Chapter 148 - Chapter 1: The Messenger from Primordia
The Royal Capital region of Sertoria faces the sea to the north, but the Royal Capital itself is inland.
Because of that, seafood dishes never appeared on the tables of commoners.
There is refrigeration technology using magic, but it's expensive.
Logistics with the coastal areas are mainly handled by riverboats going up and down the river, but there's no way they could carry large refrigeration facilities like an icehouse, so the things brought in were either already cooked, sun-dried fish, or salted fish.
There were also things preserved in ice, but they were very few, as they were watery and tasted bad despite being expensive.
Apparently, the price for those has become cheaper.
A district where officials working at the Royal Palace live together. A man who had established his residence in a secluded part of it was surprised to see the sea fish dish his wife had made.
"Is this not a fish from the sea?"
"Yes. It appeared in the market starting today. I bought raw fish for the first time. The price is still high, but quite a few people were buying it, perhaps because it's rare."
His wife doesn't usually go to the market, but today being a public holiday, she apparently went shopping with a servant.
"Is this also the effect of that riverboat?"
"It seems so. I heard that what used to take until the next day to arrive now arrives in a little over three hours. Cargo loaded before dawn apparently makes it in time for the morning market. Since they can carry large quantities, the unit price must have become cheaper too."
When the head of the household asked, his black-haired wife answered.
"Was it called the Jeanne's Beak?"
The man laughs amusedly.
"That's right. Apparently, the owner of the name didn't invent it, but there seems to be a connection."
"She's quite a priest, to hear her name even in a place like this."
"Truly. I went to the market with your mother today as well, and she was buying the same thing. I'm sure they are having a similar conversation right now."
The couple laughed as they looked at each other, and seeing that the whole family, including the servants, had taken their seats at the table, they clasped their hands and began the pre-meal prayer.
The Royal Palace the next day was abuzz with talk of sea fish.
Everywhere, there was talk of having eaten it or not.
Those with families bought it at the market, while those who were single had it at the dining hall.
The price is three times that of river fish, but until now, fresh sea fish that had just been cooked hadn't even been in circulation.
The summer offensive also achieved the expected results, and the economy of the Royal Capital is improving.
The day the Demon Lord is defeated might be near; everyone has become optimistic, and combined with the autumn harvest, the town has become wrapped in a brilliant atmosphere.
That kind of bright atmosphere was the same in the waiting room of the Audience Chamber of the Royal Palace.
In addition to the usual faces—the King, the State Chancellor, the General of the Kingdom Army, and the Captain of the Royal Guard—one friend who could speak with his hat off had joined them.
"It's been a while, Jones. How is Nakanohara?"
The King speaks to the man wearing the guard uniform.
"It's quite fun. That town is a discovery every day."
Jones laughed pleasantly and took a sip of beer.
"Thanks to the Jeanne's Beak you made, sea fish can now be eaten relatively easily. Along with the method for making niter you told us about this time, we must thank you."
The Chancellor also seems happy. He greatly welcomed the new technology that makes a large contribution to the economy of the fishing villages on the coast. Even with a big catch, most of it would be sent for processing. Of course, money still falls in that case, but the price is different for fresh fish. When it comes to the Royal Capital, it sells like hotcakes.
Now, the village at the river mouth is expected to develop as a base where fishing boats unload the fish they've caught.
Regarding the niter, results haven't come out yet, but after all, it's what a spirit said. He believed it without a doubt.
"I didn't make the Beak. I just helped with the adjustments. Originally, it was Paul-dono of the Marcelo Company. That's why the origin of the name is Priest Jeanne. You all know her well, don't you?"
Smiles spread from those present. As Jones said, they knew the person of that name well.
"But Jones. Why is that boat called the Jeanne's Beak?"
When Jones answered the reason to the Chancellor, the place was filled with laughter.
Even Captain Hughes of the Royal Guard, who usually doesn't change his expression, is laughing.
"In any case, it means Jeanne is beloved by everyone."
When the General of the Army finished his beer, the Chancellor handed him a refill, saying, "She's popular here too, after all." The General bowed, saying "sorry," then drank about half of it in one breath and said that Evans's chilled beer is the best.
"Jeanne is now the guardian deity of the Jaegers of Nakanohara and Higashinohara."
"No, more than that, she's the listener for the complaints of this country's King. In that sense, she might be a guardian deity for us as well."
When the General and the Chancellor smirked, the King looked at the Captain of the Royal Guard. He must have sought salvation from him, who had become able to talk with Jeanne often.
The Captain of the Royal Guard nodded deeply twice, and seeing that, the King had no choice but to shrug his shoulders.
"Is Harris not back yet?"
After teasing the King for a while, the General changed the subject.
"Yeah, a message came saying it will take a while longer."
When the King answered, the General's expression darkened.
"In other words, it means he found something."
"Probably. The personal letter from the King of Medioland said they would conduct an investigation as a nation. It might turn out exactly as Harris said."
"Lost ancient magic and its rituals. My heart feels heavy."
It's a problem beyond their control. No, even the priests of the Church probably wouldn't be able to deal with it.
"Isn't it fine not to think so difficultly? After all, the King of Medioland and the Crown Prince are involved. If something is found, we can just leave it to them."
"That's right, Victor. It's not a burden we should carry alone. Don't be so distressed."
The General, comforted by the King and the Chancellor, widened his eyes.
"What, I was thinking of your mental fatigue, but was it okay not to think so seriously?"
"Sorry, Victor. I was also taking it seriously. But I heard something good from our King."
"What is it, exactly?"
"He said not to worry about the results, but to think only about what can be done. To quiet your heart, be optimistic that things will work out, and work hard at what you can do now. At least mentally, it's easier."
"I see."
When he looked at the King, he was waving his hand.
"No, it wasn't me. Apparently, Priest Jeanne always keeps it in mind. At the orphanage, there are children who sometimes worry seriously about the future. At those times, she thinks together with them about what they should do and guides them so they don't worry."
"She says that when you can't think of anything, you should just wait until you do. Until then, things will work out. It's okay. Apparently, it's good to chant that ten times and stretch."
The two of them are chuckling.
The General tilted his head.
It's like something he was told by his mother when he was young.
"What. Priest Jeanne was the guardian deity of not just the King and Hughes, but Evans as well."
When the General said that, Jones handed a cup of beer to Hughes and raised his own cup.
"If you're going to worry seriously about the future and despair, it's better to drink and enjoy the moment. A toast to Priest Jeanne."
"A toast to Priest Jeanne."
Everyone raised their cups.
Smiles are overflowing from everyone.
How long has it been since they heard such calm and, in a sense, irresponsible and carefree words?
"Someone is coming."
At the words of the Captain of the Guard, who was sitting by the door, everyone hurriedly straightened their posture.
Jones took the cup held by the Captain of the Guard, handed it to the Chancellor, and stood at attention next to the Captain of the Guard.
He is ostensibly the Captain's confidant, but in short, he is a subordinate and is not qualified to sit on the same sofa as the King and the Chancellor.
If push comes to shove, there is a place to hide, but the King stopped him, saying it wasn't necessary to go that far.
When there was a knock on the door, the Captain of the Guard confirmed that everyone was wearing their hats, opened the double locks, and opened the door.
Standing there was a servant who handled the King's business both publicly and privately on a daily basis.
"Majesty. A delivery has arrived from the hunter at the western edge."
A delivery from a hunter meant that a spy who had infiltrated had come, and the western edge meant the western edge of this island—in other words, someone from Primordia had come. He had to meet them in a separate room.
"I understand. Tell the Queen. Hughes, Evans, go ahead. Victor and Jones, I still have things I want to hear, so stay here."
After giving instructions and seeing off the Chancellor and the Captain of the Guard, the King left the waiting room when the Queen arrived.
The General stood up, invited Jones to the beer barrel, and started a standing conversation. This is because Jones cannot sit on the sofa right now.
"Information from Primordia. Jones, do you know anything?"
"I don't know. Perhaps Engrio has made some unreasonable demand again?"
"The King of that country was the younger brother of the previous King, wasn't he?"
"Yeah. The previous King passed away during the war. Since the Crown Prince was young, the younger brother succeeded him."
"He was a brave man. I heard he had a noble end."
The two of them raised their cups and toasted to the previous King of Primordia.
"By the way, Jones. Is the current Primordia okay?"
As he said that, the General was trying to take ice out of the icehouse and throw it into his glass, since the Chancellor, who always chills the beer, wasn't there.
"The younger brother fears letting the bloodline die out more than anything. He might hand it over to the previous King's eldest son when the time is right."
Jones is a special guard, a scout directly under the King, and well-informed. Currently, he was in charge of information exchange with the Nakanohara Church.
The Church has a cross-border communication network between churches. Since Sertoria supports the operation of churches within the country as a state church, it has informants inside.
Jones, seeing the General's actions, chilled the beer for him with Freeze magic.
The adjustment is difficult, but he managed somehow.
"Not bad. Thank you."
The General said thanks after taking a sip to check.
"The previous King was also trying to reduce the power of the great nobles."
"That's right. Following Medioland's example, he was trying to expand the standing army directly under the King and change the nobles' military service to paying money to hire mercenaries, but the current King doesn't seem to understand. There probably aren't many great people assisting him either. Because of that, the great nobles still have influence."
"Fragile."
"I suppose so."
As the two of them were talking about various things regarding other countries, the King returned.
He didn't look very calm.
The door is locked, and everyone takes off their hats.
"Victor, Jones. It's about what the messenger from Primordia conveyed, but it seems it's going to be a bit troublesome."
When the King spoke of the contents, the General's brow furrowed.
"Engrio wants to double the garrison troops by spring..."
"That's right. They want to increase the current five hundred to a thousand. They said if the demand isn't met, they don't know what will happen."
"Was Primordia's standing army about two thousand?"
When the General looked at the Captain of the Guard, he nodded.
"When spring comes, if about ten thousand cross the border fortress and attack, they won't hold out at all."
"Yeah. Since the previous Queen, who married in from Medioland, is there, they won't be destroyed, but they might be taken over and become puppets."
"If that happens, Regnentes is next."
"After Regnentes, it's our country."
If Regnentes falls, Sertoria will share a border in two directions, west and south. Two land invasion routes where supply and plunder are easy will be created. Although it's still developing, maritime transport capacity cannot be ignored either. Including the sea route, it becomes three directions.
"This matter, to Medioland?"
"It's probably going from Primordia, but I plan to contact Roberts just in case."
"Do they finally intend to invade in the spring? As expected, that fortress became an obstacle."
Everyone falls silent uniformly.
The time Engrio takes to conquer Primordia and Regnentes... they'll probably last a year. However, there's no guarantee they'll last two.
"It's okay."
The Captain of the Guard, who usually says little, spoke.
Everyone looked at the Captain of the Guard at once, and he was smiling slightly.
"Things will work out. It's okay."
He chanted it ten times and took a big stretch.
A look that was neither a smile nor a bitter smile spread, starting with the King.
"That's right. Let's calm our hearts. First, how about some beer?"
When the Chancellor said that pleasantly, everyone held out their empty cups at once.