"......, Emperor.
What's wrong?

　Hercule had just finished healing his hand and was taking a hot bath when he was visited by ......
　It's still light.

It's still light.
Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty.

　She bowed her head deeply. 　
　Hercule gave a small, snorting laugh.

"What are you talking about?
"The war with the Foulth, it would be wise to make peace with them.

　At Lunalie's words, Hercule raised his eyebrows in displeasure.
　In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask for help.

I'm not sure what to make of this.
"What are you trying to say?
The Kingdom of Khayastan would have to come to the peace table.

　The Kingdom of Khayastan is a very important state for both Lemuria and Phars.
　This time, Sasan VIII invaded Lemuria by way of crossing the Flato River. ......

　As Hercule had predicted, it would have been faster to go through the Kingdom of Khayastan.
　This is true for both Lemuria and Fars.

　The Kingdom of Khayastan is also a hub of transit trade between Lemuria, Phars, Kurotsuki, and the northern countries.
　The Kingdom of Hayastan is also one of the largest granaries in the world.
　The economic benefits are not insignificant.

　Sasan VIII will definitely claim the Kingdom of Khayastan.
　It would be good if the Kingdom of Hayastan only became a province of Fars, but ...... at worst, it could become a province.

　The reason why Lunalie is offering her body to Hercule is so that he can protect the Kingdom of Hayastan.
　In order to fulfill his promise, Hercule is going to fight Foulds until the end.

Lemuria's vassals, the Senate, will advise him to cut down the kingdom of Khayastan. ...... You pretended to be angry in order to silence that opinion.

　Then Lunalie bowed her head again.

"Thank you ...... for defending our country, our homeland. Thank you ...... for defending our country, our homeland. Your Majesty ......, but please take it easy. Your ...... country can be reclaimed.

　For Lunalie, the Kingdom of Khayastan is the most important thing.
　But if the Lemurian Empire suffers a fatal defeat in order to protect ...... it, everything will be lost.
　Of course, the Kingdom of Khayastan will never come back.

...... I think you've misunderstood something. Luna.

　Hercule got up from the tub.
　He took Lunalee's hand and grabbed her head with his other hand and pressed his lips against her lustrous lips.

"Nchu......
I'm not pushing it. It's a good idea to take into account the fact that you're going to ...... lose the war in the first place. You just have to win in the end. We have all the trump cards for that.
"...... trump card?
First of all, I built the Great Wall on the premise that the ...... border defense line would be brought down. There's no fortress that can't fall.

　No matter how impregnable a castle or fortress is, it can fall.
　That's why Hercule had in mind what would happen after they fell.

Next, ......, there are measures to bridge the gap in strength. We are not at a one-sided disadvantage.

　Originally, it was known that there was a huge gap in national and military power between the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Fars.
　That's why I've been planning to close the gap for several years now.

In the first place, I am the co-ruler of the Kingdom of Khayastan. In other words, I'm also the king of Hayastan. It's only natural for me to protect the Kingdom of Hayastan.
"Hmm. ......

　Hercule embraces Lunalie and crawls his lips on the nape of her white neck.

And ...... the kingdom of Khayastan will be inherited by me and your son. There is no reason to give it to Sasan VIII.
"...... Yes.

　Hercule pushed Lunalie down.
　Lunalie looked up at Hercule with an upturned expression.

　It's a good thing that you're not the only one.

No matter how many troops you have, you will never have enough. I'll use Hayastan's troops.
"...... Yes, I will give everything. So, please.
"I'm willing.

　Lip to lip.



　Meanwhile, Nova Lemuria.

"Her Highness Scheherazade!　Where do you think you're going?

　Her followers desperately tried to stop Scheherazade, who wore silver armor and beautiful blond hair.
　But Scheherazade does not seem to stop.

　She walks silently to the stables.

Where to?　To her husband, the Emperor, of course.
'Oh, no!　We're under orders from the Emperor to keep His Highness in the palace!



　When the war between Lemuria and Fars begins, ......
　Scheherazade is the one who will be in the most vulnerable position.

　Sheherazade's position would be compromised if she were to simply divert information from Lemuria to Phallus.
　The worst that can happen is that he will be driven back to Phallus by the danger of his homeland and his righteous indignation.

"Yes!　I'm going to help you!　Get out of the way ......

　Get out of my way!
　"Get out of my way!" Scheherazade was about to shout.

　Sheherazade was about to shout, "Get out of my way!" when what appeared to be a messenger from Hercule came running towards her.
　He kneels down in front of Scheherazade.

He knelt before Scheherazade. "Forgive my rudeness. Things must be done quickly. ......
"What is it?
"A decree from the Emperor. His Highness, Scheherazade, is to proceed to Orontia City at once!

　Scheherazade's followers' eyes widened at these words.
　Scheherazade smiled fearlessly.

And that's the way it is, Your Majesty. ...... Now, prepare the horses!

　Hurriedly, the attendants pulled Scheherazade's horse out.
　In the meantime, Scheherazade clutched the rosary around her neck with her hand.

I'm sorry I'm not a filial daughter. Father, mother. But ...... I have given my life to the Lord and to you.
...... I ask for your understanding.

　And so Scheherazade headed for Orontia City.




　On the other hand, there is a city-state on the Havilah Peninsula.
　One of Lemuria's many allies.
　The Lemurian Empire's large fleet was lined up in its military port.

　Among them, boarding the largest flagship is ...... a man with blue eyes who vaguely resembles Hercule in appearance.
　He is the Governor of the Lemurian Imperial Navy, Christos.

　He has been working in the Sea of Rubel to secure sea control over the Havilah Peninsula and capture pirates.
　It's a humble but important job ...... that protects the safety of the Lemurian Empire's maritime trade.

The emperor is notorious for his reckless orders.

　Hercule ordered Christos to do one thing.
　To lead a fleet into the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Fahls.
　He wants you to attract the enemy.

　Of course, there is no landing force because there is no room for troops.
　So it's just a check and balance. ......

　If a large fleet appears on the coast not far from the capital, or even just the information that a large fleet of the Lemurian Empire is heading for the Kingdom of Fars, we can put strategic pressure on Sasan VIII.

It's going to be a dangerous voyage,......, but it's a battle for the fate of this country. Most importantly, it's the first time in a long time!　Let's make sure we bring victory to Lemuria.

　And so the great fleet of the Lemurian Empire left the harbor.
　It passed through the Sea of Rubel, rounded the Havilah Peninsula, and began to advance ...... into the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Phars.






　But not long before that.
　When Scheherazade was ready to rush to Hercule's side, ......

　When Scheherazade was ready to rush to Hercule,, Lemurian Minister of Foreign Affairs Todoris and Nova Lemuria Patriarch Loukanos had tense expressions on their faces.

I never thought that I would be the one to set ...... this plan in motion.
Should I be happy or saddened that this plan I've been working on for five years is not in vain? ...... The latter.

　Todoris and Loukanos chuckled.

"We are very close to the arrival of Her Highness the High Priestess. Until then, I will prepare for the council.
Then I will coordinate and negotiate with the ambassadors.

　The two men began their respective tasks.




　Now ...... the next day.
　The next day, some information was brought to the royal court of the kingdom of Fullerling.

　It was ......

"Your Majesty (・・・・), it seems that there is a large scale military movement near the border between our country and ...... no, our friendly kingdom of Edelna and the Lemurian Empire. ...... It seems that part of the garrison is moving to eastern Lemuria. It seems that some of the defenders are moving to eastern Lemuria.

　One of the seven heroes, Namo the Wise, informed his lord, King Ludwig I.

"Hmm. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site.

　Ludwig I asked Ganullon of Justice, one of the seven heroes.
　And Ganullon smiled a very sneaky smile.

At least the war is not going well. We may not be ...... defeated, but we are at least outnumbered.

Hmm. ...... Lemuria is an inferior opponent in terms of military strength. It's a terrible thing to be a Phallus.

　The Lemurian Empire is far superior to the Fullerling Kingdom (Empire) in terms of the total number of troops it can mobilize.
　The Lemurian Empire is far superior to the Fulling Kingdom in terms of the number of troops it can mobilize, but the Kingdom of Phallus has even more troops than that.

　Compared to these two kingdoms, King Ludwig I is a frog in a well.
　I have no intention of going out of the well, though.

"Hmm, so the Lemurian Empire is thin on the ground as of .......

　King Ludwig I smiled grimly.

I've been in debt to the Kingdom of Phallus before ....... Without their help, we would have been defeated.

　About five years ago.
　In the war in Edelna, the Fulling Kingdom was able to draw the Lemurian Empire to a draw because of the pressure of the Foulds Kingdom from behind.

　The current war between the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Phallus may also be attributed to that event.



"I must thank Fahls for this one thing.

　King Ludwig I muttered, and one of the seven heroes, Tulpan of Faith, asked his lord.

"So, Your Majesty. What if ......?
"It means that there is no such thing as true friendship between nations.

　And with that, King Ludwig I stood up.

"It's been five years since the last war!　Let's go to Lemuria!





　Now, about a month later.
　In a city near the river Flato, King Sasan VIII was planning his strategy.

　Then Befoum came.

"Your Majesty, ...... I have good news and bad news, which would you like to hear first?
"Well, let's start with the good news.

　When Sasan VIII replied, Behnam gave a small nod.

The 100,000 troops we brought in from the east and the three gleaming generals are expected to arrive in three days.
"Hmm, I see.

　General Trifunnel.
　Three glittering generals. Three glittering generals are the names of three men under King Sasan VIII.
　They are not counted among the eight loyal generals because they are not technically under King Sasan VIII.

　They are made up of kings of subordinate countries or exiled royalty.

　However, their abilities are well known.
　They are not well known in the Lemurian Empire because they were basically active in the eastern part of the country. ...... Their abilities are comparable to those of the Eight Loyal Generals.

And by the way, did you manage to bring the thing without missing a piece?
"By the way, did you get that thing without missing a beat? ...... We have four hundred of them.
I see. ...... Now, how will Lemuria deal with this?

　Sasan VIII smiled with amusement.
　And then he asks Befnum.

"Any bad news?
Our logistics units have been heavily damaged by repeated surprise attacks by Lemurian forces. Some of our operations may be significantly delayed.
"Mm. ......

　Of course, the Lemurian Empire has the advantage of the land, so some surprise attacks are conceivable.
　However, it is strange that it has succeeded so many times and continues to lose tactically to the extent that it has a significant impact on strategy.
　I did not intend to use such an incompetent person as a general.

I thought we had our logistics forces on a relatively safe path, don't you see where the attack is coming from?
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is my guess, but ......
"The enemy's spirit magic, huh?

　This is my guess, . "Spiritual magic on the part of the enemy," muttered Sasan VIII, and Befnum nodded in affirmation.
　And this guess of Sasan VIII's was correct.

　In fact, Hercule had used the hallucinogenic magic of Asmodeus and Citri on some of the fortresses and great walls near the eastern border.
　In other words, the eastern defense line created by Hercule had a number of fatal flaws that only Hercule could see.

　To exploit these flaws, Hercule ordered Nia and Jebe to attack the logistics of the Kingdom of Fars.

　Even King Sasan VIII could not be sure of every line of defense with his own eyes.
　All he can do is to look at the map of the defense lines left by the Lemurian Empire's army. ......
　You can't know what Asmodeus and Sitri are hallucinating unless you see them with your own eyes and examine them carefully.

It seems that Hercule I had taken into account that the Great Wall would be brought down and used against him.

　Sasan VIII was impressed by Hercule's deliberateness.
　Then he put his hand to his chin.

"But I'm surprised. Hercule I is very motivated. We have 300,000 men. Lemuria is ...... probably limited to around 200,000 no matter how you squeeze it. I'm surprised he hasn't agreed to peace.

　Sasan VIII thought that Lemuria would surrender when it had 300,000 troops.
　Now, he was ready to make peace by simply handing over the kingdom of Khayastan to Fars.

You may be a more compassionate man than I thought.
Hmm, you mean the Queen of Khayastan is boning you?　If anything, I think he just hates to lose.

　I used to be like that.
　I used to be like that," Sasan VIII said, narrowing his eyes nostalgically.

"Well, good. If the other side doesn't respond,......, let's just go ahead and take the province of Suria.

　It's not easy to overturn a 100,000 manpower gap.
　If there is a big difference in ability between Sasan VIII and Hercule I, then ......
　There is not much difference between them.

　Then, it is purely a matter of military power, national power, and numbers.

　In addition, ......

If King Fulling follows through on his secret agreement, Lemuria will be pinned down from east to west.

　More than five years ago.
　The Kingdom of Foulds and the Kingdom of Fulling had made several secret agreements against Lemuria.

　The existence of the Lemurian Empire could not be ignored, as it could come up behind the Fullerling Kingdom in its fight against the Duiche Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Fahls in its fight against the Kuro Tongue and Sindhira.

　Therefore, when one side is at war with the Lemurian Empire, the other side plans to deploy its forces to check the Lemurian Empire.

　It was in accordance with such a secret agreement that King Sasan VIII moved his army five years ago.

"I'm sure King Ludwig I will move. He's a man who betrays people without hesitation.
"A knight among knights," right?　Well, a knight in Fullerling's eyes is a knight who is driven by profit, so he may not be wrong.

　More ......


　Whether Ludwig I enters the war or not, the victory of King Sasan VIII is unassailable.





　Thus, ......
　The die is cast.