Some of the writing was a little hard to understand, but I hope I made proper sense of it. In any case, hope you enjoy the chapter~

"Excuse me, Romel-sama."

After the sound of knocking, a member of the Army entered the room.

Here was a room of a certain inn in the capital city of the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality. 

While they had managed to secure a first-cla.s.s room within the inn, as expected with so many people gathered inside it, it felt a bit cramped.

"……good work, everyone."

Despite my words, the members of the Army lined up in front of me did not change their nervous expressions.

……it can"t really be helped though, I smiled bitterly internally.

This time"s visit to the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality was an informal one.

As such, the number of guards had been narrowed down to the bare minimum.

Precisely because it was like that, the amount of responsibility each individual person bore was larger.

I felt apologetic…….is what I thought now that this time has come around.

However, honestly speaking, I did not have the composure to be worrying about them like that.

Though it was an informal visit, there was no way we could rest whenever we wanted, and on the way here, I tried to complete as much of my official duties as I was able to, extending my work hours to the limit.

And it was likely that even in the future, I would unfortunately not have energy to spare to worry about them.

Because this time"s visit was……the turning point.

The diehard faction sought to invade Tasmeria Kingdom, whose national power had declined since the war with Towair, scheming to expand their domain.

In contrast, there was the moderate faction that wanted to avoid conflict, and the neutral faction that did not lean to either side.

The violent factional dispute then manifested through a power struggle between the five archduke houses that controlled the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality.

The purpose of my visit this time was to establish a collaboration with the moderate and neutral factions, while crushing the diehard faction"s schemes.

Like how the diehard faction recognized, if the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality were to invade Tasmeria Kingdom and it became a war……Tasmeria Kingdom would not be able to endure it.

Due to the previous war with Towair, the national treasury was at a deficit.

Though they had managed to win, there were not just a few sacrifices made in doing so, and such a short time had pa.s.sed since it occurred, that the memories of the war hadn"t faded at all. If on top of this, they were forced to make even more sacrifices……then it was clearer than fire that the population"s heart would grow distant from the ruling cla.s.s.

Were a war to occur, the internal affairs of Tasmeria Kingdom would undoubtedly collapse.

On top of that, if they ended up at war with Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality, then the Towair, whom they had thankfully reached an armistice with, would likely start to move as well.

In order for that not to happen, right now I have come to make an informal visit to Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality on my own.

"Thanks to all of your efforts, I have managed to safely arrive at this country…….however, this is the critical moment. I feel bad, but please continue your efforts in this mission."

"……yes."

However, they were the elites amongst elites picked out by Gazelle.

There was not a single one of them who hesitantly averted their eyes.

Straightening up their sitting posture, they looked at me with a rea.s.suring gaze.

"……I"ll be causing you some trouble."

Feeling relief at the resolve contained within their eyes, I involuntarily let out a smile.

"It is an honour."

The one who answered was Gazelle"s adjutant, Kuroitsu.

When he was appointed to accompany me here, I knew that Gazelle was serious in his selection of my guards.

"Those are good eyes that hold a steady resolve."

"You flatter me…….While I am aware that this may be impolite, could I say one thing?"

"……what is it?"

"It is merely my stubborness in not wanting to lose. This time"s journey will affect the country"s future……and not only that, but the fate of many citizens will be affected by these negotiations, is what I have been told. To stand in front of you, who bears such a heavy responsibility, and say that I cannot fulfill my duty – even if you tore my mouth open, I could not say such a thing."

"This is just a matter of picking the right person for the right job. I"m afraid to say, but even if I flatter myself, I would still be unable to protecting my own body."

"If Romel-sama was strong, then we would lose our jobs."

"Hahaha……even if I alone were strong, nothing would change. Depending on the battle, one cannot only pursue quality in searching for personnel. Though naturally, the quality of the personnel does play an important factor in it."

As I spun my words, the appearances of Gazelle and Mellice suddenly came to mind.

Even from the eyes of an amateur, their strength was in an entirely different dimension.

If it were the two of them, then unless there was an absolute difference in numbers, it seemed as though their superior "quality" would be able to topple superior numbers……is what I thought.

"That is true."

Oblivious to my inner thoughts, Kuroitsu made a wry smile as he agreed with me.

"……additionally, that feeling of "not wanting to lose" is also another form of resolve. Resolve is not something that others can force you to feel, and is determined by reaching an understanding with one"s own heart. "I cannot lose" – that displays the strength of your sense of responsibility towards your own duties, as well as the amount of pride you hold in it. I find it quite rea.s.suring."

"……General said the same thing."

"Gazelle-dono did?"

"Yes. In the past, General said that to the soldiers before one of the battles with Towair. "Do you know what resolve is? ……it is an oath to yourself", and. "Deception does not work with oaths to yourself. Because it is impossible to continue lying to yourself forever……that is why resolve begins with reaching an understanding with your own desire. Thus, consequently, those that possess resolve are strong. Because they have decided to stand there of their own volition.", he said."

"I see……I understand those words well. It is because you establish your resolve that you can take responsibility for your own actions."

"……I thought we had little in common, but civil officers unexpectedly resemble military officers like ourselves closely."

"Naturally…….to begin with, the thing that we are trying to protect is the same."

Kuroitsu smiled at me as I stated that plainly.

"That is also true…….then that is precisely why even if I have to put my life on the line, I will protect you. You, who holds the same purpose as us. I believe in you to take care of the thing that I want to protect – the thing that each and every one of us are trying to protect."

"There is no greater trust than that……yeah, leave it to me. I will use all of my power to bring about the best result."

"Well then, we will return to our duties."

Kuroitsu and co. once again corrected their sitting posture and then left the room.

I, who was left behind, approached the window and gazed at the scenery outside.

It was a completely different scene from that which could be seen in Tasmeria Kingdom.

In Tasmeria Kingdom, other than the church, all the white porcelain buildings were adorned with various ornaments. In contrast, the tawny brown brick buildings in the Rinmel Princ.i.p.ality gave off a heavy atmosphere. 

As though I were carving that scenery into my head, for a short while I simply continued to stare at it.