第281話~高圧的対応~
「やぁどうも、マクリト殿。降伏と謝罪を申し出る使者がいつまで経ってもこないからこちらから押しかけてきてしまったよ」
俺は砦正面のバルコニーから馬上のマクリト殿を見下ろしながらそう言った。ゴーレムウォリアー達は彼らの左右と後ろを取り囲み、俺の指示があれば一瞬で彼らをぺちゃんこにしてやれる体勢だ。当然マクリト殿とその同行者達もそれを理解しているようで、その顔色は最早蒼白を通り越して土気色である。
「コースケ殿、此度の貴殿らの行動の意図を教えていただきたい」
「今言った通りだ。全面降伏と謝罪、そして貴殿らの卑劣な侵略行為に対する賠償を要求するためにわざわざ出向いてきた。受け入れられなければ王都までの道のりにある全ての街と村を破壊し、略奪し、焼き払っていくつもりだ」
ブラフである。流石に抵抗もままならない街や村を一般市民ごと壊滅させるつもりはない。まあ、ポーズとして城門や城壁、軍事施設の破壊くらいはやっても良いかと思ってるけど。
「そ、そのようなことが許されると......!」
「これは異なことを言う。ティグリス王国軍はディハルト公国軍と共謀してメリナード王国を侵略しようとしたじゃないか。俺達に撃退されなければ、同じことをするつもりだったんだろう? 無論、やるからにはやり返される覚悟もあってのことだよな?」
見下ろしながら放った俺の言葉にマクリト殿は押し黙った。まぁうん、そうだよな。本当に侵略の意図があって戦争を仕掛けてきたなら、族滅略奪は当たり前だよな。
「とは言え、だ。俺達も正直あんたらに構ってるほど暇じゃないんでね。やるなら二つに一つなんだ」
「二つに一つとは......?」
「まず一つは不可侵条約と通商条約の締結と賠償金の支払いだな。こちらの出す条件に応じるならそれで良い。条約が守られている限りは互いに相手を警戒しなくて済む、貿易で経済も回る。あんた達が落とし前をつけてくれればこちらも他の事に注力できるようになり、あんた達は俺達に怯えなくて済むようになる」
これは概ね事前に用意された外交文書に書かれている内容だ。まぁ、不可侵条約や通商条約の締結と言っても、その内容はほぼメリナード王国に一方的に有利な内容だ。ティグリス王国は未成年の王族の子供をメリナード王国に人質として差し出し、更に通商条約に於いてはティグリス王国側の関税自主権を認めないという不平等な内容である。更に侵略に対する賠償金として莫大な金額を請求している。これをこのまま飲むことは不可能であろう、という内容だ。
無論、こちらとしてもこの条件をこのまま飲ませようというわけではない。条件を緩める代わりに別の案件で譲歩を引き出すつもりである。
まぁ互いに大使館を設置しあう、こちらの大使及び外交官に治外法権を認めさせる、あちらの大使や外交官として王族を始めとした有力者の子息や子女を任命し、その他にも『留学生』をメリナード王国で受け入れる。ただし、これらの大使や外交官、留学生に対しては治外法権を認めない、とかそんな感じだろう。
賠償金に関しては支払い不能の莫大な額を押し付けても碌なことにならないと俺の世界の歴史で証明されているので、最終的にはほどほどな内容に落ち着かせ、代わりに何か有利な条件を飲ませるつもりだ。例えばアドル教懐古派の神殿を建てさせるとか、主流派を徐々に排除するように持ちかけるとかな。ティグリス王国に巣食う聖王国の影響を徐々に排除するという秘密条約を結ぶのでも良い。あちらがその気なら、こちらとしても支援しても良いしな。
今回の侵攻は聖王国の指示によるものだろうから、それで大敗した彼らの中では聖王国に対する不満も高まっていることだろう。メリナード王国の軍事力を目の当たりにしてこちらに寝返ると言うなら、少しばかり飴をくれてやっても良い。ティグリス王国も少し前のメリナード王国と同じ状況であるわけだしな。
「......もう一つは?」
「ちょっと面倒だが、さっき言ったようにこのまま王都まで攻め上り、できる範囲でそちらの王族を捕えて殺し、あんた達の王都を消滅させる。あの国境砦のようにな。無論、王都までの道中の街や村も見せしめに全て消滅させる。どちらが上が思い知れば従う気になるだろう? なに、一月はかからんさ。今度は二週間も時間は与えてやらん。一日にいくつもの街や村が消滅していくことになるぞ」
こちらは強硬策だが、あまり採るつもりはない。最悪の場合はこの方策を採らざるを得なくなるかも知れないが、多分無いだろう。この期に及んでティグリス王国が兵を集めて俺達を攻撃してきた場合はこちらの方向に行く可能性も無くはない、といったところか。マクリト殿は俺達の力を思い知っているから絶対に止めるだろうし大丈夫だとは思うが。
「そ、そんなことができるわけがない! でたらめだ!」
マクリト殿の同行者の一人――いかにも貴族といった風貌の中年男性が脂汗を垂らしながら叫ぶ。
「できないと思うのか? 一日の内にディハルト公国の国境砦とティグリス王国の国境砦を消滅させた俺ができないと? 本当にそう思うのか? なんなら今すぐブリニョルフを消滅させて見せてやろうか?」
不機嫌そうな声でそう言って、俺は魔煌石爆弾を搭載した自爆ゴーレムを新たに三体インベントリから取り出してみせた。彼らから見れば、突然新たなゴーレムが三体出現したように見えたことだろう。まぁ、これが自爆ゴーレムだということは彼らには多分わからないと思うけど。
「ま、待てっ! いや、待ってくだされ! わ、我らでは判断が......それ以前に条約の内容もわからぬのでは返答のしようがありませぬ!」
マクリト殿が血相を変えてそう言う。その突き出した手は「落ち着け、話せば分かる!」というジェスチャーかな?
「それもそうだな。カプリ」
俺が外交文書をカプリに手渡すと、彼女は小脇にそれを抱えて城壁から飛び立ち、ふわりと地面へと降り立った。そして外交文書を場場のマクリト殿に渡し、すぐに戻ってくる。
「本当なら明日にでも返事を貰いたいところだが......」
「無理だ! ここからでは早馬を使ってどんなに急いでも王都まで四日はかかる!」
マクリト殿が必死の形相で悲鳴のような声を上げる。ふむ、四日ね。
「じゃあキリ良く十日だ、十日だけ待ってやる。十日経っても何も具体的な返答がなければ実力行使を行う。その前にこちらを攻撃するような動きを察知すれば即座にブリニョルフを攻撃する。慎重に動けよ? 俺の機嫌を損ねるな」
「わ、わかった。いや、わかりました。そちらもどうか穏便にお頼み申す」
「それはそっち次第だな。既に俺は待たされて苛ついてるんだ。ああ、もし余裕があるならディハルト公国にも伝えてやると良い。次はディハルト公国にお邪魔するつもりだからな」
「りょ、了承した......では、こちらの文書をひとまず持ち帰らせていただく」
「そうしろ」
俺が顎をしゃくると、彼らの退路を断っていたゴーレムウォリアーが動いて道を空けた。マクリト殿達が馬首をかえして這々の体でブリニョルフへと撤退していく。
それを見送り、彼らの姿が豆粒のように小さくなった辺りでカプリが声を上げた。
「ええわぁ......さっきの旦那はん、ゾクゾクしてくるわぁ」
「えっ」
「いつもの優しい旦那はんもええけど、さっきみたいに凛々しい旦那はんもええわぁ」
「生意気です。コースケのくせに」
後ろで大人しくしていたエレンがゲシっと俺のアキレス腱の辺りを蹴りつけてくる。おいやめろ、地味に痛いし危ないだろうが。
「ふふ、コースケ様なら王としても立派にやっていけそうですね」
「勘弁してください。イキってるだけの小物ですよ」
「そうかい? 割と堂に入っていたと思うけどねェ」
「そこらのチンピラの風格は余裕で上回ってたと思うっす」
「そこらのチンピラを比較対象にするのはやめなさい......」
セラフィータさんや鬼娘達も俺を持ち上げ......持ち上げているんだよな?
「フッ......妾に比べればまだまだじゃの」
マクリト殿達から見えないくらい後ろでクッションに埋もれたままウトウトしていたグランデに言われてもな。
「なんじゃ? 何か言いたいことがあるのか?」
「それは威厳じゃなくて威圧だと思うっす」
スライム素材のカバーをつけたゴツい尻尾で石床をべっしんべっしんとし始めるグランデにベラがツッコむ。いいぞもっと言ってやれ。できれば俺があの尻尾にペシッとされないようにヘイトを稼ぐんだ。俺の護衛としての仕事を存分に果たすといい。
「何にせよ暫くゆっくりしましょうか。十日間何して過ごすかね」
ティグリス王国にもゴーレム通信機があればこんなに待たされなくても済むのにな。まぁ、こればかりは仕方ない。奴さん達に舐められないように見えないところでマッタリして過ごすとしますかね。
282 Episode 281 - High Pressure Response
"Hi, Lord Maclito. The messenger who offered to surrender and apologize never came back, so I pushed him here."
I said that from the balcony in front of the fort, looking down at the horseback Lord Maclito. The Golem Warriors are surrounded by their left, right, and back, and they're in a position to flatten them in an instant if I tell them to. Of course, Lord Maclith and his companions seem to understand it, and his complexion is earthy as soon as he passes through the pale.
"Koske, I need you to tell me what your intentions are."
"That's what I just said. I have come all the way to demand full surrender and apologies, as well as compensation for your despicable acts of aggression. If not accepted, I will destroy, plunder and burn down every city and village on the road to King's Landing."
It's a bluff. I do not intend to destroy cities or villages that cannot resist the boulders. Well, as a pose, I think it would be okay to destroy the castle gates, walls, and military facilities.
"Yes, if that's allowed.....!
"This is strange. The Tigris army conspired with the Principality of Dihart to invade the kingdom of Merinard. If we hadn't defeated you, you'd have done the same thing, wouldn't you? Of course, you're prepared to do it all over again, right?
Lord Maclith kept silent at my words, which I let loose as I looked down. Well, yeah. If there is a real intent to invade and start a war, then tribal extinction and looting are natural.
"Nevertheless, it is. Honestly, we're not as busy as you are. If you're going to do it, you're going to have to do it in two."
"What is one in two...?
"The first is the signing of an inviolability treaty and a trade treaty and the payment of compensation. If you will comply with our offer, that's fine. As long as the treaty is respected, we don't have to be wary of each other, and we also have an economy in trade. If you keep your heads down, we'll be able to focus on other things, and you won't have to be scared of us."
This is generally written in a pre-prepared diplomatic document. Well, even though the inviolability treaty and the trade treaty are concluded, their contents are almost unilaterally advantageous to the Kingdom of Merinard. The Kingdom of Tigris has taken minor royal children hostage to the Kingdom of Merinard, and the trade treaty does not recognize customs autonomy on the part of the Kingdom of Tigris. He is also claiming huge sums of money for the invasion. It would be impossible to drink it like this.
Of course, even here, I'm not going to let you drink under these conditions. I intend to withdraw the concession on another project instead of relaxing the conditions.
Well, when we set up embassies with each other, let our ambassadors and diplomats recognize our extraterritoriality, appoint the sons and children of leading figures, including the royal family, as ambassadors and diplomats over there, and accept "international students" in the Kingdom of Merinard. However, it seems that these ambassadors, diplomats, and international students will not be granted extraterritorial jurisdiction.
As far as indemnities are concerned, it has been proven in the history of my world that imposing a huge amount of non-payable money is not going to be a big deal, so I will eventually settle down to such an extent that I will have to drink some favorable terms instead. For example, let them build a temple of the Adolese nostalgia, or let them gradually eliminate the mainstream. We may conclude a secret treaty that gradually eliminates the influence of the Holy King, who nests in the Kingdom of Tigris. If that's what you want, I can help you or help you.
This invasion will be at the behest of the Holy King, so some of them who have been defeated will also be growing dissatisfied with the Holy King. If you want to turn around and see the military might of the Kingdom of Merinard, you can give me a little candy. The Tigris kingdom is in the same situation as the Merinard kingdom a while ago.
"... the other one?
"It is a little troublesome, but as I said earlier, I will go up to King's City and capture and kill your royal family to the best of my ability, and destroy your kingdom. Like that border fortress. Of course, all towns and villages on the way to King's Landing will be shamefully destroyed. Which one of you would be willing to obey if you knew? What, it won't take a month. I won't give you two weeks this time. Many cities and villages will disappear in one day."
This is a tough plan, but I don't intend to take much of it. In the worst case scenario, you may have to take this measure, but maybe not. If the Kingdom of Tigris has gathered troops and attacked us in this period, there is no chance that they will go in this direction. Master Maclito knows what we can do, so he'll definitely stop us, and I'm sure he'll be fine.
"No, you can't do that! This is bullshit!"
One of Maclith's companions, a middle-aged man of noble appearance, screams with sweat.
"You don't think I can? Within a day, they wiped out the border between the Principality of Dihart and the Kingdom of Tigris. You really think so? Why don't we destroy Brignolf and show him now?
Saying that in a moody voice, I pulled a new suicide golem with a Magic Stone bomb out of my inventory. From their point of view, it would appear that three new Golems appeared suddenly. Well, I don't think they know this is a suicide golem.
"Well, stay! No, wait! Well, our judgment... we can't help but respond if we don't know the treaty before then!
That's what Lord Maclith says when he changes his blood phase. The protruding hand said, "Calm down, talk and you'll see! Is that a gesture?
That's true too. Capri "
When I handed over the diplomatic document to Capri, she took it to the side and jumped off the castle wall, fluttering down to the ground. Then he handed over the diplomatic papers to Maclith on the spot and will return shortly.
"If it's true, I'd like to hear back from you tomorrow...."
"I can't! From here, it takes four days to reach King's Landing, no matter how fast it takes to use a fast horse!
Makrit cries out in desperate shapes. Hmm, four days.
"Well then, ten days is good, I'll only wait for ten days. If there is no specific response after ten days, we will exercise our ability. If we detect any movement that might attack us before that happens, we will strike Brignolf immediately. Move carefully, okay? Don't upset me."
"Okay, okay. No, I understand. I'm going to ask you to be kind."
"That's up to you. I'm already being held up and irritated. Yeah, if you can afford it, I'll tell the Principality of Dihart. Next time I'm going to disturb the Principality of Dihart."
"Jo, I understand... so I'll take this document home for now."
Do it.
When I snapped my jaw, the Golem Warrior, who had refused their exit, moved out of the way. Macrito and the others retreat to Brignolf with these bodies.
They dropped it off, and the capri shouted as if they were small as beans.
"Yeahhhh... my husband was freaking out just now"
Eh?
"My usual gentle husband, but also a dashing husband, like before."
"Cheeky. For Koske."
Ellen, who was shy behind me, kicked me around my Achilles tendon. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
"Fufu, if you're Koske, you should do well as a king."
"Please don't. It's just a cumming accessory."
"Really? I think it was in the hall."
"I think those chimpanzees were better than I could afford."
"Stop comparing those dicks..."
Serafita-san and the demon daughters are lifting me up... aren't they?
"Fufu... compared to my concubine, it's still a long way off"
Even if Lord Maclito told me that Grande was lying in the cushion behind him.
"What is it? Is there something you want to say?
"I don't think it's majesty. I think it's intimidation."
Bella begins to stick the stone floor with a thick tail covered with slime material. All right, tell him more. Hopefully, I'll earn the hat so I don't get pegged by that tail. I hope you will fully discharge your duties as my escort.
"Anyway, why don't we take it easy for a while? What are you going to do for ten days?"
If Tigris had a Golem transmitter, we wouldn't have to wait so long. Well, this can't be helped. Let's spend some time in a place that doesn't look like they can't lick you.
Goshujin-sama to Yuku Isekai Survival!
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