第７５９堀：大会議を見守る者たち (Part2)
"Indeed. As you have likely already seen, the people of Ranks seem to be genuinely rejoicing in the castle town. Reports indicate that voices of joy are rising everywhere."
As I said this, I looked at Ruth and Terutora-san, both of whom nodded in agreement.
"As His Majesty says, this festival has brought a great deal of vitality to the people of Ranks."
"Indeed. Thanks to the logistics provided by the Gate, we’ve been able to procure goods from Weed, and the stalls selling them are quite popular. The grilled squid is delicious."
"You actually ate some?"
"Indeed. If suspicious food is circulating, it poses a danger, so I had to investigate it properly. Or rather, Bicks was the one who... wait, hold on! Terutora, don't go exposing people's secrets without permission!"
It seems Bicks had taken control of their shared body.
"So you were tired and sleeping?"
"...That is not the case. Terutora just wanted to talk to Taiki, so I swapped places with her. It’s not as if I was sleeping because I couldn't keep up with the complicated conversation, you know?"
...What a conversation, with all her true feelings spilling out. Taizo-san and Hifi-san were both offering wry smiles. Ruth, too, wore a complicated expression.
"Ah, well, let's put the difficult talk aside for a moment. Here, I bought grilled squid, yakisoba, and hashimaki for everyone, so please, eat up."
With that, Bicks began lining up the grilled squid, yakisoba, and hashimaki on the table.
"Wait, you... didn't you used to call these things 'low-class'?"
"Ugh, you're annoying. That’s the kind of nitpicking I can't stand. Queen Airi, you really must speak up when you don't like something. There, here you go. Grilled squid."
"Yes. Thank you, Princess Bicks."
For some reason, Airi gets along with Bicks quite well. Perhaps it’s because they haven't faced each other in a confrontational way, or maybe because she lacks any preconceived notions, she doesn't feel the need to be guarded or clash with her.
"Sigh, I have said this many times, but the only Queen of Ranks is Queen Airi. Please stop calling me 'Princess.' Soon enough, there will be foolish people trying to drag me out again, or those who claim Queen Airi is unworthy."
And this change in her recently... she has completely suppressed the personality of the stereotypical spoiled princess.
"I think Princess Bicks would be more than capable of serving as Queen now. Didn't you treat that child who fell and got hurt yesterday?"
"That was such a small thing... No, I suppose I wasn't even able to do that much before. I don't have the capacity to serve as a ruler now. And obviously, the 'old me' was out of the question. So, I have no need for the throne. Besides, Taiki belongs to you and Soel. Oh, that’s right, please share some with Soel as well."
It seems that Terutora’s policy of having her assist with festival preparations and even showing her face during tax collection—in addition to her role as my aide—has been quite effective.
Actually, there was a time she stormed in demanding that taxes be lowered. When I told her that taxes were more than double that during her own era, she looked quite dejected.
When I properly listened to the circumstances, it turned out to be a single mother who had fallen into the clutches of a loan shark—a "black-market lender," as we’d say on Earth—and couldn't make ends meet. She had heard that the husband, the breadwinner, had been conscripted into the war and died in action. The previous government had also significantly reduced the death benefits. It was truly a desperate situation, and she had no choice but to turn to them.
Well, since I’ve been working with Yuki-san to crush those kinds of unreasonable lenders, I hadn't expected any to still be lurking. It was a blessing in disguise; thanks to Bicks, we were able to wipe out the loan sharks, and by having that mother and child work in our public works projects, they secured a livelihood and their debt was wiped clean.
"She has truly changed. I suppose she had the aptitude for it all along. Those who won't reform won't do so no matter what, after all."
"That's true. But, we've strayed from the topic. Ranks is bustling just like this. They are genuinely happy for the peace. How about you, Taizo-san? Ah, excuse me, I should be asking Hifi-san."
My mistake, my mistake. Since this is a matter of state, it would be rude not to ask the ruler, Hifi-san, in the case of the Hifi Holy Kingdom.
"No, please don't worry about it. I understand that it is easier for King Taiki to speak with Taizo-san, as you are blood relatives. As for the Hifi Holy Kingdom, they are also rejoicing in the peace. With the supply of goods from Weed, they seem to truly feel that they are now connected to other continents. Like this grilled squid, for instance."
"Haha, well, grilled squid isn't exactly a specialty of the Rogari continent, though."
Still, there’s no food quite as iconic and easy to recognize as squid. And takoyaki, for that matter.
"Well, the grilled squid played a part in helping them realize there are other continents. It’s a relief that, for now, there are no problems on either side."
"Indeed. Now, the next matter is the movements of the other small nations."
"Right. Setting aside the Rogari continent, there are still places in the If continent where the talk of intercontinental exchange hasn't fully permeated yet."
Yes, the real discussion starts now. I could have predicted that Ranks and the Hifi Holy Kingdom would be celebrating in peace, but I wonder what kind of news will come next. I just hope it’s nothing that will give Yuki-san a headache.
"I love takoyaki."
"It's delicious, isn't it? Oh, this grated daikon on the side is quite good too."
...No, for me, the now-diligent Bicks is actually harder to handle than the one I was used to. And so, the nostalgic Bicks and Terutora-san have appeared. It seems she has truly reformed, or rather, learned common sense. It just goes to show that the potential to be a good person was there all along. Well, it seems Terutora-san educated her properly... That aside, there is no movement from the small nations for now.