"...... Since you have so much to say, we cannot give you an immediate answer. First of all, I would like to ask you both to take your time and think about it again until the conference is over.
With these words, Linos broke off his meeting with the Great High King Reborn and moved with May to the venue of the conference.
"This is a messed up story. Taking charge of the current king. ....... What a troublesome father and son.
Walking behind Linos, who was blabbing, Mei could not help but smile.
"I've been secretly assessing the two of them, and it turns out that the Great Sage King is stubborn and earnest, while his son is all playful. The fact that he has no dark side at all is also a complication ......."
Linos sighs loudly as he walks away.
The three days of the conference in the main conference room of the Agartha Medical Research Institute were very heated. While both countries presented new research and received great support, there were also controversial and heated debates, and even after the day's schedule was over, the researchers continued to discuss each other's research until late at night.
Among them, the most energetic debater was the Great High Priest Libone. He immediately raised his hand to ask questions and sought explanations until he was satisfied with the answers. He praised with open arms any argument with which he agreed, and he was filled with admiration for the results of his work. He stayed up late at night examining the papers of the day and discussing them with various researchers to satisfy his intellectual curiosity to the fullest.
After the conference, Linos himself exchanged various information with the royalty of various countries, including King Nike of Sandanje. The main topics of these meetings were, as always, the affairs of the Church of Crimiana, but they covered a wide range of topics, including military affairs, domestic politics, and diplomacy.
Some of the royalty and researchers who visited Rinos were overtly trying to steal Agartha's information and technology, and some were talking almost intimidatingly, but Gon, who had become an object in the room, sent them advice by telepathic communication, and they were able to refuse without making a corner. He had succeeded.
Linos himself had learned from the previous confrontation with Cassel and Vieille that letting one's guard down can be a painful experience, so he handled the situation with the utmost care. On the other hand, he was able to establish mutual cooperation between his trusted king and his country through this conference.
The king of Maintia, who was attending the conference, was not trying to hide his absent-mindedness and was writing something at his desk. From his seat, Linos observed the father and son from time to time, and was even amused by their opposite attitudes.
On the evening of the last day of the conference, Linos went to the room where he had talked with the Great High King Ribbon on the first day of the conference. King Maintia had requested another meeting between the two of them, but it had been postponed due to a conflict in their schedules.
"Well, I'm tired..."
As soon as Linos and the others entered the room, King Maintia spoke to them in a broken tone. Linos' brow wrinkles involuntarily at the unexpected attitude. The king's attendants were nervously watching the meeting, but he paid no attention to them. He lay down on the sofa and looked at Linos with a smiling face, resting his cheek on a cane.
"I'm sorry about that. My father made a difficult request. I wanted to apologize and let you know how I feel before I talk to him tomorrow. I will remain in Agartha. I will discuss with my father how long I will stay.
"...... You make the decision to leave the country so easily. It's hard to believe that you are the king of a country.
He continued without seeming to be bothered by Linos's unintentionally honest words.
"I'm sorry. I'm not good at being stiff. Give me a break. ...... I must confess that I, too, was a bit tired of the cramped life at Castle Arisn. I don't mind staying here in Agartha for a while, to be honest. It is a country that has been on my mind for a long time. That is, of course, if the King of Agartha allows it.
"No, it would be bad for a country to be without a king. Besides, the Kingdom of Hradime and Agartha are not allies, much less vassals. You can't entrust the king of such a country to them.
"Heh~. That's a surprisingly formal thing to say. I think it's good, don't you? The country can get along just fine without me. My father thinks that the king must do all the governing, but I don't think so. I don't think so. I think that most of it should be left to the vassals. My father trusts his retainers too much. Our country's human resources are not to be underestimated. I think we should leave politics to the best of our vassals. Rather, the king should enjoy his limited life."
"You sound like the dead king of Jukka."
"Ha ha ha! Don't put us together. The king of Juka was nothing but a dark lord. Did he ever think about his country? He was a man who satisfied his own desires by indulging in women. I am different. I am concerned about the future of my Huladime nation."
"I'm not sure I understand the difference between you and King Juka. ......"
With a stunned Rinos in the background, King Maintia slowly stood up, stretched out, and sat down on the sofa again.
"In general, I don't want to be like my father," he said.
"I think the Great High King Ribbon is a fine man. ......"
"Is it a fine ......? Well, as a son, I can say that my father certainly has outstanding political skills. If this were a turbulent time, he probably would have reigned. But the world is coming to an end. The Demon Lord who caused the whole world to panic has been vanquished, and Klimiana has been ....... My father's way doesn't fit in this time when the world is about to be at peace.
"Is that what you say?"
King Maintia smiles.
"Whenever my retainers are in my father's presence, they are overwhelmed by the sharpness of his eyes, and they all fall silent. He must have thought this was a bad idea. My father gathered his retainers and told them that if they found fault with his reign, they were free to speak up.
"......I think that's admirable, don't you?"
"But, you know, in reality, he's a nasty big king, you know? Even when it comes to this Agartha. He said that the young men of today were not well-trained, and he had his vassals moving from morning until the sun went down without rest. It must have been especially hard for those who had my father's main box. My father imposed his way of thinking on those around him too much. He says he is open to the opinions of his vassals, but that's not going to work."
King Maintia keeps a smiling face, but what he says is very harsh. Linos is puzzled by this gap, but listens to what he says.
My father is very proud of his knighthood. He always lives his life with the battlefield in mind. In his time, maybe it was for the best. Or maybe he had to. But times are different now. The people of the country are tired of such a tight king. So I do the opposite of my father. Instead, I think we should allow the people of the country to live peacefully and happily."
Sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed and a happy look on his face, King Mainotia looks at Linos.
I understand your feelings," he said. However, we have our own reasons. I will give it some time to think about it and give you my answer tomorrow when I meet with the Grand High King.
"Yes. I hope you'll give me a good answer."
The king's eyes twinkle. It was as if he had no idea that Linos would refuse the offer. Seeing the king, Linos sighs loudly and leaves the room as quickly as he can.