kscans

Chapter 60 - The Twilight of the Gods and Kobito-san ~Nine~

"Alright, let’s go."

One carriage, ten escort knights. And Adoris and Sakura.

As the group emerged from the castle, the monsters they had with them made it clear at a glance that they were Kobito-san’s unit, and the people of the castle town all gave a slight bow. Some men tipped their hats, and children ran after them. Everyone saw them off warmly until the carriage was out of sight.

The carriage, rattling and shaking, headed straight west.

Remembering the Journey to the West puppet show voiced by comedians, a tune played in her head, and Kobito-san’s mouth twitched with the urge to sing.

"Our little princess is quite popular, isn’t she?"

With a soft smile and narrowed eyes, Adoris looked at the honeybees that had turned into air conditioners in the four corners of the carriage.

"It’s amazing what monsters can do."

"Indeed. It’s like the summer heat is a lie."

The honeybees were receiving magical water from Mi-chan and using it to create a breeze. Similar bees were flying above the escort knights’ heads, and the area around the group was enveloped in a pleasant, cool wind.

Furthermore, Mugita and several frogs on top of the carriage were maintaining a protective barrier over the entire Frontier party, which softened the midsummer sunlight and prevented the cool air from dispersing.

All thanks to my magnificent servants.

"Couldn’t this be done with a magical tool? Well, it would become unusable quickly, but it might be enough to get through this summer."

"Ah, that seems possible."

"But magic will eventually disappear, right? In that case, it might be better to research a different kind of tool."

Dolphen and Adoris chatted about this and that. Ignoring them, Sakura had a thoughtful expression and glanced at Chihiro.

"The purpose of the pilgrimage is to create the golden ring, right? Is there any need to go for the sake of magic that will eventually disappear?"

At the unexpected question, the expression vanished from Kobito-san’s face.

"Ah. Well, that’s true, but... before I make the forest wither. If I complete the ring first, there’s a chance that magic might remain in the land. Even if it’s magic that will disappear someday, it might let the Queens and others live a little longer."

The Queen, along with the other Forest Masters and monsters, lived by magic. Making the forest wither was simple. She just had to complete the golden ring and have the masters move. A forest that lost its golden magic would shrivel and slowly die. What would happen to the masters after that? Would a monster stampede occur?

She didn’t know what the result would be.

So, first she would complete the golden ring, and then she would make the forest wither. She would take every precaution, and if that still wasn’t enough, she would defy fate itself.

As the little girl snorted with determination, the adults all wore complex expressions.

Even Sakura, who had lived in a land without magic, recognized its usefulness. In Frontier, it was a part of daily life. Even if they were told in advance, confusion would be inevitable. They had no idea what the future held, but if it was the will of the gods, it couldn't be helped.

Even if it wasn't a unanimous agreement, the majority of people had accepted this choice.

Frontier prayed to the gods for mercy, hoping that at least the gentle masters would be spared.

"The west has a pretty different feel to it, doesn’t it?"

Chihiro stuck her head out the window of the trotting carriage and looked outside. There was considerably less greenery than around the royal capital or near Yarmouth in the east. The wind that rustled her hair was dry, and the sand and dust it carried irritated Kobito-san’s throat. The vast wasteland that lay between them and the neighboring country of Castrato was probably also a factor. The wilderness, the size of three countries, made Frontier’s western region look desolate, despite the presence of the Western Forest.

"The Western Forest is small. I believe it’s only about half the size of the Queen’s forest."

"Really?"

Dolphen nodded at the surprised Kobito-san.

"The Western Forest is in a deep ravine and spreads along it. Therefore, I recall its magic was only enough to cover the surrounding area... about the extent of Marquis Ansbackh’s territory."

Ah, so that’s why.

That’s why he was so distraught.

The marquis’s territory was on the border. Naturally, it was on land more barren than anywhere else in Frontier. Geshuberista, on the coast only about two days from the capital, had a vast coral reef, and its blessings were so extensive they overlapped with Merda’s forest. However, the Western Forest was four days away from the capital, and the forest itself was smaller, so the range of its magic was limited. There were probably some lands that didn’t receive the blessings of magic at all. For the western domain, the Forest Master’s forest was truly a lifeline. Losing it would be a matter of life and death.

"The construction in Kilfan has settled down quite a bit, so it seems like a good idea to urgently redirect support here. You really can’t understand these things unless you see them for yourself."

No matter how eloquently one pleaded their case, not even half of the plight would be conveyed. If you didn’t know the situation on the ground, it would just be recorded as a superficial report and be done with. Kobito-san knew of countless such cases. It was a common story in her previous life as well.

And then, by the time you rush in after it becomes a big deal, it’s already too late. In cautious and research-loving Japan, such stories were relatively few, but she had heard them often in other countries. That’s why those in important positions had to travel and see various places. There was a world of difference between knowing the field and not knowing it.

It was an important inspection tour, but thanks to some idiots who mistook it for a pleasure trip, they got slammed by public opinion, creating a big deal in a different sense. Recalling a few of those politicians, Kobito-san was immersed in a strange sentimentality.

No matter where you go, what humans do doesn’t change, huh?

Their first destination was the multi-purpose square by the Kininaru Ki.

While Kobito-san and her group were proceeding along a wide road with a good view, an oracle had been delivered to the prophet of Castrato.

"...The King is coming. The Golden King is heading to the Western Forest. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Report to the King."

When a civil official visited the King to deliver the prophet’s oracle, a letter from Marquis Ansbackh had already arrived. While carefully reading it, the King of Castrato listened to the oracle the prophet had received.

"This... is certainly strange."

"If we are to believe Marquis Ansbackh’s letter, it seems there are two divine intentions."

"Indeed, a new town is being built in the north of Frontier. It is said that it will eventually become a nation called the Kingdom of Kilfan with Frontier as its guardian."

Before the King were several nobles.

One was Marquis Oddard, a young noble who guarded the border with Frontier. The other two were Duke Harlbay, who managed the country’s domestic affairs, and Duke Andryuff, who managed foreign affairs. They were called the twin pillars of the Kingdom of Castrato, the two great dukes.

The four of them stared intently at the letter from Marquis Ansbackh.

The letter stated that the Golden King had encountered the gods and had received their will. It was to return the magic and sorcery that had been borrowed from the gods to the world. That humanity could live in Arcadia with its own power, without relying on the works of the gods. And so, they would break free from the gods’ protection and stand on their own. That was the will of the gods.

If this was true, it was understandable why magic had disappeared from countries other than Frontier.

It seemed Frontier was also moving to return its magic, watching the course of the world.

Certainly, during the chaotic period when magic was lost, if not for the food aid from Frontier, the various countries would have been in a much more tragic situation. It was not hard to imagine that conflict would have broken out in many countries, leading to a dark age of indescribable misery with looting upon looting. To be told that magic was left in Frontier for that purpose was a convincing reason. Castrato had been plotting to take that magic somehow, but now Frontier was saying they would return it to the gods.

Led by the Golden King, they were apparently striving to build a country without magic.

They were voluntarily abandoning their advantageous position. There was no room for doubt.

Moreover, the Golden King herself was doing it.

Each of them sank into their own sea of thoughts, not uttering a word. After a long silence, Marquis Oddard looked up at the King.

"We are ready to invade Frontier at any time. What are your orders?"

Hearing that, the King of Castrato made a face as if he had just remembered and bitten into a bitter bug.

"That is canceled. I had thought the perfect opportunity would be when the Golden King visited the Western Forest on pilgrimage, but... it seems that person has monster servants. Ones powerful enough to take down even Kilfan in an instant."

It was a well-known fact that Frontier had magic and was impregnable. Fighting was not a good strategy. But, if it was just a matter of capturing a single person, it was thought to be possible with their full strength.

One member of the royal family who could revive magic for Castrato. Just one was enough.

With that wish, they had sent multiple spies and had been waiting for an opportunity for many years, but Cyril and the others had let the once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away. And now, the Golden King was coming to the Western Forest, not far from Castrato. Thinking this must be the providence of the gods, the King of Castrato had ordered Marquis Oddard to prepare for war.

But... that too was meaningless.

How magic had disappeared from lands other than Frontier had been a mystery until now. But with the descent of the Golden King, that mystery was solved.

According to the Golden King, who had revived the forest of Flawers, an area becomes filled with magic when a master dwells in a vast forest. From the countries that killed their masters and lost their forests, magic vanished. Now that he thought about it, it was true. Frontier had been calling for the protection of the forests for a long time. It was we who had dismissed it with a laugh and paid it no mind. From the beginning, Frontier knew how magic worked and had warned us, but it was the surrounding countries that had ignored them.

The Golden King, who had revived the barely surviving forest of Flawers, had acknowledged this and told the royalty of Flawers that the Forest Master’s forest was special.

The blessing of the gods, lost through their own mistakes.

But if that too was within the gods’ intentions, it couldn’t be helped. Indeed, Frontier was following that divine will and preparing to return its magic.

He didn’t know what was right.

Who in the world was the god giving them oracles?

Looking at the course of the world, it seemed that the will of the Creator God that Frontier spoke of was at work. But the god who gave oracles to Castrato desired the revival of magic.

Something wasn't adding up.

A vague sense of incongruity scattered the seeds of unclear suspicion at the feet of the four silent men.

Unaware of Castrato’s confusion, Chihiro headed straight for the Western Forest.

With her trustworthy and cheerful companions, Kobito-san forges her own path today.