It’s been about two weeks since I sent out letters to the three tribes and a souvenir to just one tribe.
There was a movement.
A messenger from the Cat People came to visit me.
I was to meet him not in the reception room, but in another room at a distance.
There’s the incident where the puppeteer had attacked me even with her bare hands.
As a countermeasure, the conversation was held at a distance of about three meters.
And many guards …… they worry too much.
“Thank you for meeting with us. I come to you as an emissary of my tribe. My name is Suzana Hayda.”
She was a woman, early twenties maybe.
Did they think that I won’t be harsh with a woman when they heard that I’m a man?
If it’s a woman, does she plan to use her body in the worst-case scenario?
I don’t need another woman because I have Mil, though.
Or is she a member of a powerful family?
“I’m the feudal lord, Alfred Della Scala. Let us hear what you’re here for.”
Suzana seemed surprised at how young I was.
Did they not know my age?
“I would like to ask you to take our family into your fold, Lord Alfred.”
“What do you mean by “take”?”
“We will follow Lord Alfred’s instructions. We want you to protect us from the attacks of the tiger people and the dog people.”
I give a small shake of my head.
That’s because the proposal is a no.
“If you want to emigrate, you are welcome to do so. If you want our protection without changing your residence, I cannot accept that.”
Suzana stammered.
“It is difficult for us to leave the land of our ancestors ……”
“My duty is to protect my people. I don’t see the point in increasing our influence.”
Suzana looked at me with upturned eyes.
“So you won’t be able to protect us?”
It’s not an easy thing to say, but I shake my head a little harder.
“If our influence increases to that area in the future, we will build a town there. If it does, we’ll protect you.”
Suzana’s pupils narrowed.
As if she was blatantly alarmed.
“You’re going to build a town?”
“We will not touch your property. We will build roads if you request them. Even walls if necessary. It’s just one of the possibilities for the future, though. Right now, we’re too far from your village. We won’t be able to get there in time once we know there’s a problem. We don’t have that much military power, even if we were to station our men there.”
Suzana waved her hand hurriedly.
“No! You don’t have to station your men there! If you just warn the tiger people and dog people, I’m sure they won’t stand up to Lord Alfred’s power.”
She’s not that good a messenger …….
Or she doesn’t have the authority to do so.
“So, it’ll be alright if we just threaten them with my name, you say. So …… what can you do for us?”
“If you need labor, you get labor. If you are attacking the tiger people or dog people, you get warriors. If it is something else, will do that then.”
Suzana replied.
I guess it was an expected question.
Something else, that means, they’re going to offer women.
As if sensing this, Mil’s and Kiara’s eyes became stern.
I’m sure it’s because the apostles usually had a cat person around.
I wonder if they have unfounded confidence.
But….
“It’s not a good match.”
(T/N: I guess he means that their offer(the labor, warrior, and woman) doesn’t match the value of protection that they’ll receive.)
Suzana was surprised by this reaction.
I guess she thought I was just a kid and was underestimating me.
“Why is that ……?”
Can’t you do a simple profit and loss calculation?
It can’t be helped ……
I scratched my head in annoyance.
“Right now, there are the tiger people and dog people. But, they’re not the only ones in this region. If we fight with them, will we be able to get away with nothing? We will be caught in the fray caused by the cat people, won’t we? As for the labor force …… I’m sure it will be a very small number, given the town’s security and all the other reasons.”
I purposely make an annoyed face.
“Even if it’s something else …… I’m sure you know it. I have a fiancée, you know. I don’t need any other women as long as I have her. And I’m not interested in a harem.”
In the end, I smiled.
“That’s why I said it’s not a good match. Besides, I don’t need the prestige and vanity of a sphere of influence. I value the smile of one child of my people far more than the subservience of a thousand tribes.”
Do I look like an idealist?
Does it look like I’m just attracting attention?
Does it look like it’s just a whim?
How you judge me will tell me what you’re capable of.
After a moment of silence …… Suzana turned to me like she’s probing me.
“Then what should we do so that we can have you protect us?”
I’m sure this is what they’re after ……
“If you move to my city, you’ll be fine.”
“Is there no other way?”
“What do the cat people want?”
“Autonomy and security.”
Then there is a safer way.
It’s a method that has its own advantages.
""
“Then, how about a non-aggression pact?”
“Non-aggression pact?”
“We will not touch your territory. And you won’t touch ours. This means that we will not aid and abet each other’s civil wars, nor will we provoke our enemies.”
Suzana gave me a reproachful look.
“In that case, we are to protect ourselves.”
Inwardly, I was dismayed, but I didn’t show it.
“Is this something you should be asking about? I think it’s pretty obvious.”
A group of people who can’t protect themselves is sure to become corrupt and rotten.
Suzana, who couldn’t understand my intentions, tried to talk me out of it.
“It’s difficult to emigrate, but it’ll be easy if it’s to join the fold. If you can expand your sphere of influence …… Then it will make it more peaceful and easier to protect your people.”
What you’re saying hasn’t changed at all.
Do you think you can fool me with such a degree?
“If you have an effect on someone, you will have a corresponding obligation. If the obligation is unrealizable, there is no need for unworthy rights.”
Suzana made a face like it’s incomprehensible.
I guess she thought that I was going to accept it happily if she said that they’re going to join us ……
“Is it really that difficult to understand?”
“If we were to add more members to the group and then all come together to help, we would not be able to fulfill our obligations. Internal strife could also be a factor in asking for help.”
If you calculate the merits of subordination and the demerits of the duty to protect ……
I gave a small chuckle.
Suzana looked at me with a slightly upturned gaze.
“Then, if we carefully select to join in ……”
I’m happy if it’s Mil, but if it’s not, I don’t like it when women look to me with an upturned gaze.
I can’t help but let out a sigh.
It’s no use, we’re not on the same page.
""
“Excuse me …… If we allow one tribe to join us and don’t allow others to join, they will naturally fear domination. And if the number of enemies increases like a snowball. They will make us jump around, hoping that we will tangle our feet and fall. That in itself is not a bad move. That is …… as long as they don’t find out.”
Suzana’s eyes became blatantly wary.
I wanted to make fun of her a little bit for taking up so much of my time talking about something unproductive.
“If you’re going to be an emissary, you shouldn’t show your emotions so easily.”
It’s funny how she became expressionless in a hurry.
“Well then …… Please select one of the following options. Move to our city and become a citizen. Sign a non-aggression pact. And you don’t have to do it if you want to. Don’t forget that.”
“I understand. …… I will consult with the Chief.”
“Oh, yes, yes. I’ll make one thing clear. This is in case that you sign a non-aggression pact and then break it. Just remember that if that happens …… there will be no place for you in this land.”
All at once, fear seemed to appear on her face.
After Suzana left in a hurry, Charles folded his arms and looked at me.
“What will happen now?”
“The usual answer would be the non-aggression pact. However …… To the tiger people and the dog people, they will speak as if they are under our protection, to protect their own safety.”
Charles furrowed his brow.
“Because they lie?”
“It’s just to give them a whiff. She’s not stupid enough to let them take their word for it. She may be short-witted, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders.”
Charles, who had been smiling wryly, turned serious.
“What did you mean by …… make them lose their place in this land?”
He knew it, but he was still daring to ask, I guess.
He was asking me if I was really ready to do it.
Threats that are never carried out have no meaning.
So, when I decide to do it, I will do it.
“I will banish them from this land. Or we’ll reduce their population to the point where they’ll never recover.”
I guess he had anticipated my reply.
I think he was worried about my mental health.
In other words, it’s about my aversion to bloodshed.
But the reality is that even if I don’t like it, I can’t avoid it.
Charles sighed.
“Do you hope to avoid having to make that choice? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do it too, milord.”
(T/N: I’ll change the my lord to milord(for Alfred), and my lady to milady(for Milva).)
I gave a small shrug, grateful for Charles’ consideration.
“I hope so. But that choice is theirs to make. We don’t have the right to do that.”
Even if I don’t want to, and they attack us, I have no choice but to do it.
It’s been about two weeks since I sent out letters to the three tribes and a souvenir to just one tribe.
There was a movement.
A messenger from the Cat People came to visit me.
I was to meet him not in the reception room, but in another room at a distance.
There’s the incident where the puppeteer had attacked me even with her bare hands.
As a countermeasure, the conversation was held at a distance of about three meters.
And many guards …… they worry too much.
“Thank you for meeting with us. I come to you as an emissary of my tribe. My name is Suzana Hayda.”
She was a woman, early twenties maybe.
Did they think that I won’t be harsh with a woman when they heard that I’m a man?
If it’s a woman, does she plan to use her body in the worst-case scenario?
I don’t need another woman because I have Mil, though.
Or is she a member of a powerful family?
“I’m the feudal lord, Alfred Della Scala. Let us hear what you’re here for.”
Suzana seemed surprised at how young I was.
Did they not know my age?
“I would like to ask you to take our family into your fold, Lord Alfred.”
“What do you mean by “take”?”
“We will follow Lord Alfred’s instructions. We want you to protect us from the attacks of the tiger people and the dog people.”
I give a small shake of my head.
That’s because the proposal is a no.
“If you want to emigrate, you are welcome to do so. If you want our protection without changing your residence, I cannot accept that.”
Suzana stammered.
“It is difficult for us to leave the land of our ancestors ……”
“My duty is to protect my people. I don’t see the point in increasing our influence.”
Suzana looked at me with upturned eyes.
“So you won’t be able to protect us?”
It’s not an easy thing to say, but I shake my head a little harder.
“If our influence increases to that area in the future, we will build a town there. If it does, we’ll protect you.”
Suzana’s pupils narrowed.
As if she was blatantly alarmed.
“You’re going to build a town?”
“We will not touch your property. We will build roads if you request them. Even walls if necessary. It’s just one of the possibilities for the future, though. Right now, we’re too far from your village. We won’t be able to get there in time once we know there’s a problem. We don’t have that much military power, even if we were to station our men there.”
Suzana waved her hand hurriedly.
“No! You don’t have to station your men there! If you just warn the tiger people and dog people, I’m sure they won’t stand up to Lord Alfred’s power.”
She’s not that good a messenger …….
Or she doesn’t have the authority to do so.
“So, it’ll be alright if we just threaten them with my name, you say. So …… what can you do for us?”
“If you need labor, you get labor. If you are attacking the tiger people or dog people, you get warriors. If it is something else, will do that then.”
Suzana replied.
I guess it was an expected question.
Something else, that means, they’re going to offer women.
As if sensing this, Mil’s and Kiara’s eyes became stern.
I’m sure it’s because the apostles usually had a cat person around.
I wonder if they have unfounded confidence.
But….
“It’s not a good match.”
(T/N: I guess he means that their offer(the labor, warrior, and woman) doesn’t match the value of protection that they’ll receive.)
Suzana was surprised by this reaction.
I guess she thought I was just a kid and was underestimating me.
“Why is that ……?”
Can’t you do a simple profit and loss calculation?
It can’t be helped ……
I scratched my head in annoyance.
“Right now, there are the tiger people and dog people. But, they’re not the only ones in this region. If we fight with them, will we be able to get away with nothing? We will be caught in the fray caused by the cat people, won’t we? As for the labor force …… I’m sure it will be a very small number, given the town’s security and all the other reasons.”
I purposely make an annoyed face.
“Even if it’s something else …… I’m sure you know it. I have a fiancée, you know. I don’t need any other women as long as I have her. And I’m not interested in a harem.”
In the end, I smiled.
“That’s why I said it’s not a good match. Besides, I don’t need the prestige and vanity of a sphere of influence. I value the smile of one child of my people far more than the subservience of a thousand tribes.”
Do I look like an idealist?
Does it look like I’m just attracting attention?
Does it look like it’s just a whim?
How you judge me will tell me what you’re capable of.
After a moment of silence …… Suzana turned to me like she’s probing me.
“Then what should we do so that we can have you protect us?”
I’m sure this is what they’re after ……
“If you move to my city, you’ll be fine.”
“Is there no other way?”
“What do the cat people want?”
“Autonomy and security.”
Then there is a safer way.
It’s a method that has its own advantages.
""
“Then, how about a non-aggression pact?”
“Non-aggression pact?”
“We will not touch your territory. And you won’t touch ours. This means that we will not aid and abet each other’s civil wars, nor will we provoke our enemies.”
Suzana gave me a reproachful look.
“In that case, we are to protect ourselves.”
Inwardly, I was dismayed, but I didn’t show it.
“Is this something you should be asking about? I think it’s pretty obvious.”
A group of people who can’t protect themselves is sure to become corrupt and rotten.
Suzana, who couldn’t understand my intentions, tried to talk me out of it.
“It’s difficult to emigrate, but it’ll be easy if it’s to join the fold. If you can expand your sphere of influence …… Then it will make it more peaceful and easier to protect your people.”
What you’re saying hasn’t changed at all.
Do you think you can fool me with such a degree?
“If you have an effect on someone, you will have a corresponding obligation. If the obligation is unrealizable, there is no need for unworthy rights.”
Suzana made a face like it’s incomprehensible.
I guess she thought that I was going to accept it happily if she said that they’re going to join us ……
“Is it really that difficult to understand?”
“If we were to add more members to the group and then all come together to help, we would not be able to fulfill our obligations. Internal strife could also be a factor in asking for help.”
If you calculate the merits of subordination and the demerits of the duty to protect ……
I gave a small chuckle.
Suzana looked at me with a slightly upturned gaze.
“Then, if we carefully select to join in ……”
I’m happy if it’s Mil, but if it’s not, I don’t like it when women look to me with an upturned gaze.
I can’t help but let out a sigh.
It’s no use, we’re not on the same page.
""
“Excuse me …… If we allow one tribe to join us and don’t allow others to join, they will naturally fear domination. And if the number of enemies increases like a snowball. They will make us jump around, hoping that we will tangle our feet and fall. That in itself is not a bad move. That is …… as long as they don’t find out.”
Suzana’s eyes became blatantly wary.
I wanted to make fun of her a little bit for taking up so much of my time talking about something unproductive.
“If you’re going to be an emissary, you shouldn’t show your emotions so easily.”
It’s funny how she became expressionless in a hurry.
“Well then …… Please select one of the following options. Move to our city and become a citizen. Sign a non-aggression pact. And you don’t have to do it if you want to. Don’t forget that.”
“I understand. …… I will consult with the Chief.”
“Oh, yes, yes. I’ll make one thing clear. This is in case that you sign a non-aggression pact and then break it. Just remember that if that happens …… there will be no place for you in this land.”
All at once, fear seemed to appear on her face.
After Suzana left in a hurry, Charles folded his arms and looked at me.
“What will happen now?”
“The usual answer would be the non-aggression pact. However …… To the tiger people and the dog people, they will speak as if they are under our protection, to protect their own safety.”
Charles furrowed his brow.
“Because they lie?”
“It’s just to give them a whiff. She’s not stupid enough to let them take their word for it. She may be short-witted, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders.”
Charles, who had been smiling wryly, turned serious.
“What did you mean by …… make them lose their place in this land?”
He knew it, but he was still daring to ask, I guess.
He was asking me if I was really ready to do it.
Threats that are never carried out have no meaning.
So, when I decide to do it, I will do it.
“I will banish them from this land. Or we’ll reduce their population to the point where they’ll never recover.”
I guess he had anticipated my reply.
I think he was worried about my mental health.
In other words, it’s about my aversion to bloodshed.
But the reality is that even if I don’t like it, I can’t avoid it.
Charles sighed.
“Do you hope to avoid having to make that choice? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do it too, milord.”
(T/N: I’ll change the my lord to milord(for Alfred), and my lady to milady(for Milva).)
I gave a small shrug, grateful for Charles’ consideration.
“I hope so. But that choice is theirs to make. We don’t have the right to do that.”
Even if I don’t want to, and they attack us, I have no choice but to do it.
