Military Nation Inner Circle Command, Joint Headquarters.
The building standing tall in the very center of the command was modest, unlike what its name suggested. If it had any distinguishing feature, it was that the exterior walls were lined with wrought iron, thanks to which it remained intact even while the wooden snake was running amok.
Before I even entered, a sharp argument was taking place inside.
"This is unprecedented! A negotiation with the enemy who just ravaged the command! It seems like we're tucking our tails and fleeing without even fighting!"
An elderly commander pointed his finger and shouted. The resonant shout infused with qi had the power to make the steel-covered building ring loudly, but the person actually listening to the voice brushed it off lightly.
"I find it unprecedented too. When they said negotiation, I thought they'd dug another trap and were waiting, but they just sat people down and are only shouting."
"You...! You have no respect despite your young age! If it weren't for orders, I would have corrected your insolence immediately!"
"Would you care to try? That would be more convenient for me too."
Sparks flew from the eyes of several generals. Today too, the regressor was creating conflict. Are you a flint? Creating sparks every time you clash with someone.
Sighing, I spoke while opening the door.
"Now, now. Generals. Don't surround a little kid and glare with such hostile expressions. It looks like bossy behavior and bullying, which is not a good look."
"And who are you!"
At that moment, fierce gazes turned toward me. I feel stifled. Hmm, generals, and that level of spirit from commander-rank is bad for health. Being fragile, I quietly hid behind Historia to avoid the silent pressure.
"...That's what Historia said."
"Historia! The Military Nation's betrayer!"
"What could possibly be lacking that you forsook the Military Nation!"
The direction of hostility immediately shifted to Historia.
Originally, I don't usually fall for such childish tactics, but perhaps because the target was Historia. The generals were glaring as if seeing an enemy. Or perhaps, sending resentful glances toward a daughter who ran away from home after being deceived by a scoundrel.
Historia glanced at me and muttered.
"...No matter how I think about it, I'm definitely being ostracized."
Historia gave a perfunctory salute to the generals, then with me following behind, headed toward the regressor.
The regressor, sitting alone, acknowledged us upon seeing me and Historia.
"Why did you come so late? I was dealing with these old men alone. Tch, it would have been easier if we just fought. Dealing with words is annoying and tiring."
"Try to resolve things with words instead of force. If you communicate well, you can finish most matters smoothly."
Pulling a chair next to me and sitting down, the regressor glared at me and moved their lips.
'Thousand Sword Qi, Voice Transmission.'
Then the regressor's voice came as if whispering right in my ear.
[...Like that strange lifeform that called itself Yingui?]
"Strange lifeform? They're human. Someone who fully cooperated to resolve our conflict."
[Hmph. You returned the heart to Tirkanjaka, and returned themselves to that strange lifeform? What exactly are you? Some kind of lost-and-found deliveryman?]
"Something like that. I mentioned it occasionally, but I'm a magician. I'm excellent at reading and shaking the opponent's psychology."
[You talk a good game. If you're that confident, why not show your skills this time too?]
Okay, received.
"Understood. Before that, Shey. Can you stop whispering in my ear, man to man? I know the importance of whispering, but it sounds so close it's like you put your mouth right to my ear, it tickles."
"W-what?"
"I don't usually think this way between men, but perhaps because I have a strange impression of you, my face involuntarily turns red."
"That's not it! I'm not interested either! Stop spouting bullshit with a calm face!"
Then Azi, who was on standby outside the door, poked his head out and said.
"Woof?"
"I didn't call you!"
Azi tilted his head in confusion and disappeared from view. Toward the fuming regressor, I slightly bowed my head.
"How about it? I can cause this level of agitation with just a few words."
Only then realizing she had been toyed with, the regressor fumed with a red face.
"Don't do that to me! Do it to them!"
"They're elderly soldiers. There's nothing to tease."
"Are you saying there is with me?!"
The moment the regressor was about to grab my collar, someone entered through the door. It was a man with such an ordinary appearance, lacking any distinctive features, that he probably wouldn't be remembered. Wearing a pitch-black uniform without a single medal, and even the buttons painted black, 'Siegrune' spoke expressionlessly.
"How noisy. If you want to have a private conversation that badly, do it outside... ah, my."
What's with that person? I thought they suddenly went off track in the middle. When did they finish disguising? Hilde, having changed her appearance to 'Siegrune', muttered upon seeing the regressor.
"I suppose you can't do it outside if it's between men."
"Hey!"
"Ah, I'll correct myself. It's a sin that shouldn't be done whether inside or outside."
"So I said, no!"
Unlike the fuming regressor, the generals were pleased to see him.
"Commander Siegrune. We've been waiting!"
"I kept you waiting. It took a while to compile information and hear the General Headquarters' opinion. I've brought content you'll find sufficiently convincing, so leave this negotiation to me."
'Siegrune' said so and headed to the head seat. Meanwhile, the regressor, thoroughly annoyed, pointed at 'Siegrune' and shouted.
"Look who's talking! Why are you in that form?! You were in the form of a short woman just a moment ago!"
It was the regressor's masterstroke counterattack, but Siegrune fiddled with the documents and smoothly brushed it off.
"No matter how good male homosexuality is, don't project your ideal type onto me. Or was it not an ideal type, but identity?"
"No, you definitely disguised..."
However, no one paid attention to the regressor's words. The generals, forgetting their anger for a moment, pointed at the regressor and murmured.
"Yingui is a young girl?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"Is it a type of qigong that causes side effects on the brain? No wonder. That level of achievement is hard to reach at that age."
The more they speak the truth, the more they're treated as mentally unstable. The regressor, feeling unjust at this unfair treatment, now looked at me with a sliver of expectation.
'Show your skills! This is your chance to shine!'
I faithfully fulfilled that expectation.
"Shey. When undermining someone, being entertaining is more important than the truth. Even if such a truth exists, it's too abrupt and uninteresting for them to accept, so they have no choice but to not react. Try doing it like me when you can."
"You know you're undermining me too!"
Meanwhile, Historia, sitting in the seat next to me, muttered with a bitter face.
"...Now seeing the darling feels like someone else's business."
"Don't call me that! When you know nothing!"
"I also know his true appearance. I understand your situation, so there's no need to explain."
"Uh, um, is that so...?"
'Then, are we comrades...?'
Don't be that moved. How low is your ignition point?
Meanwhile, 'Siegrune', standing in the center of the controversy, organized the documents with a tap-tap and spoke.
"The General Headquarters never intended to create unnecessary conflict with them from the beginning. Fighting would result in catastrophic losses, but there's no appropriate benefit to be gained even if we endure those losses and fight. We tried to threaten and drive them out, or at least resolve it with minimal intelligence operations. All failed, though."
"Ugh...! What's the reason for such atrocities?!"
"They said it was to prevent war."
Bang. A general struck the table fiercely with his fist. At the moment when the round table, which seemed to be at least 3 meters in diameter, wobbled and was about to tip over, the regressor quietly placed Earth Slash at the edge. The turbulent round table, pressed down by Earth Slash, trembled briefly before instantly settling down.
The general, having lost the battle of aura, shouted with slightly wounded pride.
"Nonsense! Is this a smokescreen even after coming all the way here? There's no way you're asking to cancel a major affair of a nation like a child's prank, so state your true purpose!"
"Hmph. Right. You wouldn't believe it. Knowing that..."
"Whether it can be believed or not is not important. Distrust is a general's duty, and the Military Nation always judges by the Military Nation's standards. This judgment too is a result of the Military Nation's standards."
'Siegrune's vocalization had a peculiar resonance, making one feel as if they should listen to that voice. 'Siegrune', having cut off the general and regressor's words, continued speaking.
"First, I'll speak of the damage caused by this attack. The damage to regular soldiers isn't that significant, but the Chimera Corn stockpiled as military rations was entirely lost. Because it turned into a wooden snake, we can't even recycle it. A major disruption has occurred in our war-waging capability."
"This is all the work of those invaders!"
"No. It's the authority of the druid who guards the Tree of Vice."
'Siegrune' sharply cut off the general's protest.
"Jujiyukrim, the holding company in charge of food modification. They risked their lives to approach the Tree of Vice under orders, and returned after finding the great fruit called Chimera Corn. Thanks to that, the Military Nation was able to overcome the food shortage. However, as everyone knows, the Tree of Vice has a guardian of the burned World Tree."
In the middle of the lush forest spreading to the south of the Military Nation, there stands a single tree. The World Tree burned and fell due to a certain incident, and in its place, the Tree of Vice, which took root in those ashes and sprouted, is that tree.
Upon hearing the rumor that all fruits in the world grow from that single tree, the Military Nation dispatched an investigation team, and there they discovered... or invented the Military Nation's 7th great invention, the Chimera Corn, and returned.
Of course, there was Nevida's tacit consent in that process, but they wouldn't know that fact.
"Druid Nevida...?"
"But, Nevida said they don't care what's planted outside the Forest of Vice! Is there any reason for them to come now because of the Chimera Corn?"
"I don't know that either. I don't know everything either. Perhaps they were summoned. However, we must fully consider that threat, and there's reason to observe the situation for a while. That's the decisive reason this negotiation was established."
The generals disliked this situation itself where the Military Nation was being shaken by external threats. However, being soldiers themselves, they knew that while a two-front war against an enemy nation was possible, a two-front war against food shortage was not.
'Siegrune' turned their back to them and declared toward the regressor.
"Therefore, the General Headquarters has decided to temporarily cease fire."
It was essentially a declaration of submission. The generals coughed in dissatisfaction. At the same time, an exclamation of disbelief burst from the regressor.
"What? Really? The Military Nation? A ceasefire?"
"Isn't that what you've been persistently demanding? Is there a problem? Or perhaps there's another hidden purpose?"
When 'Siegrune' asked sharply, the regressor, having half-risen from their seat, sat back down and feigned composure.
"No, I just thought you'd finally come to your senses."
'What? Are they seriously doing this? Until now, even if you beat them to death, meaning, even if you tried to destroy them in every way, they wouldn't stop!'
Perhaps they didn't stop because you were trying to beat them to death, regressor? The method of stopping a war being the destruction of a nation. How is killing to prevent fighting different from killing so they can't fight.
"However, there is a condition."
"Of course. You would naturally have one. What is it?"
'Don't trust them as is. It's the Military Nation. They might do something strange again! Are they going to ask us to do something impossible? Or is this some scheme to separate us to solve the immediate crisis?'
Surprisingly, it's none of those things. 'Siegrune', as if mocking the fully alert regressor, presented reasonable conditions.