When I was suddenly summoned by the king’s order, I wondered what was going on and made my way to the audience chamber, only to find that the usual familiar faces were gathered there.
“You’re here.”
“Haha. It’s been a while.”
“O-oh, welcome!”
King Deaurus Lumin and the Elf King.
And…….
“Are you the diplomat from the Heavenly Palace?”
“Yes, yes, that’s me!”
It was the polite young Dragon who had come with the young Dragons and caused a stir in the Elf Kingdom.
Thanks to the large size of the audience chamber, even the young Dragon had just enough space to squeeze in.
……I have no idea how they got in, but the Throne Lord sure has an eye for picking people.
Among all the Dragons, this one was the only one who addressed me with respect, so at least he wouldn’t go spouting off harsh words in front of the others.
But—
The Elf King and King of Lumin both had odd expressions on their faces.
“Why are you all looking at me like that all of a sudden?”
“It’s nothing.”
“We just saw something a little unusual, that’s all.”
“Hm.”
At their response, I glanced at the young Dragon.
“What were you talking about while I was gone?”
The polite Dragon answered.
“We were discussing whether it wouldn’t be better to improve the rather poor reception being given to Dragons by lower beings.”
Without hesitation, I smacked the back of the Dragon’s head.
I struck so hard that the Dragon’s snout pierced straight into the floor of the audience chamber.
“Attention.”
The polite Dragon quickly raised his head and stiffened up.
“Diplomacy is a place for understanding each other’s cultures and promoting exchange. Even if there’s a clear hierarchy between races, it’s only proper not to look down on the other.”
“I-I did not look down on anyone! If anything, I just meant that if the protector of the world comes and there’s not even a proper banquet to receive them, it could be said by other countries that ‘this kingdom can’t even host properly!’ Since it’s the first time holding a diplomatic event, I thought it was common sense to maintain proper dignity and not get that sort of bad reputation!”
At first glance, it did sound reasonable.
Politics is something where you can’t ignore the eyes of outsiders.
But…….
“That’s only the case when humanity doesn’t have a Common Enemy. That sort of diplomacy is only needed when people are trying to keep each other in check. In a situation like this, where we’re gathering together to cooperate against a Common Enemy, those kinds of tactics are meaningless.”
The polite Dragon asked with a dazed expression.
“Uh……is that so?”
“When did you hear about that so-called common sense of yours, anyway?”
“Roughly four hundred years ago.”
Just as I thought.
“For starters, there’s no one left who remembers the common sense of your era. Even after just a hundred years, people’s standards can change completely, so you shouldn’t expect what you know to match the present.”
“……S-so that’s how it is.”
The polite Dragon made a face of enlightenment.
“Then you know how you should act now, right?”
“I apologize, kings.”
I smacked the back of his head again.
“I’m sorry. I spoke rudely, please forgive me this once.”
He was definitely using honorifics, but there was still something high-handed about him.
Still, the fact that he used honorifics at all was a remarkable step forward, so I turned to the kings.
“What would you like to do?”
“……What do you mean, what do we want to do?”
“Even though I explained the situation to this young Dragon, wrong is wrong. Whether or not to punish him is up to the kings to decide.”
At my words, the Elf King chuckled in amusement.
“If he’s reflected on his mistake himself, I see no reason to say anything more.”
With the Elf King answering first, King Deaurus Lumin pressed his forehead in annoyance as he responded.
“The Special Task Force Captain of the Kingdom of Lumin has already scolded him as much as he deserved. If I were to add further punishment as king, it would be nothing but double jeopardy. Let’s end it here.”
They spoke as if it was no big deal, but I could sense that both the Elf King and King of Lumin were nervously watching each other.
Punishing a Dragon carelessly would be taking on an enormous risk.
If the Dragons took offense and decided to retaliate, there’d be no stopping them.
Of course, in the past this would’ve been unthinkable, but after witnessing the Dragons moving their nests to promote diplomacy, this was no longer just a matter of imagination.
Once I realized this, I understood why I’d been called here.
‘So it’s to make sure the Dragons don’t run wild as they please, huh?’
But if things kept on like this, the initiative in diplomacy would all be pulled to one side.
No matter how amicable diplomacy might be, politics is still politics, and both sides will try to get what they want while giving up as little as possible.
But with such heightened wariness toward the Dragons, diplomacy could easily turn into outright exclusion, so my role was to coordinate things.
“Diplomacy is all about giving and sharing with each other, and discussing routes for cultural exchange.”
At my sudden words, the kings and the Dragon all turned to look at me.
But my role was only to coordinate the initiative in diplomacy.
I had no intention of taking the lead in diplomatic affairs myself.
I turned to the young Dragon.
“Hey, Dragon diplomat. Explain the role the Throne Lord entrusted to you.”
Seeming to realize my intention, the young Dragon turned to the kings with a tense expression.
“The Lord has said that what he wants from the Kingdom of Lumin is the ‘most powerful Experience’. He’s also said he’ll pay a fair price.”
“The most powerful Experience?”
It was a vague and abstract demand.
But that standard was from a human perspective—the Dragons’ standard would be different.
I subtly gave Deaurus a hint.
“You can think of it as asking you to pass on the Experience that the Kingdom of Lumin is best at and most practiced in.”
“Dragons are said to be the guardians of this world. Why do they need such Experience?”
The young Dragon answered.
“I’m afraid that’s confidential, and I can’t reveal it. But I can promise that, thanks to this Experience, you’ll gain only benefit, never harm.”
Deaurus thought for a moment, then spoke.
“What can the Heavenly Palace offer us in exchange?”
“I’ve heard that the Kingdom of Lumin is holding the Frontline of the Outer Region where the Demon Army is running rampant.”
“That’s right.”
“The Knights of the Outer Region are all renowned for being able to take on a hundred enemies each, and the place is called an impenetrable fortress by the monsters. The reputation is so great that even among Dragons of my age, it’s something to aspire to.”
“……That’s quite interesting to hear.”
“It means we’re well aware of just how strong you all are.”
The young Dragon spoke with a serious expression.
“But unlike us Dragons, humans need many things to get through Winter. Isn’t that right?”
At those words, the relaxed look on King Deaurus Lumin’s face began to tighten.
Representing the Dragons, the polite and young diplomat spoke.
“King of Lumin. Winter is coming.”
“The lands of the Elves are fertile, and the Dragons of the Heavenly Palace are strong, so it’s not an issue for us……but is the Kingdom of Lumin all right? From what I know, most of your territory is barren except for a small part. I’ve heard that it’s hard enough for many people just to put food on the table. It seems you’ve managed to get by so far, but I’m predicting that this Winter will be especially tough. How about it?”
Deaurus murmured bitterly.
“You’re hitting where it hurts. That’s what’s been giving me a headache.”
The young Dragon’s eloquence surprised me.
To think he’d use a way of speaking that left a king with no options.
The young Dragon curled one corner of his mouth.
“Safe Supply Lines to continue the war and a large-scale supply of materials to survive the Winter. That’s the price the Heavenly Palace is preparing.”
A successful negotiation is said to be one that leaves the other party with no choice but to accept.
In the end, this young Dragon had shut off all options for the king with a tone that said, ‘If you don’t take this, you’ll die.’
And for the King of Lumin, the calculation was perfectly reasonable.
The moment the Kingdom of Lumin hands over its ‘Experience’, it guarantees its ‘Survival’ through the harsh Winter.
“If you mean the Experience our kingdom is best at and most seasoned in, that would be the art of war and the way of the Knight, or perhaps the spirit of Lumin. But will that really help the Dragons?”
In response to Deaurus’s question, the young Dragon nodded.
“If that’s the ‘most powerful Experience’ you can offer, that’s enough.”
“……Very well. Let’s make the deal.”
King Deaurus Lumin reached out his hand, then hesitated.
Now that he thought about it, how do you shake hands with a Dragon?
While the King was at a loss, the young Dragon lowered her head toward him.
“When we make a deal or exchange promises, we usually touch foreheads, but since this is among humans rather than Dragons, you can just place your hand on my snout to observe your etiquette.”
“……Thank you for your consideration.”
The King of Lumin sealed the deal by placing his hand on the young Dragon’s snout.
I casually asked the Dragon,
“Diplomat.”
“Yes!”
At my call, the Dragon quickly raised her head and stiffened.
“What’s your name?”
“I am Laila Stroper!”
“Your name sounds feminine.”
“I’m female!”
“All right. Your name is long, so I’ll just call you Laila.”
“It’s an honor!”
“Lower your voice. You’re hurting my ears.”
“……Sorry.”
I gazed at the crestfallen Laila and asked,
“Are you returning to the Heavenly Palace after this diplomatic meeting?”
“Yes. I have to go back to report.”
“Don’t go back right away. Stay here for a bit. After all, we still have to discuss how you’ll receive the Experience, and it’d be inefficient for you to come back and forth. Also, when you send your report, I’ll need you to pass on a message from me as well.”
Laila looked troubled.
“Uh, the Lord told me to return immediately, but……”
“Tsk.”
“But, since you’re someone the Lord has recognized, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Yes. Definitely.”
But after seeing my expression, she seemed to sense a threat to her life and hurriedly changed her tune.
Watching this scene unfold, which was more like a comedy than anything else, the Elf King laughed and spoke.
“Now it’s my turn.”
“Hm.”
The King of Lumin, having finished his business with the Heavenly Palace, turned his gaze to the Elf King.
Why had the immortal Elf King suddenly come to the Kingdom of Lumin?
And without any prior notice, at that.
The King of Lumin already knew the situation, but even so, he couldn’t help being on guard at such an unexpected move from the Elf King.
The Elf King said to Deaurus,
“First, I’d like to thank you, King of Lumin.”
“……Thank me?”
“If you hadn’t sent us an envoy, the Elf Kingdom might have fallen into an unprecedented crisis.”
Deaurus’s gaze slid subtly over to me.
But all I could do was shrug.
How could I have known the Elf King would show up before I even had a chance to send my report?
King Deaurus Lumin sighed.
“I haven’t received any report yet, so I’m a bit confused. And as you already know, Elf King, we’ve already committed a diplomatic blunder. In fact, the decision to send an envoy was made by the Special Task Force Captain himself.”
The Elf King nodded.
“That’s true. But that’s something only we need to know, don’t you think?”
With that, the Elf King pulled a box from his robe.
Opening it, he revealed a Ring, finely crafted in the distinct style of the Elves.
“In gratitude for saving the Elf Kingdom, I’ve prepared this gift. How you use it, I’ll leave to the choice of the King of Lumin.”
As soon as he saw the meaning behind the Elf King’s gift, Deaurus’s expression grew serious as he asked,
“What is the price?”
“I’d like for you to ensure that diplomacy with the Elves continues without interruption. After all, we are allies facing the same enemy.”
That’s the way it should be, to help each other in hard times.
The eyes of the immortal, cunning serpent glinted slyly.
For a moment, the urge to jab him flashed through my mind, and I had to quietly flex my fingers.