Resurrected One
The Nord Empire is actively moving around the Saint Miriam Kingdom. Not for combat. It is not for battle. It is to distribute rations to towns and villages that are short of supplies due to the long occupation of the large army of the united front.
Although it is obvious to all that this is a popularity contest, support for the Nord Empire has nevertheless grown among the people.
Even though the Saint Miriam Kingdom is said to have been restored, it is the Nord Empire that has extended a helping hand to those in need. If asked which they would choose, most of the people who are struggling to make a living would choose the Nord Empire.
Then, what kind of people would choose the Saint Miriam Kingdom? They want to see the glory of that time once again. It is ironic that the attitude of such people is the cause of the spread of support for the Nord Empire.
There is another reason why the people of the Saint Miriam Kingdom are leaning toward the Nord Empire.
The Nord Empire's forces were expected to be defeated in the face of a large army on the united front. However, when the time came to open the lid, the siege had already lasted nearly half a year. The united front forces have greatly reduced their numbers.
Maybe. Such thoughts were rising in the hearts of the people.
While holed up in the fortress, the Nord Empire has been trying to regain the Saint Miriam Kingdom by capturing the hearts of the people. Amalia is watching this situation with bitterness.
The royal capital was recaptured by the united front army. The Nord Army wasn't stationed there, so they just let the army into the royal capital.
In addition, the former ministers who served the Nord Empire are reappointed. The government has been poised to conduct the affairs of the state. However, only the royal capital can be said to be actually ruled by Amalia. The restoration of the Saint Miriam Kingdom is far from complete.
"We must resist the Nord Emperor's machinations."
Amalia speaks from her throne to her subjects. She is not the king. She is only in the position of the king because there is no one else with royal blood in their veins.
"I understand what you are saying. But as a practical matter, we do not have the power to do so."
"Why?"
"There is a shortage of supplies throughout the land. We have nothing to give to the people."
A huge army of 200,000 men has been with them for four months. The numbers are much smaller now, but the country had long since been emptied. The conscription of the united front army was not the only reason. Supplies that should have been in the country. Most of them had disappeared from the beginning.
It was clear that the Nord Empire was responsible. That is true. There is no reason to go to the trouble of leaving supplies for the enemy.
"Is it possible to procure from other countries?"
"Almost all the countries in the north were fighting with their entire army. Each country has no surplus supplies."
The whole North is at war. No country can afford it.
"What about the south? The Lemberg Empire and the Izrim Magic Kingdom. I think the two countries can afford it."
"......Who will negotiate with them?"
The feeling of a subject who dares to ask this is that Amalia should do the negotiation herself. If they had any contacts in the Lemberg Empire or the Izrim Magic Kingdom, it would only be Amalia.
"Yeah... I'll ask Yuya. I'm sure Yuya will do well."
However, the name that came out of Amalia's mouth was Yuya. It is true that Yuya may be the most suitable in terms of having the best contacts. But Yuya is not from the Saint Miriam Kingdom.
"...Then please."
Hiding his inner dissatisfaction, the retainer bowed to Yuya, who was present with her. In the first place, he is dissatisfied with the fact that the general of another country is present in the state affairs, not because he asks for a favor.
"Leave it to me"
Yuya answered. Amalia is the only one who sees it with a look of joy on her face. The others are wary of his ambition and look at Yuya with suspicious eyes.
Yuya's aim is the throne of Saint Miriam Kingdom. They all know that Amalia is also trying to move in that direction.
"What else?"
"I'd like to achieve a truce with the Nord Empire."
"That's……"
An idea that is too convenient. The desire to do so is understandable. Even if the united front side eventually wins, it will be a long way off. In the meantime, the Saint Miriam Kingdom will continue to suffer from governance.
In order to prevent this from happening, the Nord Empire must be kept out of the way. Since this cannot be done by force, it is to be achieved through diplomacy. Naturally, the Nord Empire would not accept this.
"They must be suffering, too. It would be foolish to try to compare patience with them."
"Is that so?"
The subjects do not think that the Nord Empire is in a difficult situation. They served the Nord Empire. They may not have worked in their home country, but they know its riches.
That is why they are able to give charity to the people of the Saint Miriam Kingdom.
"We have the upper hand in battle. I admit it, but I don't think we can continue to be at war."
Amalia's knowledge of the Nord stop before Ren became Emperor. If the country was not powerful enough to be exhausted by a battle of this magnitude, Ren would not have made his move in the first place. He invaded the Saint Miriam Kingdom, preparing himself to fight against the great powers for several years.
"...What would we do if it could continue?"
"At that time, we'll have no choice but to defeat them with force."
Temporary measures such as a truce. They all know that, but they don't bother to say it. It's like declaring themself dishonest.
"Understood. Then I will serve as the envoy for negotiations."
Regarding this matter, the retainer said that he himself would act as a negotiator.
"No, in regards to diplomacy… Isn’t there someone in charge of foreign affairs in the first place? But if it is a matter of negotiation, let me handle it. I have spoken with His Majesty the Emperor many times."
Yet another retainer said he would take over. He has no intention of negotiating with them. It is the motive to convey Amalia's true intentions and gain Ren's trust.
But it didn't work out the way they thought it would.
"I'll have Emily go to the negotiations."
"What!?"
"Emily, you mean the maid?"
Amalia wants to send a maid for diplomacy. The subjects could not understand the nerve of this.
"Emily is close to the Nord Emperor. So, I'll ask her to negotiate with him first. When it comes time to finalize the actual terms, of course, we'll put someone else up to the task."
In terms of getting Ren to meet with her, it was the right choice. But Amalia doesn't understand. Emily's loyalty is not to the Saint Miriam Kingdom, but to Ren, with whom she is negotiating. Emily's feelings are not only loyalty, but more than that, love. It is a love so intense that she is willing to give it all. She would never act for the sake of Saint Miriam's Kingdom.
Even Emily would be grateful to Amalia for this matter. Because she can meet Ren.
"If Amalia-sama says so much."
This incident brought Emily into the spotlight and raised her reputation among the people. She was seen as a valuable person who could negotiate with the troublesome Ren. In reality, she does not negotiate, but simply follows Ren's instructions, but this is something that others do not understand.
◇◇◇
A fortress where the Nord Army is holed up. Ren is alone in his room, staring blankly out the window at the night sky. Today is the full moon. It is a day to spend with Rin.
But Rin is not there. How many times has he looked up at the full moon since she disappeared? Ren wondered at himself for having such sentimental feelings. He was not supposed to feel sadness at the death of someone. However, a sense of loss similar to, and perhaps even greater than, that of Kazuki was spreading through Ren's heart.
(Because I was always with Rin.)
If there is a difference with Kazuki, it is that she was always by his side. Ren thought that was the difference in the strength of his feelings. People's feelings aren't that simple, but Ren doesn't understand that.
(……Can we meet today?)
If it's Rin, he's sure she'll show up in front of him. Ren thought so. However, betraying Ren's expectations, Rin never shows up. That's right. It's because she's still alive.
(Isn't it impossible when she's far away? Or has she ascended to the heavens?)
He tries to think of reasons why she doesn't appear to him. That's how he comforts his depression.
(...What am I doing?)
Suddenly embarrassed by his effeminateness, Ren moved away from the window and put his feet on the bed. A dark room with the lights off.
"Eh?"
Seeing a shadow in the darkness, Ren's heart beats fast.
However, it soon became clear that the figure was not the person Ren had expected. She is a woman with blond hair. She is a petite woman with big blue eyes.
(...Um ...nice to meet you?)
Possibly the spirit of someone who died on the battlefield. Because he has been in contact with so many spirits, Ren, as expected, cannot remember the faces of all of them or even what the spirits give off.
(...Can you see me!?)
The spirit is surprised by opening its already large eyes.
(Yes. It's been that way since I was a kid.)
(Can we talk too?)
(Talk? But well, we can communicate in this way.)
(I see……)
The spirit conveys a feeling of joy. Ren understood that she was happy to find someone who could recognize her. It is a common reaction. And in the case of the spirit that shows such reactions.
(Do you understand that you are dead?)
Often they don't understand this. They don't recognize that they are dead, they talk to everyone they meet, they are ignored, they are depressed by it, and they don't know what is going on.
(...Am I dead? I don't know.)
The female spirit also responded as Ren expected.
(There is no substance, and I think that's what it means.)
(But I've been trapped for so long that I finally got out, you know?)
(Trapped?)
But the female spirit had a slightly different experience.
(That's right. I was trapped in a dark and narrow place for a long time...)
(For how long?)
Ren understood the words of the spirit that she had been confined and passed away.
(I don't know. Hundreds of years... or more?)
(Yes?)
(I don't know how long, it's been so long)
(Um... this the first time I've met someone like that.)
Is the female spirit in front of him an evil spirit that has been sealed away by someone? Such an idea popped into Ren's head.
(That's terrible. I'm not like that.)
(Ah, sorry)
Ren's thoughts were read by the spirit.
(Ah... but is that so?)
(Is there something on your mind?)
(......I've done terrible things to everyone. Everyone I cared about was gone ......and yet the most important person who stayed behind ......for me.)
(I see... it was painful)
The strong sadness of the spirit is conveyed to Ren. With a sense of despair and loneliness, she sinks into the depths of darkness. There was something in the spirit that held such thoughts.
(……Yes)
(What can I do to make that thought... I know it won't clear up, but will you be able to accept it?)
It is that feeling that keeps the spirit on the ground. Even if it cannot be extinguished, it can ascend to heaven if it is freed from the bondage of its feelings. Thinking this, Ren directed his question to the spirit.
(……I don't know)
(Eh? Don't you understand?)
(I don't know. What do you mean by accept?)
(......Do you have a sense of something that is binding you? Something that is holding on to you tightly.)
Spirits must know what keeps them to the ground. It can be a grudge, an attachment, or the desire to get rid of it that keeps the spirit in the ground.
(I have a sense of being bound. But the obsession... hmm, what is it?)
The spirit begins to worry.
(...Do you want something?)
If you don't think about it, it won't come out, so you will be tied to the ground. Something is different about this spirit.
(I want a friend because I was all alone.)
(Yeah, that's why I'm here. What else?)
(…………)
The spirit stared at Ren with wide eyes.
(What?)
(Will you be my friend?)
What surprised the spirit was Ren's words that he was a friend.
(For me, existences like you guys have always been my friends. Because you've been by my side since before I could remember.)
Nothing special for Ren. [Spirit is a friend] is an emotion that has been etched into Ren's mind since before he could remember.
(...That's nice. I had someone like that too. But I didn't realize how important that person was. I'm an idiot.)
(Everyone makes mistakes. I lost someone important to me. After that, I realized the importance of that person. I realized how lonely it is not to see that person.)
(Same)
(We're the same)
(...But you don't know me. If you knew, you would hate me.)
(Like the others?)
(Do you understand?)
Even Ren can read this much. Communication with spirits is like a spiritual connection. The connection with Luna is exceptional though.
(...Loneliness ...anxiety ...jealousy ...hate ...strong sense of guilt ...and fear. Your feelings towards others.)
(...Are you scared of me?)
(No. I'm used to raw emotions. Yours is a little stronger than others.)
Ren is in touch with the strong emotions of spirits. In the case of evil spirits, it is a feeling of madness. The emotions of the spirits in front of him are quite strong, but he can do something to accept them. In its current state, this spirit is still an evil spirit, and it doesn't know if it is exposed to strong madness.
(You are strong)
But Ren isn't afraid of that. The spirit sensed his strong tolerance.
(I'm weak. I was afraid of getting hurt.)
(But not now)
(Is that so? Surely it's a little different than before?)
His feelings towards the living are clearly different from when he was in the original world. It's not about living people, but Kazuki, Rin, Emily, and, although he doesn't want to admit it, his feelings for Shizuku.
(You... are you from another world? Eh, are you perhaps a hero?)
(Do you know a hero? But I'm not. I'm not a hero.)
The spirit knows the word hero. It wouldn't be strange if someone from this world knew about it. But she said she was hundreds of years old. Ren was a little intrigued as to whether that era was the same as now.
(I see... But that's right. You're different, so you're different.)
(Yes. The heroes are the enemy. We are still fighting.)
(...Then I'll help too)
(Thank you. But your feelings are enough.)
(I can help too!)
The spirit's emotions suddenly ran wild. Ren could see that she was angry at him for not recognizing her own worth because of his refusal.
(Sorry. I don't think you're useless at all. But fighting is for the living. You shouldn't get involved in killing each other.)
(……Sorry for yelling. I'm actually useless.)
(No, you're not. Everyone has a role to play. You just didn't realize yours, did you?)
(Is there anything I can do for you?)
(You're already doing it. My depressed feelings have cleared up a little. I'm having a good time. Thanks to you.)
Normally, he would be alone, thinking about Rin and sinking into dark emotions. Now he is free from such feelings. Ren is grateful for that.
(...Because we are friends?)
(Yeah, we're friends)
(Then, can we talk like this again?)
(Of course. Ah, I'm quite busy, so I can't say anytime. I only come back to this room at night, and I'm not always alone.)
(Don't worry. I'll always be inside you.)
(Yes?)
Words of concern. It came from the spirit's mouth.
(Can I call you by your name?)
Before Ren asked that, the spirit asked first. It was a normal confirmation.
(Of course)
(Well then, Ren. My name is Claudia. My family called me Clau. Please call me Clau too.)
(I understand.)
For Ren, there was nothing special about this conversation with the spirit. It was just an attempt to understand as much as possible about the other person's feelings and somehow free them from attachment and help them ascend to heaven.
What Ren doesn't understand is that the other person is not just a spirit. It may not even be correct to call it a spirit.
If King Dracul were still alive, he would have found out sooner or later. He would have known that he had made the right decision. That Ren had become the Emperor of the Nord Empire.
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