Chapter 786 - Expedition to Southern Liber
The Chieftain gave his approval. Since this year's Great Unity Conference was held later than usual, near the end of October, it was decided that after the recovery of the Northeastern Forest was over, we would fly to Primordia in the Henry Party's bowl along with the Dragonewts. On the way, we had the Dragonewts hide in the forest near the border with Regnentes, and talked about bringing out the Primordian side there.
The ones who actually came were the King of Primordia, Edward-sama, Sianya, and the Wetlands Priestess.
The location was by a waterfall, and since it was mid-October, the autumn colors were amazing. It could be called a perfect stage for a dramatic meeting between a king of a nation and the Dragonewts.
"I am sorry for having you go to the trouble of coming all this way."
"No, do not mind it."
The Dragonewt was clearly speaking from a superior position, but the King of Primordia didn't pay it any mind and offered his right hand, and they shook hands.
The Dragonewt, who was almost towering over the King of Primordia and Sianya, was the Vice-Chieftain, who had specifically volunteered this time. Compared to the two of them, it's like an adult and a child. Of course, he's a good match for Edward-sama. Edward-sama had come carrying a wine barrel on his right shoulder and a silver spear in his left hand. The Dragonewt smiled lightly upon seeing Edward-sama.
"You look like you can fight."
"No, I'm still far from it."
"Hmm. You are humble. How about it, shall we match once?"
He tapped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Edward-sama was of course also hanging a sword at his waist.
"Is it okay?"
He grinned. He's a warrior in this regard.
Since the King of Primordia was also finding it interesting, it was implemented immediately. Henry-sama volunteered to be the referee. It was a match with real swords between the Dragonewt and Edward-sama. No magic, only swords. A clumsy person would die.
Both sides took a distance and readied their swords. Both were holding their swords in front of them.
"Alright! Come at me!"
"In that case! Uoryaaaa!"
There it is, the true character of the 'Loud Prince'. Even with my ears covered, it still reaches my back.
Gyarinn, gyarinn—unpleasant sounds can be heard. It's too fast to tell what they're doing, but it seems the Dragonewt is receiving Edward-sama's sword.
"Not bad!"
"Still more!"
"Oh! A good strike!"
"It's nothing! From here on!"
Both must be serious. After about a dozen strikes, steam began to rise from Edward-sama's head. The Dragonewt was receiving them with light footwork, as if dancing, frequently changing positions.
After a moment's pause, Edward-sama went for a thrust all at once.
Ginn!
The Dragonewt parried it from right to left with his sword held diagonally in front of his body and stepped forward to the right. Edward-sama proceeded forward just like that and readied his sword as he turned around. Or so Eleanor-sama taught me.
"Stop!"
The referee's voice was called out, and both jumped back and sheathed their swords.
"Edward, how was it?"
The King of Primordia asked.
"How was it, you ask? I was no match for him at all. As expected of the legendary Dragonewts. I am still inexperienced."
"No, your form is good. But you rely too much on physical strength. If you handle the sword so you feel its weight a bit more, you will become even better. If that happens, even I might be in danger."
"Not at all! I am still far from it. Thank you for giving me a lesson today. I shall take your words to heart."
Edward-sama bowed and asked the Dragonewt for a handshake. The Dragonewt also readily responded, and both were tapping each other's shoulders.
This refreshingness. I want a certain 'delinquent prince' to see this.
While drinking the wine Edward-sama had carried, we had a meeting while listening to the sound of the waterfall.
In short, they will snatch away patients using the Dragonewt's flight ability, but someone who understands the disease is needed. As a result of thinking, the one who surfaced was the scholar from southern West Liber who had participated in the Great Unity Conference. Since he's an acquaintance of Anri-sama, we can contact him. Fortunately, he seems to have come to visit Anri-sama in Primordia. In the future, he apparently wants to go to Sertoria, Finis, and Northern Gram to talk about the supply of magic water to southern West Liber. We plan to talk about having that person and the Wetlands Priestess participate. We'll have that person specify a meeting place, and the Wetlands Priestess, carried by the Dragonewt, will join him. After that, the action begins. Initially, I thought I would go too, but I was stopped by them saying 'what if you get infected'.
"Hmm. I had heard the general story, but are you taking a ghost?"
"Yes. If there's a possessing stone, activity on the continent is possible, and if we have the magic water made here, experiments are also possible."
There are other methods too. A method of bringing back a large amount of body fluid samples and confirming the black dots that are the source of the disease with Sight. That would have less risk of infection. But it's just 'less', and it can't be said that there's none at all. After all, it's the source of the disease. It might cause infection.
"Understood. Then let's go with that. But I have never been to the continent. There will be a guide, right?"
Umm, what shall we do?
The guide aside, it was decided to discuss with the scholar from southern West Liber along with Cadogan-sama. The location is Anri-sama's research lab in the isolation ward. We had the Dragonewt hide his form with Camouflage.
"Hmm. It seems the talk went well."
It's Anri-sama. He saw through it even though I hadn't said anything. Sharp as always.
"Umm, shall I step out?"
"I do not mind. Since the main topic starts from here."
Since the King and a whole bunch of royalty entered, the scholar from southern West Liber was hesitant, but Anri-sama held him back.
We introduce each other. The Dragonewt is still hiding his form.
Since the opponent is royalty, the scholar was making a priestly bow while being clearly tense. And knowing that the former King and Queen of Sertoria were also there, he was quite flustered.
"W-What on earth is happening? What kind of thing is the 'main topic' Anri-sama mentioned?"
"Well, calm down. I'll talk about it now. Let's have this while we're at it."
"T-This is my apology."
Since the King of Primordia was saying so with a wine bottle in hand, he became even more tense.
The scholar from southern West Liber was named Ancelotti. He's a priest after all. Of course, he's a non-believer.
I wonder if he'll understand our thinking. That's the worry. After all, he's a monotheist who can't even use magic. However, he needs magic water, and the fact that he's come to Anri-sama's place shows he has a certain level of understanding of our side, which is a saving grace. Since there's no point in saying 'it's a Dragonewt' or 'it's a ghost', we've summarized the story to make it all the work of magic.
Cadogan-sama was the one who talked about the overview. He had apparently already talked with Anri-sama about magic water, and he knows that magic water is not a panacea and that there is currently no means to transport it to his hometown... we haven't talked about it, but even if Beatrix makes a Teleportation Circle and jumps it to the Sertogne border, it's geographically impossible. He must be clutching at straws.
"Priest Ancelotti, what would you do if I said there was a way to confirm if magic water works on Black Rot Disease?"
"Is there such a way?"
"There is, but the cooperation of a local person who can distinguish if it's Black Rot Disease is necessary."
"How about me? I have actually gone to places where patients have appeared and examined them."
"When was that?"
"It was this summer."
Having witnessed the hideousness of Black Rot Disease, he apparently hurried home. After that, he negotiated with the lord for the procurement of magic water. However, at that point, the idea that faith saves one from disease was strong, and the magic of non-believers was not taken seriously. And as a realistic problem, there was no means to transport magic water.
"As you know, those who live on the White Island and some who live in Sertogne use magic."
"Yes. I am aware."
"Magic is a mysterious thing. It can make various things disappear, or significantly change their appearance. It can also call out ghosts and monsters."
"I see, is that so."
"For example, do you know Eleanor-sama here? She is a veteran among veterans who once made a name for herself as the strongest mage on the White Island."
Eleanor-sama smiles.
"Yes, I believe she was the former Queen of Sertoria..."
As expected of a famous person and royalty. Her name is known even to a priest in West Liber. The reason he didn't do a fist pump was probably because it was their first meeting.
"Eleanor-sama, how about it? Will you not show your magic to this gentleman?"
"Understood. Then, I shall call out a powerful monster. It is truly powerful, so please do not offend it."
Eleanor-sama moved her palms flutteringly and snapped her fingers. Then, the Dragonewt deactivated Camouflage and appeared.
"Hie! D-Dragon!"
Just as I thought he'd backed away, he seemed to have lost strength in his legs and collapsed.
"E-Eleanor-sama!"
His voice is cracking.
"It is a race called Dragonewt. Fortunately, we have established a friendly relationship with them."
When he brought his face close to Ancelotti-sama, he smiled while showing his jagged teeth.
"U-Ugh..."
The stimulation was too strong, and he seems to have lost consciousness.
The farce was a complete success, and Ancelotti-sama completely believed in the magic to call out Dragonewts. And the Wetlands Priestess too. Being a priest, he seems sensitive to ghosts, and when she came out of the stone at night, he seemed to be able to see her form. He didn't faint this time.
"They will cooperate. Since Dragonewts can fly through the sky at high speed, they can fly to southern West Liber, no, even to South Liber. And since the Wetlands Priestess is a ghost, she can hide her form and won't be infected even if she approaches patients."
"I see."
"Priest Ancelotti, please guide the two of them. The Priestess will use the magic water made here on the patient. If they are cured, good. If not, let's quickly think of some other way."
"I-I see."
Perhaps the shock was too great, as he's become dazed.
"Before implementation, there is something I want to confirm with the Priest."
"What is it?"
"For example, do you know the route to the strait with the White Island and the Inner Sea? Not by carriage or ship. We will fly through the sky, so it's a straight line."
"I-If that's the case, if you go straight south from here, you should come out to the Inner Sea."
"Then, from there to South Liber?"
"If you go east along the coast, you should see a peninsula extending to the south."
"Assuming you reach that peninsula, do you know the place where the patients are?"
"I know the town where I confirmed Black Rot Disease."
"Even looking from the sky?"
"If it's from a ship floating on the sea, somehow. Since I went to the town many times."
There's no problem if we lower the altitude. Although Camouflage can't be used, it can be deceived with high-speed movement.
"Can you find patients in that town?"
"Yes. If we search, probably. I have places in mind to check."
While having the exchange with Eleanor-sama, he seemed to have understood our plan, and his cheeks became flushed.
"We will have Priest Ancelotti go near with the Priestess's stone."
"Yes. If we find a patient, the Priestess uses the magic water, right?"
"That's right. If we see an improvement in symptoms, we'll snatch them away. And let's treat them thoroughly in a safe place."
"Yes! If they are cured by that, then magic water is effective!"
"That's right. If that happens, after that we just have to think of a way to transport the patients or the magic water. If we can successfully transfer the patients to the place with magic water, the laborers can also bathe, so even if the Dragonewt's powerful magic cannot be used, they won't be infected."
"Yes! Yes! Thank you very much!"
Ancelotti-sama, who had been squatting with weak legs, stood up and took Eleanor-sama's hand.
"Eleanor-dono."
The Dragonewt, who had been silent as planned until now, spoke.
"Y-You can even speak words! Please, I look forward to working with you."
Ancelotti-sama was so moved that he went to hug the Dragonewt.
The Dragonewt looks annoyed, but he's letting himself be hugged.
"What is it?"
"Is there a case where I cannot use magic?"
"Since it's the continent, I think you normally wouldn't be able to."
"That is the story for humans. We are those who draw the blood of dragons. It does not matter if it is the White Island or the continent. Certainly, we will be affected. It is just that it will take a little time to gather the thin magic power."
"Is that so?"
It's a surprise. This is amazing.
"As long as I gather it, there should be no problem."
If so, a quite powerful ally has appeared.
Regarding the terrain, Yorg-sama was knowledgeable. He knew all the names of the towns Ancelotti-sama mentioned. As expected of the head of the scouts. And he also knew the shortcut, or rather, the path that proceeds almost in a straight line. Apparently, there's a place south of a huge mountain range that literally pierces the heavens, and if you first fly southeast and aim for that mountain range, and once you find it, go around to the south while looking at it on your left, you'll reach the base of the peninsula. After that, you just have to go south along the west coast of the peninsula. This is easy. And Yorg-sama also wanted to go.
"If I go, we can go without getting lost. I have been taken in the bowl many times, so grasping the geography from the sky is my specialty. I have acquaintances in South Liber through trade in medicinal herbs, and I can even get information related to the epidemic. Don't you think it's convenient?"
"Hmm. But if I carry two people, both arms will be occupied."
Is he going to carry two humans and fly at super high speed? It's the humans who will have a hard time.
"You can use Wind Barrier, right?"
Eleanor-sama asked.
"Of course."
"Then, how about using our flight magic to carry humans? If applied, it's no problem at any height, any speed, or even underwater."
"I see. There was that way. But I do not know the applications in detail."
"Naturally, I shall teach you. Applications that no other Dragonewt likely knows. Specifically for the Vice-Chieftain, who also masters wind magic."
"Hoho. That is appreciated."
The Vice-Chieftain grinned. Currently, no Dragonewt likely knows the applications. Well, there's no need to use them, but if you make it into a sphere, you can carry things even underwater, and even if you move at super high speed, the humans inside will be fine. Even if you fall, if you deactivate it toward the inside, you can significantly mitigate the impact.
In that way, the arrangements proceeded.