CH 48

About ten days after Elsa left the town…

Diplomats from the Kingdom of Sandra visited the town, and negotiations for the terms to uphold peace were held.

The diplomats, from beginning till the end, apologised while prostrating. Their speech all started with an apology, but they had absolutely no intention to make this uncomfortable. They bowed so much that those from wolf tribe who were acting as my escorts were surprised.

However, I think they’ve selected good personnel. It’s quite a big deal for them to lower their heads to beastmen.

Well, this town does not associate with other countries, so no matter what they do, the influence of the Kingdom of Sandra won’t go down. For that reason, the diplomats probably think that if it was just an apology, then there was no problem with them doing it.

Regarding the peace conditions, there were compromises to some extent.

The conditions were as followed.

The Kingdom of Sandra will pay reparations equivalent to 40 million new Barbanil Silver Coins (around 112 billion yen). They will pay equivalent to 1 million new Barbanil Silver Coins (about 2.8 billion yen) monthly.

The Kingdom of Sandra must take over all 832 prisoners of war. Furthermore, the ransom for Princess Mireille will be equivalent to 10 million new Barbanil Silver Coins (28 billion yen), the knights’ equivalent to 1,000 silver coins (2.8 million yen) per person, the others will be returned free of charge, and the ransom will be paid in  full all at once.

Kingdom of Sandra will pull out the villages which lead from the Southern territory to the town.

In the future trades, the the price of [Spice] will be raised.

The King of Sandra will make a written pledge to not attack the beastman town again.

I already knew that it would be unavoidable to make a compromise, and after hearing about the situation with the Kingdom of Robutas at the north, there was no other choice. As for the written pledge, I intended to scatter copies of the agreement all over the place should the King of Sandra break the promise.

When the peace conditions were established, the diplomats quickly returned to their country. During their next visit, they will bring the agreement signed by their King, as well as the various items from the conditions.

When summer was over, two visitors appeared. They didn’t come accompanied by horses, so it was very suspicious. After listening to their stories, it seems that they were from the Kingdom of Robutas, and their request was for us to attack Kingdom of Sandra from the south.

As for not being accompanied by horse, it seems like the Kingdom of Sandra was watching the border of South territory tightly, so they didn’t come via the riverside. After all, the Kingdom of Sandra was afraid of the contact between this town and other countries.

Even so, how many countries actually know about this town? When I asked about it, they said that since the town of beastmen defeated the Kingdom of Sandra, word will eventually spread throughout the continent in the future. Our military strength, unknown magic, and there was even a story of us being accompanied by unknown beasts.

Then, as for their proposal, I’ve already made peace with the Kingdom of Sandra. Even if the other party might betray the agreement in the future, I cannot break the promise which I made myself. In addition, I do not intend to move away from here in the first place.

When I conveyed my intentions to not side with any country, the messengers attempted to negotiate, and they left without being disappointed. They had heard that negotiations between this town and the Kingdom of Sandra were underway, and tried find out if there was an alliance between us or not.

Even so, it was painful since there was no way to obtain information, so I do not understand the situation of the continent at all. For example, when it comes to war, it could certainly be said as the ultimate defense if I knew the enemy’s situation when they attack.

And then I noticed that there was a possibility that numerous human countries might band together and surround this town. However, I never thought of losing even though human country united into one. In the worst case, I will run away, or so I have simulated numerous times.

After the messengers from the Kingdom of Robutas, people from the Kingdom of Sandra came accompanied by numerous carriages. After receiving the official agreement and pledge from the messengers, I went to Mireille to ascertain its authenticity. I did not speak about the circumstances, and only showed the signature and the seal, and Mireille judged that it was truly from the King.

I then instructed the beastmen to immediately retrieve the prisoners from the South. The prisoners of war will be handed over the day after tomorrow.

◆

Mireille sat quietly as usual in one of the inn’s room. Her body did not improve and remained weak.

“It has been decided that you will be returned. Tomorrow morning, you will be handed over to the humans from your country.” Mira told her as she served her dinner.

“Is that so?” Mireille replied plainly.

However, when Mira was about to leave the room, Mireille spoke once more.

“I have one request.”

“......” Mira did not turn around or answer, but she stopped walking.

“There should be reversi in this town. Could you bring that here?” When Mireille finished stating her request, Mira left without complaining.

After Mireille finished her meal, Mira returned to the room with a wooden box containing a wooden board and stones.

Mira placed the reversi on the desk and left with the tableware. But, Mireille stopped her just as she was about to leave.

“Wait, I can’t play it alone. Accompany me.”

“...I have never played it before.” Mira replied curtly.

“Ah, I see. I’ve only played it three times too, you know. So, how about a fair match between beginners?” Mireille seemed somewhat happy.

Mira sat down somewhat reluctantly, and after Mireille taught her the rules, the game started. In the quiet room, the sound of stones being placed resounded, and eventually the game was over.

“Hmm, it is my win.” Mireille said, a small smile lifting her thin cheeks.

Mira frowned a little while staring at the board.

“What? Don’t sulk. In reversi, it’s important to take the corners.” As Mireille boasted about her victory, there was slight rise in her tone. The corners of her eyes drooped, and the corners of her mouth raised; she looked happy.

Mira shifted to face Mireille.

“Is there any meaning to this?”

It was in no way an excuse. Mira truly thought that playing reversi was a meaningless act.

“Right, it might not mean anything.” Mireille thought.

If it was a long time ago, it would be much better for her to swing the sword many times rather than being hooked to something like this. Mireille thought that Mira was the same as the past her.

“Some time ago, a man named Romatto was here. I heard that that guy played reversi with the beastmen to deepen their friendship, right?” As Mireille said so, Mira became even more sullen.

Humans and beastmen do not get along. When you think about it, it was a big mistake.

Such thoughts were unconsciously expressed on Mira’s face. Mireille thought that she was rather easy to understand.

“Ah, I’m not really trying to be friends with you in particular. Hey, let’s do it again. Listen, the corners are important. The corners.” Mireille stated firmly. After finding the winning method, she boasted and showed off like a child.

“......” Mira picked up the stone in silence.

The sound of stones clicking resounded once again.

Naturally, Mireille opened her mouth.

“...I thought I could do anything. I guess it could be said that I felt invincible. There was no one who could win against me in the Knight Order.” The content was something about herself. While looking at the board’s surface, Mireille continued to speak. “However, I am only a frog in the well.

The army was defeated without being able to return even one arrow. I ran away, and in the end, I have become a prisoner now. Well, rather than because the world is a wide place, maybe it’s because this town is special.”

Mira simply listened quietly. Without looking at each other, Mira and Mireille continued playing seriously.

“Many soldiers died. I was also in favour for this war. If I had opposed it, then some people from the army that attacked this place would not have died. Even though I was able to shamelessly survive, I feel miserable. Even if I lose so much weight, I am still alive. ...Surely it’s because I am afraid of death.”

What was the reason for Mireille becoming so abnormally thin? The reason was because Mireille used the body manipulation technique. The characteristic of this secret art was to raise the power of the body above its limit using magical power. But, the risk was also high.  Therefore, even if she ate something nourishing, she could still easily die from the sickness in her heart.

But, she was not dead yet. Mireille thought that the fear of death was something that was barely supporting herself.

“Well, I wonder what I should do.” Mireille raised her face to look at Mira, who resembled herself.

However, it was still a question for herself.

Then, Mira turned her brown eyes towards Mireille.

“How should I know?” It was only that. After saying that, Mira returned her eyes back to the board again.

“That certainly seems like something you’d say.” Mireille gave a faint smile, and the sound of stones being placed resounded in the quiet room resounded once more.

Before long, the game came to an end, and Mira stood up.

“This is enough, right? I will give the board to you.” Then, Mira left the room.

Mireille looked at the left side of the board. The game ended with Mireille’s overwhelming victory. Mira did not try to stubbornly strike the corner, but she seemed to have tried to win against Mireille instead.

She was awfully pure and dazzling. For some reason, Mireille became fond of her.

The next morning, the one who brought the meal was not Mira, but another beastman instead. When the meal was over, she went outside the gate while being escorted by three beastmen.

“Why isn’t Mira here?” Mireille asked, but her escorts do not answer back. They were only there to do their jobs.

After a while, they arrived at the northern gate. The gate was open, and a man from the Kingdom of Sandra was there. The injured boarded the lined up carriages while the dissatisfied knights were forced to walk.

Mireille stepped forward. The people from the Kingdom of Sandra were surprised to see Mireille, who was so thin that she was like another person.

“Fujiwara-dono, is Mira not coming here?” Mireille asked Nobuhide, who was nearby.

Nobuhide then asked her guards, and they replied that she was not on duty.

Mireille was placed in the carriage for injured people. Eventually, the carriage started to move and left the town steadily. Nobuhide returned to the town’s gate too.

Mireille was looking at the town from the back seat. She felt unspeakable loneliness in her chest.

“I am getting weaker.” Mireille sneered at herself.

But then, a familiar shadow entered her sight. Mireille became startled, and hurriedly used the body manipulation technique to strengthen her eyesight. Above the stone wall was a person staring her way with her usual sullen face.

“Hmm.” Mireille’s lips drew up in a gentle arc. A smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

Mireille thought that this was sufficient. Selfishly saying that she resembled her and trying to become friends, it was only to comfort herself. However, the lie that was filling the empty gap inside her chest became a positive thing before long.

She was simply yearning for self-satisfaction. It was not the fear of death which kept her body from dying out. It was an existence called Mira.