Otherworldly Summoning Day 275 [To the Peninsula] Part 1:

"Where is it now?

　The sky is blue and clear. A gentle breeze rushed through the capital Piraeus.
　Who would have thought that until just a few days ago, this kingdom was in a state of civil war?
　The scenery before Elena's eyes is peaceful and vibrant. While looking out the window of her office, Elena suddenly muttered to herself, "Mikoshiba-dono.

''Mikoshiba-dono........is it?　It's already been more than half a month since we left the capital. If nothing had happened, we would have reached the entrance to the peninsula, the fortified city of Ipiros, by now.

　The deputy officer who arrived and followed beside her stopped flipping through the documents and answered Elena's muttering.

''Well.... I guess that's about it.''

　Her gaze turns to the north.

'Are you here to repent?'

....

　Elena did not answer the deputy's question.
　No, there were no words to say.

''I have no choice but to ... what His Majesty Lupis himself ordered. To challenge the king's decision...

　While taking in Elena's sentiments, the deputy himself supported Queen Lupis' decision.
　It's not that he is exceptionally, peculiarly minded. Many knights and nobles in Roselia are of the same mind.
(Elena-sama it is true that we are in debt to that man. But.........)
　The stakes are high. The stakes will be high," he said.

I'll tell you something else: "Between you and me, His Majesty wants to endorse Mikhail-dono for the position of general. You can't let Lady Elena complain at this point!　Please take care of yourself here.

　Elena had no choice but to nod at her second-in-command's admonition.
　Mikhail's blunder was known throughout the country of Roselia. But to Lupis, he was probably the most trustworthy person in the world.
　Because of admonitions from many people, both knights and nobles, the new general of the Roseria Kingdom became Elena, but everyone knows Lupis's true intentions. If there is even the slightest doubt in Elena's loyalty, Lupis will gladly dismiss her and recommend Mikhail as general.
　Elena never underestimates Mikhail. There is no doubt that Mertina and Mikhail are the people who will lead the army of the Roserian Kingdom in the future.
　However, Elena thought it was premature to leave the military of a country to him now. Calmness, depth of reading, knowledge of military strategy and trickery. None of those things are lacking in him now.
　A person who throws away a scouting mission in a hurry for merit is not qualified to lead an army.
(Yes, I know that.) I can't let Mikhail be my general now but I betrayed him and chose the kingdom for the future of this country and him. (The balance was hung on a scale...)
　I am aware that he is naive.
　I also understand that he didn't help himself out of the goodness of his heart. But it is because of him that she was able to have the opportunity to kill Hodram.
　Conflict and regret swirl in her mind. However, she still couldn't abandon the kingdom she was born and raised in.
　Because the current kingdom of Roselia is on the verge of a crisis.

　In Elena's eyes, Queen Lupis, the new king of the Roselia Kingdom, was inexperienced.
　In politics, in diplomacy, in economics. The only thing better than that is military, but even that is only at the top of the list.
　As the king of a country, he's very unreliable.
　The reason for this is obvious. Her inexperience and her good nature.
　She has enough knowledge to have been raised as a royal.
　She also has a love for her people, so she shouldn't be a bad ruler by nature. And yet, as a king, he's a problem.
　The power structure that Lupis aims for, especially with the king himself in power, is only a negative for her.
　The king is unable to make decisions. A king who cannot make decisions, and his entourage, who are not very smart. The surviving members of the aristocracy who have begun to make dark moves. And worst of all, Lupis' heart is said to be soft on her people.
　They reinstated Mikhail, who had been suspended, in a little over two months.
　I understand that in order to rebuild the country, we need someone in Lupis' position of trust.
　But what do people look at her for reinstating a man who had committed such a blunder in such a short period of time and forcing a man who had done so much to end a civil war, even a commoner, into a remote area like the Woltenia Peninsula?
　She does not understand this.

　The civil war is over, and the decline in national power has been kept to a minimum. And yet, the internal malaise has not diminished one bit.
　No, on the contrary, it could be said that it has gotten worse.
　On the surface, the kingdom seems to have regained peace and stability. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more than you'd like.
　It's a delicate lull that could collapse at any moment. That was the situation in the Kingdom of Roselia.
　If the queen's assistants had been more thoughtful, the situation might have been different. Or, if the queen herself was a decisive person, the situation would be different.
　But the reality is different.
　The wall of status between the commoners and the ruling class was so thick that both the nobles and knights despised the young man who had achieved so much in the civil war. If he had become part of Lupis' entourage and was at the helm of the country, the current critical situation would have been different as well.

　Elena was opposed to Mikoshiba Ryoma leaving the country itself.
　She hoped that he would remain in the Kingdom of Roselia.
　But Lupis feared and estranged him. And he was forced to leave the northern frontier of the Worthenian Peninsula.

'Huh...'

　Elena sighs heavily and begins to look at the papers again.
　No matter how much she worries about it, the reality will not change. She has made a choice.
　That as the general of the Roselia Kingdom, she would work hard to rebuild this country. That's why she didn't say anything about Lupis' decision.
　Now, here and now, Elena, as a general, can't challenge the new queen's decision. If you say such a thing in the current situation where the power base has not been solidified, the country will be split apart.

The first thing to do now is to rebuild the country. Even if it's a little unfair, it won't change the future of the country. And what kind of land is it that the commoner is anointed as a nobleman? It may not be the same as the original promise, but that won't be a problem.

Some...

　Elena felt a mild sense of dread at her second-in-command's words. Most of the humans must be thinking the same way he was. Only a very small number of people below the Earl of Bergston understood her fears.
(Forcing the peninsula on him would be the same as releasing a viper into the field...)
　In Elena's eyes, the fire of his stifled anger and hatred was clearly reflected in his eyes. It was quietly and surely churning like magma flowing beneath the ground.
　She herself had spent her days vowing to avenge her husband and daughter, and no matter how much Ryoma had tried to hide it from her, there was no way she could hide it.
(Power...especially hatred for kings and the privileged classes...I remember that one all too well.
　As a choice, originally, the means Lupis chose were not to be condemned to that extent, even if they were not praised.
　However, she made a mistake in her procedure.
　All she had to do was tell him what had happened and get Ryojin's approval. But the status difference between royalty and commoners was exposed in a big way.
　Commoners should keep quiet and obey the orders of the king and nobles. Queen Lupis's attitude speaks for itself.
　Trampling on the will of the commoner by using her status as an excuse to trample their will is a common occurrence in this world.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more than you need to know.
　But that's because she was a citizen of this country.
　People who have no love for this country can only tremble in humiliation and anger.
(Someday....I wonder if I will have to fight him....
　Anxiety passes through her. Granted, she is not going to shout that danger out loud.
　If he comes for revenge, she will only cross her sword in silence.
　His anger is justified and well-deserved, for he has a right to it.


(Five years....?)
　In Elena's mind, the day before she left the royal capital, Piraeus, the day before they had shared their farewell dinner, she remembered what Ryoma had said to her.

　There is not much time left in this country.
　Duke Gerhardt has been downgraded by three knights to become a viscount, and his domain has been transferred to the southern part of the Kingdom of Roselia, near the border.
　Compared to the time when he served the area around Heraklion, there is a significant difference in income. However, I've been unable to touch any of the private property that I've accumulated so far, so I don't have any problems with my financial situation.
　It has been more than a month since the end of the civil war.
　I've heard that the aristocrats who have already escaped punishment are coming around him.
　These are the people who were thrown out as a result of Queen Lupis' heavy use of the neutral Count Bergston and others.
　They are said to be rebuilding the aristocratic faction with Gerhardt at the head again.
　Naturally, they have Princess Radine in their midst.
　Thanks to saving Gerhardt, she has been officially recognized as a member of the royal family.
　It's nothing. Because of their hesitation in executing Gerhardt, everything is back to square one.
　No, despite being the victor of the civil war, Lupis is trapped.
　With the death of Hodram, who had close ties to the Kingdom of Tarja, the tension between the two countries is now in a delicate state of tension.
　Both Zaruda and Mist kingdoms are diplomatically estranged from each other, even if it's not a battle. It's not surprising that the edge of warfare could open up at any time if both countries had a chance to do something about it.
　It can't be said that the Roserian Kingdom is safe.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the sovereignty of Roseria to Queen Lupis, while preparing for the enemy from outside.
　However, that's only a maximum estimate. It could well be shorter than that.


If you don't make all the preparations within five years, Lupis will die...well, I'm sure you understand, but just in case, I've forced Elena-san to get involved in the process.

　Ryoma's smile as he said that.
　When Elena saw that, she understood that Ryoma's mind was completely away from Lupis.
　His words were purely out of concern for Elena. A warning that she would not destroy herself by following a king who had no prospects.

'Five years........'

What?　Did you say something?

　Elena's unintentionally leaked words are questioned back by the deputy officer with a questioning look.

''No, it's nothing ... the next document ...''

　Following her words, the deputy put a new document in front of her.
　Quickly, she glanced through it and stamped it.
　There is not much time left until the day of his prophecy.
(Ryoma-kun ... live ... and again ...)
　Elena prays from her heart for the safety of the young man who is as old as her grandson.
　She hopes that they will meet again at some point.


　The sun is shining brilliantly in the sky, shining on the people on the streets.
　The distribution of goods within Roselia has been temporarily hampered by the effects of the civil war, but it has been more than two months since the civil war ended. Finally, the peaceful life before the civil war was returning to the people's hands.

　In the midst of all this, a group of people with a distinctive coat of arms proceeded down the street.
　Black dyed out fabric. A flag with a gold two-headed snake entwined with a sword. The snake's red eyes glare at the surroundings.
　It is the emblem of the Mikoshiba family that Mikoshiba Ryoma had made in Piraeus, the royal capital, when he received the baronial title.
　This coat of arms, with the sword symbolizing military strength and the snake symbolizing cunning and wisdom, was a clear representation of the man Mikoshiba Ryoma was.

'Boy!　We're about to reach the fortified city of Ipyros!

　Rionne shouted backwards, dominating her flaming crimson hair, and shouted backwards.

''Yes.

'Well, Ryoma-sama you must be in pain, right?　Please be patient a little longer. I'll put some medicine on you when you get to the inn.

'If you'd like, you can switch to the carriage.　If you're in the carriage, I can give you some medicine.

　Laura's words were quickly interrupted by Saara. It seems that the sisters are in the middle of a battle for the favor of their master, Ryoshin.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it is a good idea. We have to get used to our horses........

　Ryouma replied with a pain in his ass.
　There was no way he had ever ridden a horse before.
　A car seat, or even a bicycle saddle, is much softer and more comfortable than a horse's saddle, not to mention a car seat.
　He is a modern man, so it is only natural that he would get chafed if he rode a horse for a long time.
　In the event that you're in a position to make a decision, you can be sure that you're going to get the best out of it.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

Well, we just have to be patient!　Once you get up this hill, you should be able to see the walls of Ipyros!

　This group, led by Lionne, had a total of 30 people.
　Led by Lione Bolz, there were twenty-three mercenaries of the mercenary group [Red Lion], plus Gen O, Sakuya and Malfist sisters and Ryoma.
　Although it could be said that it was a large number of people to do mercenary work, it could be said that there were too few hands to deliver the territory.
(Do we need someone who can handle the paperwork...)
　Liang Shin's gaze was filled with men and women who were admirably biased towards the military side.
　It's not just a matter of paperwork, but it's also too weak to run a unit of a country.
(Well, we'll just have to work on that little by little... there's no way we're going to suddenly have the country I want.
　Ryoma mutters with a sigh and turns his gaze forward.
(I'll survive!)　And ... lupis!　(I'll make sure you get this payoff ... with interest.
　With a new resolution in mind.


Who could have predicted that a group of people visiting the fortified city of Iphiroth on this day would become involved in the affairs of the continent?
August 5, in the year of the Western Continent 2812.
A new page is written in the history of the "Earth" world.