At present, our army has 7,000 men. It is impossible to increase it further. To this is added the two hundred Equus cavalry that Muzio brought with him. This number is because the Equus, even women and children, are counted as warriors if they can handle a bow.

　The strength of King Evil's country and King Belvedil's country is five thousand each. A total of 10,000.
　Redus of the tribe of Equus is crossing the mountains with three thousand cavalrymen.

　And in the land of King Domorgal, eleven thousand under Bartolo are surrounded by less than nine thousand enemies.

　So where should we begin to respond?


　'King Rosais!　It's a personal letter from the Cilician nations.

　A messenger hands me a letter.
　It seems that the three nations have met and have agreed to cooperate in supporting our country.


　Rezad and Nemeth will strike Belvedere from behind with 1,000 each for a total of 2,000.
　Nemeth will provide food and other support for the troops.
　And I am more than happy to lend King Losey's kingdom some money at his request.

　That's what it was all about.

　'If there's a God to throw away, there's a God to pick up. I'm especially grateful for the war chest....

　Frankly, our country's finances are on fire at the moment. It's already pretty sucky.
　And since they've decided to cut taxes starting next year or so....

　I don't want to think about what happened after the war...

　Anyway, it's good that we can borrow money. As long as you can keep borrowing, your finances will not go bankrupt.
　Bankruptcy is when you can no longer raise funds. As long as we can borrow, we can still afford it.

　.... although there is nothing more troublesome than borrowing from a foreign country.
　Let's follow Caesar's example here and borrow enough to get them in trouble.

　But that's all settled.

　"Gentlemen, Belvedil will be held by Rezad and Gehenna. We'll send a thousand men to Belvedil and use delay tactics to buy time.

　The problem is Zordias....
　What should we do over here? For the time being, I asked Ial to meet with King Zordias and ask him to attract and place King Evil's country.

　'King Rosais!　I have a letter from Lord Ial!
　You're early!

　I snatched the letter and quickly read through it.






　'Hmmm...'
　Ial looked over the directive that came from Almus.

　I've already heard from King Zordias about the details of this siege. Wouldn't it be better to return home on that basis?　This was right after King Zordias had said to me.

　'What does it say?'
　The sorcerer who followed Ial to fly the hawk flight asks.
　Ial hands the sorcerer a letter.

　 Then I will give King Evil a glimpse behind him. 'If you can, make an alliance with King Zoldias. That is, sir.

　Ial gathers his thoughts together as he explains.

　First of all, an alliance is impossible. I know this because I've had many meetings with King Zoldias.
　That king feels that the country of King Losais is just as dangerous as the country of King Gilbed.

　That instinct is quite correct. If the country of King Loseys were to annex the country of King Evil, the next target would be the country of King Zoldiers, which is clearer than daylight.

　Nevertheless, it is true that King Evil's country is also a threat to King Zoldias' country.
　If King Evil's country reaps the territory of King Rosais' country and becomes stronger, it is King Zoldias' country that will suffer.

　''Alright, let's go.''

　Ial went to the palace of King Zoldias.




　'You are Lord Ial Claudius. What is the matter?　You're going back to your home country?
　No, there's nothing I can do when I leave.

　And how do you expect me to return? You have to go through King Evil's country to get from King Zoldias' country to King Rosais' country. It's impossible to return.

　'I'll tell you first. I will not accept an alliance. I don't like the idea of a powerful nation as my neighbor. Adelunia should be kept small and separate.

　King Zoldias says to Ial.
　King Zoldias, now twenty-five years old.

　He is short in stature, but his body is sturdy and strong. He has the physique of a mountainous tribe whose land is mostly mountains.

　Perhaps it is because of his youth or perhaps it is his nature, but he speaks his mind directly. Maybe it's because he's young, or maybe it's just his nature, but he says what he thinks straight to the point.

　"I don't want any reinforcements. We're going to win.
　"Huh?

　King Zordias narrowed his eyes. He was curious about the imposing Ial, even though his home country was in crisis.

　''Your country doesn't seem to have that much room to maneuver, does it?
　"You are familiar with our weapon of choice, the Bomb Spear?　King Rosais is also an inventor. He has many other weapons.

　That's a lie.
　At least Ial doesn't know of the existence of such a weapon.

　However, it's a weapon that no country has ever conceived of, such as an explosive spear, and no country has yet figured out the principle of it at all.
　That's why Eal's words might be true. There is enough persuasiveness to make you think so.

　''What I'm hoping for is that King Zordias's country will strike King Evil's country.
　That's why I don't send any soldiers.
　'I don't want reinforcements now. If King Evil's country is defeated by our country, your country can move its army.

　Ial begins to talk about the premise that King Rosais' country will win.
　King Zordias can't read Ial's intentions.

　If they win, they can just avalanche straight into King Evil's country. There is no need for King Zoldias's country.

　Under Ial's proposal, the country of King Zoldias will be the fisherman's country.
　There seems to be no national interest in the country of King Rosais there.

　'Defeating King Evil's kingdom would be easy. But defeating the capital city of King Evil is hard enough. One by one, it's not a big deal, but we're at war with multiple countries. We can't take the time to do it. So, after our country has won, ask King Zoldiers to send up his troops. That way, your country can easily gain the territory of King Evil's country. Our country will be able to take care of the other fronts, leaving a small number of defending troops.

　King Zoldias looks at Ial quietly and listens to him.
　Ial continues to persuade King Zoldias, watching his reaction.

　'What do you think?　You will not have any borders with our country unless your country falls to King Evil. Because our country cannot afford to swallow Evil. If you make King Evil's country a buffer state between your country and ours, there will be no possibility of a territorial dispute between your country and ours.

　King Zoldias starts an account in his head.
　Ial's proposal, King Zoldias's country has no disadvantages or risks.

　After all, it's just a way to beat a weak Evil.

　King Zoldias's country is a mountainous nation, so there is little fertile land.
　So taking the territory of King Evil's country is not a bad thing.

　After all, there is a basin on the border between King Evil's country and King Zoldias' country, where you can harvest a good amount of wheat.
　If we can get this place, the country of King Zoldias is safe.

　King Zoldias was confident in his military might. After all, he was still a young king. The younger you are, the more aggressive you become, which is common in every world.

　Hence King Zoldias........

　All right. So what are the terms?　You are not going to give us a free fishing expedition. What do you want from my country? What do you want from me?　For the record, I won't move my men unless your country wins.
　That's easy. 'King Zoldias supports the kingdom of King Loseys,' is all you need to say with one word.

　King Zordias ponders this for a moment.

　(Just say it, right?　(Nothing is lost and...)

　'All right. My country supports the country of King Loseys.
　Thank you.

　And so a secret pact was made.





　Good. Now we have what we need to say.
　What Ial wanted was King Zoldias' words, 'My country supports the country of King Rosais'.
　As long as we have this, we're good to go.

　'Gather everyone together.'

　Ial gathered the men and sorcerers who followed with him to King Zoldias' country.
　Then Ial said.

　'Alright, guys. Now spread the word throughout the land of King Zoldias that he has said, 'The Land of King Zoldias supports the Land of King Rosais'. Then the spies in King Evil's kingdom will hear about it. That's all you need to know. That will be enough to scare the hell out of my back.

　This is the truth. King Zordias cannot deny it. Even though it's a secret agreement, it's an agreement between countries.

　The important thing is that the content of the 'support' is not clear. It could be taken as just private feelings, or it could be just support for troops and military funds, or it could be an actual attack on the back.

　King Evil's country should be worried and concerned. At the very least, they can't send reinforcements to King Rosais' country.

　It's the only thing Ial can do.

　''Well, let's get in touch with King Loseys.

　Ial prepared paper and ink.





　'Good!　Ial has installed the support of King Zoldias!

　The great families spring back. This is quite big.
　Even if it was just a statement, it could threaten the back of King Evil's country.

　''King Rosais!　There has been movement in the armies of Evil and Belvedere just now!　Two thousand each seem to have returned to their home countries!

　Perhaps the news had reached both countries.
　King Evil's country was to respond to King Zoldias' country, and King Belvedil's country was to respond to the Rezad Gehenna Confederacy.

　This would amount to four thousand troops leaving the battlefield without a fight. Even so, the enemy force is still nine thousand, including the Equus tribe. That's more than our army.

　''Okay, we have a plan. We will destroy them one by one. First, we'll hit Evil and Belvedere 1,000 at a time with a delay tactic. Hit the Equus with five thousand and destroy them. After Muzio was made king, he took Equus reinforcements and pinned Belvedil against Rezad Gehenna's allied forces. He then joined the allied forces in defeating Evil, and then went to Bartolo's rescue. Does anyone have an opinion?

　No one raises their hand. Which means no one is complaining.

　Then we vote!

　Thus, the anti-siege strategy was successfully passed.

　The counterattack starts here!