ASAHI NO NISHISEI - Rising Sun Goes West (1)

Land of Dwarfs, Homunculus Kingdom 2

Penfield, capital of the Homunculus Kingdom

The negotiating team arrived at the capital of the dwarf kingdom. The scene that unfolded before their eyes took the breath away for Kato, Hatsuoka, and Hirata.

"...!"

A house made of leaves, branches, and other natural materials, a housing complex made of hollowed-out trees, and dwarfs who live in these houses, gather nuts, and fly on small birds. It was a scene straight out of a picture book.

'It's like... a fairy tale!'

The fantastical scene made Kato's heart dance in his chest. The same was true for Hirata, a medic. However, only Hatsuoka, a member of the negotiating team's escort, had something else in mind.

'It's just the right size for a dollhouse... I wonder if we can export it...'

Hatsuoka, the son of a merchant, fantasized about selling dollhouses, toys for girls, as dwelling for dwarfs. Anyone who has ever played with dollhouses has probably fantasized about this at least once. The four of them then proceeded through the scene of a small town spread out all around them, guided by Gram and others. A wide street ran through the center of the town, perhaps originally built with humans and demi-humans visiting. The residents of the city looked at the four of them with interest, as they had not seen visitors in a long time.

"The Royal Palace is this way."

"!"

Looking in the direction indicated by Gram, they saw a miniature of what appeared to be a large royal palace at the end of the street. The four members of the negotiating team, including Lentis, took one, two, and three steps to reach the palace. Naturally, the palace was also miniature in size, and from their vantage point, they could see the entire building and even the gardens within the walls. In the garden and in the windows of the building, they could see civil servants and officials working and cleaning. Perhaps they were busy with their duties, or perhaps they were paying attention to the negotiating team, but they did not stare at them as the city's inhabitants did.

"I will go now to inform His Majesty of our visitor. Please wait a moment."

After announcing this to the four members of the team, Gram entered the gate of the city wall. The four men stood still for a moment, waiting for Gram to return. Gram then emerges from inside the palace, runs through the gardens, a distance that would take a human being only two steps, and appears in front of the palace gate to inform the team members that they have granted an audience.

Royal Palace Audience Hall

In the gardens of the small royal palace, a throne was set up for the dwarf king to receive foreign envoys. The four looked around and saw what appeared to be a group of dwarf guards in miniature armor forming a line in the gardens.

"Presenting His Majesty the King, Reybies Vialas!"

One of the civil officers announced the arrival of the head of state, and the four kneeled down to await the king's arrival. Then a small old man with a white beard and dressed in luxurious-looking clothes appeared before the four foreigners. He looked just like a king from a fairy tale.

'He's... kinda cute...'

Hatsuoka, kneeling down, involuntarily murmured in his mind.

"It's been a while, Your Majesty! I am here by order of the Emperors of Elmstacia to bring with me the negotiating team of the nation of Japan!"

Lentis spoke in a brisk voice, describing the requirements of his visit to the Homunculus Kingdom.

"I have heard from Gram about the general contents of your visit. You are asking for special permission for the navy of Japan, which is not a member of our Union, to deploy in our territorial waters in order to defeat Leviathan, is that correct?"

"Yes, that is correct!"

It seems that the main issue has already reached the king's ears. Then the conversation will be quick.

"We are trouble by the fact that no trading ships come from the open sea... We have no reason to reject those whose power has been recognized by the leader of the Union of Demi-Human Nations."

"Then...!"

Hearing King Reybies' words, the expressions of the team brightened. The king spoke again after a slight pause.

"But I have one condition."

"Condition...?"

Kato asked what the king of the dwarves' conditions are.

"We are a race that rarely goes out to sea, but we want to see what happens in our territorial waters. Therefore, our Homunculus Kingdom would like to dispatch a military officer to watch the battle."

What's that all about, Kato thought to himself, but was reassured and accepted the king's condition.

"If that's what you mean, we don't mind at all. We welcome the military officer dispatched from your country."

Hearing Kato's answer, King Reybies smiled with delight.

Thus, negotiations with the Homunculus Kingdom were concluded without delay, with the condition that the JMSDF would accept the observer dispatched by the Homunculus Kingdom. After that, the four members of the negotiating team, who had received official permission for military deployment from King Reybies, returned to Oga together with Bartonella Hensele, an observer dispatched from the Homunculus Kingdom.