第５７１堀：イフ会談 混迷と説明と企み (Part2)
"Well, I do have that communication orb—a monitor-like device I received thanks to Yuki-dono's suggestion. He likely believes I created it myself, but I wonder what would happen if I told him later that it was actually his technology repurposed? Truly, the nations of the If Continent cannot hold their heads high before Yuki-dono alone."
As I mused on this, the explanation via the monitor began. From that point on, the various nations were subjected to a continuous barrage of surprises.
The diverse array of monsters inhabiting the Rogari Continent, the sheer power of the equipment suited to combat them, and the overwhelming number of individuals capable of using magic—the disparity between the Rogari and If Continents was laid bare. It was a demonstration of the sheer folly of attempting to engage in a fair fight. The delegation from August, who had been complaining earlier, shrank back under the sharp glares of the other nations.
Furthermore, by investigating these differences in magic and monster ecology, Yuki-dono suggested that each continent could compensate for the other's shortcomings, effectively explaining the utility of intercontinental exchange. For the Rogari Continent, it could lead to a reduction in dangerous monsters; for the If Continent, it could lead to an increase in their dwindling population of mages. Even regarding magical tools, significant improvements could be expected through technical exchanges from Rogari.
If any nation were to ignore this proposal after hearing it, they would likely cease to exist within a few years. They would be too incapable of reading the political climate, and their interference would be a guaranteed burden. Such a nation would be nothing more than a nuisance, and would surely be crushed in one fell swoop by the If Continent Alliance.
Cleverly, he even wove the matter of the New Continent into the explanation. Yuki-dono hinted that if the nations wasted time bickering over rights and delayed the intercontinental exchange, trade with the New Continent might begin first. In other words, he was threatening them: if you don't decide quickly, your share will be smaller. He was essentially telling them, "I know you've only just learned how busy I am, don't I?" There was no room for excuses. He had driven a stake into the ground, making it clear that he would not wait forever to accommodate their circumstances.
It was a move that killed two birds with one stone for Yuki-dono, as it also served as the catalyst for the nations to investigate their own magical depletion. King Noble and King White Forest nodded in admiration as they realized this. He truly has a silver tongue.
The first day was merely a rough overview, with the finer details left for the following days, but even just the first day's content was a series of shocks for the representatives of the If Continent. Perhaps Yuki-dono understood this, as he ended the first day's briefing early, leaving the remainder of the time until dinner for a top-level summit of the If Continent's leaders.
The discussion focused primarily on how to interact with Weed moving forward. Since they had been told that if they delayed the exchange due to infighting, the New Continent would take precedence, the nations reached an agreement with surprising ease to send delegations on equal terms. During this, it was announced that Samantha of Roday and Cleena of August would be adopted by their respective kings to become princesses. With this, Zilba, Enaria, Roday, and August were now on equal footing in the sense that they were all part of the royal families connected to Yuki-dono.
The issue remained with Ex and White Forest, who did not have such deep ties to Yuki-dono, but it was settled that they would not seek such arrangements, given their advantage in possessing gates and their superiority in magic-specialized races like the Elves. Though, to be fair, King Noble and King Refest already act like Yuki-dono's subordinates.
"…By the way, regarding magic, I intend to entrust that to Principal Popuri and the Lancer Magic Academy," said King Enaria.
The King of Zilba nodded in agreement and spoke up. "Indeed. And for the sake of recovery magic, it would be best to have the Hifie Holy Nation involved as well."
"Agreed. The Lancer Magic Academy and the Hifie Holy Nation are at the forefront of magic on this continent. It would be best to have them select representatives from each nation's mages before sending them to the Rogari Continent for technical training," the King of Roday added.
As planned, the magic-related affairs were being entrusted to us. This would provide a hint regarding magical depletion and allow us to root the study of magic within each nation. For the Hifie side, in addition to recovery magic, they would be able to acquire medical knowledge—such as surgery and internal medicine—through official channels, reducing the number of lives lost to ignorance. The establishment of treatment methods outside of recovery magic alone would likely elevate the environment of every nation on the If Continent.
After all, they would be able to master the effects of medicines—previously dismissed as suspicious—through rigorous study, regardless of one's innate talent for magic. If one nation were to advocate for the utility of surgery, it would likely be dismissed as madness, but if it were known that it was being practiced across the nations of the Rogari Continent, its utility would be impossible to deny.
Moreover, this is vital for the future survival of my own magic academy. It is a sad truth, but the level of magical skill on the If Continent—whether due to magical depletion or not—is lower than that of the Rogari Continent and the New Continent.
Ah, I see. It was only after thinking this far that I finally realized it. Yuki-dono had been thinking of our academy all along. While the flow of events seemed inevitable, it was Yuki-dono who had me participate in this summit. In other words, he had made sure the magic academy was kept in mind. I must thank him properly later.
Yuki's turn!!
"If you don't like it, you don't have to do it," he said, playing his strongest trump card!!
And so, it continues to be Yuki's turn.
Will the kings of the If Continent be able to extract favorable conditions from Yuki?!
Next time, "The If Continent's Defeat!!" Look forward to it.
No, I'm just kidding. I'll be bringing you the story of the shrewd If Continent conference after Yuki leaves. You realize the source material is Yu-Gi-Oh's "Joey Dies!!", right?