第４８７堀：目の前の問題を片づけたらより難題が出てきた (Part1)
**Chapter 487: Solving the Problem Before Me Only Revealed a Greater Difficulty**
**Side: Kagura Kamishiro, Second Daughter of the Kamishiro Ducal House, one of the three great houses of the Haiden Kingdom**
"..."
"..."
"..."
Right now, I am sitting at a table in the Baide lord’s mansion with Princess Carrie of the Haiden royal family and Lady Catherine, the lord of this territory, intending to hold a discussion. But no words are coming out.
It is only natural, really. The current situation is beyond bizarre.
I don’t even know where to begin or what to say.
"...Um, first of all, I would like to confirm something. Princess, may I speak?"
In the midst of this incomprehensible situation, it was Lady Catherine who spoke up timidly.
"...Ah, yes. Please, go ahead."
"...What is it?"
Judging by her reaction, even our "flower-garden" Princess hasn't quite caught up to the reality of the situation.
Well, that’s expected. After all...
"For now, should we consider the Imperial Army’s offensive to be over?"
"..." "..."
That question is only natural for the lord responsible for Baide, but we have no answer for it.
Because the entire Imperial Army, the moment the ground suddenly collapsed and swallowed them up, was covered over by the earth moving in an unnatural way, leaving their fate—dead or alive—completely unknown.
...Even I think to myself, *what kind of nonsensical thing am I thinking?*
But it happened right before our eyes! That absurd event!
However, it is a good starting point to organize the situation.
"...Lady Catherine. As for the current state of affairs, since the Imperial Army has vanished into the earth and there have been no further attacks, we can safely assume the Imperial Army’s offensive has ceased."
"...The Imperial Army, you say?"
"Yes, the Imperial Army. For us, the current threat is not limited to just the Empire."
"...You mean them, don't you?"
"...Yes."
That’s right. The threat of the Empire has passed, but a threat far exceeding it exists right now.
It exists because the people who caused that inexplicable situation are still here.
The three of us know that the bizarre event from earlier wasn't some stroke of luck or a natural disaster; it was caused by those specific individuals.
The people of Baide believe it was a miracle from the gods, thanks to us who carry the blood of ancient heroes, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
That event was performed by those we summoned.
They were supposed to be the reproduction of fairy tales, the beginning of a new legend, possessing the power of ancient heroes brought from another world... or so it was meant to be.
In reality, we were literally suppressed by them in the blink of an eye. The Baide soldiers were no match for them; they were all bundled up like sushi, and this territory of Baide is now under the occupation of what they call the nation of "Weed."
...What am I even saying? I...
I organized the sequence of events in my head, but it’s still insane.
Even fairy tales aren't this outlandish.
"...I have heard the story. That this is what happened after summoning them."
"...Yes. I never imagined that the heroes and the priestess of the spirits would take such actions."
The Princess still seems unable to accept or understand their behavior, tilting her head in confusion.
However, Lady Catherine and I have a firm grasp on the reality of the situation.
Or rather, if I don't correct the Princess's perception here, it could put us at a disadvantage in future negotiations with them.
"...Princess. If I may be so bold. To say that summoning them was a reproduction of the First Heroes sounds nice, but from another perspective... it is, well... kidnapping."
"...Kidnapping?"
"Yes, Princess. We forcibly took them from their homeland and tried to involve them in our conflicts... no, we *did* involve them. This can be interpreted as bringing their citizens here without the consent of their nation. It is a crime of sorts."
That’s right.
I was so panicked at the time of the summoning that I didn't think that far ahead, but it is completely a crime.
It’s only natural that they don't trust us.
Perhaps realizing why they aren't very favorable toward us, the Princess began to look dejected.
"How could this be... That was never my intention..."
"Yes. I understand your feelings, Princess. You only wanted to summon heroes who would help us for the sake of the Haiden Kingdom and its people."
"...Yes."
"In that sense, your actions were not wrong. It is common to overcome a national crisis with the help of another country. You could say hero summoning is a part of that. However, they were... how should I put it... beyond common sense..."
"That is true. Indeed, if they were brought from another world, they have no family here and know nothing of this world, so joining hands with you, Princess, would be the most logical path for survival. But unexpectedly, they possessed the power to suppress us with that small number..."
As Lady Catherine said, they were far beyond our expectations.
Who would have thought that a group of fewer than twenty—or rather, with only about ten active combatants—could take on the entire Baide military and the Imperial Army?
"However, they are isolated and without support. If they behave like this..."
"Yes, as you say, Princess, a subjugation force will eventually be sent. And they, having no supply lines or support, will be defeated."
"That is exactly it!! Why won't the heroes understand this?! If they would only cooperate with us, we would guarantee their standing in the Haiden Kingdom!!"
"...I understand your feelings, Princess, but do you remember the meeting with Shera-sama the other day?"
"Yes. She was a lovely rabbit spirit priestess. I believe she said she was a queen of a country called 'Weed'? She certainly possessed the dignity and grace of royalty."
"That is the problem. They are not mere commoners. Even if they are from another world, they are important figures of a nation. It is only natural that they cannot simply obey our orders. I don't know if they can return home, but it is only natural for them to ensure their own safety. If they are treated as the military force of another country, they are far from safe. And there is also the matter of national pride."
"That is... certainly true."
...In truth, we were the ones who asked them to join the war, after all.
"The problem is not just that. No, the biggest problem is the unknown power they possess. If they have the power to manipulate the earth like that, it’s clear that no matter how many tens, hundreds, or tens of thousands of enemies we prepare, they are nothing more than a chaotic mob."
"Yes. That was truly terrifying."
"At this point, it means there is no one who can defeat them—the nation they call Weed. Their infantry wasn't just defeated by children; they were being tossed aside like trash."
"Catherine. That way of putting it makes it sound like the Haiden Kingdom is inferior to that 'Weed'."
"It is a fact, Princess. We couldn't handle the situation with our own power, so we summoned them as heroes. And instead of helping us, they turned us into enemies and achieved victory. With fewer than twenty people, against over a hundred thousand."