Akuyaku Reijo Ni Koi Wo Shite

The Merika, recognizing the failure of the invasion operation, withdrew all its troops. At that time, quite a few troops had already been attacked, so it's too late, but it can't be left alone. Continued invasion only increases the number of units destroyed.

The subsequent analysis of the situation, the Kingdom of the United States, concluded that the second invasion was in line with the Eastern Union coalition. The strategy was to assume that increasing the number of troops would render the interceptors incapable of responding, but this resulted in a smaller unit per unit, which was brilliantly exploited by the interceptors. A little more troops cannot compete against the Wonderland Mercenaries. The damage per battle was considerable.

While this may seem like a mere result theory for the enemy, there are other reasons why the Kingdom of the United Kingdom made that decision.

Despite sending many invaders, almost all of the units were being attacked before reaching their target, using the speed difference. The advantage of the land, the enemy's troop operations that could not be explained by itself, was also convincing the Kingdom of the United States that it was also under the command of Lion Frey. Rion's name is that he is perceived to be so alert in the Kingdom of Merica.

In response, the United Kingdom's strategy was to abort the invasion and promote effective control of the two already dropped nations. As a military, it does not make any major movements, maintains the large army, and conversely prepares for the enemy invasion.

For small and medium-scale combat and wide-area troop operations, the Eastern Union has a share. If so, it's the result of trying to get into the opposite battle.

This operation has been successful so far. At least the Eastern Union was upset, forcing it to rethink its strategy.

◇◇◇

It has been a long time since the six kings of the Eastern Union have met. That means that I feel a sense of danger in the upcoming battle, and that the battle itself is calm. It is not just the king who is gathering. Generals from various countries also took part in the event.

Rion, who was called by his employer, King Ertest King Cornelius IV, came to a stop at the entrance with a confused expression. Not because it's awful or something like that, but because I have a bad feeling that I'm likely to get caught up in trouble.

"Oh, have you come? You should enter without standing in such a place."

King Eltest, who notices Leon, calls out. This is the call of the employer, the king. I went forward without ignoring it.

A round table has been prepared for the gathering of kings from various countries. King Eltest is seated farthest from the round table entrance. The round table is designed so that you do not have to worry about it at the seats, but it is not at all.

The kingdom of Eltest is now the smallest country, but once a power that governed its surroundings. Within the Eastern Union, it is a country that is well respected.

"Sit in a vacant seat."

Rion, who was worried about where to stand in the round table, was asked by King Eltest for a seat. Rion's feelings are getting worse. King Eltest himself has a friendly personality, but there are also kings from other countries. It is common for some people not to be pleased with the presence of mercenary Leon.

There is something to press and recommend sitting.

"Well, the battle against the Kingdom of Merica was brilliant. Thanks to it, the kingdom abandoned the invasion and pulled the army."

"It's only temporary."

"I know that. That's where I'm going to talk."

It is a consultation promptly. It doesn't seem like Leon is quick to talk.

"A consultation is good, but please complete the first contract first."

Wonderland mercenaries have only short-term contracts. The contract was just a request to prevent the invasion of the United Kingdom.

"Hmm. Completing the contract is the payment of the request fee."

This is the second contract with the Kingdom of Eltest. King Ertest knows what Rion is saying.

"Yes. Consultation for a new contract will follow."

"Absent"

"……Yes?"

"I can't pay now"

King Ertest, who says this, has no signs of being offended. On the contrary, there is even a fun atmosphere.

"Is that a breach of contract?"

On the other hand, Leon has a bad premonition and is sullen.

"I will pay, but I don't have any cash right now."

"... Jewelry is fine. Of course, it's just after the appraisal."

"I don't have it."

"Yes?"

"The national treasury is now empty. If you don't get tax revenue, you can pay if you want to."

"So, when does that tax come in?"

"Two months later."

"Why wait for two months ..."

Rion is not alone in gold. The money to feed the mercenaries is too much. Rion thought it would be okay to wait about two months.

"It's impossible with just one tax revenue. Japan is poor."

"Wait a year and two months?"

"No, I'll never go back again. This request has a high reward. Five years, no, I'm not going to give it all, ten years."

King Ertest has said this seriously. It's really striking, but he doesn't seem to think anything.

"In other words, were you not willing to pay from the beginning?"

King Eltest's attitude further irritates Leon.

"I'm willing to pay. I just can't pay right away."

"It's the same as willing to pay for a ten-year split."

"That's crazy.

There is no sign of thinking of King Ertest. It's just trying to say what you've thought of before.

"……what?"

Anyway, Rion knows that it is not a good proposal.

"Collect the country. If you pay off safely, get it back. If you can't pay off, it's yours."

But King Eltest's proposal was far beyond Leon's imagination. As expected, others are showing surprised expressions.

"... Huh?"

"If you work hard to enrich the country, the collection will be quicker.

Leon has no idea where the good suggestions are. Before that, I could not understand the meaning of the proposal.

"... Is it true that you are looking at national politics?"

"How else does it sound?"

"I'm sorry to say rudeness ... but you're stupid?"

"Fuffy-fuffy. An idiot is an idiot to the king of a nation.

"No, don't laugh."

"When you have fun, you laugh. I think it's the most fun time in my boring life. This is also thanks to you."

"... That's not it."

Leon has no idea what King Eltest is enjoying. Anyway, I knew there was a hungry belly behind my warm face.

"Now I don't mean to ask for a conclusion right away. Think carefully and decide."

I don't think it's the attitude of waiting for payment. But regardless of the attitude of the opponent, Rion's answer is fixed.

"No. Payment is in ten years."

"... Do you think a little more?"

"No, I don't mean I'm not going to stay in one place long before the country."

"Do you keep running away?"

From the look of King Eltest, who looked straight into Rion's eyes, the fascinating atmosphere he had just had disappeared.

"……what?"

"I don't know what you hate, but you're not facing it in front of you, and things won't be solved forever."

"... What do you know about me?"

"Nothing. As I grow older, I see things that I did not see when I was young. In my eyes, you are not living with all your might. It makes you and others around you unhappy. There are those who follow you in adoration of the Lord. Can I make them unhappy? "

The words of King Eltest, who should know nothing, echo strangely to Rion's heart. In order to confuse her loneliness with her away from Aeriel, she has been doing dangerous work one after another. I could argue if I was told I wasn't living with all my might, but I certainly didn't face the people who would follow me.

"I ... have already made many people unhappy"

Still, Leon has a reason not to accept others. I got involved. So we regret those who have lost their lives.

"That is because you have no power. If you don't want to make people unhappy, you just have to get the power you don't need. He can do it. Some will be unhappy. ''

“…………”

King Ertest's words further excite Rion's heart. I was looking for power. Even so, he was afraid of that power. The more powerful you are, the more people you get involved. It was scary.

"I say once more. The conclusion doesn't have to be rushed. I still have something I want to ask. I don't want to leave now."

"I'm not going to get it"

"The client is not me. Worry about the reward is probably okay."

"Maybe ..."

"I'll explain the request from me."

A slightly nervous, shrill voice came in. The pitch of the voice is not only for tension. She is still a child before she changes her voice.

The main voice was Alberto Langobald, a young king of the Thalia kingdom.

"... I don't think it is possible."

"I haven't talked yet."

You can tell without even asking. Thalia is now occupied by the Kingdom of Merica. The child, Albert II, still claims to be the king because his father died in the invasion of the Kingdom of Merica.

"It is not a job that can be done by one mercenary corps, such as regaining the country."

"Others have also promised cooperation. Fight across the Eastern Union."

"I think it's still difficult, because the Kingdom of the United States has united its army because it's confident that if it's a head-to-head battle between armies, you won't lose."

"If so, can you win?"

"I'm buying. And ..."

Rion says something, but closes her mouth. If you hear this, you will be worried.

"What's that?"

"I stopped it because I think it would be offended."

"I don't care. Please talk."

"... What is it that takes the country back?"

"What is it? It's not surprising that the stolen country is regained."

In response to Leon, King Thalia replied with a suspicious look. They are wondering what they are taking for granted.

"Is it for the people?"

"eh?"

The answer to the following question of Rion could not be answered immediately. The meaning of the question is unknown to King Thalia. Watching the reaction, Rion continued.

"The Kingdom of Merica, as far as I know, is not a terrible scourge. Being in control may allow people to live much better than before."

"that is……"

I can't deny the possibility of what Rion says. There will be some new industries that will be incorporated into the United Kingdom.

"And if it's a fight for recapture, many people will die. People who are not involved in the war will be involved. Do you still need to get back?"

It's tough to ask a child. But even as a child, Albert II is king. Many people die from his thoughts. Rion couldn't be spoiled because he was a child.

"... I still have to get it back."

"why?"

"I can't destroy the kingdom of Thalia on my behalf."

"Is it for your own honor?"

"Yes, but the kingdom of Thalia has been up to date with the efforts of its predecessors. It is impossible to neglect that effort."

"……Is that so"

King Thalia's answer was more adult than he had imagined, but he couldn't understand Lion who didn't care about the country.

But King Thalia is more adult than Rion felt. He was already a king, more than being an adult.

"And the people around me want to regain the kingdom of Thalia. To that end, everybody is prepared to give up their lives. As a king, I have an obligation to respect their preparedness."

"Obligation?"

"In a word of the king, his dying dies, no matter what it is, do not make his death meaningless. I have been taught this way."

"……Is that so"

King Talia's knowledge as a king has been beaten since childhood. Even if you're still a child, Lion's reach isn't as determined as standing on a person.

"I don't have the power to make everyone happy now, so at least I want to cherish the feelings of those around me. Please, please lend me your strength."

King Talia sits down and bows deeply. You can't rely on this figure, and you don't feel any subtlety. You can even feel like a king.

"... Please give me time to think."

"But while this is happening, the Kingdom of Merica"

"It doesn't work even if I move to Gamshala. I need to think about how to win and I need time to do that."

"So?"

"I'll decide if I'm going to take it. I'll let you know if I have a chance to win. If I'm satisfied with it, I'll sign a contract for the first time."

This is Rion's usual practice. Not only to be honest with the other person, but also to delineate the scope of their work from the beginning.

"Yes, I see."

"So, I'm sorry for this. I have a lot to look into and think about."

Without waiting for the acknowledgment, Rion stands out and leaves the room. Hendrick II, Ponaparte, King of Orlando, opened the first word when he saw his back.

"Are you serious?"

This question is addressed to King Eltest.

"I'm serious. I hope he gets it."

"Just because there is no heir, make a king who does not know anyone."

There is no heir in the Kingdom of Eltest. But this has happened several times in the past. In such cases, it is customary to receive adoptions from neighboring countries. Neighboring nations are countries that have split off from the great kingdom of Ertest, and the royal family has some sort of blood connection, dating far back.

"I know my identity"

"It's like going to war on money."

"No, he says he knows his real name."

"Real name?"

"I haven't heard it from myself, but I'm pretty sure it's Rion Frey, or maybe Frey Highland in real name."

King Eleste knew Rion's identity. It is the result of investigating with some trouble.

"... Is Highland a Grand Flam Royale?"

It is the surname of the grand lord, the Grand Fram. Even those who do not know Rion's name do know the nature of Highland.

"Yes, he's the second prince of the Grand Flam Kingdom. Most recognized, he was a Viscount in the Grand Flam Kingdom."

"Why is it a job for a mercenary?"

"I don't know. There must be something. It's almost dead in the Grande Flam kingdom."

"... died?"

"Genie campaign. In the last battle, it is said that he died after fighting with the devil."

"Aren't you the hero of Grand Flam !?"

This surprised King Orlando more than being a Prince of the Grand Flam Kingdom.

Genie campaign. The battle with the genie of the Grand Flam Kingdom is so called. Along with the spread of demons, stories of the Demon War are spreading throughout the continent, and are being passed on to the countries of the Eastern Union. The story of a hero who saved the Grand Flam Kingdom.

"It's something you notice when you name Rion Frey. For a small country like us, information is life. You should be greedy to get it."

Because of this idea, the Kingdom of Eltest is a small country, but only an intelligence organization. It is believed that having information is more a shield than a half-armed force.

"I don't know more and more. Why is a royal man called a hero ...?"

One guess comes to King Orlando's head. Of course, it is wrong.

"He has no ambition, and would have remained in the Grand Flam Kingdom."

King Eltest has also misunderstood. No wonder. In addition to being consistent, the truth is improbable as being snapped into this world and forced away.

"Is it safe because you have no ambition?"

"That's not all. He seems to have much more power than we think. The only thing he doesn't have in our country is the state vessel."

The strength of the Wonderland Mercenaries probably cannot be matched by the forces of the individual nations of the Eastern Union. There is also economic power to feed the mercenaries. Eltest Kingdom has not paid for this at all. The only thing that can be said in a ten-year split is that there is enough reserve.

"... so much power"

"I don't know what it really is. In Japan, we couldn't find out. It means we have the power to prevent it."

And it has the intelligence to prevent the intelligence of the kingdom of Ertest. Eventually, Lion's organization will always be known for its ability.

"Really……"

"It may sound beautiful, but I don't want that power. It's kind of terrible because it looks distorted. To do

"HM……"

The king of Orlando, who made a negative statement, heard this story and thought about it. The same is true for other kings. I do not agree, but I feel that I can not deny it at all.

"In our country, which has only vessels, a man without vessels has appeared. I want to bet on this meeting. It is my first and last big game that has lived a mediocre life."

"... I disagree or disagree right now, after all, whether or not he will."

"Yes, that's right, there's still time. It's time to figure out who it is."

"Yes."

What do you want to know about Rion? King Ertest did not say it clearly. But everyone knows. If Rion would succeed the kingdom of Eltest, each would have to make serious decisions. That the Eastern Union will not be able to stay in its former form.