第６５８堀：アラタナル タタカイ ハジマル (Part2)
She might not seem suited for the role of a diplomat at first glance, but I suppose she was chosen based on her past connections.
Moreover, she shares the same Japanese blood as Yuki.
Well, what do you know. She’s the natural choice for someone Yuki would pick.
Thinking that, my heart finally caught up with my head, and my anger dissipated into thin air.
"Would you like to come see the children sometime?"
"..."
It wasn't just Kagura and her companions who looked surprised by my words; Milly, Riel, and the others were stunned as well.
"I don't think Yuki would say no, would he? Milly, do you have a problem with that?"
"Ah, no. I think it’s fine, but..."
"You were radiating hostility just a moment ago. What happened?"
Tori pointed it out, making me realize how abruptly I had softened my stance.
"It’s nothing complicated. I heard them out directly, confirmed they aren't enemies, and felt relieved, that’s all."
"I see. I understand... Yes, as Riel and the others mentioned, she seems like the type to struggle."
Normally, one wouldn't push themselves until they collapsed.
She should know that doing so only ends up causing trouble for others.
Yet, Kagura pushed herself anyway.
She was trying to fulfill the responsibility of having been summoned and dragged into the wars and conflicts of nations.
She did the best she could within her status and position, working diligently by Yuki’s side.
This girl is just like we used to be.
Though our positions and circumstances differ, we have all worked desperately hard by Yuki’s side.
She must have felt fear at Yuki’s unconventional way of doing things.
I was the same way.
There’s no need for further interrogation.
"I look forward to working with you from now on. Kagura, Mikos, Solo. Let’s do our best for both of our nations."
"If you have any problems, feel free to consult with me."
"Thank you very much!"
With the reconciliation settled, it was time to get back to work.
We left the café and guided them to the Haiden Embassy, which we had prepared in advance.
"This is amazing."
"Is this the Haiden Embassy?"
"It’s magnificent."
Judging by their reactions, the architecture didn't pose any cultural issues. Thank goodness.
We hadn't been able to prepare it earlier due to various circumstances, but with the inter-nation conference and meetings at the Academy coming up, we rushed to finish it just the other day. Rebuilding it would have been another waste of DP, after all.
Incidentally, until now, Kagura and her group had just been treated like tourists visiting Weed, so no such embassy existed.
We had lent them meeting rooms for other countries, but since Haiden’s existence hadn't been officially recognized and various things had happened, we hadn't prepared anything until the last minute.
Well, that’s all in the past now.
"Now, we need to officially open diplomatic relations and sign a treaty, so there are various documents and such to handle. Good luck. I’ll have the paperwork sent over."
"..."
For some reason, Kagura and her companions just stared blankly at me.
Why are they so surprised?
"U-um, what exactly are we supposed to do...?"
"T-that, this is our first time working as diplomats..."
"Is our job not just to act as intermediaries for talks with the Princess?"
"..."
The word *students* floated into my mind.
Then again, only the major powers in this world likely conduct diplomacy with such rigor.
It’s pointless to compare this to the nations on Earth where Yuki and the others came from.
Haiden probably isn't completely ignorant of diplomacy, but compared to the standards of diplomacy here in Weed, what they’ve done so far is little more than exchanging pleasantries.
...I see. So that’s why Yuki was being so careful about everything.
The idea of students acting as diplomats is absurd.
Cleena and Samantha mostly leave their diplomatic work to their subordinates, focusing mainly on greetings and checking documents—mostly because diplomatic relations with the If Continent aren't functioning properly anyway.
Furthermore, Cleena and Samantha serve more as direct negotiators with Yuki.
But Kagura and her friends are different.
They’ve been told to be serious diplomats.
Well, that said, diplomatic work is multifaceted and cannot be handled by just three people.
They might have been thinking that all they needed to do was exchange greetings, keep in touch, and handle a bit of import and export.
If I don't confirm that difference in perspective, we’re going to have a problem. They might not even realize the hardships of cross-cultural exchange.
In other words, did I just volunteer to explain all of this to Kagura and her group?
Ugh. Is this Yuki’s plan?
I-it can't be helped.
I’ll just have to do it!
"Milly, Tori, Riel, Kaya, come with me."
"Ehh!?"
The traitors were trying to sneak away from me.
"Kagura-san, grab them and don't let them go!"
"H-huh?"
I dragged the traitors—who had failed to escape after being grabbed by Kagura and her friends—to the front of the Haiden Embassy, starting with the task of uncovering their actual understanding of diplomacy.
Fufufufu... My work really never ends.
Diplomacy: While the concept has existed since ancient times, the establishment of proper rules is actually quite recent.
Well, it will be explained in more detail in the later story, so until then, if you look up the history of diplomacy, diplomats, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you should be able to understand it easily.
In this way, Kagura and her friends took their first steps as diplomats.
And Eris and the others headed toward new problems regarding inter-continental exchange.
In short, they remain as busy as ever.