Chapter 176. The two sword masters (7) Arell was silent.


    “I won''t ask if it''s something an old man can''t figure out.”


    “No, you should know.”


    Arel seemed to have briefly judged whether or not he could talk to Menel for a moment.


    “As you said, I have been staying here for the past few days to make a suggestion to my father and brother.”


    Doesn''t seem like Arel-nim''s business.”


    “If I had to say it, it was a discussion for the future of the kingdom.”


    To share your opinion on any matter.


    Specifically, in order to warn and advise the two, Arel has been staying in the castle recently.


    “...For that reason, I needed to look at my sister''s situation. It is reassuring to be stabilized as soon as possible.”


    “…is that so?”


    Menel had a hunch what Arell was thinking.


    “Are you preparing for war?”


    Allel did not deny it.


    I didn''t say anything positive about that.


    “…It hasn’t been long since thest war ended yet?”


    “That doesn’t mean there are no threats.”


    Things in the world weren''t that simple.


    “Is it an empire?”


    “No, in the first ce, the Merman Empire can no longer be a threat.”


    It was only about 100 years ago that it was called an empire.


    In recent years, the country''s national power has weakened, and it even suffered fatal losses in thest war.


    It seems to be receiving support from the Holy Kingdom, but it cannot be expected to recover on its own.


    “But there are plenty of other sinister possibilities.”


    However, the threat of war does not disappear.


    “Isn’t it right to be prepared at any time?”


    “...It''s a matter of course.”


    Menel agreed.


    “However, if we simply prepared, then Arell-nim wouldn’t care that much.”


    “Even for that just-in-time, noona must have fully developed skills.”


    For that, Arel has been watching until now.


    “I don’t have to worry about my sister anymore.


    I want you to continue to be strong as you are.”


    “The most important thing is that you don''t need that power.”


    “That''s right.”


    But Arel is already half convinced.


    Sooner orter, when you need that power, it will definitelye.


    That''s why I came to do such a troublesome job while deliberately reducing my y time.


    Yes.


    This time, I didn''t visit the royal castle as I was guided by my desire.


    ....That doesn''t mean I lived only ording to my desire to meet.


    It''s real.


    It''s real!!


    Leaving Sir Menel''s knights behind, I headed back to the castle to finish my remaining work.


    After being guided by the waiting servants, I entered the conference hall, where my father and oldest brother were already waiting.


    “Sorry for beingte.”


    “....Know. It sounds like you went to Lord Menel.”


    My father smiled bitterly and nodded his head to mean that it was okay.


    It seems that your father already knew.


    Well, you must have been secretly paying attention to Kania-noona''s case.


    Then there''s no need to talk about it.


    “It''s been a long time since thest war, Arel.”


    “yes. I''m d you haven''t had a problem so far, brother.”


    I also briefly exchanged greetings with Jeil Hyung-nim.


    ah? Are you awkward?


    Well, we''re not here to talk about that.


    There are only three people gathered in this conference hall: me, my father, and my oldest brother.


    There are no ns for others to enter our intimate gathering.


    Because the story I''m going to tell you from now on is something other nobles shouldn''t know yet.


    As I sat down, silence fell between us for a moment.


    Come to think of it, there weren''t many times when I had a three-way face-to-face with my father and the second oldest brother.


    This friendship between young parents and siblings is truly deste.


    I don''t usually have conversations with my family, so it''s awkward.


    While I wasining to myself like that, my father broke the rhyme first.


    “…Arel, did you mean what you saidst time?”


    Unlike other times, his face looked more serious than usual.


    It''s worse than when I used a group to build a city.


    Well... it''s only natural when you think about the reason for calling everyone together today.


    Before summoning the two of them to this ce today, I just said that there was an important discussion to Jeil Hyung-nim, and I gave a rough word to my father separately.


    “Yes, I am serious.”


    “…What is it?”


    The older brother, who still did not know the circumstances, was puzzled.


    To him, my father gave me a chin gesture as if to ask me to listen.


    I nodded and decided to talk about the reason I called the two together today.


    “We must prepare for war.”


    Only then did the oldest brother''s face begin to stain with embarrassment.


    It seemed that he had never imagined that I would bring up the word war.


    “Arel… what do you mean by that?


    The war is already over...


    “...Only the issue with the Three Kingdoms Alliance hase to an end.”


    I corrected my older brother''s misunderstanding.


    My father is already aware of the problem, so he just keeps silent.


    “Many dangers still remain in Ernesia Kingdom.”


    The three kingdoms will not be able to use their strength for the next few decades, but there are still other countries.


    And among them there are still those who hide their enmity against us and see an opportunity.


    “Last time, we had to wait for the Three Kingdoms to start a war first.”


    Of course, there is no big problem because we thoroughly prepared and won the match.


    But it''s not without damage.


    Even if you gain as a victorious nation, there will definitely be something to lose.


    In particr, the number of victims is incalcble.


    can never be ignored


    “…I know that, Arel. But I don''t hear what you mean by simply preparing for it.”


    “yes. I would like to tell you that I should prepare for the war in a different direction, as my father thought.”


    This worried me a bit too.


    I mean, do you really need to do this?


    What I would like to im is the following.


    “This time we have to hit first.”


    “Arel?!”


    Of course, the oldest brother couldn''t help but be startled.


    Without realizing it, he jumped up from his seat.


    “Are we going to start a war first?”


    “Yes, that''s okay.”


    I was in the affirmative.


    Last time I let my opponent hit me.


    But this time, my thoughts have changed.


    I had no intention of conceding anything to the yer anymore.


    Come to think of it, thest war was also disgusting.


    At that time, why did I have to concede the yer?


    Of course, at that time, I was too busy ying with my head exploding with Yeongji.


    But one miscalction is enough.


    “Arell.... Anyway, that''s it?


    Jeil hyung-nim was very unwilling.


    He probably knows why he was called to this ce.


    War is not a pic, moreover, it is not something that can suddenly happen today or tomorrow.


    Now, the oldest brother is ahead of the coronation ceremony.


    Recently, he is making final preparations to inherit the throne in earnest.


    My father is still correcting it, but he decided that now is the perfect time to pass it on.


    That''s why, if a war breaks out, it will surely happen after the oldest brother ascends the throne.


    Of course I don''t mind doing it.


    That''s why I called him with the idea of persuading him from the beginning.


    “Is your brother okay as it is?”


    “Oh Lel?”


    “I bet you don’t know how much damage was done in thest war’?”


    At my point, he made an impression as if he had been stabbed in a sore spot.


    Yes, although it may have been covered by the honor of being a victorious country, it is a fact that can never be ignored that a lot of damage has urred because of their invasion.


    “A war like that could happen again. no it will happen.”


    I''m sure.


    I decided to stop making wild assumptions because of thest time.


    Instead, it is a conclusion that has been carefully considered.


    There are plenty of dubious guys out there.


    The attitude of the woman called the saint from before also bothered me.


    I have no intention of being hostile.


    Undoubtedly, that woman has us as enemies.


    In my experience, if left unattended, major problems would arise.


    “We can’t start again after being beaten by enemies, can we?”


    “There is a point... but what about the justification?”


    “You can make it.”


    The two were at a loss for words.


    why are you like this


    Don''t you know that you can create any number of justifications?


    When the Three Kingdoms Alliance also started a war, it had a really ridiculous justification at the time.


    Of course, if it were me, I''d be full of confidence toe up with something more solid.


    It can really show what a fair and square hoax is.


    “I will devise the necessary materials and equipment. I am confident that I will support you without sparing it.”


    Even the oldest brother wouldn''t be an idiot who wouldn''t understand if I said this.


    As proof, he was greatly conflicted.


    “most. Arell.”


    My father, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.


    He called both of us by name in a very solemn voice.


    “Your argument is neither right nor wrong.”


    “Yes, I am not saying the right thing.”


    I honestly admitted.


    The argument that you have to hit first can''t be right.


    In the end, the logic is that you have to kill the enemy.


    You must be properly aware of it.


    “It''s just a matter of discussing ways for us to livefortably.”


    “Hmm… rx. What will you do best?”


    “father?”


    Jeil looked at his father.


    He understood that he had turned the decision over to him.


    My father probably had no intention of making my brother sit as a scarecrow.


    That''s why I left this important matter to you to make your own decision.


    “I will abide by your decision.”


    From my point of view, it doesn''t matter if I don''t ept this offer.


    That''s because there is a way to prepare for it.


    That''s why I brought up this agenda in the form of rmendation, not coercion.


    So what are you going to do?


    “…Arell, can you give me a moment’?”


    “Then, the decision will be madeter…


    “No, there is no need for that.


    As he said that, he took a break to gather his thoughts.


    And only me and my father were left.


    “Arel... I guess I have a lot to sayter, just this time.”


    “I am also sorry.”


    Only this time, I meekly admitted my mistake.


    I can''t deny that I didn''t feel a little forced.


    Originally, I didn''t even want to consider hardline measures like this.


    I am a pacifist.


    But I don''t have a hobby of being beaten.


    The war breaks out sooner than I expected, and it''s enough to go through the trouble of preparing.


    no two times


    However, the reason I apologize to my father is not because of this agenda.


    Aside from this, it was because I had previously made a request that made my father a little embarrassed.


    “Did I ask you to take care of her?”


    “Yes, can’t you?”


    “...Yes, it''s your request, so I''ll do it for now. Are you really okay?”


    “No problem. No, because the person himself would hope for more.”


    “i get it.”


    What I asked separately is a matter that may or may not have anything to do with war.


    “Only if she agrees.”


    “I will definitely ept it.”


    I justughed and was sure of that part.


    Obviously, if it were her, she would ept my offer.


    However, this is a separate issue from now.


    Right now, discussing the war is the priority, so I didn''t talk more than that.