Chapter 10. Stubbornness and Arrogance (10)

“…”

After a moment of thought, I spoke.

“Certainly, if the dwarves number in the hundreds of thousands, there’s a possibility they wouldn’t look favorably even on ‘passing through’.”

People cannot trust people. Moreover, if the opposing numbers are in the ‘hundreds of thousands,’ it’s highly likely that even if people try hard, they won’t be able to control them perfectly.

On top of that, there might be some radicals who ‘like’ this world.

“Um, could you pretend you didn’t hear what I said a moment ago…?”

“The proposal you intend to make to me, Princess, doesn’t seem to be of that nature. The reason you made me feel it directly instead of telling me with words is probably because I-“

“Uh, excuse me? Sister? I just said something very important a moment ago?”

“…”

“Hey, hey.”

When I closed my mouth, Ria next to me nudged my arm with her elbow.

“Do you get it now? How I feel when you suddenly throw out prophecies like that?”

“…You say you throw out prophecies like that? Not like some kind of ritual is necessary?”

At Ria’s words, the princess tilted her head and asked.

“Yes, this one says it as if she suddenly remembered while sweeping the yard with a broom. Like she’s sensing what’s for dinner. It seems like conversing with the being above is too natural for her.”

No, it’s not quite like that. Even I can only see the light falling from above me normally.

However, I can’t deny it here either. Because I’ve already been lying.

“Routinely?”

The princess looked even more incomprehensible. Fortunately, she didn’t look like she didn’t believe me, so I was relieved… Hmm, should I be relieved?

Thinking about it again, haven’t I been digging my own grave all this time? Anyway, I chose that as a plausible excuse since I’m a Saint Candidate, but even the Saint in the original novel didn’t seem to have such descriptions.

No, I just chose it because it was the most effective.

“…Anyway-“

“Ah, yes.”

However, thanks to that, I thought I could skip the story about the princess’s lineage, so I quickly opened my mouth, but the princess cut me off cleanly.

“I’ll tell you about my lineage.”

“No, Princess. Even so, I’m not yet the true Saint, so it would be a bit difficult to extract the most important information of this country in that way…”

“I’m not trying to extract it. I’m telling you.”

“Is there a need to take such a risk?”

“Yes.”

The princess answered so cleanly, almost refreshingly, that she cut me off.

“First, the reason my lineage is mixed is simple. My father is slowly trying to mix the highest bloodline with the gnomes. I am the princess, and I will probably marry another noble in the future. It might not be noticeable for one generation, but by the time my descendants continue and their numbers increase, even the most hardline nobles will not be able to deny it.”

Hmm…

That… I understand.

It might be understandable that I don’t grow a beard. After all, the dwarves of this country would never imagine that gnome blood flows in their royalty.

“But isn’t that a humiliating thing for a dwarf?”

“Yes, it’s a process of preparing to live mixed with gnomes in the distant future. It will take a very long time, and a lot of preparation. But it’s a worthwhile endeavor.”

No matter which direction we go, the outcome is only invasion and war.

If you look at history even a little, you’ll quickly realize it. How tribes that couldn’t maintain their position and were pushed out, push out the tribes that were in their place and destroy the existing nations.

However, gnomes and dwarves are a case where they have been at war for a long time, and the front line has become almost permanently fixed. If a full-scale war were to break out, it would be mutual destruction.

…Going to another region is also impossible. As long as they don’t give up the dwarves living there. Digging into the mountain and using it as architecture instead of buildings is an enormous amount of heavy labor. Even if dwarves are good at handling heavy equipment.

If it were a small tribe that started living here at first, maybe, but it’s impossible to move the entire kingdom of hundreds of thousands of people.

“Other plans were also in progress, of course.”

Seeing my expression, the princess spoke calmly.

“But, unfortunately, we have also lost a lot of technology.”

The princess looked up at the ceiling.

“We can’t create spaces like this anymore. If we research it again, it might be possible, but it will probably take a long time. It would take centuries to build.”

“…”

“I’m fine. My father is also fine. If we can preserve the kingdom, we can enter a cave discovered by chance, endure the cold, and dig the earth. That’s the beginning of dwarven history. But.”

The princess looked at me.

“From the perspective of a Saint Candidate, how did it look? Do you think the dwarves… hundreds of thousands of dwarven citizens and hundreds of dwarven nobles will readily follow that word?”

I shook my head.

“Yes, that’s why everyone was preparing. In any way, whether it’s borrowing land from another civilization or finding new land by abandoning all past legacies.”

But, all of that was too late.

Because the dwarf territory was already rotten to the core.

As they dug into the mountain and expanded, places that were almost touching the space above were created. There were even gaps where mana leaked out.

Even if they cultivated the land outside and used the melted snow water as drinking water, it was only enough to feed a part of dwarven civilization. Probably, unless they were royalty or nobility, most dwarves had to live on mushrooms, livestock raised in caves, and water obtained from caves.

All of that is slowly rotting. And by the time they realized it, it was already too late.

All peaceful methods were methods that took a long time. But the dwarves didn’t have time to choose those options.

“…”

Thinking that far, I looked at the princess. The princess had a calm expression. A face that simply stated facts, not seeming to evaluate or assert anything.

Although she was looking up at me from below, she didn’t seem small at all.

“…Princess, you seem to be against invasion, despite all this.”

“Did God tell you that too?”

“No, it’s my judgment. After all, if there was a way, we wouldn’t be looking at each other like this. The reason you told me everything honestly is probably for that reason too.”

“Yes, that’s right. I believe war is impossible. Even if we prepare a lot, war will inevitably be a situation where the Dwarf Kingdom alone has to deal with the alliance of two countries.”

“It sounds like you’re saying that if you could win overwhelmingly, you would have done so.”

“My father would have done so. And I, yes, that’s right. I think so. It’s the simplest way to solve it, and if it’s the surest way to profit, I will wholeheartedly agree. What leader in the world wouldn’t?”

However, the reason why all leaders refrain from war as much as possible is because they believe that doing so will ultimately cause more harm to their side. Well, those who think it’s possible in the first place have already been causing wars all along.

“…I want to know what you expect of me.”

As I said, the princess was silent for a moment.

And.

“…If I were to convert.”

She turned the conversation in a direction I hadn’t considered.

“And if the Dwarf Kingdom were to accept your religion- would you be willing to help our kingdom?”

“…”

Ah, right.

I was here representing the church.

I slapped my forehead with my hand.

Ria snorted beside me as if in disbelief, but I ignored her for now.

“That story might be a bit complicated. First of all, I don’t have practical power in the church.”

“But you will also be a symbolic figure. And, in religion, symbols are sometimes more important than power.”

“Uh, well, no, that’s true, but what I’m trying to say is…”

I tried to speak but stopped.

And I thought for a moment.

It was very difficult to figure out how to explain that I don’t believe in the concept of God here, but I have no hesitation in borrowing power from the being looking down on me from above.

Ria was staring intently at me.

Her expression was unreadable. She was holding her lips tightly shut, as if deliberately suppressing her emotions.

If it were Ria, would she object?

…I don’t know. If it were Ria from the novel, she might step in, but the Ria I know has a different vibe from that character in the novel.

However, there is one thing I believe.

That Ria will understand my decision. That she will believe my words.

Even if it’s a slightly embarrassing story.

“…I don’t move solely for such benefits.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means I will do what I can.”

“…”

“And, the reason I came here in the first place was to prevent the princess’s kidnapping.”

I don’t know exactly how things unfold. The background of the novel was already after the incident occurred.

But, still.

At least, if I can prevent the princess’s kidnapping, it won’t escalate into the same kind of accident as that time.

If mana increases, you can create mana orbs.

If those mana orbs grow larger, they can become monster cores.

There are beings who can control those monsters.

…There were comments speculating that those who consider gates a gift from God to them are born that way.

I also thought those comments were plausible.

“…”

The princess stared at me for a while, then turned her body towards the table.

And she placed three glasses, pouring wine into two of them.

Into the remaining glass, she poured fruit juice from beside her and handed it to Ria.

Ria blushed and accepted the glass.

The princess picked up two glasses again and handed one to me.

“Even if that’s the case, I can’t just accept it. Sometimes, the fact that I haven’t received anything becomes the most expensive price.”

“…Please discuss that with the operational staff.”

Thinking about that makes my head hurt.

“Now I think I understand a little about who you are. Aren’t the people around you worried?”

Ria’s gaze turned towards me.

Why?

Even if I look like this, I am a rational and logical person.

Naturally, in a way that benefits me.

The three glasses clinked.

We all drank our glasses down simultaneously.

Come to think of it, this is the first drink I’ve had since returning from the mine and meeting the princess again.

Before that, the princess had been drinking alone.

…May the alcohol make me forget my rudeness.

Perhaps, the princess was trying her best to show courtesy in her own way.