Chapter 384 - Episode 3: Return from Engrio
We are to be sent to the border in a specially made carriage, but no matter how far we go, it's all fields and grazing land. Forests are spread out here and there, but they are mostly low, gentle hills. I can see the mountain far to the northeast. Up to the foothills of that mountain, a plain generally spreads out. The border lies in the hills and forests that stretch from the northeast to the west. The richest plains on the island, stretching east of the mountain and excluding the border area with Medioland and Morandine, are all Engrio territory.
After leaving the direct territories around the Royal Capital, we passed through many checkpoints, but because it was a purveyor carriage to the Royal Family flying the lion flag, we weren't even stopped. It ended with the coachman giving a greeting.
Bonnie is climbing on the roof of the carriage, but she said the security soldiers were also unguarded.
"The plains are quite wide."
"Landscapes like this continue until the border area."
During the journey, Eleanor-sama provided commentary.
Henry-sama's group has apparently intruded into Engrio airspace many times and is making detailed maps. They might get caught eventually.
"As you know, Engrio has the largest population on this island, trade with the continent is also flourishing, and it is the richest country."
"What is the population?"
When Beatrix asked, the reply was nearly three times that of Sertoria. Since Sertoria should have around five hundred thousand people, it means there is a population of nearly one and a half million. According to Eleanor-sama, the population is about thirty-five percent of the entire island, and the economic power is about half. The greatest noble is still Margrave Mortimer, and after that, there are only several great nobles who fall far behind the Margrave and small to medium nobles; it seems the King's intentions almost entirely determine the country's fate.
Perhaps because policies are implemented based on the idea that wealthy commoners lead to more tax revenue, the appearance of the people seen from the window clearly looks like that, even compared to Medioland, which boasts the greatest national power on the west coast. The national army also actively subjugates monsters and bandits and orders the nobility to do the same, so public order is good. By any account, he is a wise ruler.
"The living standards of serfs are the highest on the island. Since our country has no serfs, we cannot compare, but the serfs of other countries are in a terrible state."
Even so, at the end of the previous war, more than two hundred serfs fled here. Though, they weren't serfs from the direct territories. In any case, it's clear how destitute the serfs of other countries are.
"The serfs who newly come to the village where I am the landlord all had no habit of bathing, and their clothes were tattered. That's why the Bishop gives them new clothes before the village entry ceremony."
As Beatrix says, serfs everywhere are grimy. There are also many barefoot children.
"Countries strict with status like Regnentes are especially so."
How on earth did such a country become an ally of Sertoria?
"Originally, it was a difference in religion. As you know, the influential nobles of Engrio are pagans. On the other hand, our country was founded with the support of the Medioland Great Church, which possesses the Grand Archbishop. Regnentes has the church's intentions strongly reflected in its national administration. Not just Regnentes, but the west coast nations, excluding Finis, united through the church's intentions."
History is a mysterious thing. In Engrio, the nobility are pagans, but the commoners are the same as in other countries. It's not particularly made into a problem, and conversion to either side is apparently free. On the other hand, the church that honors the Goddess is strict with pagans. Despite having the teaching of coexistence and mutual prosperity. I'm starting to lose track of which side is right.
"Why does Engrio start wars so much?"
"I do not know. However, religion might be related. They do not have the teaching of the Goddess that values coexistence and mutual prosperity. The main deity of their religion is a god of battle. Also, because they are close to the continent, it might be because they feel that threat the most."
"The threat of the continent?"
Beatrix is tilting her head. Even if the armies of the continent, where magic cannot be used, were to attack, we, who can use magic, are bound to win. Thanks to that, pirates also do not approach the coast of this island.
"You know that magic cannot be used on the continent. But it could be used in ancient times. It is not impossible that the same thing could happen on this island. If that were to happen, if the nations are fragmented, they cannot resist an invasion by a great power from the continent."
I believe the opposite shore of Engrio has a large kingdom with a population larger than the entire island. The first to be invaded would be Engrio. If the island doesn't unite, we might lose.
"But it's not like it's certain, right?"
"Of course. However, the place where research into such things was most advanced was the Ruined Town. In the Ruined Town, they were formulating various hypotheses. The relationship with the occurrence of monsters, starting with the Demon Lord and demons. Is it because there is magic power filling the island that the Demon Lord is resurrected and monsters appear, or is it the other way around?"
I see. The chicken and the egg. If that's the case, doesn't it mean no one knows?
"If magic is what the Goddess gave us humans as a means to oppose monsters, then if we completely seal the Demon Lord and exterminate all monsters, magic might be lost."
That means... in other words, if the Demon Lord is completely sealed, this time the continent will invade?
"It is not just that. If, as the church often says, this island is protected from various hardships such as unseasonable weather and epidemics by receiving the Goddess's blessing, what will happen when that blessing is lost? There is a possibility that damage other than monsters or continental invasions will also increase."
"Then is it better to have the Demon Lord?"
If what Beatrix says is true, what is the investigation for?
"It is just a story of possibilities. The important thing is to make as much preparation as possible based on various assumptions. And that is not something where aiming for the construction of a unified state is the only method."
That is certainly true. In short, it means King Seldic is ambitious. If I don't think of it that way, I feel like I'll start hating thinking about it later.
Once we crossed the border, we flew to Stephens-san's mansion in the bowl. After all, during the infiltration... though it was no longer an infiltration... the Council of Lords was in session. It was decided that after the council ended, we would join up at Stephens-san's mansion with the Sertorian King and Queen and the members participating in the investigation of the ruins. While we cannot speak of what we learned in the cave of the altar other than the investigation results of the secret books, we can speak of events outside the cave. Eleanor-sama has already reported that one investigation has been completed and that the people on this side participating in the second and subsequent investigations have been fixed, but still, it is important to convey what we saw, including raw impressions.
"But we can't talk about the most essential thing, can we?" Beatrix says.
"The most essential thing?"
"Yeah, the fact that King Seldic has the intention to unify this island. We can't talk about that because of the Vow of Silence, right?"
"Ah, right..."
Things after the Vow of Silence was concluded cannot be spoken of. The report only contains the investigation contents. On top of that, King Seldic is looking through it.
"It must be calculated. It was a statement made knowing there was a Vow of Silence."
"We can't report it to the King."
"His Majesty has already noticed. Of course, James-dono as well. Did Jeanne not also understand?"
At Eleanor-sama's statement, Beatrix asks, "Is that so?"
I told her the content of the conversation I had with the bearded noble of Engrio along with the Headmistress before. Beatrix sighs, "Another war, maybe."
"We must make sure it does not turn out that way. King Seldic is also already in his fifties. He has ten years left at most. As you know, the cooperation of the west coast from Finis to Primordia is becoming strong. If we do not carelessly rise to clumsy provocations and respond firmly with the allied nations, we can avoid it."
I hope it turns out that way.
After the council ended, the members scheduled to join up gathered.
The first I met was the King.
"Sorry, Jeanne. I didn't think it would turn out like this at first."
"No, not at all. Please don't apologize. In the end, I was able to have King Seldic guarantee my safety in Engrio."
"Your Majesty, Seldic is not a Demon Lord either. He is a man you can talk to."
The person who spoke to the Demon Lord is saying something.
"Father, Mother, I have underestimated you this time. It seems it would have been better not to hide things poorly."
The King, who usually makes a bitter face and gives lectures to Henry-sama and the others, unusually lowered his head.
"No, originally it would be Price. He must have plotted it by involving James-dono."
"And what do you mean by that?"
The King is tilting his head.
According to Eleanor-sama, in short, he wanted to remove humans from my enemies. I don't know what on earth that means.
"Of course, it would be best if we could infiltrate without any problems. However, the church in Engrio... our side's church, that is... has quite a few informants for Engrio. There is no way the request for investigation from Medioland would not be leaked."
Come to think of it, Price-sama did say they were even in the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church.
"Even so, the investigation must be done. And we might have to conduct investigations in other places within Engrio as well."
At present, a fifth altar is predicted to be around the Royal Palace, and the ruins where the Black Stones are supposed to be kept are also in Engrio territory. Especially for the fifth altar that might be in the Royal Palace, unless we request cooperation from King Seldic, we would be killed if we infiltrated and were caught, and it would lead to war. So, this time, they used Henry-sama and the others as decoys and aimed to have King Seldic approach them. Once permission is granted, the request for the Royal Palace area will also be easy.
This is quite a thing. If it's true, James-sama, who participated in such a conspiracy, must be kicked hard by Mel. At worst, we might have been captured.
"Father, Mother, that is strange. Medioland did not say they wanted you two to participate. Besides, originally, once the presence of the wall was confirmed, they planned to request King Seldic directly through the Engrio representative who participated in this Council of Lords."
When I made a suspicious face, the two of them looked away in unison.
"Who is it? Speaking of people as if they are conspirators."
Price-sama and James-sama arrived.
When the old couple went to the window, they began to feign ignorance, saying, "It's a nice day today, isn't it?"
"Jeanne. Congratulations on your appointment as Bishop. You worked hard."
"No, it is thanks to everyone's guidance. Thank you very much for the letter of recommendation."
"Next time, please have those two observing the cloudy sky over there drink some of your bathwater (T/N: 'drink someone's bathwater' is an idiom meaning to follow someone's example)."
James-sama burst out laughing, and the King apologized to the two.
"Honestly, how can you say such a thing? Certainly, I didn't think everything would be leaked. However, if it were leaked, I intended to withdraw without doing anything. I anticipated your intervention, but I anticipated help during the escape. I had no intention of going out of my way to draw out King Seldic. To drag him in on your own and then blame others... well, I suppose it's a statement made knowing that I have come this far."
Did they tell a lie knowing it would be heard? What on earth were they thinking?
"But did you not also anticipate that things would turn out like this?"
"One should assume the worst-case scenario."
In other words, they did anticipate it.
James-sama and the King are staring intently at the three heroes.
Price-sama cleared his throat, and Eleanor-sama looked away. Henry-sama, who had resigned himself, apologized, "Sorry, sorry."
"I wanted to probe that fellow's true intentions."
Eleanor-sama is nodding. Price-sama is looking out the window with a composed face.
In other words, were all three thinking the same thing?
"...Did you understand anything?"
James-sama, who had given up, asked.
"He hasn't changed from the old days. And the rest is as you all know."
"Seldic. As expected, has he not abandoned his ambition?"
At Henry-sama's words, James-sama's gaze became sharp, and the King sighed.
"It is not all bad news. King Seldic promised an investigation of the old ruins within Engrio territory. Especially the area around the Royal Capital, the town itself has an old history. We might also learn something about the Black Stones."
When on earth did they settle that talk?
"That's quite something," Price-sama said, and the two old people who couldn't distinguish between a cloudy sky and a clear sky were smirking.
"Jeanne. It was truly a good thing that your safety was guaranteed. In that regard, we must thank Henry and Eleanor."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama began to act high and mighty. They are completely getting carried away.
"I still don't understand how and where such a result comes out."
At Stephens-san's words, James-sama burst out laughing, and everyone laughed along.