Chapter 58 - The Northern Lands
In the north of the island, conflict had broken out.
Finis at the northernmost tip, Septanaquila to its southwest, and Northern Gram to the southeast had been engaged in a three-way struggle. Finis has the largest territory. However, most of it is steep terrain. The populations of all three countries were similar, and they merely fought each other without having the national power to suppress any one country.
Finis is a highly bellicose tribe where all men call themselves warriors, and they challenged one of the two countries to conflict almost every year. Due to the resurrection of the Demon Lord and the dispatch of reinforcements to Sertoria, there had been no conflict between the three countries for a while, but they commenced action as soon as the support army returned.
They stationed their army at the border without disbanding it. They had not hired mercenaries to begin with. Due to the cold climate, they not only place the weight of food procurement on hunting and fishing rather than agriculture, but looting other countries and trade outside the island are flourishing. For that reason, they were a troublesome opponent for the two southern neighbors who held no territorial ambitions toward the north.
That said, the remaining two countries were on such bad terms that they never even considered joining forces. Northern Gram was originally founded by a vassal of Septanaquila who seized the lands of the former lord. There was no way they would be on friendly terms, and they were enemy nations in the previous war.
The struggle between the three countries had continued without the balance being broken, but it reached a turning point. Finally, Northern Gram joined forces with Finis.
Northern Gram applied for a marriage alliance themselves and had their messenger say that they should decide the winner after defeating Septanaquila together. Even though he was called a messenger, he was the Crown Prince leading the Demon Lord Subjugation Army.
If told so by the Crown Prince who came all the way to the Finis Royal Capital carrying the King's personal letter, it would be a shame not to accept. Finis took it that way. This was a characteristic of the tribes forming Finis, where external pride always took precedence over all diplomacy. And the secret pact was made.
The Septanaquila camp received it with surprise and shock, but the cooperation of the two countries was within the scope of their assumptions. After fortifying the border, they promptly requested reinforcements from their ally, Medioland, as per their usual covenant.
Medioland had no intention of expanding the theater of war to the entire island. They judged that a situation where the three countries in the north, which were inferior to them in national power, fought each other was preferable. Since two countries had cooperated, it was natural to support the remaining one to maintain the balance.
As a result of their deliberations, they decided to check the Kingdom of Gram, which had a high possibility of supporting Northern Gram. Gram and Northern Gram are in a relationship that could be called brother nations, and there is a history where one has often concurrently served as the king of the other.
They gathered their own troops near the borders of both Septanaquila and Northern Gram, showing a stance where they could intervene at any time.
Those troops were drawn from the soldiers at the Septanaquila and Sertoria border. They considered it impossible for Sertoria to attack, and in fact, that is what happened.
To answer that trust, Sertoria had Roberts and Gladys of the Eastern Plains contact the King of Medioland to communicate that they were putting their efforts into hunting the remnants of the Demon Lord's army in the northern part of the Eastern Plains. Both sides' borders became empty, but it is the busy farming season. They presumed that the campaign probably wouldn't last long, so it would be fine as long as they kept the standing army moving.
Septanaquila, seeing the Medioland soldiers guarding the border moving away, made the north for defense only, emptied the country, added temporary conscripted mercenaries to all the remaining soldiers, and invaded Northern Gram. When they broke through the border fortresses and occupied the villages, Medioland soldiers entered after them. With this, Septanaquila was able to advance without any worries about their rear.
Medioland dispatched the Crown Prince to the Septanaquila King's main camp, and he was, so to speak, a hostage while working out joint operations with the Septanaquila side. Actually, this was Roberts' idea. He said 'if it were me, I would do this,' and they adopted it as is.
The King of Septanaquila was delighted by this measure and even proposed that in the event of victory, they should split both the land and the reparations. However, since receiving a portion of the occupied territory would only result in an exclave, Medioland politely declined.
Originally, Gram was a smaller country than Northern Gram, and even combining both countries, Medioland's national power was far superior. Gram, which had been trying to send reinforcements, could not very well invade the Medioland army, and while they were twiddling their thumbs, the war situation progressed.
In the meantime, Finis, having lost patience with the incompetent Northern Gram, withdrew their troops, and the armies of each country temporarily halted. This was because even Septanaquila did not desire a long-term war.
In the end, Finis obtained a bride from Northern Gram, Septanaquila obtained the occupied land and half of the reparations, and Medioland obtained half of the reparations. Northern Gram lost about one-sixth of the land they possessed and ended up paying reparations, and this campaign concluded with them as the sole loser.
Gram had yielded to Medioland's silent intimidation, but this not only bought the displeasure of Northern Gram but also showed the possibility of Gram as Medioland's immediate prey. In fact, a portion of the Medioland army that had invaded Northern Gram was stationed at the border with Gram, showing signs that they would likely invade by winter.
◆◆◆◆
About a week after the northern campaign ended, in the Kingdom of Engrio, King Seldic and Servetus were facing each other at the watchtower of the royal castle. It is decided that these two meet at this place with this good view.
Under the hot summer sunlight, spring-sown wheat and beans are bearing fruit. In the fields where the wheat harvest had finished and in the pastures, livestock could be seen grazing. Soon, the pastures will be plowed, and the summer fields will be replaced by pastures.
"Are you all not involved in the commotion in the north?"
Seldic asked pleasantly. With this charming smile, he has won the respect of the people. Of course, it is accompanied by administrative skill.
"My deepest apologies. Since the gods worshipped by the people of the northern edge are fundamentally different from ours, the conversation does not mesh at all."
Servetus bowed his head deeply and apologized.
The King does not say that any god one worships is fine.
Valuable things consist of only two types in the world: those that one pursues oneself and those that others pursue. This is because he knows that.
"However, I humbly think they have utility value."
"What do you mean?"
"It is Medioland."
Hmm, Seldic put his right hand to his chin and fell into thought.
"Will Medioland invade Gram?"
"If Your Majesty shows that you have no intention of picking a fight with Medioland, they might move."
"Are you telling me to attack the west?"
"Your insight is correct."
"It would be winter. Snow will fall on the mountains at the border with Regnentes."
Regnentes is a country to the northwest of Engrio, bordering Sertoria to the east and Primordia, the country at the western tip of this island, to the west. These three countries were allies in the previous war and had opened hostilities with Engrio.
The eastern part of Primordia is a steep mountainous region, and they possess the entire peninsula beyond that. It is, so to speak, a massive natural fortress surrounded by the sea on three sides and mountains on the remaining side. They will attack there. When winter comes, snow falls on the mountainous region that is Primordia's defensive wall, and land traffic with other countries is cut off.
"Will we go by sea?"
"As you wish."
This King is quick to understand. Servetus was impressed.
"Will your personal troops be ready in time?"
"I shall show you that they will be ready."
The King nodded with satisfaction. If they are to be sent to the west, a few thousand from the western standing army should be enough. They haven't fought lately. They've had plenty of rest.
"Still, Forbidden Magic is a convenient thing. To be able to make the magic used by others into one's own technique."
"That is precisely why it is feared by each country and is about to be sealed away. However, I humbly think that the point depends on the caliber of the one who controls it."
"I wonder if I have that caliber?"
He looks at Servetus with a pleasant smile.
The source of the smile is not confidence. Naturally, it is not conceit either. This King is simply enjoying himself. Internal affairs, diplomacy, and war.
That is precisely why he can be a ruler. Servetus, thinking so, bowed his head in silence.
"How many people can handle monsters?"
"About five at the moment."
"Is that not few?"
"If there are five, they can probably handle two or three hundred. I humbly believe that with a little ingenuity, they could even take down a single fortress."
"I see. Report to me in advance once the operation is finalized."
"As you command."