Chapter 107 - Episode 23: "I Shall Start a War"
Gokigenyou! Violia Nico Fortesia here!
I am currently huddled together at the hideout, consulting with these ruffians!
Namely, regarding 'how to prove that a war will not occur'!
"Proving something that doesn't exist is difficult, young lady."
"I know that!"
"Then I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring such impossible demands to us."
"I couldn't care less!"
I have known for a long time that it is difficult! That is why I have come here to consult, is it not!?
"I think we could get results even if we left it alone. Even if we prove the Kingdom of Asumbra has no intention of starting a war, nothing much will happen except the Royal Family being disappointed and Amavire Rent's crime becoming heavier."
...That is true. It is exactly as he says.
Even if it were found out here that 'it was a lie that the Kingdom of Asumbra was going to attack,' all the preparations the Royal Family has worked hard on until now will go to waste, the people's dissatisfaction will remain as it is, and the Pin-Hane Girl will probably just die!
But! That is exactly why! I want to pour my strength into it!
"Because it seems interesting!"
Revenge is not something that is satisfied just by quickly finishing off the opponent!
"Interesting... is it?"
"Yes! At this rate, the Royal Family will prepare their armaments, find some random pretext, and then invade the Kingdom of Asumbra to seize their land and property! If they win the war, public sentiment will improve! The Royal Family will be secure! That is not interesting at all! Either way, the war must be crushed in some form somewhere!"
"...I see. Certainly, even if the Kingdom of Asumbra doesn't attack, it seems the Orchesta Royal Family might eventually lose patience and go to attack themselves."
Yes! Therefore, I shall stop the war anyway! It would be fun in its own way if this country lost, but then the people I wanted to kill might die at the hands of someone who isn't me! That would not be interesting! Not interesting at all!
Unless those people who burned down House Fortesia die in a considerably pleasant way, my anger will not be appeased!
"...When considering that, the most interesting timing is now. Now that the people have had their food taken away, the Royal Family has spent a fortune gathering weapons, and on top of that, the decision to hold a large-scale Martial Arts Tournament has been made and the announcement is over—now is the chance!"
"I agree with Violia. Certainly, now is the most interesting. The damage to the commoners is also the least."
Oh. Keeb's opinion is the same. Yes. It must be so. It is definitely now! It has to be now!
...Keeb is worried about the damage to the commoners, but that is also a good thing. If one thinks about avoiding the exhaustion of the country itself rather than this country's Royal Family, then one would want to avoid damage to the commoners. In that case, it is definitely now!
"Certainly, we can't just leave it alone anyway."
"Yes. I believe that Royal Family is stupid."
That greedy person will do things that a wise and restrained king would not do! Surely!
Therefore, I must provide 'proof that a war will not occur.'
"The timing is good, but what are you going to do in the end? As I said earlier, proving something that doesn't exist is difficult."
Now then. We finally come to the difficult part, the main subject.
This time, the information brought to the Orchesta Royal Family by the Pin-Hane Girl was that 'the Kingdom of Asumbra was incited by Violia Nico Fortesia and, with the support of the Kingdom of Windry, is coming to start a war with the Kingdom of Orchesta.'
Now then. From here, two major paths can be considered.
The first path is the method of 'creating a situation where a war cannot occur.'
Namely... making them sign a 'Non-Aggression Pact.'
Making them sign a Non-Aggression Pact is quite difficult. After all, it cannot be done unless one intervenes with either the Orchesta Royal Family or the Asumbra Royal Family.
Moreover, if a Non-Aggression Pact suddenly appears, they will naturally be wary, won't they? It cannot be helped if they suspect there is something behind it.
...But, to be honest, there is nothing other than this that can certainly 'prove a war will not occur.' That is how difficult 'proving a negative' is.
Now then. And the second path is the method of 'proving that a war cannot be started.'
This is the method of saying, 'Because that is missing, it cannot become a war.'
For example, if it could be proven that 'Violia Nico Fortesia has never contacted the Kingdom of Asumbra,' that would naturally prove the Pin-Hane Girl's lie. Though, of course, I cannot prove that I wasn't there.
However... that is right, for example, if we look at the 'current' situation, such as 'the Kingdom of Asumbra currently lacks mercenaries,' or 'there are no strange dealings between the Kingdom of Asumbra and the Kingdom of Windry,' and then prove that it is insufficient to start a war, wouldn't that make even that stupid King think a little?
"...That is how it is, but as expected, a Non-Aggression Pact is difficult with our power alone."
"True. Even with the power of Fortesia, it is extremely difficult to intervene in the Royal Families of both countries. Furthermore, our King would certainly not move."
"In fact, if we used the power of Fortesia or something, it would just get more complicated."
That is how it is, isn't it... The ones with the most power among us are undoubtedly myself and Onii-sama of House Fortesia, but both of us are wanted criminals. Ohohohoho.
...Therefore, this is immediately rejected. Unless the conditions are perfectly aligned, it is impossible.
"Which means, the one about 'it cannot become a war because that is missing'?"
"Yes. There is only that."
It cannot be helped, so I should just clearly show them that the Kingdom of Asumbra is not making any war preparations.
...Well, this is what is difficult...
"It's tough to say that military provisions are lacking. This country was the only one with a poor harvest."
"Yes. This country was about the only one where slimes appeared in massive quantities..."
Since I haven't gone around scattering slimes in other countries, they probably have military provisions in other countries. At least, more than this country.
"Weapons are... difficult to prove. What should we do?"
And above all, whether it is weapons or provisions, 'proving they are not there' is just too difficult! How could I possibly prove the circumstances of another country in such detail!?
"In that case, wouldn't it be Violia? What if you spread information that Violia is conspiring with a completely different country or something?"
"That is a possibility... Ah. Come to think of it, I left the Kingdom of Windry quite in tatters! That country is in no position to support a war, is it!?"
"If they say they might be hiding it, that's the end of it..."
...That is how it is. What should I do...
Let us think in reverse. If I were to prove the amount of weapons or soldiers 'I' possessed... at that time, would I put them all outside?
It would be the contracts for weapon transactions, wouldn't it? And then, if there are soldiers actually being employed, I would line them up outside...
...Actually, such a situation cannot occur, can it? What is a state where soldiers can be seen?
A state where soldiers are out in the open...
Ah.
"I have had a flash of inspiration!"
I have had a flash of inspiration!
'Proof that a war cannot occur'! 'Proof of the amount of soldiers and weapons'!
There is only one situation where these occur!
"If a war actually happens, the amount of soldiers and weapons will be known!"
In other words! What I should do is!
Start a war! In the Kingdom of Asumbra! Yes—!
"Naturally, if a country is attacked, they will put out soldiers and weapons. If the Kingdom of Asumbra is at a disadvantage there, then the judgment can be made that 'Ah, this country's military power is only this much,' right?"
Ah, what a good idea, even if I do say so myself!
If a war breaks out and it is proven that the Kingdom of Asumbra does not have much military strength, then the lie that the Kingdom of Asumbra intended to blow a war our way will be exposed.
If anything, it would be even better if a request for aid came from the Kingdom of Asumbra to the Kingdom of Orchesta there, and if the Kingdom of Windry did not provide any assistance at all, the Pin-Hane Girl's lie would finally be exposed!
"...True. But isn't starting a war to prove that a war won't happen putting the cart before the horse?"
Well, that is the only problem.
Starting a war to prevent a war.
At first glance, this seems contradictory, but... it is a simple matter!
"Oh? It does not have to be a war between the Kingdom of Asumbra and the Kingdom of Orchesta! Other countries... or rather, just like it was in the Kingdom of Windry around autumn, couldn't 'monsters' attack the country?"
Now then.
What to do has already been decided.
Yes, as long as the Kingdom of Asumbra is attacked and shows all its military strength by the time of the Martial Arts Tournament, I have plenty of room even with two months of preparation.
Therefore... I shall go extravagantly here!
"Monsters are needed. And exceptionally strong ones at that. Excellent in both mobility and destructive power... I shall lead a massive number of dragons and bring down the Kingdom of Asumbra."
I am going dragon hunting again.
And in the form of live capture.
More efficiently.
...I have one good idea.