Chapter 206
★ Beauty Under the Moon Strategy Conference Room ★
The Lef Magitech Empire's preparations were complete. It had finished analyzing the Holy Kingdom of Kurvane, the Light Sky Knight Kingdom, and the Keithgran Federation.
The Light Sky Knight Kingdom, which was aiding them out of "A knight does not abandon a neighbor's suffering" and "pride," sought no specific reward.
Although the Keithgran Federation had declared its support, its repeated excuses meant that the amount it provided fell far short. To keep Kurvane in check, they would nevertheless give Keithgran a proper seat at the table by having its representative wait in an anteroom, ready to be brought in at any time.
They prepared the two finest chairs among those in the Beauty Under the Moon—and, unbeknownst to them, Larc had once dozed off in one of them—with the Emperor intended to sit in one and the former Holy King in the other.
Besides his senior ministers, the Emperor had five soldiers stationed nearby carrying "Heroic Gear," metallic equipment so bizarre in appearance that it resembled ancient works of art. For reasons unknown, this Heroic Gear did not function and was nothing more than an intimidating bluff. The Heroic Gear that did work was, naturally, already making a tremendous contribution on the front lines as weapons.
"Duke Grengide and Count Syries have arrived from the Holy Kingdom of Kurvane."
"Very well."
It was all for this negotiation.
The key was how to use them to conquer the Red Zone and get them to act as the Empire wished.
The double doors stood open, their design suggesting they led into a salon. A huge man with a broad chest ambled into view, so tall one had to look up at him.
His hair was blue, as though it were glowing on its own, making it clear that this was the former Holy King, Duke Grengide.
"Duke Grengide. I have come at the command of Her Majesty, the Queen of the Holy Kingdom of Kurvane."
"We warmly welcome your visit. Please, sit down."
As the Emperor offered him a chair identical to his own, he was startled by the sight of Count Syries behind Grengide—and a girl who looked no more than an early teenager.
Her hair and eyes suggested they were father and daughter, but even for a noble family, would they really bring a child to a diplomatic meeting...?
Moreover, the girl's bearing was astonishingly poised. Wearing a chic dark lapis-blue dress, she had such exquisite features that even the Emperor, accustomed to Anastasia's exceptional beauty as a member of the High Elf royal family, could not help staring.
Her eyes were wide and bright, yet intelligence shone through them rather than childish innocence. Her perfectly brushed hair curved inward to frame her face, and her healthy pink lips seemed to have been touched with the faintest hint of rouge.
"Your Majesty, it would perhaps be inappropriate for me to sit in this chair."
Grengide had come close enough to say this, and the Emperor finally came to his senses.
"...What do you mean?"
"It would be best for my country if I were not seen as your equal. I am, after all, merely a duke—one of its nobles."
"I understand."
The Emperor had expected this answer, so at his signal, a somewhat less prestigious chair was brought in.
Although Grengide was the "former" Holy King, he was saying that he did not want to be treated as the Holy King. The Emperor thought he genuinely meant it.
(He isn't a man who cares about appearances, then.)
Determining what kind of man Grengide was would be essential to advancing the negotiations in the Empire's favor.
When the Emperor shifted his gaze toward Grengide's side, the other man seemed to notice and said,
"The person accompanying me is Count Syries, who handles domestic affairs in our country."
"Your Majesty, Emperor of the Lef Magitech Empire, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
With one hand over his chest, Count Syries bowed at the waist, while behind him, his daughter dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
"Your Grace, who is this child?"
"She is Count Syries's daughter, Eva. I brought her because I had need of her."
Grengide's lips curled into a grin.
"We'll discuss that in due course."
The Empire then explained the situation on the front lines. Aba did the talking. Beginning with the overall picture and proceeding chronologically, his explanation was smooth and concise; despite lasting only five minutes, it surely gave Grengide and the others an accurate understanding of what was happening.
"I understand. ...A place where you lived until only yesterday has become a killing ground, and you are now forced to fight. I can scarcely imagine what that must mean to you."
Grengide's voice trembled at the end as he lowered his eyes.
Once they realized he spoke from the heart, several of the soldiers carrying the useless Heroic Gear dabbed at tears in the corners of their eyes. Indeed, the Director of the Military Affairs Bureau was sobbing so hard he even had to blow his nose.
"The Holy Kingdom will cooperate to the fullest extent possible. I believe the ultimate goal is to seal the Red Gate, but would that be correct?"
"That is so. We cannot even approach it at present, much less observe its condition. We envision four phases: Phase One, pushing the front line forward; Phase Two, analysis by an observation team; Phase Three, research into the Red Gate; and Phase Four, the sealing operation..."
"That seems reasonable."
For a while after that, they discussed the finer details concerning the front lines.
"By the way—given the Empire's current circumstances, I do not think we will be able to repay your generosity until our country has recovered."
"Of course. I have no intention of asking you to do anything here and now."
Grengide said this firmly.
In other words, once the Empire had returned to normal, there was no telling how much might be demanded of it in return.
"I thank you for those reassuring words. However, even you cannot enter a battle without any prospect of compensation. So I have a proposal... How would you feel about being repaid with our nation's latest vessel, the Beauty Under the Moon?"
At those words, the senior minister who had not been informed beforehand gaped, and one of the soldiers carrying Heroic Gear accidentally dropped his weapon.
"That is... generous, but are you certain?"
From Grengide's perspective, the Empire had raised the subject of compensation first and then offered him something it would never have parted with before. His confusion was only natural.
"If promising it in advance means you will fight with all your might, it is a small price to pay. If we can reclaim our country with a single Beauty Under the Moon..."
"I see..."
Grengide folded his arms, but then said,
"Very well. I will send word to the homeland accordingly. I doubt there will be any opposition, but..."
"Thank you."
"Actually, I had intended to learn the situation after actually engaging in combat and then make a proposal... but I have one request of my own."
The Emperor grew wary at the word "request."
Was he asking the Empire to permit the relocation of its citizens already inside the Holy Kingdom? Or was he asking them to provide a mechanic to operate the Beauty Under the Moon as well?
He waited for the next words, wary.
"If you can approach the Red Gate and enter it, I would very much like you to send me inside."
"..."
The Emperor wondered whether he had misheard. He had received a request so incomprehensible that he could not have heard it correctly.
"What did you say...?"
"If it is possible to cross into the 'world beyond,' I would like to go."
"..."
When the Emperor glanced at the count beside Grengide, the handsome Count Syries was wearing a deeply troubled expression.
The duke was serious.
"...What on earth for?"
It was so utterly unexpected that this was the only question he could manage.
"To save my benefactor."
Grengide stated it unequivocally.
"For that purpose, I decided to go to the front lines myself, and I have brought Eva here—the potential secret weapon of our army."
The Emperor remembered that there was a girl here who seemed entirely out of place.
Unlike her father, Eva neither looked bitter nor exasperated at Grengide's words. She listened intently.
"What, exactly, can that girl do?"
The Emperor realized that, for some time now, he had merely been asking the other man to repeat himself like a fool, but there was nothing he could do in a situation like this.
"She possesses a special power that does not come from a Talent. 'Inspiring Magic Eyes.' It is a power that can give us an enormous advantage in battle on the front lines."
"And I, too, wish to save someone, just as Duke Grengide does."
It was the first time the girl had spoken.
Though her voice was cool and clear, with an air of intelligence, the word "someone" carried a warmth that belied it.