95 - The Price of Arrogance
The Laurel Kingdom army had achieved victory in the battle against the Demon King's army, but they could not afford to rejoice for long. Several problems had arisen.
One was the disappearance of Hinata. Naturally, a search was underway, but no trace of her had been found. There were eyewitness reports of her walking within the camp during the night, but there was no information beyond that.
There was a reason why the search was not progressing. First, based on the eyewitness reports, it was believed that Hinata had left the camp of her own accord. If that were the case, Hinata had no means of surviving in this world. The person in charge had lightly assumed that she would either return immediately or be discovered in some town or village.
In other words, no large-scale search was conducted during the initial stages. Meanwhile, Cecil, who had ordered Hinata to come outside the camp, had taken her away into the mountains of Nordende, but such a possibility had not been considered at all.
Once the period of two or three days—the time they thought she would be gone for at most—had passed, they finally began to search in a panic, but recovering from the delay in the initial response was not easy.
While that was happening, reports arrived that the subjugation of Nordende was not progressing as expected. Originally, it was a subjugation operation that didn't need to be rushed, but it was a different story when they were repelled by the enemy multiple times.
There was also the possibility that the Demon Race had gathered again. If that were the case, while it might not go back to the very beginning, the Nordende garrison would have to maintain a certain scale of military strength. For the Laurel Kingdom army, which was preparing to move toward invasion operations of other countries, this was a painful miscalculation.
"Is it correct that the Southern Expedition will continue?"
In the meeting, Sieg was confirming the future policy with the King.
"...We cannot afford to fall further behind. If a situation arises where other countries gain an advantage over us, invasion will be out of the question."
The struggle for continental domination had already begun, and small nations were being swallowed by large ones. If the Laurel Kingdom fell further behind in that struggle, the tide would shift instantly toward other great powers. As a result, if the surrounding small nations began to follow other countries, they would have to devote all their strength to defending their own country rather than invading others.
"But we will be leaving a danger within our own borders. Is that acceptable?"
Sieg was negative about continuing the operation. Knowing the fact that the subjugation of Nordende was proving difficult, he had become cautious.
"They have simply not been completely eliminated. Was that not already taken into account?"
From the start, the policy had not been to avoid foreign expeditions until the Demon Race was exterminated. As long as the Demon Race's power was weakened, dispersed, and they were not allowed a large-scale counterattack, that was sufficient. That had been the strategic goal of the previous battle, and it was considered a success.
"...I understand. I will continue the operation."
The King had no intention of stopping the foreign expedition. If that were the case, Sieg decided that he had no choice but to minimize the risks as much as possible during the execution phase.
"When can the operation begin?"
"The first wave will set out in two weeks."
Preparations for the Southern Expedition were complete enough to begin in half a month. It took courage to make the decision to stop in this situation. That was why Sieg had confirmed it with the King, the only person who could do so, but he did not obtain the decision he had hoped for.
"I see. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, sir!"
With this, the final decision to execute the operation had been made. It was no longer at a stage where the details of the operation needed to be discussed with the King. Sieg withdrew from the audience chamber.
As soon as he stepped into the hallway, his subordinates approached. There was simply no time right now. They would hold meetings even while moving.
"...Give instructions to the Nordende garrison. Tell them not to carry out any forced invasions. Tell them to think only of sealing the Demon Race within Nordende."
"Yes, sir."
Sieg intended to have the Nordende garrison solidify their defenses. Sieg believed that as long as the garrison could keep the Demon Race suppressed until the Southern Expedition reached a turning point, that would be enough. They could not afford to suffer damage that would make that impossible. He had to prevent a situation where they fought carelessly and depleted their military strength.
"Tell the regional armies to strengthen their alert status. That said, they are not to move to demon subjugation, but to concentrate on information gathering. If the Demon Race is dispersed, that is fine. Tell them absolutely not to overlook any movement that suggests they are gathering."
"Yes, sir. I will send messengers to each region."
"Shall we also ask for the cooperation of the Noble House Armies? This cannot be done directly from the military. Let's ask the Prime Minister. I will make the arrangements on my end."
He decided to utilize the armies held by the noble houses. These were armies that did not go on foreign expeditions. As long as they were not invaded, there would be no impact on their battles with other countries. And Sieg had absolutely no intention of allowing other countries to invade.
"How is the conscription going?"
"The numbers are gathering. However, their proficiency is still not at a state where they can be sent to war."
They had suffered more casualties in the battle against the Demon King's army than expected. To fill that gap, the Laurel Kingdom had issued a conscription order. That said, it wasn't enough to simply scrape people together. After gathering them, it was necessary to conduct training until they became useful as an army.
"Expecting proficiency at this stage... Still, train them as quickly as possible to the point where they can be deployed in actual combat."
"Shall we send them to Nordende?"
"Yes. Numbers are necessary when dealing with the Demon Race. I want to assemble enough numbers as quickly as possible to be certain that a counterattack will not be allowed."
Sieg intended to use the conscripted forces to hold Nordende rather than for the Southern Expedition. He would minimize the domestic risk as much as possible. If strife broke out again within the country, the invasion operations of other countries would eventually collapse. It was a natural precaution.
"Understood. I will give instructions to the person in charge."
"And then... ah, her. Any information since then?"
It happened during military operations. Naturally, the fact that Hinata had gone missing had reached Sieg's ears.
"None has arrived."
"I see... Hand it over to the Bureau of Internal Affairs. If there are units currently searching, tell them to stop."
"The Bureau of Internal Affairs?"
Maintaining domestic public order was the job of the Bureau of Internal Affairs, though not its only one. The subordinate felt that entrusting the search for a missing person to them was slightly off.
"She is not a criminal, but the Bureau of Internal Affairs should be adept at searching for individuals. I do not know how much they can operate in the provinces, but it is certain that it is not our job."
"Yes, sir."
Sieg did not place importance on the search for Hinata. Whether Hinata was there or not did not become a major problem for Sieg. Lacking combat power, she was not an existence that would affect the operation.
"...Any word from Geel?"
If it was the same kind of search, he was far more concerned about this one.
"Yes, it has arrived. However..."
"What is it?"
"The content of the message was simply 'let them escape'."
The subordinate, who did not know what Geel was doing, had no idea what this meant. Since this message was designed so that he wouldn't understand, it would be a problem if he did.
"I see. Let them escape, huh... I have no choice but to leave it to him."
Ray was certainly alive, but Geel could neither capture nor kill him. From just 'let them escape', Sieg understood.
The fact that he was alive was within expectations. The problem was what the living Ray intended to do. That might actually be the greatest risk they held within the country.
However, there was nothing Sieg could do about it right now. Ignoring the anxiety that welled up in his heart, he decided to concentrate his mind on the Southern Expedition.
◇◇◇
Fumiya and Akemi would also accompany the first wave setting out in two weeks. In this operation, which emphasized the speed of invasion, there was no holding back of military strength. He intended to use the units that could be called the most elite as the first wave to crush the enemy army in one go.
For Fumiya and Akemi, who were not involved in military duties, the period until departure was a period of rest. Since they were technically heading to war, they decided to spend their time freely so as to have no regrets.
"...Th-that's it. There... ah..."
Akemi was writhing on the bed. The one pressing her was Prince Neil.
The relationship between the two had existed since before Akemi went to the battle against the Demon King's army. It was the result of Akemi actively making a move.
"Th-that... you've gotten... better... ah, it's, it's amazing..."
An adult woman giving guidance to a younger boy. That was how their positions should have been, but now Prince Neil had completely seized the initiative.
"Ah... I'm, I'm coming... I'm coming..."
Akemi surrendered both her body and soul to the surging pleasure. Much faster than Prince Neil improved by receiving her guidance, her own body had matured.
"I'm coming... ah, ah, I'm coming... I'm coming-uuuu! ...Aaaah!"
Akemi writhed, her body shaking with tremors. She did not notice that Prince Neil's eyes as he looked at her were cold.
"...Ah... a-again... n-no... p-please, forgive me already."
Akemi reacted again to the unstoppable movement of Prince Neil's hips. She would continue to tremble with pleasure over and over again—.
"...How embarrassing."
After the long act ended and a short time passed, Akemi finally regained her composure. Once that happened, she felt inexplicably embarrassed by how utterly disheveled she had been.
"I've been wondering about this for a while, but what does that mean?"
"What?"
"You kept shouting 'I'm coming'. What does 'I'm coming' mean?"
"...D-don't ask embarrassing things."
"Embarrassing..."
Prince Neil thought that after exposing such an embarrassing sight for so long, it was too late for that, but he wasn't so ignorant of how to handle women that he would say it directly.
"Simply put, it means I'm satisfied. I wonder if I'm compatible with you, Prince? It's the first time I've ever become like that."
"Compatible... I see."
"Ah, it's not just compatibility. Prince, you've become very skilled... it's embarrassing to even say such a thing."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Yes, of course."
"I see..."
Even knowing he was being praised, he didn't make a particularly happy face. In reality, he wasn't happy at all.
"I won't be able to see you for a while, Prince."
"Departure is in two weeks, right?"
"Yes. I wonder how long it will take to come back? I hope it's not too long."
"It's until we take down one country. I can't say it will be short."
Even if it was a small country, unless they surrendered easily, occupying it would likely take considerable time. They wouldn't be able to return in a short period.
"...Aren't you lonely, Prince? Without me."
"That is lonely. But I have to endure it."
"...Listen... until when do I have to go to the battlefield?"
"I don't know."
Prince Neil did not yet have authority regarding national administration. Even if he did, his influence was practically non-existent. The authority of his father, the King, was absolute. Even as a son, he could not shake that.
"...What will happen to us in the future?"
"The future?"
"Um... will you stay with me forever?"
"Yeah. If that's what Akemi wants."
"Really!?"
Prince Neil gave his consent to the words intended as a reverse proposal. Akemi was delighted by this, but...
"But why does Akemi want that?"
"Eh? That's, of course... because I love you, Prince."
She couldn't say it was because she wanted to become a consort and be revered by the people.
"...I think it will be difficult."
"Well, since I come from a commoner background, I think there are various things I'll have to learn, like etiquette."
The behavior of a queen. Acquiring that would be difficult. But that wasn't what Prince Neil was talking about.
"Would it be alright if you weren't the Principal Consort?"
"Principal Consort?"
"How should I put it? The highest-ranking consort? Ah, 'future Queen' might be easier to understand."
"...Are you telling me to be a concubine?"
Akemi's expression changed instantly to one of severity. Akemi wanted to be the Queen. She could not accept being in the shadows.
Even as a secondary consort, as long as she was an official consort, she wouldn't be in a position to be called 'in the shadows', but Akemi didn't know that. Even if she did, she still wouldn't be satisfied.
"I'm not telling you to be one. But I think being the Queen is difficult. I thought Akemi might dislike that kind of thing."
"...It's fine. For your sake, Prince, I'm okay with it. I'll strive to become a splendid Queen."
"I see. I understand Akemi's feelings."
"Then..."
"But please don't tell anyone about this conversation yet. This isn't something I can decide on my own. How should I put it... if the talk proceeds without any groundwork, I'll surely be scolded."
"...That's true."
The marriage of royalty is not something decided solely by the agreement of the two parties. Akemi could vaguely understand that.
"Now... sorry. I have another appointment."
"Eh, ah. Right. I understand."
Though it wasn't about the current conversation, Akemi was not in a position to be with Prince Neil forever. Thinking that she had to hurry back to her own room if he had an appointment, Akemi hurriedly put on her clothes.
"Then... when can we meet next?"
"Let's see... I'll contact you when I have some free time."
"I see... then, I'll be waiting."
Finally, directing her own version of a lovely smile at Prince Neil, Akemi left the room. Replacing her, one of Prince Neil's pages entered from another entrance.
"...How was it?"
"It was exactly as you said. That woman is aiming for the seat of the Queen."
"I see. May I say she is overstepping her station?"
"No problem. I only dealt with her because she said she would teach me how to handle women."
The reason Prince Neil had a relationship with Akemi was to learn about a woman's body. Anyone would have done. It just so happened that when he thought he should learn eventually, Akemi had made the invitation.
"One could also call it arrogance."
"Far from teaching, she's the one who's infatuated. Somehow... as I thought, women are hideous. After showing such an embarrassing sight, she puts on a composed face once it's over. Nothing but lies."
Prince Neil made a grimace, remembering Akemi's lewdness. Whether he hated Akemi or loathed women in general could not be determined from this alone.
"Hideous... is that how it is?"
"I see. You all don't know women."
They were pages brought to the castle at a young age. There was no way they could have relationships with women. Even if they obtained such an opportunity within the castle, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on one because they were terrified of Prince Neil.
"...I think His Highness would be angry if he heard us asking this, but..."
"What?"
"Until when will we be by your side, Your Highness?"
"Eh?"
"Please do not misunderstand. It's not that we dislike it, but we wonder if Your Highness will continue to treat us the same once we grow into adults."
"............"
There was no way to answer. If he were to venture an answer, it would be that he wouldn't know until it actually happened.
"Furthermore, while it's impossible for that woman, Your Highness will eventually marry. When that happens, we will leave the castle. Is that not so?"
"...Not necessarily. It is possible for you to continue serving as my aides."
"I am grateful for the words, but if people of our birth are placed as aides, Your Highness's position will worsen. As for status, any level, no matter how low, is fine. As long as you give us a place to live."
If they were promoted to aides, they would be resented by powerful people. There was even a possibility that their lives would be targeted to steal that position. For those snatched from the slums, they had no backing other than Prince Neil himself.
However, more than that, what he wanted to convey was: please don't kill us. That feeling was embedded in the words 'a place to live'.
"...I see. I'll think about it."
He had planned to kill all the pages he had snatched. But as he said, Prince Neil decided to think about it.
It was not out of compassion for them. He thought it would be fine to have existences who swore absolute loyalty to him. He felt that subordinates who would do anything if it were his command were necessary.