Chapter 193: The Founding of the Eura Continental Alliance
I woke up in the rear palace bed.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains. Damn, did I oversleep again?
「You’re awake. Rest a little longer.」
「Yeah… what time is it?」
Louise gently patted my head as I tried to sit up.
「It’s still early morning, Takeru.」
「I see. I was worried it might be evening.」
If I were just an ordinary groom who had finished his wedding night, I could afford to sleep in. However, as the hero of Silesie and Germania, I was one of the founders of the new Eura Continental Law and the International Peace Treaty Organization.
After the wedding reception, the international conference to discuss the formation of the Eura Continental Alliance was held.
Even though it was the day after my wedding night, I couldn’t afford to sleep until evening and neglect a meeting that would determine the fate of the world. 「Yesterday was intense. You should rest a bit more. Both Are and Kaara are still sound asleep.」
Though initially, I was the one being pursued, I realized that unless I wore out Are and Kaara, I wouldn’t get any rest myself, so I pushed back with all I had.
I managed to get some sleep, but I felt like a substantial amount of my energy had been drained. It was surprising how enthusiastic they both were for their first time.
「…Thank you. Yesterday must have been hard on you too, Louise. Please, take your time to rest.」
Louise, aware of my exhaustion, had been more gentle compared to the other two.
In the end, we just held each other gently. Louise still seemed to be in some pain, a reminder of her inexperience. Eventually, I hoped to have more time to… but for now, I regretted that I couldn’t afford such luxury.
「Are you okay, Takeru? You look tired.」
「I’m in no position to complain. Once the diplomacy is over, we’ll rest properly. We’ll even go on a honeymoon together.」
Though I had taken Silhouette and the others on a honeymoon trip, I also wanted to leisurely take Louise and the others on a honeymoon. However, the schedule would depend on the progress of the international conference.
When I stepped out of the bedroom into the outer chamber, Sharon was waiting with the maids. They had warm water for washing my face and preparations for changing into formal attire. I appreciated that, despite being allowed into the harem, the maids respected the privacy of the bedroom.
A quick glance back into the bedroom showed a scene of utter disarray, not something I wanted others to see. Well, Are and Kaara had also worked hard yesterday, so they deserved to sleep a bit more.
Of course, by ‘worked hard’ I meant the battle with the Demon Dragon, not the night activities!
Considering how they exhausted themselves last night with their wild behavior, it served them right. No need for extra consideration on my part.
「Good morning, master. You must be tired from yesterday.」
「Good morning, Sharon. By ‘tired’, you mean from the battle with the Demon Dragon, right?」
Sharon responded ambiguously while she wiped my face with a warm towel, and the maids helped me change into a morning coat. Though I could dress myself, I couldn’t refuse when told this was how nobility did things.
Tying a necktie was a challenge for me, and given how tired I was, I decided to enjoy the pampering while at the palace. The warm water helped refresh me and lift my spirits.
「Sharon, during such times, one should say ‘Did you enjoy yourself last night?’ as is the custom in Takeru’s homeland.」
Ria said as she approached, dressed in her dazzling holy robes.
It was problematic when Ria made such remarks because she tended to take them seriously.
「Ria, when we say ‘tired from yesterday’, we mean from the battle with the Demon Dragon.」
「In that case, we certainly deserve some gratitude as well. Not just me, but the priests of the Asama Church worked through the night to purify the Demon Dragon.」
Now that she mentioned it, Ria did look a bit sleepy.
I hadn’t considered it—being an undead, simply killing the Demon Dragon wasn’t enough.
「You had to handle the aftermath, huh? Sorry for leaving it all to you and your team.」
「No need to apologize… it’s our duty as clergy. However, the corpse was so massive, we had trouble dealing with it…」
The Demon Dragon’s body was indeed huge. If it were in a remote cave, like the hero Renz did in the past, we could leave it sealed. But near the capital, we had to dismantle it completely, even if it took time.
「I’ll help with the cleanup when I get the chance. No matter how tough the Demon Dragon’s body is, the ‘Sword of Light’ can cut through it. Also, since it’s a dragon corpse, can’t it be used for valuable items?」
「For the Black Dragon Wyvern, its scales were used for armor. I’m not an expert, but the palace officials and soldiers have been investigating and collecting everything.」
Listening to our conversation, Sharon interjected.
「Master, besides the scales, the dragon bones are also valuable.」
「I see. You’re quite knowledgeable, Sharon.」
Even as a dragon, its undead flesh was unusable. I had used Black Dragon Wyvern scales to craft armor before, so I knew how valuable they could be.
「Master, that information is from Sherry. She said she’d prepare a financial report for submission later.」
「Got it. The fields below took damage too…」
「The Asama Church has been aiding the local residents. The palace is also assessing the damage caused by the Demon Dragon to compensate the people. Given the substantial amount of dragon scales and bones collected, Sherry estimated that we could still make a significant profit.」
「I see. Thank you.」
Sherry and the others are always thinking and acting more diligently than I do.
They’re probably still at work on-site. Having competent officials is a great help. I can’t afford to say I’m tired.
「Also, Ria.」
「What is it?」
「Take care of yourself. Don’t push your body too hard, especially with all-nighters.」
Ria’s robe was beginning to show a slight bulge around her stomach. She was likely in the stable phase of her pregnancy, but hearing that a pregnant woman had stayed up all night was no joke.
「I’m naturally strong, but you’re right.」
「Exactly.」
Seeing Ria caress her belly made me worry.
「If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like you to take care of yourself for the sake of not just one body.」
「Then take care of yourself for the sake of two lives. This is about our child.」
I held Ria’s hand and gently reminded her.
「Thank you, Takeru. I’ll take your advice and rest a bit.」
「Yes, please do. Don’t strain yourself.」
But is she going back to the harem bed? Louise and the others are sleeping there in disarray, but I suppose it’s fine.
After all, they’re all my wives. Now that I’m dressed, I should attend the diplomatic meeting.
※※※
The international conference wasn’t the tense, roundtable discussion I was familiar with. The meetings between ambassadors, royalty, and nobility were elegant affairs, often interspersed with meals and breaks. It was more of a convivial gathering than a formal conference, with a relaxed atmosphere as the envoys discussed matters.
This international treaty would be the first in over 1,200 years in Eura’s history. While it was expected to take considerable time, Lyle-sensei informed me that, except for the Kingdom of Castilia, all the other nations had largely reached an agreement and the treaty might be signed today.
「The decisive factor was when the Kingdom of Castilia’s ability to freely use the ‘Demon King’s Core’ was demonstrated right before the eyes of the international conference. The threat of the Demon Dragon has stirred the nations, leading them to seek security from Silesie, now the strongest country on the Eura continent.」
「Yes, seeing that firsthand would certainly have that effect.」
Having a massive monster of Demon King class attack the capital was a terrifying prospect, even for me.
It’s natural that the ambassadors from various countries would be deeply concerned.
「A new clause has been added to prohibit the use of the ‘Demon King’s Core’ as a means of resolving wars or conflicts. If its use is discovered, the country that used it will face sanctions from the entire Eura Continental Alliance.」
「It’s almost like discussing the abolition of nuclear weapons.」
「Indeed, mutual assured destruction, wasn’t it? With the Kingdom of Castilia possessing such a weapon of mass destruction and only the Kingdom of Silesie being capable of countering it, the situation becomes straightforward.」
「So, the Kingdom of Silesie takes on the role of protecting the world from the threat of Castilian aggression.」
「The headquarters of the Eura Continental Alliance has been decided to be here in the royal capital of Silesie. All countries want the hero’s aid in times of crisis.」
「The responsibility is immense…」
I’ve shared bits of my world’s history with Lyle-sensei, and it seems he’s used that information as a reference.
Uniting the Eura Continental Alliance against the Kingdom of Castilia as a common adversary was a brilliant strategy.
It appears that provoking Castilia to use the Demon Dragon was part of Lyle-sensei’s plan.
The Castilian delegation, isolated in the international conference, is desperately trying to defend their position with pale faces. Yet, only their plenipotentiary ambassador, Revenant, continues to resist single-handedly.
He’s trying to change the tide by emphasizing the threat posed by the newly powerful Silesie Kingdom.
He hasn’t given up yet; he’s a tenacious man.
「Representatives of the nations of the Eura Continent! The Kingdom of Silesie and its allied states claim that Castilia is a threat to the world, but what will happen if Silesie itself harbors ambitions of world domination?」
Revenant’s shout was met with a chorus of condemnation from the assembly, accusing Castilia of being the one who waged a war of conquest with such ambitions. Especially vocal were the delegations led by King Arthur of the United Kingdom of Britannia and King Valram of the Duchy of Transylvania, both having been attacked by Castilia.
The unjust war of aggression was clearly initiated by the Kingdom of Castilia. While Silesie had defeated Castilia’s Invincible Armada, it had not encroached upon a single inch of its territory.
The question of who was in the right was obvious.
Surrounded by sharp accusations from countries involved in the war, as well as Silesie’s allied and friendly nations, and even receiving cold stares from ambassadors of distant foreign lands, Revenant continued his passionate speech, undeterred.
「Even so, representatives! Imagine what would happen if the enormous beast that is the Kingdom of Silesie were to one day reveal its ambitions and turn its fangs on weaker nations. Castilia is a trading nation, a country that desires peace. While I admit that we were the first to ignite the flames of war, using the ‘Demon King’s Core’ and demon mercenaries, it was a decision made in bitter determination to prevent a single tyrant from ruling the world.」
Once again, shouts of ‘Who is the real tyrant?’ and ‘Shame on you, invader!’ erupted around the Castilian delegation, adding fuel to the fire.
The other high-ranking nobles and diplomats from Castilia, likely never having faced such public scorn in their lives, were visibly shaken, with one even fainting on the spot.
Yet, despite it all, Revenant maintained a calm demeanor, his voice unwavering.
His oration grew more fervent and fluid, seemingly fueled by the very hostility directed at him. Revenant, a bizarre masochist, thrived under the pressure, his rhetoric becoming more passionate the more he was attacked.
「Representatives of the various nations! The Kingdom of Silesie has already subjugated many countries, absorbing even the Germania Empire and its states into its alliance. Castilia has been threatened by Silesie’s powerful navy and is being forced to pay crippling reparations, pushing us to the brink of ruin. Is this the behavior of a nation that claims to promote peace? Can any of you imagine being in our position tomorrow?」
This particular plea seemed to resonate with the nations of southern Eura who were not involved in the great war, spreading an air of unease. Indeed, the growing power of the Kingdom of Silesie was a concern, leading some third parties to believe that a balance of power should be maintained. Seeing this, Revenant smirked.
「Look at the exorbitant reparations demanded from us, a clear sign of Silesie’s ambitions. How do you explain this?」
Revenant’s outburst was met with a quiet but firm response from Lyle-sensei, who stood up to address the assembly.
「Representing the Kingdom of Silesie, I must say that the responsibility for explanations lies with the Kingdom of Castilia, which waged a reckless war of aggression and lost. Moreover, reparations to the countries harmed by this war are only just.」
「Castilia acted out of necessity to prevent a global catastrophe. The demon mercenaries we employed now serve Silesie. If Silesie’s ruler decides to use demons or the ‘Demon King’s Core’ to conquer the world, no nation could stop them. Isn’t that the real threat?」
At this, Lyle-sensei turned to face me.
Wait, am I supposed to speak now?
As the representative of Silesie, Lyle’s gaze caused the eyes of the Eura Continent’s ambassadors to focus on me. The atmosphere demanded that I stand and say something.
Fine, here we go again.
「Ahem, esteemed ambassadors. Revenant, the Castilian ambassador, is calling me a tyrant. Isn’t that right, Revenant?」
I casually brought up the topic, catching Revenant off guard with a strange expression.
He probably didn’t expect me to initiate the conversation.
I knew he was a cunning guy, and it was clear he didn’t take anything he said seriously. His goal was just to throw any sort of accusation he could to reduce the hefty reparations Castilia was facing.
Revenant hesitated for a moment before asking me a question.
「Hero of Silesie… Can you definitively say you won’t become a tyrant ruling the world? 」
「Revenant, let me ask you this: do you really think I, as the hero, couldn’t establish dominance over the world if I wanted to? 」
「Exactly! If you set your mind to it and mobilized all of Silesie’s forces, you could create a world empire. With the greatest military power in Eura continent at your disposal, can you truly guarantee you wouldn’t succumb to that temptation? 」
「If I were that ambitious, I wouldn’t even be holding this meeting and would be doing it quietly.”
「That could be a trap to make the other nations lower their guard. 」
「I won’t repeat the mistakes of the former Germania Empire and invade other countries backed by military might. Wait a moment. 」
There was always warm food prepared at the venue. I went to serve some pilaf made by the court chefs.
It was a rare dish in Eura, made by frying rice in oil.
I had considered how to get the ambassadors from each nation to try this relatively unpopular rice dish, but I noticed that it wasn’t being eaten much compared to the other dishes.
「Have you tried this new dish called pilaf, made from a grain called rice? 」
「No… I thought it looked like a strange object, but I didn’t realize it was food. 」
「‘Object’? What did you think it was, considering I made it for you? Just try it already! 」
I handed the plate and spoon to Revenant, who cautiously took a bite.
「This has an unusual texture, but it’s surprisingly tasty.」
「Right? The ingredients are top-notch, and the cooking method was carefully chosen. It’s one of my favorites.」
「Wait a minute. Just because the food is good, that doesn’t mean anything. I won’t be deceived. This isn’t what we’re talking about!」
「We are talking about trade. That rice doesn’t grow well in the dry lands of Silesie. It needs the warm, moist regions of southern Eura.」
「Then doesn’t that mean the Hero of Silesie has ambitions to seize those fertile lands?」
「Why would I need to do that? It’s much more profitable to trade for rice grown in the south using surplus goods from Silesie. As a Castilian, you should understand that trade is more prosperous than conquest.」
「That’s… true.」
「Exactly! I don’t believe the Kingdom of Castilia started the war with the intent to conquer the world. Merchants know that trade is more prosperous than taking by force. Both Silesie and Castilia want peace and a world where merchants can trade freely. Isn’t that right, Revenant?」
「Our country does, but Silesie…」
「My vision aligns with King Ferdinand of Castilia. We don’t want a world dominated by a single ruler but a world where nations can trade freely and prosper together. That’s why I called for the Eura Continental Alliance.」
Revenant, who had been so vocal, fell silent. He couldn’t argue when I invoked the name of Castilia’s study king.
Taking advantage of the moment, I decided to thank the representatives for attending my wedding.
「Ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate your presence at my wedding. Let’s continue working together for a prosperous future.」
I gestured towards the numerous gifts from the wedding banquet as I continued my speech.
「Look around and see the gifts I’ve received from representatives of various countries for my wedding. From the United Kingdom of Britannia, dried oysters and other seafood; from the Duchy of Transylvania, beautiful flowers; and from the autonomous cities of the Sway Peninsula, wooden furniture.
The artworks from the Duchy of Lanct on behalf of Germania Empire and the Union of Lords are displayed over there, stunning in their opulence. The silverware with oriental designs from the Three Kingdoms of Rastore, Trania, and Gartland also has a unique charm.
The Papal State of Ravenna has sent glassware and stained glass, while the Pulpolis City-State Alliance has provided an abundance of sugar and olives. The desert tribes of the Afri continent have gifted rare myrrh and cocoa, and the Anatolian Empire, a major power in the southeast, has given us velvet carpets that are both high-quality and rich in exotic allure.
I am deeply grateful for these gifts, and Silesie will reciprocate to the best of its ability. However, the reason I emphasize this now is that the splendid array of gifts gathered at my reception symbolizes the richness of this world.
Twelve hundred years ago, Queen Liliella’s kingdom achieved global unification by force, only to collapse in two hundred years. The domination and exploitation by a single queen eroded the diverse cultures and environments of the world, draining the vitality of its people. I do not wish to repeat that mistake.
The purpose of forming the Eura Continental Alliance and establishing a new peace treaty among the countries gathered here is to end wars where nations take by force what they lack. By sharing our wealth with each other, we aim to develop our countries peacefully.
Of course, increased interaction may lead to ethnic friction. Trade can be a form of war among merchants, and disputes between nations might arise. But we will address these issues through an international court, resolving each matter fairly through dialogue.
I hope all the ambassadors here understand this purpose. Take back the excellent products of Silesie to your homelands and seriously consider trading with us. That’s all from me.」
I bowed my head to the ambassadors after finishing my speech. In the now-silent conference hall, Lyle-sensei started to clap.
That prompted a wave of applause to spread throughout the room.
When I turned to face Revenant, he looked ready to burst with frustration but ultimately took his seat. Meanwhile, the other Castilian ambassadors slumped in their chairs, visibly exhausted. Despite everything, I found myself impressed by Revenant’s resilience; he may have lost this round, but he still stood strong.
It wasn’t that my speech had been extraordinary.
The Castilian Kingdom had already boxed itself into a corner diplomatically by bringing the Demon Dragon King into the international conference.
Revenant was cunning and an excellent strategist, but even he fell short against a fully prepared Lyle-sensei.
The establishment of the Eura Continental Alliance centered around the Silesie Kingdom had been decided. It was no exaggeration to say that the center of world trade had shifted from Castilia to Silesie.
Of course, this was merely a diplomatic change. There remained a mountain of tasks to tackle, such as revitalizing industries and developing international ports, but at least we had cleared the first stage.
Moving forward, diplomatic relations would continue under the Eura Continental Alliance, which would have a permanent international court and a security council. We had also decided to cooperate in addressing threats from outside the Alliance, such as the northern demons and western barbarians.
Exploration of uncharted territories, like the northern Sway Peninsula and the southern colonies on the Afri continent, would progress more smoothly as well.
Additionally, it may be a bonus, but we managed to incorporate progressive terms like ‘humane treatment of prisoners’ into the treaty in case of war between the contracting nations. While it would be best to avoid war altogether, it was wise to have a treaty that could alleviate the horrors if it were to happen.
「Well, if we could accomplish this much, I’d say we did well.」
As I walked through the castle corridor after the treaty signing ceremony, I encountered Revenant, who was preparing to return home. Upon seeing my face, he said something unexpected.
「Silesie’s hero… I won’t thank you, just so you know!」
「Huh? Why would you thank me? I haven’t done anything to deserve your thanks.」
Given how I had bested him at the international conference, it made sense if he were to insult me, but I never expected him to express gratitude. Why was this perverted sorcerer acting all tsundere? It was unsettling.
「No… You defended me when I called you a tyrant by stating, ‘The Castilian Kingdom also seeks peace’. I don’t quite grasp your intentions, but it was a considerate gesture toward my country, which is in a difficult position.」
「I didn’t say that for your sake. It’s to show that once the war is over, the Castilian Kingdom will be an equal trading partner.」
My goal wasn’t to destroy Castilia; I aimed to incorporate its economic zone into Silesie’s global strategy. I certainly didn’t want him to become desperate and pull out of the Eura Continental Alliance.
「…You have the ability to destroy my country or even aim for world domination, yet you’re such a peculiar person.」
「It’s a bit odd to be called ‘peculiar’ by a perverted mage like you, but… Sure, your country is in a tough spot, but I won’t ease up on collecting those reparations from Castilia!」
Revenant hung his head and let out a deep sigh. Just when I thought he had finally come to terms with reality, he chuckled and raised his head again. This guy really was resilient.
「Ha… Then I’ll just have to work hard to pay off those reparations! Even if we lose in war or diplomacy, we still have business to attend to. We will do our utmost for King Ferdinand. We’re not out of the game yet!」
「Alright then, do your best. Take care on your way back, Revenant.」
While the Castilian ambassadorial delegation was left in despair, Revenant alone wore a vibrant expression as he set off for home.
Once he got back, I imagined he and his fellow ambassadors would be scrambling to figure out how to manage those reparations.
I hoped that the perverted strategist would settle down a bit.
He had a tendency to get excited when cornered.
I looked forward to seeing the plans that Lyle-sensei had in mind for containing Castilia.
Just as I turned to reflect on the end of the meeting, Ria led Louise, Are, and Kaara toward me. It seemed they had just woken up after spending the night together in the harem.
「Takeru. Thanks to you, I had a wonderfully restful sleep.」
「Is Ria feeling better now?」
「Yes, and you look quite fatigued. How about taking it easy today?」
「I want to rest too, believe me…」
Was it really true? Would I actually be able to relax today?
Are and Kaara smiled as they encouraged me to take a break.
「That’s right! Hero deserves to rest today!」
「Nation’s Father should be tired too. Why not take a nice bath and unwind?」
Hearing that from the very people who had worn me out yesterday was a bit intimidating.
But if they insisted, maybe I should take them up on their offer.
I followed them willingly…