"This meeting was arranged at your request. Go to Yeolguk yourselves and achieve the peace you desire. If you truly wish for peace, you won't refuse this proposal."
In a way, it was like giving them permission to do whatever they wanted. However, the generals listening inwardly admired the move.
'So that method exists!'
'Yeolguk is just as obstinate. They won't easily accept this agreement. But if we send them, all the friction that arises during negotiations can be dumped squarely on their shoulders!'
As expected of generals. They have considerable political insight. Now, what about the regressor...?
'Yeolguk... negotiations... I'll have to deal with madmen if I go... Those guys are annoying. Ah. Is this what they're aiming for?'
Oh, it wasn't political insight but purely realizations from personal experience. Extremely repeated experience becomes insight.
"...Ho. You're telling us to take on the troublesome work? While you're at it, want us to provoke some military incidents too?"
"I'm glad you're not as stupid as I thought."
"What are you saying? For someone who tucked their tail out of fear, you're awfully boastful."
'Well, there are things to gain from Yeolguk too. So it doesn't matter. Yeolguk won't refuse the ceasefire agreement. In the previous round, they were defeated so miserably that their land was ravaged in a mere seven days. But... even if negotiations succeed, whether Gunguk will accept it remains a problem...'
The regressor asked with considerable suspicion.
"Well, doing it doesn't matter. But what if you make excuses and interfere, saying the negotiations didn't go your way?"
'Sieghrund' nodded and answered.
"Of course. This is a matter between nations. You, who are closer to terrorists than Gunguk officials, couldn't possibly understand the practical work. I understand your concern."
"I don't mean I'm worried I'll fail at the work! I'm worried because it'll become bothersome again if you ignore the results!"
"Your order of concern is wrong. Shouldn't you worry about your own incompetence first?"
"The only one who got the order wrong is you!"
Sorry, I was also worried earlier that you'd fail at the work. Add me to that side too.
"I will attach a key figure from our nation. They will serve as an excellent practical worker and, at the same time, a hostage."
"Gunguk has key figures? First time hearing that. Don't you guys not even consider generals important?"
"We do. The fact that you don't know must mean Gunguk's information control is working well."
'Sieghrund' sharply turned away. Though they roughly got what they wanted, the regressor frowned at a vague sense of defeat.
'That bastard, didn't lose a single word...! Tch, if I had destroyed Gunguk in this round, I could've landed a hit on him!'
Hey, don't try to destroy a nation for that reason.
Having finished speaking, 'Sieghrund' addressed the remaining generals.
"Do you have any further questions?"
"Is the meeting ending here?"
"There's a little more. However, after this, you all must leave the room."
"Why is that?"
"Because this will be a discussion about the 'hostage' to guarantee this negotiation. If you all also know of the hostage's existence, their value will drop."
"Hmm... understood."
Convinced, the generals nodded and left the headquarters. As they flung the doors open, each and every one shot sharp glares toward me and Historia.
'That brat...!'
'Damn it. This is exactly why important duties shouldn't be given to the young! They ruin things with their hot blood!'
It seems I've earned quite a lot of resentment. It'll probably be hard to live on the Gunguk side from now on.
With the outsiders gone and only the relevant parties remaining in the joint headquarters conference room, a moment of silence passed.
"Phew, so exhausting, exhausting!"
Hilde, who had returned at some point, let out a deep sigh and flopped onto the round table.
Due to her shrunken body, her clothes hung long. Purple hair cascaded over her fully exposed shoulders. Hilde grabbed her drooping sleeves and slowly crawled across the round table.
At Hilde's transformation, the regressor muttered in displeasure.
"We should have shown this in front of the old fogeys..."
"I sent them away because I didn't want to show them! How else could I act as 'Sieghrund' without doing this?"
Disguise techniques manipulate the body itself. Though her Qi control has reached the realm of mastery, touching the edge of its ultimate principle, mental fatigue remains unchanged. Hilde, who let out a heavy sigh of exhaustion, lay comfortably face-down on the round table.
Lying comfortably as if in her own home, Hilde swung her legs and spoke.
"Anyway, understood? We'll exchange hostages."
"Hostages?"
"Yes, hostages. A wonderful guarantee method with deep history and long tradition!"
Hilde spoke cheerfully, but the regressor didn't think so. She made her stiff expression even colder and said.
"You'd better speak carefully. I don't like hostages very much."
"Huh? Why?"
"Why, you ask."
'Whenever I tried to get something done, they'd drag in people who had nothing to do with me and filthy hold them as hostages. Damn. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil... From the kid I briefly spoke to at the inn I stayed at, to the merchant I made a single transaction with... Tch.'
The regressor cut short her recollection. It seemed she had suffered quite a bit from hostage situations in previous rounds. Shaking off the unpleasantness rising from her thoughts, the regressor spoke.
"It ruins my mood."
"Hmm. Sounds like you've had someone precious taken as a hostage?"
"Exactly the opposite. Even people who aren't that precious get taken as hostages, and I hate being swayed according to their whims."
"A statement denying the value of hostages. People take hostages to sway others, yet you say you don't want to be swayed."
"Hmph. I don't need such things. In the first place, I don't have anyone who could even be a hostage."
"Really?"
Hilde, looking around with exaggerated gestures, pointed at me and asked again.
"Then what about Father?"
"...I don't know why that one is Father, but honestly, it'd be more convenient if someone took that one away."
Haha, regressor, you're saying things you don't mean...
'Truly. In some situations, it's quite helpful, but entirely unreliable to depend on. Won't someone take her away, use her well, and then not return her when needed?'
Huh? You're serious? Hey. You ungrateful regressor! Do I have to say it with my own mouth how much I've contributed for you to understand!
"Shei, that's too much. After how hard I contributed this time, you're just selling me off... Even a brothel keeper wouldn't be this wicked!"
"First of all, I'm not a brothel keeper, but leaving aside why I'd be one! What did you even contribute? You just suddenly disappeared with the princess and the commander!"
"Really, do you not know why I did that? The negotiation with Gunguk happened thanks to me!"
"What?"
"It's exactly as Father says!"
Hilde jumped into my arms. Sitting demurely on my lap, Hilde adjusted to a comfortable position and spoke.
"Hmm, I'm sorry to say this, but Father's standing is a bit lower than the others, isn't it? Weak, and nothing particularly impressive about you. But when Historia, who was a proud general of Gunguk, suddenly joined your side, the situation flowed strangely, right? Even though it looks like she'd die if you poked her!"
"That's true, but do you have to say it like that?"
"Did you seduce them all with that slick face...? I would have thought so, but there's also a man mixed in, so I discarded that hypothesis! Looking at Shei's sexual preferences, discarding it was a mistake though!"
"I can't deny it. That is plainly a fact."
"Deny it! It's plainly not a fact!"
'Those two bastards, they're oddly in sync! I know why I felt bad when I saw the Spirit Vessel! It's because it resembles that bastard!'
Right. They've only known each other for a short time, but they're already full of teasing ideas. Chuckling happily, Hilde patted my chest with her head as she spoke.
"When something can't be explained by logic, that's the core of it. Naturally, 'I' and Gunguk thought Father was leading everyone. There was the Pied Piper of Hamelin incident, and above all, Father's actions resembled the previous Commander Lankart's prison break!"
That's the truth. That's why Hilde targeted me at the Refined Gold Steel Refinery. Well, it's a completely off-mark conjecture though.
Even if I held a fairly large role, the one leading this group is the regressor.
"Naturally? Hmph. Why would we follow that guy?"
"Huh? It's not?"
"Of course not..."
The regressor started speaking, then faltered.
'Wait. Az, Tirkanjaka, even the commander followed Huez, didn't they? If we exclude them, the ones who followed me are just the not-so-reliable butterfly and princess? Huh? Could that guy be the fortuitous encounter of this round...?'
You're only realizing it now, regressor? How much I've helped you?
Fully emboldened, I aggressively pressed the regressor.
"Shei, have you finally realized my importance? From now on, please give me words of gratitude once a month. Along with a modest financial compensation."
"...Hmph! What I mean is, regardless of the truth, there's no reason to judge that we'd follow that guy! As you said, he's not particularly outstanding except for being slick!"
Oho. Going to dodge it like that? Is giving words of gratitude that unpleasant?
When the regressor pressed, Hilde waggled her fingers side to side and answered.
"No, there is a reason~. If Father were a prophet, or a human chosen by prophecy, it's entirely possible! People who received oracles travel, join forces with companions they meet, and defeat great evils. It's a common scene in epics!"
That's truth without a single lie mixed in. After I revealed Hilde's identity, Hilde called me a 'prophet' or whatnot. At that time, Hilde truly mistook me for a prophet or an equivalent being.
To correct that misunderstanding, I had to subtly hint at the King of Humanity. It was using a rather regrettable card, but well, I don't regret it. A trump card only has meaning when you use it eventually. Thanks to that, I discovered Gunguk's secret and... protected 'humanity.'
"Prophet? The Holy Emperor Court's?"
"Yes! Gunguk is a bit disliked by the Holy Emperor Court! I'm saying it wouldn't be strange if they invaded at any time!"
"Certainly. There is that impression."
'Right. The Holy Emperor Court kept watch over Gunguk. Even in previous rounds, whenever Gunguk started a major war, the Holy Emperor Court actively intervened.'
It's probably because of Yuel, but let's skip this part for now.
"But! Father stayed behind and revealed that there was room for dialogue! You came to talk with Father alone, leaving behind even the Progenitor. Thanks to that, Gunguk felt somewhat reassured and agreed to talks, and thanks to all the noisy hullabaloo and confusion! This negotiation table was prepared!"
"What's 'noisy hullabaloo and confusion'? You skipped over the most important part too easily!"
"Sorry. It's annoying to explain everything."
"Don't be lazy about the most important part..."
Was it because she encountered too much information in a short time? Or because the combination of me and Hilde was exhausting? Holding her throbbing head, the regressor looked at me about to ask something...
'No. Rather than asking that guy.'
I don't understand her thought process, but she turned her head and asked Historia, who at least looked reliable.
"Commander. Is it true?"
"Ah..."
'Not at all. It's true that Huez went to talk... but that wasn't for a peace agreement. He was probably summoned because Huez is the King of Humanity...'
But regressor. I'm sorry to say Historia is also on my side. Even if she doesn't follow me completely, she'll hide information I haven't disclosed.