I’d been led to believe that Couran was compensating him very well for his efforts, and as a result, he responded to requests with near absolute obedience─though I assumed that would only last for as long as his contract did."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Clamant gathered up his men and led them in a charge up the slope and toward the broken section of the wall. Its collapse had sent the enemy running toward our position, of course, but perhaps because this line of attack was so far out of their expectations they had no magic, traps, or even boulders to roll down the hill at us on hand. Clamant, being the mighty warrior he was, took the lead as he and his mercenaries plowed into the enemy line, scattering what little attempt at a defense they’d managed to put up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We follow! Charge!” Lumeire shouted when it became clear that Clamant and his men had the upper hand. Unlike Clamant, Lumeire and I would be holding up the rear of our formation and would be the last into the castle. Since the entire army would be charging in, waiting around outside the walls without a guard might’ve been even more dangerous than exposing ourselves to the perils of battle. We didn’t have a choice, and I knew that meant that if worst came to worst, I would be forced to take up my sword and fight for my life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was, to be totally honest, not much of a fighter. Unless I was up against a very green soldier, I doubted I’d be able to put up a fight at all. Part of me was regretting not staying behind in Castle Rolto, though it was far too late to backpedal now. Rosell was just off to my side, and judging by the way he was trembling, I had a feeling he was thinking along the same lines I was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Perhaps thanks to Clamant’s efforts, the battle seemed to be proceeding smoothly. More and more of our men made it up the hill and charged into the castle. Rietz had led the second group of troops up the hill, and Mireille the third, with the soldiers they led being our most capable fighters. After Clamant cleared the way inside, his job was to open up the castle’s main gate, while Rietz’s and Mireille’s squads would eliminate all the mages they could find."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The castle was vast, but we’d brought plenty of soldiers along with us and could cover a lot of ground. Between our strength in numbers and Clamant, Rietz, and Mireille’s efficient command, I had a feeling we’d be able to pull this off. In fact, the moment I saw Clamant rush into the castle like its defenders weren’t even there, I got the feeling that we had better odds of victory than I’d given us credit for."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz and Mireille led their troops through the gap in the castle wall, intent upon eliminating all the mages they could get their hands on. Mages were important when it came to fighting a defensive battle. They could protect the castle using defensive magic, set off large-scale traps scattered throughout the battlefield, and send massive magical blasts into the enemy lines. Their versatility was hard to overstate, and that made their elimination as early into a battle as possible key."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course, since they’re so important, they’re not gonna keep ’em out in the open on a pedestal,” said Mireille. “Finding them all on our own would be a pain, so I say we get our hands on an enemy and have them take us to the mages.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re planning on torturing them?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Got a problem with that?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not especially. I was just wondering whether we’ll find an enemy who’s willing to talk.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good question. I mean, nobody likes getting hurt and there’s bound to be somebody around who can’t handle the fear of it all. The real coin flip’s whether that person has any information worth sharing.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I suppose we’ll have to capture someone who looks like they’ll have valuable information…and we’ll want to do it as soon as possible. Will this really let us find the mages in time?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll have to make it work, one way or another.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For lack of a better plan, they settled on Mireille’s first impulse."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let’s split up,” said Mireille. “I’ll take the right side, and you can search over on the left.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” replied Rietz. The two of them parted ways and got to work searching for a potential informant to coerce."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Staatz was a walled city. The central keep towered over the surrounding houses, in which most of the castle’s citizens lived. Those citizens had by and large barricaded themselves into their homes the moment the attack began, and nobody was walking around outside in the city streets as Rietz advanced through them, wondering how he could find someone with useful information."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ll never get anywhere searching at random, Rietz thought. One of the garrison’s officers would know what we need… Could I find a unit of soldiers standing by in the city, ambush them, and question their commander, perhaps?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "More than half of Castle Staatz’s soldiers were occupied by the defense of the front gate, and some of them were standing by behind it to repel the enemy if they did happen to break through. Some soldiers were assigned to the defense of the main keep as well, and Rietz imagined that there would also be some soldiers stationed throughout the castle town to deal with any enemies that slipped inside in a surprise attack like Rietz and his men had. They clearly hadn’t been expecting an attack of that nature and had therefore assigned less capable soldiers to those duties. The ease with which Clamant cut through the initial wave of defenders was proof enough of that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz led his men through the streets, searching for anyone he might come across. He took great care to stay aware of his surroundings and ensure that he would see the enemy long before they saw him. He was in hostile territory, and they knew the lay of the land far better than he did, which meant he had to be more cautious than ever."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, Rietz spotted a group of soldiers down the street in front of him. The invasion had put them into a confused panic, and none of them seemed to know what to do. They weren’t experienced fighters, that much was for certain, and Rietz’s group had the good fortune to come across them while they were facing the opposite direction. A chance like this wouldn’t come twice, and Rietz ordered his men to charge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By the time the soldiers realized that Rietz was there, he and his men were already upon them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-It’s the enemy!” the squad’s commander shouted, but he wasn’t much more capable than the rest of his men. In a flash, the squad was decimated and their commander apprehended and bound by Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, I suppose there’s no getting around this. Torture’s not my strong suit, but I’ll just have to get it done, Rietz thought to himself as he stepped up to the man."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I’ll never talk! Betraying my lord would be a stain upon my good name!” shouted the commander, who was trembling."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There should be a number of facilities in this castle manned and operated by your most capable mages,” said Rietz. “Tell me where they are.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I won’t! I mean…I can’t! Nobody ever told me about those, or if they did, I forgot about it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just so you know,” said Rietz with a sharp glare, “if you don’t tell me everything you know, this is going to end very painfully for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Wait!” the commander shrieked. “I’m being serious! I honestly don’t know! I’ve got a brick for a brain, and my memory’s terrible!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had to admit that he believed the man. He didn’t have any concrete proof the man was telling the truth, but he also didn’t have any time to waste on a captive who had no information to give him. In the end, Rietz decided to go with his gut, give up on the interrogation, and find someone else. He left the commander tied up in the street and moved on to search another section of the city."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon, Rietz’s squad’s fortunes were turned on their head: they were the victims of an ambush as a group of enemies fell upon them from their flank. Rietz was prepared, though, issuing calm, decisive orders and rallying his men back into formation. Their composure recovered, they slew one soldier after the next, but these ones were putting up much more of a fight than the last squad had. They were skilled enough that Rietz was shocked they’d been assigned to the rearguard. It was a close fight, but it was soon disrupted as a voice rang out, cutting through the tumult."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s enough! Halt, fiends!” cried a brawny but short young man as he stepped forward. He held a spear in his hand, and one of his cheeks sported a scar. He looked like he was somewhere around the age of fifteen─quite young, all things considered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You seem tough,” the boy said as he gestured toward Rietz. “I challenge you to single combat! Beat me, and I’ll do anything you tell me to!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz was taken aback. It was such a sudden development that for a moment he just stood there, staring at his would-be foe and judging how likely it was that this was the setup to some sort of trap. The boy didn’t look like the sort of person to hatch schemes, but Rietz knew very well how much trouble one could wind up in judging a book by its cover."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And if I win…ah, I know,” the boy continued. “You’ll become my henchman! I don’t care a whit about you being a Malkan─if you’re as tough as you look, I’d be glad to take you under my wing!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you know what ‘single combat’ means?” Rietz sighed. “Duels of this nature are fought to the death. I won’t be becoming anything if you win, much less your henchman.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Such was the custom in the Summerforth Empire: a battlefield duel was assumed by default to be a duel to the death. Surrendering or offering your opponent mercy was considered flagrant and improper. It was an old custom, though, and one that some warriors were known to flout in the modern day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh. Really?” said the boy. “Well, okay, then we’ll make this fight an exception! Let’s say we do our best not to kill each other, and if one of us does die, we’ll, uh, figure that out when we get there!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was clearly not a man who knew how to take no for an answer. Rietz hesitated for a moment. He could tell from the brief engagement he’d had with the boy and his fellows that they were shockingly skilled for rearguard soldiers─elites, even. If he chose to refuse and carry on the battle he knew his side might lose, and even if they won it would use up a considerable chunk of time he couldn’t spare. There was no guarantee he would win the duel, but at the very least, it would take less time than a drawn-out battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was still the danger he was playing into his enemy’s hands, of course, but Rietz just couldn’t see his foe as the plotting type. For one thing, until the boy with the spear─who Rietz assumed was their commanding officer─had stopped the battle, Rietz’s side had been fighting at a disadvantage. Rietz had brought his troops back together after the initial shock of the ambush, yes, but that hadn’t changed the fact that they were on the defensive. If victory was the boy’s highest priority, he could’ve just kept fighting. There was no need for an elaborate plan."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was starting to understand why a squad as tough as them had been assigned back here, rather than up in the army’s vanguard. If their leader was the sort of person to call off a surprise attack to ask for a duel, he was not someone who could be trusted to make the snap judgment calls that a commander at the front of an army had to be capable of. Even if Rietz had the wrong read on the situation and it was a trap, he’d just have to deal with it. He took a moment to imagine how the rest of the enemy squad would attack in such an instance, then looked back at the boy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right. I accept your challenge,” said Rietz, stepping forward. “First, though, a question. There should be a number of important locations manned by mages in this castle. Are you aware of them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since the boy had said he’d do anything if Rietz won, Rietz had decided to ask him for the information he needed. There was a very real chance he’d forgotten all about the castle’s defenses, like the commanding officer from before, but it seemed worth a try."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Uhhh, you mean the barrier stations? Yeah, I know those,” said the boy. “I know where the mage who’s supposed to activate the gateway trap is standing by, too. Oh, and the one who’s supposed to burn the town down if things start looking sour. Don’t think that guy would set his off even if the battle did go south, though. Can you imagine how nasty it’d be if the town caught fire now?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Happily enough, Rietz’s pessimism was unwarranted. The boy had information, and quite a lot of it, for that matter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I win, I’ll have you tell me all those locations.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-What?! Those are high-order military secrets! Even I know how much trouble I’d be in if I leaked those to the enemy…but I also don’t care, because it doesn’t matter! After all, I’m the strongest fighter in all of Summerforth, and I’ll never lose!” the boy boasted. He was brimming with confidence, and though he was a simpleton, Rietz didn’t doubt for a second that he had the ability to back up his big talk. A wave of tension washed over Rietz as he raised his halberd to a ready position."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Braham Joe, and I’m the toughest troublemaker in Castle Staatz!” declared the boy, head held high with prideful confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Part of Rietz wanted to question why Braham would take pride in being a troublemaker, but he soon thought better of it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can call me Rietz Muses,” he said, not bothering to declare the title he’d been given. Using it himself made him feel like a braggart, and he’d never been all that fond of the moniker his fellow soldiers had given him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their pre-duel formalities out of the way, the two warriors squared off and stared each other down. Finally, the duel began as Braham charged forward, thrusting his spear without so much as bothering to throw in a feint beforehand. Braham was faster than Rietz had anticipated, but the attack was so simple and predictable that Rietz dodged it with ease."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However, Braham’s thrust was followed by a second, and then a third, each coming out as fast as the first, so dodging was all that Rietz could do, and the chance to deliver a counter eluded him. He was barely avoiding the attacks, as well─Braham’s spear nicked his cheek and his arm, drawing blood. It seemed the boy was aiming for Rietz’s vitals, even though he’d proposed a nonlethal duel. Apparently, he’d forgotten the arrangement, and was now going in for the kill with a bloodthirsty fervor. If he had been trying to end the fight without killing Rietz, he would’ve been trying to disarm him rather than disembowel him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz could tell that the fight would end poorly if he didn’t shake things up, and soon. To start, he tried to gain some distance from his foe by taking two big steps backward. Braham followed without hesitation, trying to once again move in and close the gap, but as he did so, Rietz brought his halberd down, swinging for Braham’s spear in an attempt to knock it out of his hands. Braham must’ve known on an instinctual level that he couldn’t take a strike like that, so he pulled back at the last second, retreating without attempting to block it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was Rietz’s chance for a counterattack. He swung his halberd again without delay, raining blows upon Braham. The rapid nature of his strikes led to them being less powerful than his first attack, and Braham was able to parry them with his spear, but even a weak attack by Rietz’s standards was still crushingly heavy. Each attack sent a numbing pain racing through Braham’s arms, and he couldn’t find any opportunities to mount a counterattack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz thought for a moment that he could press the advantage and bring the duel to an end, but he’d misjudged Braham’s incredible athleticism. The boy dodged past Rietz’s next attack instead of parrying it and thrust his spear forward once more, aiming to send it straight through Rietz’s cranium. Rietz just barely managed to twist out of its way, then fell back a few steps once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You really are as tough as I thought. This is getting fun!” exclaimed Braham with an almost childishly innocent grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As someone who’d never found anything fun about crossing swords, Rietz couldn’t relate. He just saw Braham as dangerous."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, here comes my best move!” Braham shouted with glee, taking several steps backward, charging at Rietz, and then jumping into the air, higher than a human being had any right to leap. He plummeted toward Rietz, spear pointed downward in an attempt to run him straight through."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Dragon Spear!” he roared. Apparently, he’d named the attack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was a flashy move, and if it had landed, it would’ve had enough power to pierce Rietz’s armor. It was also, however, yet another direct, straightforward attack that Rietz dodged by stepping to the side. Braham plowed into the street, embedding his spear deep into the brick road."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-It’s stuck!” Braham bellowed as he tugged on the spear. “Hey, you! Why’d you dodge, you coward?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Well, umm…I’m rather confused as to why you thought I wouldn’t,” said Rietz, who was so blown away by his foe’s stupidity it took him a moment to collect his thoughts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In any case,” Rietz continued as he held his halberd’s blade to Braham’s throat, “I believe I can declare victory now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-Why you… A-Are you really okay with winning like this?! Does cheating your way to victory like a coward satisfy you?!” he said with a sharp glare. He almost made it sound like Rietz had swindled him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You have no one to blame for this but yourself,” Rietz sighed. “And, as promised, I’ll be having that information from you now. You do intend to keep your promise, I trust? I can’t think of anything more cowardly than going back on your word.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ugh…” Braham grunted, clenching his teeth with frustration. Eventually, he resigned himself to his fate and told Rietz everything he knew about the castle’s magical defenses."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While Rietz was gathering information in his own particular way, Mireille was obtaining the same information in hers. She had also gone into town in an effort to find and entrap a less than competent squad of enemies, and had also managed to capture one of their leaders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, pal, I’ve got some questions for you! Hope you’re in a sharing mood,” said Mireille. “What do you know about Castle Staatz’s magical defenses?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-You expect me to tell you?! My lips are sealed!” said the enemy commander. He looked like he was in his early twenties─young enough that Mireille had suspected for a moment that he wouldn’t know anything at all. Judging by his reaction, though, she’d hit the jackpot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re shaking a little too hard to play tough on me. I feel for you, honestly, but war’s war and I can’t show mercy here. Nothing personal, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Agh!” the man yelped as Mireille flashed him a grin and prepared to begin her interrogation. She was just about to start out quick and easy by tearing off a few fingernails when the man spoke up again. “S-Stop, please! I’ll talk! I’ll talk, just stop!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, already?” said Mireille. “I mean, that makes my life easier, don’t get me wrong, but wow, you’re pathetic.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man grimaced with a whimper, and Mireille smiled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay then, it’s time for you to give us the grand tour! Lead us to the nearest magical installation, and we’ll handle the rest.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The man gave Mireille a listless nod, then set off, hands still bound as he led her and her men away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After clearing a path into the castle walls, Clamant and his men began working toward their next objective: opening up the front gates from the inside. First, though, they needed to verify where those gates were. That was something that even the local noncombatants would know, so he dragged the information out of a townsperson who was sheltering in their home. After that, he and his crew set out to do some reconnaissance, scoping out the gate and getting a grasp on its current state of affairs. In doing so, they learned that getting the gate open was going to be quite the trial."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The whole area’s packed with soldiers. We’re gonna have a hard time fighting our way through all of ’em,” said one of Clamant’s scouts. That was no surprise, really. Couran was making a show out of his attempt to breach the gates, so it stood to reason that the bulk of the enemy’s troops would be present in the vicinity. Even if the Maitraw Company were to storm in without warning and catch the enemy soldiers off guard, getting the gate open would still be a herculean task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No sense trying to do the impossible…but doing nothing would drag our company’s name through the dirt,” Clamant muttered to himself as he considered his options. Just then, his gaze fell on a nearby tower. There were two tall towers in Castle Staatz, and mages were firing off spells from the top ramparts of each. Clamant assumed they were casting explosive spells at Couran’s army beyond the gates. “They must have a sizable stockpile of explosive aqua magia in there… Hmm. We can make use of that.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Clamant settled on a plan. If he could seize control of the towers, he would seize their aqua magia in the process. Using it, in turn, would allow him to bring down the gate by force, and maybe the surrounding walls while he was at it. The magical barrier defending the walls was, after all, located outside of them, and would almost certainly do nothing to stop a spell cast from within. If their spellcraft was elaborate enough to account for that eventuality, he’d just have to wait until Rietz and Mireille disabled the castle’s magical defenses."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There were, of course, two towers, and if he only took one there was a chance that the other would fire upon it, bringing the tower and Clamant down together. As such, he ordered his company to split up into two teams and claim both towers at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re in charge of the B-team, Ryde,” Clamant said to his vice captain. “Head for the farther tower and clear it out.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Got it, Boss,” said Ryde."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, the Maitraw Company split up and sped off toward their respective towers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The last few soldiers in our division made their way past the walls and into the castle grounds, which I found littered with the corpses of enemy soldiers. I was getting used to sights like these, but I hadn’t exactly learned to enjoy them, to say the least. Every corpse I came across drove in the feeling that someday, I might end up meeting the same fate. It was a terrifying thought, but I couldn’t afford to stand around shivering in fear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Reports soon came in from Rietz’s, Mireille’s, and Clamant’s squads. They’d all gone in ahead of us, and from the sound of things their missions were going well. Only the Maitraw Company was having difficulties─it seemed that opening the front gate had proven unfeasible, so they’d pivoted to occupying a couple of nearby towers first. It felt like a more effective plan than just getting the gate open, so I approved of their judgment. At the rate things were going, we’d have the castle’s magical defenses down in no time at all, and the towers would give us an even greater tactical advantage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy, of course, wasn’t just going to give up all those objectives without a fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The forces that were guarding the central keep are on the move and attempting to disrupt our advance!” reported one of our scouts."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The forces who were defending the gate were too occupied by Couran’s assault to deal with us, but the area around the inner keep had yet to turn into a battlefield, and the enemy had decided that the units guarding it would be better used elsewhere. They hadn’t sent away all of their guards, of course, and the amount they were sending out felt like too little. I found myself wondering if Thomas’s absence had crippled their ability to make snap decisions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The additional hostile forces are prioritizing the towers that the Maitraw Company has chosen to target,” the scout added. That struck me as a natural choice. If those towers fell, it would be a disastrous loss for them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell, who had been listening in to the scout’s report, turned toward Lumeire and said, “I think we should back up the Maitraw Company. If the enemy’s sending more men their way, they’ll need our help.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I agree,” said Lumeire without hesitation. “Occupying those towers will grant us a major advantage as well. We’ll move out at once!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We hurried through the city streets, doing our best to arrive in time to cut off the enemy’s advance. The towers were tall enough that we could see our destination without difficulty, but this being our first time in Castle Staatz, none of us knew the quickest route to reach them. As a result, the trip took much longer than I would’ve liked. Our foes, on the other hand, knew which roads to travel to reach the towers as fast as possible, and ended up arriving far sooner than we did. As we finally reached the tower’s base, I worried for a moment that we’d been too late, but then I sighted the Maitraw Company, still fighting a pitched battle by the tower’s entryway. We’d made it in time, albeit just barely."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mages, forward!” shouted Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“On it!” replied Charlotte, who’d come along with our unit. She was using a small catalyzer, since the large ones would’ve been way too hard to haul into the castle, but for these circumstances, that was more than sufficient firepower. We had dozens of mages with us, Charlotte included, and all of them unleashed their spells simultaneously, raining death down upon our foes. Our enemies had no idea we were coming and were caught off guard, unable to do anything to protect themselves. Their formation crumbled in a matter of seconds."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Charge!” Lumeire commanded, leading our infantry toward the enemy. I thought that we would wipe them out with ease, considering that their chain of command was in shambles, but I’d forgotten that these were the troops who’d been assigned to guard the most important part of the castle. They were the cream of the crop, and not only did they put up a fight, but they actually began turning the tide."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, I thought we were in trouble. As skilled as our foes were, though, they still had the Maitraw Company to deal with, and their two units had them flanked. If they gave us too much of their attention, they wouldn’t be able to ward off Clamant and his men, who were just as skilled as our foes. It was an unenviable situation they’d found themselves in, and for all their expertise, we were picking off one soldier after another. Even then, they refused to surrender. I had to commend their resolve, in a sense─the battle wasn’t over until we’d finished them off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d managed to defeat the reinforcements who’d been sent to the tower, and thanks to our inadvertent surprise attack, we’d done so surprisingly smoothly. In spite of our achievements, however, I was nervous just to be present on a battlefield."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I really hope things keep going this well, and everyone gets out of this okay."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The help’s appreciated,” Clamant said when he and Lumeire crossed paths. I got the feeling he’d been in a pretty dicey position before we’d shown up. “We need to take over this tower before more of them arrive, but the place is packed full of magical traps. Getting up top hasn’t been easy. We have a few people who know how to disarm that sort of trap in our band, but they all went to deal with the other tower, so nobody here can get us through them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That got my attention, seeing as I had two people under my command who specialized in that sort of work: Pham and Ben. Both of them had come along on this operation, but I knew that Pham had drawn quite a bit of attention to himself back when he saved Couran, and my understanding was that he was trying to keep a low profile today, even as he fought by our side. He was keeping his distance, backing us up with magic and a bow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ben, on the other hand, had joined up with the main force and was playing the part of an ordinary soldier. His commonplace appearance and fighting style meant that even if he did make a major difference on the battlefield, nobody would take much note of him. I was starting to appreciate that his characteristic lack of characteristics was a much more useful trait to have than I’d initially thought. In any case, since Pham didn’t want to take center stage, I decided to ask Ben if he could disarm the traps."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have someone who’s experienced in dealing with magical traps. I’ll see if he can handle it,” I said, then called over Ben and asked him to take on the task. Ben agreed with a simple nod and walked right into the tower."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few minutes later, he emerged and stated, “Mission accomplished.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was shocked by how quickly he’d pulled it off, but I shook off the surprise and went over to Clamant."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s done, apparently.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was fast. Good, though. We’ll storm the tower right away. You lot should wait outside and defend this position. Oh, and I’d recommend sending some men over to back up the other tower, just in case.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Clamant led the charge into the tower. We took his advice, splitting our force and sending men to support the Maitraw mercenaries fighting to take over the other tower. Those of us who remained in our current position set up a defensive perimeter around the tower and waited to repel any additional reinforcements who might show up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, that extra layer of defense proved unnecessary and Clamant’s crew took over the tower without issue. With the magical traps gone, a few mages were all that was left to defend the place. From the sound of it, it hadn’t even been a fight at all. A short while after the tower was claimed, Rietz and Mireille reported in to say that they’d taken out the mages who were maintaining the castle’s magical defenses, bringing the barrier down in the area around the front gates."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s nothing to stop us from bringing down the walls with a magical blast…and I suppose we should leave that task to Charlotte, shouldn’t we?” proposed Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That sounds like a good idea to me,” I said. “None of the Maitraw Company’s people are better mages than her.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d taken the time to appraise their most skilled mage a little while beforehand, and Charlotte’s stats had put his to shame."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire ordered Clamant to hold off on casting any spells, since Charlotte would be along to do it herself. Lumeire, Rosell, and I ended up climbing the tower with her, just so we could see the walls come down in person. It was a tall tower, and just climbing it proved to be a bit of a trial, but we somehow managed to reach the top, where we found a somewhat oddly-shaped catalyzer. Most of them were spherical, but this one looked more like some sort of tube."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, this thing’s pretty weird. Where’s the mage who was using it?” asked Charlotte, glancing at Clamant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dead,” Clamant grunted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that’s a damn waste. Mages don’t grow on trees, y’know? Try not killing the next one if you can get away with it,” Charlotte scolded. This was one of the very rare occasions when she was in the right, and Clamant couldn’t muster a counterargument."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte started fiddling with the catalyzer and preparing it for use. The look on her face wasn’t very confident, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… I guess this’ll do it, probably? I think it’s aimed at the wall, but if it’s not, well, not my fault,” she muttered, inspiring no confidence in me whatsoever that this was going to go well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Wait,” I said, “if you’re not positive it’s aimed right, maybe we should just leave it─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Meh! Here goes!” Charlotte grunted, then started chanting her spell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I tried to stop her, I really did, but once Charlotte started casting there was nothing you could do to drag her attention away from her magic. We were now in a dangerous situation. In the worst case, the whole tower could be vaporized! I was so terrified that I found myself hunched over on the ground, my arms wrapped around my head…but then, a few moments later, I heard an explosion far off in the distance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, hey! That worked out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stood back up to look out at the castle walls, and sure enough, one of them had just suffered a direct hit from her spell. That single shot had been enough to blow away an entire segment of the wall, opening up a hole for Couran’s army to charge through. These weren’t just any walls, either─they’d been designed to withstand magical blasts even if their protective barrier was broken through, so the fact that Charlotte had brought them down in one shot told a terrifying tale of how potent her magic really was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! Let’s try that again!” Charlotte exclaimed, then cast several more incantations, bringing down one segment of the wall after another."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Wait a minute, you’re going overboard! That’s enough!” I shouted. We were going to have to repair those walls, and the more she decimated them the harder that task would be. Practically speaking, Couran’s army had plenty of points of entry already, so I had her stop before she went too far with her magical demolition work. We’d gone about it in a manner pretty much unrecognizable from our original plan, but still, we’d neutralized Castle Staatz’s outer walls."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0021.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We spent some time up on the tower after the walls fell, using its vantage point to get a handle on the overall state of the battle. At first, it didn’t seem like the tide was turning in Couran’s favor. The enemy’s morale was high, and they fought to prevent Couran’s men from breaking through and entering the castle proper. Gradually, though, the defender’s forces were overwhelmed by Couran’s superior numbers, and before long his men broke though the enemy line and streamed into the castle town’s streets. The enemy troops seemed to realize they were being beaten back, and began to retreat and regroup, abandoning the castle town in an effort to bolster the defenses of the central keep."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, see those guys who’re retreating? Shouldn’t I blast them, or something?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On the one hand she had a point, but on the other hand, they were retreating through the streets of the castle town. Launching explosive magic at them would damage the town as well, and this was a city that somebody on our side would have to rule over after the battle was finished. Blowing up a local neighborhood while its residents were sheltering in their homes sounded like a fantastic way to earn the loathing of the local populace, and I wasn’t interested in sabotaging the rule of whoever ended up in power here. That was the sort of move that started peasant uprisings!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Whittling away at the enemy’s troops was all well and good, but we were already at an advantage even without the use of magical explosives, so I decided not to go with her suggestion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, don’t,” I said. “We’re here to take over this city, not blow it up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wasn’t gonna blow it up, though,” said Charlotte. “I can keep my spells in check!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can? Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dunno. I mean, I probably can, but I might screw it up.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then don’t. That’s not a gamble I’m willing to take.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She doesn’t hesitate to commit to dangerous ideas, does she?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re finished, we should decide on our next move,” said Lumeire. “Perhaps assaulting the enemy with explosive magic is off the table, but we ought to be doing something. We’re not accomplishing anything by standing here.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire had a point, in my mind, but Rosell had other ideas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Actually, I think we’d be better off staying in the tower for now,” he said. “Our troops would be in trouble if the enemy managed to reclaim it. They’re fighting a losing battle right now, so there’s a real possibility that they wouldn’t hesitate to level the city and us with it if they had the chance. I believe that staying here and guarding this tower would be the best use of our time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire nodded in understanding. It seemed that he was convinced by Rosell’s explanation, while I was astonished by just how much Rosell had grown over the course of the war. When the conflict began he’d been a fearful little kid, jumping at shadows and too scared to speak his mind without stammering through every other word. Recently, though, he’d started acting more assertive. It felt like he’d developed some real self-confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We took Rosell’s advice and spent a period of time holding our position by the tower and guarding it against any potential invaders. Just as Rosell predicted, a group of enemy soldiers eventually launched an attack to reclaim the building. A battle broke out, but since the enemies had just been defeated by and fled from Couran’s main force, they were exhausted and unable to fight their best. As soon as it became clear they wouldn’t be able to reclaim the tower, they gave up and resumed their retreat toward the central keep. Rosell’s strategy had been right on the money. If we hadn’t stuck around to defend the tower, it was almost certain that enemy soldiers would’ve taken it back and raised hell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, Couran’s forces reached the base of the tower. There wouldn’t be any danger of it falling into enemy hands now that it was behind our front line, so we descended to ground level and joined forces with the main army. Couran wasn’t commanding from the front lines, though, so we weren’t able to make contact with him just yet. We ended up marching on the central keep with the rest of Couran’s army. To his credit, his troops seemed very disciplined and made no attempts to enter the civilians’ homes or do any looting and pillaging."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Retreat!” a voice soon cried out ahead of us. I could tell that it wasn’t one of our men, but that just left me confused. Where were they planning on retreating to? Had they decided that Castle Staatz was a lost cause, and resolved to flee through the north gate and fall back to Castle Velshdt? It didn’t seem like an unreasonable call to make. There was very little hope left that they could turn this battle around, so if they’d decided to give up on the castle, I’d have to give them credit for their pragmatism."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before we reached the central keep, where we found nobody left to halt our advance. As I’d assumed, it seemed the enemy had concluded that they couldn’t hold us off and had fled for their lives. In spite of my initial apprehensions, we’d done it: the battle was over, and Castle Staatz was ours."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We moved into the central keep and began a search of its interior. There was a chance that the enemy had left traps behind, so Pham, Ben, and some other soldiers who were experienced with disarming traps went in first. In the end, though, they determined that there weren’t any traps to speak of, and I soon realized why: Rietz and Mireille had not only taken out the mages who were keeping up the castle’s barrier, but they had also disabled the facility that controlled the castle’s various magical traps."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Count of Velshdt and Thomas were nowhere to be found. I assumed that they’d fled with their army. On the other hand, the Baron of Staatz, Stefan, had remained behind in the castle. We sent troops in pursuit of their army, but they proved quite capable at running away, and our men weren’t able to do very much damage to their force as they retreated. Some enemy troops remained within the castle town, but most of those surrendered in short order."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, Castle Staatz had fallen under our control."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My men─today, we have achieved an overwhelming victory over our foes! Some of us have fallen, but their sacrifices have won us Castle Staatz and brought us a pivotal step toward our ultimate goal! Your valiant deeds this day shall never be forgotten!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Following our victory, Couran gathered his entire army to deliver a congratulatory speech. Our previous battles had been relatively bloodless for our troops, but this time, we’d suffered considerable losses. The force that Couran had sent to assault the castle’s main gate had done so under heavy fire, physical and magical alike. A few thousand men had died in total, but considering the scale of Couran’s army, that was within their expectations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That being said, we must not let ourselves rest easy just yet!” Couran continued. “This castle’s fortifications were damaged, so Staatz is all but defenseless! I would like nothing more than to allow all of us to indulge in celebration, but for the time being, we must prioritize makeshift repairs to bring the castle back up to a defensible state. The time to make merry will come, I assure you, but until it does, I ask that all of you devote yourselves to protecting that which we have won!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A celebratory banquet seemed to be a tradition after a successful battle, but apparently, it was a tradition we’d be postponing this time around. I couldn’t fault Couran’s judgment on the matter. With the walls in their current state, a raiding party could’ve waltzed in and caught us off guard with ease. Since our pursuit of the enemy army had been unsuccessful, they still had plenty of troops available who would be watching like hawks for their chance to strike back and reclaim the castle by any means necessary."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As long as we stayed vigilant, though, I didn’t think we had to worry about being driven out of the castle. I didn’t expect our foes to launch an all or nothing attack on us unless we made ourselves into a target too inviting to pass up. As Couran said, it seemed our best bet was to tighten our defenses and work on bringing the walls back up to a defensible state. We’d really done a number on them this time, however, so it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We had to get the walls patched together before we marched on Velshdt, but the coldest point of winter was also almost upon us, and the odds of heavy snowfall were high. We’d have to wait around for winter to pass before moving on one way or another, so in a sense, this was the perfect timing to have a project like the walls holding us up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon after his speech, Couran sent for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Once again, I find that I owe you a great deal for your efforts in this battle,” he said when I arrived. “We would never have breached the city walls if it weren’t for the surprise attack you orchestrated, and I may not have lived to see this day had your Shadows not delivered me from mortal peril. You have my gratitude, now and always.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m honored, Your Lordship,” I replied with a bow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I intend to reward you and the others whose contributions to this victory stand out, of course, but that is not why I’ve called you here. No, you see, I would like to make use of your appraisal ability.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It would be my pleasure.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have a rather large number of prisoners this time, so I expect it will be a tiresome process, but know that your efforts are appreciated.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There are more prisoners than usual? Interesting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to assume that larger, fiercer fights meant more captives at the end of the day. He was right about it being tiresome, as well. Using my skill too much always exhausted me, and while it had been some time since I’d abused it in that manner, I got the feeling I’d be put through the wringer today."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was led to the prison where we were keeping our captives, and quickly began appraising them one by one. The more important prisoners were kept in single cells, while the rank and file foot soldiers were penned up in shared chambers, but the one trait that their living conditions shared was that they were all, well, awful. Maybe that was a given, considering it was a prison."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I soon came to realize that Couran hadn’t been kidding about the number of captives. It seemed there were a few hundred people locked up in the castle’s prison. The scale of the battle and the sheer number of soldiers taken captive was one factor, but there was also the fact that many of the soldiers who’d fought in this battle were loyal to the Count of Velshdt or the Baron of Staatz, and would never so much as consider betraying them to side with Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As expected, appraising everyone gave me a killer case of eyestrain. Eventually, I decided that handling all of them in one day was a lost cause, so I resolved to finish the task over the next day or two. I handled seventy people on the first day, among whom I found a surprising number of talented individuals. Considering the scale of the battle, it made sense that they’d fielded their most capable soldiers, and it made sense in turn that some of them had ended up as our prisoners."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the second day, I upped my game and appraised ninety more prisoners. Among them, I found someone quite remarkable whose stats averaged out to eighty, a warrior with a Valor of ninety, and a middle-aged man with a current Intelligence of fifty-seven, but an Intelligence cap of ninety-four. A real late bloomer, that last one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was very much in the market for a new retainer, and hoped that one of the people I’d found would want to join me, but so far none of them had been interested in serving a new lord. Considering their former positions, I had a feeling I’d have to prepare a pretty juicy offer to coax them into serving me, and being the petty noble I was, I didn’t have the resources to make that kind of commitment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I still had around eighty people to appraise at the end of day two, and decided to handle them the next day. Day three rolled around, and I’d just appraised my fiftieth man without finding anyone special. As I moved on to the fifty-first, though, a shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, you! Shrimp! Lemme outta here!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I glanced in the direction the voice had come from…and saw a man─or rather, a boy, given his small stature. Small enough that I had to wonder where he got off calling me a shrimp, even. He was barely taller than I was, and he had the face of a rambunctious little punk. I could only assume he was still a teenager, and I wondered for a moment why we had a child locked up in prison, but then I noticed his muscles and understood. He was very well-built, and looked like he could hold his own in a fight. I decided to appraise him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Calling his stats unbalanced would’ve been putting it very lightly. His Valor was incredible, and his Leadership score had the potential to be better. Thinking back, I was pretty sure I’d never seen anyone with a Leadership cap that high before. His current Intelligence, however, was 9. That was appallingly low. Low enough to make me wonder if he could function on a basic level. Could you even live a proper day-to-day life with an Intelligence that low?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "An Intelligence of nine meant that even with his outstanding Valor, I could imagine him losing a duel on account of his stupidity alone. His maximum Intelligence wasn’t that bad, though. If I could just get him to study up, I knew he could at least be as smart as an average person. In fact, while his current stats reflected some serious, deal-breaking weak points, his maximum stats made it clear that he had the potential to be an exceptional commander slumbering within him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to take a closer look at the description beneath his stat block, which read: Born on the third day of the third month, 194 Imperial Era, in Staatz, County of Velshdt, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Parents have passed away. A simple-minded man with a taste for meat. Enjoys fighting, and has an interest in women who are young and tough. Harbors a grudge against his lord, Stefan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His parents were dead, and he had no siblings, meaning he was all alone in spite of his youth. The part about him harboring a grudge against his lord caught my attention as well, considering that only the soldiers who had refused to betray said lord were locked up in this prison. If he didn’t feel any loyalty to Stefan, then why hadn’t he jumped ship and agreed to fight for Couran instead? His Ambition was high, so for a moment I thought he just wasn’t the sort of person who’d be willing to serve a lord at all…but if that were the case, he wouldn’t have agreed to serve Stefan either. My curiosity was piqued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey! What’re you staring at me like that for? Trying to pick a fight? ’Cause if you are, I’m game!” said Braham, casting a glare my way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He couldn’t have sounded more like a small-time hooligan if he’d tried. I’d seen my fair share of battlefields, though, and toughened up as a result, so his attitude wasn’t enough to shake me. I was still very curious as to why someone with an axe to grind against their lord would’ve turned Couran down, so I decided to see if I could coax an explanation out of him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why did you refuse to enter Lord Couran’s service?” I asked. “You knew that would get you locked up down here, so what was the point?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? I turned it down ’cause I didn’t want to,” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, but why?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t want to ’cause I didn’t want to! You won’t catch me serving some shriveled-up old fogey.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So it’s an issue of age? He has some sort of bias against middle-aged men, and doesn’t want to serve one?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Most old folks like him are as thickheaded as the day is long,” Braham continued. “Stefan was an old guy, and he was the same way. You can show people like them how tough you are, and they’ll still treat you like useless dirt!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He was certainly tough, yes, but Braham’s current Intelligence was low enough that I had my doubts about whether he’d be of any use. I had to give his former lord credit for making the right call. It seemed, then, that he’d refused to work for Couran because he assumed he’d be treated as poorly working under him as he’d been treated by Stefan. I had to admit that he was right─I couldn’t imagine Couran assigning someone like him to a position of any importance. With the right education, however, he had the potential to be a general known far and wide. His high Ambition meant that he’d be a tough one to control…but at the very least, it seemed worth making an attempt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Couran isn’t the sort of person who’d treat a capable warrior poorly,” I explained. “Why not at least give working for him a try?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nope, I’m not buying it. Look, I don’t think I’m cut out for all this serving someone garbage in the first place, okay? I’d rather gather up my own band, take out a castle somewhere, and declare independence, thanks.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that was a reckless ambition if I’d ever heard one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That won’t happen,” I said, “because you’ll be dead before you can even try. You know they’re going to execute everyone who refuses to serve Lord Couran, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They can try. I’ll slip outta this jail before they get the chance.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham had the eyes of a man with absolute faith in his own immortality. I couldn’t judge whether there was any basis to his confidence, but I could tell that he, at least, believed everything he said from the bottom of his heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who’re you supposed to be, anyway?” Braham asked. “What’s a little squirt like you doing in a prison?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My name is Ars Louvent. I’m the baron of a small territory that you probably haven’t heard of.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm. A lord, at your age? Lemme guess─you’re here ’cause Couran needed someone to come convince me to sign on as one of his men, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, not at all. I came here to judge whether any of our prisoners had talents worth making use of. It’s a skill of mine.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, so that’s how you figured out how tough I am? You’re not kidding about that skill of yours!” exclaimed Braham, his irate scowl shifting into an elated grin. He certainly was a straightforward person. “I’ll be honest with you, pal. There’s one more reason why I couldn’t sign on under the guy,” he continued. It seemed putting him in a good mood had done a lot to loosen his lips. “It’s the duel I fought that got me locked up in here, see. The coward cheated his way to a win! A loss is a loss, so I went along with his demands, but I’ll never serve somebody who’d fight dirty like that rat bastard!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Somebody cheated to beat him in a duel?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It sounded absurd, but then again, there weren’t all that many people out there who could beat a man of Braham’s skill in a fair fight. Considering what a blockhead he was, it was easy to imagine that he’d gotten caught up in somebody’s scheme."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Damn that Malkan,” Braham muttered. “I’ll repay him one of these days…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Wait, did he say “Malkan”? Is he talking about Rietz?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d never noticed any other Malkan in our army, so I couldn’t imagine he was referring to anyone else. Would Rietz fight dirty in a duel, though? I…couldn’t deny that it was a possibility. He would’ve been in a hurry at the time, and if he thought that catching his foe in a trap would get him through the duel quicker than fighting fair, I could see him resorting to trickery."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That son of a whore! I used my ultimate technique, and, uh…got my spear stuck in the ground…and then he dared to put his blade to my neck while I tried to pull it out! A real warrior would’ve waited! Why would someone as tough as him resort to dirty tricks, anyway?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I reassessed my opinion: Braham had brought every bit of his loss upon himself. Of course putting yourself in that vulnerable position would result in your defeat. In any case, it seemed that Braham was under the impression that he hadn’t really lost to Rietz, and didn’t deserve to get locked up. I was starting to form a plan: what if I had him fight Rietz again, under the condition that Braham would enter our service if Rietz beat him? I could have them duel with wooden weapons to make sure nobody got hurt. It seemed worth a shot, so I decided to bring up the possibility."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m acquainted with the Malkan you’re talking about,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seriously? He called himself Rietz Muses─you’re sure that’s the guy?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, now I’m positive.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed Rietz had introduced himself, which cleared up what little ambiguity that remained."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He happens to be one of my retainers.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? He’s one of your people?!” yelped Braham. “I-In that case, you’ve gotta help me out here! I have to get a rematch with him! Last time didn’t prove anything, and I’ve gotta settle the score!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Well, that makes this easier."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t expected him to ask me to put together a fight, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can do that, but I have one condition,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What?” asked Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you lose to Rietz, I want you to stop being stubborn and fight on our side.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lose the duel, lose my freedom, huh…? Sure, fine by me. If I win, though, I want you to let me go.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He wants to stake his release on the duel?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I wasn’t sure if that was a promise I could make. On the other hand, he might’ve asked for the fight, but I was the one who’d turned it into a gamble. It was only fair for him to have something to gain from victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then again, I definitely don’t have the authority to just release him… I’ll have to ask Couran for permission."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“One more thing. If I lose, I’ll serve you, not Couran. I’d sooner rot in jail than work for that geezer.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But you’d work for me?” I asked, a little taken aback. It was a proposal that I couldn’t complain about…for the most part. He had incredible potential, but at the moment, I had to admit he seemed like a major troublemaker. I wasn’t confident that I was capable of giving him the education he needed. “I trust you’re aware that I’m a child? And you’d serve me anyway?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, I’d rather work for someone who’s tough enough to make me acknowledge them, but you’ve got an eye for people, at least. That gives you a leg up on all my other options. Not that any of this matters, since I’m gonna beat Rietz into the dirt.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Braham was as confident as ever, but personally, I had a hard time imagining Rietz losing to him. The kid’s lack of brains offset his excess of brawn, after all. I had faith that Rietz would win the day…and that thought led me to another realization: if Braham ended up becoming one of my retainers, I could just ask Rietz to teach him everything he needed to know! I’d gotten the impression that Braham was the sort of guy who’d listen to people as long as they were capable of beating him up, so it seemed like a perfect solution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll have to run the conditions for the duel past Lord Couran before I accept, but I suspect he’ll be open to them,” I said. “I’ll be back as soon as I’ve spoken with him.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, hurry it up, then!” Braham snapped."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unfortunately for him, I still had prisoners to appraise before I could leave. Braham kept grumbling along the lines of “What are you waiting for? Get going!” all the while, but I kept up with my appraisals and found a few capable people in the process, though nobody who stood head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After I finished, I left the jail and went out to meet with Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve finished my appraisals.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good work,” replied Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To start, I handed over a list of all the talented prisoners I’d found over the course of my search. Then, I explained the Braham situation to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So he’s to serve you should he lose the duel, and walk free should he win?” said Couran. “Braham Joe…not a name I’m familiar with. You say he possesses outstanding talent?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, though his talents are still underdeveloped at the moment,” I replied. “With the right training and education, I’m certain he’ll be an outstanding general.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm… And why is it that he wishes to serve you, rather than me?” Couran asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had a feeling that being upfront about Braham’s reasons would only cause problems, so I decided to phrase my explanation a little more diplomatically than he would’ve."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems that his previous lord treated him rather poorly, and he’s concerned that you would neglect him in a similar manner. You have so many people in your service already, he feels his needs would fall by the wayside.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” said Couran. “If he’s as capable as you say, I’d be more than willing to reward him accordingly, but so be it. The question is, are you inclined to take this man into your service?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that I’d thought up the idea of having Rietz train him, I’d come around to the idea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In that case, I see no reason not to accept his conditions. After all, those who serve you serve me by extension. I don’t feel the need to have every talented soldier in my realm act under my direct supervision. I have confidence you will raise him to his full potential.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Having gained the permission I’d been hoping for, I said my thanks to Couran and went on my way. Rietz would want to know about his rematch with Braham in advance, so speaking to him was my next objective. I had a feeling he’d be amiable to the idea, but there was always the possibility something would compel him to refuse, and I wanted to be on the safe side. I tracked him down and broached the topic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Braham? O-Oh, yes…I remember him. He was quite capable, but, well…he had some sizable flaws in his fighting style,” said Rietz. He remembered Braham, at least, though considering how memorable a manner the man had lost in, that almost seemed like a given."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you be all right with fighting him again?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I suppose so, but why?” Rietz countered. I explained the situation, and Rietz’s eyes widened. “You’re planning on bringing him into the service of House Louvent? A-Are you serious?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Well…far be it from me to question your judgment when it comes to his talent, I suppose…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He has the potential to grow much smarter with the right education. If he does enter my service, I was hoping you would handle that.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Excuse me?! I’m going to have to ask you to please reconsider!” Rietz stammered. I’d have to work a bit harder to convince him to help out with Braham’s education, it seemed. I could understand the reluctance. Being Braham’s teacher sounded like it would be rather trying."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure he’ll listen to you as long as you beat him first. It won’t be as bad as you’re imagining it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A-Are you sure about that?” Rietz asked skeptically."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I decided to put off further discussion of Braham’s education and focus on the duel itself. To start, I led Rietz to the cell Braham was locked up in. We ended up finding a training ground within the castle, and escorted him there for the duel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz and Braham stood across from each other, wooden spears in their hands. I’d suggested wooden swords, but apparently, the spear was Braham’s weapon of choice. Rietz was capable with either weapon and didn’t have a strong preference, so they settled on dueling with spears."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve been looking forward to this, Rietz Muses! You won’t catch me off guard with your dirty tricks this time!” said Braham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“‘Dirty tricks’…?” Rietz repeated incredulously, then sighed. “You have no one but yourself to blame for what happened last time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The duel would conclude when one participant dropped their weapon or sustained what would be a fatal wound in a real battle, and a skilled soldier chosen by Couran would serve as the referee. I would’ve had a hard time judging the match, so I was grateful to have someone who knew what they were doing to handle the task. The referee was a stern-faced man with a beard. He looked like a serious sort and had a Valor score of 75, which put him on the higher end of the spectrum."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This will be a one round match,” said the referee. “Should Rietz Muses win, Braham Joe shall enter the service of Lord Ars Louvent. Should Braham Joe win, he will earn his freedom and be allowed to leave this place unmolested. En garde!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz and Braham raised their spears, standing at the ready."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Begin!” shouted the referee."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham launched himself forward that very instant at a tremendous speed. For a second I panicked, thinking it would end then and there, but Rietz evaded the thrust without batting an eyelash. I couldn’t tell if he’d predicted the attack or if he’d just reacted to it on the spot, but I could tell that Braham had wagered the whole duel on that single attack. His eyes widened in shock as Rietz dodged out of the way, and Rietz took the opportunity to thrust his own spear at Braham, stopping it just before its point slammed into his throat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz Muses is victorious!” declared the referee."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The duel had been far shorter than I’d expected. Braham had been planning on ending the match before it even began, which I had to admit was a decent plan for someone with an Intelligence score like his."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Dammit,” spat Braham. “How the hell’d you dodge that…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You had a decent plan,” said Rietz, “but I could tell you were going to come at me right away by the look in your eyes when we faced off. If I hadn’t figured that out, though, I might not have been able to dodge your attack.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As expected, Rietz had predicted Braham’s line of attack in advance. He made dodging it look easy, but considering its speed, I could believe it would’ve given him trouble if he hadn’t seen it coming, no matter how good he was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh! Dammit, really? I let it show on my face…?” Braham grunted as he scowled and clenched his fists. “I admit it. I lost… As promised, I’ll work for the pipsqueak from now on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Incorrect,” said Rietz. “You will work for Lord Ars Louvent from now on.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah… Right, sure. I’ll work for Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” Rietz repeated. He was smiling, but it was one of those mirthless smiles that told you that you were in big trouble. Rietz’s expression could exude some serious pressure when he wanted it to."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For all his protests, Rietz wasn’t one to turn down my orders, and I got the feeling that he was already carrying out my command to oversee Braham’s education. Braham, for his part, behaved exactly as I’d expected and obeyed the command of the man who’d just defeated him, repeating “Lord Ars,” without further prompting."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0025.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was starting to get the feeling that Rietz would be able to give Braham the education he needed without any issues, which was a very good thing considering that thanks to Rietz’s victory, Braham was now officially my newest retainer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kanses, the Count of Velshdt, sat with Thomas and his various retainers in the Castle Velshdt Chamber of Debate. A council of war had been called, and the expressions of every last attendant were grim. The battle of Castle Staatz had been lost, robbing them of a vital stronghold and incurring a heavy toll in terms of casualties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The loss of Castle Staatz was a painful─one might even say fatal─blow. With Staatz in enemy hands, Vasmarque would no longer be capable of sending reinforcements to Velshdt. Considering the fact that the forces left in Velshdt had been driven so far into a corner that Vasmarque’s reinforcements were their only hope to turn things around, that was a very big problem. It seemed the fall of the county was all but inevitable, and none present could come up with a plan to remedy the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The long, gloomy silence was broken by one of Kanses’s retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe it is time we consider surrender,” he said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All of his fellows were thinking the same thing. If they fought to the bitter end, their count would surely be killed before the struggle was over. Were they to give up now, however, they could demand that Kanses be spared as a condition of their surrender. He would not be able to keep his position as count, of course, but the likelihood of him being killed would at least be lowered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the eyes of Kanses’s followers and advisors, resistance would bring about nothing but needless bloodshed. Kanses’s capitulation would be beneficial to Couran and his army as well, so they were very likely to accept it without question. When Kanses’s retainer suggested surrender, in short, he had done so out of a desire to preserve his lord and master’s life."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Never,” said Kanses with a pained scowl. “I will never surrender.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kanses was the brother-in-law of Vasmarque, and he held him and his capabilities in the highest of esteem. He could never have brought himself to give up Vasmarque’s cause just to save his own life."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Kanses, please,” the retainer spoke up once more. “You know what must be done! You need only give the word!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We could never bear to lose you, Your Lordship! And that’s not all─at this rate, House Bandle itself may fall! Would you have your son suffer the consequences of this war?!” said another. “My family has served the Bandles for generations, Lord Kanses. I beg of you, do not let it all be for nothing…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kanses’s followers’ pleas grew more and more desperate as they appealed to their lord, and their words did not fall on deaf ears. While Kanses valued his loyalty more than his own life, his son’s life was a different matter altogether. His resolve began to waver, and for the first time, he began considering the prospect of surrender."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was when Thomas chose to open his mouth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do not believe we have run entirely out of options. Not yet,” he said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All eyes turned to Thomas. Some gazed at him with looks of hope in their eyes, while others frowned, as if to chastise him for butting in when they were so very close to convincing their lord to see reason."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Have you come up with a plan?” asked Kanses."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not one that would assure victory… But in the best-case scenario, it may allow us to reclaim Castle Staatz,” said Thomas. The room broke out in hushed whispers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Castle Staatz is guarded by a host more than twice the size of our own,” said Kanses. “How could we possibly reclaim it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas began to describe his plan. As his frank, detached speech went on, the whispers in the room grew louder and less reserved, turning into shouts. It was a preposterously reckless proposal, and yet nobody could deny that with Thomas there to guide its course, it just might have a chance at success."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If this operation fails, I would like you to surrender, Your Lordship,” said Thomas as he looked Kanses in the eye. “Your life still has too much value for us to throw it away here.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kanses hesitated for just a moment, then nodded in agreement. Thomas waited for that confirmation, then left the room, off to prepare for his final, last-ditch effort to turn the tides of the war."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The cold set in soon after Castle Staatz fell, and we ended up riding out the dead of winter in the castle itself. We eventually finished repairing the curtain walls, and when that work was finished, Couran granted us the rest of the winter to rest and recuperate. The castle wasn’t large enough to host the entire army, though, so many of his soldiers found themselves camping outside the walls, and I found myself worrying about how restful a break like that could even be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I, in contrast, had been granted a room to stay within the castle. It was far more spacious than I had any need for, so I invited my retainers to share the room with me and spend their winter in relative comfort─especially after we set up a heater powered by flame magistones."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One morning, I felt a shaking sensation as a voice roused me from my slumber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wake up, Lord Ars! Wake up!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That voice… Must be Charlotte, right…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If so, this was a rarity. Charlotte was such a heavy sleeper that it usually fell to me or Rietz to make sure she managed to haul herself out of bed in time for breakfast."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s something,” I mumbled as I sat up. “You managed to wake up on your own today?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who cares! Come outside, hurry!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte grabbed my hand, pulled me out of bed, and dragged me out the door without missing a beat. I had no idea what she was thinking, but in my half-asleep daze I was powerless to resist."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment we stepped outside, an intense chill washed over me. Our heater kept it nice and toasty inside, but it was downright frigid out there. It was probably the coldest weather I’d experienced since I was reborn in this world, and the fact that I’d stepped outside without bothering to change out of my bed clothes made it all the worse."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-Freezing! N-Need a coat!” I said, my teeth chattering."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Look, look! Out there!” Charlotte shouted excitedly, pointing toward the castle garden and ignoring me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked out, still confused, and found myself face to face with a sea of white. Snow had fallen, blanketing the garden in a thick layer of powder. It was the first snow of the year, and it took me until that moment to remember that Charlotte loved the snow so much, she flew into an ecstatic frenzy every year when it fell for the first time. She really did act just like a kid sometimes. I didn’t mind looking out over a snowscape myself, but it was way too cold at the moment for me to appreciate the sight. In fact, looking at all that snow just made me feel colder!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I love it when it snows! Come on, let’s run around in it!” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was my cue to dig in my heels."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Wait! I’ll freeze to death if I go out dressed like this! At least let me put on something warm first!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right. You are dressed pretty lightly… Why’d you go outside wearing that? Of course you’d be cold.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Whose fault do you think this is?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, go on, then! Hurry up and get changed! I’ll be waiting out in the garden!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head with exasperation as I made my way back inside and changed into something a little more seasonable. I was tempted to just go back to bed for a moment, but going along with their follower’s requests sometimes was part of a lord’s duties. I braved the cold once more and made my way to the garden, where I found Charlotte already hard at play in the snow with a few other youths. The first snow of the year had her even more wildly out of control than usual."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, Lord Ars! What took you so long?” Charlotte shouted as I approached. “We were just deciding what we’d build out of snow today! Come help!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I spent quite some time outside, playing around in the snow at Charlotte’s behest. We made all sorts of sculptures─cats, dogs, and the like, though I had a feeling nobody would manage to guess what they were supposed to be unless we told them first. I was a little worried they’d think we were making heretical idols to some occult deity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m getting hungry. Think I’ll go find something to eat,” Charlotte eventually said, then wandered off into the castle. I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone as free-spirited as she was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was also getting pretty hungry, having not eaten anything since she dragged me out of bed, so I followed along after her to try to find some breakfast. I thought that I’d get to take it easy afterward, but no sooner had I finished eating than Charlotte dragged me right back outside again. Rietz and Rosell came along too this time, and we ended up engaging in a wintertime activity that Charlotte had taught us a few winters back: a snowball fight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It started out quiet enough, but it wasn’t long before we started attracting the interest of the passersby. First a few people joined in, then a few more, and before I knew it the garden had descended into a full-blown snowball war. These were real soldiers who’d been fighting in a real war up until just recently, too, so the way they conducted their snow warfare was intense, to say the least. I was too exhausted to take part in that, so I retired to observe from the sidelines with Mireille, who’d opted out from the very beginning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’re all sure taking it easy, huh?” Mireille muttered. “They think this whole war’s in the bag, I’d bet.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t say you’re wrong about that…but we do hold a nearly insurmountable advantage, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“True enough. But I know my brother, and I know that’s not enough to make him give up. He might be cooking up another of his usual tricks right now, and if he is, we can’t let our guards down.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Her brother─that is to say, Thomas Grunzeon. His first attempt on Couran’s life had failed, but that wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be a second. Mireille had a point, and we couldn’t let ourselves get complacent, but one little detail kept me from giving her too much credit for her prudence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we can’t afford to let our guards down, then why’re you already drinking?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? A girl’s gotta have her liquor! We could be scheduled to fight an all-out battle tomorrow, and I’d still get a few cups in here and there.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I shook my head and sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "What could be more complacent than drowning in a bottle first thing in the morning?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, Ben paid me a visit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The boss wants to talk with you,” he said. “Mind coming with me for a bit?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He wants to talk with me?” I repeated, a little puzzled. I didn’t have anything in particular to do at the moment, though, and I didn’t have a problem with the idea, so I decided to play along. “Sure, I suppose. I can come.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Great. Follow me, then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ben led me away without bothering to explain what Pham wanted. I figured that either he didn’t know, or he’d just forgotten to mention it to me. I’d learn when I got to Pham regardless, so I didn’t bother prying and just followed along."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We walked on for some time, arriving at an abandoned alleyway where I found Pham waiting for me. For once, he wasn’t alone. A group of five men and women I’d never seen before were waiting with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You made it,” said Pham when he noticed me approaching."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? He’s a lot cuter than I thought he’d be,” said a woman who was standing next to him. She had a big smile on a face thick with makeup, and was dressed in a flashy, gaudy outfit. She was also tall for a woman─if I had to guess, I’d say she was around 5’6” or so. I couldn’t tell how old she was at all, beyond maybe somewhere in the vicinity of her thirties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were two other women with Pham, and two men as well, none of whom were wearing anything eye-catching and none of whom left a very strong impression. They seemed closer to Ben’s type, though none of them were quite as profoundly plain as him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Who are these people?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My people,” said Pham. “Since I’m one of your retainers now, I want you to take them into the fold as well. I can’t do my best work without them backing me up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So these are the rest of the Shadows…? I see now,” I said. The flashily-dressed woman aside, all of them did seem suited to spy work. That just made me wonder what her deal was even more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham seemed to catch on to my curiosity."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This is Lambers, our master of disguise. Dunno if you’ve appraised him yet or not, but just so you know, he’s a guy underneath all that. Not even I know what he looks like─he usually dresses as a pretty plain man when he meets me, but when he learned he’d be meeting you for the first time today, he decided to go all-out with the crossdressing. Don’t ask me why.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? Is something wrong with wanting to leave an impression on the man who might be my master from now on?” asked Lambers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s a man?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I never would’ve guessed, and was stunned by the revelation. I’d gone through a similar sort of surprise back when I met Pham, but his crossdressing was enabled by his naturally youthful and feminine appearance, whereas it sounded like Lambers’s entire appearance was fabricated from the ground up. Not only did he look the part, he sounded just like a woman as well. I had to wonder how he managed it─could he be using magic?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I gave him an appraisal, just to clear away my doubts, and he was indeed a man. His stats were unexceptional, but his talent for disguises had already impressed me more than a few high abilities could’ve. Lambers wasn’t his real name, by the way. Apparently, he was Andrew Sumage. I was also surprised to find that he’d been born outside of the Summerforth Empire. He didn’t sound foreign, so I had to wonder what sort of life he’d led to take him from being born in a foreign country to working as a mercenary in Missian. I was curious, but I knew he wouldn’t open up to me just like that, so I decided to ask once we’d gotten to know each other a little better."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I appraised the rest of the Shadows as well, and in doing so found that all of them gave me false names when they introduced themselves. There was a tall man who called himself Mulad, a man with a middling build and gray hair who said his name was Dondo, a woman with distinctively long hair called Remen, and a woman with a very sharp glare who claimed to be called Shac. All of them had fairly high Valor and Intelligence scores, which led me to conclude that you had to be pretty smart and physically capable to cut it as a spy. Remen and Dondo both had B-ranked Mage Aptitudes, too, which was on the higher side. All of them came from outside of Missian, and I assumed their backgrounds were all rather complicated, given their line of work."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So? What do you think?” asked Pham. “Feel like taking them on?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If making them my retainers will make your work easier, I have no objections to doing so,” I replied. “And even if it wouldn’t, they’re all capable enough that I’d be inclined to recruit them anyway.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good to hear. Thanks,” said Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone went on their way again shortly thereafter without exchanging much in the way of pleasantries. It seemed they’d come here just to meet me, and with that mission accomplished they had no desire to stick around. For my part, I returned to Castle Staatz with a skip in my step, over the moon at having gained a whole host of capable retainers all at once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few weeks passed by, the days grew warmer, and the snow began to melt away. In other words, it was time for us to prepare to once again go out on the march. Our soldiers had spent long enough resting that they’d need a period of training before they were ready to go back into battle, and while they were drilling away in the training grounds, I was participating in council after council as we worked to iron out our plans to take Castle Velshdt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ultimately, it was decided that we would besiege the castle. A siege would take time, but there was no way for reinforcements to reach the castle anymore, and Castle Velshdt was just as sturdy and hard to assail as Castle Staatz had been. A siege was the option least likely to bring about needless casualties among our men, so considering the circumstances, it seemed like our best option."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time around, Couran would not be going out into battle himself. Instead, he would stay behind in Castle Staatz and have his orders sent to us by messenger when necessary. Killing Couran was just about the only hope that our foes had of turning the situation around, and him setting foot outside the castle without reason was just asking for them to try to assassinate him, so he chose to prioritize his own safety for the time being."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Staying in the castle wouldn’t mitigate the threat of assassination, of course, and so Couran requested that I lend him the services of the Shadows until Velshdt fell. I got the feeling that Pham and Ben had left quite the impression on him back when they saved his life. That wasn’t the sort of request you could just turn down, of course, so I acquiesced right away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With the Shadows on the job, I knew that the risk of Couran’s assassination would be reduced to effectively nothing, and we held an overwhelming advantage over our foes in terms of military might. It felt like our victory was assured, but I couldn’t help but feel a nagging hint of doubt that something could go wrong. Mireille’s warning that her brother could still have a trick up his sleeve weighed on my mind. What, I wondered, could he do to turn the situation around?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I asked Mireille what sort of plan she’d expect him to use, but she didn’t have much in the way of specifics to offer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a good question, kiddo, but as things stand, there’s no telling what he might try,” she’d said. “If he wants to make a move, he could go in all sorts of directions. No use trying to predict it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How does a terrible situation like this give him that many options?” I asked, a little confused."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve got a massive edge on him, sure, but when all’s said and done, we lose the second our leader’s taken out. It’d only take one murder to do us in, and you wouldn’t believe how many ways there are to kill a man. He could fake a surrender to get close to Couran, or pull some trick to lure him back onto the battlefield. Couran knows that, though, so he’ll have his guard as high up as it can go. Honestly, I doubt there’s much of a chance left at this point.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So…it really is impossible for them to turn the tides, then? What happened to all that talk about us needing to stay on guard?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, the thing is, my brother’s the sort of person who comes up with something so off the wall nobody else could ever think it up. He might make up a plan so outlandish, not even I could ever predict it. There’s no way of telling that’s the case until he makes his move, though.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was quite something to hear Mireille, of all people, admit that he could think up a plan that was beyond even her. Thomas would have to be an incredible leader to pull that off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That very same day, a messenger who claimed to bear word from Kanses, the Count of Velshdt, arrived at Castle Staatz. When I heard he’d sent a message, my first assumption was that the count had decided to surrender. Couran must have thought the same, since he allowed the messenger through the castle gates without protest─though not without a hefty guard on the alert for any and all trickery. They were exceedingly cautious about the potential for an assassination attempt, and subjected the messenger to a full-body check. Even when that didn’t turn up any hidden weapons, they kept him under close watch and had him meet with Couran’s right-hand man Robinson rather than the lord himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The messenger and Robinson were to meet in Castle Staatz’s great hall. A few other high-ranking nobles were also in attendance, while I stood off to the side, ready to observe the meeting at a distance. Soon, the doors to the great hall opened and the messenger was led inside, flanked by a pair of soldiers who were prepared to take action at the first sign of any funny business."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“My name is Beens Lobans, and I come on behalf of Lord Kanses,” said the messenger. He was a middle-aged man with a notable bald spot, and when I appraised him I found that his Leadership and Valor were both quite low─in the thirties─but his Intelligence was at 72, and his Politics at 79, which were notably high. He felt like the quintessential civilian paper-pusher, judging by his stats."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I am Robinson, representative of Lord Couran. On account of His Lordship having fallen ill, I will receive your message in his place,” Robinson lied. I supposed it would be something of a faux pas to admit that Couran wouldn’t meet with the messenger out of fear of assassination."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Very well,” said Beens. “Allow me, then, to deliver my message: Lord Kanses requests an armistice.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The assembled lords began whispering to one another. Some of them went so far as to jeer the messenger. Why, after all, would Couran feel inclined to lay down arms now that he held such an overwhelming advantage? I was surprised as well. I’d assumed that the messenger had been sent to declare their surrender and negotiate for terms that would benefit Kanses as much as possible, not offer an armistice that Couran would have no need or desire to accept."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“An armistice, you say?” said Robinson. “My apologies, but we will not accept such a proposal, regardless of the specifics of your offer. Please be on your way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The rest of the assembled lords were in agreement, some already urging the messenger to make himself scarce. Beens, however, spoke up once more and said, “I believe it would be in your best interests to allow me to finish… Velshdt is not as defenseless as you may assume─we still have a secret weapon in reserve.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A secret weapon?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was a strange thing for a messenger to say, no matter how you sliced it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, exactly, do you mean by that?” asked Robinson."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In recent times, Castle Velshdt has been the staging ground for a long-term experiment in magical weapon development. That project has borne fruit in the form of a catalyzer that dwarfs all previous models in scale, capable of reducing a city to ash with a single spell. Were he so inclined, His Lordship could order this very castle to be obliterated in an instant. That being said, I trust you appreciate why he would rather not resort to such methods if at all possible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I jumped to the conclusion that he was bluffing. If Kanses could have Couran and this castle blown away at will, he would’ve done it a long time ago."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is a lie,” said Robinson, echoing my first impression. “If such a weapon existed, I find it hard to believe we would have heard nothing about it. More to the point, if you have the means to wreak such devastation at your disposal, why have you not done so?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other lords muttered in agreement, but Beens didn’t waver."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The catalyzer in question is capable of bringing about slaughter on an unprecedented scale, and His Lordship does not mean to use it unless provoked. He would not even consider doing so unless he was driven into a corner and left with no other options─in other words, the precise situation he finds himself in now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t an implausible explanation, but it didn’t change the fact that this supposed superweapon was impossibly convenient for Kanses’s purposes. On the other hand, the fact that we couldn’t rule out its existence with absolute certainty meant that this could turn into a major headache, if I was reading the situation right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Beens kept talking for some time. He was quite the orator, and the lords who had been so convinced he was lying began to waver, their wills shaken by his story. Eventually, Robinson came to the conclusion that letting him continue to influence them would be a poor decision and called the meeting to a preemptive close, ordering his men to escort Beens out of the hall."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I would like to make it clear to everyone present that what that man said was a bluff, and nothing more,” Robinson said as soon as Beens was gone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The nobles, however, looked confused and unconvinced. The odds of the mega-catalyzer being a bluff seemed high, but they couldn’t help but consider the slight possibility that it was real. Their worries were plain to see."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He said that Kanses did not wish to destroy a city offhand, and that is believable, yes,” Robinson continued. “However, ask yourself this: if such a weapon was available to Kanses, then why would he not have kept silent on the matter, waited until we began our march toward Castle Velshdt, then used it to obliterate our force wholesale once we were a safe distance from civilization? Surely a weapon that can destroy a city could have decimated our forces, leaving what few survivors there may have been demoralized and incapable of carrying on the fight. A tactician of Thomas’s capabilities would never have missed such an obvious opportunity.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But Beens already explained that,” said one of the lords. “He said that war or not, we’re all fellow Missians, and that Kanses didn’t want to use a weapon of mass slaughter on his own countrymen! That was the whole point of the armistice!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He said that, yes, and you’d be a fool to believe it,” said Robinson. “I believe that Kanses may choose to refrain from killing Missian civilians, but he would not hesitate for a second to slay a soldier. Otherwise, he would have laid down arms before the war began in earnest.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Nobody could refute Robinson’s argument outright, but it was still clear that they were fretting over the worst-case scenario. This superweapon business was turning into a major pain in the neck already. For all the authority Couran commanded, he couldn’t completely ignore the opinions of his vassals, and I got the sense that a lot of them would be arguing in favor of an armistice unless something was done, and fast."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph,” snorted Mireille, who was standing off to my side. She was loud enough that the attention of all the assembled lords turned to her. “It’s a bluff, obviously, and if you don’t believe me, then listen up! Even if a weapon like that were possible to build, Velshdt doesn’t have the resources to pull it off. You’d need to be the duke himself to have access to that sort of wealth! In the unlikely event that Velshdt was involved in the development of such a weapon, it would’ve been at the duke’s request. There’s just no other way, and in case you need a reminder, Lord Couran is the son of that very duke! Even if the project was kept top-secret, there’s no way he wouldn’t have heard something about it, and if he did know that Velshdt had a superweapon on hand, he would’ve approached this war with a different set of tactics.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The lords seemed at least a little convinced by Mireille’s argument, muttering to one another about how she had a point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyway,” Mireille continued. “Seems to me you can just call Lord Couran over, tell him what the messenger had to say, and see what he thinks. I have a feeling he’s going to tell you that there’s no such thing and that anyone who believed it for a second is an idiot, though.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Getting Couran’s judgment on the matter could certainly do a lot to put his followers’ worries to rest. His words carried considerable weight, and he had a way of being remarkably persuasive. Considering how many of the assembled lords respected him, that struck me as a great way to resolve the issue. Robinson seemed to agree, and he summoned Couran at once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Mireille had predicted, when Couran heard what was going on, he declared that Kanses’s supposed superweapon was the stuff of fantasy. Almost none of the lords seemed worried anymore after hearing their leader’s reassurances, and Beens was told that no armistice would be accepted, then driven out of the castle. I felt relieved to see that the incident had ended without a hitch, but for some reason Mireille and Rosell were off on the side of the room, engaged in furious discussion with grave expressions on their faces. That piqued my curiosity, so I went over to see what they were going on about."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are the two of you discussing?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm? Oh, just how the whole thing with the messenger didn’t really make sense. We can’t figure out what the actual goal of sending him here was,” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Right,” agreed Mireille with a nod. “There was no way we’d fall for a trick like that, and there’s no way they thought we would for a second. Makes you wonder what they were actually after.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They had a point. Thomas was supposed to be an exceptional tactician, and it was hard to believe that a bluff like that was the best plan he could come up with. That said, I had a hard time imagining that there was some deep, ultimate objective hidden behind the messenger stunt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What if they just sent the messenger because they had nothing to lose? For all we know, they have some other, totally unrelated plan they’re working on at the same time,” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s possible, but we’re not so sure,” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It just feels way too sloppy,” said Mireille. “But, meh, we might be overthinking this. No point obsessing over it when we have this little to go on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We spent a while longer discussing possibilities, but we weren’t able to pin down any plausible explanations for the enemy’s behavior. A few days later, though, as our preparations for the attack on Castle Velshdt moved along, a scout we’d sent to scope out the enemy’s movements came rushing back to Staatz with an urgent report. The scout went straight to Couran to deliver the news without so much as pausing to rest, and I decided to follow along and listen in out of curiosity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve observed the enemy engaging in peculiar activities, Your Lordship,” the scout reported. “They seem to be readying some sort of massive mechanism, like nothing we’ve ever seen before!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They what?” said Couran with a grimace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The words “massive mechanism” brought to mind the secret weapon Velshdt was supposedly developing that the messenger had warned us about some days beforehand. For a moment I wondered if his story had been true after all, but then I realized it was just as likely that this new device was an extension of their prior bluff. It could’ve been anything at all, as long as they could make it look like it was a weapon they were preparing to use on us."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the other hand, the fact that they were making a show of preparing the supposed weapon meant that an extra dose of caution might be merited. Probing deeper into their activities seemed necessary, just to be on the safe side. There was always the chance our assumptions were wrong and it was as powerful as described, and even if it wasn’t capable of leveling a city, it could’ve still been a lesser but potent weapon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What’s Couran going to say this time?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It seems very likely that this, too, is a bluff…but as long as we don’t know what it is they’re doing, my men will fear the possibilities and raising their morale will be a challenge,” Couran muttered. “Investigating this so-called weapon will take time, though. Is that what their goal is? To delay our advance? But what would the point of that be? Winter gained them all the time they could have asked for already─how could more of it be of any use to them?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of his doubts, it seemed Couran was resolved to look into the weapon’s true nature. The scout reported that it was being worked on outside of Velshdt’s city walls, so it would be possible to probe deeper into the matter, but that would take time. It just didn’t make sense─why would time be all they were after? As Couran said, they had little to gain from subjecting us to yet another minor delay."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe they really are developing a weapon, and need just a little more time to make it functional? Hmm…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn’t seem impossible, but if that was the case, it wouldn’t make sense for them to go out of their way to bring the weapon up with us. There were plenty of other ways they could’ve bought time, after all. What else could they have to gain from this, though? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with any answers, and since Couran was set on learning more, I decided to wait for additional information to come in and see how things looked then. The Shadows, incidentally, would not be participating in this mission. Couran considered his own protection to be of higher priority, and entrusted the task to a different unit of spies instead."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The spies returned to Staatz just a few days later─much faster than I’d anticipated. I wasn’t able to hear their report directly, but after Couran heard what they had to say, he called all of his vassals together to update us on the situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As expected, the so-called weapon our foes have been working on is nothing but a fabrication,” he said. “The enemy’s goal was to use it to draw our attention and buy time while they riddled the area with magical traps and bolstered Velshdt’s defenses. Had our spies failed in this mission, they would have ended up with ample time to make the battlefield much more dangerous for us and our men.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "So it was just a distraction, then."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Planting the idea of a superweapon in our heads and then making a show of working on something distinctly superweapon-esque was a good way of grabbing our attention and keeping our focus away from the traps they were setting in the meantime."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve uncovered the enemy’s plot, and while traps will not prevent us from laying siege to Velshdt, they could very well make the process take more time than I hope to expend. We must march on Velshdt before they have time to complete their preparations, and render this scheme of theirs meaningless!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So it’s finally time for us to move out, then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With the enemy’s objective clear, I had to agree that we had no reason to just sit around and let them get away with it. That said, there was something about the situation that felt subtly off to me. The fact that our spies turned up all that information had to mean that the enemy had screwed up and leaked it to us, in one way or another, but would a master tactician like Thomas really be that careless? Was he the sort of person who’d make a last-second blunder and ruin everything? Even incredible people made mistakes sometimes, sure, but even though I knew I was probably just overthinking it, I decided to ask Mireille what she thought about the matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That seemed suspicious to me too, but Thomas isn’t some perfect superhuman or anything,” Mireille said. “He’s the sort of person who makes stupid, simple mistakes every once in a while, even if he doesn’t look it… Though then again, it’s been years since the last time I saw him. Maybe he’s grown out of that; who knows. Even taking that into account, it’s not impossible that he just screwed up.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was a relief to hear. Even if she hadn’t seen him recently, she was still his relative, so if she thought that the leak being an honest mistake was possible, I figured I didn’t have much to worry about after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy’s tactician is my master’s little brother…” Rosell muttered to himself. He was standing nearby, deep in thought."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is there something about this that’s bothering him, too?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I watched him mull it over until suddenly, his eyes widened and a look of understanding dawned on his face. He looked up at me and spoke, his voice wavering."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…I think I’ve figured out the enemy’s real plan.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And now I just have to wait and see if they take the bait, Thomas thought to himself. His nerves ate away at him as he lurked in the woods with his men. Ambushes were Thomas’s specialty, and he excelled at concealing entire regiments of soldiers in ways no one would ever uncover. Even though his troop was on the larger side, he knew that his foes wouldn’t notice them until it was far too late."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas had brought his troops here in absolute confidence that the enemy army would soon travel along a road that ran just nearby. His confidence wasn’t baseless: he knew they would come because he’d lured them into doing so. He’d sent a messenger and readied a weapon-like apparatus to plant a thought in their minds, then leaked information to make them believe they’d seen through his scheme. The enemy would never imagine he had another plan on top of those, and would surely rush forward to prevent him from laying the traps they assumed his scheme centered around. Now all he had to do was wait and let them walk into his ambush."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas wasn’t sure how many soldiers he’d be able to eliminate in the imminent bloodbath, but by his best estimate, he had a good chance of reducing their numbers enough to turn around the seemingly impossible odds that Velshdt’s defenders faced. He’d put every ounce of thought and care into the plan he could possibly muster, but still, he had his doubts. There was a chance the enemy would prioritize caution and not show up at all, to start, and even if they did play into his hands, pulling off the ambush was no easy task. Even though it was his signature move, there was every chance this one would end in failure."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Although Thomas was very aware that his plan could fail, at the same time, he was confident that his foes had not seen through it. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that his own sister had utilized a very similar scheme in a mock battle mere months beforehand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I think our enemy might be trying to pull off a plan like the one my master used in the mock battle right after she came to Lamberg,” said Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A look of surprise passed across Mireille’s face."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Now that you mention it, I guess that is possible,” she said. “I think I remember using a routine like that to play pranks a few times, back when we were kids. Maybe he remembered that and used it as inspiration?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell’s brief explanation was enough to let me catch on to the plan our foes might’ve been carrying out as well. In short, they might have deliberately leaked information to us in order to lure us into a trap. I did indeed remember Mireille using a very similar tactic of layered deception back during one of our mock battles, and seeing as they were siblings, it was plausible that Thomas could come up with a similar scheme."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0027.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell went on to explain the specifics of the enemy’s plan, as he imagined them. By leaking false information, they would lure us into making a hasty move, catch us in an ambush, inflict heavy casualties on our main fighting force, and do the best they could to even the disparity in numbers. They likely weren’t expecting to bring our forces into perfect balance with theirs, but it was reasonable to think they could bring it down to slightly skewed odds rather than the overwhelming advantage we held."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A successful ambush wouldn’t win them the war offhand, or even put them at an advantage, but at least it could earn them a fighting chance and open up a path to victory in the long run, especially since it could force Couran to return to the battlefield in person. He could never leave the command of his army in one of his followers’ hands if the odds were that close to even, after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, if the enemy was allowed to carry their plan out, our hopes of conquering Velshdt with ease would dim. I couldn’t say with complete confidence that a sneak attack would be waiting for us, but as long as everyone was aware of the possibility and moved with caution, the odds of the potential attack’s success would be dramatically reduced. I shuddered to think what could’ve been if we hadn’t noticed any of this."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I brought Rosell and Mireille to meet with Couran and had Rosell explain his theory."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see,” said Couran when Rosell was finished. “I must admit, I found it odd myself… The spies I sent have a decent reputation, and I expected much from them, but they still learned too much, too quickly. It seemed unnatural…but if it was all part of the enemy’s plan, then it makes perfect sense. I’m not certain beyond a reasonable doubt that your theory is correct, but it is plausible enough to be worthy of consideration. You’ve done well to bring this to my attention.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell fidgeted bashfully, unsure of how to deal with Couran’s praise. Couran went on to question him about the specifics of the theory, asking where he believed the attack would take place. Rosell began to explain, with the aid of a nearby map, that there was a large forest en route to Velshdt that was the perfect place to conceal a division of soldiers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They’ll be hiding in the forest, will they?” said Couran. “Is that so… In that case, I imagine burning them out would prove most efficient.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I agree,” replied Rosell. “If we set the forest ablaze with fire magic, we could cut the hostile force off in moments.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I would prefer to take their tactician Thomas alive, if at all possible. It would pain me to slay a man of his capabilities. Of course, it would be far worse to miss our opportunity and allow him to flee back to Velshdt,” said Couran. He sounded a little conflicted, but eventually came to a decision. “We stand more to gain than lose. Let us burn out the enemy army.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From that point onward, everything proceeded according to plan. Lumeire was given command of the expedition, and being under his command, I wound up accompanying him. We could’ve sent out spies to verify that there was an ambush waiting for us in the woods, but the enemy was sure to flee if they realized we’d caught on to them, so instead we decided to go on the attack blindly. We’d waste some aqua magia if Rosell’s theory was wrong and nobody was there, but we weren’t at a lack of resources at the moment. The part of me that still remembered what it was like to live in Japan and still held all those old values balked at the thought of burning down a beautiful, verdant forest, and I felt more than a little guilty for enabling such a thing, but it seemed the people of this world didn’t make much of it at all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We set up several large catalyzers on the outskirts of the woodland we believed the enemy was hiding in. The weather was bright and clear, and it felt a little on the arid side─the perfect weather for burning down a forest. We readied the catalyzers, and once all our preparations were complete, Lumeire raised a hand to signal our mages to cast their magic. They did so in unison, unleashing a powerful spell called Firestorm."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vortexes of flame issued forth from the catalyzers, plowing into the woods and setting them ablaze. One of the whirling infernos was far larger than the rest, and I assumed Charlotte was responsible for it. It was hard to believe that anyone could’ve survived a conflagration of that magnitude, and anyone in the woods was probably burned to ash, but there was always a chance that one or two of them would get lucky and make it past the treeline alive. That was why we held position around the woods, keeping a loose perimeter to catch any escapees. We had our soldiers stand far enough away to keep them from getting caught up in the blaze themselves, of course."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We were under express orders to capture Thomas, if he made an appearance, and our whole army had been given a description of what he looked like. That description came courtesy of Couran─I’d thought Mireille would be a better option, but she hadn’t seen him in years and claimed to have no idea how he looked these days. She’d been very surprised to learn that he’d grown a beard, so not pitching in was the right call on her part."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I waited a slightly farther distance from the forest and watched as it burned away. I still wasn’t sure whether anyone had been hiding in there or not, but if they were, I could only imagine how hellish of a fate they’d met, given how bad it looked from the outside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Eventually, I noticed a few of our soldiers beginning to move in the distance. That meant that enemy soldiers had emerged from the woods, and over the next several minutes I bore witness as troops fled for their lives from the forest, only to be finished off by the infantrymen who awaited them. I could barely stand to watch, but as the head of House Louvent, I couldn’t let myself show weakness and forced myself to take in every second of the horrid spectacle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before long, a victorious shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“News, Your Lordship! We’ve captured Thomas Grunzeon!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have?!” Lumeire shouted back. “Bring him here at once!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A bald man with a grizzled beard was soon dragged before us, bound tightly with rope. He was tall, burly, and I could see a resemblance between him and Mireille in the shape of his nose and the look of his eyes. It was easy to believe that the two of them were siblings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is this man your brother, Mireille?” asked Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s him, all right,” answered Mireille. “Hey there. Been a while, you little dunce.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Thomas shot Mireille a wordless glare. I could already tell that there was no love lost between the two of them, and while I had him right before me, I decided to give him an appraisal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Born on the tenth day of the first month, 183 Imperial Era, in Arcantez, County of Arcantez, Duchy of Missian, Summerforth Empire. Parents have passed away. Has one older sister. Stubborn and bullish, with a fondness for sweets and horseback riding. Enjoys the company of kind women. Feels fierce loyalty toward his lord and master Vasmarque."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His stats were incredible, more than justifying his reputation as a commander and master tactician. He was an even match for Mireille, and in fact, he may have even exceeded her from an overall perspective. I knew that he would be a powerful ally if we could talk him into siding with Couran, but unfortunately, his loyalty to Vasmarque was as unshakeable as expected. Convincing him to betray his master was no small feat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All that said, with this one-sided battle wrapped up, it seemed inevitable that Velshdt would fall into our hands. There was no way our foes could turn the tide after this, and the fall of Velshdt would put Vasmarque in an unenviable position. If Couran brought down his brother and seized control of Missian, it seemed possible that Thomas would come around and serve him…as long as Couran didn’t earn his eternal enmity by executing Vasmarque, anyway."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With Thomas secured, we made our way back to Castle Staatz to present him to Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s been some time, Thomas,” Couran said. “Three years, I believe? I was worried this expedition would be the end of you, and I consider it a stroke of good fortune that you’ve made it out alive.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I didn’t get the impression Couran was lying about that. He seemed pleased to see Thomas alive, and I assumed he was hoping to recruit him in the near future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas seemed to draw the same conclusion I had."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I won’t be working for you, so don’t even ask. I serve Lord Vasmarque, and none other,” he said, preemptively shutting down Couran’s invitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, I thought you’d say that,” replied Couran. “However, I also know that you’re clever, and I expect you’ve already realized that Vasmarque stands upon the brink of defeat. If you choose to serve me, I promise you will be treated most favorably.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No decent man would choose his lord based solely on who can offer him the greatest rewards,” Thomas spat. I could already tell how stubborn he was."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran spent a while longer trying to tempt Thomas to his side, but Thomas staunchly refused. We certainly couldn’t let him go free, so when Couran gave up on his solicitations, he had Thomas locked up in the dungeons."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, it was time to prepare for the attack on Velshdt. Our army would march the moment winter came to a close."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0029.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The cold of winter faded away, and under Couran’s orders, we set out to bring Velshdt under our control. Lumeire was tasked with leading us into battle. It seemed he’d risen further still in Couran’s esteem after his success against Thomas’s force. Our foes chose to hole up in the castle, while we set up encampments around it and laid siege. Lumeire was thorough, laying out defensive lines so tight that not even a mouse could slip out of the castle unnoticed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days after the siege began, a messenger was dispatched from Velshdt bearing a letter of surrender. This time, the enemy had decided that there was nothing to be done about their situation and resolved to capitulate. That being said, their surrender was not unconditional: Kanses would only submit without a fight if we were willing to guarantee the safety of his vassals and followers. Notably, he did not ask that they be allowed to maintain their former statuses and positions, nor did he make any requests to spare his own life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire didn’t have the authority to accept the conditions of surrender on his own, so he sent a letter to Couran describing the terms and asking how he should reply. A response soon arrived stating that Couran found the terms acceptable and would be willing to honor them. With that, Velshdt’s surrender to our force was accepted, and Lumeire dispatched a messenger to the castle to inform them of our decision."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The messenger communicated our own terms to Velshdt’s leadership: we would require them to disarm their troops, deliver all their weapons and aqua magia to our force, and disarm any traps that may have been laid within the castle. Our foes obeyed without protest, and a stock of weaponry so enormous I couldn’t possibly imagine they were holding anything in reserve was soon brought out to us. We were told that the castle had indeed been trapped, but that every one of its defensive mechanisms had been disabled. We couldn’t take their word at face value, of course, so we conducted a thorough investigation of the castle and concluded that they were indeed telling the truth before we moved our troops inside and occupied it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Velshdt was another walled city, and the castle town was immense. It wasn’t quite as large as Semplar, the city Couran ruled over, but it dwarfed Canarre in scale. Velshdt, Semplar, and Maasa were known as the three major cities of Missian, so it wasn’t any surprise that other settlements would pale in comparison to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We marched into the keep and quickly took the nobles into custody. They wouldn’t have to fear for their lives, but I still had no idea whether or not they’d be allowed to maintain their noble status. I had a feeling that Couran would ask me to appraise them, and would choose who would and wouldn’t get to serve him based on the results, so I decided to give them and their most important retainers an appraisal preemptively. Most of them turned out to be quite capable, though some of them had surprisingly low stats and nobody jumped out to me as exceptional."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before long, I got my first look at the Count of Velshdt, Kanses. He was an older man, with black hair and a wrinkled face. He looked rather unremarkable at a glance, but there was something about his eyes that gave him an unusual air. His stats, in contrast, were much more ordinary than I’d expected, coming in at an average of around sixty. His Politics score was 80, at least, and he was better off than the average person, but I had expected the count of a city as important as Velshdt to have stats that blew me away. I had to assume his vassals adored him for his virtues rather than his abilities."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, Castle Velshdt was under our complete control. Lumeire went out to report to Couran of our success, and before long Couran himself arrived at the castle, escorted by the troop of soldiers that had participated in the siege."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It was wise of you to surrender, Kanses,” said Couran when the two lords met at last. “However, your wisdom this day does not excuse the foolish decision to refuse my invitation of peace and side with Vasmarque in this conflict. For that, I have no choice but to punish you accordingly.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran’s tone was severe, and Kanses’s followers began to stir as a disquieting energy swept through the hall. They began to bow, one after another, appealing to Couran with their words to spare their lord’s life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I did not say I would execute you,” said Couran, addressing Kanses’s followers indirectly, “nor do I intend to. That being said, you will be stripped of your position as the Count of Velshdt. Furthermore, you will be imprisoned until my feud with Vasmarque is settled and Missian has fallen under my control. Only then will you be released, and at that point I will consider granting you territory once more, depending on how you’ve conducted yourself in the meantime.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The fact that Couran had chosen to spare Kanses’s life made his judgment lenient, and that wasn’t even starting on the potential for him to regain his noble status. I had to agree with Couran’s decision. Had he chosen to execute Kanses, he would have earned the enmity of all of his followers for no good reason. Many of said followers chose to be imprisoned alongside their lord, which further supported my impression that they were extremely loyal to him. Only a very small number of them chose to swear a new oath of fealty to Couran instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The sentencing of Kanses marked the final end to the war in Velshdt, and with that conclusion reached, the time had come to enter a period of post-war cleanup and reorganization. We’d sustained relatively few casualties throughout our campaign, but our provisions and aqua magia reserves had been depleted. Arcantez was still in Vasmarque’s hands, but with our resources as strained as they were, Couran ruled that we weren’t ready to stage an assault, and so we entered into a lengthy period of preparation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It would take at least a year for our army to prepare itself for an assault on Arcantez, and in the meantime, we would have to decide what to do with the lands we’d conquered. The counts who had surrendered to Couran’s force without a fight would be allowed to keep their titles, but since Velshdt and Samkh had both attempted to resist, they would need new rulers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was quickly decided that the new Count of Samkh would be Ruper, the man who we had convinced to surrender and join our cause back at Fort Valdsen. Many of Couran’s followers were aiming for a position as count, and plenty of them were incensed when they learned who Couran had chosen. That said, the goal he was trying to accomplish felt worth irritating some of his vassals to me: in short, the theory was that Ruper’s elevation to the status of count would prove that those who surrendered to Couran would be treated favorably, which would hopefully encourage others down the line to give up without a fight. A solution that didn’t make anyone upset with him would’ve been ideal, of course, but I had a feeling he’d have some other plan to mollify those he’d offended."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Velshdt, meanwhile, was to be handed over to Lumeire. That was a decision that nobody thought to question. Lumeire’s social standing had skyrocketed thanks to the recent rout he’d led. My retainers had come up with the plan, technically, but as our commanding officer, Lumeire was given the bulk of the credit for the mission’s success. Lumeire, however, was already the Count of Canarre, and Canarre and Velshdt were by no means close to one another. Ruling over both would be a challenge, and when asked what would become of the smaller county, Couran made a secondary declaration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The position of Count of Canarre shall be entrusted to Ars Louvent!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran had promised that he would raise me to the status of count after the war with Vasmarque concluded. When we made that promise, however, he had not yet decided to claim Velshdt before taking on Vasmarque himself. I had to assume that the change of plans led to his decision to revise our agreement and move up the timeline."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was expecting the hall to erupt in a cacophony of outrage, but to my surprise, Couran’s announcement was met with a rather mixed reception. I realized that his followers might not have written off all of my retainers’ achievements as Lumeire’s after all. Rather, it seemed they were giving credit where it was due. The fact that Couran had taken every opportunity to praise my achievements in public probably played a part as well. A few of Couran’s followers nonetheless objected on the basis that I was too young, but Couran stood firm and refused to reconsider."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That wasn’t quite the end of the matter, though. There was still one obstacle that stood between me and the position of count: the fact that Lumeire had not immediately accepted the position of Count of Velshdt. He had asked to be given some time to consider the offer, and in light of Lumeire’s distinguished service, Couran had allowed him to do so. Now we just had to wait on his decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That night, Lumeire summoned me to his quarters. He wanted to speak with me alone, and I trusted him enough to go along with the request, slipping into his room without bringing along even a single guard. I found Lumeire sitting with a stern expression on his face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you for coming, Ars,” Lumeire said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course,” I replied. “I’ve come alone, as promised.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please, have a seat.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did just that, seating myself in a nearby chair. It was a finely-crafted and comfortable piece of furniture, but I was so nervous I barely even registered how nice it felt to sit on. For some time, Lumeire remained silent. I just sat there, waiting for him to initiate the conversation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, Lumeire said, “Canarre has been passed down through my family for generations. I have lived there since I was a child, and I am very attached to the region. Small as the city of Canarre may be, I have spared no effort to ensure that as many of its citizens may live in peace and prosperity as possible. I do not believe that I have accomplished that goal, and I have always intended to carry on my efforts until the day I die.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire paused, and I waited for him to collect himself and carry on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But all that being said,’’ he eventually continued, “compared to Velshdt, Canarre is small. So small, in fact, that the two hardly bear comparison. Its populace is minuscule, and its towns are closer to hamlets. The scale of natural resources available to Canarre pales in comparison to those found in Velshdt. By all rights, I should be ecstatic to receive this offer…and yet, I cannot bring myself to feel any joy in it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I understand how you feel. Painfully well,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lumeire once again sunk into a lengthy silence. I watched him, my nerves fraying by the moment. I could appreciate just how conflicted he was about this proposal, and several minutes passed before he spoke once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have the ability to raise Canarre into the realm it deserves to be? Can you make it prosper?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire gazed into my eyes. This wasn’t the sort of question I could answer offhand, so I paused to mull over his words. Could I make Canarre prosper? It certainly wouldn’t be an easy task…and yet, I felt that it was one I was capable of. I had the knowledge and wisdom of my followers on my side, as well as the latent talent that still slumbered undiscovered within Canarre’s borders. If I could find everyone with talents to contribute and raise them to positions where they could make the most of them, I was confident that I could turn the county into a far better realm than it was at the moment. And so, I returned Lumeire’s gaze and made my declaration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Lumeire spent several seconds simply looking into my eyes. After that, his grim, serious expression gave way and his mouth curved into the slightest hint of a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I will become the Count of Velshdt. I leave Canarre in your capable hands.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0031.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The town of Redroot was in the County of Cornlent, a relatively small district located in eastern Seitz, one of the duchies of the Summerforth Empire. Redroot was a small town in and of itself, and was in Cornlent’s northeastern reaches."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Redroot was not a prosperous town. It was located in an arid stretch of land, and growing any crops at all was a struggle. What few buildings there were were old and decrepit, to the point that some looked liable to collapse on account of a stiff breeze. You could tell how impoverished the land was just by looking at its people. Most were poor, and many were beggars with no place to call home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz Muses was born in Redroot as the son of a slave. Rietz was a Malkan, an ethnicity that hailed from a land that had once fought and lost a war with the Summerforth Empire. In the fallout after the war’s close, many Malkans were enslaved and brought back to the empire to serve their former foes. Free Malkans had gradually become a less uncommon sight as the ages passed, but the majority of the population that lived in the empire still lived lives of forced servitude."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz’s parents were both Malkan slaves, and as the children of slaves were enslaved upon birth, Rietz had been saddled with the same fate since the moment he came into the world. Never once could he remember having been treated as a human being in his youth. His meals were modest to an extreme, he was only fed the bare minimum that would keep him alive, and he was the subject of frequent whippings."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "To make matters worse, Rietz’s parents were unable to act as his guardians. His mother died of an illness when he was only four, and even during the period when she was alive, she hardly treated him as her beloved son. She had been compelled by her owners to give birth to a child, and if she held any affection for him, she never let it show. His father followed her to the grave two years later, dying of the very same sickness. He had never shown any interest in Rietz at all, and Rietz couldn’t remember ever having so much as a single conversation with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one family member Rietz did have a caring relationship with, his little sister, vanished without warning when he was seven. She hadn’t died, from what he was able to gather, but she’d been taken away to some other town, never to return. Seven years into his life, he had already lost every single one of his blood relatives."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then, after withstanding year after year of miserable abuse, Rietz was sold at the age of eleven. The person who owned Rietz was deep in debt, and he chose to auction off one asset after another in an attempt to stay financially stable. Rietz was just the next item on that list. He was left to languish in a slave trader’s cell, waiting for someone to come along and purchase him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And here we have a Malkan child! He may be a brat, but he has some decent muscles on him─a fine pick for manual labor, I assure you! Best of all, his price tag: a mere silver piece, and the boy is yours! How about it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz stood in a sales yard, his cage lined up alongside those of many other slaves. The slave trader had called out to a passerby and put a price on Rietz’s life: a mere silver coin. He was not, it seemed, considered a luxury item."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One silver, eh? Pretty cheap,” muttered the man the slave trader was speaking to. He had a frightful face, with scars on his forehead and cheek, and he stepped up to Rietz’s cage to inspect the boy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, a short man who accompanied the man with the scars spoke up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Boss, this kid’s a Malkan,” he said. “You know what they say about those. He’s inferior! No way we’ll get any use outta him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The so-called boss rested his chin in his hand as he stared at Rietz, his gaze seeming to penetrate through him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh!” said the short man. “Oh, I get it! You’re thinking of using him for chores, eh? That’s a job fit for a Malkan, for sure. And he does have a pretty face…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Save it, you oaf,” said the boss. “That’s a job for women. This one’s a man, and that means he’ll fight.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, for the─why him, then? Why not any of the others?” the short man protested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The boss ignored him and turned back to the slave trader."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have anything cheaper than a silver?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I’m afraid he’s our most affordable option,” said the slave trader. “Malkans are the cheapest race, and he’s the only one we have in stock today.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Fine, then. I’ll take him,” said the boss."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A-Are you kidding me, Boss?” said the short man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why so upset? He’ll make a decent enough decoy, and for a silver, that’s all he’ll have to be to pay off the investment. If he’s good for anything else, that’s just a bonus. Imagine if we bought one of the expensive ones and they turned out to be worthless! You wanna put us in the red? Our coffers aren’t exactly full right now.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know, okay?” the short man sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyway, the decision’s been made. Here’s your silver,” he said, flicking a coin to the slave trader."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A pleasure doing business with you,” the slave trader said. Just like that, Rietz found himself the property of a pair of men he’d never met before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, kid,” said the boss. “You got a name?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The men had taken Rietz to a nearby pub to question him. It had been quite some time since anyone had asked him for his name. Most people didn’t pay any mind to the names of slaves at all, and it had been so long since he’d last had reason to say it out loud, it took a second before his name came to mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz Muses,” he eventually said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A number of dishes were laid out on the table that Rietz and the men were seated at. It was simple fare, but Rietz had been hungry for so long that it looked like a feast to him. His eyes were irresistibly drawn to the food, even as he spoke with the men."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Rietz, eh?” said the boss. “Well, I’m Varrock Glade. I’m the leader of a band of mercenaries called the Flood. This here’s Pentan, one of my men.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pentan, who was seated to Varrock’s side, had spent the whole time since they’d arrived looking down at Rietz and not saying a word."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re…‘mercenaries’…?” repeated Rietz. He hadn’t received any sort of formal education up to that point, and he lacked many pieces of what most people would consider essential knowledge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t know what it means, eh?” said Varrock. “A mercenary’s a man who fights for his daily bread. I didn’t buy you to use you as a slave─I bought you to join our crew. You’ll be fighting by our side from now on.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…I’ve never fought anyone,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ll just have to learn the ropes, then. We’ll say you have a month to get yourself into fighting shape. There are other ways we could use you, to be clear, but they’ll get you killed before you know it, and I don’t think either of us wanna see that happen. Dead men don’t make me money, y’know?” said Varrock. His tone was blunt and level-headed, and Rietz could tell that if he failed to learn to fight, Varrock would think nothing of using him as a sacrificial pawn and letting him die in a ditch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz didn’t know what sort of end was in store for him if he refused to fight, but one look at Varrock’s expression told him on an intuitive level that it wouldn’t be a pleasant one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How should I learn to fight?” Rietz asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By practicing. No other way about it. Becoming capable enough to go into battle in a month’s gonna be tough, though. You’d better train like your life depends on it,” Varrock said flippantly before shoving a piece of bread into his mouth. Just then, Rietz’s stomach let out a loud rumble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The food’s for all of us, kid,” Varrock said. “We’ll keep you fed. Can’t fight on an empty stomach, after all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hesitated, wondering if it was all right for him to eat as well. Eventually, he reached a timid hand out toward his tableware and took a few cautious bites, then looked up to see how Varrock was reacting. Once it became clear that his new leader wasn’t going to chastise him, Rietz started shoveling food into his mouth with wild abandon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When the three of them had finished eating, Varrock stood up and dropped a coin onto the table to pay for their meal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s about all I have to say for now. Here’s hoping you don’t make me regret my purchase, kid,” he said, though the look on his face wasn’t particularly hopeful. No, it was the look of a man who expected that Rietz would be dead before he knew it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was led to the mercenary band’s gathering spot and was introduced to a few other members. None of them seemed to have very much interest in him, though for once, it wasn’t because he was a Malkan. Rietz was just a child, but he could still tell that their apathy stemmed from the fact that they expected him to die before long."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All Rietz could do was reflect on the fact that he’d been purchased by the most dangerous owner he could ask for. Getting whipped and forced to do menial labor for the rest of his life might’ve been better than the fate that awaited him here. Painful and miserable though that sort of lowly lifestyle would’ve been, at least he would’ve still been alive at the end of the day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But if I just learn to fight…I’ll get to live."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz went right up to Varrock and asked if there was a sword somewhere that he could use to train."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Already feel like getting some practice in, eh?” said Varrock. “I like your attitude. There’s a bunch of ’em in the corner over there. Take your pick.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few old, weathered blades were indeed piled up in the corner. Rietz picked one out for himself, then went outside to start swinging it about. At first he flailed wildly, failing to throw out a single decent blow, but in spite of his wiry frame, Rietz was surprisingly strong. Clumsy though his swings were, they were never out of control, even though the sword he’d chosen was by no means a light one. Varrock had no interest in helping Rietz with his training, and none of the other members had any interest in him in general. He was left to train on his own, practicing his swordsmanship for the rest of the day in solitude."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day went much the same way, but this time, Rietz was able to observe other members of the band as they went about their own training. He watched how they held and swung their swords, taking in every detail and trying to replicate their movements. Rietz’s powers of perception and athletic abilities were exceptionally high, and it wasn’t long before he’d copied the mercenaries’ form to perfection. He improved at a breathtaking pace, gaining more and more skill with the blade."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, Varrock decided to check in on the band’s newest member on a whim. He hadn’t expected much out of Rietz, but when he saw the boy’s swordsmanship and stance, he was taken aback."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’ve got a knack for this,” Varrock said. “Have you always known how to swing a sword? No, they would’ve charged more than a silver if you did.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He didn’t know a blade from a pommel last time I watched him. Just look at him go now, though!” said another mercenary: a bald-headed man named Rayvill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rayvill was one of the more serious-minded members of their band, and he made a habit of running through his sword drills on a daily basis. He was the first person who Rietz had tried imitating, and though Rayvill had shared his fellows’ disinterest in the boy at first, his rapid and dramatic improvement caught the mercenary’s attention."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I just might’ve picked out a diamond in the rough,” said Varrock with a grin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Flood was currently operating in the Redroot area, which had become exceedingly unruly as of late. Brigands roamed the roads freely, and public order was a thing of the past. Technically speaking, most of the local ruffians were former soldiers and deserters─in other words, not the sort of men one could take down in a fight with ease. Lacking a proper militia of his own, the Baron of Redroot had been forced to hire mercenaries in a last-ditch effort to restore some semblance of peace to his realm, and that was where the Flood came into the picture."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The baron was planning to set out on an expedition to eliminate as many bandits as he could in a few weeks’ time, and Varrock’s crew would accompany him. The more bandits he and his men eliminated, the better they’d be compensated for their efforts. If Rietz was an innately talented swordfighter, then Varrock had stumbled into a stroke of good fortune at just the right moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If the boy’s got talent, we’d better press him to the grindstone for real,” said Varrock. “Hey, Pentan! You’re in charge of training the brat.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, me?” said Pentan. “Gimme a break, Boss! He’s got a knack, sure, but that don’t mean he’ll carry his weight on the battlefield.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Whether one was a talented swordsman and whether they could go out onto a battlefield and kill a man were two entirely different questions. Pentan had seen plenty of people panic and get themselves killed when it came time for the real thing, and plenty more capable recruits turned tail and fled the second they had the chance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I don’t need you to tell me that, Pentan,” said Varrock. “But you know as well as I do that if he does end up being useful, it’ll be worth the effort we put in now, so just shut up and train the damn kid.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pentan let out a sigh."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine, fine. You’re the boss, Boss,” he grumbled, then begrudgingly began teaching Rietz how to fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days passed by, and under Pentan’s tutelage, Rietz’s swordsmanship improved by leaps and bounds─though whether the man’s instructions were much help was up to question. Regardless, Pentan came to understand that as long as Rietz was capable of putting his skills to practical use, he’d be an immense asset on the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, the whole band was called together for a meeting. The Flood consisted of a little less than a hundred men in total. It wasn’t a massive band, but it also wasn’t a small one by any means. A hundred men was just about average for mercenaries of their ilk."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock stood before his band and began to speak."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, people, tomorrow’s the big day. We’ve got a job, and the pay’s damn decent, all things considered! Our employer’s got it out for the bandits we’re going after, and he says he’ll throw in a bonus if we exceed expectations, so I expect every one of you to pull your weight!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The assembled mercenaries broke out in a raucous cheer. A hefty payout meant good food and beautiful women would all be within reach, not to mention all the other benefits that a purse full of coin could bring you. Knowing that their efforts would directly translate to a better pay rate boosted their morale like nothing else could."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz, however, was a bundle of nerves. He’d grown capable enough to defeat several members of the band in practice duels, but this would be his first real battle, and there were too many unknown factors to count. He could hardly have been more uneasy about what was to come."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The members of the Flood went back to their own business when Varrock’s speech was done, but Varrock stopped Rietz before he could get far."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right. Hey, kid! I haven’t given you your gear yet, have I? C’mere for a minute.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My gear?” repeated Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Can’t fight without a blade, can you? I had some armor and a sword made for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was the first that Rietz had heard of any such custom-made gear. Varrock had had his measurements taken a few days beforehand, but he’d explained nothing at the time and Rietz hadn’t ended up asking what it was all about. Apparently, it was to size his suit of armor. Rietz followed Varrock, who soon presented him with a set of light armor designed for mobility and a rather shoddy one-handed sword."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Try ’em on,” said Varrock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz did as he was told and slid on the suit of armor. The measurements had been on point, and it fit him like a glove."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“By the way, those are coming out of your paycheck. In other words, you won’t see a coin from me until they’re all paid off.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Rietz blinked with shock. All of this came as a surprise to him, from the gear itself to the talk of it coming out of his pay."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Quit gawking at me, kid. It’s only natural. Nothing comes free in this world, so get used to it,” said Varrock, leaving no room for Rietz to protest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Surprised though he was, Rietz wasn’t opposed to the arrangement. It was certainly true that he couldn’t go into battle without a weapon and armor, and in his mind, the implication that he would be paid once he’d worked off the price of his gear was something to celebrate. Slaves didn’t get paid, and this was his first time even considering the possibility. He’d spent all his life on thankless drudgery, obeying his master’s orders without so much as a hint of reward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Considering the fact that you’re still a brat, I expect you’ve got a lot of growing left to do,” said Varrock. “You’ll have to get new gear when this stuff doesn’t fit anymore, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up about making decent coin any time soon. Not unless you work yourself to the bone, that is.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as Rietz was coming to the conclusion that any pay was better than no pay, Varrock pulled the rug out from under him. It was true, though. The moment he hit a growth spurt, his perfectly-sized armor would stop fitting him, and having to replace it would likely consume all the money he earned and then some. After that brief moment of hope, Rietz was dejected to realize that his slave-like lifestyle wasn’t going to change any time soon after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, a new day dawned…and with it came Rietz’s very first battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s first battle was imminent. Varrock had led the rest of his band to rendezvous with the baron’s army, and together, they would march into battle. The standing army of Redroot wasn’t large by any means, numbering slightly larger than the Flood, and its soldiers didn’t look well-equipped, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, not a chance in hell these people could deal with all those bandits on their own,” Varrock muttered to himself when the two forces met, just loud enough for Rietz to overhear him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The army of Redroot wasn’t led by the baron himself. Rather, one of his chief retainers served as their commander. He was a big, brawny man who looked like he knew his way around a battlefield, and he was famous enough in the region that a few of the Flood’s members already knew his name: Ordovalle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good, you’re here!” bellowed Ordovalle in a voice loud enough that the people of the next town over might’ve heard him. “The time has come to set out and purge the filth that has sullied the peace and sanctity of Redroot’s roadways! Follow me!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What his men lacked in equipment, they seemed to make up for in enthusiasm. They let out a spirited cheer in response to Ordovalle’s speech, then marched along after him. The Flood fell in behind the army of Redroot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The combined force’s destination was a hideaway used by the local bandit population. The baron had conducted an investigation in advance of this excursion, and had determined that the brigands were based out of the ruins of an old fort several miles away from the town. It was an ancient structure, and when it was constructed it had only been intended as a temporary fortification to protect Redroot’s borders during a war. The fort had served its purpose well, but when the war ended and peace returned to the barony, it was deemed unnecessary and abandoned, only for bandits to take up residence within it years later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Having been abandoned an age ago, the fort had reportedly lost what few sparing defenses it had been given when it was first constructed. The bandits, however, seemed to have someone familiar with construction among their number, and they’d made renovations to restore it to a defensible state. Assaulting the stronghold wouldn’t be easy, and that wasn’t even taking into account the fact that there were a fair number of bandits holed up within it, all of whom were at least somewhat used to combat. Worse still, there was a chance that they’d gotten their hands on a catalyzer. If that was true, then the battlefield could descend into a magical death trap at any moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The soldiers marched onward, eventually pausing just a short distance away from the occupied fort. Ordovalle was a valorous man, but it had become apparent that he wasn’t much for planning. Where some commanders would have stopped to formulate a strategy, he chose to spearhead a march on the fort, leading his troops directly toward it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That stupid son of a bitch,” Varrock muttered as he watched Ordovalle begin his reckless advance. The commander’s decision had caught Varrock by surprise. There was a very high risk that the bandits had set up traps in the area surrounding the fort, and while plowing through them may have been a costly but effective tactic if their force had a numerical advantage, they weren’t working with an excess of men. Charging in without a plan was the height of foolishness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Varrock paused for just a moment to mull over his options. Unfortunately, he wasn’t much of a tactician himself, and in the heat of the moment, he failed to come up with any better ideas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“To hell with it,” he eventually shouted. “We’re going in! Charge!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Varrock had allowed Ordovalle and his men to rush in on their own, and if they’d somehow managed to emerge victorious, it was very possible that the baron would choose to deny the Flood their payment. That was the one outcome that Varrock felt the need to avoid at all costs, so he followed along in Ordovalle’s wake, leading his men in a madcap dash toward the fort."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers who had rushed ahead were already at the fort’s walls. They’d put up ladders, and were climbing toward the ramparts. All things considered, the state of the battle seemed favorable as Varrock and his men closed in on the action. The bandits had been less than alert─possibly because their watchmen were sleeping on the job─and hadn’t noticed the Redroot army until the absolute last second. They were taken by surprise, and Ordovalle’s men had made it into the fort with ease before the bandits even began to mount a counterattack. It didn’t feel like the bandits were even trying to mount a coordinated defense at all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Looks like luck’s on our side, boys,” said Varrock with a sneer. Nothing could be better for a mercenary than ending up on the right team in a one-sided battle. Not only would the odds of the Flood losing any men be low, but they’d also have the chance to crush their foes with impunity, earning spoils of war and extra pay in the process. That upside was doubly applicable in this case, since there was a fort to be raided. Varrock knew the bandits could have their loot squirreled away somewhere on the premises, and though the Redroot soldiers were required to turn their plunder over to Ordovalle, the Flood’s men were under no such obligation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All things considered, this job had the potential to be a windfall. The Redroot soldiers and the Flood’s mercenaries alike were in high spirits as they fought through the fort, but Rietz alone was far too nervous for their morale to rub off on him. That was to be expected─it was, after all, his first battle. It was his first time hearing a man’s death wail, hearing the cheers and cries of battle, smelling the distinctive odor of cleaved flesh and fresh blood, and witnessing one man after another slain before his eyes. Each was a new experience, and all of them put together drove him to decide to flee."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before Rietz had the chance to make a break for it, though, one of the bandits leaped out in front of him. The bandit held a sword at the ready, and swung it at Rietz without a hint of mercy or hesitation. Rietz dodged the blow effortlessly. For all his tension and distress, the movement came to him with ease. An observer might’ve thought him as calm as could be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, as it turned out, was the sort of person who could get as nervous as possible without having his nerves manifest in his movements. If anything that tension proved helpful, narrowing his focus and allowing him to concentrate on the foe before him. Rietz watched the bandit, registered how he was moving, and knew what he had to do next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The bandit swung his sword once more, but Rietz stepped back just enough to dodge the blade by a hair’s breadth. Then, he stepped forward, thrusting his own sword toward his foe’s neck. Rietz didn’t hesitate. It wasn’t that he felt no guilt for what he was about to do─just that the guilt wasn’t enough to stop him from following through. Rietz had already learned that you couldn’t show mercy on a battlefield, and although a storm of feelings flashed through his mind as he watched the bandit collapse, blood spraying from his lacerated throat, none of them had any impact on Rietz’s movements, for better or worse. He seemed unfazed as he moved on to his next foe, swinging his blade once again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz fell upon his enemies, cutting down one opponent after another. He fought to stay alive, and he fought to prove his worth to Varrock. He grew accustomed to the chaos and death around him at an unbelievable speed. Varrock and the rest of his band could fight without losing their nerve as well, but they had learned that skill after countless conflicts. Every one of them had needed time before they could set foot on the battlefield without feeling timid and terrified. Rietz, however, had gotten over that fear before his first battle was even finished. His skill with a blade was remarkable to begin with, but what truly made him a force to be reckoned with was his ability to fight to his fullest potential, no matter the circumstances."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The battle with the bandits was proceeding smoothly. Some of them attempted to flee, but any bandits who escaped were sure to turn up in the future to cause trouble all over again. Those who tried to run were chased, and those who tried to surrender were cut down without mercy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t let a single man escape! Kill them all!” bellowed Ordovalle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz followed those orders to the letter, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing bandits. It was clear at a glance that he was faster than his prey, and one of the bandits soon realized that he wouldn’t be able to escape and spun around to fight for his life. The bandit wasn’t a skilled fighter, though, and after exchanging only a few strikes and parries with Rietz, he was disarmed, his sword clattering to the ground some distance away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The bandit toppled to the ground, looking up at Rietz with tears in his eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“P-Please, spare me,” the man whimpered, his voice trembling so dramatically that it was downright pitiful. Rietz hesitated. Could he kill a man who was weeping and begging for his life?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Who would notice if just one of them escaped? Rietz thought. He stepped back, turned around, and began walking away from the bandit…who took the opportunity to pull a knife from the breast of his shirt and lunge at Rietz. Rietz wheeled about, trying to raise his blade, but it was too late. He’d never make it in time, and as the fact that he was about to die sank in, something flew past Rietz’s face and slammed into the bandit’s head. The bandit collapsed, and as Rietz looked down at his body he realized what the object was: a crossbow bolt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thought you were doing a little too well for your first battle, but looks like you’ve got a long way to go after all,” said Varrock as he walked over to Rietz, crossbow in hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I saved you this time ’cause I think you’ll be useful in the long run. I won’t bother next time, though, so you’d better make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he added in his usual indifferent tone. “When you’re on a battlefield, the only thing the people around you are thinking of is how to kill their enemy. That’s all you have to think about, too. Don’t forget it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Those words had a profound impact on Rietz, and he would carry them to every battlefield he set foot upon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The battle with the bandits ended in the Redroot army’s one-sided victory. A number of the brigands who tried to flee were wiped out, and Ordovalle was quick to declare the expedition’s success a result of his brilliant work as commander."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, right. Luck won us the day, not your orders,” Varrock muttered curtly. Plenty of bandits had managed to escape, and if Ordovalle had taken the time to plan the assault and form a perimeter around the fort, those escapees could have been apprehended and slain instead. In that sense, it was hardly a victory worthy of praise, in spite of the fact that it had been won with very few allied casualties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock and his men went to report on the number of foes they’d slain and collect their payment for the battle. They had claimed quite a fair number of heads, and were expecting a hefty bonus, but Ordovalle had other ideas. According to him, the enemy had been routed in moments and the battle had barely taken any effort at all. He insisted that the battle had been won by his achievements before the Flood even took the field, and offered a payment lower than that which Varrock had been promised, let alone the bonus he’d expected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Varrock was not the sort of man to take a claim like that lying down. He flew into a rage, insisting upon the payment he was promised, but Ordovalle wouldn’t budge. Unfortunately for the Flood, an extended conflict between mercenary and employer would look worse for the mercenaries than it did for their client, and when all was said and done, Varrock gave in. The payment was substantial even after Ordovalle shaved it down, and it had been an easy enough battle that, from an effort to payout perspective, the mercenaries had still come out on top. The sight of the weighty sack of coin he was presented with was enough to quell Varrock’s rage, and the conflict ended peacefully, if not amiably."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That night, the Flood descended upon a local pub en masse to make good use of their reward and indulge in an evening of drunken revelry. They’d earned enough to buy the pub out, drinking and eating to their heart’s content in a raucous celebration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That Rietz, though!” said one of the mercenaries. “Looks like he’ll be useful after all!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Never thought a Malkan could best one of us proper folk, but I know what I saw back there. Some of those bandits were no slouches, and he went toe to toe with ’em!” said another."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had become the center of the band’s attention. He was a Malkan, and a child to boot, and everyone had assumed he’d never live long enough to pull his weight. Seeing him fight, however, had changed their minds in a flash, and most of the Flood was now confident that he’d be an asset they could count on for a long time to come."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mercenaries like them were never wont to turn away a capable fighter. The stronger you were, the bigger your welcome would be. After all, more competent men on your side meant greater gains in battle and a lesser chance that you’d be killed. Plenty of them were prejudiced against Malkans, of course, and this by no means convinced them to change their views, but they were willing to make an exception if it would help them live another day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eat up, new blood!” one of the mercenaries shouted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz looked out over the spread of food before him, and hesitated. This was the first time in his life he’d been welcomed anywhere, and the experience had left him bewildered. He’d been born a slave, and treated as subhuman throughout his whole life. Time after time he’d been told that Malkans weren’t people, and he’d expected the same sort of treatment from his new comrades-in-arms. This reception was completely out of left field for him, but in the end, he overcame his confusion and accepted their offerings, stuffing himself until he couldn’t eat another bite."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When the meal was over, the mercenary band’s men left Rietz behind to go off on their own. According to them, he was too young to appreciate whatever they were planning to do next. Rietz was confused, and it wasn’t until quite some time later that he came to realize they’d gone to pay a visit to the local brothel. On that day, though, his exhaustion won out against his curiosity and he retired to his bed at the inn, where he fell asleep on his lonesome."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Flood traveled from place to place, fighting battle after battle wherever they went. Rietz had thought that they were a local Redroot mercenary group at first, but as it turned out that was just a temporary home while they carried out their business in the region. The Flood’s actual headquarters were located in the Duchy of Missian. They’d trekked out to Seitz for the Redroot job, but typically, their work took place within the borders of their home duchy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz fought well in his second battle, and then again in his third. Most of his pay was channeled into the cost of his gear, but he was also granted a pittance to spend however he saw fit. Rietz had no idea what he could use the money for, so for the moment, he decided to hide it away and start saving until he came up with a better idea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz took part in dozens of battles, and before he knew it, a year had come and gone since the day Varrock chose to buy him. Rietz had grown quite accustomed to combat over the course of that year. The more he fought, the more the constant conflict wore away at his body and soul, but he was alive, and he would keep fighting with all his strength to stay that way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While Rietz was adapting to his life as a mercenary, the state of affairs in Missian was growing more and more turbulent. Missian was never a wealthy land to begin with, and as the circumstances of the region grew more and more dire, its towns grew less and less safe. In a twist of fate, Missian’s mercenaries were some of the few to be spared the pain of the economic strife. To them, after all, more conflict meant more opportunities to line their pockets."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was aware of the state of the world, and he found himself unable to come to terms with how it benefited him. Every day he wondered whether it was all right for him to stay his current course, but an answer was never forthcoming. He had nowhere else to go, for one thing, so dropping out from the Flood would leave him adrift. He had no choice but to keep fighting for whoever paid him to do so, even if that meant bringing misfortune and death to whoever they pointed him toward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, as Rietz walked through the streets of a Missian town, he came across a trio of his fellow Flood mercenaries who seemed to be making a pass at one of the local girls. The girl was dressed in rags, and Rietz assumed she was one of the many impoverished locals. Her looks, however, contrasted with her outfit: she was a remarkably beautiful girl. She was also terrified, while the mercenaries’ lascivious grins made their intentions very clear. It only took a glance to tell that she was not enjoying their company."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One of the mercenaries reached out for the girl’s bosom, and the girl shrieked, “No! Please, leave me alone!” and swatted him away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, a fighter, are we? Hah hah, works for me! The struggle just makes the payout all the sweeter!” said the mercenary with a sneer. He grabbed the girl, restraining her and preparing to drag her off somewhere. She kicked and flailed with all her might, but was unable to so much as faze him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were plenty of passersby in the street, but all of them turned a blind eye to the girl’s plight. The Flood had fought alongside the local baron’s forces on a number of occasions, and had racked up a series of accomplishments in doing so that gave the baron a high opinion of them and their services. That meant he would turn a blind eye to the occasional misdeed they committed in his territory, and the people were well aware that attempting to intervene would bring them nothing but pain. Nobody could bring themselves to object."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nobody, that is, except for Rietz, who stepped out in front of his comrades."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Stop it, you three,” he said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” grunted one of the mercenaries. “Oh, it’s you, Rietz. Whaddya mean, stop it? We found her first, and you know what they say─finders keepers!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Or what, do you want in on the action? You’re still a bit young for this sorta fun, ain’t’cha?” said another of the trio."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Trust me on this, kid, you’ll have a better first time if you leave it to a pro! Ha ha ha!” said the third."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three of them cracked up, while Rietz’s irritation with them grew stronger still."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not it,” he said. “I’m saying that she doesn’t want this, so you should let her go.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, come on,” groaned one of the mercenaries. “Who died and made you sheriff, eh? Decided you wanna be a hero like you see in your storybooks?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! C’mon, not like all of us didn’t go through that phase too!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This isn’t funny!” snapped Rietz. “Just let her go and move along. I can’t believe you’d pick on a girl! Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, simmer down, kid. We’re not gonna eat the li’l miss, for god’s sake! We’ll just have our fun, and she can run on home. No problems there, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wrong,” Rietz growled. “I can’t just stand here and let you get away with this.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz stood fast. His comrades in arms had started out treating this like one big joke, but his uncompromising behavior was starting to get on their nerves. One of them even let out an exasperated sigh."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pain in the ass, I swear… Look, if we don’t have our way with her, someone else is gonna before you know it. Makes no difference if it happens now or later.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-How can you be so sure about that?!” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“’Cause she’s a looker. Simple as that. Plus, she’s a pauper. She could vanish into the night, and nobody would bat an eyelash. No way a girl like her is getting left alone for long. It’s only a matter of time before some snatcher nabs her up and sells her off to some noble pervert, mark my words.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s not true, and even if it is, it’s no reason to not help her when I have the chance!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When’d you get this stubborn, anyway? If you’re not gonna see reason, I’m through with this. C’mon, boys,” he said, turning to leave and dragging the girl along with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey! Wait!” shouted Rietz, but the mercenaries ignored him and just kept walking. Rietz could tell that words wouldn’t get through to them, which meant it was time for his last resort."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz drew his sword and dashed out in front of the mercenaries, barring their path."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Okay, seriously, kid?” said one of the mercenaries. “You’re one of ours, and you know our band has rules, don’t you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s right!” shouted another. “Infighting’s banned, and you know it! You trying to get driven out?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Flood didn’t have very many precise, concrete rules, but what few it had were taken seriously. Its members weren’t allowed to fight each other for personal reasons. Conflicts were to be reported to the boss, no exceptions, and when the rule was broken, whoever started the fight was liable to be expelled from the group. There were a few other rules as well─members were prohibited from committing crimes against each other, and picking fights with anyone the boss labeled as off limits was right out. This town was poor, it was worth nothing, had received no such special distinction, meaning that as far as the boss was concerned anything his followers did in it was their own business."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0034.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Personal conflicts aren’t allowed, but as long as whoever picked the fight had a good reason, they can make an arrangement with the boss and not get driven out,” said Rietz. There were exceptions to every rule, and when one of the band’s members was humiliated by another member, or had one of their belongings stolen or broken, Varrock was known to sometimes side with the aggressor and decide that they’d had no choice but to resort to force. In those cases, the aggressor was absolved of their offense."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And you’re saying that saving this girl’s a good reason? Try thinking that through one more time and see how it sounds to you, moron,” said the mercenary."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He wasn’t entirely off-base. What was and was not permissible was entirely at Varrock’s discretion, and harassing or assaulting townsfolk wasn’t in violation of any part of the Flood’s code of conduct. Varrock himself had stated that he didn’t give a damn, as long as nobody took their misbehavior too far. Judging by the boss’s words, the mercenaries were undoubtedly in the right, but Rietz still had no intention of standing down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re really not gonna let this go, are you?” asked one of the mercenaries."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s three on one. You get that, right?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I do. What about it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The mercenary clicked his tongue in irritation. Rietz’s words were full of confidence, and his comrades knew that his combat ability was unmatched. The three of them weren’t remarkable fighters by their band’s standards, and there was a good chance that they’d lose, even if they all rushed him at once. Rietz, meanwhile, was incensed, and it was obvious he was in no mood to see their side of things. If they fought him, there was a very real chance they’d come out of the encounter maimed, or even dead. Fearing the worst, the men came to a silent consensus and let the girl go."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph,” snorted one of the men. “You’ll live to regret this, brat. The boss is gonna hear you drew your sword on us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With those parting words, the three mercenaries went on their way. Somehow, Rietz had managed to save the girl, who was now sitting on the ground in a daze."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you all right?” asked Rietz, offering a hand that the girl did not accept. She stood up on her own and fled without saying a word. Rietz caught a glimpse of her face before she went, and he recognized the meaning of the expression she gave him: it was one of clear contempt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Speechless, Rietz could only stand there and watch her leave. In that moment, he remembered that being a Malkan made him an object of prejudice and loathing. Mercenaries didn’t care what race you were as long as you could fight, but the rest of the world saw things differently, and outside of the bubble he’d been living in, Rietz was someone society looked down upon. The prejudice was so ingrained that the average person would despise him, even if he’d saved them from a terrible fate mere moments prior."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz hadn’t saved the girl because he was hoping she would thank him. Still, her contempt left a wound upon his heart that would not heal for a very long time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So? If you have an excuse, let’s hear it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The moment Rietz made it back to the Flood’s current base, Varrock called him over for a talk. The subject, of course, was how Rietz had drawn his sword on his fellow mercenaries earlier that day. Nobody was hurt in the end, but baring steel on an ally was still an unmistakable violation of the group’s social standards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They were trying to do something awful, so I stopped them. That’s all,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you think that gave you a good enough reason to draw on them?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz nodded without hesitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Frankly, I don’t give a damn about what happens to some filthy little street lass. I think what the three of them were trying to do was pure idiocy, but being an idiot’s not against our rules. No matter what happened to the girl, it wouldn’t have been any problem for the rest of us.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Still, I had to help her!” shouted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Let me remind you that my word is law here. Whatever you had to do isn’t my problem,” snapped Varrock with an icy glare that he maintained until Rietz stopped trying to protest. “Look, kid, we’re not heroes.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hung his head in silence, and Varrock carried on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Smacking down thugs isn’t our job. Our job is to go into battle and kill our enemies. If you want to be a knight in shining armor, then you’re not cut out for mercenary work. Save us all the trouble and go find some lord to serve.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Serving a lord."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz knew very well how unachievable of a goal that was for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Not that anyone would take in a Malkan like you, ’course,” Varrock continued, echoing Rietz’s thoughts."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz couldn’t bring himself to say a word in his defense. He knew that no matter how much he polished his skills, the thought that a nobleman would choose him was the stuff of pure fantasy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re tough. Smart, too. But there isn’t a lord out there whimsical enough to take a Malkan into their household. You’ll never be anything other than a mercenary,” said Varrock, driving home the cold truth of the matter. Rietz understood that even if he couldn’t stand the way his fellow mercenaries behaved, this was still the only place he’d ever be accepted. “Nobody got hurt this time, so I’m willing to just let it go. I paid to bring you into this crew, after all─no sense wasting that money. There won’t be a next time, so tread lightly. Oh, and apologize to those three next time you see ’em.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The thought of apologizing to the men who tried to do something so foul, needless to say, didn’t sit right with Rietz at all. If he lost his place in the company, he’d lose the only means he had left to live. The way the girl he saved had scorned him made Rietz understand how impossible it was for a Malkan to get by in an empire that despised his people. No matter how much he hated it, this was the only place that would accept him, and no matter how hard he argued his case, he knew Varrock would never lend him an ear. Left with no other option, Rietz swallowed his pride and went out to apologize to the other mercenaries."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Varrock scowled as he watched Rietz leave his chamber."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Brat really pisses me off sometimes,” he muttered to himself. “It’s like looking at my own damn self from back in the day.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Varrock thought back to days long past, remembering the man he used to be. In the present day, those memories brought him nothing but irritation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Least he gave up nice and easy, though. Could tell by the look in his eyes,” he continued. When Rietz had gone out to find and apologize to his comrades, Varrock had felt assured that the boy had given up entirely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph… Son of a bitch,” Varrock muttered. The scars on his face throbbed faintly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ever since that day, Rietz stopped questioning the actions of his fellow mercenaries, no matter what they did. He turned a blind eye to their every deed, however distasteful they might have been. He never joined in on the wrongdoing himself, but he was under no illusions as to his culpability. By ignoring the misdeeds of his fellows, he felt he was just as guilty as they were. He simply didn’t have the courage to protest. Rietz wasn’t brave enough to stand up against the lifestyle he hated and risk losing the one place he could call home."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When he was on the battlefield, though, Rietz could forget everything. He could devote his mind to killing, and killing alone. He focused solely on cutting down his foes, just as Varrock had taught him to."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Another year came and went. Two and a half years had now passed since Rietz joined the Flood, and though he was still young, he had grown into one of the most capable fighters in the band. The Flood’s reputation had risen in turn, and as its name spread, more and more members began to join. They had yet to participate in a major war, however, and most of their work consisted of hunting down bandits and other similar small-scale engagements. The Flood was still far from famous, even in Missian alone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz’s skills had improved, but the lingering doubt of whether it was all right for him to keep living the mercenary life weighed on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This is stupid. I shouldn’t even be questioning it, he thought to himself over and over. Every time, he reached the same answer: It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s okay for me to do this. It’s my only option."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Flood was the only place that would accept Rietz for who he was. That was the truth, and it was inescapable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I have a bad feeling about this, though. Varrock’s gotten too desperate to spread our name…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mercenary bands lived and died on name recognition. The more famous a band was, the more work came in for them. The Flood was plenty capable, but they simply didn’t have enough accomplishments under their belt to get that kind of recognition. Large-scale conflicts that a band like theirs could have a substantial impact on were few and far between, and so far, none of their jobs had led to the sort of publicity they needed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock believed that his men were capable of pulling off a big job on a proper battlefield, and he would boast about their capabilities at the slightest provocation, but for all his talk he never seemed to bring in anything other than bandit hunting or supporting minor nobility in skirmishes with their neighbors. Small jobs still paid, so his livelihood was never at risk, but the Flood was hardly prospering. To Rietz, Varrock seemed dissatisfied with his current lot, and it felt like he was in a hurry to find the sort of job that would propel his band into the limelight he believed they deserved."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One day, Varrock called the band together for a meeting. Judging from past precedent, Rietz knew that probably meant he’d found a job for them. That was just about the only reason Varrock ever called meetings on short notice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sure enough, when everyone assembled the first words out of Varrock’s mouth were “We’ve got a job, boys!” He was grinning as he said it, which took Rietz by surprise. The job itself wasn’t a shock, but Varrock was almost always in a sour mood. Cheerfulness was very much the exception for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a big one, too,” Varrock continued. “We’re finally getting the chance we’ve been waiting for!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That explained his good mood. Varrock had spent day after day wishing that a big job would come his way, and it seemed that wish had been granted. Small wonder he was excited to tell everyone about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seems some petty baron in a backwater county called Upusna’s staged an uprising. We’ve been called in to put him down,” Varrock explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The County of Upusna was in the far northeastern reaches of Missian. It was a small county, and as Rietz absorbed the details of the mission, he found himself questioning whether this was a big job at all. A lord in a territory that minor wouldn’t have much in the way of a standing army to his name, so it seemed unlikely they’d have to engage in any large-scale battles."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz wasn’t the only one with doubts, and the others were far less hesitant to voice them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You call that our big break?” jeered one of the gathered mercenaries."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We might be up against a petty lord, but that petty lord’s saved up a fine stack of coin,” Varrock argued. “He’s hired mercenaries of his own, and a sizable troop at that. All told, he’s got quite the fighting force to his name─enough to rival the Count of Upusna’s standing army. Seems that count doesn’t want to have to go to the other lords in the county for help, so he decided to call on us instead.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A force large enough to rival a count’s army would certainly have to be rather substantial. Rietz still wasn’t convinced that this was the chance Varrock had been waiting for, but it would result in a larger-scale battle than the skirmishes with bandits they’d been dealing with up to that point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If one of us takes down a bigshot in battle, they’ll be singing our praises across the duchy before we know it! And that’s not even starting on the coin─this’ll be the biggest payout we’ve ever seen! Get ready, people! We’re making it big!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The gathered mercenaries joined Varrock in a triumphant roar of excitement. Rietz, however, remained silent as he looked on. A discomforting feeling that this wouldn’t go well was beginning to brew within him. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that this battle was a trap, and that the Flood was about to walk right into it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took the Flood a few weeks to make their way to the County of Upusna. Rietz’s bad feeling about the mission remained as present and ominous as ever, but the rest of the band was raring to go and he knew it wasn’t a good idea to rain on their parade without any conclusive evidence that something was wrong. He kept his premonition to himself, trying to convince himself it was all in his head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Flood’s destination was the city of Upusna: the county’s capital and namesake. When they arrived, they found a city that was clearly not ruled over by a lord with much money to his name. The keep was old and decrepit, and the surrounding town was hardly thriving. It was clear at a glance that the forces of commerce hadn’t blessed the county with much in the way of prosperity, but perhaps that was a given. If the count had been rich, after all, he would’ve reached out to a more well-reputed band of mercenaries than the Flood."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The band soon met with the Count of Upusna himself, Terrence Prantory. Terrence was a heavyset, middle-aged man who looked like he’d never set foot on a battlefield in his life. Despite the dire economic conditions his county was coping with, the count was dressed to the nines in an expensive outfit that told Rietz his subjects’ taxes were not being spent to further their interests."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I welcome you to my home, fine men of the Flood! And my, what a capable band of men you…hm? I say, isn’t that a Malkan?” Terrance began, then paused to scowl as his gaze fell upon Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He might not look it, but the boy’s got as good a sword arm as you’ll ever see. I’d appreciate it if you’d turn a blind eye to him, Your Lordship,” said Varrock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm? Well, it hardly matters. The situation is urgent, so without further ado, I’ll explain what it is I need you to do.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Terrance gestured to one of his servants, who spread out a map of the local area. They’d only just met the count, and he was already launching into an explanation of the battle to come."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Frankly, the state of things is dismal,” said the count. “The revolt sprung out of nowhere, and the rebels claimed a number of essential strategic points before we could do anything to bolster our defenses. They have momentum on their side, and we must do our utmost to ensure it does not last! We believe their next target will be here: Fort Bazul. We must defend that fort to the last, no matter what it costs us!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Flood had never fought a defensive battle before, at least since Rietz joined. As such, this would likely be most of its members’ first experience fighting on those terms. More so than that, Rietz was struck by just how much worse the situation was than he’d anticipated. They’d been told that the count had called them in to save face, not wanting to ask the lords beneath him for their assistance, but that story didn’t line up with Terrance’s explanation. If the situation was that bad, saving face would be the last thing on his mind. Varrock, however, had no interest in giving the count advice he hadn’t asked for and accepted his explanation without protest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Needless to say, we’ve prepared a lavish reward for whichever band of mercenaries contributes the most to our cause,” said Terrance as he brandished a hefty-looking bag, pulling out a handful of gold coins to show off to the Flood. It was a tremendous amount of gold for the count of a realm so clearly impoverished to be offering, which went to show how desperate he was for a way out of the corner he’d been driven into."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The mercenaries, for their part, looked at the sack of gold with greed and glee in their eyes. Varrock was comparatively composed─after all, to him fame was just as important as money, if not moreso. Whatever their reasons, the band’s morale was high across the board as they set out for Fort Bazul, accompanied by several other groups of mercenaries and the Upusnan army."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Flood filed through the gates of Fort Bazul. Being an important strategic point for the county’s defenses, the fort had been built to weather any assault. Unfortunately, it had also been built quite a long time ago and had gone through very little in the way of repairs or improvements since. The modern battlefield was dominated by magic, a force that hadn’t had any tactical application when the fort was built, and whether or not its walls would stand up to a magical barrage was unclear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days after the Flood arrived at the fort, the enemy force went on the attack. The rebellion had been staged by House Rudasso, a long-established noble family in the region. The Rudassos had never had an especially good reputation, and as chaos swept across the empire, rumor had it they’d been scheming and maneuvering their way toward greater power via less than legitimate means."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They’d supposedly tried to carry out a plan to delegitimize House Prantory, the current count’s family, but the plan had failed and their plot was exposed for the world to see. This rebellion was their last-ditch effort to avoid the sanctions they’d otherwise face. It seemed impossible that the Rudassos hadn’t realized that even if they managed to succeed and unseat House Prantory, the Duke of Missian would put them and their ambitions to rest before they knew it. Still, the Rudassos were intent upon fighting to the bitter end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The rebels descended on the fort in a frantic assault. Their morale was high, and their commanders seemed quite competent as well, making them a force to be reckoned with. House Prantory’s commanding officers were no slouches either, issuing orders with speed and precision, and they held the advantage in terms of numbers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The majority of Rietz’s combat experience so far had been against groups of bandits. This was, from a certain perspective, his first time participating in a real, all-out battle. No matter how the particulars of the battlefield changed, though, Rietz’s job was always the same: kill the enemy before they killed him. That was all there was to it. He’d cut down a soldier who was trying to gain a foothold within the fort, then move on to the next. And the next. And the next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz aside, the members of the Flood were riding unusually high in anticipation of their reward, and were making great contributions to the state of the battle on the whole. Varrock’s efforts in particular stood out among the rest. He tended to go into battle with a lackadaisical attitude, but today, he fought with the strength and ferocity of a demon taken human form. Rietz had never seen Varrock fight with all his might before, and he was stunned to learn just how dangerous his boss could be when the need arose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Gods be damned,” muttered one of House Prantory’s soldiers. “Who the hell are those people?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mercenaries,” said another. “Call themselves the Flood.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The Flood? Never heard of ’em.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, their boss is a monster! Dunno how the hell someone like him’s gone this long without getting any attention.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you see the Malkan, though? He’s a monster in his own right! Weren’t they supposed to be inferior, or something?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "House Prantory’s men were in awe at the Flood’s work, though they were no slouches themselves. The tide of battle was steadily flowing in the defenders’ favor, and as the enemy’s soldiers fell one after another, their morale began to plummet. They’d started out with absolute confidence that the fort would be theirs, but as the battle carried on and they made no progress toward capturing it, their confidence declined. Eventually, their commander judged that taking the fort was a lost cause and ordered a retreat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The enemy flees! Victory is ours!” cried one of the defenders. Since defending the fort was the operation’s entire goal, the enemy’s retreat signaled their victory in an instant, and the defending soldiers let out an ear-splitting roar of victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I suggest that we pursue the enemy, Lord Terrance,” Varrock suggested, keeping his cool even while everyone around him celebrated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pursue them?” said Terrance. “Well, it would be wonderful to end their little rebellion here and now, but my forces are exhausted. You and yours have fought well too─no shame in taking a rest, don’t you think?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We may have won this battle, but the enemy’s army is far from spent,” Varrock countered. “If we press the advantage now, we could reduce their numbers and skew the odds of the war on the whole in our favor.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You make a compelling case…but as I said, my men have been fighting for days on end! They’re far too worn out to pursue the enemy now,” said Terrance. The count showed no interest in following Varrock’s advice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Fine, then… In that case, the Flood will pursue the enemy on our own.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You can’t be serious,” said Terrance. “The enemy may be on the retreat, but they do still have a whole army at their disposal! You have many daring warriors in your band, I’ll admit, but chasing them down on your own would still be far too dangerous!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There may be a lot of them, but an army that’s been routed is little more than a disorganized mob. They’ll never get the better of us in that state,” said Varrock with an air of absolute confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was shaken by his leader’s attitude. The attack he was proposing was as high-risk as they came, and obviously so. It was true that pulling it off would put them in the count’s good graces and further bolster their reputation, but the Flood had already distinguished themselves in battle. In Rietz’s mind, pushing their luck in a needless pursuit was greedy to the point of foolishness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One look at the rest of the Flood, however, proved that Rietz was the only one who harbored such apprehensions. His comrades had worked themselves up into an ecstatic frenzy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You heard the boss!” one of the mercenaries shouted. “We’ll slaughter the lot of ’em!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re not just gonna let the bastards get away, are we?!” yelled another."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not one of them had stopped to consider what would happen if their excursion failed. Rietz was certainly in no position to convince them to stop, though as their employer, Terrance could have ruled out the attempt with a single word, and Varrock would have had no choice but to obey. Rietz looked to Terrance, hoping against hope that the lord would see reason."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, if you’re that enthusiastic, I see no reason to stop you! Give the enemy what for!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s hopes were dashed, and the Flood set out to pursue the retreating enemy force without delay."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Flood chased after their foes with the utmost of zeal, Rietz aside. The mercenaries had gotten so carried away after their initial victory that they seemed utterly fearless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock is usually more composed than this, Rietz thought. Why is he this desperate to prove himself in this battle?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The more the Flood’s name spread, the better the jobs it’d be offered, and the easier it would become for its members to live in relative luxury. This job was already set to pay out a hefty reward, though─enough to live on for some time, and in comfort at that─and Varrock had never been one to splurge in the first place. He never accompanied his men to the brothels, and he never overindulged in food or drink, either. He maintained his weapons and gear, of course, so he spent some money, but Rietz had never gotten the impression he was desperate for cash."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But if he’s not after money…what does he want out of this?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mercenaries fought for money. If there was any other purpose that could drive someone to live this life, Rietz couldn’t think of it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Under Varrock’s command, the Flood charged forward, their spirits as high as could be. Before long, they sighted the fleeing enemy force in the distance. The moment Rietz caught sight of them, alarm bells began ringing in his head. They looked unaware and defenseless, so much so that it felt unnatural. They showed absolutely no sign of realizing that the Flood was drawing near, and while it was plausible that an inept army could be that unobservant, the way they’d fought back at the fort proved that they were anything but incapable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz wasn’t well-versed in tactical theory, and even though he could feel that something was wrong, he had no idea what exactly it was that the enemy was attempting to do. Varrock, meanwhile, saw the enemy’s inattentiveness as the perfect opportunity and ordered his men to charge. As they raced toward the enemy’s back ranks, their soldiers spun about in unison to face the mercenaries. It wasn’t the sort of move they could’ve managed off the cuff─they’d known the Flood was coming, and they were prepared for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The mercenaries were taken by surprise, but not nearly enough to convince them to call off the attack. Moments later, a pair of soldiers emerged from out of nowhere, each of them holding a small catalyzer: mages. The road the Flood had been charging along happened to cut between two small hills, giving the mages the perfect location to stage an ambush."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mages?! Fall back!” Varrock frantically shouted. However, it was too late. The mages unleashed their spells, sending countless bolts of magical fire raining down upon the Flood."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy mages weren’t very skilled, but the Flood didn’t have a single mage to its name, and they lacked the ability to defend against magical attacks in any capacity. They were perfectly vulnerable to this sort of attack, so it proved most effective. The mercenaries fell in droves, burning alive in the blink of an eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz managed to dodge and weave his way through the rain of fire. It felt more like a miracle had spared his life than he’d saved it himself, really."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ugh,” groaned Varrock. Rietz’s eyes fell to the band’s leader. His leg had been pierced through by a bolt of flame, and it was obvious he wouldn’t be walking any time soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Rietz left him there, Varrock would be killed for sure. Fleeing alone would have raised the odds of Rietz’s survival. And yet, Rietz chose to stop and save Varrock. There were plenty of ways in which he didn’t see eye to eye with the man, but when all was said and done, he saw Varrock as his savior─as the man who’d given him a place where he belonged."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz dashed through the firebolts, made it to Varrock, hoisted the man onto his back, and then fled as fast as his legs could carry him. Proving that desperation can trigger inhuman feats of strength, Rietz ran at an incredible pace despite carrying a fully grown man. Unbelievable though it was, Rietz managed to escape from the flaming death trap and flee for his life."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few hours had passed, and night had fallen. Rietz’s adrenaline-driven sprint was far from sustainable, and when fatigue began to set in, he’d found a nearby watering hole to stop and rest at."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock’s leg was in a terrible state. He’d suffered horrific burns across the rest of his body as well, and his injuries were clearly debilitating. Finding the watering hole had been a stroke of luck that helped him hold on, but in his current state, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d dropped dead at any moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why didn’t you leave me?” asked Varrock, who was just barely clinging to consciousness."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Because I owe you. I couldn’t abandon you,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You owe me? Since when? I bought you ’cause I thought you’d be useful. There was nothing else to it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know, but that’s not what I meant. I feel indebted to you on a personal level, that’s all.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmph,” Varrock grunted derisively. “Well, one way or another, you wasted your time. I won’t last much longer.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-Why would you say that? You can’t know that for sure!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, I know. It’s my body, and I know it better than anyone. Maybe I’d pull through if I made it back to the fort and got treated, but I’m sure as hell not walking, and you’d need at least three days to drag me there. It’d take more than one miracle for me to last that long. It ain’t happening, kid.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock spoke of his own death with brazen indifference. If he was scared to die, he didn’t let it show."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Considering how things looked back there, I’m not the only one who’s not making it out,” Varrock continued. “I’d say eight outta ten of us didn’t make it. The Flood’s finished.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-How can you be so casual about this?!” snapped Rietz. “You might die, you know? Don’t you care?!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What, you were expecting me to kick up a wailing fit about it? What kinda pathetic excuse of a mercenary would go out on a note like that? Leave the sobbing and pissing to the nobles and merchants who’ve never had to risk their lives─I won’t have it,” Varrock spat. It was a tone Rietz could never have imagined hearing from a man who knew his death was close at hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I really blew it this time, though. I always knew that getting greedy would bring me nothing but pain, and look at me now… Hah… Hah hah,” Varrock weakly chuckled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz could tell just by watching Varrock that he was right. He clearly wasn’t long for this world."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y’know what, Rietz?” Varrock muttered. “I was a slave too, back in the day, just like you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?” said Rietz, eyes widening in shock. Varrock had never told him anything of the sort before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The one difference is that I ran away on my own. Stole the key, popped my shackles, and made a break for it,” Varrock continued, paying no mind to Rietz’s astonishment. “Never wanted to live a mercenary’s life. Thought I could really make something of myself, but they don’t teach slaves the skills a man needs to live an honest life. Mercenary work’s all I could manage, and honestly, I wasn’t even cut out for it. Killing for money, watching the folks I fought beside act like petty crooks─I hated every goddamn second of it. Still, I put up with it. I just kept going, and going, and holding it all in, and before I knew it, I didn’t feel anything at all anymore. ’S not that I got used to it. It broke me. My heart couldn’t take much more of it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Varrock spoke about his past, Rietz’s mental image of the man fell to pieces. Every word of his story was so far afield of his expectations that he almost couldn’t believe it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Even after all that, I still had one last shred of ambition. I wanted to be a nobleman. I thought that if I got my name out there, if my band of sellswords got famous enough, then somebody somewhere might decide to toss me a scrap of land and a title to go with it. And here I am, for all the good that wish did me.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At long last, Rietz understood why Varrock had always been so fame-hungry. The Summerforth Empire had entered an era of turmoil, and men who could fight were sought after no matter where you went. Well-known mercenaries being granted noble titles was hardly unheard of in the modern age."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re like me, Rietz,” Varrock continued. “You’re no mercenary. You’re not cut out for it. And if you don’t wanna end up like me, you’d better put this life behind you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But…I don’t have any other choice,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re a Malkan, all right. There’s not a man out there who wouldn’t look down on you for it. But you’re also strong, and there’s not a man out there who can deny that. You’re strong, and smart, and it’s only a matter of time ’fore you find someone with the sense to notice it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You don’t know that…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Who knows?” said Varrock. “Maybe some nobleman out there with a good eye and no common sense’ll pick you outta the crowd and give you the job you deserve.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, that’s just not possible.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Everything’s possible. That’s the sorta world we live in. Nobody knows what’ll happen next,” said Varrock as he looked Rietz in the eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz knew that the fantasies his leader was describing were unfeasible, but somewhere, deep down, he hoped that Varrock was right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, that’s enough of that. Time for you to leave my sorry corpse behind and get back to the fort.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What? No! I can’t!” shouted Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Just shut up and listen… Carrying me along with you would take more stamina than you’ve got. I doubt you’ve even noticed how much carrying me this far took outta you. Way I see it, you might not make it back at all, and that’s not even mentioning that the enemy might be out there looking for us. If you’re hauling me along, you won’t stand a chance of getting away. There’s a thousand risks to taking me with you, and not one damn merit. I’d drop dead halfway there regardless.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-That can’t be true! Just look how much you’ve been talking to me! If you can talk that much, you can hold on until we get to the fort!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve only managed to talk this much ’cause I’m not worrying ’bout saving what strength I’ve got left. Just go, kid.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I…I won’t!” Rietz shouted, then hoisted Varrock onto his back and started walking once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“H-Hey! Dammit, kid, I told you to leave me behind!” Varrock exclaimed. However, Rietz didn’t even respond, and just kept walking."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Peh,” Varrock spat. “Suit yourself, idiot.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Varrock seemed to give up and stopped trying to protest, while Rietz plodded on and on, one step after the next. Varrock was bigger and heavier than he was, but still Rietz walked, bearing both of their weight. Exhausted though he was, he never stopped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "By the time he reached the fort, having miraculously evaded the enemy force’s search parties, Varrock was already dead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Roughly twenty members of the Flood made it out of the engagement alive. Most of the survivors returned to the fort missing a hand, or a leg, or their vision. Losing a hand wasn’t a death sentence for a mercenary, but going blind or losing a leg meant the end of your career, no question about it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Out of all the remaining members, only seven could even consider continuing to live as mercenaries, Rietz included. Perhaps they would’ve done just that, carrying on as the Flood and clawing their way back up to their former glory…if Varrock had survived. With their leader dead, however, what little hope they had left died as well, and the Flood disbanded for good."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz took Varrock’s final words to heart and chose not to seek employment with another mercenary band. He traveled here and there, all over Missian, but no matter where he went, nobody was willing to give a Malkan like him a chance. He still had the savings from his time as a mercenary, so he was able to eat, at least. Most towns were home to at least one merchant who was willing to sell him food, albeit usually at a steep markup."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The longer Rietz wandered, the closer he came to the limit of his endurance. Eventually, he found himself in Canarre, a remote county on Missian’s border. There, like everywhere, Malkans were scorned and despised. He had hit his breaking point, and was just coming to the conclusion that living as a mercenary was his only choice after all…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d like you to become my retainer!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "…when he crossed paths with a peculiar child who spoke with an oddly adult-like affect, and everything changed."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0036.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 3"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Miraijin A"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This is Miraijin A speaking! Thank you very much for purchasing the third volume of this series. This volume centers around a war, so you can expect the plot developments to be a bit more serious in tone than those of the previous volumes. I hope you enjoy it!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m the illustrator, jimmy! I tried going to a movie on my own for the first time recently, and I’ve gotta say, I really recommend it! I’m looking forward to seeing more movies when things calm down around here."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-03-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0038.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "About thirteen years had passed since my life in Japan ended and my new existence as Ars Louvent, heir to a noble family in another world, began. I was reborn with the ability to judge the strengths and abilities of the people around me, and using that skill, I managed to gather a whole host of outstanding individuals to serve as my retainers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "First and foremost was Rietz Muses, an all but perfect superhuman who could do nearly anything, but had been cast to the wayside before I found him on account of the fact that he was a Malkan: a race discriminated against in the land we lived in. Next was Charlotte, a girl I found in a slave market with truly monstrous magical capabilities. Followed by Rosell, the son of a hunter who was physically unimpressive but staggering in mental acuity. All three of them were more than capable, but all three of them had been born into circumstances that had kept them from living up to their full potential. And so, I took them into my service, where I knew they would shine."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My father passed away long before his time, and I was thrust into a position of rulership over his barony at the age of twelve. I’d lived for thirty-five years in my previous incarnation, but almost nothing I’d learned in that lifetime was of any use when it came to governing a territory. If I’d been on my own, I doubt I would’ve been able to handle it, but thanks to the help of my retainers, I’d managed to get by. I couldn’t exactly call myself self-reliant, but at least I was surviving."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon after, a civil war split the Duchy of Missian in two. We picked a side and took up arms, and thanks once again to my retainers’ abilities, we achieved great things on the field of battle. Thus, bringing Couran, the elder son of the late duke, massive strides closer to his eventual victory. Thanks to that distinguished service, Couran chose to grant me the title of Count of Canarre. I was to manage a far vaster realm than the petty barony I’d ruled over so far, and be responsible for the livelihoods of more people than ever before. My personal dwelling would be different, as well: I’d be moving from the estate I’d lived in all my life to the count’s castle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One thing was for sure: I was moving up in the world, and fast."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I used to be your everyday, run-of-the-mill office worker. Back then, I never could’ve dreamed I’d come this far. That success brought its fair share of anxiety along with it, to be sure, but with my ever-faithful retainers at my side, I felt a defiant sense of confidence that no matter what happened, we’d be able to work something out."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0009.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The day after Lumeire agreed to hand the title of Count of Canarre over to me, Couran called his vassals together to officially announce the appointment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "None of the assembled lords stuck their necks out to object to the decision, this time, but I had a feeling that I’d probably earned the envy of at least a few of them. Some of them were giving me less than friendly looks, at the very least. I took the time to appraise the ones who looked especially hostile, and made sure to write their names down as soon as I could so I didn’t forget them. That way if disaster ever struck, I would know who not to turn to for help."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, our business in Velshdt was fully concluded. While we were preparing for the journey home, though, Couran called me out once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars! I’m sure you remember that our agreement was for you to become the Count of Canarre after I emerged victorious in the war with Vasmarque. That said, I simply couldn’t leave your achievements here in Velshdt unrewarded. You were magnificent, plain and simple, and I hope you’ll understand why I felt the need to move your promotion up,” he said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I still wasn’t used to being praised for achievements that my retainers, in truth, had won. It never failed to make me feel uncomfortable. I’d played an active role in talking an enemy general onto our side, so it wasn’t like I hadn’t contributed anything to the war effort, but I’d barely done much at all on the battlefield. I still had to play the part of the feudal lord, though, so I bottled up my discomfort and offered him my thanks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I am truly honored by your words, Your Lordship, and my gratitude knows no bounds,” I replied. “As Count of Canarre, I swear to serve you to the best of my ability.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good. I’m expecting great things from you,” said Couran with a nod. “Now then─as I told you previously, we’ll need time to prepare before we’re ready to mount an invasion of Arcantez. Our provisions have run low, and equally problematic is the fact that Paradille’s forces have sustained heavy losses over the course of their assault on the city. My hope is to cooperate with Paradille’s army and stage our final attack with theirs, and that means we’ll need to give them time to bolster their forces before we can march on the capital.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That meant, I assumed, that it would be even longer before the invasion of Arcantez began than I’d suspected. I was relieved to think that I’d be able to spend the intervening period without having to go out into battle. Becoming the Count of Canarre meant that I had a lot to learn, which would be a struggle in its own right, but nothing compared to risking my life on a battlefield."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sure your new position will bring plenty of challenges with it, but don’t forget to prepare for the battle to come!” said Couran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran gave me a satisfied nod, and we said our goodbyes. It was finally time for my retainers and I to return to Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before we embarked on our journey, a final member joined up with our party: Lumeire’s faithful retainer Menas Renard. He would be accompanying me to explain the current state of Canarre, guide me around the castle, and generally help acquaint me with my new role. He was a very capable man─one of Lumeire’s best─and knew all about the Count of Canarre’s duties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was a little apprehensive about depriving Lumeire of one of his best men. He’d be taking up a new position as the Count of Velshdt, and I was sure he’d need all the help he could get. However, when I asked, he told me that while Menas would surely have been a godsend for his transition, he’d been a count for many years already and would be able to make due. I, on the other hand, was new to the role and was in much greater need of a helping hand. He really seemed to be acting as my benefactor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our first destination was Lamberg, where I stopped to explain the circumstances to all of my people who’d stayed behind at the estate during the war. Reactions were mixed. Some of them were shocked, others were ecstatic, and some seemed worried about what would become of Lamberg in my absence. After all, becoming the count meant that I would hold domain over the district of Canarre, and would no longer be personally reigning over Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d lived in my family’s estate my whole life, and I felt a little reluctant to leave it behind. That being said, Castle Canarre and the walled city that surrounded it wasn’t a very long trip away from my homeland, so if I ever grew so homesick I couldn’t stand it I could always just take a quick trip back when I had a moment to spare."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one remaining question was who would take over the position of baron in my stead. That decision was mine to make, and the person I’d most trust to fill that role would be Rietz…but I preferred for him to stay as close to me as possible so he could keep acting as my right-hand man. Eventually, I decided to consult my retainers and get their input before making the decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When I set out for the city of Canarre, I did so with my retainers and a few of my family’s servants. I couldn’t take everyone─that would leave Lamberg without any management to speak of─so I started out by bringing the bare minimum of staff with me. We packed our bags, then hit the road once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I made the journey to Castle Canarre by carriage. Lamberg wasn’t very far from the capital at all, so it only took a few hours for us to arrive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Castle Canarre was relatively old compared to the castle in Semplar or the Imperial Capital, and it hadn’t been the most stunningly lavish or fortified structure to begin with. Still, the thought that I’d become the sort of lord who had his own personal castle was pretty hard to swallow. All the more so considering the mundane, white-collar life I’d led before my reincarnation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It struck me how long it had been since I’d found myself here as we made our way into the castle. If I recalled correctly, the first time I ended up inside the castle was when I came here in my father’s place after he died, and as that thought crossed my mind, I was struck with a question: what would my father have said if he learned I’d become the count? Would he have been shocked? Or thrilled? Possibly both, I imagined, and as I pictured the face he might’ve made when he got the news, I felt a sense of desolation swell up within me. I had to carry on House Louvent’s legacy, both for my sake, and to help my father’s spirit rest easily."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas guided me through the castle. I hadn’t gotten the full tour on any of my prior visits, so I wasn’t well acquainted with its layout yet. The castle was three stories tall, with the first floor containing the dining hall, the great hall, a parlor, a treasure vault, an armory, the kitchens, the pantry, and the bathing chambers. The second floor was home to the library, a common room, a meeting room, and personal quarters for retainers and staff. Finally, the personal chambers for the count and their family were located on the third floor, along with a study and the count’s office."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Compared to the Louvent estate, the castle was massive. Just taking the full tour ate up a fair chunk of time. I would’ve liked to take a little more time touring the place, but I had a lot more on my plate than just seeing the sights, so I kept it to a quick walk-through for the moment. The servants I’d brought with me and those who’d remained in the castle after Lumeire’s people cleared out set about organizing my chamber, and in the meantime, I retired to the count’s office to receive a detailed explanation of my duties from Menas."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A massive desk was set up in the middle of the office. A few shelves lined the walls as well, stuffed with documents that I assumed had some relation to Canarre’s management."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To begin with, I’d like you to read through this,” said Menas as he passed me a rather thick bundle of papers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What are these? I wondered as I leafed through the first few pages. I soon came to realize that they were a set of documents describing the current state of Canarre County. They detailed the current status of our standing army, the yields of the latest harvests, the income from the latest round of tax collection, the county’s population, problems they faced, the local state of law and order, and even included an up-to-date map and an analysis of the local natural resources. The bundle was packed with information."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d gotten similar reports when I ruled over Lamberg, but the territory I governed back then was so much smaller in scale that there had not been much information to report to me in the first place. I’d never had to peruse more than a few sparing pages. This time, though, it took me two hours just to read through the whole packet, and by the time I finished my eyes were dry and weary."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0011.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It occurred to me as I put the bundle down that if I’d tried sitting still and reading for two hours straight in my previous life, it would’ve left me with back pain and stiff shoulders to go along with the eyestrain. My current body was still young enough that I didn’t have to deal with any of those aches, mercifully. My next impression was that, as expected, I would be working on a much larger scale than I had back in Lamberg from now on. I mean, all the latest info about Lamberg was still present in this new report!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d almost forgotten that I used to have to send those off to the count."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“This concludes your orientation,” said Menas. “I encourage you to discuss how you’ll manage your territory from here on out with your people, and take their advice into consideration. Oh, and I would also advise you to invite all of Canarre’s barons to meet with you at your convenience. They have already been informed of the change in rulership, but nevertheless, it would only be proper.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood, and thank you for all your help and guidance,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Menas’s orientation had been far shorter than I’d expected, overall, and I had to wonder if he’d received orders to return to Velshdt sooner than anticipated. I quickly penned letters to each of Canarre’s barons, then called my retainers together to discuss the matter of Lamberg’s new ruler."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“To start, I’d like to talk about who we’ll be appointing to watch over Lamberg in my stead,” I said. “I’ll be spending most of my time here in the castle from now on, so I’d like to leave Lamberg in the hands of someone I can trust to keep it safe.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell spoke up first. “I think that Rietz would be the best man for the job.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For just a moment, Rietz looked startled. All of us knew very well how much he’d contributed to our cause. There wasn’t anyone left among my people who looked down on him for being a Malkan, and in fact, everyone seemed to accept Rosell’s suggestion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Personally, I would’ve liked to keep Rietz at my side, but I was starting to see that it wasn’t for the best. There was no mistaking the fact that he was the most reliable candidate for the job. When I glanced over to see how he was reacting to the nomination, though, I found that he didn’t look pleased by the idea at all. In fact, it almost looked like he wanted to speak his mind, but was holding himself back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Does he not want the job? I’d rather figure out how he feels before I make any decisions."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you have any objections to that suggestion, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hesitated for a moment, but then replied, “If that is what you wish of me, then I would not dream to object, Lord Ars.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But even as he claimed to be all right with the suggestion he gave me a look like a sad little puppy dog that had been abandoned by its owner. It was abundantly clear that he didn’t want to leave my side, and after everything he’d done for me and my household, I wasn’t about to force him to take on a job that he didn’t want to do."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Be honest with me, Rietz. What do you really want?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz hesitated once more, his gaze dropping to the floor, but then he stood up straight, looked me in the eye, and spoke with conviction. “If possible, I would sooner remain in your immediate service, Lord Ars,” he said, his voice laden with intense emotion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t about to disagree. I wanted Rietz by my side as much as he wanted to be there, so if he was opposed to the idea of being Lamberg’s baron, I didn’t see any reason not to keep him with me in Castle Canarre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” I replied. “I will respect Rietz’s wishes, and refrain from asking him to fill the vacancy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, okay,” Rosell muttered. “Who else could do the job, though…?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Everyone present sank into thought. Eventually, Rietz himself broke the silence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe it would only be fair for the most successful member of our council to be given rulership over Lamberg,” he said. “Does that sound reasonable to you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I paused to consider his words."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The most successful among us…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My gaze─and everyone else’s─drifted briefly to Charlotte, and a moment later, all of us grimaced in unison. She was, undeniably, the most successful of all my retainers in terms of pure contributions to the war effort. Even in the context of Couran’s whole army, she was the soldier who’d contributed the most to the cause on a personal level."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Managing a barony, though…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t picture her doing a good job in that sort of position."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte was watching my expression, and judging by the scowl on her face, I’d been doing a poor job of concealing my thought process."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmph! Do you have some sort of problem with me?” she asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No, of course not! But, well…I just think there may be someone else more suited for the role,” I said, frantically attempting to appease her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not exactly nice to hear you don’t think I could do a job like that. Barons spend all day sitting around at their desks, right?” Charlotte sulkily grumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You can’t think it’s that easy?” I sighed. As expected, I couldn’t leave Lamberg in her hands. I needed someone more responsible for the job."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe that Rosell may be well-suited for the position,” Rietz chimed in once more. “He may be young, yes, but his youth belies his intelligence, and I believe his contributions to the war have proven his strength of will beyond a doubt.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-No way! I can’t!” Rosell shouted with all his might. “Ruling over a territory’s way out of my comfort zone! I’m not cut out for it, no way, no how! And just think about how little time I’d have to study if I became a baron!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was about as unenthusiastic of a response as I could’ve expected. Rosell had been very helpful to me, and I didn’t want to impose a job that he didn’t want on him either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But that just leaves one candidate…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Guess that means it’s up to me, huh?” Mireille said as she crossed her arms. “Wouldn’t be my first time around the baron block. I can take care of Lamberg, no issue.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s a great idea, come to think of it! I’m sure Master would do an excellent job!” insisted Rosell, who’d badgered his way into Mireille’s apprenticeship. Mireille had one dedicated supporter already."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My one concern about the suggestion was her Ambition score. It was high─scarily high, even. To be honest, I couldn’t bring myself to trust her. She was more than capable of ruling Lamberg, to be sure, but that didn’t do away with my concerns."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe Mireille would be the best candidate for the task as well,” Rietz said, catching me off guard. I’d been under the impression that he hadn’t accepted her as one of my advisors, and certainly didn’t trust her, so I never imagined he’d advocate for her to be given this sort of power."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With Rosell and Rietz both offering Mireille their endorsements, part of me felt that it would be for the best to entrust the job to her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But still, that Ambition of hers…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I mulled over the choice, Rietz leaned in to whisper into my ear. “No need to worry, Lord Ars. The people of Lamberg hold House Louvent in the highest of esteem, and even if you give her control over the barony, turning its populace against you would be no simple task. Moreover, with the Shadows in your formal service, you have ample means to keep an eye on her.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That explained a lot. It seemed that Rietz really didn’t have faith in Mireille after all. He just believed we had the means to ensure she wouldn’t or couldn’t betray us. And he had a point─it was true that assigning a member of the Shadows to work for her while reporting to me on her every move would make it very hard for her to betray me. Rietz’s reassurance made me feel a lot less nervous about this whole prospect."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m convinced. Mireille, I’ll leave Lamberg in your care. I trust that no one objects to this decision?” I said, and as expected, nobody was opposed. Mireille would be the new Baroness of Lamberg."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With our most pressing decision having been made, we called the day’s meeting to a close. There were plenty of small policy matters that we’d have to choose our course on, but I’d decided that we could space those out over a number of meetings in the future."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seeing as all of Canarre’s barons have been invited to the castle, I believe our first order of business should be to prepare a banquet to receive them. I believe it likely that all of them will accept the invitation,” suggested Rietz after everyone else had gone on their way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good thinking,” I agreed. “Let’s start preparing at once.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d only just sent out the letters, so needless to say, I hadn’t received any replies yet. Still, I had a hard time imagining that any of Canarre’s barons would snub my invitation. There was a chance they might resent the fact that a kid like me had been made the count, but since the order had come from Couran himself, a mere baron didn’t have the sort of influence it would take to mount a proper objection. At the absolute least, I was positive that Hammond Pleide, the Baron of Torbequista, would make an appearance─I was engaged to his daughter Licia, after all─and even in the worst-case scenario where nobody showed up, I wouldn’t lose anything by having been prepared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Come to think of it, I wonder how Licia’s doing?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d promised her that I would marry her once the war was over. I wasn’t opposed to the idea of marrying her, in and of itself, but the war technically hadn’t come to a close yet, which left us in an awkward situation. Couran held an overwhelming advantage, but the enemy’s main citadel, Arcantez, still stood strong for now, and the fighting could break out again before long."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Personally, I was in favor of waiting until the war came to a complete, conclusive finish before we tied the knot. I was not, however, convinced that Licia felt the same way. The odds were very good that she’d come along with her father to visit, and I decided I would take a moment to discuss the matter with her when that time came."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days of banquet preparations later, messages arrived from the Baron of Torbequista, Hammond Pleide, and the Baron of Coumeire, Krall Orslow. Both of them stated that they would make their way to Canarre at once. Later that same day, while I was helping with the banquet preparations, Rietz approached me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If I may, Lord Ars?” he said. “Shin Seimallo has arrived at the castle, and requests an audience with you. Are you inclined to meet with him?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shin Seimallo…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The name didn’t ring any bells for a second, but then it hit me: he was the man I’d met in the capital who had a remarkably high Aerial Aptitude. I’d promised him that when I moved up in the noble world and gained access to greater resources, I’d support and finance his quest to build an airship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you intend to invest in his airship development effort, Lord Ars?” Rietz asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I did give him my word,” I answered with a shrug."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, indeed, and one must not break one’s word without due cause. Nevertheless, the state of Canarre’s finances is, if I may speak frankly, rather poor. The recent string of conflicts has done us no favors on that front, either… If you can convince Shin to accept a delay on his promised funding, I believe that would be for the best.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was true that Canarre as a county had less money to throw around than I’d expected, and it made sense that the recent conflict was to blame. Still, I had more funding at my disposal now than I’d had back in Lamberg, and I was a little concerned about what Shin would say if I told him his airship would have to go on the back burner. He hadn’t struck me as the patient type. Besides, I was anxious for the airship to be built as soon as possible myself. If we managed to build the very first airship in the world, it would earn House Louvent no small amount of prestige."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I see what you mean, but I also believe that Shin’s airship will be of great importance to us,” I said, countering Rietz’s point."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so…?” said Rietz. “I don’t know how much funding Shin intends to ask for, but regardless, why not offer to start with a partial payment? You can give him a third of what he requests, and deliver the rest of the funding later on. Even without a full budget, he should be able to make progress so long as he has some funding available to him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That makes sense. I’m convinced─we’ll go with your plan. Bring him here, please.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz left the room, only to return momentarily with Shin in tow. He looked like he was in an excellent mood, and struck up a conversation before I had the chance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gotta say, I’m real impressed! If I’m bein’ honest, I didn’t actually think you’d make yourself a count! Looks like I picked a damn fine horse to hook my carriage up to!” Shin said, openly admitting that he hadn’t believed in me up until now. “So, you’ll be footing my development costs, right? I’ve gone over all my plans ’n theories again, and I’m more sure than ever that it’ll fly! All I need’s the money to make it happen!” he asserted, brimming with confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, about that,” I said. “Becoming the count has been a step in the right direction, but I’m afraid to say that Canarre’s finances are already rather strained.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What?! Does that mean ya can’t spare the coin?!” Shin shouted, aghast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I didn’t say that. My intent was to provide you with one third of the money you need, to start. You’ll have the rest of your funding once we’ve brought our books into balance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Hmm. And you’re sure that’s gonna happen?”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0013.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll make it happen, one way or another.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shin looked a little dissatisfied, but nodded anyway."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, then. You won yourself the count’s seat, as promised, so I’ll trust you to keep yer word again,” he said, looking me squarely in the eye."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, I finally asked how much money Shin wanted. It turned out to be quite the sum, but while giving him the full payment would’ve strained my budget, a third of it was more or less manageable. Before I handed the money over, though, I had Shin sign a written contract that I’d had Rietz prepare in advance. It specified that the completed airship would be the property of House Louvent, and included clauses intended to prevent the details of the ship’s construction from falling into the wrong hands and gave us exclusive rights to profit off its design."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Shin, for his part, was only interested in building and flying the thing. So long as he was allowed to pilot the ship he didn’t care a whit who owned it on paper, and he signed the contract─in blood─without hesitation. With that, his grand endeavor had finally begun."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, the barons arrived at Castle Canarre. House Pleide and House Orslow would both be in attendance, representing Torbequista and Coumeire respectively. I picked out Licia among House Pleide’s party, and the moment she noticed me, she beamed, dashed over, and threw her arms around me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank goodness, Lord Ars! I’ve been so worried,” she said, her shoulders quivering with emotion."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I almost panicked the moment she hugged me, but when I realized she was shivering, I regained my composure. I’d been away for a long time, thanks to the war, and it seemed she’d spent that whole period worried that I’d never come back. That was just how things went when there was a war to fight, but I still couldn’t help but feel guilty when confronted with clear proof of how anxious she’d been."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m sorry to have worried you. I’m back now safe and sound,” I said as I returned her embrace, doing my best to reassure her. It seemed to work, or at the very least, her shivering quickly abated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After we released each other, Licia leaned in and whispered quietly enough that only I could hear her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I never imagined you’d become the Count of Canarre so soon! I was right to expect great things from you,” she said, dropping the cloyingly sweet voice she usually spoke in to address me in a more calm and composed tone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered that Licia wasn’t just an innocent little girl who feared for my safety from afar. She was also a cunning and calculating girl who boasted high Intelligence, Politics, and Ambition scores."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hee hee!” Licia giggled. “Why, at this rate I wouldn’t be surprised to hear you’d claimed the whole duchy, one of these days!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Th-The duchy? I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” I replied awkwardly. If I wanted to inherit the title of duke from Couran, I’d need to take his heir, Rengue, out of the picture first. That was a move I had no intention of attempting. My goal was to grow Canarre into a stronger, more prosperous domain, and aspiring for more felt like it’d be asking for trouble."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I was only teasing,” said Licia with a grin, though it hadn’t sounded like a joke to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hammond, the Baron of Torbequista, and Krall, the Baron of Coumeire, stepped up to greet me next. Both of them took a knee, bowed deeply, and spoke in unison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I hereby pledge fealty to His Lordship Ars Louvent, Count of Canarre,” they said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Stand, please,” I said. “I may be the count, but I’m still far from experienced. I can’t even begin to guess how much I have left to learn, so I’ll be counting on both of your support as I strive to turn Canarre into an even better place than it already is.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At my command, the barons stood once more. Glancing at their expressions I could tell that Hammond had no misgivings about my sudden promotion, but that Krall was…well, not necessarily apprehensive, but not enthusiastic, either. The way he looked at me made me feel like he was sizing me up. I had a feeling that he had yet to decide whether or not I was worthy of my new title, and I had serious doubts about whether he’d meant the oath he’d sworn just moments before. He wasn’t outright hostile, at least, so I figured that as long as I did a good job and proved my worth to him, he’d come to accept me in due time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The banquet began, and the atmosphere in the castle took a cheerful turn. As the festivities went on, Hammond eventually broached the subject of my engagement to Licia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I seem to recall that you and my daughter agreed to be wed when the war was over,” he began."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, that’s true,” I said. “However, in my eyes the war has yet to come to a close. The battle for Arcantez will begin before we know it, and I’m inclined to put off our marriage until after it’s concluded.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, of course,” said Licia. “Our agreement was that we’d marry after the war was over, so naturally, having our wedding now would be premature,” she agreed. She seemed a little reluctant, but a little relieved as well."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The banquet eventually drew to a close, and the next day, the barons returned to their territories."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the barons went on their way, I managed to secure a brief period of time for myself. I hadn’t had so much as a moment to rest since I’d returned from the war, and the exhaustion had been piling up. The castle’s bathhouse was the perfect place for me to relieve a bit of that fatigue, so I started my time off with a good, long soak."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No sooner had I gotten out of the bath and returned to my chamber than the high-pitched voice of a child rang out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Come practice sword fighting with me, Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I looked over to find that my little brother, Kreiz, had stepped into my room with a wooden sword in hand. Kreiz was six years old, and had grown up into quite the rambunctious little troublemaker as of late. His youthful face carried distinct traces of our father’s features, and his blond hair emphasized the resemblance. Of course, a little kid like him had no hope of emulating the intimidating aura our father had exuded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course he can’t train with you, Kreiz! That would be much too tiring. You should study with me instead, Ars!” said my little sister, Wren, from behind him. Wren’s hair was black, and she looked more like me than our father. She struck me as a little more mature than her brother, as well. They were twins, but they’d never resembled each other, physically or mentally. Fraternal twins were just like that, I had to assume."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“He’s gonna sword fight with me!” shouted Kreiz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, he’s going to study with me!” insisted Wren."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them were seconds away from a nasty fight, so I hastily intervened before things got out of hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll do both! Just don’t fight, please!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Really?!” Kreiz and Wren gleefully exclaimed together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So much for my break. Nothing I can do about that, though."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll train with Kreiz first,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hurray!” Kreiz yelped as he threw his hands into the air."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Aww,” pouted Wren."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My brother had remarkably high Valor, while my sister’s Intelligence was something special. Both of them had shown a clear interest in the fields they were talented in, as well. They were only six years old, and were still far from fully grown, but they’d been picking up skills as time went on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The three of us made for the training grounds. I found a wooden sword for myself, and got ready to spar with Kreiz while Wren sat off to the side to watch us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, here I come!” said Kreiz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Whenever you’re ready,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was far from talented when it came to swordsmanship, but Rietz had taught me the basics, and while Kreiz was brimming with talent, it wasn’t enough to let him win against a boy seven years his senior…or so I thought, but as our duel commenced, I was surprised to find it a much closer contest than I’d been expecting. He was fast, for one thing, and so strong you’d almost think we were the same age. I managed to eke out a win, but only just, and I had a horrible feeling that a year from now I wouldn’t even be able to do that much."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ahh, I lost! You really are tough, Ars!” Kreiz groaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re plenty tough as well, Kreiz. It won’t be long before you’ve left me in the dust,” I said as I patted him on the head. I’d always viewed the two of them as something closer to my children than my siblings, and when you took my thirty-five years of life in Japan into account, our relative ages made that distance feel pretty appropriate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You bet I am! I’m gonna get tougher than you, Rietz, and everyone else! Then I’ll become a warrior and fight for you!” Kreiz said as he clenched his fist."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was honestly quite impressed that he had such a defined dream for his future already. He had a pretty high Ambition score, but he was also such a purehearted child that he’d never struck me as the sort who’d do anything to get ahead. Then again, he was only six years old."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, one more round!” said Kreiz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It ended up being a lot more than one round, in the end, and we kept sparring until Wren stepped in to intervene."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, that’s enough! It’s time to study!” she shouted. I was pretty tired at that point, so her timing couldn’t have been better."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aw, whaaat? But we were just getting started!” whined Kreiz, who apparently still had energy to spare. “Why don’t you train with us, Wren?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s no way I’m letting you swing those swords at me! That would be terrifying! Anyway, I’ve been waiting long enough─it’s my turn, already!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She’s right, Kreiz. Don’t be selfish,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmmph!” Kreiz grunted, but reluctantly agreed to bring our session to an end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We returned to the castle and made our way to the library, within which I was unsurprised to find Rosell with his nose buried in a book."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Rosell! Are you studying too?” Kreiz asked. Rosell, however, was concentrating so deeply that he didn’t even notice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’ll be no asking him to join us, then. He never listens to anyone when he gets like this,” Wren said, sounding a little disappointed. The twins both loved playing with Rosell, though Wren was especially attached to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We left Rosell to his own devices and started a three-person study session. It had been quite some time since I’d studied with Wren, and it seemed that Rosell had been rubbing off on her. I was astonished by just how knowledgeable she’d become, and could hardly believe she was only six years old. Kreiz, on the other hand, had clearly been devoting his time to other pursuits and was lagging behind his sister by a fair margin. The gap between their respective levels made working with both of them at the same time a bit of a challenge, but I somehow managed to pull it off in the end."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nope. I can’t. I’m done,” Kreiz eventually groaned as he slumped over onto the table. He’d hit his limit for the day, and boiled his brain in the process."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! I think you’d better focus on your studies a little more from now on, Kreiz,” I said. “I’m impressed with you, though, Wren!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rosell’s been teaching me all sorts of things,” Wren explained. “Kreiz is a blockhead, so I have to be smart enough for the both of us,” she added with a mischievous grin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had a feeling that when the two of them grew up, Kreiz would end up doing Wren’s bidding more often than not."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as I’d decided that it was time to wrap up my break from administrative work and get back down to business, Rietz arrived on the scene with an astonishing invitation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Would you care to go fishing with me, Lord Ars?” he asked out of the blue."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was, on a fundamental level, a workaholic. I’d barely ever witnessed him goofing off or taking time for himself. I’d actually encouraged him to work a little less and rest a little more on a few occasions, but he’d never seemed to take that advice to heart. It was just about the only thing he didn’t take my words as gospel for, in fact."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You’d think that living a life of hard work, day in and day out, would leave Rietz exhausted and bedraggled, but he never showed any signs of being worn down. Back in my last life when I was an office worker, I’d known people who did far less work than him and seemed like they were just barely pushing through their fatigue. Rietz, however, seemed to be living his best life. I had to wonder how he did it. My best guess was that he just liked working for other people’s sake, and enjoyed his duties so much he could keep at them indefinitely. That was why I’d decided not to pressure him into taking more breaks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With all that in mind, the fact that Rietz was now inviting me to take a moment away from work with him was shocking. I didn’t even know that he liked fishing! That being said, I’d always wanted to spend a day off with him, so while I was curious about what had brought this on I said, “All right, let’s,” without probing any deeper. It would mean putting off my work for a little longer, sure, but it could wait until I got a quick fishing trip in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you very much! I couldn’t ask for a better companion for this excursion!” said Rietz with a stunningly─almost blindingly─brilliant smile. The thought that going finishing with me made him that happy was a little embarrassing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz explained that we’d be fishing at a small lake located quite nearby to the city of Canarre. We gathered up our gear, trekked out to the lake, set up, and started fishing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few hours passed us by."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The fish must not be hungry today, huh?” I mumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It would seem so,” sighed Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We hadn’t caught a single fish so far. It wasn’t that there weren’t any fish in the lake─the water was pure and clear enough that we could see them swimming about below the surface. They just weren’t biting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I hadn’t been much of a fisher in my last life, but I’d had a friend who was, and he’d taken me out to fish with him a few times. I remembered catching quite a haul at the time…but then again, fishing in modern Japan and fishing in another world could’ve been completely different beasts, for all I knew."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For lack of fish on our hooks, Rietz and I quickly turned to chatting with each other."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Mireille’s drinking is as out of hand as ever,” he said to me. “I took a trip to Lamberg to check in on her just recently, only to find she’d drunk herself into a stupor.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha,” I laughed uncomfortably. “Do you think leaving Lamberg in her hands was a bad idea after all…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Surprisingly, her followers’ accounts would suggest otherwise. It seems she’s been content to leave the day-to-day management of the barony to them, only stepping in when they find themselves at a loss, and providing clear, effective instructions whenever the need arises.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that’s certainly something. I suppose that’s how I’d imagine her managing a territory.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Effective baron or not, I did make it clear that I wished she’d refrain from overindulging,” Rietz added."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, did you…?” I said with a wince."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And about Rosell,” he continued. “He’s been shut up in the library for days on end, and I’m concerned about his health. I’ve tried to encourage him to go outside and exercise on occasion, but he’s been uninterested in lending me an ear.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve heard about him spending all his time in the library, yeah. I probably should’ve expected it, knowing him,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Castle Canarre’s library boasted a collection of books that dwarfed what few we’d had back in Lamberg. Considering what a bookworm Rosell was, I imagined that his new home was something of a paradise for him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He’s an incredibly fast reader, though,” I continued. “It’s only a matter of time before he’s worked his way through the whole collection, and he’ll start going outside again once he’s done.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d certainly hope so,” said Rietz. “It’s always seemed that he commits most books to memory after a single reading, but according to him there’s always a danger he’ll forget bits and pieces of them, so he makes sure to read every book he can at least twice. Reading the entire library twice over would take quite some time, even for him.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yeah, you have a point,” I said, resolving myself to encourage Rosell to get out and go for a run every once in a while. On the other hand, the more he learned, the more helpful he’d be for Canarre on the whole, so I’d have to take some time and consider whether making that a formal order would be for the best or not."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Charlotte,” Rietz began, then hesitated. “Well, Charlotte’s more or less the same as she’s always been, from what I can tell.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Aside from the weight of her wallet,” I noted. “She was rewarded quite generously for all her exploits in the war. You’d think a girl like her would use it to buy clothes, or something, but I’ve heard she’s been spending all of her money on food instead.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All of it…? I can’t believe she’s still so slender,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She’s the sort of person who just doesn’t gain weight, no matter what she eats. Of course, she claims that all of it goes straight to her chest.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That seems…borderline unfair,” replied Rietz. “I put quite a lot of effort into maintaining my physique, for what it’s worth. Putting on too much weight would hamper my mobility, and I have to be ready to fight at any given moment.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I guess Rietz has things he struggles with that I’ve never even considered, I reflected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We kept chatting away, and eventually, we ran out of subjects to talk about. A minute or so passed by in silence, until suddenly, Rietz looked over his shoulder, back toward the castle. The lake was close enough to the city that it was visible from here."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All of this makes me a little emotional, I must admit,” he said. “To think─you, the Count of Canarre!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know what you mean,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I always had faith that you’d make your way to a station worthy of you, of course. But that you’d become the count in such a short span of time defied even my wildest expectations.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I couldn’t have done it without you and the others,” I said. “In fact, I barely did anything at all myself!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s not true!” Rietz said─almost shouted, really, loudly enough to make me jump. “Ah! My apologies,” he continued. “But truly, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, Lord Ars. If you hadn’t made me your retainer, I’m confident I would’ve either wound up dead in a ditch, or spent the rest of my life wandering aimlessly through Missian, or maybe even some other duchy. Charlotte would have lived her life as a slave, and Rosell would have remained the talentless son of a hunter forever. And that’s not to mention Mireille─she’d still be drifting from bar to bar, making a nuisance of herself.”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0015.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz turned to look me in the eye, his expression profoundly serious."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I cannot express the gratitude I feel toward you, Lord Ars. I never would have become the person I am today if it weren’t for you, and if the need arises, I will gladly lay down my life for yours.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing all of that directly was, to say the least, a little awkward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I didn’t make you my retainer out of good will,” I said. “I did it for myself, and you’ve done more than enough to help and support me since then, so I don’t think there’s any need for you to feel that indebted to me… But of course, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m very glad to hear how you feel.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The day was drawing to a close, and it wouldn’t be long before evening set in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Should we head on home?” I suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right,” said Rietz. “A shame we didn’t catch anything, in the end. My apologies. I feel like I’ve dragged you out to spend a day wasting your time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s fine,” I said. “We didn’t catch any fish, sure, but talking with you was a great use of time in my book. Let’s do this again sometime.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course!” Rietz said with a smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us made our way back to Castle Canarre, entering through the main gateway. The moment we stepped into the great hall, the roar of numerous voices rang out in unison."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Happy Birthday, Lord Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d only just stepped inside, not expecting anything of the sort, and it was all so abrupt that my brain shut down for a second. A moment later, though, I finally managed to process what was happening."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My birthday…? Oh, that’s right─yesterday was the seventh day of the eighth month, wasn’t it? That means that today’s the eighth…so it really is my thirteenth birthday."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d been so busy since I became the count that I’d forgotten about it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“My apologies for not informing you, Lord Ars,” said Rietz. “We carried out our preparations in absolute secrecy. We wanted it to be a surprise, you see.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So this is why you invited me to go fishing with you?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes,” said Rietz. “Ah, though I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to, of course!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Suddenly, it all made sense. Still, though, I was astonished. I’d seen surprise parties portrayed in comics and cartoons over and over in my past life, but I’d never experienced anything of the sort in reality. I’d thought that a party being a surprise wouldn’t make it any better than an ordinary sort of event…but, actually, I was a lot happier about it than I’d ever imagined a party could make me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re really growin’ up on us, huh, Lord Ars? Here, I got you a present!” said Charlotte with a smirk, pleased by how thoroughly she and the others had caught me by surprise. She handed me her gift, which turned out to be a bag that was packed to the brim with cookies."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sweets were scarce and precious in this world, and I barely ever got to eat them, so it was a remarkably thoughtful gift that I appreciated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you, Charlotte,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just glad you like it! I really mulled it over, y’know? Thought it might be better to get you something that you could keep forever, but, well, nothing’s better than eating, and you have to live for the moment, right? So I decided that food would be best in the end,” Charlotte explained. That did feel like the sort of philosophy she’d adhere to. “Oh, and I baked all of those myself, so you’d better savor them!” she added as an afterthought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You…huh?” I said, then gulped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I couldn’t recall having ever heard anyone mention Charlotte knowing how to bake. They looked like perfectly ordinary cookies, but I was very apprehensive about how they’d taste."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“L-Lord Ars,” said Rietz, “perhaps I should sample one of those before you─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, for the─they’re not poisoned, dangit!” Charlotte snapped. “Could you get any ruder?! They’re good, so just eat one already!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t very well say no to that, so I opened up the bag and sampled a cookie. They really were quite tasty, as it turned out, and I had to admit that Rietz and I had been a little rude by assuming otherwise, so I gave Charlotte a quick apology."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m up next! Here! I got you some books!” said Rosell. The fact that he’d gotten me books wasn’t a surprise, though the fact that he’d gotten me ten of them was quite something. “They’re novels, and all of them are worth your time! Be sure to read them all!” he added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell had recommended novels to me before, and almost all of them had been so extraordinarily complicated that a single reading hadn’t been enough for me to understand them on a basic level. Repeated readings, however, had led to me catching on, and by the time I understood what he saw in them I was always hooked. In other words, just one book took a long time to read, and he’d given me ten. I wouldn’t be at a lack of ways to kill time in the immediate future, that was for sure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Guess I’ll go next,” said Mireille. She’d traveled here from Lamberg specifically for the sake of my party, it seemed. “Here. It’s booze. Got you the good stuff,” she said as she offered me a bottle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had to admit, I was quite happy with her gift. I’d been a grown adult in my past life, so I was reasonably well acquainted with the joys of alcohol. This me, however, had only just turned thirteen, and that meant that booze was off the table. The standards of this world weren’t different from my old society, in that regard. I knew that perfectly well, but I was also tempted to give it a try, and was just about to give in and accept her gift when Rietz cut in."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why in the world would you give him alcohol, you degenerate?!” he snapped. I, meanwhile, had been about to accept the bottle, but quickly snapped my hands back down to my sides."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, quit kicking up a fuss about every little thing, Rietz,” said Mireille with a roll of her eyes. “What’s wrong with a nice bottle of booze?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The fact that Lord Ars is only thirteen, for one thing! He’s too young to indulge!” Rietz fired back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Always thought that was a stupid rule, personally,” Mireille grumbled. “Okay, how about this, then?” she said, and handed me what I assumed was a backup present. It seemed to be a piece of white…triangular…fabric…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Wait, is this what I think it─?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Underwear?! Are you out of your mind?! That’s even worse! You mustn’t touch such filth, Lord Ars!” Rietz shouted as he snatched Mireille’s underwear out of my hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? Kiddo’s thirteen, right? What could he want more than a pretty girl’s unmentionables?” Mireille said, then smirked. “Oh, I see how it is. You took ’em because you wanted ’em too, didn’t you, Rietz? Come on, you can’t go stealing your master’s things! How about I give you the ones I’m wearing now instead?” she offered, already reaching for her waist."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Keep them on!” Rietz bellowed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When all was said and done, Mireille gave me a silver coin that she happened to be carrying in her pocket. I certainly wasn’t one to turn down money, and was grateful, setting aside the process it took to get us there. This was my own personal funding, too, so I figured I’d use it to buy something just for myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just as I accepted the coin, the castle’s front doorway opened with a slam. A girl rushed inside, then planted her hands on her knees, panting and wheezing for dear life. It was, I quickly realized, Licia!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-Why wasn’t I informed of this sooner…?” Licia said between heaving gasps. “How could I possibly not be present for Lord Ars’s birthday party…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“M-My apologies,” said Rietz. “We should have sent news to you sooner, yes. I fear the message didn’t arrive until yesterday, or somewhere thereabouts?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“As a matter of fact, it did,” said Licia. “Yesterday evening, to be precise. Never before have I had to prepare for a journey on such short notice! I left Torbequista the moment I was able!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia seemed exhausted. Judging by the bags under her eyes, she hadn’t slept at all the night before. She was so haggard that part of me couldn’t help but think she should’ve just written the party off and stayed home."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia took a moment longer to catch her breath, then stepped up to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Happy Birthday, Lord Ars,” she said with an elegant curtsy. The moment she managed to collect herself, all signs of her fatigue vanished into thin air and she was once more the very picture of refinement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for coming,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve prepared a gift for you as well,” Licia continued, passing me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. “I selected them from my personal garden in Torbequista.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just as I was thinking what a nice, thoughtful gift she’d prepared for me, Licia’s servants began carrying box after box into the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“In addition,” Licia said, “I’ve brought fruits grown in our Torbequistan orchards, as well as a number of dishes I cooked for you myself… Oh, this one has clothes in it, I believe… Ah, and I just knew that the accessories in this one would be the perfect fit for you…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She shouldn’t have. Like, really, she shouldn’t have, I thought as the sheer scale of her gifts became apparent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m afraid Lady Licia’s gift has rather outshone my effort, but nevertheless─Happy Birthday, Lord Ars,” said Rietz as he presented me with his present."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz had prepared a sword and a suit of armor for me. He explained that he’d commissioned them from a craftsman, and that the blade was both finely-made and specifically designed to suit my strengths. The armor, meanwhile, was a light, mobile set of clothing with chainmail sewn into it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your safety is of the utmost importance,” said Rietz, “so I spared no expense in obtaining the finest set that I could get my hands on. They’ll protect you should you find yourself in battle once more, so please, be sure to wear them when the time comes.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d never been much of a fighter, so I needed every edge that I could get to keep me in battle. A well-crafted set of gear could mean the difference between life and death, in that sense. It was a wonderful present."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you, Rietz,” I said as I accepted his gift."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The party carried on for some time after that. By the time it drew to a close, I was certain beyond a doubt that this had been the best birthday party I’d ever experienced, in either lifetime."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The day after my birthday, I decided that I’d had plenty of rest and called my retainers together to have a detailed discussion regarding the management of Canarre. Rietz, Rosell, Charlotte, and Pham all gathered for the meeting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before we addressed the main subject of the day, I had a question for Pham."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How’s Mireille? Is she doing a decent job of managing Lamberg?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“According to Ben, she’s been swilling booze like it’s water and hasn’t been the portrait of nobility when her subordinates come to her for advice. She’s not making it look like she’s taking it seriously, and I can’t say she doesn’t have issues, but she hasn’t shown any signs of turning traitor, at least,” Pham reported."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess I only just promoted her. It’d be strange if she was already causing more serious issues."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her lack of seriousness was an issue in its own right, of course, but it wasn’t as concerning as the worst-case scenario."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then─I think it’s time for us to get started on our main topic of discussion,” I said. “I’ve called you here today to discuss what areas we’ll focus on in our management of Canarre. I’ll start by proposing that we prioritize gathering more capable personnel to help us.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now that I was the count, the number of people I could keep in my service had increased substantially. Well, not as substantially as I would’ve liked, considering how the county was pressed for funding, but I could certainly bring a couple dozen people or so into my service."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seeking out skilled individuals is very much your forte, Lord Ars, so I believe that applying yourself to the task would be a suitable use of your time,” said Rietz. “That being said, I believe the methods you’ve used up until now─going into town to seek out talented recruits to personally solicit, for instance─might be inefficient, at this stage.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz had a point. All the walking involved in seeking people out personally always tired me out, and even if I found a diamond in the rough there was no guarantee they’d be interested in serving me, so all my effort sometimes went to waste. I certainly couldn’t claim that it was an efficient method."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you have any alternatives?” I asked. I knew that Rietz wouldn’t bring up that sort of issue unless he had an idea in mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe you should put out word that you’re recruiting individuals with something to offer the county,” said Rietz. “Make it known that you’ll take anyone with talent, regardless of their social standing. It might also do us well to make it known that you have a gift for perceiving people’s talents. That could draw people to you in the hopes that you can tell them what areas they’re gifted in.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can spread that sort of notice far and wide now that I’m the count, so I could see that working well. Let’s try it,” I said with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell spoke up next."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Um, about that. Bringing in more people’s all well and good, but there is a limit to how many we can afford to hire. I think it’d be a good idea to decide what sort of people we’re looking for first,” he suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s…a very good point, actually,” I said. “I don’t know, though. If someone with talent shows up, I’m going to want to hire them no matter what it’s for.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I must concur with Rosell, Lord Ars,” said Rietz. “Individuals with truly exceptional talent are worth making an exception for, perhaps, but for those less stunning but still worthy candidates, having a clear goal in mind will almost certainly be for the best.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, you win,” I said. When Rosell and Rietz were both in favor of something, I could always be all but certain it would be my best course of action. “What sort of people should we be looking for, though? We have a battle on the horizon, so I guess capable fighters should be our top priority?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perhaps… Currently, that does seem prudent. We may want to reassess our priorities after the war has come to a close, though,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about that new guy, Braham? He’s about as capable as fighters get, right?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, Braham? I asked Rietz to take care of him. How has that been turning out?” I inquired."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, he’s as capable of a fighter as ever. The problem was his mind, but as it happens, he’s turned out to be a quicker learner than expected,” said Rietz. “As you predicted, Lord Ars, his intellect isn’t as lacking as one might have believed at a glance. On the other hand, he’s starting from an unenviable baseline, and I’d still be hard-pressed to call him, well, smart. As things stand I believe that asking him to lead a large regiment would be too risky, but so long as a capable aide was assigned to him, he could command a smaller squad without issue.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sounds like he’s making steady progress, then. That’s good to hear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, if we’re talking people who can fight, I think we’d better bring in a few more mages,” said Charlotte, speaking up for the first time this meeting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That is a good point. We could always use more magic on our side,” I admitted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, and new mages is only part of the picture. We could also use people to teach other people magic, and a place to study it would be great too,” Charlotte continued."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was drifting away from the topic of recruitment, but I had to admit, I was stunned to hear such a reasonable and well-considered proposal come from Charlotte, of all people."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What? Why’re you all looking at me like that?” Charlotte grumbled. Apparently Rietz, Rosell, and I hadn’t done a great job of concealing our shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the moment, Canarre didn’t have any sort of facilities for the research and instruction of magic. I had no doubt that making a place like that would be to the county’s benefit, in the long run."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A facility meant for magical studies would indeed be worth creating,” said Rietz. “That being said, we’ll need to bring in plenty of people with magical talent beforehand. Plus, there’s the matter of the funding needed for construction, and then for any research. There are a number of barriers that make it somewhat less than practical, for now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, even if we don’t make it right away, it sounds like it’s something we should prioritize in the near future,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Indeed,” agreed Rietz, “but let us return to the matter of recruitment. Focusing our search in the hopes of finding capable mages seems advisable, I would agree.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Same,” I said. “I think we have a plan, then! Let’s get that notice sent out!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With Rosell and Rietz’s help, I drafted up a public notice that would hopefully bring as many candidates as possible to me, then gave the order to have it posted on signboards which would be set up all throughout Canarre."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our course of action was now firmly set, and I knew we’d be focusing on proactive recruitment for the time being, but that didn’t mean we could slack off in other areas. We’d have to dedicate a fair share of time to preparing for the upcoming battle, as well. Mobilizing our forces took money and food, not to mention the resources required to keep them armed and armored. The troops were only the beginning, too─we’d also need to procure as many strategic resources as possible, chief among them aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was already feeling the loss of the money I’d pumped into airship development. Every coin devoted to that cause meant soldiers I wouldn’t be able to pay and goods our troops would lack. Fewer troops, in the worst case, could damage Couran’s opinion of me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess I’ll just have to make up for it by being extra useful on the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Bolstering our numbers was only part of what it would take to prepare our army for war. We’d also have to train our troops, better preparing them for the battles to come. That task I left in the hands of Rietz and my other retainers. I, meanwhile, spent my days appraising the people who came to us after seeing one of our recruitment signboards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Said signboards seemed to be doing their job quite well, and a decent number of hopeful applicants soon started arriving in hopes of entering into my service. The people who arrived for appraisal came from all walks of life. Some were the children of disgraced nobles, some were ordinary townsfolk, some were farmers, some were former mercenaries or bodyguards, and some were hunters."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I quickly settled into a routine, first appraising the applicant, then telling them that we’d inform them of my decision in a few days’ time and sending them on their way rather than giving them their results on the spot. We’d written that I was capable of perceiving people’s talents at a glance on the signboards, but I had a feeling that if I really just looked at them and sent them home, the failed applicants would be less than satisfied. I figured that acting as if some sort of test were happening behind the scenes would make them take the news a little better, at least."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, I’m basing my choices off people’s long-term potential, not their current capabilities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It still seemed possible that once the results were in, someone would decide to kick up a fuss about how someone who seemed superficially less useful had been accepted, while they’d been rejected. There just wasn’t a perfect answer, at least as far as I could find."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the first day, I appraised over a hundred people and wore my eyes into a state of exhaustion, but didn’t find a single one who struck me as the perfect candidate. There was one person who was reasonably capable, with maximum stats in the seventies or so, and I spent some time wondering whether or not to recruit him before deciding to ask Rietz for his input. He noted that the man’s magical Aptitude wasn’t remarkable, and since he wasn’t exceptional in any other way, I took his advice and turned the man down. I did keep his appearance and where he lived in the back of my mind, just in case the county’s fortunes turned around and I had the chance to reach out again and recruit him for real. Whether or not he’d accept was a whole different question, of course!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was one other noteworthy fact about the first day of applications that caught my attention: every one of the prospective candidates was a man. As a general rule women weren’t a match for men in close combat─with some exceptions, of course─but I knew that some of them could have incredible talent for magic slumbering within them, like Charlotte. Whether or not someone was smart or politically capable had nothing to do with their sex whatsoever, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d intended to hire any exceptional women who showed up, but in society’s eyes, women were meant to stay at home while men went out to earn their family’s keep, and that bias had proven powerful enough to convince Canarre’s women not to even try. We’d written that anyone could apply, but we hadn’t gone out of our way to specify that “anyone” included women. I’d thought that was just a given, but to the people of this world, “anyone” apparently meant “anyone, as long as you’re a man.” And so, even though it would be a bit of a pain, I had the signboards altered to include a specific note inviting women to apply as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hopefully I’ll have a few women start showing up in the next couple batches of applicants!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days packed full of appraisals came and went, but I just wasn’t finding as many new retainers as I’d been hoping for. I’d met plenty of people, but they just weren’t up to my standards, and the fatigue of it all was starting to take a toll on me. I briefly considered putting the whole project on pause and rethinking things, but in the end, I decided to push through and keep looking, however long it took."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I kept searching and searching until almost a month had passed. I took a few days off here and there over the course of that period, but still, interviewing the sheer number of people I’d gone through was brutal. To make matters worse, I still had yet to find anyone who suited my desires. After turning down that many people, I was starting to worry that rumors would start spreading about the requirements for the job being impossibly high. That could mean that my pool of applicants would dry up, and I was starting to think that it’d be a good idea to bring someone on board, even if they were less than ideal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Forty applicants await your judgment, Your Lordship,” one of the castle’s servants reported to me. That was a relatively small crowd, and I was relieved to think it would be an easy day."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The applicants filed into the room all at once. They were mostly men, as usual, but two women had shown up as well this time. I started out by offering them a quick greeting, then got right to my appraisals, starting with a conspicuously tall, red-headed man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh? These stats aren’t bad at all!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His name was Zaht Brouzdo, he was thirty-one years old, and he had a Valor score of 81, which told me he was quite the capable fighter. His Intelligence and Politics scores were in the seventies as well, which wasn’t bad at all. His one lacking skill was his Leadership of 51, which told me he wasn’t the sort of person who excelled in a position of command. His Ambition was also 56, which was a little on the high side. His current scores and maximum scores were all almost equal, so I had to assume he’d been through some proper training."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht had an A-ranked Infantry Aptitude, which was quite high. The rest of his Aptitudes were all around C or D-ranked, however, which meant that he wasn’t much of a mage. Still, with stats like his, taking him into my service seemed like it would be worthwhile on the whole."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I moved on to the rest of my appraisals in an excellent mood, elated at having finally found my first exceptional new recruit. Neither my mood nor my luck would last, as applicant after applicant turned out to not live up to my standards."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, I reached the fortieth and final candidate, who turned out to be a child. They were just about as tall as I was, and at a glance, I couldn’t tell whether they were a boy or a girl. Their hair was pretty short, and their chest was flat as could be, so I assumed they were a boy until I appraised them and found out that I was wrong, and that she was, in fact, a girl after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her name was Musia Trick, and she was sixteen years old─much older than I’d been expecting. The important part, though, was her status box…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, she’s not bad either, actually!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All four of her core stats had maximum scores in the seventies, and her Ambition score was 32, which wasn’t too high at all. Her current stats were all in the forties, so I could imagine that her abilities weren’t all that impressive at the moment, but I had high expectations for her growth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It struck me as pretty rare for a woman as small as Musia to have that high of a Valor score. Mireille had high Valor too, but she was practically a giantess, with muscles to match. That was when I looked at Musia’s Aptitudes, and found my explanation: there, in the section for her Mage Aptitude, sat the letter “A.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had all of the day’s applicants return to their homes, for the time being. Part of me had wanted to snap up my chosen candidates on the spot, but I didn’t want to earn them the enmity of all the people I hadn’t picked, and I also wanted to talk with my current retainers before I made the choice official. I was all but set on bringing Zaht and Musia into the fold. Especially Musia─an A-ranked Mage Aptitude was exactly what I’d been looking for this whole time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I eventually found the time to gather my retainers for a meeting. I’d more or less tasked Rietz with handling all of our war preparations, so his schedule was pretty packed and it took quite a while for us to find a good moment to get everyone together. But soon, everything fell into place, we all gathered up, and I gave everyone a brief summary of Zaht and Musia’s capabilities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So you’ve finally found a talented mage! Well done, Lord Ars!” said Rietz with a broad smile."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Even just a single capable mage more makes all the difference in terms of the strategies available to us! I’m so glad we got one, honestly. Who knows if they’ll be battle-ready before the fighting starts, though,” said Rosell, who was happy too, but a little more tempered in tone. It seemed he wasn’t optimistic about Musia’s ability to participate in the imminent conflict."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Woohoo!” Charlotte cheered with a pump of her fists. “So, what’s the new mage like?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, she’s a woman like you, to start,” I said. “She’s sixteen, and short for her age. We didn’t talk much, so I’m not sure what sort of personality she has yet.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A girl? Nice! I’ll have to really press her nose to the grindstone,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Please don’t,” I sighed. “I mean, don’t be that hard on her. It took a long time to pick her out, you know?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The last thing I wanted was for Charlotte to go nuts with Musia’s training routine and drive her away. Of course, knowing the sort of person Charlotte was, I couldn’t imagine her really being that much of a drill sergeant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As for the other candidate you mentioned…Zaht, I believe? You said his abilities are exceptional, per your appraisal, yes?” said Rietz. “In that case, I believe that bringing both of them into your service is an excellent idea. Given how few results our search has produced so far, I was of the mind to suggest recruiting someone soon, no matter who they were.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, it seemed, had been thinking along the same lines I was, and since nobody had raised any objections, Musia and Zaht’s recruitment was set in stone. I had letters dispatched to both of their homes at once, informing them of their offers of employment. A few days later, they arrived at Castle Canarre once more."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s an honor to enter your esteemed service, Your Lordship,” Zaht said with a bow the moment he saw me. He was clearly a man who knew his manners, though considering how high his Ambition score was, I wasn’t about to let myself lower my guard around him. Who knew what he might do if I was too careless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“U-Umm… Did I really pass the test?” Musia asked in a tone devoid of self-confidence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, you did. You have remarkable potential,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“D-Do I really? I can hardly believe it… What sort of potential do you mean, Your Lordship?” she asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The potential to be a mage. You have a talent for magic,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“F-For magic?! But I’ve never cast a spell in my life!” Musia exclaimed in bewildered shock. I could understand why being told she had a talent for something she’d never even tried would be hard to swallow, to be fair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With enough training, you will become a mage among mages. I can promise you that with absolute confidence,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“B-But…mages are soldiers, aren’t they? You expect me to fight?! Even if I can use magic, I think I’d do better work far away from the front line,” Musia muttered. Her apprehension about my proposal was plain to see."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It struck me that Charlotte’s willingness to march right into battle without a hint of protest made her quite the rare exception. By this world’s values, sending a woman to war was an incredibly cruel thing to do. I’d sort of assumed that her talent for magic meant that Musia would be just as much of a weirdo as Charlotte was, but it turned out that she was an ordinary girl, at least in terms of her personality."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And wait,” Musia continued. “Are you saying that women can use magic?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, they can,” I replied. “One of my retainers is a female mage who’s achieved great things on countless battlefields. You haven’t heard of her?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“N-No, I haven’t. I had no idea,” Musia said with a shake of her head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d thought that Charlotte was pretty famous, so I was a little surprised. To be fair, I wasn’t on Earth anymore and my current society didn’t have the ability to diffuse information like my old world did, so maybe it was only natural that word hadn’t gotten around in the way I’d thought it would. On the other hand, it felt a little strange that someone who was trying to enter into the service of the count wouldn’t have looked into that sort of thing before signing up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I don’t know if I can fight, and I don’t know if I can use magic, but I’ll do my absolute best anyway!” Musia said with a panicked bow. And with that, House Louvent formally welcomed two new retainers into its service."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey! I’m Charlotte. I think they said your name was, err… What was it again, actually?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“M-Musia,” House Louvent’s newest recruit timidly replied. She and her senior retainer were a short distance away from the city of Canarre, in a training ground set up for the count’s troops."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Where in the world have I let myself get dragged off to? Musia thought to herself as she glanced around at all the male mages in the training grounds. They were all looking back at her, their gazes sharp and appraising. They weren’t trying to intimidate her, though─that was just how their expressions wound up while they were training. Soldiers like them took their practice very seriously, and there was always an almost electric air of tension in the air when they ran through their drills."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“U-Umm,” Musia said, raising a trembling hand into the air. “I’m, well, a girl…and I’ve never used magic at all, so…is it really even possible for me to have a talent for it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You’re not the first female mage in this crew,” Charlotte pointed out. “Plus, Lord Ars picked you out! That means you’ve got some crazy talent for sure. But, eh, might as well give it a try and see for yourself, right?” she added, passing Musia a small catalyzer already full of aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do I do with this?” Musia asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Just chant a spell. That’s all it takes to use magic! Here, I’ll show you one.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte recited the incantation for Fire Bullet, a flame-aspected spell. Musia, in turn, repeated the incantation in an almost inaudible mutter. Fortunately, the volume of a mage’s voice was unrelated to the effectiveness of the spell they cast. A mage couldn’t get away with just mouthing the words, of course, but past that point, how loudly they cast wasn’t a factor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The very instant Musia finished reciting her spell, an orb of flame burst forth before her. It slammed into a target and detonated in a moderately-sized explosion. It wasn’t an outlandishly large blast, by any means, but for an absolute beginner’s very first spell, it was without a doubt remarkably powerful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ooh,” one of the nearby mages exclaimed in admiration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Impressive,” said another."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That was a far cry from one of Charlotte’s spells, but it’s quite something to see a beginner cast like that,” added a third. Now, at least, their businesslike frowns faded away, and they complimented their new ally with smiles on their faces."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Was that pretty good, or something?” asked Charlotte, who’d never had a proper grasp of what counted as a reasonable level of magical power."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had been casting outlandishly ultra-powered spells from the very beginning, and was very much an outlier─enough so that she couldn’t judge other mages’ abilities by any reasonable standard. The other mages, however, had a clearer perspective, and explained how impressive Musia’s spell was by using the stories of their own first spells as a comparison."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh! That so?” said Charlotte. “Guess she really is amazing, then! I knew Lord Ars wouldn’t screw up that sorta call.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia, however, didn’t hear so much as a word of Charlotte and the mages’ exchange. She was too busy staring blankly at the charred wreckage of the target she’d just immolated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I…I can really use magic? Musia thought to herself, so moved by the revelation she began to tremble. Until she’d recited the spell─until she’d seen the fireball conjured by her own will slam into the target─she had never truly believed that she had the potential to be a mage. A person like me? Really…? And it was pretty powerful, too…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia had never seen magic in person before, so by her standards, the spell she’d cast had appeared tremendously destructive. At the absolute least, she could tell that if she’d directed a spell like that toward a person, terrible burns would be the best-case scenario for them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nothing I’ve ever tried to do before now has felt like it clicked…but maybe I’ve found the one thing that does."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In that moment, Musia could tell that her life was about to change dramatically."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, Musia’s training as a mage began."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The first time she saw Charlotte, the leader of Canarre’s mage division, cast a spell, Musia was stunned. She realized instantly that the spell that she had cast was nothing compared to the sheer power that Charlotte wielded. That being said, she didn’t feel frustrated by the revelation, as she was still a rank and file beginner. To the contrary, she felt a sense of admiration toward Charlotte. The knowledge that a woman like her was capable of casting such mighty spells made Musia begin to wish that she, too, could be that skilled one day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She soon had opportunities to watch the other mages cast as well, and found that, Charlotte aside, none of them were particularly impressive. They were all capable of casting more effective spells than Musia’s had been, of course─it was, after all, her very first attempt─but none of them blew hers out of the water like Charlotte’s had. Musia realized on an intuitive level that it might not be long at all before she surpassed them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As time passed by and her training continued, Musia’s magical capabilities never spiked dramatically. They did grow, though, little by little and day by day, which was enough to catch Charlotte’s attention and give her a positive impression of Musia’s capabilities. Many of the other mages never seemed to improve no matter how much they practiced."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hey, Musia! Let’s go get some grub!” Charlotte called out one day after the mage unit’s training came to a close. She’d taken quite a liking to the newest mage in their force, and was hoping to get to know her a little better over a meal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, all right,” Musia agreed hesitantly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Their meals were waiting for them in Castle Canarre’s dining hall. Musia and Charlotte returned to the castle together, collected their food, and sat down to eat at the same table."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, looks like you’ve been enjoying yourself, eh? I bet you’re pretty glad to get to throw some magic around, huh?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? Oh, I mean, yes! It’s been wonderful!” Musia replied with a smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Great! That’s good to hear, seriously. The more you like it, the easier it is to get motivated, y’know?” Charlotte said as she nodded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, umm─can I ask you a few questions?” inquired Musia, who was starting to get a little worked up. She’d been hoping to speak with Charlotte about all sorts of things for quite some time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sure, go for it!” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, then─how do you use such incredibly powerful magic?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oof, that’s a toughie,” said Charlotte. “I just kinda do it, and then it’s like…bam! Magic! Nobody ever seems to get it when I try to explain.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, umm…bam?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia paused to ponder Charlotte’s words, but just couldn’t understand what she was trying to describe. The two of them sank into silence for a moment, and eventually, Musia decided to ask a new question and change the topic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, how did you become a mage?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, that was thanks to Lord Ars! I was a slave, see, but then he came along and bought me. Said he was buying me as a retainer instead of a slave, though, and, well, here I am!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A s-slave…?” Musia repeated in shock. She’d never imagined Charlotte had such a history."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, I screwed up and got nabbed by a snatcher,” said Charlotte. “If Lord Ars hadn’t found me, I’d probably be a sex slave right about now. I’ve got the looks for it, right?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She certainly did, though Musia was a little put off by the fact that Charlotte had pointed the fact out herself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What about you? What’s your story? Before you got here, I mean,” inquired Charlotte, turning the question back around on Musia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was just a plain old peasant,” Musia replied. “I spent all of my life helping out at home. It was, well, very ordinary.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh,” mumbled Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One might’ve expected her to ask why Musia had chosen to enter into a lord’s service, but Charlotte did no such thing, much to Musia’s relief. It wasn’t a topic she cared to discuss, though not because the answer was complicated or touchy. To the contrary, she was embarrassed to explain herself because her motives were so plain and simple."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, glad to have you, in any case!” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thank you!” said Musia with a nod, returning Charlotte’s smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, Zaht was already regretting his decision to become Ars’s retainer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Graaaaaah! Show some backbone, you buncha slugs!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The source of his regret: Zaht’s direct superior Braham, who was, charitably, an idiot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On Ars’s orders, Zaht had been stationed as the second in command of a small troop of elite soldiers. That wasn’t a problem, in and of itself. The problem─or rather, the many problems─were on account of the commander of the troop, Braham. The man exuded an aura of stupidity, no matter where he was or what he was doing. It wasn’t long before Zaht found himself questioning why he’d been made to work under a man like that, and it was only shortly thereafter that he found his patience for the situation dangling by a rapidly-fraying thread."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The recruitment sign was weird enough to get my attention, and everything seemed all well and good up until I passed the test…but how was I supposed to know I’d end up working with someone like him? Maybe it’s time for me to make tracks, Zaht thought to himself as he fretted over his immediate future."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht hadn’t been born into a distinguished family, and had never achieved anything especially great upon the field of battle. He was a capable enough fighter, but he knew that wouldn’t be enough to get him far in the world. There was no guarantee he’d be able to find employment if he left Canarre, which meant that he couldn’t afford to make any hasty moves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, Zaht, it’s sparring time! let’s do this!” Braham shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The proposal had come out of nowhere, and Zaht hesitated for a moment, but then decided to take Braham up on his offer. The man was an idiot, yes, but judging by the way he carried himself, Zaht judged that he was exceptionally physically capable. This struck him as a good opportunity to judge Braham’s ability as a fighter firsthand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The men took up wooden swords and faced off against each other. Braham’s specialty was the spear, but he’d chosen a sword today in spite of that fact. He was capable of holding his own, even without using his weapon of choice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s do this!” Braham bellowed as he swung his sword toward Zaht. Braham’s small stature belied the sheer power packed into his compact frame, and his first strike was a heavy one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht skillfully parried the attack rather than blocking it head-on. The duel wore on in much the same manner for some time, but in the end, Braham’s strength won out and Zaht’s sword was knocked clean out of his hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht found himself so frustrated by the loss that he soon chose to challenge Braham to a duel in turn. They fought again, and then again, but time after time, their battles ended in Zaht’s defeat. He had no choice but to admit that Braham was a remarkable warrior, in spite of his stupidity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m on a whole new level of strength thanks to Rietz’s lessons!” Braham proudly declared. “I’ll pass on some of his wisdom, so listen up: When you’re fighting someone, you’ve gotta watch their movements really carefully!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That’s the most basic of the basics! Zaht’s inner voice shouted indignantly. It was so basic that it went without saying, in fact."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When you watch how the person you’re fighting moves, it makes it easier to hit them and to dodge their attacks! You should see how Rietz fights─he’s a master, through and through!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht had to wonder: if Braham had only learned that particular lesson recently, then how in the world had he been fighting up until then? And moreover, what did it say about Zaht that he was incapable of defeating a man who didn’t know how fighting worked on a fundamental level? A budding sense of self-loathing was beginning to grow within him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Guess I won’t be quitting after all, Zaht thought. Not until I manage to take this idiot down, anyway!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, Zaht found his resolve, by way of intense, bitter frustration."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few weeks had passed since I took Musia and Zaht into my service, and I decided to check in with everyone and see how the two of them had been acclimating to their positions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia, it seemed, had been diligently training away to improve her magical skills. Although her Mage Aptitude was quite high, the spells she cast weren’t as fearsomely powerful as Charlotte’s just yet. I’d come to understand that some people with high aptitudes learned and grew quicker than others, and Musia seemed to be on the slow and steady end of that spectrum. That being said, she was still capable enough to almost immediately wield more powerful magic than the rest of our mage division. Her talent was unmistakable─it was just still developing, and she hadn’t quite reached a level where she could participate in a real battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte, meanwhile, had grown quite fond of Musia and had taken it upon herself to act as the fledgeling mage’s personal tutor. I wasn’t convinced that affection was a two-way street─Musia was, after all, getting an up close and personal view of Charlotte’s whimsical nature─but Musia did at least seem to genuinely admire Charlotte and the powerful magic she wielded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht, on the other hand, was an exceptionally skilled combatant and was easily capable of going out into battle already. His lack of Leadership meant that he wouldn’t be commanding any armies any time soon, so I’d formed a small division of relatively capable soldiers and made him one of its members."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d entrusted the leadership of that division to Braham, a former enemy soldier who I’d recruited after a recent battle. Braham had the potential to be an incredible leader, but at the moment, his Leadership score was less than impressive. I’d decided to start him out in command of a small force, hoping that would give him the chance to get some experience and boost his score. I gave Zaht the role of the division’s second-in-command, tasking him with aiding Braham in his duties. Braham had a rather over-the-top personality, but Zaht was a little older and considerably calmer, so I was hoping that the two of them would balance each other out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I kept up my recruitment drive even after bringing Zaht and Musia into the fold, and eventually found ten other individuals who struck me as capable enough to hire. Musia was the only one with a talent for magic, in the end, but the rest of them were gifted enough in their own rights. Some of them were already capable and ready to go out into battle at once, while others’ talents were still latent and would take some fostering before I could use them. Most of the people I chose were either commoners or disgraced nobles, and a few of them had come to Canarre from other duchies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My search had taken quite a long time in the end, and I’d only managed to recruit twelve or so people, so I found myself questioning whether this new method was as efficient as we’d hoped it would be. I wished there were some way for me to cast a wider net. My best idea for the moment was to foster relationships with the counts of the nearby counties and put myself in a position where I could search their territories for talent as well. That, surely, would make for a more efficient process. My hands were full just dealing with my own county, and I’d had no opportunities to socialize with my fellow counts so far, which seemed like something I’d want to make happen in the long run."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Maybe I’ll have to invite all the counts I can to a party, or something to that effect? And if I get an invitation from any of them to any gatherings, I’ll definitely have to make attending it a priority."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Several months after I assumed leadership over Canarre, Rietz came to me with a report."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” he said, “a letter from Lord Couran has arrived for you.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, has it?” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Indeed. I presume the war is soon to resume, and he has chosen to order you to assemble your troops and march to the front lines.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz handed me the letter, which I opened and read on the spot. It was exactly what he’d anticipated: a request that me and my troops march to join forces with Couran’s army. That said, it also noted that there were reports of suspicious movements in Seitz, and instructed me to leave behind a standing force to deal with any sudden developments on the border."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had actually already been made aware of Seitz’s questionable movements, and Rietz, capable as he was, had recognized the importance of the news. He hadn’t even waited for me to give the order before using all our available resources, the Shadows included, to start amassing information. It wasn’t long before I’d received a full report on the situation in Seitz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seitz’s leadership had recently been disrupted by a rebellion, and the man responsible had managed to drive the now former Duke of Seitz out of the duchy and install himself as the new leader. It was a classic case of a retainer unseating the lord that he served. The rebellion’s success was still a recent development, so the situation in the duchy was still far from settled and I’d initially assumed that they wouldn’t be capable of any aggressive moves for some time, but there was also the possibility that the presence of an external enemy would bring the armies of Seitz together faster than I was anticipating."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The easiest target of invasion for Seitz, however, was not, in fact, Missian. Scheutz, the duchy to Seitz’s north, presented a more appealing target, and if Seitz was to march on any of its neighbors it seemed more than likely they’d head in that direction. Missian still couldn’t let its guard down, though, and strengthening our borders was a clear necessity. Of course, the fact that I’d been told I didn’t have to bring my whole army to the front meant that even if I showed up with a somewhat unimpressive force, Couran wouldn’t blame me for it. The situation wasn’t completely devoid of upsides."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Spread the word, Rietz─we’ll begin preparing to march into battle at once!” I ordered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship!” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On Couran’s command, we set about preparing to sortie on the double."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Meanwhile in Castle Arcantez, Vasmarque’s followers were delivering a report to their lord."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our attempts to sabotage Couran’s alliance with Paradille have failed, Your Lordship.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“With regards to our appeal for an armistice with the Emperor, we have regrettably received a letter denying our request.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque scowled. Velshdt had fallen, his right-hand man Thomas taken captive, and now Couran was rallying his troops for another offensive, leaving Vasmarque in a genuine predicament. He’d tried everything he could think of to extricate himself from his dilemma, but to no avail."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve few options left…and little choice but to make do with the means available to us. We must fight to our last breath─or otherwise, lay down our arms and surrender,” said Remus. Although he’d led his troops to victory in countless battles, the old veteran seemed half-resigned to defeat already. “I would have it be known that even were we to fight to the last, we would gain nothing more than needless bloodshed. For Missian’s sake, I believe our proper course is to admit defeat.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No. Never…” Vasmarque muttered, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled. “I have never thought myself to be a man of great ambition. I am well aware that my talents suit the role of a counselor more than they do a leader. But…I would never leave Missian in Couran’s hands.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A tinge of fury crept into Vasmarque’s words as he spoke on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Couran is a man held in high esteem, I will grant him that. His underlings adore him, and he is by no means inept. I, however, have spent my whole life watching him. I know him all too well─I know his pettiness, his small-mindedness, and his utter inability to truly trust anyone. The moment he claims the highest seat in Missian, he will purge any of his subordinates who may be capable enough to challenge him, and in their absence, the duchy will begin its inevitable decline. It would be bad enough if we lacked external foes, but in this day and age, the slightest sign of weakness will bring our neighboring duchies down upon us. They will feast upon Missian’s carcass, and House Salemakhia will fall to ruin. That, above all else, I cannot allow to come to pass.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Being Couran’s younger brother offered Vasmarque a unique perspective into the man’s personality. That perspective─those memories of his brother─led him to conclude that Couran did not have what it took to lead the duchy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But, Lord Vasmarque,” said Remus, “you mustn’t blind yourself to reality. The simple truth is that we have no moves left to make.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No,” said Vasmarque with a shake of his head. “Not quite. We still have one remaining ray of hope. If it fails, then I will concede that we’ve exhausted our last option…but not until then.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that moment, another of Vasmarque’s subordinates burst into the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ve returned from Seitz, Your Lordship!” he shouted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Excellent work! What news do you bear?” Vasmarque asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The rebellion has unseated the duke, and Lord Grenda Domatson has claimed his position! He has stated that he’s willing to negotiate, and entrusted me with a letter for you!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“He has?! Let’s see it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasmarque believed that if he could bring Seitz into the conflict on his side, he would still have a chance to turn the tide in his favor. To that end, when he heard that the rebellion was nearing victory, he’d had a letter dispatched to Seitz’s current rulership. The new duke, Grenda Domatson, had seized his position in a remarkably short period of time, and was unmistakably as capable as rulers come. He would surely prove to be an invaluable ally."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque scanned the letter. As his subordinate had reported, it stated that Grenda was willing to open negotiations. It did not, however, make any concrete promises of an alliance to come─that would depend on how their talks played out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A chance to negotiate was a boon, to be sure, but there was no guarantee that the negotiations would end in Vasmarque’s favor. Knowing how recently Grenda had ascended, it seemed all but certain he would have his hands full with internal issues as well. Even if he were looking for opportunities to stage an assault on his neighboring duchies, Scheutz would be a far easier target. Moreover, Scheutz was home to a cavern known colloquially as Mage’s Paradise, in which an incredible variety of magistone deposits could be found. Seitz was comparatively limited in its magical resources, so a potential windfall of that nature would be almost impossible to resist."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’ve few cards to play, and the tide is flowing against us. But that doesn’t mean it’s over─whether or not we can secure this alliance will all come down to our ability to negotiate, thought Vasmarque. He was determined to come out of the talks with a new ally, no matter what it took."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My retainers and I rallied our troops, and began our preparations to join forces with Couran’s army. As I’d anticipated, however, we lacked proper funding, and could only afford to bring some of our men into active mobilization. Then, there was the matter of Seitz, and the fact that we needed to leave a standing force behind to ward off any unexpected assaults. Between those two factors, we wound up with a considerably smaller army that was ready to march than we’d had last time we sortied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it’s not like Couran’s lacking in manpower to begin with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had a pretty clear idea that he didn’t want me there for my rank and file troops─he wanted me for my exceptional retainers and the out-of-the-box ideas they could supply him with for his attack. Considering how small Canarre’s population was, I would have been shocked if he’d expected us to bring along many soldiers in the first place."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was to understand that Couran’s force would hold a considerable advantage in manpower during the fight for Arcantez, but that wasn’t to say that Vasmarque’s personal troops would be pushovers by any means. I was certain that the battle would be winnable, but I was also certain it wouldn’t be easy. We’d have to do everything we could to tip the odds in our favor and make it as simple of a conquest as possible, in the hopes of putting me deeper into Couran’s good graces."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The troops are prepared to move out whenever you’re ready, Lord Ars,” Rietz reported."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Great! In that case, let’s get─” I began, but before I could finish giving the order, a man burst into the room."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was Ben, the Shadows’ resident message-runner. He was usually an impassive man, but for once, there was a clear hint of panic on his face. I didn’t like what that impression implied one bit. It seemed unlikely he was here to deliver good news."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What happened?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Ben took a moment to catch his breath, then returned to his usual blank expression and gave his report in an almost indifferent tone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seitz’s troops are preparing to mobilize, and they’re gathering up in the County of Purledo, which is just across the border from us. Their objective isn’t clear yet, but the odds are high that they’re preparing for an invasion of Canarre.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They’re…what?” I gasped. I was in a state of utter and complete shock. I’d known there was a chance that Seitz would make a move on Canarre, but now, of all times? Moreover, they were gathering what sounded like a sizable invasion force. I couldn’t begin to guess how many soldiers that would mean, but it certainly sounded like they intended to take the county by storm."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“How many soldiers are we talking?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Around eighty thousand,” said Ben."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“E-Eighty thousand,” I stammered. It was almost too large a number for me to wrap my head around, and was far greater a force than Canarre had any hope of fending off. In fact, it was a large enough army that I had to wonder if they were planning on starting with Canarre, then rolling over the rest of Missian while they were at it. “F-First things first─call off the sortie, and be ready to send a message to Lord Couran on the double! Then, gather everyone up for an emergency meeting!” I ordered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mere moments beforehand I’d been occupied by the thought of how I could make myself more useful to my superiors. Now, though, I’d shifted gears and was single-mindedly focused on how I could protect my territory. To start, I returned to my room and drafted a letter to Couran as quickly as I could manage, explaining the situation and requesting as many troops as he could possibly spare to back us up. I entrusted it to one of my retainers for delivery, then hurried off to meet with Rietz, Mireille, Rosell, and the others, who would hopefully help me figure out what in the world we could do about our newfound crisis."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, we’re sure in one hell of a pickle this time, aren’t we?” said Mireille. She sounded rather casual for a woman who’d just rushed from Lamberg to Canarre at a breakneck pace, but then again, she’d never seemed to react dramatically to this sort of crisis. Part of me suspected she enjoyed the thrill of an oncoming disaster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-Why are you acting like nothing’s wrong?! Th-This is a disaster!” Rosell shouted. He was so stressed he’d gone pallid, but also, I had to agree with him. Blind panic was the natural reaction in this situation. Mireille’s aloof attitude did help me feel a little reassured that we could still turn things around, though, so I didn’t fault her for it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Assuming the Shadows’ report is accurate, the enemy force is far larger than we have any hope of dealing with on our own. Waiting for reinforcements is our only option,” said Rietz, who seemed relatively calm and collected. His conclusion was undeniable, as well. Canarre’s army stood no chance of defeating eighty thousand men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The question is, how many men will he even bother sending…?” Mireille muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I believe Lord Couran has ample cause to send a sizable force,” said Rietz. “Canarre may not be a location of vital importance, but we are quite close to Semplar, which serves as his base of operations. Should Canarre fall, Lord Couran will face a distinct threat on his doorstep.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille shook her head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s wishful thinking,” she said. “If Seitz has eighty thousand troops on the border, that pretty much guarantees they’re convinced they’ll profit from an invasion. And if that’s true, then odds are good they’ve got some sort of trick up their sleeve.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Such as…?” I prompted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d put money on Seitz and Vasmarque working together on this one. Dunno what sort of deal they could’ve made with each other, but I’m positive that Vasmarque’s going to use Seitz’s assault to spring some sort of trap of his own. That’ll keep Couran busy, and he won’t be able to send us the backup we need as a result.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille’s explanation seemed weirdly convincing to me. There was something unnatural about Seitz’s offensive, when she put it that way, and them having made a deal to work together and take down Couran would make everything make sense again. We didn’t have any concrete evidence, of course, and there was always the possibility that Seitz had just decided to invade and take over Missian on its own initiative. If we received a message from Couran saying that Vasmarque was on the move and he wouldn’t be able to help us, though, then I would consider Mireille’s theory all but proven."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think Master’s right,” said Rosell. “Vasmarque’s supposed to be a tactical genius, so I’m sure he could have pulled a plan like that off without much trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“There’s no telling how the situation may develop, but for the moment, it would behoove us to plan for the worst-case scenario. After all, should reinforcements not arrive, then protecting Canarre will fall upon our shoulders.” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, but…protect it how?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, Rietz, and Rosell all fell silent. Even with all three of their exceptional Intelligence scores put together, it seemed that figuring out how to repel a force of eighty thousand men wasn’t such an easy task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, nah. It’s a lost cause,” said Mireille. “Not only do we not have the manpower, but our cities aren’t designed to repel a serious invasion. Castle Canarre’s walls aren’t equipped with any half-decent magical weapons or defenses at all. If Seitz really wanted this territory, they could have it within a year, at most. Our only hope’s that Couran will defeat Vasmarque before then and send reinforcements our way.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In other words, Mireille was recommending that we fight a defensive battle and stall for as much time as possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d be leaving our fates in the hands of our allies…but is that our only choice?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, there is one other option,” Mireille continued."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What would that be?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Surrender to Seitz before the battle even starts,” said Mireille. “They’ll probably ask us to lay down our arms before they invade in earnest, and if we say yes, they might decide not to kill the lot of us. I’m sure the Duke of Seitz would love to get his hands on your power, and if you play your cards right, you might even manage to move up in the world. Seitz’ll move in to hit Couran in the flank and take Semplar, most likely, and if you manage to contribute enough in that battle, he might just set you up in charge of the place. Hell, you might even be able to keep Canarre too, for all I know.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could think of a word to describe that proposal: a betrayal. Mireille was right that stabbing Couran in the back could save the lives of me and my retainers, and it seemed less risky than the other options on the table. Considering that I’d made a point of prioritizing the continued existence of House Louvent, it should’ve by all rights been an option that I took into serious consideration…but I just couldn’t help but balk at the idea."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Why was I so opposed to betraying Couran? Simply put, one of the biggest reasons was because I’d taken a liking to him as an individual. He was understanding, honest, and generous in treating his followers to lavish rewards and feasts. He also seemed to hold me in high esteem, whereas I had no idea how the Duke of Seitz would view me if I jumped ship. The promise I’d made to Lumeire played a motivating factor as well. He was deeply loyal to Couran, from what I could tell, and having inherited his former territory, using it and its resources to stab Couran in the back would feel downright coldhearted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I quickly reached my decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m afraid I would prefer not to surrender, Mireille,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lemme set something straight, kiddo. You think that surrendering would mean betraying Couran, right?” Mireille replied. “Well, this whole scenario’s assuming that he either doesn’t send any reinforcements to help us, or sends too few to make any difference. If one of his vassals asks for his help and he doesn’t deliver, that means he’s failed in his lordly duties. If you’re faced with unbeatable odds and your lord doesn’t send anyone to back you up, then when you surrender, it’s not your fault─it’s the lord’s, no question. That means that nobody will see it as a betrayal, and you won’t damage your family’s reputation.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I have to admit that I found her argument compelling, and a part of me wavered, but I’d made my choice and I felt compelled to stick with it. Rietz and Rosell seemed to see the logic in surrendering as well, and while they didn’t like the idea of giving up without a fight, they were of the opinion that in the worst-case scenario it might be our only option. I wasn’t excited about the idea of fighting to the death, either…and if it came down to it, I knew that surrender could be the best way to save my retainers, my family, my fiancée Licia, my citizens, and, of course, myself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, none of this will matter if Lord Couran can get us the troops we need,” I said. “Let’s wait for his response before we make any major decisions. That, and send what troops we have on hand toward the border. Can we deploy them right away?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We were already preparing for a sortie, so they can move out at once,” said Rietz. “I believe we should have them set up camps at a number of strategic points immediately.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then I’ll leave commanding the army to you. I’m counting on you,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, Your Lordship!” Rietz said, then headed out to give the troops their orders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days had passed since the news of Seitz’s impending invasion arrived, and the possibility of Vasmarque making a move and preventing Couran from sending us reinforcements was still nothing more than speculation on Mireille’s part. Her Intelligence score was exceptional, but that didn’t mean she was always right. I hoped she’d gotten this one wrong, frankly, but all I could do was await news from Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, a soldier came hurrying into my office."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I bear urgent news, Lord Ars! A message has arrived from Lord Couran!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s finally here?!” I exclaimed, then hurried over to accept and read the letter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran’s report read like a summary of Mireille’s predictions. At the same moment Seitz’s forces began massing on our border, Vasmarque’s troops had gone on the warpath. He sent out a vast number of his troops─enough to leave the capital almost undefended─in an all-out effort to recapture Velshdt. At first Couran had assumed that Vasmarque was trusting Arcantez’s fortifications to hold the castle while he was away and staking the war on a gamble, but when news of Seitz’s preparations reached him, he realized that it was no gamble at all, and that Vasmarque had made a deal with Seitz behind the scenes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Velshdt had been hard-won, to say the least, and would be incredibly important for the sake of the war. Losing it could prove fatal, and so Couran had no choice but to throw everything he had into its defense. The force marching toward Velshdt was substantial, and since Couran had to send just as many troops to support the city, that left him with very few reinforcements to dispatch to Canarre’s aid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He did not, however, intend to abandon Canarre entirely, and pledged to dispatch a small force to back our troops up. Small, in this instance, meant twenty thousand. Canarre’s standing army numbered eight thousand, giving us twenty-eight thousand troops to work with in total. That meant we were still outnumbered, but not by so dramatic an extent as to make it possible for the enemy to rush in and overwhelm us in a flash. In addition, while he wasn’t able to send us many men, he did promise to send resources and provisions in abundance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran also mentioned that the Maitraw Company would be among the reinforcements he sent to us. I’d fought with the mercenaries before, and I knew that their leader was exceptional and his troops highly skilled. I’d learned in our previous engagement that they weren’t the sort of sellswords who did the bare minimum to earn their pay, and I felt that I could trust them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran, it seemed, had every intention of warding off Vasmarque’s assault and coming to our aid before Canarre fell. Until then, our job was to buy time and hold out for as long as possible with what troops he could spare. He emphasized that he would send more men, no matter what, and asked that I keep up the fight in spite of our inferior numbers and not surrender, no matter how dire the situation seemed. Clearly, he’d realized that we’d be considering raising the white flag if the situation devolved."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The difference in numbers hadn’t been balanced, but on the other hand, if we were to devote ourselves purely to defense, I had a feeling that we might just be able to pull through. Couran was no slouch in battle, and I didn’t imagine he’d have a hard time winning the day on his front, even with his brother as his opponent. I resolved myself to believe in him and fight as hard as I could…though first things first, I needed to call my retainers together for a meeting on the double."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was still in Castle Canarre, but Rietz had headed out to the border to help set up our defensive encampments and wasn’t available at the moment. As such, we’d have to conduct our meeting without him this time. He was always a source of calm, sensible analysis, and I would have preferred to have him around, but there wasn’t much I could do to make that happen under the circumstances. I sent word to the rest of my people and got things underway at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Twenty thousand, eh? That’s gonna be dicey, but I can’t say it’s impossible,” Mireille said after I finished updating her on the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So they outnumber us three to one…? This isn’t good at all… At least we’ll have the Maitraw Company on our side… But when all’s said and done, war’s a game of numbers…” Rosell muttered to himself. I could tell by the pallid gloom cast over his face that he was going into pessimist mode again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’d be handy if we could get more detailed info on how many we’re up against, or about the state of the provisions and resources they’re working with. Do we have anything along those lines yet?” asked Mireille."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0017.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d asked the Shadows to investigate the enemy forces, and as luck had it, their initial report had arrived just moments before Couran’s letter. According to that report, they had yet to begin their invasion in earnest, but the fact that they intended to attack Canarre was no longer in question. They numbered roughly eighty thousand, as we’d expected, and they were well-stocked with the provisions needed for an extended campaign. They could keep it up for a year, at minimum."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Their magical resources, in contrast, were somewhat limited. Fire-aspected magistones weren’t a resource that Seitz had in abundance. The most common sort of magistone in that region was earth-aspected, and while earth magic was quite useful for creating walls and moats in a flash, those were primarily for defensive purposes, and it wasn’t especially useful when fighting an offensive war. A capable mage could use it to attack by synthesizing chunks of metal and sending them flying through the air, but for an average mage, digging holes and making walls was the best you could hope for."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Missian’s relationship with Seitz had been rocky for quite some time, so very few fire magistones had been exported in recent memory…at least, in theory. Somehow, though, the Shadows reported that Seitz’s army was stocked with a supply of fire-aspected aqua magia. Vasmarque, clearly, had engineered a means to deliver those resources to Seitz, and that meant that we couldn’t assume they’d be lacking in straight-up firepower."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The report also mentioned that the assault would not be led by the newly-ascended Duke of Seitz. Rather, it would be spearheaded by his most trusted retainer, a man named Boroths Heigand who had played a key role in enabling the new duke’s rise to power. He was a very capable leader who had once crushed an army of a hundred thousand with a force half their size. That victory had dealt a serious blow to the former duke’s resistance, and had ultimately played the deciding factor in the war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I realized, in retrospect, that I should’ve known the new duke would have capable followers on his side, considering the dramatic rise to power he’d pulled off. I wasn’t the only lord with people who knew their stuff, and I knew I had to get in the habit of taking that fact into consideration."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So they have plenty of provisions, not much flame aqua magia, and a small stock of explosive aqua magia,” Mireille summed up. “And the enemy commander’s a force to be reckoned with, huh…? What about their morale? That can make or break a battle, when all’s said and done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not so great, apparently,” I said. “They just finished one large-scale war, so I imagine none of their soldiers are very excited about jumping right into another one.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So their morale’s pretty low, then,” said Rosell. “Though if their commander’s as capable as you say he is, I’m sure he has a trick or two to raise morale up his sleeve. We can’t assume his troops won’t be fighting their best.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In other words, we’re still in dire straits,” Mireille muttered. She didn’t sound optimistic, but the smirk on her face told a different story."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Do you think we stand a chance?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, first off, we can’t let that story about their commander taking on an army twice the size of his and winning scare us. It’s not exactly rare for military men to exaggerate their victories, and even if it is true, sometimes a little luck makes all the difference in battle. It’s possible that he caught a lucky break and his plan worked out perfectly by pure chance.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell nodded in agreement."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s true,” he said. “Not to mention that taking on a large force with a small one and taking on a small force with a large one require totally different tactics.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Plus, our goal this time is to drive them away, not to wipe them out. Considering that, I’d say yeah, we stand a good chance,” added Mireille."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Seitz wouldn’t be invading if they didn’t think they stood to gain something,” Rosell claimed. “I figure they must have made some sort of deal with Vasmarque, but if we can put them in a position where they’d lose more by carrying on the invasion than they’d gain from the deal, they’ll probably withdraw. I don’t know what they’re gaining by attacking us, but I can’t imagine it’s enough to justify getting the better part of their army killed.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So, essentially, you’re saying we have to convince the army of Seitz that their losses would outweigh their gains?” I asked to make sure I was following his logic. Rosell nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And that means everything hinges on the start of the war,” said Mireille. “We need to make this invasion look as unappealing as possible from the outset. If we can take the wind out of their sails right away, it’ll ruin their morale so badly that even the most skilled commander would need time to bring their troops back around. That’ll make them less likely to press the attack.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Taking the wind out of their sails, huh?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her reasoning was sound. Considering the advantage in numbers the enemy held, that felt like our best bet at keeping their invasion at bay. We had an incredibly powerful mage on our side in Charlotte, and a very capable battlefield commander in Rietz. We also had the Maitraw Company on the way to reinforce us, and they were sure to equal the enemy’s troops in skill. In fact, I was willing to bet they’d surpass our foes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I guess we’ll be relying on Charlotte again,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re counting on you, Charlotte!” Rosell chimed in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte was present at the meeting…physically, anyway. She must not have been keeping up with the conversation, though, and the closest we got to a reply from her was a slovenly snore. She was also drooling, which didn’t make her look like less of a moron. I had my apprehensions about staking Canarre’s future on her, but I knew that for all her flaws she was a magical monster on the battlefield, so I decided to try my best to have faith in her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, then,” said Rosell. “First, let’s have the Shadows keep watch on the enemy, report on their movements, and try to figure out how they’ll be coming at us. That aside, we should also find a place to set up our main encampment that’ll give us as much of an advantage as possible. Considering how many troops the enemy has compared to our force, I’m sure they’ll go on the attack even if we have a clear upper hand in terms of positioning. Then, we’ll use that advantage to turn the tide and drive them back, or something to that effect.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For the time being, we just had to watch and wait for the Shadows’ report. I wasn’t expecting them to figure out every last detail of the enemy’s strategy─that seemed like it’d be hoping for too much, however capable they were─but what they could tell us would determine our course from then on. Well, with enough time they might’ve been able to figure out the enemy’s entire plan, but I doubted they’d be giving us that sort of time to work with. Rosell and Mireille’s theories would have to suffice, as far as predicting the enemy’s movements went."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, we’d made all the plans we could for the moment, and our meeting came to a close."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran’s reinforcements ended up arriving before the Shadows could get us any more solid information to work with. Thankfully, the army of Seitz seemed to have had some delays in transporting their aqua magia, so they had yet to march on the border. The downside was that it had turned out they had a fair bit more aqua magia to work with than the Shadows had first reported, which made them more of a pressing threat than ever. Thankfully, our reinforcements had brought plenty of flame-aspected aqua magia with them as well. Even though they were only twenty thousand men strong, their resources gave us a massive boost to our overall combat potential."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With the Maitraw company, of course, came their leader, Clamant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We meet again,” he said when we reunited."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I don’t think either of us had been expecting our next meeting to be so soon. The look in his eyes was as chilly as ever, and the way he stared at me made it feel like I might freeze over."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t understand how a child like you could end up becoming a count. Is it those strange eyes of yours?” Clamant asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I had to wonder who had told him about my Appraisal skill. He’d said something about not liking the way I’d looked at him the last time we met, so maybe he’d figured it out on his own? He was far more observant than the average person, that was for certain. In fact, he was exceptional enough that I would’ve loved to make him my retainer, but I got the sense that if I tried to recruit him now, he’d turn me down in a heartbeat. He struck me as the sort of man who wasn’t fond of serving others, and unless I could make him really like me, bringing him into my service would be a lost cause."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“On second thought, I don’t care,” Clamant said before I could answer him. “I’ve been told the situation here’s grim, but we were paid generously for this job, and we’ll give you your money’s worth.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m relieved to hear it,” I said, and I meant it from the bottom of my heart. His policy as a mercenary was to fight as hard as he’d been paid to fight, and I had a feeling that Couran had really shelled out for his services this time. That meant I could expect great things from him and his men on the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With our reinforcements in tow, we made our way to the most important defensive site on the border with Seitz: Fort Coumeire. Holding the fort against an enemy attack would prove difficult, so we were planning on stationing the bulk of our forces there to shore it up. It would serve as our headquarters, and all of the orders we gave our troops would be dispatched from there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz had set up an encampment on a nearby road in record time, helping to expand our line of defense. That line would be the front in our defensive war, and with any luck, we’d both hold it and inflict major damage to the enemy force in the process, convincing them that the war wasn’t worth it and that they should withdraw to Seitz…or at least, that was the best-case scenario."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As we moved our troops about and prepared for the oncoming battle, word arrived that the army of Seitz was on the march. The war was about to begin in earnest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So they’re finally on the move?” I said. “All right─our goal’s to deal as much damage as possible in the first skirmish, and convince them that this invasion isn’t worth it after all! As such, I want Rietz, Charlotte, and the Maitraw Company to all fight on the front lines.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz. Charlotte and Clamant offered no particular reaction, though."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We need to win a crushing victory here for the sake of our overall strategy, but if the enemy force is tougher than expected and things start to turn for the worse, I want you to get out of there as quickly as possible. We’re not fighting to the death here, so stay safe,” I added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I couldn’t afford to lose Rietz and the others, no matter what happened. Winning big here and prompting the enemy to withdraw was the best possible outcome, but I knew there was no guarantee the battle would proceed that smoothly. Fortunately, even if it didn’t turn out well, we had plenty of provisions and resources to hold out for a long time, and Couran would be sending reinforcements in droves the moment he could. If worse came to worst, holding out and buying time was always an option."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The problem with that option, of course, was that it would be a constant, perilous struggle, and we’d likely lose plenty of soldiers in the process. There was also the danger of them laying waste to wide swaths of the county if the enemy army managed to push past our borders. Driving them back immediately with a one-sided shutdown was the best possible way that this could end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, Rietz agreed to not put himself at risk, but I knew that there was a real chance he’d push himself too hard anyway when the fighting began. In a sense, that was my biggest concern. Being a mercenary, Clamant knew exactly when to cut his losses and withdraw, and Charlotte wasn’t dedicated enough to hesitate if the time came to run. Rietz, on the other hand, was dedicated and loyal to a fault, which meant he might try to hold out past the point of reason."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I would be staying in Fort Coumeire and wouldn’t be able to give orders directly, so I was concerned for Rietz’s safety. I considered heading out to the front lines myself, for a moment, but quickly thought better of it. I was the count, after all─the leader of Canarre on the whole─and if I got myself killed here, the chain of command would shatter and we’d lose the war before it even began. I appreciated now more than ever that my own personal safety was directly linked to the safety of my retainers and my domain. Plus, in all practicality, I wouldn’t have been very useful out there even if I did head for the front lines in person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“The time has come, then. We depart for battle, Your Lordship!” Rietz said, then led his troops off toward the front line."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I watched him go, still deeply concerned. Thanks to my Appraisal skill I knew that he was objectively one of the most capable warriors I’d ever met, but still, I couldn’t help but worry about him. In the end, I cared more about Rietz returning to me safely than I did about whether or not we won the battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fort Purledo stuck out like a sore thumb. Built in the wilds of Purledo, a county of Seitz, the fort featured a beautiful design that contrasted sharply with the rugged wastes that surrounded it. It was from that fort that the army of Seitz would march into battle, and it was within that fort that the man they called the Duke of Seitz’s right hand, Boroths Heigand, watched over his men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Boroths was a tall man with a long, well-kept mustache. He was in his early thirties, and his rather narrow eyes combined with the slightly raised corners of his mouth made it seem as if he was constantly smiling. At a glance, most people assumed he was a pleasant, good-natured person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The duke had directed Boroths to command his army in the oncoming battle, and Boroths had chosen Fort Purledo to serve as his headquarters, from which he dispatched orders to the leaders of each of his army’s divisions. Boroths wasn’t much of a fighter himself, but as a strategist, he had his fair share of talents."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I can’t say I understand what His Lordship is thinking this time. I suppose this is what I get for choosing to serve a master who sees things in such a peculiar way,” Boroths muttered to himself as he restlessly stroked his mustache. “It’s not as if the rewards Vasmarque offered in exchange for us occupying Canarre are all that remarkable. We’ll hardly gain any territory worth speaking of, and the provisions and resources weren’t much better. I suppose that having him in our debt once he’s united Missian has its merits… But I’m sure we could have asked for more in exchange, as well… Is His Lordship truly that dedicated to making Canarre’s vassals his own?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To most of his retainers, the Duke of Seitz had claimed that he’d determined that Vasmarque was a more worthy and capable ruler than Couran, and that by helping him unite Missian under his banner, Seitz would gain a powerful ally. In private, however, he had told his closest associate Boroths his true motive: he believed that finding skilled individuals to serve him was of the utmost importance, and that he who brought the most talent under his banner would one day rule all of Summerforth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The duke was aware of Ars, the newly-appointed Count of Canarre. He had been struck by the promotion of one so young to a position of such importance, and had concluded that there must be more to the boy than meets the eye. He had gathered up as much information on the young count as he could, and after a careful investigation, the duke had learned that Ars was either exceptionally capable of perceiving people’s talents, or otherwise of drawing those talents out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The duke had immediately decided that he needed Ars as one of his vassals, and that he wanted the various talented retainers Ars had gathered so far as well. The duke believed that having capable followers was paramount, and someone who could either find or create those with talent would be the most essential follower of them all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There were a number of ways to bring another lord’s vassal into one’s service, but this time, the duke had decided that engaging Ars in battle, defeating him, and bringing him into the fold after he chose to yield was the only practical possibility. Convincing a lord who ruled over a sizable region to defect to your side would be difficult without a similarly-sized territory to offer them, and at the moment, Seitz had no appropriate regions that could be spared. This was no time to be tearing territory away from one of Seitz’s current lords, either─the fallout of such an act would be instant and dramatic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Buying Ars’s allegiance would be similarly difficult, considering the sheer wealth that Couran had at his beck and call. If Ars was dissatisfied with Couran’s rule, then convincing him to turn traitor on his own initiative may have been possible, but at the moment, there were no signs whatsoever that he was. Occupying Canarre, taking Ars into captivity, and forcing him to enter the duke’s service seemed both the quickest and most likely method to succeed. That, in truth, was why the duke had decided that war would be a necessity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He had, of course, considered the possibility that his actions would earn Ars’s enmity, and that the boy would refuse to serve him as a result. The duke believed that he could talk Ars into working for him, but in the event he was unsuccessful, Boroths was quite certain the duke intended to put Ars to death. Anyone with talent who wouldn’t serve him, after all, was a threat, and would remain so until they were removed from the picture for good. As things stood, having Ars ruling over a county directly across the border from Seitz made him a clear and immediate threat. In the eyes of the duke, either making Ars into one of his own men or otherwise killing him was a vital step to securing the future of the duchy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Could this Ars Louvent really be that special? He’s still just a child, isn’t he? Maybe he can see people’s talents, or maybe he can raise them up…or, maybe he just got lucky and blundered his way into a host of capable subordinates,” Boroths said to himself, then sighed. “Then again, His Lordship is rarely wrong, in spite of his peculiarities. I thought his rebellion was hopeless as well, at first, and look at us now. I’m sure he has the right of it once again.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The duke had Boroths’s wholehearted trust and loyalty. Even if he had no clue what his master was thinking, he never truly believed that the duke was wrong."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We hold the advantage of numbers, but our foes have a host of exceptional individuals on their side. This may not be an easy fight, but His Lordship has instructed me to bring it to a close as soon as possible, even if I have to lose scores of men in the process. I must win this war, for his sake!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even if Canarre’s army proved more capable than expected and the fighting turned fierce and bloody, Boroths had no intention of calling off the assault. The plan was for him to carry on the fight after Canarre was occupied, moving deeper into Missian to invade Semplar and storm Couran’s headquarters from its flank. As such, he couldn’t afford to lose too many men in the early stages of the war, but so long as he managed to secure or slay Ars before the war was finished, his most important mission would be accomplished even if the worst came to pass and Vasmarque fell, leaving Missian in Couran’s hands."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Boroths let this chance slip past and Couran united Missian before Ars was dealt with, he knew there may never be another chance to take Ars out of the picture. Couran valued Ars’s service highly, and was unlikely to ever let him go or treat him poorly. Ars had talented spies in his employ, as well, which made assassination a bad prospect. The duke had made it very clear to Boroths that this was their best, and perhaps only, opportunity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well then─time to get this war underway,” said Boroths. He was dead set on making his lord’s will a reality, so wasted no time putting his plan into motion."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0019.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The first thing Rietz did upon arriving at the front lines was call a meeting with the leaders of each squad and give them their instructions for the upcoming battle. Present at the meeting were Rietz himself, Charlotte, Braham, Zaht, and Clamant. Mireille and Rosell had both stayed behind at Fort Coumeire with Ars."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right!” Braham shouted. “The second the enemy shows up, my squad’ll charge in and wipe out the lot of ’em! We’ll take them down, no matter how many of ’em there are!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz gave Braham a scathing look, and Braham instantly realized what Rietz’s intense silence was meant to communicate. Braham’s enthusiasm vanished in the blink of an eye, and he muttered “Sorry…” as he withered away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zaht watched the whole exchange with a look of exasperated disbelief on his face. The fact that he was wondering why he’d been forced to serve under a man like Braham was plain to see."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our encampment is set up on the bank of a river,” said Rietz. “The water is shallow in that vicinity, and it’s possible to ford the river on foot, but the enemy’s movements will be slowed while they do so. That’s when we’ll bombard them with magic. They’ll be expecting us to attack while they’re on the move, of course, and I’m sure they’ll have their defenses raised, but Charlotte’s magic should be powerful enough to blast through any shields they can prepare. While they’re shaken by her attack, our archers will step in to riddle their ranks with arrows. The enemy’s likely to make a strategic retreat and attempt to regroup, at which point we’ll pursue them. If all goes as planned, we’ll inflict significant losses upon them, and maybe even force them to withdraw.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz believed that his plan had a high chance of inflicting substantial casualties upon the hostile army. The enemy’s commander supposedly had a keen mind, but he was likely unaware of just how fearsome some of Missian’s soldiers could be. Rietz didn’t believe their guard would be down, but he did believe they’d be unlikely to send a force so large that the Missian army couldn’t overwhelm and repel them. They would be feeling the waters, at first, and would only mount a full assault once they had a preliminary grasp of what they were up against."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s hope was that if they suffered a crushing, one-sided defeat, they would come to the conclusion that the Missian army’s advantage in skill outweighed the Seitz army’s advantage in numbers. That would lead to the realization that they could, in fact, lose the war, and would ultimately prompt their withdrawal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had thought the whole situation through, and concluded that forcing the enemy to turn back was well within the realm of possibility. The current Duke of Seitz had only just ascended to his position, and it seemed very unlikely that he had already settled all of the duchy’s internal issues in that short span of time. There were surely plenty of factions within Seitz that still opposed him, and losing a war in dramatic fashion could embolden those factions and plunge the duchy into yet another civil war. It still wasn’t clear what Vasmarque had offered Seitz to incentivise their invasion, but given the perilous position he was in, Rietz couldn’t imagine that Vasmarque had anything he could give that would justify the duke taking on that sort of risk."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Charlotte? I’m aware that Lord Ars took Musia in as his retainer on account of her talent for magic, but to what extent has it manifested itself? How capable is she at this moment?” asked Rietz. Having a second capable mage would make the odds of his plan turning out well substantially higher, and since Charlotte had been watching over Musia’s training, she would know better than anyone how powerful the fledgeling mage had grown."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh, she’s not really there yet,” said Charlotte. “I brought her along anyway, though. She casts a spell with some punch to it every once in a while, but most of them are still pretty weak.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Understood,” said Rietz with a disappointed frown. He believed his plan would work with Charlotte as their only capable caster, but still, having another powerful mage on their side would have made a massive difference."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What about me, teach?! What should I be doing?!” Braham asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Weren’t you listening when I explained the plan?” Rietz countered. “Can’t you figure that out for yourself?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nope!” Braham proudly declared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Have you no shame whatsoever…?” Rietz sighed. “Your division’s work will come toward the end of the battle. Once the enemy line crumbles and they begin their retreat, I want you and your men to charge in and pursue them.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Pursue them?! Wait a minute─I’m not the sorta guy who kicks a beaten enemy while they’re down! Gimme a different job!” Braham insisted. He was not a man who minced words, whether or not he was in a situation where doing so would be to his benefit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Chasing after a broken enemy is a valid and necessary aspect of warfare,” said Rietz. “If you simply stand back and let your foes escape, then whatever victory you may have claimed will be rendered all but meaningless. Your division is mobile, and your men are highly skilled. In other words, you’re perfect for the task.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The men in Braham’s division had been chosen from among Canarre’s most capable close-range fighters."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Valid and necessary, huh…? Well, if you say so! I don’t like it, but I’ll do it,” said Braham, caving to Rietz’s argument with uncharacteristic ease."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sir Clamant,” Rietz said, turning to the mercenary captain next. “How many mages, archers, infantry, and horsemen have you brought with you?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More infantry and horsemen than the others,” replied Clamant. “We’re short on mages, but we have a few men who know their way around a bow. If you want concrete numbers, we have eight infantry and eight horsemen for every three archers and one mage.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Clamant’s troop numbered roughly three thousand men, and since only those with a natural talent for magic could learn to wield it effectively, it was only natural he’d wind up with very few capable mages. It was a consequence of not prioritizing their recruitment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“More mages is never a bad thing, but I’m more concerned with their level of skill. How capable would you say your men are, in that respect?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I wouldn’t have recruited them if they weren’t capable. I don’t have any mages who could stand up to her, though,” Clamant said with a nod toward Charlotte. “Not even close. The first time my best mage saw her cast, he said she was ‘an outlier.’”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte stood taller than before and smirked, practically exuding an aura of smug self-satisfaction. Compared to her, the Maitraw Company’s mages came out looking inadequate. She was simply too powerful to assess on the same scale as more mundane mages. Still, Clamant insisted that his mages were far from inept, and that at least some of them would be of use in the coming engagement. Even one more mage would make Rietz’s plan more likely to succeed, so in his eyes, this was a positive development."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that, Rietz made sure everyone knew and remembered the signals they’d be using out on the battlefield and polished his preparations to perfection. No sooner had he finished than a scout arrived to report that the enemy army was on the move."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After Rietz’s meeting came to a close, Charlotte gathered all the army’s mages and began preparing for battle. She and her men set up large catalyzers and determined who would use which of the catalyzers they had available, with Charlotte directing the process and giving orders all the while. Her usual lackadaisical attitude was nowhere to be found─on the battlefield, Charlotte transformed into a woman who could issue clear, precise orders at the drop of a hat. It was almost hard to believe she was the same person. However, the rest of the mages in her contingent only knew her from the battlefield and their training sessions, and never got to see her everyday personality. They thought of her as both exceptional and terrifying, and treated her with an almost reverential air."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm, Miss Charlotte? Am I supposed to fight too?” Musia nervously asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup,” said Charlotte. “Lord Ars says that you have the talent to be an incredible mage, and need all the experience you can get. We can only use so much aqua magia during our training sessions, so the only time we get to play with these big catalyzers is out on the battlefield. Plus, you’ve managed to cast a few real nice spells here and there, so who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky and you’ll bust one of those out mid-battle.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“This battle’s supposed to be important, though, isn’t it? What if I end up getting in everyone’s way?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No need to worry about that. Even if you do get in the way, I’ll win this battle for us no problem! It’ll be a piece of cake!” Charlotte said with a confident grin that Musia couldn’t help but admire. “Anyway, it’s not an issue if your spells are kinda puny, but hesitating to cast them’s a whole different matter. I don’t really get it, but apparently that’s an issue for a bunch of people. They can cast just fine until it’s time for the real deal, and then all of a sudden they can’t sling a spell to save their lives.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was only then, as she mulled over Charlotte’s words, that Musia realized that wielding magic on a battlefield would mean taking people’s lives. She had never killed before, and as the understanding she would soon have to sank in, a rush of terror began to well up within her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte could tell that Musia was starting to panic, and decided to give her some advice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Listen,” she said, “you can’t let yourself think that killing your enemies is a bad thing. You know why all those people are gonna be running at us? To kill us, and our friends too. If you don’t kill them, you can bet they won’t hesitate when you’re the one at their mercy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y-Yes, that’s right,” Musia stammered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Unfortunately, this wasn’t the sort of problem that could be solved with a quick word of advice. She would need to experience the reality of a battlefield for herself, and overcome her fear on her own. Ars had said she had potential, though, and that was enough to convince Charlotte that Musia would make that leap in the long run."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few days later, a report arrived informing Rietz that the enemy’s arrival was imminent. By that point the catalyzers were all in place, and his preparations for the battle were complete. Whenever the enemy showed up, he would be ready for them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz gazed out in the direction the army would be arriving from. Before long, a distant rumbling began to shake the air. The army of Seitz had arrived, and was rushing toward his position, but Rietz held fast, waiting to give the order to attack. First, he had to wait for his foes to reach the river. He would aim for the moment they began to ford it, slowing their pace and making them an easier target. The army of Seitz, of course, was aware that would be their moment of weakness and would deploy defensive magic to protect themselves, but Rietz wasn’t concerned. After all, his force had Charlotte to lead their attack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, as Seitz’s forces began to cross the river, Rietz gave the signal for the mage division to begin."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte completed her spell first, unleashing the strongest of all fire-aspected magics: Hellfire. This would have been a perfect moment to bring out explosive magic, but that was in short supply, and had to be conserved to protect particularly significant locations. Some of Ars’s retainers had lobbied to use it anyway, considering how much they were wagering upon this single battle, but in the end, it had been decided that it wasn’t worth the risk. Fire magic lacked in destructive potential compared to explosive magic and was easier to guard against, but when Charlotte was casting it, those factors hardly mattered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A single cast of Hellfire exhausted all of the aqua magia in a large catalyzer, and the spell couldn’t be cast at all using any of the smaller models. When cast by an ordinary mage, it was capable of engulfing an entire battlefield in raging flames, turning the landscape into a veritable hell on earth. When Charlotte cast it, the word “hell” didn’t do the scene justice. Her spell shredded the enemy’s defenses so quickly it was like they hadn’t been there at all, and transformed the battlefield into a sea of flame in the blink of an eye. Rietz had speculated that the river would dampen the spell’s effects, but it was so overwhelmingly powerful that any difference the river might have made was impossible to perceive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The other mages’ spells followed soon after Charlotte’s. Their army only had a limited number of large catalyzers on hand, so most of them used medium or small ones instead. The mages stationed on the large catalyzers were the cream of the crop, with one exception: the division’s newest mage, Musia, had been given a large catalyzer to operate as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That had been Charlotte’s decision. She was in charge of her mages’ stations, and while Rietz had decided not to question her choice, he had been somewhat concerned about it. Musia’s magic could be incredibly powerful on occasion, but she was still inexperienced and her spells failed sometimes as well. Wasting an entire large catalyzer’s worth of aqua magia was an expense they simply couldn’t afford. All Rietz could do was watch over Musia and pray that she would pull her spell off…but the moment the battle began, his worries were obliterated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In spite of her inexperience, Musia’s Hellfire swept across the battlefield to nearly as devastating of an effect as Charlotte’s had. It seemed luck was on Canarre’s side, and this was one of her good days. Even Musia seemed shocked by the power of the spell she’d cast─most likely, this was her most effective spell to date. It was a happy miscalculation, to be sure: Charlotte’s spell had already thrown the enemy army into a state of turmoil, and Musia’s had crashed down on them just moments later, shaking them even further."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In an instant, the enemy soldiers began to break ranks and run. Their commanding officer didn’t seem to have given the order to retreat─this was an uncoordinated withdrawal. Most likely, the brutality of the situation had driven the soldiers into a panic. They’d lost their will to fight, disregarded their orders, and decided to flee. They weren’t inexperienced or poorly led soldiers by any means, but nevertheless, the spectacle was simply too devastating and their spirits were broken in an instant. Watching one’s comrades be burned to death─seeing them writhe and suffer as the flames consumed them─had dealt an incredible psychological blow to the entire enemy force."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once Rietz confirmed that they were retreating, he ordered his mages to cease fire and ordered his cavalry to charge. Clamant and Braham both led their troops into the fray, chasing after the hostile soldiers. Rietz’s goal was to deal as heavy of a blow as possible, and that meant his men would have to pursue their foes as they retreated and cut down as many of them as they could. Thankfully, with their chain of command shattered and their withdrawal a chaotic jumble, chasing after them was child’s play. One by one, the fleeing soldiers were slain."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Soon, Braham spotted the leader of the offensive, who was withdrawing along with the rest of his force’s rearguard. Braham led his men in a charge. Since they were mounted and their foes were fleeing on foot in a disordered mess, it wasn’t long before they had overtaken the enemy leader and scattered what little remained of his personal guard. Finally, Braham himself engaged them in single combat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your head is mine!” Braham bellowed as he laid down his challenge. The leader of Seitz’s force fought desperately, but Braham was a more than capable warrior, and this time he didn’t make the sort of mind-numbingly stupid mistake that had led to his defeat the time he dueled Rietz. It was a one-sided battle, and in almost no time at all, Braham came out on top."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, the first battle ended in Canarre’s overwhelming victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Later that night, Rietz and his men were back in their encampment, celebrating their success."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Did you see me out there?! I stormed into the enemy’s lines and struck down their commander!” Braham declared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You struck down the remnants of a broken army who were fleeing from you,” commented Zaht. “If anyone deserves praise for their exploits in battle tonight, it’s Charlotte.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, sure, I did the most out there,” said Charlotte, “but Musia comes in at a close second, I’d say. Who knew she could sling a spell like that? Goes to show that Lord Ars knew what he was doing when he chose her!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What? You’re exaggerating,” Musia said with a distinctly strained smile. Her spell had been a massive success, certainly, but it had also resulted in the deaths of more people than she could count, and she had yet to work through the mental trauma she’d sustained from that knowledge."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia aside, the majority of the soldiers who’d participated in the battle were experienced enough to turn a blind eye to the horrors of war and celebrate without reservation. Rietz, meanwhile, watched on from the sidelines. He was a little worried that his men were overdoing it, but he also knew that soldiers needed the chance to cut loose every once in a while, and resisted the urge to tell them off for their revelry. As their commanding officer, however, he couldn’t let himself engage in it. While everyone else was having the time of their lives, Rietz was perhaps even more on guard than ever."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0021.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’ve won our first battle with only a few dozen dead on our side, while the enemy suffered over a thousand casualties, Rietz thought to himself. They still have more than enough men to spare, but there’s no denying that we’ve gained significant ground today. I just hope they’ll take this as a sign and withdraw."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz knew, though, that expecting them to do so was naive. The army of Seitz turning around and abandoning their invasion would be the optimal outcome, yes, but however stunning of a failure this first battle was for them, they still had tens of thousands of men on their side. Losing one battle and then fleeing would set a bad precedent for their force, and Rietz knew it was likely that they’d make a point of achieving something before giving up their cause."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’ll win a few battles more, then offer to negotiate an armistice. We may need to make concessions to secure Seitz’s withdrawal, but so long as we can keep winning until then, bringing an end to the war through negotiations may well be possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Seitz was able to secure a promise of money, valuable works of art, resources, and the like, then they could claim that their invasion had been a success and save face, to an extent. Carrying on the fight and continuing to lose had to be the worst-case scenario, from their perspective. That would be like asking for Seitz’s precarious state of stability to come crashing down again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So long as Canarre could offer a reasonable compromise, Rietz believed that there was a good chance their foes would accept their terms. The thought of making concessions despite coming out ahead in battle vexed him somewhat, but if it meant driving an army tens of thousands strong away from Canarre’s borders, it would be a small price to pay."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After that disaster of a first battle, their troops’ morale must be dangerously low. They probably thought they could judge our capabilities after the first battle and work out a plan to deal with us from there on out, but there just isn’t much that can be done in the face of Charlotte’s magic. We’ll win the next engagement as well, Rietz thought with confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The news of our army’s total victory in their first battle arrived at Fort Coumeire."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Our forces slew over a thousand enemies, and our own casualties number in the dozens. The battle was a great success,” said Ben, who’d come to deliver the report. His summary of the battle was as concise and to the point as ever. I could always trust him to tell me what I needed to know in as few words as possible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ha ha ha! Sounds like Rietz and the others are doing some nice work out there! I didn’t think they’d crush the Seitzans that badly,” Mireille said with an elated laugh. “Maybe they weren’t as tough as we were expecting them to be? Either way, this was a major step in the right direction,” she added with a satisfied smirk."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is it just me, or is she going out of her way to tempt fate?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“M-Master, please! You can’t take the enemy lightly!” insisted Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“When this war’s over, I’m gonna drown myself in the most expensive booze I can get my hands on,” Mireille said wistfully."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Again, you’re really tempting fate here! I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this war!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“They still have far more troops left than we had to begin with,” said Rosell. “I doubt I need to tell you this, but having more manpower puts you at a clear advantage in war! We can’t let our guards down!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell, at least, wasn’t the sort of person to let a great victory go to his head. I have to admit that when I heard we’d crushed our foes I’d let myself get a little complacent too, but now, I decided to do away with that mindset."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then another report arrived, this time from one of Fort Coumeire’s soldiers rather than one of the Shadows."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” the soldier said, “Lady Licia Pleide has arrived at our gates, and requests an audience with you. Shall we show her in?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“L-Licia’s here?!” I gasped. I hadn’t seen her arrival coming!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fort Coumeire was on the war’s front line, which made it a very dangerous place to be. Hostile forces wouldn’t be rolling up to our gates within the hour, granted, and since the whole war didn’t hinge upon us holding the fort─not to say it wasn’t important, mind you─we would probably withdraw long before anyone got around to storming it. It wasn’t likely that she’d get hurt just by being in this vicinity, but that didn’t make it a safe place to be, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But, one way or another, she was here now."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What could she want? I wondered. Licia was smart, and she surely knew there was a war going on, so I couldn’t imagine she would have made the trip without a very good reason. I’d better meet with her as soon as possible!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I left my room behind me and set out to find my visiting fiancée."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars! Forgive me for my sudden intrusion,” Licia said the moment she saw me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yes, about that─why are you here?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“When I heard that a war was brewing, and that you would be leading from the front lines, I just got so nervous… I couldn’t simply stay at home and worry, so I decided I would rather be here, with you. I don’t know if there’s anything I’ll be able to do to help, but may I at least stay by your side?” Licia asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To be frank, I was happy to hear that she wanted to be here with me. I could tell that her request wasn’t coming from a calculating or self-interested place. She truly was worried about me. That said, being here would put her at risk of meeting a terrible fate should the war go awry. I didn’t want to expose her to that sort of danger."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m pleased to hear that you feel that way,” I said. “However, I can’t allow myself to drag you into harm’s way. If you would stay somewhere safer, I’d be much─”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No!” Licia shouted, cutting me off before I could even finish my request. “How could I possibly be content in safety when you’re out here, risking your life…?” she asked. Tears began to pool in the corner of her eye, but she wiped them away. “And moreover, I’m certain beyond a doubt that you will emerge victorious! You’ve used your power to choose the most capable followers a lord could possibly ask for, and they would never allow you to be defeated! I know for a fact that no harm will befall me here!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia looked me straight in the eye, her expression determined."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wavered, unable to decide which course to take. On one hand Licia didn’t know the first thing about warfare, but on the other, part of me felt somehow reassured by her presence. I didn’t have a rational reason to want to be with her, but I felt that way nonetheless."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say you ought to keep your cute little fiancée around, personally,” said Mireille from behind me. “Girl’s got a strong will, and she’s pretty smart, too. Plus, she’s a girl. Might give her the perspective to come up with stuff that we’d never think of.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Aren’t, umm, you a girl too, Mireille?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh. Right, yeah, guess I am. Ha ha ha─slipped my mind for a minute there!” Mireille said with an amused chuckle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess thinking of her as a girl might not be the best idea, when she puts it that way, I reflected. She was unlike a normal woman in too many ways for me to count, after all. She felt more like an old man than anything else."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "All questions of her gender aside, Mireille’s input had helped me reach a decision. Having Licia around would help me on an emotional level, and if we found ourselves in a fix, it was always possible that she’d have an idea that could get us out of it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You win, Lady Licia,” I said. “If you would be so kind, I’d be honored to have you here by my side.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia gave me a smile so pure and carefree, it was downright angelic."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gladly!” she replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, who was still on the front lines to lead Canarre’s army, waited within his force’s encampment for the scout he’d sent out to report back on their foe’s movements. It was right around time for the scout to return, by his best estimate, and sure enough, no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the scout rushed to his side."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0023.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ve sighted the enemy army! They’re on the move!” the scout reported."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are they staging another attack?” asked Rietz."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are! And while they only sent a small portion of their men at us in the last engagement, this time, they’re moving en masse!” the scout succinctly reported."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How’s their morale?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“High, by the look of it!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And who’s commanding the attack?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The vanguard is led by Rantolk Rooder, a Seitzan commander well known for his unparalleled bravery. Rantolk is accompanied by his brother, Trapaul Rooder, as well as Barl Rogue, Levanton Mackrend, and Lopat Termika, all capable commanders in their own rights!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had heard those names before. Rantolk Rooder and his brother Trapaul had both commanded troops in the Seitzan civil war, and had both achieved great things on numerous battlefields. The same could be said of the other commanders who had been named─all of them were well-reputed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz wasn’t capable of picking out their strengths like Ars could, and didn’t have precise figures by which to judge his foes’ strength, but judging by their many accomplishments, he couldn’t imagine that any of them were incapable. It seemed clear that Seitz was done testing the waters, and was now prepared to begin their invasion in earnest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In addition, it seemed that the massive force marching upon Rietz’s position was not, in fact, the entire army of Seitz. They were still holding a number of divisions in reserve. Rietz had hoped that his foes would give up and abandon the attempt after a few setbacks, but it seemed the war wouldn’t end so easily after all."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "How could their morale be high, though? Rietz wondered. I’d think their troops would be quaking in fear after Charlotte and Musia scoured the battlefield last time. Whoever’s leading their army must be capable indeed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seitz’s frontline soldiers had witnessed their comrades getting burned to death before their very eyes, and it was likely they’d spread that story to the rest of the army. After witnessing a sight like that it was only natural to want to tell the tale, and once a rumor like that started spreading, it would disseminate throughout the whole force in a flash. Rietz tried to imagine how he would’ve helped his men find the will to fight again after an event that traumatic if he’d been in charge of Seitz’s army at the time, and found himself less than confident that he could have pulled it off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, if the enemy’s on the move, we have to be ready for them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "However many troops Seitz threw at them, Rietz knew that with Charlotte and her mages guarding their encampment, it would be difficult to break through. That being said, they were up against the sort of numbers that could manage to do so anyway through sheer, brute force alone. Rietz began working out the tactics he’d employ in this engagement, well aware that it might not end as easily as the first battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz thought through all the options available to him, and eventually decided that centering his plan of battle around magic would still prove to be the best option available to him. He knew that his foes would prioritize strengthening their magical defenses, after what had happened last time, but Rietz had a plan to break through those bolstered defenses in turn."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Magical defenses were only effective against magical attacks. In other words, if an archer could bring down the mages maintaining a magical barrier, the force it was protecting would be left exposed to magic. Thanks to Ars’s Appraisal skill the soldiers of Canarre had all learned what their personal strengths were, and their army had grown considerably more formidable as a result. Its archers were no exception, and a few dozen of them were skilled enough to serve as snipers in a pinch. Of course, if they didn’t choose to bulk up their magical defenses, Rietz figured that his troops would be able to drive them away with magic in the same way they had before."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz and his troops quickly finished their preparations, and a few days later, a soldier rushed over with a report."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sir Rietz! The enemy is upon us!” he cried."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The second wave had arrived, and this time, the enemy was not holding back. The size of the force they’d sent was breathtaking, but Rietz knew he couldn’t let himself lose his nerve. If it was for Ars’s sake, he could take on an army of any size without so much as a hint of fear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You saw the sort of men we’re up against last time,” Rietz proclaimed to his troops. “The enemy is weak! It doesn’t matter how many of them they throw at us─we’ll drive them back all the same!” he asserted, doing his best to rouse his men’s spirits in the face of the overwhelming numbers that opposed them. His speech had its intended effect. Many of his soldiers had looked nervous before, but now they regained their confidence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once Rietz was sure that morale had been restored, he turned to survey the enemy army with his own eyes and found that his prediction had been entirely off the mark. There was no sign of any significant mage presence among their number─just an incredibly vast quantity of troops, all marching toward the river. On the one hand it looked like a thoughtless, reckless move indicating a total lack of a real strategy, but on the other hand, it was a paradoxically difficult tactic for Rietz to deal with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy force dramatically outnumbered Canarre’s, and if they just kept pouring in, Rietz’s men would be overwhelmed. No matter how devastating Charlotte’s spells were, large catalyzers had to be refilled after their aqua magia was exhausted, and that took time. She couldn’t sling spell after spell nonstop, and in the meantime, the enemy would be advancing uncontested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even if it works, tactics like that are going to make their losses even bigger than ever. Are they more serious about taking Canarre by storm than I expected…? Or is this a show of force aimed at convincing us to surrender? Rietz wondered. He simply couldn’t think of anything the enemy could hope to gain from taking over Canarre that would justify this sort of sacrifice. If they keep coming at us like this, we’ll have to consider falling back. Thinning their ranks with magic before beating a retreat should keep our losses low while also dealing significant damage to their army."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz’s force was at a significant numerical disadvantage, but if he played his cards right, he knew he could use this situation to close that gap. The one flaw in that plan was that if he fell back here, his troops wouldn’t be able to take their large catalyzers with them. If they were going to withdraw from the engagement and prepare to confront the enemy again at a later date, they’d have to do it quickly, and large catalyzers were heavy and difficult to move about. Bringing them along would slow Rietz’s force down enough that the enemy could catch up to them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Large catalyzers were highly valuable, and losing them would be a blow, but in this instance Rietz saw it as a necessary sacrifice. He’d lose them whether they left them behind deliberately in a retreat or was forced to leave them after the enemy broke through their lines, so the end result would be the same regardless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz kept his gaze fixed on the advancing forces. The moment they entered into his mages’ range, he gave the signal for them to begin casting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Canarre’s mages began to unleash their spells. Charlotte’s magic was incredibly consistent, and her spell was as fearsomely powerful as ever. Musia, in contrast, couldn’t replicate her remarkable firepower from the previous battle and suffered a miscast. Charlotte’s assessment of her had been on the money: she had talent, but every once in a while it let her down."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia’s spell had considerably strengthened Canarre’s firepower in the last battle. Needless to say, its absence reduced the impact of the mages’ volley. Charlotte’s spell was still tremendously powerful, of course, so Seitz’s army was far from safe, and once again, a mountain of corpses began to build up in the river. This time, though, they didn’t turn around and flee. Seitz’s troops advanced dauntlessly, stepping over the bodies of their fallen comrades and spooking Canarre’s soldiers in the process."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The spell Charlotte was casting, Hellfire, took some time to invoke even if the large catalyzer she was using was already full of aqua magia. The rest of Canarre’s mages who had been stationed at large catalyzers were casting the same spell, but their version of it paled in comparison to hers. Musia, meanwhile, failed to cast several times in a row."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The gaps between Charlotte’s spells provided moments of relative respite for Seitz’s forces, and they used them to continue advancing through the river. Eventually, Seitz’s advance overtook Canarre’s ability to refill their catalyzers, and the invading force reached the opposite bank. Canarre’s troops were waiting for them, and the moment Seitz’s army stepped onto dry land a brutal melee ensued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The troops on Canarre’s front line fought their hardest, but for every enemy soldier they felled, another stepped up to replace them. Rietz concluded in an instant that it was only a matter of time before the enemy broke through their formation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Just then, Charlotte finished her preparations for another spell. Firing it off into the melee would mean catching her allies in the blast, so she targeted an area full of nothing but Seitzan soldiers. She incinerated them in droves, but there were just too many, and their momentum didn’t so much as slow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This isn’t looking good. I think it’s about time for us to pull back, Rietz thought. Otherwise, every Canarrean soldier present was liable to be killed. Rietz decided to leave a number of troops behind to hold the enemy back while the rest of his army withdrew. He’d had embankments raised and palisades constructed in preparation for the battle, so it wouldn’t take all that many men to hold the line and give the main force the time they needed to flee."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The longer Rietz waited to give the order, the deeper the enemy would push into their lines and the greater the damage they would suffer. Delaying the withdrawal by even a second too long could prove disastrous, so the moment he settled on his decision, Rietz sprung into action."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fall back!” he shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As soon as Rietz gave the order to withdraw, a nearby mage on sound magic duty cast Hyper Voice to issue a massive, booming signal, sending the message to the entire army. Hyper Voice worked by amplifying the caster’s words, so directly ordering everyone to fall back was an option, but it went without saying that doing so would have been less than wise. Instead, Canarre’s army had worked out a set of code phrases in advance. In this case, “commence plan D” indicated that it was time to withdraw."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Issuing orders in code was useful in a number of ways. It put the enemy army on guard, for one thing, buying Canarre’s forces precious moments to prepare for their flight. Once you’d used a code phrase it had to be changed, of course, and in the next battle “operation D” would mean something entirely different."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Preparing for moments like these was vital. If you only made plans for your victory, then you’d suffer far greater losses than you would have if you’d prepared yourself for defeat as well. Canarre’s forces had spent ample time preparing for an emergency retreat, and under Rietz’s command, they began preparing for their withdrawal in a quick and orderly fashion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers on the front line would be responsible for stalling the enemy. Orders issued with Hyper Voice were loud enough to cross the whole battlefield to reach them, and the moment they received their new directive, they began deliberately dragging out their battle, buying as much time as they could manage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Once their preparations were complete, Canarre’s army began to withdraw with Rietz at their head. They had prepared a secondary encampment in advance, and would be regrouping there to take up position wthin it. Thanks to the efforts of the soldiers who stayed behind, no enemy forces were able to pursue the main army, and Rietz’s withdrawal succeeded with only a minimal number of casualties."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After his army had safely retreated and taken up position in their secondary encampment, Rietz took stock of the situation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How bad were our losses?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Around two hundred and fifty men in total, sir!” a soldier replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Most of the men who’d stayed behind to buy time, it seemed, had been either killed or captured. Only a few of them managed to make it to the secondary encampment, and most of those who did were wounded badly enough that they couldn’t be sent back out into battle. Considering the total size of Rietz’s force it hadn’t been a small price to pay, but their losses quailed in comparison to the casualties the enemy army had sustained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz didn’t have any concrete numbers to work with, but by his best estimate over a thousand Seitzan soldiers had been killed or incapacitated by Canarre’s magical barrage. The soldiers who’d stayed behind had fought like men possessed, as well, and had likely done a fair deal of damage in their own right. Seitz’s losses were considerable, no matter how you looked at it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From a perspective of pure numbers, Canarre seemed to have come out well ahead in the battle. The fact that they’d been forced to retreat, however, was a major loss. If they were driven back further still, they’d have to leave all sorts of supplies behind for fear of the weight slowing them down, and that would be far too great of a loss to write off as a necessary expense."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of Couran’s support, Canarre’s resources were still very much limited. They almost certainly weren’t as well-equipped as the army of Seitz was, and they’d already left several large catalyzers for the enemy to claim due to their bulk making them hard to move around. Charlotte’s ability to cast multiple times in sequence using multiple catalyzers, as such, had been greatly diminished."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It didn’t seem like the enemy cared about what happened to their men at all, Rietz reflected. How could their morale be so high with a strategy like that in play…? I did my best to minimize sacrifices during our retreat to preserve our own morale, but it’s still had a clear impact. In any case, I have to report to Lord Ars as soon as possible!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz jotted down a letter and had it sent off to Fort Coumeire posthaste."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille, Rosell, and I had all gathered up in Fort Coumeire to read a letter from Rietz. The message-bearer had ridden a horse to get it to us as fast as possible, so our update on the situation at the front arrived on the same day Rietz had dispatched it. It seemed that the enemy’s onslaught had proved too overwhelming, and our army had been forced to retreat."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmh,” I grunted with concern."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I guess I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds like the other side’s got some real motivation worked up,” Mireille observed. She must not have anticipated that their morale would be as high as it had turned out, and looked just as surprised by the news as I was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wh-What should we do?! If they keep pushing that hard, they’ll reach this fort before we know it! And there are just so many of them─not even Mister Rietz or Charlotte could hold off numbers like that,” Rosell moaned. He’d been consumed by his own pessimism once again, though considering how bad things looked, I couldn’t blame him for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d say our first move should be trying to negotiate an armistice,” said Mireille. “They’ve lost a solid chunk of troops over these past two battles, so if we offer enough bonuses to sweeten the deal, they might just take us up on it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What do you mean, bonuses?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Y’know, supplies, money, resources, art─valuable stuff, basically. Might as well just write down your terms, plus a list of everything you’re willing to hand over to get them to leave, and have it sent over to the enemy side.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll give that a try, then,” I said with a nod, then got to work on implementing her advice and moving toward peace talks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I took some time thinking through all the provisions, funds, and resources we could spare, plus all the artwork that happened to be lying around in my castle. Then, I wrote up a list of everything that seemed worth offering, plus the terms I was hoping they would accept, and had a messenger carry it off to the enemy army."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To make a long story short: the attempt was a failure. They didn’t literally kill the messenger, at least, but they did send him back with a letter refusing my terms. They weren’t outright opposed to the idea of laying down arms, but the deal I’d offered wasn’t to their liking, and they’d offered a different set of conditions instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The County of Canarre is to be annexed by the Duchy of Seitz. Lord Ars Louvent may maintain his position as count, and should he desire anything of His Lordship the Duke of Seitz, his requests will be accommodated. Should Lord Couran of Missian assault Canarre in an attempt to win back the territory, reinforcements will be dispatched to support you…” I read out loud."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had serious and immediate apprehensions about handing over my territory…but on the other hand, they’d made it explicit that I’d be able to maintain my position. In a sense, accepting their offer wouldn’t change much of anything for me at all, aside from the fact that I’d answer to the Duke of Seitz instead of Couran."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm,” said Mireille. “So Seitz isn’t set on taking all of Missian right away─they’d be satisfied with just Canarre, looks like. Canarre’s not the most desirable territory out there, but it would give them a launching point to threaten the rest of the duchy from. I guess this means they’re playing a long game and looking toward their future strategies? And even if they go after Scheutz instead, they’d still have to keep an eye on Missian just in case, so having Canarre under their control certainly couldn’t hurt.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seitz had just emerged from a regime-changing civil war, and in order to bring the duchy together, they needed an external enemy to focus on. In that sense, a war in some form was a necessity. No matter who that war ended up being against, Missian or Scheutz, having Canarre as part of their territory would be handy in some way or another, and since Missian was going through its own period of internal turmoil, it was the perfect chance for them to snatch the territory up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If that’s true, then we might want to consider accepting this offer,” Rosell muttered. “There’s no telling how things will end if we decide to keep up the fight, after all. At the very least, accepting their terms would mean that Ars can keep his position as count.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At that point, Rosell paused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, wait,” he said, then started muttering once more, arguing in an entirely different direction. “What if this offer’s a trick to begin with? There’s no reason why they couldn’t execute Ars after we accept… And even if it is a genuine offer, accepting it while Lord Couran’s troops are fighting under our banner would be a betrayal that House Louvent’s reputation might never recover from… And it’s so important to maintain trust…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Betrayal was an option, then, but one that carried plenty of downsides."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I don’t believe that betraying Lord Couran would be for the best,” said Licia, who was sitting close at hand. “You’ve judged his capabilities and seen for yourself that he’s an exceptional leader, yes?” she asked, turning to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I have,” I confirmed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And it seems that he values your capabilities highly as well. Furthermore, a failed attempt at betrayal could end with Lord Couran crushing all of us underfoot.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Crushing us? Yeesh, that’s a scary way of putting it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was not, however, wrong. The fact that Couran thought so highly of my skills meant that if I were to become his enemy, he would approach his conflict with me very cautiously. Worse still, if Couran was the sort of person who would never trust a person who’d betrayed him once, and if he managed to reclaim Canarre, he’d put me to death."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, none of that would be a problem if I surrendered to Seitz, joined up with the Seitzan army and Vasmarque’s forces, and crushed Couran entirely. On the other hand, I’d only just been given control over Canarre, and turning around and using my position to wage war against the man who’d promoted me would feel downright ungrateful. It would mean coming into conflict with Lumeire, as well, and I was worried that some of Canarre’s soldiers would decide to rebel rather than fight their former lord. It didn’t seem like a very wise plan of action, all around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I give it high odds the whole thing about letting you stay as count’s a lie, honestly, so if you want to keep your position, better not to take ’em up on this,” Mireille continued. “I mean, from their point of view, you’re a thirteen-year-old brat with no accomplishments to speak of, right? It’d be a whole different matter if they knew about your power, but you haven’t been blatant enough with that for the info to get all the way to the Duke of Seitz, have you?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Again, she had a point. If Canarre was intended to be their staging point for an attack on Missian, it would be way too important to leave in the hands of a young, inexperienced ruler like me. Furthermore, unless the Duke of Seitz was an absolute master when it came to gathering information, it seemed unlikely that he’d know about my Appraisal skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, who knows. Maybe they really won’t kill you, and maybe you could get some other territory out of the bargain,” said Mireille. “If you can use your power to make yourself look helpful, you might even manage to become the retainer of some Seitzan bigshot. Staying on as count, though? I can’t see it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In spite of the fact that she’d suggested surrendering to Seitz before the war started, Mireille seemed firmly against the decision now. Having gone through all the pros and cons of the option, I was convinced as well: it just wasn’t the right move. I wouldn’t have been excited about it even without a logical argument against it, to be fair, since betraying Couran would mean breaking the promise I’d made to Lumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But if we don’t accept their offer, won’t that take peace off the table entirely…?” I muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yup, so we’ll just have to beat ’em,” Mireille said with an air of casual indifference."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And what are the odds of us pulling that off?” I asked, looking to both Mireille and Rosell for a reply. I knew that with our peace talks scuttled fighting was our only option, and I wanted to know if either of them thought that victory was feasible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Considering the possibility of Lord Couran and his army arriving to reinforce us, we stand a chance as long as we do our best to drag the war out. I can’t say I’m totally sure we’ll lose, anyway…” Rosell said with an anxious frown. The look on his face gave me the sense he was worried about something, and a moment later, Mireille piped up to clue me in on what was concerning him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Waiting it out’s definitely not a plan we can count on working,” she said. “When Couran will be able to help us out’s a total unknown, and all. It’s pretty likely that something or other will end up tying him up for a good long while, and even though he didn’t send us many men, any number of reinforcements here represents a chunk of men who aren’t fighting to wrap up his side of the war. Not that I think he’s gonna lose Velshdt, or anything.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Good point,” I said. “And if we’re dragging out the fight for reinforcements that might never show up, it’s going to have an impact on our soldiers’ morale.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But we also don’t know that Lord Couran won’t arrive to help, and stalling tactics can be effective,” piped up Rosell. “Of course, the longer we drag the war out the more we’ll lose, and if the fighting spills into Canarre proper we might see some of our citizens get caught up in it as well.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Preventing as many deaths as possible was a high priority for me, and I was afraid that if things went on for too long we’d have to withdraw from Fort Coumeire, allowing the enemy army to run rampant throughout the county. Who knew what sort of chaos they would wreak? That was a scenario I wanted to avoid at all costs."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’d like to prevent any harm from coming to the people of Canarre, if at all possible. Is there any chance that we could repel the enemy, using only the troops available to us now?” I asked. That would be the best possible option, if it was on the table, and would make for the cleanest finish to the war."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If we could repel the enemy while minimizing losses on our side, we might even be able to follow it up by launching an attack on Arcantez to gain even more favor with Couran. The enemy’s overwhelming numbers, however, were still a factor I didn’t know if we could cope with. It was clear that they were serious about taking Canarre, so we wouldn’t be able to offset that advantage without some serious tactics backing us up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If we’re fighting them by conventional means? Nah, that’s off the table,” Mireille said matter-of-factly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, yes, I know that,” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that point, Rosell stepped in to lay out our options in Mireille’s place. “There are a number of tactics that are suitable to opposing a numerically superior enemy, but not many of them would be possible for us to put into practice,” he said. “Convincing their commander to defect to your side’s one, but that’s not doable unless you’ve laid the groundwork for it in advance, so it’s off the table for now. Beating them on a pure tactical level’s not technically impossible, but in our case the difference in numbers is just too substantial. Even if we win battle after battle to start, it’d only be a matter of time before they wore us down.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So then, what can we do?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe our best option would be to use the Shadows to our advantage,” Rosell proposed. “Seitz’s army is vast, but deploying that many soldiers takes a lot of provisions, and their mages will need plenty of aqua magia as well. If we could sabotage their stores, we might be able to cripple their ability to carry on the fight, and I believe the Shadows are skilled enough to make that happen.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Aiming for their supplies? Interesting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Reducing their aqua magia supplies would certainly make their mages less of a threat, and mages were half of what made going into battle so terrifying. Plus, it would damage their ability to raise magical defenses just as much, making our own magical assaults all the more effective. A lack of provisions, meanwhile, would make it hard for their soldiers to fight in the first place. Rosell was right that the Shadows were incredibly capable, so I was sure they’d be able to at least partially accomplish that objective."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I like the sound of this, but not even the Shadows would be able to take out all of our enemy’s supplies. Would wiping out a chunk of them be enough to win us the war?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Destroying all of them would be hard, yeah, but if we can get rid of enough of them, it could let us hold out against their army no matter how big of a difference in numbers we’re dealing with,” Rosell replied. “Magic rules the battlefield in this day and age, and is especially necessary when you’re assaulting a fortress. As long as we can deplete their aqua magia, we’ll have okay odds of holding this fort.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille frowned. “I’m not so sure about that,” she said. “It’d be a different story if this place were more defensible, but if I’m being honest, it’s not the sturdiest fort I’ve ever seen. For a fort on the border, it’s kind of concerning just how poorly fortified it is.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was true that Fort Coumeire was far from a heavily-fortified citadel. It had been known as one at some point in history, supposedly, but times had changed. Between the fort’s deterioration and the advent of magical warfare rendering what was left obsolete, it could hardly be called well-defended in this day and age. The previous Count of Canarre, Lumeire, hadn’t put much effort into repairing the fort. Canarre’s finances were far from stable, to be frank, so a large-scale renewal just wasn’t possible given the budget he was working with."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then again, I can’t deny that taking out their aqua magia would be a big boost to our odds, whether we’re fighting in a siege or on the open field,” said Mireille. “I just think that if it’s our only plan, it’ll fall short. We need something else, too.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you have any ideas, Master?” asked Rosell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Seriously?!” I moaned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She doesn’t? None?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Something about the flow of the exchange had convinced me that she’d thought up a master plan ages ago."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Look, kiddo, if I could come up with perfect plans at the drop of a hat, my job would be a hell of a lot easier,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Okay, but…isn’t that basically what you did all throughout our last war? You never made it look hard then, either,” I countered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yeah, ’cause it was an easy war. We had numbers on our side pretty much every battle. Their castles were pretty tough, but that was the worst of it,” said Mireille. It seemed an overwhelming numerical disadvantage was a tough problem to solve, even for her. “Anyway, I’m with you─I doubt just buying time’s our best bet, either. Trust me, nothing’s more irritating than sitting around and dragging out a war without going on the offensive at all. We’ve gotta come up with something that’ll let us deal a solid blow to their army.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not exactly the most logical reason to choose a tactic, is it?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At that point, Mireille let out a yawn."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Anyway, all this thinking’s made me sleepy. I’m gonna hit the sack,” she said, then headed for the door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Considering she’d just made it sound like she was about to start planning for real, I was beside myself with shock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Wait, what?! You’re going to sleep?! I thought you were going to pull out all the stops and really start planning!” I exclaimed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Why bother? I’m not gonna be having any good ideas while I’m this tired,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I mean, you have a point, but this is a critical juncture in the war! And it’s the middle of the day!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The nice thing about humans is that we can sleep whenever we feel like it, day or night,” Mireille said, then yawned as she left the room without another word. Presumably, she was heading for her chambers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Well,” I said, “she’s certainly a free spirit.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, gods. I have to think as hard as I can,” Rosell moaned, then started racking his brain for a solution."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hee hee hee! Mireille’s just such an interesting woman, isn’t she?” Licia said with an amused smile. “But I can tell she’s also quite reliable. The situation’s dire, but she wasn’t even flustered! I’m sure she has absolute faith that we’ll manage to win the day somehow.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell and I had both been well on our way toward succumbing to anxiety, but Licia’s words helped us feel a little better about things. She was right─Mireille hadn’t seemed panicked in the slightest. She probably believed that everything would work out for the best, one way or another. I, meanwhile, noted that Licia had remained just as composed and unshaken as Mireille had. In my mind, she was just as reliable as the older woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, and I believe you should make contact with the Shadows before you expend any more effort on planning,” Licia added."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“O-Oh, right! Good point. I’ll give them their orders right away,” I said. I’d almost forgotten that I still had to tell the Shadows about the sabotage I wanted them to attempt, but thankfully, Licia had been there to save me at the last minute."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh! You should do that, yes, but you should also send orders to Mister Rietz,” said Rosell. “I’d say that for now, we should tell him to do his best to buy as much time as he can.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Got it,” I replied, then went off to send out my instructions."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Shadows were currently focusing their efforts on information gathering. That didn’t take all of their efforts, so they’d left Ben with me to serve as a point of contact, and I gave him the message that I was changing their current mission. Ben had a way of relaying messages incredibly quickly, so I felt confident that Pham would know what I wanted him to do next within a day or so. As for Rietz, I simply wrote a letter describing the current state of things in Fort Coumeire and asking him to buy us time, then dispatched it to the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The negotiations have failed…the Shadows are working behind the scenes…and I’m supposed to be buying time,” Rietz muttered as he read Ars’s letter and tried to grasp the current state of things. “Buying time, huh…? That’s not going to be easy.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy army was massive, their troops’ morale was high, and they were pressing forward at a rapid clip. They were a force to be reckoned with, all around. On the other hand, the fortification of Rietz’s force’s new encampment was proceeding smoothly. They’d lost a fair number of large catalyzers when their previous line was breached, but they hadn’t set up every single catalyzer they had in reserve for that battle, so they were once again able to prepare a decent enough line of them for battle. Still, even with those preparations complete, Rietz wasn’t convinced they’d be able to hold the enemy off for long."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It’ll all come down to how well the Shadows’ sabotage plays out, Rietz thought. If they can eliminate enough of the enemy’s food and aqua magia, then their troops won’t be able to go on the offensive with the sort of vigor they displayed during the last battle. I suppose all I can do is have faith in the Shadows and their skills. Buying the time we need is going to be difficult, but I have no choice other than to see it through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz made a silent vow to accomplish the mission he’d been entrusted with. A Malkan like him would never have had the opportunity to prove his capabilities and be granted control over an army if it weren’t for Ars’s support, so there was very little he wouldn’t do to live up to Ars’s expectations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Seitz’s forces were already close at hand, and this time, Rietz expected them to charge in at their full strength without bothering to test the waters first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We don’t have the time to come up with an elaborate strategy, he thought, and that only leaves us one other option…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If clever tactics were off the table, Rietz’s only option was to rely on brute force. That, needless to say, would involve Charlotte. Without her magic, any plan would be doomed from the outset. Rietz was worried, though, that in this case, her power alone wouldn’t be enough."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Using magic meant spending time filling catalyzers with aqua magia, so if it was the only cornerstone of their offense, there would be unavoidable periods during which their attack would stall out. If they let hostile forces close the gap during those periods again, they’d be forced to retreat, just like they had in the previous battle. That ran contrary to their purposes─they wouldn’t be buying anywhere near enough time if they had to pull out that quickly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz needed some way to hold the enemy army back while his mages were preparing their catalyzers. That task would logically fall to his infantry and cavalry, but their foes numbered far too many. If they charged in and tried to hold their foes back by conventional means, they’d be overrun in an instant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I suppose my only choice is to take this into my own hands, Rietz concluded. If he led the charge, bringing the fight to the enemy and making a show of his prowess, he thought he might be able to scare them enough to slow their advance. Seeing their commander fight in the vanguard could give his allies a morale boost, as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ars had ordered Rietz to take care of himself. Not only was Rietz an incredibly capable subordinate, but he was also the person who Ars trusted above all others. Ars had made it clear that he didn’t even want to consider the possibility of Rietz’s demise. In the absence of the time to plan out a detailed strategy, though, Rietz decided that unless he disregarded Ars’s orders and put himself in harm’s way, his side would have very little chance of winning the day."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But of course, none of that will be an issue. I just have to make it back alive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz had no intention of dying. He had the utmost confidence that he would make it through the battle alive, and carry out his plan to perfection. He believed in his abilities─in the abilities that Ars had discovered and drawn into the light."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I can’t die here. A man who earned Lord Ars’s acknowledgement would never perish in a place like this!” Rietz told himself. It wasn’t his own abilities he believed in, in truth. No, he believed in Ars’s Appraisal skill."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Prepare for battle! We’re buying as much time as we can manage!” Rietz shouted to his men, then began giving out detailed orders to each division. First, he instructed Braham, Zaht, and the Maitraw Company to accompany him in his offensive push."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right! Now this sounds like a battle I’ll be able to rack up some accomplishments in!” Braham excitedly declared."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht, on the other hand, was smart enough to not be excited about his assignment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm… It seems to me that the encroaching army is a little too large to hold back that easily… In fact, is it even going to be possible with our numbers?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What Rietz was proposing would be far from easy. They had roughly five thousand men, and those five thousand men would need to stop a force numbering in the tens of thousands that was running on high morale."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The combined forces of Canarre’s army and Couran’s reinforcements numbered almost thirty thousand, but it wasn’t feasible to use that entire force for this sort of stalling tactic. Seitz wouldn’t be sending all their men onto the field either, most likely, but they’d still have several times the manpower as Rietz’s force would. Quality trumped quantity when it came to the value of mages on the battlefield, but foot soldiers were a different matter. Strength in numbers was the single most important factor for them, and when your opponent held that advantage, holding them back was a very tall order."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s all right. I know we’re up to this task,” said Rietz. He didn’t explain where his confidence was coming from, but it came through enough to encourage his comrades nonetheless."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“One thing,” said Clamant, the head of the Maitraw Company. He wasn’t the type to express his opinions, even during tactical discussions, so Rietz was caught off guard by him speaking up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes?” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If our goal is to buy time, we should rethink how we’re arranging our defense. As is, the enemy’s probably going to break through our lines,” said Clamant, his expression as unchanging and impassive as ever."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Clamant had a wealth of experience on the battlefield, and Rietz knew that any opinion he expressed would be an informed one. “How do you mean? What’s wrong with our current formation?” Rietz asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We have our large catalyzers all lined up in a row, and the plan’s to cast with all of them at once, right?” Clamant confirmed. “It’s true that more firepower means more dead enemies, in our current situation, and most of the time turning a battlefield into a sea of flames is enough to scare your enemy so badly their morale plummets and they can’t even fight properly. However, we’re up against a commander capable enough to keep his men in line and fighting in the face of that. It’d be one thing if we could wipe them all out in one blast, but with numbers like theirs, they’ll keep coming until they overwhelm us. Instead, we should have our mages carry small and mid-sized catalyzers and send them into battle with our vanguard to provide covering fire.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wait a moment,” said Rietz. “I’m inclined to think that you’re misunderstanding the driving purpose behind my plan. It’s true that a round of magic from our large catalyzers wasn’t enough to shake our enemy during the last battle, but each time we hit them, they’ll need time to regroup before they can come at us once more. That’s how we’ll buy time, which is our whole objective. We need the large catalyzers active if we want to have any hope of pulling this off.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m not saying that you should take the large ones out of commission,” said Clamant. “I’m saying you should cut down on them. That Charlotte woman’s spells would be enough to inflict the damage we need on their own.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz fell silent as he considered Clamant’s words. Having Charlotte as the only mage stationed on the large catalyzers would reduce the firepower his forces were capable of putting out in a single burst. However, it was also unmistakable that Charlotte’s spells had done far and away the most damage to the enemy army. Part of Rietz was convinced that she could handle the task on her own, but part of him was still worried that they wouldn’t have the destructive potential they’d need with Clamant’s proposed setup."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If you don’t think she can handle it, then just put another mage over there with her─the one called Musia. Her spells are the second most powerful in your force, aren’t they?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It’s not quite that simple. Musia’s magic is powerful at the best of times, yes, but her consistency leaves a lot to be desired,” said Rietz. In his mind, putting Musia in such an important role would be a dangerous gamble."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I think Musia can handle it,” Charlotte chimed in. She also rarely spoke up during meetings, though in her case, half of the time that was because she was asleep. “She’s had a look in her eyes lately that I’ve never seen from her before, and she’s been practicing with a small catalyzer whenever she has free time. Been getting better and better with it, too. I figure going into battle must’ve been good for her. We won’t know until she tries casting something big, of course, but I’ve got a feeling she’ll do just fine.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“A feeling…?” Rietz repeated skeptically. Charlotte’s confidence struck him as baseless, and trusting in her judgment would take quite a bit of courage, but he decided to muster that courage up and have faith in her anyway. Ars had handpicked Musia for her potential, just like he had Rietz. There was no denying that she had the ability to do great things slumbering within her, and it wouldn’t be strange at all for that capability to awaken during combat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, in the absence of any concrete evidence, Rietz decided to be optimistic. He took Clamant’s advice and assigned Charlotte and Musia to be the only mages who’d use the large catalyzers during the upcoming battle. The remaining mages in his force would join his division in the vanguard, using their magic to slow the enemy army down from up close. Having that many mages supporting them would make the fight substantially easier for the foot soldiers out front, and would make it significantly trickier for the enemy to fight their way through to the back lines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz’s troops followed his orders to the letter, gearing up and moving to their assigned positions. Soon all their preparations were complete, and all that was left was to wait for the enemy to arrive. That time would come all too soon. The army of Seitz marched onward, and under Rietz’s command the army of Canarre stood fast to intercept them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia’s breath came in heaving gasps as she laid her hands on her large catalyzer. The pressure and tension of the situation was enough to send a fledgeling mage like her into a hyperventilating fit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In the last battle, she’d known that she was just one of many mages on her side. She’d thought that meant that everything would be fine, even if she screwed up. This time, though, it was just her and Charlotte. If her spell failed again, the consequences would be devastating."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That wasn’t the only cause for her nervousness, though. She also had yet to grow desensitized to the act of using her magic to kill people. It was kill or be killed, and she knew it, but that didn’t stop her from feeling a moment of hesitation before every spell she tried to cast."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I have to do this… I have to,” Musia muttered to herself as her hands started to tremble. The pounding of her heart grew faster and faster, and a bead of cold sweat trailed down her cheek, dripping off her skin and spattering to the ground below."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Calm down, Musia.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia jumped as a voice rang out from nearby. She’d been staring at the ground, but now she looked up to find Charlotte standing beside her. The look on her face was nothing like how she usually presented herself. Her expression was kind in a way Musia had never seen before."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I know you can do it,” Charlotte said in a gentle tone."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia felt reassured upon hearing that, and clenched her fists."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’ve always wanted to change, she thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia had responded to Ars’s solicitation for retainers because she was sick of herself, and sick of the environment she’d been trapped in. Men held all the power in the Summerforth Empire. It was true no matter what duchy you found yourself in, and Missian, Musia’s birthplace, was no exception. Women were expected to marry a man, bear children, and dedicate themselves to supporting their household."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia was taught that being treated that way was a matter of course. Her family had trained her to do housework, and nothing else. She’d never had a proper education, and had settled into a vague acceptance of the fact that everyone lived this way. Still, though, somewhere deep down, a part of her had always wondered: was this what she wanted?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Is marrying a man really my greatest ambition? Is raising children really all that I want out of life?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Again and again, she found herself harboring doubts that no imperial woman was ever meant to consider. Once the thought had struck her, she couldn’t stop it from taking root. She’d never had anyone to discuss those feelings with, though─after all, if she told anyone, there was a good chance they’d treat her like a lunatic. That was when Musia had chanced upon one of the signboards that Ars had put up to gather new talent. She’d read that anyone could apply, even women, and had realized that this could be her one chance to make a big change in her life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia had set out to Castle Canarre determined to change, but when she was told that she had a talent for magic and was offered a position as a mage, her first instinct was to assume she was being lied to. She hadn’t heard the tales of Charlotte’s exploits, and had always thought that a woman could never serve as a soldier. She’d assumed that being the count’s retainer would be something like being his maid, assigned to do chores around the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In spite of her apprehensions, Musia had agreed to become a mage, and when she cast her very first spell, she found herself profoundly moved."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So women like me really can use magic, she’d thought. Our spells aren’t any less powerful than the ones men can cast, either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia realized that what society thought of as common sense was wrong, plain and simple. For the first time, she was confident that the doubts she’d harbored for so long had never been mistaken."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In that moment, Musia swore a silent oath to herself: “One day, I will be a great mage.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Day after day of magical training followed. She hadn’t had very much time to practice, in the grand scheme of things, but she’d poured every ounce of effort she could into developing her skills."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I have to gather my resolve. It’s fine if I make mistakes, but if I let my fear take hold of me, I’ll never get anywhere! she told herself. Gradually, the shaking of her hands subsided and the panic that had almost consumed her began to dull. Charlotte said that I can do this. That means I can, without question!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia had only cast a few perfect spells so far. That lack of experience had left her unable to fully believe in herself…but she could believe in Charlotte’s faith in her."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0025.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Okay, here they come. Time to focus,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia looked out over the battlefield. The enemy army was drawing closer, and she and Charlotte had been entrusted with the job of bombarding them with magic. Musia tried to follow Charlotte’s advice, shutting her eyes and taking a slow, deep breath to sharpen her focus. Her hands were no longer shaking, and her pulse was very close to its usual pace."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Musia had a feeling that she could rise to the occasion. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than a signal, amplified by sound magic, rang out. It was the sign that Rietz had ordered her to begin casting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Musia’s eyes snapped open. She chanted her spell, and her magic flared to life."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz proceeded out to the front of his formation to command his troops. They would be on the defensive in their upcoming battle, and maintaining his army’s morale was critical to their success. A commander who led from the back line would never be able to motivate his men to fight to the death, but a commander who rode out ahead of all others, leading the charge, would drive his soldiers to fight even harder─assuming, of course, that he survived the attempt."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Going out into battle personally meant he carried the inescapable risk of being struck down. Not even Rietz could go forth onto the battlefield without some apprehensions. The fear of death forever lurked within him. He had also, however, served as a mercenary long before he entered Ars’s service, and risking his life had long since become a matter of course for him. The one key difference was that when he was a mercenary, Rietz had received orders, whereas now he was the one who had to issue them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He had, of course, fought on the front lines countless times before. He’d had his fair share of close calls, as well. Rietz had learned one thing in particular from all those battlefields and the experiences he’d had upon them: so long as he could stay calm, he would live to see another day. Keeping his composure and doing what had to be done at the right moment would carry him through any battle, no matter how vicious. His incredibly high Valor stat came in handy as well, of course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In this battle Rietz would be fending off an army with several times as many men as his own, but all he had to do was calm himself, and he knew he’d be able to fight to the best of his ability. Rietz took a deep breath, and settled his nerves. Meanwhile, the enemy drew ever closer. It was now time for him to give the signal for Charlotte and Musia to unleash their magic. Rietz raised his right arm into the air. A nearby mage took notice of the gesture, and cast a sound magic spell to send a signal ringing out across the army’s ranks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Barely an instant later, magical death rained down on the battlefield. Rietz had been concerned about whether or not Musia would be able to cast to her full destructive potential, but it seemed he needn’t have worried. The spell she cast wasn’t quite as powerful as the one she’d let loose during the battle before last─her first battle ever─but it was still more than sufficient, and combined with Charlotte’s consistently mighty magic, the two of them sent forth a wave of destruction just as powerful as Rietz had been hoping for."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Enemy soldiers fell in droves. Charlotte and Musia didn’t stop, though, casting again and again until the battlefield had transformed into a veritable hell on earth. At that point, they’d exhausted their aqua magia supply and their large-scale spells came to a halt. It would take time for their catalyzers to be refilled, and until then, Rietz and his men would have to hold the line."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Seitzan forces clambered over the corpses of their comrades to advance on Rietz. Hellish though the sight was, they didn’t falter in the least. Rietz could only imagine the hours of training and toil it had taken to drive that mindset into them, and he found himself impressed by their skill and professionalism, even as he waited for the perfect moment to give his men the order to attack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz couldn’t order his infantry and cavalry to charge yet, on account of the mages equipped with small and medium catalyzers who stood behind them. His plan was to have his mages open the battle with their magic, sending the enemy ranks into a state of disarray. Then, he would have his cavalry charge, followed by his infantry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz himself wasn’t riding a horse this battle. He believed that seeing him down on the muddy ground, fighting man to man, would raise his soldiers’ morale more effectively than seeing him parade around on horseback would. Braham and Clamant had taken command of the cavalry division in his stead. Braham fought his best unmounted, but he was a perfectly capable horseman as well when the need arose. Clamant, on the other hand, stood head and shoulders above all others no matter how he was called upon to fight. The two of them easily had the ability to lead the cavalry division to victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon, the enemy soldiers stepped into Rietz’s mages’ effective range. Rietz raised his left hand this time, sending the signal for his battlefield mages to begin casting. They leaped into action without delay, sending a storm of low-level spells flying into the enemy ranks. Magic of that level wasn’t powerful enough to inflict any serious damage, and their enemy was far from defenseless to boot, using their own mages to deploy shields and intercept the majority of Rietz’s offensive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Spells cast from a large catalyzer could punch through defensive magic, but spells from a small or mid-sized catalyzer didn’t have the power to manage such a feat. Unless, of course, they were cast by a mage as skillful as Charlotte, who could break through barriers using any sort of catalyzer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’ll need to take out their mages before we stand any chance of making this work, thought Rietz. And they’re stationed in the enemy’s back ranks…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Targeting soldiers in the rear of the enemy’s formation wasn’t easy. There were two ways Rietz could approach the problem: having his archers target the mages, or having his cavalry navigate around their formation and strike them from behind in a surprise attack."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Defeating the enemy’s mages using archery alone would be far from easy. The enemy army, after all, knew very well that their mages were a weak point to be protected. Their mid-sized catalyzers were made to serve a dual purpose as shields, allowing them to protect themselves even as they cast, and small catalyzers fit in a person’s hand, so the mages wielding them could hold small shields in their other hands. They were ready to defend themselves if Rietz’s army launched a volley of arrows their way, making eliminating them in that fashion a difficult prospect indeed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The attempt, however, could force the army to advance at a slower rate. Running with a shield raised wasn’t exactly easy, so by ordering his archers to fire on the enemy mages, Rietz could slow their advance to a walking pace. If the main army advanced too far ahead of the mages, they wouldn’t remain protected by the barriers, so if the mages’ pace slowed, the rest of the army would have to match them. Even if it didn’t result in any fatalities, it could still give them a leg up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz, however, chose not to bring his archers into play just yet. At this stage in the battle, slowing the enemy’s advance just wouldn’t make enough of a difference to be worth the effort. Rietz knew that the only way he could buy the time he needed was to break the enemy’s formation and force them to retreat─just slowing them down for a moment wouldn’t be anywhere near enough. That meant that using his cavalry was his only option."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "First, Rietz would send his foot soldiers forward to engage with the enemy. If they could gain an advantage in that melee, even just for a moment, they would be able to draw the enemy’s attention to them and away from their cavalry. At that point, the cavalry division could use their momentarily low profile to slip around the enemy formation and strike them from the rear, cutting down as many mages as they could before the opening closed. Rietz’s infantry would then withdraw, and while the enemy pursued his cavalry, his mages would open fire and his infantry would charge back in once more, hitting the enemy while their formation was at its weakest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz had his plan fully formed in his mind, but that wasn’t to say it was without flaws. For one thing, the enemy army’s morale was incredibly high, and gaining the upper hand over them wouldn’t be easy. That stage of the plan would hinge on how effectively he could lead his men and how much damage he could deal on his own. He was also planning on directing his archers to fire into the enemy’s front ranks rather than at their mages. The enemy’s infantry were equipped for mobility rather than defense, and a well-placed arrow should be capable of bringing one of them down. They’d likely chosen to equip their troops in that fashion under the assumption that Rietz’s archers would only be targeting their mages."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The cavalry division’s attack on the rear of the enemy’s formation could also be a stumbling point. A maneuver like that would be far from easy to pull off, and it was possible that it would fail entirely. Even if it did succeed, the danger of Rietz’s cavalry not making it out of the attack was very real. Clamant and Braham would be leading the attack, and both of them were skilled horsemen, but Rietz had his concerns about whether Braham would be able to carry out such an important task."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Clamant’s competence was beyond question, and while some part of Rietz was concerned that a mercenary like him could turn tail at any moment, he reasoned that Clamant wouldn’t have come to help Canarre’s forces to begin with if that was his inclination. Rietz assumed that Couran had promised him a massive sum of money for the task, and with that in mind, he believed that Clamant would see it through."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz signaled a nearby soldier to send a message for him. He’d be fighting on the front lines and wouldn’t be able to issue moment to moment orders, nor grasp the situation of the battle in its totality, which would make gauging the right moment to send out his cavalry difficult. As such, he instructed Clamant and Braham to judge the situation themselves and choose the right moment to make their move together. Braham’s ability to make that call was questionable, to say the least, but Clamant was a storied veteran, and Rietz had no doubt the mercenary would find the perfect moment to strike and take advantage of the enemy’s opening."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With his message dispatched, it was time for Rietz to set forth and engage the enemy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The time has come! Follow my lead─charge!” he shouted, then spearheaded the attack, rushing forward to meet his foes head-on. His archers acted in time with his attack, peppering the enemy formation with arrows."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz let out a bellowing war cry as he fought. The enemy soldiers poured in one after another, and what they’d sacrificed in defensive capabilities had gained them substantial mobility. They came so swiftly that for each one that fell with an arrow in his breast or a sword in his gut, another would be there to replace him without missing a beat. Rietz, however, fought valiantly against their endless onslaught, cleaving through his foes in droves. He didn’t give them the chance to strike back, and his armor was soon stained red with the blood of his enemies. He fought like a vengeful deity descended to the battlefield."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zaht fought by Rietz’s side, and performed admirably in his own right. Ars had recruited him knowing that he was already a capable warrior, and although he lacked the ability to command troops, his skill in direct combat was tremendous. He was a man who Rietz felt comfortable trusting his back to, and Zaht fought hard enough to justify that faith."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of them carved through the melee, and their might and fury roused the spirits of all the men around them. The enemy was fearless enough to walk into Charlotte’s inferno, but Canarre’s soldiers met them head-on, never faltering in the face of their foes’ bravery. Gradually, the battle began to turn in Canarre’s favor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hah… Hah…” Rietz panted. He’d slain droves of enemies, and fatigue was beginning to set in. Strong as he was, his endurance was not unlimited, and it was only a matter of time before he grew too tired to carry on the fight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He would have to withdraw before that happened, one way or another. Rietz knew very well that if he fell here, the army of Canarre would suffer massive losses. If he withdrew too soon, however, he’d ruin any chance of buying the time that his men needed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’m not done yet, Rietz told himself. I can still…fight…!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz’s limits weren’t bearing down on him just yet. He had stamina left to keep up the fight─stamina left to slay more of his foes. He roused his spirits, raised his sword, and plunged back into the battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right, let’s move,” Clamant said as he surveyed the battle from atop his horse. He’d been keeping careful track of the enemy troops, and had judged that their focus was sufficiently diverted by Rietz and his foot soldiers to let the cavalry division slip around the outskirts of the battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?! Already? You sure?” asked Braham, who didn’t know what he was looking at well enough to assess the state of the battle. He’d been through plenty of battles himself, but since his former superiors had judged him to be a strong liability, he’d very rarely been deployed to the front lines. Reading the state of the enemy’s focus was beyond him. “Y-Y’know what? You seem like you know your stuff just a little better than I do, so I’ll take your word for it!” Braham added before Clamant could reply."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The old Braham would have chosen to trust in his own instincts and rush into battle when his whims told him to, but now, he decided to follow his ally’s advice. He’d learned, at least, how to judge whose calls were worth listening to. Thanks to Rietz’s guidance, Braham was growing as a person, little by little."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Clamant and Braham’s force rode as swiftly as they were able. Their goal was to catch the enemy off guard, so they’d taken as few troops with them as possible. The more horsemen rode with them, the more likely it would be that the enemy noticed them. Furthermore, keeping their numbers low meant they could handpick the most skilled troops for the task."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Their division was made up of roughly a hundred horsemen, each of whom was highly skilled. More of the Maitraw Company’s men had made it into the mission than Canarre’s cavalry. The fact that Clamant was leading the charge partially explained that imbalance, but it was also true that the Maitraw mercenaries were more skilled at mounted combat on the whole. They’d trained well, and many of their men rode as if they and their mounts were of one mind and body."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The elite cavalry squad galloped in perfect formation, maneuvering around the battle toward the mages at the back of the enemy’s formation. The soldiers caught up in the melee up front didn’t have time or attention to spare, and took no notice as the horsemen rode to their sides. They drew closer and closer to the mages, who were occupied with the barriers they were maintaining and took no notice either, until the cavalry were all but upon them. The moment they realized what was happening the mages began to shout and panic, but Clamant and Braham were already crashing into their formation, swinging their spears from atop their horses and mowing down the mages around them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The mages reacted quickly, switching from protective magics to offensive spells as they tried to drive the horsemen back. Magic burst forth from point-blank range, and several horsemen fell as spells slammed into them, but since every member of the attacking force was so skilled at riding, most of them avoided the assault. The horses themselves deserved credit as well─they were just as capable as their riders. Most horses would be thrown into a panic at the first sight of magic and render their riders unable to fight, but these were exceptionally well-trained mounts that didn’t so much as flinch at the sight of a spell."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mages were more vulnerable than most soldiers in close combat, and while they fell left and right, the horsemen attacking them were largely unscathed. One of the mages cast a sound spell to alert their allies of the danger they were in, but it had taken far too long for them to get the spell off. You could only keep one type of aqua magia in a catalyzer at once, and the mages had all been using flame-aspected aqua magia, which allowed them to cast barriers that were effective against flame-based spells. Few of the enemy mages, if any, had been carrying a catalyzer full of sound-aspected aqua magia when the attack began. And as a result, their warning went out long after it should’ve."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, though, the spell rang out and the rest of Seitz’s force was made aware of the peril their mages had found themselves in. The battle at the front was still ongoing, however, and the rank and file soldiers were unable to break away and help the mages. To the contrary, the news just contributed to the chaos. All the while, Canarre’s cavalry kept at their assault, whittling away at the mages’ numbers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It’s time! Rietz thought as he heard sound magic ring out from deep within the enemy’s ranks. He would order his soldiers to fall back, and as soon as they’d broken free of the enemy lines and the Seitzan forces moved to pursue them, Rietz’s mages would begin their barrage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Rietz’s troops stayed engaged with the enemy, the risk of friendly fire would be too great for his mages to cast safely. However, pulling out from a frenzied melee was easier said than done. Under normal circumstances the enemy would pursue and deal heavy damage to the retreating troops. In this case, however, the enemy was confused and distracted. Rietz believed he could take advantage of that opening to slip away. He could have also taken advantage of it by pressing the attack, but the current state of chaos wasn’t intense enough for him to feel confident they wouldn’t regroup before he could gain enough ground. Rietz chose to trust in his own judgment, and issued the order to fall back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Formation three!” Rietz shouted, issuing the order with a code phrase to ensure the enemy army wouldn’t catch on to his plan. Orders like that would normally be issued using sound magic, but since Rietz was on the front line he could give the signal in person, using his own voice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Changing the code phrase for a retreat battle after battle was a confusing nuisance, but Canarre’s troops were well-trained and remembered each battle’s codes without trouble. No sooner had the words left Rietz’s mouth than his men started falling back, suppressing the urge to cut down their distracted foes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy’s troops noticed that the army of Canarre was falling back, but they were in no position to rush to pursue. Even if they’d had that leeway, they’d taken notice of Rietz’s retreat far too late to take advantage of it. Their commanding officer was only informed that the enemy was falling back a matter of minutes after the retreat began. He issued a frantic command for his men to pursue, and when his men moved to carry out that order and chase after Rietz’s men, Rietz’s mages took that as their cue to rain magic down upon the enemy formation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The cavalry division’s surprise attack had succeeded. That wasn’t to say that they’d slain every hostile mage, but they’d brought down enough of them to leave their magical barrier full of holes. This time, Canarre’s mages’ spells met their mark and blew away Seitzan soldiers one by one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That didn’t stop their advance, though, and Rietz’s foot soldiers immediately shifted their formation to intercept the enemy and protect the mages behind them. They’d been prioritizing their offense during the prior melee, but now they fought with defense in mind, sending soldiers armed with shields and spears to the front. Shifting formations in that manner wasn’t something that most armies could do in such short time, but Canarre’s forces had trained diligently for just such an occasion, and Rietz’s skill as a commander aided them in their efforts. In their case, the shift was all but instantaneous."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Seitzan troops found themselves unable to break through Canarre’s front line. Meanwhile, the troops behind Seitz’s front line were picked off in droves by Canarre’s mages. They relied entirely on their mages’ barriers to protect them from magical attack, and without those barriers, they couldn’t even protect themselves from spells cast with a small or mid-sized catalyzer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As more and more of their men fell, Seitz’s morale began to plummet. It was now plain to see that Canarre held the upper hand, but Seitz’s strength in numbers still carried them onward, and the shieldmen at the front of Canarre’s formation gradually began to fall. It seemed inevitable that Seitz would break through…but that was when Charlotte and Musia finished preparing for their next set of spells. Once again, blasts of incredibly powerful magic rained down on the hostile forces, incinerating many among them in the blink of an eye. Musia’s second wave of magic was less powerful than her first had been, but it was still devastating in effect."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That, it seemed, had dealt the finishing blow to Seitz’s morale. Their troops’ spirits were shattered, and they began to break ranks and flee. Their leaders seemed to realize that they would be in trouble if they couldn’t regroup, and chose a strategic withdrawal."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The battle had gone as Rietz had planned, and he’d managed to drive the opposing army into retreat. He was relieved by his victory, but at the same time, his expression remained grim. The lengthy melee had proven costly, and many of his men lay dead on the ground. His cavalry division’s losses were less heavy, and his mages were untouched."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy’s losses, meanwhile, had been grave. By all rights it had been an incredibly fruitful battle, but Seitz still had plenty of troops kept in reserve. They would keep attacking, no matter how many of their allies were killed, and since their leaders were sure to work out a counter strategy to deal with the tactics Rietz had used today, the same plan wouldn’t work twice. That wasn’t the biggest problem that he faced, though. Of far greater concern was his stock of aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the rate we’ve been expending our reserves, they’ll last for two more battles, at most. Our foes, on the other hand, have plenty to spare."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "There was still a stock of aqua magia at Fort Coumeire, but defending the fort with no aqua magia whatsoever was impossible. Canarre’s success in battle so far had been reliant upon their ability to drive the enemy off with magic, though, and without aqua magia, their defeat would be all but set in stone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We need to have the Shadows eliminate the enemy’s aqua magia supplies, and soon, Rietz thought. He couldn’t keep buying time forever. Eventually, he would have no choice but to retreat, and if the Shadows had yet to accomplish their mission by that time, the war would be lost. Rietz said a quick prayer for the Shadows’ success as he set about preparing for the next battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So we’re supposed to take out their aqua magia and provisions, eh?” Pham muttered as he accepted Ars’s letter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His band of spies, the Shadows, had recently become Ars’s formal retainers. In truth, though, their work hadn’t changed much compared to how they’d conducted themselves as mercenaries. They no longer had the right to turn down their client’s orders, but their members still reported directly to Pham, and they accomplished their missions in the same manner they always had."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The mission they’d been given this time would not be an easy one. Pham had gathered extensive information on the army of Seitz, and had learned that they too employed a band of spies much like the Shadows. They were less skilled than Pham and his people, but their presence still made all the difference for the Shadows’ purposes. The enemy’s spies, after all, weren’t participating in the war to gather information on Canarre’s forces─they were there specifically to root out and counteract sabotage by enemy spies. In other words, Seitz’s army was well-defended against Pham’s tactics."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Seitz, presumably, had decided that with the advantage in numbers they held over Canarre, there was no need to resort to trickery. If they fought head-on, as they always did, they would win regardless. The only problem would arise if circumstances conspired to prevent them from fighting as they always did, and the only way that could happen would be if Canarre slipped spies into their camp to sabotage their provisions or aqua magia supplies. The spies were there to make sure that didn’t happen, and using them in that manner was a logical decision on Seitz’s part. It takes a spy to catch a spy, after all. No one else would handle the task more effectively."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Sabotaging an army under the protection of spies was a tall order. Worse still, Pham was operating under a strict time limit. The job might have been reasonable enough with sufficient time to prepare, but he needed to make it happen as soon as possible. An average spy would probably say that the mission just wasn’t doable…but the Shadows were far from average. They were the best spies that money could buy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Guess the boss’s word is law. If this is what he wants, we’ve just gotta get it done,” said Pham. He took pride in the knowledge that he and his compatriots could achieve any mission, no matter how difficult. Not to say he could have turned it down to begin with, of course. He was Ars’s retainer now, not just an independent contractor, and that meant he had to live up to his lord’s expectations."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pham put his mind into overdrive, running through every possible method he could use to guarantee the success of his mission. There were a number of means he could use to deprive the enemy of their provisions and aqua magia. Broadly speaking, he could target them while they were being transported, or target the storehouses they were kept in. Those storehouses were kept close to the battlefield as a matter of necessity, and the Shadows had determined their locations."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one issue was that the army of Seitz had spread their supplies out over a large number of sites, rather than keep them all grouped together. Putting all their eggs in one basket would’ve been too risky, and they’d planned accordingly. That would make distribution slightly less efficient, but it seemed they’d decided it was worth the price, and Pham suspected there were even more sites that the Shadows hadn’t managed to discover."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The supplies being spread across numerous locations meant it would be exceedingly difficult to destroy them all. Hitting them in transit would pose difficulties as well, though. They’d be protected by a large squad of soldiers that the Shadows would have a very hard time breaking through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’re not supposed to take out all of their supplies this time─just shave away at them. It won’t do any good if we just get rid of a little, though. We need to eliminate as much as it takes to give Canarre the edge in battle, thought Pham, trying to get a grasp of Ars’s intentions. Ars had written the orders hastily, and had neglected to specify quite a few pertinent details about his priorities. We’ll probably be better off picking just one target: their food, or their aqua magia. You have to feed your soldiers if you want to send them into battle, and fighting without aqua magia’s doable in a pinch. It might make more sense to aim for their food…but maybe not…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When he was a mercenary, Pham had only thought about accomplishing his mission and getting paid. Now that he was in the service of a lord, though, he had to think past those goals and consider his benefactor’s long-term victory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Losing a few sites’ worth of food won’t have any immediate impact on their ability to fight. Unless we can destroy all of them, we won’t make them retreat─we’ll just make them more eager than ever to end this war soon. Why would we light a fire under our enemy’s asses? That could bring the whole army down on us at once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What about the aqua magia, though? Seitz isn’t supposed to be all that rich in magistones, so if they lost that, they wouldn’t be able to replace it in a hurry. Running low on aqua magia has a direct effect on an army’s ability to fight effectively, too. Even if we’re losing in numbers, if we can beat them in terms of our aqua magia reserves, winning a defensive battle might just be doable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After considering all his options, Pham reached his decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll go after their aqua magia!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that decided, Pham moved swiftly. He started by looking into which sites the army of Seitz was keeping their aqua magia at. He would prioritize taking those sites out, though the sheer number of them made eliminating all of them impossible. The number they could feasibly destroy just wouldn’t make that much of a difference, in the long run."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But what if we didn’t destroy their aqua magia? What if we stole it instead…?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Making off with the enemy’s resources would damage their ability to wage war and prop up Canarre’s in one fell swoop, killing two birds with one stone. However, stealing a stock of aqua magia from a battlefield would be harder than destroying it by an order of magnitude. All you had to do to destroy a storehouse was set it on fire, but stealing its contents would involve finding an opening, sneaking into the enemy camp, and carrying it all out again, without getting caught."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Pulling off a heist like that undetected would be close to impossible. It would be a different matter with access to shadow magic, but Pham had used up the last of his appropriately aspected aqua magia saving Couran’s life some time earlier. It was a rare and prized resource, and he had yet to find a way to replenish his stock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Pham wanted to steal the enemy’s aqua magia, there was only one way he could think of to make it happen. The question was, was pulling it off realistic? If his scheme succeeded, he would be able to gather up the better part of the enemy’s aqua magia supply in one place, then steal it all in one fell swoop. Canarre’s forces would benefit considerably from that outcome, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that it was doable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The one issue: the Shadows wouldn’t be able to handle it on their own. He would have to communicate his plan to Ars and ask for his cooperation. Pham quickly explained his plan to Ben, then sent him off to deliver it to their lord."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Eventually, Ben returned with the reply from Ars that Pham had been waiting for: the soldiers he needed would be readied for him at once. It had taken him less than a day to make it back, meaning he’d managed to deliver the message at quite an impressive speed. Ben’s speed had always been one of his strong points, and his stamina was exceptional to boot. His plain appearance belied his remarkable abilities."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "At the moment, the Shadows were operating in the city of Purledo, the seat of the County of Purledo. There was a fortress located a short ways away from the city, from which the commander of the army of Seitz dispatched his orders to the front lines."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Purledo’s proximity to the fortress meant that people affiliated with the army passed through every once in a while, and that made it a decent place for the Shadows to pick the enemy’s brain indirectly and accomplish their current objective: gathering information. Seitz’s spies were working behind the scenes to block the Shadows’ efforts, but gathering information was the speciality of more than one of the Shadows’ operatives, and they’d managed to pull it off without running afoul of the enemy so far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As soon as Ben had finished his report, Pham started giving out orders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, let’s get this operation rolling,” he said. “Remen, Lambers, Mulad─go get it done.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three spies Pham named would be responsible for the day’s operation. Pham wasn’t one to shy away from getting his hands dirty out in the field, but after deciding what the task of the day would entail, he’d realized that his subordinates would be more suited to seeing it through. Their skill sets were a better fit for the mission, so he’d handed it off to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lambers was a master of disguise, and Remen was an expert when it came to seduction. Remen wasn’t an exceptionally beautiful woman, to be clear. She was hardly ugly, but she wasn’t any more or less remarkable than any of the other moderately pretty women you could find just about anywhere. Her barely above-average looks, however, did nothing to hamper the area in which she shined: her ability to charm men through the art of conversation. In fact, a truly beautiful woman wouldn’t have been able to do what Remen did without arousing suspicion in her marks, so in a sense her looks struck the perfect balance with her area of expertise. Mulad, meanwhile, was a fighter born. Remen and Lambers weren’t much for battle, and if the operation took a turn for the worse, Mulad would be their lifeline."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The three Shadows acknowledged Pham’s orders, then got to work at once."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“So that’s the guy, eh…?” Remen muttered as a somewhat frivolous looking man walked into her field of vision. His name was Kaisas Lopardo, and he was a non-combatant official in the army of Seitz. The term “official” may have been giving him too much credit, though─he was essentially a flunky, not responsible for any important tasks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The bulk of his work revolved around checking the stockpiles that the army transported. In other words, he was responsible for making sure their provisions, aqua magia, and the like were in stock. With a little luck and some skillful maneuvering, he had the potential to rise to an overseer role for the army’s whole supply chain, but at the moment, he was little more than an assistant to those with real authority."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kaisas had finished his work for the day, and was on his way to a local pub to drink the evening away. He was fond of drinking without company, and entered the pub alone. Remen followed just a moment behind him, and took a seat at a nearby table. Kaisas was hardly a prolific skirt-chaser, but he proved no match for Remen’s skillful wiles, and had soon taken an interest in her─just as she had hoped he would."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before long, Kaisas invited Remen to retire to a room with him. The pub he’d chosen functioned as an inn as well, and he quickly rented out a room, which Remen was all too happy to follow him into. There they engaged in a romantic tryst, interspersed with occasional conversation…all of which Lambers, who was lurking in the next room over, listened in on. That was all it took for him to commit Kaisas’s manner of speaking and personality to memory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mulad was lying in wait in the same room as Lambers. Eventually, Lambers gave him a signal and Mulad left the room, went over to Kaisas and Remen’s chamber, and walked right in. He dashed over to Kaisas faster than the eye could follow, wrapped his arm around the man’s neck before he could even scream, and choked him into unconsciousness before snapping his neck, killing him instantly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The spies stripped the clothes off Kaisas’s corpse. Lambers quickly dressed himself in them, then took a lengthy moment to study Kaisas’s face, memorizing every last little detail of his countenance so he’d be able to reproduce it later on. Finally, the three of them hid the body somewhere it wasn’t likely to be discovered any time soon, then departed from the room and the pub."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Damn them all… They’ve no idea what I do for them, fools that they are,” Raktor Brandol muttered irritably in his chamber in Fort Purledo. He was a short, plump man in his late thirties. He didn’t look like an especially capable fighter, and in his case, appearances were not deceiving. He had, however, been entrusted with an important role by Seitz’s commander: overseeing the transport of their supplies, from food to aqua magia and everything in between."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Raktor had never struck down enemy generals and achieved mighty deeds on the front lines, but he was nevertheless a man who contributed greatly to the army behind the scenes. The maintenance of supply lines was a critical factor in war, and the fact that he had been given responsibility over the task spoke to the trust that had been placed in him. Up till recently, that trust had been well-earned. He’d ensured that the soldiers on the front lines had ample and immediate access to everything they needed, and had contributed greatly to his army’s success. Word of his achievements hadn’t spread far and wide across the land, but among the inner circle of the army of Seitz, his efforts were much praised."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Due to the army’s most recent battle, however, Raktor had found himself the subject of scathing criticism. He had ensured the army’s resources were moved carefully and cautiously, storing their provisions and aqua magia in a multitude of locations to ensure that even if the enemy caught them unawares, they would avoid losing a fatal quantity of their resources. That choice, however, had impacted the efficiency of the transportation process. The slow speed with which resources had been transported across the battlefield had resulted in the army not having enough of everything they’d needed to press the attack and keep the pressure up on their foe. As a result, his colleagues had started blaming Raktor for the fact that Canarre had managed to mount a counterattack and push them back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ve been doing everything I possibly can! They just don’t see it,” Raktor said with a grimace. For all his talk of not being at fault, he knew deep down that their criticisms, in truth, were not off the mark. He was used to running supply lines for a force fighting at a numerical disadvantage, and supplying an army that held an overwhelmingly superior position was new to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Grr… There must be something I can do! Raktor thought. I told my underlings to submit any good ideas they had to me, but they’re a bunch of worthless louts to a man. I can’t expect anything from them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The transportation of resources was hardly a glamorous affair, and very few capable individuals were chomping at the bit to get involved. Just when Raktor resigned himself to the fact that he’d have to think up a new, efficient, and risk-free means of transporting goods to the battlefield, an associate stepped into his chamber to deliver a report."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sir Raktor,” said the man, “Kaisas says he wishes to speak with you. Do you have a moment to spare?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kaisas? Wasn’t he the third son of House Lopardo…? thought Raktor, whose memory was exceptional. He’d memorized the backgrounds of most of his subordinates in surprising detail, but he knew very little about Kaisas aside from his status in his family. He knew what the man looked like, at least, but only vaguely. They’d had few opportunities to meet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m thinking right now,” said Raktor. “Tell him I don’t have the time.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“But sir─Kaisas claims he has a proposal to deal with our supply line situation!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“A proposal…?” Raktor parroted skeptically. He had no idea how capable of a man Kaisas was, but he did know that if he was the sort of man who had good ideas, he wouldn’t have escaped Raktor’s notice for this long."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, it would hardly be the first time I’ve written a youth off, only to discover they have talent deep down after all. There’s no telling who might have latent potential, in the end. I suppose I should hear what he has to say, Raktor concluded, then agreed to see Kaisas, albeit with rather subdued hopes for the meeting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kaisas soon arrived at Raktor’s room."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you for sparing the time to meet with me, Sir Raktor. I’m well aware of how busy you are, and appreciate you going to the trouble,” said Kaisas."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Enough with the formality,” Raktor sighed. “I’m told you have a plan. Out with it.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Very well,” Kaisas said, then quickly summarized the tactic he had in mind. In short, he proposed that the supply chain could be made more efficient by allocating their resources in a more centralized location, but making that location an underground site, thus rendering it beyond their enemy’s ability to detect."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Underground, you say…?” said Raktor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, sir,” Kaisas confirmed. “An aboveground site capable of holding all our stores would be large enough in scale that our foes could find and assault it with ease. If we can establish an underground site, however, then the odds of them finding it will be next to nothing, regardless of its size.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“But wait─how would we build an underground facility of that size? You’re proposing the impossible!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It would be perfectly possible, through use of earth magic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Earth magic…?” Raktor repeated, then sank into thought. Building structures was indeed an accepted use for earth-aspected magic, so Kaisas had a point. Building a large-scale underground facility through magical means wasn’t implausible. “Tell me, Kaisas. How did you come up with this idea?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I enjoy reading in my spare time, and happened to come across a record of an old war some time ago. That record described the army of another duchy─Rofeille or Canshiep, I believe─making use of a similar tactic.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Hmm…” Raktor was somewhat educated in military history, of course, but the historical tactics of the far northern duchies weren’t an area of study he’d committed to memory. He’d never thought they would be of any use to him. “That’s not a bad plan you’ve come up with, Kaisas. I’ll begin putting it into practice at once, and you can expect a healthy bonus for your trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Much obliged, Sir Raktor,” said Kaisas with a bow…followed by an almost imperceptible smirk. “You needn’t bother with the bonus, though,” he added quietly enough that only he could hear it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now then, let us decide upon the particulars of our plan! I’ll be expecting your help, of course,” said Raktor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So? How’d it go?” Pham asked his three fellow spies after they returned from their mission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Swimmingly, Boss. Raktor’s all set to shift his strategy for his supply lines.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is he? That’s a surprise. Didn’t think he’d go for it that easily…not that I’m complaining,” Pham said impassively. It didn’t show on his face in the slightest, but inwardly, he was relieved and overjoyed to hear the news. The plan hadn’t succeeded just yet, though, and Pham forced his feelings of accomplishment to the side."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Shadows had known from the start that Raktor was in a pinch, but Pham hadn’t expected him to go along with the plan they’d fed him without question. At the absolute least, he’d expected that Raktor would take some time to think it through and consider the potential implications of the shift in strategy before adopting it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kaisas, the man Lambers had impersonated, was a grunt. He’d ended up as the Shadows’ target because killing and assuming the identity of someone important would’ve been too much of a risk, what with the enemy’s spies working to obstruct any potential subterfuge. Kaisas simply wasn’t significant enough to earn his side’s spies’ attention, so impersonating him was a comparatively low risk. That carried downsides, of course, chief among which was the fact that getting their plan adopted would be rather difficult with only an underling’s influence to back it up. Pham had expected it to take quite some time and maneuvering, but much to his surprise, it had gone off without a hitch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Not only was it true that using underground supply depots was a tactic with some precedent, it had proven quite successful when implemented in prior wars. Raktor was also an open-minded man who understood the need to be flexible with his plans, which might have explained why he was so open to the suggestion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Looks like that flexibility’s about to stab him in the back, Pham reflected."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Building a supply depot underground was an effective plan, yes. Having all their supplies in a centralized location would boost the efficiency of their distribution dramatically. Setting up multiple sites would involve finding optimal locations for every one of them, plus the actual work of constructing the facilities and the effort involved in communicating the supply lines to the rest of the army. It was, in short, a difficult and bothersome tactic."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Centralizing their network would resolve all those issues in one fell swoop, and locating the supply chain’s nexus underground would minimize the risk of enemy detection. To make the prospect even more attractive, aqua magia was known to be less likely to deteriorate in underground facilities than it did on the surface. Aqua magia was highly unstable and prone to deterioration, so one had to take careful steps to store it in a way that would maintain its optimal condition."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Furthermore, locating the site underground would make it harder for the enemy to infiltrate it. Aqua magia’s instability meant that it didn’t take much at all to render a batch unusable, and even a single enemy agent could deal a critical degree of damage to their stock, in the worst case. Keeping it in a large building would, of course, make it that much easier to infiltrate the supply site, so centralizing one’s aqua magia stockpile was generally not a feasible idea. Putting it underground, however, meant that even if the site’s location was discovered, all it would take was a careful guard kept over the entrance to render infiltration all but impossible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The plan had plenty of merit. Duchies with ample supplies of earth-aspected magistones had gone so far as to set up tunnel systems to run their supply chains through in the past, and while Seitz lacked the aqua magia reserves needed to go that far, they had enough to implement the plan that Lambers had used Kaisas’s identity to propose, and Raktor wasted no time in doing just that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Lambers being party to the discussion, of course, meant that Canarre would know where the site would be located the instant it was decided upon. That would give the army of Canarre plenty of time to use earth magic to set up their own underground space in the immediate vicinity of Seitz’s chosen site. Then, all they would have to do is wait for Seitz to finish their facility, tunnel over to it using earth magic, and steal all their aqua magia right under the army of Seitz’s nose."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thanks to Lambers, we’ll know exactly where Seitz’s supply hub’s set to be built. Let’s get to work, boys,” Pham ordered, sending the Shadows out to make their preparations for the upcoming operation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The army of Seitz constructed their new supply network at a breakneck pace. They brought in a contingent of reasonably skilled mages to do the bulk of the work, and had underground caverns hollowed out in no time flat. It seemed their numbers had made getting that sort of work done in short order a simple task."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The speed of the network’s construction, however, worked out in Canarre’s favor. Rietz could only hold the line and buy time for so long, so the sooner the Shadows could put their operation into motion, the better it would work out for their army’s prospect of victory. Raktor’s efficient work had, paradoxically, become a boon for his foes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "New supply sites were typically constructed in areas where they’d be difficult to find─within forests, for instance. In this case, however, Lambers had used Kaisas’s identity to propose the plan, and had been present at the meeting where the sites were chosen, rendering all attempts at secrecy futile. That said, the army of Seitz did diverge from the plan he’d suggested in one major way: instead of going all-in and building a single site, they’d chosen to make a still modest six, using three of them to store provisions and three to store aqua magia."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even with the aqua magia split between three locations, however, stealing all of it at once was not an impossible prospect. The Shadows would just have to hit all three sites simultaneously, and all they would need to do so was proper backup."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the new supply depots were finished, Seitzan forces started hauling their resources in from their old sites. Once that process was complete, it was time for the Shadows to take action. They used earth magic to dig tunnels near the new supply hubs, broke into them, and carried off their precious resources with no one the wiser. An army that was used to operating underground could have magically reinforced their facilities, making it difficult for an enemy force to burrow their way in, but Seitz had rushed the construction process and had taken no such precautions. As a result, Canarre seized their supplies with ease, carrying them off to Fort Coumeire before their foes even knew what had hit them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My jaw dropped as I looked over the spoils of the Shadows’ latest operation that had arrived at Fort Coumeire. A massive quantity of aqua magia sat before me. When I’d heard that we’d be taking it all for our own rather than destroying it, I thought the plan sounded too good to be true, but it seemed the Shadows were somehow even more capable than I’d been giving them credit for. This was an achievement beyond my wildest expectations, and I knew I’d have to find a way to reward them accordingly. There was always a chance they’d go find someone else to serve if they grew dissatisfied with their pay, after all, and that was a scenario I wanted to avoid at all costs."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell and Mireille were just as astonished by their success as I was. The two of them had been a little more optimistic about the plan than I was, but not even they had anticipated it going this perfectly. Now that we knew it had, though, the three of us got right to discussing our next moves in the war."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, we’ve managed to claim an incredible amount of aqua magia from the enemy,” I said. “I think this increases our odds of coming out on top of this war considerably.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It’s a big achievement, yeah, but it’s still too soon to assume we’re out of the woods. Keep in mind that our army’s still a fraction of the size of theirs,” Rosell cautioned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Apparently, I’d been letting the minor successes go to my head. We hadn’t won the war yet, so I tried to take Rosell’s advice to heart."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right then, do either of you have any ideas about what could win this for us?” I asked. I’d done my best to think up a plan as well, putting all the tactical knowledge I’d accrued to use, but in the end I hadn’t come up with anything that felt just right. I’d need to make use of Mireille and Rosell’s talents if I wanted to get through this."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not sure I’d say I came up with a plan, per se, but now that the Shadows have achieved their mission, I think what we should do next is pretty obvious,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what’s that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Rally our troops and march on Seitz’s forces,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I’m sorry, what?” I asked, flabbergasted by her left-field reply. We were still at a disadvantage, so engaging the enemy in open battle on purpose seemed like a very questionable decision to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Our enemies just had the better part of their aqua magia stolen from under their noses, and you’d better believe that’ll send them into a state of chaos. Their supply chain’s going to be next to useless until they fix things, and whatever aqua magia might be left sure as hell isn’t gonna make it to the front lines in time. That’s a state of affairs we can take advantage of. Giving them time here means they’ll rebuild their supply lines and set up a new distribution system, so we need to strike now, before it’s too late.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was thinking the same thing. If we’re going to take the fight to Seitz, it’s now or never,” said Rosell. It was pretty rare for him to advocate for a plan as bold and decisive as this one, pessimist as he was. I took that as a sign that this was our best chance. “Considering the fact that we’ll have way more aqua magia than them in our next battle, we could deal some major damage if we can lure them into a position that’ll limit their mobility. It won’t work if they can just turn tail and run, so we’ll have to make absolutely sure they take the bait.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The more we could limit the mobility of our enemy’s infantry, the more effective long-ranged attacks from our archers and mages would become. Our highest priority for our next battle was to whittle down their numbers as much as possible. Even if we technically won the battle, it wouldn’t matter in the long term if their soldiers could escape unharmed, regroup, and come at us all over again. That would gain us a healthy chunk of time, and it was always possible that Couran would defeat Vasmarque and send reinforcements our way, but I wasn’t interested in structuring our plan around an unknown factor like that. If we wanted to drive the Seitzan army out of Missian, we’d have to make a decisive move."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that being said, I had no idea whether or not we’d be able to lure our foes into a trap. My first assumption was that our enemies would wait to attack until the chaos among their ranks died down."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Where would we be able to lure them that would limit their mobility?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Maybe the woods…or a marshland? What’s available nearby…?” Rosell muttered to himself as he looked over a map of the local area. Seconds passed, and he didn’t seem to find anywhere that suited his purposes. “No, not here, it’s too far away… And this place would leave them too mobile… Maybe there isn’t anywhere well suited after all?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that Rosell’s ideal battlefield was nowhere to be found, at least in this area. Unfortunately, luring our enemies into a trap was off the table if we couldn’t find anywhere to set said trap in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“There’s a river over here, though…” said Mireille. “Hey, have you taken inventory of all the aqua magia we stole from Seitz? Do we have a list of what types we got?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I did, in fact, have such a list available to me. I remembered receiving it, and had stored it on a nearby shelf. I tracked it down and handed it over to Mireille, who gave it a look and smirked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Looks like we’ve got a lot of water aqua magia, huh?” she said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What are you planning?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“If we use water magic to bulk up the river’s flow, we can cut off their escape route. We don’t have to lure them in anywhere after all─we can drive them to the river instead,” Mireille explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The river in question was slow enough that normally, you could just wade from one side to the other. If we flooded the river, however, we could render crossing it on foot impossible and turn it into a major roadblock."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Driving them to the river and pinning them against it, huh…? I dunno─won’t putting their backs to the wall like that just make them harder to deal with?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wall? What wall?” asked Mireille. Apparently, that wasn’t a common expression in this world."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What I mean is that if we pin them against the river, their soldiers will realize they have nowhere to run and decide that they have to fight or die. Situations like that have a way of driving people to fight way harder than they usually would,” I explained."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ohh, I get it. You mean like the Harmant turnabout. That tends to happen because being put in a do-or-die situation raises the defender’s morale, and also because the attackers tend to get complacent with that sort of advantage backing them up. This is the era of magic, though. No matter how high their morale gets, they won’t be able to turn the tables if they don’t have the aqua magia they need to pull it off. A situation like that might give them a boost in close combat, sure, but it won’t stop our magic from blowing them away,” Mireille reassured me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d heard the phrase “Harmant turnabout” at some point over my studies of tactics. It referred to a situation in which an army had their back up against a wall and mounted a successful counterattack, with Harmant being the location where the battle had taken place. I couldn’t remember where Harmant was for the life of me, though─somewhere in Paradille, maybe?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will they even try to retreat across the river?” I asked. “Even with their supply chain in chaos and their resources inaccessible, they still have the advantage of numbers. If they can work out their supply issues, they’ll be able to push us right back, so don’t you think they’ll try to avoid retreating at all costs? They know that if they take too long, Vasmarque could lose his war and Couran could send us more men.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“True enough,” Mireille admitted. “We might have to go into battle once, gain an advantage over them, then send in the Shadows to spread some misinformation through the enemy camp, or something to that effect.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What sort of misinformation is she talking about? Maybe we could have them spread a rumor that Canarre managed to steal a shipment headed their way, so they wouldn’t get any more aqua magia any time soon? Or we could trick them into thinking that Vasmarque’s already lost, and a horde of reinforcements is headed our way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It would only matter if the enemy troops believed the rumors, of course, but I had every confidence that the Shadows could make that happen. It seemed clear that we’d be relying on them yet again, and I was starting to feel a little guilty for working them so hard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I’m convinced,” I said. “Let’s use Mireille’s idea as the basis for our plan. We’ll wipe out as many of their troops as possible, and ensure they never advance even a step farther into Canarre,” I declared."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0027.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We wasted no time putting the plan we’d settled on into action. To start, we sent a message through the quickest means available to Rietz, who’d fought his hardest to hold the enemy back. We informed him that the Shadows’ plan had been a success, and told him our strategy for the battle to come. We also requested that he write us a detailed update on the current state of Seitz’s troops."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz’s reply soon arrived, and he offered no objection to the strategy we’d proposed. I had to presume that he agreed with our assessment of the situation, but I still felt the need to meet him and talk it out in person before we put our plan into action. He also reported that, as expected, our enemies were in a state of turmoil. They’d kept up the attack with unwavering ferocity at first, and Rietz had just barely managed to ward them off, but his soldiers’ stamina had withered and his aqua magia reserves were running dry."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment Rietz had considered falling back, but then, without warning, the enemy’s attacks had ceased. I had a feeling that if I asked, I’d find it was the very same day the Shadows had pulled off their operation. They’d likely judged that carrying on the attack with their supply lines in shambles would be too tall a task, and had brought their offensive to a momentary halt. I had a suspicion that they’d used up the last of their aqua magia in the battle with Rietz’s force, and had been counting on more being delivered when the Shadows’ plan succeeded. If that was true, then this really would be our ultimate chance to go on the offensive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I also sent a message to the Shadows. There was no real need for them to infiltrate the enemy ranks at the moment, so I instructed them to return to our vicinity for the time being. I was planning on sending them out to slip into the enemy’s ranks shortly before our next battle, where they’d spread misinformation and encourage our foes to withdraw."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right─I should be heading out soon, myself,” I said. I’d kept a decent number of troops with me at Fort Coumeire, and I was planning to sortie with almost all of them and join the attack on Seitz’s army. Going into battle carried some risks, of course, but Rietz’s force just wasn’t large enough to guarantee the sort of enemy casualties I was hoping for. Without the troops in Fort Coumeire, he’d have a hard time winning the upcoming battle, and we had to bring an end to this before the enemy could regroup, one way or another."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars…” Licia said wistfully. There was just no way I could bring her along on this mission, so she would have to remain at the fort. I’d wanted to see her before I left for the front, so I’d called her over to a room where we could have some privacy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll be leaving Fort Coumeire mostly unguarded,” I said. “Staying here will be far too dangerous. I’d feel much better if you’d travel back to Torbequista, or Castle Canarre. You’ll be safer there.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I won’t be safe anywhere if your plan fails. No, I shall stay here and await your return,” Licia replied firmly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I thought back to our first meeting. When I appraised her and discovered her remarkable Ambition score, I’d thought that she had the potential to be an exceedingly dangerous girl. Since then, though, I’d learned that she was more dependable than anyone, and I’d grown very fond of her─so fond, in fact, that before I even knew what I was doing I’d pulled her toward me and kissed her. I was acting on pure impulse, and as our lips parted, my heart started pounding like a drum for more reasons than one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah…” Licia gasped, her face beet red."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For a moment I was convinced I’d screwed up big time…but then she leaned in to kiss me in return."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” Licia whispered as we parted once more. Our second kiss had lasted longer than the first one. Part of me wanted to stay that way forever, but I suppressed the urge and forced myself to break away from her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’ll continue this after you return safely, and after we’ve had our wedding ceremony,” said Licia, who was still blushing vividly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I nodded, aware that my face was probably in much the same state as hers. “I’ll be off, then. I swear I’ll come back,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know you will,” said Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With that, I stepped out of the room…and immediately caught sight of a pair of people failing to act nonchalant as they walked down the hallway, away from the door I’d just exited. Even from behind, I could tell at a glance that they were Mireille and Rosell. I had a terrible feeling, and chased after them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey!” I shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Yes?” Rosell replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You weren’t watching me, were you?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“N-N-N-No way! We most certainly did not see you and Lady Licia kissing! Perish the thought!” Rosell replied, confessing his crime before his interrogation had even begun. That settled it: they’d been snooping."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Sounds like you’ll finally become a man after the war’s over, eh, kiddo?” said Mireille. “Shame, that. I was hoping to snatch your first time myself.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That was never going to happen!” I shouted indignantly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Will this woman never find herself a filter?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, guess I’ll just have to make do with Rosell’s,” Mireille sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-What are you saying, Master?!” Rosell shrieked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, amid some turmoil, we departed from Fort Coumeire."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We marched out from the fort with a host of roughly eight thousand soldiers following behind us. Our goal was to rendezvous with Rietz’s force and advance upon the Seitzan army as soon as possible, so we set a rapid pace."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had spent some time agonizing over which of our mages to put in charge of the water magic spell our plan would hinge upon. If we couldn’t flood the river thoroughly enough, we wouldn’t be able to corner the army of Seitz. Our only options, as far as I could tell, were to have Charlotte do it or to have a large number of mages work in unison. If I gave that job to Charlotte, then she wouldn’t be available to decimate the hostile forces after we had them cornered, which would be a major loss for our offensive potential. The firepower she could put out was a vital tool in our arsenal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That said, losing a whole group of mages would obviously be a problem in its own right, and we only had so much aqua magia we could devote to the task. We’d stolen some from Seitz’s stockpile, but not enough to guarantee success under those circumstances. If Charlotte was casting on her own, she’d only use a single mage’s worth of the stuff, so running out wouldn’t be an issue. Mages with her level of talent could cast spells many times the power of an average mage using the same quantity of aqua magia, and on the flip side, having a group of mages cast enough spells to equal her power output would consume many times the quantity of aqua magia she would. It seemed very likely that we’d run out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In the end, I decided to entrust the task to Charlotte and one of our force’s other top-ranking mages. Losing her in the main attack would be a blow, but I’d received word that Musia, the fledgeling mage my skill had led me to recruit recently, had gone through something of a magical growth spurt and improved her skills by leaps and bounds. I had no doubts about her talent, and if she’d improved that dramatically of late, I was sure she’d make a massive difference in the battle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A period of marching later, our force met up with Rietz’s and I gathered my usual advisors for an immediate meeting. I wanted to keep our discussion as fast and to the point as possible."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sure you understand the plan after reading my letter, but just to be safe, I’d like to make sure we’re all on the same page,” I said to Rietz as soon as he arrived."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The vast majority of the army of Canarre is to march on the army of Seitz and catch them off guard. They will be unable to fight back through magical means, thanks to their deficient supply of aqua magia, and with our foes in that weakened state our odds of victory will improve dramatically. Should the enemy attempt to retreat after the battle is won, we will flood the river behind them, cutting off their path to safety and allowing us to wipe them out to a man,” Rietz recited."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Perfect,” I said with a nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’d have to clear a number of hurdles to make this plan a success. First was the simple question of whether or not we could defeat the army of Seitz, even in its magic-deprived state. Charlotte would be in charge of flooding the river, so she wouldn’t be able to participate in the battle from its outset. There was also a danger of them retreating too fast, in which case they could potentially cross the river before she was ready to flood it. That would mean that we’d wasted her firepower and lowered our chances of victory for nothing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even assuming we did win and pinned our foes in, whether or not we could wipe them out was still in question. The river wouldn’t stay flooded forever, and if the Seitzans could hold out well without magic on their side, there was a chance that some or most of them would still get away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Those were only a few of the ways I’d thought up in which the plan could go sideways, and since Rosell, Mireille, and Rietz were all sharper than me when it came to tactical scenarios like these, I had a feeling they knew even more ways in which it could end in disaster for us. Nevertheless, we were committed to seeing it through. A small force like ours had no hope of taking down a numerically superior foe without taking some risks in the process."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Charlotte, you’ll head upstream accompanied by a small division of soldiers,” I continued. “Be extremely careful not to let the enemy see you. We’ll use sound magic to send a signal when we want you to cast your spell and flood the river.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Gotcha. And hey, even if they do see us, I can just blow ’em away with my magic, so no need to worry,” said Charlotte, who seemed as casual and carefree as ever, even though she’d been given the most important role in our whole operation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I wasn’t quite sure whether I should be worried or reassured by her confidence. Not freaking out about the task would hopefully make it easier for her to pull it off, at least."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m more worried about you guys. You sure you’ll be able to win this battle without me?” Charlotte jabbed in a joking tone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll manage,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I sure hope so,” said Charlotte. This time, I could feel an element of sincere concern behind her less than serious front. I never would’ve imagined that Charlotte of all people would worry about me, but then again, she was right in the sense that we relied a lot on her firepower. Not having her around was a legitimate cause for concern."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Are the soldiers ready to march?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They are. We can leave for the front whenever you give the order,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well then, no sense in wasting time. Tell the men to─”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, wait a sec,” said Mireille, cutting me off. “We should send the Shadows to start spreading their misinformation before we go on the march.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Now? Shouldn’t we wait until after we’ve won this battle?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Nah,” said Mireille. “If we do it now, then if everything goes well, their morale will take a hit before the fighting begins. No sense in putting it off.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s…a good point, actually. What sort of rumors should I tell them to spread?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That Couran’s won his war and is heading for Canarre, or something like that? Oh, and we could say that the army of Canarre’s been emboldened by Couran’s victory and is getting ready to crush Seitz in one fell swoop. Since that last part’s true, it’ll make the rest of the rumor seem more believable when the attack happens. They could figure out that Couran winning’s a lie if they took the time to dig in and verify the rumor, of course, but Seitz just doesn’t have that sort of time to spare right now.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "None of us could think of any reason not to accept Mireille’s plan, so I communicated it to the Shadows and ordered them to begin putting it into practice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! Now we just have to wait to hear back from the Shadows, and then we can set out,” I said. “Oh, Charlotte? You should head upstream and get ready to cast right away.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You got it,” Charlotte readily replied, then went along on her way. We didn’t want to draw the enemy’s suspicion with a large group, so I sent her out with just a few mages and a small number of soldiers to serve as their bodyguards."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Now, all that was left was to wait for word from the Shadows."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Shadows’ report arrived the very next day─much faster than I’d expected. It seemed our foes had bought the story we’d fed them. I didn’t know how the Shadows had gone about spreading the rumor, but really, all that mattered was that they’d succeeded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed that the Seitzan army had gotten word of the fact that me and my troops had sallied forth from Fort Coumeire, and had reasoned that I wouldn’t make a move like that unless I had some cause to believe I would win the ensuing battle. Just when they were at their most cautious, the rumor that Couran had won his battle arrived, and suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place. The wrong place, of course, but there was no way for them to figure that out in time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Shadows also gave me a report on the current state of the enemy army. Apparently, opinions on what their next move should be were thoroughly split. Some of them believed they should march straight to Fort Coumeire and claim it before Couran could arrive, some believed they should retreat at once, and others believed they didn’t have a full picture yet and advocated for gathering more information before making any drastic moves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The commanding officer present on the front lines was apparently not heavy-handed with his authority, and took his subordinates’ advice into serious consideration, which in this case had left him in a state of indecision. His soldiers, meanwhile, picked up on his bafflement and had grown restless in turn. Per the Shadows’ analysis, now was our perfect chance─the chance to strike at the army of Seitz, and deal a decisive blow."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, let’s move! This time, I’ll be heading into battle with you!” I declared at the head of my army. I wouldn’t be fighting on the front lines, but I’d decided to at least set foot on the battlefield alongside my troops. I knew very well how much of a morale boost having their main general present could give my forces."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Are you certain about this, Lord Ars…?” Rietz asked apprehensively."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’ll be fine,” I said. “I’ve been through my fair share of battles, and I’m not the child I used to be. I won’t be reduced to a quivering mess by the sight of a criminal’s execution anymore.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Back then, I’d given my father no choice but to go out into battle, and the strain had reduced his remaining lifespan. No matter how much manpower I brought over to my side with my Appraisal skill, none of it would mean a thing if I couldn’t show that I had a lord’s bravery and keep all my followers dedicated to my cause. Defeat would mean death, yes, but that didn’t change the fact that sallying forth onto the battlefield was a necessity for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All that said, it wasn’t like I was planning on hurling myself into the enemy lines with a sword. That was exactly what my father used to do, supposedly, and he was known to fight like a man possessed─especially in pivotal battles like today’s. I was by no means a swordsman, though, so feats like the ones he achieved were beyond me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So, uhh…where should I be standing?” Rosell asked with an anxious air."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was planning on commanding from a little ways behind the front lines, and ideally, I was hoping he would be nearby enough to give me advice on what orders to give."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you to stay close to me and give me any advice you think is necessary,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“R-Right! Got it,” said Rosell with a nervous nod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille and Rietz would be out on the field as well, leading our troops on the absolute front line. My position in the central force behind them would allow me to have a grasp of the whole battlefield and give orders to my allies. I was prepared to order the central force to move up and meet the enemy head-on if necessary, of course. Rosell’s instructions would be vital for that sort of judgment call, and he was clearly feeling a great deal of pressure, but I knew he’d come through for me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Finally, Clamant would be leading the Maitraw Company as something of a mobile strike force."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’ll follow your orders for the most part, but you should know in advance that I may take it upon myself to act on my own initiative,” he told me. “If that happens, know that I am not double-crossing you or acting on impulse. Whatever I decide to do, I do for the sake of winning this battle, and nothing else."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I could feel the weight of his ample experience on the battlefield backing up his words. I wasn’t exactly excited about having someone inform me he wouldn’t necessarily follow my orders, but he didn’t leave me any room to argue with him, and I knew very well how difficult winning this battle would be without him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I want you protecting Lord Ars in this battle, Braham,” said Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh? But I wanna fight on the front line!” Braham whined."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Don’t underestimate the importance of this task, Braham,” Rietz cautioned. “If Lord Ars is struck down, our army will crumble. This is a duty I could only entrust to a warrior as strong and capable as you.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“As strong as me, eh…? W-Well then, guess I’m the only choice you’ve got! Gra ha ha!” Braham bellowed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz, clearly, had gotten very good at convincing his troublesome pupil to do as he was told. He went on to assign Zaht and the rest of the elite squad that Braham led to my unit. Having them around would dramatically reduce the odds of my untimely demise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And us? What should we be doing?” asked Pham."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Shadows had already contributed more than enough to this battle, and part of me wanted to tell them to just take it easy, but they were also capable enough that I knew they could still do plenty to turn the tide in our favor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“How ’bout we stir up a fuss around the enemy commander and take him out in the confusion? I can’t guarantee we’ll pull it off, but it could be worth a shot,” Pham suggested."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hmm… That’s not a bad idea, but do you think you could join our mages for this battle instead? You have a knack for magic, so I bet you know some attack spells that would come in handy,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Pham grimaced."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean, I can use attack magic, sure, but I’ve never had to use it to blast away on an open battlefield before.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’re running a magical firepower deficit with Charlotte out of the picture, so every little bit matters. Would you be willing to at least give it a try?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, if those are our orders, we’ll do it. Just don’t get your hopes up,” said Pham. He still sounded reluctant, but at least he wasn’t arguing with my decision."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On the subject of mages, Musia would be fighting on the front lines. Our mages were going to stand at the head of our formation and hit the enemy army with everything they had, and I could hardly make an exception just for her. A line of soldiers would be there to defend them, but that didn’t change the fact that it would be a dangerous role─and yet Musia didn’t seem to be any more or less scared than the rest of the mage division. It seemed the battles she’d fought in so far had helped her grow as a soldier, in a mental sense."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "According to Mireille, the first strike would set the tone for the rest of the battle in a magic-heavy engagement. Landing that first magical barrage would shred your foes’ morale, and unless they pulled themselves back together quickly, they’d be forced into a withdrawal. Magic really did hold that much sway over the battlefield even at the best of times, and with Seitz at a lack of aqua magia, it was all the more true today."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We didn’t have the time to iron out any intricate details for our battle plan, so we’d have to just play it by ear after the battle began. I had Rietz and Mireille to direct my troops on the front line, and both of them were skilled enough to do the job well, but I knew that didn’t mean I could slack off. Commanding the central unit was also important, and a weighty responsibility, even if I knew I could count on Rosell to steer me in the right direction."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t long before our soldiers were ready to sortie."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right─all units, march!” I shouted from the front of our ranks with as much gravitas as I could muster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We set off toward the enemy encampment with my whole army in tow. The army of Canarre plus Couran’s reinforcements numbered over ten thousand men, so catching our foes unawares was out of the question. That was why we sent scouts ahead to keep watch over their force and inform us how they were moving once they’d learned of our offensive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When word from our scouts arrived, I was unsurprised to learn that they’d chosen to meet our attack head-on. Even if they were low on aqua magia, they still had enough of a numerical advantage to make retreat the less likely option. The area we’d be fighting in was largely devoid of hills, and the army of Seitz had set up their formation in a wide open plain. Making their stand on elevated ground would have given them an advantage, so I was grateful for the region’s flat plains. Of course, defending against an all-out magical barrage would’ve been difficult whether they had the higher ground or not."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Broadly speaking, our plan was to avoid engaging the soldiers in melee combat as much as possible, and instead whittle away at them from a distance using magic. They would try to close the gap, of course, so we’d keep blasting at them as we gradually retreated. From an outside perspective it would look like they were attacking us, even though the reverse would be true."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The one thing we had to be vigilant about avoiding above all else was getting surrounded. Even if they only managed to partially encircle us, being attacked from multiple flanks at once would put us in a nasty predicament. They had far more men at their disposal than we did, so they could split their force and come at us from several directions. If our foes attempted to use that sort of tactic, it would be the Maitraw Company’s job to intercept the flanking force. They were exceptional warriors to a man, and had the capability to go into a lopsided battle and tip the scales in their favor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Needless to say, we would have to keep constant lines of communication running throughout the engagement. As soon as I received an update on the state of the battle, Rosell and I would decide what move we should make next, then send out our orders to our forces. Of course, I was anticipating that Rosell would end up doing most of the actual planning."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As we marched onward, a scout arrived with bad news."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Part of the enemy army is on the move!” he cried. “It’s only a small contingent of a few hundred men, but they’re heading toward Charlotte’s division! They mean to wipe them out!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What?!” I shouted. This was an emergency, and since Rietz and Mireille were off in the vanguard, I couldn’t ask them for advice. Rosell was the only one close enough to consult. “Does this mean they’ve figured out our plan?” I asked him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not necessarily,” answered Rosell. “They didn’t send very many men, relatively speaking. Considering how big their army is, they would’ve dispatched a much larger force if they knew what she was there for. A force of a few hundred means that they know she’s there, but haven’t figured out why yet. I doubt this is anything more than a precautionary measure on their part.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That makes sense… But still, a few hundred men? She’s in serious danger!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“She is, yes. Considering how powerful her magic is Charlotte could probably send a force of that size running for the hills, but there’s always a chance they get the better of her. I think we should send backup.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Backup…? Who could we send right away, though? I suppose there’s Braham,” I muttered, but frankly, I didn’t have much faith in the man. I knew he’d grown slightly smarter thanks to Rietz’s guidance, but could I trust him with such an important task?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then again, nobody else sprung to mind as being capable enough to manage it, so Braham was my only option. I tried appraising him, just for reference, and found that his previously embarrassingly low Intelligence score had gone up somewhat, at least. In the end, I decided that trusting in him and giving him the order to back Charlotte up would be my best bet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Braham,” I said. “I need you to go to Charlotte’s current position and reinforce her squad.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Huh?” Braham grunted. “Wait, but I thought my role was to fight by your side?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your role’s changed. Charlotte has enemies bearing down on her, and is in a pretty nasty situation. Take a hundred men and make sure she survives.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Isn’t Charlotte the lady who does all that crazy magic? Won’t she be fine on her own?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“She might be able to drive them away, yes, but she also might not, and that’s not a risk we can take. For the sake of us winning this war, and for the sake of Canarre’s future in general, we can’t let her die no matter what happens.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was invested in Charlotte’s safety on a personal level as well, needless to say, but I knew that as the count it was important for me to view these things in a pragmatic manner and tried to frame my decision in terms of our future prospects. Sending away Braham and his men would be a painful loss, but I was sure we’d be able to work things out without him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. I’ll get it done,” said Braham. I told him what route Charlotte had taken, and ordered him to get there as quickly as possible. Then, he gathered up his hundred horsemen and rode off to reinforce Charlotte’s squad."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, that’s one problem solved…probably,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“B-Braham’s a lot less wild than he was at first! I’m p-pretty sure it’ll be fine,” said Rosell, exhibiting a rare moment of optimism that the unease in his expression immediately offset. I couldn’t let myself worry about my choice to send Braham, though. I had to believe it would work out, and press on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We marched onward, and eventually drew close enough to the army of Seitz to see it with the naked eye. Once we sighted them and confirmed that we were close enough to put their camp within our mages’ effective range, I ordered my whole army to a stop."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "My division, the army’s main force, was positioned in the central rear of our formation. To either side of the main division were troops in charge of protecting us. They were few in number, but the soldiers in each of them were quite capable. Rietz and Mireille’s divisions made up our formation’s front line, and Clamant and his mercenaries were right behind them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our plan was to fight a reactive battle, taking stock of the enemy’s movements and responding accordingly, and that necessitated my unit being in a position where I could give orders to the whole rest of the army efficiently. The two divisions in the front of our formation consisted of soldiers with shields in the front, and rows of mages behind them. We’d brought twelve large catalyzers into battle, and the mages who weren’t placed on one of them were carrying small or mid-sized models."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was almost no chance that the enemy hadn’t seen us, at this range, and as expected, they were in a state of high alert. They did not, however, go on the attack. I imagined that if they’d had a sufficient stock of aqua magia, our inferior numbers would have led them to sally forth and drive us back immediately. Lacking those resources, though, they adopted a more passive approach. I had to wonder if their commander had yet to decide what his best move would be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Regardless, if the enemy had no interest in moving toward us, that just meant we had free rein to use them as target practice. I had given Mireille and Rietz permission to act with a degree of autonomy when they saw fit, and they weren’t the sort of people who’d let a chance like this pass by. They ordered their mages to attack, and a volley of fire-aspected spells rained down upon the enemy encampment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Our foes weren’t all out of aqua magia, and at first, they managed to raise their barriers and repel our spells. Gradually, though, their defenses began to weaken. It was becoming increasingly clear that going on the attack was their only choice, and before long they came charging at us in a mad dash, throwing caution to the wind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I hadn’t witnessed it in person before this moment, but I’d been told that throwing hordes of soldiers at their enemy without sparing a care for the casualties they suffered had been the army of Seitz’s standard practice in this war. It looked like a mindless suicide rush to me, but considering their sheer numbers, it had the potential to be an effective method. More than just the potential, even─they’d managed to successfully break through our line once already, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In this battle, however, we had mobilized almost every soldier that the army of Canarre had to offer. Furthermore, we were effectively the only side able to make use of aqua magia. Charlotte’s absence was a cause for some concern, but I believed that we’d be able to stymie their brute force tactics even without her magic, and it soon became clear that I had been right."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Enemy soldiers fell one after another to our mages’ relentless storm of spells. Musia’s magic in particular proved even more powerful than I’d expected. She was no Charlotte, of course, but her spells were still potent. I knew that one’s Valor score impacted their ability to do magic, but it seemed that their Aptitude as a mage played an even greater factor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz and Mireille’s clear and precise orders helped tremendously as well. They kept us at a constant distance from the enemy, ordering our troops to fall back and advance as needed and ensuring the vanguard could keep up its attack without risking an enemy breakthrough. If our foe’s situation became too grim they would have no choice to retreat, and forcing them to do so was our primary goal in this engagement, but they proved remarkably resistant to that decision. Coming this far had cost them dearly, so perhaps that was no surprise. They’d faced down Charlotte’s magic on multiple occasions, and I could understand the stubborn desire to get something to show for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That said, they weren’t just being stubborn. There was a strategy informing their tactics as well, which became clear when they sent a massive cavalry division galloping toward our ranks. Mages ruled the battlefield, but horsemen came in second thanks to their incredible mobility, especially given that riding fast enough made it very hard for mages to land their spells. The cavalry weren’t aiming for Rietz, Mireille, and their mages, however. They were heading for me and our main division."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy cavalry split into two groups, riding at us from both sides to catch us in a pincer attack. Aiming for the enemy commander was the oldest trick in the book, so we’d laid plans to combat it, so Rietz and Mireille didn’t let the enemy’s charge throw them out of sorts and kept their soldiers in line. My troops and I didn’t panic, either, and Rosell seemed to have read our enemy like a book, predicting both that they would send out their cavalry and when they would do so. The instant they made their move, he was ready to shout out orders to counteract it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Maitraw Company! Fall back to reinforce the main unit’s guard!” Rosell shouted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The Maitraw Company moved to obey his command at once, proving that they could take orders when the situation called for it. I’d had a preconception that mercenaries ran wild over the battlefield however they saw fit, but it seemed I was mistaken on that front. That, or I was correct and the Maitraw Company was unusually professional and willing to work within the chain of command."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Clamant had an exceptional way of leading his men, and he and his mercenaries fell back to smoothly reinforce our guard against the cavalry charge before I knew it. They placed spearmen in their front ranks to prevent the enemy from charging straight into them, and Rosell followed suit, ordering our soldiers into an anti-cavalry formation in a sequence of movements smooth enough to rival the Maitraws."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy cavalry bore down upon us. I couldn’t tell if their horsemen were skilled or if their horses were the remarkable ones, but one way or another, they were incredibly fast. The horses looked a little larger than the ones I was used to, too, and I could imagine how forceful their charge would be. Still, though, I held fast and kept command over my troops."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Get ready, mages!” I shouted. We hadn’t put all of our mages into the front divisions with Rietz and Mireille. We knew the enemy might attempt a cavalry charge like this, and had kept some stationed within my unit and with the Maitraw Company. We each only had twenty or so mages to work with, but that was plenty for their magic to make a real difference."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On Rosell’s order, the mages unleashed fire magic upon the charging cavalry. Some of their horses faltered in the face of the inferno, and their charge grew disordered. An effective cavalry charge required you to either ensure your horses were protected from your enemy’s spells, or otherwise to ride horses that had been trained to not panic in the face of magic. Some of the enemy’s horses cleared that bar and didn’t falter, but others failed, and their erratic movements became an obstacle to the more well-trained steeds. Just a few flinching horses was all it took to slow down an entire formation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A full-speed cavalry charge was a terrifying thing indeed, but once their pace was slowed, they were nothing to fear. The enemy cavalry arrived at my unit at a reduced pace, and my men intercepted them with long spears, aiming for the riders rather than their mounts. One by one, the horsemen fell. The moment their formation had fallen to pieces, we had already won."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The enemy cavalry soon fell into a retreat. The Maitraw Company had proven just as successful at repelling them as my men had. In the end, anticipating our enemy’s maneuver had allowed us to thwart their attack with ease."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After their cavalry charge failed, the enemy army attempted to use all sorts of tactics and came at us using all sorts of formations, but under Rietz and Mireille’s command, our front line divisions drove each and every one of them away. Our foes were in a uniquely vulnerable state thanks to their lack of magical defenses, but those two and their incredible leadership abilities deserved plenty of credit as well. Their orders were so clear and concise that their soldiers could move to carry them out the instant they were issued."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As things stood, our army had suffered few losses, while our foes had died in droves. I couldn’t see any option for them other than to retreat, but they’d proved stubborn in the past, and I wasn’t convinced they would go for it. As I pondered their options, though, a report came in from the front."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“The army of Seitz has begun to fall back!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We’d done it. Everything on our end had gone as planned, and now all we had to do was act in coordination with Charlotte and drive our foes to the river. She’d already reported via sound magic to tell us she was in position. Casting sound magic over that sort of distance would be difficult for an ordinary mage, but for someone with her skills, it was as easy as could be. Me and my men would be on the move while we herded our enemies, of course, but I didn’t imagine we’d leave her sound magic range. The one problem left, then, was that of the soldiers that had been sent toward her position."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Well, I sent Braham to deal with them, so he’ll work it out…I hope."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was a little concerned, but decided to have faith and focus on driving our enemy into position."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few hours before the army of Seitz began their retreat, Charlotte was standing by near the river, waiting for Ars to send her the signal to cast her spell. She’d sent her own magical sign shortly beforehand, and had received a reply telling her to wait for further notice. Until she received her order to start casting, waiting was all she had on her plate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’m sooo booored,” Charlotte droned. Her catalyzer was already full of water-aspected aqua magia, so there weren’t even any preparations remaining for her to get done. “Hey, I’m bored as hell over here! Got any good ways to kill time?” she asked, turning to one of the soldiers who had accompanied her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Really, Charlotte…? This is a battlefield, not a picnic,” the soldier sighed with exasperation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Why not try fishing if you’re that bored? That’s what I do whenever I get a moment to myself,” suggested another, significantly less serious-minded soldier."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Fishing? How’s that work?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All you need’s a fishing rod and a body of water, really. I’ve got the rod, and hey, there’s a river right there!” said the second soldier as he produced his fishing kit."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Wh-Why in the hell did you bring a fishing rod onto a battlefield?!” barked the first soldier. “I was wondering what that pole you were carrying was!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, lighten up. I can fight just fine, even with my rod handy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That is not the issue, and if you ever bring that thing into battle again, I’m reporting you to Rietz!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, you wouldn’t! Come on, cut me some slack! I’ll buy you a round next time we’re at the pub, okay?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Meanwhile, Charlotte had claimed the second soldier’s fishing rod and wandered over to the river. She baited the hook, cast her line into the river, and waited for all of several minutes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nothing’s biting, and I’m bored again,” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Umm, Charlotte?” said the second soldier. “It’s only been a few minutes, you know? It takes a little longer than that to catch a fish, most of the time.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And what, you’re supposed to just sit around until then? How’s that any different from doing nothing at all?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, I mean…that’s sort of what fishing’s all about, in a sense… It’s all about the anticipation of it, I guess? Sitting there, knowing a fish could bite at any moment!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, that’s boring and I’m done with it,” Charlotte grumbled as she tossed the fishing pole away and started looking for some other way to kill time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, uh…shouldn’t you people be taking all of this a little more seriously? You know we’re in real danger right now, don’t you?” said a third soldier, who was trembling and looked just about ready to pass out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“What danger?” asked Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean the enemy soldiers that are headed our way! We got a report about them, remember?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, right. But they said they were sending us reinforcements too, so it’ll be fine.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Will it, though? Really?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Eh. It’ll work out, one way or another,” Charlotte said with an unconcerned air. She had never been one to let other people’s worries get to her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Um, Charlotte?” said the third soldier. “You never seem to worry about anything, do you? Aren’t you scared of dying?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Nah, not really,” Charlotte replied offhand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers were baffled. They were all courageous men in their own rights, but every one of them feared death. The idea of not being scared to die was hard to fathom."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And, I mean, think about all the soldiers I’ve killed in battle so far,” Charlotte continued. “I lost track of how many people I’ve killed ages ago. It’d be pretty pathetic for someone with a kill count like mine to be afraid of dying, wouldn’t it?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I d-don’t think that whether or not it’s pathetic is the question at hand,” said the third soldier."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh? Well, I’ve always been a weirdo, so maybe it’s just different for me,” Charlotte said, then went back to looking for entertainment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Just then, a shout rang out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Emergency! Enemy soldiers sighted!” yelled the party’s scout, who’d gone out to do some reconnaissance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“So they’re here, eh? What about those reinforcements?” asked one of the soldiers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“No sign of them so far,” said the scout."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Does that mean they’re not going to make it in time?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“It might!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A pall came over the soldiers’ faces. The situation had gone from bad to worse."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, not like running away’s an option. We’ll just have to hold here and fight to the last,” said Charlotte, as unconcerned as ever. Seeing her, the highest-ranking member of their party, act so calmly helped soothe the soldiers’ nerves. “It’ll be all right. We just have to wipe them out like we always do,” she continued, trying to reassure them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy soldiers drew closer to Charlotte’s party’s position. They hadn’t sent an especially large unit of troops, but Charlotte’s group was small enough that there were still several enemy soldiers for every one of theirs. In a straight-up fight it wouldn’t even be a contest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte began preparing the small catalyzer she was carrying on her person. Her group had brought a large catalyzer with them as well, but it had already been filled with water-aspected aqua magia, and they couldn’t afford to waste it in the oncoming skirmish."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The enemy soldiers arrived on the other side of the river, and Charlotte immediately cast a Fire Bullet spell, sending it flying toward them. The ball of flame met its mark, and burst within their ranks. It couldn’t compare to the spells that she cast with a large catalyzer, but it was still an impressive explosion, and sent several dozen Seitzan soldiers flying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite the carnage they’d just witnessed, the enemy soldiers’ advance didn’t falter. They waded into the river, one by one, which slowed them down and made them easy targets. Their numbers gradually thinned, but defeating all of them before they forded the river proved too much to ask, and a few managed to make it to the other side."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The soldiers that had been chosen to accompany Charlotte were capable warriors, and they managed to hold the enemy forces off at first, but as more and more of them made it to their side of the river, Charlotte’s men were overwhelmed. Charlotte, meanwhile, couldn’t use her magic as effectively after the melee broke out for fear of catching her allies in the blast. She was capable of limiting the power of her spells, but if her control slipped she could easily hurt her allies, and she had to cast with the utmost caution."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Okay, this might be pretty bad,” Charlotte muttered. Not even she could deny the gravity of the situation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte knew that at that particular moment, whether she lived or died wasn’t just her problem. If she were to perish, then so would the army of Canarre’s hopes of prevailing in the war. She didn’t fear her own death, but she did fear the possibility that her death could put her lord and her friends in danger."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I have to do something, but how? I can’t use my magic like this, Charlotte thought. Unfortunately, thinking had never been her strong suit and a way to break out of her predicament eluded her. She was starting to panic, and in her distraction, an enemy soldier drew close to her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Charlotte, look out!” cried one of Charlotte’s men."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte chanted a spell at a breakneck pace and blew away the enemy who’d gotten close to her. It had all happened in the blink of an eye, and in her haste, Charlotte failed to dial back her spell’s power as much as she should have and was caught in the blast. The force of the spell sent her flying, and while she was lucky enough to escape grave injury, her leg scraped across the ground when she landed and she found herself unable to stand. Meanwhile, her enemies drew closer and closer still. This, Charlotte realized, could be the end…or so she thought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Graaaaaah! Pick up the paaace!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A bellowing voice rang out across the battlefield─Braham’s. He had finally arrived with his reinforcements. Braham steered his horse into the crowd of enemy soldiers and swung his polearm with all his might, cutting down his foes. Braham’s usual weapon of choice was the sort of spear one would thrust with rather than swing, but when on horseback, he switched to a type of spear with a longer blade that was more suited to slashing attacks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Many of the soldiers that had accompanied Braham were among the most skilled in the army of Canarre, and they quickly overwhelmed the Seitzan force. They were still technically outnumbered, but the gap in skill proved to be the more consequential difference. Charlotte’s magic made an impact as well, and numerous enemy soldiers died wreathed in flames thanks to her spells. In the end, the attackers chose to turn tail and flee before they were wiped out. Charlotte had escaped mortal peril by a hair’s breadth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Gra ha ha ha ha! We’ve won a great victory, all thanks to me!” Braham declared with an elated cackle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You’re, uhh…Braham, right?” said Charlotte."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s right! Braham, the man who just saved your life!” Braham said, then let out a pathetic, squealing grunt as Charlotte kicked him, hard, directly in the groin. The blow caught him by surprise, and he crouched down in a pigeon-toed ball of suffering."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“That’s for being so late. What the hell took you so long?” said Charlotte. She wasn’t the sort of person who got angry often, but clearly, this was one of the rare exceptions to that rule."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Uhh… I, umm…might’ve taken my time getting here, just a little… I mean, I thought ‘eh, it’s Charlotte, she’ll be fine,’ that’s all,” Braham wheezed. He was usually a man with a wealth of confidence and an attitude to match, but now he withered in the face of Charlotte’s fury."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Charlotte sighed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, whatever. You saved us in the end, and you put up a good fight, so I’ll let it slide.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Th-Thank you very much,” Braham replied reflexively."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right! We’re out of the woods now, so this seems like a perfect time to take a rest,” said Charlotte as she began to sit down and recover from what had turned into a mentally taxing battle. Just then, however, one of the other soldiers in her squad began to shout."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Charlotte! We have a signal from the main army! They’re saying you should cast your spell now!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasa Lupericol, one of the army of Seitz’s commanding officers, blazed with fury as he coordinated his force’s retreat. His direct superior, Boroths, hadn’t deigned to set foot on the battlefield himself, and had appointed Vasa to lead the army in his stead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "None of this would have happened if it weren’t for the damned fools in charge of our supplies! Vasa thought indignantly, and rightfully so. If it hadn’t been for the blunder in the supply chain, and if their force had received the aqua magia they needed, the battle would have played out in an entirely different manner."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was not, however, to say that Vasa was without fault. He had known that he didn’t have the resources he needed, and if he’d ordered a retreat the moment he became aware of the aqua magia situation, he could have saved the lives of countless soldiers. A truly skilled leader would have chosen to fall back the instant that fact became clear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We’ll withdraw for now, regroup, and invade once more. I’m sure we’ll bring Canarre to heel when we do…but will I be the one leading the army when that time comes? Have I wasted my one big chance to move up in the ranks?! Vasa fretted. He had left a contingent of soldiers to serve as a rearguard, engaging the enemy to buy time while the rest of the army fled. He’d left a slightly larger number of troops to handle the task than he felt he needed to, too, so it seemed very unlikely that the enemy army would break through his back lines and reach his own contingent. Even considering their foes’ one-sided access to magic, Vasa believed that his retreat would succeed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was terribly, terribly wrong."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What the blazes is that sound?” Vasa muttered as he neared the river. A strange noise in the background had given him pause, but he didn’t have the time to worry about anything other than fleeing, and pressed onward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was only when the river came into view that the truth came to light, and Vasa’s jaw dropped. The river was inundated. Its waters surged and roiled, and its current was strong enough that even at a glance, it was obviously uncrossable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Impossible. How could this be…? It hasn’t even rained,” said Vasa in dumbfounded shock. He even glanced up at the sky in his confusion, though of course it was still as bright and clear as ever."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It wasn’t long before Vasa realized what had happened. His foes had sent a mysterious squad of troops upriver some time beforehand. Vasa had sent a small division of Seitzan troops to eliminate them, just for the sake of caution, but it seemed he hadn’t been cautious enough."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That squad must have included a powerful mage, he thought. I’d bet this is the work of that woman─the monster who bathed the battlefield in flames, over and over. Did she kill all the men I sent to stop her?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No spell’s effects could last forever. The river would return to its normal state eventually, and if Seitz’s rearguard could just hold out until then, Vasa knew there was still a chance he could escape. Once again, though, his hopes were betrayed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Canarre’s army broke through our back line! They’re coming!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shortly after I sent the order for Charlotte to cast her water spell, Mireille, Rietz, and their soldiers in the vanguard broke through the enemy lines. Our foes had put up a harder fight than I’d expected and it had taken a fair chunk of time, but not long enough to put our plan at any risk of failure."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I gave the order for our whole force to corner the enemy soldiers. Charlotte’s spell had gone off without a hitch, and the river was raging at a tremendous speed. Anyone brave enough to try jumping in would be swept away to their doom. I was reminded all over again of just how terribly powerful Charlotte’s magic was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The army of Seitz had clearly not foreseen any of this. They must have been in a state of total chaos, and wound up stopping dead in their tracks by the riverside. Their commander, it seemed, was not good at adapting to unexpected circumstances. Their troops weren’t poorly trained by any means, according to Rietz and the others, and they were very good at raising and maintaining their soldiers’ morale, so I had to assume that training and morale-boosting were their strengths, while adaptability was their one big weakness. I wouldn’t necessarily say it disqualified them from being a capable leader, but unless they had a talented second-in-command or tactician to advise them, I couldn’t see a person like that doing a great job in the long term."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "We spread our army out, pinning in the panicking remnants of the army of Seitz, then battered them with magic. They had nowhere left to run, and no choice but to take the spells we slung head on. I saw countless soldiers fall to our mages’ blasts, and we still had plenty of aqua magia left to keep up the assault for as long as it took. The fact that Charlotte wasn’t around still had me concerned, but even without her firepower on our side, the fact that the Seitzans were unable to magically defend themselves made our tactic astonishingly effective."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few enemy soldiers threw caution to the wind and plunged into the river, only to be swept away. I couldn’t see them making it out of that current alive. Others, meanwhile, made an attempt to mount a counterattack, but that was something we’d planned around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This was the battle’s most critical moment. Our enemy was more ready than ever to fight to the death, and nothing was more dangerous than a warrior who knew that they had to kill or be killed. Normally, our magic would intimidate our foes, but if those enemies knew that choosing to flee would mean death, then that wouldn’t be in play."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A mage’s one greatest weakness was that they couldn’t allow their enemies to get close to them. That was why we stationed a line of soldiers in front of our mages─to keep the enemy away. Yet our foes fought with the crazed strength of dead men walking, and the men we’d sent forward to stand guard soon found themselves hard pressed to hold the line. They probably wouldn’t have managed it, if it weren’t for the individual efforts of some of my most trusted retainers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rietz was the first to jump into the fray, hurling himself into the enemy’s ranks and making short work of them with his masterful swordsmanship. As he cut his foes down, he let out a spirited battle cry, rousing the rest of my men to turn the tide. I felt uneasy watching him fight on the front lines like that, to be honest, and I wanted to order him to fall back to the safety of the rearguard immediately, but I couldn’t deny that having him out there to support and encourage the vanguard was making a massive difference. I decided to believe in Rietz and his exemplary Valor, and watch on without interfering."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rietz hadn’t set out for the front lines alone. Zaht, who hadn’t accompanied Braham on his mission, was out there as well, fighting by Rietz’s side. His Valor was remarkably high as well, and he was doing an incredible job of supporting Rietz in battle. His fighting style wasn’t flashy, but it was more than effective enough to make up for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mireille, on the other hand, hadn’t rushed out to the front lines. She was certainly strong, and she was an incredibly capable warrior for a woman, but she couldn’t keep up with men like Rietz and wasn’t capable of running wild in the thick of battle like he did. Instead, she stayed back and shouted, “I hope you miserable louts know what’ll happen to you if you turn tail and run!” at our men."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I had no idea what she meant by that, but apparently our soldiers did, and they fought noticeably harder from that point onward. The boost of motivation put them on just about even footing with our foes, though I couldn’t help but notice that our men looked downright terrified as they fought."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "What on earth has Mireille been doing to those poor men during their training sessions…? I wondered. In any case, thanks to my retainers’ efforts, our forces managed to overcome our enemy’s last-ditch attempt to fight their way out of the trap they were caught in. My belief that having the right people on your side made all the difference was reaffirmed once more. Since our foes were effectively surrounded, the troops at the center of their formation were left with no one to fight and nowhere to go, turned into living targets for our mages. The longer we kept this up, the more their numbers would dwindle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As our soldiers held their ferocious attack back, Musia unleashed one of her spells. I’d heard that she would cast a spell that rivaled Charlotte’s magic every once in a while, but I hadn’t fully understood how destructive that meant she could be. The spell she’d cast landed squarely in the center of the enemy formation, where I’d expect their main force to be found, and for a moment I thought she might have taken out their commander in a single blow. As time went by and their formation didn’t collapse I concluded that he must have been elsewhere after all, but her spell had still thinned their ranks by a fair margin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Moments later, the effects of Charlotte’s spell faded and the river began to return to its normal flow. The Seitzan forces hurried to ford the river and beat a retreat, once again leaving a contingent of soldiers behind to delay our pursuit. It seemed they intended to ensure that their commander and his division escaped, and they were even willing to sacrifice the rest of the army to make sure that happened. We tried to pursue after wiping out their rearguard, but unfortunately, their withdrawal was a success. We couldn’t catch up in the end, but considering how many enemy soldiers we’d slain, we’d still accomplished our objective with flying colors."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After the fighting was over, I went to inspect the site of the battle up close. The corpses of innumerable enemy soldiers littered the ground in a scene that might as well have been drawn from the depths of hell itself. I could barely stand to look at it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hellish as the aftermath was, however, our military victory was overwhelming. After confirming the number of enemy soldiers who’d died and sending out scouts to see how many had escaped, we learned that we’d killed somewhere in the vicinity of forty thousand men over the course of the battle, leaving roughly thirty thousand remaining in their army. They’d lost about ten thousand in all our previous battles combined, but today four times that number had died, for a total of fifty thousand casualties over the course of their campaign."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Canarre, on the other hand, had gotten off somewhat lightly. We’d lost some men, yes, but our casualties amounted to only five thousand in total, leaving us with twenty-three thousand soldiers remaining."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“In other words, they still have a leg up in terms of numbers,” I muttered. I’d thought that we’d claimed the advantage in this latest battle, but that judgment had been premature."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Is it too early to assume we’ve won this war…?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“They still have more men, yeah, but I doubt Seitz is going to attack us again,” said Rosell. “The defending side of a battle holds an advantage, generally speaking, so defeating us with only seven thousand extra troops is tough. And that’s not even starting on the fact that they lost fifty thousand of their men, and only killed five thousand of ours in the process! If they can swallow that truth, then there’s no way they won’t conclude that seizing Canarre will be impossible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“That’s exactly right,” said Mireille. “And honestly, even if they did try to take another swing at us, we’d just have to treat ’em to another slaughter for their trouble. They don’t have the numbers to overwhelm us anymore, so driving them off will be a cinch.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is there any chance of them replenishing their forces and attacking again?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ve got a decent enough picture of the state of Seitz’s internal affairs, and they don’t have the men to spare,” said Mireille. “Even if they do manage to gather enough reinforcements somehow, I figure it’ll take them a long time to pull it off. Couran’ll have taken Vasmarque down by then for sure.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Judging by Rosell and Mireille’s read on the situation, we were more or less out of the woods. Eighty thousand men wasn’t really all that impressive of an army, when measured in terms of a duchy’s standing force. As a matter of fact, Couran could mobilize a larger army himself, and he wasn’t even in control of Arcantez, the capital of Missian and its largest source of troops. Seitz’s duke had just taken his throne and the upheaval in his duchy had yet to fully die down, so it was no wonder he didn’t have the sort of manpower his neighbors did. The invasion of Canarre had been a wild throw of the dice to begin with, and it was hard to imagine he’d be willing or able to spare any more resources on it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We soon made our way back to Fort Coumeire. I was fairly convinced that the enemy wouldn’t be taking another shot at us, but I wasn’t ready to let my guard down quite yet, and intended to keep the border well protected. I was also planning on continuing to dig up as much information on the enemy as possible, and proceed with all due caution."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A number of months came and went without any sign of movement from the army of Seitz. Then, on the twentieth day of the fourth month, year 212 of the Imperial Era, as fall set in, the news we’d been waiting for arrived."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Couran is victorious! Vasmarque’s army has been repelled!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, at long last, the forces of Canarre regained our peace of mind."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0029.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I admit it. They got the better of us on every level,” Boroths Heigand, commander of the army of Seitz, muttered to himself. News of Vasmarque’s defeat had just arrived in Seitz. Boroths had been hard at work putting his army back together for another attempt at conquering Canarre, but with Vasmarque no longer on the offensive, he knew his chances of victory were low enough to be practically nonexistent. “Now the only question is what punishment I’ll face for this miserable defeat…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Boroths was well aware that after a loss this spectacular, there was little to no chance he’d be allowed to keep his current position. The knowledge that he’d betrayed his lord’s expectations deeply wounded him. Canarre’s clever schemes and stratagems certainly played a factor in their victory, but Boroths couldn’t deny that his decision to leave the role of battlefield commander to his subordinates had contributed to the ultimate outcome of the war as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Boroths knew perfectly well that he wasn’t cut out to lead from the front. He was more capable than your average battlefield commander, perhaps, but his true strengths lay in the development of strategies and the effective delegation of the army’s most important tasks. Hence his decision to entrust command in the field to Vasa. Boroths had believed the man had what it took to lead his army to victory, but time had proven that he had been mistaken. He had thought that Raktor, the man he’d placed in charge of the army’s supply logistics, was a reliable man as well, but instead he’d been caught up in an enemy scheme."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasa and Raktor were both men with ample accomplishments to their names. That was why Boroths felt he could trust them to do their jobs, and do them well. The truth, however, was that results rarely spoke for themselves. Sometimes luck could carry a man to high places, and his record could tell a very tall tale compared to his true abilities. People occasionally experienced moments where circumstance allowed them to perform far beyond their true potential for just a brief instant. Unfortunately, judging the precise strengths of the people around you was impossible…unless you happened to possess a truly exceptional ability."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In spite of all the blunders the army of Seitz committed, their sheer numbers should have been enough to overwhelm Canarre…and yet, they hadn’t. Canarre’s forces had flipped the war on its head, and Boroths knew that they would never have been able to do so if it weren’t for the talent of the individuals in their upper ranks far exceeding that of those under Boroth’s command."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars Louvent. A dangerous man indeed,” said Boroths."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It hadn’t been long at all since Ars had ascended to the status of count. No matter how capable of picking out talent he was, it would take time for him to find those talented people and gather them to his side. And yet, even at this early moment in his career, he already had enough of them to open a gulf between him and his enemies. How much would that gulf widen in the future?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A sense of impending doom rushed over Boroths. The crisis that his master, the Duke of Seitz, had foreseen now felt all too real to him. It felt almost palpable."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0031.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’ve lost this battle, yes, but that wasn’t my only order. I will see Ars Louvent dead, no matter what it takes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Ars could not be made into Seitz’s asset, he would have to die. Such were Boroths’s orders, and the man no longer had the luxury to be picky about how he carried them out. He would stoop as low as it took…and so, Boroths resolved to employ the finest assassins he could find to engineer Ars’s death."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time after the news of Couran’s victory arrived, reinforcements dispatched from his army showed up at Fort Coumeire. I’d informed him of the current state of the war, and it seemed he’d judged that we were no longer in need of a large host and had only sent a modest contingent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While we were defending Canarre, Couran had been defending Velshdt. He’d repelled Vasmarque’s assault, wiping out a hefty chunk of his army in the process, and had then pushed back, marching on Arcantez in a joint effort to besiege it with Paradille’s army. It struck me as truly remarkable how quickly Couran had switched from defense to offense. He’d known that was his chance, and had acted upon it without hesitation. That judgment was part of what made him seem like such a capable leader to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I, however, would not participate in the siege of Arcantez. While Couran oversaw that front of the war, I was to stay behind in Canarre and keep a careful eye out for any movements from Seitz. Couran had ordered me to do so, explaining that another Seitzan attack would be a nuisance, and that we needed to be ready if that time came."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Time passed by, and there was no sign of Seitz resuming its attack. I didn’t expect them to make another attempt, frankly, and while Canarre’s nature as a border county meant that I’d never be able to abandon our watch over our neighbors, I did eventually let myself relax a little. I was tired of war on a personal level, and was grateful to have an opportunity to take it easy for once."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque’s defense of Arcantez was persistent, but at this late stage in the war there was simply no way for him to turn the tables. Couran had conquered all the castles and forts in the capital’s vicinity, and Vasmarque had no allies left. He was trapped and isolated, and at the end of the day his struggle was in vain. Castle Arcantez finally fell to Couran on the fifteenth day of the sixth month, three months after Couran had repelled Vasmarque’s attack on Velshdt. On that winter’s day, Missian was united under Couran’s banner."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A banquet celebrating the war’s end was to be held in Castle Arcantez, and my presence was requested. I set off for the capital with an armed escort, among whom Rietz was not, in fact, present this time. We still couldn’t afford to completely write off Seitz, so he and Charlotte had to stick around in Canarre just in case the unexpected occurred. Instead, I brought a troop of fifteen handpicked bodyguards, including Braham and Zaht. That would leave everyone back home with ample means to defend the county, and since Braham and Zaht were such capable fighters, they made for the perfect bodyguards."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A round trip to Arcantez from Canarre and back again took about thirty days by carriage. Our journey proved uneventful, and we arrived in Arcantez on the thirtieth of the sixth month. I’d never been to the capital before, and it was exactly as large as one would expect from the seat of the duchy. The symbol of the city, Castle Arcantez, loomed large over its surroundings…though of course, it wasn’t quite as impressive in scale as the Emperor’s palace in the imperial capital had been."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Arcantez was certainly impressive, but in terms of the town and its people, I had a feeling that Semplar had been a little livelier. Semplar was a port town, which made it a natural economic hub. Financially speaking, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Semplar was better off than even the capital."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before the festivities could commence, there was one matter left for Couran to take care of: the execution of Vasmarque, the cause of the civil war. I’d been convinced at first that Couran would never kill his own little brother, but I soon learned how naive I had been. Couran refused to make any exceptions for Vasmarque, and sentenced him to death. Family or not, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to anyone who would raise arms against him…or perhaps it was because they were family that he couldn’t afford to show mercy. Because of their shared blood, so long as Vasmarque lived he would always be in a position to take another stab at claiming the throne. Killing him was the only way to prevent that with certainty."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasmarque was to be beheaded─decapitated with a massive axe, specifically. That was standard practice for executions in this world. Some executions were carried out in more brutal ways to set an example─burning them at the stake or drawing and quartering them, for instance─but Couran wasn’t cruel enough to sentence his own brother to such an agonizing death."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The execution took place in the plaza in front of Castle Arcantez. When I arrived, I was unsurprised to find that a massive crowd had gathered to watch Vasmarque meet his end. I’d gone back and forth on whether I wanted to watch, but had eventually decided that since I’d fought in the war against his faction, it would only be right for me to witness his final moments."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Moreover, I’d never actually seen Vasmarque in person, and wanted to get at least one look at his face. I wouldn’t appraise him, though. I was curious about Vasmarque’s abilities, yes, but there was nothing to gain from learning how capable a man was moments before he was killed. All I’d get out of it would be regret, if he turned out to be exceptional─and from what I knew about him, I had a feeling that was likely the case."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Vasmarque was led up onto a scaffold at the center of the square. My first impression of him was that he didn’t resemble Couran at all. His hair was black, and his features weren’t quite as handsome as his brother’s, either. I also noted that he didn’t look at all afraid. It seemed, to my eyes, that he had accepted his fate."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vasmarque took a deep breath, then shouted to the crowd around him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Mark my words!” he said. “A time will come when Missian will be divided once more! My death changes nothing! Couran has neither the right nor the ability to rule over any of you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "To me, that just sounded like the braying of a sore loser. I knew for a fact that Couran was capable, and he struck me as an excellent leader. The idea that he didn’t have the ability to rule just felt preposterous to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I know him well─better than anyone! I know the petty, despicable fool who lurks behind the polite pretenses. There will come a day when his followers see what I have seen, and abandon him! I see it now, clear as day!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Couran watched on from afar in silence. He wasn’t flustered by his brother’s words, and in fact, he didn’t react at all. Either he didn’t think anyone would take Vasmarque’s shouting to heart, or his allegations were so far off the mark that Couran couldn’t even bring himself to care. Whatever the case, it was clear that not a word that Vasmarque said resonated with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Couran raised a hand into the air, and in unison, the headsman raised his axe. Then, Couran brought his hand down…and the axe descended, slicing clean through Vasmarque’s neck. Blood scattered into the air as his head fell from the scaffold, coming to rest on the ground below."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And so, the curtain fell on the life of Vasmarque Salemakhia, second son of the former Duke of Missian."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The banquet was held following Vasmarque’s execution. Nobles arrived to celebrate in droves, some of whom I recognized."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh! Well, if it isn’t Ars!” a very familiar voice rang out. The former Count of Canarre and acting Count of Velshdt, Lumeire Pyres, approached me. “I’m told you’ve been doing splendid work, truly splendid! I see leaving Canarre in your hands was the right path indeed!” he said with a beaming smile and a flushed face that told me he’d already started drinking."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you, Lord Lumeire? How has Velshdt been treating you?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Velshdt? A fine place indeed, but so large compared to Canarre! I find myself overwhelmed at every turn by the scale of it all! But to be fair, all the boorish nobles who wouldn’t give me the time of day when I ruled over Canarre practically hang on my every word now, so, yes, there are some upsides!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Canarre was one of Missian’s most remote counties, and it wasn’t especially large, either. In these turbulent times the relative status of nobles was determined by the power they wielded, and the easiest measure of power was the number of soldiers one was ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. It was only natural that ruling over a larger territory would elevate Lumeire’s standing in the eyes of his peers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Soon, the banquet began in earnest. Couran stood before the assembled nobles and gave a speech, but I barely heard a word of it. Instead, I found Vasmarque’s last words echoing through my mind once more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One day, he claimed, Missian would be divided all over again. Couran had no brothers left, younger or older. His eldest son surely knew that all he had to do to inherit the territory was wait for his time to come, so unless Couran did something truly appalling to him, I couldn’t imagine he would be inclined to start a revolt. I just couldn’t see any practical risk of Missian fragmenting any time soon."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But why, then, had Vasmarque chosen to give his warning? I recalled him saying that Couran’s followers would lose faith in him and abandon him. Did he mean that Missian would go the way of Seitz, with one of Couran’s most capable vassals raising the banner of rebellion and splitting the duchy apart? Was that what he’d foreseen?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It wasn’t unthinkable, but then again, I’d now seen all of Missian’s counts in person, and I knew that none of them were as capable as Couran himself. The idea of a vassal less talented than him rising up and unseating Couran was, of course, ridiculous. It just wouldn’t happen, and once again, I found myself concluding that Vasmarque had simply missed the mark."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And above all others, I would acknowledge the Count of Canarre, Ars Louvent, for his many and mighty contributions to our cause! Step forward, Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While I was lost in thought, Couran called me out by name. I couldn’t just ignore him, so I made my way to the front of the crowd and stood before the gathered nobles."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Canarre was set upon by a mighty host of Seitzan soldiers,” said Couran. “Had they achieved their aims and conquered the county, we may not have been able to bring Arcantez under our control. Eighty thousand men marched upon Canarre, and between Ars’s men and the sparing few I could send to him, he had only thirty thousand with which to repel them. But repel them he did! Outnumbered by more than twofold, Ars stood strong and protected his realm! His is an achievement worthy of celebration!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After an explanation like that, none of the nobles in the room could protest the treatment I was being given. Plenty of nobles had opposed the idea of granting a child the title of count, and I hoped that this would help quell their protests."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Will you say a word, Ars?” Couran asked without warning."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I froze. I hadn’t even begun to consider how I could address the hall, and when I failed to do so, a heavy silence fell. The atmosphere grew unbearable, and I knew I had to say something, even if it turned out to be painfully trite."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Umm,” I began. “Canarre was in real danger for quite some time, but in the end, we managed to prevail. I intend to continue devoting myself to Lord Couran’s service and to the betterment of Missian as a whole.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was far from a masterfully delivered speech, but at the very least it wasn’t a complete flop with my audience. I got the sense that many of the nobles who’d previously had a rather poor image of me were now seeing me in a new light. The way they looked at me had changed. Defeating a superior foe, it seemed, was the sort of achievement that could change an aristocrat’s mind."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You have my thanks, Ars, and you will, of course, be well rewarded,” said Couran, who ended up presenting me with a massive amount of gold coins. My coffers had been hurting lately, so I couldn’t have been happier. Once again, no one spoke up to object to my reward. They were too busy celebrating my accomplishment instead."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the festivities concluded, we made our way back to Canarre. Then, on the eighth day of the eighth month─my fourteenth birthday─I would be formally wed to Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A wedding."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I’d dreamed of marriage in my previous life. Up until around the time I graduated from college, I’d held onto the baseless belief that I was sure to get married someday. Then, I went out into society, got a job, never met anyone I clicked with, and was a thirty-five year old bachelor before I knew it. I’d never even had a girlfriend, so getting married was a fantasy I hardly even dared to dream about anymore."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the life I led, and the life that was passed on to the new me, Ars Louvent…and so, never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I’d get married at the age of fourteen. Upon reflection, I found myself thinking that fourteen was just a little too young for that sort of thing. I wasn’t even half as old as I’d been when my previous life came to an end! I could technically sire offspring, I supposed, for whatever that was worth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Those were among the thoughts that preoccupied me as I sat around in my tuxedo. The ceremony was scheduled to begin in about two hours, and I was well beyond the point of no return."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The marriage would be held in the great hall of Castle Canarre. Holding weddings in churches wasn’t traditional in this world, it seemed. I’d already gotten changed, and was standing by in my chambers. Licia was still changing into her dress─women’s wedding attire was a lot more time-consuming to put on than men’s, so I’d ended up with some time on my hands."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was so nervous, I could hardly stand it. The actual ceremony shared some similarities with how they were conducted in my old world. The couple was expected to exchange vows and a kiss, for instance. The religious aspect of swearing your vows before God was missing, though, and instead you swore before a human witness. Nobles like me usually brought in a higher-ranking noble to play that role, and Lumeire would be mine. I’d asked him if he would be willing right after the celebration in Castle Arcantez had wrapped up, and he had readily accepted. Couran was a higher ranking noble as well, of course, but by such a wide margin that asking him to be my witness felt disrespectful."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After our witness finished his speech, we would exchange a kiss, and that was it. The bride and groom weren’t expected to give speeches of their own, or anything like that, so in a certain sense my role in the ceremony was quick and easy. Still, for some reason, I couldn’t suppress my anxiety."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some time later, one of Castle Canarre’s maids arrived to inform me that Licia had finished changing. In other words, the time had finally come. I would meet Licia by the entrance to the great hall, and we’d enter the chamber together, walking up to Lumeire. That was more or less all I’d have to do."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stood up, took a deep breath, and set out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I made my way to a waiting room near the great hall. A few minutes after I arrived, Licia stepped inside. She was wearing a pure white wedding dress, and was so strikingly beautiful I found myself at a loss for words. I just stared blankly at her, which I soon realized was making her pretty nervous."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Crap, what am I doing? I need to man up and tell her what I’m thinking!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You look stunning, Lady Licia,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia beamed, her cheeks ever so slightly flushed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“And you look dashing, Lord Ars,” she replied, setting my heart aflutter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two of us walked into the hall together. A red carpet had been laid out to guide us to the front of the chamber, and as we proceeded along it, a band serenaded us with a soothing musical number. All sorts of people had come together to attend the ceremony, and my retainers, of course, were among them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I glanced at each of them in sequence as I walked along. Rietz had broken down into tears the moment he saw me, and I could hear him muttering, “Oh, how you’ve grown, Lord Ars… I’m so proud,” as I passed him. You’d almost think he was an old man, the way he was acting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Charlotte, meanwhile…was eating. Musia was with her, and I had to imagine that Charlotte had been the one who’d suggested that this would be an appropriate time for a meal. Musia noticed us enter the hall and tugged at Charlotte’s sleeve to get her attention, at least, but Charlotte was so focused on her food she didn’t even notice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rosell was so nervous, his face was a corpse-like shade of white. That, I assumed, was because he was scheduled to read out a message to the two of us during the ceremony. Rietz would be reading his first, but Rosell would be right after, and he wasn’t exactly used to public speaking. I couldn’t blame him for freaking out a little."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mireille was three shades to the wind and getting handsy with one of the maids. That maid, upon closer inspection, was Pham, the leader of the Shadows. The maid outfit was just a disguise, and he was doing his best to deal with Mireille in a convincingly maid-like fashion, but I could tell how irritated he was behind the facade. I could only hope he didn’t lose patience and beat Mireille to a pulp before the ceremony ended."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Braham was seated next to Zaht, quietly watching as we made our entrance. I was surprised to see a sizable lump on his head, when I looked a little closer, and imagined that he’d done something he shouldn’t have and earned a scolding from Rietz."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia and I walked along the red carpet, eventually coming to a stop in front of Lumeire. The music cut off at the same instant, and for a moment, silence filled the hall. Even Charlotte’s muttering about how good the food was and Mireille’s incessant solicitations toward Pham ceased."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Finally, Lumeire’s voice broke the silence."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ars Louvent. Licia Pleide. On this day, the two of you shall be joined in matrimony. Do you swear to stay together, in sickness and in health, until the end of your days?” he asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Our answer was obvious."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I do!” Licia and I declared at the exact same moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Then let your vow be sealed with a kiss,” Lumeire urged."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I stepped up to Licia and gently pressed my lips to hers, lingering for a few seconds before I broke away."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I, Lumeire Pyres, have witnessed your vows, and do hereby declare them binding and unbreakable!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After our ceremonial kiss, we listened to the congratulatory speeches that Rietz, Rosell, and the others had prepared. Couran hadn’t come in person, but he’d sent me a letter expressing his congratulations to make up for it, and I was once again impressed by how thoughtful he could be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Then, the ceremony more or less transitioned into a banquet. We ate, drank, and made merry to our hearts’ content. We also had a few performances put on, and it soon felt like we were throwing a full-blown festival within the castle. I’d always imagined noble parties to be more elegant, refined affairs, but this celebration was anything but. I wasn’t disappointed, though. Actually, I felt a lot more comfortable in this sort of atmosphere, and truly enjoyed myself."
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0033.txt |
[
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 4"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You should try this meat, Lord Ars! It’s exquisite,” said Licia, who seemed to be having just as good of a time as I was. “Oh, allow me to feed you! Say aah!” she added, holding a piece of meat out toward me with a fork."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Being fed like that was on the top three list of things I’d always wanted my girlfriend to do for me someday. Although, we were in a great hall, surrounded by people. Doing it here would be incredibly embarrassing…but still, I wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by. I tried to pick a moment when as few people were gaping at us as possible, then took the bite she’d offered me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What do you think?” asked Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-It’s delicious,” I replied. It really was, though frankly, I was more taken with the act of being fed than I was with the meat itself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Well, aren’t you two getting feisty,” said Charlotte. I had no clue how long she’d been standing next to me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Were you watching that?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Every bit of it,” she said with a smirk. I knew that face. It meant she was about to tease me mercilessly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You really shouldn’t disturb them,” said Musia, bringing some much-needed reason into the picture. Unfortunately, Charlotte just ignored her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“All right! If that’s how we’re playing, I think I’ll feed Lord Ars too!” Charlotte said, then jammed her fork into a slice of cake and brought it up toward my mouth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“W-Wait a second,” I stammered in dismay."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, Lady Charlotte? What, precisely, is the meaning of this?” asked Licia in a tone of voice that terrified me. I glanced back at her and found her smiling in that very particular sort of way that made it clear she was not pleased."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-Ha ha ha, just kidding around!” Charlotte said with a forced laugh, then ate the piece of cake herself. Not even she was capable of resisting the silent pressure Licia could exude."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I believe you would do well to turn her down more clearly, Lord Ars,” Licia continued. “Whyever were you so flustered?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gah! Now it’s my turn?! You’re scaring me, Licia!"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was going to tell her no, of course! It was just so sudden! I’m afraid I was too startled to reply clearly,” I said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Oh, is that so? In other words, you hadn’t even the slightest interest in eating her cake?”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, of course not!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Well, I’m glad to hear it!” said Licia, still smiling in the most intimidating manner possible. It was starting to dawn on me that she would be keeping a firm handle on the reins of this marriage."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After all of us finished eating, everyone presented me with gifts. It was my birthday, after all. I’d received a wide variety of presents every year, but the fact that this year’s celebration doubled as my wedding led to me receiving even more valuable gifts than usual."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The festivities went on for hours on end, and finally came to a close after nightfall. I was exhausted, and fell asleep the moment I had the opportunity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The next day I saw Lumeire and Hammond, Licia’s father, off on their journeys home."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I trust…no, I humbly request that you treat my daughter well, Count Louvent,” said Hammond. I held authority over him, as things stood, and he was doing his best to speak with a deference that reflected that fact, which made me feel more than a little uncomfortable considering he was now my father-in-law."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I swear to you that I will make Lady Licia happy,” I replied, then turned to Lumeire. “Thank you again for traveling all this way, Lord Lumeire.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Think nothing of it!” said Lumeire. “The two of us are compatriots, are we not? And I must say, for having just suffered a large-scale invasion, I’m astonished that Canarre itself seems all but untouched!” he added with a surprised smile. “I have faith that you will lead this county to growth and prosperity. Best of luck to you, Ars!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Thank you!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With those parting words of encouragement, Lumeire and Hammond set off for their respective domains."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The day passed by, and night fell. The day of my wedding had been so busy I’d fallen asleep the moment I had the opportunity, so I was a day late, in a sense…but the fact that I was married now meant that I had a certain responsibility to fulfill at nighttime. Licia and I, shall we say, had to spend our first night together."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I bathed myself, making sure to scrub every inch of skin as clean as possible, then returned to my bedroom. Licia hadn’t arrived yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I sat down on the bed and fidgeted restlessly as I waited for her to turn up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A-Are we really doing this tonight? Will I be able to manage it?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I never lost my virginity in my previous life, and it goes without saying I didn’t have any experience in this one either. Suddenly, I felt myself starting to get cold feet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I could always pretend to have already fallen asleep…? No, no, I’m not that much of a wimp, and I can’t let myself disappoint her like that!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before I managed to gather my resolve, a subdued knock rang out from the door. My heart was pounding so loudly, I could hear it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Lord Ars? It’s me, Licia. May I enter?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-Y-Yes, go ahead!” I shouted back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Pardon me, then,” said Licia as she opened the door and stepped inside. She was wearing a dressing gown, and her whole face was flushed red. She also took great pains to not look directly at me and fidgeted, which made it very clear how nervous she was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was a little surprised. I’d imagined her as the sort of girl who would always keep her cool, even at a time like this. Upon further consideration, though, it struck me that this would almost certainly be her first time too, so perhaps her nervousness was a given."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Licia stepped toward me, but it was a clumsy, faltering step. She was as stiff and awkward as could be, and it was so funny to watch, I couldn’t stop myself from bursting out laughing. That made her blush even harder than before, her face as red as an apple. She sped up, rushing over to the bed and plopping down beside me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I-I can’t believe you! Why would you laugh at me?” she said, her lips pursed in a sulky frown. She was cute when she was mad, and seeing her that way made me feel just a little less nervous."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“S-Sorry,” I quickly replied. “I just thought it was odd for you to be so out of sorts.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“F-For your information, I tried to learn how to conduct myself in the bedroom, just so I could be prepared when the time came. I asked the oldest of the maids at our estate to teach me…but she claimed that the less I knew the more pleased the gentleman I wound up with would be, and told me nothing. I’ve reached this day without learning a thing…a-and if I’d known it would turn out this way, I would have insisted…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I said a silent but emphatic word of thanks to the maid in question. If she were here, I would’ve tipped her a few gold coins on the spot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Your maid was right, actually. Deep down, all men would prefer to take the lead when it comes to these things.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-Is that so? But still, I am older than you…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Age has nothing to do with it. Plus, you’re so adorable right now that I can hardly tell.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once again, Licia’s face turned a bright shade of red."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, don’t tease me!” she said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I’m not! I mean it.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“O-Oh, you…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Ah, I know!” I said. “You haven’t been taught about these things at all, right? So you have no idea what it entails?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“U-Umm… Y-You take off your clothes…and embrace…?” Licia muttered bashfully."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It seemed her knowledge was surface-level, at best. It struck me that she couldn’t be prepared for what we were about to do if she had no idea what we’d be doing, so I took a moment to give her a quick but detailed sex ed crash course."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Y-You what?! S-So then, that means…y-you’ll have to see and touch just about every inch of my body?!” Licia exclaimed with her brightest blush yet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, more or less, I guess,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“H-How utterly shameful! How could I…ah, but wait. Would that not mean that I would get to see and touch every inch of your body, too…? That…certainly has quite the appeal…ah! I-I didn’t say anything!” Licia shouted as she shook her head, driving away the fantasies that had almost consumed her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A few seconds of silence passed by. Finally, I steeled my nerves, laid a hand on her shoulder, and pulled her toward me. Before I knew it, we were face to face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lord Ars,” Licia said, then closed her eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I leaned forward to kiss her, then gently laid her out on the bed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Lady Licia,” I said as our lips parted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“We’re husband and wife now,” said Licia. “I’d prefer if you’d cast aside the formalities and call me by my name. Speak to me casually, like you do with the others…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She had a point. It felt strange to keep up the formal courtesy now that we were married."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“V-Very well… I mean, all right, Licia,” I said. Licia looked ecstatic the moment I said her name. “I’ll ask the same of you,” I continued. “Will you call me by my name alone?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Huh?” Licia blinked. “But, I couldn’t possibly…”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“If you’re willing, I’d like to think of you as my partner and my equal.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For a moment, Licia fell silent. Then, hesitantly…"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "…she said my name."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We kept saying each other’s names, over and over until they flowed naturally from our mouths. I knew this was the sort of behavior that would’ve made me wish a painful death upon all the happy couples of the world if I’d witnessed it back in my old life, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. Then, after we’d said each other’s names time and time again, I kissed her─deeply this time, which was a first for me across both of my lifetimes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "And so, we whiled away the night in each other’s passionate embrace."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When I woke up the next morning, the first thing I saw was Licia’s face. I was so startled I almost shot to my feet, but then the events of the night before came back to me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Oh. That’s right…"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I remembered now. Last night, I finally lost my virginity. I didn’t recall how the experience had felt in any intricate detail, honestly, but I could say for a fact that the instant we were joined together was the single most joyful moment I’d experienced since I was reborn in this world."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "For all the joy of that moment, though, I was now feeling an all-encompassing sense of sluggishness."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh, that’s right, I thought as another detail came back to me: I’d wanted to go to bed after the first time, but Licia just wouldn’t let me sleep. I didn’t know if she’d just adapted to the idea at a record pace, or what, but she was so aggressive it was almost hard to believe she’d been so shy and innocent at the start, and she’d left me in a state of exhaustion. Licia, it seemed, had quite the libido."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I thought back over the events of the night before, Licia’s eyes fluttered open."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Ah, Lord Ars… Wait, no…I mean, Ars… Good morning,” she said with a smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Good morning, Licia,” I replied, then fell silent as my thoughts returned once again to the night before and I got embarrassed. We spent a moment just looking at each other…and then my gaze fell to her chest, which was exposed to view."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Licia followed my gaze, realized what I was looking at, and covered herself up in a fluster."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I-I suppose it’s a little late to be embarrassed by these things, considering what we did last night,” she said with a bashful smile. It would’ve felt awkward to lie around in the nude, so we quickly changed into our sleeping clothes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Does this mean I’ll bear a child?” Licia wondered out loud as she stroked her midsection."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“No, I think the odds of that happening after just one time are pretty low,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Is that so? Then we’ll just have to do it as many times as it takes,” said Licia. “Fortunately, you seem to have plenty of stamina! I’m sure it won’t be any trouble.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“W-Well, if I wasn’t embarrassed before, I sure would be now…”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I’d like about twenty children or so, which means we’ll certainly have to keep busy.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Surely that’s a few too many?!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“House Louvent has only recently risen to power, and lacks a broad and established bloodline! I believe having as many children as possible will be to our house’s benefit, and I’m certain that any child of yours will prove to be exceptional in their own right!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She wasn’t wrong in the sense that I had very few blood relatives, and could do with more. Our children turning out exceptional, however, I was less convinced of. Licia was an outstandingly talented woman, yes, but I…well… I couldn’t use my Appraisal skill to see my own stats, so I couldn’t speak to my talents with any real certainty. Still, I couldn’t imagine that my numbers were very impressive. And, regardless, twenty was just way too many kids!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“We’ll have to strive to reach even greater heights, for our future children’s sake!” said Licia. “Our goal is to make you the Duke of Missian…no, the emperor of all of Summerforth! I know you’ll be able to manage it, Ars! I’ll be doing my utmost to aid you, all the way!”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Hearing her bombastic declaration made me realize that she really did have as high of an Ambition as my skill claimed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Let’s talk about becoming a duke or an emperor another day, okay…? Right now, we need to focus on making Canarre as prosperous as we can,” I said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Of course! That’s what you’ll be discussing at today’s meeting, isn’t it?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Now that I was no longer busy, I’d decided to bring my most trusted retainers together and discuss the future of Canarre at once. The civil war was over, and Seitz had suffered such a crushing defeat that they were unlikely to attack again any time soon. This was a golden opportunity to focus inward and build up Canarre on the whole."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I intend to participate in your meeting as well, by the way,” said Licia."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Of course. I’ll be counting on you,” I replied. I had a feeling she’d have helpful ideas to contribute, and had been hoping she’d join us."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As I got up and moved to change out of my nightclothes, Licia grabbed me by the hem of my shirt. She blushed as she looked up at me, clearly wanting something, and it only took me a moment to figure out what that something was and give her a kiss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Apparently, I’d guessed right. The kiss lasted longer than I’d thought, and gradually grew more and more passionate. I’d felt so sluggish after getting up, but kissing her like that blew away my fatigue and roused my lower half before I knew it. There was no stopping us now. Licia and I got right back to our marital business first thing in the morning, and wound up arriving late to our meeting as a result."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "By the time Licia and I arrived at the meeting, everyone else had already assembled. Rietz, Mireille, Rosell, Charlotte, and the rest of the usual crowd were all there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Sorry I’m late!” I said immediately, only for Mireille to smirk at me."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hard at work first thing in the morning, eh? Well, guess I can’t blame you, mister newlywed,” she teased."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yup, we’re busted. Was she watching us? Or was that just a really good guess?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Producing an heir is a lord’s responsibility. You should ignore her teasing, Your Lordship,” said Rietz in a complete deadpan. The fact that I knew he was being totally serious made it more embarrassing than ever, and I felt myself begin to blush. I almost would’ve preferred him to tease me, though knowing Rietz, that would have been way too much to ask."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "In any case, I wanted to get off this topic as quickly as possible and did my best to propose a new one and move the conversation along."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Incidentally, Mireille, I’ve been told you’ve obtained a house in Canarre and have been living here, as of late. What about Lamberg? How are they going to get by without you?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I’d entrusted the Barony of Lamberg to her in the hopes she’d take care of my old domain, but to my understanding, she’d been spending most of her time in Canarre instead. That made her easier to summon for meetings like this one, but I also had to worry that Lamberg itself was being left ungoverned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Not an issue,” said Mireille. “Lamberg’s a stone’s throw away from here, and I shoved all the petty beancounting onto my subordinates. It’s all under control.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You shoved it onto them? Really…?” I sighed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup, and if anything ever comes up that they can’t handle on their own, I pop in to take care of it for them. Everyone wins!”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It was hard to imagine how she could be any less responsible, and I was starting to wonder if I could rest easy with Lamberg in her hands. I’d received reports that no serious problems had arisen in the barony─and, in fact, that it was flourishing─but I had no way of knowing if that meant that Mireille’s style of management was surprisingly effective, or if she’d just gotten lucky so far. One way or another, I couldn’t exactly strip away her title without a clear reason for doing so, and had no choice but to let her keep at it for the moment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The conversation moved along, and we began discussing Canarre’s immediate future. To start, the end of the civil war meant good things for our local economy. The counties that had sided with Vasmarque and the counties that had backed Couran had been operating in economic isolation from each other, and with lines of trade and commerce now renewed, all of Missian was experiencing an economic surge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The flow of people across county lines had been boosted as well, and it went without saying that Canarre was reaping the benefits as much as everywhere else. I had a feeling that we’d be seeing an income spike very shortly, and having new people make their way into the county meant that I’d have better opportunities to bring new talent into my fold. I’d taken down the recruitment signboards over the course of the war with Seitz, but now that it was over with, I’d had them put right back up again. That meant I was in for another round of day in and day out appraisal in the near future, but that was simply the price I had to pay. I’d also received a bounty of gold from Couran for my service in the war, and I was planning on using that to fund Shin’s airship project."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With Vasmarque’s demise, many of the nobles who had sided with him had been either exiled or executed, leaving a large number of territories in need of new management. I wasn’t given any new territory this time, though. I presumed that Couran knew that the more territory─and, by extension, influence─I was given all at once, the more other lords would oppose me as a result. I’d have to take things slow and steady."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since Couran would be ruling over Arcantez as the duke, his old county, Semplar, would be given to his son, Rengue, of all people. I’d met him before, and frankly, he struck me as more or less incompetent, so I was rather worried about his ability to keep the county under control. He’d apparently be given an advisor, at least, so that was something. In any case, I suspected that Couran had been extra generous with his financial reward to make up for the fact that I wasn’t given any new territory. I was fairly certain that this sort of money would be plenty to let Shin build his airship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Aside from investing in Shin’s project, my retainers also proposed pouring money into developing our local mines, sponsoring local craftsmen who made catalyzers and the like, and a variety of other potential opportunities. We didn’t have the funding to take on all of them, so we had to be a little choosy. Sponsoring craftsmen felt like an easy project to lead to success, since I could choose individuals that my skill identified as having a high Weaponry aptitude. Canarre wasn’t blessed with an abundance of natural resources, so selling man-made products had the potential to boost our economy far more efficiently than trying to bolster our ability to harvest raw materials, and in the end, I decided to lean in that direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "With the matter of our funds settled, we moved on to the next topic at hand: our military. There weren’t any wars looming on the immediate horizon, but that didn’t mean we could afford to lower our guard."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I could really do with some more mages,” Charlotte said, echoing the sentiment she’d expressed the last time we talked about this. “Oh, and make them cute girls like Musia, if you can. Makes training ’em feel worth the effort.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It seemed that Charlotte had taken quite the liking to Musia, and was hoping to strike gold twice and find another woman just like her. I was in agreement, mostly, and certainly wanted to bring in more mages, but they just weren’t as easy to find as she was making them out to be."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Speaking of our mages, I have an idea,” said Rosell. “Why don’t we put some time into training a magical cavalry unit?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Magical cavalry was a fairly self-explanatory term that referred to mages that ride into battle on horseback. They would typically intermingle with traditional cavalry, using their spells to aid in their charges. The idea of a dedicated unit of magical cavalry, though, was less typical, and I wasn’t certain what Rosell meant by it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I was picturing a unit made up entirely of magical cavalry─a few hundred to a thousand of them, or so,” Rosell explained. “As far as I know, no military’s ever established a unit like that since finding people with the ability to ride and cast isn’t easy. With your power, though, I think it might just be possible.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“And would it be worth it? Just how much of an impact would a unit like that have on the battlefield?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Oh, I can think of all sorts of ways we could use them! We could have them slip around enemy formations to blast them with magic from behind, or move them to quickly guard our troops from magical attack when we’re caught by surprise. They’d be a unit capable of both offense and defense, and they’d have the mobility needed to do it all at once! The only downside’s that magical cavalry can only use small catalyzers, so in terms of pure power they’d lose out against a traditional mage.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Rosell was making a very compelling case. It sounded like the unit he was proposing would make a massive difference in battle. That said, no matter how much I used and abused my skill, I didn’t imagine that finding the people for a unit like that would be easy. I figured that magical cavalry would need at least a B-ranked Aptitude as a Mage and as Cavalry, and I’d already been having enough trouble just finding plain old mages. This was not going to be a simple project."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hey, can I get a word in?” said Mireille. “I’ve been curious─you heard anything about my little brother, Thomas? Any idea what he’s been up to lately?”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I knew that Thomas had been captured, of course, but that was the last news I’d received of him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Do you know anything, Rietz?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Thomas Grunzeon has been transferred to a prison in Arcantez, supposedly. He shows no inclination to serve Lord Couran, as of yet,” Rietz immediately replied. He’d always had a keen ear for that sort of information."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thomas is still rotting in prison, then. Guess that’s no surprise."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He’d been devoted to Vasmarque, who Couran, in turn, had put to death. There was no way Thomas would turn around and serve Couran after that. I assumed he’d either live out the rest of his life in jail, or otherwise be executed himself."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“It doesn’t have to be right now or anything, but I was hoping I could go meet him and bring him back here with me,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You want to bring Thomas here?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yup,” said Mireille with a nod. She seemed confident enough that I had to assume she had a plan to make it happen. “You got a good look at him, right? I bet you could tell he’d be pretty useful.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I thought back to Thomas’s status screen. I didn’t remember any specific numbers, but I was pretty sure that he’d had multiple stats in the nineties. He was a capable man, all right, no question about it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Yes, he would,” I agreed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Then bringing him onto the team wouldn’t be an issue, right?” Mireille pressed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“I mean…not in and of itself, but would he even agree to that? I know you’re his sister and all, but I was under the impression the two of you weren’t on good terms.”"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“Yeah, nah, he probably hates my guts. No matter how much he can’t stand me, though, he’s still my little brother. I’ll make him play along, one way or another,” Mireille said with a terrifying sneer. I didn’t know much about their relationship, but I gathered it was a complicated one."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In any case, I had no objections to recruiting Thomas, so I gave her a nod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“All right, then. Just let me know when you decide you’ll be going out to persuade him. I’ll dispatch a letter to Lord Couran when you do.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“You got it,” said Mireille."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Next, we moved on to discussing how we could forge stronger relationships with our surrounding counties. Seitz still loomed on our western border, and considering the scale of the war we’d just had with them, we wouldn’t be making true peace any time soon. They seemed obsessed with taking control of Canarre, and I couldn’t see any path toward reconciliation aside from giving them what they wanted and joining them, which I had no interest in doing."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Unless something major and unexpected shook the situation up, it seemed safe to assume our relationship with Seitz would not be improving in the near future. The other counties of Missian, however, posed an opportunity to build up some positive relationships, and we decided to proactively work toward that end."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The largest and most powerful counties in Missian were Arcantez, Velshdt, Maasa, and Semplar. Arcantez and Semplar stood out as exceptionally powerful among those four, being the capital and a coastal economic powerhouse, respectively. Couran ruled over Arcantez now, and his son Rengue controlled Semplar. I already had a fairly amicable relationship established with Couran, and while Rengue didn’t have any particular fondness for me, his father’s influence over him meant that I had no reason to build up a friendship with him so long as Couran was on my side."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That, however, would only be true as long as the status quo remained unchanged. When Couran eventually passed away, Rengue would likely become the new Duke of Missian. I was also closer to Rengue’s age than I was Couran’s, so my relationship with him would likely be a longer lasting one than my relationship with his father. From a long-term perspective, getting in Rengue’s good graces was for the best. He was a simpleminded man, at least, so I didn’t imagine that earning his trust would be all that challenging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Velshdt was ruled over by Lumeire, who I had a strong and long-standing relationship with already. The Count of Maasa, in contrast, I’d barely even met, so it went without saying I didn’t have a relationship with him yet. Maasa was fairly close to Canarre, so if I managed to establish a line of contact, it could prove helpful for both trade and military purposes. Reaching out to him felt like it would have a lot of merits."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“What exactly should we do to establish a friendship with Maasa, though?” I asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“You could invite their count to a party, to start,” suggested Licia. “Attending a party that he throws could be a good opportunity as well! You could also send him gifts, or get in the good graces of his allies to draw closer to him indirectly. The most certain method would be to forge a familial bond through marriage, but that may be difficult in your case.”"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I was already married to Licia, and my siblings were both too young for their marriages to be on the table. As for the Count of Maasa, I didn’t know who was in his circle of friends and allies, but I had to assume that Lumeire had some degree of acquaintance with the man. Couran likely would as well, considering the Count of Maasa had sided with him from the very beginning of the war. It was hard to imagine he’d do that if they weren’t on good terms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The question, then, was how to broach the subject. Sending them a letter saying “I want to make friends with the Count of Maasa, will you help me?” felt like it’d be something of a breach of etiquette. I figured my best bet would be to attend any parties that Lumeire or Couran held, approach the Count of Maasa there, and start sending him gifts to express my desire to build a friendship with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I didn’t have any evidence to back my assumption up, but I had a hunch that the Count of Maasa would be interested in figuring out my intentions in much the same way I wanted to ascertain his. I’d climbed the social ladder and gathered immense power in Missian at a breakneck pace, and I had to assume that had garnered me a fair deal of attention, especially considering my age. There was no guarantee that attention would be positive, of course. He might be wary of the possibility I could act against him, for all I knew, but as long as I had his attention, I figured that would give me the chance to forge a relationship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Gathering as much information as possible was also an important aspect of diplomacy, so I sent the Shadows out to learn as much as they could about all of Missian’s counts. That sort of information-gathering was easy work, by their standards, so I had confidence they’d do an excellent job."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With that, our meeting came to a close. For the time being, my primary occupation would be searching for new talent, though if a party was ever scheduled I’d have to make time to attend it. I also wanted to get Shin’s airship project moving along as soon as possible, so that very same day I sent him a letter requesting his presence at the castle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A few days later, Shin arrived at Castle Canarre."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Is it true?! You got the money?!” Shin asked the moment he saw me, his eyes shining with excitement. I could instantly tell just how eagerly he’d been awaiting his funding."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "“I was rewarded for my service in the war, so yes, I did,” I replied."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "“Hot damn! I’m startin’ to think you might be some sorta bigshot, Lord Ars!” said Shin in a very impressed tone. “Before you hand over the cash, though, mind taking a look at the fruits of my research so far?”"
}
]
| Officially Translated Light Novels_As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World_As-a-Reincarnated-Aristocrat,-I'll-Use-My-Appraisal-Skill-to-Rise-in-the-World-Volume-04-[Vertical][Kobo] | p-0035.txt |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.