Chapter 46: Sheer Despair! I Am in Sheer Despair at How Naturally I Wrote the ‘Beware of Serious’ Warning!
The Prime Minister’s official residence.
At this place that can be said to be the base from which j.a.pan’s Prime Minister enacts his duties, several people have gathered.1
It is not for a Cabinet meeting. If it is a Cabinet meeting, then the people gathered here would be internal affairs ministers that the Prime Minister had selected.
But no, among the people gathered here, there is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. And what’s more, the Prime Minister and said Minister of Foreign Affairs are the only two j.a.panese present.
“I see. In other words, the continent where Graios-san and the others came from is separated into three main areas, with the Dwarven Kingdom in the middle.”
One of them, Prime Minister Adachi, is hearing about an otherworld’s geography and international situation and taking it in.
Otherworld.
Originally, this is a topic only for idle gossip, and is no means something for a country to take seriously, even if it does exist.
However, the recent increase of summonings and reverse-summonings as of late has made it an urgent task to understand this otherworld.
To this end, three otherworlders have been called over to the Official Residence.
“Umu. In the center of the continent is a mountain called Dragon King Mountain, because many dragons live on it. As it is an act of suicide to attempt crossing the nearby mountain chains, the dwarves’ underground tunnels become the only viable path of transportation. However, these dwarves are all very hard-headed. If those dwarves had only given their a.s.sent, then our Fitzgald Empire would have been able to expand our territory much further.”
“If that had truly happened, then surely Galdeia Kingdom would have already become a va.s.sal state of Fitzgald.”
One of the people present, Graios, looks truly regretful while speaking.
But at this point, his worlds can only be a mere bad-natured joke. Understanding that, Shiina—another otherworlder—smiles while replying.
“I can indeed see the case for that. Whereas the northern part of the continent has gained a certain measure of peace after being unified under Fitzgald Empire, in the southeastern part, with the exception of the sister countries of Galdeia and Meldeia, there are innumerable small countries constantly embroiled in war.”
“Then the only area left is the west, where Pasion Kingdom heads the other nearby countries. Due to the demon realm where the demon race lives being immediately on the other side of the sea, all the countries in this area are tightly allied together to deal with that.”
Since it’s the most dangerous place out of them all.
So adds Roman, the last otherworlder, while shrugging his shoulders.
“Hmm, so based off of that, it seems to make sense that if we are to initiate contact with this world, the first one that we should reach out to would be Fitzgald.”
The one who took in all the previous information and summed it up as such with a broad grin is the other j.a.panese present, Yagira.
Yagira is someone with a slightly longer career as a politician than Adachi. When Adachi succeeded the previous Prime Minister, it was Yagira who then took up the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Whereas Adachi is a tactician who guides his enemies to destroy themselves before they know it, Yagira is a brawler who challenges his enemies from the front and pounds them to dust.
Due to his easy-to-understand att.i.tude, his support from the citizens is surprisingly high, and foreign countries also evaluate him highly.
It is because Yagira is such a person that he was especially called all the way to the Official Residence to take part in this meeting with otherworlders.
If he wasn’t needed, then this meeting could have just taken place in the Adachi residence after all.
“I disagree. If the overall situation has not changed since when I came over, I believe the first country to initiate contact with should be Galdeia Kingdom.”
The one who refuted Yagira’s words is, surprisingly, Roman.
“The current state of Fitzgald is far from the word ‘monolithic.’ There are many vigilantly keeping an eye out for any opportunities to whittle down the Emperor’s authority. Though it isn’t to the degree of open opposition, it wouldn’t be strange for a powerful shock that would rock the country to happen at any time.”
“What’s this. Even though I’ve been gone for quite some while already, my foolish son still hasn’t consolidated the country in his palm?”
“Unfortunately, yes. After all, the whole bunch that had been suppressed by Your Imperial Highness are itching like children who can’t wait any longer to raise a ruckus. In fact, I believe that having kept the country intact thus far despite Your Imperial Highness’ sudden disappearance is already a feat worthy of praise.”
Graios sounds disgruntled, but Roman merely returns a wry smile before turning again to the map of his world.
“Very well. I now understand that Fitzgald is in a precarious state. But even so, then why Galdeia? Our Tonegawa Asahi having been summoned over and married into the royal family seems about it.”
“That is indeed all there is, but that is what’s important.”
Yagira’s tone is doubtful. In response to that, Roman nods, yet maintains a tone of confidence.
“In regards to Galdeia’s queen consort, despite being a woman, she is brilliant at politics, and by her own strength wonderfully overcame a period of time when the king was unable to carry out his duties due to ill health. Even after the king recovered, she continued to implement various policies, and now among gossipers it is said that ‘the king of Galdeia’s greatest achievement ever is marrying his queen consort.’”
“Hou. So she is that capable. If such is the case, then it’s a great pity that we weren’t able to have her become a politician on our side.”
Yagira feels greatly regretful upon hearing of Asahi’s evaluation, but the reason why she was able to be so successful was because she had the authority of a queen consort. She herself understands best that she would not do well as a politician in j.a.pan, and she wouldn’t agree to being one even if asked.
In the first place, despite being unsuited, being able to perhaps somehow push through with her forceful short-temper is the woman named Tonegawa Asahi.
“So she is a j.a.panese who stands close to being the top of the country, and has achievements under her belt. I see. If we are to step foot into this otherworld, then it seems sensible indeed to initiate negotiations with Tonegawa-san.”
So concludes Adachi. If Asahi herself had been present, she would have forgotten her own status and just snapped with “could you guys NOT push such a heavy duty onto me?!”
Despite having become a queen consort, she would still make sure to use keigo2 when addressing her home country’s Prime Minister. No matter how much her status has gone up, she is still a model lower middle cla.s.s j.a.panese citizen.
“But either way, we haven’t got a clue in regards to the all-important method to contact the otherworld that all this hinges on.”
“…… True enough.”
So says Yagira with a laugh. As if drawn by that, everybody else who had been seriously partic.i.p.ating in the conversation so far all relax the tension in their body.
“I suppose we can only wait for Elte on that count.”
“Indeed. If we are to open a door to an otherworld, then it’s only her and her training as a summoner that we can rely on.”
“But we have to take care not to pressure and push her too much. The reason why she always looks so sleepy is surely not solely because of her schoolwork.”
“Let’s all play a part in keeping an eye on her and making sure that she doesn’t overwork herself.”
Then the various members of the Adachi family begin talking harmoniously about the teenage girl who isn’t present. The sight of them causes Yagira to laugh merrily.
“You guys really do get along great. Adachi-san, you sure are blessed.”
Today, too, j.a.pan is at peace.
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At the same time, in Takamagahara.
“Ane-ue. If they really find a way to interfere with another world, what measures should we take?”
“Eh? We’re not going to do anything though?”
The question from her younger brother Tsukuyomi-sama earns him a ‘what are you talking about?’ look and an instant answer.
“…… Are you sure about that? Wouldn’t that cause the balance between the worlds to collapse?”
“Worlds are not so fragile as to collapse from merely something like that. And even if they do, that’s what we’re here for, right?”
“That’s indeed so, but……”
Tsukuyomi-sama’s furrowed brows indicate that he is still not fully convinced. Seeing that, Amaterasu-sama flashes him a smile as bright as the sun that she symbolizes.
“In the first place, it’s probably pointless to stop them. Throughout history, humans have continued ama.s.sing knowledge. With it, they’ve crossed oceans, flown into the sky, and even reached s.p.a.ce. Advancing into another world is surely just an extension of the same. That’s why this is not something that we should obstruct.”
Though we G.o.ds are existences that watch over and guide mortals, it is not our place to manage them.
So says Amaterasu-sama while smiling.
“…… Would the other G.o.ds agree with that?”
“Zeus would probably say yes quite easily. Odin might dig in his feet a little, but seeing as how he’s letting Thor do whatever he wants, he’ll most likely fold in the end. And the other G.o.ds would mostly agree just because ‘it seems interesting,’ I think.”
“……”
It can totally happen.
Tsukuyomi-sama looks off with distant eyes while coming to grips with the fact that he can easily imagine such an outcome. G.o.ds are fundamentally quite fond of interesting things.
“Though it would probably be still quite a while until all that actually happens. Let’s just leisurely watch over them until then.”
“…… Very well.”
Tsukuyomi-sama nods while feeling a sense of discomfort at the unusually reliable-sounding Amaterasu-sama.
Today, too, Takamagahara is at peace.
1 The Official Residence is princ.i.p.al office of the Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy Cabinet Secretaries perform their daily duties, as well as the place where important Cabinet meetings take place, where foreign leaders are welcomed and entertained, and is also the location of a national crisis management center. (Wikipedia) Then separated by a wall (but still within the grounds) is a separate building where the Prime Minister actually lives.
2 Honorific speech, keigo, is used when speaking with someone of a higher rank.