Chapter 785 - A Ray of Hope from the Dragonewt Village
They were arguing quite a bit before summarizing, but in general, they summarized with the opinions of the person from southern West Liber and the person from further east of East Liber. They will issue a warning to various countries. However, specifically, it became a bit weaker as it was decided to request the early blockade of borders and isolation at ports from the leadership of various countries. And it was decided to strongly request the church—this church is generally divided into three religions: the monotheism that the Kingdom of Liber tried to spread before it split, the traditional polytheism that the nobles of Engrio and the commoners of Roland believe in, and the polytheism centered on the Goddess that is believed in on the White Island and in Sertogne—to stop the war between East and West Liber.
Theresia-sama, the lord of the host country, is a vassal of the King of East Liber. However, this war is in a completely different place, and she has a non-aggression alliance with West Liber. She received applause for saying she wanted to stand in the place of mediation toward an early ceasefire. And for that purpose, she requested the participants to expect further information sharing and efforts in each country in the future. Also, she concluded that she would perceive the spread of Black Rot Disease as her own country's problem, partly because she has territory at the mouth of the river that connects to the West Liber Capital and goes further inland, and at the same time, she wants to establish a magic water transport system utilizing maritime transport.
Initially, she didn't seem to have that much of a sense of crisis, but at her attitude, which could be called a sudden change, the scholars gave praise, saying 'as expected of Theresia-sama'. Seeing Anri-sama nodding greatly while being the first to send grand applause along with Yorg-sama, there must have been some suggestion.
On the other hand, a buzz that could be called disappointment was rising from the merchants participating as observers. This is probably because there is a possibility that the trade networks of various countries will temporarily stagnate.
The Great Unity Conference closed its curtain in that way.
When we returned to Primordia after the conference ended, Beatrix's mass transport experiment was in the middle of being conducted. I parted with Mary here.
The experiment was from the isolation facility in Primordia to the isolation facility on the island that was once a prisoner-of-war camp in Harmonia, and the mass transport of water was apparently successfully achieved. Now, they are apparently verifying if the effect remains unchanged after transporting a large amount of magic water. Fortunately or unfortunately, several patients with 'just a disease' seem to have been temporarily stopped in Sertogne on their way to Sertoria, and it seems experiments targeting them are possible. Note that this will apparently be done free of charge by Primordia and Sertogne.
"Is it going well?"
I tried asking Beatrix herself.
"I can make it jump. Originally it's advanced, right? On the continent, it's two grades lower, so it's beginner class, but the transport volume per unit of time seems to be significantly different compared to before."
She apparently made the water jump several times faster than a normal magic circle. As expected of Gnome's apprentice.
That means a considerable amount can be jumped continuously. She'll be able to fill a water tank much larger than a large barrel in one night. Currently, in the Duchy of Naonent in southern Sertogne, where magic water is jumped by normal Teleport in preparation for an emergency, it seems they expect to be able to jump a similar amount. This is quite promising.
In my opinion, the effect will be the same, with only the quantitative issue being different. If so, two weeks of transport time can be saved from the Duchy of Naonent. Amazing.
"The problem is the fee. What should we do?"
To be honest, it's currently a Beatrix-exclusive magic. In other words, she can set it as she likes. Because of the way she learned Teleport, it's rare for young people to learn Teleport. In fact, she shouldn't have taken any apprentices at this point.
"Actually, I've got an apprentice."
"Eh? Really?"
She's grinning. Beatrix is now a master too.
"Isn't that amazing? From Regnentes?"
"Hmm, no, that's not it."
If it's not Regnentes, where is it? Sertoria? It's not Eleanor-sama, is it?
"Umm, this is just between us."
"Yeah, I understand. Shall we take a Vow of Silence?"
"It's okay. I trust you."
"Thank you. So, who?"
"Umm, a Dragonewt."
"Eh?"
What is that? That proud Dragonewt apprenticed to a human?
"Yep, and to think that proud Dragonewt apprenticed to me, a human."
"Wait a minute! You apprenticed to a Dragonewt, didn't you?"
"Yeah, to the Chieftain."
That's also quite an amazing thing, but...
"And you know, when we were digging holes together, I said, 'Shall I jump the excess soil somewhere far away?'"
At that time, a young Dragonewt who saw that power and had heard that Beatrix was apprenticed to Gnome apparently volunteered. Of course, he can use Teleport. However, since there's a weight limit, he said he wanted a method for long-distance transport.
Incidentally, his wife is apparently pregnant.
"Look, the Dragonewts are planning to come down from the mountain, right? They're digging holes after all. And the Dragonewts with the earth attribute are in charge, but it seems there's a limit with earth magic alone."
So, he apparently said he wanted to learn the mass transport method.
"Is there a reward?"
"Of course. It's the 'something good' I mentioned earlier."
I see. So that's how it connects.
"And you know, it's an extension of the apprenticeship. The stacking of anti-magic materials isn't finished yet. I was also allowed to help there."
"Is the magic school in Regnentes okay?"
"It's on break until April. I'll go during that time. I'll spend this winter over there. I've already got permission from the King."
"What about the village?"
"I'm sorry, but I've asked Harold-sama."
I see. No wonder she hasn't shown her face lately. Harold-sama likes Beatrix quite a bit, and she's treated almost like a granddaughter. He must be cooperating.
"You're busy, aren't you?"
"I guess so. But Shop No. 7 seems to have gotten on track too, so I'll work hard for one more year. It's all earth attributes, though."
She's shrugging her shoulders, but she looks satisfied. Good.
The first experiment to see if the effect is preserved was judged to have no problem with immediate effectiveness, despite jumping at twice the speed of normal Teleport. After that, it's the duration, but that won't be known until two weeks have passed.
"I hope it goes well."
"Truly."
"Speaking of which, how was it on your end? I heard from Eleanor-sama why you're doing this. It's meaningless if you're not taken seriously at the conference, right?"
"It's not that I wasn't taken seriously. It seems it will be decided to request the leaders of countries to stop the war between East and West Liber through diplomacy, block borders and ports, and isolate those who wish to cross."
"Will kings and nobles move when there's no damage?"
More than that, the merchant crowd might even oppose it.
"Those kinds of people will use money to move important people."
There's a companion who is actually poking a foot into such things. It's a very possible story.
After waiting for the results two weeks later, they will apparently conduct the next experiment. Next is finally the direct sending to the Duchy of Naonent in southern Sertogne. It's the place I went to before, where there's a church near the border with West Liber, and I met three nobles who were enthusiastic about disease countermeasures. Someone from there had also come to this year's Great Unity Conference. If this becomes possible, magic water will be sent by ship as usual to the White Island and the opposite shore, and by Beatrix's Teleport to the inland of Sertogne. It can cover quite a wide area.
Regardless of the regions it can't be transported to, I want to save the regions that can be saved.
Of course, it's not even known if magic water works on Black Rot Disease.
"Isn't that experiment more important?"
"It is. But you know, we can't bring in epidemic patients when we don't know if magic water works."
"That's right. It's too dangerous."
"I wonder what we should do?"
"I don't know. But the King and others are thinking about it, right? Why not leave it to them? And you make the magic water."
"Right. I'll do that."
I guess we have no choice but to steadily build up what we can do.
With a somewhat depressed feeling, I left Primordia and returned to Nakanohara.
It was during the banquet for the celebration after finishing the recovery of the Northeastern Forest that month. Eleanor-sama called me.
"What is it?"
Next to Eleanor-sama is Henry-sama—that's as usual—but Alex is also there. Something's up.
"Regarding the Chieftain's Daughter of the Dragonewts, it seems the baby has successfully spoken words."
That's a cause for celebration! With this, the future of the Dragonewts will be bright.
"That's good, isn't it?"
The Lich must be proud too. The result of two thousand years of shut-in research is saving the legendary Dragonewts from extinction. It's almost like a fairy tale, isn't it!
"As a result, having obtained an exemption from that rule-breaking, it seems the couple has finally made a temporary homecoming to the Dragonewt Village."
The Chieftain's cheeks must have been loose the whole time.
"A formal letter of congratulation was sent from the current His Majesty, and the Chieftain said he wanted to do something in return."
There was such a talk. Alex is also in front of me, so maybe the amount of sake made by the Dragonewts that we handle will increase? However, if that's the case, Matilda at the main shop is the window. It's not me.
"So, I'm wondering if we can ask for cooperation in the experiment to see if magic water works on that Black Rot Disease, but what do you think, Jeanne?"
In short, the idea is to have the Dragonewts fly to the continent, find someone who seems to have Black Rot Disease, snatch them away, and soak them in magic water. It's quite rough, but it would be an effective experiment.
However, can it be done? The Dragonewts are neutral in the conflict between humans and the Demon Race. If they cooperate in the experiment, wouldn't they be siding with humans?
"Why would neutrality be compromised?"
"Eh? Because Black Rot Disease is the Demon Race's curse..."
"Who clearly said that? Or are there any records remaining?"
"Eh? No, that's... no one has clearly said it, and I haven't heard that any records remain, but..."
"Isn't that so? Establishing a treatment for an epidemic that spreads among humans. This is certainly a great benefit for humans. But there's no guarantee it was set up by the Demon Race, right?"
"If you put it that way, that's true, but..."
"Besides, isn't that a prophecy rather than a curse? It's just something said by the Demon Race who lost to the Ancient Priestess five thousand years ago. A 'curse' is just a metaphor the Elder used so it would be easy for us to understand. Maybe it's a fabrication out of spite for losing. Even if it really was a foresight and a prophecy, a prophecy is just a prophecy. It's not a curse of the Demon Race or anything. In the first place, who can guarantee that the current spread of the epidemic is that?"
Is this okay?
I feel like it's just sophistry...
Alex is clapping his hands and laughing out loud. I have a feeling that the moment this is said to the Chieftain, the talk of a reward will vanish, and it will end with a formal reply being handed over.
"If the talk of a reward vanishes, then so be it, isn't it? As long as we can get a reply addressed to His Majesty, that's enough. Besides, that way we can continue to trade without hesitation in the future. Later, we can just make it a mere funny story about how a human who lacked greed ended up embarrassed."
W-Well, certainly, if you have that much resolve, it might be fine.
In the end, permission from the King was also granted, and we decided to go to the Dragonewt Village. This time, perhaps because it's semi-official, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama were also able to enter the village together. Facing them were the Chieftain, his younger brother on his left, and the Vice-Chieftain. And on his right, the Princess holding the baby, and the Chieftain's wife lined up. Behind them, the Princess's husband, who is the Chieftain's son-in-law, was standing by.
"Sorry for the trouble."
The Princess is next to the Chieftain.
When I call out to the baby she's holding, he calls out to his mother. And the Princess is replying with a smile. The baby is chirping 'kyu-kyu'.
He spoke!
"H-He spoke!"
"Thanks to you."
The Princess thanked me while gently pressing the corners of her eyes.
The atmosphere softened all at once. The signal for the revival of the Dragonewt Village has been raised.
"He hasn't called me 'Gramps' yet, though. Well, it's just a matter of time."
His face is crumbling. Moreover, he's trying to get him to call out to him first, in opposition to the baby's father who is standing in the corner.
"I won't let you do that. Because I'm first. Look, it's 'Granny'."
"Don't try to get ahead of me!"
"You, what are you saying in front of the guests?"
"Y-You were the one who first..."
Umm, can you do the lovers' spat somewhere else?
After being made to watch the family harmony for a while, we got to the main topic.
"So, is there a reward you wish for? I cannot do what I cannot do, but I want to respond as much as possible."
"Then, if I may be so bold..."
The Chieftain was momentarily stunned after hearing Eleanor-sama's story.
The Vice-Chieftain and the younger brother, who were standing behind with the son-in-law, put their hands to their mouths and looked down. They aren't angry. In a negotiation, if you laugh at the opponent's sophistry, you lose.
Just in case, the son-in-law and the younger brother were sent to confirm with the Elder. Whether it's a curse or a prophecy. The words they brought back were that it's neither, and it's both. In other words, it's not clear. And he also apparently said that the Great Terror is not necessarily an epidemic.
"Isn't that so? After all, there's no evidence or guarantee. In human history, the spread of epidemics is countless. Many humans have already died. Even if we overcome the current Black Rot Disease, there are epidemics that affect the lungs that cannot be cured by magic water. It's just a confirmation of whether one of those many epidemics can be cured by magic water. Even if it's found to be curable, many will die. It's already like that in the east of the continent. Whether it's foresight, prophecy, or a curse, I don't know, but is the epidemic coming from the far, far east really the curse of the Demon Race that was on the White Island? To me, I really, really don't think so."
While Eleanor-sama was in the middle of her passionate speech, the Princess and the Okugata-sama were frequently opening and closing their mouths toward the baby. Is that the Dragonewt way of amusing a child?
"Vice-Chieftain, what do you think?"
"Rather than saying that the epidemic prevalent among humans living on the continent is the Demon Race's curse, Eleanor-dono's way of speaking is more convincing."
Alright, we've got an ally.
"How about you?"
This time he asked his younger brother.
"Hmm. Even if it is a curse, Jeanne's magic water will be used. Then, it is just a difference of late or early. In any case, if the experiment is conducted on the continent, it will likely not be directly related to the conflict between the Demon Race and humans on the White Island."
That's also true. Even if it's effective, if the experiment Eleanor-sama proposed cannot be done in the far south, it will be done in Sertogne and Germania. It will probably be done in East and West Liber and Roland too. In terms of the impact on the White Island, it's the same in the end.
At that moment, the voice of the baby calling 'Gramps' was heard.
"W-What did he say?"
The Chieftain, having heard the baby's call again, is now just a gramps. He roared with joy, nearly in tears, and as a result, the startled baby started crying.
"Oh, sorry. Sorry. It's not scary anymore."
While watching the gramps doing 'high-high', the Princess and the Okugata-sama smiled and winked at me together. There were allies here too. It seems Gramps... I mean, the Chieftain, has also fallen.