Chapter 10. Stubbornness and Arrogance (6)
Chapter 10. Stubbornness and Arrogance (6)
"I don't know why the Dwarves are researching Gates."
The reason is simple enough. The Gnomes have a Gate, and the Dwarves don't.
The Gnomes openly trade with other worlds and obtain all sorts of things, while the Dwarves can't do the same.
I don't know exactly what the Dwarves were trying to accomplish by opening a Gate.
But there is one thing I can be certain of.
Often, religion becomes more dogmatic over time. Even if it doesn't become completely dogmatic, certain parts become absolutely non-negotiable.
For the Church, that would be the being they believe to be God. And the words spoken by that being, and the words of those chosen by that being.
Deny those words, and from that moment you are a heretic. Actively move to deny those words, and they might even try to wipe you out entirely.
History was already full of massacres carried out in the name of religion. They were simply less common in this fantasy world; the world I had lived in was another matter.
The Dwarves don't know our world.
And that Gate had appeared in our world—right in the middle of Seoul.
The beings who came through were all armed. They were already dead, but that makes it even more suspicious. Is there any reason to arm Undead and send them through? It's more plausible that they had been armed and waiting before they died.
I can't be certain, but I can at least be suspicious, can't I? Though it was far too sensitive a topic to bring up here.
"Princess, the Mana within your body is vastly superior to that of other Dwarves. Dwarves don't use Mana by simply emitting it. They draw delicate circuits, and those circuits interlock to function beautifully. So the more Mana a person has in their body, the more splendid the Magic they can perform."
"......."
The princess considered for a moment, then set down the cup she was holding.
"So you're saying this isn't intelligence, but Prophecy—something the 'God' you believe in told you directly?"
Of course, it was nothing of the sort.
It was just my own analysis and personal opinion, based on information I'd gained from reading a novel.
Beings who worship the power that creates Gates as the power of God.
And those who believe they must use that power to conquer every world they visit.
To such beings, the Dwarf Princess could serve as an excellent "tool." A walking Magic Sphere, so to speak.
......Right.
The reason for creating such a "Magic Sphere" was explained in only one way in the novel. To create Gates in this world.
I couldn't be certain whether a Magic Sphere had to be created by someone's power or could also form naturally. But one thing was certain: they could be made.
"......."
The princess rubbed her face.
"Are you saying they were trying to create a Gate and set foot in our world?"
"......Even if I said no, you'd already be convinced, Sister. People who follow religion are all like that."
That was a somewhat interesting thing to say.
"Are you saying you are not, Princess?"
"I'm not a fool who worships power as if it were a god."
Oh.
Ria beside me frowned slightly, but I was actually intrigued by the princess's words.
Didn't that mean there was room for negotiation with the princess?
"What is your 'religion' trying to do, Your Highness?"
"It seems your God hasn't told you that."
It sounded slightly mocking, but I wasn't particularly bothered. After all, I'd genuinely never been told.
"You're not preparing for an invasion or a Holy War, are you?"
"......."
Smack.
The princess covered her forehead with her hand, then stared up at the ceiling.
If the princess had a god she believed in, she surely would have said something like "Oh God" right then and there.
*
"Just in case, let me tell you—I'm on the side of preventing war. Honestly, being found out like this was the one thing that shouldn't have happened."
That's right.
Because the moment people think there's a possibility of war, there will be those on our side who want to act preemptively.
No, that's the normal response in the first place. Even if you don't blindly push troops across the border, you load your cannons, redeploy your forces to the border, and wait while staring intently at the enemy.
"You seem skeptical about our chances of winning."
"It's not so much skepticism as fear of the unknown. Since we don't know the enemy's strength, we have no idea whether we can win or lose."
The princess let out a deep sigh, poured liquor into her cup, and downed it in one shot.
Her face flushed slightly. Though she didn't exactly look drunk.
May drink make us forget all discourtesy.
Seeing the princess's attitude loosen a little, that Dwarf proverb apparently wasn't just a warning against getting drunk.
"One fortunate thing is that our priests are very wary of you. Some are outright afraid."
"Because of my power?"
"Yes, thanks to your power, Sister. I'd like to express my gratitude for that. Though by all rights, this gratitude should never have needed to be expressed."
The princess raised her cup.
"So, does that mean you trust me?"
"......I'm not sure. As I said, I don't worship power itself. I can't be certain whether the being you follow is truly a god or merely a powerful entity. And even if it is a god, there's no way to know whether it exists for our sake."
Wow.
Every single thing she says strikes a chord with me.
Of course, the princess was only tossing those remarks out with a half-resigned air. A diplomat from our world would have welcomed every word with open arms, while the more conservative people in the Church would have been openly offended.
I was neither, but I found myself intrigued all the same.
Honestly, I'd been worried this person might be as rigid as the Church. If she started shouting that what I was saying was wrong and calling me a heretic, things would get incredibly difficult from that point on.
"Then what about the King? Is he also on the side of preparing for war? Or is he someone who wants to live peacefully?"
"Either way, he's in favor of creating the Gate itself."
The princess answered somewhat neutrally.
"Whether we go to war or not, the Gnomes must be kept in check. Besides, another reason we can't trade is that we can't transport that equipment to Gnome Region and put it through the Gate."
"......."
I thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Then what do you think about the possibility that you might be kidnapped, Princess?"
At my words, the princess closed her mouth as if pondering for a moment, then—
"......It frightens me. Whether you said it to intimidate me, or out of genuine concern. Because the ultimate goal doesn't seem to be for the sake of the Dwarves."
"......."
Telling the princess about her fate was something I hesitated over. It felt like it would truly become emotional blackmail.
However.
"It could still be for the Dwarves. Your safety is a source of hope for them, after all."
That was all I said in response.
The princess stared at me intently.
"And I'm not opposed to the Dwarves creating a Gate, either."
"Then......?"
"Actually, the technology to create that Gate is something I need as well."
To be precise, it's not me who needs it—it's Glaria.
I can't know at this stage exactly what the beings who want to create Gates are trying to do. But it's deeply unsettling that they can do things we cannot.
If we could create Gates, wouldn't we also be able to learn a far more effective way to close them than what we're doing now?
"Are you saying I should hand over the technology? In exchange for my life?"
"No. I mean we should exchange. If I solve one of the Dwarves' problems, I simply hope the Dwarves can help me when I need it."
"......."
The princess looked at me again as though I were some strange creature.
*
"Are you okay with that?"
On the way out after the meeting with the princess, Ria asked.
"Huh?"
"......Your power."
Ria spoke with a slightly worried look.
"Your power is something everyone covets. You say you want the princess's power, but no matter what, you can't use your power politically. And what's with that? Giving someone who worries about you a task like you're testing them."
"......."
"Wouldn't it be better to receive something in return for your power? You just give and give without receiving anything—"
"Ria."
I placed my hand lightly on Ria's shoulder.
"......."
At my words, Ria immediately fell silent.
"I won't say 'I'm fine' anymore."
I spoke as gently as I could.
"Instead, I'll say thank you. Thank you for worrying about me, Ria."
"Uh, yeah."
As if she hadn't expected that reaction from me, Ria answered blankly.
"So, won't you trust me?"
"......."
"If I thought it was something I couldn't do, I wouldn't have even started."
"......Seriously. What am I supposed to say when you put it like that?"
"You can just say you trust me."
Ria laughed as if in disbelief.
I shrugged, then turned back around.
And as I walked forward confidently, I said,
"Then, shall we go? To find out what the princess actually wants. Though of course, it's only natural she can't trust me unless I prove my power."
*
"......."
And then, I met the Dwarf priest.
And then—
"......Well? Regretting it a little?"
"......Don't talk to me. My head hurts."
"We really should have taken money, right?"
"Ugh."
Listening to Ria tease me, I clutched my head.
No, seriously.
What kind of religion puts its temple in the corner of a mine?