Garudeina Oukoku Koukoku Ki

"Well, Dinant again."

"Yeah, honestly, some of it's true, so it's troubling."

Georg and Lyudmila were facing each other in the Wilhelm Empire Capital, a room in a luxurious castle in its centre, the so-called reception room.

It has already been a month since the creation of the army and three months since the last deal. This time, Georg came this far, not to the fort, because when he visited the fort, Rasheed told him that Lyudmila had urgent business to attend to.

"I mean, in a dinant, an example investigative team? It was the empire that drove them to their total annihilation, and it came to the conclusion that the sub-people were currently being used to exploit resources in Gardina to cover up the existence of the sub-people who had taken them away from the Dinants"

"Well, that's pretty much it. So, the other demand is compensation to the survivors of the survey team sent, handing over some of the resources mined, and returning the subordinates who took them away. Finally, the Great Forest of Gardina is Dinanto's territory, right?

"Well... well, it's too early to get that recognition again. Besides, I remember that land crossing the empire?

"Now, as far as past history is concerned, it was Dinanto who was most aggressively pioneering, stepping into development, and attempting to do so, and in recent years, many research teams were dispatched, and development plans were prepared in response to the report, so the ownership belongs to Dinanto."

"... even though I feel terrible about it."

Lyudmila returns the same attitude to Georg, who sighs like a coward.

"Yeah, this is just... so-called grandpa," he said. The point is, to push us here to justify what we're about to do. "

"... well, is it easy to respond when you're so outspoken"

"Well. But I'm in trouble, to be honest. The messenger from Dinanto said it was just a confirmation of the facts, but there was no confirmation. I've decided it's all bad from the end. I don't even want to see your face anymore."

Georg even holds sympathy for Lyudmila, who leans down as she rubs her eyebrows with her hands. Because this is the first time I've seen her look so tired.

"I'm starting an investigation because I don't know if there's anything strong about Dinanto so far, but I'm getting some disgusting information..."

"Disgusting information?

"… Frungel, a country located east of Dinanto and southeast of this country. Here's a messenger from Dinanto, and he's on his way with the high priest of the Church."

"... church again"

Church, Lyudmila continues her words to Georg, who openly faces the word.

"Yeah, Frungel is also a country with a lot of church influence. Dinanto and I are close to each other to the extent that we have fought against our country in past battles. They seem to have been enemies in the fold of a former rivalry, but at the end of the day they are in harmony with each other by the mediation of the Church. By then, many of the people had shown an attitude of submission to the Church, and it was more obvious than seeing fire what would happen if we ignored it and fought continuously."

"I see... from that time on, I was already in a state of peeking at the complexion of the church,"

"If we had the courage to turn the Church, which was grasping the hearts of the people, against the enemy, based on the decline in national power caused by the war, the plight of the people, the finances to be oppressed, we might have been suppressed south of the central part of the continent by the Outreach, Dinant or Frungel"

"If courage alone does not involve strength, it would just be ruinous. That being said, being in the middle of a settlement between the two countries at that exact time is a bad idea."

"Well, the presentation of reconciliation at a stage when each country is moderately exhausted and problems begin to arise in its ability to continue fighting. We bring ourselves into a situation where we cannot be hostile while boasting of our existence, but rather take root in both countries in a way that sells thanks. I think a man named Hermit is more of a con man or a merchant than a saint."

If it is also a force brokered by two countries, its visibility will increase even if it does not like it. And the elimination by force is too dangerous, even if it is not supported by many people. Especially at the end of the Great War, many of the people were also armed. Because it was normal to go to the battlefield and fish for weapons and protective equipment from corpses, and to replace them with gold or possess them to protect ourselves.

It was no exaggeration to say that the Church had armed citizens on its side, unarmed and non-violent on the one hand, and armed forces without borders and with unclear numbers on the other.

Nowadays, he possesses the force officially called the Knights of the Church, etc., which he makes use of in the name of convicting those who are contrary to the Church's teachings as "heretics". And that doesn't matter if it's noble or anything. A defiant attitude towards the Church, and not one or two destroyed nobles.

The way the church does things is very troublesome. First, it publishes its nobility as a "heretic," then issues a statement saying, "Let us discuss heretics who are divine enemies," urging the inhabitants of its territory to rise up armed. Then they send their own knights, but then they don't accumulate as lords with enemies inside and out. Even if the people don't beep up, it's very bad to just be non-cooperative with the lords. If we turn the people against the enemy, we will not be able to reach out with the national army, and many of the aristocratic private soldiers will only be conscripted locally, and in some cases may resort to rebellion in response to the church.

But we can't expect national reinforcements, we can't trust private soldiers, then, naturally, defense and so on. Therefore, many of the nobles who turned to the enemies of the Church fled. to the less influential areas of the Church.

"Thanks to that, this country has struggled too... hiding a deserted aristocrat is used as a pretext to be invaded, and to ignore it is very influential... Truly, considering the struggles of previous generations..."

Ho, and Lyudmila with a small sigh. I don't know who the previous emperor was, Georg, but he was probably quite a doer.

"So, in repeating that, the authority of the Church has grown more and more, and it has grown to affect the royalty rather than the aristocracy..."

"That's the thing. Fortunately, sometimes the end of the war was winter, and it wasn't very widespread in this country. There was no country in the boulder that was willing to fight each other on the frozen land of winter. The main preaching grounds of the church were cities and settlements close to the battlefield."

"I see..."

Georg sinks into the sea of thought with his arms together, trying to lean down.

< Again, as long as the Church continues its current teaching, we cannot hope to be friendly. And naturally, countries that are strongly influenced by it... this is a tricky one >

At present, only empires and dinants are the countries bordering Gardina. This means that there is no other nation to go out with than a real empire. Naturally, it's not even Lyudmila who doesn't realize it. Using myself, or the Dragonewoods, it is not impossible to interact with a remote nation, but neither is it possible to vacate the city for a long time. Especially in this situation where there are many inconveniences, even in dealings with adjacent empires.

"Well, I got the whole story. And this time, if it turns out to be a war, Lyudmila tells me... no, what does your country want from my country?

Georg, with his face up, looks at Lyudmila from the front and distracts him. She gave that behavior a look of surprise for a moment, then a slightly contemplative bare gesture, and.

"For once, I wouldn't ask for anything in particular."

I just said.

"... so, I guess. Honestly, it's tough to be asked for assistance. militarily and economically."

"Yeah, I know. Besides, you don't want to ask for assistance from countries that haven't signed it yet, and you don't want to publish it there yet?

"Well. At the very least, it is desirable to secure a population of 30,000 and a standing army of about 1500. If you say greed, you want about 50,000 people."

"I guess so. I'd like to send you about 20,000 more. Still, I'd say 20% to 30% of the country's subhuman population."

"Ho, is it still tougher than that"

"I wouldn't say that... except for those who work, the young, and those who build their own settlements and are rooted there, that's about it, I suppose?

"Hmm... is that it? Well, let's put a lot of hands around you, even mine. When it comes to settlements, you can try to find and persuade them directly."

This is synonymous with saying, in short, "I'll see for myself if what the Empire said was impossible is really impossible". But in fact, those aspects are faded because the meaning of human persuasion is very different from that of Dragnil.

"As always, you're so outspoken... that's what's happening now. Fine, there will be better results than this human being has told us, although it hurts a little that there is nothing to gain here."

"Right, I want to avoid being in such a way as to ignore previous and upcoming deals. In some cases, should we make a formal deal via the Empire?"

"It would help if you did. If there were a settlement that would respond to your persuasion, would you be able to get in touch with me at the stage where you were promised resettlement?

"Oh, let's do that."

Where the story had gone so far, Georg pressed silently as he had come up with something fuzzy and raised a small groaning voice.

"... we're expanding the city anyway, so let the threat be reduced. Two birds a stone."

"?... What are you talking about?

When Lyudmila accidentally says so, Georg looks up and tells him this with a serious look.

"I don't think I can support you militarily, but I don't think I can help you."

"............... what do you mean?

The words unleashed to answer that question were powerful enough to shock Lyudmila.