WM 120 - The Terror of Option

Chapter 0704 At the Frontier VI Part 2

-x-X-x-

"Marquis Nyusha looks like a very capable and sincere person, though… why did this fortress refuse to come under his rule?"

"The fortress's leading merchants are the sort who had strong ties to the previous dynasty, like the Kingdom of Go's official suppliers. There is certainly also the aspect that they resisted because they feared the new marquis's retaliation. But more than that, the people of the fortress simply did not want to come under his control."

"Is that so?"

"Merchants are quick to grasp what is profitable. It seems that in the end, they were willing to accept Marquis Nyusha's rule, but the fortress's people let emotion get ahead of reason. Long ago, when this fortress was attacked by locusts and the town was left in terrible shape, King Go himself came here and helped in many ways. They cannot forget that kindness. That's why they are resisting."

Elder Masuda explained with a sorrowful expression.

Since the matter stems from emotion, it's not rational.

Elder Masuda himself probably understood that.

"Nobody is at fault, and yet they keep fighting…"

"Perhaps that cannot be helped. Emotions need time to settle."

"So that's why these five years were necessary?"

"Because these five years passed, the people of the fortress are probably now trying to accept Marquis Nyusha."

Ryo and Abel were not directly involved.

That was why they could look at it calmly… but still.

Even with reasoning, emotion needs time to give way.

Put another way, if you give it time, emotion will settle down to some degree… perhaps not completely, but at least somewhat.

The representatives were introduced, and the opening was declared.

The first to speak was Marquis Nyusha.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Zaarash fortress for opening this place to us. With that said, I would like to propose the following: if Zaarash fortress joins our nation, I wish to grant it autonomy and welcome it as an autonomous region."

Immediately after Marquis Nyusha spoke, no one said a word.

Most of the people there had not been able to keep up with what he had said.

The first to grasp it was the fortress's representative.

"Marquis Nyusha… what exactly do you mean by autonomy?"

"Chairman Pisek, everything except taxes."

"What did you say…?"

Pisek was stunned.

If everything except taxes was allowed, that meant law, administration, the economy, everything, all of it, could remain exactly as it was.

Not only Pisek, but most of the fortress's people listening in the training grounds were beginning to understand.

"Everything except taxes…"

"So that means nothing changes?"

"And war will be gone, just like that?"

"No, wait, does that mean we still have to pay taxes to the country? In the end, life would still get harder, wouldn't it?"

People were talking all over the stands.

"Marquis Nyusha, how much tax are you envisioning?"

"One florin per year."

"…Pardon?"

Chairman Pisek, a man of the sea and of a thousand tricks, went blank.

"Excuse me, Marquis… did you say one florin?"

"Yes, one florin. As an autonomous region, I would like you to send a representative to the national assembly and state your opinions. However, even as an autonomous region, it would not be possible to allow a region that pays no taxes to participate in the assembly. So I ask that you pay one florin in taxes."

Marquis Nyusha said it clearly.

After hearing that much, it was obvious that the desire to make it an autonomous region was not some casual idea.

"Let us discuss this among the delegation for a moment."

"Of course, please do."

At Pisek's words, Marquis Nyusha nodded.

The fortress's delegation began to confer.

In contrast, the marquis's side did not move at all.

That itself was proof that the proposal for autonomy had already been thoroughly discussed within Marquis Nyusha's camp.

"This is surprising."

After muttering that, Elder Masuda began talking with the merchants in the reserved section.

Ryo and Abel, left behind, also began talking.

"He came in swinging from the very top…"

"So if it's autonomy, that is a huge benefit for the people of the fortress, right?"

"Right. It means they can continue living just as they always have. It also seems that no governor or anything like that will be sent from the center."

"The fortress would be fine with that, but… what's in it for the marquis? Even if the fortress joins, tax revenue does not increase, does it?"

"That is not true. If the fortress's merchants come to his side to do business, the economy will become even more active. Then, naturally, total tax revenue would increase, right?"

"Ah, I see."

"But more than that, the return of a country that had split apart is extremely significant diplomatically. It is also significant that the spark for armed conflict is being removed. Is that not nothing but benefits?"

Abel said this while thinking.

"Lose a little, gain a lot…"

"Yes, that's a good saying. It's not as if he's suffering much of a loss."

"True."

Both Abel and Ryo understood that Marquis Nyusha's proposal was a good one.

The people of the fortress talking all over the place were generally positive as well.

But Abel noticed one person who was visibly irritated.

"The mediator does not seem pleased."

"Don Le-san? Ah, yes, he looks irritated."

Don Le called one of the mediators over and quickly gave some instructions.

The person who had been instructed took out something like a small box from inside his robe and whispered something into it.

"That… that is a communication-type alchemical tool."

"I can see the pale light of alchemy. Now then, who was ordered to do what?"

Abel frowned.

Watching that out of the corner of his eye, Ryo said:

"Abel, shouldn't you apologize to me?"

"Hm?"

"By now it's plain for everyone to see. The Union has been scheming, and it looks like it's happening again this time, too."

Ryo puffed out his chest and put both hands on his hips, acting superior.

"Yeah… I cannot say there is no such possibility."

"And even now you are talking like that!"

"I am just imitating the way Ryo always says things."

"Grrr."

Abel smiled wryly; Ryo grimaced.

"Well, as Ryo says, if there is some kind of scheming, what would it be? If Don Le and the others do not act quickly, it will be too late. Marquis Nyusha's proposal has already created the momentum."

"Indeed. That proposal is basically the best possible one for the people of the fortress. There is no reason to reject it. But if the momentum has already formed, and they still want to do something about it… what would you do in chess?"

"Hm? Chess?"

"Abel does play chess, right?"

"Yes, I do, but… there's no way to turn it around, is there?"

"No. In this case, the answer is universal. You physically flip the board over!"

"Hey…"

Abel was exasperated by Ryo's absurd answer.

If you physically flipped the chessboard, the game would dissolve into nothing.

That was apparently what Ryo meant.

"Well, that would be a bit much… but what would that mean in this situation?"

"Changing the venue, I suppose?"

"I see. That would make sense."

Abel nodded.

The specific method seemed to come to mind at the same time.

"Just cause a disturbance."

"So the instruction given through that alchemy tool was to cause a disturbance?"

"Most likely."

Abel nodded.

"I will probe a little. ."

Ryo chanted.

It could gather information from nearly a kilometer around him.

"Ah… in the east plaza of the training grounds, around fifty people who seem to fit the bill are gathering."

"Enough to cause a disturbance, muddy the waters, or make the mediator propose a venue change."

"Ah… Abel, we may have done something terrible."

"What is it?"

"In that group, I can see the rindo vendor we ate from. He was a lackey of the enemy!"

"Well, those kinds of people are mixed in too."

"The grilled fish vendor and the meat skewer vendor are not there. So they were proper merchants, then. Good, good."

Ryo nodded.

Perhaps he heard their conversation.

Elder Masuda returned from the discussion with the merchants.

"You said people are gathering to cause a disturbance?"

"Ah, yes, Master. About fifty people are gathering in the east plaza."

"The guards outside are patrolling with Tiro and the others… I will go help them a bit."

With that, Elder Masuda left the stands.

"Tiro?"

"Probably the brown-haired man from that time. He's staring down the fifty people while giving orders."

He was the one who had done something uncouth at the Dining Sand.

Still, Ryo and Abel understood that he was not a bad person.

He was just not suited to guiding people… he had simply gotten too wrapped up in it.

"What should we do? Should we go too?"

"No. Let us leave the outside to them. I am still bothered by the hooded person."

"I see. But if they fail to suppress those fifty people, we will not be in a position to say anything."

"True. Then let us help delay them."

"Delay them?"

"."

Ryo chanted.

But from Abel's perspective, nothing seemed to change.

Which meant it was a delaying tactic against the fifty people… that spell that froze the ground.

Before, when the 'Room 10' and 'Room 11' groups, including Ryo, had confronted the Third Detachment of the Knight Templar, Abel had seen the frozen floor Ryo created through the 'Soul Resonance'.

To be blunt, he had been terrified.

It was a nightmare for close-combat fighters.

For those who could not fight unless they could get close… it was like being cast into hell.

Probably that was the very sight now unfolding in the east plaza.

"That would be the kind that makes you unable to walk. No, even standing would be impossible…"

"Heh heh heh, I shall make them taste the endless hell of slipping, falling, and slipping again."

"Just the words are enough to convey how terrifying it is."

Ryo laughed with a wicked expression, and Abel shook his head slightly.

In the east plaza, hell was literally manifesting.

All fifty of them slipped and fell.

Once they fell, they could never get back up.

With fine attention to detail, the area around the fall zone was surrounded by blue-colored ice boards, creating a barrier so that no one would accidentally enter.

At the same time, it was also designed so the fifty could not get out… even if they escaped the frozen floor by using their companions as stepping stones, they still could not go outside.

Watching from a distance were Tiro and the other members of the guard patrol.

While waiting for their allies to gather in sufficient numbers, hell had appeared right before their eyes.

Honestly, it was hard to tell when to make a move.

Then an elderly man with long white hair appeared.

"Tiro, what are you doing!"

"Master! What should we do about this…?"

He asked Elder Masuda for instructions.

The fifty men could not stand up; they kept slipping and falling, then falling and slipping again… many of them had faces twisted by exhaustion and panic, while others warped with fear because they could not understand the situation they had been placed in…

Such was the sight before the guard patrol.

"Is this… yes, if Ryo-dono is 'that person', then this much would be only natural."

Elder Masuda's murmur did not reach Tiro clearly, who was standing next to him.

"Master?"

"No, just talking to myself. Once the situation is ready, the spell should be lifted. When that happens, capture them all. Prepare yourselves!"

"Yes! "

The patrol answered Elder Masuda.

Even as they spoke, more patrol members kept arriving… until their number exceeded fifty.

The next moment, the blue ice boards surrounding the fifty men disappeared.

The ice laid across the ground vanished too.

"Capture them!"

At Elder Masuda's command, the patrol lunged in.

The exhausted, fallen men could offer no resistance at all.

In just a few minutes, all fifty had been neutralized.

"It seems Master and the others managed to capture everyone safely."

"Good."

Ryo reported the information he had picked up through sonar, and Abel nodded.

The mediator in their line of sight… Don Le, seemed to wear a calm expression.

He had given the order to cause a disturbance and was waiting for it to spread into the training grounds.

He probably had not yet received word that the fifty had been captured.

"Will this be the end?"

"No, it will not. Once they realize it failed, they will make another move they have prepared."

"So, the kind of thing called Plan B…"

Ryo grimaced and shook his head.

After a while…

"Oh, someone who looks like a subordinate is receiving a report through the alchemy tool."

"Now then, let us see what happens."

"Ah… Don Le-san, after being told the disturbance failed, has gotten visibly upset even from here."

"Well, that's only natural."

Abel nodded.

The mediator Don Le thought with a grim expression for a while, then made a strange move.

"He called the hooded woman from the rear seats."

"The one from before. She moved to the central three-person seats. So she really does have something to do with this."

"That's definitely nothing good."

Abel said it with unusual certainty.

Abel often made firm judgments about Ryo, but not so often about anyone else.

This time, however, he was certain.

At the same time as Abel's certainty, Chairman Pisek, who had been conferring, returned to the central three-person seats.

From the two of them, his expression looked determined, but also, in a certain sense, satisfied.

"He looks like he has decided to accept it."

"Anyone with eyes would say that is the best outcome."

Both Ryo and Abel were expecting Pisek to say the words "we accept".

Probably Marquis Nyusha, who had proposed it, was expecting the same too.

However, in the very next moment…

"Huh?"

"Did both the marquis and the chairman's expressions loosen?"

"Did Abel see it too? Something… is strange."

Both Abel and Ryo frowned.

They had been focused on the expressions of Marquis Nyusha and Chairman Pisek.

Their expressions seemed to have slackened.

And then…

"Our fortress will not accept it! We will maintain our independence!"

"We withdraw the proposal! All-out war it is!"

Chairman Pisek shouted, and Marquis Nyusha shouted as well.

-x-X-x-

Chapter 0705 At the Frontier VII

-x-X-x-

"What the hell…"

"Why…"

Both Abel and Ryo were thrown into confusion.

Of course, they were not the only ones.

The people in the fortress who had been discussing Marquis Nyusha's proposal, and those who had been watching with bated breath, waiting for what the two would say, were all equally bewildered.

The turn of events was simply too much to process.

"Huh?"

"Maintain independence?"

"Why?"

"Did he say he was withdrawing the proposal?"

"…All-out war?"

No one could understand what was happening.

There was one person who did not change his expression.

Only Don Le, Deputy Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs for the Eastern Eighth District and the intermediary, kept his face unchanged.

Ten seconds later.

"I see. So that's it."

Abel muttered as if spitting out the words.

"Huh? Abel, you figured it out?"

"Dark-attribute magic."

"Eh…?"

Ryo was speechless at Abel's words.

"Marquis Nyusha probably suspected it after the first meeting. That's why he wanted this meeting held in full view of the crowd."

"If dark-attribute magic is making people act strangely, then the people watching would notice… like we just did."

"I thought something was off from the start. Marquis Nyusha and Chairman Pisek both looked perfectly normal. And yet, at the first meeting, both sides supposedly said they never wanted to meet again, didn't they? That isn't normal."

"Dark-attribute magic… something called , was it? I can understand how being controlled by something like that would lead to this kind of behavior."

Both Abel and Ryo had experienced it.

After the turmoil in the royal capital, when they were returning from the capital to Rune city, they had been subjected to by a priest who used dark-attribute magic.

Abel had been unaffected thanks to the status ailment recovery necklace he always wore, and Ryo because of his special constitution…

"I understand the reason now, but what do we do?"

"There's only one way. We go in there."

"Huh?"

At Abel's proposal, which was strangely reminiscent of Ryo himself, Ryo let out an absurdly high-pitched cry.

"Your special constitution, Ryo… it brings people back to their senses if they've been controlled by dark-attribute magic, right?"

"That's right! I remember healing Hugh-san."

He had once freed Hugh McGrath, who had been controlled by used by Vampire Count Haskill.

However, the center of the training grounds was the place where the meeting was being held.

It was not clear whether they were allowed to approach it on their own…

"Can't be helped. We'll step forward and declare ourselves as the new mediator."

"Huh?"

Ryo did not understand what Abel meant.

"Memories of the time while under remain even after the spell is broken, right?"

"Hugh-san seemed to be like that, yes."

"Then that's fine. Let's go."

"…Huh?"

Ryo still did not understand what he meant.

And yet Abel led the way and jumped down from the stands into the training grounds.

"A swordsman who charges headlong always tosses around a calm and collected magician."

Still grumbling, Ryo jumped down too and followed after Abel.

The training-ground stands had fallen into a great uproar.

But when they saw the two figures who had descended from the stands slowly walking toward the center, the place fell silent once more.

Not everyone in the fortress knew them, but quite a number did.

Two adventurers who had, for the past several days, been training the young guards.

The young people receiving the training were those living in the fortress together with their families.

Naturally, they returned home and talked about the training.

It was also known that the two were staying at the 'Sleeping Sand Inn'.

It was also known that they were eating at the neighboring 'Dining Sand'.

That meant they were being noticed by people who held a relatively high position within the fortress.

Even though it had been less than ten days, Ryo and Abel had become known to the people of the fortress.

And now those two were slowly approaching.

From the three 'three-person seats' at the center, someone called out to them.

It was the fortress's military commander.

"Abel-dono? Ryo-dono?"

"Hello, Commander Molga. Actually, we have a proposal."

Abel smiled at Molga.

When they had walked close to the nine people, he turned toward Molga.

Ryo stood beside Abel.

Now that they had come this close, Ryo's special constitution… the overflowing 'fairy factor'… would bring them back to normal.

However, from Hugh's case, they knew that it would take a little time.

It seemed Abel was trying to buy that time.

"From what I have seen so far, it seems everyone is quite confused."

"Um?"

"Could it be that the mediator simply is not capable enough?"

"Huh?"

"Hey, you!"

Abel spoke unsettling words while still smiling, Molga tilted his head in incomprehension, and Don Le, the mediator, glared fiercely.

"Could it be that Marquis Nyusha and Chairman Pisek shouted because the mediator was not strong enough? There is no way such shouting could happen in this solemn and sacred meeting place. That alone proves the mediator's lack of ability. If you would allow it, I would like to serve as the mediator. What do you think?"

"You insolent fool, what are you plotting!"

At Abel's words, Don Le growled again.

"Oh, I have neglected to introduce myself. My name is… Molga-dono, you know who I am, do you not?"

"Yes… Abel-dono, right?"

"Yes. And you know which country's Abel I am, do you not?"

"Yes… Abel-dono of the Kingdom of Knightley."

"Yes. I am Abel I, King of the Kingdom of Knightley."

"…Huh?"

Unable to comprehend the smiling man's true identity, Molga tilted his head.

But three seconds later, he understood.

"Abel… Your Majesty? The Adventure King? No, the Hero King?"

Molga's body was trembling.

And that was only natural.

Abel I, King of the Kingdom of Knightley, was a former A-rank adventurer and a hero who had led half the kingdom, defeated the imperial army, and fought through the Kingdom Liberation War.

Even though he had not known it, the fact that he had requested training from such a person was also enough to make him tremble…

A murmur spread.

"Abel I?"

"Of the kingdom?"

"The Hero King?"

"Rumor said he disappeared…"

"They said he vanished after fighting the revived djinn…"

"No way…"

No one ever raised their voice.

Everyone whispered, or exchanged words with the person beside them.

A whisper spread across the entire stand.

And then, at last, Abel's strategy succeeded.

The essence of the strategy was to buy time.

Time for recovery.

"What in the world…?"

Chairman Pisek, apparently having returned to his senses, muttered in surprise.

"So it was dark-attribute magic after all. But why did it break?"

At the same time, Marquis Nyusha also returned to his senses and muttered, unable to understand why he had been freed.

Don Le realized that the plan to control the two with dark-attribute magic and drive them into all-out conflict had failed.

He did not know why the spell had broken.

But that was not what mattered now.

There was still room to recover.

"This is ridiculous!"

Don Le roared as he stood up.

"There is no way King Abel is in a place like this!"

Even though his own plan had failed, that did not mean he had lost.

But if he did not remove the person before him, he would no longer be able to recover lost ground.

"If you claim to be King Abel, then prove it!"

As Don Le said that, one of the Union's mediator members stepped forward, reaching out to grab Abel.

"Back off, you impudent scum!"

A voice rang out, piercing the area.

It came from the magician in the robe.

"His Majesty's body is not something you people are permitted to touch!"

It was the voice of 'Duke Rondo', not the usual Ryo.

It carried a crushing pressure.

In an instant, it made everyone there understand that this was no ordinary person.

"Who do you think you are, telling His Majesty to prove his identity? Do you even understand that you are about to cause an international incident!"

"Eh…"

"I am asking whether the Union is prepared to go to war with the Kingdom of Knightley!"

Ryo declared it flatly.

Starting with Don Le, none of the Union members could say a word.

Neither could the fortress' people watching from the stands.

Complete silence.

After a while, Ryo changed his tone and spoke again.

"Still, it would be difficult to have the mediator role taken over by people no one even knows. For the people of the fortress, this is a very important meeting. So instead, I will prove my identity. I am Ryo Mihara, Duke Rondo, premier duke of the Kingdom of Knightley."

Ryo's words slowly spread among the people of the fortress as well.

"The kingdom's premier duke…"

"That means… that one?"

"The one said to surpass the Empire's Explosive Blaze Magician…"

"The Silver Duke…"

"Also known as Icefall…"

Ryo removed the identity proof plate from around his neck.

The one who immediately stepped forward was Molga, the chief of the guards.

Receiving the plate with reverence, he inserted it into the guard verification board.

"Confirmed. Without a doubt, this is the Kingdom of Knightley's premier duke, Duke Rondo."

"Ooh!"

Molga then showed the verification board to the Union mediators as well.

"No way…"

The words slipped from Don Le's mouth.

Without even glancing at Don Le, who was kneeling, Abel turned his face toward the two representatives.

"Marquis Nyusha, Chairman Pisek, I am Abel I, King of the Kingdom of Knightley."

"Your Majesty!"

At Abel's introduction, everyone in the marquis's camp and everyone in the fortress's camp knelt on one knee and bowed.

This was truly the majesty of a king.

An overwhelming presence proving that identity verification was unnecessary.

"I understand that this region is deeply tied to the Union. But because those ties are so deep, it seems it cannot be neutral. I do not intend for the kingdom to force its way into that. I merely wish, as a new mediator, to watch how things unfold from a fair and impartial position. What do you say? Could you indulge this one selfish request of mine?"

That was King Abel's proposal.

Yes, a proposal.

Only a proposal.

And yet, after being proposed to by someone with such overwhelming presence, who could possibly refuse?

"I will accept Your Majesty's mediation."

"With pleasure, Your Majesty."

Both Marquis Nyusha and Chairman Pisek accepted.

After that, at the meeting:

There was not a single dispute over the content.

Only…

"Since this is an autonomous district, how about calling it a free city?"

Such a proposal was made by a water-attribute magician who was King Abel's close aide.

Of course, this person, too, was a hero in their own right, just as well-known as King Abel himself…

"Duke Rondo's proposal is a good one."

"Then let it be the Free City of Zaarash."

Both Marquis Nyusha and Chairman Pisek accepted.

"In the name of Abel I, King of the Kingdom of Knightley, I approve it."

This event would later come to be called, in later generations, 'King Abel's Verdict'.

-x-X-x-

Chapter 0706 Abel the Captive I

-x-X-x-

"Abel, I have a feeling we're heading south."

"Ryo, what a coincidence, I think so too."

"Abel, I think the kingdom is to the west."

"Ryo, what a coincidence, I think so too."

"Abel, we must be being taken away as slaves."

"Ryo, I think that is not the case."

The two of them were riding in a carriage.

It was a carriage arranged by Marquis Nyusha, and knights from the marquis's house were guarding it on all sides.

"So we're being moved because Marquis Nyusha said we should come to his residence, right?"

"That's right. He said it was two days from Zaarash Fortress… no, from Zaarash Free City."

Both Ryo and Abel were talking while looking out the window.

Since it was the second day of traveling by carriage, they would apparently arrive today.

"The marquis went back ahead of us to prepare the welcome and all that, but…"

"I don't like being made such a big spectacle of."

"That is because Abel charged straight into the meeting place."

"No, that couldn't be helped, could it?"

Abel countered Ryo's words.

Of course, Ryo understood that too.

In that place, in that situation, Abel's action had been the most correct one.

"What are we going to do if there are Union troops lined up in front of the mansion and Abel gets taken prisoner?"

"There's no way that will happen."

"What if they capture Abel and demand a ransom from the kingdom?"

"In that case, I would be abandoned."

"…Eh?"

Abel answered with a shrug, and Ryo was shocked.

"The kingdom government would abandon Abel?"

"Of course. And on top of that, the premier duke who was captured with me would probably be cut loose too."

"That is a problem! I could care less about Abel, but they must pay my ransom!"

"What a selfish premier duke."

In the evening, Abel's party arrived at the marquisate capital, Nansha.

There were more than ten thousand fully armed soldiers there….

"See! "

"No, that can't be…"

Ryo pointed it out, and Abel was astonished.

The flags lined up there were those of the Handal Union.

Of course, Marquis Nyusha was not a noble of the Union.

Nor was his territory part of the Union.

Geopolitically, it was certainly a region strongly influenced by the Union, but…

"We must have been handed over to the Union!"

"I don't think that's the case…"

"They are using us as bargaining chips, and Marquis Nyusha is trying to conclude a favorable treaty with the Union."

"I don't think that's the case…"

Ryo stated it as a certainty, while Abel's words lost force compared to at first, even though he himself thought it was probably wrong.

From the entrance to the capital, the carriage carrying Ryo and Abel slowly moved deeper into the city, between rows of Union knights standing along the roadside.

After proceeding for a while, they arrived in front of the marquis's mansion.

"Your Majesty Abel, we have arrived."

The carriage door opened, and a soldier from the Nyusha marquisate army who had been escorting the two called out to them.

The two got out of the carriage and were shown inside the mansion.

Abel replied that it was only natural in response to Ryo's observation.

It seems that perceptions differ from person to person.

The room the two were shown into was a rather spacious reception room.

Two men were seated on the sofa in the center of the room, but they stood up at the same time Ryo and Abel entered.

One of them was the master of the mansion and the man who had invited them, Marquis Nyusha.

His face seemed slightly tense.

The reason for that was probably the other man…

As for that other man, he was someone Abel also knew.

They had met four years ago… before the decisive battle with Djinn Garwin.

"No way…"

But it would be impossible to imagine that he would be here.

"It has been a long time, Your Majesty Abel."

"I did not expect Lord Aubrey, the Union's governor, to be here."

Waiting for Ryo and Abel was Lord Aubrey, the Governor of the Handal Union.

-x-X-x-

Chapter 0707 Abel the Captive II

-x-X-x-

"P-please, do take a seat, Your Majesty Abel, Lord Duke Rondo."

Marquis Nyusha, the owner of the place, guided Abel and Ryo to the sofa.

He was the master of the room, but he was sweating profusely.

"To be honest, I came here without informing Marquis Nyusha in advance."

"I thought so."

Lord Aubrey said this, and Abel nodded as if that was only natural.

From Marquis Nyusha's point of view, he probably never imagined that Lord Aubrey, the Union's highest authority, would come here.

Of course, the two countries were not at war.

The difference in national power was quite large, but they were still neighboring countries.

When the top official of one country visits a neighboring country, there is supposed to be a certain amount of prior negotiation.

Supposed to be…

"Well, I am just a governor. So I believe it is no problem to casually visit a neighboring country."

"The people on the receiving end seem troubled, though?"

"Is that so?"

Abel expressed his doubt, and Lord Aubrey laughed while deliberately ignoring Marquis Nyusha's expression.

By the way, while Abel and Lord Aubrey were engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of quick-fire remarks, Ryo was sitting quietly, dutifully, in Abel's shadow.

And then, with a composed expression, he drank the coffee that was served.

"Even so, when I received the report, I thought it could not possibly be true."

"Huh?"

"That King Abel had appeared at the negotiation venue at Zaarash Fortress."

"You heard that report, all the way from the capital, Jayclaire?"

"Yes. If it were true, I thought escorting you while you passed through our Union territory would be proper hospitality for a state guest."

"How thoughtful."

Abel answered with a smile and continued speaking.

"I appreciate the consideration, but there is no need for an escort. Please do not mind us."

"That would not do. If something were to happen to Your Majesty inside Union territory, it would be a major problem."

"Are you saying something could happen?"

"Of course, our Union territory strives to maintain public order… but one cannot say there is no possibility that a third country would seize the chance to extend the hand of conspiracy."

Lord Aubrey pointed out the possibility that the Empire might target Abel while he was within Union territory.

"I see, that is terrifying."

"Wouldn't you say so?"

Abel smiled again, and Lord Aubrey nodded.

(Roaring dragons and tigers striking one another… I can almost see the whirlpool of schemes and stratagems.)

Ryo was thinking this from the perspective of an outside observer.

The coffee he had been served was excellent, so with no concerns whatsoever, he was watching Abel and Lord Aubrey's exchange as part of the entertainment.

But he could not remain a spectator forever.

"As you know, I have the premier duke at my side, so I don't think I will be easily killed."

Abel's words drew Ryo into the matter.

"Oh, of course. Lord Duke Rondo, famed as the Silver Duke, or the Icefall… I had heard the rumors, but you really were the adventurer who faced us back then."

What Lord Aubrey was referring to was probably the battle in the Inbury Duchy.

Ryo had confronted Lord Aubrey and the others there.

The fact that Lord Rondo = Ryo had not yet spread that widely.

Before the envoy was dispatched to the Western Countries, there had even been rumors that 'there is no such person as Lord Rondo'.

Those who worked in the Knightley royal castle knew Ryo, who had walked around inside the castle, quite well… but the royal castle, which was protected perfectly by Marquis Heinlein's counterintelligence, information apparently was not easily leaked.

"Lord Aubrey, it seems you brought around ten thousand knights with you."

"Yes. They are for my protection."

"That's a lot for protection."

"Is it?"

Lord Aubrey answered with a smile.

"Marquis Nyusha, did you not hesitate to let ten thousand elite Union knights cross the border?"

"I received no such report. I was only told that a diplomatic envoy was in a hurry to visit and would be crossing the border."

Marquis Nyusha answered Abel's question honestly.

"Yes, I came here for diplomatic reasons. I said I only needed a small escort, but after the people in charge added various things, it ended up like this. Did I perhaps bring a bit too many?"

This was exactly the sort of shamelessness that would describe Lord Aubrey.

"Even so, that's an insufficient number."

"Hmm?"

Lord Aubrey tilted his head at Abel's words.

"A number that, if our premier duke got serious, would all be corpses in three seconds. It would not be enough to come see me, would it?"

"My, my. Your Majesty Abel says frightening things."

"Of course, I am joking."

"Yes, of course. I understand, you are joking."

Abel and Lord Aubrey laughed cheerfully.

Watching this conversation unfold from the side, Ryo could see quite clearly that Marquis Nyusha was trembling.

Poor guy, he thought, holding a completely detached, third-party perspective as he quietly shook his head in his mind.

As long as it didn't involve him personally, Ryo didn't really care one way or the other.

Rather, these days, one could almost say he'd gotten used to it.

He figured it was likely because, during his time with the diplomatic mission to the Western Countries, he had frequently crossed paths with the likes of the former Emperor Rupert of the Empire and the former King Roberto Pirlo of the Union.

In the midst of that, Lord Aubrey dropped a bombshell.

"In fact, I would like to invite Your Majesty to the capital."

"…Pardon?"

Abel tilted his head.

To be honest, he did not understand Lord Aubrey's aim.

"I would like Your Majesty Abel to come to Jayclaire, and use it to demonstrate to the other countries the friendship between the Kingdom and the Union."

Lord Aubrey explained with a smile.

Hearing that much, Abel understood too.

Ryo nodded at Abel's words.

This had happened several times in Earth's history as well.

The most famous example would be Richard the Lionheart of England.

During the Third Crusade, the forces were led by people who would later be called heroes: Richard Lionheart of England, Philip Augustus of France, and Frederick I, the Holy Roman Emperor, commonly known as Barbarossa, the Red-Bearded Emperor.

It was, in a sense, Europe's dream team.

On the Islamic side, waiting to receive them was the hero Saladin.

In world history as well, it could be called one of the most brilliant east-west confrontations in a certain sense.

In the end, the Crusaders were unable to capture their objective, Jerusalem, and withdrew.

The problem arose during that retreat.

Richard was captured by Leopold V of Austria while on his way back to England.

Leopold V had participated in the Third Crusade, but he had been humiliated by Richard at the Siege of Acre, and so he bore him a grudge… and as a result, he captured Richard on his way home.

In the end, England paid an enormous ransom to recover King Richard…

Furthermore, Philip Augustus of France and Henry VI, who succeeded Frederick of the Holy Roman Empire, incited Richard's brother John and tried to have him usurp the English throne…

After that, Philip Augustus, from John, who became king of England, seized large swathes of England's continental territories and strengthened royal power.

Inciting an incompetent neighboring royal family member to take the throne, then taking land from that incompetent new king.

An artistic conspiracy.

Such schemes and stratagems existed in that era.

Ryo thought about that Earth history in his mind.

But what must be judged now is the situation in this 'Phi' world.

In chess and shogi, the strongest move is the one that accepts the opponent's invitation.

If the opponent is poor, they will think, "Excellent, they took the bait". But what if the opponent is a world champion, an eternal seven-crown, or an octuple crown?

They would think, "Even though they should know what our aim is, why did they take the bait?"

Naturally, they would end up thinking, "Is there some line of play I have not noticed? Is there a trap?"

Taking away the opponent's composure is the very first step in one-on-one combat.

That is why the move that accepts the opponent's invitation is the strongest.

And Lord Aubrey, the one making the move, highly valued Abel.

The proof was that he had come with ten thousand knights.

What if such an Abel took the bait of Lord Aubrey's move?

Just that alone might succeed in robbing Lord Aubrey of some of his composure…

Abel also understood Ryo's reasoning.

After agreeing through 'Soul Resonance', Abel opened his mouth.

"I shall respectfully accept your invitation to Jayclaire."

"Eh…"

Even Lord Aubrey could not hide his surprise at Abel's words.

He had thought Abel would refuse at all costs.

And yet, he accepted.

Why?

However, the surprised expression on Lord Aubrey's face lasted only an instant.

There was no choice but to say the next words.

"Thank you for accepting."

-x-X-x-

Chapter 0708 Abel the Captive III

-x-X-x-

"Abel has become a captive."

"Captive means he was captured, right?"

"Yes. It's the exact word for the current situation."

"A king who gets captured and taken to the enemy capital."

"There is no word more fitting than 'captive'."

"It's sad that I can't deny it."

They were having that conversation, but of course, there was not the slightest trace of a gloomy atmosphere.

It was just the usual teasing between the two of them.

Inside the carriage heading for the Union capital, Jayclaire, there were only Ryo and Abel.

No one from the Union, such as Lord Aubrey, was riding with them.

Of course, outside the carriage, there were ten thousand Union cavalrymen.

"I have a question."

"Hmm?"

"Why did Lord Aubrey go out of his way to appear directly before Marquis Nyusha? Even if the goal was to capture Abel, he is surely busy, so he could have just sent a subordinate."

Ryo voiced his doubt.

Abel answered almost immediately.

"It was a show of force toward Marquis Nyusha."

"A show of force? He demonstrated his strength?"

"Yeah. Are you going to run the country while opposing 'me'? Are you sure you can handle it?"

"…In other words, he was telling him he should join the Union?"

"That's right."

A terrifying story.

The fact that Lord Aubrey himself deliberately came and intentionally spoke in front of Marquis Nyusha was to make him join the Union.

Even if he did not go that far, it was meant to show him and make him feel that it would be better to stay on good terms with the Union.

Of course, if Abel were captured and taken to the Union, he could also be used in negotiations with the Kingdom.

There were several aims hidden inside a single action.

"It was the same with His Majesty Rupert and His Majesty Roberto Pirlo, but the people who lead countries are scary."

"True."

"It seems Abel is included among them too."

"Compared with those two and Lord Aubrey standing right in front of me, don't you think I still have a long way to go?"

"I do."

"No, there I was hoping you would say, 'No, you're fine, you can definitely hold your own'."

Abel's sigh could be heard.

"Abel is not the type to compete with schemes and stratagems."

"I see. He'll compete with a sense of justice or a sincere heart?"

"…I'm not asking Abel for that kind of joke."

"I was trying to imitate Ryo."

"What I want from Abel is a muscle-brained sort of quality."

"Yeah, that's not exactly flattering, is it? A muscleheaded king…"

"It is fine. I am on Abel's side."

"I have absolutely no idea what that means, but thanks."

The gap between the self one idealizes, and the self others demand… people suffer from that divergence.

…

If one were to put it into words and explain it, it would become such a cool-sounding expression, but of course, Ryo was not thinking about anything that difficult.

"I understand."

"Did Abel just mock me just now?"

"It's your imagination. Don't worry about it."

To the Union, Abel was the king of the neighboring Knightley Kingdom.

On paper, Lord Aubrey's ten thousand cavalry were 'escorting' the king, who was the head of state.

For that reason, they would stay at an expensive inn in the city at night.

That said, as far as Lord Aubrey was concerned, he did not want Abel's presence to be known to anyone other than the escorts until they entered Jayclaire.

If Marquis Heinlein of the Kingdom found out, it might lead to all sorts of troublesome complications.

So they rented the inn privately, and dinner was also taken by the three of them: Lord Aubrey, Abel, and Ryo.

There, mainly Abel and Lord Aubrey deepened their camaraderie as the top figures of their respective nations.

Of course, Ryo sat quietly and politely and partook as company.

He left all the difficult matters to Abel.

What? He should work?

No worries! He must have contributed to Abel's mental stability…

One week after leaving the marquisate capital, Nansha.

At last, they reached the entrance to the Union capital, Jayclaire.

Inside the carriage, the king and the premier duke were having a secret conversation through 'Soul Resonance'.

At Abel's words, Ryo also nodded.

In this situation, the flashier, the better.