第１０４５堀：つながった状況 (Part1)
**Chapter 1045: Connected Situation**
**Side: Yuki**
"Sorry, I can only talk through voice here."
"No, I don't mind. Having such a beautiful lady attending to me is a pleasure."
The condition of Emperor Hans, who replied as such, has stabilized. His complexion has improved, too.
"First off, how are you feeling?"
"Indeed. The medicine she gave me has a terrifyingly potent effect. I feel as though I could stand up this very moment. What kind of medicine was it, exactly?"
"An Elixir? Or perhaps sacred sake?"
"I used an Elixir," Rurua replied.
"Ho, an Elixir, you say? You used that legendary panacea on me? I am grateful. Even 'Extra Heal' had no effect on my ailment."
I don't know what kind of illness it was, but I'm glad he managed to pull through.
"But what kind of incurable disease doesn't respond to Extra Heal?"
"Master, it is likely a matter of the caster's knowledge."
"Ah, that makes sense."
Rurua, standing beside me, answered my question immediately. When it comes to medicine and recovery magic, she is far superior to me. So, the reason Extra Heal didn't work was that the caster didn't understand the essence of the disease, and thus couldn't treat it.
"Hmm. An intriguing point. Does the efficacy of Extra Heal differ based on knowledge?"
"Well, let's just keep that a secret."
"A state secret, I presume? Regardless, I offer my heartfelt thanks for using such a precious medicine as an Elixir on an old man like me."
"Don't mention it. The real work starts now, after all."
"Indeed. Now then, having gone out of your way to heal this old man, what do you desire in return?"
Emperor Hans asked point-blank. Since there’s nothing to hide, I decided to answer honestly.
"An end to the war."
"War? Ah, the ministers mentioned something about a rebellion occurring in some province, is that what you mean?"
"That... is putting it lightly."
His reaction is strange. It’s long since surpassed the level of a mere provincial rebellion. Could it be...
"Judging by that look, things have become far worse than I imagined, haven't they?"
"I appreciate your sharp intuition. Right now, half of this land is occupied by what they call the Zurable Great Empire. Well, 'occupied' might not be the right word. 'Liberated,' perhaps?"
"Liberated... I see. So, the evil is on the side of my Haine Empire, then?"
"The fact that the rebellion has spread this far means there was that much dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. And you had no idea?"
"I have been in this state for quite some time, you see. It is highly probable that the ministers kept it from me out of concern. If they had told me and I had suddenly passed away, it would have caused absolute chaos."
That’s true. With the Zurable Great Empire on the rise, the death of this land's top leader would certainly trigger total disorder. Still, if their way of handling it behind his back led to this situation, it was all for nothing.
"The reality is quite dire. Well, it doesn't seem like you're entirely unaware of the rot, though."
"Indeed. This Haine Empire was a distorted nation from the start. It was plain to see that a collapse would come eventually."
Emperor Hans replied. I wasn't particularly surprised by that.
"So, do you intend to be struck down by the advancing Zurable Great Empire?"
"What? Has the enemy come that close? I have heard nothing of the sort!"
"Well, I suppose they wouldn't tell a dying man things that would hasten his end... but the Nodal Kingdom and the Forma Kingdom have already fallen."
"Ho. To that extent, then. The Forma Kingdom is one thing, but if the Nodal Kingdom has fallen as well, the enemy is right at my doorstep."
Even hearing all this, Emperor Hans remains strangely calm. I wonder what it is that keeps this man so composed.
"Tell me, Emperor Hans. What do you intend to do from here?"
"What else is there to do? I shall fight to protect my homeland. And I must demand to know the reason for this rebellion. Fortunately, my illness has been cured. I will do what must be done. That is all. I was entrusted with this country."
I see. This Hans possesses the self-awareness of an Emperor, of someone standing at the top of a nation.
"I could arrange a place for negotiations, you know?"
"Ho. Are you that influential, Yuki-dono? Well, you have capable subordinates who can infiltrate even a place like this, so I suppose having such connections is only natural. However, there cannot be two Emperors in this world. Even if a temporary peace were achieved, it would only become a cause for further conflict."
"That’s only because both sides are calling themselves Emperor. You could just give one of them a different title."
"Even if you were to use such a facade, those at the center of the country would not be convinced. Especially those clinging to the current regime. Eventually, they would claim that the upstart Emperor of the Zurable Great Empire must be struck down, and it would become the source of further chaos."
"So, half-measures are no good?"
"Precisely. That very softness is what invites the next war. All under the guise of 'restoring the glory of the ancients,' no less."
He’s severe about these things. No, I suppose that’s only natural for someone in this world. Those who hold dissatisfaction toward the nation must be thoroughly purged. There is no place for those who would shake the foundations of the state. That is a fundamental way of thinking.
Actually, come to think of it, it’s the same on modern Earth. People who are dissatisfied with the country and try to move things by force are, in the end, nothing more than terrorists. Well, in a democracy, you’d call them the opposition party, but in this medieval European-style world based on absolute monarchy, it’s basically a one-party system.
Still, even that "one party" has its factions. That is precisely why he believes the enemy must be wiped out to unify the country. If he doesn't, the unrest will drag on, causing them hardship, but more importantly, the people will suffer and the nation will be exhausted.
At first glance, one might think that trying to resolve things through war only creates unnecessary deaths, but because it produces a clear result, it leads to the end of pointless bickering. If it’s half-baked, those who refuse to admit defeat will only increase the number of useless sacrifices. That is why it is better to show a clear victory and defeat in the form of a straightforward war.
Well, this also means it’s an era where resorting to violence is considered acceptable. If this were a proper law-abiding state on modern Earth, your approval rating would plummet the moment you resorted to violence. It might be fine in conflict zones or dictatorships, though.
However, there is clearly another meaning behind Emperor Hans's words.
"Even if it means you are the ones being wiped out?"
"That is correct. War always has a victor and a loser. It is possible that I, Hansnold Beilguse Aser Hai..."
Hey, watch the name, old man.
"It is Hansnold Beilguse Aser Haine. You are forgetting the part you absolutely must not forget."
"Don't worry about it. It’s just that the name is too long."
Kirika retorted before I could. Well, that’s coming from me, who forgets the names of the Weed members, so I can't talk.
"Regardless, this should allow for an early end to the war. Do you have any complaints?"