It was a conference among the nations participating in the military operation.
Alright, we scouted it out.
We knew the enemy's position.
The problem was that we currently had no way to destroy it.
Now then, an opinion was raised during the meeting.
"Do we even need to conquer it right now?"
Seriously, exactly.
Whether that thing was their Mainland or not, we could set that aside for now. What was certain was that it was their nest.
The timing of when to destroy it was the issue.
We knew that giant Corpse Eater was a defensive unit.
We could even assume it was too massive to move.
In other words, we could adopt a tactic of locking it down.
Specifically, we'd scatter mines everywhere to block the routes and patrol the surroundings with warships and drones.
This would buy us time.
Because there was nothing nearby, after all.
Sure, we might figure out the Zen Divine Race's secrets.
They never showed themselves, after all.
If they'd just shown themselves and negotiated openly, the war would have ended in seconds.
For that matter.
We still didn't understand their intent in messing with us.
I'd heard a few times that they were terrified of me, but the Zen Divine Race had never said it to me directly.
As far as I was concerned, with public opinion being what it was, we couldn't be friends anymore.
But maintaining a Cold War state was possible.
Just because relations were bad didn't mean we had to be at each other's throats.
Staying in a ceasefire state should be possible in and of itself.
We were probably fated to kill each other someday, but we could postpone it.
Everyone getting along was just a fantasy.
So what was the realistic approach?
If they couldn't come here, wasn't that fine?
So we'd go with the lockdown strategy and pretend we'd never seen it.
...That was what I proposed, but everyone around me was fiercely opposed.
"We can no longer stop the war."
The former governor of Chronos.
Surrounded by the planetary lords, I was met with opposition.
The ministers of the Taikyoku Nation were also red-faced with fury.
I guess that was obvious.
They were already in kill mode for both the Corpse Eaters and the Zen Divine Race, after all.
I'd only brought it up, but everyone snapped.
"Please stop. Lord Leo is merely speaking of possibilities."
Shi-yun stopped them.
One-O-One, who had been summoned for the summit meeting, tilted her head.
Behind her, the Former Butler of Despair had skin as smooth as could be.
His condition was improving from misfortune!
One-O-One spoke up.
"Is His Majesty the King not saying that strategically, there is no need to conquer that thing?"
Oh my. What incredible growth!
Big brother was so moved he was tearing up!
"That too, but it's a question of how much sacrifice we're willing to pay. Are we going to pay that sacrifice to conquer it...?"
When asked that, Shi-yun broke into a smile.
The ministers were dumbfounded.
"In other words, that's how it is. I understand painfully well the insistence on avenging the Magellan, Ozen, and Persion fleets. I've had family killed too. But in the fight against the Zen Divine Race, how much strategic value does that thing hold? That is what you mean, isn't it, Lord Leo?"
"That's right. I understand your feelings painfully well. But there's no need to fight an obviously disadvantageous opponent and scatter our forces for nothing."
"B-But! Your Majesty the King of Chronos! Can you declare with certainty that there is nothing else like it?"
"No, that's why I'm saying we contain it for now, develop weapons, and then rematch. I'm asking if you guys can hold out until then."
"Eh...?"
"Sure, they'll be coming up with countermeasures against us too, but since the enemy was out there and launched a long-range attack at us, we know their range, right? In that case, we'll prioritize avoiding that area and establishing a route with Rosaria for now. Can you wait?"
"In other words, we are to..."
"Prepare for war. Recruit soldiers, train them, and build up equipment. Sure, there's such a thing as timing, so things won't go exactly as planned, but can you endure it? I know how motivated you all are."
"O-Of course we can!"
"Alright, prepare!"
That should have bought us some time both domestically and internationally.
I sent the retainers out for real-talk time.
Then the Latania King, who had been participating remotely, burst out laughing.
Salia was also laughing uproariously.
"You bought time without any countermeasures at all."
The Latania King was in high spirits.
"It can't be helped since we can't defeat it right now. You got them to agree to that remarkably well."
Basically.
Timing was important.
Being pressured by domestic opinion and attacking at a disadvantageous moment.
Like being forced to strike right now when we didn't have weapons that could win.
I wanted to prevent that.
Honestly, war simulations were so much easier...
You needed a little act just to get even the Lords to listen.
"What do you think, Wifey?"
"Hmm, you should do as you see fit, Lord Groom. Fortunately, the economic trends of each nation are progressing smoothly. The people will wait for a while."
"Shi-yun?"
"Let us provide entertainment to the people for a while and make them forget their pain. While mourning the dead so we don't forget that slaughter. When it's time for war, we'll propagandize that the Zen Divine Race must be defeated to protect our current way of life."
Probably among those summoned today, Shi-yun harbored the deepest hatred.
I was genuinely glad that she understood.
"Hey, we had those mine-type barrier devices, right? I'm thinking of scattering them around to keep applying pressure."
"Isn't that far more malicious than expected by several times!"
"It's just that attacking them is an Impossible Game, so if they come at us, we can hammer them with long-range weapons while retreating. Getting our planet attacked would be a problem, but if we keep the barriers up, they won't occupy it."
If they attacked, we'd drag out the assault and keep wearing them down endlessly!
We'd repeat stupid attacks composed entirely of harassment!
I was good at that kind of mudslinging.
No matter how you looked at it, we had the advantage in supplies and economy!
This was where the Repsitore Nation, who'd sell their own organs for business, came into play.
Our strategic options were limited too, but we could just keep grinding the Corpse Eaters down further into attrition.
Either they'd lose patience and attack, or they'd cut their losses and abandon that position.
We'd make them choose.
If they never cut their losses, we'd know there was something important there.
Even if they did cut their losses, it wouldn't bother us.
There was even a possibility it was placed there as a bluff in the first place.
If they'd set a trap, simply not stepping on it would damage their resources.
And I'd now suppressed the ones who were about to go berserk.
After that, it was a mind game.
I was really getting the hang of being a king.
"Well, let's just rest until Wifey gives birth."
"Let us do so."
Wifey giggled.
Then Salia, Shi-yun, and the Latania King were whispering among themselves.
"Did you see that? That's the Friendly Devil."
"I wouldn't want to make an enemy of him."
"Lord Leo is wonderful!"
No, I was just doing what was obvious...