Chapter 2: Territory Exchange
The next day, the trio of Yan, Major Simanto, and Leifa arrived at the Argeid Fortress. Looking around, the scars of a fierce battle were visible everywhere. Both sides must have suffered considerable casualties. As they gazed at the scene, a familiar face approached them from the other side, wearing a smile.
“Yan, I’m glad you came.”
“Kosak. It’s been a while.”
She exchanged a hug with the young Kumin man she had befriended back when she was a prisoner of war.
“Hey… even if you are children, a man and a woman embracing like that is indecorous.”
“……In their culture, a hug is a greeting.”
“Hmph. Barbarian dogs running rampant in the frontier. They certainly have indecorous cultures.”
“……Tsk.”
Yan clicked her tongue in her heart. This man, as naturally as breathing, spewed abuse and insults right to their faces. He was the type who, just because words couldn’t be understood, would assert dominance using his own language. However, there was a chance they could pick up on the atmosphere, and hearing it didn’t feel good regardless.
When they entered the war room, the elites of the Kumin tribe were assembled. Presumably, this was to intimidate the Imperial side. However, since they had Leifa with them, there was no mental hesitation.
Amidst them, in the deepest part of the room, sat a young woman. She was an exceptionally eye-catching beauty, wearing a blue crown adorned with luxurious decorations.
It was the Blue Queen, Vashia.
“Oh, Yan. Thank you for coming.”
“First of all, congratulations on your victory in battle.”
Yan knelt and held her arms out horizontally. This was the Kumin manner of bowing to a superior.
“Come now, Major Simanto. You as well, just like this—”
!?
“W-What are you doing!?”
Of all things. With a goofy, lovestruck face. Stretching out his upper lip, Major Simanto went in for a full-on embrace with the Blue Queen.
“Heheh… hugging is culture, isn’t it? Even a barbarian bitch must adapt to customs.”
“She is the Tribal Chief!? That is a greeting exchanged between equals! To a superior, you must—”
“I am the representative of this negotiation, and a Major. In terms of status, I am not lacking compared to barbarian dogs.”
“……!”
He was an unbelievable idiot. Yan was dumbfounded. If it were Colonel Gedol, maybe, but for someone of Major rank to hug her… it meant nothing other than that he looked down on the Kumin tribe overwhelmingly.
If translated to the Empire, it would be like a lower-class noble hugging the Emperor.
“Bagyaoenishiro X■a$kuo! Nasshiro! (Kill him!)”
“Ah, awawawawa.”
They were angry. The Vice Chief, Olibes, shouted incomprehensible words, and finally, the word [Kill] could be heard.
“Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” “Nasshiro!” (“Kill him!”)
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Ah… I’m dead, Yan thought.
“Stop chirping. I do not mind.”
“……!”
Vashia returned the hug with a beaming smile. The surrounding Kumin tribe fell silent in an instant, but an abnormal amount of bloodlust could be sensed radiating from their backs.
If they didn’t proceed with the conference quickly, her own life would be in danger.
“Hey, what were those noisy flies saying?”
“……They said ‘Kill him’.”
“Wh-What! For mere barbarian puppies, how disrespectful.”
“……”
This guy is hopeless, Yan thought. Prejudice against the Kumin tribe and shallow knowledge of other tribes were clouding his vision completely.
He’s the textbook kind of trash superior—groveling to those above him and acting high-and-mighty toward those below. When they first met, she didn’t really know what kind of person he was and told Hazen, ‘He’s a terrible man,’ but yeah… this is definitely the type she’d hate.
Leifa’s existence also played a part in inflating his ego. Yan had heard from Private First Class Edal that she had repelled an entire battalion. It was obvious that Major Simanto, having seen that live, intended to rely on it if push came to shove.
“And so? Yan, what is the discussion?”
Amidst the painful silence, Vashia broached the subject. Cutting off the conference here would be bad for both parties. Yan felt a sense of gratitude toward the Queen for making such a generous judgment.
“Y-Yes. Actually, we were wondering if an exchange of territory could be made between the Empire and the Kumin tribe.”
“I see. Well, it would come to that.”
“You anticipated this?”
“For us who live in the mountains, this fortress is unnecessary. But for the Empire, this is something you want so badly your hand would reach out from your throat, no? I’ll tell you now, I have no intention of selling it cheap.”
“I understand.”
“Hey! Translate properly! Don’t proceed with the conversation on your own.”
“……Yes.”
While feeling incredibly anxious, Yan explained it to Major Simanto.
“Hmm…”
Major Simanto stroked and stretched the beard on his chin as if he were a brilliant strategist.
“I see. So even among the barbarian dogs, there is a somewhat decent bitch. As expected, when it comes to the top, it’s different. Does this mean there are shiny things even in a trash heap?”
“……! T-That way of speaking. It is rude!”
“You just don’t have to translate it, right? You are annoying.”
“Kh…”
Respect was not something that came only from words. Did he not even understand that? Yan clicked her tongue in her heart. Why did it have to end up like this? Perhaps this Major had practically zero negotiation experience. He must have always hidden his incompetence by making others do the work. This man was so terrible that he made her make such cynical assumptions.
On the other hand, Queen Vashia looked at Yan without breaking her smile.
“Yan. What is this man saying?”
“……!”
Intuitively, the pink-haired girl thought, She gets it, doesn’t she? No, even if she didn’t understand, expressions of contempt were often spoken on the battlefield. Perhaps she understood fragments of it.
Or maybe there was someone on the Kumin side who understood? But that seemed unlikely. She was watching carefully, but there was no sign of anyone whispering to the Queen. Besides, there was a law within the Kumin tribe that stated, “Mere interaction with other countries is punishable by death.” Yan had secretly traded with them, but it was clear they feared the law.
Anyway, right now, she had no choice but to feign ignorance and sugarcoat it.
“……He says, ‘You possess wonderful insight.’ He says, ‘As expected, the Queen is different.'”
“I see. A skillful paraphrase. However, I believe that [Barbarian dogs], [Decent bitch], and [Trash heap] are essential to express this man’s character?”
“……!”
“From now on, act like an interpreter and convey it frankly so I can understand the nuance. Otherwise, on the memorable day Yan becomes an adult, you will pay the price.”
“Y-Yes.”
This is bad. It was the worst-case scenario. The Queen herself, of all people, had mastered the Imperial language. It was unexpected that she could master the language in such a short period.
No, come to think of it, Private First Class Edal had mastered the Kumin language in a short time. Assuming they couldn’t do the same was clearly carelessness.
“Hey, translate it quickly. What is she saying?”
“……She says to dedicate yourself to interpreting.”
“Hmph, she’s quite an understanding bitch. Once the negotiations are over, I might consider bedding her.”
“Hawa, hawawawa.”
I want to go hoooome.
Yan immediately whispered to Major Simanto.
“Please be careful with your expressions. The Queen understands our language.”
“There is no way that’s true.”
Major Simanto beamed a smile at Queen Vashia.
“Hey, you lewd bitch. There is no way you barbarians could understand the sublime Imperial language.”
“……! How could you say such a thing…”
“See? She’s still smiling even though I’m throwing these words at her. Good grief, how amusing.”
It’s over, Yan thought, looking up to the heavens.
Major Simanto was the typical coward who would mount a high horse over those who didn’t understand the language… no, he was a terminal case. Perhaps he was getting carried away by extreme tension and excitement, but in any case, the verbal abuse wouldn’t stop.
However, Queen Vashia still did not break her smile.
“Yan. It’s fine, let’s finish this quickly. That man must also want to leave this place as soon as possible.”
“Y-Yes. Major Simanto. She says, [Please get to the main topic quickly].”
“Don’t rush, don’t rush. It’s not like you’re a bitch in heat, stop shaking your hips.”
“……!”
She was appalled, wondering why a guy like this was a Major. Was her own sense of things weird? Were nobles all just trash like this?
“Well, however, there is no use spending too much time in such a dog-smelling place.”
“……”
Was this guy playing a game where he was bound by a rule that he had to speak with contempt?
“Yan.”
“Y-Yes!”
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