SIDE: Kite.

Hey, you sure you're okay with this?

I said it's fine. And now you've come all the way out here and now you want me to go home?

Not really, though: ......
　I know I'm persistent.
　I don't know how many times I've asked Elaine since we left the kingdom.
　But I was worried. .......

Thank you for your concern. But this is a good time to do it, okay?

...... Got it.

Thank you.
　Elaine is really awesome.
　I'm sure it's a lot of work to do, but to be able to look at me like this and care about me like this. ......
　I have to do my best: ....... I'm sure the council won't want to push you too hard.

And yet ...... the western part of the Empire is really in ruins. Do those idiots really think the kingdom will be enriched if they get their hands on this?
　Saying that, Hélène looked out the window at the rundown fields that hadn't been tampered with for years now .
　Indeed, even if they got a land like this, the kingdom would still be bankrupt with losses before the profits came into hand .
　There are no dungeons, so we can't even use it as a source of magic stones . ....... No matter how you look at it, this is a land that cannot be a treasure for the kingdom .

''They really think that as long as they have land and people, the money will flow in on its own. It can't be helped.
　Because they're the kind of guys who eat, play and sleep every day.　They're not very smart, and they're definitely not very naive .

'It's totally unavoidable when people like that are running the country.

'Yeah . Haha ...... even the few serious people who are serious have become Mr. Aaron and the General, besides me and Elaine. ......

You're worried about Gert?

Yes. They make you work all night long, you know?
　When Leo returned Mr. Gert, he was made a slave.
　He tried to kill our guest, Leo, with his own magic tool. The king and his men gave the order.
　Gert can't be blamed.

But it feels like he had it coming. That's what it means to betray people after all.

'Yes, but ......'
　Mr. Gert betrayed the Empire and his former master to escape to his kingdom.
　They say he killed many people along the way.
　That is unforgivable and unacceptable.
　But the Gert I knew was a kind and reliable person.

I'd like to meet him just one more time ...... to find out what kind of person he really was.
　I want to see for myself what kind of person Gert really is.
　Because the Gert I knew was a kind and reliable man.


We are almost at our destination. Over there, you will see the Myrddin estate.
　They had not spoken to each other for some time, and as they were swinging in the carriage, the knight's report came through the window.

'Oh, I see him!　Look, there.
　Hélène hurried me to look in the direction my fingers were pointing.
　Then I saw ...... a ridiculously large city, or rather a city.
　Isn't that the imperial capital?　I'm tempted to doubt that.

You've got some pretty impressive walls: ......

Terrible.
　Will we ever get past the great wall .......


That's Mladin Castle ...... such a great castle.
　I walked into the walls and immediately saw Leo's castle.
　Is that ...... really Leo's castle?　If you're not, I have a feeling it's bigger than the King's Castle: .......

'It's a symbol of how prosperous this city is, isn't it?
　This town can afford to build something like that.
　While I was thinking this, I was looking at the streets filled with people.

It's livelier than the royal city. ....... Did you hear that?　I heard that the land here is so expensive to build a single store, that it would be enough to build a magnificent mansion in the royal capital.
　If only there were this many people: ....... It seems like any business would do well.
　On the other hand, the kingdom is in decline right now, and I doubt anyone would want to start a new business there.

''That's great: ....... Indeed, if we can get this city, the finances of the kingdom will not matter.

If you can get your hands on it, though: ......
　What did the king think when he saw the city?
　If they had a little bit of a thinking mind, they'd know that they couldn't get this place on their own: .......
　Well, if he was a king like that, he wouldn't have to go through so much trouble .


''Welcome to Mladin territory. I am the lord of this city, Léonce Muldeen.
　When we arrived at the castle, we found Leo, Shelly, Leena, and the rest of the ...... emperor and crown prince?　greeted me.



Hmm. You have a good city.

Thank you, Your Majesty. Now, Your Majesty, this is Your Majesty, and next to him is His Highness, Prince Crispis.
　I knew it.
　Looks like both of our kings have a few more brains than we do.

You'll be working with me for a little while longer.

You're welcome.
　That was the only word the king and the emperor had ever spoken to each other.
　Well, a conversation would reveal your stupidity, so it's okay.


　SIDE: Leons.

　After we were greeted and shown to our rooms, I invited Kite and Elaine to my room.
'Long time no see you two, how are you doing?'

I'm fine, as you can see.

I'm fine, too.

Hmmm, how soon are you going to have the baby?

He said a couple of months to go.
　Sherry's question was answered by Elaine, who smiled and told me with a smile as she put her hand on her belly .
　I didn't expect you to come here with such a big belly.
　I guess that's how much he wanted to be here for the Tri-nation Conference.

Hey, hey. Can I touch it?

Okay. Come on, give me your hand.

Wow. I'm kind of nervous. ......

Kingdom, what's the situation now?
　While Sherry let me touch her belly, I whispered to Kite.
　It's not often we get the chance to see each other openly once the Tri-nation Conference begins.
　If we need to hear something, we need to hear it now.

What?　You know all about that, don't you?

Well, yeah. You know, from the outside and from the inside, maybe we'll find something new, huh?

'Huh. ....... I don't think that's going to change. If I had to guess, I'd say that the wind against me and Hélène has weakened since that wedding . It doesn't make sense to me, especially with the faction of the vizier stopping dragging their feet and desperately trying to prepare for war.
　I knew it: .......

"That's why I asked him, and he doesn't know why. That's really weird. What are they up to?
　You don't mind if Hélène becomes king?
　Or are you finally realizing that this is not the time for infighting with the war on the horizon?
　Yeah ...... there's too little information to tell.
　Is Elaine on to something?

'Hey, don't ask Elaine, okay?　Even if it's only for a few minutes, I'm feeling strained to the breaking point with my baby and this meeting.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
　Well, I probably would have done something if I knew, so I don't have to ask .

Really, please: ......
　You've always been a persistent guy.

But then again, ...... kite is your father.
　It hasn't been that long since we fought that child demon king.

In this country it's normal for people to have kids in their teens. In this country it's normal to have kids in their teens. In the royal family, if you're in your 20s and not married you're considered obsolete. Besides, Leo's a grown man now, right?

Yeah. I guess we'll be married on Sherry's birthday.
　The kids will be rushed by the other four ...... and maybe next year I'll be a father too .
　Yeah, I'm not so sure about that.

Then be sure to invite me to your wedding.

I wish I could call it that.
　I don't know what will happen to the relationship between the kingdom and the empire from now on .
　Maybe the war won't have started before Shelly's birthday, or maybe it will be over.

That's why ...... you're going to start working hard tomorrow, right?

'Wow!　I feel like my stomach just moved!

'No!　I'm going to touch it again, too!

Hey, you guys are tickling me!
　I moved my eyes a little and saw the three of us who had to protect each other, getting along with each other .

'Yeah . I guess so . Let's stick together for what's important to us.
　I think we should do our best to keep those three smiles on their faces.