The Royal Castle of the Sharshar Kingdom.
Several months have passed since the emissaries from the previous ceasefire agreement were dismissed.
The domestic situation is worse than one could possibly describe.
The Minister of Right, his face ashen, reports the domestic situation to the King and the Minister of Left.
“Is there a countermeasure? No, there isn’t.”
“Yes.”
“Can we not borrow supplies from our friendly nation?”
The Minister of Left believes that the country’s worsening situation is entirely due to the Minister of Right’s poor diplomatic negotiations. He raises his voice, attempting to shift the blame for the military’s defeats and desertions in the face of the enemy.
“Calm down, Minister of Left.”
“Your Majesty… Yes, I apologize.”
The Minister of Right breathes a sigh of relief as the Minister of Left’s verbal assault subsides. He then clearly explains the reasons for the country’s turmoil with data.
“…”
“As you can see, does comparing Figure A and Figure B in the documents make the situation clear?”
He asks the two men, who are reading documents filled with clear statistics comparing the early stages of the war to its current state,
“Ah, this. This is the country’s reality…”
“Hmm… Then, we want to somehow achieve a truce. We are in a streak of defeats, and the peace negotiation terms will be harsh. Is there anything we can use to soften them, any material to negotiate with?”
“That can only be entrusted to the capabilities of you, the Minister of Left, who is in charge of military affairs. We will cooperate with logistical support.”
***
The Border Line of the northern Sharshar Kingdom.
The end of the T-shaped mountain range extending from the Tartarus Kingdom.
To the left lies the natural border of the mountain range.
It is high in altitude, with almost vertical cliffs.
Those who attempt to cross illegally will surely die from falling.
To the right is an artificial border line built over many years.
Its height is less than half that of the mountain range.
However, it can be covered by a sufficient number of guards.
For entry, they use a movable wooden staircase (※ siege tower) extending from the Tartarus Kingdom, reaching the castle walls.
From there, they descend slowly and in small groups using baskets.
The height is such that jumping down would mean death.
Although the footing is wide, it serves as a safeguard in case a friendly nation decides to invade in earnest.
They do not create stairs on the opposite side.
No matter how much the opponent might express pity, they will not make it easy for them to be invaded.
The Minister of Right has protected the country from external enemies for generations while bearing such pleas and complaints.
“Oh?”
“What is it?”
And today, before the guards, who were not expecting anyone, a single movable staircase appeared, pulled by oxen and horses.
“Yaaay♪ Thank you for your hard work, guards♪”
“Stop!”
“What business do you have today? We are— Huh?”
As a familiar emissary greeted them, the guard ordered the movable staircase to stop.
He was about to ask what business they had today when hidden windows opened on the outside of the movable staircase in five locations.
From these five points, crossbow bolts were fired one after another, piercing the areas not protected by the guards’ armor.
“Gyaaa!”
“E-Enemy— Guah!”
Clatter!!
They continued to shoot until not a single guard on the castle wall could move.
“Cease firing—!”
The rain of arrows stopped abruptly.
The guards on the ground on the opposite side were in a panic as arrows suddenly flew from the sky.
There were also some civilians present. Merchants and families.
They are currently struggling to manage the situation. The country is already at war with its neighbor.
With an allied nation now joining in, it is natural for those with weak hearts to fall into despair and recklessness.
“This place is dangerous!? But where is safe?!”
“Please calm down, ladies…”
“You will be safe if you go to the people guiding the evacuation.”
“See the person calling out loudly over there. Can you see them? Are you okay?”
“This place wasn’t safe!! You military always only care about appearances! Don’t you dare bring goods here again!”
“Please calm down.”
“If you are abandoned by the Merchant Guild, we will be truly helpless. And then, you (the merchants) will be the ones to suffer.”
“Are you threatening us!? You’re just a guard! State your name! I’ll complain to the higher-ups later— Eek!”
Clatter!! Clatter!!
The attack from the enemy country, positioned on the castle walls, resumed.
This time, it wasn’t stray arrows. These were arrows fired with the intent to kill.
If they weren’t hit in a spot that would result in immediate death by moving, they could escape.
“Help us! We have money—!”
“Help us, dear!”
“I’m over here— Eugh?”
Clatter!! Clatter!! Clatter!!
Civilians, not wearing any armor, were pinned to the ground by a volley of arrows.
Some evacuating individuals were shielding them with their own bodies, but they were pinned down and unable to move.
Enemy soldiers, who had descended slowly in baskets, impaled them with spears along with those they were shielding.
They were using good iron.
“Suppression—!”
“No survivors—!”
“Excellent♪ Shall we take the northern part of Sharshar Kingdom♪”
Who was behind the emissary?
The friendly nation had become an enemy.
They would burn down everything except the large towns in the northern Sharshar Kingdom.
The large towns would be besieged and offered terms of surrender.
To sow confusion among the residents, they fired scattered arrows mixed with truth and lies.
It would be a bonus if riots broke out inside.
If not, they would engage in a slow war of attrition.
The fact that Sharshar Kingdom’s situation was dire was already known to the surrounding nations.
“We can expand our territory at our leisure♪ This is what they call a windfall♪”
Hahaha!!
They sent good news to their homeland.
“Um, sir? Does Your Excellency require a beautiful woman?”
“Haha, Hm? Oh, a beauty? I’ll take her♪”
The emissary, called “Your Excellency” by his subordinates, embraced a beautiful woman from Sharshar Kingdom.
When the country is different, the skin’s texture, its glow, its scent—everything is distinctly different.
It’s fresh. He had never experienced any of these beauties before.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
“No, please pull out— Yaaah.”
He unremorsefully poured *semen* deep into the *vagina* of the beautiful woman, into her womb.
His Excellency’s group succeeded in procuring supplies locally before reinforcements arrived from their homeland.
Their morale was at its peak. The opposing forces were annihilated without experiencing any proper combat, leaving them to wonder, “Why, our friendly nation?!”
“Hahaha, Sharshar Kingdom has no power to stop us now! Soldiers, advance♪!”
“UOOOOOOOOOOO”
“Kill anyone who blocks our path♪!”
“K-I-L-L! K-I-L-L! K-I-L-L!!!”
It was a truly unstoppable advance.
No force appeared to halt their momentum.
Finally, the entire army halted around the area where they suspected an ambush.
Scouts were dispatched to check the surroundings for any hidden enemies.
“I hear a flute.”
“It was an ambush. As expected of Your Excellency♪ You cannot be deceived♪”
“Change formation! Crush and kill the foolish ambushers!!!”
“UUUUUUUUUUUUU”
A three-stage wave formation.
The hidden soldiers retreated.
They dodged and weaved through arrows and magic bullets at full speed to carry back information.
The news finally reached the King and his court.
“What?!”
