“Probably because you’re looking down on them,” Kristina replied.
“Looking down on them? How so, Kris? I just put them in their place a little, is all.”
“That’s exactly what looking down on them is.”
“Huh? If they’re mad about something like that, they’re never gonna get anywhere.”
“Spoken like someone who has no one to answer to.”
“Huh? That’s not true. Mitsuki wears the pants in our family.”
“And considering her magnanimity when it comes to your concubines, that’s certainly good for you. But to most others, a superior is someone who forces others to do their bidding.”
“Hrmph.” Yuuto frowned.
Nozomu couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. They were enjoying a leisurely conversation without any hint of tension. Their complete lack of concern only served to make him more anxious.
“What should I do, dad?” Unlike everyone else present, who had weathered many of Yggdrasil’s toughest battles and by this point didn’t need to be told what to do, Nozomu was a complete novice and wanted at least some direction.
“You? Hmm, there’s nothing in particular I want you to... Oh, actually never mind, there is. Don’t do anything,” he answered.
“Huh?!” That angered Nozomu, and his face went taut. Sure, to Yuuto he probably seemed like an immature child, but he’d received years of training from Sigrún and had become well-rounded in the martial arts, even earning her approval to join the upper ranks of the Múspell unit. He knew he wasn’t that useless.
“Ah, just to clarify, it’s not like I doubt your ability or anything,” Yuuto explained. “It’s just that since this is your inaugural battle, it’s much better for you to simply observe.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m sure the tension of being a hair’s breadth away from death is weighing down on you pretty hard right now.”
“Oh, I already get that all the time when training with Miss Sigrún, so I’m used to it.” During Sigrún’s lessons, there were more than a few times he’d thought he was seriously going to die. He wasn’t going to be scared off by something like that now.
Listening to Nozomu’s response, Yuuto merely smiled. “I know that, of course. It’s just that, well, a mock battle is completely different from experiencing the real thing, and above all...” Yuuto paused, then smiled once again, though this one was filled with self-loathing. “...the first time you kill someone...it gets to you.”
Hearing the ice in his father’s voice, Nozomu was shocked into silence. True, he was experienced in combat, but he hadn’t yet taken a life. He wanted to say it’d be fine, that he’d be able to handle it, but when it came right down to it, he didn’t have the confidence to definitively declare that it wouldn’t shake him up.
“Hm, it seems you’re not trying to contest me or assert your strength. That’s good. If you had, I’d have you sent back to the ship immediately,” Yuuto said.
“So that was a test?”
“Of course it was. This is war, after all. Being useless is one thing, but I have no need for those who are just going to get in my way.” Yuuto’s words pulled no punches. His usually warm, easygoing demeanor had become cold and unforgiving. “Rún, I know it’s going to be a bother, but can I ask you to watch over him? I have an army to command.”
“At once, Father,” Sigrún replied dutifully.
“Nozomu, you listen to everything Sigrún says. If you disobey her even once, don’t think I’ll let you off easy because you’re my son.”
“R-Right. I understand, dad.” Under the intensity of his father’s glare, Nozomu swallowed and nodded obediently. His authority brooked no argument. “So, this is the true face of the war god!” He knew it wasn’t the time or the place for it, but he couldn’t hold back his excitement at seeing this facet of his father for the first time. For so many years, he’d longed to catch even a glimpse of the Yuuto who commanded such respect and fear!
Truthfully, Nozomu was terrified. His father was even more intimidating than the prospect of the upcoming war. The aura Yuuto exuded made Nozomu tremble and nearly wet himself in fear. Even so, he idolized his father. That peerless strength, that majestic and terrifying presence—it was exactly what Nozomu wanted to possess when he grew up.
“Hm. For the time being, let’s size up the enemy and see what they’ve got.” With a smirk on his face, Yuuto looked out over the area. The city of Megiddo was situated atop several hills, and Yuuto’s retinue had taken up camp on a particularly steep one where they could get a good view of the entire town. There, before Yuuto’s eyes, was...
“Yo, pretty impressive of you to have gathered this many troops in so short a time. But don’t you think this is a bit ostentatious?”
“Mgh.” Hearing a familiar voice above him, Thutmose III jerked his head up. There before him, was the man he couldn’t forget even if he tried, standing atop the hill with a smug smile on his face. He had a number of troops behind him, some of them women, but there was no sign of any other forces in the area. Thutmose grinned in satisfaction.
“Suoh-Yuuto! I’ve come to absolve my earlier humiliation!”
“In other words, you couldn’t win alone so you had to get help? That’s pretty lame.”
“Say whatever you like! It will not matter, because I will erase you here and now!”
“I don’t recall doing anything to deserve such treatment.”
“Do not play dumb! You are here to conquer the Orient, are you not?!”
“Nope. I just came here on merchant business.”
“Who would believe such drivel?!”
“But I’m telling the truth...”
“What a stubborn man. It seems negotiation is pointless. All troops, charge!” Thutmose unsheathed his sword and pointed the tip of his blade at Suoh Yuuto as his troops bellowed with vigor, charging up the steep hill. Assured of his victory, Thutmose grinned up at Suoh Yuuto, but the man simply let out an exasperated sigh. Perhaps he had thought he could use his silver tongue to weasel his way out of this situation, but Thutmose wouldn’t let him off that easily. This was a man who needed beheading right here, right now, or he was going to cause trouble for Thutmose further down the line.