A Man Caught In A Whirlpool Of Desire (12)

The first thing I did after returning to the domain was discuss the points that needed to be supplemented.

“I know everyone is busy and out of their minds, but I received reports that many problems were discovered in this battle. What are they?”

At my question, Linda raised her hand and stood from her seat.

“We have received a report that additional armaments are needed.”

“What do you mean by additional armaments? What is needed?”

“First, it is a complaint from the whale beastkin, who are the close-combat unit, and word has come that they lack weapons and armor.”

When it came to weapons and armor, I had thought they were already sufficient even now. We had supplied them with full sets of plate armor and greatswords that were easy for them to use.

So I found it strange that this was insufficient.

“What is the problem, then?”

“They asked why we did not give them shields…”

“….They are swords… meant to be used with both hands, though?”

Dumbfounded, I looked back at Volv, who was participating in the meeting. Receiving my gaze, he scratched his head and spoke.

“The thing is… everyone thinks they are one-handed swords.”

“There is no way a twenty-kilogram sword is a one-handed sword, is there?”

“The harpoons we use when hunting weigh around forty kilograms. And our body weight is three hundred kilograms on average.”

In the end, what he meant was that since their strength was disgustingly high, they could use the supplied greatswords as one-handed swords. In other words, it meant they were asking me to add shields, but it was an absurd thing to say.

“Then let me ask. What type of shields do you want?”

“Mm… Something like this would be good.”

Then Volv rose, slightly hunched over, walked to the blackboard in the meeting room, and began drawing something.

“Do you need tower shields?”

“That is correct. We want shields around thirty kilograms in weight and slightly shorter than our height.”

“…What exactly are you trying to do with those?”

“This is something we felt in this battle. We wondered what it would be like to create a wall with shields and control the enemy’s movements. Humans will never be able to easily climb over or attack through the shields we make.”

At Volv’s words, I imagined it for a moment. The sight of a massive shield wall moving here and there and sweeping across the battlefield was… quite overwhelming, I thought.

Moreover, it should be assumed that the greatswords they used were about as long as the spears used by ordinary spearmen.

To put it bluntly, they were two-meter-twenty-centimeter greatswords.

Thinking of a three-meter-tall whale beastkin swinging one of those, I thought their majesty would be overwhelming.

Perhaps if only they were armed properly, firearms might not even be necessary.

“I will accept the proposal, but it will take quite a long time to prepare. Besides, will it not be uncomfortable if you operate on land for a long time?”

“That is true. If we operate for about three months, we will have to rest in the sea for a month.”

In other words, it also meant they would be difficult to utilize if the timing did not match.

And the longer the war dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be.

‘If I use them for the purpose of a defensive force… I could operate the defense force by rotating them in units of twenty thousand…’

When they struck the rear of the Imperial Army this time, I heard that the number of Imperial troops left at the fortress reached forty thousand. But the fact that they could win with only wounded and not a single death showed just how powerful they were.

Honestly, it should be assumed that there were no whale beastkin injured by the attacks of ordinary soldiers.

Most of the damage they suffered came from human knights, in other words, knights who could use mana, and all of those injuries had now been completely treated by plastering them with medicines.

As a result, it could be called a miraculous victory.

“Let us gradually adjust that matter, and what is the next agenda item?”

This time, it was Matilda.

“You said we would prepare the supplies being sent to the front up to a total of three rounds, and I would like to ask the reason why we must do so.”

“Mm, that is a good question. First, it is to bring the front-line nations, excluding the Empire, to our side. You should know this because I told you beforehand, correct?”

“That is correct. What I am curious about is why we are providing aid three times.”

“Because the current circumstances are bad. Linda. Will you report it?”

Because I suddenly passed the answer to Linda, everyone looked at her. And Linda, who had realized what I wanted her to say, immediately answered them.

“According to the information that has come in through the Information Guild, there was a report that our domain is only fifteen days away from the Demon King’s army that is currently advancing. Even that is fifteen days because they have to detour around the Forest of the Demon Dragon, and in a straight line, it is said to be a week away.”

“…Good heavens. Just how far have they been pushed back?”

At Aenia’s question, I pointed at the map behind me and spoke.

“Here. It can be said that the front line of the Demon King’s army is here right now. That is why I sent supplies there. They are mainly supplies centered on medicines, and I also sent many intermediate-grade physical enhancement potions.”

I continued speaking to the people who were looking at me with complicated expressions.

“First, when the situation on the battlefield becomes known, I suspect the war between the Ishtain Region and the Imperial Army will also enter a lull for the time being. When I sent the goods this time, I asked them to spread some rumors for us.”

“Would the Empire not know?”

“They know, but that would be limited to the leadership. Perhaps the reason they are intensively attacking the Ishtain Region is also because of that.”

It was exactly the seventh day since the first battle had taken place. Of the eight domains of the Ishtain Region, three had fallen away, and while they were somehow defending the remaining five domains, the Imperial Army’s offensive could be seen as a state where they were disregarding fire and water to the point that people were saying it would only be a matter of time.

The reason could be said to be that Duke Balsen had returned and was making all sorts of efforts to cover up his defeat, but this was resulting in a truly ironic situation.

“As all of you know, Duke Balsen is not trying to come to our domain for now. It seems he probably has no intention of returning throughout this expedition, but I think the result will change again depending on how the Ishtain Region is dealt with. Before that, I am thinking that we must make the Imperial Family move.”

“So you are spreading rumors?”

“That is right. It is the Demon King. That person has become the center and is pushing all the way up to the Empire’s doorstep. Literally, they are being evaluated as an abnormal advance. For example, if the Mirkas Federation pushes in from this side and cuts off his head, the Demon King will be isolated. That is why I have also sent a large quantity of supplies to the Mirkas Federation. In the hope that they will cut off his head.”

I did not know whether things would go as intended, but one thing was certain: I felt that the advance would only stop if that happened.

Moreover, I thought he would not be carrying out such a reckless breakthrough unless he had a purpose, and for some reason, I had a bad feeling.

‘The Demon King’s target might be our domain…’

That was the part I was concerned about. Since the Demon Dragon was said to be powerful enough to kill the Demon King, for now, I was thinking that they would not be able to freely stir through the Forest of the Demon Dragon and advance.

“Then how do you plan to move the Imperial Family?”

“I will release Princess Riana. Along with the three Masters we captured.”

“….Would that not be a waste?”

“We must clearly express our intentions. At least right now, this is not the time for us to fight among ourselves, so let us first fight a defensive battle. I am not suggesting an alliance or asking to form a coalition. We have no intention of turning our attention outside Ingrad, so I plan to release Princess Riana with the condition that they no longer concern themselves with us. It means going through a sort of procedure to have our independence recognized.”

“…Do you think they will accept?”

“The life of her own daughter is at stake. And with three Masters, who could be called pillars of the nation, captured, would this much land really matter?”

Even if it was the price for only four lives, considering their value, the Imperial Family would have no choice but to feel more comfortable recognizing the independence of Ingrad, which was like a nuisance to them.

If they fought us, they could not know what cards these people held, but if they left us alone, their side would still feel exposed because no clear line had been drawn yet.

Now that they knew our domain had the power to wipe out three hundred thousand in one stroke, it would have become difficult to treat it as a useless but hard-to-discard chicken rib. If they could make such a domain independent and receive four precious assets back?

Even if such a proposal were offered to the foolish Duke Balsen, it could be said that he would have no choice but to accept.

Much less would the Empress, who controlled the Empire at will, fail to understand my intent?

I thought such a thing could never happen. However, while handing over the four of them, I also planned to claim various damages and squeeze plenty out of them.

‘We need to dry up their funds even more so they will not turn their eyes toward us.’

That was the method I had thought of, and it was a means that had no choice but to work.

“That is my opinion, but if anyone has a better one, let us hear it.”

I looked around and met the eyes of my vassals one by one. Then Matilda slightly raised her hand.

“Yes, Matilda. Do you have an alternative?”

“Do you intend to hand over all four of them at once?”

“Mm, I thought that would look better, but why do you ask?”

“I have a proposal. How about doing it this way?”

“What way do you mean?”

Matilda, who paused briefly as if organizing her thoughts, moved to the front of the blackboard, drew four circles, and wrote numbers.

Then she spoke to me.

“First, the Princess, Agnes, Marquis Giltian, and Viscount Muriel can each be considered nobles with different thoughts, can they not?”

“That is right. They are each influential figures of the Noble Faction and the Imperial Faction.”

“If Duke Balsen succeeds in attacking the Ishtain Region this time, even if he is criticized among the nobles, the commoners will not know that well and will have no choice but to focus only on the result. If that happens, the commoners will praise Duke Balsen, and it could act as a result that strengthens the power of the Noble Faction. So, what I mean is to make the weight of this imbalance even heavier. For example… how about releasing them like this?”

Matilda was saying that we should release only Dame Agnes, Marquis Giltian, and Viscount Muriel, excluding Riana.

“Let us knock the balance out of alignment… is that it?”

“If the purpose is to keep them in check anyway, would the Masters and Heroes alone not be enough? I heard that right now, they cannot deploy the Heroes to the battlefield because supplies are lacking.”

I did not know whether that rumor was true, but it was certain that the Heroes were not being deployed.

“Mm… Leave Princess Riana behind… If so, the scale of power would certainly tilt toward the Noble Faction. In Princess Riana’s case, she became a prisoner due to a wrong judgment, so her recognition itself must already be in ruins…”

“Her value is not dead. It has only weakened. The Empress is also young, so she will surely be able to invest enough time for her daughter, and her fallen honor can be replaced with something else at any time. Therefore, she will prioritize Princess Riana’s survival.”

I thought that was correct. So I asked about the treatment of Princess Riana, who would be left behind.

“How do you intend to use her?”

“Would it not be enough to keep her with us until the very end and then hand her over in a transaction?”

“A transaction… We would already be in a situation where we become independent, so is there a need to carry that burden?”

“If a transaction does not appeal to you, then considering Princess Riana’s value, I think it would also be good to position her as a person like a token of promise. Literally, we make her into a card that even the Empire cannot do anything about.”

“What benefit can be gained from that?”

“Princess Riana could be taken into the lord’s embrace, or…”

Thinking of her feelings, it was not impossible. Recalling how she had done something similar to expressing affection, I felt as though I knew the result, but I was not inclined to do it.

While thinking that, on the other hand, I began weighing the benefits that would arise if I drew Princess Riana in.

However, even if I did not draw her in, I could consider that they would not be able to provoke us easily just by us holding her.

“Very well. Let us proceed with this alternative. If it seems it truly will not work, there is also the conclusion of sending all four of them back, so let us negotiate actively.”

Matilda smiled brightly as she said she understood.