Days of Anguish
Although Mei has become the Elected King of the Izrim Magic Kingdom, the situation is still very difficult. The number of subordinates she can trust and the number of troops she can move at will is, in Mei's mind, few.
Although she had taken the bold step of disposing of the Elected Court, this did not immediately translate into loyalty to Mei.
The situation was not conducive to a feeling of security in one's position as Elected King.
People want results. The result of knowing that Mei is a good king for them. Without absolute power to oppress the people, the only way is to show it.
"What do you mean you can't give tax exemptions?"
Temporary tax exemptions for the sake of popularity. Mei tried to imitate what Ren had done in the former Saint Miriam Kingdom, but it was denied by the civil officials.
"I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm saying it doesn't make sense."
"It's the same, isn't it? Why doesn't it make sense?"
"Even if Her Majesty the Elected King decides to exempt them from taxes. If the nobles do not obey, the only people who will actually benefit from the exemption will be the people of the immediate area, which is not a lot."
The civil officials are not against Mei. They have good reason to object.
"...Are there only such greedy nobles?"
"The greedy nobles, on the contrary, will be pleased with the order. They can put everything in their own pockets without having to pay it back to the country."
They will continue to take taxes from the people and pretend to obey the order and not pay any money to the country. As a nobleman, this is a very welcome order. If only the nobles were afraid of this, she would not be in trouble.
"What is the reason why the nobles won't obey?"
"Noble families conduct their affairs with taxes from their subjects. If they are forbidden to collect them, it will naturally impede their administration and cause trouble for their subjects."
"...That's right. But Ren-kun did it."
Ren can do it, but she can't. For Mei, nothing could be more frustrating.
"If, I fear, you were thinking of imitating the Nord Emperor, you are mistaken."
"…What’s the difference between me and Ren-kun?"
"The Nord emperor had power in his home country. That's why it was possible."
Mei and Ren, it's not an individual difference. The power that can be used is different.
"What is that power?"
"They have made the former Saint Miriam Kingdom tax-free, but they have not stopped their territorial administration. On the contrary, it is far more aggressive than it was before the occupation of the Nord Empire. They have been able to do this because of the financial and human resources of their home country."
"…Isn’t it impossible with the national treasury and you guys?"
"Unlike other countries, our country's power is not concentrated in the hands of the Elected King. Political and military affairs are equally shared by the various noble families."
An Elected King. Giving absolute power to the king would lead to the abolition of the elected monarchy. Because of this idea, the nobles had strong power in the Izrim Magic Kingdom. Moreover, it is not allowed for a particular noble family to have too much power. In fact, the Elected Court was powerful, but it was not any one of the Elected lords that had the power.
"It seems to be a good system, but at times like this, it can be detrimental."
A system to prevent it from becoming a hereditary system. A system that does not allow for the appointment of an Elected King by the military power of the house rather than by the magic power of the individual. It is because Mei wants to have absolute power that the harmful effects come out.
"The Nord emperor wanted the nobility to rebel. As a rebel, he destroyed the nobility and strengthened his own power."
This is a bit of a misunderstanding. Ren doesn't want to destroy the nobles, he thinks it's inefficient to give power to incompetent people.
That's why he ignored the intentions of the nobles and implemented policies that seemed good. If you are a good administrator, you should obey. If the policy is wrong, correct it. A ruler who does not obey and does not correct is incompetent. They will just be discarded.
Of course, it was possible because he had the power to destroy the rebels. Mei doesn't have that.
"...The difference in starting point. I understand. I'll hold off on the taxes."
The difference between Ren, who started as the king of the Nord Federation, and her, who was only a vassal, even though she was the head of the Mage Corps. Mei's pride would not allow it.
"I understand. Is there anything else?"
"...I'm planning to deploy troops to other countries."
"Deployment?"
The civil official is puzzled by the unexpected order.
Sending troops to other countries in a situation where the domestic situation is not yet stable. Moreover, the suppression of the Lemberg Empire is also in progress.
"The nobles are responsible for the country's military, aren't they? If so, I'll leave it to those nobles."
"...I think they don't like to be burdened with it."
"I will prepare a reward that won't make them think so. How about the territories of the occupied countries?"
"That's… even if it succeeds, it will give power to the noble family, is that okay?"
The size of the territory is power. It is not simply the size of the territory, but also the amount of tax revenue that comes from it.
"I don't mind. They can't do it alone. Even if they can occupy it, it will be divided among several nobles, right?"
"That's right, but..."
But it makes no difference. The noble family that gains it will have power within the Izrim Magic Kingdom.
"It doesn't matter if they compete with each other. Knowing that the stolen land will be theirs will make them excited, right?"
"…There is also the possibility of a friendly fire."
"Isn't that what we want?"
It's not a bad thing for Mei if the nobles cut each other. It would be a pleasure if her power was strengthened relatively.
"By the way, which country are you thinking of?"
The civil official also think that it is not bad for nobles to wear each other out. But if it goes too far, it will lead to a decline in the national power of the Izrim Magic Kingdom. If that happens, it's a problem.
"A country with heroes. Starting from the weakest country."
"A country with a hero..."
A country that has a hero is a country with a certain amount of national power. Of course, there is no way they can stand up against the Izrim Magic Kingdom alone, but the civil officials thought that they should be prepared for some sacrifices.
"This is an order. Unlike the tax matter, I will not withhold it. Besides, it is up to the nobles to decide whether or not to follow the order. We are only promising a reward."
"...I understand. I will report back after we have selected the country."
"Good luck with that."
"Ha"
With a look of disapproval on his face, the civil official left the room. The other person who remained in the room, Manami, who had a look of wanting to say something, opened her mouth.
"……Is that okay?"
"I can't say it's okay. But I still need strength to move forward. In order to obtain it, it can't be helped to temporarily give power to the nobles."
To gain power, increase the number of hero companions. If they can do that, they won't be afraid of the nobles. It's fine if they take away the power they gave. Mei thinks so.
"The country will fall apart."
"I expect that from Jin."
"Jin?"
Manami didn't understand why Jin's name was mentioned here.
"Once we obtain the Lemberg Empire completely, we will be able to use its wealth. It's like Ren-kun's Nord country."
"...The Lemberg Empire."
So what will happen to the people of the Lemberg Empire? This thought came to Manami's mind.
"The only thing I can do is to stabilize one of them, either this country or the Lemberg Empire. If we can do that, we can use that power to improve the other one. And the countries we are going to annex. Until then, we have to be patient."
"That's right, but……"
It cannot be divided easily. Although it is because of Manami's kindness, there is also the aspect that the things she carries are different from Mei.
"Isn’t it difficult to persuade through diplomacy?"
"...I guess. During this time of confusion, it seems that there are many countries who are thinking about this."
The Izrim Magic Kingdom and the Lemberg Empire. For the country sandwiched between these two countries, the current confusion is salvation. The power to prevent a large power from invading before it invades. Many countries think so.
"Invasion is necessary to prevent that opening. It would be troublesome if a coalition was formed."
It is highly possible. In order to protect their own country from the invasion of a large country, the small countries have been thinking about it for a long time. The formation of the united front against the Nord Empire has only made it a possibility.
"It seems that there are countries that are moving in the north."
Maki joined the conversation at this point.
"North, are they fighting Ren-kun?"
"It's not that. The small country that accompanied us when we fought against Ren-kun went to conquer the Northern Alliance. This is what I'm talking about."
The hero who is headed to conquer the Northern Alliance is targeted by Ren. Maki doesn't know that.
"...There's a possibility that they're in the north, right?"
"Yes. That's something we need to look into."
The proof of servitude and the hero himself. There is no point in annexing a country that doesn't have both of these things. This condition will be added to the selection of the invasion destination.
"North... what's going on in the north?"
What are the Nord Empire and Ren doing at this moment? Mei is worried about that.
"Can we afford to worry about that now?"
Maki advises Mei. There is no point in worrying about the north. They don't have the power to compete with Ren, which is why they are struggling to get it now.
"I agree."
"What we should be more concerned about is the Luine Kingdom. If they attack us from the west now, it would be unbearable."
"......We have to do something about Yuya."
Yuya's power is not fully utilized. She is not willing to allow Yuya, who has not been liberated from the Luine Kingdom, freedom of action. If Yuya is allowed to contact the Luine Kingdom, Yuya will become hostile to her as a result. Mei is afraid of that.
"What do you mean?"
"I think there is a way to break the magic without defeating the Luine Kingdom."
"Is that so?"
"I think so. But first, we have to put the country together. And then..."
"...I see. Then it can't be helped."
Mei no longer tells them everything as she usually does. Mei is the king and they are her subjects. Maki thinks that is how it is.
Maki feels lonely, but she does not want to be in the same position as Mei. With that in mind, she accepts.
◇◇◇
Conquest of the Lemberg Empire. Jin is the one doing it. Naturally, it's the same as Mei trying to put together the Izrim Magic Kingdom, or even tougher.
In terms of position, Jin is only the head of a Knight Order. His subordinates accompanying him are also military men and are not capable of civil official work. They are now forced to negotiate.
"It's called territorial relief, but is it really guaranteed?"
When dealing with a nobleman who offers to surrender, this is the first thing they will say. It is a natural demand if they are dealing with them.
"I may be a Knight Commander, but I am a friend of the Elected King, and I am in charge of everything concerning the Lemberg Empire."
"I know you are a friend, but that does not prove that what you say is true."
Even if he told him that he was Mei's agent, there was nothing to prove it. There is no guarantee that Jin's promise is the same as Mei's.
"If you don't want to believe it, don't believe it."
"What?"
A woman interrupted from the side. At Satoko's words, the other party has an angry look on their face. If Jin is the Knight Commander, what is Satoko? In the Izrim Magic Kingdom, Satoko has no title. To the nobles, she is nothing more than a commoner being disrespectful.
"Don't believe us and keep rebelling. You'll regret it later."
Satoko doesn't like the other person's attitude. She doesn't like Izrim Magic Kingdom, which doesn't give her a title, and Mei, who doesn't try to correct it.
"...Takamiya-dono. Is this your country's idea?"
"N-no, it's not. The Izrim Magic Kingdom will relieve all existing rights to those who pledge allegiance. That's what I have told you."
Right now, the priority should be the swift subjugation of the Lemberg Empire. To that end, the policy is to accept unconditionally any noble family that surrenders.
"If that's the case, please refrain from making misleading remarks."
"...Riko. Please be quiet for a moment."
Jin accepted the other party's point of view. He had no choice but to do so. If this misunderstanding spread to the other nobles of the Lemberg Empire, it would obviously make negotiations even more difficult.
"...I understand."
Satoko pouts her lips as she approves. She wasn't convinced at all, but she thought that she couldn't afford to trouble Jin.
"I want to keep negotiating. How can I get you to believe me?"
"...First of all, I would like to receive a certificate in the name of Her Majesty the Elected King."
"Okay. I'll arrange it right away. What else?"
This request has been heard many times before. Jin has a feeling that just because it is written on a piece of paper doesn't mean it can be trusted, but if it makes the other party satisfied, then it's fine.
"After confirming the certificate... what are you going to do after this?"
A vague question. But how many times had this development taken place? Jin knew what they wanted to ask.
"No date has been set yet, but the appropriate steps will be taken."
"I see... Well, I guess so."
The execution of Emperor Lemberg and Princess Rosa Linde. The person to whom they are offering to surrender is concerned about this. Not only because they feel guilty, but also because, having decided to turn over, they want any chance of the Lemberg Empire turning things around from here to be lost.
"It will take quite some time for the deed to arrive. Until then."
"...Take out the hostage. He's the legitimate heir. There's nothing to complain about, right?"
"Yeah, that's enough"
Taking a hostage is no guarantee that they will not betray him. Still, it is better than nothing.
"I brought my son with me. I will leave him today. But..."
"I will never treat him disrespectfully. I promise."
You don't have to listen to the end. The demands of the other party are always fixed. Jin wondered if it was a promise in such a case.
"……I understand."
This is just a verbal promise. Still, he wanted to keep his word. Those are the words of the Knight Commander. If he has pride as a knight, he can't break his promise.
The reason Jin struggles to gain trust is that he himself is from another world. And the fact that the hero who should not have betrayed has betrayed. These two are the reason. In other words, they deserved it.
"I always wondered why the one surrendering seemed so arrogant."
After the other party left, Satoko put into words the frustration she had felt in her heart.
"It's not that the other party is arrogant, it's that the recipient has to be humble."
"Why?"
"I was thinking about the feelings of the surrendering side."
"You're kind, after all."
"No, it's not like that. It is because it will work out better later on."
By surrendering, the other party's pride has already been hurt. If they were to do anything to undermine the other party in the negotiations, they would be left with a grudge. This was to be avoided.
"Even if that is the case, it is still very kind of you."
But that's not what Satoko is saying. She is not complimenting him in the first place.
"What do you mean by kind?"
"Katsuragi-san killed Heinz-san, who was on good terms with her, without hesitation. On the contrary, it's a massacre. In the original world, it will definitely go down in history as infamous. It's the same in this world."
"...Mei didn't kill him."
Jin is also an accomplice in the murder of Heinz and the soldiers of the Luine Kingdom. He has no right to blame Mei.
"Yes. She thought it up and made it happen. As a result, she became king."
"......Only Mei can be the Elected King of the Izrim Magic Kingdom."
Jin also understood what Satoko wanted to say.
"In the Izrim Magic Kingdom. But what about this country?"
Become the king of the Lemberg Empire. That's what Satoko wants to say to Jin.
"Riko. We stood up to save our comrades. We should not be divided."
"I'm not telling you to break up with our comrades. I'm saying that it's okay for Jin to become a king."
It would be nice if each of them became the king of a country and worked together. Satoko says so. However, it was nothing more than a way to make Jin take it.
"Riko. You shouldn't say things like that. Some people take it in a strange way."
Satoko's ambition is clear if you understand it correctly, rather than take it in a strange way. Jin doesn't want to get involved in that.
"...That's right. I'll be careful."
Jin's reaction was rather poor. Satoko decided to back down at this point.
"Yeah. This is an important time. It's better not to expose any openings."
"So what are you going to do?"
"What to do, do nothing"
She spoke as if she understood, yet she was still suggesting that he would become king. Jin's expression clouded at the thought.
"No, that's not what I meant. I'm talking about the negotiations we just had."
"...What about the negotiations?"
The conversation was suddenly off the subject. When he realized this, Jin's expression darkened more. This is not a good one either. He already knows that.
"When will Princess Rosa Linde be executed?"
"...That has not been decided yet."
"Then when will you decide?"
"...It will only be decided when there is a large number of nobles that surrenders and it is determined that executing the Princess will have no effect."
There is no need to answer now, this policy was decided a long time ago, and Satoko also knew about it. Even so, the meaning of asking this.
"No need for mercy. That kind of naivete is Jin's weakness."
"……I know"
The word [mercy] was uttered by Satoko. Jin knows what it means. The fact that she asked not when Emperor Lemberg would be executed, but when Princess Rosa Linde would be executed, shows this. It also shows that Satoko deliberately asked in such a way in order to make Jin understand.
Jin has no recollection of showing any mercy to Princess Rosa Linde. Nor does he have any feelings of love for her. And yet, he is bothered by Satoko who doubts that.
Both work and love are only weighing heavily on Jin's mind right now. He wants to throw it all away. It is hard for Jin to have such thoughts come to him from time to time.
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