Chapter 12: Decided Matters
“……Have you lost your mind?”
Inside Father’s study—an austere room lined with heavy shelves and the faint scent of ink and parchment lingering in the air—his voice cut through the silence like a blade.
I had made an appointment, presented myself properly, and spoken my intent without hesitation.
And this was his answer.
“Yes,” I replied calmly, meeting his gaze without flinching. “I’m completely serious. I will be joining the war.”
I repeated the exact same words I had declared moments ago, unwavering, leaving no room for doubt or retreat.
“…No.”
The rejection came instantly.
No deliberation. No consideration. Just a flat, absolute denial, as though my words held no weight at all.
“What could you possibly accomplish on the battlefield with earth magic?”
His tone was cold, dismissive—practical to the point of cruelty.
But I did not waver.
“…Hasn’t the nature of this war already changed?”
“…!”
The moment he voiced his reasoning, I cut it down without pause.
“Magic has already become a relic of the past. If that’s the case, then whether I possess earth magic or not is irrelevant. It’s unusable either way. Earth, fire—it’s all the same now.”
“…Hmph.”
Father fell silent, his expression tightening as my words struck their mark.
The world had shifted. The rules had changed. And he knew it.
“In fact, I’d argue I’m the most suitable candidate,” I continued, pressing forward while I had the momentum. “My company has been involved in military affairs for several years now—from manufacturing to distribution. I have connections with mercenaries as well. If we’re talking about mobility and adaptability, I’d say I’m the best option available.”
“….”
There was no falsehood in what I said.
Every word was backed by fact—and I delivered them with that certainty.
Father remained silent, but it was no longer the silence of dismissal. It was the silence of calculation.
“…Is this for Shia?”
At last, he spoke again—this time not to refute me, but to probe my intent.
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “If I go to war, the Willard Marquis family will retain its honor.”
“And you think your absence will benefit her?” he countered. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I have no intention of dying,” I said firmly. Then, after a brief pause, I added, “And you understand it too, don’t you? Shia-neesama… she doesn’t have the emotional strength to endure anything more right now.”
“…Wouldn’t it be harder for her if you were gone?”
“If you intend to marry her off,” I replied quietly, “then it’s no different.”
“…Eisen is bedridden. You are the only son I have left.”
Sensing that invoking Shia would not stop me, Father shifted his argument without hesitation.
But that—
That was far too convenient.
“…Wasn’t it you who treated me as if I didn’t exist all this time?” I let out a faint, humorless laugh. “And now you want to entrust everything to me? A house that survives by sacrificing the only family I truly care about? You have plenty of relatives to choose from.”
“….”
For a brief moment, silence filled the room once more.
So even this man—who had always looked down on me as nothing more than worthless earth—harbored the desire to pass his legacy to his own child.
I hadn’t expected that.
But that didn’t mean I would bend for his sake.
“…Very well,” he said at last, his voice heavy. “I will permit it. Do as you please.”
“Yes,” I replied. “I intend to.”
“I will make arrangements for your deployment at once. Wait about a week.”
“…That won’t be necessary.”
“…What?”
“The failure of the initial offensive—and the gag order imposed to conceal it. I’ve already managed to get past that. My people have gathered information directly from the front lines.”
“…What did you say? Acting on your own like this—”
“I’m going where I’m needed most,” I cut in, my tone firm. “If I wait a week, it’ll be too late.”
If I were to make use of earth magic—even in a world where magic had lost its dominance—then it wouldn’t be in attack.
It would be in defense.
In fortifications. In holding the line.
“I’ve identified a potential enemy counteroffensive at a specific location,” I continued. “I’m heading there to reinforce it.”
“…You intend to walk straight into a danger zone?”
“That’s precisely why it will count as a contribution.”
“…Are you overestimating yourself? If that’s the case—”
“I’m not,” I said, cutting him off once more. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
There was no time to waste.
The information my people had risked everything to obtain—our single advantage—would only remain valuable for a fleeting moment.
Dragging this conversation out any longer would serve no purpose.
Without waiting for further objections, I turned on my heel and left the study behind, my resolve already set in stone.