第１２０２堀：異常なしですという異常 (Part1)
Chapter 1202: The Anomaly of "No Anomalies"
Side: Agil
"Oh, and by the way, I can handle the paperwork just fine from here, too."
"Wait, you’re going to do it here as well?"
"Well, it is my job, after all."
"……"
"Good luck, Fiora."
I watched Fiora’s stunned reaction to that heartless exchange out of the corner of my eye while skimming through the report on Hivia.
For the record, I had already sent the materials regarding the Lancer Magic Academy's support to my homeland, Enaria. Since it wasn't a different continent like Kagura’s, the language was the same, and the Lancer Magic Academy was already well-known, which made summarizing it relatively straightforward.
Honestly, it seems Kagura’s superiors are just incredibly strict. Or perhaps the environment and background are simply different.
The New Continent side is likely concerned about the growth rate of magic and magical power on the If Continent. After all, the reports practically state that Yuki is personally throwing his weight behind the If Continent’s magic. They’ll probably find some excuse to demand that we provide similar support to the Haiden Magic Academy.
Princess Carrie is keeping a very close eye on Yuki—or rather, on Weed. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s obvious that if they don’t keep track of Weed’s movements, they’ll be left behind. That’s exactly why they demand such detailed, meticulous reports on everything related to Weed.
Personally, I can get away with "it’s just how things are," since Yuki is treated as royalty in Enaria. Officially, he’s considered family. If there’s an issue, they don’t bother me—a former Magic Sword General who happens to be his wife—they just go straight to Yuki.
Haiden should be able to handle it the same way, especially since Kagura, one of the Three Houses, is Yuki’s wife. But because of their past actions, they have to justify themselves not just to Weed, but to all the surrounding nations. Their credibility took a nosedive thanks to the Aquenoki incident. While their relationships with other countries are slowly recovering now that they’ve started trading with Weed, they still can’t afford to let their guard down. That’s why they need to theoretically explain the necessity of these things as an official stance.
*Politics is such a headache,* I thought to myself while turning my attention back to the Hivia report.
It detailed her behavior during the few days we were away. But there were no anomalies or changes to be found. Aside from the time she spent studying in the classroom with Popuri and the others, she had spent the entire time holed up in the lab, reading manga and researching magic—the exact same routine as before.
Well, she only had Popuri and the others to talk to, so that’s expected. However, since Sota and the others—the experts on this subject—commented that she was "extremely stable," it’s clear that our presence no longer influences the establishment of her ego. We had hoped to see if our absence would trigger any changes, but the fact that there were absolutely none is, in a way, a bit anticlimactic.
"Still, I suppose this result just goes to show how stable Hivia really is..."
As I muttered that, Yuki spoke up.
"Then it seems there shouldn't be any problem with letting Fiora meet her."
"Hm? Oh, you’re here, Yuki. Yeah, that’s right. Fiora, Noriko—you two can go ahead and make contact with peace of mind."
I handed the report to Yuki as I said this. He took it, gave it a quick glance, and then passed it to Fiora. Fiora immediately began reading the report with a serious expression, and even Noriko leaned in from behind her to study the document with equal intensity.
"We’ve received the same opinion from Kagura’s group, so all that’s left is to actually do it."
"True. But the final 'go-ahead' will come from Sota and the others, right?"
When it comes to "ghosts," they are the experts. We’ve studied, of course, but it seems to be a matter of intuition or talent, much like magic itself, and it’s hard to say we truly understand it. Still, digging through the literature from Yuki’s homeland, Japan, is incredibly fun. So, the best approach I can take right now is to pursue the ghosts through scientific evidence, much like Taizo-san.
"Yeah. If Sota and the others sense any danger, we’ll hold off on Fiora and the others making contact for now. So, Popuri, we’re heading to the monitoring room. Is there anything else you need to discuss with Fiora?"
"No, the greetings are done, and I’ve said what needed to be said. So, nothing for now. How about you, Lara?"
"Indeed. It can wait for another day, but there has been talk from people in this magic academy town about wanting to visit Weed. I was hoping to find time to consult with you regarding the development of new routes for that."
It’s true that the existence of the Rogali Continent is now public knowledge on the If Continent. It’s only natural that people living at the pinnacle of magic, the Lancer Magic Academy, would want to visit.
"I see. But wouldn't that fall under Orelia and her team's jurisdiction? What do you think, Yuki-sama?"
"That’s right. Besides, my 'direct window' is only for people who specifically need my advice. For trade and cultural exchange, the standard procedure is to consult with Seraria, Eris, or Ratz, and go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first. Fiora, Orelia, and the others are only here because they have matters they specifically want to request of me directly. Or things related to my visits."
"Actually, I think our current discussion is more of a request for you, Yuki-dono. Isn't that right, Lara?"
"Yes. We have already officially approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs some time ago, but I thought that if we also requested it of you, Yuki-sama, it might be processed more smoothly."
"Ah, that kind of thing."
Yeah, if they contact both Yuki and the Ministry, the priority is bound to go up. Since he’s being pulled in every direction, discussions regarding Weed’s diplomacy are currently on a one-month waiting list.
"Well, I understand the situation. I’ll mention it to them myself. Since I’ve heard it directly now, there’s no need for Fiora and the others to act as intermediaries this time."
Yes. As Yuki said, this is exactly why so many people want to consult with him. Because if Yuki brings it up, everyone is bound to listen.
"Thank you very much. We appreciate it. In the future, we will make sure to contact Fiora-sama or Orelia-sama’s team for matters like this."
"Please do. They are my official points of contact, after all."
Exactly. By doing this, they will properly support Yuki from here on out.