Hey, why don't you start calling yourself the Great King?

　One time I was having dinner with Muzio and he told me so.
　The Great King?

　'Isn't it a bit odd that you, the ally of the Federation, and I are the same king?　You could be a great king.
　'Hmmm, well, it's certainly true...'

　It's a bit of a bad reputation for me to call myself the Great King.

　'What, do you care about that?　It's too late for that.
　After all this time, what's the big deal?

　A tatemae is important.
　Even if you can see the real intentions in them.

　How about I talk to the King of Belvedere and ask him to get together and make a proposal?　After you decline twice, you can take it on a third time.
　'Hmmm, I guess it's in every world line that you have to decline twice and then take it on a third time...'

　It's despicable if you take a bite out of it the first time.
　The second time is also a bit despicable.
　The third time is inevitable.
　The fourth time is too much.

　Is that how you feel?

　'But do King Evil and King Belvedil take to such talk?

　King Belvedere would understand.
　That king is a coward, and he knows his country's current position.
　He will do everything in his power to flatter it.

　But King Evil is still in the dark, trying to strengthen his country's position.
　Well, he doesn't seem to have any intention of going against us.
　Recently, I was also asked to marry him.

　"I'm sure both King Belvedere and King Evil think the Federation is not as bad as it seems. It's a great advantage to save money on defense. "It's a great advantage to save money on defense. You're still very powerful. There must be a certain amount of authority in your power.

　Well, if you say so. Then I'll make a request ... no, still no.

　I shake my head.
　Muzio nods his head.

　'What?'　What's the problem?
　"Doesn't the word 'Great King' translate into 'Shah Handshah' in Persian?　Buying into the depression of the Persis Empire...

　It depends on what you mean.　That one. The Great King can be read as 'the king of kings' or 'the great king'. You can get a Persian translation from someone who knows Persian and have him translate it well.

　Mmm, sure.
　I'll write to Ains and see what he thinks.

　I'll take it under advisement.
　Oh, okay.

　Afterwards, Muzio and I parted ways after talking about other trivial matters.




　A few moments later, I received a reply from Ains.
　I can translate it well into Cilician and Persians, as well as the official language of the Persians, Alarm, which is the official language of the Persians, so it's all right," he said.
　I can translate it well into Cilician, Persian and Alarm, the official language of the Persis Empire, so it should be fine.

　Or rather, I just learned that the official language of the Persis Empire is Alarm, which is the language used by the desert people (the Alarmites).
　Surely they're a commercial people, so maybe it's a suitable official language.

　I guess I should say that Emperor Xerxes is indeed a good example of a Xerxes emperor to make the more widely used language of another ethnic group the official language, rather than his own.

　To be honest, I don't feel like I can win.
　I have no intention of challenging him.

　A short while later, King Alva (Muzio), King Belvedil, and King Evil presented me with the title of Great King.
　As we had discussed, I refused twice and accepted at the third time.

　That's how he became the Great King.
　Well, it's not so different just because the title was given to the king.

　In fact, the reaction within the country and the federation was muted.
　Of course, the reaction from outside the country was different.





　''Your Majesty, it seems that the annexation of the West and the name of the last great king have made the three northern nations-Domorgar, Gilbed and Fardham-quiver with anger.
　Is Domorgal mad at you too?
　You're right, the Great One is unacceptable.
　Not a bad way to make King Carlo angry.

　I hear the report from Iaru and cower my shoulders.
　Well, it doesn't seem that Carlo himself is going to be angry but as expected, he has a face as a king.

　''What do we do now, Your Majesty?
　'The Great King' is only for the country and the Commonwealth. He is the 'Great King' of the Commonwealth of Romalia. So my position and friendship with you will not change. We will continue to walk together as friends. And please respond to me.
　Okay. I'll smoke it out.

　Ial gives an evil smile.
　It's Ial, he'll be able to fake it well.

　However, the distrust itself won't be dispelled, although there is a good chance that it may even increase.

　''How is the detachment plan coming along?
　Yes, relations between Gilbed and Fardham are already at their worst. The poison we planted during the last Adelian Liberation War seems to be going around quite a bit.
　'Ho ... I'm surprised. I would have thought that now that our country is bastardized, it would raise suspicion of our country.

　And both countries are aligned when it comes to condemning our country.
　I don't think it's time for them to recognize us as the enemy and unite.

　Why is it so easy for us to fall into the scheme of disengagement?

　"I want to believe that my country is behind this, but I can't. You can be sure, but you can't say it out loud. Isn't that the point?　Our country's national power is so powerful. They are, after all, a confederation of powerful families. They hate their neighbors who have been killing each other for years more than the great powers that have emerged in recent years, and it's more convenient for the latter to be the mastermind.

　Well, to begin with, the alliance against Gallia itself was also a pretty forceful alliance.
　It was an alliance that was only formed because of the threat of the Roselle Kingdom.
　The stage where that Roselle Kingdom turned inward and one of those countries began to run on its own was already beginning to rattle.

　''What about King Domorgal's kingdom?''
　'We are still friends with that country and we still make them treat us better than the two countries. That's why both Gilbed and Fardham are beginning to hate Domorgar. For all the accusations they make together, they are on good terms with our country.
　No, thank you. Just keep going.

　King Carlo of Domorgal is very easy to handle.
　If we give him our hand, he will always take it.

　Well, King Domorgal's country has considerably diminished its national power, and there is a situation where it would be attacked by a foreign country if it didn't, so there are aspects that can't be helped.

　''But, Your Majesty. The problem is that the relationship with our country is becoming sour at a faster rate than it is becoming sour between the three Adelnian countries...''
　I've already eliminated Pofenia. We've got Persis' blessing. We've brought the Kingdom of Roselle on board. Well, the alliance will last a year, I guess. We won't be able to renew it again.

　Or rather, it's time to cut ties with them, or else we won't be able to attack them.
　Breaking the non-aggression pact unilaterally would have a greater surprise effect.......but I'd still like to pass diplomatic decorum for later.

　And the Pofenia Republic seems to care about that sort of thing.


　And August......
　Renewal day for the Alliance Against Gaul is coming.


　'I'm glad to see you're all doing well,'

　I attended the meeting with a blank stare.
　Last in line, by the way. See, I'm the star of the show.

　When I took my seat last, King Gilbeth snapped at me and said, "We've been waiting for you.

　"King Romalia, you have the nerve to confront me.
　What are you talking about?
　'Don't fall for it!　You broke the treaty and annexed the western world!　Let's have them explain it here!

　The Gilbed King's shouting rang out and the wood spirits.
　I waited for the tree spirits to stop ringing and quiet down before I slowly opened my mouth.

　'I've explained that to you. I had no intention of invading. But they asked for our country's help. So I reached out to them. That's all. I believe a request for help came to you... or were you not asked?

　I show him a grin.
　I already know that the western nations aren't asking for help at King Gilbed's.

　It's a knowing provocation.

　Brilliantly, King Gilbed's face turns as red as a boiled octopus.

　''But!　That should have something to do with the entire West!
　'Indeed, you are right. I was asked for help around King Karne's country. ........But almost all of the western countries have applied for membership in our Federation. How could I refuse them?

　They went down to the military gate without permission.
　It's not our country's fault. That's what I'm saying.

　But it doesn't matter if they went down without permission, they still broke the agreement.

　"You!　Speaking of which...
　'Isn't it about time we had a constructive conversation?　Specifically, on the alliance against Gaul.

　This is where I force the conversation to end.
　I have nothing more to say to King Gilbed.

　"...King Romalia, will you please show me your sincerity?
　'Good faith?　What are you talking about?

　I nodded my head at King Fardham's words.

　''Your territorial expansion has gone too far. It is unacceptable ... and if you wish to remain our friend as a member of the Alliance against Gaul any longer, I will ask you to show us your sincerity.
　What do you mean by that?
　"...abandon the western nations or send the prince to study in our country.

　Hmm. That's a big one.
　Well, as expected, you don't expect such a big demand to go through.
　I've only proposed it as the first step in negotiations.

　The usual way to negotiate is to make big demands first and then rub it in little by little.
　So, well it's a reasonable line in that sense.

　The fact is that our country is too suspicious. We need to show that much sincerity to be trusted.
　Well, I have no intention of getting you to trust me.

　Well then.
　Let's call it a day with them.

　I took a deep breath and....

　f*ck off!

　I slammed the desk hard with my fist.
　My fist, strengthened by the Great King's blessing, easily shatters the desk.

　King Gilbed's and King Faldum's bodies twitch, and King Carlo of Domorgal's face twitches with fear.

　'I believe I have served the Alliance well up to now. I have fought the Kingdom of Roselle many times. No, my country is the only one that has fought and bled the Kingdom of Roselle in a proper manner. We have fought the Kingdom of Roselle many times and played it back while you guys have added your fingers and watched!

　Well, the other three countries are actually fighting there as well, but they don't care about the details.

　''And yet, what is this punishment!　Abandon the West?　You want me to give up the land that our people have bled to get!　Studying a prince abroad?　You want me to give up my son as a hostage?　Who the hell do you think you are!

　To put it bluntly, the western world hasn't shed a drop of blood, but I don't care about the details.
　What's important is momentum.

　'Oh, please calm down. 'Oh, calm down, King Romalia!'
　I'm not going to calm down after all these insults!

　I yell back at Carlo and he immediately apologizes, saying he's sorry.

　'Wait, King Romalia.
　It's not negotiable!

　I flip my purple cloak and turn my back.

　'I will not stand for any more insults. My country is withdrawing from the Alliance Against Gaul!

　That's it!