What kind of person was the Seventh Lord?
Teir thought for a moment.
It was only a brief encounter. There’s no way I could judge a person just by that.
'...Still, I don’t think he’s a bad person after all.'
Didn’t the other save him from getting his arm cut off from their first meeting?
Although suspicious, Teir only felt gratitude towards the Seventh Lord, and there was no negative emotion at all.
“I don’t think he’s evil. And I don’t think he has any ulterior motives. At least from what I could see and feel.”
Hearing Teir’s confident voice, Longford stared at him, then sighed softly.
He truly couldn’t understand this situation.
Even if what Teir was saying was true, they’re still under the threat from Kajor. His son, who returned after two years, gave him another big worry.
It was hard for Longford to think that someone like a Lord of Calderic had helped Teir out of pure goodwill.
It didn’t matter if this Lord was evil or not.
Not knowing the other person’s intentions was too dangerous.
The opponent was a strong force that their side could not handle.
No one properly knew the new Seventh Lord of Calderic.
He had killed the Sixth Lord not too long ago, and yet he could still accompany the Overlord at this conference.
And that Seventh Lord seemed to be interested in Teir...
Longford cleared his mind of many questions.
First, things should become much clearer once the meeting started. There’s no use worrying about those things right now.
“I understand. Do you have anything else to say?”
Teir hesitated, then shook his head.
“None.”
“...”
“If you have no more questions, I’ll go back.”
It was time to say goodbye and leave the room.
“Why don’t you have Teir join the meeting in my place tomorrow, Father?”
At the words of the first prince, Lucas, Teir turned around in surprise.
“...What are you saying suddenly, big brother?”
“It is as you heard.”
Lucas spoke calmly.
“The Seventh Lord talked to you in front of everyone. If you don’t take part and I did, wouldn’t it seem like we’re being disrespectful towards him?”
One representative from each country party and one spectator who did not have the right to speak may take part in the meeting.
Suddenly, Lucas, the first prince, changed his plan to take part as a spectator to Teir.
“What do you think, Father?”
Longford seemed to be worried about Lucas’ words, but then nodded.
“You’re not wrong. Teir, could you join us in the meeting?”
“But...”
Teir could only nod his head after seeing the expression of the two.
It was because he couldn’t refuse the request since he finally came back after running away for two years.
He only had to stand still during the meeting, anyway. It’s easy to do that.
“Yes, well... Then I understand. I will join the meeting.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Teir hesitated, then bowed his head.
“If you have no more questions, I’ll leave.”
Teir left the room, Seri followed him out.
Longford looked at the closed door and sighed once more.
Lucas, who stood there with a bitter expression for a moment, spoke cautiously to him.
“Father. Even if we don’t know the intentions of the Seventh Lord, it’s true that he took a friendly stance towards Earth Hill. If so...”
“Expect nothing.”
Longford said firmly.
The Overlord had never been involved in the slightest in the situation of neutral countries. Would this meeting suddenly break that solid stance?
In the end, it was right not to expect Calderic’s help, no matter what.
Longford continued to think about the meeting to be held tomorrow, feeling his body and mind getting more tired.
***
A day passed, and the day of the meeting came.
Earthhill, Kajor, Mator, Plagas, and Rajane.
The kings of the five neutral countries entered the conference room early and took their seats at the round table.
It was because the disaster of coming later than the Overlord of Calderic or the Emperor of Santea should not happen.
Behind them stood one prince or one princess, who had entered as spectators of the meeting.
Neutral Nations Conference.
As the name suggested, the agendas of this meeting were related to issues between neutral countries.
And the top agenda of this meeting, as everyone already knew, was the confrontation between Earth Hill and Kajor.
Before the arrival of the emperor and Overlord, the atmosphere was quiet and no one spoke.
Jordan, the first prince of the Kajor, kept a sidelong glance at the seat on the Earth Hill side.
...Not the first prince, but the second prince attended.
The person standing behind the King of Earth Hill as a spectator was not the first prince Lucas, but the second prince Teir.
Because of what happened just yesterday, Kajor’s side also had their thoughts complicated for the day.
It was because they couldn’t figure out what kind of connection there was between the new Seventh Lord and the second Prince Teir.
Although the Overlord of Calderic has never been involved in matters between neutral nations...
They couldn’t figure out what the exact intentions of the Seventh Lord were.
A variable came from a completely unexpected place.
“The Emperor of the Santea Empire is entering.”
All five kings rose from their seats at the announcement.
Soon after, the emperor appeared in the meeting room accompanied by Princess Aren.
As they were seated at one side of the round table, there was more tension in the air flowing through the meeting room.
A little more time passed in that state...
“The Overlord of the Calderic Monarchy and the Seventh Lord are entering.”
The kings rose from their seats again.
Footsteps echoed in the silence, and a man and a woman walked into the meeting room.
The Overlord of Calderic and the Seventh Lord.
They approached the last two remaining seats and sat down. It was right across from the Emperor.
Originally, one representative and one spectator would take part in the conference, and those who took part as spectators would not sit at the round table.
They had to stand in the back, but the Seventh Lord sat side by side next to the Overlord.
Strictly speaking, the Calderic Monarchy could be said to be an alliance of ten countries, and the Seventh Lord was the head of one of them.
It was only the first time that another Lord accompanied the Overlord to a conference.
There was no one present who dared to raise objections against this.
After everyone was seated at the conference room, Longford looked around the round table and opened his mouth.
“Then let’s start the meeting.”
***
The first issue was a small trade dispute between the Kingdoms of Rajane and Plagas.
“As you know, the trade route in the Northeast is very rough. The customs finance is a matter to be considered carefully considering that, King Solik.”
“Of course, I admit that, but I think it’s an issue that needs to be addressed here. The amount of salt imported from Rajan...”
They held the meeting in such a way that countries with conflicts discussed with each other, and countries that had nothing to do with it, sometimes offered their opinions and helped.
It reminded me of the first time I took part in the meeting of the Lords.
I heard words I couldn’t understand well with one ear and let it out with the other.
Because the little problems between them had nothing to do with me.
And all the while, neither the Overlord nor the Emperor said a word to intervene.
The Overlord just wasn’t interested in the first place...
I glanced around.
She was drumming her fingers on the armrests and humming in a low, inaudible tone.
She didn’t seem to be interested in what was going on at the meeting.
And the Emperor’s side probably doesn’t step forward because the Overlord was sitting still and there’s no need to provoke her.
The meeting went much more smoothly than I thought in that manner.
The agenda passed one by one until it was Earth Hill and Kajor’s turn.
“We declare territorial claim to the Lowalf Plain, which lies on the border with Earth Hill, King Longford.”
The King of Kajor’s direct remarks made the expressions of the King of Earthhill, and Teir standing behind him, harden.
I crossed my arms and gently lifted my back from the chair.
As expected, this happens.
Before participating in the meeting, I already knew Kajor would do something like this.
Lowalf Plains.
The Golden Land, one of the largest granaries of the Earth Hill Kingdom.
“Kajor has no claims of the Lowalf plains. The Lowalf plains are within the borders of Earth Hill. It is clearly our territory.”
Despite King of Earth Hill’s resolute words, the king of Kajor continued his argument without blinking an eye.
“We have been claiming the rights to Lowalf Plains continuously for 20 years.”
“Are you referring to the absurd data that was presented at the last meeting? Where is the credibility of that data?”
Listening to the war of words between the two kings, the situation was like this.
The King of Kajor, citing the records of his ancestors left in their royal family, insisted that Lowalf Plains was originally an important territory for Kajor, and Earth Hill refuted that this could not be supported.
No matter who heard it, Kajor’s claim was far-fetched, but the king still continued with this absurd claim.
In fact, there was no way the other three countries on the side of Santea would express opinions contrary to the emperor.
So, in fact, no matter what Kajor said, the justification was not important at all. This was just a struggle of rights and interests between the two countries.
“We have already tried to claim our rights to Lowalf Plains peacefully, countless times. But Earth Hill continued to ignore us. If you still continued on in this manner, we would not just stand by any longer.”
The King of Kajor declared.
“If Earth Hill intends to continue to adhere to its current position, Kajor will not hesitate to go to war with Earth Hill.”
War.
The atmosphere in the conference room became chilly.
It was a very calm declaration compared to the contents, but no one in the seat was surprised. Of course, everyone knew about this.
Not only did they know it, but the other three countries were all close to Kajor’s side in the first place.
I glanced at Teir.
He was quietly looking at the King of Earth Hill with an extremely hard face.
The King of Earth Hill glared at the King of Kajor with angry eyes.
“How can you say the word war so easily?”
“It was not a decision made lightly. It means that you should recognize that our resolve is firm, King Longford.”
“...”
“I’d love to hear what other people think about this.”
As the King of Kajor looked around, the other three kings said their opinions.
“I think Kajor’s argument is justified enough. I don’t think it’s a matter for Rajan to interfere.”
“Mator is of the same opinion.”
“So is Plagas.”
The King of Earth Hill’s expression distorted once again.
Soon the emperor’s mouth opened.
“Santea has no intention of interfering in the dispute between the two countries.”
The Emperor had no reason to interfere in their warfare.
It was for a simple reason. Of the two countries, the one that was a little more cooperative with Santea was Kajor.
It was also because if things went sour later, he could simply take back his words and used this incident to grab Kajor’s leash.
The only person left was the Overlord.
The King of Kajor glanced in the Overlord's direction.
The Overlord, who was sitting in her seat with a bored look, yawned and opened her mouth.
“Calderic has no intention of interfering, either. You all can do whatever.”
At that moment, the slightest hint of anxiety that had been seen on the King of Kajor’s face disappeared, and a feeble joy rose up.
I thought for a moment.
The war between Earth Hill and Kajor.
In the main story of the original game, it was not yet time for the war between the two countries.
I didn’t know if the war had just started late after this declaration, or my presence simply caused some kind of butterfly effect.
Anyway, now Kajor was going to start a war to swallow Earth Hill completely, eating their lands one by one, starting from Lowalf Plains as an excuse.
The national power of the two countries was similar, but Kajor had also attracted the military support of the other three countries in the game, so it was difficult for Earth Hill to stop the invasion.
“What will you do, King Longford? Kajor is ready for war.”
The King of Kajor’s voice was relaxed, as if there was nothing to hold him back.
His concern about Calderic's interference was completely wiped out by the Overlord's remarks.
But he was mistaken. There was still someone here who could block him.
Even though the Overlord had declared that Calderic had no intention of interfering, that did not mean that I couldn’t.
“If you intend to start a war, I will support Earth Hill.”
Everyone focused their eyes on me after I spoke.
Bewildered, astonished, and shocked gazes.
The King of Kajor could not speak and blinked his eyes, then looked at the Overlord and asked.
“Certainly, Calderic won’t interfere...”
The Overlord nodded and looked back at me.
“Seventh Lord, I have no intention of granting the military authority to you.”
I already knew that.
Exercising military authority outside of Calderic was only possible with the permission of the Overlord.
I stared at the Overlord.
She narrowed her eyes. Then, as if she understood what I was trying to say, the corners of her mouth lifted and she burst into laughter.
“Puh, hahaha! Oh, did you mean that? Then I will not get involved.”
Others were just making dumbfounded faces, as if they didn’t understand the situation.
“I guess you misunderstood what I said.”
I moved my gaze back to the King of Kajor.
“As the Overlord said, Calderic would not engage in war. Even a tiny army, not even a single knight or wizard, will be mobilized.”
I said to him who blinking his eyes with a blank expression.
“It’s not Calderic who wants to support the Earth Hill Kingdom, it’s just me.”
Hahahah he is a one man army
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