At the Meeting's End

After the short talks concluded, time was given for information exchange between nations.

Among them, Princess Yupe was gathering the most people.

She was immediately surrounded.

The conversation topics had all been predetermined to be innocuous.

Her pleasant smiles and empty talk really made her this popular?

If she actually had substance to match, it would be somewhat frightening.

As time passed, envoys left to return to their countries.

Among them, Warrior Commander Darz approached us.

"It's been a while."

"It has. Thank you for your help back then."

"Think nothing of it. That was nothing significant. However, in the time I haven't seen you…"

Warrior Commander Darz looked at Azu and the others.

His gaze was serious.

"Everyone except the priestess has grown remarkably. I can sense an incomparable fighting spirit compared to before."

"You can tell?"

"Naturally. I observe Spartia's warriors daily. Warriors who have grown are transformed. You've had good experiences."

So he could tell what experiences Azu and the others had been through.

As expected of him.

"If we fought now, perhaps I might even lose."

"No way. I couldn't beat you, Warrior Commander."

"I'll pass. Front-line combat isn't my specialty."

"Me too. I learned all too well how poorly I match up against Spartian warriors at the Colosseum."

Alexia and Finn responded to Warrior Commander Darz's words.

I thought Alexia might have a chance, but I couldn't force her.

"Heh. Well, it would be difficult. After all, especially with Azu-kun, if we fought seriously it would become a fight to the death. I can sense an overwhelming presence dwelling within you that wasn't there before."

The overwhelming presence was probably the elementals.

Azu's own growth had been remarkable, but the elementals' power amplified it further.

When she went all out, she could unleash tremendous power.

As I was talking with Warrior Commander Darz, Her Majesty Tianis poked me in the side with her elbow.

"How long are you going to keep chatting? Introduce us already, you're so inconsiderate!"

She scolded me in a low voice.

Being queen meant she couldn't move around casually, I suppose.

Finding the right balance here is tricky.

"Warrior Commander Darz. Allow me to introduce Her Majesty Queen Tianis and Chancellor Anatia."

"It's the first time meeting since your succession to the throne. Congratulations on your coronation, Your Majesty Tianis."

"Thank you, Warrior Commander Darz. Word of your exploits in Spartia has reached us. I am grateful for your offer of cooperation."

Her Majesty Tianis lifted the sides of her skirt and performed a curtsy.

She did it with practiced grace.

Anatia-san beside her also offered her greetings.

It was a strange feeling to see the person who had helped me before exchanging pleasantries with my sovereign.

"We're the ones who should be grateful, Your Majesty Tianis. For years our warnings about the danger of the Church of the Sun God were ignored. Well, they spread across the continent in the blink of an eye after destroying the Ash Kingdom, so it was understandable."

"The Kingdom was the same until recently, so I can't say much… The Church of the Sun God was skilled at infiltrating by letting themselves be conveniently used. Records from before the Ash Kingdom's fall had been destroyed by their hands, after all."

The Church of the Sun God's activities spanned an extremely long time.

Yet there were no records whatsoever from before the destruction of that massive nation, the Ash Kingdom.

There had always been speculation that the Church of the Sun God had erased those records.

But because the Church of the Sun God had prominently touted their charitable works, those voices were ignored, and as a result, they acquired an enormous following.

Some of those believers then established the Solar Union as a religious state, absorbing refugees and growing larger.

The Solar Union had believers producing timber and food, which they sold cheaply to earn foreign currency, making many nations dependent on them.

It was this very continent that had nurtured the Church of the Sun God into what it is today.

"Because they revealed their true colors, we can deal with them now, but the thought of what might have happened otherwise is frightening."

"The situation where you realize too late, yes. Even if that had happened, we Spartians would have stood against them alone, but it's good it didn't come to that. They will surely act again. When the decisive battle comes, we will certainly come to your aid."

They shook hands and he departed.

Having Spartia lend their strength in a crisis was reassuring.

"It also sounds like they won't help except for the decisive battle. Doesn't that mean the Kingdom has to handle things ourselves?"

"That's only natural. They have the role of holding back the Demon Den, and geographically, Spartia is far away. They shouldn't have the spare capacity to cooperate regularly."

Anatia-san answered Alexia's words.

I had a feeling they'd come if we asked when we really needed help.

Eventually the Empire's envoy also departed, and only our own people remained in the conference room.

The coronation and all its associated events had finally concluded.

"Haah. Entertaining those old men wasn't easy. All they did was stare at my chest and rear, and kept trying to touch my shoulders. Give me a foot and shoulder rub."

Princess Yupe, who had been entertaining many envoys, kicked off her heels and sat in a chair, summoning me over.

Experience had taught me that resisting at times like this only made her more demanding, so I complied obediently.

Besides, the envoys Princess Yupe had entertained had left with favorable impressions, so she had undeniably done her job.

I left her shoulders to Elza and worked on her feet.

"Yes, yes. You're quite good at this."

"Thank you."

I'd learned naturally from giving massages to Azu and the others.

As I gradually massaged higher, I nearly caught a glimpse of her underwear and averted my eyes.

A gentleman's etiquette.

"What? I don't mind if you look."

Princess Yupe gave a triumphant, or perhaps pleased, expression.

At times like this, men are at a disadvantage.

"Princess Yupe. You mustn't tease people carelessly, okay?"

"What, it's fine… Ow ow!"

I saw Elza grip her shoulder firmly.

Her thumb was also pressing into her back.

The unexpected pain made the princess writhe.

"Fine, fine, I get it. Let me go already."

Thanks to Elza, I was freed.