episode_0100

Anima was captured.

In a situation where no one could open their mouth, Yuuri was unable to say anything with his eyes closed.

“… … .”

Please, I hope you don’t make a wasted decision.

Anima wasn’t killed, she was just taken prisoner.

Serpina, who was quick to calculate, would not simply kill a prisoner with the value of Anima, so it was clear that as long as Yuuri did not make a hasty move for no reason, there would be a way out.

So, how much time has passed?

She slowly opens her eyes.

Both eyes were trembling so much that no one could tell.

He looks very anxious.

She looked as if she couldn’t figure out why things had happened like this.

Yuuri, who had been unable to utter a single word while keeping everyone gathered together for a long time, finally turned his head to look at Jinor and opened his tightly closed lips.

“… … Jinor, I’m sorry, but can you do a favor for me?”

Rather than acting recklessly, should you leave it to the scheming agent for now?

If you are in a situation where you cannot properly control your mind, it may not be the best decision.

It seems that he is not in the position of monarch among the five for nothing.

“Yes.”

Jinor nodded slightly and briefed us on the current situation on Yuuri’s behalf.

“Castle lord Anima Ingram used her authority to invade Hispil Castle. This is news you probably already know. However, it doesn’t work out – you can think of it as being currently captured by the Serpina military.”

“Well, then… … General Hernandov… … ?”

“… … .”

Jinor answered the general who asked the question with a sad expression.

“He is currently stabilizing.”

“If you are calm… … ?”

“I suffered a serious injury.”

Hernandov Arisian suffered a serious injury.

Upon hearing the news, the generals of Aceers County who had previously held government positions began to whisper.

“That can’t be possible… … How on earth did that happen?”

“They say he recklessly jumped into the enemy camp alone to save Miss Anima.”

Just by listening to the story, I naturally pictured in my mind what happened on the battlefield.

Serpina’s army retreated while holding Anima captive, and Hernandov jumped into the enemy camp alone carrying a blunt weapon after hearing the news that she had been captured.

The bond between the five people is so deep that it is on a different level from that of an ordinary general who just drinks the blood flowing from her finger, so it would not be a strange act for her to sacrifice her life to save him.

As if they were really drawing a picture, these two people couldn’t help but expose the fatal shortcomings of ‘deep solidarity’.

“I heard that if the reinforcements had arrived even a little late, it would have been a really big problem.”

“Wongun… … ? Oh, by the way, are you talking about the troops who were dispatched a few days ago?”

“Okay. No one other than the officer in charge would have known, as the destination was not told, but it turns out that those were the troops dispatched in the direction of Lacline Castle.”

After hearing those words, the murmur around me continued again.

It felt a little different this time, though.

“As expected, Jinor… … !”

“Zinor sent reinforcements in advance… … !”

“… … .”

Jinor listened to the generals’ stories and looked at me subtly without changing his expression.

I nodded slowly.

What the military officers in the Aishous Army judge of me is beyond my interest.

It didn’t matter if the plan I came up with ended up being Jinor’s fault.

Because I’m the one who’s going to leave anyway. I am.

“Wait a minute. Well, maybe even Rockline Castle… … ?”

“Didn’t I tell you? They sent reinforcements. The last name wasn’t taken away either.”

At that time, a female militant next to the man who was asking the question raised her hand.

“It is said that an abnormal phenomenon was detected at Heathfield Castle. Is it possibly related to our military?”

“I’m not sure about that either. It seems like something happened that we don’t know about. Thanks to this, the Serpina army retreated, so it was lucky for us.”

It’s a lie.

Jinor had a general idea of what had happened.

That’s right, because I told you everything.

About how Reika’s ‘ability’ was amplified, things like that – we shared information exactly as we had guessed.

There was no need to hide it from him.

I heard things like, ‘It looks like he expected this to happen in advance’ – but anyway, he convinced me.

That day, after telling me something strange about seeing the future with his mind’s eye, Jinor showed great confidence in what I said.

After the Q&A, a brief explanation of the situation began.

The allies who joined as reinforcements somehow succeeded in rescuing Hernandov.

Although the loss of troops was a bit extreme, the castle was not taken anyway, and a very simple explanation followed that the Serpina army had taken Anima prisoner.

“This is the situation our military is currently in.”

“… … .”

The castle has become quiet again.

Jinor watched Yuuri for a moment, then asked a question to all of us.

“If you have any opinions on what to do next, feel free to share them.”

at that time.

The sound of the royal castle door being opened was heard – and a woman’s voice was heard.

“It’s late. I’m sorry.”

A female knight wearing armor made up of a lot of blue fabric walked towards this place.

It was Emma.

“Emma… … !”

“It looks like you have just arrived.”

Yuuri and Jinor looked at her and lightly greeted her.

She was currently staying at Castle Zellstrom with Epinel.

For reference, the battle at Zelstream Castle was, of course, a victory for our side, as I predicted. In the first place, the prediction that ‘win is won’ was not a prediction of the battle that took place at Hispil Castle, but rather a prediction of the outcome of the defense battle of Zellstrom Castle.

Did you rush here after hearing the news?

Epinel, the castle owner, must have had a lot of work to do, so it was not strange that Emma came.

“Yuuri. What happened?”

“That… … .”

“Let me explain here.”

Jinor briefly explains the current situation to Emma.

Emma nodded and expressed her opinion.

“It seems there is only one thing we have to do.”

“What is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I have to go save Anima.”

As expected, Emma took a hard-line approach without even thinking about it.

“I believe that not only you but everyone here will agree on how important the name Anima is to our Aishous County. Yuuri, you think that too, right?”

“That… … That’s it.”

“… … what? You, that expression.”

Emma walks closer to the trembling Yuuri-

He started yelling at her.

“There’s not enough time to give orders right now, so what are you doing?”

“… … !!”

“It’s not the time for you to be like this! Anima has been captured! What are you doing instead of giving an order to quickly recapture it?!”

Unbelievable.

No matter how high the sense of solidarity is, what is a mere general doing to the monarch right now, in front of everyone?

“General Emma, what are you doing? Please be polite!”

“… … .”

Only after hearing Jinor’s words next to her did Emma bite her lip and close her mouth.

Even after seeing that scene, the generals were unable to say anything.

It was Jinor who managed to sort out the situation.

“General. This matter will never be overlooked. As soon as this meeting is over, General Emma’s treatment-”

“Zinor, I’m fine… … .”

Yuuri spoke in a hushed voice to Jinor, who was very excited.

“Because it’s okay… … First of all, what to do… … Think about it… … .”

“… … .”

And that moment.

“I… … I have something to tell you.”

An unexpected voice came from next to me.

The main voice was Irene.

“Tell me, General Irene.”

“If we organize an army and attack in the current situation, there is a high possibility that it will be very dangerous in the long run. Since the existing troops at Lacline Castle have been reduced, I think it is not a good choice to dispatch troops first.”

In response to Iren’s words, Emma spoke in a very heavy tone.

“General Irene, then is this what you are saying now? Fighting to save Anima is dangerous, so let’s stop?”

It was a very sharp voice that was enough to intimidate the listener, but-

Who is Irene?

Wasn’t she the woman who was able to withstand the various manual attacks of Lin Brans, who was sad to be the second to commit a secret attack?

Just as I thought, she was responding politely and unwaveringly without showing any sign of being offended.

“Emma. I absolutely don’t think so. Anima is a very important person to Aishus County. I just want to say that fighting is not necessarily the solution.”

“As long as it’s not a fight… … ?”

“Negotiations.”

Iren said with her purple eyes shining.

“If we can bring Anima back with words, we will be able to avoid shedding blood.”

“Negotiation… … .”

As expected, just as I thought, Irene was a very outstanding woman.

I was becoming more and more convinced that there were few generals like her, both in her opinions and in her performance on the battlefield.

“But, I can’t even think about what Serpina-kun would ask for… … .”

“Nevertheless, there is no change in the idea that it is a better method than war. Please consider this, my lord.”

After Iren finished speaking, he lowered his head towards where Yuuri was.

Yuuri couldn’t say anything… … My body was just shaking.

Only one out of five became prisoners, and they were shaken like that.

‘Is that why he can’t become a unified monarch?’

Jinor approaches Yuuri and asks.

“What would you like to do? Master?”

“… … .”

“Master. Restore your composure. Anima is still alive. In order to save Anima, the master, not anyone else, must come to his senses.”

After hearing Jinor’s words, Yuuri finally let out a long sigh and spoke.

“Everyone… … sorry. To Jinor, to Emma, and to all of you who gathered… … I think I showed my disheveled appearance… … .”

What would you say if your lord said so?

We just bow our heads and wait for her to talk.

She still looked anxious and looked around, but she asked us a question in a calm voice.

“First, we must go to war… … Anyone who thinks so, please raise your hand.”

Several militants, including Emma, raised their hands.

But – the number was clearly small.

In fact, many generals could not help but agree that calling for war in this situation was reckless.

anyway-

Since the question was asked, I guess I’ll have to do what I have to do.

‘Is going to war the right way?’

[Not like that.]

The answer is within the expected range.

So is it still a negotiation?

I was worried about what to do if it wasn’t a negotiation, but my worries didn’t last long.

“… … Who thinks there is a need to negotiate?”

‘Is negotiating the right way?’

[Yes.]

Because the answer came right away like this.

In fact, even before the fight, I was thinking that negotiation would be the right thing to do, as it was said that ‘direct negotiation is the most efficient.’

… … The moment I thought,

[but,]

‘uh?’

My predictions, which always came out immediately, came out a little later at the tempo.

[It depends on the will of heaven.]

‘… … huh?’

what?

Surprised that the answer was a little different from before, I typed the question again.

‘Is negotiating the right way?’

[Yes. However, it depends on the will of heaven.]

It is right to negotiate, but it depends on the will of heaven… …

The compass was once again pointing in a very strange direction.

What on earth does this mean?

Depends on heaven’s will, which does not mean that heaven truly decides, but rather means that it depends on actions in an unpredictable area – that is, how I act.

So, does that mean I can decide whether this negotiation will happen or not?

‘… … how??’

How can I decide the weight that will determine the negotiation?

I’m not a monarch, I don’t have anything, I’m just a general?

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand that it wasn’t up to Serpina, the subject of the negotiation, but to me, an ordinary general.

‘for a moment.’

If you think about it, isn’t the last prediction similar to this one?

Since you said [negotiate on your own], it was the same as sending me away at that time.

But why wasn’t it said at that time that ‘it depends on the will of heaven’?

‘What on earth is there that you keep trying to send directly?’

At this point, I would like to come and negotiate directly.

Apart from me being lost in thought-

The story continued, and Yuuri finally spoke in a voice that seemed to have made a big decision.

“… … Emma. Sorry, but I’ll follow the majority opinion here. I know it’s frustrating, but… … I also don’t think it’s right to wantonly start a war… … And, I’m sure Anima thinks the same way.”

“… … .”

Emma looked a little dissatisfied, but-

He quickly nodded.

“You are the monarch, Yuuri. If I can get the Anima, I don’t mind any method.”

“… … Thank you for your understanding.”

A monarch seeking understanding from his subjects.

Normally, I would have thought it was very ironic, but right now, there was no space in my head to include such a meaningless scene.

“In that case, I will proceed with negotiations. As a messenger… … Roots, can you hear me?”

“Yes, say it!”

One man answered loudly when he heard the word “roots.”

“I hope you work hard… … How about it?”

“If you give an order, shouldn’t you follow it? We will make sure to bring Anima safely from Serpina-kun.”

“Okay. What are the best conditions… … Jinor, what do you think?”

“The easiest thing is probably money. Considering my current surplus funds, I think I can pay up to 7,900 gold.”

“7,900? Is that really okay? Serpina County will not suffer from financial difficulties.”

“The more money you have, the better. It is also a large amount compared to the request to release the prisoners. It would be a difficult condition for Serpina to refuse.”

The moment when the story was happening in front of me.

I suddenly raised my hand.

“Hey, can I tell you something?”

“?”

“Swen?”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes, including Yuuri and Jinor, began to focus on me.

but… … Since it was said that the outcome of this negotiation depends on the will of heaven, I had no choice but to say it.

“About envoys engaged in negotiations.”

“Is there a problem?”

I nod and say to Yuuri’s words.

“Can I visit you as an envoy on behalf of the person who has just been designated?”

-Called.