While a guy who could use incredible magic with power comparable to a weapon
of mass destruction would be one thing, or a guy who could equip invincible sword
and armor, a guy from another world with a power that happened to make
administrative tasks a little easier wasn't going to be of any interest to the Empire
with its massive population and the large number of personnel it had as a result.
However, that being the case, the Empire had asked the kingdom to perform the
hero summoning. After considering the matter with Hakuya for some time, we had
come to a certain conclusion. It was...
"That was an attempt to show consideration, right?" I asked. "Towards a kingdom
that couldn't pay the war subsidies."
Jeanne reacted with startled surprise. "...Yes," she said with resignation.
...I knew it.
In the Mankind Declaration, which the Empire had proposed, it said, "Countries
that are distant from the Demon Lord's Domain will provide support to those
nations which are adjacent to it and are acting as a defensive wall."
The Empire had wanted the Elfrieden Kingdom, as a country that was distant
from the Demon Lord's Domain, to provide support to the countries adjacent to it. If
they hadn't, there would have been complaints from the other signatories to the
Mankind Declaration.
However, at the time, with the food crisis and financial crisis slowly pushing the
kingdom to the point of collapse, it would have been nearly impossible to find the
money for war subsidies.
"That's why the Empire had the kingdom perform the hero summoning, to give
them the appearance of having provided support," I said. "In order to keep down the
complaints from the other signatories."
"...That's exactly it," said Jeanne.
"Hold on," Juna protested. "This country never signed the Mankind Declaration.
Were we ever obligated to provide support to begin with?"
I shook my head. "It's a fact that this country was benefiting from the defensive
wall the Empire built with the Mankind Declaration. Because we have the Union of
Eastern Nations to the north of us, we didn't have to share a border with the Demon
Lord's Domain." It was also a fact that the Union of Eastern Nations was being
propped up by war subsidies under the Mankind Declaration. "If we benefit from it,
but refuse to fulfill the obligations set out under it because we're a non-signatory,
that's going to breed resentment from the signatory countries. With that as a
pretext, Amidonia might have been able to create an alliance of several nations to
invade the kingdom. With the Empire taking the lead."
"No..." Juna said, at a loss for words, but this was the truth.
In the recent war, because the only nation plotting to invade had been the
Principality of Amidonia, we had been able to induce them to do so under conditions
that were favorable to us, and defeat them.
From Amidonia's perspective, I was sure they'd wanted to make all of the land
they occupied their own, but if they had roped in the mercenary state Zem, the
Republic of Turgis, and some portion of the Union of Eastern Nations, along with the
Imperial Army, there would have been nothing the kingdom could have done to
avoid a total collapse.
I looked Jeanne straight in the eye and said, "With your goal of uniting all
mankind to prepare for the menace of the Demon Lord's Domain, the Empire
wanted to avoid that. That's why you demanded war subsidies from non-signatories,
and for those that couldn't pay, you tried to find a workable substitute to appease
the signatories, right? In the kingdom's case, that was a hero."
"...I have no words," said Jeanne.
"To be brutally honest, the Empire didn't even expect the hero summoning to
work, did it?" I asked. "Okay, this being a world with magic, you might have thought
they'd summon something, but you can't have had high expectations for something
the kingdom itself didn't think would work. Even if the summoning had failed, you
would have been satisfied by the fact it was performed."
"That's right. But, as a result of that, you were summoned," Jeanne said, looking
troubled. "What's more, ever since you were summoned here and given the throne
by Sir Albert, you've worked actively to rebuild this country, even finding the money
to provide war subsidies. While my sister was grateful, she also regretted forcing
such a heavy burden on you when you were called here at our convenience. We truly
are sorry."
Jeanne bowed once more.
I sighed, saying, "I already told you, it's in the past. Now that I now the situation, I
don't resent you for it. It's not like I don't have a lingering attachment to my old
world, but... but..."
I glanced from Juna, with a tense look on her face, to Tomoe.
There was nobody left who would wait for me to come home in my old world.
Since coming to this world, I had found people here who would. Whenever I
returned to the castle, Liscia, Aisha, Juna, and Tomoe would be there to say,
"Welcome home." Having felt the loneliness of solitude, that was something I never
wanted to lose again.
"I've found people here I want to protect," I said simply. "That's why I'm not too
hung up over it. Mind you, if you feel bad enough about it that you'll recognize my
sovereignty over Van, I'm not gonna complain."
When I said that jokingly, Jeanne raised her face quietly shook her head. "...Sadly,
I, too, have a family to protect."
Neither of us averted our gaze. We each looked the other straight in the eye.
"I see... well, we'll have to negotiate, then," I said.
"Yes," Jeanne said. "Please, go easy on me when the time comes."
With an "I'll take my leave," Jeanne turned her back and faded into the crowd. She
vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
"The presences I felt surrounding us have vanished, too," Juna commented. "It
looks like Jeanne's bodyguards have withdrawn."
"She really did just come to say hello, huh..." I looked in the direction Jeanne had
left. "Jeanne Euphoria... the pragmatic younger sister who supports the idealistic
saint."
If it had only been Amidonia's crown prince, Julius, I'd have to contend with, I felt
there was no way I could have lost at the negotiations. But with Jeanne mediating, I
wouldn't be able to rely too much on his weaknesses. If I tried to get too crafty and
they saw through it, there was the risk that they might turn things to his advantage
by pointing it out.
I'll have to let Hakuya know he's going to need to give his all at the negotiations,
too...
I slapped my cheeks, trying to psyche myself up for it.
That evening...
"Liscia, Aisha," I said. "I brought souvenirs for you two."
Having returned to the castle, I gave Liscia and Aisha the gifts I'd bought for
them. Liscia got that choker made of blue leather with silver foil scattered around
like stars, while Aisha got the pale lipstick.
Liscia immediately put the choker around her neck, fingering the bird clasp with
a satisfied smile. "Thanks, Souma. I'll treasure it."
The slightly shy smile wasn't like Liscia, and I couldn't help but stare at her,
enthralled.
Whew, I was relieved that she liked it. It suited her well, and I was glad I'd bought
it.
Meanwhile, Aisha...
"Ohhhh, Your Majesty! To think you would bestow a gift even on one such as me,
I am awed and delighted! When you left me behind, I felt down, but this has lifted my
spirits as high as the heavens!"
"W-Well, good for you... Aisha..." Juna said.
"Yes, Madam Juna! With this lipstick, I swear I will polish my femininity! Then,
His Majesty will never let me leave his side... heh heh heh."
"G-Good luck with that..."
Aisha was a little too thrilled. The happy aura beaming from her entire body
seemed to be enough to seriously weird Juna out. Juna, by the way, was also wearing
the hair piece I'd given her.
"Sire! Sire!" cried Aisha. "How is it? Does it look good on me?"
Aisha put on her lipstick and started acting flirty right away. If Aisha hadn't been
a dark elf, and she had been a mystic wolf like Tomoe instead, her tail would have
been wagging like crazy.
When she saw how overexuberant Aisha was, Liscia traced the outline of her
choker with one finger, looking to me. "Don't you think the collar would have been a
better match for Aisha?"
"...Let me go with 'no comment' on that one," I said.