第１０７０堀：問題は元から解決しないと意味がない (Part1)
Chapter 1070: If You Don't Solve the Root of the Problem, It’s Meaningless
Side: Tori
"Alright, we’re going to head into the reception room to hear them out. You guys wait in this room."
"Yes, understood."
"Mm, got it."
"Please, go ahead."
After confirming our replies, Yuki-san headed toward the adjacent reception room.
"Man, it’s still so strange no matter how many times I see it. A magic mirror, I mean."
Even though Riel should be used to seeing things like this, she said that while peering at the situation in the next room, just like her usual self.
That’s right—between us and the reception room, there’s a magic mirror installed. It’s not quite as intense as an interrogation room, but it’s set up so we can see what’s happening inside.
"It’s convenient for interrogations, especially when a victim needs to see the culprit's face."
"And since they can't see us from the other side, there's no worry about the victim being intimidated by the culprit. It’s great."
"Yeah, from the other side, it just looks like a mirror. So, is that the rumored princess, the one slumping on the sofa?"
"Yes. That is Princess Fiora da Faio, the First Princess of the Faio Kingdom."
Poni told us, but as Riel mentioned, she had her face buried, so I couldn't really tell.
All I could see was her long, deep green hair—reminiscent of a beautiful forest—tied with a brown ribbon.
I found myself thinking about something random, like how none of us really have a ponytail.
Jessica has something like a side-tail, right? And Mikos has twin-tails. Yeah, it really is rare.
While I was thinking about such trivial things, the sound of Yuki-san and the others knocking on the door came through the speaker placed in the center of the table.
Since we can't hear the sounds from the next room directly, we listen to the conversation via the hidden microphones.
"Excuse us."
The moment Yuki-san stepped into the room, the princess, who had been slumping, and the man who was likely her diplomatic aide both scrambled to their feet.
"..."
But both of them remained silent.
Well, they must know that messing with a Core is grounds for punishment, so I suppose it can't be helped.
However, since we want to settle this as peacefully as possible, Yuki-san gave a wry smile and said...
"Come now, please don't be so tense. And please, have a seat."
"This has happened due to my own carelessness. I am deeply sorry..."
"No! This commotion was caused by me personally. Therefore, the blame should fall on me alone! And please, regarding the previous discussion..."
Princess Fiora is certainly beautiful, just as you’d expect from a princess, but... hm?
What is it? She’s beautiful, but...
"She’s beautiful, but she looks cool, doesn't she?"
"Oh, that's it."
"What are you two talking about at a time like this? Well, I don't disagree. 'Dignified' is certainly a fitting expression."
"You're the same, aren't you, Poni?"
"Well, perhaps. But she is definitely a type we don't have among us. Jessica is dignified, in a way..."
"Indeed, Jessica-sama is a knight, so the atmosphere is somewhat similar. But, how should I put it, Princess Fiora is... her chest is..."
"..."
I see. The reason she seemed even more dignified than Jessica was that chest!
Princess Fiora’s chest isn't exactly flat, but it’s quite modest.
That’s why she looks so sharp. Her face is beautiful, but it’s also stern, and she has a sharpness in her gaze that’s different from Stasia’s intimidation. It doesn't really feel like she's a princess.
"...In short, she's one of us."
"That's true."
"Eh?"
Riel and Poni started to hit it off.
Is having a small chest really that bad?
I mean, I have enough breast milk to feed my children, and they drink it happily...
The conversation continued, leaving us behind as we wandered off-topic.
"Yes, yes. Let’s calm down first. We can tell whether or not there was malice just by looking at the situation here."
"Indeed. Please, sit back down. We can't have a calm conversation like this."
Fiora-san and the diplomat quieted down immediately, bathed in the aura of "You're being loud" radiating from behind Ratz and Eris’s smiles.
Those smiles are honestly terrifying.
After that little scene, the two finally sat down, and Yuki-san went out of his way to prepare tea for them himself.
"Here you go. This might be a long talk, so let's chat slowly while we drink."
"Long or not, I simply saw something precious before me and reached out for it on impulse."
That’s true.
That was all Fiora-san actually did.
But the background behind it isn't that simple.
They went through so much trouble to come all the way here.
"My crime is clear, so what is it you want with us now? Are we not to be deported immediately?"
"We wouldn't just send away people who officially came to Weed for help; it would hurt our reputation. You understand that much, don't you?"
"...That is certainly true. But what I did was touch the Core, which is the very life of Weed!"
"You didn't steal it, so it's fine. More importantly, do you really think we wouldn't have considered something of that level?"
Yeah, just as Yuki-san said.
She didn't steal it out of malice. She just pushed it a little.
Looking at Fiora-san now, you can tell that immediately. We’ve seen so many criminals, after all.
And above all, Weed isn't so fragile that it would stop just because one Core was touched.
Riel, I, and Yuki-san more than anyone, understand that the world isn't made up only of people like Fiora-san.
That’s why Weed was built from the start with systems to handle anything, even if something like that happens.
"No. Indeed, if something is important, preparations are essential. ...I see, so this level of incident was already anticipated."
"Well, if we weren't prepared for that much, we couldn't run such a troublesome country."
Yeah, yeah.
There are fights and acts of violence every single day, after all.
Weed, where so many people and countries intersect, is always a handful.
You have to be able to laugh off minor things.
Though, I do wonder if touching the "Core" really counts as a minor thing.
...Wait? Come to think of it, is this the first time someone has touched the Core, even if it was an accident?
Yeah, it should be.
...It’s very surprising, but other countries really do treat this Core as untouchable.
Is Fiora-san actually amazing for daring to do it?
"Now, with the Core matter settled, let's move on to the issue we had put on hold."
"...Are you referring to the water shortage?"
"Yes. I spoke with the Queen, and we’ve reached a conclusion."
"That is, for us..."
Yeah. I don't think it's a bad thing. Probably.
Well, they caused us trouble, so we’ll take appropriate compensation.
"Yes, it’s good news. We’ve decided to look into the water situation."
"Is that true!"
At Yuki-san’s positive response, the two from the Faio Kingdom stood up in surprise.