第５６９堀：両大陸の責任者によるトップ会談 (Part2)
"After all, Yuki-dono's position is quite formidable. I couldn't say that to your face. My head might go flying," Noble said, making a chopping motion at his neck with a grin.
"Besides, if you could be taken down by a mere surprise attack, this continent would have been unified long ago."
"Is that a jab at yourself?"
"Who knows? But I'm actually relieved there isn't a single unifier. Even if there were, I don't feel like I could win against the arsenal of Earth weapons you command."
"Before that, you had Taizo-san to deal with, didn't you?"
"That would have been a bloodbath. I'm truly glad you stepped in, Yuki-dono."
If I hadn't intervened in the If Continent, it would have turned into a grand showdown between the WWII-era weapons and Magic Sword corps created by Taizo-san and Comet, versus the makeshift magic sword army of the Ex Kingdom.
Honestly, it's hard to say who would have won that fight.
Personally, I'd like to bet on Taizo-san, but there's the issue of how many weapons he could develop and get onto a production line, not to mention the training required to use them.
In contrast, Noble's makeshift magic swords are like a hybrid of a staff and a sword. For the people of the If Continent, they are certainly easier to pick up than WWII weaponry, allowing them to assemble numbers quickly.
"But let's set aside 'what-ifs.' Let's focus on the present."
"Right. Though, there isn't much to say. Just that I'm safe, right?"
"Well, yes. I was chilled to the bone when I heard you'd been summoned and kidnapped. The kings of the four great powers don't know about that, of course. But you understand that their goal is to secure a preferential connection with you, don't you?"
"Naturally. Even a fool knows that getting special treatment leads to national prosperity. But I have no interest in making money."
Weed is the type of nation that generates profit by leasing out trade hubs, after all.
"I understand that, too. The real issue is how to push the matter of magic power depletion. We can't exactly tell them the truth about you, myself, or Hifii."
"Or rather, they wouldn't believe it. Why don't you grant them a divine protection like Lilishe does?"
"It would only lead to unnecessary chaos. Besides, the Holy Sword users are the ones being worshipped now; it would have no effect if some minor god appeared out of nowhere. I am a God of War, after all. A blessing for combat is truly useless at this point."
"Fair enough. I'll try to talk about the magic depletion issue. I'll be counting on your support when I do."
"Understood."
Exactly. This conference is intended not only to put the dignitaries of the If Continent at ease but also to lay the groundwork for addressing the primary issue: the magic power depletion.
It’s a troublesome place to show my face, but since every nation is acting for their own interests, they can't complain if I act for ours.
As I was thinking this, Noble brought up an unexpected point.
"However, Weed and Ex, who provide the gate technology, will have a hard time after this conference. Requests for gate installations will surely increase after intercontinental exchange begins, but how will you handle that? It will be a major problem if they think you can produce them infinitely."
Come to think of it, only two countries could provide gate technology.
Many countries will likely request gate installations to promote international exchange, but if they think we can make them without limit, other nations will grow wary.
To prevent that, we’ve established that Weed and Ex are the hubs, and travel is only possible through them.
"…The Ex side is easy. Once enough are installed, we can just say the ones excavated from the ruins have run out. The problem is here. Weed’s gates are supposedly usable because we’ve mastered the dungeon. It’s hard to say how long 'we can't make any more' will hold up."
"Hmm. You've explained it as using dungeon abilities, haven't you? Well, that could be settled by saying it just stopped working one day."
"That's one way, but if some countries can't get gates, there will be an uproar of criticism."
"That can't be helped. Gates are an exceptional commodity to begin with. Anyone who thinks they can just get as many as they want is a fool. It’s nothing more than a failure of diplomacy. You might want to state the inventory of gates clearly."
"That's bound to cause a backlash, though… Should I say we found another dungeon or ruins and the stock increased?"
"It would be impossible for us to keep doing that every time."
"No, we could conveniently use Hifii or Lancer. The Rogari Continent is full of dungeons; we could have them 'excavate' some, and then have them appraised. If it’s identified as a gate, we let that country use it. How about that?"
"…Hmm. Well, that might work. Since it was discovered that thieves were excavating and using gates on the If Continent, most countries have already sent out search parties."
"That’s only natural. And then…"
And so, before the If Conference, I spent time discussing various matters with Noble, who is in charge of managing the If Continent's magic power depletion.