“I’m sorry. I did petition that it was inappropriate treatment toward you, but with my authority, I couldn’t persuade them.”
“I understand that you are not trying to cause harm. If it is only a matter of formality, there is no problem.”
To Chief Diplomat Tiariada Elemes, who apologized from the heart, Arborea=Heath nodded without expression.
“Escort accompaniment is permitted. If so, there is no chance of us falling behind.”
An audience with Elders’ Council Le Elphia, the supreme power organ of the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
For that, the venue prepared—according to Tiariada—was a vast hall called the Round-Table Hall Rundelzimmer, apparently intended for intimidation.
A gigantic hall where the twelve members of Elders’ Council Le Elphia look down from the circumference upon the person standing at the lower central level.
In its center stood Tiariada Elemes as a guide, and the invited <Paraiso> representatives, Arborea=Heath and Alistarta=Heath.
The members of Elders’ Council Le Elphia had not yet appeared.
Behind Arborea and Alistarta, three Biped Escort Units stood by as guards. Their white-based bodies were accented by lines blinking blue.
VIP Protection Walking Machine <Primates>. Armament: a Multi-barrel Coilgun and a Mace as a bludgeoning weapon.
A Mobile Multi-Layer Shield for defense.
The refined combination of straight lines and curves that made up <Primates> gave onlookers a mysterious sense of oppressive awe.
And then, after waiting five minutes—
With a faint sound, the twelve doors set into the circular room slowly opened.
What appeared were twelve rulers.
The highest authority figures of the Forest Kingdom of Levresta.
They advanced and sat in their respective chairs.
“Welcome to the Forest Kingdom of Levresta, envoys.”
One of them, looking down at Arborea and Alistarta from directly in front, spoke.
The diameter of the Round-Table Hall Rundelzimmer was roughly 20 meters. From the center to the elders’ seats was about 12 meters.
There was a fair distance, but the voice of the man in front carried strangely well.
“You have endured a long journey. Normally, we would set aside several days for you to recover, but Tiariada insisted and hurried us. We apologize for summoning you the same day.”
“No problem. There is no need to apologize. We have had sufficient rest. As for the issues your country is facing, we are also concerned. Rather, we are grateful that you immediately prepared a venue like this.”
Arborea=Heath answered. She used the amplification function equipped on <Primates>, and her clear, lovely voice echoed through the chamber.
“...Is that so. If so, then it was worth the effort we made.”
Arborea and Alistarta looked up steadily at the chair who had spoken.
In their appearance, there was no fear, no irritation, no tension, no insolence.
Only, as they were.
“If you say it is urgent, then it would be tasteless to pile up meaningless back-and-forth. Tiariada—shall we proceed to the main point?”
A different elder from the chair at the front spoke.
The person who served as the head of the diplomatic ministry to which Tiariada belonged.
“Yes. Then, first, let us align our understanding—”
*****
“For form’s sake, shall we hear everyone’s opinion?”
“Hmph. As if we have any choice.”
“You all know the importance of exchanging words. Lately it’s been peaceful, and opportunities like this have decreased quite a bit.”
“Is this not the situation we feared? The circumstances stagnated. The era when we reigned as a strong country is now a thing of the past.”
“And that golem that travels the skies from time to time—does this have anything to do with it?”
“It has not been stated explicitly, but according to Tiariada’s report, there seem to be multiple testimonies about a gigantic ship flying at high altitude. It is almost certainly connected.”
“Hm... And the purpose of those girls—what do we truly think? That envoy was quite composed.”
“I was scolded endlessly by Tiariada to discard my petty pride, though.”
“You only see one side of it. I say it becomes troublesome if we show openings to the domestic radicals.”
“Domestic forces are fine. It is all only a matter of time. The United Kingdom of Aphrasia... no, the organization called <Paraiso>. We will need a rapid response to them.”
“Has it even been a year since we heard the name? It seems they swallowed up the nomads.”
“At the very least, they have the power to kill that detestable pest in a single strike, don’t they? Is there anyone who doubts it?”
“I will not doubt it. Did you see the golem that girl brought? Can you imagine its power?”
“I could not see magic power. But that was...”
“It is technology we have neither seen nor heard of. We were told it drifted in from beyond the sea—if that is true, then it is nothing but a threat. In our land countries, we could never fully oppose it.”
“I don’t think they are a hegemon, though. Their way of doing things is soft.”
“Impressions matter. Those girls seem... indifferent to their own benefit, or...”
“I do not want to think it, but they may not even consider us worth noticing.”
“That would be the worst situation. But I share the view.”
“And so, the proposal was mercenary dispatch?”
“We have no choice but to accept, do we?”
“More noisy ones will likely appear again, though.”
“Is it not about time we stopped bothering? We could simply throw the complaining rabble straight onto the front line.”
“...That may be an option. We, too, are reaching a phase where we should break this stagnation.”
“Oh? That’s right. And it seems we can obtain new equipment from those girls, of all sources. Dress them in brand-new clothes, flatter them, and send them out.”
“Even those ones might climb a tree, you know? Wouldn’t that become truly troublesome?”
“Hmph. Don’t say things you don’t mean. The fingerless can’t climb a tree no matter how they struggle.”
“...The policy is set, then. That will do. Agreement is reached. All that remains is to walk it.”
*****
“So in the end, what policy are they going to move with?”
“Strengthening intelligence—rather, information gathering—on us, <Paraiso>. It seems they aim to increase eyes and ears by revitalizing trade with the Kingdom of Lepuitari and other countries. And it seems they will largely accept our proposals. As for trade goods, they intend to hold working-level meetings. We also received contact that they will examine compensation regarding mercenary dispatch.”
“If you call it anticlimactic, it’s anticlimactic.”
While analyzing what had been reported by Local Tactical AI <Heath>, <Ringo> shared the information with Commander Ma’am.
Exchanges with the Forest Kingdom of Levresta are proceeding far more smoothly than we had braced for.
“At first, it felt like they were really looking down on us.”
“According to the investigation, Levresta’s citizens appear to be long-lived by race. A long life means that each individual accumulates that much experience.”
“So they’re a tough opponent. Even if it looks like it’s going smoothly.”
In order to eradicate <Big Moth>, <Paraiso> proposed dispatching an extermination unit.
Chief Diplomat Tiariada said he would consider the proposal positively, and it seems he actually presented it to the supreme authority organ, the elders’ council.
And then, before you knew it, mercenary dispatch was approved, and the request was made.
As compensation, for the time being, they will provide some kind of magical tools.
They will continue inspecting economic activity and hold discussions to conduct healthy logistics between the two countries.
For mercenary work, ammunition transport is necessary, but they agreed to run caravans on a regular basis. With logistics becoming more active, exports and imports can also be increased.
“Given the reputation of twelve people reigning at the top for a long time, I expected a corrupt, ossified organization, but they seem to possess a flexibility that defies that assumption.”
“If negotiations are easier, I welcome it. It looks like a deliberative system, but maybe it’s actually pretty dictatorial?”
“That may be the case. A structure may have formed in which conflicts of interest within the elders’ council ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) are few. Organizational management under long-lived conditions may be manifesting in the best possible way.”
If so.
That arrogant attitude may have been because, in terms of national power as well, they truly placed the United Kingdom of Aphrasia itself below them.
In fact, their attitude toward <Paraiso> seemed to be improving day by day.
“Twelve crafty elders who also have real ability, huh. If the opponent weren’t <Ringo>, they might have been a pretty tough enemy.”
“I am honored.”
