“Fuh…I understand the details now. However, Reed, you are a nobleman meant to lead by example. You should not be the one taking the stance that ‘as long as the results are good, anything is permissible.'”
Looking me straight in the eye, Father continued to admonish me sternly yet instructively.
“Do you know why there are disciplines in place for nobles, the knight orders, and the military? It’s because if everyone acts recklessly in pursuit of glory, organizations cannot function. Certainly, in some cases those actions may produce the right results. But that was not the case here. Could you not have simply explained the reason to me?”
“…You’re absolutely right, father.”
As I responded, I lowered my head. Out of an urgency to “do something quickly”, I may have acted too hastily this time.
When I spoke to Father about wanting to go to the town, I immediately backed down when he refused. At that point, I certainly thought “I can probably just sneak out somehow.”
“I’m glad you understand. But from now on, I forbid you from going to the town. If there is an absolute necessity, you must tell me first, without fail. Understood?”
“Understood. Father, I apologize for causing you concern and trouble.”
With those words, I lowered my head towards Father. Diana also bowed her head in sync with my motion.
“That’s enough. Reed, raise your head. Diana, you are the one at issue here.”
“Yes. I am prepared for the consequences, Lord Reiner.”
She nodded calmly at Father’s words. Surprised by her demeanor, I hurriedly spoke up.
“Father, Diana was merely following my instructions! If punishment is due, I should be the one to receive it.”
“Reed, you are the heir of a noble house. Diana, no matter the circumstances, endangered you and overstepped her duties as your sworn protector. The knight order is an organization, so this cannot be overlooked.”
What Father said was probably correct. But I could not accept it. Diana belonged to the knight order of House Baldia. While our actions today may have deviated from her protection duties, they also led us to information about a medicinal herb that could aid in my mother’s recovery.
“I understand your point, father. However, if not for Diana, we would never have found that herb. If this information allows mother to recover, then Diana deserves indirect credit!”
Hearing my appeal, Father shook his head slightly and let out a sigh.
“Reed, that’s what I meant earlier about ‘as long as the results are good, everything will be forgiven, Besides, it was you yourself who brought about the circumstances that forced me to make such a judgment about Diana. You should reflect on that.”
“Lord Reed, thank you truly for addressing someone like me in that manner. However, from the moment I went to the town with Princess Farah, I was prepared for this. Please do reflect, but I hope you do not come to regret it.”
“……”
Hanging my head in deep reflection over how my rash actions had led to this result, I should have considered it more carefully. then father solemnly declared:
“Diana, knight of the Frontier Knight Order of Baldia. You are hereby discharged from service.”
“Understood.”
Diana simply bowed quietly in acceptance of his father’s words. His father made her raise her head and continued speaking.
“Diana. Although you are discharged from the knight order, your prowess and contributions to date are remarkable. Therefore, I hereby order you to become Reed’s personal retainer from now on.”
Surprised by the unexpected news, we both instinctively widened our eyes in astonishment. But soon after, Diana came to with a start and deeply bowed.
“I accept. Thank you for your generous consideration.”
Following the dark elf Capella, the knight Diana also became my retainer. Suddenly having two attendants, I inwardly marveled as I asked Father with a puzzled look:
“…Father, may I ask the reason?”
“Very well. But before that, Diana, there is something I want you to do as Reed’s retainer.”
Nodding at my question, Father turned his gaze to her as he continued. Diana curtsied neatly and replied:
“Yes, please instruct me as you will.”
“Indeed. Diana, what I want you to do is none other than to act as Reed’s [overseer] and the supervisor of the dark elf [Capella] who has become Reed’s retainer.”
Hearing Father’s words, Diana and I exchanged glances in bewilderment. It was Diana who spoke first.
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“The one called Capella is the one who left the room earlier, I presume. I can somewhat understand being her supervisor, but what does it mean for me to be Reed’s [overseer]?”
“…I would also like to know, Father.”
“Hmm, very well. Let me explain a bit.”
Father then began explaining the details. The first thing he told us, which also tied into the need for a “supervisor of Capella,” was about the relationship between Zack and Father.
[Zack Riverton]…He is the current head of the influential Riverton family of nobles in Renalute, and simultaneously the supreme leader of Renalute’s intelligence agency. Although father and they cooperate to some extent, they do not share all information. Their relationship is one where they join hands when their interests align.
However, from what I can tell, there is actually a hierarchical relationship due to the [secret pact] forged between the two nations. Father was explaining to Diana while omitting that point. Presumably, [Baldia] holds the higher position, but if we are not careful, they could stab us in the back. Eventually, Father furrowed his brow with a stern expression.
“Unfortunately, the Baldia family does not have a large-scale intelligence agency like the nation does. If Renalute gets serious, we cannot win against their intelligence warfare or assassinations.”
When Father said that, Diana timidly asked:
“Pardon me, but is it truly such a formidable organization? Though I mean no disrespect, even in the Baldia Knight Order, we learn much beyond just combat. I recognize Renalute’s prowess in intelligence warfare, but are we truly so outmatched?”
Her words likely stemmed from the pride of being a knight of the Baldia Order. However, Father slowly shook his head.
“Regrettably, winning is impossible. I have heard that dark elves are racially imbued with an abundance of the [dark attribute affinity]. By leveraging that dark attribute magic, they can meld into the shadows for intelligence operations, lurk in their target’s shadow through certain magics to gather information, and employ other unique magics as well.”
Hearing this, Diana had a slightly vexed expression. But I was surprised to learn there were such applications of [dark attribute magic]. In the [games] from my previous world memories, I only had the image of it as offensive attack magic. But in this real world, magic could clearly have diverse uses depending on how it was conceived. Father looked at our faces and continued grimly:
“As for combat prowess, we may prevail in open field battles. However, in forests and areas with ample cover where the dark elves excel, we could be wiped out without realizing it. Their individual combat abilities are formidable enough to warrant caution.”
“If they have so many powerful individuals, then why could the dark elves not win the [Barst Incident]?”
I found myself voicing that doubt. If the dark elves truly had such intelligence and combat capabilities as Father described, it seemed they should have been able to defeat [Barst]. Father pondered my question before replying:
“That is largely due to the low dark elf birth rate.”
“Birth rate…you say?”
Surprised by the unexpected answer, I instinctively tilted my head. Why would birth rates come into a discussion about war? As if answering my unvoiced question, Father continued explaining.
“The dark elves can overwhelm opponents through intelligence warfare and assassinations, but they cannot afford the losses from outright open battlefield engagements. For if they continued incurring heavy casualties, their race – which takes longer than humans to recover its population – would eventually lose the next war, even if they won that battle.”
“I see…so you mean they cannot easily recover their diminished population and military strength. Or at least, it would take too long?”
Father nodded at my reply and continued:
“Correct. The dark elves can currently prosper as a nation because, in addition to facing few foreign invasions due to their geographical location, they have avoided wars that would drastically deplete their population. If Renalute repeatedly waged large wars of aggression against other nations, the dark elf race may have faced extinction.”
I see, it was a consideration rarely applicable to human nations. Low birth rates directly translate to sluggish population growth. If they suffered massive casualties in war, how many years would the dark elves require to recover that lost population? Rationally considering that fact, it makes sense they could not recklessly initiate aggressive wars unless victory was overwhelmingly assured with minimal losses…At that moment, something occurred to me and I muttered:
“…So that’s why Barst did not invade Renalute during the war.”
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