Chapter 774 - Chapter Ten: Threat from the East
The green leaves of several large oak trees on the hill grew lushly, creating shade under the clear sky and providing a moment of coolness to those beneath them.
It was the height of summer. Wearing a helmet and chain mail was exhausting due to the weight and heat. Even if not in battle, when the entire army is on standby, one would want to take them off and relax at the fortress. If that's not possible, at least one would want to escape the heat near a small stream in a grove or forest. Perhaps thinking so, an army was stationed in the forest surrounding the small hill.
That army was stationed in the western part of West Liber. It was a region slightly west of the forest that served as the border with the neighboring country, East Liber. Heading north on the highway passing the foot of the hill leads to a large town currently occupied and commanded by the King of East Liber. Heading east leads to a large river that serves as the border between East and West Liber. And, looking south from the top of the hill, there is a large town ruled by a great noble who governs the surrounding area. Currently, that town is surrounded by the East Liber army.
The army in the forest was positioned to secure the rear of the besieging allies and prevent the north and south from being divided.
"It will fall soon, Father."
Duke of Roland Richard said while gazing at the town that could be seen from the shade of the trees.
Black smoke was rising from several places in the town. Facing an invasion by an army nearly twice its size, with no sign of reinforcements, and with traitors appearing, its fall... or more accurately, its surrender... was imminent.
"Indeed. Your preparations have borne fruit."
The one who answered was King Seldic of Engrio.
The Engrio army had been on campaign since spring.
The main army led by the King of East Liber set out under the guise of a rescue mission after the town they had captured three years ago was besieged by the West Liber army. During that time, the Engrio army led by King Seldic and the army of Duke of Roland Richard invaded the northeastern coast of West Liber to pin down the main West Liber army from the Duchy of Roland, and captured several towns. And, they showed signs of advancing further west.
Meanwhile, the West Liber army besieging the town immediately sent messengers to the West Liber royal palace requesting reinforcements. However, the West Liber royal palace, as it had three years ago, was wary of Seldic and Richard's diversion and did not attempt to set out from the capital. And, behind such actions, there was a certain rumor. It was that the great noble leading the West Liber army surrounding the town was making a secret deal with the East Liber army. And, they were actually making a deal.
The goal of the East Liber army was, roughly speaking, the region to the west of the Duchy of Roland, and the granary belt and large towns stretching south from there. Among the regions geographically divided into four from the north, it was an ambitious plan to seize the northern three, and if realized, the entire border line would move significantly to the west. And, as for the southernmost region, since the terrain on both banks of the river serving as the border with East Liber was steep, they chose negotiation instead of occupation. After invading and killing the lord, they would let the West Liber army reoccupy it. By doing so, they tried to have the West Liber great noble annex it. That role was handled not by the King's direct army, but by the army led by the great nobles of southern East Liber. They were the ones who actually finalized the deal, and they had been promised by the King of East Liber that they would be given the lands newly acquired in this war.
They could seize territory as easily as possible and furthermore, immediately create a state of non-aggression.
On the other hand, the West Liber army was primarily composed of the great noble who held territory in southeastern West Liber, who had set out to recapture the town taken by East Liber three years ago. His territory was south of the region currently being fought over. He received a request for recapture from the King, moved his army north, joined with the local lord, and besieged the town. The relatives of the local lord whose town had been taken thought they could get it back as it was if they recaptured it, and the great lord who led the reinforcements also thought it would become his... or at least his territory would increase somewhere. The original request from the King of West Liber was ambiguous, which caused a discrepancy and led to a lack of communication. As a result, the stalemate continued without successful coordination.
In the Kingdom of West Liber, the royal power is very weak and great nobles in various regions hold sway. Especially at the time of succession to the throne, great nobles from various regions even engage in diplomatic negotiations with other countries to compete. Even in this war with East Liber, the great noble who controls southwestern West Liber has not moved his army on the grounds that preparations against the pagan country to the west are necessary. The northern nobles do not move their troops on the grounds of being wary of the allied forces of Engrio and Roland. In reality, only the nobles of the region around the capital, the central part of the country, had declared their participation, and a state of national unity was far from being hoped for. The King was constantly troubled by which noble was connected to other countries, and feared that the capital might be occupied while he was on campaign.
In such a situation, Seldic and Richard easily handed over the lands they had fought for and occupied to the general sent from the East Liber capital, moved south to join the King of East Liber's army, and went to the rescue of the besieged town. As a result, the West Liber army that had been conducting the siege had to face both the army led by the King of East Liber and the joint Engrio-Roland army. Seeing it as disadvantageous, they broke the siege and retreated south. And, more than half of the East Liber army and the Engrio-Roland allied army pursued them south and besieged one town. Seldic and Richard took up positions on the current hill of the besieging army. It is expected that if that town falls, the prospect of occupying the third region from the north, which was in the original plan, will be established. The ones who will achieve merit here are the nobles from southern East Liber. The two knew their roles well.
"Will you return home once that town falls, Father?"
Richard asked his father, Seldic.
"That is the plan. If our army is on the White Island, the King of West Liber will also be wary."
Engrio's naval power is particularly famous. In capturing the peninsula part currently called the Duchy of Germania, which was part of West Liber at the time, they kept the West Liber navy, including privateers, at bay. In battles in the strait with the continent, they can use magic, albeit basic. They shouldn't lose with equal numbers. And, although West Liber and the Duchy of Germania currently have a non-aggression alliance, the Duchy of Germania controls the mouth of the river leading to the West Liber capital. A non-aggression alliance alone cannot prevent the passage of the Engrio navy.
"What about you, Richard?"
"Let's see. I will return home before winter. A little later than you, Father."
"I see. Be careful."
"Thank you."
The meaning of his father's words, 'Be careful,' was to act skillfully and not be suspected by the King of East Liber. His son, Richard, understood that accurately.
The previous invasion of West Liber ended in a state of truce during the conquest due to the spread of plague. The acquired territory was significantly less than the original goal, and there were also coastal areas. As a result, rewards for the southern nobles were insufficient. A rebellion occurred for that reason. It was Richard who suppressed that rebellion with military force and worked to propose a deal for this war to the southwestern West Liber great noble. He cannot afford to be seen as coordinating with the southern nobles who defy the King at every turn.
"By the way, Father."
"What is it?"
"Have you heard the rumors of the empire from the east?"
"Yes, it seems to be quite powerful."
"Yes. It seems to be advancing further and further west."
In the east of the continent, a region that could be called the Far East, a massive empire was rising. Its army is said to be undefeated because it excels in group tactics centered on cavalry led by excellent generals.
"Currently, it seems they are expanding their territory year by year. A few years ago, it seems the country built by the northern pirates who rose up was completely defeated in one battle."
"After that, did the expeditionary force not return to the east? Will they not come for a while?"
"That is true, but the problem is what came after."
"After? Did a civil war break out in the defeated country?"
"No. Plague."
"Plague?"
"Yes. It seems a plague, which is also said to have been carried by that Far Eastern army, is spreading. Since they brought plague along with war, the monotheists seem to fear them as demons from hell."
The empire that arose in the Far East prioritized trade above all else. As a result, a trade network or route connecting the east and west of the continent was established, and people and goods began to move much more rapidly and in larger quantities than before. As a result, various plagues also spread.
"What kind of plague is it?"
"It's called Black Rot Disease or something, and it seems the infected turn pitch black from the tips of their limbs and die."
Turn pitch black? Just like a demon. Seldic thought so.
From what he had heard so far, it seems that when one monsterizes, their body color turns black. Plants are said to turn black when exposed to dense mana. In fact, the Sertoria demon realm is like that. The plants growing in the Demon Lord's cave are also pitch black. Among animals, there are individuals whose original beast fur color is mixed with black, turning gray or silver. Insects like spiders are pitch black except for some.
"Can it be cured with conventional treatment?"
"It seems there is no cure."
"Do you die if you catch it?"
"It seems they die early with a very high probability."
"That's troublesome."
"Yes. Eventually, a large amount of Bishop Jeanne's magic water may be needed."
In the end, it comes down to Bishop Jeanne's magic. What will happen if the Bishop dies?
Seldic evaluated Jeanne, who, ignoring precedent, created the opportunity to make a contract with the demons of the demon realm, as having a realistic and flexible way of thinking for a priest. However, unfortunately, she herself has no political ambition at all, but now magic water is completely used as a diplomatic card for the Northwest Coast Treaty. Northern Gram and Finis, which succeeded in mass-producing magic water, are openly using it for diplomacy. And, they are building a strong alliance centered on Medioland, along with Sertoria, Regnentes, and Primordia, which have silver mines. Seldic also felt it was a pity that Jeanne's existence now stood as one of the major obstacles to the unification of the White Island that he aimed for.
She doesn't fall even if offered profit, and yet he can't kill her either.
"How far has it come now?"
"It seems to be unexpectedly fast. According to the information that arrived from the old man this morning, it crossed south from that country of pirates, moved from the grasslands to the desert, and began to spread in the countries of the monotheists in the desert."
"It's really fast."
"Yes. A report has apparently come in that it might cross the Inner Sea and land in South Liber around next year."
The reason Richard sent scouts to the east was originally because he wanted information on the empire that had arisen in the Far East and was continuing to expand its territory to the west. Eventually, a request for reinforcements will come from the eastern nations to East Liber. He had thought so, but unexpectedly he ended up bringing information about the plague. He had thought about having them withdraw, but he decided to have them gather information after hearing the opinion of the old man, the national chancellor. The old man insisted that he wanted an agenda to be submitted from the Duchy of Roland at the plague countermeasure meeting held annually in Germania. The old man thought that by bringing such information early, they should warn neighboring countries and stop the repeated wars. He believes that unless they unite, they cannot resist the westward advance of the Far Eastern empire or the spread of the plague. Hearing that, Richard tried to laugh it off as being too worried, but stopped. It's not that he believed the old man's pessimistic observation. It's because he thought he could use it as a bargaining chip with the King of East Liber.
"Is there not a meeting of plague countermeasure officials in Germania this year as well?"
"Probably. If it is held, I will have our official put in information about the Black Rot Disease, so it will be the highlight of this year."
"As fast as ever."
"I'd hate to turn into a monster and die from plague."
"That's true. Shall our country also take action?"
"I hope so. Currently, I am having the old man summarize it at the royal palace."
"Is that why you didn't have him join the campaign?"
"Yes."
The old man was the chancellor of the Duchy of Roland and also Richard's tutor. Since he boldly stood at the front of the line even when he went to war despite being a former priest, he had often been treated as a vice-commander, but this time, since Seldic was coming, Richard is the vice-commander.
"Then, I shall tell the people of our capital's Great Church that it is information from the National Chancellor of the Duchy of Roland. And that our country should also start gathering information."
"Thank you."
Richard is not a pessimist. There is some thought behind his gathering of plague information. Seldic thought so and decided to cooperate.
"Shall I leave someone behind when I return home?"
He is the Crown Prince of Engrio. Not a few eastern nobles have expectations of Richard. The one named would be emboldened.
"Then, Sir Boltz."
"You've taken a liking to him."
Seldic, hearing the name, asked while laughing, and Richard, seeing that, also nodded while laughing.
Class of 175 Management Scale (excluding personal assets such as cash and jewels)
・Shops: Main Shop (Nakanohara, Kingdom of Sertoria), Shop No. 2 (Village near the Sertoria border in eastern Regnentes), Shop No. 3 (Sertoria Royal Capital), Shop No. 4 (Flatlands), Temporary Shop (Primordia), Shop No. 5 (Vectis Island), Shop No. 6 (Sertoria Royal Capital Downtown Shop), Shop No. 7 (Sertoria Royal Capital Magic Tool Shop)
・Free Passage and Free Commercial Rights: Medioland, Regnentes, Finis, Northern Gram, Primordia, Engrio, Morandine
・Special Passage Permit: Primordia
・Fields: Eight fields (including buildings with farm functions)
・Livestock: Goats, sheep, pigs, a few
・Contract Animals: Eight honeybee colonies
Chapter Thirty-One End
Chapter 31 has ended. Thank you very much for reading this far.
Thank you for newly registering bookmarks, maintaining them, evaluating, and giving likes. I would like to express my gratitude once again.
Here is an announcement.
For a while from the end of the year, I will be staying in an environment where I cannot use the internet as usual. And, I have not yet finished writing all the stories for the next chapter. Even if I do a scheduled post, it will be interrupted in the middle of the chapter and become half-baked. Therefore, after posting one side story on Friday, I will take a hiatus for about 1-2 months until I return to an environment where I can use the internet. And, I will resume posting when I return to an environment where I can use the internet.
I wanted to post continuously, but it seems my strength was not enough.
I am truly sorry to those who have continued to read, but please wait a little.
Regarding the resumption of posting, I will inform you in the activity report. It will take some time until then. Thank you very much for your kind support.