episode_0086

*

After a while.

A woman with short purple hair walked down the red carpet of the throne room with a confident gait.

There were soldiers inspecting both sides, but without being intimidated at all, they walked up to the throne where Yuuri was sitting.

and.

She had just arrived in front of Yuuri, knelt down, lowered her head, and opened her mouth.

“Hello. Today, I have come to tell you a story from our monarch, Serpina.”

“… … .”

Yuuri looked down at her in silence for a moment.

Before I let them in, I thought it was okay.

As I faced Serpina-kun’s messenger in front of me, memories of the time when I lost everything naturally came to mind.

Memories from Piviola Academy that I will never forget.

The insignia of the Eingart Empire was engraved on the armor of the soldiers who attacked the academy.

I found out later that after the emperor’s sudden death, there was some sort of ‘decisive battle’ among his children to take over the next power… …

The one who survived that decisive battle was Serpina, the monarch that this woman served.

The loser of the North, a ruthless tyrant, a woman who writes history with blood – Serpina von Eyngart.

There is a very high probability that she was the enemy of the Aishous Army.

Although he doesn’t show off as a monarch… … Just because it was Yuuri didn’t mean he had forgotten that fact.

Because of who we are.

Who have we raised the red flag to overthrow?

“Yuuri?”

Only then did Yuuri nod his head and respond in a calm tone to the Shinigami’s words.

“Tell me. I will at least listen to the story.”

“… … .”

The purple-haired woman looked at Yuuri’s face for a long time before answering.

Soon, in a very dry tone, he said something shocking.

“Mr. Yuuri. The trend has already been set. We ask you to make a reasonable decision for the people of the territory. The above is the opinion of our lord Serpina.”

“… … What?”

“It’s exactly what it says, Yuuri.”

The Shinigami said that and lowered his head.

The trend has already been set.

Make decisions for the people of the territory.

Yuuri was able to easily sense the true intentions hidden in the two sentences.

Surrender.

Surrender and join Serpina County, that’s what they say as soon as they reach the border. This woman.

“Now… … Did you just come here to tell me that?”

Yuuri swallowed the anger welling up inside him and spoke in as restrained a voice as possible.

On the contrary, the envoy who came to advise us to surrender responded in a tone that sounded like throwing trash on the street, as if he was saying it was a problem that did not need to be worried about.

“That’s right. Please make a wise decision.”

“… … .”

Wow!

Yuuri unconsciously clenched his hand on the armrest into a fist.

The most infuriating thing is… … It was not a recommendation to surrender per se.

She, Serpina… … He clearly felt that the envoy was not sent to mock me.

From her perspective, it was likely that she thought this was reasonable.

Even though it had four castles as its fiefdoms, it was ultimately a much smaller country compared to Serpina County.

Rather than sending in soldiers to catch them one by one, they probably think that if they just surrender, there will be no need to engage in a useless war of attrition.

okay. A useless war of attrition.

It was clear that the Serpina army was making such a request because they believed that conquering the Aishous army was nothing more than a useless war of attrition.

Yuuri, instead of yelling and getting angry.

In a very low voice, with eyes that contain two colors lowered –

He conveyed his opinion as the monarch of Aishus County.

“Go back and tell Serpina. We have no intention of surrendering or living in the same sky as you.”

“… … .”

The Shinigami nodded, then stood up and spoke.

“I will tell you Yuuri’s story as is. Then.”

After the messenger who left those words went out.

Jinor, who was next to him, asked Yuuri carefully.

“What do you plan to do?”

“What does it mean?”

Yuuri was different from usual and asked a bit harshly, but-

Jinor responded without giving in.

“You did well in not accepting the recommendation to surrender. Even I wouldn’t have accepted it. However, wouldn’t it be necessary to say, ‘We have no intention of living in the same sky as you’?”

“… … .”

Jinor’s words were correct.

Even if the other side said something that would scrape this side first, there was no good in diplomacy for a weak country to be strong against a powerful country.

It’s enough to just let humiliation go in one ear and out the other. In order to survive for a long time in difficult times, it was more important than anything to not hold grudges for too long.

Yuuri doesn’t know that either.

but… … .

‘Not anyone else… … I can’t be pushed aside by Serpina von Eyngart.’

Yuuri spoke to Jinor in a more stern tone than ever.

“I know. but… … No.”

“?”

“Zinor, you won’t know until I tell you.”

Because you won’t know until I tell you, right?

Jinor sensed a bitter feeling in his mouth.

Of course, he knew that there was something that even he, the national strategist, could not interfere with, but… …

Jinor, who heard those words, looked at the side of Yuuri’s face without replying in particular.

It was not difficult to read the burning desire for revenge in her eyes.

‘… … .’

When dealing with Brans, she judged more calmly than anyone else.

As soon as we had to deal with Serpina-kun… … I was worried that she would look like the founding contributors who worked with her.

‘are you okay. The Brans army has not completely collapsed yet, and the south will not sit still either. ‘Serpina’s army won’t be able to set the border that wide.’

First of all, does it start with solidifying the stability of the newly acquired territory?

Rather than sighing, Jinor thought about the future he could draw with his own lines.

* * *

“Really?”

“Yes. They say they have no intention of surrendering.”

This time, she visited Aishus County as a Shinigami, kneeling in front of Serphina and reporting what she had experienced.

A woman with purple short hair – Erin Rise.

A general who had served Serpina for a long time as an alumnus of her academy when she was young.

She was an extremely intelligent woman who would have been in charge of national affairs if not for Jenna’s presence.

“He said he had no intention of staying in the same sky.”

“Is that so? That’s an interesting story.”

That’s what she said, but Serpina’s face as she answered with her chin resting on her face was so bored that it was nothing short of boring.

Aceers.

A small country in the eastern part of the continent, led by Baranga Yuuri Aceous.

It was not completely powerless like other weak countries, but it was a very unsightly country, infinitely smaller than its own country that had unified the north.

In fact, Serpina did not even consider herself a rival except for Brans County or the four southern countries.

From the time of unification of the North, the first thing to do was to advise weak countries to surrender.

This time too, it was just part of it.

In the meantime, the Aishous army absorbed the Charam army and the Alefel army, but sending envoys three times was reduced to sending them once, and it was not a move that felt very meaningful to the Serpina army.

‘Do I really need to see blood?’

Anyway, if you don’t surrender, there is nothing you can do.

Considering that he said something with the nuance of ‘I have no intention of being under the same sky’, it seemed like he had some hostility towards me.

‘… … ‘It’s obvious.’

I was already used to being hated.

From the moment she accepted the name of Eingart, being hated by someone had already become her karma.

So, is it now time to go to war with the Aishous army?

Continuing their winning streak against the Brans army, the morale of the Serpina army was currently higher than ever.

If we keep up this momentum, we will be able to conquer it without difficulty.

“Good job, Erin. It’s okay to go back.”

“Yes, my lord. Then please excuse me.”

After sending Erin back, I was lost in thought.

at that time.

Jenna, who was next to her, looked at Serpina and asked carefully.

“Master. Since we are dealing with the Brans army, it is impossible to deal with the Aishous army as well. Even though we have a large number of troops, if the border line is doubled, various difficult situations may arise.”

Serpina listened to Jenna’s words, looked at her, and asked.

“Jenna. That’s surprising. Are you neglecting your studies these days?”

“… … yes? What is that… … .”

“This means that the Brans Army does not intend to attack for the time being.”

“… … ?”

Jenna tilted her head as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Serpina looked at Jenna like that and expressed her thoughts.

“Not long ago, you must have heard that Kalinz Brans and Chell Brans, who were currently at the forefront of the Brans army, retreated.”

“Yes, that’s right. However, since the troops are not completely missing-”

“That’s why it doesn’t attack.”

“… … sorry. My education is short, so I cannot understand everything my lord says.”

“It’s simple. Why, instead of adding troops to the front line, did they pull back the troops with excellent commanders?”

“Well, isn’t it to prevent the castle of Arnel from being taken away?”

“Okay. If I had talked this far, you would have understood what I meant, right?”

“Yes? What is that… … Ah.”

Jenna finally nodded as if she understood what Serpina was talking about.

“I don’t know whose decision it was, but it’s an excellent choice. You must calmly assess your capabilities and protect what you can protect. If you are going to lose territory anyway, you must know how to boldly give it up to have a future. If it is Lin Brans’ decision, it is safe to think that the Brans family is living up to its name.”

“But, what if I don’t advance any further than they expected? What do you think the soldiers and generals who remain to protect the border think?”

“… … Are you aiming for internal division?”

“Because it is a solution that can be solved without touching anything.”

Jenna nodded and said.

“It seems like a good plan. Even if you leave the territory alone, it will probably be difficult to recruit troops. If they could afford it, they would have replenished it long before the battle with us. In such a situation, the conscripted troops would not be very strong… … It really is Serpina.”

“Jenna. Please leave out words that are not like you.”

“Okay.”

I don’t know if it will actually move as I want.

“But in the meantime, Aceers… … Ah.”

Jenna was about to say something, but quickly stopped talking.

Because I naturally knew what Serpina was going to do in the future.

“Yes.”

Serpina spoke with a slight smile, her golden eyes flashing.

Regardless of what she says, anyone who sees her will inevitably worship her deeply… … It was that kind of smile.

“Meanwhile, we are clearing out Acious County.”