Chapter 30 - Fun Fortress Life (1/2)

“The Kingdom’s Army has been defeated at Bertusburg Plains,” “Canaan has fallen, and the Liberation Army is beginning to march towards the Royal Capital.”

The sensational news was advertised everywhere by the Liberation Army, and it had even reached up to Madros in the Kingdom’s northern region.

Leader of the Fifth Army, Kerry, urgently assembled the military and staff officers to discuss about their policy hereafter.

Everyone’s faces were gloomy, and they couldn’t conceal their unease. With his arms crossed, Kerry’s eyes were shut in his seat.

“……Your Excellency. Now that Canaan has been lost and the First Army that was the bulk of the Kingdom’s forces was devastated, the Kingdom’s fate is in a precarious situation. You must decide.”

Said a staff officer, resolved. Resolved, for something everyone understood: to abandon the Kingdom and side with the rebel army. This was the only road that would ensure Madros’s survival.

“So it ultimately comes to this…”

“Old man! That isn’t the case right!? Yalder and his group risked their lives and fought to save Madros! Isn’t it our turn now to save them!?”

Kerry’s second son, Captain Darus Madros, slapped the round table and stood up. He normally wouldn’t have been permitted to participate in the war council based on rank, but he was attending as Kerry’s son. Either way, he would one day aid his older brother and protect Madros. He needed to accumulate experience.

The eldest brother, Denim Madros, was taking command at the front line forts. If he were to die by chance, Darus was obligated to succeed after him. That was the destiny of those born into the Madros family.

“Sir Darus. What you say certainly stands to reason. As a warrior, that is correct. But, you fail as a politician.”

Admonished the staff officer in charge of Darus’s education.

“What failure! To even throw away our pride, why must we join the rebel army-!? What justice do they have!? They aimlessly spread the fires of war; just who is the one tormenting the people!?”

“Then tell me, Darus, what concrete plan do you have? If you have one, let’s hear it. You don’t need to hold back; tell us your great idea to save the Kingdom while protecting Madros. Right now. There’s not much time left.”

Pressed Kerry in a composed tone. Darus hesitated. There could be no such convenient plan.

“……In order to buy time, send out the troops. Even a little is fine. Support the First Army until they can rally themselves and fight back! There’s significance in the Fifth Army showing themselves–we can show them that we won’t abandon them!”

“Our Fifth Army is occupied keeping the Empire at bay. We cannot deal with a threat from behind us. If you plan to save the Kingdom, you must also forsake Madros, and such an act is impossible for me. My mission is to protect the lands and people of Madros. I don’t even have to think about it-”

“You would throw away your honor and pride for that!?”

“Exactly. Whether it be honor, whether it be pride, do you think you can survive with such crap like that? Every man on this earth if shown an opening are beasts who would steal for their own profit. Even if I have to drink mud, eat bugs, and cover myself in filth, I will protect Madros. At the very least, I’ve seen the Liberation Army’s tactician. That man plans on using us. We probably won’t be treated poorly.”

“…………shit-”

Darus kicked away his chair and went to leave. He too saw himself as a man of the Madros family. But, was it really okay to take it this far? Hadn’t Yalder saved them from the Empire’s invasion? And hadn’t Schera braved the danger, stepped into the heart of the enemy, and saved Madros?

In their predicament, why did they have to turn their backs on and point their blades towards their benefactors? The young Darus couldn’t agree.

“Well, whether you agree or not, my decision won’t change. If you don’t like it, then go to the Royal Capital yourself. I won’t stop you. The Fifth Army will capitulate to the Liberation Army, however, on the condition that we won’t participate in the attack on the Royal Capital.

“Oh I’ll do so, you piece of shit old man-!! I’m different from you and my elder brother, I’m just a fool!”

“Do as you like. But, don’t call yourself by the surname of Madros. Not just me, you’ll trouble everyone living in Madros. You’ll live as simply Darus, and you’ll die as simply Darus. You’re disinherited. Don’t show yourself before me again.”

“Hah, you don’t have to tell me, you rotten shits! I’ll show you my spirit-!”

He kicked open the door and went outside with squared shoulders. Kerry sent a signal with his eyes, and a senior bodyguard followed after him. Perhaps this could be called a final sign of parental love.

“……Now that the idiot has left, let’s restart the discussion. Immediately go and greet the Princess of the Liberation Army. Tell her we’ll release the prisoners. Take the fastest horse. The faster we go, the better the impression we’ll make.”

“Sir-!”

“But, tell her that we cannot participate in sieging the Royal Capital. We won’t surrender that far. If she says no, threaten her that we’ll fight against her. If this area becomes Empire dominion, that’ll also be to their detriment. There’s no need for us to excessively depreciate ourselves.”

If they sent soldiers to the Royal Capital and Madros became under-manned, the Imperial Army would once again draw close. The Liberation Army wouldn’t want this area to be occupied by the Empire either probably.

“Understood!”

“This discussion is over. Everyone return to your duties-!”

Proclaimed Kerry, and the military and civil officials saluted and stood up to leave. Kerry stared at the ceiling with a weary face, still seated.

“God, I didn’t think they’d lose. If you’d won at Canaan, Yalder, we’d be able to see each other again. You really do have rotten luck…”

While he clicked his tongue, the face of that idiotic and heroic warrior floated in his mind.

(I must protect Madros. Just like you have your unyielding pride, I have Madros. I cannot have the people suffer for my selfishness. Yalder, sorry, but I cannot come aid you.)

“………..If only, I were a bit younger.”

Kerry suppressed his own desires and endured. The Liberation Army had the momentum. He couldn’t gamble now of all times. Yalder would fight until the end, and then he would probably die. That man was that kind of human. With his pride as a warrior in his chest, he would sacrifice himself for the Kingdom.

For the sake of Madros, Kerry had resigned himself to letting his comrades and friends die.

Tactician Diener of the Liberation Army went to the neutral City of Arte for a conference.

A vacant house on the outskirts with no signs of life.

Disguised operatives fortified the surroundings. Why they had chosen a place all the way out here, was because both parties were in positions where they had to conceal themselves.

Next to Diener was Vander under his direct control. He had been promoted to Major for his deeds at the previous battle. This young man who was walking well on the road to success could also probably be called Diener’s right hand man. Knowledge, connections, the art of spy work, and also strategy and tactics were driven into him, and he was trained so he could work as Diener’s assistant. Answering the expectations placed on him, Vander achieved splendid results.

“……It seems they have arrived.”

“I see. Don’t be discourteous. Our company is a man of a different ‘standing’ than us.”

Muttered Diener with a sarcastic feeling. A person appeared from the back door wearing a black hood, his body covered.

The person’s name, was Farzam, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom. So he could conduct negotiations with the Liberation Army who should’ve been his sworn enemy, he had directly visited this place. He had made a trip under the pretense of observing the front lines of the Kingdom.

Several people in black clothes stood behind Farzam. They were an intelligence unit of the Prime Minister’s proteges, and disposable pieces.

“…….Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Sir Farzam, or am I mistaken?”

“You’re correct. I am Prime Minister Farzam. And would it be appropriate to take you as Sir Diener?”

“Indeed no doubt. What are you standing around for, please sit. Though, I cannot provide any hospitality in this kind of place.”

Invited Diener, and Farzam took his seat vigilantly. If he snapped his fingers, that would be instructions to immediately cut Diener down.

Sensing the hostility, Vander put his hand on his sword’s grip and got ready for battle. There were soldiers concealed above the ceiling. This situation would obviously happen since they were mutual enemies.

“By the way, is Princess Altura in good health?”

“……I never would have thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth, Sir Prime Minister. Was it not you who entrapped that lady’s father and drove him to death?”

Asked Diener in an amazed tone at Farzam’s shameless remark. The Prime Minister without at all any display of agitation exaggeratedly denied the claim, making a hurt expression.

“What an unhappy misunderstanding. I did nothing more than investigate into a likelihood. The one who doubted that person and exiled him was the late King. I did nothing. It hurts me that you’ve misunderstood.”

“Fufu, as expected of Sir Prime Minister of the Kingdom, your tongue is quite glib. How many people have you driven to death with that skillful speech?”

“I only faithfully perform my own duties. Never would I harbor treachery. I swear upon the stars. There exists no human as upright and clean-handed as me.”

Smoothly and fluently turned his tongue. How dare you prattle on like that, Diener was about to burst out, but he resisted. Entertaining monkey shows were needed even in a place like this, and he had to have the monkey dance for him as much as possible. Diener advanced the conversation.

“Well, let’s leave it at that. Our greetings have deepened our friendship to this extent, so now let’s move on to the main question.”

“It seems Sir Tactician of the Liberation Army is busy. How different it is for those with momentum behind them, as I would expect.”

“Haha, it is all thanks to you. My work is piling up like mountains, because the guys who ought to have done it originally hadn’t you know. I don’t even have time to sleep. It’s so troubling.”

While releasing killing intent, they both bared their teeth at each other. This was duel of words.

“Let’s not beat around the bush. There’s no need for excessive tedious talk. We of the the Yuze Kingdom would like to propose peace talks with the Royal Capital Liberation Army.

“…..oh?”

“His Majesty Kristoff wishes to hand over the throne to Princess Altura after an interim period of half a year. Afterwards, he would like to be promised a retirement in the north. His Majesty does not wish for any more useless fighting.”

Farzam held out a letter with the King’s seal on it. Of course, it was a forgery. There was no way Kristoff would accept such a plan.

But, Farzam intended seeing this through. He could save the King’s life and could also retain some political power. It was possible for him to take back his authority if he waited for an chance to. If he were the one doing it, it was possible. Farzam had confidence in himself. He couldn’t handle a spear, but he had made it to the top with his brains and speech.

“Hm. But, I could not possibly accept this. We already have our hands on the Royal Capital. There is no need for us to give you an extension of half a year after all this. What you can do, is promptly give us your unconditional surrender. That’s about it. Obediently surrender the Royal Capital and take your judgement like a man, how about it?”

Diener threw away the letter. He mustn’t show weakness in negotiations. Furthermore, the Liberation Army was in an overwhelmingly advantageous position. There wasn’t any reason to accept such a foolish policy.

In that case, why had Diener come to this meaningless negotiation table?

“I see. Certainly, your opinion is reasonable. But, if you don’t accept this proposal, we will resist in the Royal Capital to the last man. The people’s blood will flow, the Royal Capital will be destroyed, and who would like that outcome? Think about this carefully.”

Indeed. The problem was the Royal Capital. It was their target of liberation; they couldn’t destroy it. The Royal Capital becoming a place for a decisive battle would also make bringing in siege warfare a terrible idea. They couldn’t purposefully destroy the Kingdom’s greatest metropolis city that would later become their dwelling.

Moreover, they wouldn’t be able to avoid causing casualties among the Royal Capital’s populace. It would be terrible if the people’s resentment turned towards the Liberation Army. For the ‘righteous’ Liberation Army, they currently couldn’t allow any injury to befall the innocent people.

If they affected the current reign, the ones standing to gain would probably be the Empire and the Union. Especially the Empire, who would be wholeheartedly delighted surmising the chance to create a puppet regime. Under the name of assistance, they would possibly deploy soldiers to Royal Capital Blanca.

“You’ve struck where it hurts. This humble Diener has misread Sir Prime Minister. I apologize for my impoliteness.”

“What, I also care for the citizens of the Kingdom. This humble Farzam would give away his life for the Kingdom.”

Farzam had a seedy smile.

“I thank Sir Prime Minister for his kindness. Then, shall we compromise?”

“Those are the words I wished to hear the most. By all means, please allow me to hear your proposal.”

In response to him, Diener proposed a matter Farzam hadn’t expected.