ZAP – Chapter 119-120: Negotiation

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TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

The chapters this time around were so short I have decided to merge them. If this happens in the future, I might as well just merge them and notify beforehand whether this was done by me instead of the author. Maybe I will write “Merged by Reigokai” in the right corner?

Anyways, enjoy!

——

“Eugy!” 

A female knight with long blonde hair and pure white light armor hugged me. 

“A-Airi? Why are you here?” (Eugene)

“Eh? A request for reinforcements from the Federation came to the Empire after all. I heard you were in the Federation, so I came!” (Airi)

‘Hu hum’ -my childhood friend brushed her sparkling blonde hair. 

That’s not what I am trying to ask here…

{Hey, Airi.} (Eugene)

{What, Eugene?} (Airi)

I whisper to her. 

{You are the next Empress, right? Is it the time to be coming to a place like this one? It is dangerous.} (Eugene)

{It is alright. This island is distant from the Darkness Dragon, and most of all, staying the whole time in the Empire leaves me with nothing to do.} (Airi)

{Nothing to do…} (Eugene)

I was baffled, but now that I think about it, Airi was exemplary in her studies and is in one of the strongest fighting forces that are the Heaven Knights. Moreover, she is the next in line to the throne. 

She is the most important person in the Grandflare Empire. 

There won’t be freedom as long as she is inside the Empire, so I am sure she came here to stretch her limbs. 

She has the Golden Knight Order that is under the direct control of the Emperor, so she should have gotten the permission of His Imperial Majesty. 

“Princess Airi…thank you very much for coming all the way here from the Empire. I am grateful that you have brought a Flying Ship division like this.” (Tifania)

Princess Tifania Crystal lowered her head deeply again. 

The smile of Airi disappeared from her face at that instant. 

She has the face of a princess.

“Last time we met was at the school festival, right, Princess Tifania? It is a misfortune that the Darkness Dragon has shown up. The Empire will provide assistance as much as possible.” (Airi)

“Y-Yes. And so, about the conditions of this time’s reinforcements…” (Tifania)

“Regarding the conditions, can you please discuss the details with Captain Galvan?” (Airi)

A knight with a sharp gaze, who would be more accurate to describe as being elderly than in his prime, was in the direction Airi glanced at. 

—Captain Galvan Graywood.

He has been in service since the time of the previous Emperor, and he is currently the oldest captain in the Golden Knight Order.

(He is the overseer of Airi who doesn’t have much experience negotiating with other countries, huh…) (Eugene)

Also, I know his name, but I have almost never had a conversation with him. 

Looks like there’s not much help I can provide in the negotiation…is what I was thinking and…

{If you have trouble with anything, come to me directly.} (Airi)

{Eh?} 

I heard Airi whisper this to Princess Tifania. 

Princess Tifania had a dumbstruck expression for an instant, but hurriedly lowered her head.

(I see… They negotiate through Captain Galvan first and have Airi smoothen things to make her feel indebted, huh.) (Eugene)

My childhood friend has become skilled at negotiating unbeknownst to me. 

I was impressed by this and…

“Hey, Eugy, let’s go!” (Airi)

Airi pulled my hand. 

“Is it okay to not participate in the meeting?” (Eugene)

“It is okay. The imperial army is simply going to be assisting in the evacuations. It is not like we are going to be fighting.” (Airi)

“I see.” (Eugene)

We were having that conversation while I was still being pulled. 

Not good. I will get caught in the pace of Airi at this rate. 

Just when I was about to say ‘Wait a moment’…

“Eugy-kun!”

“Eugene!”

Sumire and Sara stopped us. 

“Oh my, Sumire-chan, Sara-san, I will be borrowing Eugy.” (Airi)

“Y-You can’t!” (Sumire)

“Princess Airi, can you not take away our boyfriend as you please?” (Sara)

“Muh…” 

The face of Airi returns to how it normally is. 

My childhood friend is not that good at controlling her emotions despite receiving education as a princess. 

Basically, she is short tempered. 

“Isn’t it fine if it is for a bit? You are always together. Also, Eugy is not yours.” (Airi)

Airi tried to forcefully pull me. 

“Oh my, are you deaf, Princess of the Empire? It seems like Eugene doesn’t want to leave us.” (Sara)

Sara grabbed my arm. 

She is smiling, but her eyes aren’t.

“I can hear you. You are so possessive, Upcoming Holy Maiden-sama.” (Airi)

The words of Airi made the smile of Sara disappear. 

Sara has been raised as a sister since infancy, but she is a fighting sister that prefers to swing her fists over praying. 

She has a straight personality. 

The result is that Airi and Sara are glaring at each other. 

“Eugy-kun…” (Sumire)

Sumire is looking at me with upturned eyes. 

She looks uneasy…but it also looks as if she is saying ‘do something already’.

Sumire looks like the gentle type, but maybe because of the influence of being an Ifrit, or that’s her personality to begin with, she has an emotional side. 

She is not as gentle and quiet as she looks. 

(Eugene, is it your hobby to put a hand on women like that the whole time?) (Eri)

Eri said this with a baffled tone. 

No, it is a coincidence. 

““………””

For now, this current situation where the next Empress and upcoming Holy Maiden are glaring at each other is not good. 

Princess Tifania and Claude’s faces are stiff. 

“Come here.” (Eugene)

I forcefully pulled the 3 of them and changed the location. 

◇◇

“Sorry about what happened just now…” 

“My bad as well…” 

Sara and Airi seem to have calmed down while we were changing locations, and they both apologized. 

That’s a relief. This escaped the political conflict. 

Incidentally, they are both using more casual tones on purpose. 

“By the way, did you come here because you were worried about Eugy-kun?” (Sumire)

I feel like Sumire’s tone is way too casual though. 

Sara made a slightly surprised expression. 

There were times when the two had an opportunity to talk in the festival, so they are both closer now. 

“Well, something like that… Also, you are calling him Eugy-kun…?” (Airi)

“Eh?! W-What about it?! I have been calling him that since way back~.” (Sumire)

“Really…?” (Airi)

Airi tilted her head.

The Flying Ships that were anchored in the sky flew off in all directions at that time. 

I am sure they are heading to the islands that are within the estimated route of the Darkness Dragon to evacuate the people. 

The 4 of us chatted for a while after that. 

“By the way, Eugy, isn’t it boring to just run away from the Darkness Dragon?” (Airi)

Airi showed an impish smile as if she were scheming something. 

“Airi… What are you thinking?” (Eugene)

I could imagine what she would say, but still urged her on. 

It is because we have known each other for long. 

“I have an interesting plan. How about trying to defeat the legendary Great Demonic Beast since there’s the opportunity?” (Airi)

It is the same face as the time when we were children. The time when she said ‘Let’s go subjugate a wyvern!’ and we faced a wyvern, and ended up heavily injured. 

■Comment Response: 

>The black mermaids lost their presence at some point in time. Lol.

-True…

• ZAP – Chapter 120: Eugene is invited by his childhood friend

“Hey, Eugy, how about beating up the legendary Great Demonic Beast?” (Airi)

My childhood friend Airi winked at me mischievously.

This teasing tone and attitude…is when Airi is being serious. 

“What do you plan on doing?” (Eugene)

I asked this and the two by my side hurriedly interjected. 

“Wait, Eugene! Are you serious?!” (Sara)

“Eugy-kun, there’s no way you can win against that kaiju!” (Sumire)

Airi made a bit of an annoyed face. 

“I will just listen to what she has to say.” (Eugene)

“Hm hmph, Catherine-chan told me of a good plan!” (Airi)

“I see.” (Eugene)

She is calling the prime minister with ‘-chan’?

I thought that’s way too bold, but Airi is going to become the Empress soon, and Catherine-sama is a young prime minister, so I am sure those two know each other for a long time. 

She might be purposely closing the distance. 

“And so, what’s this plan you speak of?” (Eugene)

“Well, it is a simple plan. You participated in the subjugation expedition of Vepar, right? Then, you know about the Real Dolls that were borrowed from the Empire, right?” (Airi)

“Aah, that dangerous stuff. The doll bombs that look just like humans?” (Eugene)

“We brought 1,000 of those. Let’s throw them all at the Darkness Dragon!” (Airi)

“““…Hah?”””

I wasn’t the only one, Sumire and Sara also raised their voices at the same time. 

What is this childhood friend of mine saying? 

“I heard that it costs 1 million G each though.” (Eugene)

“Us from the Empire are the ones producing it. It doesn’t cost that much. The production cost is a secret☆.” (Airi)

Airi declares gleefully. 

“That said, I don’t think the Blue Waters Federation has the spare money to pay for this. It was apparently pretty rough for them even with the 100 for the Verpal subjugation…” (Sara)

I think it is just as Sara says. 

“Could it be that you are giving them for free, Airi-chan?” (Sumire)

“Sumire, I doubt that’s the case.” (Eugene)

I denied this. 

An expensive military weapon. 

There’s no way they would give this to another country just like that. 

“Nah~, I won’t just give it to them. But we do plan on selling them at a price that’s just barely cheaper than the estimated damage of the Darkness Dragon.” (Airi)

Airi made an evil face. 

“That’s pretty evil.” (Eugene)

“But not bad, right?” (Airi)

True. 

This is a lot healthier than watching the small countries of the Federation being trampled. 

“Why…do you know that? The damage estimation of the Darkness Dragon is something that only a select few of the Blue Waters Federation and Orianne-sama know of…” (Sara)

“Fufu, you know that there’s also people in the Empire with the ability of Clairvoyance, right?” (Airi)

“Really, Eugy-kun?” (Sumire)

“Yeah, they aren’t really hiding it, so I will say it. Prime Minister Catherine, who was mentioned just now, is a user of Destiny Magic and can use Clairvoyance.” (Eugene)

 “I see! Speaking of which, I might have heard about that from Eugy-kun.” (Sumire)

I asked Airi with Sumire hammering her hands at a corner of my vision. 

“Airi, Captain Galvan should be telling this to Princess Tifania then?” (Eugene)

“Yeah.” (Airi)

Airi admits this easily. 

I looked at Sara and she was making a complicated expression. 

Sumire seems to have noticed too. 

“What’s the matter with that scary face, Sara-chan?” (Sumire)

“…The Empire will be able to get a big ‘debt’ from the Blue Waters Federation.” (Sara)

Airi was dumbstruck for an instant at those words and laughed. 

“There’s no need to be so wary. The Empire is not thinking about conquering the Holy Union after the Federation.” (Airi)

Sara sighed lightly at what Airi said. 

“But aren’t you too generous? I can’t help but think that there’s something hidden here.” (Sara)

“But Sara-chan, this is far better than having the people living in the islands lose their home.” (Sumire)

Sara was doubting the Empire and Sumire is accepting the good will obediently. 

I looked at the face of my childhood friend I have known for a long time and felt she was hiding something. 

“…”

I made eye-contact with Airi. 

She might have read my thoughts. 

“Can’t be helped. It seems like even Eugy is suspecting it.” (Airi)

Airi shrugged. 

Sara and Sumire’s expressions turned more serious. 

“I dislike the magic tools called Real Dolls. That’s why I want to use them all.” (Airi)

“Eh?”

“That’s the reason?”

Sara and Sumire made faces as if saying they couldn’t understand.

But I could read the thoughts of Airi to some degree. 

I speak it out loud. 

“The Real Doll’s original use is most likely…to have them wear the clothes of the enemy country and have them explode in a crowded enemy territory, right, Airi?” (Eugene)

““?!””

Sumire and Sara were shocked. 

“That’s right.” (Airi)

Airi easily admitted this. 

“It is nasty in nature…but practical.” (Eugene)

“It is a truly imperial-like weapon.” (Airi)

Airi and I sighed. 

“Then, why do you want to lose such practical weapons?” (Sara)

Sara asked nervously. 

“Using them would definitely create grudges, and it would increase the bad reputation of the Empire. They were made a long time ago, but there was no opportunity to use them, so they were sleeping in the magic armaments storage of the imperial army. I am taking this opportunity to use them all. It would normally only be used in war, but I definitely don’t plan on waging war.” (Airi)

“You have been against war since a long time ago after all.” (Eugene)

“Is that…so.” (Sara)

Sara’s expression softened. 

The previous emperor and current emperor have not caused any big wars in order to not repeat the barbarism of the Emperor Johann from a long past who was called the Bloodshed Emperor.

“Airi-chan…hates war, huh. Makes sense!” (Sumire)

Sumire seems to have accepted what Airi said straight on.

“Obviously. Eugy’s hometown apparently fell because of war. I definitely won’t do something like war!” (Airi)

“…I see.” (Eugene)

Speaking of which, Airi’s hatred for war was cemented when I told her about my hometown. 

I felt a bit nostalgic after remembering that. 

“Right… The Federation Congress is the one that will be deciding anyways… It is not something I have a say in.” (Sara)

It seems like Sara also believes her. 

“And so, Eugy, if the proposal of the Empire is accepted, we will be able to subjugate a Great Demonic Beast together again!” (Airi)

Airi tightened her fist and showed me a bold smile.

“Hm?” 

“Eh?”

“Huh?”

My childhood friend is saying something weird here. 

“What, you 3?” (Airi)

Airi made a dubious face at our reaction. 

“I don’t think you will be able to participate in the raid.” (Eugene)

“Princess Airi, I am not allowed to participate in the subjugation of the Black Mermaid as an upcoming Holy Maiden, so it is obviously impossible for you as well.” (Sara)

“Airi-chan, even I can tell that. It will most likely be a no go.” (Sumire)

“W-Why?! We fought together against Haagenti!” (Airi)

“The circumstances were different at that time.” (Eugene)

Airi was low in the rankings to inherit the throne, moreover, this is another country. 

If Airi, who is going to be the next Empress, were to participate in the raid, all of the Blue Waters Federation would try to stop her. 

“Hmph! Well, just you watch. I will convince Captain Galvan and participate with Eugy!” (Airi)

My childhood friend pointed straight at me. 

Sumire and Sara looked at each other. 

(I don’t think it will work though.) (Eugene)

I just stared absentmindedly at my childhood friend who was full of confidence.

◇◇

It is just as I thought. She not only couldn’t convince them, she was scolded harshly. 

Obviously. 

The oldest of the Golden Knight captains accompanied Airi in order to stop her when she loses control. 

Then, why is it that I know that Airi was scolded?

“And so, Airi-sama is being scolded by Prime Minister Catherine through communication magic. Who knows whether the Blue Waters Federation will accept the proposal of the Empire. It seems like the Federation Congress has not reached a decision after half a day, but it seems like the opinion is tilting towards accepting the proposal.” 

The one who is explaining this with a light tone was an intelligence agent of the Empire and was once a classmate of mine in the military school, Camilla. 

“Or more like, shouldn’t you have told me if Airi was coming?” (Eugene)

“It is not like danger was approaching Airi-sama, and I guessed you would be surprised by this, Eugene-kun.” (Camilla)

“Why are you working on the assumption of surprising me?” (Eugene)

I casted a curse on Camilla. 

A spell that would make her contact me when danger approaches my childhood friend.

And so, it doesn’t activate at all when Airi comes to meet me on her own accord. 

I might have messed up the activation condition. 

By the way, I am currently in the courtyard of the lodging we are staying in. 

It is currently late in the night. 

I was swinging my sword and Camilla showed up. 

And then, she told me internal info of the Empire…or more like, about the situation of Airi. 

By the way, Sumire and Sara are already sleeping. 

They were watching my sword training until now, but they seem to have gotten bored. 

“Then, I guess I will be leaving now~. Eugene-kun, you are not going to sleep yet?” (Camilla)

“I will train a bit more before sleeping.” (Eugene)

“I see, I see. That’s good.” (Camilla)

“What is?” (Eugene)

Camilla didn’t answer my question and left with light steps. 

I thought she left, but I felt a presence approaching me instead. 

(Did she forget something?) (Eugene)

I thought this and faced that way. 

“Hey, Eugy, can we talk for a bit?” 

“Airi?” (Eugene)

Late in the night. 

My childhood friend had come without a bodyguard despite being next to the throne. 

■Comment Response:

>Demon Lord-chan has not had much presence lately. 

-I am worried about that a bit. 

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