“——No doubt about it! Front, First Apex ‘Two’ Arakia!!”

“Assumed to be Madelin Eshault from Second Apex ‘Nine’! A flock of flying dragons is circling above!”

“Third Apex, guardian unconfirmed!”

“Likewise, Fourth Apex guardian unconfirmed! Unconfirmed!”

“Fifth Apex, flashy attack… not a single general! It’s two generals! Kafma Ilurukusu!”

The loud voices announcing the battle situation were akin to roars and screams.

The soldiers assigned to long-range observation took positions as high as possible, their eyes bloodshot as they scoured the impressive sight of the Imperial Capital Rupugana ahead, trying to gather any information they could.

The decisive battle for the capital had finally begun. If considering the sheer numerical force, the regular army of the capital was nearly outnumbered by the gathered Rebel Army. Should all those forces charge onto the plain and clash head-on, the outcome would be evident—but—

“I didn’t want to be on the attacking side, besieging the impregnable Imperial Capital Rupugana.”

Inside a makeshift command center, Ziqru Osman shook his head as he wrote down the reported battle situation on an open map, furrowing his brow.

As one of the two generals of the empire performing the role of ‘general’, he still held deep loyalty to Volakia, regarding the capital as armor protecting the heart that needed safeguarding.

The thought of having to breach such a capital and defeat the figurehead who claimed to be the emperor was something he had never entertained.

“However, the situation will not wait for your whining to cease. —No, it’s not just you. Time flows equally for everyone.”

“Lord Abel…”

“Return to the battle situation. Have the long-range observers report. The priority should be the third and fourth apexes… trivial details are acceptable. From there, we’ll deduce the guardians.”

“Yes! Reinforce long-range observations on the third and fourth apexes! Without a doubt, a general has deployed!”

Nodding, Ziqru commanded his immediate subordinates as the atmosphere swirled rapidly.

Tasting the dry air against his skin, Abel narrowed his eyes at the distant sight of the capital, protected by its star-shaped walls.

As previously mentioned, in terms of military strength, the Rebel Army overwhelmed the regular troops.

However, the gathered rebels lacked any maneuverability, rushing out recklessly to grab merits and achievements like a disorganized mob.

Additionally, their foes were holed up in the innermost part of the unbreakable capital.

It had been raised during the discussion on conquering Castle City Gwararu, but when attackers try to take a stronghold, there’s a thought that they’d need thrice the number of troops compared to the defenders.

Considering the fortifications of the capital far surpass those of Gwararu, that difference would be even more pronounced.

Above all—

“——The true game changers in terms of military strength are the unmatched, mighty warriors.”

“It’s a decisive battle for the defense of the capital. Although it began sooner than expected, just how many of the ‘Nine Divine Generals’ have been summoned back?”

Even the chaotic rebel horde would lend an ear if struck and splashed with water. That way, strategies could be adjusted, and formality restored.

However, if faced with the ‘Nine Divine Generals’, such adjustments would be far from easy.

“At the very least, I cannot doubt the participation of Arakia, Madelin Eshault, and Moguro Hagane. In terms of strength, Kafma Ilurukusu is also equivalent to a general. As for Roswaal Dunkelken, he may refuse recruitment citing an arm injury, but the hope is slim.”

“Goz the General and Guruby the General won’t be participating. Am I correct in saying so?”

“Goz Ralfon is likely dead no matter what, and Guruby Gamuret’s participation will depend on whether he has been summoned back from the west, but the latter is difficult to mobilize. The uncertainty in the movements from the west isn’t due to our machinations nor theirs. —It reeked.”

After the initial move of rebellion, Goz had fought to aid Abel, who had been driven out of the capital, but his subsequent whereabouts had remained completely unknown, with high probability of death.

Goz gathered unusual support from the troops due to his exceptional command abilities and his character, and should he turn enemy, he would be one of the greatest threats in war. However, knowing the true identity of the counterfeit seizing the throne, the likelihood of Goz siding with the opposing side was nonexistent, merely a pawn difficult to manage.

“If effectively using a pawn, the only conceivable method would be leveraging Goz Ralfon’s death and pillow it onto the rebels to boost troop morale.”

“…I’d rather not think about it. Without knowing the situation in the other camp, I would have also turned my blade for Goz.”

Even Ziqru, a general with a position to uphold, mourned the hypothetical death of Goz.

This was a feat made possible by the trust and accomplishments Goz Ralfon had built up, and indeed, if he were to be lost, it would necessitate reevaluating the strength of the regular army.

However, should there be a plan to carry this out, it had to have been opportune before the battle began.

“Either they overlooked that opportunity or disliked the uncertain factors from rising morale. Whatever it may be, that guy would weave his threads.”

While lost in thought, Abel pressed a hand to the edge of his mask, aiming to discern his opponent’s intentions.

In a clash of wills, he typically wouldn’t lose to most adversaries. However, this time, the opponent was outside that ‘most’ range and curiously, the one who knew his intentions best up to now.

While wishing to claim a similar status, differing victory conditions altered the choices available. Just as Abel glared at the map—

“——Abel-chin, Abel-chin!”

A light voice slipped through the entrance of the tent, and a girl dashed in with nimble movements. Immediately, she clung to the desk and turned her immense, wavering blue eyes towards Abel,

“I can’t help but want to go too! My big brother is in there, you know? I can’t hold back!”

“Foolish. Don’t increase the unknown variables. Besides, there’s no certainty that your brother is in the capital.”

“There was a girl named Madelin! She was the one who took my brother and Rem! If she’s there, then the two of them might be too! Right?”

“That does not confirm anything. Moreover, in this battle situation, the strategic value of your brother and that girl is low. Don’t misconstrue the priorities.”

“There’s nothing more important to me than my brother and friends!”

With a bang on the desk, the girl—Medium—snapped back at Abel’s words.

It was an emotional and unreasonable stance. Ultimately, as said, for Abel, prioritizing Flopp and Rem, who had been taken, had no meaning other than emotional appeal, and thus no valuable judgment.

It was tempting to allow Medium her freedom.

“——That would invite unnecessary backlash.”

“——? What?”

With her brows furrowing, Medium cocked her head, oblivious to her value. Or perhaps because she duly valued it, she could act boldly. Abel quickly dismissed it as overthinking.

In any case, he didn’t have the luxury of spending too much time on her.

“No matter how much you wish for it, you should know that with your current status, it’s a tall order. If you shake off the reins and head to the battlefield, you’ll only succumb unnecessarily.”

“Hmph! That’s not…”

“Miss Medium, Lord Abel is worrying for your safety. I share the same sentiment as Lord Abel, and thus I cannot allow you to go.”

Ziqru intervened, breaking the glare between Abel and Medium with a gentle tone.

As the commander, Ziqru understood the unpredictable battle situation as well. Nevertheless, dealing with the obstinate Medium must have been bitter.

Without letting any of those emotions seep into his side profile, the man known to be ‘a womanizer’ faced Medium, expressing, “How about this,”

“That imposing wall is composed of five peaks. There’s no way we can conquer the capital while ignoring those peaks. At least let us comprehend the enemy’s information and dispel the obscurity before revisiting this discussion—”

“——Wait!”

Trying to tentatively persuade her, Ziqru was suddenly pushed aside by Medium’s emotional outburst. Yet, Abel had felt something off from Medium’s statement and stopped her.

Grabbing her slender shoulders, Abel turned her wide-eyed face towards him,

“You said an empty place. If that refers to any of the peaks, where did you acquire that knowledge?”

“Where, you say… oh! It’s true! I’m sorry, Abel-chin!”

Medium’s expression changed at the question, and she grasped Abel’s hand resting on her shoulder with both her hands. While squeezing with great strength, her blue eyes shimmered with emotions once more,

“I had to relay this! Um, the third peak was all dolls, and the fourth was just black shadows… neither had a child like Yorna-chan!”

“———”

“Abel-chin?”

At the message conveyed by Medium, Abel’s eyes widened slightly. However, as quickly as it came, it was swallowed away by blinking, transforming into a quiet breath that drifted away.

There was no need to scrutinize the content of what was said. He understood its meaning. The problem lay in the circumstances in which the information was brought forth—

“Who conveyed that to you?”

“Huh?”

“Who?”

Placing his left hand on the back of Medium’s head, he pulled her toward him to face him.

Gazing into those blue eyes, Medium gasped. Then, she moved her thin pink lips to respond to Abel’s inquiry.

That answer was——

△▼△▼△▼△

—Engulfed by a vast and roaring whirlwind of information, Otto Suwen closed his eyes.

“———”

A storm of voices flooded in from all directions, from right to left, from above to below, from front to back, overwhelming him with a barrage of voices.

It was a reawakening of the cradle of hell, a nostalgic homecoming to a place he once spent his formative years.

Otto’s ‘Protection of Language’ had been said to be one of the few outlier protections amidst the myriad blessings bestowed upon the world.

This protection allows one to understand the language of all living creatures and to engage in conversation, but it inherently comes with myriad faults.

First and foremost, a newborn lacks ego and self-awareness, making their own existence vague.

For a child who cannot establish a solid sense of self, the only way to define themselves lies in the presence of those around them, yet for the owner of the ‘Protection of Language’, the range around them was too vast.

Not strictly in terms of up or down, left or right, but literally everything surrounding them.

Put simply, a child with the ‘Protection of Language’ cannot discern between the voices of people, the sounds of animals, the buzz of insects, the rustle of wind, the sound of rain, or even tinnitus.

Such a creature with scattered judgment and attention would find it difficult to sustain a life.

Otto managed to survive that period thanks to his environment.

A life of wealth, loving parents, a brother and sister who didn’t see him as an obstacle even when communication was strained; it was the existence of such devoted family members that kept Otto alive.

However, even after establishing his first sense of self as a living being, the sufferings of the recipient of the ‘Protection of Language’ did not end there. In fact, the real trials began from then on.

The owner of the ‘Protection of Language’, in exchange for the ability to communicate with everything around them, runs the risk of becoming isolated from everything surrounding them. The inability to have a sense of belonging—that is a major cause.

Assuming that conversation, interaction, and forging bonds are the foundations of life, the individual with the ‘Protection of Language’ would indeed be able to form relationships with any living beings.

There was no need to limit interactions to just humans.

They could engage with all kinds of animals, insects, or even fish. A blessing enabling connection with all living things. Therefore, isolating themselves became all too easy.

Caught in a prison of questioning one’s own identity, an eternal solitude awaited.

Hence, it was no surprise that every past holder of the ‘Protection of Language’ had met an early end.

Otto didn’t want to ponder over how many holders of that protection had perished without ever realizing its power or being able to utter their own name.

Under an unrelenting downpour, amidst an unending storm, with a sense of helplessness knowing they wouldn’t be understood, how could one find any value in simply living?

In reality, he had never heard of a successful holder of ‘Protection of Language’.

Furthermore, he understood the desire to avoid being that way entirely.

It was, quite literally, a cradle of hell—an endless lullaby luring one toward death.

“———”

In the nostalgic hell, Otto consciously narrowed his focus on the voices he intended to listen to.

Just like at a bustling marketplace or a party, he would pick out only the voices that mentioned topics of interest from amidst the cacophony.

A realm where many holders of ‘Protection of Language’ never reached—a domain where one could infuse a degree of strength or weakness into the effects of their blessing.

Constantly active protections could lessen their impacts by adjusting their strength. Otto usually kept his own at the minimum volume to avoid overwhelming his mind with words flooding in.

Now, he raised the volume of that weakened protection and cranked up its clarity to the maximum.

“———”

Previously, when Subaru had urged him to talk about the ‘Protection of Language’, he had called it a ‘channel’. Following that appealing title, he opened his channel.

The countless ‘voices’ that soon pierced into Otto’s ears and brain were all related to the battlefield centered around the capital. Many of them full of avoidance, disgust, fear, and anger—most of these were useless, but he sifted through them evenly.

After all——

“I asked quite a bit of Garfiel, didn’t I…”

When Emilia decided to confront the capital’s decisive battle, Otto concluded that Garfiel would bear the heaviest burdens in this fight.

As combatants, it would be Emilia and Garfiel who faced the hazardous foes. However, he couldn’t fight Emilia to the brink of death.

Naturally, before recovering Subaru and Rem, Emilia’s life took precedence.

Therefore, should Emilia be in danger, he would pull her back regardless of what she said.

This understanding had been conveyed to everyone except Emilia as a shared consensus. Still, there was no option to return empty-handed after reaching the empire. He would bring back Subaru and Rem.

To fulfill that goal, the one who would suffer the most injuries and bleed would be Garfiel.

“I wonder if Garfiel understands what this absurd and cruel order means…”

Did Garfiel recognize how unreasonable the directive he was given was? Otto was painfully aware that he was sending Garfiel off on a harsh and selfish mission. Garfiel might think it was unreasonable, but did he understand the essence?

Or maybe he merely saw it as a sign of trust from Otto.

“What a bothersome thought…”

Otto muttered softly, recalling Garfiel’s innocent trusting gaze.

Even if he threw out unreasonable directives, Garfiel understood Otto’s intentions and deemed fulfilling the mission his role. Otto also felt that Garfiel grasped it and took on a task that only he could handle.

On the surface, this was an exchange of mutual trust. Yet, the parties involved—Otto—saw it as an imbalance in the burdens they both carried.

No matter how far they went, it would be Garfiel who would face danger, not Otto.

He could stay tucked away in safety, drowning in guilt and remorse. If things resolved smoothly, would Garfiel praise him with, “That’s just like you, Big Brother Otto!”?

No way.

“If anyone bears the burden, it should be me as well. Don’t run from responsibility, Otto Suwen.”

Placing a hand on his mouth, Otto admonished himself.

When the final decision regarding the stance of their faction against the current turmoil in the Empire was made, he had informed Emilia, “You will be walking a thorny path.”

Upon hearing those words, Emilia had stood tall and chosen her path.

Maybe it was a foolish notion, a path filled with ignorance. It was a train of thought that Otto would never take alone—a risky choice that offered little in return.

Yet within those meager returns, there were precious things, and realizing that Emilia had chosen a path he could never have decided upon gave Otto a sense of relief.

His heart began to rejoice inwardly. Therefore, he couldn’t remain an outsider.

From the multitude of possibilities, it was Otto who had handpicked this option.

If blood had to be spilled for it, then it couldn’t be left to others.

So——

“——Sometimes, Otto-san, you become quite the fool.”

Suddenly, amidst the overflow of meaningless ‘voices’, a clear ‘voice’ reached his ears, making him blink.

In that instant, the sounds of hellish rainfall and storms receded, and as Otto narrowed his channel and turned around, he locked eyes with Petra, who appeared exasperated.

Approaching Otto, she offered him a white handkerchief, saying,

“You’ve got a lot of nosebleed. It’s a bit scary.”

“Nose…? Ah, I didn’t notice.”

“Seems so… please have a seat. You don’t have to stand, right?”

Staring at the handkerchief offered, Otto became dazed. Petra, frustrated, pulled Otto down to sit on the grass.

Then she pressed the handkerchief against his face, wiping away the blood.

“Is it because you used your blessing too much that this happened?”

“…Yes. It’s because of the number of inquiries and expanding the distance. It’s not a method I would prefer, but given the circumstances…”

“So, is it because you don’t want to lose to Garf?”

“———”

“I knew it. Otto-san, you can be really foolish sometimes.”

With narrowed eyes, Petra shot a glare at Otto, who scratched his head with a wry smile.

While slightly off from what he wanted to express, Petra’s observations were correct in a broader sense. She was sharp and resourceful.

As the most promising member of their faction, Petra was growing increasingly astute and robust each day.

“Even if Otto-san loses a lot of blood, I don’t think you could become like Garf.”

“Aren’t we comparing the quantity of blood spilled? Unlike Garf, I could simply die from blood loss more easily. However, I ought to be prepared to make sacrifices.”

“Is it just because you told everyone to go?”

“You are unmatched, Petra-chan.”

As she pressed his nose, squeezing out the accumulated blood, Otto gave a bitter smile.

In terms of who initiated bringing their combat readiness to join this battle, it was Emilia, who made that declaration, so Petra’s assertion was technically off target.

However, in reality, as Petra pointed out, that had indeed come from Otto.

—No, to be precise, it was the words that Otto had yearned to hear.

“In truth, I’m not needlessly inflicting pain on myself. Forgive me for saying this, but my blessing is immensely useful in war. Not using it wouldn’t make sense.”

“———”

“Given the situation, it’s challenging to find someone who can cooperate, but even just gathering information holds value. Just now, I asked Medium to relay a message. If Abel can effectively use it, it could lead to an advantage in the battle… Petra-chan?”

“Hmph~”

As Otto attempted to explain the practicality of his actions, intending to at least cover up for himself, Petra’s response was coldly filled with escalating annoyance.

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her light brown hair and gazed through her round eyes at Otto.

“I don’t think I’m as foolish as you believe, Otto-san.”

“No, um, yes. I think very highly of you, Petra-chan.”

“And I think that you’re not quite as clever as you imagine.”

“That’s… a tricky answer.”

Otto didn’t consider himself a mastermind, nor did he fool himself into believing he possessed unrivaled intellect.

He evaluated himself based on the experiences he had gathered, his array of tricks, and his superior crisis management abilities.

If he began to compare wits, he fell far short of those cunning strategists who could see through everything.

However, in this instance, Otto’s thoughts seemed misplaced.

“What I’m talking about when I mention intelligence isn’t that kind of thing. Otto-san, I don’t intend to be as useless as you assume.”

“——. That is…”

“I believe I can be of help. For example…”

With that, grabbing Otto’s bewildered hand tightly, Petra’s small hand glowed softly, causing a warm light to penetrate towards Otto.

Instantly, the tinnitus ringing in Otto’s head lessened just a bit.

“This is… light magic?”

“It’s a part of the magic I was taught by my lord. It’s still very basic, though.”

“———”

“Otto-san, I understand this is a reasonable stretch for me to take on. But just because it was tough doesn’t make it the right thing to do.”

After Otto had forced himself to be prepared for sacrifice, Petra’s words struck him.

Seeing Otto’s reaction, Petra sighed softly.

“This is something I thought you would always say. I won’t tell everyone, but you’ve been anxious this whole time, haven’t you?”

“Ugh.”

“You’re always angry. I understand your feelings, but your voice and demeanor are too prickly.”

Hearing that, Otto hung his head, unable to muster a retort.

True to her words, he felt as though he might have made a judgment or understanding mistake that he wouldn’t have made normally.

Through Petra’s small hand, it felt as if he could grasp what she was trying to convey.

“Having a nosebleed isn’t impressive; what’s commendable is doing what needs to be done.”

“Exactly. So, Otto-san, what will you do?”

Holding onto Otto’s hand, Petra lifted it, saying,

“As long as I’m around, I could be a bit more efficient. Yet, are you going to make me step back and say children shouldn’t be involved?”

“That phrasing is poor!”

“Are you going to make me step back?”

Still beaming with a smile, Petra placed pressure on Otto. Relenting, he yielded gladly and let out a long breath.

“———”

The channel remained open, inundated with an influx of countless ‘voices’. Amidst that alarming surge of sound, Petra’s hand held Otto grounded.

It certainly felt like he should listen just a bit more, to expand his ears towards the distance, to many more things.

“Later, I’ll team up with Frederica to scold you too.”

“Yes! I’d be much happier hearing, ‘Let’s all bleed together’ than being told to suffer alone. Well, I don’t like nosebleeds, though!”

With that cheerful smile, Otto closed his eyes, deciding to assist.

The small hand he held trembled just slightly; there’s no way this clever girl wouldn’t notice.

Witnessing the first war, with loved ones embroiled in the battlefield, and the safety of his sent-off companions uncertain, Petra also wished to contribute in some way.

Grasping that sentiment—use every available card when the time is right, like a merchant.

“Petra-chan, lend me your hand. —I’ll take control of the channel for this battlefield.”

“We’ll take control together!”

Petra’s spirited response made Otto smile wryly, “Well then, let’s go with that,” and opened the channel once more to dive into the cradle of hell.

—On the way back to his nostalgic homeland, Otto was far from alone this time.