Maou No Utsuwa

The headquarters of the Ruthua Imperial Army, which is carrying out the Kingdom of Oppenheim offensive, is located in the third city of Irburg in the western part of the continent. Castle fort city along the streets connecting Bestenbrumme, king capital of the Kingdom of Oppenheim, to West Mid, a city that also flourished greatly during the period of the Schutz Alten Empire as a focal point for dealings between the west and the centre. Since the Kingdom of Oppenheim stepped out of its rebellion against the Ruthuan Empire, its role as a trading point has become useless, and on top of that, there has been no buzz at all with the fact that it is now in the occupation of the Ruthuan Imperial Army.

When the sun goes down, there is little light and the city is surrounded by darkness. Ruthua Imperial Army soldiers don't make a scene in the liquor store first. Not because of the strict discipline of the Ruthua Imperial Army, but because there are fewer supplies in circulation and a limited number of stores that can be operated. Although the Ruthua Imperial Army is dominating the battle against the Kingdom of Oppenheim, there was a dark atmosphere due to its inability to float expectations of victory.

That's the same in the castle where the main business is located. The servants who once served have all escaped knowing the invasion of the Ruthua Imperial Army, and only a few senior Ruthua Imperial officers and the knights of the Kingdom of Dia, close guards of Claudia, and their squire, are in the castle. Even in the castle, glamour and other lonely atmospheres are not felt.

"... Your Majesty, may I now?

Oscar speaks horribly to Claudia in the room.

"... Mr. Oscar? Fine, go inside."

When he hears the reply he heard from inside, Oscar has a relieved look. That's just a few moments too. I immediately tightened my expression and entered the room.

"I'm afraid for the night"

"Yeah. I'm glad I was bored."

Childish tone. Oscar is relieved to be sure it's Claudia herself.

Another personality is riding on Claudia. Oscar also knows this. It also means that apparently another personality is making the braves obey. What is it like? Oscar has been secretly exploring how we can pull him away from Claudia.

But I haven't found the answer yet. What I barely understood was that Claudia was not ruled at four or six, but that I had time to return to my original Claudia. And that was about as much about having a lot of nights.

I don't know why Oscar doesn't know it's the Divine clan that lives in Claudia. Even if you know you're a god tribe, you still can't get to the reason if you don't know what it is.

"So what can I do for you?

"Yes. Reports came from the front line. As soon as they're ready, they're going to attack Bestenbroom, king's capital of the kingdom of Oppenheim."

"Yes... at last"

The battle between the Kingdom of Oppenheim and the Ruthuan Empire is in good hands. The departure of a significant number of troops from the northern and southern fronts made it difficult for the Royal Oppenheim Army to maintain the front. There is no way the Ruthuan Imperial Army will leave the North and the South alone, where their protection has diminished. I pushed in with the force of numbers. Then the Royal Oppenheim Army will have to lower its centre for fear of being surrounded from the three sides. But just doing that will only end up pushing North and South again. The fronts of the Kingdom of Oppenheim gradually shrunk and could not avoid being surrounded by the three sides.

When pushed that far, the upset also spreads to the former Western Berjia Army, the core of the Royal Oppenheim Army. The morale of the soldiers who felt the end of their country's defeat has been greatly reduced.

"... what will you do after this battle ends in victory?

"You mean Mr. Deefreet and Mr. Kamui?

"Oh, right"

That's not what Oscar wanted to hear. But I realized in that answer that it wasn't the original Claudia that Oscar could really answer what he wanted to hear.

"I can't help two rebel masterminds just because I know them."

"... right"

Oscar knows that too. But the thought of whether it's good or not is also in Oscar's mind. I wonder if the Ruthua Empire, rather than the brave ones, can still win like this.

"Because the world was about to be at peace, but it's not acceptable to mess with it. They have to make amends for those who died in the war."

"... yes"

I'm pretty sure it's the original Claudia we're talking about right now. The more so, the harder it becomes for Oscar to understand its true intentions. Claudia will have a strong belief in peace in the world if only in her current words. Is it for peace, then, that you have sold the Empire of Schutzarten to the Kingdom of Ruthua in exchange for becoming Empress, and that you have allowed the brave men to fight on the assumption of the sacrifice of their own soldiers? I don't think so for Oscar.

"Will this be the time for peace in this world? Will my dreams finally come true?

Are you aware of Oscar's inner doubts, or are they serious words? I still can't read Claudia's feelings to Oscar.

"... would you like world peace?

Though I doubt that this question makes sense, quite questionably, Oscar will try to speak for now.

"Of course I do. That's why I've been working so hard since I was a student."

"... was His Majesty's dream in world peace?

The Oscar question does not disappear even if it is clearly affirmed. It doesn't seem to Oscar that Claudia from Imperial College had such an ambition. After I graduated from college, when I was fighting for the crown prince with Therese, I just wanted to be an emperor, and I didn't remember asking what I wanted to be an emperor or anything.

"I was born to a great empress called the Empire of Schutz Alten. It is not natural to wish for world peace. I've been thinking about what I can do since before I went to college."

"Been in college for a long time..."

If Theresa would be here at a time like this. This kind of thought comes to Oscar's mind. Oscar has come to think that he was the only one around Claudia since he was the only one around, although he was a Theresea with many problems, the best in terms of understanding Claudia's feelings. I was wondering if it was Claudia's biggest mistake to trump that Therese herself.

"I've been thinking about it. But I can't think of a better way. So anyway, I decided to act, Tele... and enroll in college."

Claudia stayed on the way to say Theresa's name by accident. Hearing that, Oscar thought that maybe Claudia's story was true. I was really serious about world peace. I just didn't have the ability to do anything for it. I am ambitious but incapable. I don't have the ability, but I was wondering if you've been confusing things because you're trying to do something.

"I was compared to my surroundings in college, but in the end, I'm the best. Whether it's Kamui or Hildegand who makes world peace, of course it's not Deefleet or something. Me."

More jealousy of the surroundings creates Claudia's impatience and makes her do good things she doesn't have to do.

"Your Majesty... it is an overthrow, but peace cannot be achieved just by winning the battle. We must heal the wounds of battle, fill the trenches in the hearts of those born of strife, so that everyone can live in peace and abundance"

"... right"

While agreeing, Claudia's cheeks are slightly swollen. Childish tricks never disappear.

"That will take a long time. If so, the battle doesn't have to be forced to seek a complete settlement, and how about we put it away early and be searched for a way of coordination?

"... is that what you're saying to help Kamui and Deefleet?

Oscar intended to put it in a far-fetched way, but Claudia immediately understood what she wanted to say about this.

"I thought that was one way to do it."

Oscar knows that even if he can win this battle, he's far from what Claudia calls world peace. The fight is still going on. That is also in a more difficult situation than ever. That's not all. The brave men obviously want the opposite direction from peace. You can see that if you look at what they say and do. We have to do something about the brave men, and something to dwell in Claudia that can follow those brave men.

But I regret it, but Oscar isn't sure he can do it. If I can do that, I can only think of Kamui. In Oscar's opinion, Kamui is not the one challenging the battle, but the one who should seek salvation.

"... I can't do that. Kamui will not forgive me if I forgive him. If Kamui forgives me, I can't believe it."

"But..."

I knew it, but Claudia doesn't feel like accepting the Kamuis.

"As long as no one disturbs the peace, all you have to do is slow down. Just the end of the fight. That's the first step to peace, right?

Oscar doesn't know if he's conscious or not, but I don't feel a sense of crisis at all from Claudia's words. Oscar can't judge if he accepts the existence that dominates him or doesn't know he does in the first place.

"... a decree had also come from the Nikolai Emperor. Does Your Majesty know about that?

You should know. Oscar was on his side when Claudia received the report. It's just not clear if that Claudia is Claudia in front of us right now.

"Yeah. I know. Send reinforcements."

As far as information was concerned, Claudia knew. If so, one question arises.

"Why aren't they sending reinforcements?

Is it also the original Claudia will that is ignoring Emperor Nicolai's orders? Knowing that, Oscar thought that he might know how far Claudia's will was the same as that of something in control.

"... I don't know"

Claudia goes crazy as soon as Oscar asks. The grin that was floating until just now disappeared, staring at Oscar with a strange face.

"We have also received a story that the Empire has been dropped. Wouldn't the Ruthua Empire be doomed if we didn't send reinforcements?

Only the western part of the continent is won by the Ruthuan Empire. World peace cannot be achieved simply because we have won the battle in front of us. Claudia must know this too.

"... I don't know"

Claudia's answer is the same. "I don't know".

"Your Majesty! Are the brave men fighting for the world peace His Majesty wants!?

"I don't know! I don't get it! I don't know... I don't know..."

Claudia just holds her head and repeats "I don't know" to Oscar's question, which can be considered the core that went on further.

"… Your Majesty"

Oscar gets flabbergasted by the way it looks, which I don't think is very much an act.

"... I don't know... I don't know... who...? Hey, tell me. Who am I?

"Dear Claudia..."

Claudia's whining never stops. He is reaching out to hold on, pointing his eyes at Oscar like he has lost his sanity.

"... I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm not me again. Help me, Mr. Oscar. Who am I? What am I doing..."

Tears spilling out of Claudia's big eyes. Claudia stretches her arms out to herself crying. Oscar didn't have the option of rejecting it.

"... it's Lady Claudia. You are Lady Claudia. Claudia Weilburg, king of the kingdom of Dia! I am the master I should risk my life to serve!

Oscar pulls Claudia's body in and screams out loud in its ears. Oscar has crossed the line as a subordinate, though he doesn't realize it himself.

"... Claudia. Yes, I am Claudia... Claudia is me..."

Claudia tells herself diligently, shaking her body.

"That's right. You are Lady Claudia. Born of the Royal Schutz Alten. I was born to be loyal."

In an attempt to comfort Claudia like that, Oscar makes Claudia listen in words, without thinking about who she is, whether that makes sense or not.

"... Mr. Oscar"

Claudia, trembling in Oscar's chest, called her name as she raised her face and stared straight at Oscar with those moist eyes.

"What is it? Dear Claudia,"

"Mr. Oscar wouldn't betray me, would he? You're not staying away from me, are you? You keep serving me, don't you?

"... of course. Because I am a knight who serves His Majesty."

Why are you suddenly asking me this? Oscar returned the affirmation, albeit with some doubt. I know a long time ago that Claudia has many problems. Okay, so Oscar has decided to be ready to serve until the end.

"Say knights serving Claudia, not His Majesty. Mr. Oscar doesn't care who I am. He wants me on his side the whole time."

"Dear Claudia...?

After hearing Claudia's profound words, Oscar finally realized the situation in which he was placed. No matter how comforting it is, it is not an acceptable act, such as hugging Claudia, my lord. Oscar recalls the norms to be observed as a knight.

"... Fine. Mr. Oscar. If I were Mr. Oscar..."

Without realizing how Oscar feels, Claudia comes to snuggle her body with force into the arms she's turning on her back.

I know this is an invitation, even if it's a serious Oscar. At the same time, the thought arose that Claudia couldn't possibly do this.

"... I am the knight of the kingdom of Dia. I will risk my life to serve the king of the kingdom of Dia."

"What?"

Oscar's words were not what Claudia wanted. Just as Claudia's words before that were not what Oscar wanted.

Oscar stared straight at Claudia and opened his mouth as he pushed Claudia's shoulder away from herself staring at herself with a surprised look.

"I don't know which Lady Claudia you are. But if you want it, I swear to you. As a knight, I would never imitate betraying my master. Because that's how you live."

"... as a knight, are you"

Claudia understood that Oscar had declared that he would follow the norms of the knight, not himself.

"I don't know how else to live. That's all I've been thinking about since I got my mind on it."

Live as a knight, die as a knight. This is the way Oscar wants to live. It is Oscar's will to pierce through it, no matter how irrational the thoughts.

"... Yep, fine. That's enough. Keep serving me as a knight. Because I will never forgive you for betrayal."

"There are no two words in the knight's words"

"Yes. Then I shall believe that word. Is that the end of the story?

"... Yes. Now… I beg your pardon."

Claudia's eyes staying moist. Though a little concerned about that, Oscar turned his back on Claudia and left the room. without listening to Claudia whining toward its back.

"... the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Emperor... and the King to the Empress. My titles are full. Mr. Oscar is also looking at my title... not me..."