Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 4 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 3===

Noticing that everyone’s attention was focused on him, Akatsuki could not help but think:

Right now here is the main event.

……Eh?

Akatsuki suddenly took a glance at Miu.

Miu’s sorrowful face, which was staring at Akatsuki, seemed to represent that she did not understand the meaning of Akatsuki’s previous phrase. Thus Akatsuki gently smiled and motioned Miu to not worry.

“——!”

Through this, it made the sad looking Miu suddenly open up, and show full confidence towards Akatsuki. Thus Akatsuki faced the front, and saw the smiling Miranda hurriedly speak:

“——Akatsuki, do you empathize with our troubles?”

“Of course. Since you hold evidence, it can’t be helped.”

“……Everybody heard this clearly.”

Baram said it in a deep tone.

“This is a formal diplomatic talk, even if we mistakenly included emotions in our speech, it cannot be cancelled afterwards.”

“……”

Noticing that Akatsuki remained silent, Baram laughed.

“Just say what your opinion is, remaining silent will be considered as agreement.”

“...…If you say so, then there’s no helping it. Okay, so it’s this.”
Akatsuki shrugged.

“What does this mean? Did you give up on the peace agreement?”
Facing Listy’s suspicion, Akatsuki shook his head.

“Give up? I did not mean to say I give up……Is there anything wrong with this?”

“There is nothing wrong. Just by seeing you judge and accept that our surveillance forces were attacked by the demon race, our attacks have also gained legitimacy, so there is naturally no reason for us to retreat. Under these circumstances, do you think there is space for negotiation?”

“Of course not.”

Baram replaced Akatsuki to answer Volk’s question, then he turned to face Akatsuki.

“He has already admitted that our attack to the demon race is justified revenge.”

But……

“That’s correct, I admit that.”

Akatsuki attitude was still frivolous.

He announced to the crowd loudly.



“I recognize, and accept your argument that the demon race is the culprit behind the attacks on the surveillance forces.”



So—now it’s our turn.

“Galevain respects and accepts your country’s stance and judgment; after all, besides the testimony, you also hold relevant evidence. But do not be mistaken, the truth isn’t this, the demon race have never attacked the human surveillance forces. About this point, we also have relevant testimony and we reasonably suspect that the evidence you found are fakes made by the real culprit.”

“W……What did you say?”

Facing Akatsuki’s explanation, Baram could not help but reveal a surprised look, as if he did not understand the meaning behind Akatsuki’s words. So Akatsuki gave out a slight smile and loudly requested:

“Now it is your turn to respect and understand our stance. We are troubled because we were wrongly accused, and hope you will be able to immediately retreat, this is our stance.”

“Ah……”

The moment Miu understood and exclaimed——

“——That is a lie!”

Baram slammed his hands onto the table, and angrily stood up. His chair fell down behind him and created a loud sound. Under Baram’s menacing eyes, Akatsuki still had a nonchalant look.

“While we are not able to agree with your stance, we are still willing to respect it. So I will not request that you agree with us, but at least respect our stance.”

“A mere defeated country wishes to have equal footing with us? Don’t expect that if you respect our stance, we must respect your stance!”

“Huh, did you forget? Didn’t grandpa Volk just say this?  “Your status is equivalent to us, there is naturally no need to make a useless attempt at beautiful rhetorical words and diplomatic language.” If our status is equal, then it is natural to ask for the same in return!”

“Ohoh, you’re really something.”

Volk, who was placed on the spot by Akatsuki, gently smiled, and stroked his long white beard.

Baram spat out.

“That was Pope Volk’s opinion, I did not promise that.”

“Then why did you not speak at that time? “If you have an opinion, speak quickly” , “Silence represents agreement”, I wonder who said these two phrases.”

“Mmmm……”

Baram was angry to the extent where his cheeks turned red. Seeing this, Miranda could not help but cover her mouth and laugh, her shoulder even shook slightly, with an overjoyed look.

However, Akatsuki did not intend to easily let go of Baram.

“This is a formal meeting, so all the speeches “cannot be cancelled”. This phrase was your excuse that you used in the beginning in order to put me in a difficult position. Now you can’t even hold your own, it can’t be that you would pretend that you never said it right? I should hope that, the Great Disdia Emperor, would use just a dirty trick right?”

His honey tongue really made an awe-inspiring appearance.

Noticing that everybody remained silent, Akatsuki revealed a proud smile.

He then said:

“——Look, didn’t I say it already? This meeting was completely under my control.”

“……!”

Under Akatsuki’s superb conversation skills, he gave no room for rebuttal for Baram who wanted to eliminate the demon race.

However, the battle of politics was just about to begin.

“——Akatsuki-dono, please listen to me.

Alphonse suddenly spoke.

“Volk-sama did indeed mention about having the “same status”, but it should only represent only the representatives and not the relations between countries.”

“Oh……”

Although Alphonse’s eyes were filled with provocation, Akatsuki had a good impression of him.

Up till now, the developments from the peace talks, Baram’s previous careless remarks had forced his country to express disagreement with Galevain’s request, Disdia’s position and influence would also be affected. So Alphonse attempted to help his father take back the disadvantage. As a prince of his country, it was not only his responsibility but also his duty. However, Akatsuki would not be lenient because of this.

“So that is your explanation, but I believe that it should also include equality between the nations. Anyways, I respected your stances, then can you please respect mine?”

Once they accepted the opposing stances, it would mean that even if their opinions did not match, they could only interpret it by themselves. In short, Alphonse’s dissent would not have any effect. However, Alphonse readily accepted Akatsuki’s proposition.

“I see……If we accept your stance, what request do you have?”

“Immediately recall the troops that surround the forest.”

Akatsuki replied without hesitation.

“We have already accepted your stance of performing a siege, now it is your turn to show sincerity and recall your troops.”

“The cause of the attack was because our country and Sherfield’s joint forces came under attack, how would you deal with this matter? Right now both sides are sticking to their own positions, and both sides of argument are lacking evidence, and cannot accurately tell the truth. But our surveillance forces being crushed is an indisputable fact. Even if we currently do not hold real evidence, it does not deny the possibility that the demon race was involved in it.”

Alphonse’s conversational skills were also quite clever. Akatsuki spat out in his heart.

……Amazing.

The reason behind why both sides were deadlocked was because they continued to stand for their own side’s legitimate reasons.

However, Alphonse actually admitted that both sides were lacking conclusive evidence, and at the same time, Akatsuki’s opinion was only baseless speculation. Once they pulled out the emotions of both sides, it left only the truth. In reality, compared to the proposition of demon race believing they were being framed, it was clear that “Our monitoring forces have been attacked by the demon race and were completely wiped out” was more realistic.

……What should I do?

Although they could continue their stance of being misunderstood, there were many weak arguments, and sooner or later, they would be overwhelmed by the other side. Thus, Akatsuki decided to change the course.

“In order to prove that we are being framed, Galevain hopes to quickly investigate the truth of this matter. However, Galevain will not accept the truth you investigated, and at the same time, you will not accept the truth Galevain investigated. Is this correct?”

“Yes.”

Alphonse nodded. Akatsuki revealed a satisfied smile.

“Why not let the Maritime Trade Country — Ayersmarina act as a fair and impartial third party, and under witness from both sides re-investigate. I personally feel that it is an appropriate method, what do you think of it?”

Only in the situation where it did not involve both sides’ interest, it could clarify the truth.
Since the culprit was not Galevain, the truth was in their favor.

“……”

Alphonse considered for a moment.

“——This proposal is indeed appropriate.”

Then he quietly said:

“……I do not know what Sherfield thinks, Queen Listy?”

“Ah……That’s fine.”

After Listy expressed her agreement, Alphonse gaze shifted to the other side.

“Volk-sama, is Aleclasta also in favor of this proposal?”

“Yes, there are no objections.  The truth is that the forces that were wiped out are from Sherfield and Disdia. I am generally following the friendship of our three country alliance, so I sent troops to participate in retaliation. As long as your country and Sherfield accept, Aleclasta will naturally have no reasons to refuse.”

“Very well, then let’s leave it as that.”

Akatsuki revealed a satisfied smile.

“——However……Akatsuki-dono.”

Alphonse coldly spoke:

“In principle, we cannot let all the troops retreat from the forest. The alternative plan was to leave the surveillance forces, I believe there are no objections from Galevain’s side.”

“Geez, you really calculated it well.”

Akatsuki gave a wry smile.

“The amount of surveillance forces are the same as before?”

“No. Since they were able to eliminate our troops in one night, this means that we cannot underestimate the other party. To prevent the same tragedy from occurring, we must increase the amount of forces.”

Alphonse apparently tried to fight for more favorable conditions, but Akatsuki replied quickly.

“Ah…Okay, that’s fine.”

“……Do you not need to confirm the number of troops that we increased?”

Akatsuki attitude was very simple, and instead made Alphonse feel a bit surprised.

Only for him to see Akatsuki smile.

“Never mind, I believe you. After all you do not wish to break the consensus both parties had managed to build right?”

“……That is true.”

At the same time he saw Alphonse gave a wry smile, Akatsuki thought to himself.

…At least we came up with a conclusion.

They at least successfully managed to remove the siege around the force. Moreover, Alphonse was a negotiation expert; if it had continued, there was no guarantee that Akatsuki would not suffer losses.

“——Otou-sama, what do you think?”

Alphonse asked for Baram’s opinion. Baram obviously did not accept this conclusion, but he could not express an objection; after all, his careless remarks made them fall under unfavorable conditions. It was thanks to Alphonse that they managed to turn the tide and barely regained their pride, so why would Baram let down his son’s efforts. Besides, this conclusion had obtained the agreement of Volk and Listy. If he was to object at this point, he would undoubtedly disgrace himself.

“……I understand, then let us do this.”

After saying this, Alphonse stared at Akatsuki as if he was seeking for Akatsuki’s consent.

Akatsuki accepted Alphonse’s gaze and quietly nodded.

……Disdia’s fourth prince Alphonse.

After his three brothers died in the battle against the demon race, Alphonse had become the sole heir of Disdia.

The frail and weak Alphonse could not be like his father and brothers and storm the battle, but he was the indispensable strategist beside his father, and helped his father to deal with politics. As a prince in a military country that had never killed on the battlefield, Alphonse was called by many citizens as the <Cowardly Prince>, but the display he showed in the debate was extraordinary. He not only made the surveillance forces stay at the forest with a legitimate reason, he even obtained agreement from the participants to increase the strength of their forces, helping his father and at the same time Disdia regain their pride.

……He sure has character.

Alphonse did not hesitate to accept the fair and impartial third party proposal to investigate the truth, which meant that Disdia did not seem to care if the truth was to be made public.

Is it because they have confidence in their own legitimacy? Or is it——

……Another conspiracy?

Not through violent coercion, but bribing with money? However, Alphonse did not seem to be that type of person. At least when he was facing Akatsuki, his eyes were extremely honest.

…Forget it.

Even if he really had little tricks, he would not be able to escape from Akatsuki. There was no need to waste his time on him.

They had managed the break through the first hurdle, but there were still more things for Akatsuki to deal with. The tension they had till now was finally resolved.

……Now they had to deal with the tension in the future.

At this moment——

“……I’m willing to accept the request of withdrawing my army and only leaving surveillance forces in the forest.”

Baram quietly said.

“But this does not represent that Disdia is willing to sign an equal peace treaty with Galevain. The demon race and Disdia’s national powers are too different, they will never be able to be equals.”

Hearing this, Akatsuki was actually secretly delighted.

One of the most important keys to the peace negotiation was to lure the militarist Disdia to say the phrase just now. He did not think that Baram would actually say it himself. Ousawa Akatsuki of course did not miss this opportunity.

“National powers are too different……What does this phrase mean?”

“Is there any more to say!”

Baram’s said with a firm tone.

“Military Strength is equal to National Power. Once war breaks out again, Disdia will be easily able to annihilate Galevain!”

“Easily? You talk big.”

Akatsuki smiled slightly.

“Listen carefully, if war breaks out again, I will be standing on Galevain’s side this time.”