Chapter 296 - Episode 289: Confrontation ①
Noein, having arrived in Laden, first went to pay his respects to King Oscar Roadberg III.
The location was the camp of the Roadberg Kingdom Army, sprawling outside the city walls of Laden. The Roadberg Kingdom Army, led by Oscar, continued to camp without yet entering Laden.
The reason was that because the armies of the Kingdom's eastern region and the Betumia Republic's central region were gathered, Laden was still crowded with Betumia soldiers, leaving no room for the Roadberg Kingdom side to enter.
"You have come, Viscount Arqvist. Good work on your hard fighting in the western part of the Kingdom. You defended the line well."
"I am humbled, Your Majesty. I suffered great losses in manpower and there were points where I was lacking as a general, but I did my utmost."
Entering the exceptionally large tent that served as the headquarters, Noein knelt on one knee and performed the salute of a subject, receiving words of appreciation from Oscar.
"Hahaha, being humble after achieving such results only makes it sound like sarcasm. You clashed head-on with the unit that destroyed the Marquis Gardwin's territory, and you endured the offensive without being annihilated. That is no ordinary feat. Be proud of it... It will still take some days before the negotiations with the enemy's representative. You will likely have nothing to do for a while. It is only a camp, but rest well."
"Yes. I thank you."
Having obtained permission to leave from Oscar, Noein exited the tent, joined Matilda who had been waiting outside, and happened to glance toward Laden.
"...To think that Laden would end up in such a state."
The headquarters were situated on a hill that offered a panoramic view of Laden. The state of the city, with the scars of destruction from the fierce battle remaining, was clearly visible. Many buildings were destroyed, and the stone walls had collapsed in places.
The residence of the Count Kivileft, which stood out due to its unnecessary size, was no exception. Whether there had been fighting there, or whether it had been exposed to the rampages of Betumia soldiers, it could be seen even from a distance that part of the main building had collapsed, the annex was burned, and the warehouses were damaged.
The luxurious prison that had confined Noein no longer possessed its former solemnity.
"Noein-sama."
Matilda called out with a slightly worried voice to Noein, who remained standing while staring at Laden.
"...I'm fine, Matilda. Shall we go?"
Noein took his eyes off Laden and moved toward the place where Yuri and the others were proceeding with the camp preparations.
.....
Around the time late May approached. With the prospect that the complete withdrawal of the Betumia Republic Army would be completed in about a week, and since instructions regarding peace had arrived from the home government, Charles, along with Representative Dickens, set up a seat for peace negotiations to hold a conference with the representatives of the Roadberg Kingdom side.
The location was the conference room of the Count Kivileft residence, which had been used as the headquarters. Charles, taking his seat as the military representative, waited quietly for the Roadberg Kingdom side to enter, but Representative Dickens, who sat next to him having been delegated full authority for peace from the government, was visibly restless.
"...Representative Dickens. Could you be a bit more calm? It is not as if the opponent is coming to kill you."
"Yes, I know. I know. I am perfectly calm. I am..."
Unable to watch any longer, Charles spoke up, but Representative Dickens was muttering to himself, his eyes wandering.
How did a man like this manage to become a government representative? Just as he thought this and let out a small sigh, the conference room door opened and a security guard entered. At that sound alone, Representative Dickens let out a "Hie!"
"The delegation of the Roadberg Kingdom has arrived. May I show them in?"
Representative Dickens looked at Charles with a flustered face. Charles looked back at his face in silence. Since the person in charge here was Representative Dickens, he was the one who should answer.
"...I-I understand. Let them in."
Saying this in a slightly cracking voice, Representative Dickens stood up. Charles followed him in silence.
Then the door opened again, and the Roadberg Kingdom delegation—centered around King Oscar, a dozen or so men entered the conference room in a crowd.
On the Betumia Republic side, there were Representative Dickens and Charles, along with a few bureaucrats such as secretaries, and only a few security personnel. Faced with the intimidation of the opponent who outnumbered them, Representative Dickens was overtly shaken.
"I am the King of the Roadberg Kingdom, Oscar Roadberg III."
"I-I am Representative Dickens, delegated with full authority from the go-government of the Betumia Republic."
"...I am the Supreme Commander of the Betumia Republic Army, General Charles Hamilton."
In contrast to King Oscar, who introduced himself majestically, Representative Dickens bowed his head while trembling slightly. Charles introduced himself plainly and expressionlessly.
"Y-Your Majesty, um... it seems the Roadberg Kingdom side has quite a large number of representatives..."
"These are all nobles representing the Kingdom. If anything, I have narrowed down the number. I may have frightened you, but I ask for your patience."
Along with Oscar's words, the Roadberg Kingdom nobles let out laughter.
Are these the men who drove the Betumia Republic to withdrawal? Charles thought.
Those who were clearly warrior-like. Those who seemed wily. Those who seemed cunning. Those who seemed cold-hearted. Their ages and the impressions they gave varied. Among them was even a small youth who, at first glance, looked like a child.
The Roadberg Kingdom is a feudal state. They are the nobles of such a country, and each one of them is the master of a castle. A ruler of a society. From their expressions, that pride and confidence were certainly conveyed.
It is only natural that they cannot be beaten.
The Betumia Republic is a giant state. It became too giant. It became too stable while remaining giant. The Betumia Republic Army, which once possessed pride as an army of the people and for the people, was now nothing more than one of the bureaucratic organizations.
Even if it is good at first, bureaucratic organizations and systems eventually rot. It is the way of organizations made by human hands, and systems that rely on human goodness.
The number of military officers who rose in rank through tact alone, despite lacking actual ability, increased. The number of officers and soldiers who worked for self-preservation rather than pride increased. Charles himself, who lamented the current situation, was the prime example of this. The concern Representative Dickens expressed at the beginning of this war of aggression—"Perhaps the Betumia Republic Army had become weak without anyone noticing"—was not entirely wrong.
"Now then, shall we move immediately to the peace negotiations?"
Saying so, Oscar and a few people who seemed to be high nobles of the aide class took their seats. The others stood lined up behind them.
"What is the matter, Lord Dickens? You should also sit quickly. We are here to have a discussion, are we not?"
"Y-yes. My apologies..."
Prompted, Representative Dickens sat down hesitantly, hitting his elbow on the chair and his hip on the table. While quietly taking his seat beside him, Charles suppressed the urge to sigh. At this rate, it was as good as the opponent seizing the initiative.
"Then first, let us hear your conditions."
As expected, Oscar, being the King, initiated the conversation and began to advance the negotiations.
"...H-His Excellency Blanche Fildrack, the Prime Minister of our Betumia Republic, desires the restoration of relations with your country. To forget each other's mistakes and build a relationship of friendly trade as before—"
"Mistakes?"
Oscar spoke, interrupting Representative Dickens' words. His voice was quiet, but within it was contained an emotion of anger that felt like a freezing chill.
"Your country committed a mistake. The mistake of launching a war of aggression against an opponent you could not defeat, and trampling and ravaging the opponent's society. I understand that. Then, what of my country? You just said, 'forget each other's mistakes.' What mistake did my country commit?"
Oscar's eyes became fixed. The aides lined up beside him, and the nobles standing behind him, all looked at Representative Dickens in unison.
It was the gaze of proud nobles, eyes that could shoot one dead with a look alone. The intensity was different. Charles seriously worried that Representative Dickens, beside him, might wet himself out of fear.
"...This is not my personal opinion, but the v-view of the government."
However, Representative Dickens was a politician, even if a rotten one. While frightened, he continued speaking as the representative delegated with full authority for the negotiations.
"...Your country used a drug called 'Angel's Nectar' and took a despicable strategy. You carried out a strategy to make many Betumia Republic Army soldiers—who were originally innocent citizens of Betumia—suffer from aftereffects. However, the government, for the sake of future friendship, considers your country's mistake—"
Thump, a heavy sound echoed in the conference room. Oscar had slammed his fist onto the table. Representative Dickens fell silent. The Betumia Republic Army security guards standing in the corner of the room touched the swords at their waists, but when Charles raised his hand slightly to restrain them, the security guards returned to a rigid standing posture.
"We chose no means in order to protect our country. That is all. It was your country that landed for the purpose of invasion. Did your country not challenge us while being prepared for the fact that great sacrifices would occur?"
"..."
Representative Dickens did not answer. For a representative of a government that decided on invasion relying only on the optimistic prediction that they could occupy the Roadberg Kingdom without significant sacrifice, there could be no words to return.
"General Hamilton, what do you think? Do you also think my country committed a mistake? When the opponent they challenged fights back with desperate intensity, is it the way of a Betumia Republic soldier to curse that as a despicable mistake?"
"...I am present to assist Representative Dickens. In this place, I do not possess the authority to state personal thoughts regarding the government's view. I ask for your forgiveness."
Charles did not answer Oscar's question, nor did he help Representative Dickens.
"None of you are worth talking to. Let me state our peace conditions... We demand reparations for the damages suffered by your country's invasion. Thirty billion Rebro."
Hearing that amount, Representative Dickens' eyes widened. Charles also raised an eyebrow slightly.