第１２３７堀：お悩み相談 (Part2)
"That seems reasonable. Pass the written exam, then move on to the practical. Though, for skills other than magic, the practical component is largely unnecessary. And for those seeking to specialize in magical arts..."
"It’s already been established that they must first secure an acceptance from the magical academies on their respective continents, right?"
"Yes. So, I imagine those wishing to study abroad for magic will have to undergo a separate examination process."
"Indeed. That makes sense, I suppose."
"Right, we hadn't quite ironed out those details yet. But, setting aside the questions from the likes of Hobis, didn't you two—Yupi and Popuri—have something you wanted to discuss?"
Ah, that’s right. I had forgotten.
The two of them had come here specifically because they had matters to discuss with Yuki-sama.
"Oh, that’s right. Well, while I understand that the finer details will be decided in future meetings, there are a few things I wanted to touch upon beforehand."
"Yes, same here. Yupi, why don't you go first?"
"I shall take you up on that offer. I was wondering when the Zurable Empire might expect a formal introduction—or rather, when we might officially join the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance."
"Yes. Until now, we’ve been lumped in with the New Continent’s Haiden, Findall, and the Haire faith, but you must surely recognize that we are distinct, both geopolitically and in terms of scale. Or do you intend to keep pushing that narrative? While we are indeed connected as a 'continent'..."
Ah, I see.
It’s true; the current standing of the Zurable Great Empire within the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance is rather ambiguous.
The major powers are well aware of the Zurable Great Empire’s existence through Yuki-sama—or rather, through Weed—but the smaller nations have little recognition of them. At best, they are treated as an afterthought or mere guests of the New Continent.
Moreover, having once been in a state of open conflict with Weed, their position is delicate, to say the least.
That said, as Show-sama pointed out, they are one of the largest powers within the Alliance, and there is the matter of the Empire’s pride to consider.
"Regarding that, I intend to hold the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance induction ceremony before the student exchange program officially begins. Since the program will grant a fair number of recommendation slots to the Zurable Great Empire, we need to officially acknowledge their existence beforehand to avoid any significant backlash."
"I see. That stands to reason. And are there any specific conditions for joining?"
"That will require a proper meeting. It’s not something Weed can decide in isolation. But surely, you’ve already prepared for that, haven't you?"
"We have, of course. But without the permission of you and the others at Weed, such preparations are meaningless, which is why I sought to confirm your schedule. I am relieved to know you have been considering it. The only remaining question is when you might be able to arrange a forum to discuss the terms of accession with the various nations."
"That will be in the near future. The framework for the student exchange program isn't finalized yet. We plan to integrate the Zurable Great Empire’s entry in tandem with that."
"I see, I see. So you intend to slip us in alongside the student exchange program. Perhaps that is the most appropriate approach."
"Indeed. It would be troublesome to have our entry dragged out, only to be grilled with endless, prying questions."
That is certainly true.
It would be a disaster to be branded as 'the nation that fought Weed.' If they can join without that past being scrutinized too deeply, that would be for the best.
Yuki-sama really does think of everything.
"And what about you, Popuri?"
"For my part, I have no desire for my academy to become a temporary dumping ground for students heading to Weed. That is my biggest headache right now."
"We have accepted students from various nations as a magical academy, but only for the sake of 'magic.' We lack the know-how for anything beyond that. We might be better off than other countries, but we lack the budget and the personnel. If we are forced to take on more than we can handle..."
Haha...
Actually, that’s not a laughing matter. We’re in the same boat; if we keep having other nations' problems pushed onto us, we’ll reach our breaking point.
"I see. So that’s the situation. And what are the major powers of the If Continent saying?"
"Nothing yet. They haven't touched the subject because the details aren't set. That said, there are quite a few who are wary of the risks involved in hosting students themselves. Well, King Zilba seems eager to accept them, but even then..."
"If it comes to that, issues of national relations, 'preferential treatment,' and geographical distance will all come into play."
"Ah, come to think of it, Popuri’s academy is located in the center of the continent. Given the location, it would certainly be the most prominent candidate. And there will be those who are loath to see Zilba’s influence rise, so..."
"It seems it will all inevitably end up at Popuri-sama’s academy."
And so, we spent our time relaxing at the café, discussing these intriguing matters.
Well, since we could order as much food and drink as we liked, it was a pleasant enough time.
There are many stories about those who study abroad or enter an academy, but very few about those on the receiving end.
Behind the scenes, they must be racking their brains over how to keep things fair.
'Connections' often carry a negative connotation, but they are also a testament to the introduction of trusted talent, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing.