第４７６堀：胃の痛い真実 (Part1)
Chapter 476: A Heart-Stinging Truth
Side: Agil
I feel as though I am witnessing the dawn of a new era with my own eyes.
There is no other way to describe it.
Before me lies a city developed to a degree that defies imagination.
The buildings are not made of wood or stacked stone. They are constructed from some sort of hard, gray material I have never seen before. Everything about them—from their refined functional beauty to the sheer technical prowess they display—is overwhelming.
The windows aren't made of wood; they are clearly made of colorless, transparent glass. I have never heard of a place capable of producing glass like that.
Furthermore, the population density rivals or even exceeds that of the Royal Capital.
Well, given the circumstances, I suppose that’s only natural.
It is impossible for people not to flock to a nation that is so obviously prosperous at a single glance.
"..."
Prism and the other Magic Sword Users of Zilba are just as speechless as I am, staring out at the city.
In fact, they are practically plastered against the carriage window.
I mean, how could they not be?!
"Oh my!? Are those... fairies?! Hey, Olive!"
"Yes. It’s my first time seeing them."
"So those are the legendary fairies. The legends say they are experts in magic, don't they?"
"No, look, they are floating in mid-air. They must be using magic already, right?"
They are absolutely ecstatic about the fairy folk!
As Prism said, the fairies are likely using a levitation spell, much like Principal Popuri.
But to keep it active at all times? That’s incredible!
I want to talk to them!
Actually, what is this place?!
I thought Yuki and the others were taking us underground, but instead, this magnificent city is spread out before us!
"Well, it’s exactly as I expected."
"I agree. I felt the same way."
"Mm. Anyone would react like that."
"Indeed."
Ria and the others are saying something, but it’s not really registering.
What is that?! It’s amazing!
And wait, demi-humans and humans are just talking to each other like it’s nothing.
Should I call this the "Betan" way?
No, even in Betan, there aren't this many demi-humans.
While Betan is tolerant of them, the primary goal there is interaction with Zilba and Enaria, so having demi-humans walking around so openly would usually be a source of trouble.
Which begs the question: where exactly are we?
"Welcome to Weed."
That was what Yuki told us.
I see, so the name of this city is Weed.
But...
"What on earth is going on here?!"
That was our collective reaction.
We’ve never heard of a city by that name, and it’s impossible for a city of this scale to have remained unknown until now.
"Well, I’ll explain everything one by one, so please, just calm down and listen..."
And so, Yuki began his explanation.
To put it simply, this place, Weed, utilizes a "Gate"—a piece of lost technology once used by a criminal organization in the Kingdom of Ex—to connect distant locations and allow for easy long-distance travel.
Yes, that is a classified matter, and every nation is currently agonizing over where to place these Gates.
Providing the Gates is, in part, an act of atonement by the Kingdom of Ex for having birthed that criminal organization.
And, as it turns out, it wasn't just the criminal organization using those Gates.
Yuki’s mercenary group was using them, too.
Brace yourselves for this: Yuki and his group are actually visitors from another continent.
They happened to connect to the continent we live on by chance, and the reason they met us was because they were exploring this new, unknown land.
A while ago, I would have laughed and called that a lie, but now that I know the existence of the Gates, I can’t just laugh it off as a joke.
But more importantly...
"Wait, Jessica. What did you just say?"
"Yes. Did we mishear you?"
Marly-san and Prism press their temples, calling a halt to Jessica’s explanation.
And rightly so. Because...
"Yes. Yuki here, and Seraria-sama, who is not currently present, are the strategist and the Queen of Weed, respectively. Incidentally, Seraria-sama is also the Second Princess of the great nation of Roschur."
Hieeeeee...?!
I’ve been speaking casually to a Queen from another nation?!
Prism even had a mock battle with her!
This... this isn't going to turn into an international incident, is it? Please, no!
But now I understand.
The reason Yuki and his group are so accustomed to negotiations is because they were running a country to begin with.
We are just military officers and generals. Of course, we were at a disadvantage.
"If I may add, since Yuki is Seraria-sama's partner, he holds the position of Prince Consort."
"..."
At Jessica’s words, everyone falls silent.
I’ve caused Yuki even more trouble than I caused Seraria...
"Furthermore, Rurua-sama and Shera-sama are the heads of state of the Litea Theocracy—which stands equal to Seraria-sama’s homeland of Roschur—as well as a former Saintess and a former Princess of the Kingdom of Gartz."
"..."
What is this group of VIPs?
Rurua-san was being fought over by the church and the royal family in Enaria, but this is insane!
And why is Yuki married to the Saintess and Princesses of these great nations?!
Who is he, really?!
"Well, there is the question of who Yuki is, but like His Majesty Noble of Ex, he conceived of a way to utilize the Gates to stabilize the conflicts between the three great nations, stabilize logistics, and has even succeeded in calming the petty squabbles between smaller nations. In other words, he is a hero in every sense of the word. That is precisely why the three great nations have sought to stabilize Weed by forming ties through their Princesses and Saintesses. After all, Weed is a major distribution hub for this continent. Well, there was some talk about it being problematic from a political standpoint if it didn't remain independent."
"..."
In other words, Yuki is a super, super important person on this continent!
To the point where a mere princess of a single nation might not even be his equal!
"...Jessica. Wh-why is Yuki...-sama leading such a mercenary group?"
Marly-san manages to open her mouth.
She’s amazing. She truly deserves the title of the Wind Princess Knight.
Or perhaps it’s because her former adjutant, Jessica, is the one explaining it?
"If your own country were suddenly connected to a strange, unknown land, it would be natural to investigate, wouldn't it? Neither side knew the other continent existed. And do you think you could get by using your status from an unknown land?"
"...No, that wouldn't work. So, a mercenary group, then."
"Yes. Belonging to any one country would not be appropriate given Weed's position. Besides, they didn't even know the political situation here. That is precisely why they led a mercenary group to gather information."
"I... understand. But why reveal this information now?"
Yes. As Marly-san said, there’s no need to tell us now, is there?
There’s no need to expose this to us!
"Why ask that now, Marly-sama? If you speak of those with whom Yuki and his group have had the longest relationship in Zilba and Enaria, it is you all, is it not? Now that the technology of the Gates has been discovered in the Kingdom of Ex, Yuki and his group no longer have a reason to hide their nation. And if we must decide who to tell first, it would be you, Marly-sama, and Prism-sama."