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Chapter 63. Part Of The Enemy

"By the way... that Grimoire seems to be causing a lot of destruction... how can they call themselves a Magic Knight?"

"...It's the 5th Division."

Is the 5th Division a magic word?

"Th-that's not the point, let's talk about the enemy who created this situation!"

"The enemy... ah, you mean the one who sent the assassin."

"If the enemy can control even the Earth Dragons... they are more formidable than we thought. It lends more credibility to the idea that they control the country from the shadows."

Ah, so they didn't believe it before. But since Princess Elissa witnessed the assassin controlling an Earth Dragon, they have no choice but to believe it now.

"Princess Elissa, the enemy is stronger than you think. We've been gathering information with Ivy's help, but the enemy is elusive. We're in a disadvantageous position right now."

"Ivy... you mean... infiltrating the castle?"

"If we don't do something, the enemy will have their way with us. We need to act before that happens..."

I think I might have let something slip there, but let's pretend it didn't happen.

One reason I came on this date with Princess Elissa today was that Ivy's eyes weren't on us. Because Ivy is infiltrating the castle on my request to investigate a certain person. I never expected an assassin to attack us here... but it shows that the enemy is well aware of us.

"Princess Elissa, the reason you're being targeted might be... because things have progressed to a point where the empire doesn't need to marry you off."

Or rather... the goal is to bring up the marriage while actually planning the assassination.

Princess Elissa isn't currently opposing the two princes. So, she's just a royal sibling and not a significant threat. At most, she could be removed to avoid interference after someone wins, but if I were a hired assassin, I wouldn't take that job. However, if she's being formally married off to the empire's prince and then killed... the situation changes.

"By killing you, they can further relations with the empire. Although the marriage talks will end because Princess Elissa was assassinated, it shows that they had the intention to marry you off."

"Intention... but what does showing that intention mean?"

"It means a lot."

The situation between the Elgrant Empire and the Kuria Kingdom is vastly different.

"Even if the marriage can't happen, it shows that the Kuria Kingdom fully supports the prince's succession to the throne. Even if they say they're equal, historically, the Kuria Kingdom has been more powerful than the Elgrant Empire. The Elgrant Empire will definitely agree... because they're still at war with the western nations."

The Kuria Kingdom has effectively won the war against the neighboring Kloster Kingdom. Therefore, the Kloster Kingdom can't act strongly against the Kuria Kingdom for decades to come. However, the Elgrant Empire is still in a small-scale war with the western nations. It's been over a hundred years, but neither the Elgrant Empire nor the western nations can back down.

The Elgrant Empire, being at war, can't import from the western nations. So, they have to import supplies from the Kuria Kingdom. They're that kind of island nation.

"It's becoming clearer... the enemy's goal wasn't to weaken the Kuria Kingdom but to strengthen it."

"S-strengthen? By rebelling against the royal family... is that even possible?"

"It is, which is why it's happening."

I thought the enemy wanted to destroy the Curia Kingdom or seek revenge against the royal family... but their goal was to strengthen the Kuria Kingdom.

The Kuria Kingdom has historically developed through wars. Wars with the Kloster Kingdom, interventions with the Elgrant Empire and western nations, and wars with the demon nations until a few hundred years ago. The Kuria Kingdom has thrived through wars.

"Recently, the Kuria Kingdom hasn't been at war. That's partly because the former and current kings are moderates. Therefore, there's been internal talk of disarmament in recent years."

"...You really have infiltrated the castle, haven't you?"

However, the Kuria Kingdom, which has survived by establishing strength through the Magic Knights, might survive for decades even if it disarms. But what about a hundred years from now? What about centuries later?

"The one controlling things from behind the scenes probably can't stand to see the country weaken. By not making the relationship with the Elgrant Empire equal but clearly inferior, they can dominate, and once the military is ready, they can find some reason to invade the Kloster Kingdom. Eventually, they'll use the Elgrant Empire as a base to wage war on the western nations."

"Why all these wars... what good do they do?"

It's sad, but... without war, a nation doesn't develop. At least, the Kuria Kingdom has only experienced development through war.

"No matter how much blood is shed, this person won't stop. Because what drives them is not revenge but patriotism. By controlling the country from behind, they want to make the nation they love the strongest in the world."

It's dangerous. Humans can be cruel for the sake of justice, and the citizens will accept any sacrifice for patriotism. When people are intoxicated with justice, they become the most violent, and all their limits are removed.

People say war is evil. But national defense is justice. So... is a preemptive strike for defense justice or evil? Justice distorts human judgment... even if it sounds contradictory, if it's for justice, people easily go along with it.

"...At worst, we might end up fighting the Magic Knights head-on."

"Isn't that... a battle we can't win?"

"We can't win."

No matter how strong Jeremiah and I are, one person can only fight so many. The idea of one warrior defeating a thousand is just a myth. Besides, they have multiple division leaders who are monsters... there's no way we can win.

"But that's only if we fight head-on."

If people are intoxicated with justice and run amok to defeat evil... we can also confront them with justice. Even if people are intoxicated with justice if they realize the enemy is not evil but justice, they hesitate. The only ones who can push through that are... madmen.