It was at this moment that Shuna brought in coffee and snacks for us. It seemed that scones and French fries were on today’s menu. I had to hand it to her; she demonstrated impeccable timing. I immediately tackled my plate as the paladins sat there figuring out what to do.
“Oooh, snacks? I’ll take a double portion.”
And of course, Veldora chose this moment to finally delve into the conversation.
“Very well,” replied Shuna, well used to this act.
“Mmm, this is good.”
Hinata was sampling her plate as well, which was enough to set the paladins to action. After our previous talk, we all needed to kick back and relax a bit like this.
A few minutes later, I suddenly spoke up.
“All right. So about our future relations…”
“Ah, before that,” Hinata interrupted, “I want to make one thing very clear to all of us. Should I assume you’ve accepted our apology for all these events?”
“Sure. I want us to become friends as nations going forward. I don’t intend to drag that problem along any further.”
This wasn’t my sole decision. I came to it after discussing matters with Benimaru and my other officials. There was no need to fight any longer, and all our misunderstandings were now worked out, so I felt it was time to make a deal.
But Luminus wasn’t convinced.
“Absolutely not. I hate owing anything to anyone. This entire incident was clearly our fault, and I wish to compensate for it in some way. We can strike a deal after that is done.”
She gave Veldora a hateful glare. Basically, I suppose, she didn’t want Veldora to feel like he could ask her for something later.
“Yes,” replied Hinata, “and if that is Lady Luminus’s will, then I must say that it troubles me to put you through such pain and not make up for it. I want to show you as much as possible that I am being sincere.”
Okay, sure, that’s great, but what kind of compensation are we talking about? Because if Luminus—well, Lubelius as a nation, really—if they were willing to acknowledge us as a nation, then I was good to go. Combine that with an oath of non-hostility, and what more could I ask for?
“Hmm… Well, how about you formally recognize our nation, and we open up diplomatic relations?”
Luminus casually nodded. “Fair enough. Although, I won’t expect us to be fast friends. And I will need to settle the score with that lizard sooner or later.”
Pretty much all of Luminus’s smoldering anger was pointed right at Veldora. If it really, really came to it, I was willing to offer him as a sacrifice. If that was enough to usher in a century-long era of peace, it was a dead simple decision to make.
“Wait a moment, Rimuru,” I heard the dragon ask. “I hope you are not picturing anything…cruel for me.”
“Just your imagination, Veldora. As long you act smart and mature, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“No, I know what you’re thinking when you talk down to me like that. It usually means you’re up to no good!”
Tch. He’s getting sharp. But not as sharp as me.
“Now, now… Here, I’ll give you my scone, so play nice with Luminus, all right?”
“What? Well, in that case, I will do my level best. Although if I ever truly willed it, it’d be child’s play to make Luminus recognize my vast strengths! Kwaaaaah-ha-ha-ha!”
You see? Dealing with him is so simple. Luminus audibly sighed, but it looked like she would remain true to her word.
“Don’t get cocky with me, you! For now, though, let us call a truce. I will open international relations with you for a period of one hundred years. I think that would serve amply well as an apology?”
Well, that came more easily than expected. Like, really? We’re good? Benimaru, Rigurd, and the rest of my team looked just as shocked—to say nothing of Hinata. I doubt anyone expected this.
“So,” ventured Hinata, “you’re willing to open diplomacy with Tempest, if not necessarily go all the way with a nonintervention treaty?”
“Quit pestering me about this. I’ve said what I meant!”
With that, she reached for a second scone, content to let someone else work out the details.
“I suppose,” Louis dryly stated, “we will have to carry out her will—”
“Diplomatic relations? Are you sure?”
Renard, however, seemed unconvinced. He appeared ready to bring up an issue but not quite sure if he should go through it. He gave Hinata a quick glance, receiving a nod in return.
“What’s the issue?” chimed in Fritz. “If Sir Rimuru and his nation were truly evil, we would have been wiped off the map long ago.”
“True,” Arnaud said. “I can trust in Sir Rimuru, yes. We need to cast off our prejudices against monsters.”
“I agree with them,” added Litus. “Sir Soei was such a gentleman to us.”
Even the notably taciturn Bacchus was nodding. Renard, hearing them all, hesitated for a moment. As vice captain of the Crusaders, he couldn’t give his ready agreement just yet. If anything, this choir of support only firmed his resolve.
“Yes, but there remains one problem. How will we explain this in the framework of our faith’s teachings? Because depending on our approach, the Western Holy Church may face an onslaught of criticism, and I can’t allow that to happen.”
Their faith—a faith that refused to accept the existence of monsters. Yeah, if they accepted me now, it’d be like, hey, what about all the teachings from the past X number of centuries? I thought we were close to solving all our problems, but I suppose it never comes that easy.
But as I worried over this, Luminus dropped another bombshell.
“Don’t be silly. Those teachings are nothing I established. I don’t see why failing to protect them qualifies as betraying me. Those were meant to be guiding principles for those lost in their lives. Really, they’re only a bunch of rules thought up by the leaders at the time.”
This came as a shock to all the paladins in the room, Hinata included. “What?!” she shouted. “I’ve never heard
