After two days of rest in Drintru, Cain and his party returned to the royal capital.
　They disembarked from the carriage at the main gate of the academy and lined up.

We are glad that we were able to come back safely without anyone being injured despite all that happened. The school will be closed for the week, but it will be business as usual from next week. You can go home and rest your body for the week. Then, dismissed.

　The students climbed into the carriage that had picked them up and headed back to their respective homes.
　Cain, too, was about to get into the carriage that Corran had picked up, when he heard a voice from behind him.
　When they turn around, they see a knight of the Kingsguard standing there.

You will be able to see that you are not the only one. Please continue to come to the royal castle.

　Cain let out a sigh and looked at Coran, but only shook his head.

'...... Corran, then take me to the King's Castle, please.'

　Guided by the Knights of the Kingsguard, Cain's carriage headed for the royal castle.

　When they arrived at the royal castle, Cain was led by a squire to the usual reception room and seated.

'I've already explained it to you ....... Also, what's more: ......

　Not long after, Duke Eric, Prime Minister Magna, Deputy Commander Dime, and his father Garum, led by the King, entered the room.
　Cain stands up once and takes a vassal's bow.

'Well, sit down. Garum just arrived, and I'm sorry to call you here.
'No, when Her Majesty calls, you can go to ...... and then to ...... and now to .......

　The fact that Cain was there surely made Garum's brain feel uneasy, as if he had done something again.

''With Cain around, there's no wonder I'm worried. This time, depending on how the other party comes out, there's a chance that it will be a war with the Illustin Republic - and a war.
What did you say?　What the hell is ......

　Prime Minister Magna explains to Garum, who has nothing but anxiety about Cain being in attendance.
　As he listens to the explanation, Garum gives him a look that says, "Not again ......".
　However, when all the explanations were finished, his expression tightened as he thought about what had happened and what was to come, which was beyond his expectations.

''............ I understand. Let's get our troops ready to go right away.

　The Esfort Kingdom is surrounded by the Baisas Empire, the Illustin Republic, and the Marineford Church State, but the only one that is hostile is the Baisas Empire, and only the Gracia Territory, ruled by the Frontier Count of Garum, can have its own soldiers and fight against the enemy country as a frontier count.
　If war broke out, soldiers from Gracia territory would rush to the scene.
　Moreover, the soldiers of the Gracia territory were so strong that rumors circulated that they might be stronger than the Kingsguard.
　Garum tightened his face and nodded heavily.

''Well, to be honest, if there's one Cain, the war won't be lost ....... But Cain is still a minor. We can't make him participate in the war. The best thing we can do is avoid the war. ......

　Everyone but Cain sighs at the king's words.
　It's a fact that no one can deny.

'Eric, you're in charge of the negotiations.
All right. I'll let you handle the negotiations.

　Cain was also going to participate in the negotiations as a party, but he was removed from the king's list with a word from the king saying, "Leave it to the adults here. If there was ever a war, Cain was reminded and told that he would not participate.

And as for domestic matters: ......

　The topic of conversation turns from the Republic of Illustin to the Kingdom of Esfort and the country at large.
　The death of the Marquis of Corzino and the capture of Viscount Bardo. Several other members of the Corzino faction were also involved in the injustice and were captured one after another.
　Several deputies and inspectors were urgently dispatched from the king's capital to each city with soldiers.
　For a time, they have frozen all of their authority as lords and are treated the same as the territory under direct control.
　There were a number of matters that Garum had never heard of before, and he folded his arms and wrinkled his brows.
　Right now, it was truly an urgent situation for the Esfort Kingdom, and an urgent decision was needed to make a stable governance.
　In particular, many of the cities governed by Corzino's faction faced the Istin Republic side, and with tensions rising, it was necessary to negotiate as soon as possible.
　I have already sent an envoy with a fast horse to the parliament of the Irstin Republic.
　Initially, it was also on the agenda to send a delegation from the Kingdom of Esfort to the Republic of Irstin to negotiate, but this time it was decided that the Kingdom is the victim and it would be right for the Republic of Irstin, the perpetrator, to come, and an envoy has been sent to explain itself.

　And two weeks later, a delegation from the Republic of Irstin came to negotiate.
　Cain, as a party, had the opportunity to explain once, and he met with the delegation, but when he saw Cain's face, the delegation was shaken. As for the Illustin Republic, even though he was relieved of his senatorial position, he was still colluding with the Dark Guild and attacking them as the Illustin Republic.
　Moreover, the students who were accompanying them included a princess, a duchess, and even the princess of the Byssus Empire.
　It could be considered a declaration of war against the two great nations of the Esfort Kingdom and the Byssus Empire.
　No matter what unreasonable demands were made, the delegation of the Istin Republic could not refuse.
　The only way to refuse is to go to -------- war.

　Negotiations between the two countries lasted for weeks.
　And after the negotiations, it was settled with huge reparations and the division of the territory.
　Nevertheless, the Republic of Irstin concluded that it was better than starting a war.
　As for the amount of reparations, it would be enormous and could not be paid all at once.
　It was to be paid to the Kingdom of Esfort over a period of ten years. Even if it was divided up, it would be a huge burden on the Istin Republic.
　Duke Eric, who had handled the negotiations in the main, also seemed satisfied.
　The delegation from the Illustin Republic returned home in a state of frustration.

　Then, an urgent summons was made to the nobles of the Esfort Kingdom to explain this time and to tighten up the nobles in the country.