“You do not need to translate this.”
Prefacing with that, Vashia opened her thin lips on her beautiful face.
“If, by any chance, the negotiations break down, I will dispose of this [Rotten Offal] so that no shape remains, so please be prepared for that.”
“……!”
What a unique expression of contempt, Yan thought.
After that, Queen Vashia spread out a map and explained while circling areas in red frames. Yan conveyed it to Major Simanto word for word, exactly as spoken.
“What we wish to present are five regions. Koryaote, Nasefuyu, Manayata, Lahakat, and Gordia.”
“……Hmm.”
Major Simanto seemed to be thinking deeply. I’m anxious… he’s probably thinking of something good-for-nothing anyway, Yan thought.
“This fortress is a territory we seized by shedding blood. Therefore, we demand more than the territories that have been taken from us until now.”
“……”
To Vashia’s pressing words, Major Simanto maintained his silence. Five minutes had already passed. It was long. Or rather, it was rude to a Tribal Chief.
Well, however, this is a difficult problem, so it can’t be helped, Yan sighed.
The Empire’s territorial expansion policy was a fundamental policy of Imperial tradition. Because of the Emperor’s grand directive stating that if territory was expanded even a little year by year, continental unification would eventually be achieved, a quota of “Territorial Expansion” was imposed every year, however small.
“……”
The regions chosen are interesting too, Yan thought. Koryaote and Nasefuyu were contiguous with the land ruled by the Kumin tribe, making them easy to rule. Up to this point, these were territories they had ruled previously.
However, the latter three were originally Imperial territories.
Manayata, Lahakat, and Gordia were all mountainous regions, but Imperial-ruled flatlands were sandwiched in between—they were so-called exclaves. There seemed to be places that would be a bit easier to govern, like Miekasta or Locanocue, so she didn’t really understand why they dared to choose these three.
“Hrmm……”
She hadn’t been made to study geography by Hazen, and since Yan’s sphere of activity had been around the northern Garna district, her knowledge of geography was shallow. The pink-haired girl looked toward Major Simanto. Could it be that this man is grasping the background of that area and agonizing over it?
Then, another five minutes passed. Major Simanto sighed and answered.
“……Out of the question. Tell her that.”
!?
Then, wasn’t that thinking time just now unnecessary!? Yan thought. This man was truly the exact opposite of Hazen. What he said and what he did were incoherent. She couldn’t keep up.
However, since she had to do her job as an interpreter (though Vashia already understood), Yan reluctantly conveyed it to the Queen.
“He says it is out of the question.”
“Then, this discussion is over. Thank you for coming all this way. Hey, Yan is leaving. Dispose of that [Rotten Offal] over there outside.”
Queen Vashia instructed two warriors to urge Major Simanto and Yan to leave. Both had their arms grabbed and were forcibly marched toward the door.
“H-Hey, let go! What on earth do these guys intend to do!”
“It’s because you said ‘Out of the question,’ isn’t it!?”
“That’s a lie! It’s a lie, I tell you. Tell that bitch!”
When Yan hurriedly conveyed this, Queen Vashia immediately had her subordinates stand down.
“I dislike petty lies. Yan, tell him that.”
“She says she dislikes petty lies.”
“Wh… Damn it! Mere barbarian dogs. Lahakat and Gordia are no good. Taking three regions that were originally Imperial territory is too much, no matter how you look at it.”
“……Then, how about the two regions of Manayata and Gordia?”
“Well, if it’s that, Colonel Gedol would likely be convinced somehow.”
Major Simanto nodded with a look of satisfaction.
“Then, it is decided. We will hold a formal signing ceremony at a later date, so please come with Colonel Gedol. Good work today.”
Queen Vashia said this and stood up from her seat.
“……Hey, Yan. Ask her if she is free tonight.”
“D-Do you really want me to ask that!?”
“Obviously.”
“……Umm. Are you free tonight? He asks.”
“Unfortunately, I have plans. Tell him we can drink at the signing ceremony.”
What a mature person, Yan admired. Despite being bombarded with lines that made one want to vomit, she didn’t move a single eyebrow and kept her smile.
“Heheh… for a barbarian bitch. Cheeky of her to play hard to get.”
“……!”
From the bottom of her heart, Yan wished for Major Simanto’s death.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
Leaving Argeid Fortress. For a while, they walked in silence, but eventually, Major Simanto began hopping around in delight.
“I did it, I did it! It’s much less than anticipated. Besides, the chosen territories are good, too!”
The Empire granted autonomy over ruled territories. Koryaote and Nasefuyu were territories of Colonel Gedol’s faction, but this couldn’t be helped since they were originally Kumin lands. However, the others, Manayata and Gordia, were lands held by the opposing faction’s Lieutenant Colonel Kenneck.
Major Simanto spoke triumphantly, but Yan was left with an unresolved feeling.
“……But, wouldn’t it be better to think about it a little more?”
“Huh?”
Major Simanto turned an arrogant expression toward her, looking annoyed. As soon as the conference ended and he had no more use for her, he treated her with this crudeness. It was quite unpleasant, but she had to treat it as just a job.
“B-Because. I don’t understand the reason for daring to choose those lands. If we can’t read the opponent’s intent—”
“What would a child like you understand!? I am paying you 10 large gold coins and giving you a salary. If you don’t want to be kicked out, don’t say unnecessary things and just shut up and focus on interpreting.”
“……Yes.”
Since being kicked out would indeed be trouble, Yan reluctantly obeyed.
On the way back, Major Simanto declared he was going to “go embrace some women” and headed out into the Imperial Capital. He disappeared while skipping, not paying any mind to Yan’s gaze of contempt.
As she walked down the hallway back at the Imperial fortress, Hazen walked toward her from the opposite direction.
“He was a purebred piece of trash, far exceeding your predictions, wasn’t he?”
“……!”
When Yan looked at him, stunned, Hazen was wearing a smirking grin.
Bullseye. It was so spot-on it was frustrating.
“Did you think that by doing trade and such, you had polished your eye for people in your own way? Unfortunately, nobles are more complicated. They are a den of madness and abnormal values far removed from commerce.”
“……Since he is a Major on the front lines of the battlefield, I thought he would be more decent.”
“There is no need to blame yourself. Before I came here, I thought so too. However, it seems this fortress had slightly different circumstances than others.”
“What do you mean?”
“In this land, conflict has been unending for a long time. That is a fact. However, that meant a stable stalemate was occurring.”
“Stable…”
For a front line to be stable was a strange story. But Hazen’s words carried a strange persuasiveness.
“The conflicts that occur are merely small skirmishes. In short, neither side has the will to attack, and there is nothing to do but carve off Kumin land just to achieve the quota of the territorial expansion policy. Only the non-commissioned officers fight. For the upper echelon, it was likely a stability mistaken for peace. And stability in a bad sense caused them to lose their tension and brought about corruption.”
“……”
“Well, even more than that, Mospitza and Major Simanto are terrible. There are a certain number of scum everywhere, but those two are beyond saving.”
“……But didn’t Mosspitza fail to advance in rank?”
“That is because he is of the ‘Rakuyo’ (Fallen Leaf) rank, the 19th rank of high nobility. In contrast, Major Simanto’s noble rank is the 16th rank, ‘Chinbo’ (Rare Stride). This is apparently the highest in this fortress. Even without ability, one can likely get to the treatment of a Major through motivation and connections.”
“I-Is it just like that?”
“It is just like that. In management work, a subordinate’s achievements become one’s own achievements. Therefore, evaluation is difficult. Well, his personality is also overbearing, so his subordinates probably had no choice but to obey.”
“……”
I understand that incredibly well, Yan agreed.
“High-ranking noble. Middle management. Incompetent. Overbearing despite being insidious. Roughly speaking, the typical conditions for becoming a person with a rotten nature are all present. I call it the Miracle of Trash.”
“……”
What should I do… I don’t feel sorry for him at all. Rather, Yan thought it was absolutely true.
“Well, you are bound by contract magic, so you should just continue to support him in his incompetence as best you can.”
“I-I know that.”
Even if he was an incompetent employer, Yan was forbidden from acts contrary to Major Simanto’s will. In other words, she had to surpass Hazen’s expectations.
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