第１８７２堀：南砦の感想 (Part2)
"Oh? Come to think of it, where are Hivia and the others?"
"Now that you mention it, they aren't here."
"Ah, they should be arriving any moment now. We need to go over the details regarding this latest survey, after all."
"Yes. Please, right this way."
Guided by Fuyuka, we were led into a small partitioned room within the main hall. Though it was a small room, the glass walls made it completely transparent, allowing us to keep an eye on everything happening outside. It was the sort of space found almost everywhere—designed for quick, informal discussions. Since the primary purpose of this facility was surveillance, these rooms were invaluable; they allowed us to deliberate on our next moves without losing sight of the information being monitored.
As we stepped into the small room, Hivia and her companions appeared through a separate door.
"Ah, you've arrived."
"Thank goodness."
"Sorry for the rush."
"We have been waiting for you all."
Hivia and Wazuphi looked at us with visible relief, while Nairua seemed a bit apologetic. As for Chaea, she remained as composed and serene as ever. I hadn't had much personal interaction with Chaea, but I was aware that she had defeated the military leaders—including Agil, Seraria, Jessica, Stasia, and Fiora—during the military exercises.
Granted, the conditions were essentially equal in terms of troop numbers and training levels. Even so, to consistently come out on top in the overall tally was no small feat. It was no wonder she was known as the mentor to Shou, the right-hand man of the Emperor of Eupia. It seemed she was not the type to be easily rattled, even in a setting like this.
"Ahaha, you make me blush with such a gaze. I was, after all, once nothing more than a corpse."
"Ah, that’s right. Luna caused you quite a bit of trouble, didn't she?"
"Not at all, Your Majesty Seraria. This withered body was allowed to stand upon the earth once more. It is a joy, not a burden. Why, I was even asked if I wished to be resurrected—or rather, to return to the land of the living. Usually, one wouldn't bother asking for the consent of someone in my position, would they?"
Indeed. A typical noble or an arrogant ruler would usually ignore the will of the subject entirely.
"My husband doesn't do things like that. Besides, it’s a matter of motivation; forcing someone to do something rarely yields results worth having."
"Fufu, truly. Between Yuki-sama, Your Majesty Seraria, and all of you wives, this lack of heavy-handedness is perhaps not the trait of a traditional ruler. And yet, it is precisely what makes you so admirable. I recall reading in a book that a true king is one who does not seek power for its own sake."
"““Ah, that makes sense.””"
We couldn't help but nod at Chaea’s words.
"…It’s strange, being praised like that doesn't make me feel particularly happy. Besides, I never intended to rule a country in the first place, and I certainly couldn't have managed it on my own."
"That is exactly right, Your Majesty. There is a limit to what any one person can achieve. Even the Prince Consort, whose capabilities are in a league of their own, has his limits. That is why people join hands to face problems. Each person does what they can—that is the proper way of things. It is not about one person barking orders. Well, providing direction does allow for more efficient movement, which is why the position of a monarch is necessary... but I have rambled on. My point is simply that this is all thanks to the character of both you and Yuki-sama. Let us do our best."
Indeed, she was right. If Yuki had simply commanded me to submit, I wouldn't be here today. In fact, I would have long since returned to the dust, given that I was on the side that invaded Weed.
"Now, in place of Hivia-sama and the others, I shall explain the current status of the survey in the southern part of the New Continent and our plans moving forward."
With that, the explanation regarding the work of Aslin and Firia began. For Deryu and the others, who hadn't yet seen the Southern Fortress in its full capacity, this was a perfect opportunity. We were already planning its transition into a proper town, so there was plenty of surplus space and the facilities were quite impressive.
Though, for the moment, it was still empty enough to feel like a ghost town.