Driven into a corner by Hyang’s point, Louis’s face had gone deathly pale. But it wasn’t long before he recovered his composure and began to rebut Hyang’s words.

“The first virtue of a subject, of a nobleman, is to prioritize the interests of his nation. The relationships between nations are, in any case, governed by the law of the jungle. What sin is there in the strong looking after their own interests first? You speak of trust, but has the Empire truly kept its word so well?”

Hyang answered Louis’s charge without a moment’s hesitation. “That is why the Empire does not make friends easily. Once you make a friend, you must keep faith with them to the very end. And as for the law of the jungle…”

He paused to wet his throat. “Is the law of the jungle a principle that applies only between nations? It is a law that applies just as well between people competing for profit. The law of the jungle is instinct. But have you ever considered this?”

“Considered what?”

“The law of the jungle is instinct. A bestial instinct. But why was man able to escape the shackles of the beast? Ah, perhaps it is more correct to say ‘how’ rather than ‘why.’ If man had followed only the law of the jungle, unconditionally prioritizing his own interests, wouldn’t he still be living a life no different from an animal’s?”

“God created man and commanded him to rule over all creation…”

“Save your religious talk for a priest. Answer me with reason.”

“…”

Louis was left speechless. He hadn’t truly understood the meaning of what Hyang was saying.

Religious talk? Is he denying that God created man?

Though Louis was highly educated in classical humanities and philosophy, he was still unable to overcome the wall of creationism.

Seeing the look on Louis’s face, which made it clear he hadn’t understood the question at all, Hyang gave a wry smile.

Ah, this is an era before the theory of evolution has even been conceived. And a time when even atheists don’t think about such things.

Reminded once again of the era he was in, Hyang continued. “If the law of the jungle you speak of were the only absolute truth, this world would still be a place filled with nothing but the ‘war of all against all[1].’ And we would still be trapped in an age of barbarism. But look at the world now. Have we not escaped that age?”

Louis nodded. Looking at him, Hyang moved toward his conclusion.

“The world escaped the age of barbarism because it overcame the instinct of the law of the jungle. It was through the lesson that by making small concessions to one another, we can gain a far greater profit than by looking only at the immediate gain. International relations are the same. Especially a powerful nation, a nation that wishes to be looked up to by others, must not act on instinct alone. Justification and trust must come first. Justification and trust. For their sake, one must either remain still, knowing there will be a loss, or one must act.”

In the 21st century, there were several great powers that were criticized for ignoring that and acting as they pleased. Or was I wrong? Was that, in fact, being honest?

The image of a great power that Hyang was describing was a rather classical one. In contrast, some of the ‘honest’ politicians from the countries that were self-proclaimed ‘great powers’ of the 21st century had said things like:

• —That is affectation and hypocrisy!

• —In the pursuit of national interest, there is no need for affectation and hypocrisy!

And international relations went to hell in a handbasket.

As Hyang was muttering to himself, Louis challenged him again. “And is the Empire acting in such a way?”

“How does it look to you?”

Louis’s mouth snapped shut again. To any observer, the Empire was currently acting entirely for its own benefit. But at the same time, the Empire also possessed the strongest justification.

Honestly, I’d like to say they’re pulling a scam on the whole world…

Whether he knew what Louis was thinking or not, Hyang delivered his conclusion.

“As I said, the Empire has few friends. Our standards for making friends are a bit strict. But once we become friends, we do our best to be good friends. Of course, in the eyes of some, this might look like affectation and hypocrisy. But, you see…”

Hyang grinned and looked at Louis. “Isn’t it still cooler than those who brazenly switch sides back and forth?”

At Hyang’s words, Louis too came to a conclusion. “In the end, you are rejecting my, no, France’s proposal.”

“It is your proposal, not France’s, is it not? And I believe it is impossible for France to make such a proposal. You have come too far.”

“Haaa~.”

With a sigh, Louis rose from his seat and bowed to Hyang. “I suppose we will meet next on the battlefield. I pray you take care of yourself.”

“I hope you stay healthy as well.”

After seeing Louis off, Hyang turned and muttered under his breath, “Why would I go to a battlefield? Am I crazy?”

Meanwhile, after the meeting between Hyang and Louis ended, Hyang’s ‘theory of friendship’ became a hot topic among the ambassadors.

“It’s true that our Empire has few friends,” Shin Sukju said.

Seong Sam-mun and Yu Eung-bu nodded.

“If this war concludes successfully, I think we will need to engage in more active diplomacy,” Shin Sukju continued.

But at this, Seong Sam-mun and Yu Eung-bu shook their heads.

“Why?”

“Is there a need to be so proactive?”

“What do you mean, why…”

Shin Sukju, who had been about to raise his voice at their reaction, fell silent.

Well, considering the Empire’s current situation…

Looking at the state of the Empire, there was no real need to engage in vigorous foreign relations. With the development of the northern lands and the New Frontier now well on track, the Empire’s economy was humming along briskly with its internal market alone. To put it bluntly, they were in a position where they could declare a policy of isolation and close their doors tomorrow without any issue.

Because of this, the number of people within the Empire advocating for ‘isolationism’ was slowly growing.

• —Trade? Do we really need to do that?

• —Most of the goods we sell abroad are luxury items, aren’t they? And the goods we import are mostly worthless.

The fact that, apart from spices, fragrances, and black beans, there was little of value coming from Europe and other countries was another major reason for the spread of isolationism among the Empire’s people.

Upon receiving a report that isolationism was spreading, Hyang had given a wry smile. “Did I go a little too hard on the land grab…?”

• —The Korean peninsula and Manchuria alone are too precarious!

• —Let’s take what we can while we have the chance!

• —Land grabs are the unwritten rule!

The side effect of having aggressively expanded the Empire’s territory with such thoughts was now emerging.

• —We have more than enough land as it is, so why should we care about the outside world?

From the perspective of Hyang, with his 21st-century memories, it was an incomprehensible line of thinking. But for the people of this era, it was a natural thought to have.

“Well, we did get our hands on what you could call ‘cheat keys’…”

Hyang nodded as he thought about why ‘isolationism’ had spread not only among the common people but also among the ministers of the royal court.

***

With the breakdown of the talks between Hyang and Louis, the negotiations quickly hurtled toward collapse. Having confirmed that the situation was now irreversible, France began to actively pursue an alliance with Spain and the Habsburgs.

‘The independent unification of Italy, by the Italians.’

This slogan, put forward by the Empire, also pushed the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples toward joining the alliance being promoted by France. To be more precise, those who had been moving in secret now began to move openly.

“Well… at least now we know for sure who is friend and who is foe. That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

Lorenzo nodded at Hyang’s words.

November, 1490.

A new notice was posted on the wall of the Imperial embassy. The interesting thing was, this notice was not posted by the Empire. It was a joint statement from all the participating nations except the Empire and Florence.

Hearing of it, Hyang gave a wry smile. “These people should have just posted it on their own embassies. Ah… did they not have embassies in Florence?”

Muttering to himself, Hyang picked up the statement from his desk. The query, bearing a long line of seals from the participating nations, was simple in its content.

• —We do not consent to nor do we support the movement for Italian unification being promoted by Florence and the Empire!

• —What the Empire and Florence are currently promoting is a dangerous act that harms not only the peace of Italy but the peace of all Europe!

• —To protect the peace of Italy and Europe, we demand of the Empire and Florence!

• —Maintaining the current system is the only solution! The Empire and Florence must agree to this!

• —If you refuse, war will break out, and all responsibility will lie with the Empire and Florence!

After reading the statement, Hyang’s wry smile deepened. “Ever since Pontius Pilate, passing the buck has become a tradition.”

A short while later, Hyang greeted Lorenzo, who had just arrived at the embassy, and got straight to the point.

“What would you have us do?”

Lorenzo answered immediately. “The unification of Italy is my life’s conviction.”

“There will be many sacrifices.”

“I and the citizens of Florence are already prepared. What will the Empire do?”

“The Empire will stand with its ally, Florence.”

A short time later, a new notice was posted on the embassy wall. On the large poster, only a single word was written.

• —VETO!

The citizens of Florence who saw the notice erupted in cheers.

“Waaaah!”

“It’s war!”

“Long live Florence! Long live a unified Italy!”

“Long live the Empire!”

At the same time, Louis, having received the Empire’s response, gave a wry smile. “Concise. And for that reason, all the more like the Empire.”

***

With war now decided, the envoys of the various nations left Florence as quickly as they could. Under the pretext of ‘protecting them from the agitated Florentine citizens,’ they were escorted by a close guard of Florentine and Imperial cavalry.

But the envoys sitting inside their carriages looked even more grim. The armaments of the cavalry surrounding them, especially the Imperial cavalry, had been completely changed. Until now, the standard equipment of the Imperial cavalry had been a lance, a saber, and a six-shot cavalry pistol.

But now, there were no lances to be seen on the Imperial cavalry surrounding the envoys’ carriages. Instead, a long gun was holstered on one side of their saddles, and at their waists, in place of the six-shot cavalry pistol, hung a new model, the one Hyang himself had worn.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was the cavalry saber dangling from their saddles.

As the envoys watched this, a growing tightness filled their chests.

“What have we been looking at all this time?”

***

Returning to Paris, Louis reported the results to Charles VIII and concluded thusly:

“The true enemy in this war is not Florence, but the Empire. We must keep this in mind. It is possible we may be defeated.”

Not just possible, but certain…

Concealing this inner thought, Louis delivered his report, and Charles VIII’s face grew grave.

“Is it that serious?”

“The Empire intends to fight with all its heart.”