When was it?

Adelaide had asked you a certain question once upon a time.

“Among all the opponents you’ve fought so far, who was the strongest?”

You fell into quite deep contemplation.

It was a question whose answer would change depending on where you set the standard for “strength”.

If you were to base it on the total power that could be mobilized, the strongest was the Wicked Witch of the Witch, Elphaba.

For her, who could create countless lives, if an excellent commander had been with her, or if the reinforcements that didn’t arrive in time for unknown reasons had arrived as planned, defeating Elphaba would never have been an easy task.

If you were to base it on the difficulty of subjugation, the strongest was the Wicked Witch of the North, Mombi.

Near-invincible defense stolen from Orin, tenacious vitality utilizing transformation techniques, and above all, tactics specializing in surprise attacks, escape, and concealment. If she had possessed her original workshop instead of a hastily assembled one, or if she hadn’t engaged in direct combat from the beginning and had hidden herself, the fight would have been much more difficult.

As expected of the Four Great Witches. While they might have specialties, strengths, and weaknesses, their basic class was on a different level from ordinary people.

If there were formidable enemies of similar level to them, it would be Kalidahs met in the City of Struggle and the angel met in the City of Scales, but it was difficult to clearly grasp their full power.

In Kalidahs’ case, it was something close to an avatar rather than the main body, and in the angel’s case, you didn’t even properly fight, just exchanged glances.

Having thought that far, you suddenly felt a question.

Somehow, among those who were transcendentally strong, wasn’t the ratio of warriors seriously low?

Of course, there were strong ones who followed the warrior tree, like Peter, Cap’n Bill, and the White Knight.

But compared to the mage class where the Four Great Witches were firmly established, among the warrior class, only Kalidahs was estimated to be similar to that level.

Well, if you said that mages had an advantage in life span and thus could develop their abilities over the course of a much longer time, making it easier for them to reach higher realms, there was nothing to say. However, as someone who occasionally wanted to fight not just monsters and mages but also warrior types, it was somewhat disappointing for you.

But, what was this?

Looking at the man who came to you without any particular prelude, you widened your blue will-o’-wisp-like eyes.

The experience and insight engraved in the Tin Knight’s body told you that even if you gave it your all now, you couldn’t guarantee victory, meaning that rather than certain victory—a fierce duel awaited you.

Of course, unlike the Four Great Witches who needed the regular party in addition to helpers—such as an entire tower or a witch who wanted to succeed her master’s position—to handle, this meant you could handle it alone, so the rank was slightly lower than the great witches, but it was still an enormous big shot.

Moreover, golden hair and violet eyes! That meant someone you could fight without issue!

With a delighted heart, as if you had suddenly received a prize worth hundreds of thousands of won from a mysterious event you didn’t even remember entering, you were about to draw your sword and.

“—I deeply apologize to you, Adelaide. I don’t know if it means much coming from me, but still, I deeply apologize.”

Seeing a woman suddenly bowing her head towards your pupil, you quietly lowered your hand from the sword handle.

Regrettably, it didn’t seem to be the time now.

***

Regarding the full story of the Friedel incident, the “official story that everyone secretly knows despite a gag order being issued” was as follows:

The main family only assigned appropriate reconnaissance and auxiliary missions to the Friedel side, but the Lord of Friedel went berserk, or was led on by the enemy, and was annihilated.

And the “story that is secretly passed around, though it can never be openly talked about” was as follows:

In fact, the actions of the Friedel domain forces were under the Duke’s orders, but the Duke issued a gag order to cover up his own mistake.

For Maris, it was truly an absurd situation.

The father she knew was absolutely not the kind of person who would resort to such petty tricks.

But originally, rumors had the tendency to spread more insidiously the more strongly they were denied.

It was a vicious cycle where if one punished those who spread rumors, they’d say, “Aren’t they only punishing us because of a guilty conscience?” and if one didn’t punish them, they’d say, “It must be true after all!”

While there were plenty of people in the Ducal family who respected Duke Lennart and obeyed his authority, those who spread rumors didn’t touch such people from the start and only approached those who seemed susceptible to persuasion.

Those who had been pushed out of the family’s promotion competition. Those who harbored dissatisfaction with the repeated checks by the Imperial Family. Those who prioritized family interests over loyalty to the Empire.

Dissatisfied with this, Maris independently began collecting information about the Friedel incident, and although she couldn’t secure clear evidence, she soon drew the following inference through circumstantial evidence:

The Elder faction used the Duke’s name to move Friedel domain, and when the Duke issued a gag order to prevent war between the two nations, they shifted the blame onto the Duke.

Of course, even Maris only reached the conclusion that “the Elder faction tried to cause a war crisis using Friedel, and when it didn’t work out well, they shifted the responsibility to the Duke” not that “they colluded with the Tower of Control from the beginning”. It was a crime that no human being could possibly commit.

“And so, I deeply apologize. When you think about it, this involved you, a collateral line, in the main line’s power struggle. If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have taken such a light attitude when I saw you before.”

No one but herself could know what expression Adelaide was making in response to Maris’ repeated apologies.

Adelaide, who had been relaxed when resting with her companions, had covered her face with a mask as soon as she heard the news of people from Lennart visiting.

“Um, please raise your head, Maris.”

The voice that leaked through the mask was, surprisingly, neither heavy nor sticky.

Rather, it even seemed a bit embarrassed.

“Maris didn’t directly do anything wrong, right? You even took care of various things for me. So, I don’t have any ill feelings towards Maris.”

“Adelaide.”

“Still, thank you for coming to see me separately. I had gathered various information about the incident, but I didn’t know how the Lennart side was viewing this matter. It seems like it will be helpful.”

At the repeated friendly words, a sense of relief flowed across Maris’ face.

At that moment, Dorothea, who had been silent in the back, stepped forward, “…So, is that your only business with us? If it becomes known that we made contact, I can’t imagine it’ll be looked upon too favorably.”

Originally, this should have been pointed out by Algind, but she had somehow silently disappeared after hearing that Werner was mixed among the visitors.

The party tilted their heads at her reaction, which seemed less like she was afraid and more like she absolutely must not be discovered here.

No, they wondered why she was acting like this when it wasn’t a big deal for Algind to be in a mansion under her own name.

Of course, the party were adults who knew how to let things they didn’t know pass—with the prerequisite condition that it didn’t pique their interest—so they didn’t pay much attention to it.

“For now, my business is done. Actually, the Duke wants to meet you, Adelaide, but it would be problematic in many ways for you to visit the main family now. I came here half prepared for outside attention, so it’s fine.”

After answering like that, Maris’ gaze turned towards Werner, who had come with her.

Her own business was done with this, but she hadn’t yet heard what business this monster-like general had.

And as if feeling that gaze, Werner, who had been silent until now, stepped forward.

His hair, once golden, had faded to a silver, with only faint traces of its original color remaining, betraying his advanced age. Yet his body, sturdy as a rock, showed no signs of weakness.

“I have something I want to ask.”

Realizing his words were directed at her, Adelaide answered, “Something you want to ask?”

“How far do you intend to go?”

“Um, I would appreciate it if you could speak more specifically.”

Towards Adelaide, who showed a troubled expression, he said, “—If the revenge you desire is just the heads of the masterminds, I can bring them before you at this current moment.”

Shock. Doubt. Disbelief.

Regardless of the various looks in their eyes, Werner calmly gazed only at Adelaide, “The Elder Council seems to have misunderstood that I came here tempted by their petty suggestions, but honestly, I don’t care whether they live or die. If they stabbed the back of a fellow blood relative and loyal warrior for their own benefit, they should be prepared to have their heads cut off as a consequence. So I ask. Would that be enough?”

“…”

For a moment, Adelaide’s presence calmly sank.

She touched the mask covering her face with her fingertips a few times, then lowered her hand and asked again, “If I say it’s not enough, what then?”

“Then you’ll have to get past me.”

“Does that mean you won’t allow revenge that goes too far?”

“If what you desire is blood, take as much as you want. But if you want total surrender and submission like the Tower of Control, I can’t allow that.”

“Whether you can allow it or not, I don’t think it’s a matter that needs your permission.”

“That’s right,” Werner didn’t deny Adelaide’s words. “But just because something is right doesn’t mean we can unconditionally submit to it. Especially when it’s a family matter.”

“…”

Silence flowed.

In an atmosphere where it seemed like a fuse could be lit at any moment, Maris’ complexion turned pale.

“If you need to strike the opponent directly to feel satisfied, I can help with that, too. You probably joined hands with the Empress’ side because it would be difficult for you alone to handle the enormous power of Lennart. But if I intervene, I can minimize unnecessary involvement and let the parties involved reach a conclusion among themselves.”

Dorothea frowned, “So, are you saying to abandon the Empress’ side and join hands with you now?”

“That’s right. If things go that way, it will end as an internal family dispute. But if the Empress and the Witch of the South get involved, it becomes a political issue. You might just be acting according to your own purposes, but they will use that opportunity to thoroughly crush the family. Young Lady, you too must have some pride in the name Lennart.”

This is troublesome.

Dorothea thought inwardly.

In fact, she didn’t really care whether Lennart fell or not.

Above all, they would need to maintain the cooperative system with Algind to obtain the sacred treasures.

So rationally, it would be right to refuse, but at least regarding this proposal, it was impossible for her to make a decision based on her thoughts alone.

Dorothea decided to step back for a moment and wait to see what answer Adelaide would give.

Adelaide didn’t open her mouth easily.

She just held the lower part of the mask with her fingertips and wiggled it left and right.

Then, instead of taking off the mask completely, Adelaide spoke while lifting only the lower part halfway, “I appreciate your concern, but I’ll decline the offer.”

Werner calmly accepted, and Maris showed an emotion that was hard to describe, if anything, it seemed to say, “It’s bitter, but it can’t be helped.”

However, Adelaide’s words weren’t over.

“But certainly, the name Lennart is precious to me, too. After all, Father took pride in it,” she added. “—I’ll limit the blood to the masterminds, and for the rest, I’ll just take the name.”

Huh?

The faces of the people around were tinged with confusion.

Maris cautiously asked, “Um, is it okay to ask what you mean by taking just the name?”

“Ah, that.”

Adelaide briefly removed the mask completely from her face.

With a grin, she said, “From now on, I’m the main family. Those who want to keep calling themselves Lennart can get permission through a licensing system.”

The silent confusion and stillness that followed was hard to describe in words.

But at least one person had something to say.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ rejoices that his pupil has grown well!]

It was certain that her teacher was very satisfied.

***

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