Volume 8 Side Story Part 2

「Thank you… 」

Katarina naturally uttered words of gratitude towards Nina. She was the true friend and the worthy Lord of Medina.

「What was your reply to Waldrind? 」

Katarina asked, and Nina replied:

「I told them that I’d have to think about it, so I will give them a proper response later. 」

After that, she immediately contacted Katarina and the others and came to this castle that was in the center of the Demonic Realm.

「My answer will be given to them in three days. Of course, I’ll tell them that we have no intention of obeying them and doing what they want us to do. 」

「But that essentially means that you’ll be going to a war with Waldrind. 」

The last person who had remained silent next to Katarina then spoke out.

She was a tall woman with a dark light somewhere deep in her eyes. Her long hair and shabby eyes make her look like a ghost. Her name was Marta, and she is one of Katarina’s Shadows who worked for Fargard as a Torturer.

「Yes, this is most likely what things are going to boil down to. 」

「If that is really what you’ve steeled yourself to do, then Fargard is going to do everything in our power to help you. 」

Katarina nods as she stood up from the table and grabbed a hold of Nina’s hand. The young Lord’s face immediately lit up when she heard that.

What she wanted to do was not the abandonment of Medinia. She chose to fight Waldrind not only for the people of her country, but she wanted to protect Fargard as well. Her younger brother, Alois, who is also a Lord, would have no objections about that course of action whatsoever.

However, Martha silently shook her head.

「Waldrind is the leader of the Factory Alliance with the strongest army on the continent. I think that even if our two countries come together, there is no chance for us to actually win against them. 」

「But as long as we chase them away… 」

「Lady Katarina, I know what you want to say. Sure, you might win against them once. However, if we’re going to be attacked by them many times, we will not last, and I don’t think that I need to remind you that we simply don’t have the strength to mobilize our own army and invade Waldrind’s territory. 」

Marta voiced her thoughts on the matter, and Katarina couldn’t hind any words to refute her.

It’s true… everything that Marta said just now was right. There is simply too much difference in power between Fargard and Medinia and the strongest country of the Factory Alliance. I Waldrind decides to attack and invade them someday, they’re going to be destroyed.

「Hmm, then what should we do? 」

「Right now, our only hope is to increase the number of allies who’d fight the opressors from Waldrind by our side, Lady Nina. 」

Marta nodded at Sterif’s words.
「Increase the number of allies? Is there even anyone who’d want to go against Waldrind? 」

「As long as we plan to go against Waldrind, we cannot ask any other country that’s a member of the Factory Alliance to join us, and we cannot join the Factory Alliance ourselves. In the same way, we cannot go seek help with the Fantasia Union, because for them, we’re simply going to be a vanguard in their battle against the Alliance. In that case, there is only one answer for us. 」

「The Artuk Treaty. 」

Katarina spoke that name.

The Artuk Treaty is a third power on the continent that appeared in its southern part where it was formed by Theo Cornero, the hero who liberated the island of Sistina from the tyranny of the Rossini family. Everyone on the continent also remember his most recent military success where he managed to defeat and kill Milza Kuches, the Black Viceroy of Dartania

「The Artuk Treaty? Is it really okay for us to be seeking help from them? 」

「Recently, the leader of the Treaty declared that the aim of the Artuk treaty is to help Fantasia Union and the Factory Alliance reconcile with one another. If that is really true and he’s not lying, then he should accept our request for help. 」

「Does he really want to make these two organizations to reconcile with one another? If so, then that would be wonderful. 」

Nina laughed.

Katarina also thinks that if there was no need for the two sides to constantly be at war with one another, that would be the best. But then…

「In other words, while we’ll offer to join the Artuk Treaty, we’ll also be fighting against Waldrind… is that what you wanted to say? 」
「I think that’s the only option for us. 」

Marta said, after which Katarina sank deep into her own thoughts.

Even if they do manage to successfully obtain the cooperation of the Artuk Treaty, the road to defeating Waldrind, which is hailed as the strongest nation on the continent, is not going to be easy.

「But I guess we have no choice but to do it now. 」

「Indeed, that’s the only option left for us. 」

If she didn’t ask anyone for help, her country would definitely fall into ruin and decline. As a Lord who has sworn to protect her country, she must avoid that grim outcome at all costs.

(No matter what I’ll be forced to do.)

She will protect Fargard and her hometown.

Neither the quiet autumn sunlight nor the cool breeze could help ease the tension in the room.
They don’t know how long it will take to send reinforcements, and if worse came to worst, they’d be doomed to fight the Heavy Knights of Waldrind entirely on their own.

Three days later, Katarina went to a certain castle in Medinia’s territory. She was there to attend the meeting between Waldrind and Medinia.

Derick Deinkel, a Heavy Knight of Waldrind who came to the castle with several other knights glared at his surroundings with contempt. Nina and the rest of Medinia’s side didn’t hide their hostility towards them either, as they glared daggers at the other party.

Katarina stood by Nina’s side, her body stiff as if she could jump out at any time if something happened.

「How do you respond to our demands? 」

Dirk asked the question first.

「I refuse all your country’s demands. Medinia has no intention of subordinating itself to Waldrind! 」

「Do you really mean to make enemies out of us? 」

「If that is how you want to interpret it, then you’re free to do so. 」

「Hmpf! 」

Nina resolutely declared, but Dirk only snorted and laughed.

「As expected of people who are dealing with Demonic Realms and the like, and don’t pay attention to the situation on the continent. You are completely out of your minds. 」

The people around him were stunned by his blatantly condescending words. But Dirk didn’t care about it in the slightest.

「My Lady Marine Kraische is going to be the future Emperor of the entire continent. With our offer, we’re giving you a chance to serve the future Emperor directly. 」

「And I say that we don’t want to take you up on that offer! We’ve decided not to take part in your war anymore! 」

「That attitude of yours is precisely what’s stupid about you. You are a Lord who’s blind to the flow of the times. 」

Katarina glared at him angerly. The atmosphere was so tense that it was more than probable that both sides would draw their swords at each other in a matter of seconds.

However, just before the two clashed with each other, one of the Heavy Knights of Waldrind stopped Dirk in his tracks.

「That’s enough, Dirk. 」

「Berger, don’t interrupt me now…! 」

「Lady Marine was clear about not wanting things to devolve into an ugly argument. War between us has already been declared, so the only thing that’s left to do now is to see which side is going to be victorious on the battlefield. 」

「You’re always too damn calm…but I understand. I’ll accept it for now. 」

Dalek snorted and then looked back at Nina.

「Next time we will see each other is going to be on the battlefield. Don’t think that you’ll be able to get away with that Crest of yours… I will claim it from you personally. 」

And without waiting for a reply, the knights left the castle.

「What kind of knights were they?! 」

Nina exploded with anger at Dirk’s extreme attitude.

「You held back well. If you had slashed him here, it would spell big diplomatic trouble for us. 」