第２９３堀：こっちも密談 (Part1)
Side: Samantha
"Hey, Samantha. Is it really necessary for the Princess herself to guide us through the Royal Capital?"
Yuki-sama asks me this.
Ah, his dignified expression.
When he gets that close, I feel the urge to kiss him...
But what is required of me right now is not my love, but my knowledge. To accept Yuki-sama’s affection without fulfilling my duty would be the act of a fool. Even if Yuki-sama were to forgive such a thing, I could never forgive myself. Love is not just about receiving; it is about giving to one another and supporting each other.
"Samantha? Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes. My apologies!! I was just... a little captivated."
"…I don't think my face is anything that special. Anyway, setting that aside, do you think there's a real reason for the Princess to guide us?"
"No. I find it unlikely. While it is true that Yuki-sama holds the bloodline of both the Zilba and Enaria royal families, Princess Inis is currently acting as the King's proxy. In this situation, regardless of bloodline or claims to the throne, her current standing is vastly different—it is the difference between heaven and earth. If we are talking about bloodlines and succession, I have those as well, being from a ducal house and a branch of the royal family."
"Right. So, that means she’s either a complete idiot, or she’s scrutinized our information and decided she needs to see us for herself."
Dinner has ended, and we are relaxing in our assigned rooms, discussing the fact that Princess Inis crashed our meal and declared she would be our guide for the Royal Capital tomorrow.
"Feigel-sama, who was following her, was bowing and apologizing profusely. Cleena-san, is that sort of thing normal?"
"…That’s my master’s specialty. I’ve heard since I was young that he’s always bowing his head to clean up after the Princess when she goes on a rampage."
*Hmm. If what Cleena says is true, she’s definitely trying to probe us,* Seraria-sama says, joining the conversation through the call. Sakura and Yuyu are in her arms, looking adorable. The thought that one day I, too, will hold my own child fills me with such happiness.
"Do you think so, Seraria?"
*Yes. And in this case, we should discard the idea that Princess Inis is an idiot. It’s better to assume she’s acting with a specific goal in mind. Besides, if she were truly a fool, she wouldn’t have been appointed to a general’s position. Putting someone like that in charge only drains your military strength. It’s much more practical to give them a personal unit and use them as a guerrilla force.*
Seraria-sama was apparently a General herself, and she is incredibly sharp and capable when it comes to these matters.
"I agree with Seraria-sama. If she were just a tomboy princess, that would be ideal, but assuming that would be a mistake. It would be too late if something were to happen, so I believe we should remain vigilant."
"That seems reasonable. But the plan was to have Vixen-san guide us around the Royal Capital, and while we were at it, create a dungeon to establish a direct route..."
*That seems impossible now. If a Princess is guiding you, there will be undercover guards as well. It’s better not to make any suspicious moves. Actually, it might be better to use our acquaintance with the Princess to have her introduce us to some properties.*
"Isn't that just asking to be watched?"
*That may be, but it’s better than nothing, isn't it? The current direct route to August is right under the barracks. It would be better to have one inside the Royal Capital, wouldn't it?*
"True, having a base in the Royal Capital would make things easier, but there’s a risk of various things being exposed. If that happens, it will only lead to very troublesome situations..."
Indeed, a base is necessary, but if the technology we of Weed possess were to be discovered, they would never leave us alone. It could even escalate to the point where they send assassins.
"What about my master's house?"
"Cleena-san, from what I’ve seen, your master, Feigel-sama, exudes the atmosphere of a loyal subject of August. That isn't a bad thing, but for better or worse, it seems likely he would report everything."
"I agree with that."
"Then, as originally planned, we should lure the master with items and place him under our protection. That way, we can keep him quiet."
"I wonder? It’s worth a try, but since Princess Inis will be with us constantly, I don't think we’ll be able to steer the conversation that way. Besides, it could be seen as an act of betrayal against August. I doubt Feigel-sama would accept such a proposal."
Feigel-sama seems to have higher loyalty than I expected, so I don't feel we can pull him to our side or create a situation solely advantageous to us. I suspect the "research-obsessed" persona Cleena-san describes is something he intentionally projects.
*Then, why not try doing several things at once? Create an exit somewhere away from the barracks, send members August doesn't know to acquire a base through a separate route, and also get a property through the Princess's guidance. And, try to win over Cleena’s master.*
"That’s the safest approach. Alright, Milly and Kirika, I want you to secure a base in the August Royal Capital tomorrow. Milly will be the leader, and Kirika will provide support."
"Understood."
"As you wish."
"Cleena, tomorrow, take Feigel-san to his house and negotiate. We’ll keep the Princess occupied, so use that time to get things done. Oh, consult with Narjia-san, Ratz, and Eris about what items to use for the negotiations. He won't accept something that only benefits us, so if we present something beneficial to them as well, the chances of him agreeing will be higher."
"Mm. Got it."
"Yes. What kind of items would be good? We have a variety."
"Narjia-san, please go easy on them. The items you create are legendary-level around here."
"That’s true. If we miscalculate that, it could cause quite a stir. Cleena, Ratz, I should return quickly so we can discuss this. Yuki-san, is that alright?"
"Yeah, leave it to you. Let me know once you’ve reached a consensus."
"Yes, understood. Well then, let’s go, you two."
"Mm. Got it."
"See you later. Everyone, see you on the other side."
Yuki-sama makes decisions efficiently and never neglects a task.
He is so cool. As expected of the man recognized by the gods!!
I, too, must support Yuki-sama firmly as his wife!!
"Now, the only thing left is the Royal Capital tour with the Princess tomorrow... Say, Samantha. Are there any customs, culture, or etiquette unique to the August Kingdom? Anything that would be considered a faux pas?"
"...No. Nothing comes to mind in particular. However, the other party is Princess Inis, and there might be subordinates who would complain about etiquette toward royalty. Cleena-san will be handling Feigel-sama, but it would be helpful if someone understanding could accompany us on the Royal Capital tour."
"Ah, well, that’s standard. Come to think of it, what’s the situation like around here? Looking at the streets of the Royal Capital, it doesn't seem that chaotic... It looks peaceful."
"As far as I am aware, there are no particular issues."
*I see. Then, Milly and Kirika should investigate on their own tomorrow. I don't want us getting dragged into trouble over something trivial.*
"Getting detailed information on that is important. Milly, Kirika, you heard her. Tomorrow, while looking for a base, please gather information on the state of the country."
"Leave it to me."
"Yes, understood."
"Also, Tori, Riel, and Kaya, please guard the Academy along with Taiki-kun and the others. It wouldn't be strange for monsters to multiply or for powerful individuals to appear at any time. Don't let your guard down. Popuri and Lara, please continue managing the Academy as usual."
"『『『Understood.』』』"
Yuki-sama says this, looks around at everyone in the room, and after a pause, opens his mouth.
"The rest of us will tour the Royal Capital and do some research at the library. It would be great if there were books related to Holy Sword users or mana depletion."
*True. The Holy Sword users are stubborn. We have absolutely no information.*
"Well. It’s only been about ten days since we captured them. If they were going to spill the beans that easily, they wouldn't have been talking about destroying the world in the first place."