CH 363

Chapter 363 – Invitation

Not only working but also family service… while being forced? No, well, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I was spending my days peacefully for a while, but those peaceful days did not last long.

“Goodwill ambassador to the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom.”

About a month from now, in early autumn, a ceremony will be held to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom. A letter saying that they would love to have a goodwill ambassador from the Kingdom of Merinard at the ceremony―well, it’s an invitation, isn’t it? I muttered to myself as I looked at the invitation.

“This implicitly means they want to invite Grande and me, right?”

“I suppose so. It may not state that, but I’m sure that’s what they’re expecting us to do.”

Sylphy shrugged her shoulders as she reached her desk in the office. Yeah, nice. What’s that? That boing-boing is the best, isn’t it?

“But in about a month? Shouldn’t they usually inform us sooner?”

I asked Melty, not letting out a hint of what I was thinking in my mind.

The distance should not take more than a week, let alone a month, if we use the air board or air transport by Grande, but it is definitely too long for us to make it if we go by ordinary carriage or on foot.

It is not possible for me and Grande to go alone if we are to be goodwill ambassadors. We have to take a certain number of people with us as our escort, and to show our national prestige, we have to bring along a certain amount of force―an elite force. On Earth, it would be unthinkable to bring a force along on a goodwill visit, but that is the way things are done in this world, I hear. Well, I suppose there is also the aspect of escort to deal with bandits and monsters.

Naturally, it would take a considerable amount of time to prepare a sufficient number of people and supplies to move with that many people, so it would be quite impossible order to travel to the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom a month from now―or even to ask people to come.

“If necessary, they will send a flying dragon flight to pick us up. That too, for as long as it takes. They will also take care of the return trip.”

“I see. It sounds like they want to call me and Grande no matter what it takes.”

They will send as many as necessary, which means that they don’t mind having more escorts and luggage. The flying dragon trade is the backbone of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom. It is a very generous offer to provide as many flying dragons as needed for this purpose.

“Naturally, we can’t just go empty-handed, can we?”

“I guess so. Cash is not a very elegant thing to bring. If you want to bring something, you should probably bring something from the elves of the Black Forest, our specialties, or the latest technological products.”

“In that case, canned food or instant noodles would be good. Then maybe an air board and some mithril ornaments and armor?”

“A mithril mounted spear would be a nice touch. The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom is known for its dragon cavalrymen carrying lances.”

“I see. I’ll make some.”

I have plenty of mithril in stock. If I put a crafting reservation in the golem workbench, I can make mithril weapons in no time at all.

“The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom has been one-sidedly helping us up to now. This is a good opportunity to pay them back.”

“That’s true.”

The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom has consistently supported the Merinard Kingdom ever since they became aware of my and Grande’s existence. They are the first to officially recognize the Merinard Kingdom as a legitimate nation, and they continue to keep an eye on the small group of nations that exist to the west of the Merinard Kingdom to prevent them from interfering with the Merinard Kingdom and they have provided us with various favors, including the flying dragon trade. It is not a bad idea to pay back all the debts we owe them.

“The only problem is, I’ll be going on a business trip again.”

There is no one more qualified than me to be a member of the goodwill ambassadors, or rather… to be their leader. If I go, Grande, Shumel, and the other oni girls are sure to be on the list. I’ll need an escort. I will also be accompanied by the beast maids and Gerda… as attendants. The other suitable people for the role of diplomatic advisor would be Seraphita-san or Driada-san?

The rest of the elite troops of the Royal Army of Merinard will be brought along as an escort force. This would be the riflemen or the magic riflemen. This would be at least 40 men. And a good number of civilian officers would also need to be brought along. It would be a good opportunity to discuss the various exchanges that would take place between the Merinard Kingdom and the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom.

“Kosuke will have a hard time, but so will I―we will have a hard time too. We will all have to hold out our tears here.”

“It’s hard to be separated from Sylphy and the others again. I’m also worried that Elise and Conrad won’t recognize me as a father anymore.”

“Haha, I don’t think that’s… true, do you?”

“Look me in the eye and say it.”

Melty never looks me in the eye. Hey, look at me.

“Anyway, I understand the situation. I can put the supplies we need to take in my inventory, so please gather them up at the castle. I’ll make the mithril spears. Anything else I should do?”

“Tell Grande about the situation. The only person that Grande will follow… or rather lean on, is Kosuke. It would be a little different if we told her to go.”

“Understood. I think it would be better to leave the selection of the companion to you, right?”

“Yes, we will consult with you, but basically, we will make the decision. The maids will go with you, right?”

“Yes, they’re for times like this.”

It would be nice if they could stay over here and carry on with the work I’m involved with, but I haven’t left that much decision-making to them yet, and I don’t think I should.

“As for General Kosuke, what would you like to do with the escort force?”

“General Kosuke, huh…? Well, if we want to show the most advanced technology, shouldn’t it be a magic rifle squad?”

“I see. So you would prefer a magic rifle squad instead of riflemen. All right, I’ll make that arrangement.”

“What about transportation? Are you going to go by air board?”

“No, I think we have a chance to develop an airship, so I’m thinking of going that way.”

“Eh, are you sure? You haven’t done any test flights yet, have you?”

“If it’s too difficult, we’ll go by air board. There will be about a hundred people in total, right? We can manage that much.”

With air boards, we should be able to reach the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom in less than a week. Worst case scenario, we could take the air board to the base of the mountain and have a flying dragon take us to the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom.

The airship has been taking shape pretty well over the past week or so. If the Research and Development Department continues to work hard, we should be able to make it work. Well, I’m going to work with them even if I have to work harder.