Oukoku e Tsuzuku Michi

With the issue settled in the mansion, I leave and run down to the harbor to board the high-speed boat the messenger is supposedly on.

The small and light-weight vessel which certainly seems fast is moored to the pier of the harbor we just took control over.

Naturally, allied soldiers are surrounding it and keeping watch warily.

「Hey.」

I call out the cautious soldiers.

「This area is off-limits. Unless His Majesty gives permission...... wait, Your Majesty!?」

While the imposingly-standing commander stiffens, I casually jump from the wharf and onto the high-speed boat.

「Why is he alone......hey, call someone over!」

I watch soldiers come running from all directions as I enter the cabin.

Excluding the sleeping quarters of the crew and the storage room, the ship only has one or two other rooms at most.

Out of those rooms, I find one with a carpet laid out in front, clearly designated to someone important, and knock on the door before opening it.

「Mu, how brave of you to board without permission......whatever, I guess. Do we still not have permission for an audience?」

This must be the leader of the messengers.

The elder wearing luxurious clothes, after slight shock and amazement, speaks with a hint of nervousness.

I don't blame him.

After seeing my deeds in the beginning of battle, it wouldn't be weird if everyone here was instantly killed.

Not wanting to scare the old man to death and cause problems, I get to the point.

「I'll grant permission. Are you free now?」

I say as I sit across from him.

「If we have permission, I'd like you to escort us to your king first.」

「No need. The king is right here.」

The elder doesn't recognize me.

It makes sense. This is also my first meeting with him.

「「......」」

A few seconds of silence go by.

「Y-you are Hardlett-oooooh!――guhaa! My chest hurts......can't breathe......」

「Hey, you alright!? It's because you suddenly raised your voice.」

I rub the old man's back as he breathes heavily.

「What, what's wrong!?」

「Sir Rowsey, what is the matter?」

「You are Goldonia's-!? It can't be......」

The ship's crew and other envoys come running when they hear the commotion.

Don't jump to conclusions.

I don't want him to die and a repeat of the messenger killing to happen.

「Haa, haa, I'm fine. I'm 75 this year, so I have a bad heart, lungs, liver, and kidney.」

「Don't send a guy like that into enemy territory......」

A guy at that age should be sitting on a rocking chair and enjoying the scenery.

Did they send him because they think I'm going to kill the messenger anyways?

I help him drink water slowly while observing the people who came running.

The crew and envoys are aged from 20 to 40 and judging by their uniforms, it's apparent that the old guy is the head.

「How about everyone take their seats? That's what you came all this way for, right?」

Despite my invitation, the envoys can't hide the confusion on their faces.

「Speaking to you won't get us anywhere.」

「Does King Hardlett no longer speak to messengers?」

I knew it, they don't believe I'm the king.

One person disregards the envoys and sits beside the elder.

Hey, you're going to make me mad.

「That's Hardlett in the flesh.」

When a sailor mutters, the envoys gulp and back up all the way to the wall.

They instinctively glance at the sword on their hips, and the sailors, excluding the one sitting fearlessly in front of me, also emit a bloodlust.

「W-what......you mean he came in person alone?」

「Does he not remember what he did to the Federation!?」

「Or is he belittling us, thinking that we won't dare to act because of the soldiers outside?」

Fumu, I'll answer as a topic for pre-discussion chat.

「I remember the atrocities I committed. And I also know you guys are patriotic enough to risk your lives in order to cut me down.」

Someone mutters to themselves asking why I did what I did.

「Ten sailors, four envoys and an old man. You think you can do anything to me with these numbers when I have my Dual Crater?」

Everyone freezes.

Right as one sailor in the very back raises his arm, I thrust my Dual Crater forward.

「Eek.」

My sword passes by an envoy, grazing his ear, and slices the musket about to be aimed by the sailor in half.

「You think you can do anything?」

The sailor's legs go weak as he falls on his ass, while the envoy is stock-still.

I suppress my bloodlust and smile, adding one more comment.

「I have no intention of doing anything though, rest assured. The cruelty in the beginning couldn't be avoided because it was for the ambush. I didn't have the confidence to face you head-on.」

I stab my Dual Crater into the ground and spread my arms as if to tell them not to be so scared.

「Killing you guys is meaningless. I'm not crazy enough to kill insignificant people......crap, I stabbed too deep and water is leaking out. One of you go get a plank.」

I tell the sailor to hurry while gauging the envoys' reactions, but none of them seem to be at ease.

It's probably because the way I said it wasn't very convincing.

In the meantime, the elderly man, perhaps due to his age, closes his eyes and hangs his head with his arms folded.

Don't tell me he's dead.

Concerned, I bring my face close to his, but he speaks right as I approach his mouth.

「It is as His Excellency predicted, you do not seem to be a beast without a sense of reason.」

The old man talks in a calm and polite manner.

Maybe this guy isn't the most important guy here.

His gaze is directed at......the sailor sat next to him.

「I figured there'd be nothing that can be done if I get cut down the moment we meet and disguised myself, but I guess it was useless, huh?」

The elderly man stands up straight and salutes the sailor.

Simultaneously, the envoys and the rest of the sailors also salute.

「It's been a while, Sir Hardlett. Or should I say King Hardlett.」

The sailor removes his hood.

His age is somewhere in the forties.

Despite a few wrinkles, he has a handsome face.

He has a composure about him that matches his age and at the same time a brimming vitality that doesn't match his age.

「You......」

My voice naturally lowers and killing intent overflows.

The atmosphere becomes tense again.

The old man holds out his hands and steps in between us.

「You want to kill me on the spot? If the words you said were false, then you'd be quite the fox.」

The man says plainly as he checks the exit.

I outwardly voice the words in my heart.

「This guy's so handsome. And he has a simple elegance about him with considerable vitality――he can gobble up both older women who are daunted by young guys and young girls who dislike middle-aged men.」

「What are you saying?」

The man――Martin Stessel, the Supreme Commander of the Olga Federation, shakes his head and offers his hand.

「Due to the circumstances, I cannot greet you with too much affection. Please accept a handshake as courtesy.」

「Agreed. It'd be painful to hug after all that has happened.」

After the brief handshake, Stessel and I take our seats.

「I'd like to get straight to the point.」

I say, scratching my forehead.

「What did you come for?」

Those are unconcealed true feelings.

I tricked the Federation when they were doing battle with the Empire, accepted gold and supplies, and even had them assist with training.

On top of that, I killed the delegation party and invaded the Federation.

That's beyond evil and messed up.

If I was in the Federation's shoes, I'd chase the people who did that to the ends of hell and kill everyone in the way.

No, anyone would do that.

「At this point, I don't think there's anything to talk about.」

War will continue until either I defeat the Federation or get destroyed by them.

Of course, I'm prepared for that.

「Obviously, the royalty, and everyone from nobles to soldiers and bureaucrats in the Federation are furious. They want to utterly destroy Goldonia and kill everyone down to the last citizen.」

Well, that makes sense.

「Mentioning peace negotiations would make them a traitor and I doubt they would consider surrendering even if I brought them the heads of you and your family......is the state of things, I guess.」

Stessel says jokingly with a smile that bares his teeth.

It's a tone an authority of a prominent nation would not use, but he doesn't seem too flippant either.

I hate to admit it, he's the popular type.

Going out into the city and calling out would get any wife to leave their husband and follow him.

When he asks whether he offended me with his eyes, I respond with a deliberate bitter face.

「On top of that......you see.」

Stessel looks over at the elderly man.

「Everyone, leave.」

The old man orders the subordinates, who obey without any objections.

When everyone has left, Stessel grins.

It wasn't an amicable smile or a smile of complacency, it was an aggressive one.

「On top of that, I'm thinking of abandoning Goldonia right now.」

「Is that because of your personal relationship with me?」

Stessel smirks.

「Don't be ridiculous, you fiend.」

He continues with the smile on his face.

「I will definitely crush Goldonia. My motherland has more than enough power to do that. This city that you have done your best to take back is merely one of many cities far from White City. A defeat of this level won't shake the backbone of the Federation.」

「How harsh.」

He isn't acting strong or exaggerating.

I am also aware of how tough the road ahead of me is.

「If I concentrate our efforts on you, I can destroy you right now. However that will jeopardize our carefully constructed plans to invade the Empire. Our ambition to unify the continent would be lost. And that would be problematic.」

"Unify the continent."

Stessel said something pretty outrageous.

「What I want to say is this. Goldonia will definitely be destroyed, but I want to do it after defeating the Empire. Until then, I want a ceasefire for some kind of reason――how about it?」

「I get what you're saying, but why do I have to agree?」

The reason I attacked the Federation in an overly aggressive manner was because I saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to exploit as they are warring with the Empire. I don't have any incentive to stop and wait for them to finish.

Stessel nods in acknowledgement and then stands up.

「Then will you get in the way of my ambition and confront my enraged self head-on? I can get 100 000 men and 100 ships in one month, and 300 000 men and 300 ships in two months, I wonder how much I can gather in half a year.」

Despite his fast-paced words, Stessel's eyes are serious.

「The result will be the same even if you kill me here. The one who is next in line, the vice commander, is the brother-in-law of the ambassador you murdered.」

I don't know if that is true, but if it is, they could ignore the Empire and advance on us.

I fold my arms and think.

The statement that Nonna's mother said is also bothering me.

「I'm not going to agree to a public peace. If I do that, my head will fly both physically and in terms of honor ......so you can do the ceasefire on your end. Don't cross one step over the line between us. If you keep that promise, I won't oppose you. I have full authority of the military, and although I can't talk them into peace, nobody will complain if I aim the attack at the Empire.」

This isn't a pact or treaty or whatever.

It's basically a secret agreement just between me and him.

「Who could have guessed that someone who acts illogically like you wouldn't believe me unless it was written in text.」

I laugh when he clearly points it out.

「Until the Empire is defeated, pour all your efforts into strengthening your forces. By what I can see, you have tamed some monsters and you also have a giant ship that doesn't exist in the Federation. In the one year or three years it takes to topple the Empire......maybe you can gain power to rival the Federation.」

Oh, that's great advice.

「You don't want to ask why?」

「No, I can understand somewhat.」

Stessel smiles.

「I will defeat the Empire. You are next. The war to unify the continent will continue. On......and on.」

Stessel's goal is not to beat the Empire efficiently.

This guy wants to fight. He wants to do battle for a long long time.

That's why he has the ultimate goal of continent unification.

The reason he dares to ignore us is because half of his heart, like he said, wants to concentrate on fighting the Empire, while the other half of his heart desires a fiercer battle with us after we grow stronger.

He is not fighting to achieve his goal.

He sets his goals so he can fight.

He fights a mighty foe, defeats them, then prepares for the next fight.

This is his meaning in life.

「Aren't you the same?」

Stessel asks.

I shake my head.

「I'm not a bloodthirsty murderer.」

「I'm not either.」

Stessel chuckles.

「I don't enjoy killing people. I'm not fond of slaughter or murder either. However, war, something that encompasses everything, is wonderful.」

「I prefer women.」

When I change the subject, I hear a strange thumping on the ship.

「Aegir-sama! Are you hurt!?」

It's Celia's voice.

Oh, the weird sound is from her crutches.

「You have a broken leg. Just stay put.」

「Oh shut up. You lost a limb too.」

The other voice belongs to Sekrit.

Before I can express my dislike of the situation, the door opens.

「It's unheard of for a king to barge in on the messengers......」

Celia jumps into the room skillfully, supporting herself with a cane, and then Sekrit's eyes meet with Stessel's.

「Wh......at......」

Stessel becomes completely frozen.

His mouth is agape as he looks back and forth between me and Sekrit.

「......say so before.」

Sekrit glares at me.

There was no way I could have known this guy came.

Cold sweat drips from Stessel's brow as he sees Sekrit with me.

「You've been in touch with the Empire all along!? No way......it can't be......」

Stessel's face goes pale.

He is completely taken by surprise and the composure and eerie impression he had earlier vanishes.

「I picked her up after the great war. As you can see, she's a fine woman so I made her mine.」

「Umu, I'm like this guy's slave.」

Sekrit adds something unnecessary.

Stessel glances at Sekrit.

Of course, she stares back, not one to be fazed.

「Hug that woman from behind for me.」

What's with that all of a sudden?

Although I don't get why he said that, hugging my own woman is not a big deal, and so I wrap my arm around Sekrit.

「Ei, what are you-!?」

Stessel sighs.

「Fumu, the face of a female. It doesn't look like she is a conspirator of equal standing.」

I hold Sekrit's arms behind her back when she tries to assault Stessel.

Leopolt and the others also come a bit later.

「I can give you a little time if you'd like.」

Leopolt purposely asks in front of Stessel.

「It's fine. It is only to our advantage.」

He replies boldly.

Stessel smiles silently as his subordinates enter the room and surround him.

Thus, a ceasefire without text, which will eventually be broken, has been formed here.

「By the way......」

Stessel sneakily scoots over to me.

「Have you completely topped General Sekrit?」

Is that something you ask in front of the person in question?

「I've gotten her to bear my children.」

Stessel laughs, slapping his thigh.

「If you don't mind, can I borrow her for one night? As thanks, I'll lend you my lover.」

The person he calls is approximately 20 years of age, with a slender body and blonde hair.

「Is everyone around me always like this......?」

Sekrit groans, scowling like she bit down on a bug.

「If it is His Excellency's orders, no matter who it is......please be kind to me.」

The beauty politely bows and hooks her arm around mine.

「Guh......」

「Don't waver, you idiot!」

Sekrit kicks my ass.

I'm joking.

「The thought of being sold to another man and fucked unwillingly is bit of a turn on though.」

「She's a pervert. This woman finally turned into a pervert.」

While the stupid negotiations are going on, I think briefly to myself.

The mortal combat with the Federation will eventually begin.

I wonder who will lead it.