So, back to the question of who should guide Serafina, I would prefer someone other than Raviara.


    It seems strange to ask my mistress to guide my wife, and Raviara is my confidant, so if I am busy, she must be busy, too.


    And then the right person came along.


    "I''ll be your guide, brother!"


    Altia walked slowly toward us. She was in much better health than in the past, and was even able to attend this wedding ceremony. Her recovery was unthinkable when I was the lord of half a village.


    It is true that Serafina married into the Navre family and she is related to Altia. It''s not strange.


    "I understand. Then I will ask Altia. I''ll ask her.


    "Yes, brother, I also wanted to talk with Serafina-san about many things."


    "Nice to meet you, Altia-san."


    Serafina bowed politely. I hope this will help me to make friends with Seraphina.


    "Artia-san, are there any saints'' temples around here that are blessed with the power to bring forth children?"


    "What ...... child ......?　I''m sure it''s not impossible that it''s not there. ......"


    The exchange was heard, and again there was laughter among the vassals.


    It''s embarrassing to be told so clearly. ....... I can''t even have kids. .......


    "Let''s get our heads out of our asses and get back to politics. ......"


    Raviara is a little upset too. You''ve got to get yourself together. What are you going to do to get back on track?


    "Yes, you''re right. Raviara is right.


    Then Laviala said in a whisper so only I could hear.


    "Raviara, I''d like to have Arsrod''s baby too. ......"


    "In time, you will. It''s funny how impatient we are. ......"


    It is true that it is not a good thing for the Count to be left without an heir. But, well, it can''t be helped, can it?


    It is true that I have concentrated on political affairs. I took care of my business and in the evening we had a military meeting to decide the next target of the attack. Not only Ravaila and Sivik, but also Serafina was present.


    I spread the map on the table and we talk.


    "Next we should attack the cathedral county in the south. There is another group called the Knights of the Cathedral who hold another county here. In effect, the leader of the order is hereditary, and he holds all the rights and interests.


    "Cathedral County - ah, the county where Fordneria Cathedral is located."


    Serafina was right.


    It has been called Cathedral County since ancient times because of its cathedral, the largest temple in the province of Fordonia. In ancient times it was also the political center of the province of Fordonia.


    "If we take this place, the unification of Fordneria is at hand. We will definitely bring them to their knees.


    "Considering the forces we can mobilize, we should have no problem at all. Raviara is convinced of that.


    Raviara said, puffing out her chest.


    "I have nothing to fear from the experience of my own old bones," he said.


    Sivik agreed.


    --That''s right. Let''s destroy them quickly. How can they be strong when they are getting so big that they don''t even try to do proper diplomacy? He has no idea of fighting a big enemy.


    Oda Nobunaga''s voice was also convincing.


    At the very least, he should have allied with others to fight, or at the very least, he should have planned to form an alliance with us. They are the ones who have no awareness of the fact that they are facing a great power. They are the kind of people who have been guarding the cathedral for hundreds of years only because they are proud of it.


    "We outnumber them and outgun them. But I have a slight concern."


    Perhaps my words were ominous, for everyone looked at me with concern.


    "Yeah, there''s no way we can lose. But I also have to be concerned about how to win. I''m not a wildfire. I''m a count. I can''t have nothing left after the battle."


    "I think we have always forbidden our soldiers to plunder the land. Raviara has never allowed the elves under her charge to commit violence."


    "Oh, that''s not what I meant. Well, we have a plan. I''ll try to erase the slightest concern. Then I''m sure we''ll win the whole thing."


    After the meeting, I went over the plan privately with the others.


    I''ll try to keep this matter as secret as possible, since it''s best not to spread the word.


    --I see, so you guys use bugles too.


    A voice in my mind said something strange.


    A trumpet?　Why is there a musical instrument?


    It''s not a-- it''s not a musical instrument. They''re called trumpets. You''ve done a good job of being prepared. The more the merrier.


    I don''t deny that.


    Pushing through by force creates many problems. I wanted to expand my forces more efficiently now.


    I sent a letter to the Knights of the Cathedral asking them to come and greet the Count.


    They are also treated as a noble class, but the leader of the order is considered to be the equivalent of a viscount. So they are lower than the count. If they are sworn to obey you, they should come to you to bow down to you.


    I had not thought of bowing.


    The Knights of the Sepulchre ignored the letter. The old-fashioned ones did not know how to deal with the upstart count. And if he surrendered to them, they would take away his interest in Fordneria Cathedral. That would be unacceptable.


    I marched on the cathedral county with 700 men.


    One of my objectives was to see how well the Red Bears and the White Eagles would work.


    How will a well-organized force perform? That is what we are trying to find out.


    The results were good.


    The Red Bear and the White Eagle, each consisting of 50 men, almost destroyed the enemy. The enemy force must have outnumbered ours by a factor of two, but the cluttered enemy forces were unable to do anything about it.


    Raviara, who was standing by my side in the camp, was in a good mood as she listened to the battle report.


    "The enemy is not at all coordinated. They are fighting in the old fashioned way where each fighter boasts of his prowess, but their skills are not up to par.


    "The Order is really a federation of independent and weak lords. It''s not a unified movement."


    --I see. So they''re like the local samurai of Iga.


    I wonder if "Iga" is the name of a place, as Oda Nobunaga says.


    Well, we have the upper hand in the first round.


    Let us continue our attack.