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Winter has come to Miraldia once again.

Mao has come to my office, clutching his head.

“I hear the Senate is banning the trade of sea salt within the Northern Alliance. They say they can’t let the enemy profit.”
“Hang on, doesn’t that mean rock salt from Klauchen won’t be hitting the market anymore? What’s going to happen to the citizens of the Northern Alliance?”

Mao shrugged.

“I’ve heard all sorts of rumors, but you’ll have to ask the Senate’s lackey right over there for the real answer.”

Kait, looking rather grumpy, was blowing on his steaming green tea. He must be sensitive to hot food.
Although he’s secretly betraying the Senate, it seems they hold him in high regard over there as “a man capable of negotiating on equal terms with the Black Wolf.”
The Senate is a carefree bunch.

Kaito took a sip of his tea and replied.

“The Governor of Klauchen has softened his stance and claimed that he would let the ‘Werewolf Slayer’ incident slide. In exchange, he wants the Senate to hand Klauchen over more of the salt rights.”
“So the Senate decided to completely cut off the salt supply from the south and substitute everything with rock salt?”

Since the scale of sea salt distribution isn’t large in the north, logically speaking, this is just a deal to save face for Klauchen.

However, if you know that Klauchen is in cahoots with Rolmund, your perspective changes completely.
Mao’s expression turned serious as he munched on a cookie.

“Now that sea salt is no longer coming in, Klauchen has a near-monopoly on the Northern Alliance’s salt supply. If Klauchen were to switch sides under these circumstances…”

Yes, the Northern Alliance would be cut off from its salt supply.
Salt on the market has been scarce lately anyway. They probably don’t have much in reserve.

I began to worry about the future of the Northern Alliance’s citizens, but there was nothing I could do.

“Both Bachen and Arjög are the Northern Alliance’s breadbaskets. If they switch sides too, things will get really tough for the Northern Alliance.”
“Plus, the Northern Alliance’s standing army is stationed in Schwelm. I don’t know how they’ll act, but if they switch sides to Rolmund…”

Kait groaned.

“The fact that we’ve clearly defined roles for each city is coming back to haunt us, isn’t it?”

The expression on Kait’s face contrasted Mao’s sarcastic smile. It was the kind of expression that seemed to wish the Senate would perish sooner rather than later.

I smiled at Kait, who was groaning.

“So, Mage Officer, who’s so worried about the Northern Alliance’s future—what brings you here today?”
“A letter from the Senate. They wish to present you with a token of friendship, Mr. Veit.”

It seems the Senate’s strategy is to fawn over me unnaturally and isolate me from those around me.

Kait reads out the contents of the gift.

“They say they’ll grant you a grand mansion in the religious city of Ioro Lange for diplomatic purposes. Along with twenty beautiful women to serve as staff.”
“I don’t want it.”

What I want most right now is a studio apartment with internet and air conditioning.

Mao shrugs.

“They’re using this gift to make Lord Veit seem arrogant, while spreading rumors to everyone else that ‘Lord Black Wolf is colluding with the Northern Alliance.’ That’s probably it, isn’t it?”
“Correct.”

Kait looks sulky. The plot is so ridiculous that even he finds it pathetic.

“As for the Senate, their scheme to drive a wedge into the Southern Federation seems to be going smoothly. At least, that’s how I’ve been reporting it.”
“Good work. Sorry about that.”

I feel a little guilty for having made the earnest Kait out to be a traitor.

Klauchen is currently covered in deep snow. Things are likely going to be a bit tricky once the tunnel connecting it to Rolmund is completed, but our intelligence on it is scarce.

“Has the Senate noticed anything?”
“There are a few suspicious movements here and there, but if I report them, they’ll just get annoyed.”

In the Senate, whenever a staff member makes a report that’s inconvenient for the senators, it leads to a very tedious process—questions like “Whose fault is this?” or “You take charge of the investigation and resolution”—so the Senate tends to overlook even small signs.

Perhaps because of this, the Senate has become an organization where only yes-men rise through the ranks, and apparently none of the senators’ aides ever voice their opinions.
Having been in a similar place in my past life, I could somewhat understand Kait’s struggles.
Even if I were to tell them about Rolmund’s plan out of kindness, it probably wouldn’t reach their elders anyway.

Meanwhile, we had been steadily making preparations throughout the winter.
Military strength is important, but training personnel is also part of that.
Today, I’m giving a lecture on the situation in Miraldia to Shatina, the new governor of the Labyrinth City of Zaria.

“The three cities of Bachen, Schwelm, and Arjög , located west of the Northern Alliance, are likely in secret communication with Rolmund by now.”

At that, she raised her hand.

“Teacher, why did Rolmund limit their negotiations to just those three cities? Wouldn’t it have been better to offer the same terms to all the cities in the Northern Alliance?”
“It’s likely a matter of manpower. It seems Princess Eleora doesn’t have many subordinates under her command. Not many of which are diplomats.”

Shatina nodded thoughtfully.
I continued.

“Besides, if they tried to handle everything at once, the risk of their plot being exposed would increase. They’re probably starting with the most promising targets.”

As I spoke, I pointed to the three cities on the map.

“Since these three cities were once occupied by the Demon Lord’s Army, the populace there know the Senate can’t be relied on, and they recognize the threat posed by the Demon Lord’s Army coming from the Forest Sea. Also, the fact that their city walls are under repair and they can’t fight properly is a major factor.”
“So they’d be in a tight spot if negotiations broke down and Rolmund attacked, wouldn’t it?”
“Yeah. Nobody wants to be attacked twice in such a short period.”

The rest depends on how the negotiations go, but let’s assume Princess Eleora’s abilities are at their peak. Let’s assume all three cities have defected.

Shatina stared at the map, nodding in agreement.

“In that case, the Rolmund forces would control five cities, the Northern Alliance four, and the Southern Federation eight. We’d become the dominant power.”
“No, I can’t say that for certain.”

I shook my head.

“The northern cities have large populations due to the Senate’s policies. On the other hand, the South consists mostly of small towns. In terms of population and long-term military strength, there isn’t really that much of a difference.”

In fact, given the size of our territory, the Southern Federation likely bears the heaviest military burden. We have to defend a vast land with a small army.
Our mainstays, Belrüsa and Lotzo, rely primarily on their navies, so unless the Demon Lord’s Army steps up, we probably won’t be able to hold our ground.
Looks like we’ll be grasping at straws if war actually breaks out.

Once I’m back in Lüenheit, I requested an audience with Her Majesty the Demon Lord and bowed respectfully.

“That’s why I’d like to ask you to continue strengthening our military capabilities.”

My master, looking haggard and worn out, sat in a corner of her workshop, washing down the sweets I’d brought her with tea.
Then she looked up at me with a resentful glare.

“You’re treating me with far too little care.”

I mean, I only requested a mere 12,000 skeleton soldiers. They’re nothing for Her Majesty Demon Lord Gomoviroa, right?

Then, buried under a mountain of cushions, my master muttered in a voice that sounded as if she were on the verge of death.

“Is this the weight of responsibility that comes with being in a position of power…?”
“I suppose so.”

I doubt that’s actually the case, but since we’re the ones handling all the tedious administrative work for her, I guess I can let it slide.

“By the way, Master, have you heard of the Magiarms Book?”

My Master burrowed deeper into the pile of cushions, shifting into her self-proclaimed “Invincible Mode” as she replied.

“I’ve never heard of it.”
“I think it’s probably a ranged weapon that uses magic.”

As I was explaining, I heard Jerich’s voice drifting in from the distance.

‘Gimme a break, Monsa. I was just guarding the Boss!’
‘Aha, but your duty was to stop him. Come on, Fern’s calling, I’ll come with you.’
“If you’ve got a complaint, take it up with the Boss.”
“Hmm, it’d be a waste of breath, though…”

It’s a harsh thing to say, but I don’t have the courage to go outside right now.
Or rather, I got chewed out so badly right after that, so I’m done with it.

As for my master, she’s just crawled out from under a mountain of cushions.

“Since I’m a necromancer, I can only create items related to necromancy. Besides, without the actual item, I can’t analyze it.”
“Would Lucco be able to do it?”

Although he isn’t part of the Demon Lord’s Army, he is a disciple of Gomoviroa who specializes in manufacturing magical tools.

However, my master shook her head.

“I’m afraid even he wouldn’t be able to manage it… However, I’ll be summoning him to Lüenheit soon, so go and consult with him then.”
“Understood.”

There’s been absolutely no information on the Magiarms Book or the Magiarms Battalion from the spies the Southern Federation has sent out across the region, which is quite concerning.
I suspect it’s some kind of firearm, but not knowing its specific capabilities is frightening…