Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Unexpected Mercy
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"First off, I truly regret that we must meet under these circumstances. With that said, as the proxy entrusted with full authority by His Majesty the King and as the one conveying the will of the great Great Seraph, I shall now outline the terms of surrender to you all."
With those words, Eva glanced at the Holy Knight Liv standing beside her.
In response, Liv looked down at the document in her hands—which seemed like the ink had barely dried—and began to speak.
"Peace treaty between the Kanan Kingdom and the Moabmon Alliance. It consists of three articles in total, and I hereby inform you that His Majesty David, our king, has already approved every single one."
It must have involved magic, but to think they'd already finished reviewing it in that short time.
Wondering just how brutal the contents could be for King David—who surely must have been seething—to stamp his approval so quickly, they began steeling themselves for the 'verdict' about to be handed down upon them.
"Article 1. Henceforth, the Moabmon Alliance shall not invade the Kanan Kingdom under any circumstances."
It was a demand to prevent future wars—something they'd half-expected.
There was nothing particularly novel about it, and at this point, with all will to fight lost, they would have abided even if told not to.
After all, charging at that terrifying god again wouldn't end with just withering under the blazing sun for a day.
As the lords accepted this without much reaction, the next article reached their ears.
"Article 2. Effective immediately, the Moabmon Alliance shall sever all ties with the Baal Church and, like the Kanan Kingdom, serve the Great Seraph."
"..."
"Ugh..."
"Th-that's... a bit..."
"We've served the Baal Church for years now..."
It was a demand for outright forced conversion.
A few lords timidly tried to object, but...
"For your information, His Majesty commanded that if you refuse the peace treaty, we are to drag you all back to the Kanan Kingdom. He said he'd make sure you pay back every debt you've incurred so far... so think whatever you like..."
"Long live the Great Seraph!"
"Baal? Never heard of it."
"Our eyes have finally been opened to true faith! The only god is the Great Seraph!"
The quickest conversions came from the very lords who had first voiced refusal.
Watching those who used to chant war songs alongside Lot change their tune so fast, Lady Lute let out a small sigh.
"...Very well."
Of course, like the rest, she wanted to live a long life regardless.
With the conversion clause accepted, the lords now tensed up for the final third condition.
Invasion banned, forced conversion demanded.
What remained was surely something related to reparations.
Filled with dread over just how harsh it might be, they began to tremble.
And then.
"The final condition is as follows. You, who have sworn to serve the almighty and merciful Great Seraph, are from this moment our neighbors and brothers."
"...?"
The peculiar preamble left the lords puzzled and uneasy instead.
However.
"Thus, in a special act of mercy this time, we shall receive only the weapons and military supplies used in the invasion. No further reparations will be demanded, and all prisoners will be released. Remember this day and return home in peace."
"...Huh?"
At those words, they were seized by shock that went beyond mere doubt.
"W-wait a moment. What did you just say?"
"No... reparations?"
Reparations might seem lighter than ceding territory or surrendering outright, but in truth, they were the most effective way to throttle an enemy.
Under the pretext of debt, you could apply steady pressure to a rival nation while piling on interest—periodically draining their national strength.
Sometimes, nations even collapsed entirely from failing to pay excessive reparations.
As such, the Moabmon lords had assumed their long-time archenemies in the Kanan Kingdom would demand massive sums, only for the Kanan side to effectively waive them entirely.
"No reparations..."
"Are you serious?"
"Not to sound ungrateful, but isn't there really nothing to compensate for?"
"..."
As Eva said, despite bringing an army of 60,000, they hadn't inflicted any meaningful damage on the Kanan Kingdom.
They hadn't even reached Nehemia Fortress, let alone anywhere near it.
Not to mention, among the 300 Kanan soldiers in the battle just moments ago, not a single one had died.
Strictly speaking, they hadn't caused any losses—only suffered them massively—yet here was the other side forgoing reparations.
"E-even so, no reparations means..."
"Ugh..."
Of course, this was purely from an individual-versus-individual perspective.
From a nation-versus-nation standpoint, it was only natural to squeeze out every last coin under any pretext.
They surely would have done the same if the positions were reversed.
At the declaration of no reparations in this situation, the lords showed bewilderment and suspicion.
Toward them, Liv held up the negotiation document.
"It's written right here in the document, isn't it? Do we look like we're joking in a situation like this?"
"Of course not..."
A situation they couldn't believe even after hearing it with their ears and seeing it with their eyes.
As the lords expressed their bewilderment, Eva spoke with a gentle smile on her lips.
"No need to be surprised. We are simply following the law of our generous Great Seraph: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"Wh-what?"
"Neighbor?"
"That's right. Though we've clashed endlessly until now, we've lived rubbing shoulders in such close proximity. No nation knows the Kanan Kingdom better than the Moabmon Alliance, and the same goes for us. Our relations weren't good, but that makes us neighbors—brothers, even."
The document did mention something about neighbors, but hearing Eva—the kingdom's greatest knight and the Moabmon Alliance's worst nightmare—say it directly hit differently.
It wasn't the sort of talk you'd expect from her.
Yet in this moment, there wasn't a trace of pretense or resentment in her demeanor.
All that shone through was pure sincerity.
Faced with that, the Moabmon lords...
Especially Lute, who now held the greatest say, began to take a serious interest.
What kind of being was this woman—this beast of a knight who used to swing her sword at the mere mention of Moabmon, and who had changed so profoundly?
What existence had not only transformed her but shifted the Kanan Kingdom's entire view of them?
The one still hovering above the command tent, piercing them with countless red eyes.
The Great Seraph, who said not a word yet seemed to mercifully proclaim 'I am generous.'
'Even if it's not just because we have to serve... him—no, that one... I need to look into this seriously.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A corridor of pure white marble.
A place that unmistakably did not belong to this world, where a certain being slowly advanced.
Red hair, green eyes, an appearance evoking a beautiful and alluring human woman, clad in a sheer white garment that revealed everything beneath.
With an appearance alone enough to captivate countless human men, she strode forward with her nose held arrogantly high, her movements graceful and haughty.
Isiris.
One of the seven gods of the Baal Church, the goddess said to rule over rivers and seas.
Despite her position among the powerful gods, she had a peculiar fondness for others' gazes and attention—and even now, she savored a petty pleasure from it.
With every step she took, the divine soldiers in platinum armor bowed their heads.
It was a familiar sight, yet she leisurely basked in the sense of superiority it never failed to bring.
At that moment.
{Having fun? At your age. How unbecoming.}
{...Tch.}
A grating voice echoed in her ears.
There stood a being in the form of a human man who looked utterly lacking in elegance or nobility—rough and unkempt.
Golden hair, skin with a brownish tan.
Though his muscular, well-built frame and handsome face were decent enough, he didn't match her aesthetic standards at all... no, that bastard.
Anumashi.
Known among humans as the god of power and war—and actually ruling as a king in one nation herself—Isiris regarded him with the disdain one might spare a pathetic beast, her displeasure evident.
{Silence, little brother. It is only natural for gods to receive worship from lesser beings. How dare you mock your elder sister over this?}
{Of course receiving worship is great. Even I got plenty today—my back's a little sore from it. But sympathizing with a spinster auntie who genuinely enjoys public cum showers or getting bows from dolls? That's a stretch. Well, with contents like yours, no wonder you're still unmarried at your age.}
{...I'll kill you.}
{Try it.}
With a murderous aura, Isiris drew a trident crackling with blue lightning from another space.
In kind, Anumashi pulled a bizarrely shaped sword from a black subspace.
-Rumble...
The interior suddenly shook.
The floor didn't crack, but the vibrations were so pronounced that the divine soldiers lost their balance and staggered.
Amid it all, the two gods stared each other down without a flicker, channeling their divine power into their weapons.
Both convinced it was high time to properly discipline this infuriating sibling.
{Superconducting Wave Thunder Ph...}
{Enuma Eli...}
At that moment.
{Enough, both of you. We have no time to waste on such pathetic horseplay.}