Apparently, I’m a Childhood Friend of a Saint in the World of Light Novels, and When We Meet Again After a Few Years at School, She’s Turned into Some Kind of Yandere?
“Let’s launch a reverse invasion.”
Iris made that clear.
Tension flared between us.
“Is that what you said when we first met?”
“Yes, it is. But much earlier than originally planned.”
Iris looks at me with a reluctant expression.
“The assumption was that it would be several years before the Demon Army would make its move. However, the invasion may be hastened by the fact that my brother has become a demon tribe, or that Gossel has confirmed Alan directly. In fact, from the secret spy that we have infiltrated, the movement of demons in the Demon Lord’s territory is becoming more active.”
T-that means it’s pretty much my fault. ……
It is true that even in the original story, the Demon Lord’s army started their invasion after graduating from the academy.
It was like a final battle, and almost all the characters who had appeared in the school life were introduced and the story closed as a culmination.
And yet, the Demon King’s Army is already on the move.
It’s only the summer of my first year though ……
“Is Iris planning to destroy the Demon King in a reverse invasion?”
“Eventually. But it is impossible to decide in the first round and I don’t want Alan and Lottie to do anything reckless like that. This time we’re just buying time.”
Well, she wouldn’t be that reckless, would she?
But Iris’s ultimate goal is to exterminate the Demon King.
For Iris, who wants to create a happy, smile-filled country, this is definitely an obstacle that needs to be removed.
It’s also our mission and our objectives are in line with each other.
“How exactly do you plan to buy time with a reverse invasion?”
President Elisabeth poses the question to Iris.
I sense a somewhat testing and challenging intent in her expression.
“I’ll have a ranger squad led by Alan and Lottie and the regular soldiers of the kingdom stationed near the border and stand by. Then, if the Demon King’s army attacks, we will prevent it and launch a counter-invasion from there.”
So we’re not going to attack from here, but wait for the other side to come?
“Yes. There are two reasons for this.”
Iris raised two fingers of her right hand with a snap.
Then she breaks the first finger.
“The first is that we don’t want to provoke the Demon Lord’s army too much from our side. If they don’t attack us, then that’s all the better.”
I nodded, as I was in complete agreement.
Charlotte was taking serious notes but gave a small nod.
“The second is the influence of the conservative domestic aristocracy and other countries.”
“Conservatives?”
Iris nodded when I parroted back.
She explained in detail so that even I, who was not familiar with the political situation, could understand.
“In a nutshell, there is a possibility that those who want to cherish the peace and tranquillity of the present will sabotage it. But if they were to attack us, that would be a different story. That’s when we can expect not just obstruction but even support for our own safety.”
“I see. …… So as long as they only give us support first, we can do the rest on our own?”
“‘That’s what it means.
To be honest, there are many ways to prevent interference from incompetent nobles, but this time we need to be monolithic. We have to get along even if only on the outside.”
Politically, I have heard that the hardest part of a war is before it starts and after it ends.
But it seems that there are no nobles in this country who are powerful enough to go to the Demon King’s territory and interfere with us after we start a reverse invasion.
That’s why Iris is saying that if we just get along before the war starts, the rest can be managed.
“I see. I understand your highness’ thoughts well. But who will be responsible for the all-important reverse invasion? We cannot increase our numbers too much, as we also place importance on stealth, so we need to have an elite force.”
“I’m going to put my men on it. My men are small in number, but none of them are incompetent. I am sure they will be useful to Alan and his team. And ……”
Iris breaks off once there.
Then she turned to President Elisabeth.
“I want the president to assist me. I would like the vice-president to accompany Alan and be responsible for the reverse invasion.”
“””!!!”””
T-The two of them……!?
The Chairman and the two Vice-Chairmen cannot hide their surprise at these words.
“I have few allies, little power and little influence. But I am sure that you and the others understand that we cannot leave it to my fathers.”
“……”
Both of them have thoughts about their lord, though they can’t put them into words.
They do not refute, but keep their mouths shut.
“Please, can you help me? This country is full of abscesses and must be restored to its proper shape as it was when it was founded. That is why this predicament is a matter that should be resolved by trusted colleagues. Don’t you agree?”
Even I realised that this is aristocratic communication that conveys intentions outside of words.
This is what Iris is saying.
[I don’t recognise the current kingship. That’s why I’m going to take the throne myself. You must decide now whether you will join me.]
After a long silence, the two person took ……
The courtesy of a loyal salutation—