第１４７２堀：久々に集まる護衛メンバー (Part2)
"Indeed. Had they been part of the alliance, while the Great Flood might have been unavoidable, it is highly likely that territorial incursions from the two nations would have been prevented. By the way, how is Litea handling this current situation? I haven't heard a single word about it."
As Jessica posed the question, all eyes turned toward Yuki.
It was true; while Suls was the victim in this affair, their initial spinelessness and inability to make a decisive judgment had only exacerbated the crisis. In fact, one could argue that their very lack of resolve was precisely what invited the aggression. Furthermore, it was Litea that had been running ragged to stabilize the aftermath of this catastrophe. It would only be natural for there to be some form of punitive measures against those three nations.
"Ah, Alstaire and the others are currently deliberating on that. Even Rurua was giving a bitter smile. She mentioned that every time she shows her face in Litea to report, she gets dragged into meetings that just devolve into chaos. There are even voices calling for Suls to be crushed, citing the incident where their envoy was turned away at Irinau. While Suls is certainly at fault, the attitude of the two aggressor nations is considered even worse. Rurua said it was exhausting to be stuck for half a day in a disorganized meeting that felt more like a venting session than anything else."
"..."
"..."
"..."
If only a resolution could be reached—but being forced to sit in on a meeting with no decision-making power, serving merely as a provider of information while nothing gets settled, is nothing short of hell.
"Well, it’s unclear what decision Litea will ultimately make, but we can't really interject our opinions there. I’ll stop them from razing anyone to the ground, of course, but it’s a fact that if they don't impose some form of sanction, Litea’s reputation will be utterly ruined."
That much was true. If one were to name the primary victim of this incident, it would be the people of Suls, but the runner-up would undoubtedly be Litea. Suls was at fault for showing weakness, and the two aggressor nations go without saying. But Litea, left to clean up the entire mess, was clearly the victim of circumstance. Above all, they now bore the stigma of having issued the first military request in the history of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. While it was a positive development for the other allied nations to gain actual combat experience and prove the alliance’s military efficacy, it was a source of profound shame for Litea to be the one to host such a disaster—to be the first to bring trouble to the alliance's doorstep.
Moreover, Litea was the seat of the Litea Holy Religion, the sacred ground where the Goddess of Love, Lilishe, was worshipped. Despite having acted as the mediator for the other three great powers on the Logari continent, to have their own sphere of influence descend into war was a devastating blow to their prestige.
"Lilishe herself is on edge, too."
"...Mm. Since returning, I’ve been going to Litea with Rurua to show our faces, and she still hasn't come back."
"That is quite rare, isn't it? The upper echelons of Litea are aware of Lilishe’s existence, but she has almost never interfered in politics until now."
"It’s because Lilishe-sama took the Great Flood and the meddling from the Dungeon Master as a personal challenge. She’s likely there to ensure Litea doesn't make any foolish judgments... Well, her combat prowess has increased recently, so I don't think she'll go charging in alone."
"..."
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"..."
At Deryu’s words, everyone could only fall silent. Lilishe was, by nature, a compassionate being overflowing with love, but the moment she crossed paths with her husband—or rather, her former husband, Faide—her wrath was legendary.
"She’s not that foolish. She has escorts, considering the possibility of an ambush. There was a theory that the whole thing was a ploy to lure Lilishe out in the first place."
"Ah, I remember that. Though, in the end, they didn't make a single move while we were in Suls."
"They are quite adept at keeping their tails hidden, aren't they?"
As Deryu noted, the true nature of the dark guild—or rather, the group that orchestrated this incident—remained shrouded in mystery. The intelligence division was struggling, as the trail of the guild's executives seemed to branch out in countless directions.
"Well, let’s start with a simple verification. I’m going to the Saint’s Fountain in Suls tomorrow or the day after."
"Ehh!?"
The sudden shift in plans was jarring. Had they not been listening to Cleena? For Yuki to move on his own accord like this... and even if it were unofficial, surely he needed to provide proper notice...
"I mean 'unofficial' in the literal sense. If I go on my own and come back on my own, there won't be any issues."
That’s just illegal entry, isn't it? Is that really alright?
The members who had been in Suls were finally back and gathered together. Even so, it seemed the diplomatic members still had their hands full.