第１４０９堀：調査会議の前に確認事項 (Part2)
At a glance, Kina appeared a generation younger than Coeu, and while Coeu was younger than Rock, the guild master, he still carried the seasoned air of a man in his late thirties.
What, I wondered, was the nature of their connection?
"Ah, there’s no need to hide it. Right, Coeu?"
"True enough. Kina and I were in the same party back when I was an adventurer."
"Exactly! Coeu really looked after me when I was just starting out."
"I see," we all murmured in unison.
I’d heard that many guild staff members were former adventurers, but it was another thing to see that history in the flesh.
"Still, to think Mauve and the others are here, too."
"Oh, it’s been a while, Coeu."
"Indeed. It’s reassuring to have you lot with us."
It seemed they were well-acquainted with Mauve and his group as well. That being the case...
"Was Kina actually a formidable adventurer?" Kagura asked.
Kina beamed. "I was! I worked quite hard, you know."
"Hah! Keeping track of a little girl who insisted on running off on her own was a nightmare. That young lady over there is worth ten of you," Coeu retorted, gesturing toward Milly.
"Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?"
"Yes, yes. That’s hardly the attitude for a vice guild master. I believe we should focus on finishing this investigation as quickly as possible so the people from the Western Town can return to their lives. Shall we proceed?"
"Agreed. I support Representative Milly’s stance."
"Understood. Agil, if you would."
"Certainly. Leave it to me."
And so, the meeting began in earnest.
"First, please direct your attention here."
With that, Agil projected a massive, high-definition image onto the space where a whiteboard would be. The members of the Suurus delegation, unaccustomed to such technology, looked on in stunned silence, but Agil pressed on without pause. After all, it was a map.
"This is the map of Suurus. Is there anything inaccurate?"
Agil directed the question to Coeu, Enaiu, and Princess Hasnia. They only stiffened further. It was no wonder; this was a precision map captured from the heavens—not some crude, hand-drawn sketch. Anyone tasked with governing a nation or managing an adventurer’s guild would immediately grasp the gravity of such a document. The fact that it was held by an Alliance that was not their own was a sobering realization.
For the record, this map had been generated almost instantaneously using drones and familiars the moment Master decided to provide support. We were currently working on simplified versions with topographical contour lines, but I thought it best to keep that to ourselves for now.
"I understand your surprise. However, this is essential for strategic planning and the investigation at hand. We cannot move forward without your confirmation."
Agil’s words pulled the Suurus delegation back to reality.
"A-ah, yes. I don't know every inch of the land, but I can confirm this is indeed the map of Suurus. There are no errors," replied Enaiu, the son of the Western Town’s lord.
"I concur with Lord Enaiu. Everything I know of the region is reflected here. The positions appear accurate, though I cannot vouch for the entire kingdom," Coeu added with a nod.
The only ones left silent were Princess Hasnia and her inspection team. From a national defense perspective, they likely felt it was dangerous to have their terrain and town layouts known, even by an ally. But that was an antiquated way of thinking. I realized then that if we didn't clear up that misunderstanding, we’d get nowhere.
"All nations participating in the Alliance possess maps of this caliber. Naturally, this includes nations we anticipate might become hostile. Among the Alliance members, this has become the standard."
Agil didn't mince words, effectively telling them they were living in the past. It was perhaps a bit too blunt, but Lilishe-sama didn't seem to mind; she simply continued snacking. Come to think of it, since the King of Suurus had expressed a desire to join the Alliance, perhaps this was intended as a nudge in the right direction?
"That said, I understand this touches upon national security. As you are here under the King of Suurus’s name, you likely cannot offer an official affirmation or denial. We shall proceed under the assumption that the map is correct. Since the lord’s son and the guild master have verified it, the area surrounding the Western Town is certainly accurate."
Agil moved the discussion forward. While silence is often taken as consent, it was a hollow gesture—though clearly the best form of resistance they could muster.
Confirming there were no errors. It was a vital step. It would be a disaster if we were told later that our information was wrong.