第１７６０堀：お願いをしつつ情報を引き出す (Part1)
**Chapter 1760: Making a Request, Extracting Information**
**Side: Yuki**
"Rest assured, I intend to bill the enemy for all of this."
Even though I had declared that we would be squeezing our resources out of the enemy, it was only natural for them to be anxious about the repeated provision of supplies. In fact, it would be strange if they weren't suspicious. That was precisely why I had reiterated that we would be seizing what we needed from the enemy, yet King Ohe still wore a look of profound unease.
"I am grateful for your words. However, to rely on you so heavily is a source of great shame for Ohe. If only there were something we could offer in return..."
Well, I suppose they are worried about when we might decide to renege on our support. After all, the Ohe side hasn't paid a single thing for our actions. I’ve only told them we’d take it from the enemy; there is no contract, no formal agreement. Even if there were a contract, since we haven't received any compensation, I wouldn't be able to complain if they decided to tear it up. It is only right for a head of state to consider offering some form of payment to ensure our continued cooperation.
That said, they don't exactly have the medical supplies or resources to support a nation to spare right now. Or perhaps they might resort to something troublesome, like a political marriage.
*Ugh, I really, really want to avoid that.* Lately, even Nina and Menou have been acting a bit too serious for my comfort. Before they come up with some bizarre proposal...
"Ah, in that case, I do have a small request."
It’s best to state my own request first.
"A request, you say?"
If I do it this way, I can frame it as us bearing a burden to fulfill their needs, which could be considered a form of compensation in its own right.
"Yes. Well, perhaps 'consultation' is a better word..."
The request I was about to make was, to put it mildly, fraught with various complications. Whether I would even be granted permission was questionable, but I couldn't afford not to ask. It had been part of the plan from the very beginning.
"The southern region we intend to survey—the area where the monsters are currently moving northward—would you be willing to cede that territory to us?"
"..."
The Ohe delegation stared at me, eyes wide, clearly failing to grasp the intent behind my words. That silence likely held a multitude of meanings, but I pressed on regardless.
"I imagine you have many questions, but please, hear me out first. I am not familiar with the exact borders of Ohe, but to resolve this issue with the northern territories, the cooperation of many nations is essential. Weed has stepped forward to lead that effort, but as you have seen, the other side dismissed us, claiming they do not know who we are. That is only natural, as we are a nation from a different continent. Therefore, to make things easier to understand..."
As I finished, King Ohe’s dazed expression shifted into one of realization.
"I see. You intend to establish a temporary state in the south, is that it?"
"Exactly. Furthermore, it would allow us to take on the defense against the monsters moving north to a certain degree, and we will need to build a base of operations for our investigation."
There is some underlying cause for the monsters’ migration in the south. Uncovering that cause is an absolute necessity. Having to ask Ohe for permission every single time we need to mobilize is, frankly, a hassle. I want the autonomy to handle those matters at Weed’s discretion. As I laid this out, the high-ranking officials began to nod, seemingly convinced.
"I see. If we follow Lord Yuki’s suggestion, it would be only natural for the other side to claim ignorance of your existence."
"And it would provide a plausible reason for you to lend us your strength."
"Indeed. As you all say, rather than appearing to cooperate suddenly, we can frame it as Ohe making contact with us due to the tremors caused by the monsters. In the worst-case scenario, you could even pin the stigma currently haunting Ohe onto Weed."
"That is out of the question!"
King Ohe rejected my proposal with a sharp, raised voice. This man is just too earnest. It’s an admirable trait in a person, but...
"Even while receiving such extensive support from Lord Yuki and his people, for us to cast our shame upon you—Ohe is not that kind of nation!"
The officials nodded in agreement. Well, placing such high value on a nation’s integrity isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"My apologies. I did not mean to disparage Ohe; I merely thought that if you could use us to restore friendly relations with the north more quickly, it might be worth considering. Once those ties are solidified, you could simply reveal the truth."
"Ah, I see. However, I will not take that path. The northern humans who burned this body..."
Oh? The story of how King Ohe and Sir Martin were injured came up without me even having to pry. I had no choice but to ride that current.
"Come to think of it, were those injuries not sustained in the northern town?" I asked, feigning surprise.
"No. I was in the royal capital dealing with this crisis, so I never traveled to the northern town. These injuries were the work of an envoy from the coalition who came to explain the war."
"The work of an envoy, you say?"
"At the same time they declared war, they unleashed attack magic upon me. Martin shielded me, but the power was so immense that even then..."
I see. So that was the reason for their injuries.
"And the envoy?"
"After they attacked us, we attempted to apprehend them, but they committed suicide on the spot."
"Suicide, you say..."
In other words, it’s questionable whether they were truly envoys from the enemy at all. Were they trying to escalate the war, or perhaps they truly intended to end it by eliminating King Ohe? No, there is no nation that would simply collapse just because its leader was assassinated. It would cause chaos, certainly, but that would only serve to intensify the war.
"I did not witness the scene myself, so I cannot say for certain, but given that the envoy attacked and the circumstances surrounding it, what is your take, King Ohe?"
"That is a question I have as well. An assassination there would have been difficult. It was not at close range during a meeting like this, but rather in the audience chamber. Still, they were a mage powerful enough that I would have been in grave danger had Martin not been there."
To land an attack from that distance in the audience chamber is indeed startling. But to throw away a person capable of such high-level magic...
"Furthermore, while I was meeting with the envoys, the enemy army arrived at the northern town with hostages in tow."
"Considering that, it is highly likely they were mere pawns from the start," the officials added, explaining the situation at the time.
So they were indeed pawns—meant to slay the King, sow chaos, and bring down the Ohe Kingdom.
"However, if you do not intend to join hands with the people of the north, does that mean war is inevitable? I assume you are at least in contact with the nations closer to Ohe?"
"That is correct. As I said, we call them the 'people of the north,' but that is contingent upon the northern coalition offering an official apology and reparations."
"That is only natural."
After harming their King, they can hardly expect us to be the ones to propose a reconciliation. It is a matter of national pride, and Ohe has not been pushed into a corner quite that desperate yet.