Chapter 88

Katie's prompting caused everyone's gaze to turn toward Hikaru.

"…Why me, teacher?"

"Because you were the only one who looked like an outsider. You're already a member of the Student Union, you know."

"I'm from Pawnsia. The issues of the Allied Nations should be resolved by the people of the Allied Nations."

"An external perspective can sometimes be helpful. Especially you, you have an interesting perspective. Didn't you come up with any ideas after hearing the story?"

"I've been paying attention to Hikaru. If you have any ideas, I'd like to hear them."

Sylvester even agreed with Katie. With this much pressure, Hikaru felt he had to say something.

"…Alright. In fact, I think the answer is almost there. Kirihar and Ludansha, these neighbors who don't get along. To eliminate this animosity, practical actions like 'actions' and 'methods' are important. So, the course of action is clear."

"What is it? Hikaru, tell us."

League leaned in eagerly.

Hikaru sighed,

"It requires a lot of resolve, are you okay with that?"

"I'm already prepared."

"League might be, but… well, it's fine. The quickest way is 'love.'"

"…'Love'?"

League echoed, and Ivan even said,

"It's uncomfortable when Hikaru talks about 'love.'"

"That's why I didn't want to say it."

"N-no, I'm not making fun of you. Come on, continue, continue."

"It's just that. 'Love' must be made explicit."

League suddenly realized.

"…A marriage between influential people from Kirihar and Ludansha?"

His gaze turned to Claude and Luka.

"Exactly. Although these two countries don't get along, they're not completely isolated. There should be many civilians who have connections. Among them, there are couples who are in love or have promised their future together."

"Due to the political situation and opposition from their surroundings, they can't get married."

"That's why influential people should announce their marriage publicly."

"To ease the tension between the two countries, right! I see—this is quite something."

"That's not all."

Hikaru continued, and League looked puzzled.

"If influential people just announce their marriage, it will be seen as an 'irregular exception.' People who have long disliked each other will even spread this idea. Therefore, it's necessary to make it clear that 'this marriage is universal and will have a broad impact on the citizens.'"

"But how…"

"Make it a mass wedding."

"Mass… wedding?"

"After the influential people announce their engagement, inform the citizens and invite volunteers. Then, gather the volunteers and hold the weddings simultaneously in the capital of the Allied Nations or at the border of the two countries. If we make it an annual grand ceremony, it could become a 'dream' to get married in a mass wedding."

League was taken aback. In this world, there were no such things as mass weddings. Even in Japan, they were rare.

"Hehehehe… Hahaha! Interesting, very interesting, Hikaru! I've never heard of a mass wedding, but I firmly support this idea!"

Sylvester said, and

"Although the idea is too unconventional… I do think it's interesting."

League nodded.

"—But there's a major drawback."

Ekaterina spoke up.

"Who will get married? Kirihar and Ludansha—Pawnsia-born Hikaru, you might not understand, but the hostility between these two countries is no ordinary matter. The more influential the person, the more they despise each other. It's impossible to find two people who love each other among such people."

Katie and Ivan agreed, nodding.

"I said it would require resolve."

Hikaru directed his words to Claude and Luka. They seemed to have already accepted that they were the "influential people" in question.

"I think Hikaru's idea is interesting. But, what if the marriage itself isn't recognized—"

"I agree. I want to participate in the mass wedding Hikaru proposed."

"Luka!"

Claude panicked at Luka's sudden declaration.

"Wait a minute. You two…"

"It's as Ekaterina imagined. Claude and Luka are considering getting married."

"That's right. If we continue as we are, it would be impossible for Claude and I to be together. We should challenge any small possibility."

Luka, despite her appearance, seemed to have a strong heart. Claude, hearing her words, seemed to have made up his mind.

"…Yeah, that's right… I never imagined getting married to Luka. But if it's possible—anything is worth trying. Luka, if I can marry you, anything is worth it."

"Claude…"

"Luka…"

As they gazed into each other's eyes, creating a pink atmosphere, Hikaru cleared his throat.

"Cough. So, League. Is this idea feasible?"

"Yes. We should proceed with the formation of the Student Union and the mass wedding idea simultaneously."

"The next time the representatives of the seven countries gather will be at the Founding Anniversary Ceremony. That's the right timing, isn't it?"

Sylvester offered help.

"Then, the autumn full moon—about 50 days from now?"

"It seems like a lot of time, but it's not. What other preparations are needed?"

"Of course, we need to lobby the countries. Considering that, the time might not be enough… We might have to wait until next year."

"That's not good."

"Why, Sylvester?"

"We don't know what will happen in the winter politics. Especially, Romania might do something."

"…That's true."

League nodded, looking troubled, as if he had something in mind.

"Ekaterina."

Hikaru called out, and Ekaterina, surprised to be addressed, flinched.

"What do you think? Can we lobby the countries in 50 days?"

"…We don't need the approval of all the countries."

"What do you mean?"

"According to the Founding Charter, 'amendments to the authority of the Allied Government' require the consent of all seven countries, but general operational clauses can be passed with a majority vote."

"Does that 'majority' mean the 'approval' of the 'successors to the thrones' of the seven countries?"

"Yes. However, in the case of Kirihar, it would be the 'approval' of the current queen, as she is from Kirihar."

"Is it correct to understand that the representative meeting at the Founding Anniversary Ceremony will discuss important matters and take a majority vote?"

"That's correct. However, the meeting is on the last day of the five-day ceremony. There are various events and parties before that. The lobbying is usually completed beforehand, and the meeting is just to decide the votes. It's a prelude to the winter political season, so major issues rarely come up."

"Do we need to do the lobbying during the first four days?"

"No… I think we need to start the lobbying immediately. In the past, the country that proposed the agenda would make a big fuss and attract attention, and from spring to autumn, the countries focused on domestic governance, so little adjustment was made at the Founding Anniversary Ceremony. But we are students. Even if we return to our countries and work domestically, we won't attract much attention from other countries. If we use these 50 days to secure four votes, it should be enough."

Ekaterina finished, and Sylvester clapped.

"Excellent! You are truly very capable in practical matters. You know the political process well and are choosing the right means to achieve your goals."

Hikaru thought it was true, but

(No, no, are you saying that?)

Sylvester should reflect a bit more. Saving the nephew of the academy's principal by fighting a lesser wyvern, as the next top of the country, was a misstep in "choosing the right means to achieve the goal."

Flattered, Ekaterina turned away.

"This is just… normal in my family."

She seemed to be blushing, not used to being praised.

"Can we… make the marriage happen?"

As hope shone in Claude and Luka's eyes, Ivan interjected.

"But, getting the approval of four countries is quite a challenge, isn't it?"

"Yes. I only talked about the shortest path to realization. Eulaba is impossible. There's no short-term gain for Eulaba in this proposal. So, Eulaba will oppose to avoid 'invisible risks.' Similarly, Kirihar and Ludansha, the parties involved, might not agree. That's three votes against."

Ekaterina's words clouded Claude and Luka's eyes.

"Tsuvra will support it. I'll persuade my father, so leave it to me."

Sylvester boasted.

"Kotobi should be fine too. It depends on Tsuvra and Hikaru."

Katie said with a hint of something.

"Me and Tsuvra?"

"What do you mean, Teacher Katie?"

Sylvester also asked,

"Right. If they cooperate in magic tool research. The current leader of Kotobi is a passionate magic tool researcher and is very interested in Tsuvra's relics. If we offer research cooperation through the Student Union, he'll be thrilled. I'll persuade him."

"Hmm… Let's promise that Tsuvra will cooperate within our capabilities."

"Thank you, Sylvester. I'm counting on you."

"Sorry, but I think my part is missing?"

Katie looked at Hikaru seriously, making a fist. She was completely focused on the research.

She was a beautiful but unfortunate woman.

"Also—Ekaterina said Kirihar and Ludansha will oppose, but I think I can get Kirihar's approval."

"What do you mean?"

Ekaterina looked puzzled.

"I'll persuade the queen. She seems to want to break down the walls between the seven countries, so it should be easier to persuade her."

"…If I heard correctly, you're saying you'll talk directly to the queen?"

"Yes."

"How—"

"I don't think you should ask about the method."

"…Really, who are you?"

"I'm just a student. That makes three votes in favor. We need one more."

"I'm sorry."

League said, almost in a whisper.

"Persuading my father… I think it will be difficult. If we try to persuade him, he might notice our moves and crush us."

"Isn't the proposer of this Student Union you? You said you would protect it with your life."

At Ekaterina's words, League bowed his head.

"I have no words to say. I think I'll support it from the shadows until my father steps down."

"Hmm."

Ekaterina didn't press further. It might be because her home country, Eulaba, couldn't support it.

"What about Jalarac?"

Hikaru asked Ivan,

"Oh, there's a possibility. The boss likes strong people. If you win a fight, it should be fine. Hikaru can do it, right?"

"Hikaru…?"

Claude looked at Hikaru suspiciously.

"Hikaru is strong. Even if all the students who take the great sword class, including me, team up, we've never won against him."

"Really?"

Claude looked even more suspicious.

"Wait. Ivan, is it okay for me?"

"Huh?"

"This is more about the formation of the Student Union and the mass wedding. I'm not directly involved in either."

Sylvester said, "You're the one who proposed the mass wedding and gathered the faces," but that was a different matter.

"Rather, Claude is directly involved in both."

"Oh… The boss might want to make Claude fight."

"Eh?"

Claude paled.

"Fight the top of the martial Jalarac…?"

"If you can beat Instructor Mikhail, you can do it! The boss often said he's a 'good rival.'"

"There's no way I can beat Instructor Mikhail! He's considered the strongest in the academy!"

"Hikaru beat him."

"Wh-what!?"

Claude looked at Hikaru in shock.

League concluded,

"Hikaru, in the next 50 days—considering travel, about 40 days—can you train Claude?"

Hikaru wanted to ask if there was an option to refuse.

Hikaru, who intended to be an observer, found himself deeply involved.

Despite sighing, he seemed to be actively getting involved.

Next time, it's about Ekaterina and Claude's training.