First Diplomatic Relations?
For the first time in a long time, Ren had returned to the royal castle. He had received a call asking him to come back. He had not been able to visit all the towns and villages, but it was almost time for the snow to begin piling up. Ren thought it would be a good idea to go back to the castle and get all the information in order, so he agreed.
But when he got back, he had no time to organize the information. People who had been waiting for Ren to return visited him one after another. And they were not only from the Nord Empire.
"You're early. You've arrived already?"
One of the people waiting for Ren was Bishop Rasuel of the Holy Heroes Church, a former member of the Anti-Hero Alliance whom Ren also knew.
"It's almost been a year since Ren-dono left the church capital. It's almost too late."
"Has it been that long already?"
It is not that he has forgotten the calendar, it is just that it seems to have passed so quickly in his mind.
"I heard that the accession to the throne was completed without incident. Is it correct to say that everything will proceed as planned?"
"Yeah. First, we're going to cede the land. The land to give to the church is this area and the rest is......"
"Yes?"
"Since this area alone is not enough, I will give a mountain that is a little, no, quite far away."
"You're giving this area of land to the church?"
"I just said so"
"Near the border?"
"Convenient isn't it?"
Ren answers with a smile. He smiles like a child who was found out of mischief.
"It means that it's the territory of the Church, albeit only in form?"
"I know."
"We can't fight openly, can we?"
"Of course not. If the Church were to fight for this country, it would be a big problem."
"Then why?"
Bishop Rasuel could not understand Ren's idea of surrendering such an important land as the border.
"Because it would be difficult for other countries to attack us."
"That means..."
Bishop Rasuel wondered if it meant to fight.
"I'm not saying you should fight. But the Church doesn't like conflict."
"You want us to stop a country from invading?"
"I didn't go that far. I'm just saying that we should at least try to persuade them not to fight."
There is no need to fight. If they can stop them, that will be enough.
"By the way, why don't you say the same thing to your country?"
"I appreciate your advice, but it's up to our country to decide what to do."
"I guess"
Ren is right. He doesn't need to worry about the church's offer. But the Saint Miriam Kingdom is different. The Saint Miriam Kingdom would never have the guts to stand up to the church. The military power of the Church easily surpasses that of the Saint Miriam Kingdom.
"Does the Saint Miriam Kingdom need to be prepared for that?"
"If we only fight Saint Miriam, there is no need. But the battle will continue for a long time to come. I don't want to be disturbed until I have built up enough strength to withstand it."
"Will the Saint Miriam Kingdom attack?"
"Probably. But there is still time for them to do so."
"The Great Treaty remains in effect for about a year and a half. At least not until then."
"That's right. But that's not all. Before that, they'll probably intensify their harassment."
"Harassment?"
"Saint Miriam's resentment towards this country is morbid, but even so, you don't forget about other countries, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"If they're exhausted from fighting with us, they'll only be invaded by other countries. That's why they'll surely set up before the battle so that they can win easily. So I have a request to the church."
"As someone who belongs to the church, I can’t really cooperate, can I?"
"No problem. I'm talking about trade."
"Trade?"
Bishop Rasuel looks relieved when he hears Ren's words. If it is not war, but trade, there is a high possibility of cooperation.
"Saint Miriam has already decided to do it. It is to interfere with trade more than now and prevent things from entering this country. That will weaken the country. In short, it's a starvation attack."
"It's sad that you only have a border with Saint Miriam."
"It's not all bad, but you're right on this one. That's where the church comes in. The church's purchases cannot be interfered with even by Saint Miriam. So, the church should purchase goods from other countries and sell them. We sell goods from this country, and you sell them in other countries. You act as an intermediary."
"Ah, that's why you're handing over this place near the border."
"Yes. This is the real reason. Mediating a war is just an idea."
"It's a lot to think about. If that's the case, I'm sure we'll just trade. It doesn't seem to be a problem."
If this were against the Saint Miriam Kingdom, Bishop Rasuel would not accept it easily. However, the other person is Ren, and Bishop Rasuel believes that the church exists today thanks to Ren.
He is willing to accept almost anything, as long as it does not involve direct cooperation that would be known to other countries.
"Then it's settled. What about the building of the church?"
"Once the territory transfer procedure is completed, I will report back to the church capital. After that, I will bring the craftsmen."
"You're bringing them all the way from the capital?"
"Since it’s a church building, we have to leave it to the experts. That's why I'm holding on to some of them."
"All this way?"
"If you include the churches in other countries, there are quite a few. There's quite a bit of work to be done, including additions and restorations."
"I see. Then what about the materials?"
"You know that, don't you? We will procure stones and lumber from the Nord Empire. But we will only purchase them at a fair price."
"Certainly"
A smile broke out on Ren's face. Although it went according to plan, it is nice to have extra income. Nord's current situation is that no matter how much money they have, it is not enough.
"It was well thought out. You're giving away territory, but in the end, you're making money on land that doesn't generate any income."
"It's not that it doesn't make money at all. You just need to invest for it."
"You don't intend to invest, do you?"
"Well. At the church if necessary."
"We don't have any plans either. We were thinking that we don't even need to set up a church."
"That's a problem"
If they don't build a church, they can't sell the materials. Temporary income disappears.
"Yes, I understand. As for the building, we will invest accordingly."
"Please. And I have one more request."
"What is it? As I've said many times before, we don't want any trouble."
"The craftsmen coming here to build a church, and when they're done, I'd like to ask them to do a job for me."
"I don't mind that. I don't know if they'll accept the job though."
"I'll negotiate with them. It's a job that the church can't get involved in."
"...Ah, I understand. Repairing the castle, no, building a castle, right?"
"Don't say those words"
A wry smile appears on Ren's face. Repairing and building castles is forbidden. There is no need to make public their intention to go to war, even if by the time they actually do so, the Great Treaty will have lost its effect.
"Yes. But is it impossible to do so with craftsmen in your own country? Would it not be better to drop money on the people of your own country?"
"There has been no such work for two hundred years. The people with the skills have long since disappeared."
"I see... well, it's different from building a house."
"No, what I'm asking for is a larger mansion. I think I can get an extension, but just in case."
"Is that all right?"
"If the capital is attacked, it will be over at that point."
"Are you prepared for that?"
Bishop Rasuel took it as preparedness, but it would be the end if they actually went as deep into the land as Ren said they would.
The Nord Empire does not have the strength to fight a long defensive war. If another country is allowed to invade and ravage the country, that would be the end. And by [end], he is talking about the side that conquers the country.
"How do I go about the process of transferring the land?"
"We have prepared a draft contract, so please confirm the contents. If there are no problems, all you have to do is add information that identifies the land. All that remains is the signing. When I come back, I will bring the document signed by His Eminence."
"I understand. The land is fine. What about the rest?"
"I think there will probably be some people who will gather before I return. It seems they can't bear to wait and do nothing."
"That's a sin."
"Now it seems so to us, too, but at the time we were mad with hatred for the heroes."
Now that they think about it, he doesn't understand why they wanted to adopt it that way. It was not only Bishop Rasuel. Everyone in the Anti-Hero Alliance was crazy. Or they stopped thinking and just went with the flow.
"You are still mad."
Not everyone thinks like Bishop Rasuel. Many are still ravaged by the group's madness.
"Yes. I regret getting involved."
"Well, regretting it won't solve anything. It's better to hurry up and prepare to accept it. There is a possibility that they may be prevented from crossing the border."
"Ah, yes, that's right. In that case, I'll have to keep them waiting at the church in the Saint Miriam Kingdom until I return."
"Or you could decide to enter Nord on church business. Can the church provide some kind of certificate?"
"I can do that. I understand. I'll make the arrangements."
"By the way, have you finished selecting the people who will come here as a church?"
"Yes, long time ago. There is no need to select and we have no extra people. With all due respect, the only people who would want to be assigned to this country in the far north are my own people."
"I guess so."
Not only Bishop Rasuel, but all those who will be sent to this country will be former members of the Anti-Hero Alliance. The reason they are being posted to Nord is to support Ren as members of the church, and this was also the original plan.
Ren has declared that he will not be involved with the church, but this is just a pose to those who have nothing to do with the Anti-Hero Alliance, represented by Pope Mikhail. He will take advantage of whatever he can.
That's Ren's stance.
However, the people who cooperate with Ren are not the former Anti-Hero Alliance at the center of the church, but people who still place more importance on the Anti-Hero's ideology than on the church. In that respect, Ren is not aware that he is using the church.
And beside them, there are others in the Anti-Hero Alliance who are aiming for Nord. These are the people who have been imprinted with Anti-Hero's ideology as the spear to defeat the heroes and have become fanatics who are willing to sacrifice themselves.
Within a month from this day, such people will gather from all over the continent. Seeking a promised place to die.
◇◇◇
After finishing his meeting with Bishop Rasuel, Ren moved to the audience hall. Although it was a visitor from outside the country, it was not someone he knew like Bishop Rasuel.
The audience was formal, with Lautrec and other important people in attendance.
"Thank you for waiting. I am Emperor Kaiser Ren Breitkreutz of the Nord Empire."
"The son of the chief of the dragon race. I'm Ranbal Drago."
Although he is called a dragon person, his appearance is not so different from that of the humans. The only big difference is that they are much larger and have a scaled tail that grows behind them.
That was his impression of the dragon people when he saw it for the first time.
"What is the dragon race doing in this castle?"
"I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Why are you ignoring us?"
"...I don't mean to ignore you, but."
The question was unexpected. Ren could not read the dragon person's intention.
"Then why didn't you send a messenger to our race?"
"It's too far away."
"...Are you making fun of us?"
"No, I was just stating the facts."
"...It seems that you are calling yourself an empire, but our race does not recognize it."
"We don't need other nations to recognize us."
An empire is a collection of nations. It is Ren's view that a country of dragon people that do not belong to the empire is another country. It is not a special way of thinking.
"Our people are also from Nord."
"......Are you saying that you should not be left out?"
Ren had no idea what the dragon person Drago wanted to say.
"Wrong!"
"Then what?"
"You've been going around trying to unite the Nord. Isn't that right?"
"Well."
"Then why didn't you visit the land of the dragon race?"
"...You're just saying it in a different way, but you still don't want to be left out, right?"
No matter how he said so, that's all Ren can think of.
"Wrong! The dragon race is the strongest race. Why are you ignoring us?"
"In the end, it is a question of why ignore it in the first place, right?"
"...It's going to be troublesome if you answer that you're not ignoring us."
"I am not ignoring you. I have done a lot of research on the dragon people and have made a considered decision based on that information."
As he said, Ren has no intention of ignoring them. They can't enter the empire. That's what he's been thinking from the beginning.
"What is that decision?"
"We will not negotiate with the Dragon people."
"Isn't that ignoring us?"
"Then, if I ask you to follow me, will the dragon race follow me?"
"There is no way that we would ever be under another race."
"See? And I have no intention of following the dragon race either."
"What did you say!?"
"What's the point in obeying? Is there anything the dragon race can do by making other races obey?"
"What we can do?"
There is no such thing. If there was, he would have taken action. The most powerful race in terms of power.
"For me, the position of Emperor of the Nord Empire is just a means to achieve a goal. I don't want to be an emperor. I need a lot of power, so I'm just increasing my allies."
"...The dragon race has power."
"Even if you have power, it won’t be used for my purposes. If that were the case, there would be no need to force you to be my allies."
"…Why give up so easily like that? I somehow know what you are trying to do. When it comes to fighting prowess, there is no race better than the Dragon people, you know?"
They need power, but they do not seek it from the strongest race. This is not satisfactory to the dragon people. It seems as if their power is not recognized.
"With individual power"
"What!? Our tribe is strong even as a group!"
"I know that. But can you say that you can win against all the humans?"
"It wouldn't come to that extent."
"I just said it in an easy-to-understand way. Then, how about 100,000 people? Can you win without losing a single person?"
"...We can."
No, it can't be. This is Ranbal's pretense.
"Then 200,000?"
Even though he knew it was not, Ren didn't say it and added more.
"Even 200,000!"
Still, Ranbal continues. This doesn't move the conversation forward.
"That's bravado. You need to think more calmly. War lasts a long time, and in it, even the strongest will fall. That's the nature of war."
"I admit that"
"The problem is the small population of the dragon race. If the population of the dragon race was to be cut in half during the war, would the dragon race be able to survive without becoming extinct?"
"...I don't know."
Even the dragon race understands the problem that Ren pointed out. The crisis of species survival is a problem that many demons have.
"You should be able to roughly understand it. I used the analogy of the battle with the humans, but if the dragon race interferes with me, the first thing that will happen is that there will be a conflict within the Nord. The dragon race is not the only one that has the power to fight. Can the dragon race win against that force? Not just win, but keep the population large enough to sustain the species for years to come?"
"...So you are not willing to negotiate with us?"
"Yes. If we are not willing to obey each other, there will be conflicts. That conflict is a meaningless conflict that will only weaken the Nord. As I said before, I do not want to unify Nord. I just want the power of the Nord on my side."
"...I understand why you won't negotiate."
"Then are we done?"
"I understand your reasons, but I will not accept being ignored."
Pride as the strongest species will not allow it. In the end, that's all there is to it, but you can't ignore it either. Ren does not want to create any kind of domestic trouble, no matter how small.
"...Then how about this?"
"What is it?"
"We'll make an alliance treaty. Or a non-aggression pact, if you prefer."
"Alliance huh..."
"An alliance, but other than military. Ah, but defense is necessary. You'll stay out from the invasion, but we'll cooperate with each other in the defense of Nord."
"...An alliance of equals."
"If you don't like it, you don't have to force it. I don't want to do something about the territory controlled by the dragon race. Even without a treaty, if you don't do anything, there won't be any problems."
"...I will take it home. We will answer after considering it."
"...Go ahead. I'm hoping for a good answer."
He offered to negotiate with them. Ren understood that they wanted to end it that way. If they were satisfied with that and backed down, that was good enough for Ren.
"Then excuse me."
"Then, Lautrec, please send Drago-dono back to the front."
"Ha."
By appointing Lautrec, the highest-ranking official, as the one to see him off, he made the dragon race look even more important. Ranbal also left the audience hall with a satisfied look on his face.
"...What is His Majesty's true intentions?"
"Hindrance."
Ren answered Ralph's question with one word.
"They are powerful"
"Too powerful. They won't listen to what I say. Besides, it's a problem if it's too strong against the enemy."
"Because it creates caution?"
"That's right. If they got a warning at an early stage and other countries start to unite, we will be at a standstill. Until we have the strength to fight the major powers head-on, we must always win on the edge."
"Yes"
"And we don't have the time to build up our strength slowly."
"......Have you made any moves?"
"I'll listen to that now. I'm keeping them waiting in my office, so we need to go, Ralph. The others are dismissed. Go back to your normal work."
"Ha"
After dealing with the dragon race, the next step was a meeting with the vampires, the Intelligence Department. Back at the castle, Ren was too busy to rest.
◇◇◇
"Um?"
After the meeting, Ren finally returned to his room. When he entered his room, there was still a visitor waiting for him. Waiting in the room was Rin and one other person.
"Your Majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"What brings you here?"
She was the former queen of the Dunkerelfe tribe.
"With a representative, Her Majesty the Queen would inevitably rely on her. I thought that would not be good."
"Isn't that a good thing? I know you are still new to this, so I think you need someone to back you up or support you."
"There is another person who supports her. But that person also has to take care of her. That would not be a good replacement."
"Maybe so."
He doesn't doubt it. But that's not why she's here.
"I can't stay in the city of the Dunkerelfe tribe. That's why..."
"No way, you don't mean you want to be the representative?"
"That's, no."
"...This is a strange thing for me to ask, but what kind of position do you want?"
He has an idea. But he just doesn't want to say it himself.
"That is, of course, His Majesty's wife."
"I knew it……"
Otherwise, she wouldn't be in this place, which can be called Ren's private room. Not public, but private. That is why Rin let her through here.
The emperor's concubine could be considered a public figure, but it is not Ren who desires it. It can only be in the form of a private request.
"I have severed my ties with the Dunkerelfe tribe. I have nothing to do to the tribe on His Majesty's side."
"You don't have to sever all ties."
"Otherwise, people will not be convinced."
"……Is it so?"
Ren can't help but turn the question back to Rin. He wondered if Rin, being a Vampire, was the same way.
"It seems to me..."
Rin was not aware that she was being asked.
"I see that too. I wouldn't complain about it."
"In the first place, my position isn't like that..."
"……It was"
Rin's position is not officially defined in any way. What she does is the same as before: she is Ren's caretaker, but that is not an official position either. And once back at the castle, Ren is to be taken care of by the maids.
"There is also the matter of my concubine. Why don't you clarify your official position?"
"Official position?"
"You are the second I guess?"
"Second?"
"How to call a concubine in the elves. The primary consort is the first, and the rest is in order as a concubine."
"First."
"That would be Luna-sama, wouldn't it?"
"...That's right"
Luna is an absolute existence for the Dunkerelfe tribe. Depending on the situation, she is more important than Ren.
"I'm fine with being the third."
"You are the fourth!"
"...You."
There is only one person here who complains. Before they knew it, Shizuku was standing at the entrance to the room.
"I go first."
"I have done a lot of research on my way up to the castle. You were the King's guard, were you not?"
"That's right"
"What we are deciding now is the rank of queen. It has nothing to do with you, the King's guard."
"Then I will become a queen too."
"That's for His Majesty to decide."
"Ren!?"
"You're my advisor."
"Eh!?"
Shizuku asked Ren with high expectations, but she was easily betrayed.
"An adviser. Don't call yourself a royal guard after this."
"Why!?"
"Because it's more convenient."
"Convenient?"
"I'll use your title as a saint. For that reason, you must not be my vassal, and you must not be my concubine."
"That's... then, at night?"
"Eh?"
For Shizuku, the title is irrelevant, and this is what is important. The question was so straightforward that it made Ren feel embarrassed.
"What's the matter?"
"...I'm surprised you can say that in public."
"Ren made me into this kind of woman."
"Can you stop saying that? It's embarrassing."
"But..."
"That's, well, we’re going to keep it as before."
"Ah, see you tonight."
"Huh!?"
"Because it's been a long time since we met."
"Jeez. You're the same as ever."
If you give in one thing, she will ask for more. Ren remembered that Shizuku was that kind of woman.
"What are you talking about? We have just decided on the ranking order. There is no way you get your turn tonight."
"You think it's you?"
"I am a disciplined concubine. Tonight, Rin-dono will be His Majesty's partner."
"Eh?" "Yes?"
"Luna-sama can't be His Majesty's partner for the night. In that case, the second one, Rin-dono, will be the first."
"Rin..."
Ren's attitude toward Rin had clearly changed, but that didn't mean he would ask her to be his partner for the night. In that sense, it could be said that this was a perfect opportunity.
"......No, I don't want to do that."
A little distressed, Rin chose to let go of the opportunity.
"If it's an official position, it's necessary to go through a certain procedure. That kind of thing is after that."
"…………"
Ren's words are directed at Rin, to which Rin has no answer. She's glad that Ren is trying to make sense of the situation, but she's not sure she's ready for the opportunity to suddenly appear in front of her.
"Fumu. Certainly, as His Majesty says. Just deciding on this occasion won't make it official. Then, let's wait for that."
The person who brought up the words does not understand Rin's feelings. She agrees with Ren's words.
"It seems that the concubine has given her approval."
"Eh? Huh?"
Ren is puzzled by the fact that things have turned out that way.
"Well then. I will prepare a room for you."
"Eh?"
Then a new voice joined in. One of the maids entered the room, bowing deeply at the door.
"I overheard what you were saying. If you mean the concubine, I think you need a room."
"Yes, well... But not right away."
"No, I can prepare it."
"Ah, I see"
"Then, since His Majesty has given permission, I will guide you to the back."
"Ah, there is a back room?"
The maid proceeds with her words, leaving Ren behind. The former queen seemed happy to hear what the maid had said.
"...Back, that back?"
"I don't know what His Majesty is referring to, but I have created a room that should be called a private room for His Majesty."
"When?"
"I prepared it while His Majesty was out."
Ren did not give such an instruction. Then, whose idea did she build the room? Ren didn't think Lautrec would give his thoughts on such a thing.
"Then... what should I call you?"
"Saku. It's a nickname. Feel free to use it."
"Understood. Then I will guide Saku-sama to the room."
Another maid appeared and led Saku to the room.
"His Majesty must be tired. Please go back to your rooms, Rin-sama and Shizuku-sama."
"Yeah, you are right"
"...I understand."
The maid told them to leave the room quietly, not only Rin, but also Shizuku. Shizuku also knows that Ren has been working hard since returning to the castle. If she is told that he is tired, she has no choice but to obey.
Only Ren and the maid remained in the room.
"I'm actually a little tired, but what?"
"His Majesty can just lie down. I will take care of everything."
"That's a little embarrassing."
"Don't be embarrassed. It's just a meal."
Lyra of the Lilith tribe dressed as a maid said so and smiled. With it, a more bewitching aura gushes out of Lyra's body.
"Now then, Your Majesty. To the bed."
"Yeah"
The power of the charm is far more powerful than that of Rin of the vampire race. His s*xual instincts for Lyra are uncontrollable, regardless of Ren's feelings.
This is Lyra's will as the queen of the Lilith tribe. She cannot allow Ren to remain calm in a room alone with her. It is because of this that Lyra is interested in Ren and wants to keep him for herself.
On this night, for the first time in his life, Ren experienced a moment of true s*xual immersion. Lyra was experiencing a pleasure that she could not remember if she had felt it before.
[Delicious], that was Lyra's impression after finishing the act.
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