War was never easy on anyone. Barring the sentiments behind it, the logistics outside of modern telecommunications created a nightmare of backlogs. Provisions had to be procured for the soldiers, banners had to be hung, and representatives of both sides would send formal declarations in old medieval formality.

Then there was weaponry and armor which took the most time.

Often, soldiers came with their own gear, knights and warriors armed in plate, and vagrants and mercenaries carrying worn apparel. The occasional mercenary would come with moderate equipment, but the vast majority of the rest came with chipped blades and hastily stacked pieces of leather used for armor.

Without access to a forge, the army usually would not march with any blacksmiths and craftsmen, but this was what made Shirou of team Darkness entirely distinct.

Barring those who'd seen him create weapons from nothing, rumors had already spread throughout the city.

Those that tried their luck inevitably profited in one way or another because Shirou did not appear to be one to say 'no.'

Rather, those that asked for repairs were often given the service for free. Chipped weaponry would be sharpened through minor alterations, and broken armor would be mended in the same vein. Weapons and apparel too tattered and broken were replaced by better versions of the same armor.

Although nothing on the level of a Noble Phantasm was provided, a good steel sword was still a trusty weapon.

In doing all this, Shirou attempted to nestle himself into a position where he could get an idea of the scale of the war by the number of soldiers that sought him out.

By now, he'd lost count at a thousand that had already sought his service.

"T-Thank you!" A young warrior bowed profusely as Shirou offered back the man's sword gifted to him by his village's childhood friend.

"It will protect you well," Shirou answered in kind, watching the young man's face brighten before he ran off to rejoin the ranks of the army marching to the war zone.

"Your magnanimity seems to have no bounds," Momon said, chuckling.

"Repairs are repairs. It wouldn't feel right to let others die from using a broken sword." Shirou answered.

Momon uncrossed his arms and shrugged as he moved to the entrance of the tent reserved for Team Darkness.

Other noticeable points in the army were the soldier's barracks where rowdy bets and laughter echoed from Sasaki, Brain, and Musashi's bickering, but Shirou was too focused to put much thought into it.

He was just glad he had an ally in Sasaki nearby in case of an emergency.

Momon suddenly made a hand gesture to Shirou.

"We have guests coming," Momon said.

"Tch," Nabe clicked her tongue, arguably unamused with the constant disruption of uninvited humans moving in and out of the tent.

However, what was Nabe to do when Shirou was the one who wanted to allow it? Lord Ainz said to treat Shirou with respect as an honorary human of the new world, and Narberal would not refuse Ainz's words.

She'd already made herself more useful than Pandora's actor by fostering connections with the aristocracy of Re-Estize while the most Pandora''s Actor could do was stand and be gawked at in the ball.

She had the high ground between them, but the competition between her and Pandora's Actor had nothing to do with the current matter.

"It's the Kingdom representatives," Momon said.

Nodding in thanks, Shirou stood up and moved to stand near the entrance.

Lifting the tent flaps, three individuals arrived.

The first to speak was an advisor delegated by King Ramposa to help oversee the situation and provide advice.

"Greetings," the man said, bowing his head. "You may call me Charles, an Imperial Advisor to the King."

"Team Darkness," Shirou said, adopting the bearings of an Adventurer as Nabe and Momon stood on either side of him.

"I am aware of the arrangements you've made with the King, but I come today to give advice in the case of a breakdown in negotiations." Charles explained lightly.

Moving to the entrance of the tent, Charles pulled back the flap and revealed the scenery of the battleground the Re-Estize army had made camp over.

"See the hill on the other side?" Charles asked, pointing to the hill opposite to their army base. "That's where the bastards of the Empire will set up their camp."

Shirou furrowed his brows, unused to this level of rules on a battlefield. In the modern age, knowing where the enemy would be was the same as waiting to be bombed or for a trap to be set.

"Is war so formal?" Shirou asked.

Surely, he wasn't the only one who could see the inefficiency here.

"At this point, it's tradition." Charles answered without missing a beat.

Nabe muttered 'stupid' under her breath, but maintained an indifferent expression. Momon was better reserved, a born actor.

Charles cleared his throat and returned to the matter at hand.

"If it comes to war, we won't be putting you anywhere near the front line." Charles declared as if it were already decided. "Rather, we've prepared a spot dug beneath the ground with Magic Casters for your safety."

Shirou's perceived value was less in his ability to fight, but more in his ability to be a walking armoury for the soldiers and warriors fighting in battle.

Of course, Shirou disagreed with the perception.

"That's unnecessary." He said.

"You may not think so, but others will." Charles answered, his experience bleeding through as he gave a low chuckle. "I beg for your consideration, especially with the princess accompanying you."

Shirou made a face, but he couldn't deny it with Renner herself next to Charles.

She was present as a show of the Royal Family's legitimacy to negotiate an end to continued conflicts just as Jircniv was expected to lead the Empire's forces.

Of course, Renner herself appeared to be in her own world while smiling softly at the escort knight she'd personally chosen to guard her.

Renner was able to appoint a personal Knight to accompany her, but it was clear from the reaction of other Knights that many were dissatisfied with her choice.

Climb was the name of the Knight Renner brought along, and the word 'novice' was practically painted on his face.

Of the three people that entered the tent, Climb was the only one of commoner status. It was left unsaid, but there was an air of rejection around Chalres towards Climb. If Chalres had it his way, a far more suitable guard would have been assigned to the Golden Princess.

Alas, it was the Princess herself who insisted on Climb.

"It's an honor to meet you all!" Climb earnestly bowed his head to Shirou and the others. "I've heard it was because of you that many were saved in the capital attack!"

Shirou scratched at the back of his head, sheepish at the sudden praise. Renner only grinned brighter at Climb's actions while Charles's eyes darkened, muttering 'kiss ass' under his breath.

"SIR!" A guard hastily ran into the tent towards Charles who was in the middle of briefing Shirou and the others.

"What?" Charles asked impatiently. "There shouldn't be any problems, and the Empire army isn't set to arrive until the next day."

The guard's face was pale, beads of sweat forming over his brow as he just pointed and pointed until he finally found the words.

"O-Over the horizon!"

All eyes turned.

-A few days prior.

/-/

Arche, Hekkeran, and the others returned to the Baharuth Empire with nothing of note to report about the disappearance of numerous Worker groups.

Nothing was reported to be found, and it was deemed a useless endeavor by Hekkeran who turned in the report to Nero to share with Jircniv.

All the while, Arche had been gloomy and tightlipped on the journey back.

Imina elbowed Hekkeran on the side, urging him to do something while Roberdyke shook his head from side to side to dissuade his two friends.

Arche would know better than anyone that there was nothing to be found in the direction of the dig site because she'd flown back and insisted that there was nothing there.

Hekkeran and the others didn't question Arche over the issue because she'd appeared so defeated that she must have been telling the truth. There was not a doubt in Imina and the others' minds that Arche would deceive them.

Hence, they had turned back with Arche keeping to herself the entire time. Her 'disappointment' was palpable as she kept her head bowed and kept muttering to herself with clenched teeth.

"Don't get your panties in a twist, Arche, cheer up!" Hekkeran chose to listen to Imina rather than Roberdyck and raised his voice to cheer their youngest team member up. "We failed this time, but that doesn't mean we didn't accomplish anything. Besides, we'll be getting plenty of action as Nero's aides in the coming war with Re-Estize."

Arche broke into a cold sweat at the reminder.

"W-We should stay away from Lady Nero, tell her not to go." Arche stammered uncharacteristically.

Roberdyck frowned, raising a brow. "Is one failure so devastating? Life is a circle of challenges one must steadfastly face and cross over."

Arche opened and closed her mouth, hissing as a faint marking on the back of her palm stung.

"..." She turned her head away and focused back on the gathered procession.

Arche, Imina, Roberdyck and Hekkeran were standing in the audience as Jircniv rallied the Empire army for the march to face Re-Estize.

["We gather today to celebrate the beginning of an end under this proud army of the capable! First Infantry, to the fifth Magic Corps, down to the warriors led by the Four Imperial Knights, we will prevail!"]

Flower petals were thrown openly by flower girls, and people of all walks of life cheered for the emperor who liberated them from the corruption of many nobles.

["This day will mark the start of a new era! New glory! New endeavors!"]

First among the order of applause were the commoners of skill, given stations for their merit rather than their status. Then there were the women employed and able to hold station in the Empire.

The silent boos came only from the old nobles.

["All roads will lead to the Empire!"]

It was a grand applause for one with the moniker of 'Bloody Emperor.'

Arche could enjoy none of it, let alone speak clearly about her thoughts.

This was crazy.

Arche shivered as Jircniv reached the zenith of his speech.

["For the Empire!"]

The chorus of repetition was deafening as the knights and townspeople alike clinked their armour, weapons, or cooking pans together to create an uproarious din.

["March!"]

Accompanied by Nero, Jircniv ordered the Empire army onward.

Unseen,

-The network of the Hundred Faces, kicked into overdrive at the disappearance of Zayd the Swift.

Nero hummed while sitting inside Jircniv's war council room, idly staring at her nails.

Other than Jircniv who sat at the center overlooking a topological map focused on the area where the Empire army was to do battle, five others were present in the room.

The court wizard Fluder Paradyne stood on Jircniv's right, while the four Imperial Knights, Leinus Rockbruise, Baziwood Peshmel, Arch Dale Anoch, and Nazami Enec acted as security.

Continuing to hum to herself, Nero gradually raised a brow and met eyes with Leinus who clicked her tongue at her.

Leinus was the only woman of the Empire Imperial Knights and she scorned the way her compatriots were silently eyeing Nero. Primarily out of envy, half of Leinus's face was scarred by an unknown curse from slaying a monster.

Born a noble, Leinus's life fell to ruin when her fiance and family abandoned her for ruining her face and her prospects. She instead rose up through skill which earned Jircniv's attention, earning her a place in the Imperial Knights. Her goal however could not have been anymore vain and relatable.

A cure to the curse that marred her face.

Leinus's envy could be felt in correlation to the displeasure she shot at Baziwood, Dale, and Nazami who were transfixed on Nero's every gesture.

Nero was a gem, a decadent flower that intoxicated all who stared for too long. It was all in the face.

Leinus subconsciously brushed the hair covering the scarred half of her features and finally let her annoyance be known.

"The emperor is speaking," Leinus glowered, her fellow knights wincing and flushing in embarrassment.

"Umu, let them stare." Nero beamed, directly calling the men out with a giggle. "Just as the sun draws eyes, it's only natural that a rose stands out among masses."

"I think I like her," Dale murmured absently, flinching from the sudden piercing gaze of Jircniv.

The others were no different aside from Fluder who was too old or didn't care for beauty over magic.

Leinus pursed her lips and confronted Nero.

"It seems that looks can get people anywhere," she derided.

"Yes." Nero smiled, happiness shining in her eyes from the praise and sheer self confidence.

Leinus thought it was hubris at the height of narcissism.

"..." Leinus watched the way Nero took her words as a fact rather than ridicule. A vein popped over her temples. It wasn't fair.

Leinus glanced at her compatriots and they all looked away. Evidently, they really wouldn't mind keeping Nero around just to stare at a Goddess like trophy-wife for whoever wooed her.

Leinus touched the cursed half of her face and scowled. She had been a beauty too once…

"Umu, that's not a face a fellow pretty woman should be making!" Nero sat up and chided.

Leinus's temper flared before she forcibly put it on simmer. "Do not speak on matters you know nothing about." She hissed through clenched teeth.

"Oh, and here I thought I could make it better," Nero played with an elixir given to her by none other than Caster, a man by the name of Asclepius, before she'd left the Mausoleum.

It was to be used as a second life, but Nero scoffed.

Who was she to need a second life when she had three? Thrice sets the morning sun!

"...What?" Leinus fell utterly still, swallowing stiffly.

Even Fludel and Jircniv paused in their war talks at the sudden bombshell Nero delivered.

Left unsaid, but even Fludel could not find a cure for the curse that marred Leinus's face let alone did anyone hear of such a potent elixir. And Nero was holding said elixir as if it were worthless to her.

"T-That, really?" Leinus was hard pressed to believe the bullshit and instead grew angry. "You think this is a joke?"

Frowning, Nero uncorked the bottle and dipped a finger into the liquid. With a movement somehow faster than what anyone could react to, a droplet of the elixir splashed over a portion of Lienus's scarred face.

Elixirs were meant to be drunk, but it didn't mean that they couldn't be used as ointment.

In any case, Nero was genuinely offended on Caster's behalf. A gift given to her wouldn't be fake as far as she was concerned, and Leinus had doubted the integrity of a friend.

Nero put away the elixir, no longer intent on sharing.

Stupefied, Leinus wiped off the droplet that had touched her scarred side, and inadvertently rubbed it deeper over her skin.

From what Leinus could tell, she could feel no change. It was as if someone had merely sprinkled water on her.

Leinus was already sensitive to her face, and this joke had gone too far.

Her hand came to the pommel of her sword, but nimble Arch Dale Anoch stopped her, the nobleman looking stiffly at the place the elixir smeared.

"O-Oi Leinus," Dale stammered with a hushed whisper, Fludel's eyes shining in wonderment. "Look at your face."

N-No way?

Leinus accounted for the way the others were staring at her before carefully drawing her sword and using the reflection of the blade as a mirror.

"..."

She couldn't speak. All she could do was stare.

The spot the droplet had smeared over the scarred half of her face had healed completely, looking even healthier than her unmarred side.

"T-That!" Leinus scrambled towards Nero, losing her composure.

"Umu, no." Nero haughtily turned her nose up.

Leinus felt her stomach dropping in real time, wanting to speak, but not knowing what to say to save herself. Pitifully, she turned to Jircniv for aid, but the emperor gave her a flat look.

You reap what you sow.

Leinus's shoulders slumped. "W-What do you want?"

"Hmph, it was supposed to be a gift. What do you mean what do I want?" For all her bluster and charity, Nero in history was known to be petty. "I thought you said it was a joke. Umu. Let us laugh, hahahaha!"

Baziwood placed a hand on Leinus's shoulder and shook his head.

Leinus pursed her lips and stood back in her guard position. She continued to stare at Nero, but this time due to a different reason.

In the silence, Fludel attempted to put aside the war matter and inquire about the elixir, but a new entry barred Fludel's efforts.

Pale faced, Arche Eeb Rile Furt called out from the command tent before she was allowed entry by Jircniv. He recalled that Arche was one of Nero's people so he approved the request.

"Arche?" Nero called out first when Arche tentatively stepped inside.

She was shivering, eyes unfocused.

"L-Lady Nero…forgive me." Arche recalled the deal she made.

The Demon promised not to harm the Empire or those close to her in exchange for a simple talk. She'd had no choice but to accept.

Leinus reacted and noticed something off, but an unexpected force had her pinned to the ground. Thrashing, she glanced above to see what had struck her and noticed the edge of a demon's claw by her neck.

Dan, Baziwood, and Nazami were no different, pinned down by what could only be described as a demon.

"Now now, no need to be afraid." A voice echoed as the masked Demon, Jaldaboath stepped out of the darkness of Arche's shadow.

"Guards!" Jircniv called immediately to no answer. Blood rushed to his head as his mind tried to come up with a countermeasure.

Jircniv was privy to the events of Re-Estize's capital and could recognize the description, but he'd heard that the Demon had been repelled and slain by a mysterious spearwoman.

"May we have a talk?" Jaldaboath asked leisurely.

Jircniv's expression hardened, but Jaldaoath was not staring at him, but at Nero for one reason or another.

Her demeanor had subtly changed, limpid eyes growing harsh.

"Umu." Nero stood at attention, glancing at Fludel, Jircniv, and then the others at the mercy of Demons.

Arche was no different with Jaldaboath placing a hand at the back of her neck.

"I wouldn't be so quick to act." Jaldaboath warned in good faith. "I was always a tad clumsy you see? I startle easily, and may crush a few bones like grapes. Best not test it."

"Demon, what do you want?" Jircniv could not stand putting Nero at the Demon's attention and directly intervened as the man with the highest authority of the Empire in the room.

Jaldaboath grinned, and gave his offer.

"Shall we cooperate?" He said to everyone's confusion.

No one in the Empire would have to suffer or die. That was why Arche had made her decision.

However, who did that mean would die instead?

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' as they say?" Jaldaboath's voice was all too inviting, leaving little choice. "Just like this little one."

Arche hung her head in shame, unable to meet anyone's gaze.

Thanks for reading!

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