Kaido did it, didn’t he?
The fact that the corner of my mouth didn’t twitch must be the result of my training.
Or maybe it’s simply because it ended as I had predicted.
“Um, are you feeling alright?”
“No problem. The doctor advised me to refrain from intense exercise, but usually, I’m the one giving instructions. I can reduce the opportunities for exercise.”
“I see… Then it seems difficult for you to support us.”
“No problem at all. In fact, it’s more concerning that I can’t greet Chuu’s parents. I’ll ensure complete support for the Human King. You don’t need to worry.”
“…”
On one hand, I felt a sense of relief for having involved Kaido, but on the other hand, my conscience was pricked by the thought of negotiating using the wish of a pregnant woman as leverage.
However…
“You don’t need to worry. I initiated this discussion. My calculation is that having the Human King, who understands both worlds, act as the intermediary poses a better chance of a positive outcome than Chuu meeting his parents alone. This is indeed a legitimate negotiation.”
“I didn’t think it was showing on my face.”
“Your expression is well concealed, and your magic power remains stable. However, having no change at all is unnatural. It would be wise to pay attention to that next time.”
“The difference in experience is hard to bridge.”
“If you manage to catch up in combat power within a short period and surpass that aspect as well, we would have no standing.”
Amili-san, as if reading my mind, took another sip of cocoa and declared that there was no need for concern with a glance upwards.
I reflected on the fact that she had some awareness of the situation, though not to the fullest extent, and shrugged my shoulders broadly.
“I understand. If that’s the extent of it, then it’s a delicious deal for us. I will prepare the atmosphere to leave a good impression on the other side as much as possible.”
“I appreciate it. Some may find this appearance repulsive. Although Chuu welcomed me, I wish to reduce any sources of unease.”
For a moment, I hesitated, wondering about the double meaning.
Amili-san’s appearance is quite rare in the Fantasy world, with mechanical parts embedded into a body that looks younger than a girl.
Her expressions might be hard to read and difficult to change, but according to Kaido, she is said to be quite expressive.
I doubted that when I first heard it, but now, facing her, it’s clear she is full of emotions.
Her feelings of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are evident.
To be frank, she would probably fall into the “loli” category.
Her appearance undoubtedly makes her a beautiful girl.
However, with her lack of body curves and only a height around my waist level, if she and Kaido walked hand in hand during the day, they would likely be seen as siblings at best, or they could face immediate suspicion at worst.
Amili-san’s concern likely relates to her body with the embedded machinery, but I also had worries about her appearance.
Suppressing these thoughts, I smiled broadly.
I carefully selected my words to encourage Amili-san, who was gently stroking the mechanical parts with a worried look.
“You might be worrying too much. After all, they’re Kaido’s parents. They might accept you easily.”
While I internally acknowledged the mechanical aspects, I refrained from expressing my own fears regarding her appearance and awaited Amili-san’s reaction.
The untouched coffee had grown cold, and I contemplated ordering a new one, but that could wait; this was a priority.
I smiled cheerily, though inwardly I felt frantic over having never acted as a marriage broker.
“I appreciate it. I want to get along with her parents in any way possible for this child.”
There was no turning back now.
“No, I will demand compensation as well.”
“That’s reasonable. There are plenty of benefits for me as well. I will not hold back my cooperation.”
“Well, as a person with a child, I must say I care for your health first.”
“I understand, but there is no need for concern. My body is sturdy enough to withstand a hero’s attack. I can protect my child as well.”
“Please don’t say things that sound like dark humor.”
“Regrettable.”
Having seen her fight against a hero, I knew this petite frame was tougher than it appeared. However, it doesn’t convince me that because she can withstand a hero’s attack, her child is safe.
I thought that perhaps she was a little too excited, and I should introduce her to Suella for some parenting advice.
“Is there still time?”
We had spent a reasonable amount of time on this discussion. Given her position, I figured Amili-san must have a rather tight schedule.
If she lacked the time, I thought I could set up another appointment.
“No problem. Today, my schedule is fully booked for meetings with the Human King. Let’s finalize the details right here.”
“Thank you. That helps us as well.”
This concern was unfounded; this was where the real discussion began.
“Let’s start with the first topic.”
I took out the prepared documents and began discussing mutual benefits.
Well, even if it’s mutual benefits, what I sought from Amili-san was her network, which I lacked.
To be honest, it would be a headache if my marriage hunting party was interrupted now.
This meeting was crucial for negotiating with Japan and could open up multiple interaction routes.
Frankly speaking, any interference at this point could lead to troublesome situations, so I wanted to eliminate any future regrets.
With that in mind, what I desired was a shield to defend against such interruptions or perhaps a hunter to take care of them.
“…If it’s just based on what I’ve heard, that’s possible. We can reallocate military strength and form a response team.”
“Your wording suggests you have concerns.”
After expressing that wish and showing the documents, when the discussion wrapped up, I sensed an implication of inadequacy in her words, which I couldn’t ignore.
“Even when fully prepared, these types tend to create openings. Therefore, it’s not only about preventing their entry; we also need to mislead them down the wrong path.”
“Are you suggesting information warfare?”
Instead of just thinking of defensive measures, Amili-san stated that we would also need the offensive tools to attacked. She was right; only defending would put us on the back foot.
If that’s the case, we need methods to attack.
From Amili-san’s words, she indicated that what was needed was not just a physical approach but rather a subtle, strategic information warfare.
I nodded in agreement.
“Correct. Such individuals frequently use this kind of strategy, both in quality and in number.”
“And that means we can deceive such opponents, making it effective.”
“Affirmative. Fortunately, the Human King has the hero Muil Henderberg, who understands the importance of information warfare.”
“…So the other crucial component is the infrastructure to disseminate that information?”
“Affirmative. Furthermore, we mechanized people are confident in our capabilities in the field of information warfare. We also possess a unique network.”
While my force might lag behind other generals in terms of muscle, when it comes to the field of information, we have invested considerable resources and thus possess considerable capability.
Still, mistakes such as the previous leak occur.
It is a critical error that’s difficult to brush off.
Considering that, I could still claim we were lacking in information strategy.
We were simply stretched thin and couldn’t afford to engage in multi-faceted information warfare, being primarily focused on defense.
It seems we’ve got much to work on moving forward.
In that respect, Amili-san’s long-standing tenure as a general makes her foundational skills in this area superior.
Since I was paying for her service, I felt no hesitation in relying on her expertise in that regard.
“Depending on the additional rewards, training in that area is also a possibility.”
“Let’s hear the specifics.”
I would make every effort to supplement any deficiencies.
If the person is trustworthy, I wouldn’t hesitate to lean on her.
In the end, I found myself relying on Amili-san for more than just information disruption and keeping the nobles in check.
“Then, I look forward to your support with the Human King.”
“I’ll give it my all.”
As a result, I ended up taking on the wedding planning for Kaido’s marriage.
And I hadn’t even had my own wedding yet.
“I don’t think we underestimated this commitment. Rather, I’d like to know what kind of magic you used since it seems too advantageous.”
“You heard it all from start to finish, didn’t you?”
“I find it strange that even after hearing it, I don’t understand it.”
The negotiation with Amili-san proceeded with surprising calm, almost as if I were taking a backseat through the entire exchange.
The only twist was the part where Amili-san announced her pregnancy.
Everything else seemed to be a process where Amili-san didn’t exactly lose but didn’t gain much either, allowing us to come out ahead.
“Will this become a debt for us?”
“It likely will. For the Machine King, the main objective may not be here. It’s about creating leverage for future collection.”
While Kaido-san reviewed the minutes of the meeting on her PC, she saved the details.
In the short run, we benefited.
But in the long run, considering the time to repay Amili-san’s favors, it seemed more or less a wash.
“Are we seen as making a forward investment?”
“Something like that. Isn’t it great that they see potential for growth in you?”
“That’s quite a heavy expectation.”
In the end, this negotiation was, in essence, a loan.
“Life is still long. We’ll take our time to repay it.”
I considered it fortunate that we weren’t being faced with unreasonable interest rates, and I rolled my shoulders to relieve the tension from the exhausting negotiations.
“Now, with this, can you fully focus on the marriage hunting party, Keiri-san?”
“Yes, with the Machine King backing me, I can truly invest my efforts from here on.”
I watched Keiri-san’s diligent work, her serious expression as she compiled the minutes, converting them into contracts without taking her eyes off her PC.
“Hey, Keiri-san, can I ask you something?”
“The moment you preface your question like that, it must be unrelated to work. Well, alright, what is it?”
“Well, since you’re so serious, does that mean you saw a guy you liked in the matchmaking photo from the other day?”
With that simple question, I wanted to confirm why she was so invested in her work.
That question made her stop typing instantaneously and look at me.
“What? Are you jealous that another guy might take your sister away? Sorry, but I’m a little hesitant about cheating, especially about liking my best friend’s guy.”
“That’s a bit too much. No, I simply became curious, there’s no deeper meaning.”
With a smile reminiscent of a Cheshire cat, she playfully brushed me off.
No, I didn’t intend to flirt with her.
Though we have a long history, I’ve never looked at her that way.
“In fact, does that mean there’s no deeper meaning?”
“Though I hinted at something, I have no feelings beyond mere curiosity.”
“So, you’ve invaded my private life just to satisfy that curiosity?”
“That’s a poor way to phrase it. You don’t need to say anything if you don’t want to.”
As Keiri-san shifted from work mode to private mode, a teasing smile emerged as she playfully avoided my inquiry.
Realizing she wasn’t going to say anything, I decided to retreat and end the conversation.
“I also don’t have any deep reasons for putting in so much effort. I just happened to see a guy who looked like someone I used to like.”
“…Is that so?”
Dark Elves are known for their devotion.
However, one cannot say that such unwavering love always leads to success and happiness.
“Aren’t you going to ask more?”
“I’d prefer to avoid digging into a woman’s past and ending up in pain.”
“What do you mean by that?”
For the first time, I saw the slightly sad expression on Keiri-san’s face. To lighten the mood, I decided to act goofy, and her smile returned to normal.
Today’s remark:
There are indeed many things one can do.
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