Chapter 30: The Situation in the Kingdom of Rotcha
I arrived at Fuuteelo's personal room.
As I approached, I noticed that many people had gathered in the corridor outside the room.
Some of them were dressed as medical personnel, but most seemed to be government officials. They were probably more concerned about the fact that the primary candidate for the next king had returned on the verge of frostbite, not out of worry, but rather with the intention of making themselves known during this opportunity.
I maneuvered through the crowd and made my way to the front of the room.
"Fuuteelo Aniki, it's Milimos. May I come in?"
Upon calling out from outside the room, a voice other than Fuuteelo's responded.
"Fuuteelo-sama is exhausted. I would like to postpone the visit until tomorrow."
"Unfortunately, as someone in a position to 'command the army,' I must hear what you have to say immediately. I will come in."
I am well aware that it is impolite to enter the room without permission, but the situation doesn't allow me to wait until tomorrow.
I forcefully opened the door and entered the room. Pushing aside the person who was about to follow me, I closed the door.
As I surveyed the room, I saw Fuuteelo wearing a wry smile while a doctor applied medicine to his body on the bed. His aides showed signs of anger on their faces.
"Fuuteelo Aniki, it seems that the diplomatic efforts with the Kingdom of Rotcha have ended in failure."
As I spoke while looking at the bandages wrapping Fuuteelo's frostbitten limbs, his aides became visibly agitated.
"Prince Milimos, that's a disrespectful statement!"
"Fuuteelo-sama did not fail! It's just that Rotcha turned a deaf ear!"
They started spewing excuses one after another, but I couldn't help but shrug.
"I understand that you want to be cautious around me, as I am a prince after all, and you feel the need to explain yourselves. But isn't it going a bit too far? I only want to know about military matters as the 'Marshal.' I simply want to know how serious Rotcha is about fighting against Nonette."
Although I had informed them that I had come in the capacity of commanding the army, judging by the expressions of the people in the room, it seemed that only Fuuteelo understood.
"I understand, Milimos. You're here to clean up the mess left by your incompetent brother."
"Fuuteelo Aniki, please don't belittle yourself like that. If Sarkajimo Aniki had been in charge of diplomacy, he would have angered the Kingdom of Rotcha and ended up captured, becoming a bargaining chip for them against us."
"Hahaha. Milimos is always a good child, but you can be quite harsh towards Sarkajimo."
"I simply choose not to be friendly with people who speak sarcastically to me."
After exchanging light jokes, Futteero's expression turned serious.
"Marshal Milimos. I'm sorry, but the negotiations with the Rocha Kingdom have collapsed."
"Can you tell me the details?"
"Of course."
Futteero, seemingly done with his medical treatment, gestured to the physicians to step back.
"I will come back later to check your condition."
The doctors bowed and left the room.
Meanwhile, Futteero's entourage remained inside the room. It seemed that he intended to inform them and me of the situation.
"Now, what should I start with?"
As Futteero said that, he took a sip of water from a wooden cup, moistening his lips and throat, before launching into a detailed explanation.
"I had a meeting with the leaders of the Rocha Kingdom, starting with an exchange of opinions."
Is it true that the Rocha Kingdom has its sights set on the Nenette Kingdom? What is their purpose? Why are they considering such a decision? Is evasion impossible?
Those were the questions I apparently heard at the beginning.
"The military officials from the Rocha Kingdom, surprisingly, weren't very enthusiastic. Attacking the Nenette Kingdom would only yield a single document of value. If it were to be burned in the flames of war, the very purpose of invasion would disappear. Nevertheless, it was a judgment to follow the decisions of the higher-ups."
"What about the economic officials? What did they think?"
"They were more supportive. The Nenette Kingdom is a small country. If they were to launch a full-scale invasion, it should be impossible for them not to conquer it quickly. With the document proving their equal status, the transactions with the Empire would also be solidified, benefiting the country, they believed."
"It sounds too idealistic."
"In reality, it's an overly optimistic outlook. It's rumored that the Empire has discovered a large ore deposit in the Mendacium region and has started mass-producing weapons domestically. They won't be interested in Rocha's weapons now and won't engage in a sweet deal."
Futteero seemed to have gathered information from a diplomatic perspective and made a judgment about the relationship between the Empire and the Rocha Kingdom.
I agreed with his opinion, but I felt that the situation was slightly different.
If the Nenette Kingdom found the Rocha Kingdom's steel weapons to be useful and cheaper than their own self-made weapons, they wouldn't stop the imports.
However, it wouldn't be the case for the Empire.
The reason is the magic swords.
The magic weapons that had been produced in the Empire until now were probably made by Rocha, engraved with magical pathways.
However, the latest Imperial magic sword I currently possess requires a special technique from the manufacturing stage, incorporating the steel pattern as a path for magic. As the steel pattern is the core of magic, I cannot entrust it even to the Rocha Kingdom, which has had trade relations with us.
As a result, the Empire had no choice but to mass-produce weapons within its own country, requiring a large amount of iron ore.
Due to that, the Mendashium Kingdom tried to curry favor with the Empire and targeted the mineral deposits of the Nonette Kingdom, but they were destroyed by strategy and the region and name changed, leaving behind a large mineral deposit.
Considering this trend, the Empire should have approached the Rocha Kingdom as well.
Importing only iron ore, not the steel weapons we have traded with so far.
The current economy of the Rocha Kingdom, which had been thriving through lucrative weapon trade with the Empire, is being rapidly depleted by being replaced with low-priced iron ore trade, I suppose.
The fact that the Mendashium Kingdom, which was a trade partner other than the Empire, disappeared and its export volume completely vanished, is also significant.
Anyway.
The Empire has a solid reason not to buy steel weapons from the Rocha Kingdom, so even if the Nonette Kingdom were to obtain a certificate of equal status, the Empire would not buy steel weapons.
"That's certainly an optimistic outlook."
"The upper echelons of the Rocha Kingdom have come to believe in that dreamlike idea. No matter how logically I explain that it's meaningless, they won't believe me."
"The current situation of the Rocha Kingdom is heading towards economic ruin. They must have wanted a way to break the situation, even if it was a gamble. It's a great inconvenience for the Nonette Kingdom, though."
"Instead of aiming for us, even if they prepared a pretext, if they simply handed over their territory to the Empire, it shouldn't have an impact on the livelihoods of their people. After all, the Empire also wants skilled blacksmiths. If there's a chance to get them without war, they would gladly make one or two concessions."
"The leadership of the Rocha Kingdom must be unwilling to let go of the name of Rocha. For ordinary people, as long as the tax rate doesn't change, the name of the country shouldn't matter."
"Saying it's okay to lose the name of the country, hehehe. Prince Milimos has an unconventional way of thinking, doesn't he?"
"Even His Highness Futtero has a similar mindset, right?"
"That's not true. At worst, I want to keep the name of Nonette as an autonomous territory."
"That's like saying it's okay even if it's no longer a country."
"As long as we can maintain a peaceful life, that's the most important thing. If things become unbearable after becoming an autonomous territory, we can always declare independence like our ancestors did."
Flexible, yet slightly radical way of thinking.
While surprised by Futtero's unexpected side, the conversation shifts back to the country of Rocha.
"So, I heard Futtero-niisan was about to be captured by the Rocha country?"
"Even if it cost me countless words, I tried to avoid war, but my actions seemed like fraud to them. They accused me of inciting internal rebellion and I was about to be captured."
"You're saying it lightly, but if you get caught, it's a grave crime equivalent to beheading."
"I don't want my head and body to be separated either. I fled in a panic. I truly thought it was fortunate that Bian had a strong type of horse for the mountain path."
Watching Futtero laugh and say it was tough, I can't help but think that this resilience is the qualification for the next king.
Well, never mind.
With the current conversation, I understand the righteous justification for the Rocha country to advance into the Nonette country.
"In other words, the Rocha country intends to position Futtero-niisan as a major criminal of the state and send the military with the purpose of detaining him."
"...If the situation could be resolved with just me, I wouldn't mind surrendering."
"Don't joke. Their goal is the proof of being an equal nation to the Empire. Even if they received Futtero-niisan, they would order a huge compensation that can't be paid, saying it's the guilt of harboring, and if it can't be paid, they would even tell us to sell the entire country."
"Just earlier, Milimos himself said that as long as the people are safe, the name of the country doesn't have to remain, right?"
"That's correct. If it ensures a peaceful life for the Nonette people, then that judgment is correct. But let me ask you, do you think the peace can be maintained by handing over to the Rocha country? They're a nation with a leadership that dreams of restoring relations with the Empire and the economic situation just by a piece of paper. You'll become a subordinate territory."
"...It's a harsh evaluation, but indeed Rocha country is like a fragile clay castle. If we mimic the act of serving under them, it seems like we would bring unhappiness to our people."
Futtero seems to have understood that there is no choice but to fight against the Rocha country and lowers his head deeply to me.
"Milimos, please protect this country in my inadequate place."
I'm somewhat concerned about the wording that seems to hand over the right of succession, so I decide to respond while stating that I have no intention of becoming a king.
"Understood, Prince Futtero. As the Marshal, I will protect the Nonette country."
As I reply with the gesture of a subject, Futtero's face becomes half troubled and half relieved.
"Seriously, they have no shame... Well, I understand Millimos' determination. However, the mountain road from Rocha Kingdom to Nonette Kingdom is so cold that I could get frostbite on my body. The Rocha Kingdom's army will come after the snow melts. If we have that much time, we might be able to receive support from other countries. After all, there are plenty of countries around here that want to obtain Rocha Kingdom's blacksmithing technology."
Indeed, as Futteero thought, marching soldiers into the snowy mountains would be nothing short of a suicide mission.
"You're being naive, Brother Futteero. The economy deteriorates not in days but in seconds. If the Rocha Kingdom's leaders are desperate enough to capture Prince Futteero of another country for treason, then..."
Before I could finish my sentence, there was a commotion outside the room.
"Marshal Millimos, a messenger! Please let him in, please!"
I looked at Futteero, and he gave permission to let the messenger in.
I opened the door and let only the messenger inside.
"I request a report."
"Yes! It's a message from a mountain hut near the border with Rocha Kingdom. The Rocha Kingdom's large army has begun climbing the mountain."
"How many enemy soldiers are there?"
"The exact number isn't mentioned, but it's estimated to be close to ten thousand."
"What happened to the hut's lookout after the report?"
"They evacuated to the first interception point. They sprinkled poison on the firewood and food in the hut and marked it to show that it shouldn't be used by mountain dwellers."
"Good, that's a thorough response. Time is short, so let's start moving as well."
After sending the messenger away, I turned to Futteero.
"Well then, I'll go about my marshal duties. Futteero, please use your diplomatic connections to inform the Empire and the Knight Kingdom about our situation."
"You can count on me for that. Do your best, Millimos. But remember, don't die."
"Don't worry. I have the determination to do my best, but I have no intention of dying."
I joked lightly and left the room.
On the way back to the marshal's office, I pondered over how to mobilize the troops.
The enemy had a large number of soldiers. I wanted to mobilize the village garrison and reserves as well.
However, it was currently winter. If we mobilized a large number of soldiers, the consumption of firewood and food would skyrocket.
"Maybe we should hold off on mobilizing them until the royal castle becomes the decisive battlefield. No, if it comes to that stage, it might be better to sell the country to the Empire."
Contemplating various plans, I entered the marshal's office and informed Alekthem that the operation had been decided.