第１０４３堀：協力要請 (Part2)
"True enough. My request is simply for you to go and observe the situation. That is all."
"That alone is not enough reason to cooperate with General Wave. I need to know what the next move will be... I cannot rule out the possibility that this is a trap to ensnare us."
"That is fair. It depends on the condition of His Majesty the Emperor, but... with the Zuraburu Empire closing in, we cannot afford to stand idly by while so many suffer. I intend to act to minimize that loss as much as possible."
"That is still quite vague. Are you saying you would not hesitate to go to war with Weed or the Zuraburu Empire if the situation demanded it?"
"Yes. There may be times when such a judgment is necessary. After all, I am a general who has sworn loyalty to this nation."
*Hmm.* I have to admit, I like his honesty. But if there’s a possibility he could become an enemy, the benefits of cooperating are... well.
"I understand your hesitation. That is precisely why I want to know the Emperor's condition first. Never before has His Majesty failed to show his face for this long. Something has definitely happened. I suspect the high-ranking officials are hiding something. If I can just confirm that..."
"You mean to say that a solution might emerge from there."
"Exactly. That is why I, a general of this country, am offering you a map to reach His Majesty. Does that not earn your trust?"
"...Very well. If this is a trap, I will take both your head and the Emperor's."
"Haha. Very well. I have no intention of giving up my head, nor His Majesty's, so easily—but I assure you, I have told no lies. Now, let us fulfill our promise."
General Wave said this, then took a pen and began drawing a map on the paper atop the table...
"The bedchamber where His Majesty resides is not at the top of this castle. That is merely for show. After all, climbing those stairs is quite a chore."
*Yeah, I know.* Those spires are more for imprisonment than anything else. Still, since this is a fantasy world of swords and magic, I had hoped there might be some magic-based elevator to zip us up there. Unfortunately, the Highn Empire isn't quite that advanced; it seems to stick to the traditional structure of a medieval European fortress. I suppose every world eventually arrives at similar architectural solutions.
Still, this is the royal castle of the prosperous Highn Empire. It isn't a fortress designed primarily for defense, but a luxurious structure for the nobility, and as he draws, large corridors and halls begin to take shape. By the way, since I am receiving the visual feed directly from Kirika’s perspective, I can see the map being drawn in real-time.
"The room I am currently in is here. This entire area is where generals like myself and guests are lodged. It is separated from the heart of the castle, so moving from here will surely draw attention."
It’s a standard security measure for VIPs. You can’t just house the head of state and foreign dignitaries in the same wing. If something happened, it would immediately become an international incident. It’s like a foreign dignitary staying at the Imperial Palace in Japan; usually, you’d just book them a hotel elsewhere.
"As I mentioned, to prove I am not involved in this matter, I will speak with the patrolling soldiers and the guards at the gates. Being suspected here would cause problems for our future actions."
"I see. So you do not trust me either."
"If you will pardon my bluntness, the possibility of failure is never zero. I am merely taking precautions. In the end, we just need everything to go well."
He’s got a silver tongue. He’s not wrong, though. It wouldn't be good for General Wave to be suspected, either. That’s the reason for his actions. As we talk, General Wave finishes the map.
"His Majesty is located here. In this room, standing independently in the center of the castle courtyard. The perimeter is constantly patrolled by multiple soldiers, and there are fixed guards at the windows and doors."
*Hoh.* They’re guarding him quite seriously. Yeah, I can see why sneaking in would be a challenge. Under normal circumstances, infiltrating this place without being detected would be nearly impossible.
"For now, just go and confirm the situation in the surrounding area. We will plan properly at a later date and create an opportunity for you to observe His Majesty's condition."
*Hmm.* General Wave seems to be taking this seriously. And as for Kirika...
"Understood. Then, for now, I will at least go and take a look."
With that, she agreed to the errand of checking on the condition of the Emperor of the Highn Empire.
What is the reason the Emperor cannot be met? To find out, Kirika sneaks deep into enemy territory.