第383話~ドラゴニス山岳王国の外交姿勢~
「二個小隊を連れてくるのはやりすぎだっただろうか?」
「王族の行幸ですから、然程やりすぎという数とは言えないと思いますよ」
「そうか? まぁドリアーダさ......ドリアーダがそう言うならそうなのか」
ドラゴニス山岳王国に到着したは良いが、特にこれと言ってやることもない俺はドリアーダとお茶を飲みながらドラゴニス山岳王国についてあれこれと講義を受けていた。
どうやらドラゴニス山岳王国は俺達が連れてきた魔銃隊、二個小隊計百名の宿泊施設を用意するのに苦労しているようだ。聞くところによると、建国記念祭に招聘されている小国家連合の面々は必要最低限の護衛だけを連れてきているらしい。少数精鋭という方針なわけだな。
ドラゴニス山岳王国というのはその名の通り、山岳地帯を国土としている山岳国家である。街道なども存在はするが、それは山の尾根筋や中腹を往く細く、高低差の激しい道であり、大量の人員が行き来するには大変に不便だ。
しかしてドラゴニス山岳王国は魔物が非常に多い国でもある。生半可で戦力では道中で魔物に襲われて行方不明、なんてことにもなりかねない。そうすると他国からは使節の一人も守れない弱小国家であると笑われることになるし、ドラゴニス山岳王国もそのような国家を顧みない――らしい。
「それは国家として街道の安全も守れないのかと逆にドラゴニス山岳王国が避難されるところじゃ?」
「ドラゴニス山岳王国の国民なら子供でもない限り街道に出るような魔物は問題にならないそうです」
「なにそれこわい」
つまり国民ほぼ全員が魔物から身を守れる程度に強いってことか? いや、流石にそれは......恐らく街道を行き来する必要がある人達だけだろう。そうだよな? そうだと思いたい。
「もしかしてドラゴニス山岳王国って滅茶苦茶に脳筋国家だったりする?」
「それだけではありませんけれど......」
そう言ってドリアーダが苦笑いを浮かべる。何というのだろうか? 思想の大本が本当にドラゴンっぽいな......こう、弱者には興味がないというか、価値がないみたいな。いや、価値を認めないわけじゃないな。対等な存在として認めないとでも言うべきか?
「よくそんな態度が罷り通るなと思うけど、建国記念祭に呼ばれるのは実質的な従属国家が大半だからってことか......?」
「ええ、まぁ。ドラゴニス山岳王国も、小国家連合もその事実を認めてはいないけれどね」
なるほどなぁ......一応今回の参加国についてはザッと目を通してみたが、その殆どは小国家連合に属する小さな国々で、あまり遠方の国から訪れる人は居ないようだった。
まぁ、それはそうだろう。この世界の旅行は決して安全なものではない。魔物や賊など、気をつけるべき対象がごまんといるし、回復系の魔法やポーションがあるとはいえ、道中で負った怪我や病魔で道半ばにして倒れるなんてことも無くはない。なにより、メインの移動手段が馬車となると、メリナード王国を横断するだけでも数週間かかるのだ。
更に小国家連合を抜け、ドラゴニス山岳王国に着いたら徒歩で険しい山道を登山......そりゃ直接的な利害関係が強い小国家連合の人達しか基本こないわな。
「所謂対等と認めている国家が相手の場合は、麓に竜騎兵を向かわせて送迎するの。だから、麓には大量の護衛などを受け入れるための施設がしっかりと整備されているわけね」
「そして今まで首都に大勢の兵士を連れてきたやつは居なかったから対応に苦慮することになっていると」
「そういうこと。だけど、それは私達の責任ではないから。ゲストを迎える用意がちゃんとできていない方が悪いの。こういうのはね」
「貴族や王族の作法は複雑怪奇だなぁ」
そう考えると急に宿舎が足りない、建物が足りないって時にとりあえずで大体の建物をインスタントに構築できてしまう俺の能力って物凄い有用だよな。自惚れるわけじゃないが、割とあらゆる状況に対応できる能力なのかもしれん。
「それで、今日はこのまま夜まで何もせずに過ごすのかね?」
「ドラゴニス山岳王国側も我々が連れてきた人員を収容するのに忙しいでしょうから、そうかもしれないわね。到着後すぐに王族自らが出向いて私達と会談したというのも私達を重要視しているというサインとなるでしょうし。恐らく夜は晩餐会にご招待かしら?」
「晩餐会ねぇ......テーブルマナーなんて知らないぞ?」
「大丈夫でしょう。ドラゴニス山岳王国の晩餐会は堅苦しいマナーとかは無いものだから。きっとグランデちゃんも楽しめるわ」
「ほぉ? グランデも楽しめるってことは相当気楽そうだな」
グランデは食器――というか所謂カトラリーを使うのが大変に苦手だ。それもそうだろう。彼女の手先にはごっつい鱗と爪が生えており、おおよそああいった細々としたものを掴むのが苦手なのである。基本、手掴みで食べられるものでない場合は食べさせてやる必要があるくらいだからな。
ちなみに、そのグランデはクッションに埋まって熟睡中である。基本、グランデは用事がなければだいたい寝てるんだよな。竜は基本ねぼすけな存在であるらしい。
「コースケ様、人員の収容が終わったそうです。魔銃隊の半数と魔道士の半数が魔道飛行船の警備につくという名目で船に残り、残りの人員はここから少し離れていますが、場内に宿舎を割り当てられたと」
「そうか。各自適当に休むように伝えておいてくれ。何か問題が起こった場合は報告すること」
「はい、そう伝えます」
ゲルダの返事を聞きながら、ドリアーダさんと今後の動きについて話し合いを続ける。アイラの意見も欲しいところだな。アイラは博識だし。まぁ、人員の収容に目処がついたなら程なくこっちに来るだろう。ゆっくり待つとするか。
384 Episode 383 - The Diplomatic Attitude Of The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom
"Was it too much to bring two platoons?"
"It's the good fortune of the royal family, so I don't think I can say it's too much."
I see? Well, Doriada... if Doriada says so.
I arrived at the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, but I don't have to say this in particular. I was having tea with Doriada and I was lecturing her about the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom.
Looks like the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom is struggling to accommodate the demonic gun squad, two platoons, and a hundred people. According to what I hear, the small coalition invited to the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic has brought only the minimum number of guards necessary. It's the policy of a few elites.
The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom is a mountain nation whose name is mountainous. There are also roads, but they are narrow roads that run along the ridges and stems of the mountains, and there is a severe difference in height, which is very inconvenient for large numbers of people to come and go.
However, the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom was also home to a large number of monsters. I could be raw, and with my strength, I could be attacked by monsters on the road and go missing. Then it would be laughed that it is a weak country that can't protect even one of the envoys from another country, and the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom doesn't care about such a country either - apparently.
Isn't it possible that the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom will be evacuated if we can't protect the security of the streets as a nation?
"As a citizen of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, unless you are a child, monsters like the ones on the streets will not be a problem."
"What's so scary about that?"
So almost all the people are strong enough to protect themselves from monsters? No, it's just... maybe the people who need to get around the streets. Isn't that right? I'd like to think so.
Could it be that the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom is a cerebral state?
"That's not all, but..."
That said, Doriada smiled bitterly. What is it? The big book of ideas is really like a dragon... I mean, the weak don't seem interested or worthwhile. No, it's not that I don't value it. Or should I say that we don't recognize each other as equals?
"I don't think such an attitude will pass very often, but is it because there are most of the subordinate states that are called to the Feast of the Founding of the People...?"
"Yes, well, the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom and the Alliance of Small Nations do not recognize that fact."
I see... I read the participating countries, but most of them were small countries belonging to the Union of Small States, and there weren't many people visiting from far away countries.
Well, that's true. Travel in this world is by no means safe. Monsters, bandits, and other objects to watch out for are sesame seeds, and even though there are healing magic and potions, there's no reason for them to fall in the middle of the road due to injuries and illnesses they sustained along the way. Above all, when the main mode of transportation is a carriage, it takes weeks to cross the Merinado Kingdom.
Further through the Alliance of Small Nations, when you get to the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, you will climb a steep mountain trail on foot... There are only people from the Alliance of Small States who have a strong direct interest in it.
"If the opponent is a state that is recognized as equivalent, we will send the dragon cavalry to the foot." That's why we have a well-equipped facility at the foot to receive a large number of escorts. "
"And since no one has ever brought a large number of soldiers to the capital, we have to struggle to deal with them."
"That's true, but it's not our fault. It's worse if you're not ready to welcome guests. This is the kind of thing."
"The rituals of nobles and royals are complicated and strange."
If you think about it, my ability to build most buildings instantly can be very useful when there are not enough dormitories or buildings. It's not self-righteous, but it might be able to handle every situation.
So, you're going to spend the rest of the day doing nothing?
"The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom is probably busy accommodating the people we brought along. As soon as we arrived, the royal family went out and met with us, which would be a sign that they attached importance to us. Perhaps you would like to invite me to a dinner party at night?"
"Hey, dinner party... I don't know any table manners?"
"It's all right, because there's no such thing as hard manners for a dinner party in the Dragonine Mountain Kingdom." I'm sure Grande will enjoy it too. "
Huh? It seems pretty casual to say that you can enjoy Grande as well.
Grande is very bad at using utensils, or utensils. That's true, too. There are scales and claws on her hands, and I'm not good at grabbing such small things. Basically, if it's not something you can grab and eat, then you need to feed it.
By the way, the grande is buried in the cushion and sleepy. Basically, Grande's pretty much asleep unless she has some business to do. It seems that the dragon is basically a rat.
"Master Koosuke, it seems that we have finished accommodating our personnel." Half of the Musketeers and half of the Wizards remain on the ship in the name of securing the Wizard Airship, and the rest of the crew are a little far away from here, but they have been assigned a dormitory in the yard. "
"I see. Please tell each of you to rest properly." If something goes wrong, report it. "
"Yes, I will tell you that."
While listening to Gerda's response, continue to discuss future moves with Doriada. I'd like Aira's opinion, too. Ira was very knowledgeable. Well, if they find out where the people are, they'll be here soon. Let's wait a little longer.
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