第１５２０堀：妖精さん考える (Part1)
Chapter 1520: The Fairy Ponders
Side: Narjia
At Yuki-san’s request, I had taken Orelia-chan and the others to the super public bath, but...
"..."
For some reason, Orelia-chan was silent and slumped over.
She hadn't been injured, and I thought her skin looked perfectly fine, but...
"Are you suffering from heatstroke? Do you want some water? Should I cast recovery magic?"
She was so motionless that I had even undressed her, washed her body, and put her in the hot spring, but such a complete lack of response was starting to worry me.
I could tell she was alive because she was still breathing, at least.
"Or perhaps I should contact Yuki-san?"
It was likely a mental issue, and I thought it might be best to consult her direct superior, Yuki-san. As I muttered this to myself—
"No! I'm fine! I'm perfectly fine, thank you, Narjia-san!"
She snapped back to reality all at once.
Well, she was flustered, which was quite a departure from her usual demeanor.
"If you say so. So, what happened? Or rather, did something happen? It didn't look like Shou-san was causing any trouble for Eupia-san, did it? If anything, they seemed quite normal, didn't they?"
That’s right. When I went to pick up Orelia-chan and the others, they seemed to be interacting with the two of them quite normally.
The state of exhaustion only set in after I joined them, we went to the bath, and then parted ways with Eupia-san and Shou-san.
"Ah, well, that is..."
For some reason, her voice trailed off.
That was rare for Orelia-chan.
In other words, considering the situation, the cause wasn't Eupia-san or Shou-san—it was me?
"Um, did I do something?"
When I asked that, she flinched.
"Whoa. So I really am the cause. I’m actually a little shocked."
"No, it is not your fault, Narjia-sama. It is just that... I am the one who is... at fault."
"You're at fault, Orelia-chan? What do you mean? We have a meeting time with Eupia-san and the others, so I think it's best to resolve this as quickly as possible, don't you?"
I had been sent to support Orelia-chan, and it would be counterproductive if I ended up being a burden to her.
Besides, since there were guests involved, a quick resolution was desirable—even if that meant I had to take over.
As I thought this, she took a deep breath, as if steeling her resolve.
"Um, with the assistance of Eupia-sama and Shou-sama, we were tasked with investigating the reputation of Litea, starting with the incident involving Suls."
"Yes, I’ve heard. Litea has been having nothing but trouble lately, so we need to see if the smaller nations are feeling uneasy, right?"
I usually help manage the Blacksmith and Commercial Districts within Weed, but as a veteran of the Weed administration, I’m often asked for my opinion, so I’m naturally aware of the current situation and the operations currently in motion.
After all, while it’s not exactly a secret, I’m also involved in Weed’s weapons development and magical research, so I have to keep the field in mind for that as well.
Still, today’s situation was a bit strange.
Why was I sent to support Orelia-chan?
I’m not a diplomat, so I don’t typically deal with Eupia-san or Shou-san.
Well, I’ve been introduced to them, and since they recognize me as a leading figure in Weed’s weapons development and magic research, I understand why they would be eager to talk to me.
Ah, is that it?
"Negotiations regarding weapons from the two of them?"
If I were to be involved in the conversation, that would be the only reason.
Yuki-san asked me to come, which means he wants me to provide some coaching.
Though, when it comes to technology that can be replicated within the Zurabl nation... ah, so that’s why he wanted me to listen to them.
I’ve heard rumors about their technological level, and I’ve purchased and examined the items that are generally available, but those aren't their top-tier goods.
Over there in Zurabl, they’ve been provided with tanks and have enabled instant communication using radio waves, so they have at least some experience with modern warfare.
They’re likely trying to acquire the technology themselves, but I know they aren't quite at Weed’s level yet.
I suppose the idea is to hear them out to some extent and discuss technology that might be negotiable.
As I was thinking this, Orelia-chan looked startled and began to speak again.
"That might be part of it. No, it might have been the main topic. You see, I was able to secure the cooperation of the two from Zurabl, but in exchange, they asked for a reward for their cooperation..."
"And that was me, wasn't it? Yuki-san just blurted it out, and since it was all on the same day, you were flustered, right? Honestly, Yuki-san has a habit of doing things like that."
When Yuki-san decides to act on impulse, those around him sometimes can't keep up.
He hadn't given the details to me or Orelia-chan, so we were both confused because we weren't on the same page.
"And so, their original plan—or rather, their personal wish—was that they wanted free passes or discount tickets for the super public bath."
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but leave my mouth hanging open at the unexpected words.
I mean, come on.
A reward for cooperating in an investigation that could determine the future of Litea being a free pass or a discount ticket for a super public bath is unheard of.
Even I know that much.
"The discussion was that Yuki-sama and I would handle the negotiations, and Yuki-sama said he would provide the reward first... but that never happened..."
"Ah, so I arrived first and we ended up at the super public bath. And you felt you had to negotiate the reward, right?"
"Yes."
Orelia-chan replied with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
It was true that distributing free passes or discount tickets without consulting me or Eris-san was a bit of a problem, but...
"I wouldn't make a fuss over something like that."
"Eh?"
Orelia-chan froze in surprise.
She must have been agonizing over how to secure the reward for Eupia-san and Shou-san from me or Eris-san, but it really was just a trivial matter.
"Basically, high-ranking officials from Zurabl are treated as VIPs. So those expenses are already built into the budget. Of course, if they were to go to a high-end restaurant and eat for free for a year with a large group, other countries would complain about unfairness, but a month or so is enough to satisfy them, right?"
"Ah, no, I haven't heard the details, but Eupia-sama and Shou-sama felt it was unbearable to send their subordinates to the super public bath at their own expense. But if they were to process it as an expense, then for Zurabl..."