Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou!

We, who escaped the coup detat which took place in Bardiche, did nothing except having the carriage travel towards the north.

We encountered a pursuit party of Duke Nrnbergs troops once when we were travelling the northern main road and a second time after we turned into the branch road through Earl Mizuho Country, but all of them were flashily torn to pieces by Katharinas spell Wind Cutter.

Dont they have sufficient coordination with their allies thanks to the communication blockade?

The rebel army didnt let overly able magicians participate in the pursuit.

They chased us while releasing Fire Balls and such, however having all of it blocked by Katharinas Magic Barrier, they got counter-attacked and killed by her.

High-ranking magicians wont appear in a pursuit. (Katharina)

I guess they are busy with seizing the centre. (Wendelin)

Katharina talks to me while retrieving the magic bags and equipment of the magicians she defeated.

She seems to act completely like a bandit, but this is also how battlefields works, Burkhart-san said.

No matter how celebrated and powerful the opponent, they become simple headless corpses once they die. Their bodies rot and turn into fodder for beasts. The weak are killed and have everything stolen from them. (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san, do you have battlefield-experience? (Wendelin)

Its because me and Burkhart-dono were active as adventurers for many years. At places where the eyes of the authorities dont reach, such things happen as well if sly old adventurers do their work, and you have no other choice but to understand that, Earl Baumeister. (Armstrong)

Its no wonder that Doushi and Burkhart-san kill people without any hesitation.

Its only natural since they have experienced it already. Even we turned into quite skilful murderers over this whole day.

Therese-dono, what kind of country is the Earl Mizuho Country?

For us its a country with quite a different cultural shape. (Therese)

Except for the times when we have the horses rest, we spent all our time moving, but once we travel for the whole day we will arrive in Earl Mizuho Country, and will apparently be able to take a breather.

I try asking Therese, who sits opposite of me inside the carriage, about Earl Mizuho Country.

In the old times, still before the founding of Holy Empire Urquhart, it existed as an old country of an ethnic group. (Therese)

There are many people with black hair and black eyes. It seems to be an independent country possessing an unique culture.

Since they are even older than the Lan tribe which is the major ethnic group of Philip Dukedom, their existence is known to the empire. (Therese)

The Great Basin Akitsu*, which is adjacent to Philip Dukedom, is their living sphere. Their population is about 1.2 million people.(T/N: Leaving it as Japanese pronunciation like anything else related to Mizuho Country)

Given that its a basin the summers are hot and the winters are cold, but due to the abundance of water and the intensity in the changes between hot and cold temperatures, delicious rice is cultivated in paddy fields as staple food. It seems to be famous even as special product.

We can harvest large quantities of rice in the southern Baumeister Earldom and below as well, but if we talk about taste, it appears that the Earl Mizuho Countrys domestically grown rice has an overwhelmingly superior evaluation.

Which reminds me, there were many of Japans famous rice-producing areas in Hokuriku(T/N: part of Honshu, lies west of Tokyo)and the Tohoku region(T/N: northernmost six prefectures of Honshu)with their intense variations of cold and hot temperatures.

In addition it seems they are the best by far in crafted goods, made with skilful handwork, and magic tool production technologies.

Leading quite the wealthy life among the subjects of Holy Empire Urquhart, they entertain visitors, who come to their territory, courteously.

There are also many places which earn their income by expanding to other territories with large companies and carpenter associations. They became what is called on earth overseas merchants.

(They resemble Japanese people) (Wendelin)

Clothes, books, food, buildings, all of it is unique. They have been built in Bardiche as well. (Therese)

Apparently its the architectural structures with tiled roofs and temple-styled buildings, I saw at the time when we arrived in Bardiche, which are referred to as Mizuho Style.

From my point of view, I couldnt see it as anything but common Japanese style though.

Usually most of them are docile, but once it comes to battle, they turn absolutely atrocious. (Therese)

The knights, which are called samurai, defend their own territory with a struggle to the death by wielding their single-edged swords which are called katana.

Or rather, no matter what I hear, its the ancient Japan itself.

They are a group who stayed on the side of the Lan tribe. The empire dispatched soldiers to suppress them many times over. (Therese)

All the subjugations ended in failure. They also suffered enormous losses, but the empires side suffered horrible losses each of those times, too.

The empire in those days expanded its territory in all four cardinal directions. However, since the losses of the Mizuho expeditionary forces were each time disastrous, its advances in the other directions stopped every time as well. (Therese)

And yet they regularly dispatched troops until the Philip household gained total control of the Lan tribes soil, but before long, at the time where the number of allied soldiers, who disembarked on the journey to the other world due to the people of Mizuho, reached into the dozens of 10.000 soldiers, the emperor at that time gave in and recognised their autonomy in the end.

Its because they dont demand any other territory besides the Great Basin Akitsu. Being appointed to a special peerage called High Earl, their territory was named as Earl Country and they were treated differently from other earldoms. With the conditions that they yield diplomatic authority to Holy Empire Urquhart and a yearly paid tribute, Mizuho Countrys continuance was approved. (Therese)

Even that diplomatic authority is in short something like telling them to not negotiate with Helmut Kingdom on their own accord.

The empire feared an alliance being formed between the people of Mizuho and Helmut Kingdom. (Therese)

Earl Mizuho Country was established like this, but once they attained peace, the people of Mizuho became docile.

They accept tourists as well. Their popularity for high-class items such as high-quality fabric, alcohol, commodity, handicraft and magic tools, is high.

Its also the people of Mizuho who fished in my Philip Dukedom first. (Therese)

Even though they are living in a basin with no sea, they love sea fish for some reason. Half of those fishing in the Philip Dukedom seem to be people of Mizuho.

There are many people working away from home. They are well-informed about the knowledge about edible fish, the methods of processing and the means of preservation and transportation. The haul limits*, the establishment of fish reefs, aquacultures and such, all that knowledge is from them. Also, they dry strange seaweed and create tough rods similar to wood out of a fish called skipjack tuna or such. They are an eccentric lot who are usually gentle. (Therese)(T/N: Quite sarcastic is that the modern Japan is the worst fishing country abiding to no international haul limit rules, but authors can dream, cant they?)

(It cameee~~~! A typically Japanese culture appeared~~~!) (Wendelin)

To me, whose mind went haywire due to the murdering in the imperial capital, its a reward after a long time.

I encountered a state possessing a Japanese-styled culture in this western-styled fantasy world.

Sightseeing, food and culture, I have to genuinely enjoy these during our stay there.

Its because Philip Dukedom and Mizuho Earldom are adjoining with each other. I wont mind even if we stay for a night. No, should we stay for several days? (Therese)

To request reinforcements? (Wendelin)

Thats how it is. (Therese)

Because the survival and actions of the other prince-elector lords and nobles is unknown, Therese has to first start with the task of gathering the northern neighbouring feudal lords.

Therese-sama, wont that Earl Mizuho Country assist in Duke Nrnbergs coup detat? What I heard from your story, their treatment is mostly that of an independent state (Elise)

I understand Elises worry.

From Earl Mizuho Countrys point of view, it will be fine if their current treatment is guaranteed, even with Duke Nrnberg as emperor.

On the contrary, its not like that. (Therese)

Duke Nrnberg tried to even kill Therese.

In order to centralize the authority of the emperor, he plans to remove the prince-elector lords.

That mans national policy is that of a powerful empire which was unified into one entity. Something like Earl Mizuho Country, which hasnt yielded to the empire even after thousands of years, is likely a hindrance. As a matter of fact, there were troubles with the treatment of the people of Mizuho who are staying in Nrnberg Dukedom. (Therese)

Based on the drastic deficit in trade balance, Mizuhos funds of companies and workshops, which have expanded into Nrnberg Dukedom, have been burdened with large amounts of monetary tariffs due to the reason of them oppressing the management of the domestic merchants. The confrontation between both parties seems to intensify.

If its him, he would likely aim for a complete conquest of Earl Mizuho Country. Moreover, he will be able to obtain their technology and such. (Therese)

Then his way of thinking seems to be naive

He should realize that if the empire attacks with 1 million troops, a complete conquest of Earl Mizuho Country probably isnt impossible.

However, afterwards a large amount of male providers, who possess technology and productivity, will have been killed in action. The empire would need to take care of the ruined, former Earl Mizuho Countrys territory.

Given that their resistance will be extreme, theres no meaning in an unreasonable conquest either.

Thats probably the reason why the empire is approving of Earl Mizuho Countrys continuance.

From Duke Nrnbergs point of view, he is believing that it will be fine if theres a restoration of the destruction afterwards. If he integrates Earl Mizuho Country into the empire and makes the people of Mizuho submit by using a large budget and taking a few decades, it will turn into a plus for the new empire when regarded at long term. (Therese)

A rigid ultranationalist.

He is troublesome because he has solid supporters outside and inside his territory which can be considered as his private domain or own country. (Therese)

You can even say that the coup detat was performed so skilfully because there were a number of supporters in the imperial army as well.

In addition, magic tools and spells for communication and movement have been sealed away.

The empires government and the nobles shouldnt have escaped the chaos until now.

The possibility is also high that they have surrendered to the coup detat forces without any time to consider it.

This is bothersome

I dont think that he has brooded over it to such an extent before though. He might have felt a sense of impending danger after receiving a report about that after all. (Therese)

That? (Wendelin)

Here. Its what thee assisted to get operational, Wendelin (Therese)

Its the huge magic airship which is a legacy of the historic ruins and was successfully restarted by using the magic gem of the ancient undead dragon I subjugated by chance. Recently it was christened as Lingaia and the huge ship with its over-all-length of 400 meters was safely placed in commission. Currently it should be in the middle of performing training in order to investigate outside the continent.

Its because thee were able to establish a lead even in the number of common 100-meter-class large magic airships. (Therese)

The ratio of the air forces war potential has expanded up to 2.2 to 1. This made Duke Nrnberg apparently feel quite a sense of danger.

In other words, its my fault? (Wendelin)

At very least Duke Nrnberg believes that to be so. (Therese)

I see, thats why he stared at me with such a sharp gaze.

Since his usual look is sharp too, he might have simply looked at me though.

In short you are telling me to kill Duke Nrnberg for the sake of having a peaceful future? (Wendelin)

I think that I want thee to participate in the war as mercenary if possible. Theres no other way but to kill Duke Nrnberg. He is dangerous. (Therese)

Based on his fluctuating radical beliefs, he even turned towards the use of force.

Large damage will be done to the empire due to his actions. Naturally dissatisfaction will gush out from the surroundings, if they cant get compensation by crushing the Duke Nrnberg household.

Something like an easy-going nation, that lets the ringleader of a rebellion live, doesnt exist in any world.

Before that theres also the possibility that my group will be killed once and for all by Duke Nrnberg who succeeded in the coup detat. (Therese)

Thats ill omened

There are also uncertain parts in a war. (Therese)

There was the worrying aspect of the southern, western and eastern nobles course of action, but as the communication blockade was tormenting us even here, we couldnt obtain any information at all.

You cant count on them. I guess the lot, which went to Bardiche for the enthronement of the new emperor, has been captured or killed by the coup detat forces.

Therese wants to gather the northern lords before Duke Nrnberg dispatches a punitive force towards the north.

Its crucial that she carries that out in a hurry first, I guess.

Fortunately there were many among the majority of the northern lords who departed from the imperial capital on the same day or the next day after the new emperor got crowned.

It seems that countryside nobles dont have spare time to the degree I have been expecting.

However, its something annoying, that communication blockade. (Therese)

The hand-held magic communication device, we are possessing, stays silent even now although we are considerably far away from the imperial capital.

The part of restricting the magic types which are possible to be jammed widened the effective range quite a bit.

At this rate, it should have become impossible to operate magic airships and communication devices in the northern parts of Helmut Kingdom as well.

I worry about Baumeister Earldom. (Ina)

Its as Ina said.

If its a situation where magic airships cant be moved, it will cause large difficulties to the development.

Theres no other choice but to believe that Roderich will handle it somehow. (Wendelin)

I didnt think that being unable to communicate will be this irritating.

I regarded it as reckless coup detat, but Duke Nrnberg might actually have a chance of success.

Really, he doesnt do anything decent, that bastard with his evil eyes.

Moreover, that guys anikemen.

I hear that his popularity among women is high thanks to that, but I end up believing that hes a fellow thats not worth to be trusted as human with only that much.

By no means does that imply that I feel frustrated because of losing to him with my face.

I feel calm and enjoy being at your side, dear. (Elise)

Its as Elise says. I think I would choke if Duke Nrnberg was my husband. (Ina)

If Ina-chan cant handle it, someone like me will die by suffocation. (Luise)

Elise, Ina and Luise start mentioning that they arent very good with Duke Nrnberg with his scary atmosphere although he is anikemen.

It seems I would be warned about the amount of my meals by him. I would hate to be looked down on by his stabbing eyes. (Wilma)

Thats right, isnt it? I can see a type of feeling likefollow me without complaining since Im right. (Katharina)

Is it fine to say that he has an inborn despotic character?

Unexpectedly Wilmas and Katharinas opinions might peck at Duke Nrnbergs true identity.

Im absolutely fine with Wend-samas type of husband. (Wilma)

Me too. (Katharina)

Everyone, thank you! (Wendelin)

Overcome by emotions, I hug the five of them one after the other.

Even I have parts which can win against Duke Nrnberg.

I dont understand. From Duke Nrnbergs point of view, Wend is probably a target of jealousy

I pass on such complicated, internal story.

I drove Erw, who stated his opinion in a whisper, towards Doushi with silence.

Erwin-lad, a man is all about muscles and ability! (Armstrong)

Doushi forcibly took a pose emphasizing his muscles inside the confined carriage.

Its a pushy logic, but for some reason I feel its persuasiveness if Doushi is the one saying it.

No, its the charm of an adult which only grown men can possess. (Burkhart)

Next Burkhart-san, who recovered his mana already, participated in the talk, too.

Honestly, either is fine. Dont you think so, Therese-sama?

Thou husband seems to also have many, various problems, but lets take a rest in Earl Mizuho Country for now.

While having such a chat inside, the carriage arrived at the border territory of Earl Mizuho Country.

The Earl Mizuho Country consists of the Great Basin Akitsu and a mountain range enclosing it.

Since the mountain range doesnt have that much of elevation, a highway to make the passage of carriages possible has been laid out, but an inspection place had been created at the entrance of the mountain road.

Guards are standing at the entrance of a building which is similar to a simple fortress.

They are resembling Japanese people with their black hair and black eyes, but the size of their bodies has no great difference to the average height of the people of this world.

Once I looked properly, their garments had an appearance similar to the samurai of Edo period and three katanas were affixed to their waists.

On the left they have two long swords which can be regarded as Japanese swords, and on the right theres one sword similar to a shortwakizashi.

Three katanas, huh? The Battou* Unit has been added to the defence. (Therese)(T/N: Battou = drawing a sword (and striking in the same motion), imagine Kenshin the Battousai, probably an unit specializing on sword drawing techniques)

Battou Unit? (Wendelin)

In the empire they are called a unit mass producing war dead with ridicule put into the name. (Therese)

Common soldiers dont wear anything but two short and long katanas, but since the elite Battou Unit has been granted Magic Katanas which are magic tools, they wear three katanas.

A Magic Katana is a sophisticated magic tool. (Therese)

It appears that they cut and kill their enemies by cladding the katana with their preferred attribute of mana through an all-purpose magic tool.

I happened to see it at a joint military exercise of our feudal armies. A samurai, who clad his magic katana with fire-attributed mana, cut through a steel armour target with a diagonal slash from his shoulder. (Therese)

Whats that? How scary.

I heard a story that a military force consisting of 10.000 soldiers melted and vanished after being attacked by a Battou Unit of a thousand in the past. (Therese)

It seems that was the end of the empires invasion armies achieved at the past Earl Mizuho Country subjugations.

Of 20.000 soldiers, 15.000 were casualties and the rest escaped.

Although it seems that the Battou Unit lost half of its numbers as well, the loss ratio is weird no matter how you count it.

I wondered whether it was exaggerated, but there appears to be no mistake as it has been recorded in the military annals of the imperial army which suffered the loss.

They have no interest in territory outside the Great Basin Akitsu, but its not like they are lenient towards invaders.

Even though it will be fine if you mass produce those magic katanas.

Thats impossible. (Therese)

Since even the empire isnt stupid, there exists an unit equipped with magic swords which had the same trick added to their swords.

However, it seems that they cant take a single blow from a magic katana.

I hear that theres apparently a difference completely separating them in performance of the equipment.

You can avoid a magic katanas blow or, in case of Wendelin, he will deploy a firm Magic Barrier, I guess? There are no options besides those. (Therese)

How about plundered items? (Luise)

They become unusable before one month passes. (Therese)

Therese answered Luises question while showing a bitter smile.

On top of its structure being complicated, it looks like its necessary to regularly give it a special maintenance. (Therese)

By switching a lever to fire, earth, water and wind, its possible to freely clad it in an attributes mana. In addition theres also a lever to adjust to the magic capacity included.

If mana is loaded into the embedded magic crystal, you can use it for a while, but it ends up returning to a regular katana losing its usefulness all of a sudden before even one month passes.

It appears to have even a maintenance of the katanas blade itself. The empires magic tool craftsmen have attempted to analyse and reproduce it as well, however they havent reached any significant results either. (Therese)

The technology around the katanas has been strictly concealed. It also serves as proof that the magic tool production technology of the people of Mizuho is outstanding.

It seems that Duke Nrnberg isnt pleased with that aspect either though. (Therese)

Since they are treacherous friends nesting within the empire, he feels obliged to get rid of Earl Mizuho Country.

As he seems to harbour such notion, Therese believes that its possible to build an united front with them.

Didnt that High Earl Mizuho-sama go to Bardiche?

Its because Earl Mizuho Country is essentially a different country. It has been decided that he will have an audience bringing congratulatory gifts after the emperor has been enthroned for a while and the situation has calmed down. (Therese)

At that occasion the current Earl Mizuho Countrys position would be re-acknowledged by the new emperor.

This also seems to be a task of a new emperor to be carried out at the beginning.

Accordingly, that gent hasnt been dragged in like the other nobles. (Therese)

The coup detat has broken out three days after the enthronement of the new emperor.

The nobles, who returned to their territories ahead of time, escaped the disaster, but of the prince-elector lords who were able to flee its probably only her, Therese said.

Anyway, I have to raise an army. Either I die or Duke Nrnberg does. There wont be any other conclusion besides that. (Therese)

The carriage, we had boarded, successfully and safely entered the fortress which is at the national border of Earl Mizuho Country.

End of Part 1 -

Its a success.

There were some blunders though.

Right at the same time, a single youth sat on the emperors throne located in the Imperial Palace of Bardiche.

His name is Max Erhart Armin von Nrnberg. Changing from being a prince-elector of this Holy Empire Urquhart, he is now the mastermind of the coup detat.

This has also happened thanks to you.

The coup detat was carried out by Duke Nrnberg households feudal army, but naturally if it was only them, they would have no prospect of winning.

Accordingly he secretly called out for the participation of the commissioned officers, who have the same views as him, within the imperial army and they cooperated by gaining control of the military bases.

They also carried out the arrest and murder of nobles.

Theres no necessity to kill small fries. Place them under house arrest. (Nrnberg)

I will attend to it right away.

At any rate, their territory cant do anything during the absence of their family head.

Since communication has been blocked, their functions have partially fallen after parting with their family heads which are their brains.

On the other hand, all of the prince-elector lords died.

However, this fact has been hidden.

Duke Nrnberg desires a Holy Empire Urquhart with a centralized authoritarian rule by the emperor.

Prince-elector lords are unnecessary for that, but seeing that he cant suppress them immediately, its easier to seal their movements by taking the family heads as hostages.

For the first stage, the maximum priority lies on the suppression of the surrounding territories of Bardiche.

Almost all southern nobles are obeying the Duke Nrnberg household.

They are believing that they will be able to receive favourable treatment for their territories and positions if Duke Nrnberg, who is their patron to begin with, becomes the new emperor.

Greedy people are easy to use.

There are already those among the captured nobles who are yielding to our side. Order that lot to return to their territories and to prepare their soldiers.

Once the first stage of gaining total control of the southern and central areas finished, theres an opponent which has to be defeated first.

Duke Nrnbergs look shifted towards the northern part of the map he is looking at.

Therese, were you able to run away successfully? (Nrnberg)

She was the sole prince-elector lord who ended up getting away. It was the person called Duchess Philip.

That woman, she will gather the northern lords and come to attack us in reverse.

Earl Mizuho Country, too?

That country is well aware of my thinking. They know fully that I will dispatch soldiers, once they form an alliance. (Nrnberg)

They are a formidable enemy.

If I crush them altogether, it will be convenient for the distant future. (Nrnberg)

From Duke Nrnbergs point of view, the emperors until now were too lenient.

Just because they lost many times after sending soldiers half-assedly, they have been approving of that countrys independence.

Thanks to that, the natural-born subjects are poor and suffering in the empire due to Mizuhos economical and technological strength.

Defeating the people of Mizuho and retaliating against them who have stolen their assets and technologies, will give birth to a true, unified empire.

No, it will be reborn.

However, Im uneasy about a subjugation with our current military forces Should we proceed with the suppression of the west and east and use their military forces as well?

Of course we will try that, but I wont suppress them with armed might. (Nrnberg)

I will tell those, whose family heads have been taken hostage, that their family heads will be released if they help with the defeat of Duchess Philip and the Earl Mizuho Country by dispatching soldiers.

With this it will be plenty with just the nobles who send soldiers.

If we suppress them unskillfully, there will be victims among the feudal army of the Duke Nrnberg household and the imperial army whom we can trust the most. We will defeat them with our best elites and large numbers.

The person who might come to challenge them at the present time, is only Duchess Philip.

Speaking in reverse, if they defeat her, the rest will work itself out later.

Even if we hire a large quantity of soldiers to suppress them forcibly, theres also the possibility of them betraying us if Therese is doing well. Our army is a gathering of elites. They should definitely be able to defeat her.

However, theres one thing Im worried about

Earl Baumeister, eh?

Duke Nrnberg has only one opinion about Earl Baumeister.

He is an existence that will cause damage to Holy Empire Urquhart in the future.

Actually, even now, he is known as the main culprit for the economic disparity and air forces military strength difference between Holy Empire Urquhart and Helmut Kingdom.

It would be fine if he worked for himself after betraying Helmut Kingdom. I ordered the soldiers to kill him if that doesnt work out, but that developed into a failure at the site.

Did those four brothers really persuade Earl Baumeister?

That I dont know.

The real problem is that the unit, which was in charge of the guest house, was completely annihilated.

All of the soldiers and knights had their heads broken, they bodies cut to pieces, their heads blown off and holes in their abdomen. It has been reported that the actual site turned into a gruesome spectacle.

Moreover, those four brothers were killed at the standby location of the stagecoaches.

The four brothers, without fighting with them near the mansion, have been killed at the standby location of the stagecoaches and Earl Baumeisters group can be considered to have escaped alongside Therese.

Together with the soldiers who were with them, there are mostly no corpses remaining. Burned and carbonized scraps of a robe were the sole remaining proof.

Werent they hopeful young magicians?

Duke Nrnberg who isnt a magician, lacks the ability to differentiate their strength.

Hearing the reports, I have no choice but to differentiate by their spells which were presented at the skill exhibition gathering of the magicians.

The rest is is from their achievements, I guess?

If I remember correctly, Earl Baumeister has the accomplishment of having killed dragons.

However as thats a matter of chance, even the four brothers should be able to do that if I order them to eliminate a dragon.

Duke Nrnberg had such belief.

Armstrongs strength is known from the past. Ringstadt is a famous magician. There were also the dragon-slaying Earl Baumeister and Storm. However, is the difference between those four and the four brothers that much?

As expected, I cant believe that all of them are safe, but

This elderly man, who is one of the leaders of the imperial army, isnt a magician either, but he has heard the combat ability forecast of famous magicians in Helmut Kingdom from someone who is well-informed in that.

Certainly, they are excelling, but there are several famous magicians even in the empire who wont lose to them. They shouldnt have lost that one-sidedly.

Surely its just as you say.

Besides, since they have many magicians, theres no way for a group with less than 10 at most to have strength to such an extent.

Its fine if you can stop the peerlessness of a magician with another magician. Once that happens, the rest will be settled by the quality of the common military forces.

Theres quite a number of civilians as magicians that possess above-advanced level mana. If we gather the intermediate and elementary levelled magicians, it will be possible to overwhelm them with numbers.

Defeating Helmut Kingdoms Ultimate Weapon and Dragon Slayer with the violence of numbers, huh?

From the standpoint of Duke Nrnberg who is a pure soldier, that plan was in the category of satisfactorily good sense.

No matter how strong they might be, its unlikely that they can win against organized soldiers.

The wariness towards Earl Baumeisters party fades from within Duke Nrnbergs mind.

The currently biggest threat is the Duke Philip households feudal army led by Therese.

The feudal army of the Duke Philip household is strong, but we are better than them. Half of the imperial army is following us as well. There are also the military forces of the southern lords and the nobles who have announced their allegiance to our side.

Having seized the capital city has become our forte after all.

The majority of the western and eastern lords hesitated, but a part of them actively declared their support to us.

Theres no meaning in an emperor who was only chosen traditionally. An emperor is an existence that leads his subjects with unwavering will and authority.

He is a strong person and thats why the coup detat succeeded.

Right after this, I will name myself the new emperor Holy Urquhart the First and strive towards the goal of controlling this continent within my reign.

Currently the suppression of the empires centre and a listing of the nobles we won over takes priority. Once thats finished, the subjugation of Duchess Philip and Earl Mizuho Country follows at last.

Once that happens, its fine to wait for the fruits to fall from the tree afterwards.

After all, there are no other prince-elector lords in this world anymore besides himself and Duchess Philip.

We cant take Therese lightly even though shes a woman. Shes completely different from the other dimwitted prince-elector lords. We will prepare the soldiers while bracing ourselves.

As you command.

Even while saying that, the shape of the already unified Holy Empire Urquhart floats in Duke Nrnbergs mind.

By the way, its the aforementioned device, but

Is there something wrong with the aforementioned device?

Duke Nrnberg got pissed off in his mind for being disturbed during his long-awaited time of enjoyable imaginations, but he is an important collaborator.

He asked the imperial armys leader while showing a smile.

That can continue to run for a while.

However, it will be too much of an impediment towards the economic activities of merchants and such

I guess so.

However, from Duke Nrnbergs point of view, the merits are big.

Stealing the means of communication between nobles, its possible to make them lose their way and isolate them. Operating the device gives us the upper hand.

Since our side has previously reinforced the means of communication and reconnaissance by spies and fast horses, that state is advantageous.

Even as for the economic activity, it is effective to grasp the major dealers by their necks.

Besides, they should have noticed it right away.

Transportation expenses for cargo and such will rise, but that will make it possible to get the upper hand in the price competition of large-scaled merchants.

That greedy bunch will probably obey while complaining publicly.

However, there will be complaints from the merchants of the central area.

The empire is heading towards the unification of the continent. For that cause the cooperation of merchants with large amounts of capital is necessary. Small and medium merchants will be crushed and other challengers will appear right away. It will be fine if we treat only those, who stand out, favourably.

Haa

And, that device.

It changed his fate. The biggest cause for continuing to use the Magic Obstruction Device that used technology from the era of the Ancient Magic Civilization and which was excavated from a huge underground ruin located in Nnberg Dukedom, is for the sake of lowering the power of magicians on the battlefield.

Do you know why a dragon is powerful?

Is it because it releases a powerful breath?

Theres that as well, but its because it flies in the sky. Since humans cant fly, they are weak to attacks from above.

That was also the primary factor why the number of magic airships was counted as military force.

Also, Duke Nrnberg is a soldier.

He thoroughly took into account the threat of an enemy that moves in three dimensions rather than two dimensions.

They fire spells while flying in the air. They move to their preferred position in an instant. They communicate with distant companions in an instant. If we can prevent this, it will become possible to deal with them, no matter what powerful spells a magician can release. Even in our camp there are magicians who can deploy a strong Magic Barrier.

For that reason he took the time to get the Magic Obstruction Device operational. He spread its effective range until the limits of the magic types it jams.

About this time there might be an uproar in the northern part of Helmut Kingdom, too. Seeing that the magic airships dont move in the north, its possible to simply eliminate the chance for the kingdoms intervention. It might take some time, but my reforms will certainly become reality.

Duke Nrnberg had absolute confidence in his own plan.

End of Part 2

So, hows the situation?

In the area close to the northern national border, magic communication devices as well as magic airships cant be used.

Thats quite the strange phenomenon.

Moreover, at the same time, Helmut the 37th inclined his head in the royal castle in the capital Stadtburg due to the reports having arrived from the north.

Since the evening of the day before yesterday, it has suddenly become impossible to use communication magic and magic tools. The magic airships ceased to move as well.

The large ships, which are managed by the kingdom, were safe since they werent floating at that time, but the small ships, which have been used by nobles and such, have crashed.

According to the damage reports gathered at present, seven ships have crashed, a lot of its cargo has been lost and 89 people have lost their lives.

Those heavy objects suddenly lost control at a height of several tens to several hundreds of meters and came down just like that.

It is impossible for normal humans to be able to survive that.

What was additionally painful was the reported death of two magicians.

They tried to flee from the falling ships with the spell Flight, but as that didnt invoke, they crashed and died.

The jamming of communication and movement magic ends at a specific range.

The cause is Holy Empire Urquhart, I guess? (Helmut)

Its just as you say, Your Majesty.

With the imperial capital Bardiche as centre, its very likely that areas in a radius of 2.000 kilometers are receiving the same jamming.

The majority of the effect was on the empires side, but that effect has also reached a part of the kingdoms northern territories.

Definitely carry out a follow-up on the areas which have suffered damage.

Certainly!

There is no direct damage except the magic airships which ended up sorrowfully crashing, but its painful that the transportation and distribution of goods by magic airships and the communication was shut down.

If thats left alone as is, there is a possibility that it would trigger a stagnation of business in the areas in range of the effect.

Its necessary to increase the carriage trips. Also, theres the increase of messengers by horses and letters, huh?

Since theres no way we are able to increase it abruptly, theres no other way but to assign the remaining carriages to the north while increasing the transport by magic airships in the other areas.

However, if we do that, this will also affect the communication and transport towards the south, which boasts of a high operating ratio, at the present state.

In my opinion there will be a lot of indirect damage.

Is it a scheme of Holy Empire Urquhart?

The possibility for that is high, but its strange.

True friends dont exist between states, but even Holy Empire Urquhart shouldnt desire war with Helmut Kingdom currently.

For this reason the government officials in charge of trade expansion negotiations and their families were sent to this times Friendship Visit Group.

To begin with, most of those responsible for trade have already returned to our country.

Given that the emperor has died and the election deciding the new emperor has started, they were made to return to their country after leaving behind a part of a dozen personnel in charge of gathering intelligence and to attend the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor.

Communication with the group, that stayed behind, ceased as well.

Thats because communication is impossible.

Even communication to an area which isnt affected from an area which is being jammed, and the reverse of that, has become impossible.

Communication with the embassy has stopped as well.

Magicians, who can use Transmission, and a stationary large-scaled magic communication device were placed there, but they cant get in touch with those either.

Is it even impossible to get a contact to the liaison on-site?

It seems this is no good, too.

Either sides foreigners have been prohibited to go outside of the capital, but illegal spies and spying networks by natives, which were organized by the spies, naturally exist.

That means even contact to them has become impossible.

I wonder whether you are able to contact Doushi and Earl Baumeister, Your Majesty, but

This might work.

Helmut the 37th, takes out the small hand-held magic communication device, he bought from Earl Baumeister, from his pocket.

It was highly efficient and handy, but it doesnt make contact after all.

Not only are they unable to contact the other side, but the communication itself is obviously hindered.

Will they be alright?

Communication with Earl Baumeister, who is the cornerstone of the souths economic development, and the Royal Head Magician has stopped.

If something has happened to them, the kingdoms south will fall in a state of chaos.

They are probably safe. Rather than that, its necessary to raise the alert level of the royal army to a level of a quasi-war.

Helmut the 37th didnt worry about the safety of the two at all.

No matter what, he couldnt imagine the existence of anyone capable of killing them.

Quasi-war level?

Its an arrangement to be prepared at any time even if it turns into war.

For this level to be invoked was actually the first time in 200 years.

By looking at the circumstances, this jamming of communication is something artificial.

Even for a sophisticated magician its difficult. Theres also the matter of continuing it over time.

Since we cant expect that theres no legacy of the era of the Ancient Magic Civilization in the empires underground either, there was the possibility that someone dug up such item and used it.

For what reason?

That will be seen. I dont think its only for a rebellion though.

Its right after the enthronement of the new emperor.

Someone disapproved of that and raised an army.

Considering the difference in military forces to the imperial army, if its for the sake of mutually stopping communication, foreign nobles will be blocked from gathering intelligence and their movements will be sealed.

There should be no mistake that they are planning to occupy the empires centre during that time.

I see. Nows a chance.

You, what are you talking about?

Since the empires centre is paralysed, its possible to win against it without even striking them with any decent moves.

Helmut the 37th faced the noble in front of him with an expression as if he was disgusted.

That noble planned an all-out-war with the empire.

Why do we have to place our hands on a smouldering rock*?(T/N: Author used here a chestnut in the fire)

Even while being astonished, he predicted that such guys will increase if the news of the empire spread after this.

From 1.000 years ago to the time of the ceasefire 200 years ago it could be said that Helmut Kingdom was inferior to Holy Empire Urquhart.

The empire, which was early in its unification and founding, occupied the current kingdoms northern territories in the Gigant Crevices south and ruled over them.

The empire had been driven away to the north of the Gigant Crevice at the time of the ceasefire, but perceiving the era of its southern occupation as something disgraceful, it was possible that nobles, who start advocating the occupation of the Gigant Crevices northern area, would increase now.

I can understand them emotionally, however as a matter of fact the occupation of the Gigant Crevices south by the past empire stole the national power of the empire itself.

Thanks to the Gigant Crevice itself its mostly impossible to keep up supply by anything but magic airships.

Since the young people of major nobles and those, who obtained achievements, had already been appointed as nobles in the occupied areas, there was no way that they would abandon those. And if they did that, it was also possible that the emperor would be denounced in the congress.

In the end, you can even say that they pointlessly wasted personnel, goods and budget with the maintenance of the occupied territories until they retreated after losing the war.

If the kingdom occupied the empires south by crossing the Gigant Crevice, it will probably assign young people of major nobles and people, who obtained achievements in the war, as nobles in the newly captured territories, too

And if they get into a pinch, the royal army would be dispatched as reinforcement each time that happens.

Have you said this after considering the budget for that? You will be likely overjoyed if we push the second sons and those below into being countryside feudal lords, but have you not taken the possibility of the kingdoms financial affairs declining into account?

However, if its the current military strength of the air force

Magic airships, eh? Havent you been told just now that those cant be used?

In the first place, theres the problem how to dispatch soldiers in the current situation.

The magic airships, which are effective in crossing the Gigant Crevice, cant be used.

Theres also the move of forcibly advancing by building a bridge, but that will cause difficulties once we try to retreat if the war progress becomes disadvantageous.

Given that communication has been blocked as well, the probability of being unable to sufficiently command the army is high as well.

What will you do about the supply?

Procure it locally

Do you really believe that to be possible?

Pillaging the region we have to rule after the occupation; the military forces, which were dispatched on-site, would likely be meaninglessly worn down by local resistance movements and the military forces of the empire.

Its an empty theory, isnt it?

Helmut the 37th sighed in his mind due to the uselessness of this noble.

After all he is falling far behind the nobles who are serving as ministers.

Even so, somehow using even such idiot is the task of a king.

The quasi-war preparation system is also no guarantee that the other side wont come trying something.

Since communication has been obstructed, we dont know the situation of the other side.

The possibility that enemy forces will invade at the same time as abruptly stopping the communication blockade isnt zero either.

And, attacking now is politically unwise, too.

Really?

While thinking that he cant use him after all, Helmut the 37th begins to explain it to the noble in front of him.

If this was done by a rebellion, theres a possibility that it will benefit the rebels if we advance our soldiers while taking advantage of the opportunity.

The current war situation is unknown, but its difficult to imagine that the rebels have seized all of the empire at the current point in time.

The chaos inside the empire might continue for a while, but what will happen if Helmut Kingdom, which is a foreign country, sends its soldiers at that point?

Saying We have to oppose the foreign invaders, it might result in helping with their gathering into one entity.

On the basis of the great cause to recover the area which was stolen by Helmut Kingdom, its possible that the number of nobles, who sympathize with the rebels, might increase.

Once that happens, its very likely that it will result in an age of war once again.

The rebels should try to unify the country into one by making use of the foreign enemy.

This kind of story is something that happened often since the old days.

And our country will have its national power stolen by maintaining the occupied territories which were just seized.

Naturally the southern development can be expected to stagnate as well.

Well then, I wonder whether our fellow countrymen in Bardiche are safe or not

The concept that the empire will unlikely make a move on foreign nobles who are staying as envoys will become meaningless if the considerations up until now are true.

Thats because

The situation of there being victims will reinforce the argument for an expedition by our country.

There are also victims due to the crashes of the magic airships.

Its also possible that I wont be able to suppress a dispatch of troops, if the number of militairs and nobles, who insist on revenge against the empire, increases.

If they are aiming for that, it will be troublesome even if there are rebels.

By seeming to obviously act lawlessly, they are actually trying to control our movements.

Currently we have no other choice but to carry out makeshift solutions in order to gather as much intelligence as possible.

If we do too little, it might also increase the number of nobles advocating for an expedition, but its probably a salvation that the main faction of the army doesnt wish for a dispatch of troops, isnt it?

Minister Edgar, together with Earl Armstrong is busy in helping with the exploitation of the concessions of Herthania Valley and the south.

He couldnt believe that they will approve to a war, where its ambiguous whether they can win or not, that easily.

Theres the possibility that they might turn into expedition advocates after being told to do so by their relatives and vassals, but these kind of people are busy with the preservation of the concession leftovers as well.

Humans are creatures who wont go to war that simply if they are content.

(Its Earl Baumeisters influence, huh?)

All of it was a hindsight-based opinion, but Helmut the 37th, who is a calm ruler, considers it like that.

Earl Baumeister is a man I can use after all.

(He is together with Klimt. Earl Baumeister shouldnt die that easily either.)

Rather, I feel sympathy with the mastermind, who caused a rebellion, while these two are in the empire.

That mastermind might possess some special feelings towards Earl Baumeister, but theres no way that man will lend help to a rebellion which adopted immature, idealistic thoughts.

If possible, he will make sure to not get involved in it. He is sure to counter-attack fiercely, if it looks like he will be harmed.

Thats obvious if you look at the last days of the Margrave Browig household which has been reported to have fallen down to 3/4th of its former economic strength.

(Even so, the Margrave Browig household are nobles of his country, therefore that man has been considerate with them. No mercy dwells in him in regards to people and nobles of another country.)

Those, who would try to corner him, will probably suffer severe retaliation in proportion to the degree of their cornering.

(Well then, how will Holy Empire Urquharts future turn out?)

Will the rebellion, which I expect to be mostly true, succeed or will it fail?

Holy Empire Urquharts national power will decline either way.

In that case it will be fine if my Helmut Kingdom cultivates its national strength by advancing the southern development.

As long as Earl Baumeister exists, its possible. If we increase the difference in the national power between both countries, it might even become possible to annex Holy Empire Urquhart in due time.

Helmut Kingdom isnt a particularly pacifistic state that completely denies wars.

If its realistically possible, I wont show any hesitation to have a war to unify the Langaia continent.

(Anyway, currently its about how to gather precise information.)

After Helmut the 37th thought for a while, he began to do as much as he can with his hands in his obligation as statesman.