"Reis-dono! I have brought the Chancellor of our kingdom!"
Led by Lady Matilde, I moved toward the tent where Reis, the leader of the ostriches, was waiting. A few seconds after our arrival, Matilde's voice rang out, loud enough to echo deep inside the tent. I had heard from her that they had interacted several times, but even she seemed tense in a formal setting like this. ...Well, it's only natural. If a single thing goes wrong here, this country is finished.
Having come to this place, I finally understood the sheer terror of the "Ostriches." These were beings capable of trampling humans with ease, yet possessed an innocence that suggested they had no "brakes." Hostility with them meant a war of extermination until everything was gone. If directed at an enemy, they were an incomparable asset; if turned inward, the Heed Kingdom would collapse in an instant.
Just as I was gathering my thoughts—
"ッ!"
Something pierced through my entire body. My instincts immediately screamed one word: Death. My heart nearly stopped, and the strength threatened to drain from my limbs. However, through sheer force of will, I held myself upright, maintaining the posture befitting a Chancellor. As I struggled to keep the "face" of the nation, a figure emerged from the depths of the tent.
A person wearing a deep robe, face hidden—judging by the build, a woman. I am not well-versed in magic, but even I could tell she possessed immense mana.
"...The Chief awaits within."
"Amelia-dono, what is—"
"We can discuss that later. Enter. ...Oh, and I suggest you keep your spirit strong."
The woman called Amelia pointed behind us. Instinctively, we turned around. And immediately, I regretted it. The creatures that had been playing like children moments ago were standing right behind us. All of them were peering at us with those clear, round eyes. Eyes that seemed to hold no thought—which made them all the more terrifying. The lack of visible intent meant that any single trigger could cause them all to fall upon us.
"...Lady Matilde, shall we proceed?"
"......Understood."
One wrong move would mean death. I maintained the facade of being unperturbed while taking shallow, quick breaths. I stepped into the tent, where the scent of death was even stronger.
With every step, my brain screamed an alarm, telling me to flee this place at once. But flight was not permitted. A quick glance back showed the ostriches surrounding the tent, some even entering behind us to block the exit. It was no longer just a matter of being a negotiator; escape was physically impossible.
Forcing my trembling body to move, I stepped further forward.
And then.
"Should I say 'Welcome'? Well, have a seat."
She was there.
Exuding a thick aura of death, she watched us as if weighing our very souls. Her race was the same as those outside, yet she was adorned in jewelry like the high-ranking beast-kin I knew. Above all, I felt the sheer weight of will in her eyes. I was made to understand: this person was their leader, the head of the Ostrich race, and the one being in this room who could slaughter us all.
The one with the most power here was her. No one can oppose a voice backed by overwhelming violence. Since a superior being had invited me to sit, etiquette dictated I accept. Not too haughty, yet not too fearful. I sat down, desperately hiding my inner turmoil.
"So, what business brings you here?"
"The invasion by the Nagan Kingdom that pressed upon Plaque recently... I am here to formally thank you for preventing it."
"Hmph. No flattery? ...Good. I prefer it that way. Don't worry about it."
In a situation like this, empty flattery would have backfired. I spoke concisely, bowing my head in gratitude. Judging by her reaction, that was the right choice. Suppressing a sigh of relief, I looked up slightly to gauge her expression.
...The attitude of the strong, yet not tyrannical. From what I've heard of other "Strategic Assets," this was a remarkably rational exchange. Occasionally, I could sense a hint of concern for our well-being in her words. This made me fearful—because she was not just a creature of violence—but it also made me relieved. If she had emotions like a human, there was a chance for empathy, a chance for her to lower her raised fist.
"Well, I'd already heard the story from Matilde over there. I knew you'd be coming all this way to say thanks today. Right, Matilde?"
"ッ! ...Yes, that is correct."
"Heh, don't be so scared. Aren't we drinking buddies? You said you'd be my friend. The person I am usually and the person I am now are the same. Is it arrogant of me to want to talk casually as usual?"
"N-No...!"
Matilde-dono was visibly shaken by being addressed so suddenly. Her reaction and the dialogue led me to one conclusion: the bond between her and Reis-dono was deeper than I had imagined, and Matilde-dono was seeing this side of Reis-dono for the first time. ...In this era of war, power shines brightest. Even those who dislike combat are drawn to a light so strong it consumes them. That is the value system of this continent.
The human nature to be drawn to the strong—Matilde-dono was no exception. ...I realized the possibility of her being recruited away, but also the possibility of using this for "my plan." Yet, the mention of being "friends" suggested a tiger's tail that I must not step on.
"Anyway, that's how it is. Chancellor... was it? Don't worry about the thanks. I'll accept it, but I've already received plenty from Matilde. This tent is one of them. You should be well aware of that... Let's get to the point."
The moment she said those last words, the "dread" I felt—that thick scent of death—intensified. I hallucinated a black void overflowing from behind her. If I hadn't been sitting on the ground, I would have collapsed. That was the level of power before me.
"Heh, don't be so scared, Chancellor. It might be a hard topic for you to bring up... so let me see if my guesses are correct. May I speak?"
"Y-You may."
"Thanks... To put it simply, you want to keep us in the Heed Kingdom, right? I hear this country lacks someone like us... a 'Special Strategic Asset,' was it? So you want to put a collar on us with a contract. Keep us as pets, or maybe use us as guard dogs or vanguards. ...Am I right?"
"......You are not mistaken."
She wasn't wrong. But I had been made to say it; I couldn't even manage a correction. Her aura left no room for dissent; the fear that saying "No" would result in death was overwhelming. Had I explained it, even if the content were the same, I would have chosen my words more carefully. I had completely lost control of the pace. Negotiation only happens between equals; when the gap is too large, it is simply one side imposing its will. I was learning that lesson the hard way.
"Good. It would have been a pain if I were wrong. ...Well, as for us, we're willing to accept the offer you were going to make."
"..."
"If you look outside, you'll see... we're a bunch that's only good for fighting. We can't even provide our own meals properly. So, receiving support was always part of the plan. Especially if that support comes from a nation. Now..."
She stared directly at me, slightly adjusting her posture.
"We offer our military force. What can you offer in return? ...Ah, and keep in mind that we could easily go to another country when you answer."
Reis's Perspective
(Now, let's see what he offers...)
A lot of that was improvised, but I think I handled the dialogue well. Even with memories of my past life, this world is unknown. Plus, I spent ten years on the Plateau without civilization, only talking to kids who forget things every three seconds. I've only gained experience in actual conversation since coming here.
If I fought a "Chancellor" who is clearly a pro at negotiation with just words, I'd be talked into a corner. So, I used the one thing no one can resist—violence—to shut him up and keep the pace in my court. I bet Amelia wanted me to do exactly this.
(For now, the opening was a success.)
Keep control of the talk, keep the pressure on. By throwing the ball into his court, I force him into a whirlwind of thought. I just have to sit here looking like I'll kill him if he says something stupid. I can't do much else, but this is enough. It's better than talking too much and making a mistake.
"...First, regarding food."
"Hmph."
"Currently, I understand Plaque is providing your meals. The Kingdom will take over that support. We will send funds to Plaque from the Royal House to ensure it is returned to you."
"And the duration?"
"As long as you are an ally of the Heed Kingdom. For eternity."
"I see... and the amount? I'll be the one to decide that, and you won't complain, right? Of course, we can have meetings to discuss it. We are a flock; if our numbers grow, we'll ask for more. Understood?"
"That is acceptable."
Oh, "acceptable," huh? I said we'd have meetings, but this is essentially a blank check. I'm basically saying, "If you don't pay what we want, we're leaving." Is he saying the country can handle it? Or is a "Strategic Asset" really worth that much? ...Probably the latter. I should follow up.
"Well, our food consumption is significantly higher than yours, but it's not like we'll eat the whole world. If it's not enough, we'll ask for more. That's all."
"Thank you."
Now, what next? Honestly, all I want is "a place to live" and "the right to refuse deployment," but if I keep going like this, they might add things I don't want. I could throw a tantrum to add more, but I don't want to lower my reputation now that we've settled the food.
I can say "I'll go to another country," but there isn't actually much benefit to leaving Heed. Plus, if I let this Grandpa Chancellor talk too much, he might take back the momentum. He feels like a veteran; even under all this pressure, he hasn't crumbled.
"Now, since you've offered yours, I should explain the 'merchandise' we are providing... Hmm, where to start."
"......"
"To put it simply, we can only act as a group. That is our nature. Therefore, I will not lend out a single individual."
Well, it's not really "nature," it's because the moment they're alone, they become lost forever and never come back... Until another intelligent individual is born or the current ones grow up, we have to move as one flock. Even on the battlefield. Actually, I'm more scared of leaving my kids at home than taking them to war.
"Therefore, there are times when we cannot work as a force. I don't know about other beast-kin, but... Chancellor, do you understand 'breeding seasons'?"
"A little."
"Good. There will be a few months a year where we cannot move. And if there is clearly no benefit for us to participate in a battle, we will refuse. ...Ah, this is non-negotiable."
"Understood. We are also ignorant of your race. If it is impossible, we shall withdraw gracefully. However, please understand that in such a case, our kingdom itself may face destruction."
"...I see. I'll keep that in mind."
Ah, I see. He's saying, "If the country is destroyed because you didn't help, the contract is gone and there won't be a country left to give you good terms." Basically, "We'll support you, so please help when it counts."
"But if you say that much, I assume you'll offer something worth the effort?"
"Yes, of course."
"But you're ignorant of us and don't know what to give, right? 'What can you offer?' was a bit harsh. I apologize."
I went to bow my head, but his words and hand stopped me. ...Wait, this old man's face didn't move an inch when I said "you don't know what to give." ...I might be in trouble if I don't finish my side first. I have a feeling he's about to dump a bunch of troublesome things on me. Even if I can handle it later, there's a high chance I won't be able to dodge it.
Better to set my own terms before he adds more shackles.
"Since you've been so accommodating, it would be rude not to state my own wishes. ...There aren't many."
Aside from the food support, I asked for two things:
1. A total ban on hostile acts against "Ostriches." If this is broken, we will retaliate by slaughtering the offender and everyone near them.
2. A place to live. I designated our current spot in Plaque. Status quo.
I just remembered the first one, so I put it at the top. It's more of an insurance policy than a demand. Since I can't always stop my kids if they go on a rampage, I need this so I don't get blamed for crimes. I don't intend to let them kill innocent people, but it felt necessary to include. I already explained the second one.
"...'Slaughter everyone'?"
"My kin are hot-blooded. Even I can't stop them. Don't worry, I have no intention of crushing the nation."
"I... see. Understood. I will issue a proclamation to all citizens. And as for the second condition..."
The Chancellor looked at Matilde, and she gave a deep nod. I guess she doesn't mind as long as the country is paying. Having our military force around means the local weak monsters won't attack. She probably judged that the pros outweigh the cons.
"That is also acceptable."
"Good to hear. ...Well, I might have more demands later... but we can set up another meeting through Matilde then. Is that okay?"
"Yes, that is fine."
After getting his response, I glanced at Amelia. she nodded, so I guess this works. ...Phew. For now, that's the contract done. Yeah. It ended in a way that isn't disadvantageous for us. It would be the worst if my kids suffered because of me. Most of them won't remember if something happens anyway, but I would hate it.
"Then, our talk is over. It was good to have a productive discussion with you. I hope we can maintain a good relationship with your kingdom."
"We feel the same. ...Now, I apologize, but there is one thing I would like to ask immediately."
"What is it?"
"The monarch of our country, Her Majesty the Queen, wishes to see Reis-dono with her own eyes. Would it be possible for you and your followers to come to the Royal Capital?"
〇 Dere-chan's reaction while watching the whole thing
"Staring blankly."