Late in the 9th month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar
Its been a while, Sir Souma.
On this day, I was in the Jewel Voice Room in the castle, speaking to a beautiful woman on the other side of a simple receiver whose distinctive wavy hair left entranced despite myself.
It was Empress Maria Euphoria of the Gran Chaos Empire.
Behind I had my pri minister, Hakuya, and behind Maria was her little sister and general, Jeanne, standing by.
That the heads of each country and their seconds-in-command were all present at this eting signified how important it was.
Looking, perhaps, to start off with so friendly chat, Maria smiled. I hear you will be having a child. Congratulations.
I smiled back and returned the greeting. Thank you. It hasnt quite sunk in yet though...
Hehe! If its Liscias child, Im sure it will be cute. I hear youre a year younger than , Sir Souma, but it seems youve beaten to it, havent you? Maria said teasingly.
If I recalled correctly, Juna, who was the sa age as according to this worlds calendar, was actually a year older by Earths calendar, so that would an Maria, who was a year older than , was actually two years older.
Well, I was too afraid to bring up the matter of age with a woman, so I decided to let it go.
But, well, now Liscia and I will both be set free from Marx constantly begging us to hurry and produce an heir! so thats a relief.
I envy you, Maria said. Im still being told to hurry up and take a husband!
You dont have anyone in mind?
When you are an empress, its difficult. It needs to be soone who can carry the weight of an empire on their shoulders after all.
Youre...a little too far out of everyones league then, I guess.
Very different from how my engagent to Liscia had been arranged by the forr king, Sir Albert. It seed it was quite hard for an empress of the Empire to get married.
Then Madam Maria gave a teasing smile. Hehe, maybe I should have you take as your wife, Sir Souma? It would be a big help if you could handle all of the Empires troubles for like you did for Princess Roroa, you know?
Wh-What are you saying, Sister?! Jeanne raised her voice before I could get a word out. You carry the weight of the Empire! You mustnt say such things so carelessly...
Dont be so angry, Jeanne, Maria said. It was just a little joke.
There are things you can joke about and things you cant!
Oh, Maria... Youre just playing around and teasing Jeanne, I thought.
Jeanne had a straightforward personality, like Liscia, so it must be amusing to have her react every ti.
I would be honored to have a wonderful woman like you as my bride, Madam Maria... But I must say, I dont have the confidence to rule a vast territory like the Empire on top of my kingdom. Managing Elfrieden and Amidonia is the best I can manage, Im afraid.
I dont think thats true, but...if you wouldnt mind, Id be happy to take that Black-robed Pri Minister of yours instead. Ill relinquish the throne to Jeanne, so would you consider marrying Jeanne and becoming emperor?
Sister?! Jeanne cried.
It looked like Maria had turned on Hakuya now.
Hakuya himself looked unperturbed, touching his chin thoughtfully before he responded. I do think Madam Jeanne is an attractive woman. However, I will have to pass on being emperor. If you would send her to this country to be my bride, I will gladly have her though.
S-Sir Hakuya, you too?!
Boo, Maria pouted. If youre not gonna let retire, you cant have her.
Sister, would you please shut up?!
With the two of them jerking her around, Jeannes face was bright red.
Maria aside, Hakuya wasnt the type to toy with people like this, so, surprisingly enough, he may have ant it seriously.
Well, whatever the case may be, we didnt have ti to waste talking about silly things.
Now then, Madam Maria, I said, isnt it about ti we got to the topic at hand?
I suppose it is. Her gentle smile vanishing, Maria put on a serious expression and said, King Souma Kazuya of the Kingdom of Friedonia, in accordance with the pact forged between our two countries, I would like you to provide reinforcents to the Union of Eastern Nations.
Does this involve the Demon Lords Domain? I asked.
Maria silently nodded.
The secret pact between the kingdom and the Empire stated: In exchange for not joining the Mankind Declaration led by the Empire, in the event that the eastern side of the continent (the side with the Union of Eastern Nations) is naced by the threat of the Demon Lords Domain, the kingdom will handle it in place of the Empire.
As I told you while you were in the republic, there has been an increase in attacks against the northern countries by monsters from the Demon Lords Domain, Maria said. Their numbers and frequency rise by the day.
Just monsters? What about demons?
In the Demon Lords Domain, there were monsters that werent thought to be intelligent, as well as demons that were. That was Marias and my common understanding.
The ones indiscriminately attacking mankind were the monsters, and if we tried to deal with them and the demons in the sa way, pest extermination would turn to war, and it might lead to a repeat of mankinds terrible defeat over a decade ago.
Our hope was to maintain the status quo, and, if possible, make contact with the demons.
However, Maria shook her head in disappointnt. Only monsters are attacking. There have been several cases like this where a massive number of monsters have appeared and pushed south. We call these manami or demon waves.
Manami... I repeated.
That sounds like a womans na, I thought. I knew it wasnt going to be anything so easy to deal with though.
Looking at the records of past demon waves, it seems this surge of monsters and increase in attacks is a temporary phenonon. If we can exterminate the attacking monsters, things should return to a state of relative calm for so ti.
I see... I mused. It really is like a wave then.
Still, there are a great many of them, putting the threat at a level that a small to dium-sized country cant handle alone.
Maria had Jeanne unfurl a map theyd prepared and show it to . Then Maria pointed to each country on the map as she spoke.
We will protect the west of the continent and those countries that are subservient to the Empire. With the powerful dragon knights they possess, the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom can handle themselves, Im sure.
True enough, the Empire, which was the strongest of mankinds nations, and those countries aligned with it, along with the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom, which had powerful dragons like Naden or Ruby, could easily defend themselves.
Then, with a strained look on her face, she pointed to the countries in the east.
The issue is the Union of Eastern Nations, which is a large alliance, but made up of dium to small countries. While they have the United Forces, consisting of manpower provided by each country, by its very nature they are unevenly distributed. If the small-scale countries dont receive enough support, there will be places that fail to hold the line.
I see your point, I nodded. Youd like us to send reinforcents to those smaller countries, right?
Maria nodded. Please do. I leave the location and thods to you, but please work with all due haste to save peoples lives. There have been many refugees since the coming of the Demon Lords Domain. I dont want to see the pain of people being driven from their holands spread any further.
Thats what our pact is for. Though, since well be supporting you by dispatching troops, please dont go asking for war subsidies for the ti being, okay?
Of course not.
War subsidies were paid by countries that were distant from the Demon Lords Domain to the countries that were bordering it. It was a considerable burden, but from a humanitarian perspective, and from the practical perspective that, if the north fell, we would be directly affected, it would be hard to refuse resuming paynt if it were requested.
It was much easier if we could get by without paynt being requested.
With that settled, Maria began using a pointing stick to point at a new map of the Union of Eastern Nations that Jeanne had prepared, explaining where reinforcents should be sent.
There are two places in the Union of Eastern Nations that will be especially in need of reinforcents. The first is on the western edge of the Union of Eastern Nations border with the Demon Lords Domain, the Kingdom of Lastania, which also borders the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom. It is a small country, but has an alliance with the Dragon Knight Kingdom, and they can call for help in tis of need. But the Dragon Knight Kingdom is also being attacked by monsters from the current demon wave, so it is expected that any assistance from them may be delayed.
The Kingdom of Lastania... I murmured.
Thats the country where Jirukoma and the forr refugees who decided to return north are staying, I thought. There are reports that that man is in that country too... No, that doesnt matter now, I guess.
Next, Maria pointed to a spot near the center of the border with the Demon Lords Domain. The other is the Duchy of Chima. It is a small country founded by Duke Chima, who was a noble in a dium-sized country until he gained independence. Its a country that, in a region full of small- to dium-sized countries, has skillfully joined different camps depending on the situation and managed to maintain its independence.
Theyre good at bargaining and strategy, I suppose.
Just like the Sanada Clan under Masayuki, who had skillfully negotiated their way through a situation of being surrounded by the major powers of the Tokugawa, Houjou, and Uesugi and still maintained their independence. The Duchy of Chima was a small country, but its leader was no doubt highly capable.
Then Maria giggled. Had sothing amusing happened?
Is sothing the matter? I asked.
Oh, no... Its just that this Duchy of Chima apparently happens to be doing sothing interesting with this situation.
Sothing interesting?
It seems the current Duke of Chima has seven children, and theyre all beautiful, boys and girls alike. Ive heard theyre each skilled in a variety of areas too. People from all over the Union of Eastern Nations have been requesting those seven as marriage partners or vassals.
They were a distinguished family indeed. Since our country was looking far and wide for people of talent, I was interested in what exactly those sevens gifts were, but...what was so interesting about the situation?
When Duke Chima sent out a request for aid in response to the current demon wave, this is what he said: For countries which send us reinforcents, in response to your performance, I will give each of you one of my six children, other than my eldest son, who is my heir, to serve as your retainer...
Hes using his children as collateral to get reinforcents?!
That was a rather bold thing to think of. What was more, since he was lending them out as retainers, not hostages, he was just that confident in the childrens abilities.
Also, since it was per country, corresponding to their performance...that ant he was sending his kids to serve only in influential and large countries.
Even in a crisis, he was craftily trying to increase his influence inside the Union of Eastern Nations. Duke Chima... He was apparently a shrewd one, and not to be taken lightly.
While I was thinking about it, Maria smiled in a way that implied sothing.
Of the six, the eldest daughter, Mutsumi Chima, is a beautiful woman and an accomplished warrior. I hear many countries have sent reinforcents out of a desire for her. Though, in her case, it seems they want her as a bride, not a retainer.
I see... I suppose even the masters of nations can have a weakness for pretty won.
Whats this? Maria teased. Youre not interested, Sir Souma?
I shrugged and joked, If shes just beautiful and strong, I already have plenty of brides-to-be who have that covered.
Maria giggled. Hehe. I see what you an.
Rather than Madam Mutsumi, I was more interested in what gifts the remaining five may possess. But if reinforcents were pouring in, there was no need to send troops to Duke Chimas domain imdiately. In which case, my policy had to be...
I thought for a little while, then told Maria, I understand. Our country will send reinforcents to the Kingdom of Lastania. I have acquaintances there, so its not as though we have no ties to the country. If we still have strength to spare when the problem there is resolved, and if things still arent taken care of in the Duchy of Chima at that point, I will have my forces head there as well.
Maria smiled softly and bowed her head on the other side of the screen. Thank you. We will be counting on you.
Thus, it was decided that my Kingdom of Friedonia would dispatch troops to the Kingdom of Lastania in the Union of Eastern Nations.
Once I was sure that the communication with Maria had been terminated, I took a breath and spoke to the person behind .
You can co out now, Roroa.
Roroa poked her face out from the shadow of a piece of furniture. What, darlin, ya noticed?
I spotted soone sneaking in out of the corner of my eye.
I hadnt seen who exactly, but assuming it was soone that Aisha, who was guarding outside, would let through without a fuss, and soone who would sneak into a place like this, there really wasnt anyone other than her.
Nyahaha! Ya got . With an awkward smile on her face, Roroa ca over to .
Once Hakuya finished cleaning up after the broadcast conference, bowed, and left the room, Roroa and I were the only ones left.
Once we were alone, Roroa dropped the smile. Are ya sendin troops to the Kingdom of Lastania?
Yeah. I just decided to now.
Is it my fault ya ended up havin to go north? It was showin you this that made you want to go up there, wasnt it, darlin?
Roroa pulled a single sealed letter from her pocket.
The wax seal I caught a glimpse of bore the crest of the princely family of Amidonia. I had already read the contents of that sealed letter.
Knowing what it said, I shook my head. This was decided between the Empire and beforehand. That I would support the Union of Eastern Nations if it looked like they might collapse, I an. Even if that letter hadnt co, Im sure Id have sent in the military. Its nothing for you to worry about.
Id said it to cheer her up, but Roroa didnt respond as she opened the envelope, removed the letter, and whispered while holding it so tight it crumpled.
Big Brother...
I was silent.
The sender was Julius Amidonia. He was the son of Gaius VIII, who had been the sovereign prince of Amidonia, as well as Roroas elder brother. He was also a person who, together with his father Gaius, had been stirring up revanchist sentint against the Elfrieden Kingdom, and had worked behind the scenes to font rebellion inside the kingdom.
In the period of confusion following my assuming the throne, Gaius had invaded the kingdom to take advantage of discord between and the General of the Army at that ti, Georg Carmine. However, this had been a trap set by Hakuya and making use of Georgs fake mutiny, and the principality had fallen right into it.
Later, Gaius would die in a battle near the principalitys capital Van, and Van would end up under control of the kingdom.
With Gaius fallen in battle, Julius had taken the reins and assud his title as Prince of Amidonia, then brought in the lead signatory of the Mankind Declaration, the Gran Chaos Empire, to negotiate for the return of Van and its surrounding area. While that had resulted in the return of Van, Julius had also been forced to pay reparations and put a heavy burden on the people of the principality, thereby inviting resistance from the people and giving the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State an opening to take advantage of. Which they had, inciting the adherents of Lunarian Orthodoxy in the principality to revolt. In putting them down, Julius had lost even more of the support of his people.
Ultimately driven out by Roroa, the one bringing the country together through a network of rchants, he had gone into exile in the Empire. That was all we had known of Julius up until this point.
However, it seed after that, he had left the Empire and wandered to various countries and was currently finding shelter in the Kingdom of Lastania.
The Kingdom of Lastania, which was now facing a heavy impact from the demon wave.
Whyd ya go and do that? Roroa gripped the letter she was holding tighter.
In the letter were words of concern for Roroas well-being, along with a description of his actions so far. Then, together with an apology for his misdeeds up to this point, he politely asked Roroa, who was slated to beco my third primary queen, to encourage , as the King of Friedonia, to send reinforcents to the Kingdom of Lastania. At the very end, it even said, If King Souma wishes my head in exchange for this, I do not mind. So, please, can you find it in yourself to save the House of Lastania, who have done so much for ?
To save the royal family of a petty kingdom, he was casting aside his sha and reputation to ask , his father Gaiuss killer, and Roroa, the one who had exiled him, for aid. I couldnt connect this behavior to the Julius he had been while acting as the Prince of Amidonia.
That was how I could tell Julius was serious. While wandering various countries, sothing must have changed inside him.
Why...? Aint it a bit late for this...? Tears fell from Roroas downcast eyes.
Roroa and Juliuss relationship was complicated. Though they were brother and sister by blood, there had been an unfillable rift between them. This was caused by Juliuss desire to inherit the quest for revenge against the Elfrieden Kingdom, and Roroas desire to stop expanding the military and instead rebuild the economy and make the country prosperous.
After the death of Gaius, Julius had inherited the Principality of Amidonia and tried to remove Roroa as a potential political rival. This had ended in failure when Roroa disappeared, and Julius had begun to oppress the people until Roroa brought the country together and drove him out instead.
Though they were brother and sister, they had seen one another as enemies.
Now she had suddenly received an apology and request for reinforcents from said brother, so Roroa must have still not sorted out her feelings on the matter.
What do you think of the letter, Roroa? I asked. Is there sothing else behind it?
Thats not it...I dont think, Roroa said, looking up after wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Before...my proud brotherd neverve thought to send a letter like this. He wasnt the type to go showin his weaknesses to people. Sothin major musta happened to bring this on. I dont think therere any lies in what he wrote.
Its in line with the information we gained from Madam Maria too.
Whether or not his apology to Roroa was genuine, the fact of the matter was that the Kingdom of Lastania was expected to face a crisis from the demon wave. If Julius was there, it made sense he would seek reinforcents.
Roroa let out a cry of unyaaaagh and scratched at her head hard. Augh, its all makin sense, and thats what makes no sense about it! Whys my cold, rational brother sendin a letter that sounds so darn human?! Hes so different from before! Ive gotta suspect hes a fake!
In my old world, there was a saying: Dont et a boy for three days, and watch what happens. While he was wandering from country to country, sothing must have changed Julius, dont you think?
Ya sure? I dont see that brother of mine changin all that easily though...
When Roroa said that and tilted her head to the side, I hugged her close. Her body was so slender that she tucked neatly into my arms. With a body as delicate as this, Roroa had made a decision that decided the fate of the principality, and her own fate as well. I was reminded once again what an amazing girl she was.
People change, I said. eting new people can change us dramatically. I was only a student, but I t Liscia, I t Aisha and Juna, I t you, and the next thing I knew I was a king ruling over two countries. I made a contract with Naden just the other day, and now Im no dragon knight but a dragon king. The of two years ago could never have imagined the of today.
Youre a bit of a special case, dontcha think, darlin?
Roroa sounded a bit exasperated when she said that, so I laughed.
Fair enough. My situation may have been extre, but we all influence one another to so degree, big or small. There are things that have changed about you since eting us too, arent there, Roroa?
There sure are. In my arms, Roroa finally smiled a little. Ever since I t you, darlin, Ive been able to think about all the fun things we can do with money. Before that, all I had ti for was how to use it efficiently, or how I could make the people of the principalitys lives easier with it. I feel like its been givin my love of festivals an extra boost.
Is that a good change? I asked.
I like bein like this.
Well, good then.
Then Roroa squeezed, tightening her arms around my waist. Do ya think my brother t soone like this, and thats whats changed him?
Could be. Judging from what he wrote, itd be soone from the Royal House of Lastania though.
What, did he go and find himself a woman in Lastania or sothin?
Thats a bit rude. I butted Roroa in the head lightly. You didnt have to put it that way...
She let out a giggle.
Yeah, a smile definitely looked better on Roroa than tears. If possible, I wanted to keep her smiling cheerfully forever.
For that...I needed to make it so she could.
Hey, Roroa, I said. If it concerns you, why dont you co along? If you do, you can see for yourself how Julius is now.
My sudden suggestion made Roroas eyes go wide.
I can co along too? Im not gonna be any good to ya out on the battlefield, you know?
If thats the standard were going by, Im basically useless too, but...well likely be sending tens of thousands of troops this ti. There are negotiations to be done with the Union of Eastern Nations too, so I plan to take along several bureaucrats. Also...Im thinking Ill bring Tomoe.
Whuh?! Youre takin Tomoe with you too?! Roroa reacted with surprise.
I was taking Tomoe, who was only eleven years old, to a country bordering the Demon Lords Domain, so I could hardly bla her. Still, it was absolutely necessary.
Were dispatching troops to the countries bordering the Demon Lords Domain, I explained. We never know when we might encounter the demons, and, if we do, I dont want to miss the chance to establish communication. To do that, Tomoes ability is essential. It may be a harsh journey for a little one like her, but I intend to have her along.
I plopped my hand down on Roroas head.
So bringing you along too is no big deal. Im never putting you on the front line, of course, so Im sure youll be sitting in the rear and staying put until we can ensure things are safe. Taking you will put more strain on Minister of Finance Colbert, but, the situation being as it is, Im sure hell be fine with it. I hear he and Julius were friends after all.
Youre sure...I can co? Roroa asked with upturned eyes.
I gave her a big nod. If thats what you want, Roroa.
Nyahaha! Sure, if my brothers really gone and changed, I wanna see him. Roroa took my hand from on top of her head and pressed it against her cheek. Thanks, darlin. I love ya lots.
I love you too, Roroa. Now then, it looks like were going to be busy. I pulled my hand away from Roroas cheek and let out a big yawn. Its our first big movent of troops in a while after all. We cant take much ti, but we need to prepare appropriately for it. Deciding who to take, where to position the ones we leave behind, and preparing the provisions and logistics too. Im sure Ill have to call in all the main mbers of the National Defense Force.
Well, sounds like thingsll be gettin lively around here then, huh, Roroa said with a pleased smile.
It looked like she was back to being the usual Roroa.
I felt relieved, but there was one thing that still worried .
Well...have to tell Liscia about this, wont we?
Oh... Thats right...
Maybe because she sensed my reluctance, Roroa had an awkward look on her face too.
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