Cause -unknown-

The next day, having made the decision to start over on talks with

Shabon, nearly the exact same group of people were gathered in the

audience hall as the day before. If there was one difference, it was that

Liscia was sitting in the queen's throne beside mine. I chose not to have her

participate last time because we didn't know what our guests' intentions

were, but now that we knew for sure that Shabon and Kishun had no hostile

intent, I wanted her present. Carla was watching the children.

Liscia's presence seemed to have deflated Shabon even more than she

had been before. That was likely because of what she had said about me

using her as my tool, and that if I wanted the crown of the Nine-Headed

Dragon King, she would marry me. Those statements ran the risk of

upsetting Liscia, and if she offended the first primary queen who managed

the household, it wasn't hard to imagine the difficult life that might await

her here even if I did marry her.

Liscia smiled at Shabon. That was probably her way of trying to say,

"You don't have to be so scared," but Shabon seemed even more frightened

when she saw it... What a headache.

Anyway, with everyone present, the meeting began with Shabon bowing

her head apologetically.

"Kishun relayed the Prime Minister's words to me, and I have learned

just how inappropriate what I said was, and why it displeased Sir Souma.

Such ignorance brings shame on me. I am terribly sorry."

"No, I let my anger get the best of me and was too harsh, Madam

Shabon. I'm sorry, too," I apologized for my short temper. With that settled,

we decided to continue the discussion that got interrupted the day before.

"Now... Madam Shabon, you said you were prepared to be my tool; is

that still the case?"

"Yes. That is why I came."

No change of heart, huh? It wasn't the kind of thing where she could

just say, "Yeah, no, let's forget I ever said that..." and the two of them must

have had considerable resolve to come all this way, so that probably should

have been obvious.

So... that left the problem of how to handle her.

"I heard about your offer from Souma... I mean His Majesty, but are you

sure you're okay with that?" Liscia asked, looking at Shabon with concern.

The sudden question made Shabon jump a little, but she still looked up

at Liscia from the bottom of the stairs and timidly nodded her head. "...Yes.

Because this is the only way I have left to save my people."

"I can understand, as a fellow royal, how you could put your people

before your own feelings. What first got me interested in His Majesty... my

husband was that he had greater potential as a ruler compared to me or my

father, and I thought he would be good for the country. Then, as we

supported each other through difficult times, we were drawn to one another.

It did start as a political engagement, but I think of my marriage with

Souma as one for love. I'm sure the other queens feel the same."

Liscia looked over to Aisha, who gave a big nod. ...It's kind of

embarrassing hearing them fawn over me like this.

Shabon looked a little bewildered. "Is... that how it was?"

"Yes. But from the look I see on your face, I can't imagine you being

able to build a relationship like ours."

"Huh?!"

Liscia's rejection made the eyes of everyone in the room, including

mine, go wide.

Ignoring our surprise, Liscia continued, "Political marriages are a fact of

life for royalty. However, Madam Shabon, the sense of woe in your

expression is palpable. I understand you must feel strained by the current

situation, but if you come to us as a bride like this, you'll only cause the

people of the Kingdom, as well as your own, to feel uneasy. Even if it is a

political marriage, with all thought of romance set aside, the people

involved need to be smiling—so that everyone knows it is a happy

marriage."

Shabon lowered her eyes unable to find the words to respond.

"I can sense your woe even though you wear that fake smile on your

face. Who do you think would be happy to marry someone with an

expression like that? ...There's no happiness to be had there. Not for His

Majesty, not for the children born to a loveless couple, not for the people of

our two countries... and, most of all, not for you yourself... Just sadness for

everyone involved."

"...Still!" Shabon clutched her own front collar as she shouted. "Still,

this is the only way I have! I am the only payment I can offer you in

exchange for saving the people of the archipelago! I know I'm the daughter

of the Nine-Headed Dragon King, but when I'm working in defiance of my

father, all I have is... my own body..."

She struggled to get those last words out. I'm sure that she felt cornered,

and this was a decision she had come to after struggling considerably. But

like Liscia said, her methods would leave too many people unhappy.

"Hey, Madam Shabon?"

"...What is it?"

"Is there not more to your story? I find there is something amiss with

your words."

Shabon's shoulders quivered at my inquiry.

"During our meeting yesterday, you said this multiple times: What's

causing the people in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago's suffering is

'The poor catch and inability to send the boats out.' Now, that makes it

sound like the poor catch is what's keeping them from sending the boats

out, but... that can't be right."

In the world I came from, there were fishermen who couldn't take their

boats out because coming back empty-handed meant they couldn't afford to

pay for gasoline. But in this world, the fishermen either used sea creatures

to pull their boats, or rowed them by hand. In other words, the poor catch

couldn't lead to a situation where they couldn't take the boats out. You'd

think whether there was anything to catch or not, they should be able to take

the boats out anytime they want.

When we talk about a poor catch, we're talking about not being able to

catch much of anything while fishing. If the boats couldn't go out at all,

they couldn't fish, so there was no catch to be poor. Now, is that just Shabon

misspeaking...? Probably not.

"If what you've told me is true, here's what it means: There is a poor

catch, and you are unable to take out the boats, and these things are both

happening at the same time."

"..."

"Hakuya, show me the minutes from yesterday's talks."

"Yes, sire." Hakuya bowed, then presented me with a sheet of paper. On

it was my conversation with Shabon yesterday. Though it was an unofficial

meeting, we still kept records. I accepted the piece of paper and looked over

it.

"Here's what you said. 'The poor catch and inability to send the boats

out, the way the Nine-Headed Dragon King raised taxes, the shadow of

impending war with the Kingdom... All these things have sent the people

into depression.' You could interpret those words as you seeking my help to

end the Nine-Headed Dragon King's tyranny. However, it's hard to imagine

he's responsible for all of what you say. The poor catch is a natural

phenomenon, and it would be impossible for him to prevent people across

the entire archipelago from being able to take their boats out."

I paused for a moment to let it sink in.

"If, as you say, the people of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago live

as one with the sea and hate to be separated from it, they would resist if

anyone tried to keep them from taking their boats out. Each of the islands

has a lot of independence to begin with, so there's no way the island chiefs

would obey. On top of that, there's also the situation with boats coming into

the Kingdom's waters. They seem to come with military escorts." I took a

deep breath and then, resting my chin on my palm, told Shabon my

conclusion. "If I consider all of this, there must be something going on in

the archipelago that means ordinary people can't take their ships out. ...Or

am I wrong?"

Shabon bowed her head deeply. "Your keen insight is most impressive.

It is exactly as you say, Sir Souma."

She sounded impressed. Keen insight, huh? She was praising me for it,

but it wasn't true. I acted like I had inferred that from what she said, but I

already knew about the situation. However, if I told her that, it was possible

they would search for the source of my information, and that was likely to

affect my plans, so I acted like I just figured it out. I had already told the

other people on our side, too.

Making sure not to let those thoughts show on my face, I said, "Madam

Shabon, isn't it time you told me? What it is you're really asking me to do."

"...Very well." Shabon raised her face, and looked directly into my eyes.

"There is, indeed, something we have not yet told you, Sir Souma, but we

did not mean to hide it. I intended to tell you if you accepted me... But

before we talked about this, I needed to know just how set this country was

on going to war with the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago. If you changed

your plans based on what I'm about to tell you... everything would be in

vain."

"...Let's hear it."

I more or less knew the situation the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago

was in. So, I knew what she was saying was correct.

"Thank you," Shabon bowed, and then quietly spoke a name.

"Ooyamizuchi."

In that moment, there was clear hostility in Shabon's eyes.

"Though that is simply the name we have given it, it is the cause of the

Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago's troubles."

◇ ◇ ◇

It all started before Sir Souma was entrusted with the throne. The first

changes appeared in the sea.

One day, the number of large sea creatures in the waters around the

Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago dropped. Everything from the docile sea

dragons, treasured for their utility in pulling warships, to large carnivores

like megalodons (supermassive sharks) and giant squid that were the

enemies of fishermen out at sea gradually disappeared. It is common when

a predator experiences explosive growth in its population for their prey to

rapidly decline. However, in the case of this phenomenon, there was no

growth noted in any kind of animal.

No, all that happened was that the number of large sea creatures vastly

decreased. There was no sign of other conceivable causes like a red tide or

undersea volcano eruption, so the reasons for it were a complete mystery.

Then, after less than half a year, the large sea creatures vanished from the

open sea, too. However, at this point, the islanders were still taking an

optimistic view of the situation, because they were still able to catch fish.

Anyone who's been fishing long enough knows there are times when

catches are good, and when they're bad. No matter how poor it was, though,

if they just sat and waited, the fish always came back. The large sea

creatures would only be gone temporarily... or so they thought. In fact,

some of the fishermen welcomed these developments, because it was safer

to fish without the dangerous carnivores around... Unbeknownst to them

that the threat which had struck the large sea creatures would eventually

come for them, too.

...The next change appeared in the fish.

They stopped being able to catch large ones. The fishermen were

perplexed to find when they pulled in their nets, all they would catch were

small fry. That was around when the incidents of fishermen who went out to

the open sea vanishing started. At first, they thought it was an accident, or

they had been captured after entering another island's "turf." However, on

the day after a storm, the remains of a ship washed ashore and blew away

any remaining optimism.

It was a large mercantile vessel, but it had been broken in half. Signs

pointed to it not being the result of an accident or battle. The ship didn't

seem to have any collision damage or been bombarded, but had been

crushed with incredible force. Once they saw damage that couldn't have

been caused by people, the islanders began to sense the existence of

something out at sea. From then on, ships sent out from the archipelago

caught small fry, and among them some would disappear, so the fishermen

could no longer go out to sea.

That is why I spoke of the poor catch and the inability to take the boats

out separately. Then, after more than a dozen ships were lost, a single

survivor appeared. The man was a thief who had smuggled himself aboard a

trade ship, hiding inside a large barrel to steal its cargo. When the ship went

down, the man heard the screams of the crew from inside the barrel, and the

sounds of the ship being destroyed.

Eventually, realizing his barrel had landed in the water, he opened the lid

to see... Something the size of an island devouring the crew.

◇ ◇ ◇

"That is the first record of a person from the Nine-Headed Dragon

Archipelago encountering Ooyamizuchi," Shabon concluded, lowering her

eyes sadly. "There have been more sightings since then. The name

'Ooyamizuchi' comes from an ancient legend handed down in the islands. I

am told it means 'great dark god,' or perhaps, 'the serpent with eight large

heads'..."

Okay... So, it was either Oo-yami-zuchi (big darkness god) or Oo-yamizuchi (big eight water serpent), huh?

I put my hand on my chin and asked Shabon, "You said a serpent with

eight heads, but is this Ooyamizuchi really shaped like that?"

"There are reports that say so. But in most cases, they have only seen a

silhouette in the fog. It is much too large to understand the whole form up

close, so no report has had a full and clear understanding of its full form.

Some say it is, 'Like a long-necked sea dragon,' while others say it is, 'Like

a many-headed serpent with long necks.' The only thing we know for

certain is that it is, 'Massive enough to be confused for an island.'"

"A creature the size of an island... huh?"

In my old world, we'd have called something like that a kaiju. What

Shabon was saying matched the information we'd already gathered. We had

been aware there was something big and unknown in the Nine-Headed

Dragon Archipelago, but could only speculate as to its form. I'd had Ichiha,

our monster specialist, draw a number of sketches based on the rumors and

then apply his monster identification system to them, but...

"You're suggesting that the disappearance of fish and large sea creatures

is this Ooyamizuchi's fault, too?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Yes. It has the power to break ships in half. For Ooyamizuchi, the large

sea creatures must have been a way to sate its appetite. It either consumed

most of them, or they fled its range. We think that is why we stopped seeing

large sea creatures in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago."

"That makes sense... So, once the large sea creatures were gone, it

turned to fish, and then even fishermen, huh?"

From what I was hearing, it was much larger than Naden or Ruby in

their dragon forms. Maybe it was even as large as Madam Tiamat in the

Star Dragon Mountain Range. If so, I could see how it might eat all of the

large sea creatures to extinction.

Then a pained look came over Shabon's face. "With a being like that out

at sea, the people cannot take their boats out, and cannot fish. That is

painful for our country... Probably more than you in the Kingdom would

imagine."

"Do you mean not being able to fish is causing a food crisis?" Liscia

asked, but Shabon shook her head.

"No. Though we do not have an abundance of food, no one is starving

just yet. We grow grain and vegetables on land, and have chickens and their

eggs, too. We can also catch small fish and seashells in the shallows."

"Huh? Then what is so painful for you?"

"Our hearts." Shabon placed both hands over her chest. "The people of

the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago are blessed with the sea's bounty,

play in the waters, and our souls are said to return there when we die. That

is how close our bond with the ocean is. For most of us, when we wake up

in the morning, the first thing we see when we go outside is the sea. From

their earliest days, children play in the water near their houses, and learn to

swim there. Once they're a little older, they take little boats out to go play

on other islands. Many of the islands in the archipelago are close to each

other, and the sea between them looks more like a river."

Shabon's descriptive scenes of her homeland with the peaceful sea and

islands called a song to mind. It was called The Bride of the Seto Inland

Sea, which my grandmother used to hum.

"The islanders take their boats out on joyous occasions like weddings,

and at sorrowful times like funerals. The boat that carries the bride is

decorated lavishly and circles the island where the shrine is rightward

between morning and noon. Conversely, the boats that carry the dead are lit

with lanterns and circle the island leftward by night. We share life and death

with our boats. That is the way of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago."

"Hmm..."

It was interesting hearing about other cultures like this. Though I

couldn't think of one, there was probably a culture back in the world I came

from that did something similar.

Then Shabon lowered her eyes with sadness.

"Despite that... Because of Ooyamizuchi, it is difficult to take the boats

out, and we cannot fish. When we do go out to sea, we need to bring a

military escort or to simply pray we are not attacked. The sea has been

stolen from us. To the islanders, this situation is like..."

"...Like they can't breathe?" I offered, but Shabon shook her head.

"No, I cannot say it is that serious. However, if I were to make an

analogy... perhaps it is like when the rain continues for days, and you

cannot see the sun. You look up to the sky, and slump your shoulders,

saying, 'Oh, I suppose I will not be seeing the sun today, either...' That has

continued for years now."

"I can see how that would be... maddening, yeah."

It might be better than no rain at all, and too much sunlight could be

annoying, too, but never being able to see the sun through the clouds would

be depressing. I could sort of understand... To think being unable to go out

to sea was this important to those of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago.

"Is that why your people are coming all this way to fish?"

I hadn't understood why the islanders would cross the dangerous waters

full of large sea creatures to fish near the Kingdom, but now that she told

me the significance of taking the boats out, and of fishing in their culture, I

got it. There were no reports of anyone from the Kingdom encountering this

Ooyamizuchi yet. I didn't get the sense that the Empire had received these

sorts of reports when I was talking to Maria, either. That had to mean

Ooyamizuchi's territory was in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago, and

it wasn't leaving it. That was why the islanders had come to safer waters

near the Kingdom to fish.

In more distant waters, there was no Ooyamizuchi to attack them, but

there could be large sea creatures. There was also the possibility of being

arrested by the National Naval Defense Force for fishing illegally in our

waters. They came despite those risks. That was just how significant fishing

was to them.

"Because the Nine-Headed Dragon King knows that, he provided armed

ships for their protection, you're saying?"

"I believe that is the case, yes."

"I see..."

Taking the ships out meant enough to the Nine-Headed Dragon King

that he was even willing to have them fish illegally?

"Well, I still can't approve of the current situation... So, when you said

that you wanted me to use you as my tool before, was that supposed to be to

oppose Ooyamizuchi?"

"Yes," Shabon nodded. "If the Kingdom aims to bring the Nine-Headed

Dragon Archipelago under its dominion, Ooyamizuchi will inevitably be a

problem for you. One that I expect you will have to deal with in the not so

distant future, Sir Souma. ...Even now, my Father stubbornly refuses to

abandon his hostile stance against the Kingdom. If war is unavoidable, I

hope to at least work with you to end it quickly, put the people at ease, and

then use the power of the Kingdom to slay Ooyamizuchi..."

"Isn't that all a bit convenient for you? Did you never consider that I

might use you to dominate the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago, and then

just leave Ooyamizuchi alone?"

"I had heard you took good care of Lady Roroa and the people of

Amidonia, so I believed you would not tyrannize an occupied territory like

that."

"...Should I be happy you have such a high opinion of me?"

"Though, even if I could not be certain of that, it was also true that this

was the only way I could get the Kingdom's military to take action..."

"You seem to have some awfully big expectations of Souma and the

Kingdom's fleet, Madam Shabon." This time it was Liscia's turn to ask a

question. "Couldn't you handle it with just the archipelago's military? I've

been led to believe that the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union is

supposed to be a significant naval power."

"If we could bring all of our forces to bear against it... perhaps.

However, even now at this late date, the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago

is still unable to come together," Shabon put her hands together in front of

her chest as she made her plea. "The islands are fiercely independent. For

each of them, their island's problems are theirs, other islands' problems are

not, and they are loath to intervene. Ooyamizuchi is an incredible threat, but

is not an invader that threatens the islands' independence. That is why even

the Nine-Headed Dragon King could not bring all of the islands together."

Which was why Shabon gave up on their ability to address the problem,

and was prepared to offer herself and her country to me in exchange for the

Kingdom's military putting down Ooyamizuchi. So that, at the very least,

the people of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago would be preserved. It

was a pessimistic approach, and she had a sense of woe about her, but she'd

had some degree of resolve when she crossed the seas to come here.

I scratched my head awkwardly as I addressed her. "Madam Shabon."

"Yes."

"I can tell you right now, the decision you're making will lead to regrets

later."

"...I came prepared for that," Shabon said, bowing deeply.

She really is troublesome. I glanced at Liscia and Hakuya. They both

just nodded. That had to mean they were leaving the decision to me.

"I understand. If you're that insistent, then I'll cooperate with you."

"Th-Thank you so much!"

"But I'll only be using you for political ends. Not as my wife or

concubine."

"That's...!" Shabon looked bewildered.

She had to know how strong my attachment to my family was by now;

that was why she wanted to enter the family structure, even if it was as a

concubine. Even if it meant giving her body to a man she didn't love. She

thought that would guarantee the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago

islanders' protection. But I wouldn't allow it.

I raised my hand, stopping Shabon from saying any more. "I promise

you that, ultimately, I will fight Ooyamizuchi. However, until then, you are

to obey all of our commands. Is that acceptable to you?"

"...Understood." Shabon lowered her head. I nodded, then looked at

Kishun.

"Now, Kishun, was it? Seeing that you have accompanied Madam

Shabon, can I assume you are all right with me using you and your island,

as well?"

When I asked that, Kishun knelt, and put his hands together in front of

him, above his head. "I have always been prepared to give my life for Lady

Shabon. If she says she will serve you, then my life and land are yours to do

with as you see fit."

He came prepared for that then, huh? This was how I gained the princess

of an enemy country, and her servant, two pieces that were going to be a

little awkward to use.