第１５４１堀：王都到着の感想 (Part2)
In truth, looking at the current state of affairs, it was difficult to call the situation a success. It had reached the point where the kingdom was forced to invite foreign intervention. If the King’s standing were to deteriorate further because of this, people might start whispering that Hinsua was destined to become a second Vinocia. Naturally, Litea—which was set to manage the former Vinocia territories—and Weed—which was currently being inconvenienced—would provide their support, but the optics remained grim.
Oblivious to such concerns, King Shiana maintained his affable, good-natured smile. "Ah, there is no mistaking it; this is indeed Princess Canaria. I am relieved to see you unharmed."
He went out of his way to show kindness to the princess of the very nation that had caused him such grief. From a diplomatic standpoint, he couldn't exactly take a whip to her, but being too lenient risked breeding resentment among his own subordinates.
"Your Majesty Shiana, I have no words to properly express my gratitude for your aid to my people," Canaria replied, her greeting carefully measured to avoid causing friction. "I can only offer my deepest apologies for the ignorance of my father and our nobility."
What else could she say to the man who was cleaning up the wreckage of her collapsed kingdom? In a less controlled environment, people might have been tempted to throw stones at her. However, her presence here as a slave served a specific purpose—it was a public declaration that she was indeed paying for her sins.
Furthermore, this meeting served to verify her identity. While Yuki had confirmed her status through his system, other nations had to account for the possibility of a body double. It turned out to be a needless worry.
"Much has happened, it is true," the King said, "but let us simply rejoice that we are all here, safe and sound."
This was the King’s way of signaling to the room that he had no intention of pursuing further grievances against her. After all, the crux of this expedition was the search for the secret treasure.
"Now then, King Shiana," Yuki spoke up. "As soon as the treasure is found, we shall hand it over to you. That should make your governance much smoother."
"I am grateful for the mercy shown by you, Lord Yuki, and your allies in the Litea alliance," Shiana replied. "But please, prioritize your own lives above all else."
"Of course. I have no intention of working myself to death for this," Yuki quipped.
King Shiana understood that any harm befalling Yuki’s group would lead to a diplomatic catastrophe, but he also knew that recovering the treasure and purging the Dark Guild would secure Hinsua’s future stability. Eliminating his enemies without exhausting his own military strength was a blessing he couldn't ignore. In exchange, he had agreed to hand over a portion of his stored funds. Without such a transaction, the stationing of foreign troops on his soil would never have been permitted.
Normally, it would be unthinkable for a foreign power to seek permission to hunt for a national treasure within another's borders. No sovereign would willingly allow their country's assets to be carried off; such a request would typically be a declaration of war, or at the very least, the catalyst for a shadow conflict in the underworld. In some second-rate adventure novel, these treasures were often weapons of such devastating power that whoever held them would seize hegemony over the world.
In reality, such things did exist—Yuki’s own demon swords and the various holy swords were proof of that. But Yuki felt no sense of urgency. Weed was already capable of manufacturing weapons of that caliber. They possessed even more powerful armaments and the means to neutralize any such threats. Thus, the nature of the treasure itself was secondary. Their true objective remained the total destruction of the Dark Guild and the rival Dungeon Master.
While Yuki and King Shiana exchanged information and finalized their plans, a deceptive calm settled over the castle. To Light's relief, neither the citizens of Hinsua nor the palace guards attempted to cause trouble, allowing their stay to begin peacefully.
However, the members of the church delegation—including Light—were kept quite busy. While Yuki handled the high-level negotiations, they had to visit the local Litea Church to gather information from a different perspective while providing healing services to the populace. It was a hectic start, but Light looked forward to seeing what secrets might surface. After all, you can't simply ask a homeowner for permission to ransack their house and expect a "yes." Such were the delicate deals brokered in the shadows.