Even if she had read my thoughts beforehand, nonsense was still nonsense. Without even needing to pretend, my voice was filled with incredulity.
"King? Who? Me? Why?"
"It's Jun Nation!"
Hilde said cheerfully.
"Jun Nation is a nation of the masses without a king. A nation created with the dream of preventing anyone from exploiting others, of ruling humans solely by law and rules!"
"The dream was certainly realized. That damn nation doesn't have anyone exploiting and dominating others. Because everyone is being exploited."
"Ahaha~. As expected of someone who actually lived there, you know it well~. That's right~. It's a regrettable thing~."
What regret, when she contributed to making it that way. Hilde avoided my eyes and spoke nonchalantly.
"But still, even if they don't dominate, someone needs to give orders, right~? I've been slowly feeling the need for that lately, and then Father appeared right on time!"
"You're planning to use me as a component too? Not interested. How is holed up in a rat hole receiving communications a king? Find a rat king instead of me."
When I answered curtly, Tir smiled and said.
"Hilde. This 'King of Jun Nation' you speak of doesn't seem to have appeared at the negotiation table yet."
'Trying to negotiate while treating Hu as though he were already theirs. She's raising a snake in her belly. Now that Hu has been entrusted to the Duchy, he's virtually mine...'
No I'm not? I am mine, not anyone else's?
Being the King of Jun Nation would still be better than becoming a vampire's attachment doll. I subtly left some room.
"There's nothing for me to gain by becoming the King of Jun Nation. I can't indulge in luxury, can't eat delicious food, and compared to a Jun Nation communications officer who can't even meet a single person, being a citizen of the Duchy who can eat meat to their heart's content seems far better."
Hilde's eyes widened as she asked back.
"Were you worried about that?"
"How can I not worry when I've seen and heard things in Jun Nation."
"There's no way Father would receive such shabby treatment. Father is the mystery that 'I' and Jun Nation have been desperately searching for, one befitting Jun Nation!"
Hilde's two eyes directed at me sparkled in vibrant full color. When she acted, they were a single color, but now it seemed as if all colors were blended together.
"Jun Nation has earned deep enmity with the Holy Emperor's Court. They can be called Father's allies! The system including communications must be organized, and intelligence capability must be outstanding. Even the Demon God Father seeks could be obtained more easily using Jun Nation's organizational power! Will you refuse all of that?"
"No matter how useful it is, the quality of life is different. If I continue to stay here as Tir's honored guest, I'll live a life not inferior to a Level 5 citizen?"
"Come now. Would 'I' dare to give the King of humans mere Level 5 treatment? If, Father comes to Jun Nation."
Hilde smiled brightly and sat on my right side across the carriage. Though Tir's mood was clearly becoming uncomfortable, Hilde feigned ignorance and clung close to me as she spoke.
"I will give you everything in Jun Nation."
"Everything? Please tell me a bit more specifically."
Hilde leaned over and looked at Tir on the opposite side. When Tir stiffened her expression as their eyes met, Hilde rather smiled as if pleased and whispered into my ear again.
"Exactly as it sounds, everything. The resources, power, knowledge, and systems there. And... all the people there. Everything."
"It is tempting, but do you have the ability to give them? They might refuse to become mine."
"Saying things you don't mean~."
Still smiling playfully, Hilde pressed a little closer and playfully nibbled lightly on my earlobe. As I shrieked at the unexpected sudden action, Hilde breathed sound into my ear along with her breath.
"...In the first place, both Abby and Historia. Both of their hearts already belong to Father, don't they~? Both have already intervened deeply in Jun Nation and become inseparable from it. Father is merely retrieving the seeds planted in Jun Nation~. On top of that, I will even add 'myself' to the offering."
Whose, she says. She speaks as if she's taken custody of people's hearts. Just as I am mine, other humans are the same.
However, the proposal itself was quite intriguing. Being Tir's honored guest was good, but in a vampire nation, humans were in a passive position.
"Did you get permission?"
It was a remark with Yuel in mind. Even if she died as a saintess, she might have earned the Holy Emperor's Court's enmity, but she wouldn't hand over the nation to me.
From the sentence with no subject, Hilde noticed shrewdly and laughed wickedly.
"No permission is needed. 'I' will make it so."
'I'm sorry in advance, Yuel~. But, you now know that it's beyond Yuel's power, right? Our poor Saintess will understand 'my' choice, won't she?'
Even Saintess Yuel with her clairvoyance cannot peek inside the Duchy shrouded in mist. There would be no better place to scheme a rebellion than this. Though Hilde probably didn't follow me here calculating that.
Anyway, the proposal itself was tempting. I uncrossed my arms to show a positive stance.
"It might be good? However, it's a bit scary for weak me to do it alone. If Tir attaches one Elder, it seems I could perfectly bring Jun Nation under my control."
"A perfect plan! How about it, Tirkanjaka? Do you feel like sitting at the negotiation table now~?"
To speak coldly, I'm not even the King of Jun Nation. Hilde's words right now are no different from a promissory note promising to pay in advance with borrowed money.
However, to no one's worry, promissory note transactions are often actively made in the world. The important thing is whether one can pay, and more important than that is whether the receiving side believes in the ability to pay.
"...."
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It was while Tir fell into deep thought and remained silent.
"That's a welcome story to hear!"
Support came from an entirely unexpected direction. Kabila, who had been listening to the conversation all along, clasped her hands together and said in an excited voice.
"It's about time the Mist Duchy had an external ally or two. It sounds like empty boasts from a good-for-nothing, but even if only a quarter of that is true, strategically and politically."
While glaring at me coldly in the meantime was a bit scary, Kabila soon flashed a cute smile and said words that were hard to tell were criticism or praise.
"If Sister's paramour just loafs around like a good-for-nothing, her dignity won't hold up, right? But, with the title of King of Jun Nation, it would be much more presentable! An official title makes even a mangy dog worth a second look!"
"No need for a second look. Hu is my guest."
Tir, who had been listening quietly, warned low.
"That alone should be enough for you to respect Hu."
It was a short and intense warning. Kabila instantly turned pale and fell to her knees. Without caring that her dress was getting wrinkled and dusty, Kabila bowed her head to Tir and pleaded.
"I, I'm sorry. Sister. I was just, speaking of the world's evaluation. I absolutely wasn't looking down on or belittling him!"
With just one word from Tir, I've gone from a good-for-nothing to 'him'. Class mobility is almost at the level of a great revolution. Seeing this, being the Progenitor's honored guest might not be so bad either.
When Tir didn't respond even to Kabila's repentance, Kabila almost in tears clung to Tir's feet.
"I'm truly sorry. I will repay this sin with anything. I will do anything. If, if that person heads to Jun Nation. I will help that person solidify the throne. Lord Hu, please entrust me with anything. Like a subordinate. No, I will be used like a slave!"
Now I've even risen to Lord Hu. How moving. Just as I was about to put this grateful heart to full use and work her like a slave, Tir stepped forward first and said.
"I understand your intent. Since I've eased my mind, you don't need to grovel to Hu anymore."
"...! Yes! Thank you, Sister! I will definitely repay the grace of your forgiveness!"
Tch. I was going to work her a bit and she cuts me off at the source. Kabila had sought Tir's forgiveness in the first place. After Tir eased her mind, Kabila didn't show even a sliver of interest in me.
Tir felt slightly relieved at Kabila's appearance and thought.
'It's hard to watch women hovering around Hu any more than this. Kabila is my Elder, but having lost my dominance over her, I don't know what actions she might take.'
Anyway, Tir, who had now completely eased her mind, calmly chewed over the proposal Hilde had made. The words Kabila had said kept circling in Tir's head.
'...Perhaps, it might be better to empower Hu. It's a proposal beneficial to both me and Hu. If he stays here, he's merely a paramour, but if Hu exists as the King of humans and the King of Jun Nation... we could even enter into a political marriage on equal footing. A husband ought to possess authority, shouldn't he?'
Leaving aside why it leads to a political marriage, this 12-year-old girl is caught in archaic prejudices. Why must a husband necessarily possess authority? Can't I just loaf around and play the kept man? Guarantee the freedom to marry into wealth.
'However, I don't want to tear Hu away from my side right away. I don't know what might happen if he's out of my sight.... Let's accept for now, but attach conditions.'
"How about it~? Tirkanjaka. Do you need more time~? You can't be too slow. 'We' are humans so we don't have much time~."
"No. I'm done."
Having finished organizing her thoughts, Tir raised her head straight and corrected her posture. With just a slight adjustment in her bearing, it felt as if the authority of the Progenitor who had left home had returned.
"It's not a bad proposal. However, if I am to lend my power, this side must naturally have something to gain as well. I will set conditions. First."
Tir raised her index finger and said.
"You will stay at the Castle of the Full Moon and assist me until the trial for Ruskinia's death is concluded. The Duchy is in turmoil due to the Elder's death right now, so I will not take a clear stance until the confusion is sorted out."
An Elder's death is a grave matter for the Mist Duchy. Beyond a simple murder case, it was a situation where even how the immortal Elder was killed was unknown. Prioritizing internal affairs over others' business was reasonable.
"And second."
Then Tir took my hand and stated the second condition.
"With your power, Hu, restore my senses. That is the condition for helping you."