第７４７堀：新たな脅威と対策 (Part2)
"What do you mean? They have guns, yet their reaction was sluggish?"
"I know the power of those weapons because Princess Carly and Princess Stasia used them during training, but it seems they don't believe we have the capacity to mass-produce them."
"Ah..."
Indeed. It’s hard to imagine anyone having the industrial capability to manufacture weapons like those guns. If they did, the Seasypho Kingdom would have likely already conquered that new continent.
"Besides, since they have a fair number of mages, King Haiden and his ilk don't seem to grasp the true threat. Even if you tell them about 'trenches'—a concept they've never seen—they won't understand. Even on Earth, people didn't realize the true power of those weapons until the First World War broke out. It seems people don't change their ways until they experience it for themselves. Well, it’s a completely different style of warfare than what they’re used to. There’s no honor or dignity in it; it’s just charging through a storm of bullets and explosions to reach an objective. It’s going to be hard for them to accept that."
Certainly, for those who value the pride of fighting face-to-face with swords, such guns would be seen as an insult to the spirit of combat.
"Well, I was stunned at first, too. I had spent my life traversing battlefields with sword and magic, only to have everything replaced by guns. Though, I suppose it’s fine since my sword still has its uses in this world."
"Indeed. Even my fists cannot reach the speed of a gun."
Those two are Seraria and Deryu, the martial powerhouses among us. For the two of them, who have always led the charge, a weapon that ignores levels and years of training to kill indiscriminately is a genuine threat. It renders all their hard work meaningless.
"It’s especially nightmarish when you give firearms to Goblins."
"Mm. You truly never know where they are. That small stature and their skin color are perfect for guerrilla warfare."
When dealing with the likes of Steve and his kin, swords and guns are simply not on equal footing. You might be able to dodge a few shots, but that’s it. After that, you’re lured into a crossfire and turned into a beehive. Because of that, none of us are foolish enough to call Goblins weak.
We, too, have been taught the terror of firearms, even if not as viscerally as Seraria and Deryu. That style of combat is nothing like what we’ve known. No, it’s more akin to hunting. It’s about how to lure the prey into your field and slaughter them. In a war, you’d be entering the enemy's territory—their field—so the casualties would be…
"I have my concerns, but for now, I don't think we need to be overly vigilant."
"Why is that? The enemy might possess guns; I don't see how we can afford not to be on guard."
"Mm. Jessica is right. If a nation with guns has emerged, that’s a major problem."
"Yuki-sama, on what grounds are you saying that?"
As expected, Jessica, Cleena, and Samantha are wary of the guns and are questioning why Yuki-san isn't particularly panicked.
"Listen. Our goal is intercontinental exchange. You understand that, right?"
Everyone nods. That is what we have been working toward all this time.
"To achieve this, the first priority is to make the first intercontinental exchange a success. Once that happens, the nations will deepen their understanding of one another. But if we prioritize dealing with the Seasypho Kingdom before that, other nations will grow anxious, and some will become skeptical of our words."
That is true. No one is going to be convinced by talk of a threat they have never seen or heard of.
"Fortunately, the Seasypho Kingdom seems to view Weed as a negligible nation. We should use that to our advantage and push forward with the intercontinental exchange. If we act like we're on high alert, it might actually provoke them into moving sooner."
"Ah. So, in that sense, there's no need to be 'on guard' in an obvious way."
Ria claps her hands, and everyone else seems convinced.
"It would only stimulate them. If they are waiting for an opening, seeing us notice them might be the trigger they need to act."
"That's right. My senior and I are maids, so we understand that much. It's only natural to keep a close eye on what the other party is concerned about."
That comes from Kirue and Sasari. Being maids, they understand Yuki-san’s reasoning perfectly. However, one person is still wearing a troubled expression: Rurua.
"…I understand the logic. But is a passive approach really safe?"
"I understand your concern. You're worried about what happens if the Seasypho Kingdom moves before we can make our move, right?"
"Yes. If we are forced to react, I fear there will be significant casualties."
Indeed, being on the defensive against a nation with firearms is something I’d like to avoid.
"That said, we can't just invade them ourselves, so we have no choice but to strengthen our investigations and surveillance. And to ensure we can do that, the success of the intercontinental exchange is essential."
"…I see. There is no other way. Understood."
"I know you hate the idea of people getting hurt or dying, Rurua, but this is the only path we have."
"No, it is just my own selfishness. I understand. Let us make the intercontinental exchange a success as quickly as possible and prepare for the coming storm."
As Rurua says this, we all nod. It’s not just Rurua, who is involved in medicine; none of us want to be dragged into an unreasonable war. To prevent that, we must make this exchange a success.
That was the report regarding the wives and the Seasypho Kingdom. We are on high alert, but we have decided to prioritize the intercontinental exchange. Still, it’s hard not to be concerned. Our sense of crisis is higher than that of Haiden or Findall.
I suppose we’ll just have to borrow some wisdom from the experts of the gun-wielding nations.