Chapter 714 - Chapter 14: Flatlands First Assessment Results
The New Model Behemoth was successfully jumped to the Ice Island. At night, a message was brought to Eleanor-sama via the magic circle for sending letters, from the deputy of the Ice Island to the priest there, and then through Price-sama. When it gets cold, the sea becomes rough. When that happens, the people doing cod fishing on the Ice Island return. I'm glad we made it in time.
King Seldic was delighted to have obtained many magic stones and to have been able to dispose of the New Model without fighting it, and he gave us rewards as promised. The meritorious Beatrix received thirty gold coins, and I received ten gold coins.
At the same time, King Seldic held a 'thank you for your hard work' banquet for everyone who was in charge of the fourth floor.
After that, simple work awaits. The Henry Party was moved to the third floor, and the fourth floor was to be handled by Engrio soldiers alone. It seems a certain amount of gunpowder has finally been gathered, albeit late.
And by the time the declaration of the end of the conquest was issued by King Seldic, the month had changed to October. October is the season for paying taxes. After that, various events are scheduled on the continent. The support group, after watching the triumphal return in the Engrio Royal Capital, returned in triumph to the fortress of the Demon Realm east of the Royal Capital with the fortress guard captain who served as the vice-commander and the soldiers, and held a grand celebration. The female demon race member declined because of the nature of the event, but after having an all-night girls' party, she was invited to the banquet held at the fortress the day after next, called a pre-winter celebration or something, and made merry with everyone. For some reason, I've been making merry with the female demon race member once a month since March. For some reason, not just the female demon race member but even the fortress guard captain, Carla, and Annabella made me promise to bring mead when spring comes, and I left the next morning.
When I returned to Nakanohara, it was a banquet. There's a major announcement from Lyudmila. Needless to say, it's about the harvest of the Flatlands. Although she's acting calm like a beauty should, seeing as she can't hide her expression of joy, it must have been good. It's the result of a year's effort. I have to listen to her.
"The wheat harvest averaged seven bags per field. The first-year assessment result is a pass."
A grand round of applause erupted from the bandits.
"The best part yielded eight bags. Even the worst part reached six and a half bags. This could not have been done without the cooperation of the Nakanohara Light Infantry Corps led by Captain Lewis."
Lyudmila also thanked Wilson-san, a joint researcher of new varieties and farming methods, and the Marcelo Company, which used agricultural magic efficiently. The bad parts were the wastelands where the conversion to agricultural land had originally been delayed. Normally, they wouldn't have had to be included, but she must have wanted to produce results no matter what. It wouldn't have been possible without the support of the bandits.
"There is one more year. If next year's harvest can achieve an average of seven bags, we can achieve the task proposed by the King. I look forward to your continued support."
When she bowed deeply with her hands together, she was again enveloped in applause.
"Doesn't Lyudmila's atmosphere seem different?"
I asked Beatrix.
In the time I haven't seen her, the childishness has disappeared. She's tanned and wearing the green marble for agriculture, but she's a startling beauty even without makeup. If she develops a graceful atmosphere, she'll be like a princess. Until now, after saying something in front of everyone, she would immediately come to me and hide her face with her sleeve. This time, she's going to thank the bandits again. Her way of speaking is appropriate for her age, but it's too different from before.
"She placed in the Nakanohara Madonna last month. Since then, she seems to be conscious of her femininity."
Beowulf, who is manly in personality, answered me. Come to think of it, there was something like that. Partly because I was busy with the New Model Behemoth this year, I haven't heard the results.
"This year's highlight is Lyudmila's breakthrough. As you can see, she's as beautiful as royalty."
Beowulf, who has royal blood, says that Owen-san and the others judge it to be a reasonable result. Come to think of it, he was saying that last year.
"What rank was she?"
I heard that recently up-and-coming young talents are aiming for the top. Surely, two or so others must have come up. If three people come up above me, the curse will be broken.
"Believe it or not, Lyudmila is second."
That's amazing. Finally, a generation change. Surely the top ranks are occupied by teenagers.
"And so, everyone treated us. Ah, Jeanne and Beatrix weren't there, I guess. At that time, Lyudmila asked us how she could fail to place."
Beowulf is giggling.
The result of everyone's consultation was that the top-ranking girls are all making a name for themselves in combat. So, they concluded that she just shouldn't let people sense those parts, and after being taught by Fiona, she apparently started behaving elegantly. Usually, it's the opposite. It's definitely Mary's conspiracy.
"And so, the girl who was second dropped to fifth, and Hanna-san and Bridget-san failed to place, and newcomers entered instead. Other than that, it hasn't changed. Is it called a block vote? As expected, the top ranks are solid."
"Eh?"
"Congratulations, Jeanne. You're eighth again this year. You've achieved a ten-year streak."
An eighth-place block vote... isn't that strange? Let's have a generation change.
After Lyudmila's announcement, we eat and drink individually. This time, Price-sama is also here due to the flow of the New Model Behemoth subjugation. As usual, the men, centered around Gnome and Salamander, are probably talking about complicated things. The bandits are handing bottles of alcohol to the Salamander with somber expressions. Over there, the real show starts after Gnome passes out drunk.
On the other hand, on this side, there was an informal announcement from Eleanor-sama. She said they would build magic schools in various places in Sertoria. Not just the Royal Capital, but also in the eastern Royal Capital area, Uminohara, the Western Plains, Nakanohara, and the center of the Eastern Plains. And, as an experiment on a village scale, one will also be built in the Flatlands.
"The model is Beatrix's village in Regnentes. We will imitate the school for the children of that village and the magic school built by the state."
"Where around here will it be built?"
The children are also engaged in farm work. We have to consider the balance between work and school.
"Near the fortress of the Light Infantry Corps. That area has many private houses and roads gather there. Above all, there is an assembly hall, so we will use that. By the way, in Nakanohara, we plan to use the vigilante group's assembly hall."
As for the current plan, it's not possible to target all children. The number of children is limited because the area is vast. In the case of the Flatlands, it seems the targets will basically be minors who currently know magic and wish to attend, and children who learn at least one magic in the oracle they receive for the first time when they turn ten next year.
"I'm thinking of asking the church and the Marcelo Company to provide instructors for Nakanohara and this land, but how about it?"
The Marcelo Company already has a history of providing people for re-employment education for disabled veterans in Nakanohara at the request of Mayor Adolf. If it's the same place, there should be no problem. Regarding the Flatlands, they have a near-monopoly on the agricultural use of magic. After all, if you include Beatrix and me, all four elemental attributes and holy magic can be used at a high level. We fly bowls and even use Teleport. Travel time is also fast.
"How many times a week?"
Marcelo-san asked after thinking for a bit.
"I'd like to say every day, but that probably won't work. How about two days a week, one or two periods a day, about an hour per period? The royal family will provide the materials. I think it's fine to exclude the busy farming season or have them actually see agricultural magic being cast as a field trip. Of course, the field trip can be the monster hunting you usually do."
"How much is the reward?"
"It seems His Majesty is considering an annual contract. It will probably be about the same amount as the lectures for disabled veterans being held in Nakanohara."
If I recall, it's two silver coins per period. If there are two periods a day, it would be two gold coins a week. It's not a bad deal.
"Will we also do holy magic at our place?"
"For holy magic, Harris will be the contact, so I think people will be sent from the Nakanohara Great Church."
I wonder if it's the Headmistress? If so, it would be income for the orphanage.
"I understand. I will give you an answer after consulting with everyone again."
I put it on hold after making eye contact with Angelica-san, but from the looks on their faces, they'll probably accept.
Besides that, there was talk from Eleanor-sama about going to the continent. Miana joined in on this talk.
"I think you already know, but next month, you will participate in the Great Unity Conference to be held in the Duchy of Germania and the wedding of Yorg-dono to be held in Sertogne."
"Yes. Has the official invitation already arrived?"
"Yes, it has reached His Majesty. You will receive the request directly in the Royal Capital late this month and be sent to Primordia as you are."
Does that mean the Henry Party and Magdalena-sama are also going?
"Unfortunately, permission was not granted for Magdalena. Therefore, the official envoy for Yorg-dono's wedding will be Miana. The Henry Party has been ordered to serve as her escort."
I feel like it's riskier for the Henry Party to go together, but...
"Did you say something?"
"No, it's nothing."
As sharp as ever.
It's unusual for Miana to be the official envoy for a wedding, but it seems to be due to subtle considerations in the background. Yorg-sama is from a family lineage connected to royalty, but he is not royalty. Moreover, he is the third son. The eldest and second sons are already married, but it seems they only sent congratulations. He doesn't have a personal friendship with the King either. That said, the area Yorg-sama effectively holds as territory is a place connected to the First King. Sertorian royalty visit Yorg-sama's managed land when they are children, and it seems they go several times after becoming adults. It's not that they must go, but they can't just ignore it. That's where Miana comes in. In other words, Miana will be the official envoy for the Great Unity Conference. The wedding is just an extra.
Yorg-sama, for his part, apparently planned not a flashy wedding where nobles gather, but a ceremony where scholars gather. Date-wise, it's possible to participate in the flow from the Great Unity Conference. The number of people might be large, but it's probably not something royalty could participate in. It's all priests. Moreover, considering the disasters of the past two times, they're all eccentrics. So, the relevant countries probably didn't need to worry about who to send. In fact, the ambassador who brought the invitation apparently said that the guests should definitely be those participating in the conference.
"Then Miana will also participate in the conference, right?"
"Yes, Sianya-dono from Primordia is participating, right? Miana also wanted to go to the continent, so I think it's just right."
Miana is all smiles now that her wish has come true. Her goal is sweets. I'm sure she won't even spare a glance for the scholars.
"Then, what about Magdalena-sama?"
"If Queen Magdalena goes, the balance with other countries will be lost, so she's staying behind."
The King must have worked hard. But can the former King and Queen maintain the balance? I think the escort would be invincible with Hughes-sama and Fiona.
"We are also serving as Erikson-sama's escort, after all."
"Is he going?"
"Yes. He requested it himself."
I reflexively asked back, but it was a silly question. With that personality, he's bound to go.
Looking at the person himself, he's drinking happily with the likes of Salamander, Alex, and the Elf Prince. Since the drunk Gnome is lying flat, the conversation must be lively. Henry-sama and Wilson-san are also together.
But I wonder why the King approved it for such a reason.
"It's a request from Price. Price said that someone told Erikson-sama that he could travel to the continent if he possessed a stone, and as a result, he started wanting to go."
Come to think of it, there was such a story. I might have been the one who said it...
"It's the reconciliation of the North and South, right? Wilson is the one in charge of the stone, but he cried to His Majesty that the burden was too heavy for him alone against the Grand Archbishop."
As a result, the talk was settled in the direction of participating as the Henry Party. I'm sure Wilson-san was made to cry to him. The King has it hard too.
According to Eleanor-sama, it's officially decided that the Great Unity Conference will be in early November, and the wedding of Yorg-sama and Jeanne of Germania will be held two days after the end of the session, and the invitation has arrived.
"Also, there has been a change in the situation on the continent. It seems Duke of Roland Richard will refrain from war in winter and make a temporary triumphal return to his own country. Soldiers who went out from Engrio will also return temporarily, so the Engrio army will have a hard time with disease countermeasures until winter."
In other words, we don't have to worry about war anymore this year. That's good. And, since the Engrio army, which I thought would stay out, is coming back, the release of Testament has been postponed.
But does a temporary triumphal return mean East Liber is superior?
"It seems so. Not only did they secure the towns near the border that East Liber obtained in the previous East-West war, but they extended their influence south and reached the point where they can reach the largest town in the region that the West Liber army uses as a base. If that town falls, a fairly wide area will belong to East Liber. Most likely, it will be divided among the nobles who rebelled last year. That's why the morale of the East Liber army is high and their unity seems solid."
They have solid unity despite being the type to rebel. Do they only unite for interest?
"And, Duke of Roland Richard was stationed north of the area where the East and West armies faced each other, but as a result of taking a maneuver to go around to the rear on the west side against the left wing of the West Liber army which faced east, he succeeded in drawing out the entire left wing to the west. At the same time, the cavalry charged through the gap created between the center and the left wing and broke through the enemy's front line. As a result, the West Liber army center was thrown into confusion by being flanked from the rear, and the East Liber main force charged in, resulting in their defeat."
She explained the formation by drawing it with a twig on the ground, but to be honest, I don't really understand. Anyway, the East won.
"However, the West Liber army didn't completely rout either; they apparently stopped midway and reorganized their formation. Part of the East Liber main force seems to have overextended. That tip was surrounded and stopped. It fell into a stalemate just like that, and currently, both sides are facing each other in the towns they use as bases. Most likely, there will be no war during the severe winter. From the East Liber side's perspective, they won the field battle but didn't seize much land. They probably won't be able to end it like this."
The military strength of the West Liber army is still abundant, and the view that the war will be prolonged is being held in each country.
They won the field battle, so isn't that fine? They should just end it.