Chapter 261 - Fourth Story: The Land of Regnentes
It was now the middle of May.
Information had come in that Engrio had issued a mobilization order at the beginning of the month, and the entire Nakanohara region had entered a state of combat readiness.
Villages began transporting food to nearby forts and making preparations so they could flee at any moment.
If monsters were to attack like last time, it wouldn't be surprising if they arrived any day now. However, unlike last time, the Kingdom Army and the Paratroop Jaegers had already entered the forests near the border. The hunters' mission was to act as scouts and eliminate any monsters that managed to slip through the forest. Paul-san and Bonnie were at the border as scouts. Naturally, Angus-san and the others were the same; nearly half of the hunters in the entire Nakanohara region had been mobilized.
Thanks to this, there had been no major changes in Nakanohara Town so far, other than the Town Guard strengthening their patrols.
Beowulf was mobilized to the border as a member of the Kingdom Army. Will was still away in the Royal Capital. Mary had not yet returned from the Northeastern Forest. Matilda was staying overnight at the guard station. Beatrix and I handled the rat extermination and the elimination of nearby monsters, while Beatrix, Lyudmila, and I took turns looking after the farm in the Flatlands.
However, that only lasted until Beatrix had to go to the village where she served as the landlord.
Riding in the flying bowl piloted by Beatrix, the three of us—including Lyudmila—descended into the village in Regnentes, where the villagers quickly gathered around us.
"Landlord-sama. The war has started."
"It's still safe here, but the thought of the enemy reaching the basin makes us so anxious."
"Should we start evacuating already?"
Even though Engrio had only just issued the mobilization order and hadn't even approached the border yet, they seemed prepared for the worst, as if a breakthrough were inevitable. They clung to Beatrix. They likely wanted to evacuate as soon as possible.
When we called for Harrison-san, he emerged from the shrine along with the Bishop.
"Oh. Beatrix, Jeanne, Lyudmila. You have done well to come despite these changing times."
"I'm glad you're here. Everyone is filled with anxiety. I believe we should evacuate soon, but..."
Judging by their expressions, their opinions were likely divided. The Bishop was probably pushing for a quick evacuation, while Harrison-san was holding them back.
"You mustn't evacuate without the Lord's permission. Besides, we have Sertoria's light infantry, the Regnentes scout corps, and the village guard here. I heard before leaving Sertoria that Engrio hasn't even reached the border yet. It's still fine for now."
When I asked the Bishop, it seemed the dried meat had already been completed as a high-quality product and was waiting in the processing plant's warehouse for shipment. If it came down to it, it would have to be urgently purchased as provisions for the Regnentes army.
"For now, please start the farm work. I'll go check on the situation in the meantime. The children will have their study session as usual. Also, I have something I want to ask Harrison-san."
The children hadn't been told the details, but seeing the adults' expressions, they sensed that something was different from usual. The older children surely knew about the war.
Once everyone had calmed down, the children began their study session with the Bishop, while the adults were led back to their farm work by Lyudmila.
"Harrison-san. Do you know about the monster hunting incident in Sertoria the year before last?"
"Eleanor-sama has informed me. Engrio released monster tamers and had spiders invade, I believe?"
"It wasn't just spiders; thousands of magical beasts came too. The hunters and the Town Guard holed up in mountain huts to repel them. Those things are dangerous because they track the scent of humans. Is there any good way to deal with them?"
Even though his main focus was exorcising evil spirits, he was an expert in monster extermination. I had essentially come here today to ask him this.
Harrison-san gave a knowing smile and said, "I have a good hand to play."
"A secret strategy?"
According to Harrison-san, magical beasts and insects react strongly to the scent of human blood.
"We collect items stained with human blood, freeze them with magic, and store them in an icehouse. When we thaw them, we have fresh human blood on hand."
"Are you... going to use it as bait for the monsters?"
If you set a trap and prepare blood there, the monsters will almost certainly fall for it.
"Exactly. In fact, when I informed the scout corps, they apparently passed it on to Harold-sama, and they are proceeding with it in the Regnentes Royal Capital. Since Eleanor-sama was also informed, I'm sure they are secretly doing the same in Sertoria."
Apparently, they collected women's monthly items. Normally, they use linen inserts, which are washed and reused. They collected these before they were washed and froze them. If done in a town the size of the Royal Capital, they could collect a considerable amount. In exchange for their cooperation, they were given a new piece of cloth. The women also kept quiet about it. They certainly wouldn't tell the men. They had consulted with female soldiers and proceeded secretly. Unless a man had exceptionally sharp intuition, he likely wouldn't even imagine what it was being used for.
"It should have already been transported from the Royal Capital," Harrison-san said with a grin.
I immediately went to the processing plant to ask the scout corps.
"Ah, the items proposed by Harrison-dono. We've already set some of them out. Do you want to take a look?"
They had already been brought into the icehouse. Since boar hunting is on hiatus in the spring, the icehouse was empty. At first glance, they looked like empty boxes, but looking inside, there were blocks of ice. In other boxes, they must have been thawed; there were many cloths inside that smelled of blood.
When I asked what kind of trap it was, they said it was poison.
"Magical beasts and insects that attack people will always bite. Spiders are the same. We soaked meat in poison, wrapped it, and nailed it to trees in the border forest. If they put it in their mouths, they'll die for sure. We go to check every day, so we'll know the results immediately."
They set the traps using [Flight Magic] while hidden, then remained on standby in the sky. They acted as both bait and reconnaissance. If monsters came, they would eat the bait and die in droves. The collection of linen was still ongoing in the Royal Capital. In other words, they were getting thousands of pieces every month. Once set, they apparently lasted for a while. In this case, the monsters' keen sense of smell worked against them.
They set them daily, and it seemed they were nailing them to a significant number of tall trees slightly inside the border.
"The price of linen has gone up, and the tailors are complaining. Well, it's a small price to pay for human lives."
Ignoring us as we stood there dumbfounded, the unit commander laughed lightheartedly.
When we stepped outside the cave, one of the scouts came running up.
"Unit Commander, so you were here. The Scout Captain has arrived from the Royal Capital."
"Understood. I'll go at once."
I had met the Scout Captain before. It was before we had started flying the wood from the processing plant.
"You should be acquainted with our Captain, right?"
"Yeah. Harold-sama introduced us before we started preparing this place."
"Come with me. I want the Landlord-dono to hear this as well."
"Alright."
Following him to the station, I saw about twenty scouts lined up, with the Captain standing before them.
"Oh, Landlord-dono. And Priestess Jeanne as well. This is perfect. There is something I want you to hear."
"What is it?"
Saying that this wasn't the place, we entered the station. He served us the wine we had brought.
"We want to use this dried meat processing plant as a forward base for the scout corps. We have permission from the Lord, but he told us to speak with you as the landlord as well."
"If the Lord says it's okay, then it's fine with me. But this is an evacuation site, right?"
"Don't worry about that. It will remain an evacuation site. It's just that the processing plant isn't being used right now. We want to use it as a bivouac for the soldiers."
"You're more than welcome. Everyone who evacuates here will surely feel more secure."
"It's a help to hear you say that."
Water and food were available. It was a facility surrounded by stone walls, located over an hour's walk from the village into the forest. It was perfect for a secret base. Outside of winter, it could even be self-sufficient. Perhaps it had been built with that intention from the very beginning.
"You caught us. Actually, that is the case."
"Does that mean there are secret hideouts all over the place?"
"Hahaha. You know about that too? That's right."
He told us to keep it a secret from the villagers.
"Between the black trees on the highway and everything else, we are in your debt. Harold-sama sends his thanks."
"Well, you know. I am the landlord, after one."
Look who's talking.
"The villagers want to evacuate. Would it be alright if at least the Bishop, the women, and the children went?"
"Could you wait a little longer? We will certainly have them evacuate before any harm comes to them."
"Understood. Also, Jeanne and Lyudmila are going back, but after I drop them off, I'm staying. I can use the bowl, so if anything happens, just let me know."
"Yes, I heard from the unit commander. If it comes to it, I'll ask you to lead the civilian evacuation. Also, once the evacuation has started, I'd like you not to use the bowl without our permission."
"Roger that."
The two of them exchanged a firm handshake.
"Also, I brought these."
It was Green Marble. It was the material I had made before for soldiers to wear while sleeping or to use for tents; I had brought it because we had stock.
"Ho. Marble-dyed, isn't it? Is it the same as what you're wearing now?"
"No, it's just plain cloth, but it'll serve as a blind. If you'd like, please feel free to use it. It doesn't have an emblem, so anyone can use it, and since it's old stock, I don't need any money for it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. You're protecting everyone, so this is the least I can do."
When he called the unit commander over, the man was delighted, asking, "Is this really okay?" Since there wasn't enough for everyone, it was decided that those going to the front lines would carry it.
"Also, I've become able to draw magic circles. I just got my qualification and have no practical experience, so I'm not allowed to make them for sale. But because of that, I can give away the ones I made for practice for free. I might make mistakes until I get used to it, but Harrison-san will check them, so it'll be fine. I'll mass-produce recovery and anti-monster circles in the village. Just let me know if you need them."
Both of them had passed on their first try.
Their treatment at the Marcelo Company would also change, but it wasn't that simple. Three months of practical experience and a letter of recommendation were required. If they didn't apply within three months after finishing their practical experience, or if they caused an accident, their qualification itself would be revoked, but it was valid during emergencies. For three months, they could make as many as they wanted. Since it was centered around the Church, the rules were the same in Regnentes.
The village had the Bishop and Harrison-san. There was no shortage of recovery magic.
"That is truly appreciated."
The Captain bowed his head to Beatrix.
Afterward, he spoke to us about the future outlook. It was likely classified information, but they seemed to be giving us special treatment. Naturally, it was not to be repeated.
"The enemy must know that the road on this side of the border checkpoint is impassable without construction work. I expect the monsters will attack during that construction period. In short, they're buying time."
They would consider the villagers' evacuation at that timing. The same went for the villages in the basin.
"Was the highway blocked successfully?"
"Yes, thanks to you. Your acquaintances, the Dryad and the Dwarf, worked hard—including some extra service—and it's quite blocked now. A normal person would give up on passing through. If they were normal, that is."
I heard that this time, Engrio had brought a large number of reinforcements from a certain nation on the continent. Given the treaty between the nations, they wouldn't be able to return empty-handed. He likely added that part to imply that they were not normal.
"I wonder if they'll come to cut them down."
It was originally a highway. It wasn't like a mountain. As long as there were no trees, it was flat.
"Probably. We intend to launch a surprise attack in the meantime."
"With the bowls?"
"Indeed," the Captain nodded.
It seemed the majority of the Regnentes scout corps would be coming here. Of course, they wouldn't all gather at the processing plant. They would use this as a command post and disperse to the village, the surrounding mountaintops, and huts in the forest. The bowl users would also assemble here to handle surprise attacks from the air. In other words, it would be the front line.
Harold-sama would command the rest.
"We've received information that the enemy is also training in [Flight Magic]. They apparently can't hide their forms, but they'll likely be flying as far as the basin eventually. Until now, the scout corps has been advancing to the border to prevent enemy reconnaissance, but it's only a matter of time before we're discovered."
I see. So the combination of [Camouflage] and [Magic Reflection] isn't known yet.
Which means...
When I pulled Beatrix aside to consult with her, she said, "That's not a bad idea."
"Um, excuse me, may I?"
"What is it, Priestess?"
It was just a random thought, but whether it would actually be done would be decided by the former hero Harold-sama in consultation with Eleanor-sama. I'll just say it anyway.
When we returned to the village, Lyudmila was spreading compost on the fields using [Skill: Clump Sand]. I believe there were wheat fields and fields planted with barley or oats. The villagers were smoothing out the spread fertilizer as they saw fit.
Goats were grazing by the pond.
The wheat was growing steadily and getting larger. It would bear fruit in the summer. Whether this harvest could be reaped depended on the state of the war.
"Good work. How is it?"
"Yeah. The fertilization is almost finished."
After this would come the anti-mold magic water and the insect-repellent magic water. Insect-repellent magic was especially important for the grown wheat.
"I'll handle the insect repellent, so Jeanne, you talk to the Bishop and Harrison-san about the evacuation prospects. And tell them it's fine because no magical beasts have come yet."
"Got it. Understood."
When I went to the shrine, a study session was in progress. A few mothers were mixed in as well. The Bishop and Harrison-san were at the front, and they were divided into two groups doing calculations. In short, it was about how to shop.
"One piece of dried boar meat sells for two silver coins. This time, twenty-three pieces were sold. If divided among ten households, how much profit would each household get, and what would be the remainder?"
I see, it was very practical. Everyone was calculating with chalk on stone slates.
"Now, here we go. Five plus six plus seven plus four plus three plus two plus five is?"
This side was mental arithmetic. Everyone was listening with their eyes closed. I didn't quite understand it, but it apparently made them better with numbers.
There were children who got it right and children who got it wrong, but the two acting as teachers explained slowly and repeated similar problems over and over.
Even if they evacuated to the processing plant, they intended to continue the studies. If the children remained as bright as ever, the adults wouldn't lose hope. That's what the Bishop had said.