episode_0315

Hesna looked at Terra with astonishment and then laughed again.

A laughter that is captivating, but never so light that it can’t be called a joke.

“The law that says not to hold Serpina’s hand… … I don’t know where it is?”

“My lord. Have you forgotten that your lord’s… no, the lords’ cause was ‘We cannot be together with the rotten Eingart Imperial Family’? Have you not seen what happened when Bran’s lord broke that unspoken rule and joined hands?”

“To be honest, I just think Lin was unlucky.”

“Yes… … ?”

“Because it was in the central continent. And since they joined hands hastily when Aesius was still in good health, they received excessive criticism. And they were directly at war with Serpina. But we are different. The four southern countries were able to enjoy a frighteningly peaceful time without a single war despite this complicated situation. That is why the southern territories’ hatred for Serpina is relatively mild. After all, time covers everything. ”

“Even so… … .”

“Well, other than that, what other reasons do you think we could have a peaceful time?”

“Isn’t it because it is separated from the central continent, which can be said to be the origin of the continent, and the north where the capital is located?”

“If that’s the logic, then it doesn’t make sense that the Bran’s Army didn’t come down here when they were dominating the central continent?”

“Well, I guess the priority is low.”

“Then why do you think the priority is low?”

“… … !!”

After exchanging questions and answers up to that point, Terra slowly nodded as if she had realized something.

“Are you saying that there is not enough to take care of even if you enter?”

“Yeah. The South is a rural area with nothing much to see.”

As a Southerner, her words were spot on.

Why was the southern continent safe? It certainly wasn’t a peace achieved for one or two reasons.

First of all, in order to go from the central region to the southern region, one had to cross rugged mountain ranges and large rivers. Even if there were only one of the two, various problems would arise in the advance, but in this case, both cases were present.

While it would not be impossible for individuals to move individually since they were originally one nation before they split up, leading a large army to and from while securing a stable supply route was a completely different matter.

There was nothing to be gained by invading with such difficulty.

There were few plains where the land was fertile and farming was successful. There was no iron or gold, and there were no large cities that had to be secured.

In the first place, the only city in the southern continent that had been a major city since the imperial era was Mertian Castle, the capital of the Hesna County.

The outskirts and outskirts, the furthest from Eingart Castle. A territory that is so out of place that it would rebel if you tried not to pay attention to it.

That was the southern part of the continent during the imperial era.

“Let’s be cool-headed. First of all, the justification is, yes. Everyone came out with the justification of stopping Serpina. No one would have founded a country for any other justification than that, right? She was also the perfect villainess. But, do you think we can really beat the current Serpina Army? No, even if we’re weak, do you think we could win if we went to full-scale war with the Branth Army? Let’s be a little more honest. Assuming that the rebel girl ate the Roland Army――”

――Do you think we can defeat the Lunalian Army?

“… … .”

“Instead of giving a heartfelt answer, tell me your honest feelings.”

“I’ll tell you straight because I’m sincere. We won’t win.”

“Right?”

“I’m not saying that Roland’s army is superior to ours. It’s just… … If you think about why the ‘balance’ was formed, and if this ‘balance’ is broken, it’s easy to see which side the weight will naturally lean towards. ”

At Terra’s words, Hesna shook her head and said.

“No, Terra. That’s not true.”

“Yes… … ?”

“Let’s say we ate the Ohana Army. And let’s say that the Roland Army somehow managed to hold off the Lunarian Army. Then, can we defeat the Lunarian Army?”

“If there is that much difference in national power, wouldn’t we be able to win?”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Yes… … ?”

“Think about it. When the Lunarian army first rose up in Tepelo Castle, how much difference in national power do you think there was between the Karelian army and the Lunarian army?”

“… … !”

“Even if it wasn’t possible, it would have been at least three times more? But that girl chewed up a national power difference of that size and cut off Karelia’s neck. Can you be sure that she won’t beat our army, which has a smaller gap?”

“What would you like to do, my lord?”

Hesna nodded with a serious expression, resting her chin on her hand.

“Hmm… … This will probably be the first time I tell Terra about this. It’s a plan I’ve been thinking about on my own.”

And then, slowly getting up from his seat and walking forward-

“Whether it’s Serpina or Rin – I intend to propose an alliance. Not only an alliance, but I intend to propose investing all of our Hesna Army’s resources and manpower in conquering the Central Continent.”

“Then our army… … ?”

“Just something like helping me clear out the Southern Continent? That would be enough.

“What do you plan to do next? If only our Hesna Army and the unified North and Central States remain on the continent?”

Hesna smiled when she heard that and said.

“I’m thinking of surrendering.”

“… … Yes?”

“To be exact, rather than surrender, I was going to propose becoming a vassal state from the beginning. I would like to receive a plausible title, something like a principality under the newly unified empire.”

Terra finally realized the true meaning of his monarch’s intentions and said.

“That means… … !”

“Yes. In all these alliances, there is only one thing I ask for.”

“Southern Autonomy.”

“In exchange for gaining autonomy over the Southern Continent – Whether it’s Lin or Serphina, I’ll gladly become the new Emperor’s dog.”

“… … So you’re saying that it’s okay to join hands with Serpina?”

“Yeah. If Aishus had been functioning properly as a nation, then that would be another matter, but now it’s just an empty shell. At this point, it’s wise to assume that Serpina might be able to unify the continent, no, Serpina has the highest chance of unifying the continent.”

The two largest axes that prevented Serpina from running wild were the Branth Army and the Aesir Army.

The two nations had fallen, each in their own way. The Bran’s army had somehow managed to survive by catching on and hiding, but the Aishus army was practically a living corpse, and nothing could be expected from the Aishus army at this point.

Even after thinking about it a hundred times, Hesna could not help but come to the same conclusion.

The probability that the Serpina Army will be able to unite the continent is well over 70%.

“There is no reason why you must become the monarch of a unified country. It is wise for each person to choose the most realistic alternative from their own position. Isn’t that right?”

“… … Well, since you decided to follow your lord, I will only support you no matter what choice you make. However, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me.”

“If you really think so, I think it would be better to avoid Serpina Army.”

“Why? Honestly, I want to join hands with Serpina more than Branth. That’s much more likely. ”

“That’s exactly why, my lord. If our military finds an alliance with the Serpina Army attractive, doesn’t that mean that the Serpina Army doesn’t find an alliance with our army attractive?”

“So, you’re saying that our offer is not only unattractive to Serpina, but also a useless agreement that doesn’t really need to be made?”

“He didn’t say it like that, but seeing you say it like that, it seems like you think so to some extent, my lord.”

Hesna nodded as if she had lost.

“That’s true. Honestly, if I were Serpina, I think I would have just pushed through the Southern Continent as if it were some kind of nonsense. In the first place, it’s unlikely that a woman with the bloodline of the Eingart royal family would allow vassalization.”

“But that’s okay, my lord. Isn’t there still one place left?”

“… … !”

Hesna’s eyes lit up at Terra’s words.

The only country that can join hands in this situation is―

* * *

Castle of Anel, the capital of the Branse region.

There, several armed men were kneeling before Lin.

“So you want to work for us again?”

“Yes.”

“Despite my shame, please allow me one more chance to work for the Bran family.”

After the safe integration with the Kalintz Army-

The Bransons have been receiving a steady stream of requests for commissions over the past few days.

Most of them were generals who had originally been in the Bran’s Army but had followed Chell and become independent as the Chell Army.

“That’s funny. You guys, you came all the way here to see me. Do you realize that you are traitors? ”

“Yes. I know that even if you cut off my head here, I have nothing to say. However, if you show me mercy once, I will definitely repay that favor.”

“… … .”

Lin tilted her head for a moment, then nodded as if it was no fun.

“Okay. I don’t even want to fight like before, anymore.”

“My lord… … ?”

“Okay. Anyway, you guys chose the Bran’s Army again, right? I’ll show you that your choice was right.”

―In this way, Lin accepted all the remaining armed forces of the Che Army, who had been traitors, for practical reasons rather than justification.

From the perspective of Lin, who was short on weapons, and from the perspective of the warriors who wanted to somehow get revenge on Serpina, it wasn’t such a bad deal.

Unlike before, he started listening to his subordinates’ stories, and soon word of mouth began to spread among many people that ‘Lynn Brands had become like a different person.’

‘It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of me. What matters is the revival of the Bran’s Army. Even if it fails, I won’t make it in vain, and I won’t make all those sacrifices meaningless… …!’

As Lin was moving forward with only that thought in mind, news from the Southern Continent naturally reached him.

* * *

“Really? So you’re saying Lunalian finally moved?”