第８６９堀：会議と例の話 (Part1)
**Chapter 869: The Meeting and the Usual Talk**
**Side: Yuki**
Following yesterday’s BBQ party, I was currently in a meeting room in Heiden, as scheduled, explaining the conclusion of the events at Sea Sypho.
My audience consisted of...
“...And so, for the time being, the matter of the sea monsters and the pseudo-guns has been resolved.”
As I spoke, I watched the King of Heiden, the King of Findar, and Archbishop Enol as they looked over the reports distributed to them.
Indeed, these three were members of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance on the New Continent and the heads of the nations most closely involved in the Sea Sypho issue. This was why they were reading the documents with such intense gravity. If handled poorly, this could have easily sparked a war.
After a long silence spent absorbing the information, the King of Heiden looked up to confirm with me.
“...In short, we may consider that a friendship has been established with Sea Sypho?”
“Yeah, I think it’s safe to say that. They grasped the utility of the Gates immediately, and they’ve already sent a formal request to join the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. It’s hard to imagine them wanting to be anything but friendly at this point.”
Queen Emerald was no fool, and her subordinates—hailing from the largest maritime nation in the region—were all highly intelligent. Of course, I suspect showing them the aircraft carrier was what really sealed the deal.
“Even so, was this not merely a reaction to witnessing the might of Weed? It does not necessarily mean they desire to strengthen ties with *us*, does it?”
“Indeed, King Findar makes a valid point. What are your thoughts on that, Lord Yuki?”
“Well, while it’s true they were influenced by Weed’s power and technology, it’s also certain that Sea Sypho realized they need allies within this New Continent. The rest is up to you guys. That’s just how diplomacy works, isn't it?”
Ultimately, no matter how much an outsider like me uses force to tell people to get along, if the parties involved can’t find common ground, it’s over. Even if they play nice on the surface, it’ll eventually fall apart.
“When you put it that way, you’re right. We must establish a proper friendly relationship while Weed is acting as the mediator.”
“I’d appreciate that. I’m really tired of having to arbitrate wars between major powers. Besides, if you guys just keep dragging each other down like that, the continents of Rogali and If will eventually send their own expeditionary forces here.”
“I see. So in that sense as well, it is necessary for the New Continent to stand united.”
“...It is a somewhat unpleasant reason, but I see that is one facet of the situation. Come to think of it, you mentioned something similar before.”
I appreciated how quickly they understood my point. As expected of the rulers of great nations—this much was the same regardless of the continent.
While there was a small chance Sea Sypho might have refused to join the alliance, if they didn't, they risked being eventually crushed by the combined forces of Heiden, Findar, and Heire.
True, the other three nations specialized in land warfare, making Sea Sypho the strongest maritime power. If it came to a confrontation, Sea Sypho might hold a slight advantage at sea, but the total military strength of a three-nation alliance would be far higher. In a contest of pure attrition, Sea Sypho would likely lose.
And then there was the aforementioned threat of intervention from Rogali and If. There was simply no reason for the nations within the continent to be at each other's throats.
“Besides, Heiden has already sent Kagura and the others to teach them magic. I don't think their evaluation of you is that low, nor do I think they harbor much ill will.”
“Ah, that’s right. Weed, under Lord Yuki’s leadership, is so overwhelmingly powerful that I had forgotten.”
“Hey now. Is that really okay for the King of Heiden to say?”
“Heiden’s phrasing aside, it is a fact that Weed leaves a powerful impression. However, there is no doubt that Heiden’s magical instruction is a move that will lead to friendship.”
“Yes. Originally, they came to Heiden seeking aid. Considering that, an alliance is not a strange development at all. If only it weren't for the matter of the Magic Gear...”
“““...”””
The members fell silent at Archbishop Enol’s words. Well, that was the biggest sticking point.
We hadn't told Sea Sypho that the Magic Gear was the root cause of the whole mess. The leaders were likely worried about what would happen if that ever came to light.
“Personally, I don't think the Magic Gear issue is a problem. The only people who know the truth are the members in this room and the Sea Dragons who were living in that area. It’s not something that’ll just leak out. Honestly, I think it’s fine to just tell them. We already issued warnings to be careful with Magic Gear, and we helped clean up the mess. I don't think they’d have grounds to complain.”
“...I understand your point, Yuki, but if they were to demand reparations...”
“Indeed. As Heiden says, for Sea Sypho, this was an incident that nearly bankrupted their nation. If they discover the root cause originated from our countries...”
“They would be compelled to voice their grievances...”
I understood their concerns. I really did. But I felt that keeping it hidden and having it leak out later would be far more problematic.
Then again, while the kings said the cause lay with them, the cultists like Aquenoki were already treated as a separate faction. And as I said, the chances of it being discovered were extremely low. There wasn't much point in debating it forever.
“If the three of you want to keep it hidden, I’ll follow suit. But in that case, you’d better have a plan for if it ever comes out. Nothing in this world is absolute. Given the circumstances, it’s safe to assume Magic Gear has been brought into the Kingdom of Gusdo, so it might leak from that side.”
“Then we shall simply lay the responsibility on the Kingdom of Gusdo. The Magic Gear was undoubtedly being carried on a Gusdo transport ship, was it not?”
“I see. That works. If anything happens, we say Gusdo was transporting dangerous, problematic materials, which triggered the trouble... How about that?”
“I see. Since that is technically a fact, there is no issue. We knew nothing. Sea Sypho’s grievance should be directed at the Kingdom of Gusdo for transporting such hazards.”
Somehow, my advice had turned into a "blame Gusdo" initiative. Well, if that brought them together, fine. I wasn't going to interfere with the internal policies of the New Continent Alliance.
“Oh, and regarding the developer of the guns in Sea Sypho, as noted in the documents, I’ve judged them to be no threat. In fact, they could become a valuable collaborator in a way.”
“Hm? Ah, if I recall, they are a 'Reincarnator' from the same world as Lord Souta?”
“One who possesses memories of a previous life. I have heard such tall tales in street rumors, but to think such a person actually exists.”
“But it is a relief that they are friendly. We were concerned they might advance their gun development and attempt to invade the inland.”
As Archbishop Enol said, we had feared that Sea Sypho might independently develop modern weaponry and push into the interior.
However, the person's true identity was a reincarnated office worker from modern Japan. Furthermore, she was just an ordinary person—a consumer who only had a vague, half-remembered knowledge of technology. No matter how much she focused on technical development, creating modern weaponry was nothing more than a pipe dream.