Legend

The soldiers who were on watch at the Merclio Army position that day see a group coming towards the position.

A group of ten or so, dressed in brilliant costumes.

This one is also on a horse decorated as well as the costume, approaching their position slowly.

"Hey. Hey, that... what do you think?

Soldier whining like confused.

That would be natural, too. If this has brought weapons closer to your hands, you can imagine a group of nobles, adventurers, mercenaries, or prostitutes joining the Merclio army.

Or it could be a unit of the Crusaders who acted recklessly and arbitrarily in a hurry to handle it.

But the group coming this way, when it came to weapons, was about a rapier decorated to excess, tucked away in the sheath of his hips, and it was clear that he was definitely not going to fight it if he saw it not pulled out.

"I don't care what they say we do... what do we do for real? It's a little hard to tell if you're an enemy or an ally."

To the words, all the soldiers who were listening nodded as they agreed.

In fact, I didn't know how to deal with it.

Still, we have to deal with more than the other one approaching...

"I can't help it, I'm just gonna get the captain. You guys listen to me from that group.... I don't think you're going to be attacking me while keeping me alert like that, but don't be alarmed."

"Oh, of course. Get me a captain sooner than that."

A soldier nodding at the words and entering the position.

Hopefully you'll be back as soon as you can before it gets too much trouble.

Soldiers who have dropped off their companions with such thoughts look to a group that approaches with the other soldiers who remain on this occasion.

Even for that group, you naturally know that they have already been noticed, but still keep going without changing the speed of movement... eventually we arrive in front of the position.

"Stop it. This is the headquarters of the Merclio army. I want you to tell me what brought you here."

When you have a problem, poke with a spear in your hand. To the words out of the mouth of the soldier with such thoughts, the person at the head of the brilliant group honestly stops the horse and opens his mouth.

"The Merclio Army? I did hear you were a rebel, but did your name change?

Out of the person's mouth was an unexpectedly calm voice.

The soldiers, who had assumed that he was a very high-pressure figure, taste thoughts slightly out of his mind.

So the soldier, who spoke to the person in front of him, observes once again the person on the horse in front of him.

She adorned herself and the horse she was riding with in a gorgeous outfit, but she also looked so neat that she couldn't beat the gorgeous outfit.

There is no high-pressure atmosphere while I am there, and I am polite in my language.

It was easy to imagine that he was probably someone in some position.

"Yes, His Royal Highness Frizione's army has joined us, and the name Rebel means it tastes all kinds of bad, and now it is Merclio's army"

The man nods as he is convinced by the words of the soldier who tells him the right words.

"I see. Because people may hear a lot worse in the rebels, for sure. … So again. My name is Frederick and I serve His Highness Kabazid. This time I came as a negotiating envoy to His Highness Merclio, His Highness Frizione and His Highness Vihella."

Hearing the word to serve Kabazid, the soldiers who were on the spot can put their strength into the hands where each holds a weapon.

But still, I guess I didn't actually lay down my weapon because I still didn't feel any willingness to fight on anyone who named me Frederick.

The same is true of those led by Frederick, who told him that he was Kabazid's man, but no hostility existed against the soldiers at all.

"Negotiation, is it? Ok. We are currently sending someone in charge of this situation, please wait a little longer"

"Yes, I understand. Then let me do that.... Still, this place just became a battlefield a while ago, and it doesn't make you feel that way at all"

Frederick groans as he looks around.

In fact, the kinds of fences that had already been destroyed had also been repaired, and the kinds of rubbish, such as fragments of weapons and protective equipment that had been scattered on the ground, as well as the corpses, traces of blood, had been cleaned up beautifully, not very much, but I did not think there had been intense fighting here.

Most importantly, among the positions, this entrance and exit face the streets, and because of the large number of people, it was cleaned up as a matter of priority.

"Yeah. It was our victory somehow. I was able to handle it after the war."

"Really? According to what I've heard, it's a good, drawn-out, detailed victory for us."

"No, no, no way. Somehow, as soon as Deep Red appeared, your unit was half-destructed, right? In the end, it caused a lot of soldiers to escape, so I'm pretty sure it's an objective victory."

"But still, I couldn't completely crush this one? It is also true that, no matter how hard you try, there are still more overwhelming numbers on the Crusaders' side. If you think about that area, it's more of you in the sense of depletion of your power, right? This one has lost some fighting power, but it's been replenished."

As we interact that way that each other is our own victory, the soldiers notice the footsteps that inadvertently approach us.

The person approaching in a hurry is the captain of the soldiers on watch here.

I guess I've been listening and running. When he comes near the soldiers with a spear in his hand, he exchanges a word or two with one of the soldiers on the spot, then loosens his legs and turns his gaze towards Frederick.

"I heard you were serving His Highness the Cabazide?

"Yes. My name is Frederick. I was sent to negotiate with His Royal Highness Merclio, His Highness Frizione and His Highness Vihella. This is proof of who I am."

That's what they told me and gave me: a dagger.

The sheath of the dagger is carved with the crest used by Kabazid.

There is also the possibility that someone somewhere is taking the dagger itself and deceiving it, but it is also true that it cannot come all the way under the hostile Merclio army.

"Okay. I've already reported it, so I'll show you."

"Really? That would help."

With a small grin, Frederick is led into the position by the captain.

Inside the magic tent was currently full of blurring.

That would be natural, too. Because a hostile Qabazid sent a negotiating envoy.

What is the purpose of the negotiations?

Whether it is a recommendation to surrender or a negotiation for the return of a large number of prisoners obtained in the last battle, it is unlikely that they will surrender again.

The Merclio army executives were discussing it.

"Tiyul, what do you think?

When Merclio asks, Tiyul shakes his neck sideways with a difficult look on his face.

"I don't know. When it comes to prisoners, I know there's no reason to be so rude..."

"We're only going to lose each other to prolong the fight any longer, so why don't we settle in the next fight?

To Gurgasto's words, even though he thinks it might be possible for a moment, he eventually hits the problem and shakes his neck sideways.

"... but we have Lord Ray here, don't we? If you get hit from the front in that situation, that's the other side more likely to lose unilaterally"

No one can dispute that word that came out of Tiyur's mouth.

In fact, so far the Crusaders have been the Second Crusader Army, the Merclio Army that just happened the other day - the rebels at the time - the main offensive and defensive. And it falls a bit in size, but it has been heavily damaged by Ray many times by the fact that the troops that the Frizione army was ambushing when they escaped the Empire City...

If Ray, who has so much power, says he is in the Merclio army, but he asks if he will fight from the front properly, the answer will be no.

If at least the people on this scene were hostile to Ray, they would say no if asked if they wanted to fight from the front, unless they were also the kind of people who had suicidal aspirations.

"Can't you think that we have the means to manage that...

To the words of Gurgasto, the surroundings calm back.

If that's true, it's because the next battle is sure to be overwhelmingly unfavourable because of the number of issues.

"Ma... well, well. Whether they really want it or not is because they actually have to hear it from the person they came to negotiate with. Even if we decide on the area now... that's what Lord Tiyur said earlier, the possibility of surrender from the other side cannot be discarded."

Everyone on the spot exhales in relief at the words spoken by one of the nobles.

As a matter of fact, it is still unclear what the negotiations are about.

It was harmless and unprofitable to disturb my thoughts.

"Right. I don't think you need to think about it in depth right now. If it bothers you, it's fine after the other story comes out.... Theorame, what's going on around you?

To Merclio's words, Theorem, who had refrained nearby, opens his mouth immediately.

"We're putting in the right amount of power for when something happens. I also sent a contact soldier to His Royal Highness Frizione and Lady Vihella, so I thought I'd be here soon."

"... what about Ray? Maybe you won't be with your sister, will you?

"Yes. I'm still a little physically lazy, which means I'm resting in a magic tent. Anything, using a magic item would have caused a lighter drain of magic! He was screaming,"

What are you talking about? and Merclio, who for a moment did not understand.

That would be natural, too. Because Ray himself had completely forgotten the existence of the sucker bracelet he was equipped with.

Magic item that has the effect of attacking an opponent and absorbing magic that is proportional to the damage inflicted by it, the Absorber Bracelet.

But because Ray himself had enormous magic, he had never had a chance to use it before.

Consequently, although Ray also sees the bracelet every day, it completely became a recognition that it was just a bracelet, and he had forgotten its effect beautifully.

No matter how high performance magic items are, they are only treasure spoils if they are not activated through magic.

In that sense, I guess the Sucker Bracelet has never been used before because it had enormous magic power.

"Anyway, who is Master Vihella..."

"Oh, what's wrong with me?"

In the middle of Theorem's words, just in time, Vihella enters the magic tent.

Behind it were Frizione and Angela, who was also his escort.

"Sister, are you listening?

"Yeah. Anything, Brother Kabazid. You think the upper hand is here? I'm talking about a negotiator."

"Right. According to what I've heard, yes."

A knight shows up from the entrance and exit of the magic tent as Merclio nods and tries to say something again.

"Your Highness Merclio, a messenger from His Highness the Cabazide is here. Do you mind if I let you through?

"... before Ray came, but I can't help it. Yeah, I don't mind letting you through."

It was unfortunate that there was no Ray on this occasion, but I still tell him that without making the messenger wait.

While I find it inconvenient that Ray's magic tent is out of position at a time like this.

"Excuse me. My name is Frederick, and I serve His Highness Kabazid. It is a great honor to meet His Highness Frizione and His Highness Vihella, starting with His Highness Merclio. Seeing as there are other aristocrats to be named, it even feels as if there's another castle in the capital."

Those who were listening to it unwittingly smile at Frederick, who takes a disarmed group and tells them gracefully as he enters the magic tent.

It is true that there are many nobles who are quite famous on this occasion, but few are still commonly regarded as leading nobles.

Barely the Marquis of Lognos enters it, Theorem, whether Angela enters it or not?

Most of all, I am intoxicated by Vihella, Gurgasto, who is the head of the Count Obrisin family but famous for his combat fanaticism, and Tiyul, the famous Viscount Booggle family as an artist, and some famous people in the sense of singularity rather than power.

"Ha, it's no match for the abundance of talent on Brother Kabbazide or Brother Schulz. I can't believe you've lost so many battles in a row, but I'm impressed that you still have all that power."

Out of Merclio's mouth was a word of restraint.

Since the beginning of this civil war, it has been a word indicating that our battles have been overwhelming.

"Right. Competent talent is gathering like a beautiful star.... So, quick, but do you mind if I get down to business?

"Right, we don't waste each other's time. I don't know what you're here to negotiate... I want you to know."

Frederick opens his mouth once again gracefully to Merclio, who encourages him to talk.

"So... Your Highness Merclio, would you like to surrender to His Highness Kabazid?