85 Episode 23 Western Diplomacy (1/2)

”Would you like to explain, King Chelda!

Hercule asks in a strong tone.

King Chelda glared at Hercule, then waved his hand in an attempt to shake her off. ......

Hercule grasped his hand tightly and refused to let go.

If you're a warbeast and you're not a beast, you're a warbeast and you're a warbeast and you're a warbeast.

Hercule's grip is 200 kilograms.

It's not that easy to break free.

”I'll let you go if you explain what happened and promise not to hit Cecilia with your hands. I ask you again. Would you like to explain?　King Chelda!!!!

Hercule tightened his grip on her arm.

King Chelda's face twisted in pain.

”...... All right, I'll explain. So let me go, Emperor of Lemuria!

”Do you swear you will not be violent?

Do you swear you won't use violence?

Hercule sniffed, then removed his hand.

King Cerda rubbed his hand in Hercule's grip as he answered Hercule's question.

...... I was having a little theological debate with the young lady there. That's all.

”How ...... did it look to me like you were trying to violate Cecilia?

Is this Cecilia ...... the name of the young lady there?　I was just trying to scratch my head. You misunderstood. That's enough, okay?

Was I trying to hit you or did it look like I was trying to hit you? ......

It's hard to tell.

It's hard to tell, but as long as King Cerda insists that he did, I guess he did.

At least, King Chelda and the Kingdom of Chelda would insist on it, and would never admit it.

Hercule is only a little ......

Hindsight is 20/20.

If only we had stopped a little later ......

And then, after thinking about it, he reconsiders, ”No, now would have been the right time.

I should have left a good impression on Cecilia for later.

In the first place, King Cerda's attempt to hit Cecilia was completely unexpected.

Let King Cerda deal with this.

...... It's obvious to anyone who looks at him that he tried to hit her.

Let him get away with it as best he can.

There are more important things to ask Hercule.

”Cecilia, what was your dispute with King Cerda?

”Well, well, ...... this is ...... the Kingdom of Chelda.

”That's not important right now. Why were you in trouble?

When asked by Hercule, ......

Cecilia replied.

”This ...... King Chelda has insulted Nia. ...... Demons (Nightmare) go home, inferiors, rats. That's what he said. So I asked him to retract his statement and apologize to Nia.

I see. ......

Hercule nodded. That's to be expected.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this in the future.　King Cerda.

Hercule says, deliberately, in a loud voice.

King Chelda shook her head.

”No, you can't possibly think that.

”Then what about your earlier comment about inferiority?　You can't say you didn't say that, can you?

That's .......

King Cerda hesitated for a moment and then answered.

I was talking to the Nightmare over there. What's the problem?　You know as well as I do that the Nightmare race is barbaric.

So ......

Nightmares are abhorred all over the world.

Unlike on Earth, where concepts such as human rights and discrimination are commonplace,......

In this world, there is no such concept.

Therefore, it is not a special problem to say that the demon race (nightmare) is inferior or inferior.

Yes, it's okay to say that Nightmare is an inferior species.

But to say that to Nia is ......

It was clearly a miscommunication.

”King Chellda!　That's an insult to me, my clan, and the Patriarchate of Nova Lemuria!

The one who angrily shouted at King Chelda was Lucanos Lucarius.

The Patriarch of Nova Lemuria.

The Patriarchs of the Five Temples have authority equal to or greater than that of the King of a country.

Even King Cerda faltered at this.

But ...... King Chelda couldn't understand why Loukanos was so angry.

”I don't get it. Why would he do that?

”That Nightmare girl ......, Nia Lucarios, is my adopted daughter. Now, am I correct in assuming that you've told me that my adopted son is an inferior race of rats?

Loukanos shouted angrily at King Chelda.

King Chelda's face turned pale.

Finally, he realized that he had made a fatal mistake.

He rapidly sobered up.

”To begin with, ...... all Messiahs are equal. And ...... Nia is a nobleman of my country and my squire. That's why I've brought him here.

Hercule says to King Cerda, matter-of-factly.

And ......

He released his magic.

”My nobleman, my squire is a rat?　An inferior race?　That's an insult to me and to my country!

The magic of Awe is released.

The air in the hall went down at once.

In contrast, King Cerda's body was sweating like a waterfall.

”Bow your head and apologize!　King Chelda!　If you will not apologize, then ......

Hercule said in a low voice.

”If you do not apologize, I will take this as a declaration of war against my country!

King Cerda gulped.

”I see. ...... That Lemurian emperor has conspired.

King Ludwig I, who had been watching the commotion from a distance, muttered, ”What does that mean, Your Majesty?

”What does that mean, Your Majesty?

'Don't you understand?　Laurent.

One of the Seven Knights of the Round Table under King Ludwig I.

Roland the Valiant.

He's a young knight of valor with the rank of Count.

”I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

”No, it's okay. ...... This is just my guess. You can't be sure you're right. But ......

King Ludwig I crossed his arms.

You can imagine what a ruckus it would cause if you brought a nightmare here in the first place. Especially since ...... King Cerda, who is famous for his supremacy over the warbeast race, will be there. No one in their right mind would dare to bring him there. But ......, the Emperor of Lemuria did. Quite frankly, it's a fool's errand. But if his goal is to cause such a ruckus and frame King Cerda, then ...... that man is trouble.

King Ludwig I raised his guard against Hercule.

By reputation, I've heard that he's a kind and generous ruler who treats everyone equally. ......

Reputations are completely useless.

”But Your Majesty, will King Chelda apologize?　The military power of the Kingdom of Chelda should be able to compete with Lemuria. There's no need to apologize. Smash them head on.

This threat will be taken as a declaration of war.

A threat like that only works against those who don't want a war.

Wouldn't it work against King Chelda?

Laurent asks.

King Ludwig I nodded in agreement.

Yes, it is. So, if ...... the emperor had a fit of pique and said it, then it's highly likely that this whole mess was a spur of the moment thing. But if ......

”What if?

If the Lemurian emperor had collaborated with the King of Edelna, the Edelna nobility, and the high priests beforehand,......, there would be no need to go that far. You know, if he had a better understanding of the Nightmare, ......

This banquet was to celebrate the accession of King Edelna to the throne,......, and many Edelna nobles were in attendance.

In addition, due to its location near the Patriarchate of Lemuria, there are also many high-ranking clergy in attendance.

If they were to feel even a little bit of pity ...... for Nia, then ......

Righteousness is the Emperor of Lemuria, evil is King Cerda.

In that atmosphere, will ...... King Chelda be able to keep from apologizing?

It's an interesting play, and it's a shame ...... that I'm not a character in it. It's a shame I'm not a character in the play. ...... I think I'll stick to watching this time. This time, ...... next time, I'd love for you to see the play I supervised. Emperor of Lemuria ...... No, Your Majesty, Hercule.