/
For the meantime, I managed to secure the continuity of friendly relations with the Equus tribe.
Next item on the agenda is the problem regarding the Belvedere and Eville Kingdoms.
These two countries had a previous offense of banding together to try to attack the Rosyth Kingdom.
In other words, relations are completely sour.
Both kingdoms are probably vigilant against a new and radical king.
I need to directly meet them and ascertain friendly relations.
First, I headed to the Eville Kingdom.
This time, I had brought along Yal, Bartolo, and Tetra to assist me.
Ron and Gram also came along as escorts.
“It’s been a while, King Eville.”
I greet King Eville.
He’s around his mid-forties. It’s probably the prime age as king.
Although he’s shorter than me, you can clearly see, even on top of his clothes, his firmly built body.
He gives off an image of


a warrior king.
“Aa, I’m happy to see you, King Rosyth.”
We begin first with harmless chatter.
I was mostly asked about the wars against King Ferrum and the De Morgal Kingdom as well as the civil war.
“Good gracious, what a splendid job you did. Even though civil wars end up getting dragged on, to be able to end it within two days, it clearly is no small feat!”
Such a transparent old man, you. Didn’t you hurriedly gather your men around the time the civil war began?
Or perhaps I should say some DeBell Faction members tried to emigrate to your country causing great trouble?
Well, I would have done the same thing though, if a country were to collapse right before me.
Gradually, the topic moved towards industry.
Because the Eville Kingdom has few plains, their wheat output is little compared to ours.
On the other hand, they utilized their slopes resulting in a vibrant grape and olive industry.
Others are herding sheep and goat.
Our country is several times more superior in agricultural output plus potential.
Therefore, our two countries found no necessity to trade with each other.
Well, if we really must, I guess we could trade for wool, maybe? Our country would rather focus on agriculture rather than animal husbandry after all. If we’d be bringing up livestock, we’d focus on pork which could be turned into meat and cattle and horse, which could be used for labor.
“Since the threat of the De Morgal Kingdom had ceased to exist, the southern part of the Southern Adernia Peninsula will be peaceful for a while, yes?”
“Yes, our country also desires peace whenever possible. In any case, the amount of things we need to do domestically is as big as a mountain.”
It’s actually the truth. We’re not in the mood for any war right now. Right now, yes?
“Let’s get along well, from now on.”
“Yes, let’s be good neighbors.”
We exchange handshakes.
“How was it, your majesty, King Eville?”
“Well, I guess you could say they aren’t a threat for now. I couldn’t feel any clear hostility. That said, I don’t think a young king in his teens would be satisfied with such a small kingdom. It’s probably best to strengthen our forces.”
Presently, there are no signs of any hostile intentions. In that case, he should be preparing without arousing other nations as much as possible.
Defeat is inevitable if the Rosyth Kingdom faces the Eville Kingdom directly.
“However, we have too little information. We shall continue surveillance. As soon as we see turbulent movements, we shall immediately move to have the neighboring countries on our side.”
“Hee, this is the Belvedere capital, huh

.they have quite solid defenses, huh.”
I headed to the Belvedere Kingdom immediately after the Eville Kingdom.
I brought along the same people.
“The Belvedere Kingdom is the one nearest to the Cretian colonies after all. They’re the ones most exposed to their culture. Therefore, they’re the most advanced in construction techniques amongst the Adernian states.”
Raymond explains for me.
However, nevertheless, isn’t this still overkill?
If we say King Ferrum’s palace is a 1 and the Rosyth Kingdoms’ is a 10, then this would be a 100.
“This is just between us, but the present Belvedere King is famous for his cowardice. Therefore, he had these much fortification built. Although this was just a famous story related to his succession

.”
According to Raymond, it seems a war of succession broke out after the previous king met his demise around ten years ago. At that time, the then-crown prince Belvedere had been so afraid of being killed that he had renounced his right of succession and secluded himself in a temple on top of a mountain.
After that, the eldest and third sons had simultaneously struck each other. Both ended up dying so Belvedere had been hurriedly summoned from his seclusion and made king.
The one who ran away ended up having the last laugh, huh

.
“Hey, Bartolo. If you were to take this down, how many soldiers and how much time would it take?”
“Hmm, let’s see
..I’d need a minimum of 10,000 soldiers. It would take around 6 months at the shortest, maybe? If we used the fire medicine,  we’d be able to shorten this to 4 months.”
Even Bartolo would need that much time and people huh.
As expected, sieges are very troublesome.
“It’s been a long time, King Belvedere.”
“Same here, King Rosyth.”
King Belvedere is a man in his late forties.
Although he’s taller than me, he doesn’t give off that much of a strong impression.
Not only does he have very little muscle on him, his face doesn’t show much self-confidence, either.
His eyes are swimming.
What we talked about wasn’t that much different from the time with King Eville.
By the way, the Belvedere Kingdom’s industry doesn’t differ that much from the Rosyth Kingdom’s industry. Both countries have vast plains and a warm climate after all.
“Recently, your country seems to have been profiting from trade with Cretian merchants.”
“Yes, we have been profiting but
?”
What in the
what about it?
“Our country’s customs income has also increased. Thanks to your country. 

..We would like to get along from here on as well.”
“

.Yes, let’s get along.”
Between our country and the Cretian colonies lies the Belvedere Kingdom.
In other words, if they were to do things such as raise the tariff and blockade the borders, then Cretians wouldn’t be able to enter our country.
This guy has just hinted me that.
Not just with timidity
.
“We have considerably weakened the De Morgal Kingdom’s power. There won’t be any wars for the meantime, yes? As expected, peace is

the best, don’t you agree?”
“It’s completely as you say

..is hard for me to say. At any rate, our country is still embroiled with border disputes with Lezzad.”
The Belvedere Kingdom and Lezzad (a Cretian Colony) have sour relations.
The reason is simple – between the borders of the Belvedere Kingdom and Lezzad lies various small to medium sized states where large numbers of mixed Cretian and Adernian peoples live.
The two countries are fighting over the leadership over those states.
“Your country is one of us, the seven kingdoms. Naturally
”
“Our country would have you let us take a neutral stance.”
That’s only natural. There’s no way we’d join your territorial problems.
Besides, we’re generally trading with Lezzad, you know?
It would seem my reply was within his expectations as King Belvedere’s expression didn’t change much.
He doesn’t seem to be angry.
Well, it’s intolerable whenever these things are collapse.
“Is that so. I guess that’s regrettable. Well, we’re happy that you’d take up a neutral stance. Should the occasion arise, we would like to have you intervene.”
“Our country desires peace. It’s only natural, as people, for us to lend our hands to that peace.”
I say something I don’t really mean.
My war policy is to cultivate relations with distant countries while conquering nearby ones. If there comes a chance, it might be a pincer attack.
In any case, I managed to reconfirm favorable relations with both countries and obtain assurances of peace.


at least officially.
“That brat. There’s no mistaking his ambitions.”
King Belvedere mutters.
He had four reasons to believe so.
First, his expression when they talked about the tariffs. His face looks as if he didn’t mind it that much.
Cretian trade should have been a very important for that country right now.
In other words, ‘if we annexed this country then tariffs and what not would be nothing but crap’

he’s probably thinking that.
Second, his emphasis and repetition of peace. It’s conversely suspicious.
Third, if he really wanted to intensify peaceful relations then he should have proposed an exchange of prisoners.
Him not doing so means he’s probably not thinking even a little bit about peace.
Fourth, the eyes. Those are eyes filled with ambition.
They were the same

.completely the same as the ones my brothers had when they fought each other to the end.
Though it would seem he had intended to hide them skillfully
.
In the first place, that new king is just a young person in his teens. It’s an age where one tends to act aggressively.
Besides, he has the achievement of a great victory over the De Morgal Kingdom.
There’s no way he won’t perform military movements.
However, at the same time, his desire to maintain peace is probably true.
He had just assumed his role as king, so he probably still hasn’t put a close to domestic issues.
You can infer and understand that much just from him needing to conduct that large scale of a purge.
I dare say he won’t move his military for a minimum of around two years as deferment.
On the contrary, you could say that this country would get destroyed in two years’ time.
As far as that’s concerned, the moment of truth would be in two years. In that time, it’s necessary to reduce that country’s national power.
“First, we should try calling out to King Eville and King De Morgal
.”
King Belvedere decides on his foreign policy for the immediate future.
That is, a coalition against the Rosyth Kingdom.