My Reincarnation Skills Are “Playing With Dolls” and “Playing With Clay”, but What Am I Supposed to Do With These? C148

Episode 148 (Intermission) Tea drinking story

"...Does that mean that the Demon King was not destroyed?"

After listening to the report, a luxuriously dressed, middle-aged man gave his impressions, and the room fell into silence for a while. 

The room is decorated with brightly colored tapestries and furniture studded with expensive jewels, but it is by no means large. 

Officially, this place was not a meeting place for high-ranking officials from the great powers of the East, but merely a place for less than ten men to have a private conversation over tea. 

However, there was not a single person who did not understand that what was discussed here would in fact determine the current policy of the empire. 

"There's no doubt in my mind. If the demon lord perishes, his followers should also perish, so since a high-ranking demon like Dazgaan exists, whether he was sealed away or fell asleep himself, two hundred years ago... The Demon King wasn't destroyed, he was just sealed away, and he's still out there somewhere.''

Delos chose his words carefully as he answered so that the owner of the room and those present shared the same understanding. 

The high-ranking aristocrats spoke. 

"I guess we have to destroy it as soon as possible..."

“No, we should hurry up… is it possible in the first place?”

With all eyes on him, the man who was unofficially representing the military chose his words carefully. 

``...I can't say for sure that we can do it.Of course, if we receive an imperial order, we will carry it out no matter what, but the fact is that even if the wizards of our army combine their powers, the magic barrier of a high-ranking demon will I won't know if I have the strength to break it until I try it. And at that stage, it's inevitable that I'll wake up that person..."

"It's too dangerous. If we fail, won't we just give the demon army an opportunity to overrun the empire? This is what it means to wake up a sleeping child."

"However, if this leaks to other countries, especially Western countries..."

"Why isn't Parthea trying to eliminate the threat to humanity? Why is she collaborating with demons like she did 200 years ago? Let's face unwarranted accusations."

"However, if the Demon King is still alive, there's no chance of winning in the first place, right? Is there any point in going out of your way to hasten his destruction? Maybe we should just leave him alone."

"In the first place, even if it's within the empire's boundaries, it's probably outside the borders, right? If so, there's no reason to criticize it."

The prevailing thought was that if it was possible to destroy a dangerous high-ranking demon, he would do so, but if it was difficult, he would rather have as little to do with it as possible. 

To begin with, during the Great Demon King War 200 years ago, it was the Western countries that fought as the main force on the human side, and the Eastern countries, such as Parthea, which was a newly emerging country at the time, did not actively participate in the Demon Army, but they took advantage of the opportunity. His attitude was indescribable. 

In a sense, the people of the East felt that the Demon King's invasion was more like a natural disaster than an actual threat. 

"However, it seems like it's not far from the highway, so I'll have to make sure I don't get noticed even if I make a mistake."

"Well, if a merchant caravan were to wander in, or if someone who vandalized the ruins were to foolishly step in, it could cause a big problem..."

“Then, is it okay for us to secretly dispatch a military magic unit, put up a barrier around the ruins, and seal it off so that no one can see it?”

``Well, the basic policy is to keep the existence of the ruins a secret, and if other countries find out about it, it is not within our territory, and with the rise of Ishtar, the security situation in this area has worsened, and we are already busy guarding the roads. That's why.''

While everyone was nodding to each other, a voice raised one point. 

“Don’t we also need information control?”

“Yes, there was a rumor going around among the soldiers at the border post that they had heard something like that from the merchant caravan, right?Gag order.”

"Also, shouldn't we silence the foreign adventurers who accompanied us to the scene..."

Situations where there are witnesses from other countries are not desirable. That said, he seems to be the first person to discover it. 

"What do you think of the Vietnam general, or now the professor?"

“Ha, first of all, it is important to prevent information leaks, but that adventurer holds the status of a knight in the Kingdom of Elzark, and there is a record of him staying in the Empire through the Adventurer’s Guild. I think deleting it is a bad idea.In fact, I think you should use it.''

Behanam, who had seen the scene with Delos's own eyes and was also a senior military official, had no choice but to give importance to everyone in the room. 

“Huh, what do you mean by use?”

“We are not just talking about the ruins this time, but when thinking about the future, the first thing we need is information. Is there any sign that the Demon King will be revived? Are there any important relatives sleeping outside of that place? Above all, there is no hero. Has Zuko appeared? We need to strengthen our espionage efforts to the west. I wonder if an adventurer from the west could be useful for that purpose. 

In the history of the continent, there have been several recorded attacks by demon lords. 

What would put an end to it was the power of the "hero" who always appears in the end when human civilization is on the verge of extinction, and a coalition of nations, mostly from the west, who take this opportunity to rise up. 

A senior minister in charge of diplomacy and security reports on the current situation in response to questions posed by the owner of the venue. 

“Two hundred years ago, the site of the decisive battle was what is now the Duchy of Plato, but as you know, the north is in a state of turmoil.That is why we are able to send in intelligence agents, but for now they are limited to our country. It seems that none of the countries have received any reliable information.And we don't know much about the hero from 200 years ago, even if he died after defeating the Demon King. ...And, as of now, there is no word that a new hero has appeared.''

A nobleman who has a rival relationship with this senior vassal expresses his opinion in opposition. 

“Although we are able to carry out intelligence activities in the north, the key is the Western countries, including Lemulus.However, I cannot say that our country has built good relations with the West.Regular diplomacy It would be difficult to request information or send an investigation team along the route.”

“I see, so you mean the Elzark adventurer?”

"It is in your will. That country is known as a ``relaxed nation'' with light armaments and an overemphasis on the economy, so it is not viewed as a threat by any other country and we have good relations with it. Therefore, young researchers in our country only do academic research. If they are traveling to the west for the purpose of a mission, and are being escorted by an Elzark adventurer, then this will not be a problem.The people in question may be skilled, but they look like teenagers. It's also convenient that there are only demi-human women and they don't look strong at all.''

"When you say 'young researchers', do you mean the students who saw this work? Certainly, if you were to hire them as researchers at a university, they would be happy to work, and it also meant that they would not be wary of other countries. But will I be able to get any useful information? 

Executives involved in domestic politics raise doubts. 

"Of course, I can't say anything for sure, but both of them have quite a lot of potential...and one of them just so happens to have the Hatori Hunts technique."

The latter part was addressed to those familiar with intelligence and military affairs who knew the name. 

"Well, then, without even the person in question realizing it..."

“The amount of information you can get depends on the compatibility between the caster and the target, but I think it can be used as a pawn that can be discarded in an emergency.”

“I see, I guess I should keep my hands as active as possible, huh?”

“Your Highness Smaudies, then?”

Crown Prince Sumaudies finished drinking the tea he had ordered from the Far East and placed a white porcelain bowl on the table. 

"...That's fine. Let's go in that direction."

"Haha"

Prime Minister Amendez bows his head and replies. 

“Then, we will proceed with the discussion like that at the afternoon security meeting.”

"Please, I will come to see your Majesty's face... I hope you still remember my son's face."

At this point, the eastern empire had not yet realized that an era of war was approaching.