Wortenia Senki Volume 2 Chapter 11
TLN: Unedited.ver... I think my editors were busy or something.
Chapter 2 Episode 11
(Audience 3)
The 96th
day after being summoned to another world.
Ryouma was
the only person inside the room in the castle.
There was a
little bit chaos during the audience; however, the princess never changes her
decision.
In Ryouma's
mind, he remembers the general gaze full of hatred being directed to him at the
time when he was about to leave the audience room.
(Fuu...
Well, I was a newcomer after all, so it can't be helped. )
Actually,
there are many things that he feels regretted.
In the
beginning, he wants to join the princess' faction without making anyone wary of
him.
However,
even if he said that, nothing would change.
(I should
be happy that the princess show an interest to my proposal...)
Currently,
Ryouma is still not yet formally part of the princess' faction.
Considering
everything, it was natural.
After all,
he has no achievement yet.
And from
now on, he should start making an achievement.
Thus
Ryouma's battle is still not yet ended.
No, rather,
this is where the actual battle start.
"I'm
sorry I've made you wait. "
The one who
entered the room was Princess Lupis being accompanied by Meltina.
"Oh
no, for granting such an impossible wish, I really feel grateful. Your
Highness. "
Ryouma
raises his body from his chair then lowered his head.
He wants to
discuss about what to do from now on, specifically because he had created
inconvenience to many people during the audience.
For that,
Ryouma and the princess both moved to another room within the castle.
And for
security reason, only Ryouma was being called.
"Well,
you don't have to be that stiff. Please relax and make yourself comfortable.
"
"Understood
Then please excuse me. "
After
confirming Princess Lupis and Meltina have sat down, Ryouma once again sit down
in his chair as well.
"Then
shall we began our discussion? "
After
confirming with the Princess, Meltina starts the talk.
"You
should know it already, what we want is a military force. "
This should
be equal to putting Ryouma and the others in the princess' faction.
Meltina
said those words while looking at Ryouma as if trying to read his mind, then
she continues.
"However..."
"The
family of the people who died because of us, you unable to disregard the family
dissent is it?"
Hearing
Ryouma's words, Meltina nodded her head.
"Well,
I guess that can't be helped, don't you think? Now then, what's your
term?"
"Value...
"
Meltina
answered Ryouma's question briefly.
Although
many expectations were hidden within her reply.
"I
see... I have to show some value other than being a war potential, is it?
"
"After
all, if you said you only have war potential then, it would be no difference
than hiring mercenaries from somewhere. "
"If
that is the case then, your highness will get a bargaining in this negotiation
you know?"
Hearing
Ryouma's words, Meltina shows an expression as if doubting him.
"Why
so?"
"After
all, I'll be the one who brings victory for your highness. "
Hearing
that, Princess Lupis unintentionally leaked small laughter.
"You
have such a great confidence ne~? "
"Thank
you very much for your praise. "
"However,
I can't believe you with just a mere words "
"Of
course, I understand that. "
"Then
can you prove your words?"
Princess
Lupis tone of voice sounds like joking; however, he can feel thirst of blood
coming from her gaze.
"Of
course... or so that is what I want to say but, can I ask some confirmation
first?"
"What
are you trying to do? You, are you trying to deceive her highness?"
Meltina's
hand moved toward the sword on her waist.
It seems
like she's going to cut his head immediately if he makes a poor excuse here.
"No no
no... It's just, how am I going to make a countermeasure if I can't grasp the
current situation? Or rather than that... I saw something worrisome during the
audience, you know... After all, the situation is entirely different from what
I heard from Mikhail. Thus, I want to hear the current situation directly from
her highness. "
Meltina who
heard Ryouma's explanation turned her line of sight toward the princess for
confirmation.
"First,
shall we listen about the worrisome matter you had said just now?"
Princess
Lupis said those words toward Ryouma while keeping calm.
"Alright...
First, I heard from Mikhail that the Knight faction is the princess' faction;
however, I guess it was not that simple is it not?"
Unrest
expression shown on the two people face after they heard Ryouma's words.
While
pretending to be calm, Princess Lupis continues the talk.
"Why
do you think so?"
"That
because at the time when your highness spares Mikhail's life, some of the
people there show unpleasant expression. Well, it was only for an instant
though. And The thing that I want to confirm just now. I've already got the
answer from looking at your highness expression. "
"I
see... Then, what is your thought regarding that?"
"Regarding
the knight faction as your highness base support, we're sure of that, right?
However, not all the knight faction members supporting your highness. Perhaps,
the General who had been arguing against Meltina-san? Is there a separate
faction centered around that person? No... opposite of that, it's not like
there's a separate faction centered around that general, the general himself is
the main actor while the princess is actually only a figurehead, am I
right?"
Long
silence covered the whole room.
One might
wonder just how much their hearts was beating furiously after hearing Ryouma's
words.
The answer
can be seen just by looking at their expression.
(I hit the
mark huh?... That's mean, I have to change how I should deal with all of
this... No wait, I have to hear the princess objective first...)
"You
able to understand all of this just from the audience today?"
"Yes. "
After the
long silence, Princess Lupis finally open her mouth.
"I
see... Indeed, just like you said, having you at my side might be really a
bargain..."
"Your
highness..."
Meltina
voice filled with sorrow and regret can be heard.
"It's
fine... There were no meaning in keeping quiet when he was already seen through
me this much, don't you think so?"
After
saying so, Princess Lupis turned her eyes to Ryouma.
"Just
like what you said... I had no choice but to become a figurehead. All the real
powers are held by General Hodram. "
"I
see, that is the name of the person who argued with Meltina-san during the
audience, right?"
"Yes.
"
"Hmm...
Then can your highness tell me about the current situation? After all, I can't
make any countermeasure without knowing it. "
Princess
Lupis began to talk after brooding over a little.
"Indeed.
... First, I should tell you everything about what the knight factions are.
"
It took
Princess Lupis 30 minutes to explain while getting supplemented by Meltina here
and there during the talk.
"I see
now; this is indeed quite bad. Even if the knight faction were to win the next
political struggle, the future that your highness will get would be the worst.
"
Such words
come out from Ryouma's mouth after listening to all of the princess'
explanation.
Due to
General Hodram holding the real power, by the time the political strife against
the n.o.ble comes to an end, Princess Lupis would literally.
No, if
General Hodram was someone who does not care about rebel stigma, after he
executes the n.o.bles faction, he might actually sit on the throne himself.
In other
words, for the princess to survive, two conditions must be cleared.
One is to
win the political strife against the n.o.ble.
During the
time the knight faction tried to win against the n.o.ble faction, they have also
to expand the princess' faction until it has enough power to counter the
General.
Even just
one of this condition can be said to be considerably difficult.
Although
Meltina and Princess Lupis seems to understand about this already.
(I thought
I was going to pa.s.s my predicament smoothly but, it ends up like this huh? Only
one-third of the knights from the Knight faction have sworn allegiance to the
princess...)
One can say
that the Princess faction was being cornered like a mouse.
That's why
they found interest toward Ryouma's words, as if clinging to the last straw of
hope.
For their own
survival.
"I
want to make her highness the princess to be the real head of this country!
Both in name and reality! You, can you do it?!"
"Meltina...
Thank you..."
Princess
Lupis said her thanks for Meltina's words.
"I
guess so... But first I want to confirm, first for your highness to become a
true ruler of Rozeria kingdom. Second, to break away as the knight faction's
puppet. You want to aim for these two point right?"
The two
people nodded toward Ryouma's words.
"If
that is the case, we can do it somehow. After establishing royal authority,
whether or not it can be maintained, it depends on your highness the princess'
ability, however, if it's just to take it... it's possible. "
""Is
that true?""
"Of
course... "
Toward
Ryouma's words, their reply was filled with a mixed feeling of happiness and
skepticism.
"How
are we going to do that?"
"By
splitting the neutral faction. "
The face of
the two people clouded with disappointment for Ryouma's words.
"Fuu...
it was stupid for the two of us to believe in you. "
Meltina
calls him stupid with mocking tone.
"Oh?
You don't like it?"
"Of
course! I was already doing that since a long time ago!"
"Hou?
Meltina-san is?"
A smile
appears on Ryouma's face.
"That's
right! Everyone would already think about that!"
"And
you think n.o.body notices that? "
"Y-You
b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"
Maybe
Meltina feels like she was getting mocked, she drew her sword.
"Are
you looking down on me!"
(I see...
With just this much provocation it ends up like this huh?)
He had
already expected it since the time he saw what happen during the audience, but
still...
(There's no
problem in terms of loyalty toward the princess, but, I want someone who's a
little bit thoughtful... )
Ryouma
thought of something like that while Meltina's sword draws closer to him.
"Stop
it!"
"But
still your highness!"
"Meltina!
Calm down!"
Due to
Princess Lupis reprimand her, Meltina reluctantly withdraws her sword.
"However,
it was reasonable for Meltina to get angry. Or do you really think you can
split the neutral faction?"
One can
feel Princess Lupis words contain some thorn in it.
Although
she shows some tolerance toward him, she does not have any intention to swallow
all Ryouma's words just like that, and she also shows slight displeasure on her
face.
Ryouma
shows a bitter smile while looking at Princess Lupis, then he began to talk.
"Well,
I'm 80% sure. However before that, I want Meltina-san to do something, is that
okay?"
After
gazing at the princess, Meltina nodded her head.
"How
slow of you! How's the negotiation going?"
The night
sky had already ruled over the neighborhood.
Most people
inside the castle have already eaten their dinner and currently prepared to
enter their bed.
"Sorry
about that. Or rather, you both still awake?"
After
finishes his talk with the princess, Ryouma head toward the room he was
allocated to, when he opened the door he saw Laura and the others whom he
considered already sleeping standing in front of him.
"Of
course. We won't sleep until master return!"
Sara nodded
at Laura's words.
"You're
not the only one who stay awake you know?"
"What,
there's Lione-san too huh? "
"What
do you mean with what! Geez... I was wondering how the negotiation was going,
to the point I can't stop my heart from beating fast!"
Lione who
sat down in front of the table that being placed in the middle of the room
protested.
"Because
you felt nervous thus you end up waiting is it?"
Due to the
scattered bottles of wine on the top of the table, Ryouma didn't think she's
that worried about him.
"Nee-san
believed young master and had been waiting for you to return, you know? "
"Bolts!
You don't have to say such unnecessary thing!"
Then Lione
erases her smile and turns her line of sight toward Ryouma.
"So?
How is the negotiation going? Is it going as you had expected?"
She
immediately returns the topic as soon as she sobered up, it seems like she
holds back on her drinking a bit.
"Yes.
Though I was planning to tell you about it tomorrow. Since Lione-san is already
here, I guess I should just tell you now. Laura, Sara. Both of you, please sit
down as well. "
"Emm...
How about the meal?"
"Ah,
forget about that. There's no problem if I just skip one meal. "
""Understood.
""
Ryouma
wondered if the sisters actually prepared his meal already, as he ordered the
sister to sit down when they were about to head toward the inner room, then he
began his explanation regarding the negotiation.
"What
did you say!? The princess' faction is in that kind of disadvantage!?"
The first
who raises voice after listening to Ryouma's explanation was Lione.
Bolts and
the sisters' face also shows a gloomy expression.
"Well,
about that there's nothing can be done."
"But
still, to think that within the Knight faction there's a dispute between the
general faction and the queen faction is a little bit..."
"Well,
I guess that's how big-shot usually is, I guess? "
Toward
Laura's words, Lione replies in a somewhat philosophic way.
In that
regard, it might be because of the difference in life experience.
"But
then again, are you really going to help them when you already know they were
in that kind of situation?"
"Well,
if we leave it as it is, it would be impossible. At least, if the princess does
not have the power to hold up against the general after the political strife
against the n.o.ble faction end, it would be over for them. "
If one
consider the way General Hodram talk or how he look at Ryouma's and the others,
he might just laughing and ignore them despite the fact that they had already
asked the princess to help them in exchange helping her to fight the n.o.ble
faction.
If Ryouma
handles this poorly, at the time the political strife end, they might send an
army to get rid of him.
"If
that is the case then, there's no other choice other than building the
princess' faction's strength huh?"
The reason
why Bolts' voice lack in energy was because if he had to a.n.a.lysis everything as
a mercenary, it would be very difficult for them to win in this kind situation.
"But
not all was bad. At least, the princess was willing to help and back us up if
we a.s.sist them. "
Because the
possibility of winning is slim, usually it makes such agreement end up having
more binding force.
"But,
are you really sure you can win over the neutral faction?"
"Sure.
Since I've asked Meltina-san to demonstrated how she do negotiation a while
ago. I will go and catch the fish. "
Everyone
shows a wondering expression after looking at the face of Ryouma who had
responded to Lione's question.
They are
wondering why after seeing how Meltina done negotiation Ryouma consider it as
confirmation of success.
"Well,
we will talk about that after I success on doing the actual negotiation, for
now, Lione and the others will be put under the princess' direct command. Your
main duty would be guarding the castle and practice until the war started.
"
Up until
here Ryouma stop talking and direct his gaze at Lione.
"?
What? Is there anything else?"
"No.
Lione-san, how many people does Red Lion have?"
"Including
myself, there's 22 people who are able to fight. There's a guy who got his
shoulders injured by an arrow during the last surprise attack, but if that guy
injury were to get better, then there would be 23 people. "
"We
slightly lack on people huh... Lione-san can you gather around 70-80 people
without going through the guild?"
"Well,
since I have some mercenaries friends and acquaintance, it is possible... but
do you have the money?"
It was
unusual for Lione to reply with such bad manners.
"How
much?"
"Let
see... If you want people with capability like me then... I want around 300
gold coins. "
"Understood.
I will ask Laura to get the money tomorrow, so can you gather them
immediately?"
"S-Sure.
If you have the money, then it's fine. "
Lione was
taken aback due to how Ryouma brought out a large sum of money easily.
"For
now, tomorrow would be the start of our battle! What kind of action we make,
and how we conduct ourself will decide everything!"
Everyone
nodded their head vigorously after hearing Ryouma's words.
They
understood that in order to survive this battle is the battle they cannot lose.
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