"Friendly forces entering the fortress! Open the gates!"
The heavy gates groaned open as the advance force marched inside. A thousand soldiers filed within the walls, hauling equipment from the capital, provisions, and the fresh meat of the giant buffaloes they had hunted along the way.
"Bareya, it’s been a while."
"Karyus."
A young knight stood before the advance force. Since he addressed Bareya as his brother, this had to be the commander in charge of the fortress: Karyus Catreia.
(So that’s Yuri’s second brother... Not exactly what I expected. He doesn't look like a gorilla at all.)
Rest watched the reunion from a distance, keeping his rude observations to himself. Karyus was slender with sharp, intellectual features. Though tall, he looked more like a civil official or a scholar than a warrior. While his father, Iljas, and eldest brother, Bareya, were built like sturdy primates, Karyus was cut from a different cloth.
"Hey, Bareya. Don't forget me."
"Toya. Good to see you as well."
Another young man joined them. He had a powerful build and craggy features that took after their father, though his expression was somewhat flippant. This was Toya Catreia, the third son of the House of Catreia.
"I'm glad you're both here. I appreciate the reinforcements."
"If Blood were here, the whole set would be complete."
"No matter. Three Catreya brothers are more than enough. We won't be losing to any northern tribes today. Let's show those barbarians what happens when they cross us."
The brothers spoke with boisterous confidence. The House of Catreia was a legendary military family, and having three members of its next generation gathered in one place was incredibly reassuring.
(Wait... isn't there one more brother?)
"So," one of them said, "is that the guy?"
"Yeah, that's him."
Their heads snapped toward Rest simultaneously.
"Whoa...!"
Rest stumbled back instinctively. Bareya, Karyus, and Toya—six eyes were now pinned directly on him.
"He's... a lot scrawnier than I thought."
"He's a mage. Apparently, he's exceptionally talented."
"He killed the Magical Beast Subnock... and several other high-tier monsters."
"Impressive, but isn't he the Marquis Rosemary House matrilocal husband?"
"Our 'My Angel'... Yuri is going to be a concubine? You mean this guy laid a hand on our treasure while he already has other women?"
Their whispers were anything but friendly. The intensity of their glares made Rest feel like a pinned insect.
"I gave him my greetings on the road," Bareya noted.
"Then I should probably introduce myself as well," Karyus added.
Toya cracked his knuckles. "I won't be satisfied until I've said a few choice words to him myself."
"Words... or should we let our fists do the talking?"
"Father approved of him, so we shouldn't interfere, but..."
"Interfere? We're just being 'hands-on' brothers."
As their conversation grew increasingly violent, a cold shiver ran down Rest's spine.
"I'm just going to... go check over there..." Rest tried to slip away quietly.
Suddenly, two hands clamped onto his shoulders.
"Hold it right there, Count Clover."
"The war council is about to begin. Where do you think you're going?"
Rest gasped. Bareya and Karyus had closed a ten-meter gap in the blink of an eye.
"I'm sure we have plenty to talk about," Toya said, circling around to block his path. "Let's head inside, shall we... brother-in-law?"
Their coordination was terrifying. Rest knew even his acceleration magic wouldn't save him from this trap.
"Come now. We’ll show you around the fortress."
"............Yes, sir."
Surrounded by the three brothers, Rest was marched toward the inner sanctum like a prisoner of war.
"Rest... stay strong," Dieble muttered.
"Good luck, Rest-kun..." Isis whispered.
"I see nothing. I know nothing," Lyubase added, staring pointedly in the opposite direction.
His mentors and comrades, deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, distanced themselves immediately, leaving Rest to face the Catreya brothers alone.