A few days later.
"Father, I have a request."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Please let participate in the war."
"What?"
The Marquis Gousser frowned at his son's words.
Rigel continued without hesitation.
"I want to beco stronger! I believe the best way to do that is to gain real combat experience!!"
"…I see."
Seeing the serious expression on his son's face, the Marquis seed to sense the strength of his resolve.
He gave a small nod and said:
"—And your real reason?"
"Eh?"
"Tell the truth."
"…Well~ Actually…"
After pretending to think for a mont, Rigel spoke again.
"I want new won."
"…Ha?"
It was clearly not the answer he had expected.
As his father sat there with his mouth agape in shock, Rigel kept going.
"You know, I've been fucking the maid Dolly and the elf Sienna nonstop, right? But that's just not enough anymore…"
"Hmm."
"So I thought I'd try putting my hands on other won!"
"…And how exactly does that lead to wanting to join the war?"
Facing his exasperated father, Rigel flashed a bright smile and answered.
"Because of the looting after victory, of course! It's customary to allow looting after a victory, isn't it? There's no reason not to take advantage of that!"
Hearing this, the Marquis pressed a hand to his forehead as if suffering from a headache.
"Look here… Do you even understand what you're saying?"
"Yes!"
Seeing his son's energetic reply, the Marquis let out a deep sigh.
Then, in a lecturing tone, he continued.
"Listen. It's true that the Kingdom of Wistaria is involved in many wars. Since our Gousser Marquis territory borders a small nation, we are entrusted with handling the fighting, but…"
"I am well aware of that. Since the opponent is a small country, the danger level shouldn't be too high. Sister sterica has participated several tis already, hasn't she?"
"…sterica has talent with the sword. Unfortunately, you do not."
"Is that really the case? I seem to recall putting up quite a good fight against Sister not long ago."
"Nu…"
The Marquis fell silent, clearly struck where it hurt.
Seeing his father's reaction, Rigel said:
"Well, anyway. Can't you leave it to ? I promise I'll achieve results!"
Although he felt uneasy seeing his son's overconfident attitude, the Marquis also couldn't deny feeling a certain sense of reliability.
(…That's right. It's important to try things.)
Having made up his mind, the Marquis nodded and said:
"Very well. I permit it."
"Really!?"
"However, don't do anything reckless. If you co back injured, your mother will be devastated."
"Of course! Thank you very much!!"
After this exchange, Rigel successfully obtained permission and joined the unit in high spirits.
---
**＊＊＊＊＊**
A few days later.
At a certain fortress in the Gousser Marquis territory, the unit led by sterica had gathered.
Over 200 soldiers stood waiting with tense expressions.
Among them was one figure wearing particularly splendid armor.
That person was none other than Rigel von Gousser.
(Fuhahaha! The ti has finally co!)
Rigel was laughing loudly in his mind, but on the surface his expression was completely serious.
He had heard that this operation was quite important.
"Everyone, thank you for gathering! I am sterica von Gousser, and I will be commanding this unit! We will now engage the enemy forces! Since this is a battle on open plains, pure combat ability will be put to the test! Are you all ready!!"
"""Ooooooh!!!"""
As Rigel watched the soldiers raise a spirited war cry, he thought:
(Huh… sterica actually looks pretty impressive like this.)
Rigel, who had been seen as incompetent, had mostly stayed within the Gousser Marquis mansion.
sterica had done the sa when she was younger, but after showing talent in swordsmanship, she occasionally participated in military operations like this.
(Well, it doesn't matter. Right now I should be stronger than her…)
While he was thinking that, the ti for departure finally arrived.
"Alright! Second unit, advance to the left! Third unit, advance to the right! First unit will break through the center with !!"
"""Yes!!"""
The soldiers replied in loud voices.
sterica's main force seed intent on charging straight toward the enemy stronghold.
As for Rigel's unit's role—
"Hey, Sister! What are we supposed to do?"
"Watch your mouth, Rigel!! In the military, there is a clear chain of command! Don't speak to so casually!!"
"Yes, yes. Understood, Supre Commander sterica. So, what exactly should we do?"
Rigel asked with a smirk, but the answer he received was completely unexpected.
"…You, the Fourth Unit, are reserves. Stay in the rear and wait."
"Huh?"
For a mont, he thought he had misheard.
But there was no mistake.
The first battle of the next head of the family was… rear reserve duty.
(Hey hey… Are you serious…?)
Rigel stood there in a daze.
Paying no attention to her brother's stunned state, sterica continued.
"I was against letting an incompetent like you participate in the war. But I was overruled… Well, what's done is done. At the very least, try to act like the incompetent you are and don't get in our way!"
With those parting words, she quickly walked away.
---
The war had begun.
It was a conflict between the great nation of the Kingdom of Wistaria — specifically one of its noble houses, the Gousser Marquis family — and a small country with no particularly notable history.
Although it was technically a battle between a noble house and a nation, the difference in military strength was overwhelming.
Moreover, the Gousser Marquis family could request reinforcents from the royal family if necessary.
Because of this, the final outco of the war was practically already decided.
In fact, several hours had already passed since the fighting started, and the situation was clearly progressing in favor of the Gousser Marquis army.
"Uoooooh!!"
One soldier let out a fierce war cry as he charged forward.
In his hands was a spear.
He closed the distance in an instant and rushed straight toward the enemy formation.
He successfully skewered the enemy soldier at the front of the line.
"Guah!!"
"Gyaaaaah!!"
Enemy soldiers fell while screaming their death throes.
After confirming the kills, the man grinned.
"Hehe… How's that?"
His subordinates gathered around him, showering him with praise.
Their eyes shone with genuine trust.
"As expected of the platoon leader!!"
"Magnificent!"
The man scratched his head bashfully at the complints from his n.
"Cut it out! You're making blush!"
sterica watched the scene from a distance and nodded in satisfaction.
(Yeah… So far, things are going smoothly.)
They had already taken out dozens of enemy soldiers in this battle.
At this rate, victory should co without any major issues.
(Still, that useless brother of mine. He really isn't contributing anything at all.)
She cursed him inwardly.
However, it couldn't be helped that Rigel wasn't doing anything right now.
After all, his unit was simply on standby in the rear.
The battle continued with the Gousser Marquis army maintaining the advantage for a while, but then—
(Huh…?)
sterica suddenly thought she heard a rumbling sound like an earthquake coming from far away.
(What is that sound?)
She was still wondering when she quickly realized what it was.
"That's… No way, an earth dragon!?"
What she saw in the distance was the figure of a massive creature.
It had black scales covering its entire body, sharp fangs, and claws.
Its thick limbs suggested enough power to tear through steel.
The monster was heading straight toward them.
"Guaaaaah!!!"
"Gyaaaaaaaah!!!"
Soldiers scread and fled in panic.
The creature rcilessly trampled and kicked them aside as it advanced — the very embodint of terror.
"Th-this is impossible…! Why is a dragon here of all places!! Did they… manage to ta an earth dragon…?"
sterica muttered in shock.
One of her subordinates shouted at her:
"Supre Commander! Please fall back!! We will hold it here!!"
"Wha—!? You guys…"
"Supre Commander, please retreat to the fortress with Young Master Rigel, who is supposed to be waiting in the rear! Hurry!!"
"…Khh! Understood! Don't you dare die!!"
With a bitter expression, sterica turned and ran.
(Damn it…!!)
Her body trembled with rage, but she didn't stop running.
She arrived at the Fourth Unit led by Rigel, looking utterly exhausted.
"Haa… haa… Looks like I made it in ti…"
sterica breathed heavily, letting out a sigh of relief.
Seeing his sister in such a state, Rigel couldn't help but ask:
"What happened, Sister?"
"What happened!? What the hell are you doing!? This is no ti to be relaxing here!"
Her panic had caused her to revert to her usual rough way of speaking.
"Eh? Well, I didn't have anything to do… I was bored, so I was taking a nap until just now?"
sterica exploded when she saw him tilt his head in confusion.
"Stop screwing around!!"
"Uwa!?"
Rigel was startled by her sudden loud voice, but she pressed even closer, her face twisted like a demon.
"Look over there! It's an earth dragon! It seems the enemy has succeeded in taming one! If things continue like this, we'll be completely wiped out!!"
"Heh…"
Seeing Rigel nod as if it had nothing to do with him only irritated her more. She shouted:
"Just hurry up and run! It's already almost here!!"
"Do we really need to run?"
"What are you saying!? Of course we do!!"
"Well… it looks like it's already too late."
"—Eh?"
As if in response to his words, the ground suddenly shook violently — followed by a deafening roar and a cloud of dust.
sterica stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had happened.
When the dust finally cleared, she understood.
In the short ti she had been talking with Rigel, the Gousser Marquis army had been utterly destroyed.
Not everyone was dead, but almost no one seed capable of continuing to fight.
"Th-that's impossible…!"
sterica was speechless at the devastating sight.
Rigel looked at his stunned sister and smirked.
"Kukuku. Want to do sothing about it, Sister?"
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