After finishing my meal in the castle, I went to visit Gio’s home.
His home was located in the eastern part of the city.
Glancing around the area, I could see many black-furred Leopardkin lollygagging.
I guess this was the area where the Shadowblades gathered.
Seras isn’t accompanying me to this place.
Gio had told me that he wanted to talk to me alone.
Walking through this area, I arrived in front of a conspicuously large house, which is probably built for him because he was the Chief of the tribe and one of the Four Warlights.
Receiving me in front of the house is Yerma, and she led me to the back of the house.
When I entered the back room, I found Gio deeply-seated in a large chair.
A candelabra on the wall dimly illuminated the room.
Guided by Yerma, I sat down on the chair.
Declining the drink Gio offered, I asked him to get straight to the point.
[————–And that’s why, I was thinking.]
Gio had just finished telling his confidential story.
[You told me about this…… Does that mean you want me to be a part of it?]
[If this works, it won’t matter which way the majority vote goes tomorrow.]
[Anybody else who wants to go with this plan?]
[If the result of the majority vote is not what I want, I’m going to ask Qir and Armia to take a look at the situation.]
In other words, he’s going to decide whether to approach them or not “based on who they voted for”.
[What about Kokoroniko-dono?]
[She’s going to side with Liese. The Dorans owe a great debt of gratitude to those Arachnes. It’s obvious which side she’ll lean to.]
I had suspected this would be the case from the way Kokoroniko had talked back in the training grounds.
[What do you think will be tomorrow’s majority decision, Gio-dono? Let’s say, what would Qir-dono vote for?]
[……I’d like to think she would be on the fighting side. I heard that her tribe was once hunted by humans when they were still in the outside world. It’s apparently because their kind were some kind of mutations of the centaurs, or something like that. Their blue skin and the crest on their foreheads were apparently rare and unique to the Meirus.]
[Thus, it is highly likely that they perceive humans to be dangerous .]
[That’s also what I think.]
However, in the end, Meiru’s incident was only “a story of the past”.
It’s not enough to persuade Liese who stubbornly believes in the “present”.
[………………….]
As expected, the bottleneck is the strong influence of Lieselotte Ornick in this country.
The majority of the people in this country probably have a strong trust in Liese.
Qir was also aware of this, so she doesn’t————– or perhaps, she couldn’t exert herself that greatly.
[What about Armia-dono?]
[I can’t read that person’s mind. However…… I heard news about how recently, there have been successive spawns among the Lynxes.]
It seems that Lamias lay eggs to produce their offspring huh.
Gio gulps down the alcohol in his large wooden cup.
As the smell of liquor wafted in the air with his exhale, he continued.
[That may be the factor to which Armia’s decision will be. She may look like she isn’t thinking anything at all, but she has her own beliefs and ideas. Just because she doesn’t like talking about slightly difficult matters doesn’t mean that she doesn’t understand it. She’s smart, and she’s good at hiding it.]
“This is the reason why she is one of the Four Warlights”, said Gio, gulping down his alcohol again.
[She’s certainly someone I can talk to. Incidentally, what about those two…… King Zect and Gratora-dono, I mean.]
[His Majesty and Gratora will not participate in the majority vote.]
This is———— the first time I’ve heard of this.
[I found out about it just before you came here. His Majesty would apparently follow the results of the majority rule. As for Gratora, she will follow His Majesty’s decision…… Well, Gratora had declared that from the beginning. That’s why, the majority vote would be decided by the remaining five of the Seven Lights’ votes.]
[In that case……]
Gio had picked fighting against the incoming army.
Currently, Qir would most likely pick fighting against the incoming army.
Liese is set on having peaceful negotiations.
From what I heard, Kokoroniko would probably side with Liese.
[The result of this majority vote will be based on Armia-dono’s choice huh.]
[Liese’s probably going to Armia’s place right now to try to convince her again……]
[Do you think she will be persuaded?]
[I don’t know. It feels like Liese also can’t read what Armia is thinking. That’s why, Liese also felt some anxiety. As I said before, Armia had this unusual stubbornness in hiding her beliefs. That’s why Liese is not very fond of Armia. She doesn’t show it in her attitude though.]
I guess it’s not surprising why Armia was left out of the meeting and became my guide……
Was being my guide something Liese decided?
[She’s the reason why I don’t know what the majority vote will be tomorrow. Ahh, that’s right…… I haven’t told you this yet either———— The Arachnes were thinking of leaving this country in the situation where it was decided that we’ll be fighting.]
[Aren’t they the only ones who can handle the ancient magic tools that are a major factor in sustaining this country?]
[The point is, it’s a threat.]
His intelligent red eyes reflected my appearance.
[After listening to the opinions of these “uninvited guests” who showed up for the second meeting, Liese began to feel uneasy about the majority vote tomorrow. For instance, it felt like Qir changed her mind after she heard your story. That’s also the same case for His Majesty. At the first meeting, he was emotionally inclined towards Liese, but your opinion seems to have swayed him quite a bit. That’s why he chose not to participate and decided to leave it to the remaining members of the Seven Lights…… After the first meeting, I was the only one who took a clear position that we should fight after all.]
So my opinion had that much influence huh.
Even so……
Gio is quite the observant guy huh.
He isn’t just a strong fighter.
[In Liese-dono’s perspective, an unexpected fly came in and the direction of the wind became doubtful.]
[And Liese also had some idea of what each person votes for. And she understood. That the key for this majority vote was Armia.]
A low, animalistic growl rumbled within Gio’s throat.
And following it was an amused———— or perhaps, a sarcastic laugh.
[Who would have thought that Armia would become the key in deciding the country’s future?]
[If the Arachnes were to leave, for this country———-]
[It would be a big blow. It’s not just about their knowledge of ancient magic tools and internal affairs. If there is an opportunity to negotiate with someone on the outside who our country might be able to talk to, Liese will be the first choice for such negotiations.]
[Because their abilities are highly valued huh.]
[Even if she’s like that, she’s actually quite excellent.]
[However…… When it comes to negotiations, isn’t that something you can do too?]
[I tend to lose my temper…… When I snap, my eyes only see red and I start lashing out on everything. In this respect, even though Liese had a violent behaviour, she never touches anyone. And you may not have seen it back in the meeting earlier, but she can behave in a decent manner. Above all…… If there is one person among the Seven Lights who has the ability to twist a person’s logic, it would be Liese. If we just want to have a verbal fight with someone without violence…… I would probably feel more comfortable with Liese on my side in such a situation. That is, assuming we’re on the same page.]
Holding his cup in both hands, it felt like Gio’s eyes were looking far towards the distance.
[However, I wonder why…… Even though this should be the time for us to work together, for us to become broken apart like this…… Even though we don’t always get along, at times like this, the Seven Lights should be working together…… How should I say this…… I feel bad for the citizens who are depending on us.]
Gio Shadowblade is sincerely and seriously thinking about this situation.
He’s also thinking about them.
The citizens of this country.
Even though his tone may be blunt.
He is also a man of character.
[Anyway, I understand perfectly now.]
I said.
[The key to tomorrow’s majority vote is Armia-dono, isn’t it?]
[……As long as we decide to fight, I don’t have any problem with whatever happens. No thanks to Armia though, I can’t really tell which direction the meeting will go.]
There is still a unique sense of distance between the Four Warlights.
They basically aren’t antagonistic with each other, but they aren’t that close with each other either.
However……
This is the reason why there is no sense of unity among them in situations like this.
This is like how each individual is moderately independent, even though they live in the same country.
I guess this is a characteristic of a country where various races live together.
[Then, in the situation where it would be decided that the peaceful negotiation plan proposed by Liese-dono goes through……]
[We’re going to go through with the plan we talked about earlier. In order to protect this country.]
Gio said, his eyes still staring at the distance.
[…………………]
However, if that plan happens, perhaps————-
The things that can be changed can’t be changed anymore.
I had just found out what Gio was thinking.
Thinking about it, I revised a side plan.
Putting all the information I gathered————– I put it together.
Reconstructed it.
The solution leading to the best possible result.
The formula aims for the greatest answer.
[——————-]
……It’s an approach that I couldn’t absolutely guarantee is right.
I can even say that it is quite the cruel approach.
There are also…… too many uncertainties within it.
Then, is this approach unrealistic?
Impossible?
No, that’s wrong, isn’t it?
“You’ll never know unless you try.”
There’s worth in going through this plan.
Yes, if I want the best result, I don’t have any choice but to go through this plan.
At least, this is all what the current me could think of right now.
▽
Leaving Gio’s home, I began walking along the stone-paved road.
▽
I returned to the room prepared for Seras and I in the castle.
[Welcome back, Milord.]
Seras was sitting on the bed.
[You can call me “Touka” now, you know?]
Just in case, I’ve been hiding my real name since I came to the Faraway Country.
[Is it alright?]
[It’s just the two of us. I can’t feel the presence of anyone listening outside the door.]
I don’t know if I’ve gained their trust or not.
However, there weren’t any soldiers on standby in front of our room now.
Incidentally, I can still sense Nyaki’s presence nearby, but she’s in another room.
Pigimaru and Slei are also in the same room as Nyaki.
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