第８６６堀：海の技術者の行く先 (Part1)
"I see. Taiki-kun, is that right? You've had quite a bit of trouble too, haven't you?"
"Ahaha. Well, I suppose so. Ah, please call me whatever you like."
I replied to Menou-san's words.
Honestly, I couldn't say I hadn't struggled.
In fact, I had an incredibly, unbelievably difficult time. Until I reunited with Yuki-san, I had struggled just as much as Menou-san.
"Then, Taiki-kun it is. Or rather, about the summoning. I've thought about how it would be better if my body was the same as it was, but that's no good. No matter how you look at it, it's no different from an abduction by a certain country. And to summon them as soldiers, I really question your sanity."
As Menou-san said that, Yuki-san's wives nodded in agreement, while Kagura alone averted her gaze awkwardly. Well, Kagura had done the same thing.
"I was lucky enough to have family here who could be considered my kin, and I was able to live through time properly, so it was fine. But for Taiki-kun and Yuki-kun, it was sudden, wasn't it? Didn't you feel homesick, or want to return to your hometown? Though I suppose I don't need to ask."
"Of course, I did."
"I did."
Naturally, how many times had I thought that since coming to this world? After being forcibly summoned to an unfamiliar place, I was faced with the corrupt regime of Rankes, led by Bicks. Why, for the life of me, did I have to cooperate in rebuilding another country just because I was summoned to another world? Well, the real reason I helped was because they were trying to kill me.
"Wait, hold on. Yuki-san also felt homesick?"
"Hey, hey. Don't talk as if I wanted to come to another world."
"Ah, no. Yuki-san is surprisingly tough, so..."
He's always composed and unfazed. Ah, of course, he panics during ghost incidents or other truly dire situations.
"If I go back, there won't be any troublesome paperwork or negotiations. Besides, I have parents too. I've been thinking it's about time I introduced them to my wives. I have children too."
"Ahhh..."
Come to think of it, I haven't been able to tell my parents that I married Airi and Soel. Well, since Taizo-san is here, I've at least received blessings from my relatives, so I suppose I'm better off than Yuki-san.
"You're surprisingly relaxed. Are you thinking of being able to travel between Earth and here?"
"Of course. I have no intention of returning to Earth and leaving my wives and children behind."
"That's right. I intend to bring my marriage partners with me."
"...Should I call you foolish? Or perhaps incredibly optimistic?"
"It's better than dismissing it as foolish and giving up."
"Isn't it? Besides, if you say that, Menou-san, you've done a lot for your family here, haven't you? Haven't you been called foolish many times?"
"Ah, so it's the same thing. I see, it's about challenging the impossible, isn't it?"
Menou-san seemed to accept that, and after staring at the ceiling for a moment, she turned back to us and continued.
"Anyway, you were summoned, Taiki-kun as the Hero, and Yuki-kun as the Dungeon Master, right?"
"Yes. Although it's different from Taiki-kun's situation. Well, it's tough in its own way."
"I know. The goal isn't as simple as defeating enemies and being done with it. Above all, solving environmental problems is something I would absolutely consider impossible in this world."
Indeed, when I first learned of Yuki-san's objective, I thought he was being burdened with something impossible. However, seeing him steadily taking action and making progress makes me think it's not impossible. It's like the saying, "If you try, you can do it; if you don't try, you can't."
"And you were summoned here by that Kamishiro young lady?"
"Ah, um, well..."
Kagura, whose gaze had gathered due to the flow of conversation, looked like she was about to cry, but she seemed to be trying to say something...
"Ah, I'm not blaming you. Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun aren't bothered by Miss Kagura anymore, are they?"
"We've already reconciled."
"That's right. Kagura is working hard, and it's all in the past now."
"Then I have no intention of saying anything more. Miss Kagura, you did what you had to do to survive, didn't you? I'm no different. To survive, you trample on something of another. It can't be helped. That's how we live. That's all there is to it. Ah, but it's not good to rely on that forgiveness forever. Make sure you remember that."
"Yes."
Menou-san gave her a final warning, and Kagura replied energetically and clearly. Well, I know Kagura is trying not to rely on it, as I saw in yesterday's fight with Shi-chan, so there's no need to worry. As for how to win over Yuki-san, I'll just watch with amusement. I've made bets with Zargis, Taizo-san, Eoid, and others. It's fun to watch people's love lives. Ah, if Airi or Soel found out, I'd get an earful.
As I was thinking about such things, the conversation continued.
"Well, I understand both of your situations well. However, unfortunately, it seems there's nothing I can do for you in terms of technology or anything else. My knowledge is only at the level of an ordinary person, and I have no combat power as a Hero, nor the ability to summon Earth's resources. The most I can do is act as an intermediary between this Sea Siphon and you. Rather, we're the ones who should be asking for Earth's resources."
"That's fine. We don't mind that. What we need is friendship and freedom of movement. However, I'm glad Menou-san is understanding. If things had gone poorly, I was prepared to crush Sea Siphon."
"Did you become wary because of the gun development?"
"Yes. We didn't know your objective. When I first saw Sea Siphon's forces, I thought they had come to conquer Haiden."
That's right, they came with guns, saying they were here to support Haiden's reconstruction. It was surprising.
"I see. Well, it's understandable that you would think that. In fact, it included military intimidation. In that sense, you weren't wrong at all. If this continues, we won't be able to use the sea, and we'll have to seek land inland. Ah, that reminds me. Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun are magic instructors from Haiden, right? How is that progressing? With the aircraft carrier there, it seems possible to eliminate monsters by force?"
It seems Menou-san doesn't know yet that the sea monster problem has been resolved. Come to think of it, she said she came straight here.
"Regarding that matter, I believe Queen Emerald, General Lake, and Prime Minister Aquamarine will officially inform you, but in short, it has already been resolved."
"Huh? Eh? You're joking?"
"It's not a joke. We investigated the area and found the monster's nest, and dealt with it. There have been no monster attacks in that sea area so far."