第８０１堀：おさかなさん (Part2)
"Ah, I see. So that means my conversational partners will increase."
"That is the idea. General Lake, what do you think?"
"Hmm? Is that... ahem. Are you suggesting we take *him* with us?"
"Indeed. When it comes to dealing with sea monsters, there is no better partner."
Ah, certainly. I suppose that would be more reliable than us trying to fight underwater. In fact, if Shera-chan is there, she might even be able to negotiate with them.
"Wait, am I being treated like a shield?"
"Don't worry about it. It’s about being useful to Aslin and the others. Or would you rather have Aslin and her team swim in the ocean and become fish bait?"
"That would be out of the question."
"Exactly. Besides, we need to investigate where these sea monsters are coming from and why they’ve appeared in the waters near Seasifo. In that sense, you all are the perfect fit. So, what do you say?"
Yuki-sensei proposed this to General Lake.
"Hmm... I cannot answer for the kingdom on my own authority, but personally, I believe it is an excellent proposal."
"I see. Then, if you don't mind, please return to your country and secure official permission."
"Agreed. It is a blessing to be able to establish a cooperative relationship with those who are friendly to us and can move freely through the sea. When the time comes, Shera-dono, I look forward to working with you."
With that, General Lake greeted Shera-chan with a dignified air. And Shera-chan, receiving the greeting, responded...
"Yes. I look forward to working with you as well."
She gave a polite, little bow. ...Wait? It feels strange for a fish to offer a greeting, yet it somehow looked perfectly natural.
"Now, we must iron out the finer details, so let us move to the conference room."
With the confirmation from Shera-chan settled, we began moving to the conference room to hammer out the specifics of the aid for the Kingdom of Seasifo. I understood that they wanted help, but without asking what exactly they needed and how they wanted it done, we wouldn't get anywhere.
"Well, I would like to suggest a break, but we are short on time, so we shall proceed while we have some tea."
Yuki-sensei said this and continued the discussion without a moment’s rest upon reaching the conference room. Well, it couldn't be helped. Today was the final day of General Lake’s visit to Weed. While the distance was negligible thanks to the Gate, he was leading an army; if he didn't return on schedule, the Seasifo military would grow anxious, and it would damage not only Weed’s reputation but also the standing of Haiden, who had introduced them to us.
"We understand that the Kingdom of Seasifo is seeking countermeasures against the monsters and general aid, but what exactly do you hope to achieve, or what is the extent of the support you are looking for?"
"Indeed. Regarding this point, the situation has exceeded our initial predictions, so I will have to consult with His Majesty for the details. However, our original objective was simply to borrow your strength and knowledge to mitigate the damage caused by the monsters as much as possible."
"Initially, it was only meant for Haiden, wasn't it? And by knowledge, you mean..."
"Yes. To be specific, we are seeking the transfer of your magical technology."
General Lake stated this without reservation, and the room fell silent. To ask for the magical knowledge that Haiden prides itself on is, under normal circumstances, akin to picking a fight with them. No, perhaps that was exactly why they thought they could take advantage of Haiden while it was weakened by war. Because of this, Kagura’s expression hardened. It was a good thing the princess had remained in Haiden. If she had heard this, she might have flown into a rage on the spot.
"However, after meeting with everyone here in Weed, I have caught a glimpse of a path toward solving the monster problem. Based on that, I believe we will be asking for your assistance until the situation is fully resolved."
*Hah?* They want to borrow Weed’s power until the monsters are purged and the cause is identified? Are they insane? Even Micos-chan would know that such an unreasonable request is impossible. They clearly don't understand the gravity of what it means to ask for Weed’s help. But General Lake continued...
"However, as we anticipate this will be a long-term endeavor, I realize it would be impossible for Yuki-sama to handle it personally the entire time. Therefore, we would like to accept Dressa-dono as the person in charge."
*Excuse me?* Dressa as the person in charge? Why on earth would they want that?
"I see. Dressa, is it? Will that be properly honored?"
"Well, that is a matter for negotiation. And yes, we will pay a price for the dispatch of Dressa-dono."
"A price, huh? Well, if you are willing to accept the handover, it certainly makes things easier to manage. The finer details will have to be settled directly with the Kingdom of Seasifo."
"Yes, that goes without saying. A mere general like myself does not have the authority to dictate the national treasury. However, I am just as eager as you are to see a place where our youth can grow."
"We both struggle with such things, don't we?"
Yuki-sensei and General Lake nodded to each other. Ah, even in times like these, they are thinking about the future. I felt a slight pang of worry—would we be able to live up to those expectations?
" "Now, we can train to our heart's content." "
Seeing Yuki-sensei and the General smile at us as they said that, I felt something truly terrifying. ...Train to our heart's content? Surely not.
And so, Shera-chan makes her debut. Aslin is basically a certain "Triton" now!! Those who get this reference are true anime fans. With that, it’s time for naval combat training. What will be the fate of Kagura and the others!?