Chapter 809 - Chapter 4: Countermeasures in the North ⑥
The captain and the rest remained gathered on the deck. Once the soldiers had patrolled the ship and confirmed no one else was on board, the experiment began.
First, we used the Magic Water with Insect Repellent and the Insect-Attracting Water. It would be troublesome if it were discovered that the Insect-Attracting Water was Forbidden Magic. Therefore, I insisted to the King of Finis that it was just one of the magic waters I made. In fact, I had already received permission from the Grand Archbishop and Price-sama. However, it cannot be made public. So, I explained it only as an application of when making repellent water with Repellent. It would be found out when making the orbs, but when I went to the Water Dragon's temple and secretly consulted Obaba-sama about Attract while keeping it vague, she just said, "So there is such magic," and laughed. At the same time, she said, "Let us cooperate." I'm sure the priestesses will understand.
The preparation was simple. We placed several barrels of Insect-Attracting Water that we had brought in various places and left the lids open. Then we cleaned the inside of the ship with Magic Water with Insect Repellent... basically, the magic soldiers just used Clump Water to splash it everywhere. Fleas and mites would jump into the Insect-Attracting Water on their own and die. If it's daytime on the ocean, moths and such probably won't come. Spiders and centipedes on the ship might come too, but that can't be helped.
"W-What on earth are you starting? No matter how you look at it, this is..."
"Now, wait. We will not treat you poorly. We will explain properly later, so for now, stay back."
The captain, whose ship was suddenly soaked, started to complain, but the King restrained him.
When the signal for preparation complete was given, the magic soldiers went outside, and Gwyn-sama and Abyss entered the ship.
Suddenly, the sound of a flute could be heard. This was Gwyn-sama's flute. It was a method everyone had gathered and thought of yesterday after Abyss's audience, as a blind to prevent people from seeing through the fact that a demon was using magic. However, the crew didn't know that. Perhaps their anxiety was growing, as they were looking toward the direction of the flute sound with frightened expressions.
After a short while, the door opened, and the sound of the flute could be heard more clearly.
At the same time, a swarm of rats came rushing out. They lined up just like that on the deck.
I knew it would happen, but seeing it occur before my eyes was still surprising. In fact, voices were raised even from the church priests who should have known. I could hear the surprised murmurs of the crew and nobles who knew nothing.
"Oh! This is the secret art of the rat-catcher handed down from ancient times! Splendid!"
I almost burst out laughing at the King's loud voice and covered my mouth with my hand. Inside the door, Abyss was likely pointing both palms toward the swarm, but it couldn't be seen from the outside. The fact that a demon was using the Forbidden Magic Charm must be kept secret. The Grand Archbishop and Price-sama are working behind the scenes toward the partial lifting of the ban on Forbidden Magic, but it hasn't been lifted yet. Publicly, Abyss is supposed to be a successor who inherited the ancient rat-catching art. It's precisely because it's the North, where spirit worship remains strong, that this can be done in collusion with the Church.
"That's a splendid flute."
"Yes, the practice since he was a child has come in handy."
The King and Queen were whispering to each other. These two were the ones who proposed the flute-playing. They were happy that their plan to surprise the crew had worked well.
"Look, the rats..."
Where the captain was pointing, the rats began to jump into the sea one after another. They were in a manipulated state. They sank just like that. Eventually, the drowned ones began to float between the waves.
And then, all the rats were gone from inside the ship.
"Bishop Jeanne. I would like you to confirm."
Since the King asked me, I searched with Sense Living. I couldn't confirm any rat-like reactions.
"It seems there is nothing. The rats have been wiped out."
The King nodded with satisfaction.
"Ships waiting offshore will have the rats, which become the infection route for Black Rot Disease, wiped out in this manner. We have obtained that secret art."
He declared loudly to the nobles on the bowls. The nobles said nothing.
It's a farce. They pretended as if Abyss were playing the flute to divert eyes from the Charm.
"Regarding soaking the inside of the ship first, that is actually special water made with magic. It can wipe out fleas and mites, which are said to be one of the infection routes along with rats. This is apparently possible through the applied use of magic by Bishop Jeanne, a user of Light magic."
At least it's not a lie. And because of the Vow of Silence, I cannot speak about having learned Dark magic.
"Of course, the crew will bathe in Magic Water with Insect Repellent. The clothes they wear, the furs and sheets used for sleeping will be treated similarly. Ships coming from the continent will have their safety ensured by applying countermeasures in that manner."
He added further. Again, there was no reaction from the nobles. They were just listening quietly to the King's talk. The shock of the rats disappearing from the ship was likely too great.
Confirming that no one raised an objection, the King tried to approach the barrels of Insect-Attracting Water, but stopped in his tracks as if startled. It was likely because spiders and centipedes were gathering in the Insect-Attracting Water one after another, visible even from a distance.
"Look. Just like that, various insects are gathering in that magic water, aren't they? In that way, it gathers fleas and mites. The insects will enter the water of their own accord and die, just like the rats earlier."
At this point, the inside of the barrels couldn't be seen, but after being shown the sight of rats jumping into the sea and drowning, and now seeing spiders entering the barrels of their own accord before their eyes, anyone would be convinced.
"How is it, Gwyn? My son. About how much time will it take per ship?"
"If we deal with it using Flight Magic at the point they arrive offshore, as in this experiment, the rat disposal will not take even half an hour, as you can see. Next is the treatment with Bishop Jeanne's magic water, which is expected to take a full day. Once that is finished, cargo handling may begin. And regarding the crew, landing will be permitted. However, we will mandate a medical examination by a priest and a one-week bath in magic water at the port's isolation facility. If the results of the examination by the priests show no particular symptoms, it should be fine."
In other words, cargo handling can be done on the second day after arriving offshore.
"Exceptionally, furs and cloths where insects easily hide will be washed with magic water or boiled to take insect countermeasures."
I think it should actually be done when loading on the continent as well. It can't be called safe unless checks are put in both at the time of export and import. That depends on whether the continental side will accept it, so I don't think it will go easily. I want Sertogne, Germania, and Roland... especially Roland, which is a production area for woolens... to do it actively.
The nobles, hearing that the isolation measures, which were initially expected to take one to two weeks or even longer in some cases, would allow cargo handling to begin on the second day after arriving offshore, sent praises to the King of Finis and Gwyn-sama, and the experiment ended in a state enveloped in voices of acclaim.
To the captain whose ship had been soaked, the King personally handed over a reward on the spot for cooperating with the experiment. He added words to distribute it to the crew, so the crew was also greatly pleased.
"Is there anything else you desire? Say anything. I shall do what I can."
The captain, thus told, said that if possible, he would like to participate in the trade to the continent.
Finis exports products from various parts of the country to the continent, but the royal family keeps it all under direct control. You could say they monopolize the brokerage and transport. Because it's completely managed, the ships heading to the continent are also designated, and it seems there are ships that are of a scale capable of trading with the continent but cannot go because they are not designated. Of course, the pay is higher for going to the continent. He's probably asking to be allowed to enter that market. Of course, whether it's for foreign or domestic travel, the captain enters into a contract. It would mostly be contracts with multiple merchants. The captain of the ship used for the experiment was a captain who did transport business with his own ship. However, I think it's difficult for captains of such small-scale businesses to enter the star continental trade after losing in under-the-table negotiations.
"I don't mind. Shall we make it a direct contract with the royal family instead?"
"I-Is that alright?"
A direct contract with the royal family would be the star of stars. It's like Shop No. 7 where Beatrix is the manager. The captain stood up at this unexpected stroke of luck. The crew also got down on all fours and edged closer. If they can receive the designation of the royal family, the items they handle will become high-priced, and there's a possibility that their pay will jump up all at once.
"How about it? Gwyn. Externally, isn't it a good ship with no problems at all?"
"Just as you say."
"H-Heh. It's a new ship, only in its third year this year, and I've gathered a crew with good skills."
The captain appealed as if this were the moment, and the crew nodded earnestly.
"That's true. If I were to say there are some things lacking, there are indeed some," Gwyn-sama said to the captain with a smirk.
"W-What would they be? If you tell me anything, I will make as much preparation as possible. R-Right, you guys?"
"H-Heh. Of course!"
I wonder how much the cost of the lacking items is?
"One water tank for the crew to bathe in Magic Water with Insect Repellent, and barrels to load for insect attraction... let's see, assuming five barrels for one way, ten for the round trip. One large barrel to spray and receive Magic Water with Insect Repellent. If you have these, the landing restrictions can be relaxed further. We will purchase them for you, so install them permanently. However, it is a prerequisite that you use them properly as in the experiment we did today upon entering port. Of course, a detailed explanation will be given by the church priests later. Ah, the handling of rats is a secret art, so we will do it."
"Hoho. If you say you will go that far, I don't mind letting this ship handle work preferentially as a model ship. What do you think, Gwyn?"
"Yes, I believe that would be fine. And not only that, let's have them publicize that our country is taking thorough Black Rot Disease countermeasures."
For the captain, it's a time to think. If he accepts, his entry into the continental trade will be fulfilled, and the royal family will give him work. However, if even one Black Rot Disease patient comes from this ship, the royal family's reputation will be ruined, so it's clear what would happen after that without saying.
"Alright. We'll do it. What do you say? You guys."
"W-We'll do it. Right?"
"Yeah, let's do it!"
The captain and the rest became motivated. With this, the path to the star route was opened.
"We plan to issue a notice soon, but for the time being, as a Black Rot Disease countermeasure, ships and crew involved in trade with the continent will have to be designated after even stricter screening than before. This ship is the first to pass that screening. We will announce it officially, so be prepared."
"Heh! Thank you very much!"
Starting with the captain, they expressed their thanks one after another. Everyone must be happy, as their mouths were breaking into smiles.
In contrast, in the sky, whispering voices could be heard. Surely, the spectating nobles had started consulting so that the ships carrying their cargo would pass the screening.
"Then, this concludes today's experiment."
Following the King's words, the Henry Party and the church priests applauded loudly, the captain and others followed suit, and then the nobles in the sky also applauded, and the experiment ended successfully.
This Black Rot Disease countermeasure at the harbor, decided upon after consultation between the Royal Family, the Finis Capital Great Church, the Priestess, and the Henry Party who received the intentions of the Grand Archbishop, can be made into a prototype.
In fact, on the day we brought Abyss back, after deciding on the general parts, we set out that night and had an emergency meeting with Price-sama of Medioland. Since he had to look after Abyss, Gwyn-sama did not participate. And after obtaining understanding, the return to Finis was confirmed. Given those circumstances, in the explanation to Price-sama, Abyss was made out to be someone who had mastered an ancient secret art, and the Insect-Attracting Water using Attract was explained as an applied use of my magic.
"Someone who uses an ancient secret art... is it?"
Price-sama tilted his head.
"Well, please just understand. Although a world of coexistence and co-prosperity among various races is the ideal, at present, there are various things socially..."
Even Eleanor-sama is struggling with the explanation.
"I see. Well, that's fine. Since the Finis Royal Family and the Finis Capital Archbishop will take responsibility."
"I will convey that."
"I shall convey to the Grand Archbishop exactly what I heard from Eleanor."
"Please convey it favorably."
Finis already has Poppy, and a system of coexistence and co-prosperity with Water Dragons, Fire Dragons, and Wyverns is being established in various places. Setting aside the Demon Lord and the Demon Lord's army... in Engrio, even that is being ignored, but come to think of it, it was the same in Sertoria... as long as they are not hostile to each other, coexistence and co-prosperity should take priority.
"In that case, the same trick can be used in Northern Gram, can't it?"
"That's right. Once the matter in Finis is over, we plan to go to Northern Gram as well. I hope it wraps up well."
"I wish you luck. I believe Eowyn-sama of Northern Gram is good at the lute and often sings songs praising Jeanne."
He chuckled. That's irrelevant, isn't it?
"I'm sure in Northern Gram, they will play the lute to manipulate the rats. Perhaps while singing the song of Jeanne who leads the rats carrying Black Rot Disease to their deaths."
"That's a good idea. Let's propose it in Northern Gram."
Please absolutely do not do that!
Incidentally, in the part where I said I would make Insect-Attracting Water through the applied use of magic, he seemed to immediately sense it was Attract. He just glanced at me, gave a small laugh, and let it slide. If he was going to do that, I wish he had let the secret art of rat-catching slide in the same way.