第１７４９堀：嫌な予想は外れてほしい (Part2)
"As a queen, I can only express my strong disapproval at the prospect of an Oue faction forming within Weed—a 'provisional government,' if you will."
It sounds harsh, but accepting refugees from another nation carries a heavy burden of complications. If they were at least willing to submit to Weed and become its citizens, it might be manageable, but allowing them to remain as the Kingdom of Oue is a recipe for disaster.
"I understand that. Besides, the evacuation will likely proceed smoothly, and the populace doesn't seem to realize they are actually fleeing."
"Which only makes the potential for trouble that much greater."
If they don't grasp the reality that they have arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs, they will be all the more prone to complaining to Weed. Since they lack the awareness that they are a burden, they may operate under the delusion that their every demand should be met.
"Well, that would be the worst-case scenario. It would mean we’ve lost the war. As it stands, that possibility is low."
"That is true. If they were the kind of opponent we could lose to, there would be no reason for the Kingdom of Oue to have survived this long."
The disparity in strength is that vast. Still, there might be other, hidden reasons for their situation.
"I know it’s improper to ask when the intelligence hasn't been fully gathered, but why do you think the Kingdom of Oue was attacked by the Northern Coalition?"
To be honest, I don't fully grasp the current situation in the New Continent. No, that’s not quite right—none of us truly understand the state of lands we are visiting for the first time. But in the case of the Oue Kingdom, they are in a state where everyone is an enemy, and almost no reliable information has been gathered. More importantly, it is problematic that they are a minor power with no real ties to the major players.
I asked my husband for his take, anticipating that gathering information moving forward would be an uphill battle, but...
"Hmm? No, I’m sure the information is there. It’s human supremacy."
The answer came back effortlessly. But that wasn't what I was looking for.
"I’m not asking for the official stance."
"You mean what’s going on behind the scenes?"
"Exactly."
"Behind the scenes, huh? Well, the folks in the North certainly have their various agendas, but in this specific instance, I believe the primary driver is indeed human supremacy."
"I beg your pardon? What do you mean by that?"
I tilted my head, unable to follow his logic. My husband seemed to realize his own explanation sounded absurd, and he opened his mouth with a troubled expression.
"Look, I’ve given a lot of thought to the war Oue got dragged into. The Northern nations, who had no prior connection to them and had always ostracized demi-humans, suddenly rose up—or rather, formed a coalition. In other words, while there are various hidden agendas and individual national interests at play, there is no doubt that the banner they’ve gathered under is the eradication of demi-humans and the Demon Lord."
"...I think I’m starting to see your point. You mean that despite the individual agendas of the Northern nations, their overarching objective is undeniably the elimination of demi-humans and the Demon Lord?"
"Exactly. It might be hard to grasp, but... it’s similar to how we, the Intercontinental Alliance, remain vigilant against the Dark Guild, mysterious Dungeon Masters, and those gods we don't fully understand."
"Hmm, it’s becoming more concrete, but is it really that similar?"
I couldn't help but tilt my head again at the comparison between our Intercontinental Alliance and the Northern Coalition.
"Well, we have concrete evidence of harm. It wouldn't be strange if the North had also suffered painful losses at the hands of demi-humans in the past. But to form a coalition over it? They’re known for tripping each other up, yet they still managed to unite..."
"Does that mean the North is just that wary of demi-humans and the Demon Lord?"
"Precisely. They are united to a degree that is normally impossible, all under the belief that demi-humans must be destroyed. Honestly, I hope my grim prediction is wrong."
"...What is this 'grim prediction' of yours?"
It is rare for my husband to express such distaste. I wanted to know what this prediction was, so I asked him directly.
"The fanatics—you remember the ones in the Haiden region who worshipped the Akue-noki? The ones you couldn't reason with? What if that represents the majority of the North? No matter what lies beneath the surface..."
"It means a collision is inevitable?"
"That is exactly why I hope my prediction is wrong."
I see. That is a truly grim prediction indeed. Even if there are hidden agendas, if the populace is thoroughly indoctrinated with the belief that demi-humans must be destroyed, then we are past the point of dialogue.
...I truly hope he is wrong.
With that thought, I reached for my coffee.
This turned into a bit of a speculative chapter, but to be honest, I’m not sure where to go from here. Dealing with fanatics brings a mountain of problems, and it’s difficult to wrap up such a sprawling narrative. It is the beginning of a great war, after all—well, what shall I do?