Editing Sorcery Hacker:Volume4 Phase03 (section)

===Part 13===

“Hey, wait. I’m one thing, but should we really be bringing the little kids? This is the front line where important people on both sides are battling with sorcery guns sand swords of succession and whatever else. Isn’t this the wrong place to seek shelter?”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” The minotaur chuckled at young Geranud’s concerns as they walked through the devastated castle. “Our kingdom and Philosommelier are fighting in the palace. There’s also Ayato’s old friend to worry about, but really that’s all. Three continental VIPs were invited here including the Philosommelier emperor. If we go to the two not directly involved in the conflict, they’ll help.”

“Like who?”

“The Properod Divine Water Nation is the world’s largest religious state…so they’d probably demand you convert in exchange for assistance. So that leaves just one option: let’s go knocking on the door to the Mardhazath Banking State, whose president rules their continent with money.”

“Will this really work? We’re talking about VIPs who lord it over everyone else. And the rich always give me bad vibes. I’m just some brat from the bottom level.”

“You’ll see.”

And see he did.



“Wah hah hah!! Now things are looking up. I never imagined the key to the treasury would walk right up to me himself!!”



Apparently this was one of the minotaur’s acquaintances.

When the young woman poked her head out of the consul guest quarters door, the sight of the muscular and shirtless man carrying a pair of swords put a big smile on her face.

She…was the leader of a country, wasn’t she? To Geranud, she just looked like a silver-haired bunny girl. That worked with a woman of around 20 like her, but if that was her country’s formal wear, did that mean she would continue wearing it once she was old and wrinkled?

The mystery bunny girl crouched down to 3025th Prince Geranud’s eye level, winked, and blew him a kiss.

“I am Sidney (Goldbank) Mardhazath, but just call me president, little prince.”

“S-sure…”

“This outfit is part of a national PR campaign, so ogle all you like. Although they do say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Heh heh.”

3025th Prince Geranud was flustered and unsure how to deal with the sexy young woman.

The men around her appeared to be bodyguards, but they all wore black tuxedos. They were all handsome and looked more like casino dealers or party venue staff than important aristocrats. They all had silky hair and slender chins. To the point they barely seemed like real, living people.

She had called it a PR campaign, but did that mean it was a form of diplomatic image strategy?

Silver-haired bunny Sidney giggled while standing at the center of the group.

“And unlike a certain lying religious state, I do not use a body double. Because we run our country with a parliamentary system led by five presidents with equal authority. That was the real me in the parade. It is admittedly confusing that all of the presidents use the Mardhazath name.”

The minotaur grinned and added, “This mess is between the Combined Royal Family and Philosommelier, but the other countries were uncertain what stance to take. Doing nothing could come off as heartless, but siding with the loser could drag them into a long, drawn-out war.”

“Right, right. So whichever way we’re going to take it, I was hoping for a good opportunity for setting our state in motion.”

“Sheltering poor children seeking aid in an unprecedented war is about as good as it gets, right?”

“Unlike the peaceful Static Continent, we’re dealing with small wars year-round. We do call ourselves the Speculation Continent, so there’s no real peace to be found in a new world bought with money.” The bunny girl who represented an entire country shrugged her bare shoulders. “Mercenaries hired with money will accept jobs across borders, so there’s no real point in fighting and winning a war against a smaller nation. Even if you do defeat a powerful and troublesome foe, the remaining soldiers will join some other country and start fighting again. And if several small countries manage to band together and form a bigger country,  the leaders will eventually be bought out and it all breaks apart again. I don’t see war ever ending as long as money remains a presence on our continent.”

“Well, transforming the Speculation Continent into a symbol of righteousness could invite new change into a continent where money rules all. After all, thinking of yourselves as the good guys and having real pride could lead to your mercenaries hesitating to cross borders so recklessly. And if you stand to benefit from this, I know you won’t abandon these kids.”

“It would also be interesting to foster some ''imaginary suspicion'' that building a connection with the Combined Royal Family could lead to military support between continents. Hinting at that could help deter our neighbors without having to spend any money at all. Heh heh. PR is so important. It’s something worth investing in even if it doesn’t leave you with anything concrete.”

“Geranud. What are they talking about?”

6-year-old Isabella tugged on his shirt, but he didn’t answer. Most likely, 3025th Prince Geranud didn’t understand even half of it himself.

The silver-haired bunny girl laughed.

“The point is that we will protect your lives no matter how my country decides to benefit from this situation. But believe me: we will profit greatly from this one way or another. Maybe by siding with the winner in some unseen way and demanding war reparations and maybe by using our protection of you to make ourselves into a symbol of righteousness. But it’s the grownups who will be paying us those profits, not you kids, so you don’t need to worry about it☆”

“They will be sheltering in your consul guest quarters, but they will not be joining your country. Geranud might be a brat in a filthy shirt, but don’t forget he is a prince with a sword of succession.”

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, little ones, let’s show you our glorious Mardhazath Banking State’s reception menu. Ah ha ha. You’ll find in every part of the world that people put the most time and effort into the things they give away for free. Who wants to try a sweet and sour cookie made by a 5-star patissier? And do you know what tea tastes like if you add apple, lemon, or even mint?”

The children from the bottom level nervously stepped into the consul guest quarters. They likely didn’t understand the political significance of that act. The minotaur with the title of 1st Prince couldn’t join them.

(Now, it’s high time I met back up with Micha.)

Just then, he glimpsed something in the courtyard.

“?”