Chapter 283: Tough Guys (5)

Since Alio Festa's carriage was basically a maximum three-seater, AA had to ride in a separate carriage. Elsi looked delighted by the fact that she would be stuck right next to me the whole way, and Eve also seemed in a good mood about being able to use her sword. Sieri was standing in the doorway, watching us with a gloomy face. Leaving her behind weighed on my mind as well, but this Eastern Plains subjugation campaign was a truly dangerous operation, so I couldn't take her with me.

"Sieri. Why are you so depressed?"

"I want to go too, My Lord."

Sieri revealed her intentions very directly. However, Sieri didn't have any combat ability, and her skills as a nun weren't outstanding enough to take her along while bearing the penalty.

"Sieri. We don't know how long it will take. If the territory is left empty for a long time, public order will become unstable. The territory residents need someone good at internal affairs."

"But......"

Sieri seemed a bit dissatisfied when I coaxed her, but it couldn't be helped. Taking her along would truly make her luggage. Placing talent in the right place at the right time was the ability of a competent lord, and Sieri had more aptitude for internal affairs than combat. Since I might be away from the territory for quite a long time, it was better for Sieri to handle the internal affairs.

"......I understand."

Sieri still had a gloomy face. I stroked her head once and kissed her on the forehead. Sieri gently closed her eyes at my display of affection, then looked back at me. I spoke.

"I'll be back."

"Yes. Have a safe trip."

Saying that, Sieri hugged me tightly. Eve and Elsi were waiting in the carriage. The coachman saw our married couple's parting scene and spoke.

"My wife was worrying too because I'm heading to a battlefield. I had a hard time being stubborn about going when she tried to hold me back."

"She is a middle-aged woman who loves to meddle, after all. How about buying an expensive gift on the way back? I'm planning to get a gift for Sieri too, so I can just buy one for that middle-aged woman as well."

"Aigo, thank you very much."

The coachman bowed his head and pulled the horse's reins. Eve said.

"But will she be okay? You're always leaving Sieri behind."

"Right. I think you should have brought Sieri too."

Elsi agreed as well. But I shook my head.

"Then who will handle the internal affairs?"

"Robin's wife is there. She's practically handling everything in the former Delmon territory anyway."

"Even so, it's dangerous to take Sieri."

I cut the conversation short. Looking back, the carriage carrying AA was running behind us. The lord's manor was growing distant, and Sieri was standing like a stone statue in front of the main gate, watching us. Somehow her figure looked depressed, leaving me feeling briefly unsettled as well.

****

After Lucius's party left, Sieri's face was full of gloom. Aira and Soya tried everything to cheer her up, but Sieri only smiled faintly from time to time, entirely unable to recover her energy. Being left out of the most important fight seemed to have been quite a shock to her. Today, as usual, Aira was beside Sieri, encouraging her.

"Sieri. My Lord surely didn't leave you in the territory because he hates you or thinks you're unnecessary. So, um...... cheer up!"

"I know, Aira. Thank you."

Receiving Aira's encouragement, Sieri smiled. However, her smile was overshadowed by shade. Because Aira could see the gloom beyond that smile, she didn't know what to do.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, come in."

Aira stood up from her seat. It was Robin's voice. Sieri cast a puzzled glance at Robin, who had suddenly visited the office. It was because normally, Robin rarely came up to the office while Sieri or Eve was acting lord. Robin was holding a letter in his hand. Aira took the letter from Robin and asked.

"Commander. What is this?"

"It's a letter from the Archdeity Church Central Branch."

"Archdeity Church Central Branch?"

Sieri repeated Robin's words exactly as she received the letter from Aira. While Robin waited, she tore open the letter envelope and checked its contents.

[To the esteemed Southern High Priest Peta Lucius,

The Church of Love subjugation operation that began last summer has reached its final stage. The remnants of the Demon King's Army controlling the beastfolk must be eradicated. Our Archdeity Church is currently providing maximum support for this subjugation operation, but the human resources of the Central Branch alone are severely lacking. We would appreciate it if you could gather and support volunteers among the personnel of the Archdeity Church's Southern Branch who are willing to participate in this subjugation campaign.]

Sieri's face changed strangely. Aira's expression also changed strangely upon hearing the contents of the letter being read aloud. Unaware of the subtle current flowing between the two, Robin asked Sieri.

"Then, madam. Shall I head to the church now to deliver this matter?"

"Ah, yes...... And, um......"

Sieri was about to bring up another matter in addition to this issue. The moment she was about to open her mouth, Aira interrupted.

"No."

Aira held Sieri's hand tightly and spoke. Sieri looked at Aira. Aira shook her head and spoke again.

"You can't do that, Sieri. My Lord will be truly angry."

".....How did you know? I haven't even said anything yet."

There were many ways to know without her saying a word. Aira could be certain after seeing Sieri's face gradually brighten as she read the letter.

"There's no one to manage the territory, and, it's dangerous. Even if you go together with other people from the Archdeity Church...... it's dangerous."

"For now, I will go to the church and deliver the message."

As the conversation grew serious, Robin excused himself. Aira looked at Sieri and continued to persuade her. But Sieri genuinely looked like she wanted to go.

"I know that too. But, but then what am I? It just, it just feels like I'm a house-sitter. I am Lady Peta. Lady Peta, just like Eve. So even if I can't do as much as Eve does, I want to help."

"But......"

When she put it like that, Aira had no justification left to persuade her. Sieri held Aira's hands and spoke softly.

"Aira. Could you call Soya for me?"

"A-Alright."

With that, Aira disappeared, and Soya was summoned. Soya showed a puzzled expression at Sieri, who had suddenly summoned her. Appearing while leaning crookedly against the wall with her staff, Soya rolled her eyes to scan the office here and there.

"W-Why did you call me?"

"Soya. I have a favor to ask."

Sieri said so as she stood up from her seat. At the word 'favor' from Sieri, Soya flinched back and turned her head away.

"A f-favor?"

"Yes. I have no one else to ask but you, Soya."

"W-What is it?"

In front of Soya, who was flinching and wary of every single action Sieri made, Sieri unfolded the official document of the Archdeity Church. Soya carefully received and read the official document, then alternated her gaze between Sieri and the official document before speaking resolutely.

"No! I'll get fired."

"I'll say I ordered you forcibly. Please? Let's go together."

"Still...... it's too dangerous. My Lord told me to take good care of you, so if I run into My Lord in the Eastern Plains, what on earth am I supposed to say? Hm? I'll get in trouble!"

"I'm begging you."

Sieri continued to be stubborn. From Soya's perspective, it wasn't that she didn't understand Sieri's stubbornness. After all, she had never been of direct help to Lucius so far. The Eastern Plains investigation was done with Elsi, and he only took Eve and Elsi when going to find weapons. Sometimes, he would suddenly disappear without a single contact.

While Soya understood Sieri's behavior, she still wanted to stop her.

"Even so, there's no one to manage the territory. It might be different if My Lord entrusted it directly, but it doesn't make sense for us to leave it to Yuba and go."

"Why do you think I'd leave it to Yuba? No, Soya. There's a better person."

"What?"

Soya, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, slowly had her face dyed in shock. Shaking her heavily contorted face, she asked.

"Y-You're joking, right? Hm?"

****

Cellu, who had been lazily swimming in the swimming pool, shook her body and stood up at the sudden summon. The servant, who delivered Sieri's order to come to the office, hurriedly ran off to get back to work. Cellu roughly shook off the water and began to flop and crawl toward the office. After climbing the stairs, passing through the corridor, and arriving in front of the office, Cellu opened the door. There stood Soya, tearing up while looking around with a face full of anxiety, and Sieri, wearing a serious expression.

Shrinking back a little at the unfamiliar atmosphere, Cellu asked.

"What is it? Why did you call?"

"Cellu. You are legally Eve's mother, right?"

"I am, right?"

When filling out the marriage document, Lucius had registered Eve and Cellu in the Southern Territory family register. Thanks to that, on paper, Cellu was Eve's biological mother. Cellu wondered why Sieri was suddenly bringing up that issue. As she tilted her head in confusion, Sieri wiggled her fingers, seeming a bit hesitant, before speaking.

"Um...... Cellu."

"Why?"

"I'm sorry, but, um...... could you take on the role of acting lord?"

"I don't know anything about this......"

Covering her face, Soya let out a deep sigh. Cellu couldn't understand Sieri's words, so she tilted her head and asked back.

"What did you say?"

"A-Acting lord."

".....Me?"

"Yes."

"......Heuk, you must be crazy. Sieri. I'm a mermaid, you know."

"E-Eve also acts as a proxy. Falling into such prejudice is bad!"

".,....Am I the bad one?"

Cellu looked at Soya. Soya avoided Cellu's gaze and muttered, "I'm dead." Cellu was still looking at Sieri with a bewildered face. Sieri spoke.

"I'm begging you. Only if you manage the territory, Cellu, can I go and help My Lord. I really want to go and help him."

Sieri held out the Archdeity Church's volunteer application. Only after receiving it could Cellu grasp the situation. However, even for her, being suddenly told to take on the role of acting lord was nothing but bewildering. She wiggled her fingers and spoke.

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"First, you need to dress like an acting lord......"

"......Heuk."

It was a hurdle right from the start.