Difference Between the Two
Negotiations for a truce with the Nord Empire were conducted at the sole discretion of the Saint Miriam Kingdom, or rather Amalia. The reason why the united front army, upon learning of this, did not terminate the negotiations was that they believed that the Nord Empire would never accept such an offer.
Not only that, but with the united front army's greatly reduced strength, it would not be easy to take down the fortress where the Nord Empire's main forces were holed up. The reason for this was that the united front army had the idea that it would not be a bad idea to make a fresh start now that problems were occurring in various countries due to Ren's scheming.
If anything, the latter reason is stronger. Heinz, who is suspected of rebellion, wants to return to his own country to prove his innocence.
For Heinz, it is convenient that Amalia conducted the negotiations on her own. She did so without permission from her home country, and if she failed, it would only embarrass Amalia.
The negotiations have continued, contrary to initial expectations. There is even a slight feeling of acceptance in the Nord Empire. The situation raises such hopes.
Until a truce is reached, it remains a state of war. The united front army has not stopped its activities. However, their activities have shifted from attacking the fort to defending them and then conquering the surrounding cities. The only ones who moved to control the surrounding cities were Yuya's Knight Order.
"We are the Liberation Army! Don't worry!"
Yuya explains in front of the town's residents that they are not enemies. The residents look at him blankly.
"Now that we're here, we won't let the Nord Empire interfere with you anymore. We'll definitely protect you guys."
Yuya continues to appeal to the residents with his words. Even though the reaction of the residents was not good, he had no choice but to do this.
They came to the city calling themselves the Liberation Army, but as they knew, there was no Nord Army in the city. Even though the residents may have difficulties in their lives, it is not because of the oppression of the Nord Empire, but because of the lack of supplies due to the war. It is not the responsibility of the Nord Empire alone.
The knights that Yuya has led have not freed the inhabitants from anything.
"...Let's provide the supplies we brought."
What the residents need are not words but things. Yuya knows that. He thought he would at least provide them with the supplies that the army had brought.
"We only have the bare minimum of supplies needed to carry out the operation plan."
The united front army did not have enough to give to the residents either.
"But there's no point in leaving here like this."
"You knew that from the beginning, didn't you?"
This operation is carried out at the strong request of Amalia. She wanted to do something about the increasing influence of the Nord Empire.
However, even if they move the army blindly, they will not get any effect. He knew that before he started the operation. Yuya forcibly pushed through it.
"Yes, but that's why we can at least do it in one place."
"Then, is it okay if we raise only this town?"
It is a waste of time to visit several cities. The knight, who doesn't want to move for Amalia's sake, is trying to get Yuya to promise to finish the operation in this city alone.
"......We have no choice."
"Then, I will prepare enough supplies to hand over."
Yuya accepted it. If he moved to another city without doing anything, he would not gain the support of the people. Yuya's convenient expectation of gaining popularity among the residents as a liberator had vanished with their attitude.
He lined up the supplies he had prepared for the operation in front of the residents. The quantity of these supplies was not large. Originally, they had thought that it would not be a big battle, so the number of knights participating in the operation was small, and the number of days of the operation was estimated to be short.
Still, the attitude of the residents changed when they realized that the supplies in front of them would be theirs.
"Come on, line up! I can't give you much, but I'll make sure everyone gets it!"
The residents reacted happily to Yuya's words. They are cash rich. But that's how serious the shortage of supplies is.
"Come!"
Yuya, the leader of the knights, is handing out supplies to the residents. This is for popularity. Because he wants to sell his name and face as the future King of Saint Miriam.
"U-um..."
Meanwhile, the woman at the head of the line spoke to Yuya.
"What? Don't worry. There's more food."
"No, not food, do you have medicine?"
"Medicine? Um... do you have any medicine?"
What the woman is asking for is medicine. But all that is laid out now is food. Yuya asked the knight if there was medicine.
"There are some. Is wound medicine okay?"
"N-no. Medicine for my son's illness."
"Illness... there is some fever medicine, right?"
Knights and soldiers sometimes fall ill. The medicines they have are limited, however. The only medicines they have are those for colds and stomach ailments.
"What I want is cough medicine and nutritional supplements."
"There is no such medicine. But if he has a cough, it must be a cold, right?"
"No, my son's illness is asthma."
"...We don't have that. You should ask a doctor."
"I'm asking because they don't have it."
"Even if you say so, I can't give you what I don't have."
They can't give her what they don't have. The knight ended his conversation with the woman and tried to deal with the next resident.
"No... then my son! What will happen to my son!?"
The woman did not agree.
"Even if you ask me what will happen to him."
"The medicine has run out, and he has been suffering terribly since this morning! I'm afraid he's going to die!"
The woman, looking quite desperate, appealed to the knight.
"Even if you say so..."
Even so, the knight is troubled. There is nothing they can do for her.
"We don't have it now, but if we go to the capital, it should be there. If you don't mind, would you like to go with me?"
"Really!?"
Yuya interjected. He cannot ignore a woman in need. It's not just for popularity, it's an action from Yuya's sense of justice. In such a case, his biased sense of justice would work correctly.
"Yeah, it's true. Let's take the child and head to the royal capital."
"...How long will it take to get to the royal capital?"
If they go to the capital, the child will be saved. The mother was happy to think so, but then she remembered how far it was to the capital.
"If we hurry, we'll get there in three days."
"Three days……"
The mother's face suddenly darkened. The child is suffering terribly now. It hurts to think that this state will continue for another three days.
"...Is it no good?"
"...N-no, it's better than not getting medicine."
The mother has no choice. Without medicine, her son's suffering continues. On the contrary, he may lose his life.
"Then let's move now."
"Yes. Then I will bring my son."
There was no time to dawdle if she wanted to get her child out of his suffering as quickly as possible. The mother turned around to go back to the house.
There was a man standing in front of the mother.
"...I have medicine"
"You are……"
"Even if you go to the royal capital, you can't get medicine. This is a special medicine."
Saying this, the man gave the leather bag he was holding to the mother.
"T-thank you very much"
The mother, who received the leather bag, bowed deeply toward the man. She got the medicine. But it was more than just a thank you.
"Will the child be saved?"
Yuya interrupted at this point.
"The medicine I gave her will help her child, but I honestly don't know."
"You don't have any more?"
"Yeah, I don't."
"Then where can I get some?"
If it's not enough, just add more. It was a simple question. However, the answer to this question was something Yuya had not thought of at all.
"From Nord Empire"
"What did you say?"
Yuya is surprised at the unexpected answer. Hearing this unexpected answer, the knights draw their swords and surround the man. The man does not seem to be upset even though he is surrounded. He was prepared for it.
"This medicine can only be made in the Nord Empire."
"Why do you have it?"
"It's obvious. Because I am from the Nord Empire."
This is the expected answer.
"Why did you appear before us?"
"Otherwise the child will die."
"…Are you going to take the child hostage?"
If they want to get the medicine, they can't kill the man. Yuya thought that was why the man had identified himself so brazenly.
"I am only following His Majesty's orders."
"...What is that?"
"Prioritize the people, above all, the people who are suffering. That's what I'm ordered to do."
"...Hypocrisy"
"It is not for you to decide. It is what the people think."
It may be hypocritical. But there are people who are actually saved by it. For them, it is definitely a good deed.
"I will definitely help the child, so there is no reason to keep you alive."
"You can do whatever you want. If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have named myself in the first place."
"Why? Why are you so loyal to him?"
The man is completely unfazed by the threats. Yuya could not believe the man's determination, or rather, he did not want to believe it.
"Because I can do work that I am not ashamed of. Because I can feel joy in my work."
"You don't have to work for him to do that."
"I couldn't."
"What?"
"I originally served the Saint Miriam Kingdom. My work in the Saint Miriam Kingdom was something to be ashamed of. I do not say all of them. But there was a lot of work like that."
The man was originally a retainer of the Saint Miriam Kingdom. After the fall of the capital, he was persuaded by Ren for a long time, and in response, he decided to serve the Nord Empire.
"You switched sides?"
"Yes, that's right. But I am not ashamed of it. I am glad that I have at last found a master to serve."
"He's an invader!"
"Whether it's an invader or a king who makes the people's lives better, that's fine! The people want a king who can protect them!"
It doesn't matter to most citizens who is the ruler. Results matter. Any ruler who makes their life better is welcome.
"You think he's the one?"
"I chose to serve because I thought so. And now I know I wasn't wrong."
"…………"
"I will say it, since the inhabitants of this city will not be able to say it. If you think that just because you are an Armstrong family, you will get loyalty, you are mistaken. The reign of the Armstrong was not one that pleased the people."
Criticism of Amalia. Criticism of her father, the late King Saint Miriam. The denial of the Armstrong family, the royal family of the Saint Miriam Kingdom.
"……Let's go."
"Are you sure?"
In response to Yuya's command, his subordinates asked. Not against it, but as a reminder.
"If we restrain this man here, the child may die. I can't do such a terrible thing."
Because the child is being held hostage. This is the reason, but it is not the whole reason. It was complex feelings that made Yuya refuse to stay in this city.
The operation to control the city, which began at the request of Amalia, ended quickly in this way.
◇◇◇
Yuya's operation to control the city ended easily, but the Nord Empire's activities did not stop. They are moving to seize control of the city.
Even though Yuya's operation was over, the united front army could not just stand by and watch. They went out to sabotage that activity, though.
"I am Amalia-sama's maid. What is the reason for interfering with my activities?"
It is Emily who is complaining about the united front army trying to get in the way of their activities.
"We haven't interfered yet. I'm just asking what you are doing."
Mei answered Emily's question. In Mei's case, unlike Yuya, she came here as an official of the united front army.
"To deliver supplies to the people of the city"
"How did you get those supplies?"
Even Mei knows about the shortage of supplies. Despite that, Emily and the others have brought in a considerable amount of food, daily necessities, and various other goods. It's only natural to be suspicious.
"We got them from the Nord Empire."
"What?"
Emily proudly admitted that the supplies belonged to the Nord Empire. Mei was surprised by that.
"Is something wrong?"
"We are at war with the Nord."
"Is there a rule that trade is prohibited during the war? Even as a maid, I understand that."
"...I won't know unless I look into it."
Mei thinks that there is no rule. That's why Emily was able to proudly say that it belonged to the Nord Empire.
"So why don't you go back and check it out?"
"In that case, I will ask you to accompany me."
"Yes, I don't mind. After handing over the supplies to the people of this city."
Emily readily accepted Mei's order, which was meant to be a threat.
"Those supplies are under suspicion. Of course, we'll carry the supplies with us."
This time it was more harassment than a threat. But this was a little too impatient.
"In other words, the united front army intends to rob the residents of this city?"
"...I didn't say that."
If the residents perceive it that way, even if they can hinder the Nord Empire's popularity, the united front army will be resented. That will only widen support for the Nord Empire in the end.
"But if you take the supplies, the people of this city will be in trouble."
"...Then it's fine."
"Thank you. Are we done? The people are getting tired of waiting."
"Yes"
Emily heads towards the supplies away from Mei. There was already a line in front of it. Civil officials who accompanied Emily started distributing supplies.
To Mei's surprise, the residents are paying for it. What Emily is doing is not charity, but business. It was different from what she had expected.
"Life doesn't seem so hard."
"Eh?"
Mei turned around, startled by the unexpected voice she heard, and there stood Manami.
"I talked to some of the people in line. I heard that the only places hit by the Nord Empire's invasion were the border fortresses and the royal capital. The rest of the country was undamaged."
"I see……"
"Furthermore, tax exemption is brought. They say it's only temporary."
"They're desperate to gain popularity in the occupied territories."
Words that were meant to be uttered with sarcasm. But to those around them, they sounded like envy.
"Everyone who disobeyed was killed."
"Eh?"
"Even those who have been dishonest. A fearsome king who shows no mercy to his enemies or to those who commit crimes."
"...But for people who live normally, is it a good king?"
Ren is doing the same thing in the former Saint Miriam Kingdom territory as he did in the Nord Empire. But that is something Mei and the others do not understand.
"It seems that it varies from person to person. Many people are hoping that their lives will get better, but there are also people who say their lives have become difficult because of Ren."
"So it's not that simple."
Policies that are good for low-income people may not be so for high-income people. Ren's policies are based on channeling the wealth of high-income people to low-income people in order to gain the support of the overwhelming majority of low-income people. There are naturally people who are dissatisfied.
"But the one thing they all have in common is that they want the united front army gone as soon as possible."
"Even those who are dissatisfied?"
"Seems so. They want it to be clear who is going to rule the country."
They want to gain connections with the government and officials in order to regain their lost interests. If they don't know who is in power, they can't move for it.
Some people think so. They don't know that Ren would never allow such a thing.
"So they’re going to choose Ren-kun over Princess Amalia?"
"Because Ren has power. And Ren doesn't discriminate against the people of the Saint Miriam Kingdom. I don't think that's actually the case, but that's what they think."
"…So being indifferent to all, people makes you look like an equal. They don't know that because they haven't actually met him."
"People in the Saint Miriam Kingdom don't know the horrors of war. I think that has a lot to do with it."
Not only during the Nord Empire, but also when the united front army invaded, the only battlefield was the border fort. The only casualties of the war were the soldiers, and most people do not understand the misery of the defeated nations. Manami believes that this is one of the reasons why the Nord Empire is allowed to rule.
"...Can you get true loyalty from that?"
"That's not what Ren wants. Ren's goal isn't world domination. It's revenge."
"Yes... but what about the rest other than him?"
Mei's eyes are on Emily. Emily is among the residents, listening carefully to each and every one of them. Is this a business move? Mei feels that it is not.
Kneeling in front of the old woman, taking her hand, and nodding back with a smile on her face, Emily didn't look like a merchant.
"She is different from when she was in school."
"...Is that her true nature, or is she just putting an act?"
At the academy, Emily was an inconspicuous figure who simply followed Amalia around. She was not completely inconspicuous in terms of her appearance or her sometimes agitated personality, but she was not someone that Mei was aware of.
Even now, she is not strongly conscious of it. But how does Emily appear in the eyes of the people of this city? She was curious about that.
"If it were me, I would choose her over Princess Amalia."
"But Amalia is the princess of this country. And she is her maid. There is no way the people of this world would choose a maid."
"……I agree."
In case people choose Emily instead of Amalia. In fact, there is no chance for them to choose, but if they trust Emily more than Amalia, and if that trust turns into loyalty.
Wouldn't that destroy the values of the people of this world? That's what Manami thought.
"And she won't be able to do this kind of activity any more. I don't know what the punishment will be......"
If she returned to the Royal Capital, she would be punished and would no longer be able to do this. That's what she thought, but she realized on the way that was not necessarily the case.
"Or maybe she'll get the freedom to do this."
"I know. Either keep we her in jail forever or kill her. That kind of severe punishment is necessary."
"What kind of existence is she to Ren?"
If Emily was an important person, Ren would never forgive someone who punished her severely. Everyone knows this, not just Manami.
"...It's too late now. He's holding a grudge against us. Nothing will change even if he resents us even more."
"I agree……"
"And we have no right to judge her. We have nothing to do with it. It doesn't matter."
"Maybe so, but..."
Saying that it's too late now, Mei dares to say that it's none of their business, even if Emily is going to be severely punished. Her fear of Ren makes her do it.
"Our positions are too different. There is too much difference between what Ren-kun, the king, and I can do."
On the contrary, it is an excuse for her fear of Ren. It is Mei's pride that makes her say it.
"It can't be helped"
"We can't continue as we are. We have to be free."
"Mei. That too."
A slave called a hero. They are here because they cannot escape from that shackle. It is useless for them to seek freedom.
"There is a way."
"……Really?"
But Mei said there was a way to escape. In a very quiet voice, so that those around her could not hear. Manami felt the truth in the quietness of her voice.
"There is a chance."
"I see……"
However, Mei's words did not express absolute confidence.
"Ren-kun took a gamble at the very beginning and won it. We have to do the same or we won't be in the same position."
In order to escape the hero's subordination magic, Ren made various attempts. But none of them were absolutely safe. Still, Ren gambled on it and won the throne of the king.
Mei believes that if she does not do the same, she will not be able to compete with Ren. It is not Yuya or Jin who has a strong rivalry with Ren more than anyone else, but Mei.
It is this strong rivalry that is forcing Mei to make up her mind.
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