“This will likely be the last crusade. We may struggle to keep up because it’s all happening so fast, but other nations will have the same problem. Our nation’s location does at least give us an advantage. We mustn’t squander it.”
“Once this is over, we’ll be entering an era of peace,” one of the nobles added. “This may be our final chance to secure more land.”
Ange wasn’t so sure. Human nations were always looking for new enemies, both at home and abroad.
An end to crusades would leave the nations of Yeesusdom without a common enemy. The closest heretical state would be the Korlan Dragon Empire, but that was a large nation with a powerful army. Unlike the Shanti states, Korlan was strong enough to defend its land from invaders. Their soldiers wouldn’t fall like grass reaped from a meadow, and any conquest would likely cost far too much to be considered profitable.
Until a common enemy was found, the nations of Yeesusdom would likely fight one another. In particular, the scattered patchwork of small territories known as the Yeesusism City-states Region had long been united by a common enemy, ensuring that the region was free from internal conflict. It wouldn’t take much to destabilize a region like that, however. They’d only managed to maintain the peace so long because there hadn’t been any external threats.
In the past, a little pressure on such a region had resulted in the rapid formation of a new state known as the Galilee Union, which had since grown into a large nation with enough power to threaten the Tyrelme Holy Empire.
The end of the crusades would pave the way for a new era in which the nations of Yeesusdom fought each other. Ange could see it coming.
“Angelica, I sense you have something to say.” Alfred’s voice reached Ange at her faraway location at the very bottom of the table.
“If I were to comment, it would be on the witch rebellion that the Papal State claims to have incited. I feel it may be worth investigating further. In several communications from the Papal State, we were asked to form a crusade force that would land in the royal capital. Recent communications, however, speak of a straightforward invasion. It would appear something hasn’t gone according to plan.” Ange raised this concern despite knowing she was wasting her breath.
“Hah... I don’t know how you can be so fearful. Last time, two enemy nations stood together and lost. We’re certain to win against one nation alone.”
As always, Alfred chose to ridicule Ange rather than listen to what she said. Though it was her competence, not her words, that he truly wanted to cast doubt on. The idea was to leave Ange no chance of gaining support from others. The whole reason he’d summoned her was for the sake of embarrassing her.
Rather than try to defend herself, Ange simply conceded. “My apologies, dear brother. I defer to your superior insight.”
Alfred’s annoyance was clear on his face. Ange had never gotten along with him, even as a young child.
“We’ll conclude for today,” Alfred said, bringing the meeting to an end. “Angelica, you’ll come to my office.”
✧✧✧
“Hello, dear brother.”
Ange was visiting Alfred’s office upon his request. Her outfit was a masculine ensemble that commanded respect. Although she didn’t hide the presence of her breasts, she wore slacks instead of a skirt.
“What were you talking about earlier?” Alfred asked irritably.
His ire was nothing new—Ange’s very existence offended him.
He longed to assassinate her, but Ange refused to touch any food or drink inside this castle, and he couldn’t openly draw a weapon on her. Alfred’s reputation would be irreparably damaged if word got out that he’d killed his little sister ten years his junior. Not only was it contemptible to kill one’s own flesh and blood, he’d be deemed a pathetic coward for considering her a threat.
Therefore, as much as he wanted her dead, he couldn’t risk being blamed for it. The previous crusade should’ve been the perfect chance. The people of the region spoke a different tongue, and anything could have happened on the battlefield. And yet he hadn’t found an opportunity.
“I spoke the truth,” Ange replied. “We know that their plan was to incite a rebellion, but I doubt that the rebellion succeeded.”
“Does that matter? No, it clearly doesn’t.”
Alfred must have been confident that the enemy would succumb to superior numbers regardless, but the history of the Tyrelme region suggested there was reason for caution. Before the empire’s formation, the combined forces of the Tyrelme region had been seventy percent higher in number than those of the invading Carulginion army, and yet they had been defeated in an instant. And it hadn’t been just once or twice either—it was only after five successive defeats, with the region on the verge of total subjugation, that the Papal State had finally stepped in. With a stronger enemy at their backs, the Carulginion Empire had been forced to withdraw, unable to focus on the weaklings of Tyrelme.
“Superior numbers” was an incantation with the power to inspire confidence and complacency in any fool who lacked a proper understanding of war. The reality should’ve been obvious to anyone who paid attention. A strong worker with a hearty breakfast could swing his axe hard enough to fell a tree, while a starving worker would feel dizzy the moment he lifted the axe. But both men were equal in terms of numbers. Likewise, there could never be a simple proportional relationship between troop count and war potential. The former was just a number, while the latter was an intangible concept.
“I believe it matters. We know the enemy has at least one exceptional individual. Such a person could use the disruption within their nation to rise higher. We shouldn’t assume that the same fools are still in charge. The rebellion isn’t certain to have weakened them.”
A man named Yuri Ho lived in Shiyalta. Ange had learned all she could about him after facing him in battle.
Of all the Catholica states, the Euphos Federation had proved the best place to gather information about him. Yuri Ho had amassed his own fleet of ships, seemingly without the involvement of the rest of the Ho family, which he used to conduct frequent trade with the Albio Republic. Since Albio and Euphos were enemies, Euphos had numerous spies concealed there. This had created a pathway for intelligence which had reached Ange.
Since Altima didn’t generate sufficient tax revenues to fund an intelligence network made up of numerous spies, Ange had needed to learn what she could through her personal connections. She regularly visited the Euphos Federation to discuss the trade of wine, giving her opportunities to exchange intelligence at social gatherings.
“People of exceptional talent exist in any nation. But how can he help the Shanti forces now? They can’t withstand a crusade, no matter what clever tricks they try.”
“I’m not so sure. There was one Shanti who hindered the previous crusade significantly. I’m talking about the one who burned all the Papal State’s supplies and killed the dragon.”
“What of him?!” Alfred asked angrily. He rose from his chair, as if ready to lambast Ange, but then sat down again. “That’s a woman’s way of thinking. You all fixate on one thing and fail to see the bigger picture. Even if some exceptional individual did use the rebellion as a chance to gain power, the crusade force wouldn’t give him time to prepare. It won’t even be half a year before the next war begins. These concerns of yours are irrelevant.”
Alfred may have been right. Ange might have been overly fixated on Yuri Ho ever since he’d defeated her in battle. Then again, Alfred had never faced him.