Chapter 17: The Abandoned Prince, My Request Was Denied
“…Seriously?”
I was speechless after hearing the story from Rosemary.
For some reason, the Agaram Kingdom had declared war on the Dragoon Empire.
They’re calling it a war of retaliation, but the Empire has already ceased hostilities with various countries.
While some terms might have been somewhat advantageous to the Empire, quite a few countries have achieved peaceful settlements that could be called fair.
From the perspective of other nations, the Kingdom’s actions are like deliberately poking a snake that had retreated into the bushes and quieted down.
Normally, it’s unthinkable.
“H-How did it come to this?”
“There are three main reasons, I’d say,” Rosemary said with a solemn expression.
“First, Mother went into a rage and half-destroyed the Imperial Capital. This information might have reached the Kingdom, leading them to believe the Empire was exhausted.”
“Huh? Wha-? But it’s already been completely rebuilt by now.”
“They probably assumed we lacked material resources.”
However, that prediction is way off the mark.
The Empire has a vast territory and is blessed with all sorts of resources.
Efficient agriculture using Earth Dragons is also thriving, so they won’t run out of food supplies.
Moreover, the Wyverns, which only the Empire possesses, and the Dragon Knights who ride them, are still going strong.
What surprised me after coming to the Imperial Capital was when Rosemary mentioned that the number of Dragon Knights and Wyverns deployed to the front lines was only about thirty percent of their total strength.
In other words, to seriously defeat the Empire, they’d need to face more than three times the number of Wyverns that fought on the front lines.
Speaking as someone who was on the front lines, that’s impossible.
Wyverns are beings capable of turning the tide of battle with just a few units.
If they appear on a battlefield without mages capable of anti-air combat magic, it’s over; you’ll be turned to cinders by flamethrowers from above.
“That’s just reckless. What are the other two reasons?”
“Next, it’s likely retaliation for past actions. The Empire waged war against various countries, so the resentment is considerable.”
“Ah, yeah. But well, that can’t be helped, can it? War is all about mutual hatred.”
“That… might be true, but.”
That’s why war is terrifying.
It’s an act that can leave scars for decades, or even centuries if things go badly.
I wonder what Alkalion-sama was thinking when she started the war.
From my perspective, Alkalion-sama doesn’t give off a particularly harsh impression.
I arbitrarily imagine it’s not for barbaric reasons like wanting to kill enemies in war or conquer and rule other nations.
If I then consider if she has some grand wish, it doesn’t seem like that either.
The possibility of it being something like killing time seems more likely.
In fact, since meeting me, Alkalion-sama has lost interest in war.
Is it conceited of me to think it’s because she’s no longer bored after meeting me?
“The last reason?”
“Remember when Mother went to the Kingdom regarding Eliza-san’s family register?”
“Eh, ah, right.”
“Apparently, she provoked the King of Agaram at that time.”
“Hecton?”
I recall the image of my cheeky younger brother.
Five years have passed, so he’s probably grown more than the Hecton in my memories.
“Apparently, she said, expressionlessly, ‘It was a mistake not to make the boy, Reichel, king. Your country is in such disarray, it’s laughable.'”
“So Alkalion-sama is expressionless even when she’s provoking someone…”
“…Putting that aside, can I ask something?”
“What is it?”
“W-What is this outfit!? Why am I being made to wear something like this!?”
We’re having a serious conversation, but I’ve actually made Rosemary wear a certain outfit.
It was a bunny suit.
The kind of thing women often wear in casinos or risqué bars.
This time, it’s a modified version, a so-called reverse bunny suit.
It’s too lewd. It’s sure to spice up the night.
“I actually wanted Alkalion-sama to wear it too, but she seems busy with war preparations…”
“I’m not free either, you know!?”
I know that.
But even Eliza-san, who seems like she’d say yes anytime I invited her, is currently busy with some new unit the Empire is establishing.
I’m the type of creature who dies of loneliness if left alone, so I wanted Rosemary to pay attention to me.
When I conveyed the full extent of these feelings, Rosemary smiled, looking a little troubled.
“Honestly, you’re incorrigible. But well, it’s true I’ve been busy lately and haven’t been able to spend time with you. I won’t let you sleep tonight, okay?”
“Just as planned.”
After that, I spent a long night with bunny Rosemary.
It was the best.
Cosplay erotica truly is a wonderful culture.
Next time, I want Alkalion-sama and the others to do it with me in cheerleader outfits.
“Eh? The Kingdom is coming by sea?”
“Our intelligence department has received information that there’s a high probability the Kingdom will attack using their navy. It might be disinformation, though.”
“Nah, I wonder about that. The Kingdom’s army is strong, but their navy is all about numbers.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Actually, both the Kingdom and the Empire have parts of their territory facing the sea and possess navies.
However, their substance is completely different.
The Empire seems to use auxiliary-engine sailing ships powered by something called ‘magitech engines,’ which can achieve more than double the speed of sailing ships.
In contrast, the Kingdom’s navy consists entirely of sailing ships.
Some of them have oars for manual rowing to increase speed, but they are still no match for the Empire’s auxiliary-engine sailing ships.
Thanks to aid from other countries, they overwhelm the Empire in numbers alone, but it’s only numbers.
The range and power of their mounted large crossbows don’t surpass the Empire’s either.
The Empire might suffer some damage, but for the Kingdom to challenge them with their navy is reckless beyond measure.
“What is Hecton thinking?”
“However, sheer numbers are troublesome. Wyverns can’t fight over the sea, so we can’t gain air superiority…”
“Eh? Is that true?”
I blinked at the unexpected information.
Then, Rosemary laughed as if to say, “What an obvious thing to ask.”
“Wyverns need a runway to take off. There are no runways on the sea, are there?”
“Ah, so you don’t have things like aircraft carriers?”
“Kuu-bo…? What’s that?”
“Um, an aircraft carrier? No, since they’re Wyverns, maybe a flying dragon carrier? So, a Dragon Carrier, then. Basically, like making a ship into a runway?”
When I verbally conveyed this vague image to Rosemary, her shoulders trembled.
“S-Such a thing, I’d never even thought of it!!”
“Eh?”
“If that’s the case, then indeed, Wyverns could be operated even at sea!! The problem is whether a Dragon Carrier can be technologically constructed…”
“Ah, so it feels technologically impossible?”
“No, if we were to build a runway on a ship, we couldn’t have sails. We’d need to build a complete magitech ship that moves solely on magitech engines. However, Elder Sister Yellowna-sama could probably manage it somehow. In any case, it’s a revolutionary way to operate Wyverns!! As expected of Reichel!!”
“Um, I’m glad I could be of help.”
I can’t really say that I just conveyed a vague image based on my past life’s knowledge.
But still, to think the Empire didn’t have the concept of a Dragon Carrier.
If they could build one before the Kingdom invades, they should be able to fight with a much greater advantage.
The Kingdom probably wouldn’t expect Wyverns to appear even over the sea, and encountering Wyverns on a battlefield without anti-air mages is synonymous with death.
This might mean the Empire can proceed with the battle advantageously from start to finish.
“The problem is that we might run short on Magic Stones, huh? If we put out a request to the Adventurer’s Guild and buy Magic Stones at a premium, say, a few percent above the usual price, will we gather enough?”
“Magic Stones?”
“Hmm. I see, Reichel, you didn’t know.”
Apparently, the Empire supplements all its energy needs with Magic Stones.
These Magic Stones are said to be produced from three mines secretly managed by the Imperial family, and from large Dungeons that adventurers challenge.
Among these, the Magic Stone mines under Imperial management have a limit on the amount that can be mined per year, and they account for about seventy percent of the Magic Stones consumed in the Empire.
The remaining thirty percent are reportedly Magic Stones bought from adventurers who have collected them from Dungeons.
If they raise the purchase price for Dungeon-sourced Magic Stones, they can apparently gather more than usual.
It’s a method often used when large quantities of Magic Stones are needed for public works and such.
“Dungeons… Nice. They’re so full of dreams.”
There were no Dungeons in Agaram.
As a youth who yearned for fantasy, I’d love to try challenging one at least once.
…Hmm.
“Rosemary.”
“What is it?”
“I want to challenge a Dungeon too—”
“No.”
“I haven’t even finished speaking!!”
Even asking didn’t work, yep.
Well, I am, for all intents and purposes, someone marrying into the Imperial family, so it was to be expected.
So I’m not disappointed at all. Not one bit. Definitely not.
“Very well.”
“Eh!?”
When I asked Alkalion-sama, thinking it was a long shot, she surprisingly gave me an easy “okay.”
Seriously!?
Just as I thought that, Alkalion-sama pulled a piece of paper from her cleavage.
I don’t know who it’s addressed to, but it seems to be a letter.
“I want you to deliver this to the person at the deepest part of the Dungeon.”
“!?”
Rosemary turned pale hearing “deepest part of the Dungeon,” but I was too elated about being able to go to a Dungeon to notice.
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Afterword
Trivial Tidbits
Author: “Rabbit, cat, dog, cow… Which do you like?”
Reichel: “I like all of them.”
Author: “I get it.”
For those of you who thought, “So she can’t refuse a bunny outfit, huh…”, “I love how Rosemary-san ends up wearing it anyway,” and “Animal-themed cosplay is the best,” please leave your impressions, bookmark, give a star rating, and write a review.