第１１２掘：諸国会議
### Dig 112: The Conference of Nations
The feedback for "Dig 108: Explanations and My Husband’s Hometown" was overwhelming.
Thank you all so much for your many comments.
Though, there were quite a lot of "guilty" verdicts, haha.
I’ll take this opportunity to respond to everyone at once.
Thank you very much.
***
### The Conference of Nations
**Side: Eris**
The festival ended without any major issues.
On the surface, the festivities have concluded.
We had Yuki-san dress us in wedding gowns, held a grand ceremony, and successfully reminded the townspeople of our presence while further stoking the excitement of the festival.
I thoroughly enjoyed Yuki-san’s company that night, but that’s a story for another time.
Weed is slowly returning to its daily routine.
However, the other nations are different.
For them, the real work is just beginning.
During the festival, we showcased this city’s economic power, its technology, and the convenience of trade via the Gates.
Through the three nations of Roschur, Gartz, and Litea, they are desperate to establish a connection with us by any means necessary.
Oh, and during the wedding, there were a few nobles who turned pale when they realized we were the key figures of Weed.
Some of them had been quite persistent, after all.
"Now then, please, feel free to use this space."
I am currently providing meeting rooms to the nobles who stayed behind after the Founding Festival to negotiate.
Those who want to establish a connection have sent their subordinates or messengers back to their homelands, while the rest remain in Weed, keeping each other in check and gauging our reactions to secure even slightly better terms than their rivals.
"Ho, this is quite a proper facility, isn't it?"
One noble peers into the conference room with an appreciative look.
Naturally.
Predicting this situation, we prepared ten conference rooms for distinguished guests.
Each room is spacious enough to seat twenty people comfortably and is soundproofed.
Well, it’s all being monitored by us, of course.
"We have prepared these so that everyone may use them without inconvenience. Over here, we have..."
I explain the locations of the copy paper, writing utensils, and the refreshments.
The maids and attendants listen intently, eager to ensure their masters lack for nothing.
"And that private room over there is the restroom."
"You’ve installed a restroom inside the conference room!?"
"How extravagant!"
Voices of astonishment rise.
This restroom—it’s safe to say it’s the Weed technology that has surprised them the most.
I still remember how we struggled at the beginning to prevent people from doing their business on the streets.
Other villages and towns are filled with a pungent odor, but Weed is different.
We even established a system of fines to ensure people used the restrooms.
We asked the residents to cooperate, guiding strangers to the facilities and explaining the rules thoroughly.
The area with the most fines was the Adventurer District.
Milly was apparently so furious that her district was covered in filth that she even issued a quest for adventurers to act as "restroom patrol guards."
"Yes, these were built to allow for long meetings. It also prevents you from having to pass by other conference rooms to reach a restroom, which could lead to accusations of espionage."
"I see. Since other nations are present, this is a consideration to prevent unnecessary conflict."
"Exactly. However, just in case, I recommend having your own attendants guard the exterior. We have taken various factors into account, but nothing beats the security of people you trust."
"Indeed. We shall select those from our own ranks to handle the external security."
With that, the nobles using the rooms begin their preparations.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
"Ah, thank you for the guidance, Representative Eris."
I leave the conference room.
As I do, I rendezvous with the others—Milly, Ratz, Tori, and the rest.
"How did it go?"
"No particular issues."
"Same here, no problems."
We chat as we head back to the conference room in the government building, located above the guest rooms.
This is the conference room reserved exclusively for us in Weed.
Naturally, everyone is gathered here as well.
"Welcome back. Eris, everyone, how was it?"
Seraria calls out to us, relaxing with a cup of tea and some documents in hand.
Just like before, we all report that there were no issues and take our seats.
"My, I thought some impatient fools would try to approach Ratz or Milly to get ahead of the others."
"They seem too busy keeping each other in check. Besides, if they were to approach us in front of everyone else, they’d risk being ostracized during the negotiations."
"Well, I suppose that’s true."
As Ratz said, this conference isn't just for one nation; it’s a gathering of all the surrounding countries.
If it were just one nation, they could have held their meetings in their assigned inn rooms; there would be no reason for us to lend out our conference rooms.
"So, how are the nations gathering?"
"Mostly as you and Yuki-san predicted. They are huddling together under the protection of the three nations—Roschur, Gartz, and Litea—to rent the rooms."
I answer while looking at the documents I’m holding.
As I mentioned, it seems the nations are grouping up with their neighbors to hold their discussions.
"Hmm, so it turned out that way. What do you think, dear?"
Seraria turns to Yuki-san.
"Hm? Well, of course they would. They all want to enrich their own countries. They don't want to let anyone get a head start, they want to keep each other's movements in check, and they don't want to be sabotaged by their neighbors before they’ve reached an agreement with us. By the way, what would you like to drink?"
Yuki-san asks us this while lazily opening the refrigerator.
"I’ll have coffee."
"Brother, tea for me. Cold is fine."
"...Tea."
They really don't hold back.
Yuki-san, showing no signs of trouble, quickly prepares almost everyone’s different orders.
"Eris, you wanted milk tea, right?"
"Thank you. I’m sorry, we’re your wives, we should be the ones taking care of you, Yuki-san."
"Don't worry about it. You’re handling all the troublesome work, so this is the least I can do. Kirue helps out, too, so there’s no problem."
"Yes, Eris-sama, please do not worry. I will support my husband. You wives should focus your strength for the sake of Weed."
Kirue was originally Shera’s maid, but now she takes care of all of us.
She really is an excellent person.
"However, husband. Do you think the conference of nations will reach a consensus?"
Rurua-sama looks at the monitor for her assigned conference room, looking exasperated.
At those words, everyone checks their respective monitors.
*"Are you an idiot?! It is our country that will open the Gate with Weed first!"*
*"Impossible! We are first!"*
*"Listen, we will have priority on the supplies from here."*
*"Ha! Save the jokes for someone else. Our country has priority on those supplies!"*
*"With this, we won't have to buy things from you at such exorbitant prices anymore."*
*"What? We know you’ve been price-gouging us, too!"*
It’s less of a conference and more of a shouting match.
"Nah, they’ll reach a consensus. They’re arguing over their claims now, but they’ll realize that the sooner they decide the order of installation, the sooner they can actually get to work. The smart ones will figure that out, and the meetings will wrap up quickly."
"I see. If one group finishes, the others will get impatient. They’ll settle for a temporary agreement just to move on to the installation."
"Exactly. As for the prices, we have the Gates now, so it’ll depend on future negotiations. They should settle at a reasonable rate. Anyway, putting that aside, they’ll probably try to slip us bribes or money to get priority. How should we handle that?"
Yuki-san turns his gaze to Seraria.
That’s right.
I hate bribes, but sometimes they are necessary for a nation.
The judgment depends on Seraria, our lord.
"Hmph, rejected. Tell those fools who try such things to leave. Tell them clearly that they are sullying the way this place operates. If they persist, we’ll inform the other nations and make a public spectacle of them."
"That’s quite extreme, Seraria."
"Of course it is. I don't know what Weed would be for otherwise. This is a nation for the people."
Everyone nods at Seraria’s statement.
"It’s going to get even busier from here on out. The war with the Hero, the opening of the Gates to the other nations, the movements of the Demon Lord’s army, the unknown situation in Rumel... there is so much to do. Everyone, please lend me your strength—for the country, for the people, and for our husband."
"Yes!"
That’s right. We’ve founded the nation, but this is only the beginning.
It is merely one step in Yuki-san’s journey to save the continent.
With that, everyone steels their resolve and proceeds with the future plans.
Among the documents, one catches Yuki-san’s eye.
"This is the list of countries that didn't participate, huh... I need to confirm their locations."
With that, Yuki-san glares at the names of those countries.
***
**Report:**
I cannot confirm it yet, but I have received an offer for a book publication.
I will withhold the name of the publisher.
Nothing is set in stone yet, so it might still fall through, but I wanted to report it to everyone who has been reading.