Maou No Utsuwa

Westmid, capital of the kingdom of Dia. Formally, the situation is that it is still under the occupation of the Rusua Imperial Army, but the residents are so vibrant that they don't feel it.

It's a bloodless settlement to open a castle, even if it's occupied. Neither the capital nor the inhabitants had the damage caused by the battle. Nothing can stand in the way of people's lives going back to normal as long as they recover from the spiritual pain of defeat. On the contrary, the occupation army 120,000, now reduced to half, but the presence of, in economic terms, contributes greatly to Westmid regaining its vitality.

Once the war is over, the soldiers will have no time for anything other than daytime training and alternating policing tasks. There is no home for them in Westmid.

Every day I roll out into the downtown area with my nocturnal friends. Such soldiers can be considered superiors who drop quite a bit of money for those who do business, as long as they put up with the soldier-like arrogance of the victorious kingdom.

Westmid had shown much more vibrancy than it had been before the occupation.

And it is the ghetto, Westmid's largest downtown area, that is benefiting to the fullest.

"Hey, is it good to make so much money?

Dark, who is getting reports of sales, looks like he can't stop laughing.

"Now that the number of Imperial Armies is halved, I thought it would be quite affected, but so far it's not as good as I thought it would be"

Failure to keep exactly 120,000 troops stationed forever led to 30,000 troops returning to the Ruthua Empire's home country. Thirty thousand more are scattered around the West Mid. This is to guard against the departing forces of the old Empire.

"As far as I can tell, it looks like you're getting more free than you used to. Spend money if you have time. That makes sense."

So far in the western part of the continent, there has been no movement of disobedience to imperial rule. Quite a few subordinates of the old empire have left, enough to be concerned about the move. That's also 10,000, even if it's a lot to estimate as an army. Not enough for the Empire to be vigilant.

The tensions in the Imperial Army are also considerably resolved in this situation, resulting in more free time for soldiers.

"Aren't you going to return more troops to your home country? Waste of money."

Talking to Dark is Azin tying the commercial division of the Glades. Azin is happy to make money, but he also has the complicated thought that he cares about the waste of the empire.

"It's a waste, isn't it? But I don't have the courage to bring the Imperial Army back home."

Even though Westmid's garrison has been halved, a quarter of them have returned to their home countries. Ninety thousand still remain in the western part of the continent.

"But as it is, the Empire's finances will collapse."

"I just want that to happen. Before that, would the kingdom of Dia go bankrupt?

"Huh?"

"Apparently, the kingdom of Dia is responsible for a significant portion of the garrison expenses"

"... is that what you mean"

Let the defeated country, the Kingdom of Dia, bear its military costs. This could be a story, Azin thought.

"Maybe you're mistaken. It's the king of the kingdom of Deere who doesn't have the courage, is it?

"Yes?"

"With the Imperial Army gone, you seem to think you're in danger. Well, I know how you feel about the amount of dust that's floating in the universe. A quarter of the army left. Didn't you think that's all some people resent themselves?

"... and 90,000 troops?

Hearing Dark explain, Azin is taken aback. Azin doesn't know how Claudia feels as much as the dust. You can't possibly tell.

"Well, because it's her. Sometimes you don't know if she's an enemy or an ally, do you? A genius who does harm to his own camp. In that sense, you're on my side."

"In that regard, I have one report."

Squeezing his expression, Azin has told Dark that he has a report.

"... what is it?

Dark also gives a serious look to Azin's shitty atmosphere.

"The matter of uptake of the upper echelons of the empire. Now we know what's causing it not to go well."

"... hey, I had a reason"

The Darks were waiting for a chance to make contact in order to extract information from the upper echelons of the Empire. But the General Class of the Ruthua Imperial Army has no sign of taking any foot in the pleasure district.

Then I can't even set up a honey trap.

"According to what the whore told us, the general of the Empire seems to live a luxurious life of senior aristocracy"

"Imperial army generals are not that profitable... are they?

Unless you have so much merit, when it comes to generals, you're just a jazz at the throne. Bottom line among the nobles. Dirk thought there was no story that only the Ruthuan Empire was special.

"Yes, that life is provided by the Kingdom of Dia. We were given the mansion of a nobleman, and many servants were prepared, and it seems that among the servants there are many beautiful women named Samurais"

"... were you hit first?"

I don't have to get a detailed explanation of what that beautiful samurai is for.

"You seem to enjoy a luxurious life that you cannot taste in the Ruthua Empire's own country. The general knight of the Empire envied it, which means he was stupid, so I thought it was definitely information first."

"... this is the kind of place that keeps that woman alert, right?

There's a grin on Dark's face, but those eyes aren't laughing.

"With the instructions of King Deere?

"Otherwise, how can you let me use the Mansion of the King's Capital? I mean, so far, I don't see anyone playing that role in the kingdom of Dia.... just in case, should I look into it?

There are currently no talents in the Kingdom of Dia who are described as strategists. But then again, thinking it might just not be getting the information, Dirk ordered an investigation.

"But for what? No matter how much you take in, you're an army person, and many of them are bound to return to your country one day."

"Isn't that to get you to work in that country?

"... I see. You mean our story was true."

Claudia is trying to make her child the next emperor of the Ruthua Empire. The Darks are spreading this rumor to the world. To create a crack within the Ruthua Empire.

But there's a possibility that that doesn't end with the Darks making it up.

"What do you want to do?

Dry, who had refrained from reporting himself, opened his mouth here.

"If the general can't, aim for that servant. If you can, I wish I could take in that samurai, but I forbid you can't. Don't use it except in a sure way."

"Okay. We'll start by looking at the qualities and figure out how to do it individually."

"Please.... well, let's keep going and have it reported?

I also hear it from Dry. That's why Dry is here.

"Yes. The plan is going well. As it stands, there are four cities under control. It's all a small city, except for one, but I was wondering if the stronghold had been seized."

Dry is reporting on the expansion of forces into the Ruthuan Empire itself. Dirk's organization had already seized four cities.

"What's the resistance around you?

"Just one place. Saku, a city in Count Ivarev's territory in the western part of the empire, is choking from the surrounding cities."

"The West... because it's definitely a stronghold. You have a lot of rights, don't you?

It is a city on the streets that connect the east and west of the continent. Where it serves as a trading hub, the profits are still enormous, and many people flock to their rights.

"Yes, I used the lord's connection to Northende to create a base, but it was a little too big"

Count Ivarev is a connected opponent, using the picking of illegal slaves to plant a scattered suspicion of Emperor Nicolai. Dirk's organization also used the handout to create a base in the territory.

"Okay. I can't help but get a little flashy there."

Dark is not going to make a sudden noticeable move as his forces expand into the Ruthua Empire's own country. We're going to move once and for all, with more bases and some expansion.

"Now put in the personnel.... However, if you want to put in personnel, can you also drop the mosque?

Mr. Watt's here.

Watts are quite considerable in the imperial mosque of the Ruthua Empire, and their forces are expanding. With a massive infusion of personnel, control is possible.

"Wouldn't it be easier if we dropped the Empire?

Dry had doubts about not daring to pick up the imperial mosque.

"I think the opposite is true. Even if you drop the center, its forces just scatter around you. Crushing that is a hassle, isn't it? If you head north, the south will storm, and if you go south, the east will move."

"It's..."

Dry realized that some country was in such a situation.

"Yes, the same as the Empire. Empires who subordinated many countries at once only gained vast territories of instability. Don't you think?

"Will there be another war?"

"Why do you think it would calm down in the empire when the periphery of the empire was all that rough?

"... None"

The Ruthuan Empire has an even larger subordinate kingdom than the border territory of the old empire. Instead of being okay in the empire, it could be rougher the other way around.

"Looks like some countries are trying to use that. My prediction is that the Imperial Army will move as soon as it reaches 90,000, 60,000."

If the number of Imperial troops in the western part of the continent decreases, there are countries that start to flutter. Dark has this information. The question is how other forces move when that country moves. That makes it possible for the continent to have more wars wrapped up than ever before.

Dark wants that to happen. That's why it's moving now.

◇ ◇ ◇

When Dark was having a disturbing meeting in the Glades. In the castle of the same king's capital, a meeting of the Ruthuan Empire was taking place. Emperor Nicolai is also present at the Council of Ministers.

"I want the date and time of the Second Battalion to be clear"

It's Chancellor Cromore we're talking about. No matter how many messengers he sent, Emperor Nicolai would not return to the Imperial Capital, so Chancellor Cromore was visiting Westmid himself to persuade him.

"The Chancellor is said to be the Second Formation, but now is not the time to stabilize the western part of the continent?

It was General Baskin who disputed Prime Minister Cromore's statement to further the return of the Imperial Army.

"Where in the West of the Continent is there a conflict?

There is no such thing as conflict anywhere. I know this and Chancellor Cromore is asking.

"It's... not now, though"

"Does that mean it's going to happen up ahead?

"Yes. If the deterrence of my army is gone, there will always be a country to move."

This General Baskin's idea is not a mistake. It is true that the presence of the Ruthuan Imperial Army of 90,000 is holding back the insurgency.

"So when, and how, can we disband the army? You wouldn't tell me to keep deploying 90,000 troops to the West of the continent forever."

"It's..."

General Baskin does not have the answer to Prime Minister Cromore's question. This is the same for the other generals.

"Eliminate the rebel forces. So where are those rebels?

Neither do the generals have this answer. I don't have it at all, but I haven't found a hitter for it.

"If this state of affairs continues, sooner or later the finances of the Kingdom of Dia will collapse. And that's the same for our empire. I can't let 90,000 troops go on expeditions all the time."

"I know that. But what if we pull up the army and there's a conflict in the West?

Even though he doesn't have an answer himself, General Baskin is pointing the question at people. Even if I complain about this, leaving it inconclusive, it's just cheating and the problem postponing.

"If it can't be solved by the military, it can be solved by politics."

"Can you solve it?

"I don't know that unless I try. But if we don't do anything, the status quo will eventually go bankrupt."

The only way to escape a financial meltdown is to do something. It's natural. The military doesn't have the courage to do that for granted. In national politics, the military forces are weak for whatever reason.

"How to do that?

"Let important figures such as the righteous queens and princesses of each country live in the capital. I mean, take hostages."

"Is that... isn't there also a country out there that refuses?

"If you refuse, it will be against Your Majesty. For that sin, you can crusade."

"After all, isn't it military?"

"It's better than just being there for nothing. I can blur the rebel forces. If we discuss it, the West will stabilize."

Chancellor Cromore is right. The question is, can we discuss it? Chancellor Cromore naturally thinks we can discuss it.

"What if we are forced to be strong and the subordinate nations are in such a state of simultaneous beeping?

"... what are you talking about?

"Our army, which is positioned in the West, is 90,000. Plus $120,000 for the Royal Diamond Army. On the other hand, the subordinate army hasn't exactly grabbed it, but it's over 150,000."

The military never thinks they can win. It is natural that there will never be a victory or defeat, but the military was afraid to let go of the victory they once grabbed.

"You mean you can't win?

"I'm just saying it can't be absolute. At least on the count, this one's at a disadvantage."

"So..."

Chancellor Cromore swallowed the spoken word. Because I thought it inappropriate to put it into words on this occasion with Emperor Nicolai.

Chancellor Cromore turns his gaze subtly to Vasily. Besides, Vasily responded by shaking her head slightly.

"... seems to need a little more work on the diplomatic side"

"Even the military are striving to increase their power."

It should have been on the agenda of returning stationed troops to their home countries, but there has been a change in the conversation about strengthening the army. Chancellor Cromore, who heard this, found that there was something missing in his perception.

Now that we know this, we have to make up for that missing part.

"For once, I would like to open it. Wen Wu will need time to consider each."

Chancellor Cromore asked Emperor Nicolai to adjourn the meeting.

"Hmm. If that's the case, I don't have a choice. Today's meeting is adjourned."

Emperor Nicolai immediately accepted the adjournment of the meeting. Neither has Emperor Nicolai himself come up with any concrete measures to deal with the current situation.

Emperor Nikolai takes his seat and leaves the conference room. I had just seen that, and the other participants left the meeting room.

The only two left are Chancellor Cromore and Vasily.

"What do you mean?

In truly succinct terms, Chancellor Cromore asked Vasily to explain the situation.

"There are a few, but the best part is that the Empire hasn't really won"

"... militarily, huh?

"Yes."

Peace in the western part of the continent is what diplomacy exchanged. Moreover, the old empire has offered to obey itself. Neither the Republic nor any other country fought and chose to obey. The military clashes had not taken place outside the south at all.

"That's not a bad thing. We won without a fight. It's a way of winning."

"I don't think it was a mistake either. But the military isn't. We are dissatisfied with our failure to capture a military victory."

"... was passive enough to wonder if you were afraid of fighting at an earlier meeting"

"I'm afraid."

"What?"

Chancellor Cromore has expressed considerable surprise at Valerie's words. If the military is afraid of military action, there is nothing we can do about it. Even if we proceed with diplomacy, it is a story that works only if we have a background in the power of the military.

"When it comes to the military, it's just the upper echelons, but I'm afraid of fighting in two ways. One is still the Republic. I'm afraid we can beat the Republic."

"Ninety thousand. You mean the army of the kingdom of Dia can't win, even 120,000?

"... can you just keep what you're about to talk about in the head of Chancellor Cromore? It's a rather disrespectful story."

"... oh. I won't say anything else."

Chancellor Cromore's eyebrows are praised. I'm not blaming Vasily for trying to talk disrespectfully, I'm just wondering if the problem is that big.

"My name is the Republic, and Kamui Kreutz's influence was more than I thought."

"... Kamui Kreutz"

Chancellor Cromore is meeting Kamui before he comes to Westmid. Now being in Westmid also affects how long I've been told I'm not going to let Emperor Nikolai return to the Empire.

"We thought that the former Imperial Frontier Territory used Kamui Kreutz for its own benefit. I guess that does exist. But on the other hand, some border lords wondered if Kamui was looking to unite the Empire"

"What...?

"There's no need to say anything else from here. This is Kamui, who appeared in the vows of his subordination, but the results did not take the form we wanted. Kamui Kreutz has an overwhelming presence..."

Even though I tell you a disrespectful story, Vasily can't speak the last word.

"Are you out of line?

Chancellor Cromore guessed it and returned the question in a way that excluded who.

"... Yes"

Emperor Nikolai and Kamui Kreutz. If I think which one deserves a champion, I can never do it in my mouth, but Vasily thinks I'm kamui.

Vasily, a minister of the Ruthuan Empire, thinks so. It is not necessary to ascertain what the people of the subordinate kingdom think.

"You should kill him."

"How? If we could do that, the Empire would have done it a long time ago."

Not only is Kamui himself jumping through and strong, but he's also quite powerful all around him. Raiding won't even get you close.

"If you wait patiently, there will always be gaps. Do we need to be a little alarmed to do that?"

"How is that again, too, is. If that's enough, I think I'd better think about taking it into the empire."

"Taking it into the Empire?

"We give him the status he deserves in the Empire, and we ask him to use his abilities for the Empire. If we can do that, the Ruthua Empire can truly be the champion of the continent."

"It's..."

If Kamui can be taken into the empire, the power of the Republic will belong not only to Kamui himself, but also to the empire. Chancellor Cromore understands how much that power is.

But I get anxiety that if I can do it, if I can do it, then there really isn't going to be a problem.

"If it's true, I wish I could marry you"

Vasily has the same concerns. But to enter into a marital relationship, Kamui has an honest wife named Hildegand. If I knew the relationship between the two of them from college, I'd know that imitation like letting them interrupt there would be counterproductive.

"You don't have kids?

"I didn't hear you say you were there."

"... can't you"

Chancellor Cromore is also somewhere where he can have a little reassurance material if he can also tie it in a marital relationship, but I found that impossible.

"Still, I think we should try to think about the future of the Empire"

Emperor Nikolai may feel bad about being compared to Kamui. But if we can fully capture the power of the Republic. In the next generation, one generation after another, Vasily believes that the Emperor Seedorf family can truly be the champion of the continent.

"... let me think about it for a second"

Chancellor Cromore withheld his conclusions. Vasily's thoughts are understandable, and quite convincing. But I still learn to resist putting Kamui at the centre of the empire.

"... ok"

Vasily doesn't expect you to accept it right away either. I know it's quite risky.

"And it may feel trivial compared to what we're talking about right now, but there's something to keep in your ear"

"What kind of thing?

"The rest of the two things the military is afraid of"

"You did. Speak."

Chancellor Cromore also remembered that Vasily had first said he was afraid of the two.

"Senior officers in the military live quite extravagantly here in Westmid. It's a life that I think is a senior nobleman."

"How can you live like that?

"The Kingdom of Dia is giving such treatment. They are also afraid of losing their lives."

"... can't you kill him?

Chancellor Cromore was to utter another noisy dialogue. It's not like I like assassinations. I can't stand being annoyed by this stuff, so I'm just mouthing a cheap way.

"Because that is the king of the kingdom of Dia, and this castle is the castle of the kingdom of Dia"

"Is it hard to protect?"

"Besides, now, if you kill him, the subordinates of the kingdom of Dia could disobey even further. Because a lot of people will be patient that this time it's the king's decision."

"... right"

Old Imperial Army. A quarter of the kingdom of Dia left the country unhappy with his subordination. Those who remain are also only patient because it was decided by Claudia, many of whom are kings.

Now if Claudia were to assassinate me, everything else would be disobeyed. Now with a clear will to rebel.

"This time there is no military victory, which means that if you do as prescribed, the military department will receive little reward. I don't know how much that makes sense, but I think we should consider it."

"Okay. Let's consider it."

Granting you a grace doesn't make you live like a nobleman. I doubt it will work, but Chancellor Cromore still thought it was better than doing nothing.

Empire that has kept most of the West under control at once, but therefore fails to handle all matters well. Depending on the territorial expansion, we need to strengthen human resources and reorganize ourselves, not only in the military, but also in political terms, which we have not yet been able to do.

The Ruthua Empire was in a strange situation where the West should have been ruled by the power of numbers, but could not govern well because of a lack of numbers.