Volume 4 Chapter 23 Intense Debate and Settlement
"Gaspar Redless' actions are an invasion of another country. It can be seen as a declaration of war from the Obsidian Magic Dukedom to the Chaos Stone Dragonstone Kingdom."
"It's Gaspar's personal barbaric act! It has nothing to do with the Dukedom government!"
"There is no evidence to prove that."
"Don't talk nonsense! Who in their right mind would declare war on a country that hosts a hero and his mentor!"
"A fool is out there, and that fool's actions can only be seen as a declaration of war."
A crowd of people watches. Although the number of those who can actually see is limited, on the circular stage, the men with documents on their tables are in the midst of an intense argument.
Valzeil Diamante.
Belsal Grinless.
The King and the Magic King.
Two top leaders of the world conference's Permanent Council Members clashing.
Those of higher rank gather in the bowl-shaped audience seats to watch the scene.
...Now, while this concerns the Obsidian Magic Dukedom and the Chaos Stone Dragonstone Kingdom, the reason Valzeil, the King of Diamante Kingdom, is at the argument is simple.
In international matters like this, the king's words are crucial. However, the king of Chaos Stone Dragonstone Kingdom has been frail for a long time, making it difficult for him to appear, and once again, he is absent.
The highest-ranking member of the Chaos Stone royal family who can attend is Lucia... and since Lucia is the only child, even as a 'Princess,' she lacks the necessary status.
Under these conditions, the decision falls to the Permanent Council Members.
In other words, if any issue arises and the king's words cannot be conveyed, it can be 'swept under the rug.'
However, the 7 seats of the Permanent Council Members are guaranteed by national power, meaning they are fundamentally unchallenged.
That means the seats of the Permanent Council Members hold significant value.
Which comes first, the facade or the reality?
Since it's been formalized, they have no choice but to follow it.
In other words, if Valzeil didn't interfere, The Obsidian Magic Dukedom could've handled it and covered it up.
However, Valzeil showed up, and now the current Magic King, Belsal Grinless, is forced to argue.
"No harm was done to people or property. We'll acknowledge the terrorist act of Gaspar, a 'commoner' of our country. We will apologize for that. But there's nothing more to it!"
"Commoner? Gaspar Redless is from one of the 3 families with the right to become Magic King. Treating their head as a commoner... I've said this during *his* time as Magic King, too."
"The past is the past! Now is now! I don't know about your country, but ours has clear laws regarding the expulsion of those with the right to be king. Don't twist them to suit your needs!"
No harm was done to people or property.
That's true.
It's a fact that he brought a bomb and detonated it, but Rangella did something unexpected by freezing the explosion.
And on top of that, they are treating him like a 'commoner'.
...If we talk about what's really going on, Artia has already decided to expel him from the Redless family, but it's 'not yet' official.
It's also said that Artia understood Valzeil's intentions and adjusted her course accordingly.
"Gaspar as a commoner wouldn't have the power to go to Jewel City Lapis and prepare a bomb. It's because he's 'Gaspar Redless' that he could declare war by using the bomb there."
"Ugh... Grrr..."
Finally, Belsal groans.
He understands it in his heart, too.
Could Gaspar, on his own, reach Jewel City Lapis from the magicDukedom, bring a bomb, and detonate it?
Probably not.
But he can't admit that.
"Grrr! Grrr!"
...By the way, the star of the show, Gaspar, is in a cage a little ways offstage, gagged with cloth and muttering.
He probably has cloth stuffed in his mouth too. Can't understand a word he's saying.
"I have a question."
"What is it!"
Belsal snaps back, but inside, he's thinking, 'Here it comes.'
Because Valzeil's tone of voice has changed a bit.
"Is a seat on the Permanent Council really fitting for a nation whose leaders smuggle bombs into other countries and detonate them in schools?"
"!"
Valzeil's words make Belsal look like he's bitten into something sour.
"Oh, you're saying The Obsidian Magic Dukedom should step down from the Permanent Council!"
Valzeil's demand is for the 'return of The Obsidian Magic Dukedom's seat on the Permanent Council'.
It's not a simple matter.
Even with the Demon Lord's appearance changing 6 seats, that's an extremely rare event in the history of the world conference.
There have been times when the economy was worse than after the Demon Lord appeared, but even then, the Council Members didn't change.
No matter what happens in the world, it rarely affects who holds the Permanent Council Members' seats.
They have that much 'status'.
Or, at least, they *should* have.
"That's right. There's a country more deserving of that seat than the magic Dukedom."
"Where is it? A nation superior to the magic Dukedom, which boasts a history of 15 hundred years and leads the way in magic──"
"It's obviously the Chaos Stone Dragonstone Kingdom."
"..."
Belsal is speechless at Valzeil's words.
"...D-don't be ridiculous! That tiny country that can barely mine any metal is better than us?!"
"The difference is clear when you compare a country whose leaders smuggle bombs into other countries' schools with a country where heroes defeated the Demon Lord and saved the world."
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