第１２６０堀：学園が舞台という理由 (Part1)
"Honestly, I never imagined that simply accepting exchange students would lead to such a troublesome situation," Taiki remarked.
I had just finished speaking with Seraria about countermeasures against hostile organizations when I met with Taiki and the others. I felt that members who understood modern Japan would be best equipped to handle knowledge about such organizations.
"Indeed. I knew it wouldn't be as simple as just accepting them, but now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense. What do you think, Taizo-san?"
"Well," Taizo replied, "even before the war, when studying abroad in Germany, there were those who tried to sabotage their rivals. It's likely some succeeded. I don't know the exact circumstances behind the scenes, of course."
Sota and Taizo agreed, offering their perspectives. Sota was born in the Showa era, while Taizo was born in the Taisho era and experienced World War II. Taizo's story, in particular, involved studying abroad to acquire military technology, suggesting a fierce struggle behind the scenes.
"But I always wondered why school settings, in particular, are so rife with trouble and why so many flags are raised. Now that we're seeing the situation and background ourselves, it seems more unusual if there *isn't* a problem."
"Ah, you're right," Taiki said. He was correct. I had always wondered why school-themed stories had so much trouble, and why it seemed like something that only happened in light novels or manga. But this incident made me deeply understand that a school setting is, in fact, a breeding ground for trouble.
"Indeed. While problems in local schools in Japan might be on a smaller scale, they still exist."
"Precisely. Fundamentally, a school, especially higher education, is not merely a place for academic learning but also a gathering place for chosen individuals from various regions. It's only natural that power dynamics emerge, though I hadn't considered it so deeply until now."
"That's true. Even when I was a student, there were instances where I openly wondered why someone was a teacher. And that was in a local school in Japan. With the exchange student system in Weed, it's only natural that these issues would be magnified."
As Sota and Taizo said, Japanese schools weren't without their troubles either. There were constant power struggles and corruption among teachers, as well as bullying and delinquency among students. While the nature and scale of these problems might vary, no school was entirely free of them.
Furthermore, when students from all countries belonging to the Continental Exchange Alliance gathered, it was inevitable that various agendas would be at play. As I've said before, schools are inherently places where trouble is bound to occur.
"For now, Seraria will decide whether or not to lure out hostile organizations and criminal groups in Weed..."
"Seraria, huh? Hmm, that's tricky. She's quite kind, you know."
"Well, that's true, but it's a decision that must be made by the head of state. However, to be blunt, even if they're expelled from Weed, they might still encounter trouble in their home countries or during travel to and from Weed."
"Indeed. Ultimately, it could be argued that the stage of the incident simply changes. And if that happens, we can't just stand by. If the only concern were protecting the exchange students currently staying in Weed, the decision would be easier... but it depends on how one views the situation."
All three of them seemed unable to predict Seraria's decision. That was understandable, of course. It was a matter of putting children in danger. Seraria was now a mother herself. Using her children as bait, or even her citizens as a nation's leader, would undoubtedly be a difficult choice.
"Alright, if we set aside all emotional considerations, what would be your answer?"
"That's simple. Gather those fools in Weed and crush them."
"I agree. There's no better place than Weed to establish a strong defense."
"I concur. More importantly, doing so would make it easier to identify hostile forces from each country and to cooperate with them. Furthermore, considering Weed's future, and yours, Yuki-kun, this approach would be more beneficial."
The three of them were in agreement on this point as well. From the perspective of my goals and actually taking action against hostile forces, there was no place better equipped than Weed. If we were to prevent them from coming to Weed, we would have to deal with them in other countries. This would become incredibly troublesome, especially if they were collaborating with other factions through gates. During such investigations, we would have to negotiate with each country.
If we had solid evidence, it would be one thing, but naturally, the country accused of harboring such organizations would not readily admit it. At worst, if any damage occurred, there could be claims for compensation. Therefore, my true desire was to crush them independently. Furthermore, allowing such organizations to operate within one's borders would be a source of shame in the international community.
This problem was also a hindrance on Earth. To avoid such troubles, the ideal scenario was to lure them into Weed, identify their connections, and then crush them together. At that time, we could likely manage by offering assurances such as not holding countries responsible or providing subsidies for damages caused by hostile organizations. Accumulating such achievements, as Sota mentioned, would also reduce the troublesome procedures when I travel to other countries for my research on the magic depletion phenomenon.
Of course, I anticipated that accepting exchange students in Weed would make visits to other countries easier. However, having achievements in eradicating hostile organizations would make such acceptance even more likely.
"Hmm. If Seraria decides against it, should we try to persuade her?"
"The issue there would be the safety of the citizens and children, wouldn't it? If we can guarantee that, there's no reason to oppose it."
"Right. Perhaps we should consider a surveillance system and rules for student safety that would make Seraria feel more at ease."
"Indeed. It's important to minimize the disadvantages and clearly present the benefits. Although, given your trustworthiness, Yuki-kun, we could probably push it through..."
"I won't do that. I want to avoid anything that would worry my wives as much as possible."
They are my precious wives, after all. I've already asked them to go through so much. If I were to exert my authority now, they would undoubtedly act reluctantly, and their movements would be slow. This could lead to a fatal mistake. Therefore, I want to explain everything properly and gain their understanding.
Of course, one could argue that this is still me exerting my authority under the guise of 'persuasion,' but I believe it's far better than not explaining anything at all.
"Alright, let's devise a plan that will ensure everyone's peace of mind."