Maou No Utsuwa

When the Artenkreutz army, led by Kamui himself, was headed south, the Imperial Chancellor Kainel was visiting the fortifications of the Republic.

The fort, which serves as the gateway to the Artenkreutz Republic, has changed considerably since the Empire held it down. Originally the Nort Ende side was the center of defense, which naturally now turned to the imperial side, and the walls that guarded the fort were stretched out in great measure, and could be even more like castles in a few places.

"When did you get this far..."

Even Kainel, who starts the fort and sees it, can tell that the fort is heavily renovated.

"It was created with astonishing speed. From what I've seen of the construction, I've prepared the materials in advance and they seem to have been assembled at once. I can hear the construction, so the renovation still seems to be going on, but I can't confirm the internal condition."

One of the civil servants who has been negotiating for so long will brief Kainel.

"Really? Where's the negotiation?

"It's a building in front of the entrance to the fort."

"Is that it? The cabin, right?

"It's a cabin built for negotiation. Not to show you how the work is going on inside."

"As always, there's no gap."

Sometimes the role of the negotiating team is to explore what's going on inside. But the Imperial Negotiating Corps, which can't even get inside the fort, hasn't grabbed anything.

"... it looks like the other guy showed up. Let's hurry."

The gates of the fort open slightly, and a few people can be seen coming out of it. One of them checks the existence of the Imperial Negotiating Corps and stops once.

That's just a little time, too. I immediately went into the cabin with the others.

"Alto..."

Chancellor Kainel, whining his name, has a bitter face. As a negotiator, it's because of the thought that one of the worst showed up.

"Did you have any knowledge?"

"It was the same year at Imperial College. What's his position?

"I'm a diplomat for the Republic of Arten Kreutz, but I don't know what I can call a position"

"Why, do you think so?

"On the first negotiating occasion, I answered with a few thoughts. Probably decided on the spot."

"... Really?"

In that way, too, Kainel feels whiteness. You seem to be deliberately making yourself look light.

"We don't match each other as negotiators. Are you sure?

In fact, that's what the Imperial side thought.

"Title has nothing to do with it. He is the right arm of Kamui Kreutz. Ever since I was in college."

"He..."

Civilians are dismayed by the fact of the matter. This is a pre-negotiation issue.

"You didn't know, did you? Don't keep them waiting. Let's hurry."

"Yes."

And the Imperial bargaining corps also heads to the cabin.

◇ ◇ ◇

"The Chancellor of the Schutzarten Empire surprised me with his own visit."

As soon as I entered the cabin, Alto called out to Kainel.

"Inside, I can't seem to get on with it, so I thought I'd check on the situation once."

"I see. Okay, go ahead. Please hang up."

Alto urges me to take a negotiating seat. Chancellor Kainel got a little lost and then took a seat at the edge. Faced from the front, I felt like I was being seen through my feelings.

"Well, shall we get started? Is this from the last confirmation of the negotiations?

As soon as the Imperial side took its seat, Alto proceeded to speak.

"Oh. Let me do that"

"Okay, go ahead."

But I try to get the Imperial side to talk about the content. Without any doubt about this, the Imperial representative opened his mouth as he looked at the documents.

"The Empire of Schutz Alten approves the independence of the Republic of Arten Kreutz"

"Objection"

From the beginning Alto has denied his consent.

"I thought you said last time you didn't need approval. The Republic of Artenkreutz exists as a nation, even without the approval of the Empire"

"But originally Nort Ende was the territory of the Empire"

"It is originally the territory of the Demon Nation. The promises of your country's predecessors to the Emperor only allowed the people of the Empire to live there."

The fact that there was some sort of covenant with the emperor earlier is faint and felt by the imperial side, but its contents are not clear. Naturally, there is no one to know.

"There is no such treaty anywhere"

More than that, the Empire is not going to admit it.

"A contract is a contract even with a promise"

"I can't prove it."

"I'm saying there was a demon clan. That's proof."

The contract is absolute for the Demons. Alto is telling the truth about this.

"If that works, don't you need a contract, a signed document, etc."

"Yeah, it's not necessary. If a man is just as honest with his covenant as the devil."

"You're a man, too."

"So we're seeing what we've agreed on this way. If you are a Demon, you do not need the last confirmation."

"If the Empire recognizes us, we will follow other nations."

"Don't worry, we'll negotiate separately from other countries"

…………

The debate will be stopped once the imperial side has shut up.

The Empire understands that Alto's words are not just threats and complaints. What we know made it weak and even more difficult for the Empire to negotiate.

"Apparently, I can't agree right away. Let's put this behind us and move on."

With these words, the same developments as in previous negotiations await us.

As an empire, we want to position ourselves as a nation, we only want to take the form of a country recognized by the empire. All future negotiation projects presuppose that. There is no point in moving forward with the debate.

"… the establishment of a resident official office in the country"

Were there hundreds of people?

"It's going to increase a little."

"So how many?

"Two hundred, please."

"Is it a little more than double? Well, that would be good. We'll have a place for 200 people."

"So, are you sure this is an agreement?

There was just some progress in the story that I didn't think would go forward.

"Yeah. You can record it."

Alto also gives his consent to the imperial push. The relaxed atmosphere flows to the Imperial personnel.

"So this is a yes."

"I want to ask you one thing"

Chancellor Kainel opened his mouth where he wanted to gather one consent. Alto replies with a slight bitter laugh at it.

"Go ahead. This is a negotiating place, so you don't have to shy away from questions"

"Where will the location of that resident office be secured?

"I'm going to decide that. Anyway, the number of people has doubled, so we need to reconsider."

"I'm pretty sure it's in the King's Capital of the Artenkreutz Republic, right?

"I didn't make that promise. I have trouble comparing Harmonia, our national capital, to that of the Empire. When I say national capital, it's much smaller. We won't have as many as two hundred people in, so we're thinking of another place."

"Where's that?

"I said I was going to think about it?

As for the imperial side, this makes no sense. Some of the two hundred people in charge of intelligence are going to be included. Now we know why Alto gave his consent.

"... twenty of them to the capital of that country"

"I said there's no place"

Kainel intended to show a compromise, but Alto lightly rejects it.

"Only twenty."

"That's just the number of empires"

"What?

"We also have to think about the location of the stationed officials in other countries. If you accept the Empire into the capital, other nations will want it."

"... do you accept the kingdom as well?

"If the kingdom wants it"

The purpose of the Empire is to make resident officials appear to be deputies externally, and to make other countries aware that Northende is only a part of the Empire. This is where we try to keep the face of the Empire, but Alto can't possibly allow it.

"and put this matter on hold."

"If that's what you say. Next time."

"... the matter of the transaction. No tariffs between the two countries, no restricted goods, commercial licences are common to the Empire, the Republic"

The person in charge will read out the following consents: Already, this voice is powerless. Even when Kainel, the prime minister, arrives, he seemingly thinks things will remain the same.

"That's generally fine. There's just one confirmation."

"What?

"Is it good that commercial permits will require approval from both the Empire and our country?

"This one thinks that with one permit or the other, commerce will be possible"

"I don't agree with that"

"Why?"

"Our country does not have a chamber of commerce that has its roots in its own country in the first place. That's what we're going to grow up to, but before we do, we can't have the market monopolized by the Imperial Grand Chamber of Commerce."

"Isn't that the competition of merchants, where the state is heavily involved"

"But the Empire will be the only one whose taxes will fall"

"It's..."

Alto is generally right. Merchants pay taxes on sales to the country in which they are registered. Without tariffs, there would be no tax falling on the other country.

"If this is not possible, I would like instead to have supervisory and taxation powers over all merchants belonging to the Empire. And the promise that the Empire will not be involved in any way."

Alto briefly says, this is tantamount to the Republic taking away the merchants of the Empire. The empire's answer is determined.

"... Chancellor Kainel?

"On hold."

"Next then"

Soon Alto will prompt you to: It's obvious you're unwilling to wrap it up.

"... the cooperation of the imperial border lords in counter-insurgency crackdown"

"I thought you were checking to see exactly what you were looking for?

"Working for Border Lords"

"That's not what my country can do."

"You must have a personal relationship."

"... you mean classmates at school?

"Well, yeah"

"If so, His Majesty the Emperor of your country was also a classmate. How about the Emperor himself, be moved? Oh, this is Chancellor Kainel. He's a classmate."

On this matter, Alto makes a complete mockery of the imperial side. I'm not willing to argue properly.

"… there are rumors that you are pulling the thread behind it"

"Oh, isn't it His Royal Highness Prince Therese who's pulling the thread behind you? I mean, civil unrest in the Empire. It's not about our country."

Rumors circulated by the Empire itself. We cannot deny that from the imperial side.

"... march to rebel crackdown"

There is no better way to pursue it than to be in love. If so, turn the demand into a civil unrest premise. But that only makes it harder to negotiate.

"Our country will send out troops to crack down on civil unrest. What do you get in return for that?

…………

"There is no reason for our country to obey the orders of the Empire. If it's a request for cooperation, there's a little room to think about it, but naturally we want something in return."

"For example?"

"Bearing the cost of the march. armaments, supplies, rewards for soldiers to be marched, etc., all costs of the period"

"What is the reward for soldiers?

"I pay my soldiers. It's about that."

"I've never heard of that"

"Aren't you paying knights even in the empire? And military service is one of taxes. After all, I don't work for free."

What Alto is saying about this is true. It is wrong to ask another country just to march in the army. Gratuities should be paid to the country in whatever form, whether it passes to soldiers or not.

"... how long is the whole thing?

"You won't know until you've finished and seen that. That's how much it costs to prolong it."

"So the last thing you need is an actuarial, right?

"Yeah, that's okay."

"If you drink the terms now, will you march?

Late payment of expenses. It seems in favor of the imperial side, but it can't be.

"I haven't finished explaining the terms yet. Compensation to the family of the deceased soldier. This will be paid monthly for the number of deaths. We can't put compensation for survivors behind us."

"How do we know the number of deaths?

"I'll check the status of the marching party and tell you what's going on."

In other words, the value. As a result, the longer the rebel crackdown prolongs, the more money the Empire will continue to pay to the Republic. Then it's like the Empire is making a morning contribution to the Republic.

…………

"Pending?

Alto asked Kainel instead of a frontal civilian who was losing words and consolidating.

"No, I'll take it down"

"Really? Next."

"Next time we take it down. I'll take everything out of here."

"Then the negotiations are with a crack"

"Let me hear it after I take it down. What are your terms?

"This way? Right…, first of all, the independence of all the peripheral territories and the signing of an inviolable treaty with the Empire"

"Again, that or"

I have also known from the beginning that you will bring this up on the imperial side. We're going to waste our time trying to negotiate in our own country's favor, trying to negotiate from a strong point of view.

"Well, I can't give this away"

"I can't."

"Why?

"It has been decided that the frontier area will be under royal jurisdiction."

"Oh, Grand Duke Quadrilateral. Was the story still there? You ever give up on that?

"... I can't"

This is the condition under which the other princes supported Claudia. Withdraw this and it will develop into a rubbish within the royal family. That is the possibility that Uncle Fang will be responsible for the other princes.

"Then negotiations are still a breakdown"

"If we are to renounce the same border, the Empire also has the option of forming itself with the Kingdom. You think you can turn the two powers against your enemies and win?

"Are you finally threatening me"

"If there's no room for negotiation, that's what happens."

"Help yourself."

"... Hattering doesn't work"

Even so, it's Kanell who's frightened. There's no way Alto isn't thinking about this situation. There has to be something.

"There's another option here, too."

"Say it."

Alto had an idea. Negotiations like threats have a stronger meaning to know this.

"My country will negotiate with another empire."

"What is another empire?

It means negotiating with His Royal Highness Prince Therese.

"There's nothing real about it. There's no point negotiating with that place."

"Not really. Didn't you know yet? As always, I'm relaxed."

"What..."

Anxiety spreads once and for all into Kainel's mind in the way Alto says it. Mistakes in judgment due to lack of information have been repeated many times before.

"The Southern Uncle family is recognising His Royal Highness Prince Therese. The battle of the South is between the borderline lords attached to the Prince Thales and the borderline lords seeking independence."

"Such an idiot..."

In this way, the Empire will be manipulated without knowing important information.

"If you doubt it, you can look into it. Just hurry up because we don't have much time here. If it is a negotiated decision with you, our country will move quickly in that direction. Though I know someone, it takes time to convince all of the southern border territories."

"... you're offering the South to the Tairays?

"If only we could agree in good form on the treatment of the border territory with His Royal Highness Prince Thales"

"... No way, you're grabbing a place?

"No way, did you think we hadn't grabbed it?

This is Todome. In the end, the empire is cornered by Alto just because of the information it has. Prime Minister Kainel's threats were easily smashed apart by Alto's counter-attack.

"... I'd like a moment."

"Be my guest. It's not up to us."

"... I want to hear one more thing"

"Go ahead."

"Why do you resent the Empire so far? I want to know why."

"I don't think I would understand if I explained it?

"Still good"

"The Empire of Schutz Alten has betrayed the Demons. As I said a little earlier, the Demons are honest with their contract. I will not tolerate betrayal because I am sincere. That's what I'm saying."

"... Therays is also the royal family of the Empire"

"The resentment, not to the royal family, is in the Empire of Schutzarten. Destroyed the traitor Schutz Alten Empire. That fact seems important to the Demons."

I don't know.

You can't possibly tell. Alto hasn't spoken of the betrayal of the heart. Even if I did, I still wouldn't understand if I didn't know some of the devil's ideas.

"I guess. I don't really understand the demon reason either. But that's the thing. It would be nice if the Empire of Schutz Alten were gone from the world. And I understand that resentment disappears."

"... you say you won't be distracted until you destroy the Empire only"

"Were you listening to people?

Here Alto has changed his tone. To show some seriousness.

"What do you mean?

"Well, specially. The Demons don't want to destroy the Empire. I want to destroy Schutz Alten. Schutz Alten means [Ancient Guardian]. There's no way we're going to let that unqualified name us."

"... I don't think so."

Kainel can tell what Alto wants if he says so far. But I still didn't understand what that meant.

"Well, today's negotiations are over. Because if I talk too much, I'm guilty. Bye."

Upon the conclusion of the negotiations, the Alts, on the part of the Republic, immediately left the cabin. All that was left was a negotiating group on the imperial side sitting blindly.

"... Chancellor?

"Is that true?

"No way, is that really what that means?

"I just think so"

"Oh, no."

"Hurry back. We need to talk to His Majesty as soon as possible."

The negotiating delegation rushes out of the cabin and back to the battlefield where His Majesty Claudia is. And the Empire will dance on Alto's palm.

◇ ◇ ◇

Based on the information obtained from Alto, the Empire also moved to gather information to obtain backing. That's the whole point, where it's over, the Council of Ministers.

"I got confirmation. Indeed, the southern ambassador is leading the rebel peripheral lords in their fight. But then he seems to have been betrayed, and now he's leading another border lord."

"What are you doing, southern uncle? So you're pretty sure he's in charge of the Terrays?

Upon hearing a report from intelligence, Kainel has a frightened face. Things are serious for the Empire, but it was still a feeling of pity for the Southern uncle.

"Yes. I seem to have fallen asleep, promised the King of the South. This is testimony from officials on the side of the Border Lord."

"Information on the border lord…, what kind of messenger sent to the southern ambassador?

When it comes to information brought to you by the border lords, Kainel cannot be pelted. It is fully possible that it is the measure of the Kamuis.

"The southern ambassador has told us that such a fact is unlikely."

"Have you ever led a rebel border lord?

"I need to know."

"... is it true that you're hiding something? What about the march to the East?

"He said he couldn't afford it," he said.

"What about the order to come and report even to the Southern Uncle alone?

"Likewise, you can't afford it"

"You're infinitely close to black. All right, let's keep gathering information from the South."

"Ha."

Cainel turned to Claudia and the others where the intelligence man left the room.

"As you asked."

"It was true, wasn't it?

"If you think about the worst, the South is all in disavowal. And the East is as we know it. If the Republic of Artenkreutz is involved here, it is good to assume that the east and south will be wrapped together in one with anti-imperial. The territory as a whole is still dominant on the imperial side, but when it comes to fighting, five minutes at most"

"You haven't put Uncle Oriental in the math."

It's Oscar I've been pointing out.

"That didn't suck. Worst of all, the Oriental House is also on the Tairaise side through Hildegand. With military power, the opponent will be on top."

"The center of the Empire is empty. Don't let the South get you up north all at once."

"For wishing to hold on to your Western uncle"

"I guess the whole army won't let it out. There are also signs of rebellion on the western border. You got hit with this too. It's not easy to drag the Western House out once again."

"Hey, what about the Northern Uncle? It's closer than the West Uncle."

Claudia cracked into the interaction between the two of them. It's a rare and accurate question for Claudia.

"You won't move your own territory out of fear of the Republic. Only the central noble army that is rallying here will then be able to move"

"If you move it, the Oriental House may move"

"... I can't help it. Move somewhere, it gets thinner there. They're just going to poke me in the face."

That's the basics of the Kamui's strategy. The Empire fits right in with it.

"I just have to cut some yarn that gets tied. For that matter, we must reconcile ourselves with the Republic."

But we can't abandon everything on the border.

"East and south. Each of these two will be independent."

This is a pretty thoughtful decision. That means that Kainel is good enough to make all these decisions.

"So does the Republic really accept peace negotiations?

"You don't know unless you're honest and look at it. I just need to fulfill at least one more condition"

"Is it really necessary?

Another piece of information that Kainel brought home. Oscar has doubts about this. It was too ridiculous to receive properly.

"That's what I received. Those who accompanied them thought the same thing."

"Are you sure you want to do that? Changing the name of an empire that lasted a thousand years, etc."

"But the empire is tied to its name. I thought about the meaning of the contract."

"You get it?

"I don't know. But I think this is the case. I don't know when, but the Empire and the Demons made a pact. I don't even know what that is, but the Empire broke that covenant anyway. The Demons are angry about it. It was the Empire of Schutz Alten who contracted to take the contract strictly. Without that Schutz Alten Empire, the contract will be null and void, and there will be no obligation to pay compensation for breaking the contract."

Kainel's guess says a pretty good line. But it would be impossible to fully understand. The truth remains the word of Alto. "Ancient Guardian" is the name of a country built as a shield to protect Northende. It is unacceptable for an empire that betrayed the Demons to be named. That's all.

"The Empire is the Empire"

"What if it wasn't His Majesty Claudia who inherited the Schutz Alten Empire, it was Therese?

"Hey!"

"Convenient. To push Tairays to blame for breaking the contract. Fortunately, His Majesty Claudia has not held an emperor's inauguration ceremony. When we do that, we won't be able to say that we succeeded SchutzAlten if we name him Emperor of another country name, not Emperor SchutzAlten."

"You're delusional."

"But Tsujitsu fits. Isn't that what the Demons need?

I don't need this kind of twisting at all, but in people who don't understand the truth, it's normal to think like this.

"I don't know that."

"That's right. Because I'm half-hearted. But it's worth a try. Interpretation, the country name is the country name. If that changes, it doesn't change the contents."

"It is for us..."

Oscar's gaze turns to Claudia. No matter how much the two of us discuss this matter, the decision can only be made by Claudia.

"Isn't that something good?

"Sire, are you sure?

Though Oscar is disturbed by Claudia, who admits it too lightly.

"'Cause the country name is the country name, right? I'm no different than being an emperor."

Claudia's answer is this, and this is the real deal. Being an emperor. That's all that matters to Claudia.

"... ok"

"But my brother and Hildegand need to do something about it. Sometimes with the kingdom."

"If we lose the connection between the Republic and Therese, we'll figure it out."

"What about Kamui-kun and Hildegand?

"Kamui-kun?

"Oh, I was a classmate."

"... because they are also kings, it is difficult to call them too lightly."

Claudia turns into a monster as soon as she sees peace negotiations going on. Though frightened by the speed of this transformation, for another reason, Kainel cautioned against it.

"Bye, Mr. Kamui"

But it doesn't make sense to Claudia in such a far-flung way.

"... with the King"

"King Kamui...... Sounds like someone you don't know, huh?

"Anyway, so please. So what are you talking about King Kamui and Hildegand?

"You two were close, so I thought you'd be okay."

"It was ten years ago. Besides, King Kamui has not been directly involved in the fight against Hildegand. If we're close, don't we show some movement?

"But..."

"So, would you like to try it? He asked me to give him a hand to discuss Hildegand. If you're going to destroy Schutz Alten, say it's a muscle."

It feels like a throw, Kainel said, but even that doesn't work for Claudia. You will dig the grave completely.

"... right. Maybe that's good."

"Are you serious!?

"The Chancellor said it himself, didn't he?

"There's no reason to accept."

"If you don't tell me, I won't know."

"... is that an order?

"I am the Emperor."

Negotiations with the Republic are nothing but painful for Kainel. A new seed of headache was added to it.