[Operation: Whale Whisperer]
Operation name.
Convince the flying whale to go home.
It’s a sentence that is nothing if not violent, despite being a pure list of facts.
‘How am I supposed to do that?!’
Serena was absolutely horrified, but what could she do? She had no right to refuse in the first place.
‘Don’t worry too much.’
‘H-how can I not worry!’
‘It’s not that difficult. The creature is on the docile side.’
‘R-really?’
‘The ground does shake just from it breathing, though.’
‘Aaaack!’
Hmm.
What can I say? It’s all karma.
Well, it’s not like I’m leaving it entirely to Serena. If she fails, I intended to step in myself.
Since I can’t gauge the extent of the damage that would occur in that scenario, I’d prefer it if Serena handled it well.
That aside….
“The Great Spirit Leviathan, huh. This is another massive incident. Don’t these things happen quite often lately?”
That was Elizabeth. Well, that’s because we’re in the middle of the main story. Even a world that has been peaceful for a thousand years turns into a living hell once the main story kicks off.
“I wonder what brings a Great Spirit, something only heard of in legends, to this place.”
“It’s just a coincidence. There’s no particular reason.”
“Pardon?”
I’ve said it several times, but Leviathan is just a lost child.
The connections of the world are unstable in many ways, and because a passage momentarily loosened, it slipped out while it was asleep and fell into the human realm. That’s all.
Of course, the fact that the current world is unstable or that the interdimensional passages are loosening is a serious matter, but….
Apart from that, it is a coincidence that Leviathan came here. The other spirits summoned through similar accidents were just buried without a sound.
Leviathan itself probably wants to go back to the Spirit Realm, too.
“To think a Great Spirit would be summoned by mere coincidence….”
Elizabeth, who is also a spirit summoner, had a complicated expression. Just then, Undine, Elizabeth’s contracted spirit, appeared waddling over.
-!
Undine trembled, its small body shivering, before hopping right onto Elizabeth’s lap.
“Oh my.”
“I suppose, since it’s the same water-type spirit, it must be sensing Leviathan’s presence.”
“I suppose so.”
Elizabeth lightly stroked Undine with her finger.
“It’s alright. Look at His Majesty here.”
-?
“His Majesty said he would protect us.”
“When did I say that?”
“Isn’t that right? You will protect us, won’t you?”
“…….”
It’s not like I can say no. When I gave a sour nod, Elizabeth giggled and tickled Undine’s cheek.
“See?”
At that, Undine, which had been trembling as if terrified, calmed down as if it had found peace.
“Seeing how even Undine is this scared…. The spirits across the entire continent must be in an uproar.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
It wouldn’t just be a normal uproar.
Lower-level spirits without contracted summoners have almost no power, so it doesn’t matter much.
But once they reach the intermediate level or higher, if they decide to cause trouble even without a contractor, things get quite big.
I had to resolve this before that happened.
“By the way, is it true?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That you said you’d protect us.”
I can’t exactly say no at this point. Why do you ask when you were the one who led me to that answer?
“……Then would I be lying?”
“Heh, hehe. I see. Hehe, so you’re protecting us.”
She seems to be in a good mood. Elizabeth’s work efficiency increases by 30 percent in that state, so I’ll just leave her be for now.
“Then, first.”
First of all.
I need to find Leviathan’s location.
Whether I take Serena or I handle it myself, I need to know where Leviathan is to do anything.
I know from the reports that it was near the Valerian estate, but if I go there now, Leviathan won’t be there.
It would have moved on to somewhere else by now.
It’s essentially a game of finding a lost child wandering around.
Except that the lost child is now a Great Spirit.
A Great Spirit wandering around as a lost child.
It’s a natural disaster in its own right.
“There must be regions experiencing abnormal climate patterns. We need to gather information.”
The method of finding it isn’t that difficult.
If there’s a place somewhere currently having weird weather, where a drought is occurring or rain is pouring down, that’s exactly where Leviathan is.
How do I find that out, you ask?
“If you understood, go find out quickly.”
I have plenty of people under me.
They should be the ones to find it.
The progress was swift.
A meeting was held. The ministers gathered one after another. They spread out the map of the empire and examined the data they had brought with serious eyes.
“……According to the reports, the areas currently experiencing abnormal climate patterns are mainly in the eastern part of the empire. It is said that as time passes, the interval between the occurrences is decreasing.”
“It has also been observed that it is gradually moving toward the east.”
As expected of the empire’s finest talent.
When it comes to gathering data and drawing conclusions, they are truly peerless.
I nodded with satisfaction.
“What do you think?”
“If things continue this way, I suspect it will cross the empire’s borders.”
“The deadline?”
“Calculating based on the current trend, it will take approximately one month.”
One month, huh. Should I call that plenty of time, or not enough?
It’s not that tight. If I put in a reasonable amount of speed, I can get there in a few days.
Since I have to take Serena, it will take longer than that, but it should still be less than a month.
The problem is that the damage keeps increasing the longer it drags on.
“Send emergency notices to the territories located along Leviathan’s path.”
“Yes. We have already sent them, as a matter of fact.”
To be honest, there isn’t much they can do even if they are notified.
It’s not like they can conduct a Great Spirit raid themselves.
Still, we have to evacuate the people to save lives. That’s the purpose.
“……The Great Spirit Leviathan. I knew it was a legendary existence, but to think it would be to this extent.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry muttered to himself while reading the report.
The report was filled with the current damage caused by Leviathan.
“How can the existence of a single individual have such a massive influence…….”
For a moment, I made eye contact with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
And.
“……Come to think of it, that could be the case as well.”
I didn’t say anything. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry just convinced himself. Well, to the people, aren’t I and Leviathan pretty much the same thing?
The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry cleared his throat and pointed to the map.
“The Great Spirit’s current location is likely around here.”
“We should depart soon before we lose track of it.”
“……Your Majesty.”
The Minister of Finance stepped forward. He seemed to have something to say, but he trailed off.
“What is it? You aren’t the type to mumble your words.”
“They are in a difficult position.”
Elizabeth said. Whispering so only I could hear. My ear itches. I answered without showing it.
“Difficult?”
“Every time a disaster occurs, Your Majesty steps in personally to resolve it, so even though they want to try and resolve it themselves this time, they have no means to do so, which is why they feel helpless.”
I understood.
Indeed, usually, the position of an emperor is to sit and listen to reports saying, ‘Such and such happened, so we resolved it this way,’ not to be in a position to go around resolving things personally.
I understand their desire to try it themselves. After all, they are some of the most capable people in the empire.
“……That is actually what I desire.”
I want to do that, too.
I want to sit on the throne and just nod my head.
But what can’t be helped, can’t be helped. At least that’s the case for things like the previous Black Mage incident or this Leviathan matter.
The means they have at their disposal are limited to mobilizing the Imperial Knights or requesting cooperation from the Magic Tower, but….
That won’t solve it. Especially with Leviathan, if you touch it the wrong way, it’s a genuine catastrophe.
I’ve told you, this is just a job that needs to be solved with a single click by the original female protagonist, right?
I said with a sour expression.
“You have been helpful enough this time.”
Besides, you gathered the data well just as I ordered this time.
I wouldn’t mind if you weren’t helpful, but why are you getting all depressed after doing your jobs well?
“Your Majesty, please understand them just a little.”
Still, after hearing Elizabeth’s words, it does bother me for no reason.
“Hmm.”
Let’s do this.
“I am originally weak when it comes to tasks involving piles of paperwork. There will likely be many repercussions from this incident, and I trust that you will minimize the impact.”
“Yes, Your Majesty…….”
….
You guys, is this not enough? There’s no energy in your response.
I’m not a woman, so why do I have to manage grown men too?
Phew.
“I will actively seek your help for the next incident. It is not my intention to step out and resolve everything myself.”
I’ve said it before, my dream is to retire! If I step out and resolve everything, when am I supposed to retire?
Naturally, if it’s a level the bureaucrats can handle, I’ll be passing the buck.
What on earth do you take me for?
“……Did you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We shall certainly not fail to meet Your Majesty’s expectations.”
Only then did their reactions become a bit more lively.
Ah, seriously.
I need to quit being emperor soon.
:: You, the twisted one. Have you come to take my head? ::
No.
Why are you in hostile mode the moment you see me?
What did I do wrong!
Of course, I’ve done many things wrong.
But I didn’t do anything wrong to make an enemy of a Great Spirit……!