Chapter 588 - Chapter 7: The Ninth Meeting
What is the relationship between slugs and snakes?
Eleanor-sama's hypothesis is that slug slime might contain a substance that paralyzes snakes.
During the October investigation of the Secret Books, I looked at the entries for slugs and snakes, but there was no such description. It didn't mention that slugs, which seemed invincible, are weak to soapy water or that they gather at magic circles. Of course, it also didn't mention the secret of Eleanor's armor... that coating armor and shields with slime creates equipment with extremely high magic defense. The one writing the Secret Books is the gatekeeper Dwarf. Perhaps things discovered by humans aren't recorded.
I tried asking Alex after the restoration operation of the Northeastern Forest in October was finished. It was at the wrap-up banquet. Since Alex—that is, the gatekeeper—must have his own position to maintain, I only told him I wanted to have a private talk about Nakanohara Lake and the mountain. Alex, catching my drift, glanced around and cast Mute before we spoke of specifics.
"It's simple. The guy writing it hasn't confirmed it with his own eyes. For example, I'm the gatekeeper of the Secret Books stored beneath Nakanohara Lake. So, I can write things I've seen for myself. I can't write things I haven't. I don't tell others the contents, and we gatekeepers don't exchange information. Also, the content is generally written according to a contract. In other words, things outside the contract aren't recorded."
I see. That makes sense. Even the Chronicles don't record detailed country names or personal names. It's an outline of the history of the humans on the island. Since there hasn't been much change between the time of the investigation and now, it seems no additional entries have been made.
"However, you can tell the recorder of the Secret Book Jeanne is currently investigating about the things you've experienced. If the guy writing it confirms it for himself and thinks it's correct, he might add it."
"I understand. I'll try talking to the gatekeeper when I go next month."
"Do that. If the writer thinks it needs to be added, he'll write it."
Slugs aside, I'll at least convey that the four humanoid species were created through sorcery. There are still many unexplored Demon Realms. If the recorder feels like it, they'll be able to confirm it.
After the November investigation—which became the final investigation of the Regnentes Secret Books—I consulted with Price-sama and then spoke to the gatekeeper about what I heard from Alex.
"I've heard of it. The possibility that humanoid monsters were created through sorcery."
"Then, could you add that to the Secret Book?"
"Can't do it. Because I haven't seen it with my own eyes. I can't write it while it's still ambiguous."
As I thought.
"Besides, imagine if I wrote that monsters could be made with sorcery. Some idiot might read it and try to imitate it. That's something that must never happen. There are things that are better left unwritten."
I see. For a Dwarf who loves pursuing the truth, I thought he was being indifferent, but surprisingly, there might be things they intentionally don't investigate.
Once the restoration of the Northeastern Forest is over, I'll head to Finis again. It's for the meeting on disease countermeasures.
This time, the Henry Party joined because they wanted to confirm the slug experiments conducted in the Northern Gram wetlands after the meeting. Thanks to that, I didn't have to board a ship. On the other hand, Mary always properly takes a ship. Moreover, unlike the chief envoy Magdalena-sama or the deputy envoy Miana, she uses a merchant vessel. She gets a send-off when boarding and a welcome when disembarking. Apparently, she loves that moment. She never fails to provide alcohol to the captain and dried meat to the crew, so she seems to have an excellent reputation. Even though she goes all over the place frequently, she can always board a ship without waiting. She said she tells them her schedule in advance, and the ships adjust to her convenience. At this point, it's like she possesses some kind of political power.
That Mary arrived at the port town of Finis together with Sianya on a ship coming from Primordia this time. We were able to meet up at the shop that Prince Gwyn's wife is running as Aira's successor.
"Good work, Sianya, Mary. Did the transaction with Yorg-sama go well?"
"Good work. Yorg-sama is such a nice person."
This is the first shipment. It seems Yorg-sama personally boarded the ship to deliver the goods. In the Class of 175, every shop bakes bread or makes sweets for sale. At the second shop, Mary's disciple is doing it. I had told Yorg-sama that I wanted to know the recipes for the sweets I ate in the Kingdom of Sertogne and the Duchy of Germania. He then gave me various sweet recipes as 'souvenirs,' so she apparently forwarded them directly to Miana. She'll surely be delighted. What was given in return was Finis alcohol. Also, the dried bivalves raised by the coastal spirits that Sianya brought. And Mary provided the Regnentes dried meat. In other words, they are product samples of alcohol and dried meat to be used as snacks, presented as souvenirs. They're quite clever.
Yorg-sama seemed to like them very much and apparently started a drinking party with the crew of the ship he came on right away. I'm sure he'll keep buying from us.
"I'm not sure how to put it. As a man, he seems a bit unreliable, but he's a person with a strong core. I think whoever marries him will surely be happy."
This could be called high praise. Could it be that she's interested? Even if he's a third son, his family is high nobility with ties to royalty. Moreover, they have connections with the Sertorian Royal Family. For someone being requested to become Magdalena-sama's advisor, he's an impeccable match.
"Hmm, he's a nice person, but I guess he's not really my type. I, well, maybe I'd prefer someone who supports me. You see, I'm usually going here and there, right? Someone who watches over me from the shadows while I'm busy like that?"
Is that so. Well, do as you like.
The herbs from Sertogne that Mary brought were welcomed with applause from everyone at the meeting. This was because Yorg-sama had carefully selected things that couldn't be harvested on the White Island. Those will now be available regularly.
(On the mainland, there is a shortage of herbs that can be harvested in high-altitude or cold regions. Since there is a prospect of harvesting them in Finis, Northern Gram, and halfway up the Sertoria Central Mountain Range, we ask for your cooperation.)
Following Mary's words, it was promised in Finis that collection would proceed throughout the land centered around the Priestess, and in Northern Gram and Sertoria, collection would proceed under a cooperative system with the Dryads.
From Sertoria, there was a report that as a result of experiments confirming the effects of magic water while observing the sources of the plague conducted at the Medical Research Institute where I serve as deputy director, several sources of diseases for which the effects of magic water were announced by Cadogan-sama of Primordia have been confirmed. The evidence has been verified. Along with this, it was announced that based on the results of the Great Unity Conference held in the Duchy of Germania, work to confirm even more disease sources together with researchers from various countries, including the mainland, is scheduled to begin in the spring.
In Primordia, it was announced that lectures on herbalism would be conducted in coordination with East Liber simultaneously with the verification of magic water effects, and a call for participants was made. Then, it was reported that the return of prisoners held in the isolation facilities in the wetlands has been completed, and there is almost no possibility of the plague spreading to the White Island.
From the Head Maid who came from Vectis Island, it was reported that the bathing of all soldiers who had been dispatched to the mainland has been completed. During the war, about a dozen infections were confirmed among civilians such as merchants and sailors, mainly around the ports, but all were completely cured through bathing treatment. It was also reported that with the cooperation of Primordia, bathing is being carried out in the Duchy of Roland—especially in the western districts where the infection was severe.
(King Seldic's opinion was that isolation facilities and magic water production facilities like the ones established on the border with Primordia should be increased at the ports of each nation. If possible, we ask that you all consider this.)
She has completely become King Seldic's messenger, but in a sense, we've included him as an ally including that. Effects in that area are also showing.
(I fully understand Engrio's proposal. However, I have heard that there is a possibility of scoundrels trying to gain unfair profits by selling magic water at high prices. How about this? Under the supervision of Count Vectis, whose reputation for integrity is well-known, why not attempt mass production of magic water on Vectis Island? If transported by ship, I believe many ports can be covered.)
It's Prince Gwyn's wife. The Priestess says that as long as it's a place I've approved, she doesn't mind the Anti-Sepsis orbs. In fact, the Wetlands Priestess manages two. However, while Count Vectis can be trusted, we would have to find ghosts. If that happens, the method of making the orbs might leak to Engrio. The Wetlands Knight Order made a vow with the Priestess not to disclose it. I wonder if the Priestess will approve of making orbs with the ghosts of Vectis Island?
(Currently, mass production systems for magic water have been established in three locations: Finis, Northern Gram, and Primordia... or rather, was it the Western Church's managed land? Why not simply direct half of the scrolls for sale to Vectis Island?)
I see. So that's how it is. That might be safe. The 'half' she mentioned would be the portion from the main shop. The scrolls made at the main shop are allocated for Sertoria domestic use, for Regnentes, and for Engrio.
The rest would be the portion used in Sertoria. Regarding that point, there was a proposal from Magdalena-sama.
(Our country is also considering mass-producing magic water. Once the production system there is established, we can allocate the scrolls for sale toward Vectis Island. Considering Jeanne's burden, wouldn't the prospect be feasible with about half the production volume as suggested by Finis earlier?)
I heard later that the magic water production facility the Sertorian Royal Palace is considering was the fortress where I met Fiona. Its survival has been decided, but it also needs to be renovated. Actually, while I was going here and there, they consulted with Finis, and moreover, they dispatched Phillips-sama to the fortress and apparently reached an agreement with the ghosts living there. The ghosts reportedly agreed to cooperate if the fortress's survival was confirmed in that way. After that, I just need to prepare objects for them to possess, go to Finis, and have them enter the orbs. For now, I go to Finis several times a year. Each time, I do the orb-making. It seems they were just waiting for my approval, but since it's planned to become a facility belonging to the Royal Medical Research Institute, there should be no problem.
In conclusion, it was decided to consider the construction of mass production systems for magic water on Vectis Island and in Sertoria by the spring meeting.
(With this, won't Jeanne's side job become much easier?)
Magdalena-sama is certainly right. I'll just have to organize the scrolls I've made, with the ones for Vectis Island at the main shop or the fourth shop, and the ones for Regnentes at the second shop.
The last part was from Magdalena-sama and Sianya. It was enlightened that magic water is not effective against the plague that spreads in winter, such as colds or diseases where those symptoms become severe. For such patients, priority should be given to the administration of herbs. At the same time, it was announced that Sertoria and Primordia would confirm whether the sources of diseases showing such symptoms can be seen, and if they can be seen and mitigated with magic water, that information would be shared with each country as an urgent report.
By the way, the portion for Morandine is being provided by Northern Gram, so there's no problem. If things go well, there's a prospect of securing a certain amount in each nation of the White Island.
The meeting closed successfully, and after that, it became a girls' party during the break. Miana's new creations were distributed to everyone along with drinks. Lately, she's been making imitations of Sertogne sweets, so they're very sugary. Since there are only women, they're full of praise. Miana is also very proud.
The main topic of the girls' party was about the experiments involving slugs and snakes provided by Aira. It's a message from Eowyn-sama. Saxburg and Miana are making overtly disgusted faces. I think you guys could try a little harder.
According to Aira, Eowyn-sama started the experiments early. If things go well, the slugs might be able to exterminate the two-headed ones. If a prospect is established within the year, full-scale operation early next spring will be possible.
(What we've found at this point is that snakes have a better appetite for frogs than for slugs. And frogs seem to like eating slugs.)
A strange report came up from Aira.
Slugs are apparently not invincible. And the talk has turned to the relationship with frogs, rather than slugs and snakes.
There are slugs in the Northern Gram wetlands too. I thought that if I drew a magic circle for Teleport or something and gathered them, the two-headed ones would come on their own and be hunted by the slugs, but it seems it's not that simple. If frogs gather and eat the slugs, they'll just become bait for the two-headed ones. It would be fine to attack when the two-headed ones gather, but it's tough if there are many.
As for the procedure, gather the frogs before gathering the slugs, and then drop a large amount of slugs where the two-headed ones have gathered...
Honestly, that's quite a stretch.
If the two-headed ones eat the frogs and are satisfied, they won't touch the slugs. Besides, to increase the slugs in the wetlands, they must be protected from the frogs. That in itself must be quite difficult. Also, if slugs are mass-bred, the frogs will increase. If that happens, the two-headed ones that eat the frogs will grow and become larger. Do we have to reduce the frogs first? It's become like going in circles. It seems like it would be faster to just pour the sleeping medicine for octopuses into the pond.
In the end, it was decided to go and see the actual situation to confirm. Those participating are the Henry Party and me. The other people, perhaps not wanting to be involved with snakes, slugs, and frogs, all looked away even when Eleanor-sama invited them.
"Normally, I think that's how it is."
What Mary said after the meeting must be the truth for girls.