★
Several days after the water dragon incident, the entire Onigawara family was invited over to Marquis Goldas’s house.
After the dinner, when his wife and children were napping in the parlor, Shouzou and Jilk Goldas were sitting across from each other on sofas, sharing a bottle of wine.
“Fuu......” A sigh spilled from Shouzou’s lips.
“What’s wrong, Shouzou? You seemed uncharacteristically down today. Was my hospitality lacking?”
“Ahh, no, I apologize. Your hospitality was wonderful. Both my wife and children enjoyed it very much. No, I currently have something that I’m worrying over.”
“Hm, that’s rare coming from you. You also had a serious look on your face the entire time. Even now you still do.”
“You picked that up, did you. Mmm......”
The two of them sighed in unison, then Marquis Goldas spoke up first. “Though this might be a bit inappropriate coming from me, as the host, but there’s a serious matter than I want to discuss with you.”
Shouzou temporarily pushed his own worry into a corner of his head, then sat up straight.
Goldas’s eyes took on a sharp gleam. “I’ve asked this before, but Shouzou, do you have any intention of serving our king?”
“......I believe I have already answered “no” to that, have I not?”
“But I have not given up. Back then it was too early, but now the situation is different.” Goldas leaned back deeply into the sofa before continuing. “Right now, the Kingdom of Alsbeit is in a critical situation. We are under the clear threat of an external enemy.”
This world that the Onigawara family had transmigrated to was one in which magic beasts ran rampant. The “threat” that most countries were concerned with was the internal one of magic beasts. Most of the excursions that they deployed their military for were magic beast-related incidents. Due to this ever-prevalent threat, countries usually resolved problems through talking and negotiation, so except in rare instances, wars never started.
“However, in recent years, a violent country that has been gradually swallowing up its smaller neighbors in order to expand its own borders has amassed strength that cannot be ignored.” It was none other than the country that had employed a water dragon to attack its own merchant ships within Alsbeit Kingdom’s borders—the Bardimian Empire.
“Have they already started accusing us of something?”
“Not yet. However, I believe that it would be too late to do anything about it if we wait for them to do so.”
“What has been the empire’s reaction to how the water dragon incident played out?”
“They’ve shown no reaction so far. It would probably take them a little more time to fully understand what had happened. In that matter, we have the advantage. As for the special diplomatic envoy who had been controlling the water dragon, Nemeelaso Giel, he’s currently recuperating in the royal capital. After we confiscated all his highly suspicious tobacco, he got very sick. We’ve already dispatched an envoy to the empire bearing the message that he shall return soon after he recovers.”
“It was the empire’s merchant ships that got damaged by the water dragon’s attacks. What are they doing about that?”
Judging by Giel’s confession, there was no room for doubt that this matter was a charade from start to finish, entirely orchestrated by the empire itself. The kingdom had also received indirect damage from being unable to conduct proper trades with the empire. The opinions of the nobles in the House of Lords were split all over the spectrum regarding this matter. Whereas some insisted on not offering reparations for the merchant ships, there were also more diehard nobles who wanted to demand an explanation and apology, as well as reparations from the empire.
“However, this matter blowing up would also be playing into the empire’s plans. From our end, we have already sent word to the empire that we are also prepared to pay a certain amount of reparations for the ships that went down in our waters, although it won’t be the full amount. Our king has already approved this.”
“Hmm. Though vexing, I suppose a little expenditure can’t be helped if we want to prod our opponent to make a move. When thinking about it from a long-term perspective, offering reparations is a good strategy. It serves as demonstration of our earnestness in the eyes of the other countries.”
Seeing Shouzou cross his arms and nod, Goldas could not help but to chuckle a little.
“What is it?”
“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that you really are someone who should become one of our country’s central pillars.”
“Spare me please. I am an absolute novice when it comes to politics. But international diplomacy, that’s basically just negotiation, which I am good at. All I’m doing is offering my personal opinion from generalizing the issues. In the world of business negotiations, ‘war’ is not included as a viable solution.”
“You don’t think I’ll let you off the hook for such a weak excuse, do you? So far, you have been thinking up outlandish schemes that would never occur to anyone else in a thousand years, in the process pushing a bottom feeder guild into becoming the top one in Treia within such record time. If it’s you, then I have no doubt you’ll come up with something so that we won’t have to resort to playing the final card of ‘war.’” Goldas leaned forward eagerly. “It irks me to admit this, but it is doubtful whether anyone in the House of Lords, myself included, is capable of avoiding this war or not. Naturally, we don’t think we’ll lose if war does break out, but it will undoubtedly be a huge drain on our resources. Will you please lend us your aid?” Goldas lowered his head deeply, causing Shouzou to become troubled for an answer.
On the one hand, if war did indeed break out, his work at the guild would be negatively affected for sure, and the majority of Platinum and Gold-ranked adventurers would surely be gathered to fight in the war.
“......Give me some time to think about it. This is not something that I can decide at my own discretion. I will need to talk it over with both my family and coworkers.”
“Very well. But don’t forget the urgency of our circumstances.” Shouzou smiled wryly at Goldas’s very last show of insistence.
“So then, Shouzou, what is it that you were worried about? If you are fine with me, then I’ll lend you an ear.”
“Asking that at this timing makes it seem like you’re trying to make me owe you one.”
“That’s half my intention, actually.” Goldas’s villainous smirk evoked another wry smile from Shouzou.
“Actually, it’s about my family...... one of my daughters, to be exact.”
“Oh, a matter of child education huh......” The composed smile on Goldas’s face disappeared. In regards to child education, Shouzou was Goldas’s own mentor. He found himself worried whether or not he would be able to provide any actually useful advice.
“This was something that happened last night—” Thus Shouzou began his retelling in a troubled voice—