𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟐: 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
In a non-metaphorical sense, there are battles that we absolutely cannot afford to lose.
The Battle of Aspim Plains was one such battle.
For both Gaillia and the Lintrite Kingdom.
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Losing would set us on the path to ruin, and so it was.
Therefore, the defeated Lintrite Kingdom now teeters on the brink of extinction.
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“Marquis Ronden declared independence.”
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Count Doros, who welcomed Meisha and me, announces this.
He was one of the powerful nobles, known for his various confrontations with the kingdom government――I had that much knowledge.
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“Within this year, about two more noble territories will probably rebel against the kingdom. It’s over.”
“I see.”
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I gave a slight nod.
The Royal Army, defeated in the Battle of Aspim Plains, could no longer hold sway over other nobles.
If that happens, the nobles, who always had complaints, would naturally rebel.
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The tribute to the country, after all, is not something we like paying.
It’s like the sponsorship money we give to the adventurer’s guild. We convince ourselves that it’s a membership fee for the smooth running of the organization, and pay the not-so-cheap amount.
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If there’s no disadvantage to not paying, who would pay? Just like that.
And that disadvantage, in the case of a country, is the use of force.
Nobles give about a third of the tax revenue from their territories to the country to avoid being crushed by overwhelming military power.
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I say a third, but that’s a huge amount, right?
If a regular adventurer was told to hand over a third of their income, they would revolt. Even our lamented sponsorship money doesn’t even reach a tenth of the clan’s total income.
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That’s why the noble landowners also do other businesses.
Like Count Doros and his secret trade with the demons.
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“So, what will Gaillia do?”
“We plan to declare independence early next year and call themselves the Kingdom of Gaillia.”
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The Count said this decisively.
Yes.
It’s a real division of power.
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“So here’s the thing. I actually have a request for you, Lionel.”
“No.”
“I haven’t said anything yet?”
“I agree that if Count Doros establishes a country and becomes king, I will support it. But I can’t agree to make the hero Asuka and Saint Meisha stand beside the new king.”
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I can’t allow Asuka and Meisha to be used as tools of politics.
Not only the two of them, but also Miliaria and Meg, I have no intention of throwing my beloved family into the vortex of political strife.
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“Of course, I’ll prepare a suitable position for you as well. Be it a great general or a prime minister.”
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As a count, he must think he’s offering an enticing bait.
But I don’t need such a position.
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No, if it were just about me, I would be happy if he appreciated my abilities, and I wouldn’t mind assisting him.
But I can’t forgive him for using my daughters for political purposes.
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“Ideals are needed as a centripetal force now. But once things settle down and peace is achieved, they will soon become a nuisance. A hero more popular than the king.”
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I shrugged my shoulders.
Count Doros is a bright man, so he should be able to understand with this.
Count sighs.
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“How stubborn. . . . . . . .”
“I told you, Lord Doros. If he were a man who would fall for honor and position, he would have already joined someone’s faction.”
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The door opened with a clatter, and General Kytes entered.
Was this old man listening next door. . . . . . . .
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In truth, there was another reason why they had summoned me.
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The idea of hiring me, in essence, was just a pretense to confirm their suspicions.
If I agreed, it seemed that was good enough for them.
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Apparently, General Kytes had preemptively told Count Doros that I probably wouldn’t nod in agreement.
Really, I got served a lot.
By the raccoon-like old man and the fox-like old man.
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“The truth is, the situation around the royal capital is terrible, Lionel.”
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The general begins to speak seriously.
Without contributions from the aristocracy, the financially strapped royal government seems to have considered squeezing from the common people.
They imposed heavy taxes on the people living in and around the royal capital.
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It’s more accurate to say these are excessive taxes rather than just heavy ones, apparently demanding all the money they currently have.
Resist and be killed, with all assets seized. Flee and be killed, with all assets seized.
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The royal government has started something even worse than a bandit gang.
If they can’t touch the aristocrats with their own armed forces, if it’s the powerless commoners, they can do whatever they like.
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“This is like terminal symptoms.”
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“As for me, it’s hard to just sit back and watch. I’m thinking about how to help them.”
“On the contrary, I think we would abandon them heartlessly. The Lintrite royal family has essentially signed their own death warrant.”
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General Kytes and Count Doros speak in unison.
Apparently, this is the reason they called me and Meisha.
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More precisely, the Count named me, and the General named Meisha.
Because they thought I would provide a calm, unemotional opinion. Because they thought the one hailed as Saint Meisha would not say something like abandoning the people.
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I think it’s only going to become two against two if they call two people to adjust divided opinions, but that’s the tricky part of being in a position of equal alliance.
It’s not possible to just pass one side’s opinion.
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“What do you think, Meisha? Whether we should help the people of the royal capital, or just do nothing. We’ll think about how to do it later.”
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I ask Meisha.
She pondered for a few moments.
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“I will follow Mama Nel’s policy.”
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And she said decisively.
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The clever girl is not exactly throwing away the situation. She made a choice to give me two votes.
In case a decision is made by the four of us here, three votes become an absolute majority. In other words, she created a situation where the situation would be determined by how I moved.
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This is the eldest daughter’s judgment.
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Facing the breath-held General Kytes and Count Doros, I slowly opened my mouth.
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