第６７４堀：ね？ 簡単でしょう？ (Part2)
"Ah, I see. If the Duke's faction accepts our proposal without setting any conditions of their own, Princess Inis's standing won't improve, will it?"
"Well, the most important thing is creating a pretext for us to crush the Duke's faction."
Exactly. To support and assist Princess Inis—or rather, the current Royalist faction—we need the hard fact that we attempted negotiations with the Duke's faction, only for them to be unreasonable, leading to a total breakdown.
To that end, we are recording the proceedings as evidence and securing the support of other nations here. Or rather, we’ve already laid the groundwork for that. The five great powers have stated that if the Duke of August's faction causes any harm to Yuki or us in Weed, they will not question us if we resolve the matter through force.
Truth be told, they just don't want their own interests dragged into the mud. Honestly, they’d love to ask Yuki to just wipe out the Duke's faction, but making such a request openly would constitute intervention in August's internal affairs. For nations that want to avoid chaos, that would be counterproductive.
That is why we need a pretext.
The Duke's faction will look down on us, insult us, and attempt to cause us harm. Once that happens, we will have no choice but to defend ourselves. We will call for help, rendezvous with Princess Inis, and the unruly Duke's faction will be dealt with—happily ever after.
That is the final goal of this operation.
"Popuri is right. Using this Wy-chan to travel is, in itself, meant to intimidate them. We already have a gate installed in August, and one in Popuri's Lancer Magic Academy, so travel between our nations is easy. But by going out of our way to use Wy-chan, we’re sending a clear message that we don't trust them. And how do you think the Duke's faction, who don't know Amanda the Dragon Knight, will react when they see her?"
"Eh? How will they react? Hey, Eoid, how do you think I'll be perceived?"
"Ah, I see. They'll likely underestimate you, thinking you don't look the part."
"Hah!? What about me doesn't look like a Dragon Knight!? I get along perfectly well with Wy-chan, don't I!"
"Isn't getting angry so easily exactly why you don't look the part!? H-hey, stop that!"
With the two of them bickering in the background, Yuki speaks to Kagura and the others.
"See? It’s irritating, isn't it?"
"...It is. In more ways than one."
"Ahaha, well, Amanda doesn't exactly look like a dignified Dragon Knight, does she?"
"But I think that's a good thing."
"True. That is Amanda's charm. But this time, we're going to use that to our advantage."
Kagura and the others agree, though they still offer a bit of support to Amanda.
"Exactly. And our guardian is Popuri, who looks like a little girl. Furthermore, as you can see, the group from the New Continent is entirely made up of students. And as for our visit from Weed, led by yours truly..."
As Yuki says this, he glances to the side, where...
"I'll do my best, Big Brother."
"Leave it to me, Brother."
"Even if you don't try, you'll just go on a rampage anyway, won't you?"
"That's true."
"Wait a second! Why am I lumped in with the little ones!?"
"Dressa. You are being counted on by Brother. Is there any reason to be angry?"
"...It's early in the morning and I'm sleepy. Zzz..."
Like this, the real trump cards for provoking the opposition are these children. By now, Kagura and the others surely understand. The strategy Yuki devised is...
If we show up to diplomatic talks with nothing but young students and children, they will absolutely, without a doubt, try to impose unreasonable conditions upon us!
It is a very straightforward strategy.
That is why, aside from the diplomatic team from the If Continent, including myself, no one else is accompanying us this time. Oh, of course, Ria is coming along as a guard, but the rest of the Rogari members are standing by. After all, the others—excluding Labyris and the little ones—exude the aura of battle-hardened veterans due to their past experiences. They may look young, but their intensity is so overwhelming that it would hinder the operation, so they are on standby. Or rather, they are simply working; they aren't free enough for everyone to come along.
"Well, if we go this far, since they've heard about our strength from Princess Inis but don't believe it and have mocked us by seizing the role of negotiator from the Royal family, they will never accept our terms for free. They'll pick a fight. And then..."
Before Yuki can finish, I continue.
"We'll blow the Duke's faction away in self-defense. Without killing them, just enough, for a long time. We'll make them regret wasting our time and bothering us, and then we'll hand them over to Princess Inis when she arrives. Everyone, let's do our best."
" " "Yeah!!" " "
What is about to unfold is a series of unfortunate accidents occurring in the wake of legitimate self-defense. Surely, no adult would ever raise a hand against a child, and if such a thing were to happen, the children would naturally act to protect themselves. That is only to be expected.
...Heh heh heh.
It’s nothing difficult. We just have to act like students and children.
See? It’s easy, isn't it?
Writing a novel is just writing a lot of words and building a story.
See? It’s easy, isn't it?