第９６７堀：気にしすぎか？ それとも？ (Part1)
Chapter 967: Overthinking? Or Something Else?
Side: Yuki
After the meeting regarding how to handle the Hein fleet concluded, I remained in the conference room. I was re-reading the materials collected by Shera and Steve, my head aching as I pondered the situation.
"Dear? Are you still working hard?"
Noticing my state, Seraria returned to the conference room with those words. Come to think of it, during the meeting, she hadn't voiced a single opinion, likely maintaining her stance as my bodyguard.
*Alright, let's hear her thoughts.* Deryu and Rurua were also still present as guards, so the timing was perfect.
"Yeah, there’s just something that’s been bothering me."
"Something bothering you?"
"It’s about this current situation."
"The current situation? You mean the possibility that Hein might be falling into Show’s trap?"
*Ah, so that’s how she interprets it.* No, that was my lack of explanation.
"No. I mean the fact that Weed has stuck its neck into the conflicts of this land."
"……I see."
Understanding my intent, Seraria’s gaze sharpened slightly.
"Are you questioning whether it was a problem that I intervened in the Gusdo Kingdom without sufficient investigation?"
"No, you don't regret it, do you?"
"Of course not. At the time, innocent people were undoubtedly about to be slaughtered by the Zuraburu Great Empire. I can still say today that I was not wrong."
Seraria stated this clearly, without a hint of hesitation. Hearing her words, both Deryu and Rurua nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. That is the Queen of Weed for you."
"Yes. I believe Seraria is right."
"Thank you, both of you. So, regarding the current situation—are you regretting that we joined the war in the first place?"
"Not regret, exactly. It’s just... the more I hear about the details, the more it feels like both sides have their own sense of justice... probably."
My thoughts weren't fully organized yet, so I just said that for now.
"……That’s a matter of course. War is, in the end, just a clash of conflicting claims. If you can't push yours through, your country ceases to exist. That’s all there is to it."
Even while sensing my vague unease, Seraria offered her perspective. Surprisingly, she was quite level-headed about it. Well, when I first met her, Roschur was already at odds with Gartz, so she likely understood the implications of war in this world far better than I did.
"My resolve hasn't changed since before I met you. I took up the sword to save those without power. The scope has simply expanded. Well, it was fortunate that we could settle things with the Zuraburu Great Empire through negotiation. Having learned so much from you, I’ve come to properly understand that our country doesn't have the power to infinitely suppress foreign nations. The old me would have likely thought about occupying them by force, no matter the cost."
The old Seraria probably would have thought that way. Though, the result would likely have been a rebellion—or rather, being unable to suppress them by force, having her supply lines cut, and facing total annihilation.
"So, what is it that you are worrying about regarding our intervention in this land? Surely you aren't agonizing over the fact that each country has its own justice, even if it’s just a facade?"
"……I just feel a sense of incongruity with the current state of affairs. They’ve been fighting for over a decade, and the Zuraburu Great Empire has already secured half of this land. Yet, for some reason, the movements of the Hein Empire are incredibly sluggish. Finally, thanks to Show’s strategy, they seem to realize that not much has been lost, but it’s undeniable that territory is being seized. Right?"
"You’re right. That is indeed strange."
"……Well, yeah. A similar historical example from Earth would be the Yellow Turban Rebellion of the Three Kingdoms period. They were officially recognized by the government in 184, and a suppression order was issued. The rebellion was largely quelled nine months later, in October of that same year, when the leader, Zhang Jiao, died. Though, skirmishes with remnants continued for a long time after..."
"Show said they’ve been fighting for over ten years, right? ……And it’s not like the Zuraburu were recognized as rebels just within the last few years."
"Indeed. Even at Aurelia Port, rumors of the Zuraburu Great Empire’s atrocities as enemies of the Emperor were already widespread."
"Although the Gusdo Kingdom has a port, it isn't a particularly large country in terms of landmass, and it seems there was no direct trade between them and the Hein Empire to begin with. If those rumors were well-established, it means they must have existed for a very long time."
……Just as the three of them said, this situation was strange. Realizing this, the three of them fell into a contemplative silence.
"Could it be that the war has simply dragged on for too long?"
"That’s one of the points of incongruity. Well, the movements of the old Imperial faction are strangely sluggish. Despite the fact that they haven't been able to suppress the enemy for over ten years, the Hein Empire—the leader itself—doesn't look like it’s been moving in earnest at all. Isn't that bizarre?"
"Now that you mention it, you're right. If they had been fighting head-on for over ten years, I could understand it, but it feels like the Hein Empire is moving for the first time now... If that’s the case, what was all that fighting until now for?"
"Well, looking at the behavior of the Hein Empire’s 'envoy' (provisional), one could say they didn't think it was a serious matter at all..."
"Isn't that a lack of crisis awareness?"
"Indeed. They were the ones governing this vast land, after all. If a sprout of chaos like the Zuraburu Great Empire or someone claiming to be Emperor appeared, they should have eliminated it early on, or it would cause problems for their future governance."
They were organizing the situation and voicing their thoughts, but it only seemed to lead to more questions. However, since this was the reality of the situation, there was little to be done. If I could just dismiss it as "it is what it is," that would be fine, but it seemed that for me and Seraria, this sense of unease couldn't be so easily discarded.
"Come to think of it, didn't Steve and the others investigate the merchant ships? Is there any information from that side?"
"Unfortunately, there were no such documents. Well, we did find an order addressed to that idiot."
"Oh? You found an order? So it’s confirmed that he is an envoy of the Hein Empire?"
"……Honestly, it’s hard to believe a man like that is an envoy... but what were the contents of the order?"
Thinking it would be better for them to see it than for me to explain it, I handed a copy of the order to Seraria and the others.
"What is this... 'To facilitate the smooth reception of the Hein fleet, accompany the merchant ships in advance, transfer supplies to the Gusdo Kingdom, and obtain permission to use Aurelia Port.' From the King of the Hein Empire?"
"What does this mean? Is the Emperor not the pinnacle of this land?"
"As you said before, Master, perhaps the Emperor is merely a symbolic existence, and the actual instructions are issued by the King who governs the Hein Empire?"
All three of them tilted their heads in confusion while looking at the order. Well, it is a strange situation: if the Emperor is the pinnacle, why is the King issuing the orders? And as for that question...