Chapter 797 - Chapter 10: The Dream of the Eastern Plains
When I contacted them using the magic circle for sending letters, the Henry Party flew over immediately. Having finished the New Year's events, Miana also came. Unfortunately, Beowulf, who is in the middle of bridal training, did not come. Instead, Elena-san came along as a successor. Miana and Elena-san are both wearing the Shop No. 4 uniform.
The meeting place is our farm. Since the spirits' consultation was over, Salamander said we should toast to pray for the success of the construction.
What will the royal palace's response be? It's something the Five Great Spirits consulted and decided. It would be good if they didn't say anything...
Henry-sama, in plain clothes, stood for the explanation. He's not in field clothes. And he showed a document of full power of attorney for diplomatic negotiations. In other words, today he is not the Henry Party. He is a messenger from the royal palace.
"Regarding the content decided by the spirits' consultation, the Royal Family has nothing to say. It is not something humans should interfere with. And that naturally does not include the development carried out by the Class of 175. If it should happen that things turn out favorably for the Class of 175 as a result, that is simply good fortune that has visited you all, so you should just be happy. In any case, our Royal Family is not involved in the spirits' actions at all."
I'm glad they are people who understand. The spirits have faces as if it's only natural. And the way Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama accept it as a matter of course was pleasant to watch.
Just like that, it became a banquet. And before we knew it, even the bandits gathered. Since it was a sudden story, only five members of the Class of 175 gathered. Will, Bonnie, Lyudmila, Matilda, and me. Since the two born before me weren't here, I gave the toast.
"Then, to pray for the success of the terrain modification construction by the spirits."
Failure is impossible, but as a human, I can only pray for safety.
"Cheers!"
"Chee-ers!"
The bandits join in with loud voices, whether they understand the meaning of the construction or not.
Even though it's mid-winter, Dune cleared away all the piled-up snow and made it into walls for cold protection, Salamander prepared several bonfires... though I say that, fire is burning on the ground without even putting in firewood... and Mel completely blocked the wind, so it's not cold. Germana helped with the banquet preparations. Gnome... isn't doing anything, but well, that's fine.
"Actually, how will it turn out?"
Eleanor-sama asked with great interest, so I explained while showing the map that it's planned to be like this, like this, and like this.
In the concept, the wetland will be moved to right next to the northwestern corner of the land we receive as a permanent loan. It's quite wide. Part of it is inside our land, but there's no problem. And it will likely be adjacent to the very edge of the outer part of Little Serena's forest. By doing so, we prevent humans from carelessly approaching Little Serena's forest. Most likely, the moment a human who hasn't obtained permission steps into the wetland, a thick mist will gush out, and they will get lost on the way.
The underground water vein that is currently the water source for the wetlands will join with the small stream flowing from Little Serena's forest, so it will have enough water volume to sufficiently fill a fairly wide wetland. Then, it will pass through the forest from the wetland and reach the front of the field position, and from there, it will flow east along the highway and connect to the river in the Northeastern Forest. Reaching the front of the field position is because it utilizes the slope of the mountainside, and that way apparently requires moving fewer trees. Since an area without trees is secured to a certain width along the highway leading from the front of the position to the main highway connecting the Eastern Plains and the Royal Capital area, we just need to dig there and make it a waterway. In the concept, the waterway should flow in a form adjacent to our land on the north side of the highway.
"Since we made an open space here too when we made the highway toward the position, I'm thinking of making the first base there."
The first base candidate site will have a small stream surrounding the open space due to the spirits' consideration, so a natural wet moat... since the spirits are making it, it should be fine to call it natural... will be completed.
"Ah, so you are indeed making the first settlement here."
It seems Eleanor-sama could have predicted it.
"Yes, I noticed that you all were trying to make your own town. And I predicted that the candidate site would be somewhere in this Flatlands or the Eastern Plains. That is why I had the trees here moved. If you make a base near the position, the position can be made an evacuation site, and it will also serve as a source for business."
The trees were moved after the Demon Lord subjugation was over. She has known our aim since then.
"Did you know everything?"
"Yes, I heard from Jennifer and Catherine."
Well, I thought that was likely the case. Otherwise, there's no way they would give us land so conveniently. I had told Jennifer-sensei everything before graduation. However, she was supposed to keep it a secret from the Headmistress...
"Catherine said she overheard your secret meeting. Since you were orphanage students, it cannot be helped, but I recommend using Mute when having a private conversation."
Overheard... Is that something a proper priest does? No, I suppose the Headmistress can hardly be called a proper priest.
"Depending on the situation, it could be taken as seeking the overthrow of the state. Since Jennifer was worried about that, I spoke to His Majesty so that the crime of high treason would not be applied."
High treason... Does it become such a big story?
"Naturally. You are trying to have an independent region within the country. It is nothing but a rebellion."
Rebellion...
This is the limit of a child's thinking. Even though Will was there, we couldn't interpret the national law that far.
That Will is feigning ignorance. Knowing Will, if she were asked by Eleanor-sama, she would tell everything without hesitation. Well, however, Eleanor-sama says she heard it from Jennifer-sensei and the Headmistress. I'll stop complaining.
"I see. Then, I am sorry for the trouble. But it's a fact that we had no intention at all of defying the country."
Since Will continues to feign ignorance, I bowed my head. I'm the oldest. It can't be helped.
"His Majesty also said that you all would be fine."
"Thank you. Please do convey our regards."
So that's why it's treated as a permanent free loan. And if we violate the national law, it'll be confiscated. When the talk came up, I was carried away, so I didn't think deeply, but the reason there were various detailed conditions was so that it could be confiscated at any time if our actions were dangerous.
"To be honest, I could not judge whether this land or the Eastern Plains was the real target, but I told His Majesty that you would surely choose the Eastern Plains."
Probably, not just the King, but also Magdalena-sama, who gave the reward, and the bigwigs of the royal palace all know.
"Why did you think the Eastern Plains was the real target?"
"Because I thought you would want to make it with your own hands. Besides, unless it is along a newly built highway, making a new town would be nearly impossible. Especially a place far from borders or coastlines, which is hard to involve in war. Regardless, originally that land was planned to be developed as a transport hub connecting the Eastern Plains and the Royal Capital area, with that field position as an evacuation site. If you all develop it, we can halve the national budget."
Eleanor-sama smirks.
It's perfect. We're completely read, and even utilized.
When I look at Lyudmila, she's shrugging her shoulders. She looks as if to say the opponent is too much.
"To choose that land, you have quite the insight."
"Actually, it was just by chance."
"Is that so? I thought for sure it was in anticipation of the highway construction."
"It was after I learned of the highway construction plan."
"I see. Where was it originally?"
"We hadn't decided. I intended to buy farmland in the Nakanohara district and become a landowner, then turn it into a town on my own."
"What did you intend to do if a war broke out? For example, if they invaded from the south. You would be immediately embroiled in war."
"I was thinking of declaring neutrality."
"That leads to acts of benefit to the enemy, so if such a thing actually happened, you would have been immediately treated as a rebel army and suppressed by the local military. More than that, I recommend organizing a self-defense corps, evacuating to some safe place, and leaving the entire area to the Royal Army. The actions of a self-defense corps are left to the discretion of those living in that land."
Dangerous, dangerous. A bead of sweat ran down my back.
Regardless, it should be fine to say our dream has been successfully approved. It's a loan with conditions if developed, and there's a possibility of immediate seizure depending on the case, but as Eleanor-sama taught me, we can just evacuate if a war breaks out. As long as we become refugees, we can flee to the field position. We can flee from there to the Flatlands, and we'll hold out for a while.
"The rest is just the resurrection of the Demon Lord. If he is resurrected, it might become the front line."
"At that time, we will fight."
Protecting food from mice, protecting fields from boars, and protecting the town from the Demon Lord's army are all the same. In short, I just hate wars between humans.
"A good resolve. As you know, currently that river is the boundary between humans and monsters. Excluding the forest around the cave where the Demon Lord is resurrected, the area up to that river became the greatest battlefield when the Demon Lord was resurrected last time and the time before that. Both humans and demons shed much blood. It is, so to speak, a land with a history. In that land, you all will make a town where various races coexist and prosper. Surely, an ideal town will be completed."
That river must be the westernmost of the three rivers flowing through the Northeastern Forest. Eleanor-sama said that eventually, they would build a defense wall on the western bank of that river and place the Eastern Plains Paratroop Jaeger unit's position. But, if the people on both banks of that river could join hands...
"His Majesty said that he hopes you will ask the Dragonewts to contract and build defense walls of anti-magic material on both banks of that river, and that the town you all make will become an exchange hub for multiple races."
That is precisely the ideal town.
"The Sertoria Royal Family will fully support your dream. Go ahead and do as you please. Surely, you all can realize it."
I doubted my own ears. The country will support the dream of us eight?
"Jeanne!"
Fiona and Lyudmila jumped at me at the same time.
Fiona is fine. Since she's half-merged. It doesn't hurt and it's not heavy.
The problem is Lyudmila. She's already taller than me. Because she hugged me from the side while I was sitting, I'm about to be knocked over.
"You did it! Jeanne!"
Matilda came. She should have come from the other side, but because she came next to Lyudmila, I was pushed down.
"Jeanne!"
Bonnie came. She's on top of Matilda, who is on top of me.
"Jeanne! I'm going too!"
Will, wait a moment. If you come, I'll be crushed... don't jump while laughing... gueee!
"I'll do it too!"
Miana... wait a moment! You're a Princess... guwaaa!
This is bad, I'm losing consciousness from the weight...
In the end, for some reason, even Eleanor-sama, who took advantage of the confusion, jumped on me, and I fainted...
"Honestly, you're reckless."
When I came to, I was sleeping on Dune's lap. For some reason, I'm drenched. It's quite cold.
"Are you okay? Jeanne?"
Mel flew over and stopped on my chest. Inevitably, I'm being looked down upon.
"Um, what happened?"
"After I splashed water on those guys, Serena, Renata, and Little Serena extended vines and pulled them off."
"Truly, they are terrible."
She's glaring, but I feel like she didn't even stop them until I fainted.
At the end of the two's gaze. It must have been done by Serena and Renata. Eleanor-sama, Miana, Will, Bonnie, and Matilda are sitting in a row, tied with vines. Lyudmila seems to have been let off because she ran away before Bonnie jumped on.
If possible, I would have liked them to splash water only on those guys after pulling them off.
Even more, I would have liked them to stop them before I was crushed.
"Well, it's a good thing to be popular."
Salamander started a bonfire in a place where there was nothing. For me, drenched as I am, it's a blessing. Dune helped me raise my upper body, so I proceeded on all fours and basked in the fire. Mel sent a gentle breeze. The warm wind feels good.
As for the group being lined up. Serena and Renata must have done it. They are tied with vines. Drenched in mid-winter and far from the fire. Serves them right.
"It's fine to have skinship once in a while."
Gnome, don't say something so carefree!
"I got carried away, I am terribly sorry."
"I'm truly sorry."
Eleanor-sama and Miana apologized properly, so I let it go. They are a former Queen and a Princess. It's something that wouldn't happen in other countries.
"I'm sorry. I never thought it would turn out like that."
Fiona, you're fine. You properly half-merged and killed the impact.
"I'm sorry. Jeanne. I was just so happy. I forgot that I'd grown. But I got off immediately."
Right, Lyudmila. Be careful. Next time, stop them instead of getting off and giving your spot to someone else.
"Sorry, Jeanne. Fiona and Lyudmila beat me to it."
It's Matilda. Hey now, what do you mean they beat you to it?
"Sorry. Jeanne. Was it heavy?"
Of course, Bonnie. How many people do you think piled on me?"
"Forgive me, Jeanne. When I saw everyone on top of Jeanne, I just thought it looked fun."
Will. I knew it, but it's annoying to be told to my face!
Eleanor-sama and Miana, don't nod!
My clothes were safely dried, my chilled body was warmed, the pain in my body somehow disappeared, and all was well.
Lest they catch a cold, the culprits were all treated the same.
"Regardless, please move forward toward your dream from now on."
As expected, she became like a former Queen at the end. Even though she's tied up.