Chapter 798 - Chapter 11: Messenger from the South
Midwinter in the Duchy of Roland is cold. By February, the winds blowing from the northern sea are mercilessly frigid. This cold is incomparable to Engrio, the homeland of the ruler, Richard. It is cold enough that the rivers and canals, the heart of transport in this region, freeze over on some days. On such days, transport by sled often replaces boats.
That day was truly a cold one. Richard made it his routine to step out onto the terrace after breakfast to look over the city, and despite the whistling cold wind, he gave instructions to provide wine to the crowd gathered in front of the palace hoping to see him. Several bonfires had already been lit according to his previous orders. The people, knowing that on days when bonfires were lit, not only bread and sweets but also wine would be provided, gathered in larger numbers than usual. Richard knew this from his past actions.
Richard leaned over the terrace and signaled to the servants below with his hand. As the gates of the manor opened, several prepared wine barrels were rolled toward the crowd gathered at the bonfires. The gathered people raised a cheer, praising their lord. Nowadays, the capital of the Duchy is divided into several districts, and the days people are allowed to gather in the square in front of the manor are restricted by the day of the week.
Richard had further expanded his territory following the war between East and West Liber the previous year. It was the land to the east of the original Duchy of Roland. Before Richard took possession, it had been granted a degree of autonomy, but because successive administrators sent as governors had ruled with tyranny, rebellions were frequent. For that reason, it was called a difficult land to govern.
The King of East Liber, as a result of his personal campaign and following Richard's advice in conducting battles and negotiations, had acquired new land. He also succeeded in making a secret non-aggression pact, likely to take effect after next spring, with the great noble ruling the southern part of West Liber, with whom they had been facing off at the front lines.
The new land was given in its entirety to the nobles of southern East Liber who had failed to receive rewards and had rebelled after the previous war was interrupted due to the spread of the epidemic. The large cities acquired in that war remained under the direct control of the King of East Liber. And Richard, who could be called the most distinguished contributor to the victory, had requested and succeeded in obtaining the land to the east of his own country as his reward.
Richard, who expanded his territory with almost no casualties, was called a wise ruler by the original citizens of the Duchy of Roland. Rumors spread that those living in the new territory would surely welcome Lord Richard just as they did. The cheers were not only because wine was given.
Richard raised his right hand high to acknowledge the people and quickly returned to the warm room.
"It really is freezing today."
Richard crouched in front of the fireplace and held his hands over the fire. In this posture, he hardly looked like the ruler of a Duchy.
"Yes. It might be the coldest day of this winter."
A servant who saw Richard's movements offered him the wine they had prepared with a smile. On cold days, there is nothing better than a glass of strong liquor.
"Ah, thank you."
Richard took the small cup and drained it in one gulp.
The servant took the empty cup back, still smiling.
"Did you distribute the firewood to the orphanage?"
"Yes. Before dawn."
"Good work. Give some wine to those who carried it."
"Yes. I have already done so."
"You've done well."
"Yes. I will pass those words along to them as well."
"I said that to you just now."
"I understand. But in your heart, you must have said it to those who distributed the firewood as well."
"Well, I suppose so."
The servants, who were of commoner origin, deeply respected and loved Richard, who never failed to show such consideration. It was only after Richard became the master of the manor that commoners began to be employed in this manor, the palace of the Duchy. Some of the servants were from the orphanage. Those who carried firewood to the orphanage on cold days were among them. They volunteered for the task. Of course, it wasn't because they wanted wine.
Richard's father, King Seldic of Engrio, also showed exceptional consideration for the general public... especially those from orphanages. Richard had inherited that stance. It has already become a legend that Richard, who came to this land after defeating the previous lord who monopolized magic water and profited greedily, implemented epidemic countermeasures regardless of social status and saved many commoners and serfs. The policies he implemented after becoming the Duke also explicitly stated that improving the lives of the people leads to the development of the country, and he has in fact implemented such policies.
After warming himself sufficiently, Richard went to the audience chamber, seen off by the servants. This was because he made it a rule to listen to the stories—petitions, that is—of those requesting an audience along with the Chancellor of the Duchy in the morning.
However, when he entered the audience chamber through the passage for entry and exit—which was strictly guarded by soldiers monitoring passage; only Richard and the current Chancellor of the Duchy, who was permitted by him, were allowed to use this—the Chancellor, who usually arrived first, was not there. Only the guard soldiers were present.
Hmm, Richard tilted his head, but sat down on the throne as he was.
An audience would not begin until both Richard and the Chancellor were present. Those who opened the doors or called the names of visitors simply waited.
After a short while, the Chancellor of the Duchy appeared.
"Richard-sama. Good morning. I deeply apologize for arriving late and for making my lord wait despite being a subject."
Richard, seeing the Chancellor kneeling before him and bowing deeply, sensed an unusual atmosphere in his expression.
"Jii, did something happen?"
(T/N: 'Jii' is an affectionate term for an old man, often used for a long-serving attendant or mentor.)
Richard asked the Chancellor... whom he still called Jii because he had been Richard's tutor.
"I request a private audience."
"I see. Everyone, withdraw. Let no one in until I call."
Richard only ordered everyone to leave when he spoke with Jii alone. The guard soldiers and others who were in the audience chamber, knowing this, bowed to Richard and quickly left. They moved those waiting for an audience away from the door and ushered them all into the waiting room.
"What is it, Jii?"
After confirming that the thick door of the room had been closed by Jii's hand, he spoke to him again.
"I have just received a report. It seems it has finally landed in West Liber."
"The Black Rot Disease, then."
"Yes."
"Is there no mistake?"
"Yes. They reportedly withdrew after confirming that there were over several dozen deaths. The priests were clamoring that the dead all uniformly had black extremities."
"I see. The scouts who brought the report are all safe, I assume?"
"Yes. They have already finished their bathing at the port."
"Did everyone withdraw?"
"Yes. Since those were your instructions."
"Can I hear the story directly?"
"Yes. I have them waiting in another room. I shall go and call them."
"Please do."
After a short interval, Jii brought in a man. Perhaps because he had finished bathing, he looked refreshed. The man knelt before Richard on the throne as Jii commanded.
"I heard that the Black Rot Disease has landed in West Liber and people have died."
"Yes. It may spread in the blink of an eye."
"Tell me in detail."
"Yes."
According to the scout's story, the place where the Black Rot patients appeared was the largest port town in West Liber among the ports facing the Inner Sea.
"Wasn't that port supposed to have landing restrictions?"
"Yes. The lord had listened to the advice of Priest Ancelotti, who witnessed the treatment of eight men with the Dragon's Secret Medicine."
"That's right, I remember. Even so, it appeared?"
"Yes. That Priest Ancelotti was murdered. The killer was captured and executed, but until then, he was clamoring that Priest Ancelotti had fallen into being a messenger of an evil cult that deludes the people's hearts. Though it seemed no one believed him. It was likely the work of merchants engaged in the slave trade. They must have given money to the person in charge of port management. They advised the lord to partially lift the landing restrictions, and it was accepted."
"Good grief, what a lack of faith. So, what happened?"
"The blockade was partially lifted. Since they were originally slave ships, they were carrying a large number of slaves. The merchants suspected of being the culprits requested a shortening of the restriction, saying that if they were subjected to long-term landing restrictions with the slaves still on board, food would run out and not only the slaves but even the crew would all die. On the day after Priest Ancelotti was killed, only those ships entered the port. If the priest had been alive, he would likely have opposed it. The first deaths were the crew and slaves of those ships. Since then, deaths have occurred almost every day."
"What a foolish thing to do..."
"Yes. Likely, by now, infected people and deaths are appearing one after another."
"I see, I understand. You've worked hard. I will give you a special reward. Also, stay in the isolation facility for a while. Just in case. Rest your body well there. Endure using the reward money until then. Do not even see your family."
Richard winked at Jii. Jii led the men to the waiting room and handed each of them a small leather pouch. They were filled with gold coins.
He told those who were joyfully thanking him to keep quiet. He called the soldiers, handed them a letter addressed to the person in charge, and gave instructions to deliver the men to the facility. He told them to treat them with courtesy. And after seeing them off as they were taken away in a carriage, he returned to Richard.
"Jii, blockade the borders. The ports as well. Kill anyone who lands anywhere other than the ports. Do it by spring."
"Yes. We shall issue a proclamation and mobilize the army."
"Also, we must send letters. Write the drafts."
"Yes. I shall prepare them immediately. The destinations are East Liber, Engrio, Medioland, Sertogne, and a flash report to Germana. For Northern Gram, shall I send a flash report along with a request for magic water?"
"Yes, that will do. However, I will give separate instructions regarding the one for East Liber. More importantly, tell them to negotiate with the Northwest Coast Treaty nations through Germana. Tell every country that our nation will be one of the ramparts to stop the infection from reaching the White Island."
"Understood. I shall send the messengers by noon."
"Yes, do so."
Richard let out a long sigh after finishing the exchange with Jii.
"What foolish people."
"Indeed."
"What do you think, Jii? Do you think West Liber can stop the spread?"
"It will depend on whether those people believe in the magic water."
"That's difficult."
"Truly."
The master and servant sighed together with dark expressions.
"Richard-sama."
"What is it?"
"Does magic water work against the Black Rot Disease?"
"It works."
"Why can you say that so definitively?"
"Hasn't it already been tested? Jii, you've heard the reports so far, haven't you? That's why."
"Already tested..."
Jii had no memory of it. Regarding this matter, he and Richard should have been sharing information.
"It's the Dragon's Secret Medicine that came up in the story just now."
"There was such a story."
"That was the experiment for the magic water. That the secret medicine worked means, in other words, that the magic water worked."
"Is that so?"
"It is. Listen, Jii..."
Richard explained his reasoning to Jii.
The fact that the Kingdom of Sertoria uses a dragon as its crest, the report from Richard's younger brother that Medioland had made a contract with a legendary Dragonewt, the fact that the black clothes worn by the Dragon's messenger appeared to be the anti-epidemic suits using bat wings used in Roland, the fact that Priest Ancelotti had participated in the Great Unity Conference—from all these things, the Dragon's messenger who cured the Black Rot patients must be involved with Sertoria.
"The dragon Priest Ancelotti saw must have been a Dragonewt. And calling themselves the Dragon's messenger, they treated eight people who were severe Black Rot patients. It must have been the Henry Party we hear rumors of who took the lead. Only they would do something so audacious. All these grounds are gathered. The magic water has already been tested by Sertoria. In other words, magic water works against the Black Rot. Not only that, it should even be able to treat severe patients."
"I-Indeed, it is as you say."
All information related to the Black Rot was passed from Jii to Richard. Jii was once again surprised by Richard's clarity in brilliantly organizing and summarizing that information along with information from surrounding countries in his head.
"Jii, also contact Sir Boltz at the front."
Sir Boltz was stationed in West Liber under Richard's orders. He was in the land occupied during the war between East and West Liber last year. It was the southernmost region among those occupied. It was an area occupied before winter, and with winter's arrival, it had entered a temporary state of truce. Generally, no country wages war during the winter. The besieged side is still fine. It is difficult for the besieging side to camp in midwinter. However, it was arranged that they would withdraw early due to a mock offensive by the great noble of West Liber next spring. With that, the war between East and West Liber this time was finally supposed to see a tentative conclusion.
"No matter what happens, do not hand over the town to West Liber. Tell him that."
Jii gasped at the harshness of that command. Sir Boltz led only a small force. He thought it would be impossible to defend. They had a secret pact, to begin with. If they were to scrap that, the other party would be furious at being betrayed and would show no mercy.
"Do nothing until spring. After spring, have him buy time by saying it's for Black Rot countermeasures. Tell him to hold out until then, as we will surely deliver magic water and reinforcements. Tell the people as well and bring them to our side."
If Richard's fame and his daily acts of overflowing compassion could capture the hearts of the town's people... perhaps...
"I will also send letters to the Kings of East and West Liber. Tell them now is not the time to be fighting wars. Our country will mediate."
(As expected, this person is extraordinary. Even if his father, the King, should fail to achieve the unification of the White Island, it will be secure as long as this person is here.)
"Jii, sorry, but I'm counting on you for various things. Ah, cancel today's audience."
"Understood!"
Jii opened the door of the audience chamber and issued a proclamation to the soldiers waiting outside that today's audience would be moved to tomorrow. Then, with Richard's leave, he withdrew to his office.
Class of 175 Management Scale (Excluding personal assets such as cash and jewels)
・Stores: Main Store (Nakanohara, Kingdom of Sertoria), Store No. 2 (Village near the Sertorian border in eastern Regnentes), Store No. 3 (Royal Capital of Sertoria), Store No. 4 (Flatlands), Temporary Store (Primordia), Store No. 5 (Vectis Island), Store No. 6 (Royal Capital Downtown Store, Sertoria), Store No. 7 (Royal Capital Magic Tool Shop, Sertoria), Autonomy rights for land equivalent to one village area in western Higashinohara (Conditional free loan: limited to developed areas)
・Right of Free Passage and Free Commercial Rights: Medioland, Regnentes, Finis, Northern Gram, Primordia, Engrio, Medioland
・Special Passage Permit: Primordia
・Fields: Eight fields (Including buildings with farm functions)
・Livestock: Goats, sheep, pigs, a few
・Contracted Animals: Eight swarms of honeybees
Chapter 32 End
Chapter 32 has ended. Thank you very much for reading this far. I am very grateful for the new bookmarks, ratings, and likes. And thank you to those who have maintained them.
I posted this chapter after an interruption period, but how was it? I would be happy if you enjoyed it.
Now, regarding the internet environment that caused the interruption, it is still continuing intermittently. I post in batches when I can use it, and in fact, I had set all episodes of this chapter for batch scheduled posting. It's just a story, but since the state of the environment continues, the next chapter will also be batch scheduled posting for all episodes. In other words, the next chapter is already written, so there will be no hiatus. I just wanted to tell you that.
As for the next chapter, I will post one interlude on Friday and start posting from Monday. For those who have read this far, you probably understand, but I am in the middle of folding up the furoshiki I've spread out so far. So, it will be that kind of story. This chapter was too, but the next chapter might be plain in terms of content. (Of course, by our standards)
Please don't abandon me, and thank you for your support.