I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

<Author’s Notes>

[Warning] It’s not that things have gone out of control, but a seriously dangerous person is saying seriously dangerous things in the afterword. And to repeat, nothing has actually gone out of control.

At the imperial castle of Archlesia Empire, Eris and Marquis Hamilton, who had been visiting the castle far more frequently of late, were holding a meeting together with Chris in the same room.

All three held documents in their hands, their expressions grave, making it clear that the situation was a troublesome one.

[……The developments are far too rapid, and on a much larger scale than anticipated…… Count Sharon and Lady Cornelia are scheduled to come to the castle the day after tomorrow, so we will hear the details then, but even the information already confirmed is significant.]

[The movements of the Dragon King’s subordinates have exceeded expectations, but to think even the Wingeds would make a move…… And the strengthening of cooperation between the Sharon Trading Company and the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company is now almost certain.]

At Chris’ muttered words, Marquis Hamilton, who was likewise reviewing the documents, spoke with a troubled expression. Recently, the movements of the Ritch Barony had been hectic, forcing the Hamilton Marquisdom to act extensively as well. Just as that had settled down, the Sharon County had suddenly begun moving on a much larger scale.

[The Sharon County will be extremely busy, but above all, what we must pay attention to is Lady Cornelia.]

Agreeing with the others, Eris studied the documents with a serious expression. Originally, the Sharon County had been one of the more powerful noble houses, and they had thought neither the Hamilton Marquisdom nor Chris would need to act.

However, the scale had grown beyond expectations, and multiple situations were progressing simultaneously, that was the problem.

[Indeed. If they are forming a partnership with the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company, the Sharon County will be busy, and there is a high possibility that support from the Victor Trading Company’s side will be delayed or insufficient. The movements related to the companies are particularly dangerous.]

[Yes. No matter how capable Lady Cornelia may be, she still lacks experience, and negotiating with seasoned veterans will be extremely difficult. They had likely planned to support her by dispatching personnel from the Sharon Trading Company, but it hardly seems they have the leeway for that……]

At Chris’ words, Eris spoke with concern. The one they were worried about was Cornelia, who would soon sit at the negotiating table as the representative of the Victor Trading Company.

Originally, Cornelia had not been studying company management. After the previous incident involving Kaito, she had begun learning at an accelerated pace, but her experience was still overwhelmingly insufficient. Moreover, as seen from how the original president of the Victor Trading Company had required assistance from the Sharon County due to financial difficulties, he could hardly be called especially capable.

They had likely planned to dispatch talented personnel from the Sharon Trading Company to provide support, but with the partnership with the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company established, the Sharon Trading Company itself had become extremely busy and no longer had the capacity to reassign staff.

[To think we would be seriously considering intervention regarding the Sharon County rather than the Ritch Barony……]

[When it came to the Ritch Barony, the Lord Trading Company, one of the Five Great Companies, moved early. Perhaps because they did not wish to draw the Lord Trading Company’s ire, the major companies did not make significant moves. But this time is different. The Sharon Trading Company is certainly large and powerful, but there are several companies on equal footing or even greater. I doubt they will overlook a situation that is clearly profitable.]

Agreeing with Marquis Hamilton, Chris gazed with a weary expression at several major companies listed in the documents before him, those that had been showing active movements.

To put it plainly, the Victor Trading Company was attractive right now. Enormous profits could be expected with even slight involvement, and Cornelia, who stood as its representative, lacked experience and had no backing other than the Sharon County. Even though the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company, the world’s largest company, was involved in this matter, it was tied to the Sharon Trading Company and would not appear in dealings with the Victor Trading Company. In other words, it was an ideal target.

[Count Sharon cannot appear at the negotiation table, can he? If he did, she would be mocked as someone who cannot negotiate without parental accompaniment. The fact that Lady Cornelia lacks a strong backer outside the Sharon County is indeed problematic. The imperial family should not intervene excessively, but depending on the situation, I may have to……]

If Cornelia had backing strong enough to prevent others from underestimating her, it would be a different matter, but such support could not be prepared overnight. Just as Chris was considering intervening as emperor if necessary, an aide hurried into the room and whispered into her ear.

[……They have withdrawn? Are you certain? It is fine to speak here. Give me the details.]

[Yes, Your Majesty! Several companies that you ordered us to monitor have almost simultaneously changed their movements. It is not yet confirmed, but they have even withdrawn the funds they had prepared…… It appears they are attempting to pull out from matters related to the Victor Trading Company.]

[They have not even begun preliminary probing before negotiations, and yet they withdraw? Has Phantasmal King-sama issued a warning…… No, would she truly intervene in a mere conflict of interests between companies…… Do we know the cause?]

Chris had already identified several companies showing preliminary movements and had ordered her aides to monitor them. What had just been reported was the astonishing news that the very companies she had been wary of were now showing signs of a full withdrawal.

Given that these were multiple large-scale companies, precisely the kind Chris had been cautious of, the decision to withdraw without even taking a seat at the negotiating table was unnatural.

As Eris and Marquis Hamilton listened with tense expressions on their faces, the aide spoke with a somewhat uncertain look.

[……It cannot be said with certainty, but we have received one unbelievable piece of information. It seems the Conqueror of Golden Veins has made her move……]

[Tetra-sama did!? T- That is…… acting personally, unrelated to the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company?]

[Yes, that appears to be the case.]

It was no wonder Chris wore an expression that perfectly matched the word “dumbfounded”. Tetra, Conqueror of Golden Veins, was a being of unimaginable wealth and influence. If she so wished, it would not be strange to think she could economically collapse an entire nation. That such a figure was moving was beyond unexpected.

Eris and Marquis Hamilton also wore expressions of utter shock, clearly conveying how far this situation lay outside their expectations…… yet even so, there was one thought shared by Chris, Eris, and Marquis Hamilton alike.

……The cause was absolutely Kaito…… a conviction, bordering on certainty……

<Afterword>

Makina : [Yaa, my children. Have you been well? I thought you might be starting to miss Mother’s words, so today I’d like to give you a bit of a lesson, something about a child I’ve been paying attention to lately, and about the most fundamental of fundamentals: gratitude toward my beloved child. You might think “Why talk about something so basic now of all times?”, but fundamentals are important after all, and if you neglect them, even your heartfelt gratitude toward my beloved child may fail to reach those around you. So I’d like you to take this opportunity to reaffirm those basics. Now then, about gratitude toward my beloved child, this truly is the most basic of basics. Keeping gratitude toward my beloved child at the center of your heart is the minimum courtesy expected of any living being in this world. Calling it “common sense” would almost be too presumptuous, it’s that obvious. And yet, lamentably, there are many lumps of flesh these days who cannot even manage this most basic of basics. That said, I’m not claiming that every lump of flesh in Trinia is hopeless. Those with merits are properly acknowledged, and there are indeed those with promise. In particular, the one I’ve been watching closely lately is Olivia. That child is truly proper. Day after day, she offers prayers of deep gratitude to my beloved child. It may be the most fundamental of fundamentals, but seeing that foundation firmly in place is reassuring. It’s like, “Yes, this is how it should be, this is how children should be.” I hold her in high regard, and I remembered her name at once. So this time, while looking back on Olivia’s actions, of which I think highly, let us reaffirm gratitude toward my beloved child. To begin with, what makes Olivia admirable is that she does not focus on trivial details, but gives thanks for the very existence of my beloved child. Not because something was done for her, nor because of any particular benefit, but because she truly understands that my beloved child is precious simply by existing. That is why she can offer gratitude for the mere fact of that existence. The reason she can possess such a mindset is because she has properly established the fundamental practice of always keeping gratitude toward my beloved child in her heart. I think that is truly wonderful. And what impressed me about Olivia most was when she, my child, and my beloved child went on a date together. At that time, Olivia first offered a prayer of gratitude for the fact that my beloved child had accepted the date, and after the main event, she offered another prayer of gratitude for having been granted the date. This is it! Before and after the date, two expressions of gratitude!!! Being able to do this truly shows she is proper. Not just one or the other, but gratitude for the fact that time was set aside for her and the date was accepted for her sake, and then gratitude after actually going on the date…… she truly understands. If it’s a child like that, I wholeheartedly support a romance with my beloved child, and depending on the situation, I might even lend a hand. Next, what impressed me was the sculpture she made for the birthday celebration of my beloved child. I’ll bring up the image for a moment, what you should pay attention to is right here. The face of my beloved child’s sculpture is tilted ever so slightly by five degrees. This is truly magnificent! Those five degrees!!! By giving it that angle, the expression of my beloved child’s kindness and magnanimity is dramatically enhanced, it feels as if a soul has been placed into what would otherwise be a mere sculpture, elevating the work to an entirely new level. If I had been a judge, I would have given it full marks. And not only me, Canalis and Electrone were impressed as well. This five-degree angle is something that can only be expressed with an extraordinary understanding of my beloved child. It is not a realm beginners can reach. The very fact that she can apply such an angle shows that Olivia possesses at least an intermediate-level proficiency in the Beloved Child Examination. What is fascinating is that from such use of angles, one can discern what kind of feelings the creator holds toward my beloved child. Of course, to do so perfectly requires advanced-level observational ability in the Beloved Child Examination, but as a master of my beloved child, a mother can read it with ease. For example, in the films I create, I often choose angles that especially highlight my beloved child’s cuteness. Canalis, on the other hand, tends to favor angles that emphasize my beloved child’s coolness. It is not that one is superior to the other, both are wonderful aspects of my beloved child, merely reflecting subtle differences in personal preference. As for Olivia, judging from the sculpture, it is clear she perceives my beloved child’s kindness and magnanimity…… as a guiding light, a sun-like existence that leads her forward. That perspective is quite novel and intriguing. After all, as a mother, I naturally take the viewpoint of one who guides. Olivia, who stands in the position of being guided by my beloved child, offers a fresh and fascinating perspective, allowing me to see charms of my beloved child that differ from those I myself express, and that is simply marvelous. Of course, it would be a problem if she were merely clinging to the miraculous existence that is my beloved child, but in Olivia’s case, that isn’t so. She earnestly seeks to learn for herself from each and every action of my beloved child, and having gained much insight, she regards my beloved child as a warm sun that guides her forward. Here again, the fundamentals appear. Because she always keeps the foundational principle, gratitude toward my beloved child, at the center of her heart, she does not grow arrogant, but understands her own place and holds an absolute faith in my beloved child. It is truly rare for me to evaluate an existence outside my own world so highly, but when there is a child who is proper, I acknowledge them as such. Olivia is truly dependable and highly regarded, so as a reward, I think I will someday show her the film about my beloved child that I created. Ahhh, come to think of it, after the birthday celebration, Olivia also properly visited the Beloved Child Museum. After finishing her viewing by manipulating time, she stepped outside and offered a prayer in front of the museum. She truly understands! Though she is not my child, she is highly regarded in my eyes. She more than possesses the qualifications to be in a romantic relationship with my beloved child, so I hope she continues going on many dates and deepens her bond. As a mother, I support her, and if the opportunity arises, I will gladly assist. Well then, that is all for today. If this talk has conveyed to my children how important it is to keep gratitude toward my beloved child at the center of their hearts, Mother will be pleased. Until we meet again next time!]

Serious-senpai : [……And this is how she is without even going out of control. Yeah…… she’s seriously nuts……]