Chapter 255 - Chapter 22 Beatrix's Resolve
When I went to the village where Beatrix is the landlord, she said that a dried meat processing plant had been built. Leaving the fields to Lyudmila, Beatrix and I decided to go see it together. Half of the villagers had already gone there for preparations.
Since they teleport from the village using cowhide magic circles, it's under the surveillance of the Regnentes scout unit.
The place we teleported to was inside a cellar. From a small window at the top, a guard soldier told us to state our names. When we did, the trapdoor went up, and we were able to climb the stairs.
"Ah, Landlord-dono, Priest Jeanne. Good of you to come. Everyone is waiting."
When we climbed the stairs, the Regnentes scout unit welcomed us and guided us. They even carried the two barrels of luggage.
"The villagers will arrive at this teleportation circle. Since this is a place of refuge in case of emergency, we make sure no outsiders can enter."
"What happens to people coming from other villages?"
"It's the same. They'll have to transfer through simple magic circles in the village. Those without a written order from the Lord will be detained in the village."
Inside the cave, Light magic circles were pasted on the ceiling, so it was sufficiently bright when turned on.
There were several magic circles for exits for each entrance area. Passing through the passage and out the door, we came out of a cave dug into a cliff. It seemed the trees had already been teleported, and a sufficient area had been leveled.
The cliff has a total of three doors. Two scouts were on watch at each door.
Next, we were guided to the place where boars and such are teleported by scrolls.
Before our eyes, boars were being transported by wagon. Those transporting them were villagers. When they saw us, they took off their hats and greeted us.
The teleported boars are lifted by a wooden lifting machine and placed on wagons. They are then transported to the butchery outside the cave, and after being butchered, they are temporarily stored in an icehouse. Unnecessary remains are thrown into a hole in a distant location along with soil. That is also the processing site for 'excretion-related' matters. It's the place for that niter production.
Beatrix was observing the surroundings. Surely, many scouts were on watch, but as expected of an expert, I couldn't tell at all.
The last location is the evacuation site for residents in case of emergency. It's quite spacious, and it seems not only the village residents but also the people of the basin can evacuate to some extent. The back is a food storage depot.
In the processing plant, preparations for making dried meat during the winter were in full swing, but everyone stopped their work and came to greet us.
"If it isn't the Landlord-sama. Good of you to come!"
"How is it? Is everyone doing well?"
Apparently, good, fatty boars have gathered. They'll take turns making dried meat throughout the winter and sell it in the spring.
"If things go well, we might be able to export to Finis. If we make something that tastes good, it'll sell for a high price, so everyone, do your best."
Everyone greeted us energetically.
Within the grounds, there was also a stone processing plant. Several stonemasons were processing the stones obtained from digging the cave in the cliff to make stone walls. They seem to be quite high, looking just like a fortress. Ostensibly, they say it's to keep out magical beasts.
At the station, there were Regnentes scouts. I decided to take some alcohol and dried cod from Finis as souvenirs to the unit commander.
"Thank you for your hard work. These are souvenirs from Finis. Alcohol and dried fish. Please share them among yourselves."
When I pointed to the barrels the soldier who guided us was carrying, the soldier winked at me.
"Oh, Landlord-dono. This is, well, we are most grateful."
The scout unit is also connected with the Sertorian Paratroop Jaegers. Having heard the reputation of the Boar Club, it immediately turned into a simple drinking party.
"That place has become quite black."
The 'place' must be the Cursed Highway where Alex is teleporting the black trees.
"Then, are you going to dig holes during the winter?"
"Our unit won't go. We're guarding this place."
Including the bowl-user, twenty people are apparently on guard. Since only five or six usually show themselves, the rest must be lurking somewhere around there.
"We're counting on you. Keep a sharp eye out so no strange ones come."
"Yeah, leave it to us."
The Regnentes scouts are, of course, light infantry, but unlike the nobles and knights, they were originally from the impoverished class, such as hunters and woodcutters. Nobles become knights. So, Harold-sama called for volunteers from the infantry and founded the scout unit. Therefore, they are also kind to the serfs. However, political talk is forbidden, we've been warned. If strange rumors spread, they will be punished.
"Now that you mention it, I heard that three people, including Mary-dono, were knighted in Finis."
"That was fast."
"We're the scout unit, after all."
They can't be underestimated. As usual, I wonder if they know everything?
"We received word from Harold-sama. He said to use the status of you three if anything happens."
"What does that mean?"
"If you are knights, you can have an audience with the King. In the unlikely event that someone says something unreasonable about the village, it's possible to appeal directly to His Majesty."
I was surprised. I thought an audience at the royal palace was something you couldn't do unless you were summoned.
"He said you'd say that, so he told us to make sure to tell you properly."
I was laughed at.
"Hey, what kind of person is the King of Regnentes?"
"We haven't really talked to him either. Rumor has it he often goes hunting with Harold-sama. Thanks to that, he shows understanding toward us scouts. Did you know? The scout unit has had the most audiences with His Majesty."
He thumped his own left chest. It had an emblem.
"You're the elite, then."
"Not as much as the Sertorian elite units, though."
"Are those guys really that amazing? They're always happy just being illuminated by Jeanne."
He looked at me as if he had just remembered something.
"That was careless of me. We must have Jeanne-dono illuminate us. I almost forgot."
After thanking Beatrix for reminding him, he turned a smile toward me.
"Now then, please."
I felt the strength drain out of me, but it couldn't be helped. When I tried to illuminate him, he told me to wait because he would call everyone.
"You've finally made your international debut."
Just as I was about to complain to the smirking Beatrix, they came swarming out from between the trees.
"We can't neglect the watch, so please do it in two batches."
Apparently, they were coming out in shifts. It seems everything had been arranged beforehand.
I had them line up ten at a time and fired intermediate magic.
"Good, with this, we are undefeated."
"Umu. We can fulfill our mission safely."
"Unit commander, will you also report this to Harold-sama?"
"I must."
It's too much of an exaggeration, so stop it!
When I asked, he reluctantly avoided the report. However, he's apparently going to brag to other units.
While continuing the drinking party with the high-spirited unit commander, Beatrix suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, do you think Engrio will attack?"
The unit commander put his cup on the table.
"They will. Though I don't know in what form."
"I see..."
"But an army can't march through, right?"
There should be black trees. I heard that both countries have left the mountain pass of Primordia alone because the nobles along the border are afraid.
"Before the Demon Lord was defeated, didn't spiders swarm in the Sertorian forest? If the same thing is done, it won't be easy to defend. While we're desperately defending, they might cut down the trees and march through."
"Will the village be alright?"
"We'll have them withdraw and take refuge in this place. That land also has a communication route with Sertoria. It's convenient for placing an ambush. In the unlikely event that they invade the basin like in the previous war, we can launch a surprise attack from the side."
"If that happens, will we have to give up on the harvest?"
Beatrix sighed.
"Our mission is to make sure that doesn't happen. The Sertorian elite soldiers stationed in that village are the same. The training Harold-sama did in the basin was also intended for spiders, not boars. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible."
"Thank you. You're so reliable."
Beatrix returned a smile at the unit commander's words. However, she immediately looked down.
"Hey, Jeanne."
After a while, she turned toward me and said.
"If Engrio raises an army, I'm coming here. I'll protect everyone as the landlord."
I thought she would do that. But I... what should I do...
"If Engrio attacks Regnentes, Sertoria, an ally, will also be at war. Surely, there will be a battle south of Nakanohara. You're the self-defense force, so heal the wounded."
"Will you be alright alone?"
"I'll be fine. I'll just be holed up here. Harrison-san and the Bishop are here too. And the reliable scout unit, as well."
When Beatrix nudged him, the unit commander smiled gently and stroked Beatrix's head.
When we returned to the village, at the place where the anti-mold water is stored, the captain of the guard unit was taking water in a bucket and soaking his bare feet.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, Beatrix. Priest Jeanne too. Good work. Flora-san said that this water is effective against athlete's foot, so I'm getting a little and soaking my feet."
What is that? I've never heard of that.
Apparently, Flora told him when he took off his shoes and was peeling skin during a break from farm work.
"Is it working?"
"Look, it's been getting better little by little."
You don't have to show me.
However, a good experimental material for strengthening the anti-mold water was found.
Though I had been making it for mold prevention without knowing, it turned out for the best.
Just then, Harrison-san and the others returned from hunting.
They seemed to have successfully exterminated the boars, and everyone was smiling. The boy who had been crying because he couldn't learn magic back then was also with them.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Good work—"
"Oh, if it isn't Jeanne and Beatrix. Good of you to come. Are you off from farm work today?"
"Today is an experiment. Strengthening the insect repellent and anti-mold water."
"Hoho. That sounds like another interesting experiment."
"Please cooperate."
"If this humble monk will suffice."
Since the captain was affected on both sides, we decided to have him soak his right foot in the conventional type and his left foot in the strengthened type to see the difference in effect.
In the case of Light, it only worked with Firefly. In that case, I should make Anti-Sepsis into a Firefly style as well. When I cast it at minimum output, an orb emitting a faint white light came out onto my palm. I had Harrison-san, a super-high-rank mage, strike this with a Holy Lance and throw it into the water produced by Water. I had the middle-aged man soak his feet and left it for two hours.
"How is it?"
"No change."
"No good, huh."
I thought it wasn't that easy, but then.
"I do not know the details, but does that magic not only cure athlete's foot but also make the toes beautiful again?"
Harrison-san asked.
"No, it just removes the surface mold... I see! Even if the mold disappears, you can't tell unless it's a flashy color!"
The feet only become clean after the mold is gone.
"In other words, let us have the Captain refrain from treatment for a while. Then the difference will become clear."
With the Captain's ready consent, we also did an experiment with damaged raw meat, and the results came out a week later.
"Priest Jeanne. Look, the one struck with Holy has less deterioration."
The Captain showed me his feet. I didn't want to see them, but they were certainly different. In the raw meat experiment, the rotting was also delayed.
It's complete. If immediate results are expected, a mage of high-rank or above is necessary, so the price will be high, but an intermediate mage can also cure it to some extent. Even without Holy, it can be managed if time is taken. I'll report to Marcelo-san immediately.
As a result of the experiment with the cooperation of the middle-aged men in town who have athlete's foot, one Anti-Sepsis orb struck with intermediate Holy could turn three buckets' worth into medicine within the two-hour limit of the magic's activation. In exchange, after it's finished, the effect only lasts for two hours. Additional input was necessary to make it last. It has immediate effect, but it was found that the sales time is limited. Moreover, while I'm making it, I can't do anything else.
"I see. Then let us sell the unstrengthened anti-mold water as medicine for athlete's foot."
According to Marcelo-san, checking for efficiency is also part of the experiment.
Thus, the next product to be commercialized after the rot-proof wooden boxes was medicine for athlete's foot. If you soak for half an hour every day, it usually cures in two to three weeks, or even in a month for severe cases. Of course, it also serves as a preventative medicine for athlete's foot.
Marcelo-san's prediction was correct, and it sold like hotcakes. Angelica-san fills a water tank with a magic circle for Anti-Sepsis drawn on the bottom with water produced by Water. It lasts for two weeks. People just have to buy it, take it home, and soak their feet within two hours before the effect wears off.
Thanks to the middle-aged men who were the test subjects spreading the word, long lines formed.
It's two copper coins for an amount that covers the toes in a bucket with both feet. The unit price is low, but people come frequently until it's cured. That much more was sold. One water tank's worth is five hundred times the necessary amount. That's two and a half gold coins.
The reputation called more reputation, and customers came from neighboring villages and the Royal Capital.
Of course, women also have similar troubles. The Marcelo Company and the Class of 175 entered into an agreement; the Marcelo Company sold it to the middle-aged men with promotional efforts, and the Class of 175 shop sold it secretly as a present for fathers. Furthermore, they also started a service where those who wished could soak their feet in the fitting room in the back of the shop as a 'trial.' The same went for the third shop in the Royal Capital and the warehouse where the same water tanks were sent.
As a result, the cost of the four water tanks was quickly recovered, and it became a huge profit.
"It's fine, everyone is happy. But you know, was it my mistake to expect some kind of dramatic effect? Something like that from your magic?"
I pretended not to hear Beatrix's words.