Chapter 88 – Chapter 88 ― Road to the West (5)
Episode 88 ― Road to the West (5)
Roan first entered Xeno, the border city of West Blood, following the knights of West Blood, who welcomed the Grand Duke and other officials and their party.
Most of the border areas between Evirgio and Merde belong to the West Blood Region. Zeno is the center of the West Blood Spirit.
The wall and the fortress connected to it bordering Merde. And Zeno is where the lord, soldiers, and officials who rule the fortress live.
As a city where soldiers and their families live, Zeno is stricter and quieter than other places.
The most outskirts of Zeno.
An armistice was to be negotiated in a kiosk built in the area between the walls of Merde and Evirzio. Evirzio and Merde’s trust was at rock bottom as they crossed each other’s borders.
“You have suffered a lot.”
“No. Your majesty. Aren’t you tired of the long journey?”
Aranya, who arrived in Zeno first and was waiting, greeted the emperor as he entered the castle.
After a brief exchange of greetings between Lord Seohyeol and the Prime Minister, they immediately started talking about the agreement to be held tomorrow.
“The gist of it is that we are now accepting Merde’s proposal for a ceasefire.”
“That’s right.”
“It wouldn’t be good for Merde to have to accept these conditions.”
“It would be humiliating.”
The smile on Aranya’s face is a smile of joy. An enemy that Merde has been fighting for years.
My enemy’s sorrow is my joy.
“As expected from Merde’s point of view, it would have been wiser to end the war. To let you get into such a bad situation.”
“Your majesty. There are many people in the world who know but cannot act. That is one of the reasons why Your Majesty is great.”
At the words of Seohyeolryeongju, the chancellor also nodded.
At first glance, it sounds like flattery, but the grand duke just thinks he’s telling the truth.
It’s embarrassing, but thinking that the lords’ gaze has changed like this is something to be moved.
“Because if we end the war here, Merde has nothing to gain.”
Grünent spoke quietly.
“In the current situation where the demons are superior, if Evirgio accepts the declaration of an end to the war, Merde will be defeated. Some people… And you will have to deal with the wrath of the nobles.”
The first time the Emperor’s human concubine spoke, the Grand Duke of Jeokru’s eyes widened.
The way humans attend meetings,
The way that human is not intimidated by the chancellor and the great lord,
And the fact that the human spoke dryly about Merde was also fresh to the Grand Duke.
“The war was a good opportunity to weaken the power of the nobility, and there was also an excuse.
Speaking of the demon army attacking, a small number of lords… It is difficult to verify the authenticity of the case without the border guards.
There are few people who want to exercise their political power against the demons to confirm the facts and follow the due process.”
Although Aranya had already heard a brief explanation from Grunent, the chancellor frowned at the unpleasant words.
Humans do not see demons as bargaining targets. He only thinks of it as a hunting target.
“But if Sprouse III admits defeat.”
“Everything seems to be the responsibility of the King of Merde. So he had to drag the time somehow. Whether to reorganize the forces once again or find someone to take responsibility instead?”
“That’s right. Your majesty.”
The (former) demon king had already given one of those excuses, so I don’t have the right to say anything about Merde responding to the war just because she was excited…
Come to think of it, Sprouse III, who is said to be the king of Merde, is also thought to be short-lived.
Just to reduce the influence of the nobility…
In other words, in order to strengthen his own kingship, he drove countless knights and people to death, and even abandoned his own daughter as an enemy country with no relationship between life and death.
In the end, Merde was also devastated because there was no one to farm even if the fertile land was left behind.
‘Shouldn’t a brave man rather catch this guy…’
If you compare it to my current state, I’d still be slightly better on my side.
Sometimes I feel a little bit sad.
But since the hero probably doesn’t know the latest news about me – since he didn’t follow Helen to Evirzio – from his point of view, he’s just a wicked man with 50 steps and 100 steps.
“… It is bitter.”
Roan seemed to be blaming himself for this situation, and the Grand Duke, Chancellor, and Grünent were in the meeting room. And the officials were all silent.
The human king who started the war and the demon king who stood by the war. And the human princess and demon officials who couldn’t say anything about it for various reasons. Because everyone in this conference room now knew that they were all responsible.
“However. Your majesty. Is that why Your Majesty doesn’t want to change the future?
Unfortunately, it was not easily agreed upon in Merde, but even a short truce would make many people happy and relieved. Don’t worry too much.”
It was Grünent who offered words of comfort.
It was because she had seen up close that the emperor, who had the greatest responsibility and power, was leading the way in trying to stop the war.
“Mr. Grünent is right. Your majesty. It’s unfortunate that the King of Merde didn’t accept His Majesty’s opinion, but through this truce, we’ll have time to prepare for the winter and prepare for the next day.”
“First of all, he said he wanted to look into the lives of the people. God believes that this time prepared by His Majesty will be a precious time for the people to breathe.”
Aranya and the West Blood Lord helped each other.
If the armistice is done properly, most of the lords and soldiers will return home, except for the soldiers from Seohyeolryeong, Southern Heukryeong, and Northern Baekryong, who originally guarded the border.
The chancellor, who did not know exactly, but noticed that the emperor was preparing something,
It may be an empty dream, but when he learns that Roan is preparing to farm for the people, the Lord of the West Blood,
Even though they did not know everything, they believed in the emperor’s words, followed them, and tried to encourage them.
Roan smiled slightly at their sincerity, which was conveyed through ‘listening’.
“… There are people around you who are so willing. I’m really glad that I know now.”
(Former) I wish the demon king knew this. Roan felt sorry for the (former) demon king.
The guy who always told me to beware of the great lord.
However, the will and trust of the West Blood Lord and the Eastern Hwang Lord, which were felt through ‘listening’ and ‘detection’, were sincere.
If the (former) demon king changed his mind just a little bit.
If only I could trust them a little more.
If only I had been trained in skills so that I could grasp their true feelings.
The demons might have been a little happier.
Even that guy.
‘Even now…’
Okay. It’s not too late.
It’s a little hard to say instead, but he seemed to be watching what I was doing, too.
Don’t do your best when it comes to this.
There are a lot of troubles I’ve experienced because of my crazy behavior,
Because of the superior physical ability and the excellent circumstances of various demon lords, there were many pleasant things that I experienced.
Let’s assume this is the payoff.
Roan nodded, and everyone in the conference room happily accepted the emperor’s thanks.
*
However, the agreement was not as easy as expected.
“Your majesty. You can’t allow this.”
The author who whispered something to Merde’s king was said to be Merde’s court mage.
King Merde, Sprouse III, with a worried expression looked at Roan, Grunent, and the demons and nodded at the words of the wizard.
Human negotiators,
At first, he stood frozen with an expression of tiredness after seeing Aranya and the large demons.
Then, seeing Roan and Grünent who entered the room belatedly, he started glaring at them.
‘They must be calling the princess possessed by the demon king.’
Even if you look good, it’s difficult.
A few human female officials and nobles showed admiration for Roan’s face, but most of the male officials and nobles did not even seem to hide their wary expressions.
Practical negotiations are done by officials.
At this place, the job of superiors like Roan is to greet each other, compete with each other, and decide the direction.
However, Sprouse III always sought advice from the court wizard before saying anything, and the wizard asked the king to stretch as far as possible with a sly expression.
‘Even if I whisper like that, I can hear everything.’
Roan sighed and asked Grunent.
“Grünent. Is that court mage the chancellor?”
“No. There is a separate Prime Minister of Merde, but… Whether it’s strange or obvious, I didn’t come to this place.”
Her smile is somehow empty.
“The prime minister is at the head of the aristocratic forces. Even if I wanted to come here, Sprouse III would have refused.”
She was now calling her father like the king of a foreign country.
“Then is that wizard worthy of replacing the prime minister?”
“… I don’t have the ability to do that…”
“It seems that this position was won by mouth. Didn’t you take part in the war?”
Grünent said nothing but nodded her head.
Merde’s sorceress kept whispering something to the king, and the human officials watched them, waiting for the king’s answer.
As a result, the meeting continued to lengthen.
“If you return like this, you will be in great trouble. What disrespectful things the Prime Minister and other aristocrats would say to Your Majesty.”
“That is unforgivable. Then what do you want me to do?”
Sprouse III seeks the wizard’s opinion.
The court mage stroked his white beard and said after thinking.
“The demon king is the king of evil. He can’t back down against him. Why don’t you provoke him and get him to break the truce? “
“Hmm.”
Roan unknowingly frowned.
It’s not polite to eavesdrop…
It’s obvious that they’re going to make me a bad guy, but I’m not big enough to be casual again.
“Grünent. That guy is a pain in the ass.”
“As expected, Your Majesty’s keen eye is amazing.”
Roan smiled shyly.
I just heard everything…
“Yes. Entered the court before the war and quickly became Sprouse III’s closest aide. It is thought that the story of the ‘Dark Forest Seed’ was also conveyed by the author with a high probability. He is a master of ancient texts and superstitions. And…”
Grünent’s face was subtly distorted.
“It is he who brought me here.”
Roan laughed.
“… Then, should I be grateful?”
“… Your majesty.”
Grünent, who had rolled his eyes not to hate, also smiled at the emperor’s laughter.
In the meantime, as if they had sorted out their policies, Sprouse III, who had been chatting with each other for a while, spoke to Roan.
“Emperor of Evirgio. What is the reason why a person in Merde, who did not respond when we proposed an armistice for the safety of the people of both countries, now wants to end the war on his own?”
Aranya’s beautiful face turned grim.
The spines on its forelimbs began to snap. It was her simple habit that came out when she concentrated her nerves somewhere, but it was enough to make the blood drain from the Merde humans’ faces.
Roan opened his mouth.
“I just needed time to reflect. It was an offer, as you said, and an offer can be declined. Isn’t it necessary to respond to all of your one-sided demands?”
At Roan’s standard and polite answer, Aranya looked back at her Roan and said, ‘Well done!’
Roan continued.
“And if you insist on finding a reason, it’s the same reason you offered us a truce. Didn’t you guys have a written article? The people of both countries are suffering.”
Then, the expression of the King of Merde and the court wizard crumpled. Sprouse III said without hiding his displeasure.
“You say that the people of both countries are suffering, but you don’t seem to consider the pain of my daughter and the saintess. Are you trying to conduct a fair negotiation by holding the princess of Merde and her saintess hostage? Isn’t that a cowardly act?”
The conference room was buzzing.
The impression of her demons became stern, and Araña began tapping her front legs on her desk.
Roan looked at Sprouse III with a cold expression. However, the one who spoke first before the emperor was the demon king’s chieftain, who was currently attending the agreement meeting as his assistant. It was Grunent.
