Chapter info-con6: Informal Conference 6

Informal Conference 6

Author’s note: The pope’s point of view.

If you are going to treat my kindness with disdain then I have no obligation to cooperate. At hearing that undertone in her words, I realise my own mistake. I said it myself did I not? To speak frankly. Those words themselves are an insult, and that resulted in Shiro-sama’s response expressing her distrust. If that’s the case, then it means that we have led her to this judgement. That we are not worth cooperating with.

That must be avoided at all costs. Since Black Dragon-sama’s name was used, that means that Shiro-sama is acquainted with that great personage at the very least. Whether Shiro-sama herself is an Administrator or not is still unclear, but just with her being connected to a genuine Administrator it means that it cannot be flatly rejected.

In addition, the world is in a far more serious condition than we had estimated. As to what kind of phenomenon this “abrasion of the soul” is, I can only guess since I have not had a detailed explanation, but I can estimate to a certain degree. Since it is the case that Black Dragon-sama is participating, the importance must be high. Dangerously high. Enough that Shiro-sama implied that she was annoyed why us residents of this world had not even noticed.

It is no longer appropriate to sound out her true intentions. The request this time was for cooperation in countermeasures against the elves. We were not requested for cooperation relating to the world crisis. To Shiro-sama in other words, that’s probably all that the Divine Word Religion amounted to. That as for the world salvation actions that Shiro-sama mentioned taking herself, she sees no need for the cooperation of the Divine Word Religion. That was the case from the start. To misunderstand that, was our own failure in overestimating the position of the Divine Word Religion. I cannot allow for trust in the Divine Word Religion to fall any further. With barely any left, we would risk losing clues to the salvation of the world.

「That’s an unbridled tongue you have there.」

The one who opened his mouth, was the general who supervises the Divine Word Religion’s armies. Before he can open his mouth again, I interject.

「Restrain yourself, general.」

At the words “restrain yourself” the expression on the proud face of the general, and also the words the general were going to say next, suddenly change.

Apart from that, I can only search for ways in which to earn Shiro-sama’s trust. Whether or not we can earn her trust, will depend on our performance from now on.

「For today I am content to hear that alone. For the time being, showing efforts to move in step, that is acceptable for you, correct?」

「Yes. We shall definitely be of use to you.」

I answered instantly. From Shiro-sama’s words, it can be inferred that there will be no further discussion today. There are many things that I would like to discuss further, but there’s no help for it. Before this conference began, there was no option for us remaining other than to answer “yes”. So long as the answer is “yes”, there is nothing else to say to Shiro-sama. It may have been possible to discuss things in further detail, but there’s no point dwelling upon that. Though the negotiations did not break down, it’s hard to call them a success. Rather, it is better to consider them as being one step short of failure. We only just managed to avoid being abandoned. I cannot shake that impression.

「Then, let’s prepare for an occasion soon to compare and adjust our future plans.」

Summing up like that, Shiro-sama prepares to leave her seat.

「Wait.」

That was stopped by Sophia-jou.

「My side isn’t done yet though?」

It seems that this seat will continue. And also, in an unfavourable direction.