Episode 283: Negotiating with the Chimyera Clan
The large force, moving with the Land Battleship ＜Jötunn＞ at its center, slowly came to a halt.
Leading the way were the Multi-legged Ground Carrier and its escorting aircraft.
“…”
Facing them were the Warrior Monks guarding the Demon Forest frontier, a detachment of the Chimyera Clan.
They seemed to notice the Communicator Doll leaning out of the upper hatch of the Multi-legged Ground Carrier, but they didn’t immediately go on high alert.
Several figures slowly approached the Multi-legged Ground Carrier, which had stopped several hundred meters away.
Seeing this, the Communicator Doll jumped down from the Multi-legged Ground Carrier. Three Communicator Dolls and three escorting Multi-legged Attack Aircraft.
To show that they harbored no immediate hostility, they resumed their advance with just those units.
“Is dialogue possible?”
The distance between them was about 10 meters. Normally, this wouldn’t be a distance where one could immediately strike, but their opponents were Warrior Monks who used magic. It was practically face-to-face.
Well, the same could be said for ＜The Tree＞’s side, which was equipped with electromagnetic railguns.
“We are willing to talk,”
The Chimyera Clan responded to the call made through the loudspeaker.
◇◇◇◇
“So, they really can talk,”
Eve muttered her thoughts while watching the relayed video.
“The Holy Capital was captured without a hitch, but I wonder how this will go.”
A few days earlier, the Second Holy Capital Invasion Operation had been executed.
As a result, ＜The Tree＞’s side had a considerable number of Doll Machines destroyed, but they succeeded in eliminating all hostile units, completing the total subjugation of the Holy Capital.
While stopping the Archbishop who came to the forefront with a Saturation Bombardment, Bishop-class enemies were destroyed with energy attacks. After that, each Archbishop was blasted with so much energy that the ground around them melted and boiled, vaporizing them. Incidentally, the surrounding Cannon Shells and constituent elements of various Doll Machines were also vaporized and scattered, so the soil contamination from heavy metals and other harmful substances was quite severe, but it should be possible to recover in a few months. Currently, no one survived, so there was no particular impact.
By the way, the melting point of silica, SiO2, the main component of rock, is 1,650°C, and the boiling point is 2,230°C. Just a side note.
“The situation in the Holy Capital should have been conveyed to them by some means. ＜Iris＞ predicts that their reaction is unknown, but it won’t be too bad.”
“I see. That area is close to the Demon Forest, so if we make too much noise, it could get troublesome. I hope it doesn’t turn into a conflict…”
The Chimyera Clan was developing the Demon Forest. Naturally, their base was at the entrance of the Demon Forest.
There was a case where a Wyvern came flying when they started a firefight hundreds of kilometers away, so they couldn’t let their guard down.
◇◇◇◇
“Let us hear your demands.”
“Do not resist us. In return, we will provide food and all other supplies.”
“…”
The Warrior Monks on the Chimyera Clan’s side fell silent at the words of the invaders.
Perhaps it was because the answer was completely different from what they had expected. The victor was offering to aid the defeated. When compared to their way of thinking and common sense, it was an incomprehensible response.
“We are interested in your development of the Demon Forest and your journey to the Holy Land. We are willing to support it.”
“…Wait a moment. I cannot make a decision on my own. …Teronia, call Ureberua-sama.”
“Yes, sir!”
A man who appeared to be an attendant ran off to deliver the message. Seeing him off, the Communicator Doll Ichihatsu=Iris turned around and raised her hand.
Reacting to her gesture, the Ground Carrier slowly lowered its body to the ground.
The side hatch opened, and a self-propelled machine ran out from inside.
“Standing still is unsettling. I will prepare a table.”
“…Understood.”
The tarp loaded on the self-propelled machine automatically unfolded, creating an impromptu meeting place. When a table and chairs were placed, a Boy (Waiter) machine placed a glass pitcher filled with water.
Ichihatsu=Iris poured water from the pitcher into a glass, the ice clinking softly.
“Please.”
“…I will have some.”
Not wary of poison, the man who seemed to be the representative of the group put the glass to his lips.
“Delicious water.”
Just as everyone there had finished drinking the water, a man in slightly more ornate clothing and several attendants walked over.
“…This is Mr. Ureberua, who will be in charge of negotiations with you.”
“I see.”
Ichihatsu=Iris nodded, and she also walked to greet the man. Two guards were behind her.
“Welcome. I am Ichihatsu, dispatched to negotiate with you.”
“I am Ureberua. I thought it would be a surrender recommendation, but is there something else?”
“Negotiations. We wish to negotiate with you.”
And so, the two sat down at the table.
Ichihatsu=Iris took the initiative to put the prepared refreshments in her mouth.
Ureberua seemed a little hesitant, but he picked up a baked sweet.
“We have demonstrated our power. We thought it necessary to have a dialogue with you.”
“Hmm… …You seem to know about us.”
Ichihatsu nodded at Ureberua’s confirmation.
“We have conducted investigations. However, this is the first time we have actually spoken. And you are the first authority figure in this country that we have been able to have a proper conversation with.”
“…………”
Ichihatsu’s words were merely a list of facts, but they seemed to be taken as a check or a complaint. Ureberua frowned, closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and sighed lightly.
“The Holy Capital people are inflexible. We shared the same goals, so there were no problems. But it seems we will clash with you.”
“As for that, you don’t have to worry about it here. We started it, and we finished it. And we understand that it is essentially unrelated to you.”
“…Is that so?”
He didn’t seem to doubt Ichihatsu’s words. Ureberua seemed to know about the battle in the Holy Capital, though the means were unknown. He understood the power of ＜The Tree＞ and seemed willing to continue the conversation.
“Fighting you would entail great sacrifice. Hence, negotiations. We are willing to provide you with food and other supplies, and we want you to continue developing the Demon Forest. Use that power only for development, and do not antagonize us. That is what we seek.”
“…I see. That is a little too advantageous for us. I would like to know your advantages.”
“The development of the Demon Forest. And reaching the Holy Land. We are also aiming for that.”
“…………”
Unbelievable.
That was probably the consensus of the Chimyera Clan.
In negotiations with a normal nation or group, it could be said that they were in a state of stumbling from the beginning.
But, for better or worse, the Chimyera Clan was not normal.
Their sense of profit and loss was different from that of ordinary human groups.
“If you do not interfere with the development of the road to the Holy Land and support it, we should welcome it and not oppose it.”
“You don’t have to worry about the amount of support. We can provide enough.”
“Understood. I cannot accept everything on the spot, but let us continue negotiations through words.”
The truth or falsehood of Ichihatsu’s words could not be determined. But the negotiations would continue.
That was Ureberua’s answer.
“I am pleased that we can have a dialogue through words. It will be difficult to continue any further today. Let’s continue tomorrow, and first, I have brought a gift.”
“…A gift?”
“Food. And weapon samples. I think you are having trouble with food in particular.”
“…That is true, although it is because you have stopped everything.”
The infrastructure of the Prawa Theocracy was almost at a standstill. Naturally, it was because the invasion had made it impossible for the transport units to move.
The second invasion was skipped quickly. Nothing particularly noteworthy happened.
Now, the negotiations with the mysterious Chimyera Clan begin.