「—Iya iya, I’m glad that you’ve come back safely, Isaac-kun! After all, I’ve been feeling uneasy the whole time, thinking what if you were captured by Euchemard and executed like that . …Of course, you don’t have to worry about failing in the negotiation . That’s right, I also don’t mind, I don’t mind, I don’t! After all, our army wasn’t thinking of relying on you from the beginning!」

「……」

What awaited Isaac’s party which had finally arrived at Delbrück close to dawn was, just as one expected, a storm of Sigibert’s intense sarcasm . Although the person himself might claim that this was just his feeling of relief being honestly expressed, it was sarcasm no matter who heard it .

If it was Dimitar, he’d have reflexively retaliated with even more sarcasms, but perhaps Isaac had grown accustomed to such a personality of Sigibert, there wasn’t even an indication of him getting angry in particular .

「……」

Isaac, who was sitting on a sofa wearing his mantle like the time when he had returned, was waving his hat with a flutter and looking up at the ceiling, but before long, when he put his hand on the handrail and stood up vigorously, he gracefully bowed towards Clotilde and Malena .

「—Well then, Diaghilev-geika, Puyol-geika, after we’ve stopped by Aurillac and greeted King-heika, we’ll return to our country」

「—」

「Y, you’re returning already?」

「As I said a few days ago, I’ve marched into Euchemard Duevre’s headquarters and bought time . With this, they’ve pa.s.sed the entire day in idleness . Though the negotiation itself failed, we dealt a blow to his troops to some extent, and regarding their plan and the outline of their army as well… oops, I said something intrusive」

Isaac, who had said something suggestive and unnaturally held his mouth down, propped his right hand which held the hat against his chest and courteously bent at the waist again .

「—I wish everyone good luck . Well then, farewell」

「Wait—wait just a minute, please wait! Wait, Isaac-kun!」

「Isaac-kun?」

「I, Isaac-denka!」

When Sigibert who had specially corrected himself walked up to Isaac with long strides, he brought his face close to a distance as if he was going to kiss him .

「…Your way of speaking just now, I’m slightly bothered by it though?」

「What thing, Sigibert-kun?」

「The enemy’s plan and its outline or something like that; you stopped midway even though you began talking, right!?」

「Is there something wrong with that?」

「Cease stopping midway! Speak clearly!」

「…Do I have such an obligation to do so?」

「Ha!?」

「Aren’t you misunderstanding something, I wonder?」

Isaac, with a beaming smile, spoke quite indifferently .

「Me negotiating with Euchemard is simply my arbitrary decision, right? I suggested to go by myself . I wasn’t requested by you all to arbitrate in particular . —Right?」

「That’s… maa, that is so though」

「That means, regarding the things that we had seen and heard there, the contents that we had discussed with Euchemard—ma, a.s.suming that we acknowledge them as one independent power though, they’re diplomatic secrets of our country already . There’s no way that I’ll easily tell them to you all, right?」

「Hey—!?」

Seeing the faces of the chuckling Isaac and the surprised Sigibert, Dimitar couldn’t resist a laugh and instantly looked downwards .

「…That’s cruel」

「Oi, Dii」

Lucius who had chided Dimitar beside him was also smiling wryly . Isaac’s method, to the extend that Sigibert seemed pitiful looking from the side, was devious . That was why Sigibert whose complexion was constantly changing appeared all the more comical .

Isaac gave even more additional blows to Sigibert who was opening his eyes wide .

「If you want to know Euchemard’s objective and the outline of his army, then dispatch the Chivalric Order that you’re proud of and investigate as you please . I’ll bring this important information back for my motherland and work out a countermeasure with Father」

「W-w-w, wait, wait wait wait, please wait!」

「Iya, if you tell me to wait, then I can wait at least a little though . After all, Costacurtgeika is also resting because of fatigue, and we too, had been moving for almost 24 hours without sleeping, you see; in fact, returning to our country so soon is, speaking of troublesome, also troublesome」

While picking the hole of his ear with his little finger, Isaac sighed .

「…There are only us in this room anyway . Let’s talk about what we really think, Sigibert-kun」

「W, what…?」

「Judging from appearances, the gathering of your military force still seems to be insufficient . …The truth is that you want to borrow our power, isn’t it?」

As far as Dimitar could see, every person of the Seal Chivalric Order which Isaac had been leading this time was centred on ability-based members that excluded the useless bonbons . Being able to use the sword was natural, and their abilities as magic warriors were probably considerably high as well . Although their number was no more than 50 or so, if one took into consideration a unit which was based on 50 magic warriors who possessed horse-riding moving speed, it could become quite a big role on the battlefield .

And Sigibert who had also personally created a combat group called the “Gale Chivalric Order” should know that better than anyone else .

「Nu…!」

Grasping the riding crop tightly while biting his lips, Sigibert seemed to hesitate for a little while, although he finally had no choice but to give in .

「…I understand, I understand . I’ll write a letter to His Majesty about my intention to ask for your cooperation afterwards」

「An excellent decision」

Winking with a “pachin”, Isaac returned to the sofa .

This place was a room in the military headquarters that was next to Delbrück’s town hall . Unlike a small town like Luberuteiyu, a headquarters to control and unify soldiers was established in Delbrück that employed a large-scale stationing army .

Approaching the sofa’s position and personally pouring wine into Isaac’s gla.s.s, Sigibert asked immediately .

「—First, I want to hear about Yururogu’s aim . As expected, is it the cession of Luberuteiyu and northward? Or are they demanding cash which corresponds to that?」

「It’s neither land nor money」

「Then, what on earth—」

「It’s Dominas」

「Eh?」

Sigibert reflexively looked back at the two Dominas of his country .

「It’s not like that . What Yururogu is demanding is the possession right of a Dominas . And the matter of Haiderota acknowledging Yururogu as an independent country, and in addition, appealing to every related country so that it can join the Holy Alliance」

「Ri—」

「If it’s in exchange for that condition, they said that they can withdraw their army though」

「Ri, ridiculous! That’s impossible, impossible, impossible!」

「Maa, I thought that you’d say so」

Resting his cheek on his hand, Isaac sipped the wine with a “chibiri” . In contrast, perhaps the condition which Yururogu had given was so exasperating, Sigibert walked up to the enormous desk that was placed by the window and started striking its edge with his riding crop many times with a “beshi beshi” .

「d.a.m.n it d.a.m.n it…! That dotard, what does he think a Dominas is!? In the first place, it’s impossible that those rebels have enough resources to raise a Dominas! It’s impossible that they have!」

「Iya, that’s not the case either, you know」

「What!? What did you say, Isaac-kun!?」

「Rather than having the resources to raise one, it seems that they already have her, the Dominas」

「What?」

「Like I said, the Dominas . Yururogu also has one」

「It can’t be—」

Clotilde half-rose to her feet .

「The girl who abducted His Excellency on that night—!?」

「It seems to be like that」

Dimitar who had fought against Lampito twice told them indifferently .

「Euchemard Duevre’s adopted daughter, Lampito… though the person herself didn’t give her name, Euchemard had called her so」

「Maa, for her fighting strength, it doesn’t seem strange even if she calls herself a Dominas . …Right?」

「T, to be a Dominas—!」

Sigibert who had tried to give some opinion shut his mouth in the end . He most likely was about to say that it wasn’t fine if one was strong . However, Clotilde herself, whom he relied on, was a Dominas who was completely devoted to offensive magic; in that sort of sense, it was possible to say that she was of the same kind as Lampito . In other words, to deny Lampito was to deny his country’s war G.o.ddess as well . As one would expect, Sigibert probably also noticed the contradiction .  

Isaac then spoke to Sigibert who continued to go around the perimeter of the desk in circles .

「…So, what will you do?」

「What will I do? What do you mean by what will I do?」

「Like I said, will you accept their condition?」

「That’s impossible! It’s unnecessary to even inform His Majesty about it!」

「Maa, it wasn’t actually brought up in a doc.u.ment either, and the other side too, probably thought that it was easier to negotiate after giving you a hard blow」

「That means… t, t, there’ll be, an outbreak of war!?」

Malena, who was sitting on the sofa and curling herself up like a bear stuffed toy, asked timidly while reaching for a container of raisins . Although she was certainly timid, her hand which was eating things even in this situation not stopping was, in a certain sense, something admirable .

「As far as I’ve heard about the story just now, Euchemard’s aim is already obvious… a withdrawal, other than on the condition that they had told us, is probably impossible . —In that case, we’ve no choice but to repel them by force…」

「Isaac-denka」

Sigibert, who had taken a deep breath greatly and calmed down his mind, occupied the desk, picked up a quill pen and changed his tone slightly .

「…What do you think the enemy’s total number is? And what kind of equipment are theirs centred on?」

「Eh? I’ve to tell you that?」

「I’m officially requesting you, the amba.s.sador plenipotentiary, for your cooperation as the military vice-minister though? What’s the enemy’s total number?」

Showing a stiff smile, Sigibert deliberately emphasised their t.i.tles again . Isaac then left the sofa and walked up to the pictorial map that was hung on the wall and used for war council .

「For us to cooperate, there’s a condition」

「What?」

「If you can agree to this, I’ll tell you all the information regarding Yururogu’s army that we’ve seen, and my Seal Chivalric Order will also stand on the battlefield as the reserve forces this time . I’ll drop a few lines to Father in my own country and have relief supplies sent as soon as possible too .  As long as I can get King-heika’s permission, we can dispatch our army to subjugate the rebels in the south of Haiderota .  In that case, you can move your war potentials immediately, right? —Ah, of course, this is all free of charge, you know? The aid of our goods and the dispatch of troops of our army as well」

「…That’s very generous of you, but for that reason alone, I’m curious about what the condition is; I can’t help but become so… anyway, try stating the condition, Isaac-denka」

「Here—」

Isaac pulled out his sword and pointed at the map with its tip . It touched the slightly north side of the border between Amaddo and Haiderota, in other words, Haiderota’s territory . If he remembered correctly, due to its mountainous terrain, it was a land which the highway wouldn’t extend through if there wasn’t any important village .

「…You’re digging a new mine, right?」

「—」

Sigibert and Clotilde’s complexions changed suddenly . Only Malena eating biscuits, which had kirsch compote put on them, without changing might be because she wasn’t informed anything about it . In other words, this meant that it was quite a confidential matter .

「You’re digging, right? Is it iron ore?」

Even though Isaac asked once more, Sigibert neither responded with a negation nor an affirmative .

「I say, you had better consciously think about standing in the populace’s point of view a bit more, you know?」

Putting the sword back into its scabbard, Isaac shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly .

「Though the opposite cases aren’t too many, there are quite a lot of people who escape from your country to ours, you know? And then, from the mouths of such people, information is circulated in various ways . We don’t need to particularly send spies」

「W, what…?」

「The populace, who had a harsh experience there and then escaped, will try to sell the information that they have since they want to improve their own treatment even a little at a new land . Naturally, we’ll buy them . By at least preparing a plot of land to build a house for a family that had migrated here, they’ll tell us information such as you’re gathering up manpower for the mine development or you’re preparing a highway at a quick pace」

Isaac’s grandfather, the 10th generation Jeffren, was known as the man who had expanded Amaddo’s territory mainly by means of stratagems, but in the internal administration, it was said that he adroitly mastered the carrot and stick policy, thinking of grasping the citizens’ hearts as the most important thing . And then, what kind of end result will neglecting to win the hearts and minds of people be, here was the good example of it .

「……」

Sigibert furrowed his brow and folded his arms in silence .

「…Ma, if you persist in being completely ignorant of it, then that’s fine as well . We’ll just return to our country as it is . Though saying it this way is excessive, it’s like fire on the opposite sh.o.r.e」

「Your Excellency…!」

Clotilde knitted her eyebrows and looked at Sigibert .

「B, but—」

「Besides, we’re also starting the development of that mine」

「What!?」

Sigibert who had been showing an expression of hesitation hit the desk at those words of Isaac .

「S, s… stop joking around, will you!? What right do you have to develop our country’s resources—」

「Ah, you finally admitted」

「Ku…!」

Isaac, who had seen Sigibert biting his lips and smiled complacently, suddenly returned to a serious look and told him coldly .

「…The ore deposit there exists astride both our country and yours . That being the case, Amaddo naturally also has the mining right . …In the first place, you started mining secretly from us, and if there’s a chance, you’re thinking of digging even the ore deposit on Amaddo’s side, aren’t you? You’re not in the position to be able to say this and that, right?」

「Nu…!」

「Maa, in short, what I want to say is, since the mine is at such a delicate location, how about we develop it together instead . That’s the condition for us to cooperate in the battle this time」

「T, that sort of thing… it isn’t something that I who don’t have the authority can decide here; there’s no way that I can decide it!」

「However, you can suggest it to His Majesty, right?」

「T, that’s possible, but…」

「Therefore, it’s fine if you give me your endors.e.m.e.nts here . If the Military Vice-Minister and the two Dominas—the three people who hold important positions of Haiderota will drop a few lines, saying that you’ll surely persuade His Majesty for me」

「……」

Sigibert kept his mouth shut again .

As a matter of fact, even if Sigibert’s party exchanged signatures on some sort of doc.u.ment with Isaac here, one would feel that it wouldn’t generate a diplomatic binding force . Like he himself had said, Sigibert didn’t have the authority to decide such a thing . Naturally, Clotilde and the rest also shouldn’t have it .

Thus, even if Sigibert’s party got Amaddo’s cooperation and weathered this battle, and then said that they couldn’t persuade the king as expected afterwards and wiped the slate clean about the topic of the mine development, Haiderota wouldn’t need to take the blame in that matter .

However, to be unable to keep the promise with Isaac—or to shirk payment, the reputation of Sigibert’s party would certainly fall . Even if they didn’t have to resign their jobs because their reputations fell, the biggest damage would be rumours of Clotilde and Malena—the Dominas whom Haiderota was proud of doing such a breach of trust rising .

Perhaps what Sigibert was worrying about wasn’t his reputation and so forth, but Clotilde and the rest . Speaking of extreme, Sigibert could resign his minister position to apologise for his own lack of insight, but that wasn’t allowed for the Dominas .

In other words, if Clotilde’s party dropped a few lines saying that they’d persuade the king, it must be carried out without fail . After all, if it couldn’t be carried out, they’d besmirch the name of the Dominas .

「…Your Excellency, may I?」

「Diaghilev-geika—」

Clotilde, who had stood up straight, looked at both Sigibert and Isaac alternately and spoke sonorously .

「Under these circ.u.mstances, I think that it’s all right to accept Isaac-denka’s negotiation」

「B, but—」

「Isn’t it fine? The continent’s largest country, Amaddo, will support us . If Yururogu hears it, the morale of its rebel army will probably be reduced . And the matter of the mine development, if it’s developing it together, half of the produced iron ore—」

「Seven-three」

Clotilde’s eyebrows quivered with a “hiku” at Isaac’s words .

「We’re seven, you’re three . …That’s natural, right? Since this ore deposit lies between both countries, properly speaking, we’d have shared it fifty-fifty, but we’ll be taking compensation for aiding you in various ways from there, hence I’m talking to you about it; I think that seven-three is appropriate though」

「……」

「Since you can get a.s.sistance to escape from this predicament using stones which you can’t dig out even a piece yet as the price, it’s better not to covet too much, you know? Besides, you probably also have an aim other than that, right?」

「…Your Excellency, as expected, we should accept this negotiation by all means」

「Y, Your Excellency!」

Malena, who had been chewing food the whole time since just now, drank up the ginger ale which she had put in plenty of sugar, wiped her mouth and stood up .

「I, I, don’t understand difficult things very well, but if Diaghilev-geika has said to this extent, I, I’ll agree with her as well!」

「Puyol-geika… you too?」

Sigibert who was in a state of being pestered by the two Dominas, perhaps finally resolving himself, dipped the quill pen into the inkwell and spread a fine-quality paper .

「…Isaac-kun」

「What is it, Sigibert-kun?」

「You write a letter to your own country immediately too . I’ll be troubled if the precious goods don’t make it in time」

「As for that, there’s no problem . Our country, unlike yours, has been pooling quite a bit of goods in the large cities of every region of the country in case of unexpected disaster, epidemic or war . I’ll have about half of the standing army of Harun move towards Haiderota together with the relief supplies immediately」

Pointing at Harun on the map, Isaac smiled .

「…For the time being, if we fill the stomachs of the people who were incited by the spies and are causing riots, they’ll become quiet」

「It’ll be good if that’s the case though . —Saa, how’s this, Isaac-kun?」

Isaac, who had received the doc.u.ment containing the signatures of Sigibert, Clotilde and in addition, Malena’s, also personally included his signature there and nodded approvingly .

「—Well then, I’ll also write a letter addressed to Father at once . In the meantime, can I let my subordinates rest?」

「I’ve already prepared rooms for your members」

「Well then, let’s work out a plan again when day breaks . …To tell the truth, this is the first time that I’m going out to a real war . I’m so excited that I’m not sleepy at all」

「Are? This is your first campaign? Is that so, I see, I see」

Sigibert, who had snorted as if to say “I’ve won!”, gulped down the wine and threw out his chest .

「Maa, if you want to know the rules of the battlefield, ask me! I’ll gladly teach you as a senior, I’ll surely teach you! Hahahaha!」

「Thanks」

Isaac then left the room accompanied by Lucius and Dimitar .