第１４４０堀：上を思う組織の人たち (Part2)
"Well, I suppose you could say it went well, but... the reinforcements we sent to Suls were, in name, an allied force. In reality, they were essentially the Weed army. The organization just wasn't up to par."
"It’s a matter of who holds the command, isn't it? That’s the sticking point."
"Fortunately, because Weed was able to step in, it didn't become a problem, but I wonder if they’ve given any thought to how to handle that moving forward?"
"It seems they are discussing it. For now, the proposal is to rotate the command. We can't keep troops stationed there indefinitely. On the other hand, creating a force consisting solely of allied soldiers would mean maintaining an independent army, which requires funding and supplies. Plus, having a separate chain of command is problematic, and there's the risk of becoming out of touch with the customs of other nations."
"If that's the case, one has to wonder what the point of an allied force even is. Considering that, I suppose a rotation system is the best option..."
"Though, the soldiers falling under those rotating commands are likely to be confused every time."
"They’re considering that, too. Things like having new commanders or soldiers wait for a period, or recalling them as needed."
If they don't do something like that, an army without coordination is nothing more than a rabble. An ally who drags you down is more troublesome than an enemy. The issues that arise during a crisis have been laid bare. In that sense, one could say this recent Great Flood and the invasion were, in a way, a blessing in disguise.
"Will they be taking similar measures with Irinau? And if so, how will they handle it?"
"It seems they haven't decided yet. Regarding reparations and other measures, they didn't act as recklessly as Kinauf did."
"Ah, they only occupied the water source, didn't they? They didn't occupy the town, nor was there any clash with the military. If they claim it was to prevent the Suls Great Flood, it’s difficult to demand reparations."
"True. Irinau pulled back quite readily, so Yuki said the higher-ups are still debating what to do. At most, they’ll likely push for cooperation in investigating the Dark Guild."
"Indeed, that is about all that can be done."
"What about Litea? Lady Alstaire seemed quite furious."
"That was limited to Kinauf, though. Irinau has the track record of having listened and withdrawn, so punishment will be difficult, but I imagine they might use the Kinauf situation to gain an advantage in negotiations. Their speed of advance was unnatural, after all. They could make any number of excuses—claiming they were preparing for monsters appearing—but given the measures Litea took against Kinauf, it would be hard for them to maintain an uncooperative attitude."
"Attacking from that angle would be appropriate. And besides, Yuki has support to offer in exchange for their cooperation."
"Many would likely conclude that it's better to cooperate with the investigation and secure that support than to profit from something that leaves a guilty conscience."
"Well, that’s just my speculation. We just follow orders. Honestly, I’d rather not have to show my face at those meetings."
As I say this, Jessica and Stasia nod in unison.
"Agreed. Only Yuki could speak so freely in that kind of setting."
"One wrong move and he could earn the resentment of every nation. The alliance could collapse. I doubt there is anyone else who could act so boldly in such a place. Honestly, like Agil, I wouldn't want to be there."
Exactly. The fact that Yuki talks so normally at those alliance meetings is what’s abnormal. Well, I suppose it’s also because of Yuki’s unique position. Even so, the anxiety of not knowing what people are truly thinking is something you can't just brush away, yet he manages to speak so easily—it’s incredible.
"That’s exactly why it’s a jointly operated alliance territory. It will be interesting to see how the alliance functions in the absence of an absolute figure like Yuki."
"Interesting, you say? I just hope it doesn't lead to the collapse of the alliance..."
"Still, I understand what Yuki-sama is saying. An alliance that collapses the moment Yuki-sama is gone is far too fragile."
"The higher-ups are likely concerned about that as well, which is why they probably see this as a good opportunity. There are those who don't know Weed well, or who don't think highly of it. In that sense, having even just the soldiers experience this through a rotation is important. Now then, let's check if everyone is ready and get going."
While we were chatting, the departure time arrived. We cut our conversation short and, as planned, left Kinauf to head toward Irinau.
On the ground, you can't move without instructions from above. However, it is precisely because those instructions exist that we can move with such precision. After all, it’s rare for things to be solved by acting on one's own initiative like in some drama or anime, isn't it?