Volume 2 Chapter 15 (2/2)
Hiring mercenaries is not an option either, as it would cost too much.
And not only that, in term of loyalty, they also cannot be trusted.
Yet, if they do not eliminate the Knight faction then the princess will become their puppet. However, if they eliminate the Knight faction without being able to replace them, then the kingdom’s military power would be diminished, and seeing this the neighboring countries would take advantage and invade... This present situation could be thought of as someone being put in a maze that has no exit.
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“I see…, as expected of Ryouma, your foresight is amazing.”
“Indeed…”
Earl Bergston and Earl Zerev raised voices filled with admiration for Ryouma.
However, seeing both of them act like that, he felt nothing but cold-heartedness.
(To think that even they can’t understand something as simple as this... if the cunning Earls cannot…, then it would only be natural for neither Princess Lupis nor Meltina to notice this problem,since even the people who are supposed to be capable couldn’t get a grasp of the problem)
With that, it can't be helped if Ryouma feels worried.
They are not just ordinary commoners.
It made him wonder whether the people who are supposed to carry the nation’s fate on their shoulders were unable to see all of these problems.
But having said all of that, this problem is a minor one for Ryouma.
After all, Ryouma's goal is to get Princess Lupis’ backing, so that he can win his future fight against the guildmaster.
This means he does not need to concern himself with the fate of the Rozeria Kingdom if he doesn't plan on living in this country in the future.
For Ryouma, if it's just to take out the knight faction then, he has many ways to accomplish that.
Ultimately, knights in this world are people who hate trickery and scheming.
This might be due to their ability to use magic, since they can just fight with brute force, thus they don't think much about using strategy in warfare.
Ryouma is sure about that because he already asked the Princess, Meltina, and the other knights who had sworn loyalty to the princess, as to how they usually conducted warfare.
Justice, Loyalty, and Pride.
Their logic is that as long they have these three things, they would win any wars.
He had also been shown some knight tactical books, but the content was appalling.
The content of these books was unrelated to battle. Etiquette was the first such example he could remember.
They didn't even have the concept of a formation, let alone a more complex ideas like logistics and chain of supply.
Although this is not something he should say, but he thinks the knowledge in this world is too low.
This was the reason why it is so easy for Ryouma to manipulate people so well.
Well, as a knight, having strong muscles instead of a keen mind is fine.
Above all else, bravery is their greatest virtue.
But for n.o.bles, it cannot be just that.
Although bravery is valuable, the ability to see ahead is much more important for them.
Since they are the ones who will be governing the country, they must be able to antic.i.p.ate what would happen after they depose the Knight faction and take countermeasures in advance.
Of course, that does not mean all of them should be able to notice that a hole would be left in the kingdom’s defense , and it's not like they would be called incompetent if they could not see it.
But if all of the people at the top of the government fail to see such a thing, then that is simply not good.
(Were they just going to ignore the kingdom’s defense after they eliminated the Knight faction?)
Ryouma desperately shook off these simplistic and naive thoughts, banis.h.i.+ng them from the depths of his mind.
(No..., no, I'm overthinking this too much..., as one would expect, this is all just too absurd.)
If something like that really happen, then that would be the end of the Rozeria Kingdom.
Ryouma is a selfish and shrewd man, yet at the same time he considered love, hate, and debt of grat.i.tude as important things.
Although only temporarily, they had become his allies. Thus it was impossible for him to just abandon them without helping them with all of his power.
“What is going on?”
Earl Zerev had started looking at Ryouma's face anxiously.
Ryouma wondered if his expression had changed that much.
“Fumu…, Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono thought that winning against the knights is not our main problem…, the problem you've been worried about is how the kingdom will protect itself after we depose General Hodram, am I right?”
After saying that Earl Bergston turned his eyes toward Ryouma.
“Indeed. That is the problem which I was worried about…”
“Then why not just make Meltina-dono take command afterwards?”
“Ooh! As expected of Earl Bergston. What a splendid idea!”
Their idea was to replace General Hodram with someone who's completely loyal to the princess.
Certainly, this proposal meant that they would only need to eliminate Hodram; thus no significant reduction in the kingdom’s military power would occur.
However, Ryouma shook his head.
Because he thought that something like that was impossible.
“That is impossible…, Meltina is too reckless of a person for such a position.”
Meltina was indeed brave and has a strong sense of justice. More importantly, she's very loyal to the princess.
One could see her as suitable for the job.
However, it was not just pure strength that was needed.
Although Meltina does not like factional disputes and her loyalty to the princess and the kingdom is unquestionable.
The problem is how she thinks that her sense of values is absolute and that other people should have the same values as she does.
In particular, she believes that everyone has to pledge their unconditional loyalty to the royal family.
Of course, that is not completely wrong.
Since she works for the Rozeria Kingdom, it is natural for her to think in such a way.
However, human being are not simple creatures, they possess a lot of other senses as well.
Such as desire.
Self-defense.
Different ways of thinking.
And other various senses and values.
If she has absolute power, then she wouldn’t have to consider other people's wills.
She would just crush them with brute force.
However, the situation that Princess Lupis faces now is not one that can be dealt with mere strength.
In term of a simple power relation, Princess Lupis is the weakest.
Thus she needs someone who can lead the knights and at the same time swear their loyalty to her.
It is crucial for such a person to be able to understand the other knights’ dissatisfaction.
With such requirements, it was impossible for someone like Meltina to handle this kind of a job.
““.................””
The Earls, having heard Ryouma’s explanation, had remained silent.
Although their eyes didn’t s.h.i.+ne with confidence like they had before, at least now they knew the importance of the problem as he saw it.
That is why the two of them were unable to say anything.
In their minds, they could even imagine that the knights might run away due to Meltina’s immense sense of pride.
“I see…, indeed, she would be unfit for the job…, but if that is the case, what are you going to do? Are you going to recommend someone from within the Knight faction itself?”
“No…, I don't want to do that if possible…, since there would always be the possibility that we would end up creating another Hodram.”
Ryouma shook his head, dismissing Bergston's suggestion.
If he suddenly chose a new leader of the knights from within the Knight faction itself, he would surely be thought of as someone that is no longer in the Princess' confidence.
Of course, something like choosing a new leader is not unusual, however, Ryouma cannot risk promoting a knight, as he fears there is a chance of him failing to bring the Knight faction to the Princess' side after General Hodram has been deposed.
And one must not forget that the person who replaces General Hodram would be in a position of great power..
That's why he needs someone trustworthy, someone who would pledge allegiance to Princess Lupis.
All of this for the sake of preventing a second Hodram from appearing.
“Ah, right! There is someone like that!”
“Eh?!”
Ryouma doubted his ears for a moment since it was none other than Earl Zerev, the man who had stayed silent for so long, that had suddenly raised his voice.
“Is that true? Earl Zerev!?”
Earl Bergston’s expression was also beaming with surprise.
“Yes. She’s got not just experience, but also a good personality! I would stake my life on this person’s suitability with confidence!”
“She? Is it a woman?”
“Oh? You’re still puzzled, Earl Bergston? It's her…, Rozeria Kingdom's White G.o.ddess of War.”
“That’s right! How could I forget that person!”
「Rozeria's White G.o.ddess of War」.
After hearing such a grand t.i.tle, a look of astonishment appeared on Earl Bergston’s face.
“Just who on earth is she?”
Ryouma asked, and Earl Bergston started answering, feeling anxious all the while.
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