Chapter 209
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Special Envoy's Return Home
Translator : PolterGlast
The day after the
banquet, the civil servants entrusted to us from the capital who had
accompanied us got to work on trade agreements with the ministers, while we
held several meetings with the merchants we had been introduced to regarding
personal purchases and trade.
Claire and Yoltia were
busy running around checking prices and selecting trade goods. I left the
assessment of the value standards between Kyle Kingdom and Principality of Fearalt
gold coins, as well as the setting of exchange rates for trade, entirely to the
two of them.
For this trip, as a
budget I could use freely as a special envoy, I had been given a considerable
amount—no, a very large amount—of Principality gold coins by the Foreign
Minister in advance.
Thanks to that, we had
no trouble whatsoever with shopping. However, in the future, when we trade
independently, it won't be so easy.
After spending our
days on such matters, on the morning of the fourth day, we had an audience with
the King at the Royal Palace to bid farewell before returning home.
"Demon Territory
Count, I am reluctant to see you go. I wanted to talk with you more..."
No, no, you say that
looking disappointed... but Your Majesty, didn't you come incognito to our
lodgings every night and drink until late?
Especially yesterday,
saying we should set aside formalities, you drank with our mages... I remember
Count Flame holding his head in his hands.
Your approachable
nature, uncharacteristic of royalty—no, of a king—is one of your good points,
but...
Even Claire was
dumbfounded and froze. Well, even if it's a neighboring country, anyone would
freeze if His Majesty the King poured them a drink.
Even Raphael, who was
normally so lively at such drinking parties, was humbled and quiet. Especially
those who were born soldiers, having lived in a strict hierarchy, were so stiff
they probably couldn't even taste the alcohol.
Even the usually
boisterous Walrus and Aral were shrinking into themselves.
Recalling all this, I
had a hard time suppressing my laughter right there.
"We, too, are
reluctant to leave, but please forgive us as we have matters in our domain to
attend to. I will certainly convey Your Majesty's kindness to my King."
"Please tell King
Kyle that I was truly touched by his heartfelt parting gift. My return gift has
been entrusted to Count Flame, whom I am sending along with you as a return
envoy, but regarding the lamps from that night, I would like to place a special
order with you."
Yes, at the strong
request of the King of Fearalt, the lamps displayed at the banquet were lit
every night thereafter. Not only in the Royal Palace but also in the plazas and
main streets of the Royal Capital.
Last night too, he had
privately told me that he would buy them all and wanted me to leave them
behind.
"Yes, as you
wish. We will leave all 2,500 lamps here."
Since we use the
existing stock for events back home, I had brought all new ones this time. We
had a considerable stock for sale, but more than half were made in a rush, so
Workshop Master Karl was screaming with joy.
They were bought in
bulk at the price the other party named, 5,000 gold coins, which was far higher
than selling them within the kingdom. It was probably meant not just as a
purchase, but also as a thank you for the nightly light-up.
"Then, Your
Majesty, we shall take our leave. We would be honored if you would continue to
bestow your unchanging friendship upon our country."
"And with you as
well. I pray for your safe return. You have done a great service!"
And so, we set out on
our return journey. We'll stop by Kylar to report, so we should be able to
return to Teigoon in around 20 days.
With this, maybe we
can make it in time for this year's harvest festival?
After that, aside from
staying an extra night in the city of Salaam to pick up goods and let the
soldiers rest, we traveled with a minimal itinerary, so the return trip took
less than 10 days from departure, and we arrived in Kylar.
After the public
report as special envoy and the audience for the return envoy of the diplomatic
event were over, I was called into another room.
"Now then, Demon
Territory Count, this time I wanted to hear about various complicated matters
as well. I have selected those gathered here."
In the separate room
were His Majesty the King, the Foreign Minister (the old fox), the Minister of
Commerce, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Military Affairs (Count
Model), and from the Royal Knights, Knight Commander Gouras, Corps Commander
Hoffman, and Corps Commander Schultz.
"From your
perspective, how was it? Is the King of Fearalt trustworthy? What is the
situation in his country? I would like to hear your frank opinion on whether
they will pose a threat to us in the future."
The old fox, acting as
moderator, broke the ice.
"First, there is
something I wish to say. We are significantly behind the Principality in
intelligence warfare, and they knew our internal situation in considerable
detail. This was subtly suggested to me by the King of Fearalt himself."
"Oh? To what
extent?"
"Is there anyone
here, other than the Headmaster, who knows the results of the individual sword
matches I conducted as part of a class at the academy? The King of Fearalt knew
them correctly. Just from this, I believe you can all understand the extent to
which Corps Commander Hoffman spoke."
"I see. He knew,
and dared to tell you. Does this mean that the weakness of our country, the
hole through which information was leaking because the Restorationist faction
was in control, still exists in this country? And that information could
potentially be used by the opposition faction to the King over there, or by
other foreign countries. Does this mean they have done us a favor?"
"Yes, as Corps
Commander Schultz says, that country is still divided. Between the majority
anti-king nobles and the minority pro-king nobles. The current delicate state
of stability is solely because the King has full control of the Royal Guard
Division. If the opposition erupts, there is even a possibility of it
developing into a civil war that splits the country."
"I see. Similar
to my situation in the past. And regarding the King's character, and the
crucial control of the Royal Guard Division, what was your observation?"
"Yes, Your
Majesty. I felt that the King himself values his friendship with the Kyle
Kingdom and is a trustworthy person. Originally, he had been removed from the
succession and chosen to live as a warrior, so... there are aspects of him that
are un-kingly, but for that very reason, my sense is that the loyalty of the
Royal Guard Division is unshakable."
Yeah, this alone will
be hard for the listeners to understand. I guess I should tell that story...
"Actually, the
King slipped out of the palace every night and visited our lodgings incognito.
There, he drank with my subordinates regardless of their status...
It seems he was like
that even when he was the Commander of the Royal Guard Division before his
ascension. Pardon my impoliteness, but I felt I caught a glimpse of a side of
him that somehow reminded me of my brother, treating everyone without
discrimination and being trusted by the soldiers."
"Hahaha, the King
himself! That is something even I cannot easily do. I would like to follow his
example."
"Your Majesty!
Please don't. If you follow his example, we won't be able to handle the
stress!"
True. Knight Commander
Gouras is a worrier, and he must have been dragged around quite a bit until
now...
"The King over
there regards us as friends and said he wishes to deepen our unchanging
friendship in the future. In my opinion, there is no lie in those words.
And he also said that
if anything were to happen to the Kyle Kingdom, he would gladly extend a hand.
However, this can also be taken to mean that he expects our assistance in the
event of an emergency on his side."
"I see, so the
opposition over there is connected with the Restorationist faction here, and we
have a common enemy. Your Majesty, it seems they know the internal situation of
this country well and are speaking with that foresight. Once again, as Foreign
Minister, I have been made keenly aware of our lack of ability to gather
information on foreign countries."
"I agree with the
Foreign Minister. We may need to plug the holes left by the previous Foreign
Minister and scoop up the water we have spilled until now. During my stay
there, the opposition to the current King, the disgruntled nobles, showed a
hostile attitude towards me, and none sought to actively engage with me.
For us, the
continuation of the current King's reign seems to be the most correct option.
And there is something I fear most."
"What is that?
Other than your wife's mood, it doesn't seem like there's much you fear.
Fohohoho."
"Headmaster,
well... I have no retort to that. What I fear most is a two-front war."
"What! With the
Empire?"
"Yes, just as
Knight Commander Gouras surmises. In the previous Imperial invasion, our
borders were threatened from the south and east as if by design, and the Royal
Knights, the kingdom's greatest defenders, could not move.
The Imperial Kingdom
will likely need decades to rebuild, but what about the west? I don't want to
say it, but the defense of the western border is far too fragile compared to
our neighbors. What would happen if, in conjunction with the Empire invasion,
the opposition in the neighboring country, the Western Margrave, and the
domestic Restorationist faction were to unite?"
"This country
would be ripe for the picking from the south and west. Without reinforcements
from the Royal Knights, the southern front cannot hold, and if something
happens in the west, only the Royal Knights can deal with it. If there are
defectors within the country on top of that..."
Corps Commander
Schultz said this and closed his eyes. Similarly, everyone closed their eyes,
envisioning the possible situation.
"So, Demon
Territory Count, what do you think?"
"Yes, Your
Majesty. At this point, it is still a perilous tightrope walk... but there is a
plan. It is still a very thin thread, but we need to twist it together to make
a thicker rope from now on."
I conveyed my current
assumptions and the strategy that could be considered at this point in
response. I couldn't speak of it here, but the conversation with Viscount
Kämpfer could be the only turning point.
"In short, we
should secretly make preparations based on this worst-case scenario of a
two-front war. We cannot bind those who have committed no clear crime at this
point based on the possibility of conspiracy or future calamity, but... at
least we can check domestic movements."
Yes, there is still
time to take measures in advance. If we move now, we should still make it.
"And there is one
more important thing. Fortunately, we have the Minister of Military Affairs and
the Minister of Commerce in our camp. Even if they secretly prepare soldiers,
if the Minister of Military Affairs keeps a watchful eye, they might get caught
in his net. To raise an army, logistics are essential. In that respect, if the
Minister of Commerce keeps a watchful eye, we might be able to detect it."
"Hahaha, as
expected, my eye was not mistaken. Giving you the authority of a Demon
Territory Count, sending you as a special envoy to the neighboring country—I
have realized once again that neither was a mistake."
"Minister of
Commerce, it seems we two have been entrusted with an important duty. Let us
further strengthen the surveillance system after the 'clean-up'."
"As Foreign
Minister, I also need to reform our intelligence system toward the neighboring
country from scratch. It's a pity, but this is no time for a comfortable
retirement."
"We, the Knights,
will make preparations in accordance with the two assumptions."
"The fact that we
have predicted this response and are moving to deal with it must be kept
strictly secret. Even from our allies. If the enemy knows we are predicting
danger and preparing, we cannot deny the possibility that they will take even
more vicious measures."
"Demon Territory
Count, understood. By royal command, I order you all. Proceed with preparations
based on this worst-case scenario, and keep the information secret from anyone
other than those present here. From this moment, begin your calculations. In
the future, establish a meeting to regularly report on the situation and
formulate countermeasures. The name can be anything."
With His Majesty the
King's declaration, the meeting ended.
I do not underestimate
the backlash and corrective force of history.
What has been
corrected will likely return as an even bigger wave than before. Just as it has
until now... From here on, the battle against that will begin.
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