How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 14: Chapter 11

Evening of the Day Julius and the Others Came to the Kingdom

Are your injuries okay now, Pai? Ruby asked, sounding worried.

Yeah. The doctor examined me and said Id be fine, Pai replied with an awkward laugh.

But I heard it was going to leave scars.

Uh, yeah. Look.

Pai removed the mask which covered the area around one of his eyes, and there were clear scars that looked like cat scratches there. They were small marks that only covered the area around his eye, but that was because the wounds he had taken in his draconic form had shrunk down with him in his human one.

Naden and Ruby gulped when they saw the scars.

That big tiger did that to you, right? It makes me shudder, Ruby remarked.

I guess the one good thing is that it didnt affect your vision, Naden added.

Ah ha ha... But Lady Sill told me the scars look cool.

Naden and Ruby looked at one another in the face of this blatant flaunting of a loving relationship before both poking Pais cheeks. Then, to get things back on track, Naden took hold of a wooden goblet.

Anyway, were all here and well, so lets drink a toast.

Naden raised her wine-filled goblet, and Ruby and Pai followed suit.

Now, lets drink to our reunion! Cheers!

Cheers!

They clacked their cups together and then gulped down the wine.

Today, the three dragons from the Star Dragon Mountain Range were having a girls party at the experimental restaurant in Parnam, Ishizuka. It all happened because Souma suggested, You and Pai havent seen each other in a while, so why not invite Ruby and have a party at Ishizuka? Ill let Poncho know youre coming. He was likely trying to show some consideration to Naden, whose only compatriot in this country was Ruby. He felt she should value her time with her friends. Naden had gratefully accepted the idea, and invited the two of them.

The last time we were all together like this was in the Kingdom of Lastania, right? Naden said after finishing her wine, and Pai nodded.

During the demon wave, yeah. Its been years, huh?

When you say it like that, it doesnt feel that long since weve seen each other, but a lot of time has passed, hasnt it? Ruby said, getting emotional as she stared into her cup.

We never felt the flow of time this way in the Star Dragon Mountain Range.

Well, yeah... We must have spent an exhaustingly long time in our homeland, but the time weve spent since meeting Souma feels longer.

Yeah, I kind of get it. Its the density of memories, Naden said before scarfing down a piece of chicken tatsuta.

Pai nodded. Every day in the Star Dragon Mountain Range was the same, so none of them stuck in our memories. It was just eating, sleeping, studying, and breaking up fights between the two of you, over and over.

Urkh...

Maybe because theyd just remembered that awkward time in their lives, Naden and Ruby both gulped down their drinks. To drown out the bitter memories. Pai sighed and smiled wryly at their reaction.

Compared to that, every day feels special now. I have someone precious to me, and the time I spend with her is invaluable... I love her so much.

I get it. Every day I spend with Souma and the others is special.

Its the same for me with Hal and Kaede. Naden giggled. I think Ill remember these days for all of my long life. If days spent without someone precious to you dont stay in your memories, then Im sure most of my life is happening now.

Hey, you can say something good once in a while.

That quip from Ruby made Naden flush red with embarrassment.

Y-Youre embarrassing me. Wahey!

Wahey!

In order to mask their embarrassment, the three dragons clacked their cups together once again. Then, after some time drinking and having a raucous good time, Ruby spoke up.

Oh, right... Ruby said, The people who are precious to you two are in a meeting now, arent they?

Pai stared blankly at her for a moment before nodding.

Oh, yeah. I thought I should be at her side, but Lady Sill told me to take this opportunity to enjoy yourself.

Well, theres not much we can do during the negotiations anyway. Naden shook her head in dismay. Knowing Souma, though, he wont treat her badly.

Around the same time in Castle Parnam...

Good evening, Queen Sill.

Pardon our intrusion.

Liscia and I had come to visit Queen Sill while she was staying at the castle.

Good evening, King Souma, Madam Liscia, Queen Sill greeted us with a smile and a handshake.

If the queen of a nation came to visit us, she couldnt just drop off Julius and then say, Okay, bye now. This room was the former royal couples bedroom, but Queen Sill and Pai were occupying it for now.

Queen Sill put her left hand over my hand which she was holding and bowed her head.

I must thank you for treating Pai.

Think nothing of it. Id feel terrible if we couldnt do at least that much for you.

We needed to welcome her as an honored guest, but because the dragon knights are chivalrous, or rather, have a tendency towards austerity, she politely declined a banquet in her honor.

Instead, because she had heard about our countrys medical reforms, she asked that our doctors look at Pais injuries. I called in Hilde and Brad to do the examination. They concluded, Its a painful wound, but not deep, and of no threat to his vision.

I heard you wanted to have a meeting today... I said, and Queen Sills expression quickly grew serious.

Normally, when I meet with foreign royals, its done in the audience chamber or a reception room, but my wife Naden was friends with Madam Sills husband Pai, and she wanted to keep it more casual, so I met with her in the room we were letting them stay in. Pai still had an androgynous, or rather an otokonoko, look going on, so I felt weird calling him her husband though.

Yes. Lets sit down.

I settled into a seat near the table Sill gestured to.

Has anything inconvenienced you during your stay in the castle? Liscia asked Queen Sill, and Queen Sill laughed and shook her head.

Nothing at all, Madam Liscia. I am humbled by the kind treatment weve received. You even looked at Pais injuries for us.

Thats good to hear. Have you been to the castle town yet?

Yes. I looked around with Pai. Those broadcast programs of yours were interesting.

I had given the two of them free run of the capital while they were here, albeit with the Black Cats watching and protecting them in the shadows, of course. Naden and Ruby would want to catch up with Pai, so the four of them went out to have fun together. Though, the draconic trio were all at Ishizuka drinking now.

Suddenly, Sill got a serious look on her face, and looked at me, saying, However, if Im out there playing around all the time, it would set a bad example for my knights, and now is a good opportunity. Id like to talk to you on behalf of my nation.

That had been my intent all along, so I nodded.

I understand. Julius spoke to me about it too. This is about trade with our country, correct?

Yes. Having lost the Kingdom of Lastania, our window to the outside world, we will also lose our ability to procure supplies. I expect we will start to run into shortages of food and resources, so I would like the Kingdom of Friedonia to take over the Kingdom of Lastanias role in providing supplies to us.

With Fuuga taking over the Union of Eastern Nations, half of the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdoms border was now shared with his camp. If he got it into his mind to do so, he could put limits on the supplies that could pass that way, placing a heavy burden on the Dragon Knight Kingdoms people. Sill wanted to open new trade routes to avoid that; likely through air routes high over the Orthodox Papal State, where wyverns couldnt reach.

I crossed my arms and groaned.

For my part, I have no problem with it, but there is a great distance between our countries. Even if you use dragons, they can only carry so much at a time. Wont prices be higher than when you were trading overland with the Kingdom of Lastania?

They couldnt count on traveling merchants like before. That said, the only nations of mankind that the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom bordered were Fuugas country, the vassals of the Empire, and part of the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State. The Lunarians saw the Star Dragon Mountain Range, which was the center of Mother Dragon worship, as well as the deeply entwined Dragon Knight Kingdom as their enemies. They had fought with both Fuugas camp and the Empire before, and relations had not recovered still. They were pretty isolated.

If it were me, Id consider this a good reason to mend fences with the Empire... How about it? Their empress, Madam Maria, is a trustworthy individual. Considering the growth of Fuugas country, I think its worth considering.

Queen Sill and Maria can both be flexible in their thinking. Im pretty sure theyd get along...

But Queen Sill silently shook her head.

Madam Maria can be trusted, Im sure. But the Empire is far too large. It seems Madam Maria has things under her control for now, but that may not be true of the next ruler. If someone ambitious rises to the position again, hostilities will come easily.

Because we dont share a border, you have an easier time trusting us... Is that it?

Yes. I am prepared for the cost of acquiring goods to be higher. We will, of course, continue trading with all countries so long as shipping is not cut off. Think of this as us preparing for a situation where we have no other choice.

And can you pay a price that makes it worth my time? I asked and Sill chuckled.

Of course, we intend to make up the difference with our bodies.

......!

When Sill said that, Liscias shoulders twitched a little. Uh, she didnt mean it that way... I thought.

Ive heard from Julius. You want to use the dragon knights as couriers?

Oh! Thats what she... Ahem, Liscia cleared her throat, trying to cover her embarrassment. Queen Sill smiled wryly before continuing.

I thought it might provide a source of funds with which to buy the supplies well need. A dragon can carry a large amount in one trip, and so long as they arent military supplies, it wont infringe on our contract with the dragons. I expect there will be demand, but what do you think?

Well...Im sure there will be, both at the national and civilian level.

Then...! Sill leaned in eagerly, but I raised a hand to stop her.

There would be demand, yes. Dragons had the power to carry as much as two, maybe even four wyverns. They also had human intelligence and could assume human form, so they were able to enter any tight place, and didnt need a wide landing space. If they opened for business here, theyd have any number of customers. But...

If I were to allow the dragon knights to fly as couriers for private individuals, those dragon knights would have to belong to this country. I cannot allow a foreign air force to fly around my country willy-nilly.

Considering how powerful dragons were, they were less like transport planes and more like large bombers.

Think about it. No matter how much they could carry, would you let fully loaded enemy bombers fly around your country to make deliveries? The dragons could burn a town or city down in an instant, so it wasnt like they had the option of flying without their bombs loaded. They would always be flying with a certain amount of firepower.

Yes... You have a point.

Sill had no response to my objection. I let out a sigh.

I trust both you and Pai. But I dont know what each of your individual dragons and knights are like. If even one of them commits an act of indiscretion, or perhaps accidentally drops their heavy load, it would be a disaster.

As an example, Naden sometimes acted like a courier as part of the odd jobs she did around the capital, but if anything happened when she was doing it, the royal family would be held responsible. But if a dragon knight belonging to the Dragon Knight Kingdom were to cause an incident, it would not be so easy to make them take responsibility. It would definitely require international negotiations.

When I explained that, Queen Sill slumped her shoulders.

Its a valid complaint... Was I too short-sighted?

No, I think youre on the right track.

Still...this is a problem. We wont have any way to acquire the supplies we need like this, Sill groaned.

Its fine, I said, smiling at her. I cant let them fly around freely, but its possible for just the state to hire them. Well establish flight paths and timetables, and manage their freight contents and weight. When private entities want to use your services to...transport a large volume of supplies, for instance, the state can make the order on their behalf, and then you will fulfill it.

In my mind, it was similar to having a national space program that rents equipment for experiments from private companies.

If the requests are made strictly by the state, not private citizens, its possible.

Really?! Queen Sill was visibly elated.

I nodded. Yes, with proper flight plans. You wont be making money hand over fist, but you should earn enough profit to buy your supplies.

Ohhh! Thank you.

Id let Roroa, Colbert, and the Ministry of Finance work out the finer details. They would determine the appropriate compensation. This is going to mean more work for Colbert... Sorry, just do the best you can.

There was actual demand. It would also help bring together the maritime alliance we had formed with the Republic of Turgis and the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union. Well, with how cold the Republic is, flights would have to be canceled starting in the beginning of autumn, Im sure.

I leaned in a bit closer to Sill, lowering the tone of my voice to say, Now, getting right to it, I have a delivery request for you on behalf of my country.

Hmm... Lets hear it.

I decided to tell Queen Sill about a certain transport mission that was being planned. When she heard about it, she stared at me for a moment in shock, then got a big smile on her face and slapped her knee.

Sounds interesting! Let us handle it for you.

Thank you, Madam Sill.

We have a contract, then!

Queen Sill and I exchanged a firm handshake. We were the first to form an official contract with the Nothung Courier Kingdom.