第９４４堀：悩み多きトップ (Part1)
### Chapter 944: The Burdened Leader
**Side: Eupia Zurabl**
The banquet concluded without incident. Night had already fallen, and the world was cloaked in a deep, heavy darkness.
"How were the participants?" I asked, staring into the gloom while listening to the reports from my subordinates standing behind me.
"Yes, Your Majesty. While everyone was clearly bewildered, no one openly displayed suspicion regarding your judgment."
"I see. It seems showing them that scorched forest beforehand was worth the effort."
A sudden banquet. And the forced introduction of envoys from Weed and Seasifo. I had been worried about how much they would accept, but it seems there was no overt backlash.
"Indeed. However, I believe the introductions would not have gone so smoothly without that display."
"I suspect that was Yuki-dono’s intention as well. He likely realized that even if he could persuade us, the people around us would never be convinced otherwise."
"Is he truly that calculating, that young man?"
If he hadn't intended to show us, would he have bothered to demonstrate such overwhelming power in a mock battle? Even if he is strong, if we knew his methods beforehand, we could have prepared countermeasures. The display was also a clear signal that he had no intention of fighting us. And, by showing us that, he was likely nudging us to handle the people around us.
Truly, he is a man who is impossible to read.
"Indeed. He understood almost all of our intentions. As for the jam and chocolate, it seems the standby units have a stockpile, and they have agreed to share them with us."
"That is a relief. However, it was unexpected. Aslin, was it? I was surprised he allowed such a rude child to be so familiar."
"Ah, that. You didn't notice, did you? That Aslin... she is not the child she appears to be."
"Oh? Is she as old as Your Majesty?"
"Who knows. But her talent for putting others at ease is rare. Yuki-dono likely allowed her to speak with me precisely to utilize that. With Aslin and the other children present, all the hostility was completely drained away. If I had gotten angry at them, it would have only called my own character into question."
If he had anticipated even that, then Aslin is a terrifying child. Or, if he acted without such calculations, that in itself is a significant threat. Either way, it means that Aslin and the other children are not to be underestimated. Despite looking like innocent little girls, their movements were steady, and they carried themselves like those accustomed to battle.
...It is truly chilling. And Yuki-dono, who manages to keep those children under such perfect control, is even more so.
"I see. However, with the supplies they have provided, I am sure many will be convinced."
"..."
Hearing that, I finally realized the implication of that particular scene. Was that, too, intentionally orchestrated? If jam and chocolate had been presented as formal tributes, we would have only been suspicious. By involving Aslin and the others, did he lower that hurdle?
...Ugh, there is no end to this line of thought.
"Your Majesty?"
"No, it is nothing. But 'many,' you say? Is he truly impossible to convince?"
I tried to shift my thoughts away from the depth of his schemes, but I remembered that there was another troublesome matter to deal with.
"It is impossible, Your Majesty. Dai-Kobo-dono will not be convinced by things he has not seen with his own eyes."
He is the greatest genius strategist of our Zurabl Empire. If Vol is the pillar of our military, Dai-Kobo is the pillar of our politics and internal affairs. Must I persuade him as well?
"Ugh. He is a loyal subject, but that is precisely why his remonstrations are so harsh..."
"He takes on that role for the sake of the empire. However, he does not believe in things he has not witnessed. He will likely hold General Vol accountable."
"Hah, well, it cannot be helped. There is still time before Dai-Kobo arrives. I will finalize the talks with Yuki-dono and his group before then."
I have no choice but to set that matter aside for now. Yes, first, I must finalize the discussions with Yuki-dono. The situation of our country, the situation of Weed and Seasifo, and the handling of the remnants of the Gusdo Kingdom.
"Your Majesty. The matter of Princess Palfil of the Gusdo Kingdom has become quite troublesome."
"Indeed. I never dreamed that people with such power would appear and protect her. If we do not handle this well, Weed will become our enemy."
"That is something we must avoid at all costs. In the attack on the forest, Weed deployed at most 200 troops. And yet, they possessed that level of offensive power. If we clash head-on, we will be finished without accomplishing a thing. Well, as a countermeasure, if we advance in dispersed formations..."
"That would do nothing. They are surely well aware of such tactics. Did they look like fools who would show us their power without having countermeasures for such simple things?"
"No, they did not."
"And the strength of the guards here is a serious problem as well. Dotan was defeated so easily. This makes the idea of taking Yuki-dono and his group hostage impossible."
To think that ordering the plunder of the Gusdo Kingdom’s Aurelia port would lead to such a massive problem... Hm?
"Wait a moment. Who was it that proposed the plunder of the Aurelia port in the Gusdo Kingdom?"
"Ah. It was Dai-Kobo-dono. Perhaps we can use that to silence her."
"Good. We shall use that to keep her in check. As for how to explain the plunder to Weed..."
"No matter how we explain it, the fact remains that we attacked innocent civilians. According to the original plan, there were supposed to be no surviving hostiles."
"..."
As my adjutant said, the massacre and plunder at Aurelia port were planned. Even though it was Dai-Kobo’s proposal, I was the one who gave the final authorization. The reason was clear: we could not allow the jewel that enables the summoning and control of monsters to fall into enemy hands. We judged that we could not let that jewel pass to others, so we attempted to forcibly seize Aurelia port. It was also to show that we would show no mercy to those who opposed us.
Our reputation is already tarnished, and it was absolutely necessary for our country to survive. Of course, I do not seek blood in vain. We issued a warning beforehand: if you oppose us, we will show no mercy. Therefore, surrender. We gave that warning, but the Gusdo Kingdom showed its intent for total resistance.
Well, they were a country supporting the old imperial faction. They were never going to surrender willingly. They chose to oppose us, so we occupied the royal capital first, and then attacked Aurelia port. But Weed and Seasifo were caught in that battle, and they ended up crushing our Second Army.
"The timing was poor. ...This will likely be a difficult conversation."
It is easy to say that we don't usually do such things, but the envoys from Weed and Seasifo have likely gathered information about our country at Aurelia port. Considering that, it is truly...
We told them we couldn't trust their people, so we made them provide evidence. If only we had evidence to gain their trust as well...