Seven, look out for yourself.


　The next morning, as I was getting ready to go to the Oranj Kingdom, I was suddenly approached from behind. It was a clear female voice.

　When I turned around, there stood a woman in a robe with deep blue sovage hair, who was beside the emperor during his audience.


'............ who?'

'Uh-huh, you're rude. But I don't hate you.


　No, really, who?


"My name is Spica. Spica Amrit. You really don't know me?

I don't know, seriously.

"...... well~......


　The woman who calls herself Spica turns her eyes on me as if she were looking at a rare animal and opens her lips, which are thickly lipsticked and pruned, and covers her mouth with her hand, which is covered with a large jeweled ring or bracelet. At the same time, the smell of perfume wafted in softly.

　What can I say, she looks rather dressed up and quite celebrity madam-like, but she looks young in age. She was in her early twenties by all appearances.


What does she do?

The fortune teller. You're His Majesty's man now, but you used to be famous in the Imperial City, right?


　Wow, fortune tellers!　I've never heard of it before. Of course, there is no such job in Mevion.

　Spica smiled at me in amazement, held up his index finger with a pin, and said.


I'm not going to be the only one who can do that. Respect me properly. Do you understand?

Uh, hi.

　This guy sounds like the old Shelly.


So that's it then? Did such a skilled fortune teller go out of his way to tell me to be careful?

Yes. This invasion is a very, very big deal.


　As if convinced, Spica assured him so.

　Well, I suppose it's more unusual to have a war without turbulence, but I won't say it because it would be rude.


'What kind of vicissitudes are there?'

　Instead, he asked for details. 'You'll forgive me for this much,' he said.


'It wouldn't be divination if I told you that. But yes, it is: .......

　Spica hesitates for a while and opens his mouth.


'Avoid clashing with each other as much as possible. A lot of people will die. If possible, move closer. This is the will of His Majesty.''

"Your Majesty's will?

Yes. If we can compromise with the Orangi Kingdom, we will compromise with them. If the Castal Kingdom rises to power and the Dysart Republic consolidates its position while competing for the Sizun Small Kingdom, it would be detrimental to both the Marvel Empire and the Orangi Kingdom. If that's the case, don't you think it would be more wise to use the Sizun Small Kingdom as an opportunity to strengthen the unity between the two countries?


　I was surprised. Since she says she's a fortune teller, I thought it was some kind of mysterious power to predict the future, but ...... it was a surprisingly well-founded and straightforward idea.

　In other words, she came to this place now as a replacement for the emperor. So she is a messenger sent out by the busy emperor.

　But that's strange. That would contradict what Mr. Cigarone was saying, wouldn't it?


The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that your career is on the line this time around. And I'm not sure if the Prime Minister has used that as a shield to threaten you with anything, but ...... think carefully about which order you should follow, His Majesty's desire for a peaceful resolution or His Majesty's belligerent and violent Prime Minister's.


　Spica said as if he could see through it.

　I see, in other words, Cigarone-san's instructions to me are his own decision to ignore the emperor's wishes. So it's a different order to me personally than this time's departure. Hmm, it's getting harder and harder.

　In fact, I'm torn as to whether or not I should follow Cigarone's orders. As expected of a fortune teller, she seems to have seen through it all.

　The reason I'm torn: ...... It's simple.


Thank you for your advice.

Yeah, good luck with that. Good luck.



　The name of the opponent that Cigarone-san has instructed me to defeat, the name of the Orangi Kingdom Army General - Nova Valtelemon. That's right, she's that chubby female general.



　　* * * *.



"The man who went to God's Land, did you say Seven? Very funny.


　While enjoying his post-breakfast tea in his opulent room, Emperor Gordo Marvel muttered with a corner of his mouth.

　His daughter, Melson Marvel, sitting opposite him, heard him and replied grimly.


''Father, we must not allow such a newcomer to take command just because it's interesting. The agreement over the Sizun Small Country is an important-- that will determine the future of the Orangi Kingdom and the Disart Republic.

Melson. You have a different view of this expedition than I do, do you not?

...... Yes. We should invade the post-revolutionary, exhausted God State, i.e., the Dzat Republic, right now.

I don't think so. The Oranj Kingdom has Barthélémon. The Kingdom of Castal is behind the God State. The Kingdom of Castal has the Second First Test. All in all, it'll be a simple matter.

So, if you send Cigarone back to the general.

That will not do. With that man as our general, the future of the empire will be a bloody one.

............


　Emperor Gordo is a complete pullback (...). Melson knew that.

　By the time the man called Second First Test sent the minced meat to him, Emperor Gordo had already begun this escape attempt.

　Bal Morrow, who had sneaked into the Kingdom of Castal and climbed to the rank of Prime Minister. He carried the First Prince Klaus and successfully occupied the castle and was waiting for reinforcements from the Empire. However, his request for reinforcements was ignored. But his request for reinforcements was ignored by Emperor Gordo because he didn't want to be a part of it.

　You can say whatever you want with your mouth. There is no doubt that Gordo has given all sorts of reasons, and has plausibly avoided war. To Melson, the last few years Gordo had been nothing more than a man with a mouth to feed.

　He didn't really think about the future of the empire, and it seemed that he was only making himself safe and comfortable inside the safe castle of the safe imperial capital.

　If this was the case, the Marvel Empire would be ruined. Melson was convinced of this, and he was taking action behind the scenes to make himself the next emperor.


　Specifically - the formation of an "assassination squad". Her dog, the secret agent Salem, is also a member of the squad.

　Melson was prepared to even lay a hand on her father if push came to shove.

　She loved the Marvel Empire so much that she felt responsible for her position as a member of the royal family, which was responsible for the lives of so many people.

　But ...... apart from that, there would be another problem.


I'm afraid that in three days you've become a Knight Commander of the Kingsguard. It's extremely excellent. Depending on how well you settle with the Orangi Kingdom, I will have to consider the position of deputy general?

'No, Father. It's too short. That won't sit well with many of them.

In fact, it's the shortness of it that's interesting, as Cigarone said. I was of the same opinion.

...... .......


　A new problem, the rise of Seven.

　This was a very bad situation for Melson.

　Seven's rise to prominence meant that the Light would be closer to becoming the next Emperor.

　Even if it was only a matter of time, Melson's knight, Nath Shaman, had been completely defeated in his match with Seven. That alone made his impression among the knights and soldiers soooo much worse.
　On top of that, the day he was given the credit for this incident with the Orangi Kingdom, and even more, the day he was made a deputy general or something like that, it would be almost an exaggeration to say that Wright would be fast approaching the position of the next emperor, to the point where he was almost an equal.

　If that happens, it's no longer a matter of whether or not Gordo's backbone is intact. In Melson's eyes, Wright was clearly not fit to be the next emperor.

　After all, the only way to lead the Marvel Empire in the right direction was for him to become the next emperor. And for that, he couldn't choose the means - that's what Melson could only think of.


I'm sure that Cigarone has assured me that he can be trusted with it. I'm going to bet my money on that man to negotiate with the Orangi Kingdom. Besides, Spica's fortune telling wasn't so bad either.


　Emperor Gordo uttered with a look like "I've seen something rare". That's how rarely Cigarone would admit to others.

　However, Gordo, who had instructed him to go talk to the Orangi Kingdom, didn't seem to know that Cigarone was giving a completely different set of instructions to Seven.


'Divination, by golly,'

"Where there is a good heart, the door is opened; where there is an evil heart, the door is closed." ......

I see. ...... Do you think Seven has a good heart?

It's a difficult question. Either you look at the door with your heart or you look at the heart with the door, both are interesting. You may not be, but I'm interested in the heart, not the door.


　That means that Gordo has high hopes for Seven and wishes her well.

　On the other hand, it means that Melson is worried about Seven and doesn't want her to play an active role.

　Melson, whose inner feelings were unexpectedly revealed by Gordo's turnaround, opens his mouth with a face that looks like he's bitten down on a bitter worm.


'The heart is the way Seven is to the Empire. Is the door the way the Orangi Kingdom is to the Empire? 'Spica is a very roundabout way of putting it,'

　Seeing Melson's appearance, Gordo uttered a small smile.


'I suppose it wouldn't be fortune-telling if I said that.



　　* * *



　A day and a half after leaving the Empire.

　When we crossed the border with the Sizun Small Country, we met an unexpected person.

''Seven!　That was quick reunion!　How are you doing?
'Captain!　And you guys are here, too?

　The members of the fifth platoon of what-ifs are all here.

　They surround me with happy faces and get excited about what they've been waiting for.

I'm waiting for you. We, the 5th Platoon of the 1st Fighter Corps Infantry, are with you!　And we're not the only ones. The Prime Minister has taken care of Seven just in case something goes wrong, so this time the 1st Fighter Corps infantry is in full force.

　In case you say ...... or something like that, you've got it all lined up to invade the Godland under my command.

'I've heard that Seven has all the command of the field. But as I say this, is ...... okay?
Yeah, no problem. There's only one thing to do.
Oh, you mean one!　It's as straightforward as ever, man.

　We have one goal. To meet Nova at the border, that's it.

　The rest depends on how the other side comes out.

　If they still push back with force, you can go to .......


'So Seven is the Knight Commander of the Kingsguard!　I was right all along!　And I heard you won 10 straight victories over that general!　You're a hell of a guy, man.

Oh, no!

　I was in a daze when the high-strung captain tried to slap me on the back.

　If I hit him, Wraith's change would be released. I ducked just in time and took two steps away from the captain.


"Hey, what's up, Seven?

　Shit. You're in the wrong place.

'...... bad. I'm about to face the general, so I was a little nervous.

　When I quickly excuse myself, the captain makes a huff and opens his mouth.

''I'm sorry!　Well, of course not, because I'm going to be facing Barthelémon, even Seven would be nervous!　Hey, you!　I'm going to leave Seven alone for a while!　I love it!
Yes!

　The captain gave a command to a member of the squad who wasn't much of a relation and hurriedly moved away from me.

　Then he dropped back fifteen meters or so and stood by in formation. It seems that I was able to deceive them well.


　I see, Nova is quite feared in the Empire, isn't it? Is that so? It's true that that gorilla-like status is so burly that the captains can't help but feel that a giant female gorilla has appeared.

　However, she is extremely sensitive. She has both strength and skill, and her skills are well developed in every corner of her body. It's not very nice, but it's hard to believe she's a gorilla.


............

　--I want to do it. What I really want to do is this.

　I can't wait to do it, without the emperor or the vizier or anything else, with a serious girlfriend, really risking my life and doing everything.

　Can't we somehow fulfill the orders of the Emperor and Mr. Cigarone at the same time?

　After all, is there any way we can defeat Nova while coming to terms with the Orangi Kingdom?


''Phew.''

　There's no convenient way to do that ......, he looked up at the sky and sighed.

　The fifth platoon is fifteen meters away. As I do this, it's like I'm all alone.

　What was the border between Sizhen Small Country and Kamel Godland, which I'm currently heading to, like?　As I recall, it was an area of desert ruins. It's a large desert, with what looks like the remains of collapsed ruins scattered about.

　So we line up our troops in the desert and face each other, and Nova and I talk to each other?

　You can either end it with a discussion or invade with a surprise attack, which is up to me. In the latter case, however, there was nowhere to hide my troops, so it would be a no-holds-barred show of force.

　Is that what Cigarone is saying, that you should look at the strength of Nova's side and decide how to get out: ......?


!

　No, wait.


　How about ...... "one on one"?

　I'm going to ask the soldiers on both sides to stand back and wait, like the captains are doing now.

　I'm going to propose that Nova and I will settle the matter in a tie-up, and then the result will decide the future of the two countries.

　If we win, the Oranj Kingdom will be asked to withdraw its troops from the Dysart Republic. If we win, the Marvel Empire will withdraw its troops from the Small Kingdom of Sizin.

　With a peaceful solution that doesn't result in any deaths, they will show their willingness to compromise with the Orangi Kingdom, defeat Nova head-on, and negotiate a pact to both sides' satisfaction. I can't think of any other way to fulfill the orders of the Emperor and the Vizier at the same time.


　Will Nova be willing to talk?

　Maybe it's okay. I think the answer is yes. The guy is hungry for a strongman. And she likes to play it straight.

　In fact, it's better not to play a trick on him. Nova, despite her looks, has a brilliant mind, especially her oratory. It's a good thing that I'm able to get Yukari and Steam to shut down in a tongue-lashing, so there's no way I'm going to win even if I desperately try to think and talk about political matters.

　Then there is no other way but to go straight to the point and ask them to play a game of one or two.

　Whether or not such a thing is realistically possible may not be known until you try to divine it: ......


'Nice, nice!'

　I'm not pessimistic, strangely enough. On the contrary, I'm optimistic.

　I felt like the pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. I feel like it's going to work.

　This has been a series of events since I came to the Empire.

　It's exactly what Yugi, Winfiled, said. It's like a game of repeated reasoning and choices.

　And it's safe and enjoyable. It's exquisitely sprinkled with hints in a way that only I can understand, at a level that's on the edge of what even I can understand.

　On top of that, it's got some exciting elements in it, such as a tie-in with Nova: ...... It's so blissful, it's not even funny anymore. It's going to be a good month of vacation.


Wait for me Nova, I'm coming!



　-- At this point, with my head in the happy set knowing that I was about to get a match with Nova, I was disappointed in one important thing.

　There was no way she, full of ambition and professionalism and brilliance, hadn't been working out for the past few days, just after her title fight.

　Yes, the skills I taught Nova on the day of the 8th crown celebration party, in that bingo prize - the skills I taught her.