Chapter 306: Karinal

The time was past 20:00. Today Relia-sama and Tia-sama went to bed early so I went home.

Lately, related to investigating Raide-sama, I am often let sleep in the same room, but I get tense.

Maybe the two noticed my look, and were considerate.

When I came back from the royal castle to my own mansion I ended up letting out a breath of relief.

On the way to my room after telling the maids I had come back, I noticed the guest room was noisy, tilted my head, and turned my feet.

Approaching the guest room, from the hearty laugh heard from inside the guest room I understood who was visiting and smiled wryly.

I settled my breath in front of the door and knocked. Father’s voice answered and I opened the door.

Entering the room, Father sitting on a one-seat sofa, and Uncle Elvin sitting on the facing sofa, were looking at me while smiling.

"Karinal. Welcome back."

"Ooh! You could come back today! Good work on duty, Karinal!"

"I have come home. Father came back too?"

"Aah. Today. No~. Haha! I missed Rurin."

"...Um. Thank you for the meal."

Uncle raised his voice and laughed seeing Father who said that with a shy face. I made a smile with a troubled face.

Father fell hard for Mother and was joined.

Mother loves that Father too, and the couple’s relationship is enough that I, the daughter, take a step of distance.

Uncle who treasured Mother who is his little sister was told "If you come as a son-in-law I will allow it!" and Father, even though he was the eldest son of a baron house, answered at once that he would become a son-in-law.

I have asked Uncle the feeling at that time.

Seeing that resolve of Father, he thought Mother’s partner was only him, and told me while laughing in a troubled way.

For better or worse my family line, everyone has their resolve set, so being troubled is the real feeling.

By the way even with that happening the two houses’ relationship is very good. I only have memories of being doted on, and even now if I visit Father’s family home they are glad.

Resolve... is the resolve to know about Raide-sama not enough in me?

"What is it? Karinal. A worry?"

"Eh? No... yes. That is so. There is something I want to ask Uncle..."

"Me? Mm... if it is something I can answer it is fine."

"I want you to tell me about the 382nd Infantry Unit."

At my words Father and Uncle made hard faces, looked at each other, leaned on the sofa backs, and let out small breaths.

I understood from the reaction. Father and Uncle know.

What the 382nd Infantry Unit was doing. What Raide-sama and the others were doing.

Uncle rubbed his forehead with one hand, urged me to sit on the chair beside, and I followed while tense and sat on the chair.

"Are you investigating Raide’s past?"

"Yes."

"Haa... by the way I will ask. Alone?"

"...Yes."

"Karinal needs training not to put it on the face a little more. More than that. That one is really a man who does not let those around get tired."

"I agree hard. No. But maybe it is better to be glad he does not change."

I meant to hide it but Father and Uncle noticed, and from embarrassment my face got hot.

Aside from that me the two smiled wryly, looked at each other, and drank a mouthful of alcohol.

Uncle erased the smile, looked at me with a serious face, rubbed his chin with one hand, and opened his mouth.

"Investigating Raide, what does Karinal want to do? I think you have guessed, but we know about that one’s unit. But the past of one who is a friend and a comrade in arms, we cannot teach easily without a reason. Will you tell me why you want to know?"

"...I do not know. Only I cannot help caring about him. I thought to ask him too... if that face is made..."

"Ah~. Already fine. It is like looking at old Rirun. Really. That one makes even my niece fall."

"I am fine if it is him. No matter what means he uses, he seems he will protect and treasure."

At Father’s words Uncle said "That is so, but..." with a troubled face, bitter.

But I was not at that. Being stated I have fallen, I know my own face is bright red and I am embarrassed.

I respect Uncle, but saying it clearly I wonder.

If he turned even a little of the care at the royal castle, I would be very glad...

I told the two what I investigated, and told them about Raide-sama I ’still’ do not know.

...I actually know. But I became aware ’still’ the resolve is not enough.

Father looked at my face and smiled happily, but immediately smiled in a troubled way and spoke.

"Even we cannot tell everything. You understand that?"

"Yes..."

"Nn~. First though. The unit Raide-kun was originally in. Even if you search there is no record? Because it does not exist."

"Eh...?"

Said lightly by Father, I could not understand the meaning and asked back in an odd voice.

At Father’s words Uncle turned a bitter face. Father noticed Uncle’s gaze and smiled gently.

Because it was said while smiling gently, understanding does not catch up more.

Does not exist? So no record remains?

"Rod..."

"Brother-in-law. It is fine, is it not. If Karinal serves the Libertonia Kingdom and is beside the princesses, sooner or later she will know."

"Muu... that is so, but."

"Now then, Karinal. When the country conscripts, two units are made. One is a unit of soldiers and commoners. The other is a unit made of adventurers. Which do you think the country treasures?"

Father who turned his face this way asked still with a gentle smile. I started working my head.

In real combat experience, they should treasure adventurers who face monsters. On the other hand commoners have few with real combat experience so I do not think they are used preciously.

So I tilted my head and answered Father "The adventurers." I was changed to a troubled smile and shaken my head sideways.

I no longer understood the meaning, and question marks were flying over my head.

"Regrettable, but what the country treasures is the unit mixed with commoners. The reason is simple. Because they do not have to pay bereaved money."

"What did you say?"

"I will explain so there is no misunderstanding, but if the bereaved’s whereabouts are known it is paid. The Libertonia Kingdom is not that harsh. But on the other hand how many adventurers do you think have known bereaved whereabouts?"

"...I do not know."

"In a recent check it seems good if even half are known. They said even this increased, so in Raide-kun’s time it was probably fewer."

The war that broke out three years ago, continued two years, and ended in victory for the Libertonia Kingdom one year ago.

At the time of that war adventurers whose bereaved whereabouts were known were under half... no. Wait?

Whether bereaved whereabouts are known or not has nothing to do with Raide-sama’s unit not existing, does it?

While I thought that Uncle who had been quiet let out a big sigh, drank a mouthful of alcohol, and started talking still with a hard face.

"A unit made of adventurers leaves no record. Because they are not soldiers of the Libertonia Kingdom."

"Th-there is such a thing?"

"There is. When conscripting the ones called first are adventurers. There is the money problem too, but if commoners are used the country declines."

"Then that is like..."

I swallowed without putting in my mouth the words, are they not disposable pieces.

Uncle looked at my look, breathed as if tired, and continued talking.

"If commoners are used many become soldiers as is. You can choose when conscripted, but adventurers basically do not become soldiers. If they do not become soldiers no proof remains even if they die, and there is no reason the Libertonia Kingdom is blamed by the world. If they do not become soldiers there is no meaning in leaving a record. With various meanings?"

"Aaa... so the unit of soldiers and commoners..."

Uncle nodded still with a bitter face after a big sigh.

Father continued the explanation as if taking over Uncle’s words, but what was explained to me is apparently not something you are told if you become a soldier.

Only those who experienced war understand, and the ones who notice soonest are captain class.

I was opposed by family and only placed near the royal capital, so I have almost not tasted a battlefield.

I lowered my face, and was bewildered by my own emotion I do not know how to put.

I can tell I am probably making a bitter face, but there is a me who cannot accept.

I can understand what was explained, and I am grateful to Father and Uncle who told me... but I cannot accept.

What flickers at the edge of my head hearing the explanation now is Raide-sama’s face.

The face of him saying it is nothing, while distorting his face painfully and grievously, flickers and will not stop.

Suddenly my name was called by Father. I lifted my face and looked at Father smiling with a troubled face.

"What we can talk is to here. Brother-in-law said it too, but Raide-kun is a friend and a comrade in arms. As my opinion, the talk from here on is better heard from him."

"But hear it with resolve? It is odd for me to say, but with pretty words a country cannot be maintained. If hearing will make it hard... if you do not have the resolve to support, it is better to stop prying."

"...Y-yes. Father, Uncle. Thank you for telling me... I will return to my room."

I stood and lowered my head. The two smiled wryly and nodded, and called out not to force it.

I smiled a little at the two’s care, returned to my room, and lay on the bed without entering the bath.

That night even after the day changed Father and Uncle’s words spun in my head, and I could not fall asleep easily.