Equitania is a small country located at the southernmost part of the Six Southern Nations. It could be considered an ordinary nation, except for its abundance of rivers and plains that provide plentiful resources, and its minimal losses during the Great War due to its distance from the frontlines.
However, in this relatively comfortable yet primitive feudal state, there is one more thing that is far from ordinary. A name known even to Ivan, who generally has little interest in foreign affairs.
The Black Snake, the Water Snake Vitorio. King of Equitania, Vitorio II Roselli della Torre.
Ivan gazed at the man before him, reminiscing about the past. Among the Six Southern Nations that were responsible for rear support during the Great War, hardly any properly delivered aid to the frontlines, but Vitorio was particularly notorious in this regard.
He was a man who always had perfect justifications and excuses ready, providing barely half of the agreed-upon supplies.
Yet there is one more thing this man is famous for. To the citizens of Equitania, his nickname is "the Wise Ruler."
Most of the support that should have gone to the frontlines was instead used for national development. Being the rearmost of the Six Southern Nations meant limited trade routes, but Equitania, which had always lagged behind in development, was able to rapidly close that gap.
The Wise Ruler Vitorio. A man who receives drastically opposing evaluations domestically and internationally, and who, as Ivan remembered, was always "narrow-eyed and inscrutable," now stood before him.
EP35. The War Lords of the Six Southern Nations.
With a face exactly ten years older than in his memory, yet smiling warmly just as he did back then.
"If it isn't our Saintess!!"
Vitorio spread his arms wide toward the Saintess who was prostrating in the audience chamber. As Vitorio approached with a remarkably friendly face, the Saintess smiled and replied.
"Not anymore, though? You must not have heard the news."
"Ah, I received many passionate letters. I didn't have time to read each one, but to summarize, they went like this."
-From: The Papal Office and the 'Crusader Army' of the Six Southern Nations' secular royal families.
-To: King Vitorio II Serafini della Torre of Equitania.
-Greetings?
-We will plunder your territory and behead you.
-That is all.
"So I decided to quit the church too. Hahaha!"
"Wow, a heretic. Brother Kirilts. That person is a real heretic!"
"What! A fool is one who offers his neck when someone is sharpening a knife to kill him!"
Except for my people. If a king pronounces a death sentence and someone picks up a pitchfork, that's treason deserving extermination of three generations.
Vitorio laughed heartily with an unaffected manner.
"So, our heretical witch... since we know each other well, who are these companions of yours?"
Vitorio's gaze swept over Ivan and his party. As the group flinched and drew back their necks, Ivan stepped forward and spoke.
"Ivan Petrovich Yeremov."
"A man of few words! Are you perhaps a clergyman? Hahaha! Just a joke, just a joke! You're from Krasilov? I can tell by how you don't understand jokes."
Hmm, a good name, Vitorio nodded and turned his gaze, and Ivan continued.
"The Hero Party of this generation."
"Ah, then don't kneel. You have that right."
Isabelle found it difficult to follow the flow of this conversation. As she tilted her head in confusion, Vitorio burst into laughter and said:
"Didn't you know? Heroes and their companions have the right not to kneel before secular rulers. It's a privilege earned by your predecessors."
"That's... Your Majesty, have you heard of this...? Why do you believe us so readily...?"
"Hmm? Are you perhaps the successor of King Einar?"
Is this an insult? What would Asidis become if I get angry? While Isabelle was flustered, Ivan quietly held his breath.
A man who cannot be taken lightly. To catch a trained operative off guard with just one sentence.
As Isabelle, who was poked in the side by Ivan's scabbard, struggled to raise her head, Vitorio, who had been roaring with laughter at the sight, continued:
"If someone claiming to be the Hero Party comes with the Saintess, and the Saintess doesn't object, then it must be true. And don't we have something more important than that?"
"Something... important?"
"That without a Hero appearing, this country has no future."
The smile vanished from Vitorio's face as if it had been a lie. In an instant, the atmosphere changed completely, like a master of disguise switching masks.
The warm reception hall turned cold. Vitorio strode to his throne, sat down, crossed his legs, and looked down at them.
"When I first ascended to the throne, this country was nothing more than a collection of vast slums and slash-and-burn tribal societies. Patricia. Do you remember?"
"I was too young to remember that... but yes, we were poor."
"Even when the whole world condemned me, I hoarded money like a miser and endured while destroying the nation's prestige and reputation. As a result, I created a country where people might die from bandits or wild beasts, but no one would starve to death."
Vitorio's words continued coldly.
"That was my duty. The responsibility of this country's king. Even if I was smeared with filth, even if I was insulted and persecuted as a traitor to humanity. Still, I don't regret that day."
"Your Majesty."
"Ah, your virtue is great. A Saintess emerged from among my country's people, so who would dare throw stones at me? The higher your status rose, the more prosperity this country gained. I thank you, sincerely."
Vitorio took a deep breath and concluded:
"Thus, this country has never been so prosperous in its history. But if this prosperity is to turn into ruin in just one generation, what more can I say? I can only hope for a Hero to appear."
"Your Majesty. The Pope has joined hands with the Seven Dragon Lords."
"...?"
Vitorio's body, which had been sinking into gloom, suddenly froze. He gazed at the Saintess through narrowed eyes, trying to comprehend her meaning for a moment.
After a few more seconds passed, Vitorio quietly opened his mouth.
"Tell me more."
"After the Lord's grace disappeared from this land, the Pope reached out to the Seven Dragon Lords and obtained their power. He announced this as the Lord's power and attempted to assassinate me."
"And that failed, resulting in your excommunication?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"What about the other royal families who have submitted to the Seven Dragon Lords?"
"I don't know the details, but even the Pope couldn't have ordered other secular rulers within the United Kingdoms to join hands with the Seven Dragon Lords."
The revelation that the source of power was the Seven Dragon Lords would pose a serious political risk. If the secular royal families knew this fact, they would have exploited it rather than submitting to them.
It's only natural. It's been barely four years since the war ended. At this point, when the church's authority is at rock bottom, secular rulers would not give up the opportunity to cut off the Pope's lifeline and finally secure exclusive authority.
Fundamentally, all rulers are like snakes. No one can be fully trusted, and there are neither permanent allies nor enemies.
"Only the Pope, or at least his inner circle, knows?"
"Yes, since no one except the Pope used divine power at the council, and no trace of the Seven Dragon Lords remained on anyone else... it's certain."
"Hmm...."
Vitorio stroked his chin, deep in thought. It was like turning back time. Vitorio, who had seemed to age in an instant, began to regain his vitality.
"We don't need to face the Six Southern Nations simultaneously."
As Ivan spoke, Vitorio nodded with his eyes closed and continued:
"Right. The countries that share borders with us are only Albinia and Elsros."
"And Lorencia, Leonor, Belacria... the 'Upper Three Nations' of the Six Southern Nations...."
"Have bad relations with the 'Lower Three Nations.'"
Vitorio interrupted Ivan's words and replied:
"They blocked their borders and heavily taxed trade routes to profit from them. Isn't it always the middlemen who are the most annoying? But this situation won't be resolved simply by 'not getting along well.'"
"Leonor, Lorencia, and Belacria were having border disputes with each other."
"And?"
"Even if they are sincere about the 'Crusader Army,' Albinia and Elsros wouldn't willingly allow foreign armies to pass through their territories."
Fundamentally, armies are systematic plunderers. Just by moving, they consume money and food indiscriminately. Especially when the march becomes longer and turns into 'overseas deployment,' they deplete the national treasury to a terrible extent.
Even the United States of the 21st century Earth had to suffer economic recession after a single overseas deployment. If it's a total war scenario, especially in a feudal state where administrative power is at its lowest, no further explanation is needed.
So naturally, all armies tend to choose marching routes that are 'less costly.' The shorter the route, and the more 'houses or cities' along that route, the cheaper it becomes.
The most efficient military cost reduction is 'eating at someone else's expense.'
To prevent such a disaster, when a foreign army passes through one's country, one must station a similar-sized army. Even then, looting cannot be completely prevented, but it can be minimized to some extent.
That's why military support wasn't requested from them during the Great War. Since they would have to pass through their own countries to reach the frontlines, the Northern Powers did not request support other than supplies from the Six Southern Nations.
At this point, when the direction of the frontline has changed 180 degrees, what Albinia and Elsros would do was simple.
"They won't let armies pass through, but will only accept supplies?"
"No. Since the other kings aren't fools, they will definitely send troops. Once they become Crusaders, just by participating, territory and wealth will pour in."
This is the inner workings of Equitania, which has become the wealthiest nation in the Six Southern Nations. They cannot be satisfied with merely providing supplies. Isn't a crusade the perfect opportunity to extract achievements proportional to the blood spilled?
So, the conclusion becomes simple.
Countries bordering Equitania cannot stand by and watch foreign troops march through their territories.
Countries at a distance want to participate directly, 'eating meals (and preferably receiving salaries) at others' expense.'
As a result, even if the five countries of the Six Southern Nations join hands and sharpen their swords to overthrow one country, they will struggle to move together, rattling and entangling with each other.
"You're from Krasilov."
"That's right."
"Then do you know why Krasilov, Droan, and Tilles each commanded different fronts?"
No matter how burdensome it was, those three powers did not request military cooperation from other countries. Not because they had plenty to spare, but for a more fundamental reason.
A snake with one head fights better than a dragon with many heads.
"Command structure."
"That's right. You are from the military... and an officer."
Vitorio opened his closed eyes and looked at Ivan.
"And a very capable one at that... If from Krasilov, are you from the 1st Corps? Or the Royal Guard?"
"I served in both."
"Excellent. Then let me ask just one more question. No, this is a question for our Saintess as well."
A smile began to appear again on Vitorio's lips.
"Do you know the fastest way for an excommunicated king and Saintess to be reinstated?"
"...Atonement...?"
"Hahaha! As expected of someone from Equitania, your level of humor is high!"
Vitorio laughed for a while, wiped away his tears, and said:
"The church newly established by a heretical Saintess must now become 'the universal church for all people.'"
"You mean to create a sect."
"Weren't you planning to? If not, I'd be very disappointed."
"I've always liked how easy it is to talk with our king."
"Stop it. I have no interest in women other than my wife."
"Equitanians."
The Saintess and Vitorio stared at each other for a while, burst into laughter, then dusted themselves off and stood up.
"Well, let's do this. Minimal losses, active avoidance of engagement, and..."
"Sowing discord among the enemy alliance."
"Finally, publicly revealing the Pope's true nature. We must do this."
"The operation planning is complete. Heroes."
Isabelle, startled by Vitorio's words, raised her head. Vitorio smiled and looked down at them, saying:
"Change the name of the Six Southern Nations to 'Equitania and its Member States'!"
As he waved his hand, the soldiers holding spears in the corners of the audience hall and those aiming guns from the window frames all withdrew at once.
Soon the doors of the audience hall opened, and carts laden with a feast rolled in. The savory aroma of food instantly filled the hall.
"In return, I will help you with everything this country has to offer."