Chapter 579 - Third Story: Duchy of Germania ③
The banquet by the epidemic-related people continues until late at night. Since there was no sign of it ending, I was allowed to leave early with Sianya. The next morning, when I tried to go to the dining hall to eat breakfast, it was still continuing. However, several people were sleeping on the floor. What on earth are they thinking? By the way, Hughes-sama, now Hermit-sama, was also sleeping on the floor. I think he's probably pretending to sleep.
"Ah, Bishop Jeanne, you've come."
It's that noble from before. He has dark circles under his eyes, but he looks energetic.
"How about a hair of the dog?"
"No thank you."
He's just a profligate noble, isn't he?
"Bishop Jeanne, this is going to continue today. At least until noon. Don't be shy."
Even Anri-sama, what are you saying?
"Jeanne, you don't have to drink if you don't want to, but please join the talk on epidemic countermeasures as you are."
Even Phillips-sama is half-drunk.
"Jeanne, it seems this is what a meeting of researchers is like."
Sianya giggled.
In the end, it really plunged straight into lunch. They continued to talk endlessly about epidemics and herbs with a feeling like the idle talk of a tavern. Occasionally, some would fall asleep from exhaustion, but they were left alone.
"Are you going to sleep now?"
I ask Anri-sama, who is yawning repeatedly.
"I suppose so. If I wake up before dinner, it'll be a continuation of last night."
This is beyond help. It's a wonder they don't get excommunicated.
"During the period of such a conference, one strives in study even sparing time for sleep. This is precisely what those who should be called 'seekers of learning' are."
It's Phillips-sama. Perhaps he's very sleepy, as the area under his eyes is pitch black. Next to him, Harris-sama, who is not a 'seeker of learning', is eating energetically while smiling wryly. It would be good to act together with Harris-sama and Sianya.
Setting aside the people who didn't know if they were sleeping or eating, those who had taken sufficient sleep naturally acted separately. That said, it was only five people: Harris-sama, Hermit-sama, Sianya, Mary, and me. If the 'seekers of learning' aren't going to wake up until dinner, there's quite a bit of free time. During that time, Theresia-sama took us to the isolation facility.
The isolation ward is at the tip of the cape. Even though it's a former fort, the lighthouse function is the main one, so everything except the area around the lighthouse is made of wood. In making it an isolation facility, they apparently built several log cabins. Currently, there are no fences or anything; just the cabins are standing. The cabin closest to us seems to be the station, and several priests and five naval soldiers came out to meet us. The naval soldiers' jobs are apparently security and management of the lighthouse.
The person responsible for the facility was absent, likely being a 'seeker of learning'. He's probably debating together with Anri-sama and the others. So, a priest who is acting as the on-site person in charge guided us.
After entering the lighthouse facility surrounded by a stone wall and receiving drinks, we went on a tour. First is the lighthouse facility, but in the courtyard, there is a small but beautifully maintained herb garden and a storage place for magic water. Magic water is transferred from the tank of the hospital ship to a large barrel at the port, and then the portion to be used at the facility is transported by carriage. There is a fair distance from the port, and on top of that, one must climb up a winding slope. It seems they are transferring it from the large barrel to the barrels for the horse-drawn carriage, and after it's transported, to the facility's barrels, by scooping it with a hand bucket. The priest in charge is doing it, but the number of people is limited. Moreover, it must be transported as quickly as possible. It seems the security soldiers are helping, but even so, it must be a difficult task. The priest, while lowering his voice slightly, requested cooperation from Theresia-sama.
"Can you not hire people from private transport businesses?"
"That is, as expected, there are many who fear infection..."
Fumu. I can't say I don't understand the feeling, but...
"I understand. Let's use the naval soldiers. There are soldiers for land combat, so it will be just right."
"Understood."
It's the captain who came with Theresia-sama. An immediate decision.
"Theresia-sama, moving the military is good, but how about making it a measure for the needy? We will prepare dedicated horse-drawn carriages and have them go back and forth from the port to the facility. Let's see, three carriages and about ten personnel should be enough. Since the danger of infection is certainly greater than for others, the reward should also be a bit more generous."
Anri-sama immediately came up with a counter-proposal. It's concrete and provides jobs for the needy.
"And, since they will be entering the facility, let's prepare a dedicated water tank and make bathing in magic water mandatory at the beginning and end of the day. That way, in a sense, those who are least likely to be infected will be involved."
At these words, Theresia-sama and the accompanying captain nodded greatly, and the guiding priest bowed deeply.
Furthermore, Anri-sama proposed making bathing mandatory and giving special allowances to the soldiers doing the security of the facility and management of the lighthouse. As a result of the successful approval, both the priests and the soldiers became all smiles.
After that, there was an explanation about how to use magic water. But, regarding magic water, we are the originals. Moreover, Cadogan-sama is also advancing research to distinguish between diseases it works on and diseases it doesn't. Rather than a guide to the facility, there were more questions for us.
Sianya is knowledgeable about diseases, and Hermit-sama is knowledgeable about injuries. Regarding production and sales, Mary is here. I just had to listen.
For example, there was a question like this.
"In cases where it becomes severe, there are times when magic water is not in time. Especially in the case of the epidemic we are currently dealing with, infants can become severe quickly, and there are cases where they pass away in just a few hours after onset. How do you respond on the White Island?"
It's a weakness of magic water. On the White Island, if I am there, I can just cast a spell of a higher rank directly, or if there is a high-level scroll, I can use that. However, on the mainland, that is not possible.
"On the White Island, for severe cases, a scroll of a high rank is used at least once in most cases. But, here, that is not possible. Therefore, there is no choice but to be thorough with infection prevention. As you know, washing the body with magic water is helpful for infection prevention. If an infection is confirmed, those close to them, centered on their family... including neighbors... should also be isolated if possible regardless of whether they have symptoms, and be thorough with bathing, washing the face and limbs, and gargling to clean the mouth, and there is no choice but to stop the damage as much as possible, I think."
Sianya answers without hesitation. Since I myself am only either casting magic or making scrolls, an answer doesn't come out immediately. She's truly reliable.
"Then, how about the method of transporting them by hospital ship, for example? If we use the small and fast ones that Sertogne uses frequently for transport."
Theresia-sama said.
"What will you do about the fee? I think many of those who first contract the epidemic are those whose lives are not wealthy."
Even Sianya, who asked, is a priest. Her desire to save many people is no different. However, there is reality. If you send out a ship, it takes manpower. You can't cross the sea for free.
It would be hard to say the country will pay. The poor are overwhelmingly greater in number. Theresia-sama also became silent.
"Shall we increase taxes?"
Anri-sama, supported by Lloyd-sama who had come alongside at some point, said from the side. The other person present is likely the person in charge here.
"Increasing taxes... is not possible. First, we must increase the national power that has been exhausted by the campaign and the epidemic. For that purpose, I have just promulgated that the taxes for this year and next year will be halved. If I retract that, I will lose the trust of the citizens of the Duchy. It is the same even if I increase taxes from the year after next."
"Then, will you reallocate the budget? If you do not increase taxes, there is no choice but to cut elsewhere."
"Where would that be, for example?"
"It can only be the court-related budget and the military."
"That is..."
Diplomacy and military. This might be something that cannot be removed for the current Duchy of Germania. It is geographically isolated as it is. Friendship with neighboring countries would be essential. Regarding the military, Theresia-sama, who originally led the navy, has few direct troops. She must prepare for rebellions and the advance of West Liber. It becomes an urgent matter.
"Will you change the military system?"
It's Sianya. In the future, she will be Edward-sama's advisor. Even now, she is already like an advisor to the King of Primordia.
"By military system, you mean?"
"The countries of the White Island adopt various military systems according to their national circumstances. For example..."
According to Sianya's explanation, the military systems of the White Island are classified into several types. The original is the method used by Medioland and others, where nobles, including royalty, lead the soldiers within their territories; since many knights must be trained, it costs money. Accordingly, there are also many cavalry. The complete opposite is Finis. After all, it's universal conscription. For its population, the number of soldiers is large. Since not everyone keeps horses, it's centered on infantry. The middle ground is Primordia. Instead of fully liberating the serfs and making them free farmers, they made military service mandatory. The commanders are knights centered on nobles, but this also allows for a large military force for its population. This also has many infantry. The last one mentioned was Engrio. They lost many knights in the previous war. Knights take time to raise. To shorten that time, they came to hire mercenaries. Nobles came to pay money instead of military service. That amount is apparently cheaper than the amount to support knights and soldiers. As a result, there were even knights and soldiers who lost their jobs. King Seldic had such people organized as mercenary groups. So, the source of mercenaries is not just the mainland, but also includes the interior of Engrio. In this case, various branches of service from heavy cavalry to light infantry are available. The quality of the soldiers is also high. However, because they have no attachment to the land, they are apparently fragile once they start to crumble.
"I am thinking about hiring mercenaries. I have already dispatched messengers to the mercenary groups of East Liber. However, I had not thought about imposing military service on free farmers. Would it be like conscripted soldiers? However, would that not effectively be a tax increase? Besides, the productivity of that land would drop, and I don't think the quality or morale as soldiers would be high."
"It is different from conscripted soldiers. They are local warriors who bear the defense of that land. In the case of our country, for most of the year, they engage in economic activities starting with agriculture on their own land, and for example, during the off-season, they receive military training at a garrison. And, in times of emergency, they fight as warriors next to the standing army and mercenaries. However, it is strictly for defensive battles and they do not go on foreign expeditions. And, labor duties or taxes are exempted by that amount. If they participate in a battle, an allowance is given separately."
"Specialists in local defense, huh? I see, I will ask others as well."
Theresia-sama seemed convinced and thanked Sianya.
"Indeed, it is only to be expected of someone seen by that King of Primordia as one of the two wheels alongside Edward-sama. Sianya-sama, that was splendid."
Since Anri-sama is praising her, he must have been sufficiently convinced from his position as a temporary advisor too.
By the way, since Anri-sama has woken up, is it already dinner? I thought, but it wasn't.
"Through Theresia-sama's efforts, there should be patients with 'Just a Disease' undergoing treatment here. I've come to see how they are."
Come to think of it, one of Anri-sama's purposes for coming this far this time was to encourage the patients undergoing treatment for 'Just a Disease', and to correct the mistakes of those who held groundless prejudices.
The ward for those 'Just a Disease' patients was the last.
Partly because they had been informed in advance, when Theresia-sama was introduced, the patients expressed their gratitude; when Anri-sama was introduced, a cheer went up; and when I was introduced, everyone gathered and knelt before me.
Among them, the oldest person is in front of me.
"Bishop Jeanne-sama, I have something I wish to ask of you."
"What is it?"
Magic cannot be used here. If I'm asked for that, I have no choice but to refuse.
"Actually, I am thinking of converting."
"Heh?"
What are you suddenly saying?
According to the patients, until they were accommodated here, they had indeed been treated terribly. Primordia worked hard to spread the treatment method as far as Sertogne. After Anri-sama became energetic, it spread to some extent to West Liber too. Especially in port towns with connections through trade with the White Island, rumors of magic water were already flowing. However, it seems the reason it reached the patients' ears was because the church priests who received word from Anri-sama told them. Of course, nobles and the wealthy are different, and among such people, there are apparently those who have already moved into facilities for the wealthy in Primordia. The patients here thought they would just linger on and die in caves in remote areas, barely keeping their lives together with food brought by priests. In the countryside, some were apparently just abandoned deep in the mountains. Now, treatment becomes possible through the miracle of the Goddess. In fact, Anri-sama is looking lively. I can't say I don't understand the feeling of wanting to convert.
But, it's troubling to be told that to me. I don't know well what kind of procedures are necessary for conversion, and the priests of their current religion are right in front of me. They must have worked devotedly too.
What should I do... It might be better to leave it to Anri-sama... Just as I thought that.
"I have a proposal."
The one who threw me a lifeline was Lloyd-sama.
Lloyd-sama's proposal was that he wanted to build a church within the Duchy of Germania led by the Sertogne Royal Capital Great Church. For the time being, one in this town. By doing so, by dispatching Sertogne priests including a Bishop who would be the head of the church, they could work on epidemic countermeasures together with the priests of the monotheistic church that is currently here. The conversion of patients could also be done without a hitch. It is likely also the intention of the Sertogne Royal Capital Great Church, which wants to increase its believers. I have heard before that those who are seriously working on such things every day will have everything lead to that. However, Lloyd-sama said that they were not going to compete for believers, but would actively cooperate in the operation of this facility and work on epidemic countermeasures in the Duchy of Germania together.
The problem is the Duchy of Germania side. I hear many people in monotheism do not recognize other religions. It would be a matter of whether the church here would silently accept it. Thinking of that, Theresia-sama seemed unable to reply and looked at the person in charge of the facility. I saw this person at the port too. He must be the head of the church.
"H-How about it?"
"As long as it is alright with Theresia-sama, I do not mind. However, the purchase of magic water will be from the private business you have been explaining to us since before, the Class of 175, was it?"
Unexpectedly, it was approved. Just as I thought, the person in charge of the facility is the head of the church in this town, and the person responsible for this town and its surrounding areas. As expected of a 'seeker of learning'. He possesses the spirit of a grand alliance.
Regarding the magic water and such, that was the original talk. Mary will likely work hard. Anyway, knowing Mary, she surely won't take a brokerage fee, only the freight. Or, she'll make the brokerage fee an extraordinary price like four copper coins per time. Perhaps, if the Germania side goes to the wetlands to get it with their own ship at their own expense, the freight might even be free.
"In the church organization we belong to, there certainly exist radical exclusionists. However, I am what you might call a moderate; I know well of the existence of pagans who have good and noble hearts, and I recognize them. Of course, I am not the only one who holds such a way of thinking."
At this, Anri-sama applauded, and the patients wishing to convert thanked him while clinging to his sleeves with tears in their eyes. Lloyd-sama was greatly pleased and exchanged an embrace with the head of the church here.