Once we had an idea of our policy moving forward, I stood in front of the Schultz clan.
If we took too much time, the daemonic legion would break through the fort and catch up to us.
“People of the Schultz clan. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the Great Wizard Geo Margilus.”
“Beelzebub…”
“Please save us…”
The refugees, covered in mud and dirt—mostly the elderly, injured, women, and children—were prostrating themselves before me in a wave, like some kind of involuntary reaction. I think I heard once that the population of the Schultz clan was about three thousand. Only a mere one thousand had escaped the Holy Precincts and then the fort, surviving all the way to where we were now.
That meant their population had been suddenly cut to one-third its prior numbers. I didn’t want to let them face anymore hardship.
A short distance away, the silver-haired warrior, Diane, was staring at us.
I raised my voice to address them all. “As you have seen, I am here to protect this world from daemons. Now is the time to strike down the ones that have threatened you.”
A child started cheering. The expressions on the adults’ faces brightened, too.
“But I am not arrogant enough to save the proud Schultz people while asking nothing of them in kind. I am going to take you to Filsand now. I want you to settle there until this daemonic legion is annihilated. Rest assured: I will make certain that the duke of Filsand does not lay a finger on any of you.”
They were silent.
The faces of the Schultz people hardened, as if in disbelief that I could suggest such a thing. I saw the mother of the child who’d called out cover his mouth.
“After the daemonic legion is defeated, I vow to help you get land of your own. A place where you can build a safe haven! If you would like to return to the Holy Precincts and the fort, you will be welcome to. And you will likewise be welcome to develop your new home near my castle. Either way, if you are ever threatened by an outside enemy again, that enemy will be my enemy as well!”
“N-new land…?”
“If Beelzebub will protect us…”
“In exchange, I would like to ask all of you to support my battle with the daemons. If you can fight, pick up your sword. If you can work, lend your skills and labor. If you can do neither, pray. Once you have rebuilt your lives, if you are willing, help me protect Sedia from the daemons!”
There was no response.
After I was done saying everything I had to say, I looked around at the crowd, staring at me.
Just as Patriarch Luthras had said, if I really was their ally, I should be driving away the duke of Filsand and his people. So in a way, I was taking advantage of their weaknesses…but unfortunately, this was the only way I could think of to help them without compromising their pride.
Now the Schultz people were looking at each other and whispering among themselves. In their faces I could see hope, uncertainty, and doubt. They were all experiencing a wide range of emotions.
“Wizard Margilus! I will consent to your terms!”
A commanding voice that could bring anyone to attention broke the silence. The warmaster raised her sword, agleam with its rainbow aura, and looked over her people. Reyha sat behind her. Had she said something to Diane?
“If you will guarantee the safety of the Schultz clan, then I offer my sword and life to you! Know that I do not give the skill and divine sword of the warmaster lightly!”
Just like her cousin Elisabel, her normally adorable face was pale, and I couldn’t read her true thoughts. But why should I doubt a girl whose hometown had been trampled and who’d risen from the despair of her mother’s betrayal to stand firm once again?
“Your sword is welcome, princess of the Schultz.”
“I-I will fight alongside the princess for you, Lord Margilus.”
“As long as I can kill daemons.”
“Me, too…”
The few remaining warriors stood up one after another. The women and elderly lifted their heads and turned their willing eyes toward me.
In a way, this was a deception, a misdirection to paper over the discord between the Schultz and the duke of Filsand. But neither I nor they had any room to do otherwise.
“I hear you! From this day on, the Schultz clan is hereby an ally of the wizard, Geo Margilus! Let’s fight together!”
“Raaah!”
“Hurrah!”
“Margilus! Margilus!”
“Long live Diane!”
As I often did, I felt a sense of guilt as I checked off one more job from my wizardly to-do list. But my next task was the most important: to annihilate the daemonic legion, just as I had vowed to do.
As planned, I used Forced March to transport the refugees to Filsand—although Lade, Reyha, Diane, and I went ahead on the backs of phantom horses. After that, I left the Schultz clan in the hands of Ild and Clara (before that, I naturally strongly warned the duke that he wasn’t to touch them) and immediately started preparations to fight the daemonic legion.
According to the reconnaissance of Reyha and Filsand, the main daemonic legion was heading straight for Filsand. They would reach it within three days. That was plenty of time…