Nationalism

“The Empire’s lovely pillar has arrived!”

“You flatter me.”

“Come on everyone, why aren’t you applauding? Haha.”

Clap clap clap!

As soon as I entered the office, thunderous applause assaulted my eardrums. It was a surprising change compared to the uncomfortable silence from last time.

The people’s reactions were the same.

“Hahaha, truly remarkable eloquence, Yena!”

“It was a great speech.”

“You’re the first one to give a speech that impressed me since Prime Minister Erdoff. It was truly amazing.”

Friendly tones and gazes erupted from all around.

They were so kind that the interior, which had seemed like it would freeze over with cold air, now felt warm.

Well, they’re all probably saying this to please Erdoff.

But that’s fine. It was a great achievement just to see that the eyes of Erdoff’s close associates like Erius, Göring, and Paulo had moved beyond their previous state of looking at me like a stone.

At least it means they’ve recognized me, right? I probably won’t be remembered as just one of the many citizens Erdoff has met.

“It’s an honor.”

“No need to be modest. Your speech, Yena, had a great impact that moved even the hearts of politicians.”

Perhaps due to this comfortable atmosphere, I was able to converse with Erdoff much more easily.

“I’m truly pleased and proud that you, who will grow to become a magic officer in charge of the Empire’s defense in the future, have also acquired such excellent eloquence…”

“Thank you.”

“This isn’t just flattery to hear such words. Yena, I truly felt a thrill hearing the story of how you overcame your painful past and grew.”

Trudge, trudge.

Erdoff paced around the office with his characteristic slow gait while twitching his black mustache.

Thud!

Soon he came close enough that I could see the pores on his face, and grasped my hand that had been floating in the air.

It seems he wants to say something.

I realized that the atmosphere around us had subtly changed. The noisy interior had fallen silent except for Erdoff, with only the sound of the Prime Minister’s footsteps echoing.

“Yena Freud.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

As if confirming that my prediction wasn’t wrong, Erdoff’s face, which had finally opened his mouth, was stiff with seriousness, unlike before.

“You are the most ideal being befitting the Bern people. You are someone so great that all citizens should emulate you.”

“…It’s a great honor to be seen that way by you, Prime Minister.”

“No, Yena Freud… I rather want to apologize for underestimating you in the past. You were the very crystallization of the right race and ethnicity of the Bern Empire.”

His subsequent words were no different.

“That’s why I thought I should treat you better than just giving you a medal.”

“Better than… a medal, you say?”

“I was wondering what you’d think about coming to the Labor Party banquet that will be held this evening? It seems that you, Yena, are none other than the protagonist of the banquet.”

Unlike usual, Erdoff made a rather shocking proposal right in front of me.

A banquet, huh.

I had expected to receive some kind of reward for delivering an excellent speech, but I didn’t expect an invitation to the regular banquet attended by all the core officials of the Labor Party.

Grin─

What a windfall this is. For a moment, unable to contain my joy, I showed a girlish smile in front of Erdoff.

“You don’t seem to dislike the idea.”

Fortunately, he seemed to take this as a sign of acceptance without any particular discomfort, as he patted both my shoulders with a smile that curled his mustache into a semicircle.

There’s absolutely no reason to refuse.

At best, I had met Erdoff thinking we might have dinner together. But now he’s inviting me to a gathering attended only by the Empire’s top elites – of course I welcomed it.

Of course, I didn’t believe that Erdoff’s proposal stemmed from pure intentions.

Where else would you find someone who tries to calculate everything politically like this man? It must be a decision made after carefully assessing the benefits that would come to him.

“…It is I who am honored, Party Leader.”

But that didn’t matter. If Erdoff was trying to use me, I could likewise gladly accept his outstretched hand and use it if it was useful.

For me, who had nothing to lose at present, it was an offer that was more than sufficient, even excessive.

“Haha, then I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, take care!”

Even if Erdoff’s intentions were evil.

Rumble!

The conversation where Erdoff and I were the main characters and everyone else was just a bystander ended like this. With one gesture from the Prime Minister, the people who had been standing like wooden blocks flooded out.

You’d think someone would question the Prime Minister’s decision at least once, but no one raised any objections. This must be Erdoff’s current position and the extent of his power.

I suppose he’s gained the upper hand in the election.

If he manages to secure an overwhelming number of seats in the general election that’s less than a week away, he’ll gain even more absolute power than he has now.

That’s why it wouldn’t be good to fall out of Erdoff’s favor. At least for now, I should show absolute loyalty.

“Ms. Yena Freud?”

“Yes?”

“The Party Leader has instructed us to escort you safely back to your residence.”

With the welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of Interior successfully concluded, all that was left was to wait for the evening when the banquet would be held.

I guess I’ll take a nap until then.

It’s obvious I’ll be up all night.

“Ah, I understand.”

“Then, this way please.”

I had no lingering attachment to leaving the office. I strode down the corridor with majestic steps, the hem of my trench coat fluttering.

Click─! Click─!

As a bonus, my steps felt light for no reason, and the corners of my mouth curled up.

---

“You seem to have taken a liking to that child.”

“Hm?”

“I rarely see the Party Leader being so bold as to readily invite someone to the banquet just because they gave a good speech.”

“Did it seem that way?”

“Although you are a warm-hearted person who always shows a smile to citizens, Yena Freud is the only child you have personally protected, Party Leader.”

Paulo approached Erdoff, who was walking with his hands behind his back, bowing slightly.

“Are you perhaps opposing the decision made by the Party Leader?”

“No, Göring. Don’t carelessly misrepresent with such shameless words. I’m merely asking about the Party Leader’s opinion of Yena Freud.”

Göring, who had been walking a step behind Erdoff on the opposite side, suddenly jumped out, not one to stand by and watch Paulo.

It was a common power struggle that always happened.

Perhaps because they had opposite physical appearances – Göring with his protruding belly like a mountain, and Paulo, in contrast, skinny as a rail – they often had conflicts.

Usually, Erius would have stepped in to mediate their conversation, but he had gone ahead to manage the Storm Troopers, so there was no one to mediate their relationship.

“That’s enough.”

Except for Erdoff, that is.

“I apologize.”

“I will follow the Party Leader.”

No matter how extreme their discord became, it was settled with one word from the Party Leader. To them, Erdoff was no different from the sky itself.

“Anyway, Paulo, I fully understand why you say such things. To you, she probably looks like just an ordinary girl.”

“If I have caused you any concern, I will immediately…”

“Hmm, no. There’s no need for that. I told you, I understand completely. It’s understandable if you don’t yet know Yena’s true worth.”

Erdoff turned his head slightly to the left and looked at Paulo. Then he curled up one corner of his mouth.

“I saw in that child the potential to become a model citizen of Bern in the future.”

Erdoff’s eyes were even somewhat wistful as he uttered words close to a monologue.

“Potential, you say?”

“Yena, that child is a perfect product of the ‘Bern race’.”

The Prime Minister’s answer to Göring’s question finally revealed his thoughts. Erdoff had judged Yena as the correct self-portrait of a Bern citizen.

‘She is neither an elf nor a dwarf. Yet she has shown true dedication as a citizen of the Bern Empire serving the country.’

What a beautiful and noble existence. Yena Freud is perfect in her very existence, to the point where it would be disrespectful to compare her to dirty and ugly other races.

‘Moreover, she’s a magic officer.’

If managed well, she might be able to create a crack in the military, which is the most conservative group and a hindrance to the Labor Party.

A tool to prove the superiority of Bern people to other countries and a key that could induce discord in the troublesome military – that alone was enough to make Yena worth using.

“She’s a child absolutely necessary for building the new Bern.”

What’s the problem with inviting her to just one banquet? Erdoff licked his lips, thinking of Yena who would probably be on her way home in a car by now.

“It will be the emergence of a great Bern citizen.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing, let’s keep walking.”