Chapter 763 - Chapter 6: Negotiations with the Dragonewt Race ②
The negotiation with the Dragonewts was settled. It was decided that the details would be finalized in the future.
The Chieftain and the village elders said they wanted to see the actual thing if they were going to make it themselves.
"Then, shall we go see it now?"
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine. However, I can't show you the final process of the mortar involving the Elves. That's treated as classified by the Elves."
"I understand. Is the permission of the Sertoria Royal Family not necessary?"
"We don't need human permission."
"Is it your land?"
"No, we are the managers. Several years ago, various races gathered and decided. Since it belongs to no one, the Dwarves should manage it."
It's around the Silver Mine in the Northeastern Forest. That mountain should have basically become the Dwarves' managed land, except for the slope where the Black Dragon Child is. Even humans cannot enter without the Dwarves' permission.
"Various races gathered and decided?"
"Yeah, I want you to keep this just between us, but high-ranking demons are also involved. The one who suggested it was a human... the Sertoria Royal Family, and the rest are spirits. Us Dwarves, Elves, and Dryads."
In the end, the Black Dragon Child was also involved, but in that child's case, there's no sense of territory yet. Fortunately, the slope with the nest and the entrance to the Silver Mine are in different places, so when he becomes an adult... even if the adult age is fifteen like a human, it'll still take ten thousand years... and becomes able to make judgments before and after, will we talk about territory... I wonder?
"With demons too..."
"Yeah, so this is absolutely just between us."
"I understand."
Since Alex is looking at me, the Chieftain and the Dragonewts all look at me.
I'm telling you, the ones who first talked with the demons were Henry-sama and the others.
Gnome also said he would go. However, since Gnome doesn't know the exact location, he ended up being teleported by Alex after all.
The place we jumped to was near the foot of the mountain where the Silver Mine in the Northeastern Forest is. There were several Elves there too.
"What the! Dwarf! Jumping here all of a sudden with a large group... te... te, eh? Could it be, Dra-Dragonewts? And Gnome? What on earth is going on?"
It seems several of them inherited the memories of the site foreman, and the number of those who speak like middle-aged men is increasing.
"Yo! It seems Gnome and the Dragonewt Chieftain and others want to see the [Anti-Magic Material] we make."
"Even if they want to see it, there are secrets."
"I know. I won't show the final part involving the Elves."
"W-What, I see. You startled me. Then, shall I call the Prince or the Elder?"
"Yeah, that would be a help."
And so, we were allowed to tour the [Anti-Magic Material] factory under the presence of the Prince and the Elder. Since the mortar is an Elf monopoly, it was only the stone material, but since what the Dragonewts will make is stone material, it was just right.
The stone material cut by the Dwarves in the Central Mountain Range is teleported by the [Teleportation Circle] set up by Beatrix. Apparently, they purposely teleport it to use it as a smokescreen so the processing plant isn't known. They cut it into quite large sizes at the quarry. I saw it being teleported, and it's the size of a rock rather than a stone. That is cut to the necessary size and shape in the Northeastern Forest, smeared with paint made from slug slime, dried, and then stacked in several layers. Since the slug farm is here and the Elves are making the [Anti-Magic Mortar] to stick the stone materials together, it's probably just right. And in response to orders from the Sertoria Royal Family, including those from outside like the Medioland Royal Capital Grand Cathedral, the finished products are apparently sent directly to the locations specified by the customers via [Translate]. I also learned this for the first time.
After showing them around, there were several questions from the Dragonewts, and Alex answered. At that time, Alex asked the Dragonewts.
"The Dragonewt Village is underground. And I hear you're digging an incredibly deep vertical hole that connects to the foot of the mountain. I think there would be large stones and such that came out when you dug."
"There are. Since there's a lot, it's like a small mountain."
"Where exactly is it?"
"The south side of this mountain range... east of the Earth Dragon's cave. There's a terrain with steps, right? Before, the Demon Lord's army had built a simple fortress there temporarily. Now, did humans do it with the cooperation of the Dryad? Trees are being planted."
There certainly was. The high-ranking demon and the Ruined Town had built a hideout and were raising spiders. That place should be under surveillance now because there's a possibility that the Demon Race might reuse it. Besides, after digging it up once and making it a vacant lot, I asked Serena to plant trees. As expected of a Dragonewt. He knows well.
"Humans and a Dryad? Does Jeanne know?"
Alex is asking.
"Yes. I'm one of the parties involved."
"Is the Dryad Serena?"
"Yes."
"I see, then I guess we can't dig that place up."
Among the soil and sand dug up, there must be plenty that can be made into stone material. It's easier to dig that up. Alex seemed to be aiming for that. However, since Serena planted trees, she would definitely be angry if we dug without permission.
"Does Jeanne know that land?"
This time the Vice-Chieftain asked me.
"Yes. I participated in the conquest of the fortress built by those monsters, and I saw the tree planting the Chieftain mentioned with my own eyes."
When I explained that it was like this and that, the Vice-Chieftain looked at the Chieftain.
"Chieftain. What shall we do? Why don't we just have this Jeanne act as a mediator?"
Mediator? What is he talking about?
"Hmm. That's true."
This time both of them look at me.
"Uh, what is it? I have no discretionary power, so if it's just a message..."
According to the Chieftain, the Dragonewt race is planning to escape from the long-continued life of being cooped up on the mountain and build a fortress at the foot of the mountain for the next generation to live in. The planned site is apparently on the step created when they dug the hole they currently live in. However, no matter how you look at it, the tree planting involving the Dryad would be in the way.
"I thought the agreement of both the Sertoria Royal Family and Serena... the Dryad living to the west of that land, would be necessary."
"Aren't the Sertoria royals at the base? They should be waiting for Jeanne's return."
It's as Alex says. As for Serena, we won't know unless we talk to her directly.
"Hmm. Vice-Chieftain, can I count on you?"
"Understood. I shall go. I have never been to that base. Dwarf, you will guide me, won't you?"
The Vice-Chieftain looks happy. It's probably because he can go to the exchange base that's a topic among the young ones.
"I don't mind. What about Jeanne?"
"Ah, yes. I'll go."
Dragonewts and I gather around Alex. However, the Chieftain doesn't come.
"Is the Chieftain not going?"
"I am fine."
When I looked at the Vice-Chieftain, he shrugged.
"It's probably because there are criminals who haven't fully atoned for their sins yet."
"Umu. As the Chieftain, I cannot meet them."
He says with a sour face at the Vice-Chieftain's words.
Honestly, why is he being so formal? Just go hug your grandchild once.
"Um, is that criminal currently serving their sentence?"
"That's right."
"Do you not conduct inspections to see if they are serving their sentence seriously?"
"Inspections?"
"Yes. This is in the case of humans, but we conduct inspections to see if a criminal serving a sentence for a serious crime is truly reflecting. If we see no sign of reflection, we might even execute them immediately. Since the punishment of a high-ranking person is changed to execution, the person conducting the inspection must also be a person of corresponding status. That's probably because if there's a mistake, they won't be able to take responsibility. There will be some reserve for that too. I think such an inspection should be carried out by the person in charge."
I stare into the Chieftain's eyes.
"Speaking as the one who proposed this punishment, an inspection by the person in charge is necessary. After all, the person serving the sentence includes someone who could be the Chieftain of somewhere."
Gnome took over well. In other words, the baby that was born also becomes a subject of inspection.
"That's also true. I cannot bear the responsibility. Chieftain, these are Gnome's words, what will you do?"
The Vice-Chieftain also spoke while feigning a particularly solemn expression. Next to him, the Chieftain's younger brother is nodding grandly.
"..."
He fell silent with his arms crossed.
In the end, triggered by Gnome saying to go again, the Chieftain decided to go on an inspection himself. He himself is making a sour face as if it's a nuisance. However, it seems he can't deceive his relatives, and the younger brother behind him is grinning.
"Chieftain, shall we return to the village once? The Wife is waiting. It's better to go together than to go separately."
"That's right. Brother, it's a strict inspection. It's official business, so it's better to wear formal clothes."
The Chieftain is wearing purple-dyed [Green Marble].
"I understand."
And so, it was decided that he would have an official meeting with his grandchild, not in secret.
After returning to the Chieftain's house and talking to the Wife, he said, "Then, I shall change," and hurried into the back.
"Everyone, let me say this as the mother of the criminal. Thank you very much."
She thanked us while being mindful of the back.
"It would be good if he could hold him."
"I will make him hold him. Otherwise..."
She strikes her right fist into her left palm.
A mother at such a time is truly strong.
Since prior notice is necessary, the humans and spirits returned to the base first via Gnome's [Teleport].
When I explained to Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama, they were happy that the negotiation was settled.
"It went well. Thank you very much."
"Alex talked to them well. And surprisingly, the Vice-Chieftain actively supported it."
"We must thank the Vice-Chieftain individually."
I look at Magdalena-sama.
"To celebrate the conclusion of this contract, let's send celebratory gifts to the Chieftain and Vice-Chieftain in my name."
"Silver weapons?"
"That's right. Let's send a spear to the Chieftain and a two-handed sword to the Vice-Chieftain. They are made by Elves. Anticipating such a thing, I had custom-made items with jewels studded in steel handles prepared."
They are made mainly of steel except for the blade so that even Dragonewts can use them. Such Elf-made weapons are the highest-priced products for Elves.
"That's good. What about Gnome and Alex who worked hard?"
"As usual. Since it's from the Royal Family, Jeanne's mead for Gnome, and top-quality Finis for Alex. Yes, three barrels each should be fine."
Actually, my mead is bought up by the Sertoria Royal Family and others for special orders for Serena, Renata, Gnome, and female demons.
"I understand. Thank you."
"Understood."
It's an immediate decision.
However, that's not all. The Dragonewts will come in about two hours. In the meantime, we have to contact various parties about the new Dragonewt fortress.
As for the King, there's no problem since Henry-sama has full authority. The problem is Serena. Since there's a clone in the Dryad's Forest in the Royal Capital region, I contacted her from there and had her come in person. The negotiation is by Eleanor-sama.
"You're going to move the trees I went to the trouble of planting? Moreover, it's early summer now."
Serena's expression becomes thin.
If it were right after planting, it would be one thing, but many years have passed. They must have taken root long ago.
"I don't think it's right away. And it hasn't been decided that they'll be moved. It might be underground. Could you at least talk to the Dragonewts?"
"I understand."
At Eleanor-sama's words, she accepted with a look that said it couldn't be helped.
Well, the Dragonewts seemed to be considerate, so it shouldn't turn out badly.
The new Dragonewt fortress will be north of Nakanohara. We have to go talk to Violet and Gigant, whose territories will be close. We rode in the super-high-speed bowl and first met Violet.
"It's north-northwest of where Gigant and the others are. Since it's at the foot of the Central Mountain Range, it'll be across the mountain from where Gigant and the others live."
Eleanor-sama takes out the map Bonnie has and explains to Violet.
Topographically, it's at the end of the valley across the somewhat high mountain zone beyond the stream north of the low mountain zone that starts from the northern end of Nakanohara Lake. It's exactly at the northern end of the marshland where the Orcs of the former Demon Lord's army remnants have formed several groups, and Sertoria is making it a high-alert area. If you go west along that valley, there are the back entrances to the Earth Dragon's cave and the cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected, and further west is Serena's forest. To the east, the marshland where the Demon Lord's remnant Orcs live spreads to some extent, and then there's a low mountain area where wild Orcs live... in the north of the flatlands, a tacit non-aggression state has been established with the wild Orcs... and further east is Little Serena's forest. And it becomes Higashinohara, and after passing through the plains along the highway leading to the Royal Capital region, it finally connects to the western end of the Northeastern Forest.
It's separated from Gigant and the others by a somewhat high mountain zone, and from Violet and the others by a further low mountain zone. However, the other side is powerful and flies freely in the sky.
"As long as they don't cross the mountain. They probably won't lay a hand on the Orcs anyway, and as long as they don't interfere with us, it's not a problem."
Violet agreed. Next, Gigant had the same thought. If that's the case, we decided to take Violet and Gigant along and have them talk directly. If the Dragonewts said something unreasonable, we'd have Serena also raise a complaint and have the Dragonewts give up.
When we returned to the exchange base, the Chieftain and the Dragonewts soon came flying. The Chieftain and the Wife went to monitor the criminals with Gnome and the Dryad of the Royal Capital region. The Vice-Chieftain, the Chieftain's younger brother, and the young ones had a discussion at the exchange base.
The discussion itself proceeded very smoothly. Originally, the Dragonewts hunted around the middle of the Central Mountain Range, so there was no territorial dispute in that sense. Orcs also don't enter places where Dragonewts hunt. In that point, Violet's reading was correct. And since the population is small, they said they wouldn't cross the mountain area to come south. This is a relief. Not only that, they seemed surprised that the human side was speaking up for Violet and Gigant as a matter of course, and the Vice-Chieftain in particular was very impressed.
And even if they say they'll build a fortress, it's not a huge thing. It's not like they'll clear the land completely; most of the trees Serena planted seemed like they would be left as they are. From what I heard of the explanation to Serena, they had apparently decided to some extent after actually looking at the terrain and such. More than anything, the Dragonewts themselves dislike cutting down forests. They seem to be moving some, but the Dragonewts had found a relocation destination first. Since it's not that far away, Serena also seemed convinced, and it was settled well.
When the negotiation was settled, they contacted the Chieftain. Since the gifts were already prepared, we had him come.
The Chieftain seemed somewhat awkward, but since the Wife was smiling, he must have been able to hold his grandchild. He seems to have been nervous, as he has a hand towel in his hand as if he's broken a sweat. When the gifts were presented by Henry-sama, who has full authority, the Wife secretly told me that it was a hand towel with embroidery that the Princess had made for her father during her pregnancy.