With me behind her back, Roa ran along the valley road like the wind.

Staring at the end of the road, Roa burst forth like gale————

[ ! ]

Hearing something, I, Lieselotte, perked up my ears.

(The sound of horse’s hooves.)

Are those the Centaurs?

Are they Qir and the others?

As I was thinking about this———– Roa suddenly stopped.

She began scraping on the ground, until a cloud of dust danced in the air.

There are multiple shadows approaching.

Slowly getting within visual range, they were getting closer.

[Those are———-]

""

Realizing who those horse’s hooves were from, my eyes opened wide.

[It’s the humans?]

Humans mounted on horses.

All of them are armed.

With the opposing party incoming, I turned around.

The giant wolves are still on their way, catching up with us.

The harpies were still far behind in the sky.

Considering all these factors, my mind quickly spun.

[Roa, you go back on your own! Back to the door!]

[? Leaving Prime Minister-dono behind, I am to return alone?]

[Isn’t it obvious!? Those approaching humans are probably the Goddess’ aforementioned army! Your appearance would likely be aggressive in the eyes of the humans! You’re also to tell the giant wolves, harpies and the Dragon Light Army to stand down! As for the Serpentine Light Army————]

The Lamias’ upper body closely resembles that of humans.

""

Their first impression might be better for us if beings relatively familiar to humans were here.

[Tell them to come to my side!]

Meanwhile, the humans had stopped moving.

I can see that they are discussing something on horseback.

The other side clearly sensed our presence.

My heart was beating loudly.

It feels like I could even hear it.

I can’t fail here.

Facing them right here feels like I’m heading into a presentation without preparation.

I thought I was prepared for this…

But I never expected that I would meet the outside world humans like this————

[——————-]

""

[——ter———dono.]

[…………………]

[Prime Minister-dono!]

[ ! ]

Roa’s call pulled me out of the vortex of my thoughts, snapping me back to reality.

[Should I really fall back?]

[Y- Yes…… ———–Yes! Who do you think I am!? I’m the Faraway Country’s Prime Minister, Lieselotte Ornick, you know!?]

[……I understand.]

After I alighted from her back, Roa falled back.

She then went towards the giant wolves.

Upon her arrival, the Lamias and the Dragonewts alighted the giant wolves.

Next, Roa called out to the harpies.

""

In the end, all but the Lamias retreated as instructed.

Seeing them do as I instructed, I looked forward.

(With this, we are ready to negotiate.)

[ ! ]

The humans started moving.

They are getting closer to my direction.

Watching their approach, Armia and the other Lamias joined in.

[Prime Minister-dono.]

[Armia, are the white flags ready?]

[Unnn, just as you instructed.]

We’re going to raise a white flag.

In the human world, it’s an action that symbolizes that we don’t have the intention to fight.

AD

——–is what should have been.

Does this action still mean the same at this time?

Perhaps, I should have asked him.

That fly, I mean.

[——————]

Perhaps, I should have asked that fly more things.

……No.

That’s wrong.

There’s a chance that he might feed me false information and manipulate my knowledge to suit his needs.

(………………)

Since the cavalrymen were approaching, I thought of loudly calling out to them.

However, it’s no good.

My voice didn’t reach them.

Their distance was too far.

Suddenly, I saw the other side drawing their bows from the distance.

Atop their horses, they drew their brows.

(Oh no! Quickly, raise the white flag……!)

Taking the lead, I quickly raised the white flag.

Thereupon, there was a reaction on the other side.

(They lowered…… their bows? Ahh……)

I feel like my heart skipped a beat there.

The humans had also raised a white flag.

My intentions got through!

They understood that we don’t intend to fight!

""

Without turning my eyes away from the humans, I raised my hands to hold back the people behind me.

[Serpentine Light Army, stay here and wait.]

[No, even if it’s just me, I think you should be accompanied by someone. You’re too defenseless.]

[It’s exactly because I’m defenseless! This is an opportunity of a lifetime! Moreover, we have to hurry……! Fortunately, it looks like they and Gio and the others haven’t run into each other yet! We need to quickly negotiate with them and tell Gio and the others that we don’t have to fight anymore……! Otherwise, it will be too late!]

[Them not having run into Gio and the others itself is odd though.]

[…….What are you trying to say?]

[This is also…… something you haven’t thought about huh?]

Strange.

Armia’s hands were slightly trembling.

[Gio and the others…… On their way here, these humans should have already———]

[Stop thinking of the worst from the start! Pull yourself together, Armia Plum Lynx! We still weren’t sure about that matter yet, right!? You should trust the other side first!]

[Liese…… I don’t think I can let you do this? If the humans had killed Gio or Qir———]

Pakk!

I slapped Armia’s cheek.

[Pull yourself together! If that’s the case, we need to negotiate with them even more! We need to quickly explain to them———— that we aren’t like Gio and Qir’s group! If we don’t…… They might think that the citizens of the “Faraway Country” are the same “enemy” as Gio and the others! Explain in all sincerity that they disobeyed the country’s decision and cast aside the country!]

[……I still think I should accompany you, Prime Mi———-]

[Didn’t I tell you I’m going alone!?]

Turning my attention back to the humans, I took a deep breath.

It’s alright.

The other side has raised the white flag.

They don’t have any hostility towards us at the moment.

The foundation for negotiations has been laid.

With the flag in hand, I began walking towards them.

Meanwhile, one of the people riding the horses also rode towards me.

""

He was obviously dressed different from the others.

He seems to be a person of high standing.

Is he one of those so-called “nobles”?

The distance between the two o