Chapter 730 - Episode 3: Morandine, the Demon Realm of the Demon Lord's Revival Cave - Outpost
I return to the farm in the Flatlands on the Henry Party's bowl. Miana, Beatrix, Beowulf, and Mary also rode along.
After a short break, I alone was called by Eleanor-sama. The topic was the Orcs we had made flee in the night in Morandine previously. As expected, Eleanor-sama was also concerned about it.
"During the last banquet, I spoke with Violet."
As expected. She works fast.
"What did she say?"
"She said she would talk to Gigant, but she didn't seem to care much."
Didn't care...
Violet was also involved back then. Is it okay for humans to kill the Orcs she negotiated the night flight for?
"According to Violet, at that time, the Orcs also admitted defeat. But now they have gone to a new place and are with powerful allies... probably allies, but in any case, they are with a swarm of monsters. Therefore, she says they must think it's natural to fight humans."
Hmm. Is it because they're monsters? Is that how monsters are?
"The same thing happens with humans. Even if they lose miserably and retreat from a fortress, at the next fortress, they will resolutely challenge us to a fight, seeking revenge."
I see. If you put it that way, it's human-like.
"Violet says there's no need to worry about the act of fighting itself."
That's a subtle way of putting it. It would be easier to understand if she just said not to worry about it.
"She says if the time comes when humans overwhelm them and urge the monsters to surrender, only then can such a conversation take place. However, that's assuming there's a powerful boss to negotiate with."
"What happens if there's no boss?"
"They will either fight until they are wiped out or flee."
Flee... I see. Come to think of it, there was a time when we captured and defeated those who had fled from the Eastern Plains.
"She said she would consult with Gigant just in case, so let's go hear what she has to say now."
Saying that, I was put on the bowl again and flew to Nakanohara Lake with the two of them.
When we landed on the shore near the Goblin cave on the northern shore of Nakanohara Lake, Violet came out.
"Um, Gigant says it's probably fine to leave them alone. But if there are any who want to surrender, he wants you to let them escape."
"Where would they escape to?"
"That's the problem. Gigant says he could take in some of them, but a hundred is impossible."
Two digits. That's only a few.
"Just Orcs?"
"Yeah. The big ones need more food, and Fenrirs have many children, so it seems anything more than that is quite difficult."
"We can't ask for too much, can we?"
"To be honest, I think it's better not to count on it. Originally, if the numbers are too large, they won't stay together. Unless there's a very strong boss, they'll start fighting among themselves."
Monsters apparently have fewer individuals per group than humans. Come to think of it, the beastmen said something similar. Even the stray Orcs living north of the Flatlands didn't have groups of more than five hundred. That's probably the limit. The Orcs led by Gigant should have been around three or four hundred.
"Understood. Please act as if this conversation never happened. I'll look elsewhere."
"Yeah. I'll tell him. I think he'll be happier that way anyway."
The difference from humans has come out. It's quite difficult.
"What will you do?"
If I have other options, I do. The Demon Realm in Northern Gram where the Dullahan is, and the Demon Realm in Engrio controlled by the female demon. However, winter is coming. Especially in the north, prey is scarce, so migration won't be welcomed. The other one is in Engrio, so King Seldic's permission would be necessary. However, precisely because it's King Seldic, there's a possibility he would accept them.
"Jeanne, do you go to stay at that Demon Realm about once a month?"
"I do not."
That's quite an exaggeration. I was just made to sign a contract to deliver mead in the spring by the fortress commander. However, it seems we're thinking the same thing. If we can reduce the numbers successfully, mutual damage will be minimized. After that is the Demon Lord's cave, but we have the know-how for that now, so we won't need that much military force. It's just a narrow cave, after all. Even if there's magic stone powder, there's a limit to how many can live there. It's not like they're scattered and self-sufficient in a vast forest.
"What will you do?"
"In this investigation, we will check the numbers and placement and prepare a plan for next year's conquest."
"Yes."
"Is that all for now?"
"Is that all?"
"Yes, we don't know how many there are. If there are too many, they won't be able to be supported even at the migration site."
As I thought. However. Is migration the only way for coexistence and co-prosperity? The reason the Fire Dragon in Finis and the Demon Realms in Engrio and Northern Gram are working well is that they decided on mutual non-aggression zones. Come to think of it, we made a sanctuary for boars in Finis. If humans don't have that spirit, it won't work.
"The best thing would be to leave the Orcs in the forest as they are and only conquer the Demon Lord's cave."
"Yes. I think that's exactly right."
"Would it be difficult?"
"I don't know. But I think it depends on the results of this investigation."
Is it possible depending on the results?
"Currently, in our country, a plan is underway to fortify only the area around the cave where the Demon Lord lives and seal the cave."
"Yes."
I heard about it during the peace negotiations with the beastmen and Dryads in the Royal Capital area. If we do that, there's no need to cut down the trees in the forest. The southwestern part of the Royal Capital area is divided into human and beastman/Dryad territories by a hedge called the Green Wall. If a similar thing can be done in the neighboring Forest of the Demon Realm, it might be possible to live separately while leaving it almost untouched.
"After hearing from various sources, a rough design plan has been completed."
That's amazing. At the very least, it must be strong enough to withstand ultra-high-level magic. 'Various sources' must be quite varied.
"If possible, we would like to treat the Demon Realms in each country in the same way, but it's not easy. We're talking about containing the Demon Lord's army, which is fundamentally meant to be subjugated. Each country must persuade the subjugation faction centered around the Church. In that regard, our country has already resolved it, so there's no problem, but first, we must create a prototype in our country. However, even that is quite difficult to secure a budget for. Let alone making a proposal to other countries..."
Certainly, no matter what you say with just words, you won't be trusted. No money will be given either. However.
"King Seldic might cooperate."
I was stared at with a serious face. Did I say something bad?
"Do you think so?"
"E-eh. After all, he's the kind of person who nonchalantly achieves coexistence and co-prosperity with the Demon Race, and he's the one who brought this up this time. If it can be solved with money, he seems likely to give..."
According to what I've heard, as a result of losing many knights in the previous war, he started hiring mercenaries instead of having nobles who lost knights train new ones, taking money from them instead. That's cheaper. Nowadays, except for a few great nobles, the majority of nobles are effectively using that system and putting the saved money into managing their territories.
"As a result of consulting with His Majesty, depending on the results of this investigation, it has been decided to consider whether to make a proposal regarding the possibility of joint investment by each country at the next Council of Lords."
Joint investment... I see. That way, the burden on one country would be less. There are currently five locations where the Demon Lord's caves are known to revive. The northernmost one is practically on the border between Finis and Northern Gram, so even if counted for both countries, Regnentes and Primordia don't have one. However, if five countries cooperate, it might be possible.
"In what order..."
There will likely be a dispute over which one to do first. Every country would want their own to be first.
"I think our country or Engrio, where conquest is already complete, would be appropriate, but what I'm thinking of is Morandine."
I see. It's currently the most unstable country in various ways.
"Do you remember the terrain around that forest?"
"Um, was it surrounded by land that could only be used for grazing and wasteland?"
"Yes. That wasteland also extended quite far from the forest."
"I remember climbing up to the edge of the forest in the bowl along a slope where rocks were sticking out here and there."
I saw that from above.
Morandine, like southern Engrio, lacks undulations. It's just flat land with swellings that can't even be called hills. The destination after climbing that slope is the Forest of the Demon Realm. The forest itself seemed to be about the same size as the Northeastern Forest or slightly smaller.
"Monsters only come out as far as the wasteland. They don't show themselves much in the grazing land beyond that."
"Then, inside that wasteland..."
"Yes. What if we build a sturdy breastwork surrounding the forest and completely enclose it?"
I see. It's a forest where even hunters don't enter. The wasteland probably isn't being used either, so no one might be troubled by isolating it. It would take time to make it all out of stone, but if it's just digging a dry moat with magic and piling up that soil to make an earthwork, it should be possible by mobilizing the magic soldiers of each country.
To counter high-level magic and above, of course, that alone wouldn't be enough. It would be necessary to surround it with sturdy stone walls and spread a barrier comparable to the Royal Capital Grand Cathedral. The fortress would also need to be equipped with appropriate anti-demon gear. Of course, high-level or above mages and holy mages would also need to be stationed.
"Won't they attack during construction?"
"If they clearly understand they're being surrounded, they might strike once."
"Won't they come repeatedly?"
"If there's a boss, they would. But what if there isn't?"
If it's just Orcs, it might be fine once they're repelled.
"This investigation will be conducted thoroughly, including those aspects."
"Understood."
In short, if there's a strong one, we kill it.
Before going to Morandine, I flew to Finis. It's to charge magic into the orbs and to participate in the long-awaited meeting. This time, since I'm going to Morandine after finishing my business in Finis, I won't be taking a ship. Therefore, Magdalena-sama, Miana, and Beowulf, who are only participating in the meeting, also jumped with me. Since their return will be by ship, and the ship itself has reportedly left Sertoria, it should be just right.
And the meeting felt somewhat different than usual. Normally, the agenda for disease countermeasures comes first, followed by measures for those in financial difficulty. This time, it was reversed. And at the end of the meeting, an unexpected topic came from the host country, Finis.
"With this meeting, I intend to remove disease countermeasures from the agenda. From now on, I would like to exchange information between countries centered on measures for those in financial difficulty."
It's the Crown Princess of Finis. The Queen is no longer even attending. She must have judged that the Crown Princess, who is her sister-in-law, can handle it sufficiently as Aira's substitute. She was originally a calm person of few words, but that made me feel her inner strength. According to what I heard from Saxburg, lately, she has been secretly keeping Prince Gwyn under her thumb.
But removing disease countermeasures from the meeting? I hope it's not because I've been absent lately.
"I believe that is fine."
The first to affirm Finis's proposal was Saxburg of Northern Gram. Saxburg should have been working on disease countermeasures within her country along with her fiancé.
"Disease countermeasures have already come to be widely addressed at the Council of Lords. It is now an initiative for the entire White Island, no, it's a larger framework involving the continent as well. The Church has also begun to agree with the methods we are using, so I believe the time is right."
Surprisingly, Saxburg agreed. No, considering the relationship between Finis and Northern Gram, it must be a proposal made with the agreement of both parties. That's why she showed her support so early.
"What are the thoughts of Sertoria and Primordia?"
The Crown Princess of Finis tries to move the conversation further.
"Primordia, and the Western Church, agree with the proposal from Finis and Northern Gram. Already, disease countermeasures on the White Island have become a card in the diplomatic negotiations with the continent. They have left our hands."
Even Sianya agreed. Is Magdalena-sama the only one left?
"Jeanne, actually, this topic was also discussed at the Sertorian meeting held in the summer."
"Eh?"
"However, opinions came from everyone that it might not be right to make a resolution when Jeanne, who is the greatest contributor to this meeting and recent disease countermeasures, was absent."
It's troubling to be called the greatest contributor. It was Cadogan-sama who brought it to the Council of Lords, and the diplomatic involvement is largely due to Northern Gram's movements. And the Church moved because of Anri-sama, Theresia-sama, and again, Cadogan-sama.
"What do you think? What is Jeanne's thought?"
Even if you say that, hasn't the result already come out?
"If everyone says so, I think that's fine."
There's no way I would oppose it. Originally, we had been exchanging information to make it an agenda item for the Council of Lords.
"Then, we will vote on whether it is acceptable to proceed as proposed by our country."
Everyone, including Mary who was participating specially for herb-related matters, voted in favor.
And my participation from next time onward was decided to be 'as needed.' They must have been considerate of me, as I've become quite busy lately.