Chapter 764 - Chapter 6: Negotiations with the Dragonewt Race ④
Since the negotiation with the Dragonewts was settled well, we returned to Medioland. I have to tell Price-sama that mass production of [Anti-Magic Material] has become possible. The payment to the Dwarves will be liquor, but money is needed to buy it. However, the Dragonewts didn't look very happy about the field positions to be built inside the Demon Realm. But it's an encirclement nonetheless, and it doesn't lead to cutting down the forest. In the first place, encircling the entire Demon Realm would take too much time and money. It can only be done in a small-scale Demon Realm like Morandine. However, the Dragonewts seem to think that a fortress built inside a Demon Realm and a defensive wall that encircles the Demon Realm to separate humans and monsters are clearly different, and they wrote a letter to the Grand Archbishop, who is the commander-in-chief of the measures against the Demon Lord's army. I have to deliver that too.
"A letter addressed to the Grand Archbishop from the Dragonewt Chieftain?"
He seemed surprised, as expected. He knew about the involvement with the Dragonewts only through the Henry Party.
"What exactly is the content?"
"Well..."
Eleanor-sama began to explain.
The Chieftain confirmed the content of the negotiation after the inspection was over, but after finishing listening, he added an additional condition. He said the materials made by the Dragonewts should be used for the encirclement of the Morandine Demon Realm.
"Will you use them separately?"
"Yes. Apparently, they'll put a [Dragonewt Seal] on the ones made by Dragonewts."
"I don't think Morandine is at that stage yet."
Right now, they are at the stage of digging a dry moat and circling it with earthworks. It's fine now because it's a time when agricultural earth magic isn't needed that much, but once summer is over, it will be needed in earnest. When that happens, a significant number of magic soldiers will return home temporarily. They should be trying hard to dig by then.
"Well, they'll help only with the encirclement of the Demon Realm."
"The Dragonewts?"
He's surprised. I was surprised when I heard it too.
According to the Chieftain, one of the roles of the Dragonewts before they were cooped up was to act as a mediator between dragons and humans. Dragons, except for special existences like the Black Dragon Child, cannot speak human language. They were, so to speak, interpreters, but they also apparently acted as mediators between dragons and humans, who were prone to disputes. That role was lost as the number of dragons decreased extremely. Naturally, disputes with humans also decreased significantly.
However, in the meantime, or rather, in the last few years, humans have established friendships with the dragons of the four attributes, fishing and hunting and having banquets with the water and wind dragons, practicing swordsmanship and having banquets with the fire dragons, and even building a training ground and having banquets before and after training with the earth dragon, and they've started getting along very well.
It seems the Dragonewts feel they owe a debt to humans. They said they'd help. The Chieftain said.
"How about the reward?"
"They said they don't need it for Morandine. If we do other places, they'll think about it then. I think the items handled at the exchange base would be fine."
The highlights of humans, who are dexterous and good at devising, are processed foods like bread, dried meat, cheese, and jam, as well as liquor and furniture. Following those are [Green Marble] and sweets.
"Do the Dragonewts intend to show themselves to people in Morandine?"
"Yes, but I think it would be better to have the magic soldiers of each country return home and leave everything to the Dragonewts. When autumn comes, the busy farming season will arrive, so especially the earth magic users should do that. I think it would be fine to have them come again around November. The Dragonewts would also dislike humans coming to watch. But I think a greeting to welcome them would be fine."
"In other words, they'll put their name out but won't do it publicly?"
"It seems so. I think it's a restraint against both the Demon Race and humans."
"They will cooperate regarding the boundary, right?"
"Probably."
I haven't given an answer yet. Because Sertoria isn't doing it alone. The materials the Dragonewts will make are yet to come. According to Alex's estimate, it will take quite a long time. If that's the case, once July comes, wouldn't it be better to take a break and have only the Dragonewts do the hole digging?
"Dragonewts had a connection with humans, so they are monsters but exceptional existences. There's no record of them fighting the Demon Lord's army with humans, but then again, there's no history of them being hostile either. They are treated as beastmen, so some people might not think of them as monsters. I don't think there will be a problem, but I will talk to the Grand Archbishop immediately. Once permission is granted, it'll be coordination with Morandine."
"Thank you. I've been told they want an answer in about a month."
"I understand."
If the Church agrees, that means the Church and the Dragonewts will join hands. And as for how much the cooperation with the legendary Dragonewts will affect the world, unfortunately, their name recognition is low among humans currently living. The Boy King of Morandine is a party involved, but he probably doesn't know.
After seeing off Price-sama, who was returning to the Medioland Royal Capital to talk with the Grand Archbishop, we decided to raid the Wyvern nest and eradicate them. Because we can turn the stone materials we were saving for Morandine over here. Since the schedule was moved forward, we'll start the first phase of construction of the western fortress. We spent a whole day subjugating Wyverns, and after a day's rest, we dug holes at night.
A few days after returning to reconnaissance after the first phase of construction was over, a letter arrived for Eleanor-sama from Price-sama. In short, it seems the Church will accept the Dragonewts' offer. However, they won't make it public at this point.
Originally, it was a thank-you for the fact that dragons and humans started getting along. It's private, if you will, and in the first place, the Church has nothing to do with it. Moreover, since it's a story of only one place in Morandine... although it's on a very large scale, it's not a story of a contract or an agreement. It's like a middle-aged man from the neighborhood came and said, "I was indebted to you the other day, so shall I help you?" while we were doing civil engineering work.
"A letter will be sent to the Grand Cathedrals of each country saying it's okay to move up the temporary return home. Naturally, the Dragonewts are also mentioned for Morandine. Of course, they won't understand anything. They've asked the Henry Party to explain."
It seems to be a request from the Grand Archbishop. Or rather, it means we should take responsibility since we threw in such a story. Even the Church wouldn't be able to explain why such an offer was made.
"Since the letter is expected to be issued tomorrow or the day after, we'll fly tonight. Jeanne, please come with us too."
"I understand. But will I be of any help?"
The negotiation with the Dragonewts was done by Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama under Henry-sama's writing. If a priest is needed, Price-sama is enough. If it's a Sertorian priest, it would be Harris-sama.
"It'll probably come together better if you're there."
I wonder if that's how it is.
Suddenly... again... we ride the super-high-speed bowl to Price-sama's private residence. After joining Price-sama there, we go to the Sertoria Royal Capital Grand Cathedral. After talking with the Grand Archbishop and Harris-sama, Harris-sama also boarded the bowl and we went to the fortress near the Medioland-Morandine border. A carriage was already prepared there. From there, we shook in the carriage for a whole day and finally arrived at the Royal Capital Grand Cathedral. The instructions had already arrived at the Royal Capital Grand Cathedral via the letter transmission magic circle, and when we pulled the carriage up to the entrance, the Head Priest jumped out even though it was night.
The Head Priest clearly doesn't understand the meaning of the instructions that were transmitted. After being shown to the guest room and people were cleared out, he immediately threw questions at Price-sama.
"It says joint work with Dragonewts, but in the first place, what kind of involvement is there with Dragonewts?"
It was just as I thought, and it started from the beginning.
What are Dragonewts? They are monsters. That's how they are defined. And monsters are enemies of the Church. That's what we've been taught. Yet, the Grand Archbishop's instructions say to build a wall to encircle the Demon Realm with those monsters. It's natural to want to confirm. The letter that arrived via the letter transmission magic circle apparently said that the formal document would be brought by Price-sama, so he should ask about anything unclear. The Head Priest seems to have been waiting with his neck craned while tilting his head at the mysterious instructions that suddenly popped up.
"Dragonewts are certainly monsters, but they are different from the monsters under the Demon Lord or the Demon Lord's army."
Price-sama started with the correction of the definition.
From what I heard from the Dragonewts, Dragonewts were like interpreters for humans who couldn't talk to dragons. And not only that, they were trying to be a third force in the struggle between high-ranking demons and humans. Why a third force? It's because it's desirable for humans and the Demon Race to be in a state of equilibrium, and if either one gains hegemony, the winner will get carried away and run wild. That's why.
On the other hand, for the Vice-Demon Lord, humans are the ones who disrupt the island's biota, and if their numbers increase, it's a problem, so they are apparently existences that must be culled to some extent.
I feel like humans are just trying their best to live, but as far as I hear from the spirits, the increase in numbers is a problem, and Serena says that at every opportunity.
"It is clear that the Dragonewts maintain neutrality in the struggle between the Demon Race and humans and are devoting their power to the co-existence and co-prosperity of the White Island. In the past, when dragons were more involved in human life than they are now, they took the role of mediator between humans and dragons who could not communicate, avoiding useless disputes."
The Head Priest is listening to Price-sama's speech in silence. However, it would be better to say he is just surprised rather than listening intently.
"The offer of cooperation from the Dragonewts this time aims to create a state of mutual non-aggression tacitly by clarifying the boundary between the habitats of humans and monsters."
Originally, except for when the Demon Lord is resurrected, there was a mysterious boundary between monsters and humans. But that's more of a story of mountainous regions. In places where the southern plains spread out, setting a boundary itself is difficult. And humans proceeded with logging to secure food. The forest disappeared and the monsters were driven away. In contrast, as a result of humans securing a large amount of food, their numbers increased rapidly. Humans, who could not compete in individual battles, won the battle against monsters and expanded their territory with the power of the group using their numbers. And it has reached the present. Humans have finally become dominant. Since the possibility of solving the problem of the extinction of the species has emerged, it's natural for the Dragonewts to act as mediators.
"Moreover, the Dragonewts' offer is only about the creation of the stone wall... the boundary that encircles the Demon Realm. It has become clear from the point made by Bishop Jeanne here that this boundary can become a defensive wall for the monsters living in the Demon Realm to prevent human offensives when we decided to build it."
Now that you mention it, I feel like I said something like that. Could it be that I was brought here because of that?
"It is clear that the Dragonewts will cooperate in the construction of the encirclement wall this time by standing in a neutral position. Since it meets the teachings of the Goddess, who puts co-existence and co-prosperity as the first principle, the Church cannot refuse this."
Having said this much, Price-sama closed his mouth and looked at the Head Priest. It was as if to say, "How's that?"
"I understand. Then, I will contact the Royal Family regarding the consultation on this matter."
Whether he was convinced or not, the talk moved forward.
We were kept waiting in the Morandine Royal Capital for a whole day, and went to the palace on the morning of the second day of arrival. It was Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Price-sama, the Head Priest, Harris-sama, and me.
During the one day of waiting, the Head Priest seems to have gone to the palace and given a prior explanation. Thanks to that, the discussion at the Morandine Palace was surprisingly quick.
In front of the Boy King sitting on the throne, Price-sama states the Church's view. The content is exactly the same as what he told the Head Priest at the Morandine Royal Capital Grand Cathedral.
The palace side seemed to be thinking about much more realistic things than the conceptual things Price-sama was saying, and the questions were all specific.
The first thing asked was the stance as humans toward the Dragonewts. This is difficult to explain. Fortunately, there are existences like Count Vectis, and we've been getting along since ancient times without being too close or too far, and without any subordinate relationship. And King Seldic of Engrio has signed a non-aggression treaty with the Demon Race. Price-sama said they are not enemies as long as we don't pick a fight. We'll get along.
The second is the reward for building the enclosure. This time it's free, but this is also difficult to explain in various ways. To tell the truth, it would be necessary to touch on the fertility treatment issue, but even the Chieftain didn't say that. I don't want to touch on the secret of the stone material either. But, for example, for the water and wind dragons, the fact that they are fishing and hunting together is known to those in the know on the White Island. Taking advantage of that, he said they started saying they'd help with the boundary creation because they've been getting along particularly well with dragons in recent years. It's a fairly strained explanation, but it's not a lie. After that, the speculation that they might be aiming for the expansion of trade was put forward.
"Well, since Sertoria has people like Bishop Jeanne, such things will happen."
"I see. We would like to be like that too."
The one who agreed with Price-sama's suspicious explanation was Seldic's second son. He must know that I'm getting along with the female demon. Honestly, it's a nuisance to have my name brought up here... and in a way that can't be considered normal... but if the talk came together well, then that's fine.