第７６０堀：一応平和 (Part1)
**Chapter 760: A Sort of Peace**
**Side: Taizo**
"This is delicious. Oh, the grated daikon radish on this one is great, too."
A bright voice drifted over from the side.
It was a bit awkward, to be honest. Though, I suppose it was even more awkward for Taiki-kun, who had her as a subordinate.
Still...
"Bitz-dono. If you don't mind, could I have some of that takoyaki with the grated daikon?"
"Hm? You want some? That’s surprising. You don't look like the type to eat street food, Taizo-dono..."
Despite her words, Bitz-dono handed me a portion of takoyaki topped with grated daikon and ponzu sauce.
I knew of her past, but looking at her now, it was clear how warped her upbringing had been.
Thinking of that, I accepted the takoyaki.
"Well, I come from a poor family in the countryside. I used to eat things like this quite often. Or rather, these were a real treat back then."
It was always boiled potatoes, and if we were lucky, we’d get rice on rare occasions.
And every once in a while, when we went to a festival, my mother and brother would use the money they’d secretly saved up to buy us treats and toys.
Recalling those nostalgic memories, I popped a piece of takoyaki into my mouth.
The grated daikon and ponzu, different from the usual sauce, paired surprisingly well.
I wasn't sure at first, but it was actually quite delicious.
"Yes. This is good."
"May I have some as well?"
"Of course. Go ahead, Hifie-san."
"Thank you. *Nom.* ...Yes!! It’s delicious."
My wife, Hifie, seemed to like it too.
Sometimes she forces herself to eat things, but this time she genuinely seemed to enjoy it.
Well, I suppose I’ll leave the locust *tsukudani* for myself.
As I was thinking that, I noticed Bitz-dono was still staring at me.
"Is something the matter? Ah, was I a bit too noisy during the meeting?"
"Oh, no, that’s not it. I heard that this was a treat... and, well, Taizo-dono, you also..."
"Yes. As you’ve likely heard from Taiki-kun, I am from a generation that knew war. However, being poor and having little to eat wasn't necessarily the fault of the war itself, so please don't worry about it."
"Is... that so?"
Hmm, she seems concerned.
"Bitz-dono. It is true that the actions you took as a princess caused many people to suffer. Regardless of the reasons, you were the one who ultimately held the choice. You bear that responsibility."
"...Yes. That is true."
"But it is not entirely your fault. There was no one to admonish you. That is the problem. In the war I experienced, no one questioned the fighting—no, they crushed any dissenting opinions, and the result of that forced path was the collapse of the nation. It’s not that the citizens were entirely to blame, but the inability to stop the upper echelons of the country was certainly a factor."
Yes, while the lack of judgment by the leadership certainly dragged the country into war, it didn't have to reach that state.
With a total national mobilization system, supplies were depleted to the limit, and not just the rural villages, but even the cities were in a state of near-starvation.
At that point, the people should have stopped the "patriarch" that was Japan.
"...Is that really okay?"
"To be honest, there are probably people who hold a grudge against you, Bitz-dono. After all, there were those who acted recklessly under the name of the princess and the Ranks royal family. The past cannot be changed. If so, let’s make the future better."
"The future?"
"Yes. That is the nature of human history. We fail, learn from it, and try again. It’s the same as the research and experiments I often conduct."
As I said that, Hifie-san smiled.
"That’s right. Even as a goddess, I have done nothing but fail. I lost friends, used the people those friends cherished, and in the end, I even used my friends as tools."
"Hifie-sama, you did?"
Hifie-san had her own past, too.
Though, it was also true that she had no other means.
I had hoped that my technology would at least lighten that burden, so I cooperated with her.
But before we could put it into action, Yuki-kun and the others arrived and stopped us.
It’s a nostalgic memory now.
Hifie-san seemed to feel the same, smiling wistfully.
"Yes. Just like you, Bitz-dono, I was walking down a path I believed to be correct when Yuki-dono stopped me. Well, the current situation was only realized because Yuki-dono was there, so I still don't think that was wrong."
Indeed, it was only possible because of the technology Yuki-kun possessed; without it, there would have been no way forward.
"Still, I don't think the present is wrong, so why not try to make the present even better?"
"I see. That is certainly true. My regrets won't change the past, so it’s all about from here on out, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Did the words of Hifie-san, a goddess and a woman, reach her better than a man’s words could...?
Just as I was thinking that, Taiki-kun spoke up.
"Sorry to interrupt the conversation."
"No. It’s a good thing that she is growing. In that sense, can we consider the countries around Ranks to be safe?"
Yes, what we needed to discuss now were the movements of the small nations on the Rogali and If continents.
"On the surface, they are quiet."
"On the surface, you say?"
"Yes. Even though the Continental Alliance was formed earliest on the Rogali continent, there are still small nations that are dissatisfied. Well, it’s mostly jealousy toward Weed. They think, 'Why are they favored just because they have that technology, even though they’re a small nation too?'"
"Hmm. A common story. And their movements?"
"Nothing for now. They don't seem to want to make an enemy of the 14 Great Powers. However, they are sharing their dissatisfaction within the small nations. Word has reached me as well."
"What is the talk, specifically?"
"That when the small nations are invited next, they will pressure Weed to share its profits."
"Pressure them. Should I take that to mean threats?"
"Likely. They seem to think Weed is just a country that got lucky."
"Seraria-dono, the Queen of Weed, was the second princess of the Roschur Kingdom, was she not? Are they ignoring that?"
What are they thinking?
They may be a new nation, but their backing is solid.
It’s not just Roschur; they have Gartz, Litea, and are now recognized by the 14 Great Powers...
"Seraria-san was famous as a general, but they seem to think she lacks negotiation skills. They want to say that they could do better, so they should be put in charge of managing the gates. They also seem to complain about the lack of manpower. You know, Eris-san and the others were former slaves. They’re trying to use that against them."
"That will have the exact opposite effect. Yuki-kun took that into account from the start when he welcomed Eris-kun and the others and provided them with education. That will only invite their wrath. Naturally, Yuki-kun won't be pleased either."
He is a cold-hearted realist, but that only applies to politics and war; he is very kind to his wives, quite the devoted husband.
To think they would try to provoke that—how troublesome.
"Well, I intend to consult with Yuki-san beforehand and deal with it. It wouldn't be fun to have our feet tripped up by the likes of these small nations now."