"Please wait, Touya-dono. That story, it's a bit too…"
"I understand it's hard to believe. Still, it's the truth."
I replied decisively while watching the leaders of the various countries who all sat in stunned silence.
On the monitor of the conference room, a world which is perfectly reversed from our own, as if reflected in a mirror, was shown.
For the meeting this time, besides the various country representatives, I've also asked Pam, as the representative for the Great Sea of Trees, and Rerishia-san, as the representative for the Adventurer's Guild, to attend.
With this, of the 20-ish countries in this world, most of them are participating in the alliance. Well, the people of the sea of trees aren't exactly a country, and ruined regions like Sandora and Yulong aren't being considered, though.
The attendees are:
▪Belfast Kingdom
▪Regulus Empire
▪Refreese Imperium
▪Mismede Kingdom
▪Ramissh Theocracy
▪Roadmare Union
▪Lestia Knight Kingdom
▪Lihnea Kingdom
▪Divine Nation Eashen
▪Demon Kingdom Xenoas
▪Palouf Kingdom
▪Ferzen Magic Kingdom
▪Elfrau Kingdom
▪Ryle Kingdom
▪Hannock Kingdom
▪Egret Kingdom
▪Palerius Kingdom
▪Brunhild Dukedom
The representatives of all those countries listed are assembled here.
And on this occasion, I made public the "existence of the Reverse World" and the "merging of the two worlds" that will occur in the near future.
To be honest, it's not weird even if they suspect me of having contracted a serious mental disease with this topic. However, everyone here has already faintly realized and accepted the concept of worlds different from our own. Thanks to the invaders from outside this world, the Phrase.
"Nothing like horrible cataclysms or the end of the world will happen even if I say the worlds will merge. I've already made preparations to make it that way."
"That… When that other world you speak of is joined together with ours, what exactly will happen?"
The queen of Elfrau raised her hand slightly and asked.
"It'll likely be something like discovering a new continent across the ocean. There won't be anything like our existing landscape changing."
The worlds aren't "overlapping", but "joining", to be more accurate. The two worlds will just combine with each other across the ocean, and nothing like the land masses merging together will happen. However, since some parts of the land at the bottom of the ocean will be merged together, it seems like there's a possibility for new islands to appear due to the squeezing together and subsequent rising of land masses.
"Two worlds becoming one, is it… Touya-dono, what are the people living in the other world like?"
"I can't give a definitive answer since I've only visited a couple of countries myself, but in general they're no different from us. However, magic isn't very developed on the other side. It's not as if it doesn't exist, but it isn't really needed."
"Magic isn't really needed? What do you mean?"
The country famed for its magicians, Ferzen's king interjected. To him, magic is the central pillar supporting his country, so a statement like that is obviously concerning.
"Instead of magic, they're more developed in the area of magic engineering. Things like the ether vehicle I made the other day are already in use on the other side since a while ago. Well, those are relatively pricey on the other side as well, though."
"Does that mean they're a more advanced world than ours?"
"That's not entirely the case. For example, something that we can finish in an instant with earth magic would take them several days using their golems to construct. There're different areas they're good and bad in."
After that, I shared all that I know with the other kings. First, the merging of the world had already begun, and there's no way to stop it.
Even though the worlds are merging, since we'll be separated by an ocean as explained earlier, there won't be things like national boundaries changing.
Also, the fact that the variant attacks would be increasing in frequency in the future.
"I don't really understand. Anyway, the Great Sea of Trees won't be affected by this, right?"
"Besides the appearance of the variants, yeah."
"Then that situation doesn't really matter to us. Of course, if Touya is troubled, all tribes in the sea of trees are willing to lend you their strengths. Call on us anytime."
Pam leaned back on her chair with a fearless smile. The tribes of the Great Sea of Trees doesn't really concern themselves with these kinds of things. To them, the Great Sea of Trees is their world, and means everything to them, after all.
"Central-dono has said that she went to the other side once. How would you describe that world?"
Eashen's Mikado, Shirahime-san, asked that towards the queen of Palerius, Central-san, who's sitting next to her.
"I was only inside the castle of a country called Primula, so I wouldn't really know… However, it wasn't really any different compared to our side. Things like food and drinks were pretty normal as well."
Millie-san who went together as escort also tasted the food for poison, just in case. Regarding foodstuffs, there's almost no problems. There are things there that are identical to the ones found in the Surface World, after all.
"Touya-dono, as expected, the thing I'm most concerned about is whether the countries on the other side would attack our countries. Using those, uh, golems? That you mentioned."
When the Lihnea king opened his mouth and said that, several other kings also nodded slightly. Right, that's a point I can understand.
"Since there's going to be an ocean between us, I don't think direct invasions would occur that easily. Besides, if it actually happens we won't just sit around and watch. That's what the alliance is for, anyway."
If possible, I'd want the countries on the other side to join the alliance and get along with everyone else. That opinion itself isn't opposed by any of our current members. That means, it only depends on the countries in the Reverse World.
If the other side doesn't want to interact then we'll leave them be, and if they come picking a fight then I'll extinguish the sparks before they can ignite. I want the two sides to be friends, but not to the degree that we'll endure getting one-sidedly picked on.
"Well, it's Touya-dono after all."
"We can only pray the leaders of the countries on the other side aren't idiots."
"How many countries do you think will disappear from the other world's map?"
"That's a difficult question. Over here it ended with just two, but…"
The monarchs of Belfast, Regulus, Mismede and Refreese are spewing random things together. Oi, wait a minute. I'm not the one who actually destroyed Yulong, and didn't you guys also kind of participated in the fall of Sandora?
Well, I am thinking about probing a bit into Eisengard right now, though.
Since I don't think it's good to make judgments with only second-hand knowledge, I'm planning to go meet with that Magicraft King once. He could be a rather air-headed grandpa for one… No, it'd be bad to give that kind of grandpa authority over a country.
It's possible that while the top is messed up, the subordinates are decent people. It would be truly troublesome if it's like Yulong or Sandora, where the entire country is permeated with weird ways of thinking. But if they're decent, they should've stopped the crazy grandpa at the top, shouldn't they…
"Well, it's not like the merging will happen right away, so don't be too concerned about it. Even if it happens, there won't be any kind of huge changes. Also, I believe we should hide this fact from the public for the moment…"
"That's true. It'll only invite unnecessary confusion. That aside, do you want to convey this matter to Nokia and Horn as well?"
The state governor of Roadmare asked me that.
Un, that's one thing I've been thinking about as well…
Nokia Kingdom and Horn Kingdom. The two countries in the Surface World that still have not joined the World Alliance.
Although apparently, Horn Kingdom had several talks with the neighboring Ferzen.
That country is in the middle of a power struggle, and right now it's in a state where there's no actual leader for the country. Something about how the previous king passed away without naming a successor, and then some arguments broke out over the inheritance ceremony, or something. As such, they're not in a state where they can decide on national policies easily.
As for Nokia Kingdom, attempts for conversation from Xenoas' side had been conveyed a few times, but apparently they've been avoiding a concrete reply.
Nokia was a kingdom built by people who escaped from the tyranny of Yulong in the past, and is situated deep within a series of steep mountains; as such, it's a country half-isolated from the world. To be honest, since until recently Xenoas had been a similarly isolated country, there isn't a lot of contact between the two. It's a tough situation to resolve.
"Regarding Horn and Nokia… For the moment it's best to watch the situation develop, I suppose. There's not much they can do even if we told them this information."
"That's true. Even us right now have basically no idea what to do with this, after all."
The state governor replied with a wry smile. Well, if the other side wishes to not interact with us, it's not impossible for us to follow their wish.
"Does the other world not have an organization like the Adventurer's Guild?"
This time, a question flew here from Guild Master Rerishia-san. Could she perhaps be planning to extend the operations of the Adventurer's Guild into the other world as well…?
"At least in the countries which I've been to, there wasn't anything like that. Things like magic beasts or monsters do exist there, but they're mostly handled by the country's knight orders and their golems. In the countryside, there are also villages that purchase golems to use as guards. Of course, it seems like there are also golem users who make a living by defeating monsters."
"Fumu… I see."
Rerishia-san started thinking about something. Surely a lot of calculations are flying around inside her head. Since she's an elf, it's possible for her to take her time and slowly get the Reverse World to accept the concept of the Adventurer's Guild, after all.
I'm personally okay with helping out if it's for that. Even now, I'm still technically an adventurer, after all.
Regarding the talk about villages purchasing golems to use as guards earlier, that's ultimately only about the villages that have a certain amount of monetary resources; small frontier villages mostly wouldn't have that luxury.
And even for the villages that have guard golems, if it's not a type that's very specialized towards combat, it wouldn't do them much good; also, in the cases where the village can't afford too many, there's going to be situations like using 1 or 2 golems to repel a goblin horde, which is ludicrous.
It's weird saying this, but purely in terms of fighting strength, the people in the Surface World is better compared to those in the Reverse World. Since the other side mostly had people relying on golems to fight, their individual skill levels aren't exactly high.
"We'd sure like an opportunity to go to that other world once. Can't we?"
"It's not like you can't, but it's a completely difference world, you know? Things like the reputation of your country wouldn't work there, and considering the danger…"
"If it's Touya-dono, couldn't you deal with most dangers that aren't too serious anyway?"
"… Well, that is true."
Mismede's Beast King grinned at me. I'm being pretty trusted, eh. It's true that if I do something like constantly spreading out a [Prison] in the surroundings, unless the evil god attacks us our safety can be guaranteed. Still, there's many things to take care of like poison slipped into foods or toxic gas…
For now, I'll ask Trihalan God-Empire or Primula Kingdom to host them next time. Although having everyone go at once would be impossible, if it's three or four people each time then it should be fine. Well, if you add in the escort personnel, the number would increase quite a bit, though.
Afterwards, we moved into the usual free time with the various leaders chatting with each other while having snacks or playing games. Sometimes, when discussing problem facing their countries, the two parties would turn to me for help; things like that happened.
If we can mingle with the leaders of the Reverse World like this, it would be nice.
For now it's only Primula and Trihalan… Oh, there's that connection I had with Panashes
Kingdom as well, wasn't there. I was acquainted with their prince who's the master of the blue [Crown]. That annoying sleeping prince…
I can just have him introduce me to his parents, the king and queen of Panashes.
I hope his parents are normal people… Umu.
– Pixel