第５０４堀：世界は知らないことがいっぱいである (Part1)
### Chapter 504: The World is Full of Things We Don't Know
**Side: Georgin, Assistant General of the Haiden Invasion Force, Imperial Army, "The Imperial Eagle"**
"Wh-what is going on here!?"
"Ah, just stay quiet until we reach our destination. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it."
"Grrr..."
Watching Lady Kamishiro go through that exchange, I couldn't help but think that perhaps I should have acted the same way. It is unbecoming of an Imperial representative, but to find answers to the unknown spreading out before us, it seems behaving like Lady Kamishiro might be the most appropriate course of action.
"Lord Georgin. Am I just tired, or are there many Spirit Maidens appearing before us...?"
"...They are likely the real thing. I am seeing the same, Lady Catherine."
We must have entered the city while we were moving in this... "car," was it? It is overflowing with people, and among them, there are not only the usual Spirit Maidens but also many male Spirit Warriors.
...I have never heard of such a country.
No, wait—they did say they were summoned. Does that mean this is not the world I know?
...The words of Lord Yuki, who said there are things one cannot understand without seeing them for oneself—they are truly correct.
"Lord Georgin? Is something the matter? You are smiling."
It was only when Lady Catherine pointed it out that I realized it. My face, reflected in the transparent glass, was indeed wearing a smile.
"No, it is just that I thought my world was still expanding, that is all."
"That is the same for me."
"I suppose so, Lady Catherine. Well, I had thought that I would grow old and withered without ever seeing a new world, but one never knows what life will bring."
"Indeed."
Lady Catherine and I nodded to each other. Hearing this, Lord Yuki spoke up.
"Well, life is full of surprises. Better to enjoy it. Let's finish these stuffy explanations quickly and go sightseeing."
"Don't say it so easily!?"
"Kagura. You should have more composure, like these two. Honestly, you're being far too noisy."
"Ugh. B-but I can't help it!"
"Yuki-san, you should be a bit more lenient. This is normal, after all."
"Yes. I will say it again: the problem is that the specifications of Yuki’s homeland are simply off the charts. It has skipped not just one or two, but three or four levels of civilization."
"...Let's see. From the medieval era, pre-exploration, to the Age of Discovery, the Industrial Revolution, the First and Second World Wars, the period of high economic growth, and modernization... that’s about six, right?"
"Wasn't there a national movement advocating for freedom before the Industrial Revolution?"
"No, weren't the civic revolutions during the same period? Besides, while I acknowledge them as a foothold, is it really appropriate to include the First and Second World Wars in the framework of civilization?"
"Then, four?"
"...Hey. Can you talk in words I can actually understand?"
Indeed. I am completely lost as well. Lady Catherine is merely shaking her head.
"However, Lady Jessica mentioned the civilization of Lord Yuki’s homeland. Does that mean Lord Yuki was not born here in Weed?"
"Yes. Yuki was not born in Weed. In fact, this place, Weed, hasn't even been around for five years since it was built. It’s been about three years, give or take."
" " "Hah?" " "
The three of us let out a foolish sound in unison.
"L-lies! Don't lie to me! There is no way such an incredible city could be built in just three years! It would take ten years just to build that tall, slender building in front of us!"
As Lady Kamishiro said, it is impossible for a city like this to be built in a mere three years.
"...Ahaha. I understand what Kagura is saying, but that is thanks to Yuki-san, in a way."
"Well, it is thanks to Yuki’s abilities. However, if it were Yuki’s homeland, this much would be effortless in three years. That is the level of technical prowess they possess. But I digress; Yuki’s homeland is a separate world entirely."
And then, another fact was revealed. Lord Yuki’s homeland is another world? An "otherworld"?
" " "Hah?" " "
Honestly, my understanding cannot keep up.
"Hey, Jessica."
"There is no need to keep it hidden. If anything, it is a matter they must know. We were entrusted with deciding when to tell them, were we not?"
"I know, but in the car?"
"This is better. There are still people at the government building who don't know our true circumstances."
"...Well, I suppose that’s true."
"Then, now that we have your attention, let us resume the explanation. This Yuki is a person who was summoned to our continent from another world. He built this city, but recently, a situation occurred where he was summoned again and abducted."
" " "..." " "
I see. So that was what happened with Baide.
"Well, the fact remains that we also kidnapped him, but we have reconciled, and we are living happily as husband and wife. There are several countries on this continent called 'Great Powers,' and even those Great Powers..."
Listening to the brief explanation in the car, I learned that they use those "Gates" to facilitate active, stable, and safe logistics. By also using them to monitor each other, they have constructed a state where war is physically difficult to initiate. The situation is likely no different from the continent we came from, but here, the conditions for cooperation between nations are already in place, and it is easy to imagine a containment net being laid out in the blink of an eye.
"...In other words, Lord Yuki is a great man who built Weed, which should be called the most important hub on this continent?"
"That is correct. Well, Yuki has other goals, so he has left Weed in the care of Queen Seraria, his primary wife and the former Second Princess of the Great Power, Roschur. Well, his concubines also include princesses and archbishops from other Great Powers, and they handle the diplomacy for Weed."
" " "..." " "
The three of us fell silent, overwhelmed by the scale of the story. I do not know the extent of the "Great Powers" Lady Jessica speaks of, but since they do not call their own home of Weed a Great Power, it must be even greater than that. To have connections with multiple such powers, and countless smaller nations...
...Has Lady Kamishiro gotten herself into something far more dangerous than we imagined? She has abducted the very person who serves as the core of this continent.
"As you can likely understand, if this fact were known to other nations, the Great Powers that value Yuki would undoubtedly invade your continent to retrieve him. Fortunately, Yuki returned quickly, so it is not known that he was kidnapped, and thus that will not happen."
That, I would call fortunate indeed. I thought it was just Weed, but there are multiple Great Powers behind it. This is not a force that a single nation could fight head-on. Having already judged that we could not even defeat Weed alone, the prospect of adding such powers to the mix is nothing short of despairing.
"This light explanation has turned into a long talk. Let's head into the government building. We've already arrived."
Before I knew it, the car had stopped, and we had arrived in front of that tall, slender building.
"Oh? Lord Yuki. It’s rare to see you coming by car."
A person who appeared to be a guard approached from outside, peered into the car, and said that.
"I’ve brought guests today. It’s their first time in Weed."
"I see. The people in the back, then. I’ll need to perform an inspection, if that’s alright?"