第５７６堀：こっちも大変 (Part1)
### Chapter 576: It’s Tough Over Here, Too
**Side: Kagura Kamishiro, Haiden Affiliate, Weed Diplomat**
"…This covers the reports from Weed for the past month. The documents are here."
As I handed the reports to the Princess, she immediately began to review them. Unlike the days when we were defending Baide, she now flipped through the paperwork with the swift, practiced efficiency of a capable ruler.
Back then, I found her troublesome, but I’m not fond of a Princess who works this hard, either. If there’s even a slight oversight, she’ll pounce on it immediately. Her overwhelming aura of dignity makes me so nervous that my stomach aches. I’ll have to ask Rurua for more stomach medicine.
While I was lost in such thoughts, the Princess finished checking the thick stack of reports. She lifted her head, rubbed her eyes, and then began reading through them from the very beginning.
I suppose that’s to be expected. It’s the kind of content that makes you want to do a double-take. Even though I had written that everything I said was true, I understood her desire not to believe it. I had nearly fainted when I first heard those things myself.
Actually, thinking about it, the Princess is truly incredible for not having fainted. Unlike me, she listened to my report without passing out or telling me to hold on. Hearing about Yuki’s marital relations, the true standing of Weed, and the existence of the If Continent—a second continent beyond our own Rogari Continent—it would be strange for anyone *not* to doubt it. If it were me, I would have judged the person bringing this report to be mentally unstable and sent them off to a hospital. Ah, we don’t have hospitals here, so I guess it would be "home confinement."
Thanks to all this, my stomach is in knots every single day. Rurua has told me that relying too much on medicine isn't good, but I really think I have no choice but to ask for more. My nerves aren't exactly made of steel.
*Ah, once this report is finished, I’ll take Amanda and Eoid to the Weed cake buffet.*
*Thud!!*
I was pulled back to reality by that sound, my dreams of the cake buffet shattered. I flinched, fearing I had made some mistake, but the Princess was simply squaring the stack of A4 papers I had handed her.
Once she finished, she placed the reports on the desk and looked at me with a suspicious gaze.
"…I will confirm this just in case. Regarding the report you just gave me—there is no falsehood or deception in it, is there?"
"Yes. There is no deception. It is all the truth."
I understand why she’d want to confirm it. But, Princess, unfortunately, it is the truth. I wish it were a lie, but it is the truth.
Silence reigned between us for a while until the Princess held her head in both hands and let out a massive sigh.
"…Haaah. Goodness. It’s a wonder you didn’t faint, Kagura."
"Actually, I did faint."
"…I see that was written in the report as well. Let me correct myself: it’s a wonder you were willing to speak so honestly. If you had handled this poorly, you could have been forced into home confinement for being deranged."
"I believed you would understand, Princess. Or rather, if you didn't, our country would be finished."
"…That’s true. It is. If we were to slight Weed, which possesses overwhelming national power, our destruction would be inevitable. However… I never imagined there was more to it than that. A third continent called the If Continent. If the Rogari Continent exists, it’s not strange at all for others to exist. It’s not strange, but…"
The Princess wore an expression of deep uncertainty. I don’t know what to do either. Well, perhaps it’s easier for me, since I can just dump the problem on the Princess.
"…Why would Yuki pass such top-secret information to you, Kagura, when Haiden is already in such a chaotic state?"
"Well, I can’t quite read Yuki’s thoughts…"
If I could read Yuki’s thoughts, I certainly wouldn’t be in this position. I’d surely be out living my life in total freedom.
"Indeed. If you had the strategic intellect to read Yuki-sama’s thoughts, Haiden wouldn't have tilted toward ruin. However, to understand that receiving this information would only cause us confusion… I see. Is that what this is?"
The Princess, who had just agreed with me, began to nod as if she had reached a realization.
"Um, Princess? What do you mean by 'that'?"
"It means we are to use this information to sow confusion within Haiden."
"Yes? I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand…"
"Ah, my apologies. You are still learning this method, aren't you? It’s about applying pressure."
"Applying pressure?"
"Yes. You understand that Yuki-sama threatened the people of the If Continent by explaining the existence of our continent, correct?"
"Yes. He threatened them by saying there was no need to force an exchange with the If Continent, forcing them to make an immediate decision."
"Exactly. He told them that if they tried to drag out negotiations to gain an advantage, he would focus his efforts on our continent instead. But this applies to us as well."
"To us?"
"Think carefully. You know that Yuki-sama and Weed have said they will begin intercontinental exchange with the places that cause them the least trouble first, right?"
"I understand that. Political dealings take time because national interests are involved. If those can be settled quickly, it is only natural to move to the next stage of intercontinental exchange… Ah! I see!"
I finally understood what the Princess meant. Yuki had shared this with me so that…
"Do you see now? Yuki-sama shared such top-secret information with you to imply that if our continent drags out negotiations, he will negotiate with the If Continent first."
"…He’s telling us to hurry up and settle things by letting us know there is a competitor?"
"Yes. But that is only one side of it."
"Meaning?"
"You wrote in your report that the people of the If Continent were arguing, but then united in order to negotiate with Weed, didn't you?"
"Ah!! So he wants us to use this information about the If Continent to suppress the opposition within Haiden!"
That’s it. There are still those who complain about the Princess and her faction holding the reins of power. And if the matter of Yuki and his people—which they intend to make public—were to be revealed, it would be the perfect target for the anti-Princess faction to attack. The fact that they summoned someone recklessly and invited foreign intervention, and that Baide was seized, were facts the Princess and her staff were agonizing over how to handle. They had been trying to frame it as "summoning a legendary hero," but they knew complaints would inevitably arise.
"You’re thinking too loudly."
"My apologies. But will they really believe the story about another continent?"
"Of course. I will lay the groundwork. We will purchase goods from the Rogari and If Continents through Weed to demonstrate that these connections are useful. After that, is there anyone who would dare to act in a way that harms the national interest?"
"That… I don’t think so."
"I agree. If there is any fool within our ranks who would criticize us for maintaining friendly relations with a nation that clearly possesses overwhelming technological superiority, we can use that as grounds to have their heads."
The Princess said this with a sweet smile. She definitely meant that literally, not figuratively…
"With that said, please convey to him that I will gratefully make use of this matter."
"Understood."
"Also, I will draft a formal letter regarding this. I leave the purchasing of goods from the Rogari and If Continents entirely to you, Kagura."
"Yes!? To me!?"
Why me!? Why entrust such important bargaining chips to a student and figurehead diplomat like me?
"Calm yourself. I will decide the general direction of the goods to be purchased; you only need to select items that aren't too excessive."
"What do you mean by 'too excessive'?"
"…Are you serious? No, I suppose that’s proof of how well you’ve adjusted to Weed. Well, let me remind you of Haiden’s common sense once more."
The Princess held out her right hand. She was wearing a simple ring. But it was a high-performance ring made by Weed that could deflect most attacks and even cure poisons. *Ah, I see.*
"Do you understand now? Even a single ring like this is a national treasure in this continent. It’s a precious item that countries would go to war over. I don’t think they would export such things casually, but if they were to be exported, this continent would fall into a vortex of chaos. Before that happens, there will be those who become overly wary of Weed for being able to create such items. That is why we must choose items that are appropriate."
"…Understood. I will select items that are suitable for Haiden."
Narjia-sama and the others do have a habit of handing out weapons with ridiculous performance just because they feel like it.