Ch.328For the Restoration of Hellenism (5)

# The Goddess of the Middle East

“But what about Greece in that case?”

“We’ll have to manage them appropriately through the Constantinople Treaty Organization later.”

The Constantinople Treaty Organization. Either placate them properly or decisively frame them as the aggressors.

“I see. Then we’ll advance with infantry and mechanized infantry, but strictly for maintaining order and peace.”

Just showing a pretense of innocence should be enough.

“That’s exactly it.”

That’s what Greece means to us.

Like a rifle to be used in the final trial of the Middle East.

“However, Your Majesty. Something just occurred to me.”

I wonder if he’s thought of something interesting.

Ungern is grinning like a child who’s found a new toy.

“Then, shouldn’t we start warning the Greek forces in a persuasive manner? At the very least, shouldn’t we appear to be trying to stop them?”

Yes. That’s one approach—actually provoking them further by appearing to restrain them.

The Greek military, drunk on national pride, will likely ignore our words and try to push all the way to Iran anyway.

“You’re right. A moderate warning. That should be just enough.”

We’ve warned them several times.

Still, it’s better to make it look like we’re trying to steal their glory, just to avoid raising suspicions.

***

Baghdad Outskirts

The Greek forces pushing toward Baghdad had to hear the Russian army’s warning.

“What? You’re telling us to keep a safe distance from Baghdad because it might be dangerous?”

Greek Commander-in-Chief Alexandros Papagos couldn’t believe his ears.

Honestly, what was this all about?

“Yes, our Tsar is expressing concern that the Greek forces might be acting too aggressively.”

A warning from the Russian army.

At first glance it seemed truly frightening, but Papagos sneered.

“I suppose your Tsar is coming, so you want us to pull back a bit.”

Obviously they’re excited about setting foot here too.

But what can we do? The Greek forces don’t intend to just hand everything over as requested.

“That’s not what we meant.”

Constantinople Treaty Organization Greek Commander-in-Chief Alexandros Papagos was displeased.

Asking them to retreat because of one Tsarina’s arrival?

Is this even reasonable? Baghdad is almost completely conquered.

Rather, 250,000 troops? That’s excessive.

The Greek force of 30,000 that defeated those self-proclaimed Romans from Italy is now stripping Iraq bare.

‘They just don’t want us taking more credit.’

Since this is their home turf, they probably feel uncomfortable with Greece taking everything.

If not that, maybe they want to strip more oil for themselves. Anyway, this expedition is both an opportunity for Greece and a campaign of the Constantinople Treaty Organization, so there’s no need to follow the Tsar’s words.

So Alexandros merely acknowledged the warning as just that—a warning.

“I understand. Then we’ll take just Baghdad. Honestly, hasn’t Russia already taken plenty?”

Saying Russia has taken plenty—that’s harsh.

Zhukov wondered what to do with this fellow, then decided to let him be.

A warning might suffice, but it doesn’t matter if he ignores it and pushes forward. Didn’t the Tsar say so?

Here, we just need to show that “I clearly warned you,” nothing more.

It’s your fault for not listening.

“Still, please be considerate of the situation.”

Be considerate? To Papagos, it sounded like “Please save some for our Tsarina.”

“I’m not sure what misconception you have, but the Constantinople Treaty Organization isn’t Russia’s governing body alone. It’s an organization for all of Europe.”

True. The Constantinople Treaty Organization wasn’t Russia’s alone.

Of course, Russia proposed it and had the greatest influence in its construction, and European countries were certainly influenced by Russia, but at least on the surface, everyone could have a say in the organization.

Even Albania.

Only partner nations had to do as the organization commanded, but still.

This meant that Greece could now have a voice too.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I understand that? I’m only saying this because I’m worried Greece seems to be going overboard.”

Since when did they care so much about Greece? People naturally want to do what they’re told not to do.

“I understand, so please inform your Tsar not to worry about us here.”

Papagos waved his hand dismissively.

Frankly, it was genuinely annoying.

He was having a great time, and all they did was come and threaten him not to continue. Even their cautious approach suggested they were worried about being outpaced.

“Yes. Understood.”

Though dissatisfied, there was nothing more to say here.

After all, the Tsar had only ordered a moderate warning, not to directly stop his rampage.

“Is it really acceptable to dismiss Russia like this?”

A young staff officer asked with a frown, but Papagos laughed heartily.

“If the Tsar were the type to make a fuss over something like this, she wouldn’t be in that position now.”

The Tsar is no ordinary woman.

In diplomacy and international relations, she never shows feminine traits but acts solely for national interest.

The woman who achieved European integration and created the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

Despite all the conquerors like Napoleon, none restored Rome like this Tsar.

But because of this, the Tsar couldn’t use Greece’s share to oppress them, even for the sake of integration.

Moreover, wasn’t she the one who gave Greece this opportunity, claiming it was the legitimate successor to the Hellenistic Empire?

If she suddenly changed her mind and intervened to steal Greece’s glory, would that be appropriate for the conqueror of Europe?

If Russia had any conscience, they couldn’t ignore Greece’s achievements.

There might be minor, trivial conflicts in this process, but what would happen if they made a big propaganda campaign against the Constantinople Treaty Organization?

Greece, which had repelled the Red Roman Army in World War II, could proudly indulge in Hellenistic pride.

So they should push on to Tehran, Iran, after Baghdad.

Since they were only conducting a capital offensive, there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Invaders. Die!”—Bang!

An Iraqi soldier running with bombs strapped to his body was shot in the head and collapsed.

There had been quite a few of these.

Apparently, Russia was planning to be somewhat lenient, considering the possibility of Islamic extremists rising within Russia. Has the Tsar become too fearful with age?

“Hmm, but we’ll occupy up to Baghdad as stated. We should set an example. As a Hellenistic army, we’ll demand Baghdad’s surrender before attacking.”

If the Tsar herself came rushing in, it would be troublesome, so they decided to merely suggest surrender and then advance without waiting for a response.

After all, there’s no need for extra effort when reclaiming the rightful territory of Hellenism.

***

After hearing that Vladimir had successfully launched a spacecraft, I immediately began traveling around various parts of Iraq.

The cities already stripped by the Greek army were all destroyed, and not a single military unit remained to resist us.

It’s possible that survivors here might harbor revenge against the Constantinople Treaty and eventually enter member countries to carry out terrorist acts.

So I personally stepped forward to appease the Iraqis.

“Aren’t you the same as those Greek bastards! What are you trying to do now!”

“We’ve only come to clean up the disaster caused by the Greek army. We’re the Constantinople Treaty’s peacekeeping force, not invaders like Greece.”

We’re different from those bastards! I drew a clear line.

“Those who need food, we will provide rations. Also, those who have lost their homes will be supported by the Constantinople Treaty Organization.”

The Constantinople Treaty forces defined Greece as an invasion force that moved first on its own.

For now, no direct invasion of Iraq and Iran had been approved within the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

Only the agenda for “restoring the Hellenistic Empire” had been passed.

So it’s a kind of wordplay.

Since we can’t just invade recklessly, we’re attaching a justification.

“Waaah, huaaah. The Greek army took my father. My father. Sniff.”

“Oh dear. Oh dear. The Greek army treated you cruelly.”

I appropriately consoled the Iraqis here.

The Greek army ran wild, and we followed, telling the anti-Greek Iraqis: yes, those bastards are bad, and we came to protect you.

That’s all the packaging needed.

“Will they fall for such an obvious ploy?”

An obvious ploy.

Sometimes such things work.

“How would they know what’s only discussed at Constantinople Treaty Organization headquarters? Besides, humans sometimes only believe what they see before their eyes.”

Even if Middle Easterners angry at Greece realize someday that it was all my scheme, what could they do? By then, they’ll be in a position where they can’t survive without the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

So we just need to get through this moment and secure the Middle East in our hands.

But sometimes things don’t go as planned.

“You bitch! So you’re the Tsar of Russia!”

“Who are you?”

I’m not sure what he’s saying, but seeing all those bombs strapped to his body is suspicious.

Is he planning to charge at me with that body and die? It seems time to show the difference between a criminal and myself.

“You must be behind the Greek army! Die!”

“Oh dear, this is troublesome.”

BOOM!

I felt the sensation of bombs exploding and flesh tearing all over my body.

This makes my job too easy.

I joked about it before in front of Maria, but I didn’t seriously want to become Allah.

I thought the plausibility was completely shattered. But now it seems like it might actually happen.

No, maybe the bomb was a dud or poorly made due to military procurement corruption?

Would they really see me as Allah just from that?

I can just continue with my holy maiden cosplay as before.

“How is this possible? You’re unharmed? Is the rumor about the holy maiden true?”

“If not Allah, then what?”

Everyone’s reactions are quite diverse. No, I’ve seen this scene before.

It’s like watching people deify someone who doesn’t die.

It seems Middle Eastern Muslims are no different.

Just to be sure, I called an interpreter to ask.

“What are they saying?”

“They’re asking if Your Majesty is Allah.”

Huh, these guys are really crazy. Why does the plausibility connect like this?

“Nonsense! How could such an imperialist be Allah—”

Yes, yes. It doesn’t make sense.

I am an imperialist, not your Allah.

I’m just someone who, for myself alone and inevitably for humanity’s future, brought the starter pack of the Red-White Civil War Russia to this point.

“Then why don’t you die?”

“Y-yeah?”

“Are you truly the one true God who came to save us?”

“Perhaps you’ve taken a human woman’s body to descend upon this land.”

Oh shit. Isn’t this really dangerous?

Isn’t Allah male? Well, I suppose gender doesn’t matter for deities.

Using this could be greatly beneficial to me, but it still feels wrong.

“I am not the one true God. I am merely someone who belatedly protects you from the hands of Greece, who torments you to forcibly rebuild the Hellenistic Empire. I cannot be the Allah you desire.”

I can be a holy maiden and Roman Emperor, but not Allah.

In original history, “Allahu Akbar” became a symbol of terrorism, and I don’t want to be associated with that.

But for this moment, it’s not bad for subjugating the Middle East to the Constantinople Treaty.

“It seems in their eyes, Your Majesty is already seen as Allah.”

Zhukov is marveling beside me.

Even so, being treated as Allah is a bit much. I don’t want more titles.

“It seems so.”

“Was this not your intention all along?”

Hey now, intending this? I did see the possibility, but that was when I was shooting from tanks.

But here, that’s not the case.

“Of course not. I’m more afraid that Iraq and Iran might praise me as Allah in the future.”

That would be quite uncomfortable.

“Allahu Akbar” is an Arabic phrase praising the one God, Allah.

They say even the Ottomans shouted “Allahu Akbar” before Gallipoli.

If in the future, suicide bombers in Greece shout “Allahu Akbar!” and that Allah refers to me, it would feel strange.

Since I’ve become Allah anyway, I decided to use more power.

It’s difficult to act exactly like Allah, but I can do more charitable actions.