The country existed in the southwestern part of the western continent.
　It is a city-state that developed around a majestic marble-based temple.
　It is located on the border between the southern kingdoms and Kirtantyre, one of the three major powers, and it has survived for many years while maintaining its independence.
　No matter how much the borders of the neighboring countries have changed, it has had no effect on the land.
　Even the dominant Oltomere Empire, which is the dominant force in the center of the country, has no intention of doing anything to this land, although it has invaded the southern corner of the country in search of a port city.
　These giant beasts just continue to sleep in silence. However, once it awakens from its slumber, it's fangs will easily tear the entire continent apart.
　The name of this city is the Holy City of Menestia.
　It is a divine castle dedicated to the Light God Meneoce, and is the home base of the Light God Cult that takes root throughout the western continent.
　But even though it is a temple, it is not an absolutely inviolable sanctuary.
　In a time of warfare, authority and abstract priesthood alone cannot protect even a cult.
　The chalk castle is protected by a deep moat and high walls. And above all, the eyes of the guards who are charged with guarding this place are sharp and grim.
　They wore thick iron armor, and the tips of their axe spears in their hands shone with a sharp light.
　The light in their eyes is full of burning desire as they patrol the streets of the city that radiate around the temple.
　Humans who have no connection to the mercy and compassion that a servant of God should have.
　And it's not just soldiers who carry that light.
　They are like a pack of hungry wolves.
　They are a pack of fools who mistakenly think they have God's blessing, and that God will forgive them for everything they do.
　They cry out God's name as a tool to satisfy their own desires.
Deep in the heart of the city's towering temple, one of the city's most exalted human beings sits comfortably on a chair resembling a throne, fiddling with a glass in his hand as he listens to the reports of his subordinates.
　The luxurious vestments, based on white and decorated with gold thread, have a luster of silk. The luster of the robe is silk.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

"Ho, Oltmere drew an army from Zaruda?

'Yes, Your Holiness I have been informed that Fort Notis has been destroyed and the Moor, the head of the garrison, has been defeated.

What was the damage to the men?

According to a covert reconnaissance, the siege and annihilation was averted because Oltmere negotiated a ceasefire as soon as they were cut off in the rear. However, they were still attacked by an army led by Elena Steiner and Ecclesia Mariner, and approximately 10,000 or so were lost.

　The man raises his lips and smiles at the words of the old man kneeling in front of him.
　That smile is a true mockery of the devil.
　Most people would shake with fear just by looking at that expression.
　But even though he saw the Lord's malicious smile, the old man did not move a single eyebrow like a Noh mask.

''I see........ten thousand. Considering Oltmere's national strength, I can't say that this is a fatal wound, but...''

Since we lost Fort Notis and all the supplies we had stored in it have been burned to ashes.

Well, I think you were right to pull your troops out of the ground in both countries.

Yes, sir.

The King of Zaruda sounds like a stubborn man.

Rumor has it he's a dark king, but that's about it.

　The man nodded with satisfaction at the old man's words.
　That was because it was proof that the old man who knelt before him was a usable man.
　A ceasefire in the face of the siege and annihilation of the Oltomere army. On top of that, he returned the Oltmere army out of the country unharmed before he could negotiate.
　Looking at this part alone, Julian was a truly foolish king.
　On the surface, it was natural that he had been trampled by Oltomere and sent the enemy troops home with nothing to gain.
　Any normal person would have asked for reparations from Oltomere to make up for the damage, if at all.
　But there was a pitfall. It was a trap set by Oltmere's side.
　In the first place, many people don't realize that when comparing the difference in national power between Zaruda and Oltmere, negotiations are meaningless.
　Just making any promise is meaningless. A promise only comes into effect when there are penalties for breach of contract.
　The easiest to understand is the law.
　The law has meaning only when there is physical force in the form of police force.
　An entity that seeks out and punishes people who break the law. Only then do people try to keep the law.
　If the law alone exists, it has no meaning.　
　And it is the same in the matter of negotiation.
　It is true that negotiations are based on the assumption that both parties will keep their promises.
　But what if there is an overwhelming difference between the two sides' positions?
　A parent-child relationship, a teacher and a student, a president and a new employee, and a big country and a weak country.
　Each on a different scale, but the essence of each is the same.
　In this case, Oltmere and Zaruda's national power is that of an adult and a child.
　Even if some kind of negotiation between Oltomere and Zaruda were to be concluded, whether Zaruda would have the strength to force Oltomere to implement it or not is a question.
　This is not to say that promises can't be made between the strong and the weak.
　If Oltmere needed Zaruda to be with him, there was plenty of room for negotiation.
　But in this case, it was different.
　There is no need for Oltomere to force himself to look at Zaruda's face.
　The man sitting on the throne proceeds with his thoughts while slowly turning the glass in his hand.
(First of all, I can't.) And that, Julianus realized. (That no matter what kind of bargain he tried to make, he would be stomped out by force in the end.
　Even if they could get a long time and a large amount of reparations from Oltomere, whether it would actually be paid or not is another matter entirely.
　Many people don't realize that.
　They innocently believe that a promise made is something that will be kept and kept.

''Before negotiations begin, we'll just have Oltmere's army be drawn from the country...? Hmm, not a bad decision.

'Yes, it would take a lot of work to reorganize our forces if Oltomere's forces were to remain inside Zaruda throughout the negotiations, and it would be a clear demonstration to the country that we had Oltomere's forces drawn.

'You think some of the nobles might feel hope and lend a helping hand?

'At least it's more likely than Oltmere being stationed in the country.

　Of course, it's unclear how effective it will be under the circumstances where many nobles are dominated by the Oltmere side.　
　However, no matter what form it takes, the fact that they have drawn the Oltmere Imperial Army should be one of the weapons to persuade the nobles as a solid achievement.

''It's a development that would give Zaruda the slightest glimmer of hope.

Yes, if we continue to fight like that, Zaruda will not be able to avoid defeat. I'm sure that even if the siege and annihilation plan was successful, there is no reason for Oltmere to remain silent. Besides, that plan could have resulted in the defeat of the general, Shardina.

Hmm, I suppose that would be a welcome development.

　Normally, taking the head of the enemy's general would end the war.
　But in this case, it would only hasten the arrival of the next battle.

"From Zaruda's point of view, it's not a good idea. Of course, even if we continue to sit on our hands like that, the result will be the same, so it's probably a siege plan because we have no choice....

''If my beloved daughter and a member of the royal family is struck down, the emperor will leave the domestic situation to the domestic authorities and make the capture of Zaruda a top priority.

'Yes, perhaps a second group would have been formed in less than a few months' time. But that wouldn't be enough time for the Zaruda side to prepare for it. It's possible that they were thinking of a countermeasure to that, but since the Oltmere side had offered a ceasefire, I think they thought they had a better chance of winning in the end than if they were forced to stick to it.

Not concerned with immediate victory, you chose to stall for the final victory... hmmm, not bad.

'Yes, it's not bad. It's just....

The more desperate the King of Zaruda tries to survive, the longer this war will drag on. And that is exactly how they want it to play out.

''Yes, since the beginning of this war, prices throughout the western continent have been skyrocketing, and as far as my handlers can tell, a significant number of merchant associations under their control are profitable. Perhaps, this truce is also the result of their handlers working behind the scenes...

Like vultures lusting after carrion.

　Painful sarcasm flew out of the man's mouth with a smirk on his face.
　But it was certainly a word that suited the person who preyed on warfare for his own benefit.

'I suppose His Holiness is right.　

　You can't just send an emissary to Zaruda to tell him not to fight any more, and even if you do, it's meaningless.
　The survival of the Kingdom of Zaruda is not that important to them, but for Julianus, the King of Zaruda, the survival of his country is the highest priority.
　After a long silence in the hall, the man opens his mouth.

"Do you have a plan?

Yes, sir.

Oh.　

'His Holiness, have you ever heard of the Christoph Trading Company, based in the Citadel of Ipyros?

　The man shook his head in silence at the old man's words.
　The Pope, who controls the Order of the Light God, would never hear the name of a small local trade association.

You're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them.

We are using the same tactics they used to make millions of dollars in this war.

　The man's brows twitched as he heard the old man's words.

'Are you one of them?'

We don't know for sure at this time, but we have a nobleman who we believe is in league with the Chamber of Commerce in the background.

　Once he heard that much, the man could understand in his hand what the old man was thinking.

'I see, you're going to shake that nobleman and see how he reacts...'

Yes, if he's one of them, we can monitor his movements, and in case he's not one of them, he's not one of them.

Will he be a good pawn?

Yes, sir.

Good, good. Let's go with that.

　The man clapped his hands together and laughed.　
　The only sound in the throne room was the man's crazy laughter.