Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

“The mastermind behind the false trial, the family that took part in the attack on the royal capital by the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Army, the attitude of trying to treat the hero as a vassal, the arrogance of trying to take the fiancée of the great young general who successfully defended the royal capital… With all of these things being spread around, it will be clear which side people will judge to be evil.” (Crown Prince)

It was a technique of agitation that was often used in my previous life. If something was repeated enough times, people would start believing it to be true. At some point, it would even become a fact.

Furthermore, it was true that Coltrezis House had actually done most of those things, so it would be harder for anyone to differentiate false information from correct one.

The kingdom side could proudly label the Coltrezis side as evil before even mentioning the deployment of troops. In fact, some people would even start asking why the kingdom was not taking actions against Coltrezis House, giving the kingdom justification to send troops.

Depending on how you looked at it, it’s a conspiracy in the making.

I should let the fact that I was called a great general slide. I would like to deny it, but I couldn’t do that when the person making the statement was the Crown Prince. Oh, dear.

“But does the Coltrezis House have any chance of winning?” (Welner)

“It appears that a person who can receive oracles that you were concerned about is still with the Coltrezis family. We also discovered that it was that person who said that a King will be born from Coltrezis.” (Crown Prince)

“Is that the same person who also made the oracle before?” (Welner)

“I don’t have any proof, but there is no doubt about it.” (Crown Prince)

Even if the Demon Army managed to succeed in attacking the royal capital, there would still be human forces they had to deal with.

In such a situation, it would certainly be more convenient for demons if someone were to incite a suitable noble family to bring more chaos.

Could it be that a member of the Demon Army, disguised as a priestess who could receive oracles, was inciting the Coltrezis family by falsely prophesying that someone from their family would become the next king? The demons might have also miscalculated, after all, they failed in their attack on the royal capital.

In the game, a lot of nobles died in the monster rampage, so things didn’t get to this point in the first place, so I guess the Demon Army’s plans went awry in various ways. I really didn’t care about the Demon Army’s convenience.

In any case, it seemed that the Coltrezis side was acting because of that oracle. But no matter how you look at it, to become the King of the Bain kingdom… oh, that’s why they want Mazell.

“So their immediate goal is to become a de facto independent country with the help of Farlitz?” (Welner)

“From Farlitz’s point of view, it seems like they are hoping for the Bain kingdom, a potential enemy, to split. If the Coltrezis House’s territory is lucky enough to become an independent kingdom, it will become a shield for Farlitz.” (Crown Prince)

And even if Coltrezis House’s territory only became a semi-independent state, they figured that as long as Mazell, the hero, was their vassal, nobody would dare to lay a hand on them.

On the one hand, I think they were being ridiculously arrogant, but on the other hand, I think that they were probably hoping that things would work out that way.

In a world where gods really do exist, it was most likely because they genuinely believed in the oracles that they thought things would work out. Of course, the existence of magic, which was thought to be a miracle of that god, was also a touchy subject, but since the information we knew was not yet public, there was nothing we could do about it.

“How dare Farlitz play such dirty tricks when the Demon King is still alive?” (Welner)

When the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister heard me say that, they both gave me a wry smile. I had a bad feeling about it.

“It’s because of you that the Demon King and the Four Heavenly Kings have failed in their attacks. It appears that there are countries thinking that even if someone isn’t a hero, they can still fight the Demon Army, depending on how they do it.” (Crown Prince)

“…” (Welner)

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. They think it was that easy when we literally were risking our lives to do it. It made me more angry with the Kingdom of Farlitz than with Coltrezis, who was being manipulated.

“It’s not uncommon for someone else’s work to seem easy when you’re watching them from afar. Now, about Farlitz…” (Crown Prince)

“From what I have gathered, it appears that it will be difficult to procure hay from Farlitz.” (Welner)

I put my feelings of disappointment aside and answered as the head of the stables, and the Crown Prince nodded in agreement. I was really working hard, you know.

“It seems that Farlitz is actually procuring various things from the neighboring kingdom of Delitzdam as well.” (Crown Prince)

“They are really eager to get involved.” (Welner)

“I don’t think it will be done openly.” (Crown Prince)

Damn it! I was momentarily belligerent, thinking about giving them a taste of their own medicine, but I cooled down. If the other party was cooperating with a foreign country in a war against us, then diplomatic issues would be involved. I guess I have to be careful not to overdo it. It appears that there was also a purpose behind driving this nail into me.

“We will discuss this at a later time at a military council meeting. You must attend.” (Crown Prince)

“Yes, my lord.” (Welner)

For now, I should focus on what information I could get from the military council that would be held later, and then think about how to deal with other things.

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