"Let's see... 'Wood Control', and... there."
I scatter a seed taken from my pocket onto the ground, creating a makeshift wooden chair to sit on.
It might be the first time in a while that we've had such perfectly pleasant weather. Lately, I've constantly been jerked around by one thing or another, so this climate is just ideal for basking in the sun like this. It's a little chilly, but as long as you're in the sunlight, your body stays warm. ...Though, if I do this for too long, my bodily properties will shift too close from a living creature to a tree, so I have to be careful.
"Right now, there are other people around so it's fine, but if I did something like this completely alone, I would literally turn into a tree..."
We elves are a human-subspecies, but we also possess a bit of the properties of a "tree." To be precise, it would be more accurate to say we can draw out and increase those properties. I recall back when we were in Prague, I told Wraith a story about how 'if you're logging a forest, an elf will pop out from inside a tree.' That refers to an elf who spaced out far too much on their own and ended up buried inside the forest.
The magic to manipulate trees that elves excel at enhances its effects by bringing our own bodily properties a little closer to a tree. It might be better to describe it as altering our magic power to specialize in wood magic. Well, once you exceed four digits like me, the boundaries around there sometimes get fuzzy, and if you're just relaxing, you can end up becoming too much of a tree. Because of that, before you know it, you fall into a state of being buried inside a tree.
"I can endure it to a certain extent, but if several hundred years pass like that, you cease to be human and perfectly become a tree. Once that happens, you can never go back... I still want to see the world, so I have to be careful."
Thinking about such things, I turn my gaze toward Wraith, whom I can call a recent friend, or perhaps a disciple.
Having prepared a ground mat, she and the young Queen face each other outside the defensive wall. Piled up next to Wraith are several thick volumes. If I recall correctly, they're books regarding the history of this country, the proper mindset of a King, and things of that nature. A similar row of books is lined up next to the young Queen, and the book she currently has open appears to be the exact same one.
"Come to think of it... she did say they were going to hold a study session."
That little girl—or rather, Wraith, who had taken on the role of the mother for this country's King—had been making preparations with terrifying momentum. She forcibly woke up the Prime Minister, whose thoughts had flown to another dimension because he couldn't comprehend what was happening, and questioned him about the young Queen's current status and the current governing system. In addition, she had requested the procurement of books to learn the proper way of being a King.
Dele, who was anxious that her mother might be stolen away; the other ostriches who, seeing Dele clinging on, tried to cling on as well; the ostriches who sensed anxiety from the atmosphere and began screaming and crying without understanding why; the ostriches who forgot why they were crying in the first place, immediately calmed down, and tilted their heads; and the ostrich who was playing by digging a hole as usual, dug too deep, and couldn't get out by itself.
While handling those children and scattering love equally, Wraith was running all over the place.
(And on top of that, she didn't forget to practice her magic manipulation either.)
I've heard the phrase 'mothers are strong,' but isn't that a phrase meant precisely for her? She was moving so energetically that it made me think exactly that. Toward her nearly 300 children, she acted as a good mother in front of anyone, scattering love equally. Although the time allocated to the young Queen, who had newly become her child, had increased, she engaged in even denser skinship to ensure the other children remained satisfied by that exact amount.
Truly, I am full of admiration. And at the same time, terribly worried that she might collapse from overwork.
"Mu!"
"Oh, what's the matter, Dele?"
While I am thinking about this, Dele brings her companions over to my spot. For some reason, she looks to be in a bad mood. ...Well, that can't be helped. The mother they had been with this entire time is now scattering love toward a completely different existence. What used to belong solely to them now has a different child squeezing in.
Wraith seems to be doting on them to compensate for their slightly reduced time together, but what's unpleasant is still unpleasant, and what's anxious is still anxious. It's likely a case of being unable to adapt to a minor change. I don't have children myself, nor have I ever raised one, so I wouldn't know, but it seems that when human children get a younger brother or sister, they sometimes think, 'Maybe I'm not needed anymore,' because the time they are paid attention to decreases.
(There are already children who have accepted it, or rather, don't care at all. Some children look as though they've eaten their anxiety away to begin with. But it seems there are also children who hold a vague anxiety like Dele does right now...)
"It broke!"
"Hmm? ...Ah, that had a short lifespan. I'll fix it right away."
Looking where Dele's wing is pointing, it appears the wooden playground equipment I made for the ostriches has already been destroyed. I had built it quite sturdily, thinking of making slides and other equipment to distract them while Wraith couldn't look after them completely... But it seems it was no match for an ostrich's leg strength. It looks like someone stepped right through the sliding part by mistake, leaving a large hole. Dele must have come to inform me about that.
Manipulating the magic power within my body, I thrust my staff into the ground and pour magic into it. Instantly, the playground equipment reverts to its original form. For the time being, since it is no longer possible to repair it purely with magic alone if it shatters again, I remodeled it so that even if it breaks, they can play with it in a different way... but will it last even an hour?
"There, all done. Go along and play."
"Play?"
"Play!"
"Run!"
"That! That!"
The ostriches, who conferred with each other for a brief second, dash off in their respective directions. Some run toward the playground equipment, while others simply start chasing each other around in circles. Amidst all that, Dele alone remains in this spot. ...Can't be helped, then. Refining my meager magic power, I cast a spell once more. The wooden chair I was sitting on just now expands into a two-seater, and I have her sit on that newly created section.
"It's about Wraith, your mama... and the child who newly joined, right?"
"Nn..."
...As I thought. I heard it from Wraith, but the species known as ostriches generally doesn't have very good memory. When we first met, Wraith was the sole exception, but lately, Dele has been moving toward that side as well. She doesn't seem to remember the exact same thing continuously for that long yet, but judging from this reaction, she must have been thinking about her mother and her new younger sister the entire time.
"Do you... hate that child? The new child?"
"Hate! ...But, don't hate. But hate."
I see. So you haven't completely come to terms with it after all. But even so, it's not like I can present any sort of solution... You see, elves are a long-lived species, right? Because of that, we often just leave things alone for units of decades, thinking, 'Time will solve it...!' Because I've lived in human society for a relatively long time, I can manage to adapt, but I am completely hopeless when it comes to things like child-rearing, and as for solving a child's worries...
What should we do?
"For now, why don't you try telling your mama properly?"
"...Mama?"
"Yes. Your mama will listen to you properly if you talk to her, right?"
"...Nn."
Feelings that don't get through unless put into words are a common occurrence. Before it becomes a major problem, have them listen to you while putting it into words and organizing it as much as possible. I'm sorry, Dele, this is about all I can come up with.
"...Understood! I'll go tell her!"
Saying so, she immediately stands up and runs off. Oh, she's going at quite full speed.
And noticing Dele's actions, the other ostriches begin to dash off as if following her lead. And then, those children charge right into Wraith.
"Ah, she got blown away."
"Lord Tactician! Lord Tactician!"
"...Ha! Where am I!"
The Tactician finally wakes up at the sound of the Red Knight, Dorothea's voice. It appears he had been unconscious until just a moment ago.
Instantly moving his eyeballs busily to grasp his current location, he gathered a certain amount of information and concluded that the place he was currently in was a church in the Heed Kingdom. His final memory was 'that particular scene of the problem.' What could be inferred from that was the shock of seeing Wraith emerge from the pavilion and being called "Mama" by the young Queen and a fellow child of her species called Dele. He must have fainted because of that.
"I was so worried, Lord Tactician...!"
"I-I am terribly sorry."
While calming down the Red Knight, who had tears welling up in her eyes out of relief, he gathered information. Rubbing her back while calling out to her, he borrowed one of the hand towels that was presumably church equipment and wiped her tears. While doing such things, he confirmed the sequence of events that had led to his fainting.
Organizing her words alongside the Tactician's own memories from right before, the situation appeared to be as follows:
1 Wraith emerges in front of everyone, bringing the two along.
2 The young Queen calls Wraith "Mama," and she accepts it.
3 The Tactician realizes the worst-case scenario, but it is already too late. Initially, confusion began to spread, but because someone started clapping, it is somehow accepted for some reason.
4 The clapping turns into a storm of applause, and the festival starts. Note that at this point, the Tactician, the Prime Minister, and Mathilde are already in a state like the "space cat" meme.
5 The Tactician's stress levels explode, and his stomach acid increases drastically. A giant hole opens up in his already dying stomach wall with a sizzling sound, and he faints. He is immediately transported to the church.
6 He receives healing magic from the clergy for a full day, managing to close the hole, and has finally made his return just now.
That seemed to be the gist of it.
By the way, the worst-case scenario was...
"Right now, Lady Wraith has no such intention, but she is definitively the next Beast King! From the Beast Kingdom's perspective, there is no one more suitable than her, who displayed overwhelming power by annihilating the previous Beast King and the standing army! Even if someone else were to become the Beast King, they would absolutely never secure the support of the citizens! Furthermore, if they remain without a special strategic force like this, they will be invaded by other nations and the country will vanish! The only one who can avoid that is 'Wraith'!"
"That is not all! Even toward the Heed Kingdom, she has secured an overwhelming advantage! The face of the young Queen, who was definitively mad until just the other day! It has become appropriate for her age! If it were just that, it would be heartwarming, but for some reason, she is calling Wraith 'Mama'! I cannot comprehend it, I cannot comprehend it, but I have no choice but to speculate! The possibility that arises if Wraith becomes the mother of the young Queen! That is... a de facto Queen!"
"Structurally within the Heed Kingdom, unless some sort of modification is made, it is impossible for anyone outside the royal family to become King! But that face on the young Queen! No! It possesses a terror that might alter the system itself at worst! Already at this point, the substantial ruler is Wraith! In other words, 'Wraith'! Just by wishing for it at this moment! Will become the King of two nations!!!"
The hearts of people are shifting things; they change immediately due to surrounding opinions and changes in circumstances. Even if she has no such intention right now, the danger level is at a point where everything ends purely on possibility alone! The monster resources and ostriches that the Heed Kingdom possesses, and the powerful beastmen soldiers and granary regions that the Beast Kingdom possesses, even if they are called a civil militia! If combined, it is not a level of being a threat or anything like that! It's a double-down of a nightmare, the formation of the idol group MOU48 by the Demon King!
"C-Calm down, calm down, Tactician. That's right, I am the 'Tactician.' I must constantly assess the situation calmly... F-First, breaking through the current state...!"
Spinning words, the Tactician organized his thoughts. Whether the Red Knight and the other soldiers had been considerate, this room was apparently a private room and was already strung about with magical tools for counter-intelligence. A report stating that they had secured permission and a contract of silence from the church was also placed by his pillow. At a time when even a single second was precious, he had to think of a way to prevent Wraith from ascending to the throne.
"...That's right, the magic reaction that the magical tool displayed at that time! Could it be the possibility of brainwashing...!"
"Ah, Lord Tactician. Regarding that..."
What was narrated from the mouth of the Red Knight, Dorothea, was the story of what happened while the Tactician was asleep.
Apparently, the Prime Minister had harbored a similar anxiety, and since Wraith was also anxious about various things, they had called people from the church and requested the elf, Amelia, to conduct various examinations. Not to mention checking if there were any abnormalities in the body, confirmation of whether there were negative effects on the mind or traces of brainwashing was being done behind the scenes while the emergency treatment for the collapsed Tactician was being carried out.
The Tactician is handed a report created by a Nagan soldier who seemed to be present at the scene by the Red Knight. A copy of the diagnosis was sandwiched inside. It stated that the "Archbishop," who is the finest practitioner of holy magic in this royal capital, and Amelia, who had climbed all the way up to priest in the past but excommunicated herself about 700 years ago saying 'I want to see the world,' had conducted the investigation... But the result was no abnormalities whatsoever.
She had simply been completely defeated by Wraith's motherly aura and was calling her "Mama."
"WHY ON EARTH!!!"
The Tactician involuntarily held his head and screamed.
Since she had simply been defeated by a motherly aura, there was a high possibility that there was nothing that could be done on this side anymore. The remaining choice was covert operations in the Beast Kingdom, but to begin with, the number of Nagan intelligence agents lurking in the Beast Kingdom was extremely small. It would take a long time to manifest the effects he desired, and it wouldn't be strange if Wraith ascended to the throne in the meantime.
And then.
To the side of the deeply worried Tactician, a single soldier pays a visit. Footsteps rapidly approach, and the door to the hospital room is opened.
"Lord Tactician!"
"..., What is the matter?"
While it was meaningless against the Red Knight, to whom he had already shown his broken self, he instantly adjusted his atmosphere to maintain his image as the "Tactician" and welcomed the soldier who had burst in.
That Nagan soldier handed him a letter he had concealed in his breast pocket and immediately exited the room. Since a presence could still be felt near the door, he was likely guarding it to prepare against external intelligence gathering. Because the church is an ally of the species known as humanity, they do not belong to or side with any particular nation, but exceptions can exist. This was likely a precaution against that.
Nodding contentedly at the state of such an excellent Nagan soldier, the Tactician, having composed his mind, opens the letter. Written there was...
"The undead that generated in the Beast Kingdom are still multiplying. The intent to seek aid within the Beast Kingdom appears to have solidified. Note that the undead appear to possess numerous individuals of the quasi-special strategic force class. There is a possibility of an artificial disaster."
"This is..."
Currently, within the Tactician's brain, there are two choices.
Namely,
Whether to 'become hostile toward the ostriches,' or 'continue a friendly relationship with the ostriches.'
Driven into a corner though he was, whichever of those he chose, he had a certain chance of winning if he fought through.
First, in the case of becoming 'hostile,' he would pretend not to see the report that just came in right now and immediately return to the Nagan Kingdom. And what he would begin is the annexation work of surrounding nations. To be precise, the scouting of other nations' special strategic forces. The annexation was practically a bonus. If he could bring the special strategic force 'Undying' of the Tram Republic located to the north of the Nagan Kingdom, and the special strategic force 'Sea Dragon' of the Lima Alliance located to the west under his umbrella, he had more than enough chance of winning.
(Lord 'Undying' dislikes me intensely, but that person is someone who can understand practical benefit. If considering solely a war against the ostriches, they will remain an ally until the end. Furthermore, since they are the same 'special type' as me, our compatibility is extremely good. And Lord 'Sea Dragon.' That person can extend their power up to about the upper-lower tier depending on conditions. It is by no means a difficult match.)
Indeed, if he could organize the lineup according to the Tactician's intentions, there was a chance of winning. And the strategies to organize that lineup were already underway; if he gave the final push, the annexation of the two nations would be possible within a month. A strategy that becomes possible precisely because both the Tram Republic to the north and the Lima Alliance to the west are heavily populated by the human race. ...However, the problem lay after the war.
(Lord 'Sea Dragon' will likely remain under our umbrella afterward as long as a battlefield, alcohol, and women are prepared, but Lord 'Undying' will definitively defect... and align with the Empire. Also, even if we triumph over the ostriches, the problem of what to do with the governance of the Heed Kingdom and the Charda Beast Kingdom will arise.)
Even if they won the war, what awaited them was an internal affairs hell with a mountain of problems. To begin with, unless they wiped out the ideology of "human supremacy" within the country immediately after the war, governance of Heed and the Beast Kingdom would be impossible. And wiping it out meant that no matter how hard they tried, it would definitively develop into a civil war. And if a civil war occurred, it would mean the withdrawal of soldiers—in other words, a decrease in the military strength of the garrison forces in the annexed regions. As a result, it could be predicted that rebellions would occur in various places.
While it would be possible to suppress a majority of them through the Tactician's capabilities, it was impossible to reduce it to zero.
While they were suppressing those civil wars and rebellions, that "Empire"—the strongest nation existing on the northern continent—would definitively move.
(As the Empire, it is more convenient if we small nations ruin each other on our own. For them as well, it is troublesome to be invaded from across the sea. Even if we could push them back with overwhelming military force, considering the current Emperor's personality, he will strike before we can unite.)
Striking and crushing a formidable rival before they can become one—if right in front of the Empire, which holds such an ideology, there lay a Nagan Kingdom that had grown massive but was exhausted from rebellions and civil wars, what would happen? Naturally, they would crush it.
(If I use the intelligence agents hidden in the Empire well, I can manage about a delay tactic, but even that has limits. The number of our special strategic forces is also limited, and defeat would be certain.)
Therefore, thinking comprehensively, becoming 'hostile' toward the ostriches carried far too high a risk.
"In other words, to survive, maintaining the status quo... There is no choice but to continue deepening our relationship like this, is there."
Currently, Nagan and Heed are equal allied nations, but if Wraith ascends to the throne, that balance will collapse. A new nation possessing the power of the Heed Kingdom and the Beast Kingdom will be born, and Nagan will take a form akin to being half-subservient. However, if they select that, at least a future where the nation collapses cannot be seen. Judging from Wraith's personality, the Tactician believed she was the type to become quite soft toward those she brought into her circle.
"...If that is the case, demonstrating just how capable Nagan is might prove beneficial for us in the future."
Being killed precisely because one is excellent is something frequently seen looking at past history, but judging from her personality, that wouldn't happen. As long as they are allies, no matter how suspicious they are, she likely wouldn't lay a hand on them. Whether Wraith will adopt an expansionist policy in the future or desire to maintain the status quo is unknown, but thinking about what lies ahead, it would be better to demonstrate strength to increase Nagan's voice.
"This anti-undead matter... shall we utilize it?"
〇 Wraith
She managed to catch the initial strike from Dele somehow, but was unable to catch the following forces and was blown away. [Wraith-kun was blown away!]
〇 Dele
She talked properly. She was able to feel reassured, but that's that, and she hates the newcomer!
〇 Luchia (Young Queen)
Her mama was blown away for some reason, but she's laughing out loud. I'm having fun too. Big sister Dele is a rival.
〇 Grandma (Amelia)
Grandma.
Tactician (Incapacitated)
As expected, an undead subjugation, huh... when do we depart? I shall accompany you as well.
〇 The Ostrich Victims Association [Reunion Edition]
"My, my, I never would have thought we would meet again in a place like this, Lord Beast King."
"Indeed, indeed. Though we were enemies before, to be able to meet a warrior of your caliber again... King of Heed. Ah, the previous King, rather."
""Hahaha!!!""
"General Delotado?"
"What is it, Bobre."
"Weren't those two definitely trying to kill each other?"
"They were."
"Like, why are they drinking alcohol with the atmosphere of old friends reuniting?"
"I don't know either."
"Dear! If you overdrink and get nasty drunk again, I'm leaving you behind on the way back! Ah, Beast King-san, look, this was on special sale at the supermarket yesterday. Please have some if you'd like?"
"Umu! My wife started cooking after coming here! Every day I think that this is truly what it means to have one's cheeks melt! Well, rather than melting cheeks, I no longer have a physical body, though! Hahaha!"
"Oh, honestly, dear!"
"Now, now, milady, do not get so worked up. Then, without further ado... oh, this is delicious!"
"General Delotado?"
"What is it, Bobre."
"If I recall correctly, wasn't that Queen someone who passed away from the mental strain of her husband being killed by the Beast King?"
"She was."
"Like, why is she able to act like a young wife serving food to her husband's friend?"
"I don't know either."
"Ah, Delotado-san and Bobre-san too! There is still plenty of food, so please eat up!"
"H-However, Her Majesty the Queen? We are of Nagan..."
"That doesn't matter at all! Come, sit down, sit down. What shall we do for alcohol!"
"I-I am grateful..."
"W-We shall accept the feast..."
Today, the Victims Association is peaceful as well.