I opened my mouth, not bothering to hide my dismay, and my voice was strained. In my hand was a letter from the Church of Crimiana.
"What in the world would qualify them to withhold the conference ...... from us?
I shook my head and stared at the ceiling of my office.
In the end, I immediately decided to ignore Klimiana's request and attend the conference in Hradime. There was no way I could tell her that I was quitting now when everything was already prepared. When I told May about Klimiana's request, she said she would leave it to the master, but when I said I would attend the conference immediately, she looked relieved and happy. For me, the conference is a matter that I can count from the bottom of my priority list. I had a casual feeling that if other countries did not show up, I should simply and easily finish the conference.
However, as it turned out, the conference held in Hradimé was a great success. Researchers from the participating countries came to the venue to hear May's presentation, and in a panic, the Fradimé side decided to hold May's presentation three times. I could hardly understand what May, Roni and the others were presenting, but at every moment there was a gasp and a round of applause. It seemed that the scholars had made some eye-opening discoveries. Mei explained to us once in detail, but to tell the truth, I don't remember much because I was on the bed. All I remember is May's pretty face and the fact that we did such and such things ....... To my credit, it is not that I am incomprehensive. When I see May's, you know, boobs, I lose all reason. We have been married for many years now and May, perhaps because of her dwarven blood, does not seem to age at all. On the contrary, her beauty and s*x appeal seem to have improved with each passing year since she gave birth to Alyria. She is a pretty, beautiful, kind, wise, and erotic wife. When I hold her in my arms, I can't think of anything difficult to talk about.
She is called to meetings with researchers every day, and she is very busy. Well, she doesn't have anything to worry about since Roni is right by her side. ...... But there are still things to worry about. But there is still something to worry about.
He always attends May and Roni's presentations and never takes his eyes off of them. He looks at them. This is worrisome. Today, he was sitting in the special seat reserved for royalty, staring at the symposium they were attending, not moving an inch. I was indeed concerned, so I decided to sit next to him.
"You are very enthusiastic, aren't you?
"...... is wonderful."
"What is ......?"
"...... for everything. King Agartha, I envy you."
Without looking at me at all, he mutters. It's a little rude. Perhaps sensing my feelings, he slowly takes his gaze away from Mei and the others and turns to me.
"I will never forget this beauty. An intelligent and beautiful woman will heal my heart."
I froze, unable to find the words to reply. He smiles at me and opens his mouth.
"Actually, today is the day, King Agartha. I have come to summon you. Will you join me for a moment?"
"What is it?"
I'm just here for a bite to eat.
Okay. Okay.
I followed King Nike down the corridors of Castle Arisun. He strode swiftly through the maze of corridors as if it were his own castle. Then he randomly opens the door to an ordinary room and enters. I follow him into the room, wondering what he is up to.
There ...... were several men gathered there, dressed in luxurious costumes. When they saw us, they stood up and bowed their heads in an eagle-like manner.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have brought the king of Agartha."
King Nike sits in his chair with a smile on his face. As if on cue, the men take their seats. I sit down in the only available chair next to King Nike. As if he had been waiting for me, one of the men opens his mouth.
I am Mium of the kingdom of Vasefasili. King Agartha, it is an honor to meet you!
"I am Zobiak, king of Shanarese. I am Zobirk, King of the Shanarese nation.
My name is Busse, Emperor of the Deirdre de Ardagh Empire.
All the men in this room were kings of some country or another. I was so surprised that I froze with my mouth open.
"I am sorry, King Agartha. I thought you would not come to our meeting otherwise. Forgive me."
What is this?
To my surprise, Nike began to tell me about his past and his future plans. He told me that although the Kingdom of Sandanje and its neighbor, the Kingdom of Tana, are ostensibly on friendly terms, the Tana side is certain to invade Sandanje. Nike is naturally determined to attack them, but a letter from Klimiana, which arrived just before the conference started, has complicated the situation. Of course, the letter was sent in the name of the Pope, and the letter = the Pope's order. Therefore, the countries that participated in this conference automatically disobeyed the Pope, and in the worst case, they would be in danger of being defeated by the Crimiana Church.
The kings sitting in front of me were all kings who were being interfered with by the Church of Crimiana, who were trying to control the government of the country, and who were eager to get out of it somehow. Nike had been secretly associating with these kings and was planning to undermine the Crimean state.
"This conference was truly a gathering of the anti-Crimiana nations. King Agartha, you may have noticed that many countries that do not participate in our medical research have come to this conference.
What does that mean?
"Ostensibly, they are participating in the conference, but the real reason is that they want to discuss how to protect their countries from the coming defeat of the Klimiana, and if possible, form an alliance with them. And all of them would like to form an alliance with your Agartha."
"Ha ha, so I've been offered several dinners?"
In fact, I had over 30 invitations to dinner parties. And that was right after I arrived in the Hradime country. I politely declined all of them. Because I didn't like the idea of suddenly meeting people from a strange country, and above all, it was impossible for me to attend all of them. Then, you may think that I should meet only with the countries I am interested in, but that would be very harmful to the reputation of the countries I refused to meet. However, listening to what Nike just said, I think it was a good decision to refuse.
"The next target of Crimiana will probably be our country of Sandanj. It has been the long-cherished desire of the Kingdom of Thana to unify the continent of Leroue. Now is the perfect time to do it.
"Do you have any chance of winning against Tana's army, ...... Nike?"
"No."
"What?"
"Think about it. The Kingdom of Thana, which has swallowed Sulphate. They probably have no less than 100,000 men. With the reinforcements from the other nations of Crimea, the total number would probably exceed 200,000."
"So what are we going to do about ......?"
The kings gathered here all share borders with the nations on the side of the Krimyana. I do not ask for reinforcements. If they send troops against us, we want them to blockade our borders.
"Is this ...... to prevent the arrival of Klimiana's reinforcements?"
No, we just need you to buy us some time. With 100,000 men in Tana, we can lure them deep into our lands and fight them in the desert, and even 30,000 men under our banner will have a chance. And now, King Agartha, I would like to ask a favor of you once again.
"A favor?"
I would like you to evacuate the researchers from our country and the other countries gathered here to your Agartha.
"Huh? Is that, by any chance, ......?"
"That's all I ask."
Nikee bows her head to me. And the other kings in attendance bowed their heads in the same manner. I gasped for breath for a while.