60. Adding One Bulletproof Plate
The diplomatic meeting proceeded much faster than the Empire’s representatives had anticipated.
On the surface it was proclaimed as an equal relationship, but anyone not a fool knew exactly who held the upper hand and who was the subordinate party. Heigens had almost been overrun by the Luzens elves if they had refused to ally with the Empire. Moreover, despite their different factions, the elves had still committed terrorist acts against the Empire. In such a situation, any talk of equal footing was nothing but nonsense. The Empire was clearly the dominant side, and Heigens stood as the subordinate one.
From the Heigens perspective, they were giving up things but had to receive promises in return. If they failed to do so, they might end up not merely subordinate but part of the Empire itself. What they truly wanted was recognition of the Empire’s superiority, not the abandonment of their own status. Therefore, disagreements over the agendas they presented were only natural.
Even so, the speed with which the meeting advanced felt almost excessive. To the point that the Foreign Minister himself tilted his head and muttered, “Wait, couldn’t we have demanded other conditions at this point?” The aides were likewise thinking, *What exactly are the elves plotting?*
So why were the Heigens representatives pushing so hard for the meeting to conclude quickly?
*This is a big problem. The Empire side must be furious.*
Marun, the head of the Heigens delegation, recalled the glint of something in Karl Adelheit’s pocket.
*Could it be that the Medal of Honor recipient would bring a sword to the negotiation table? Does that mean they plan to use domestic anti-elf sentiment to simply bulldoze everything?*
Some might call such an overreaction. Then one could ask how the Empire’s armies stationed throughout this region would explain it.
However, it was none other than Karl Adelheit, the Empire’s war hero. He had stopped a train terror with a single sword. At first it had been dismissed as an exaggeration from the Empire side, but it was not. Because Eloise, who had been standing right beside him, had reported it to the Heigens delegation. There really was a lone human who had come to the elves with nothing but a sword and slaughtered them!
Moreover, he had previously rescued comrades from the battlefield. How could there have been no fighting there? He must have killed every obstacle in his path and kept advancing with overwhelming military might! How many elves’ lives had stained that sword?
*Finally, he even killed the Luzens leader with a single shot.*
A man carrying a sword in his pocket had come to shake hands.
Here, there could not be even a single elf who felt no discomfort, Marun thought.
…Ah. Maybe one or two. Like Eloise, or perhaps someone else.
*They are returning the discomfort of their national pride. As expected, the Empire is a terrifying place.*
If the Foreign Ministry heard this prediction, it would be deeply unjust.
Military aspect? Right now, armed guards with guns and swords lined the area for protection. Among them, what was the problem with a Medal of Honor recipient carrying one sword?
And another thing: it was the Heigens side that had requested Karl’s presence here. And now, if they started saying “The Medal of Honor recipient is scary! Heehee!” the Foreign Minister would immediately start firing his pistol.
Of course, there was a reason the Heigens had no choice but to call for Karl.
They had blocked their own kind’s terrorist acts twice. Expressing at least gratitude to the perpetrator would allow them to strongly condemn the act and gain the justification to ally with the Empire.
In any case, the meeting was almost at its end.
*
I had been designated as one of the participants, but I had nothing to do with diplomacy. I was simply a layman.
For that reason I sat in a corner of the conference room, yet the head of the delegation, Marun, kept glancing at me.
*Why is he staring?*
When I met his gaze, thinking he might have something to say, I suddenly felt startled and looked away.
What? When I straightened up again, the gaze was still there. So when I looked back, he turned his head with a sharp *whoosh* as if surprised.
“…”
This behavior from a man, not a woman, and even an elf, suddenly made my chest tighten.
The sword in my pocket seemed to be howling. Should I go over and ask why, after lightly slashing his face?
Kind words were less effective than kind words, guns, and swords…
“Sergeant Karl Adelheit, student.”
“Just call me sergeant here. That would be better.”
“Ah. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes. And you may speak casually as well.”
The minister was treated with the courtesy due a marquis. So, looking at the current situation, it was exactly like a common noble receiving respect from a marquis.
The Minister of War had immediately kept etiquette but called me with less formality than I deserved.
In the noble world such things were strictly observed, so he had asked for that, but the Foreign Minister’s reaction suggested it might not be the case this time.
“No. Sergeant Karl Adelheit. I find this way comfortable.”
No. It is because I am uncomfortable. Minister, it is an honor, but your age is greater than my father’s…
To someone like that, receiving respect feels a bit strange. And if the minister does that, the other ministers will probably all do the same!
“Thanks to Sergeant Karl Adelheit, we have been able to handle diplomatic matters smoothly. Just look at today’s meeting. Heigens has even made more concessions than expected.”
“Ah… That is something to celebrate.”
“And just now, the Heigens side has expressed a desire to award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Karl Adelheit separately.”
Again? Again, you want me to receive it? I automatically looked at my chest.
The first one was two Medals of Honor. Originally these were not supposed to be pinned to the chest but worn around the neck.
But I had received two. Of course, wearing two around the neck was inappropriate, so I changed it to pinning them on the chest and received them again.
Furthermore, there was the Imperial Medal of Honor from the soldier days and the Elven Legion of Honor.
Then, thinking that the Heigens side would award another medal separately…
*Is this really going to make bulletproof plates with medals?*
It seemed like a scene from the Arctic bear country in the upper north of my previous life.
“Refusing the medal is, of course, not possible.”
“Hahaha. I hope you accept it. It is not just any medal; it is for the merit of stopping the terror. From the Heigens perspective, since the same elves tried to commit terrorism against the Empire, and there might be an internal opinion that the Empire’s anger could turn to the entire elf race if not careful, they want to reduce that.”
“If I refuse the Medal of Honor that I received two in this situation, it might be seen as ominous atmosphere, right?”
My counterquestion, the Foreign Minister nodded and said yes. Even if the upper echelons saw it as refusing the medal, he added that the general public below might see it as such.
“Receiving one more medal is actually not difficult…”
But the problem was that this medal was being given by the elves. None other than elves!
They knew I was not a Gganf but comrades who had fought with them. Still, it did not feel pleasant to receive something from them.
*Damn it. Later, in my dreams, those Gganfs might laugh and say I received the elf medal.*
In the end, I decided to accept the medal. The minister said thank you and went to conclude the meeting.
And a while later. With laughter, the Empire and Heigens representatives shook hands.
It seemed my turn was coming, so I stood up and checked my clothes.
Immediately after, the minister’s aide approached and said he would escort me to the table.
“Ah. Here you come. Sergeant Karl Adelheit. This way.”
Seeing the Foreign Minister’s smile, it seemed the meeting ended in a very favorable direction for the Empire side.
Of course, in the current situation, the Empire was always the top, so it was impossible for the dissatisfied side to flow that way.
“Seeing both of your faces, the meeting seems to have gone well.”
“Hahaha. It has.”
“Thanks to many concessions from the Empire side, it ended quickly.”
Our Empire made concessions? There was no way. Ah. It was the words of giving respect.
“Actually, this meeting could have ended so pleasantly thanks to you all. Sergeant Karl Adelheit. If it weren’t for you, our elves would have been in a truly difficult situation.”
“With such words, I feel even more fortunate. I just acted, and it had a good influence on both the Empire and the elves. That is really fortunate.”
Yeah. I was fortunate. Going to hell like a madman to rescue the Empire soldiers.
In the process, I also shot the heart of that guy who was the Luzens leader.
And stopping the train terror, and catching all those bastards at the academy.
“You said you were fortunate.”
But the Heigens head, Marun, shook his head at my words.
“It was not just that you were fortunate.”
“Eh?”
“The god loves Sergeant Karl Adelheit. Humans call it ‘luck’ simply, but isn’t that the moment when the god stayed by your side for a while?”
After Marun’s words, one of the elves standing next to him held up an ornate box.
“Thanks to you, our Heigens also benefited greatly. If it weren’t for you, we would have been in real trouble. Maybe, we might have spilled even more blood.”
Inside the box was a medal that looked as splendid as the Empire’s Medal of Honor.
“From the Baharot Empire, Karl Adelheit. We, the elves of the forest, express our gratitude with this medal. We wish to award the Legion of Honor, the most glorious emblem to our forest elves.”
The Legion of Honor. I think I know what that is. In the world. Now receiving this too. I am going crazy.
I almost burst into laughter. Who would have thought a human like me would receive this. It was me!
“Grangdophisi. May the blessings of the gods be abundant on your path.”
The head of the delegation, Marun, pinned the medal to my chest. Thunderous applause erupted from around.
It was enough, not as much as when the first princess of the academy awarded the Medal of Honor to the crown prince.
“…”
Now, this guy who receives medals even from the elves. So, how do I feel now?
…Well. I guess I have to say that one bulletproof plate was added to my chest?