Midnight, November 3, 2813 in the Western Continental Calendar


　In Mikhail's private room, given to him in the castle of Piraeus, the royal capital, two men were confronting each other across the light of a lamp on the table, even though it was late at night.　
　One was the owner of this room.
　And the other was someone who was not supposed to be in this room.

''Looks like you've decided to go out as planned, huh?

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on it. It's a story that hasn't been made public yet.

　The reinforcements to the Kingdom of Zarda were decided at the daytime meeting.
　The man in front of me is not in public office, although the people in public office have already been notified.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

I'm sure they'll be able to tell this kind of story quickly, no matter how hard they try to hide it.

　Mikhail sniffed grimly at Sudo's words as if he had eaten a person.

''You still have a great ear, as usual. Sudo.''

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of this.

I have no other skills.

Hmph. I don't know why Lady Radine has a man like you on her side.

Like Master Mikhail, I'm sure he appreciates my loyalty to the royal family as much as I do.

I don't believe you have any loyalty to the Kingdom of Roselia.

　Mikhail dismissed it with a sour look on his face.
　Seeing that, Sudo scoffed at it in his mind.
(Utterly foolish man. How can you keep your mind without such pretense?
　After last year's civil unrest, Mikhail's reputation had been on a downward trajectory.
　No, to put it bluntly, it had fallen to a negative rather than a minimum.
Well, we'll have to see how it will turn out.
　Once, as Lupis' aide and Roselia's best swordsman, Mikhail Banash's name was surrounded by glory and praise.
　The number one sword wielder in Roselia and a trusted confidant of Lupis.
　His loyalty could even be said to be the very treasure of the Roseria Kingdom.
　But now, rather than being punished, he's been ordered to live in disgrace by being captured, and rather than being punished, he's been ordered to stay under house arrest for several months, and as a result of being placed under the command of Lupis, the head of the knights' guards, he's been looked at white by both his subordinates and his colleagues.
　Of course, it is natural for Lupis to assign a close and trustworthy entourage, but the people around him do not understand that.
　In the eyes of those around him, Mikhail was nothing more than a coward who had gotten to Lupis.
　And Mikhail's reputation had fallen to the ground as rumors, mixed with a perfect mixture of truth and lies by Sudo's hands, were spread both inside and outside the royal castle.
　Scorn from his peers and subordinates. Ridicule from the nobility.
　It was truly a living hell for the proud Mikhail.
　If he were truly vile, he wouldn't care about the reputation of those around him.
　It's because he is a truly proud human being that the current reality is unbearable.
　That's why he puts others to shame and tries to improve himself.
　He understands that this will lead to his own strangulation, but....
　They have nothing else to cling to, and because they do, they become isolated from the people around them. And because of this isolation, I clung to him even more.
　You're going to be able to find out if you're going to be able to get out of this cycle of self-imposed bondage.

I am not even close to Mikhail-sama, of course. However, Lady Radine is a bastard. It's a good thing that he is a bastard, because although he is recognized as a royalty, there are still very few subjects who are truly loyal to him. He appreciates even a lowly person like me.

I see.

　Mikhail smiled with satisfaction at Sudo's answer.
　The venom contained in his words satisfied Mikhail's little self-esteem.
　He knows all too well that the words of the man smirking in front of him are blindingly obvious flattery.
　But the venom has a sweet and aromatic scent, invading Mikhail's mind, which has been completely weakened by the ridicule and contempt he has received from his subordinates and colleagues.
　Even though he knew it was a lie, he wanted to cling to it...　

'By the way I did as you suggested in the meeting. Are you sure this was the right thing to do?

'Of course. With all due respect, sir, did you have any other options for Master Mikhail?

　Sudo asked back at Mikhail's question.

'That's ... but I don't think you'll obey me honestly, do you?　At worst, there's even the possibility of civil war...

　As expected, it seems that even though he was frozen in his hatred of Mikoshiba Ryoma, he still had that much judgment left in him.
(That's exactly the contradiction, isn't it? The fact that he said he would make a proposal at a meeting knowing that much is a contradiction in terms... well, it's just right for a puppet, isn't it?
　Pushing back the contempt and ridicule that was boiling up, Sudo turned his soft smile to Mikhail.
　Even though he had made it so, there was no consistency in Mikhail's thoughts.
　All there is is a lament for the position he is in and a grudge against Mikoshiba Ryoma, who was the source of it all.
　Impatience, hatred, jealousy, and enmity.
　The turmoil in his mind binds Mikhail's mind and causes him to lose his ability to judge correctly.

I have to say that this is good. The wicked vassal will be removed from your side and a loyal vassal like Lord Mikhail will see the light of day again.

But!

'You must not be afraid to shed blood to do justice.'　

But ... is it really going to work?

　Mikhail's face was twisted with anxiety.

'Master Mikhail. Do not be afraid. The people around you will eventually realize that Mikhail-sama is right. It is impossible to operate a state if you are obsessed with trivial guilt. Sometimes you have to defend your country, even if it means doing absurd things. And the only person who can do that now is Mikhail-sama. Please save the Kingdom of Roselia and Your Highness Lupis!

　Mikhail fell silent at Sudo's strong words.
　One minute, two minutes. Their gazes crossed over the tabletop.

'Alright I'll trust you.

Very good, sir. Now, you can take care of the rest as planned.

　After saying that, Sudo bowed to Mikhail and left the room.
　Mikhail watched his back in silence.　


　Sudo, having left Mikhail's room, hurriedly went to his room to avoid being seen.
(Well, I suppose I should praise her for dancing well, right?)
　A dark smile appeared on Sudo's face as he remembered the meeting he had just had.
　People are creatures who believe what they want to believe.
　Since the end of the civil war, Mikhail has been continuously denied his abilities and personality.
　That's why the words of affirmation that come out of Sudo's mouth invade Mikhail's mind.
　The resentment against Mikoshiba Ryoma that was deep in his heart.
　It was nothing but recrimination.
　However, after nearly a year, Sudo has replaced Mikhail's baseless resentment with justice.
　And justice to protect the kingdom of Roselia.
(But the more you think of your country and the more loyal you are to your family, the more you undermine them. That's the comedy in a nutshell.
　Lupis's trust is also backfiring.
　The more she covers for him, the more Mikhail is driven by the gazes around him and lashes out.
　And Lupis is covering for her again. A vicious circle is a good place to start.
　Well, it's only natural that Sudo himself was the one who spread the rumors in the castle so that this would happen.
(Does this mean that the bond between the retainer and the vassal can be harmful if it's too much?
　It's ironic.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on in your life, because Mikoshiba Ryoma, who is loyal, doesn't have a shred of loyalty, is the one who will be responsible for the future of this country.
The only thing that remains to be seen is what Mikoshiba Ryoma will do.......he's hard to predict, you know. (Well, I wonder what will happen...)
　Nearly two years have already passed since Mikoshiba Ryoma was summoned to this world.
　This is the third time he's been involved with Mikoshiba Ryoma, having killed Guyes, a court jury member of the Oltmere Empire, and getting involved in the civil war in the Kingdom of Roselia.
(It would be better for us if he didn't participate, but perhaps he will join the reinforcements to Zaruda... the question is whether or not we will put conditions on it... well, we don't work for free. I'm sure.
　If the answer is whether or not he wants to go to reinforce Zaruda, he will say no, but the situation will not allow it.
　If he refused to participate in the reinforcements, Mikoshiba Ryoma would be in a dangerous position, regardless of whether he won or lost the reinforcements.
　Unless he was ready for independence by the end of the war, common sense would dictate that this would be impossible.
　If that's the case, the next question is whether he'll participate for free or try to gain something by negotiating, but considering Mikoshiba Ryoma's character and Lupis's past actions, he'll probably set some conditions first.

　At this stage, when the development of the Woltenia Peninsula is not yet complete, it is obvious that even if new territories are added, they will be impossible to manage.
　If it was a territory adjacent to the peninsula, but if it became an enclave, it would be a lost cause.
(As I recall, the closest to the peninsula was Count Salzberg's Iphiroth.......that place is close to the border with Zaruda, so it's impossible to give it to a newcomer, such as a baron. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to do with it, but it's not a good idea to have a knighthood considering his character. (I'm sure he intends to abandon Roselia at some point, so he wouldn't bother to seek a title in such a country.
　Even if you're prepared to bury your bones in the Kingdom of Roselia, whether you're going to start your own country or come under the patronage of another country, the title given by the Roserian royal family will have no value.
　Besides, the development of the Woltenia peninsula should cost an enormous amount of money.
(Then, money........well, how much are you going to ask for?)
　Depending on that amount of money, we should be able to predict Mikoshiba Ryoma's future movements.
(If you're asking for tens of millions of dollars, I'd say more than ten years, but if you're asking for more than a billion dollars, we'll have to move up our schedule a bit.
　Sudo was having fun.
　When he was summoned to this world, he could only lament the disparity in living conditions, but it seemed he was better suited to this world.
　He manipulated people and schemed.
　It was an unimaginable sense of fulfillment from his lukewarm life in Japan.
　Especially when the war is already won or lost through one's own wiles, like this one, the victory is already assured, regardless of whether the war is won or lost.
(Well, well, what will happen now?)
　It was a human smile on Sudo's face, a human smile of victory.