第９５４堀：只今相談中 (Part1)
### Chapter 954: Currently in Consultation
**Side: Taizo**
"Hoh. So, a person with such a grand title has appeared, have they?"
I had been listening to Yuki and Taiki talk about Shou, the "Great Imperial Hope"—a name not unlike the historical *Taikobo* (Grand Duke Jiang). My interest was piqued; both names carried nearly identical meanings, and both referred to wise sages.
"So, what kind of person is this Great Imperial Hope? I heard she was a woman?"
"That’s right. At first, as you’d expect, she was suspicious of us."
"Well, that’s only natural, isn't it? Right, Taizo-san?"
"True, it’s only natural to be suspicious. But I assume that wasn't the end of it, was it?"
If the story ended there, she wouldn't be worthy of the title "Great Imperial Hope."
"Indeed. She realized her own misunderstanding and misjudgment almost immediately and apologized. The discussion went smoothly after that."
Hoh, to be able to admit one's mistakes so quickly—as expected of her. How many times had I insisted that a design was perfect, only to find out later that I was wrong?
"She was considerate of our position, too. Though, she did ask an awful lot of questions."
"Well, having witnessed Yuki’s true strength firsthand, she must have wanted to gather as much information as possible."
She would naturally want to find any clues or means to counter Yuki and his group. That is only logical when it comes to protecting one's country. If she truly holds the name of the "Great Imperial Hope," she must be in a position close to that of a Commander-in-Chief. It would be impossible for such a person not to gather information vital to the nation's future.
As I pondered this, a thought suddenly struck me.
"Speaking of information, that reminds me—how is it? That land?"
"Ah, we haven't investigated it in detail yet, but according to the preliminary report from Zargis, the magic concentration around the Aurelia Port area seems to be the highest we’ve recorded so far. Though, it doesn't seem to have reached double the standard level."
"Hoh. It hasn't reached double... that is quite significant."
"Is it? Just double?"
Taiki tilted his head, struggling to grasp the weight of my words.
"Let’s see... based on our status, the magic concentration in the air is only about 0.01 percent, so it might seem negligible."
"Exactly. If it hasn't reached double, that means it’s at most 0.02 percent, right? Is that really such a big deal?"
"Even so, it is a very big deal. The standard for magic concentration in the air is based on measurements taken in Roschur, Gartz, and Litea on the Rogari Continent. Even in the If Continent, which is said to be magic-poor, the concentration was 0.008 percent."
"Poor... you mean it was only 0.002 percent lower?"
"As Taiki says, numerically it might seem like a trivial difference, but you know how massive the impact of that gap has been, don't you? On the If Continent, there are clearly fewer people capable of using magic, and the birth rate of demi-humans has also dropped. That is what a mere 0.002 percent difference has wrought."
It might be difficult to grasp, but such figures can have a profound impact on an ecosystem, even if the difference seems subtle. Perhaps Yuki and I explained it well enough, because Taiki’s face turned to one of astonishment.
"Wait a minute. If a change like that occurs with just 0.002, then in places where it’s nearly double, isn't something incredible happening?"
"Who knows. So far, we’ve only investigated Aurelia Port, the Zuraburu Imperial Capital, and the towns and villages along the way. Nothing strange has happened yet. Or rather, nothing has been observed."
"There are many things that are just 'normal' for the locals, even if they look abnormal to us. There are many things you can't understand unless you go there and see them for yourself."
In the first place, the relationship between the magic concentration in the air of the If Continent and the birth rates of mages and demi-humans hasn't even been scientifically proven yet. It wouldn't be strange if there were other factors at play.
Nevertheless, I didn't want Taiki to underestimate the numbers just because they seemed low, or to overlook them as mere "margin of error." Failures are born from such tiny cracks.
"For example, even with a screw, a difference of less than a millimeter can mean it won't fit. How would you feel if that happened on a spaceship or an airplane?"
"I'd be furious. Ah, I see—I need to be careful even about seemingly trivial differences."
Yuki’s analogy was spot on. A missing part in an airplane is a matter of life and death.
"Well, it’s not as extreme as an airplane, but it’s better to properly write down and consult on anything that concerns you."
"Understood."
"Good. I’m not saying you have to be on edge all the time, but never ignore a sense of unease. That will protect you, Taiki. Now, that’s enough of this old man’s preaching. So, regarding the state of that land—are there really no notable differences?"
"Yes. As of now, we haven't confirmed the existence of any exceptionally strong individuals or powerful monsters. I’ll have Zargis submit a report at a later date."
"Thank you."
In short, the high magic concentration in the air does not have an immediate, obvious impact on the environment. This raises the possibility that the low birth rates of mages and demi-humans on the If Continent might be unrelated to the magic concentration in the air. Well, it’s too early to draw a conclusion at this stage. Perhaps reading Zargis’s report will shed some light on the matter.
"Well, we’ll have to get along with the Zuraburu Great Empire to conduct the magic survey, anyway."
"That’s true. Well, since Emperor Eupia and the Great Imperial Hope have both acknowledged us, things should be a bit easier."
When he says "acknowledged," he likely means we threatened them with a demonstration of our modern weaponry. It might not be something to brag about back on Earth, but in this world, showing one's strength clearly is essential.
"Still, it’s a difficult problem. The Zuraburu Great Empire is in the middle of a war with the former Imperial faction. Even if we want to investigate, we might end up getting entangled in that."
The magic depletion phenomenon we are researching requires data from the entire world. To achieve that, we need a great deal of cooperation. If a war is ongoing, it’s obvious that it will hinder our research.
"Indeed. But, depending on how you look at it, I think it might actually save us time compared to getting involved through official channels."
"Well, that’s true. Usually, if someone from another country asks to survey your land, they’d be turned away at the gate."
"True. But Yuki—or rather, Weed—what are your thoughts on intervening in that war? I heard from Hifii-san that you’ve decided to export Magic Gears."
Yuki and his group had decided to provide Magic Gears as strategic supplies, partly to support the Zuraburu Great Empire, but also to ensure they wouldn't have to stand on the front lines themselves. I didn't have any particular opinion on that. It was merely a choice between fighting oneself or having strangers fight. Hifii-san, while understanding that, had just given a bitter smile. Well, she had been trying to start a war herself, after all.
"Basically, we’re hands-off. It could get troublesome if we join the fight. The Zuraburu Great Empire knows that, and I’m sure Emperor Eupia and the Great Imperial Hope understand it well enough, too."
"I suppose so. But there is an element of anxiety, isn't there? The ones behind that young Emperor."
"It’s those gods again, isn't it?"
Just as Taiki said, the shadow of the gods was once again looming over everything.