Jack of All Trades, Party of None

"Alright then, Telshe, I'll leave things to you while I'm away."

"Yes, please leave it to me, Shion-sama. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest."

"Mm, I’m off."

Some time after battling alongside Orun and Felix in the Reglyph Territory of the Nohitant Kingdom’s northern region and wiping out the dragons, I had returned to the Principality of Hitia, where the headquarters of Amuntzarse is located.

Along the way, the Fairy Queen, Titania, who had become an ally, shared with me the locations and troop strengths of the Cyclamen Cult’s bases she was aware of. So, after returning, I focused on verifying that intelligence.

Once we confirmed Titania’s information was accurate, we finished selecting members for the mission to crush those bases and finally began the operation.

By the way, as a side note, Amuntzarse possesses not only my right eye but also two Spirit’s Eyes.

One of those has been modified into multiple eyeglass lenses, so even if I’m not around, communication with the fairies is possible.

The other was recently taken elsewhere, though I haven’t been told where.

Now, as I board the carriage heading toward one of the cult’s bases to destroy it, Telshe bids me farewell.

My group and the cult have clashed multiple times before, but this time it will be a large-scale conflict because attacks will be launched simultaneously across the continent.

Previously, since both sides had public fronts with influence spanning the entire continent, incidents could be disguised or covered up as accidents or other events. But this time, that won’t be possible.

The cult’s takeover attempts of the empire and their conquest of the Great Western Labyrinth show that they’ve seriously begun their moves.

A full-scale war between Amuntzarse and the Cyclamen Cult is likely not far off.

I expect this battle to be a precursor to that full-scale war.

"Alright then, let’s do a final check."

Once the carriage started moving and I confirmed there were no people nearby, I spoke through the Spirit’s Eye fused with my right eye to Titania, who was drifting nearby.

"Right."

"We’re targeting the Minagania Kingdom, a vassal state of the empire adjacent to the northeast of the Sobel Empire. Our goal is to crush the base they call the Farm."

I had heard that the Farm was the cult’s most important base that Titania was aware of.

The name itself didn’t give me a good feeling, but when I heard about what happens there, my honest impression was that it’s a place concentrated with the cult’s madness.

"As I said before, since the 'Doctor' — Oswell MacLeod — has been coming and going at the Farm, its innermost part has become an unknown territory. I know your skills and that you can handle most situations, but don’t let your guard down."

"I understand. It’s a place even Titania, who can see the future, can’t see, right? That alone is reason enough to be extremely cautious."

"There are many things even I don’t understand, and while I do see the future, it’s only possibilities. Because you have the supernatural ability of time reversal, your future can’t be seen."

"Heh♪ I’ll seize my future with my own hands, so I don’t need Titania’s advice!"

Having finished the final check with Titania, I cheerfully acted to dispel my own worries.

"That’s reassuring, really."

Yes, the future I desire, I will grasp with my own hands.

The possibility of truly fighting alongside Orun has become visible.

I have no intention of dying here.

…But even if Orun reclaims many things, would he take these bloodstained hands that have ended so many lives…?

No, forget it.

There’s no point in thinking about such things.

I have walked this path with my own resolve and acceptance.

Even if Orun rejects me as a result, that’s inevitable.

Because I have no intention of denying my past.

…Though I do have some regrets.

◇

A few days passed, and on the eve of the operation, I was inside the building we use as our base in the royal capital of the Minagania Kingdom, confirming detailed terrain and circumstances around the Farm with my comrades.