26 I was looking forward to it for the time being.

"Food is good, supplies are good, all we need is .......

Shishou, are you going to put this on the car?

Yes, please.

Yes, sir!

We put the food we had bought in the carriage in front of the church.

We'll be away from Taze for a few days, but I think we're almost ready.

This is the first time in this world that I've planned to stay away from home, isn't it?

I'm getting excited thinking about it. Yeah, yeah!

In fact, the purpose of the overnight stay is similar to the social studies field trip I took when I was in school. It all started when I visited Marit.

"Maja of Yugra asked me to borrow some of our knights as guides.

I see.

Sir Ratzel, who is a close friend of Maja's, and Sir Dmitri Kovkon, whom I trust, will be assigned to the task.

Well, yes.

So you'd better come with us.

What do you mean?

I'll give you the specifics. A messenger from the headquarters of the Yugra religion has come here to inspect each branch. They want to take a look at the churches in each village.

"Hmm.

He also wants to visit villages that don't have churches, talk to them about various things, and if there's a demand, he wants to build a church.

I see. So he asked the knights of the country to act as a bridge and guide, and he chose Kara, who was an old-timer and trusted by the villagers, and Ilias, who was close to Maja of the Yugra religion. And he told me to take advantage of that and go see the villages.

"Yeah, one of the things that strikes me about your opinion is that you're aware of the differences between this world and that world. You've only been to this city, haven't you?

"It was the first thing I saw when I came down the mountain. The village of the Kuro Wolves, well, it's not really part of this country's culture.

"You're familiar with the castle and the city, aren't you?　Now that you're familiar with the castle and the city, I thought it would be helpful for you to see how the people who live outside the castle live so that you can continue to voice your opinions.

That's true. But you're not a knight, are you sure you can go with them?

Don't worry about that. In addition to agreeing to the terms, I've asked the government to send a candidate to accompany you for the purpose of study.

I appreciate that you didn't call him a court clown.

That's why I took Ilias and Wolfe to visit Maja.

"Oh, so you're the boy who was nominated for the title. You've come a long way.

It's a front. She told me to study the differences between the two worlds so that I could give a useful opinion.

I see. I think it's better than a classroom lecture. I guess we can take Wolfe with us.

I'll study hard!

That's great!

Hehehe!

Grandfather is preparing the carriage now. He'll be here soon.

And where is the messenger from headquarters?

I am.

And then a young woman appeared.

She was in her mid-twenties. She had soft hair that hung to her shoulders, and her hair was pulled back in the front. She is a beautiful woman with a calm and innocent impression.

My name is Lakra Sarf. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Ilias Ratzel.

Wolfe, sir!

Nice to meet you. How do I address you?

You can call me Lacula, sir.

I'm a candidate. I'll try to stay out of your way, but if there's anything I can do to be rude, please don't hesitate to ask.

He shook my hand with an impersonal smile. Hey, Ilias, don't make that funny face. You too, Maja.

I'm sure you're not the only one. Kuro hair, black eyes, and a very low amount of magic in your body. ...... May I ask where you're from?

Unfortunately, I've lived from place to place since I can remember. ....... I've been living on my own since I left my parents and settled on this continent. I'm not a big fan of physical labor because I was born with a low amount of magic in my body.

I'm not sure what to say.　It seems that you are possessed by a spirit.

Yes. To communicate with people who speak different languages, I've had Maja perform possession on me. Have you heard about the recent discovery of the Kuro Wolf tribe in Tarz?

Yes, is that the girl with the white hair?

Yes. She has already learned our language, but she uses this possession technique to communicate with other Kuro Wolves. The village was discovered by a merchant I know, and I've been helping him.

I see. You're working very hard for someone so young.

"It's a privilege to work with such a beautiful woman like you, Mr. Lakra.

"Oh, yes.

I'm having a good time chatting with Ms. Lakra. Hey, stop looking at me like that, both of you. You should learn from Wolfe!

Let's start the meeting. Rakura-san, you and I will take the order of the villages we'll be visiting, and you and Wolfe will prepare the materials.

All right!

Ilias and Lakra went into the back room. Now, let's go shopping.

Boy, you've got some nerve, haven't you?

Did it bother you, Maja, to tell ...... us all your true identity?

No, I didn't sense any lies.

No, I didn't sense any lies in the conversation. When Ms. Lakra is a priest like Ms. Maaya, she is able to see through the lies just like Ms. Maaya.

I don't know the specific theory, but I have a rough idea of how it works.

One of the characteristics of clergymen is that they have an excellent ability to discern magic.

In the past, they had eaten Rai-no-Mi, a fruit that possessed a special magic power, and Maja had been able to guess it just by observing from the outside.

If there is a method of detecting lies as an extension of this ability, it is possible that the method is observing the fluctuations of the person's magic power.

People have some habits when they tell a lie. If you are a skilled liar, you may not show it on the outside, but what about on the inside?

The consciousness of having told a lie may bring about some kind of movement in one's own magical power, and a clergyman who can observe this in his daily life--that's what I'm saying.

If he could see through all of his thoughts like a spectral satori, he would be in over his head, but he judged that unlikely.

The reason is Wolfe. This girl's past is horrible. But Maja's interactions with Wolfe have not shown any reaction to those memories.

Maja's disgust at the topic of necromancy should have shown on her face if she had read Wolfe's feelings.

That's why I was thinking of countermeasures for the ability to detect lies based on this guess.

If you tell a lie, the sensor will surely catch it. It may seem like an impossible task, but it's not. All you have to do is to distort the truth with only the truth.

It is true that I moved around a lot when I was in Japan. After I started living alone in Japan, Taze was definitely the first person I settled in this continent.

He was also born with a low level of magical power. It's also true that possession techniques are also used to communicate with the Kuro Wolves.

I'm sure that's the way it was.

Did you think of that question beforehand?

Yes, I did. Someone in your profession might be able to do the same thing. If you go to church, there's a chance you'll meet her. I've been going over it in my head for a while, thinking that she might ask me some questions.

This is also true. This was one of the questions that I had simulated in advance, assuming that it would be 'common'.

But what Maja really wants to know is whether she can do the same for other questions.

The answer is somewhat yes. If the content you want to hide comes up, you can do this during the conversation.

The reason why I say slightly is that it is not impossible for someone to notice it, depending on how upset I am.

If it were possible, I would not have wanted Maja to be aware of it, but now that Lakra has made an exception, I have no choice.

Rather, it would be better to quickly make her understand that there are countermeasures and discourage her from trying to find out the truth.

"Oh, but when I said that Ms. Lakra was beautiful, I meant it for the moment.

"I can tell by looking at you. You can tell by looking at her. She looks so happy.

Maja let out a sigh. I wonder what she's sighing about.

"By the way, do you think Ilias is beautiful?

I think she's a monster.

I pity her, too.

Then we went shopping, and here we are.

Kara, who had delivered the carriage, joined Ilias and the others for a chat and came out of the church with them.

"Oh, boy. Thank goodness you're here. I'm glad you're here. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed.

It's a mutual thing. You're like a child or a grandchild to Grandpa Cara, after all.

That's true. From the boy's point of view, it's a two-way street.

Some of them look like they could grow spears instead of thorns.

Who's that?

Shoulder, it hurts!　That's the point!

Kara's reassurance made me slip up. I almost got injured before we left.

One of the characteristics of the Tarzan territory is that it is heavily forested and surrounded by huge mountains.

The only border that exists is the one with the neighboring country of Ghane to the east.

The castle of Taze is slightly to the east of the territory, and most of the villages are spread out to the west.

The advantage of this is that most of the villages are not exposed to war even if they are attacked in a war.

Also, there is no way to advance from the direction of Garne except through the narrow path in the forest.

If you try to march through the forest, the burden will be great.

And in the narrow path, the small number of elite knights that Taze is proud of have overwhelming geographical advantage and mobility. I don't want to attack even if you ask me to, yeah.

We are now heading for the village to the northwest. From here, you'll have to follow a single stroke route through the villages.

The village of the Kuro Wolves is an exception. It is said that we should not make too many changes to them, as they have a language barrier and have only just begun to interact with the outside world.

But this is a village that hides in fear of the Demon Lord. Maja says that the Yugra religion may be a good match for them.

Yugraism, Yugra is the name of a god-blessed hero who is said to have once saved the world. It can be taken as a nuance similar to Christianity.

Demon lords who were born from the forbidden magic of reanimation and terrorized the world. The heroes who received God's blessing defeated them and saved the world.

The Yugra religion was formed to preserve the teachings of the heroes for future generations.

We often hear about fantasy stories in which the name of a hero is left behind, but there are relatively few cases in which it develops into a religion. Most of them are about a boy in a small village, so it can't be helped.

The black wolf tribe is likely to have a favorable impression of the hero who overthrew the demon king, a symbol of fear.

Once they are comfortable with each other, it might be a good idea to tell them about the Yugra religion as a lubricant for further friendship, Lakra said.

Well, people from the Kuro Wolves have already started coming and going to Taze, where Yugraism is the most prevalent religion. We don't have to go around preaching it, it will spread if there is a need.

By the way, I haven't heard of any damage caused by bandits in the villages, have there been any attacks?

No. The village is garrisoned by Tarzan knights. The bandits wanted to avoid fighting with the knights, so they never came near the village. Even when they traveled from village to village, they were escorted.

So it was the merchants outside who couldn't afford the knights' guards that were harmed?

Yes. But even so, as a precaution, the villages were told to refrain from moving to other villages as much as possible.

Thank God Docora refrained from using necromancy. If the village had been attacked by undead, it would have been difficult for the resident knight to protect it alone.

However, such an action would have exposed Docora's hand.

What kind of facilities are there in the village?

First of all, the fields. There are many other facilities that are necessary to produce food, such as livestock farms. If it's near a forest, there will be more facilities for logging, and if it's near a mountain, there will be more facilities for mining.

When we arrived at the first village, I decided to ask Ilias some questions while Grandpa Kara and Lacula split off to talk to the village chief.

The image of a medieval country village was still the same. Perhaps due to the country's abundance of forests, the scale of timber construction seems rather large.

Is it a form of clearing the forest to increase human habitat?

Yes, it is. Yes, the village is expanding as the population grows.

With all the forests and mountains, aren't there villages that don't have access to rivers?

Those villages use groundwater. Most of them depend on rain for watering their fields, but in case of emergency, they use groundwater or rely on those who can handle magic.

Magic is useful in that regard.

However, the amount of water that can be produced by magic is proportional to the amount of magic power, so no single village can produce enough to satisfy its needs. In some places, there are villages that use waterways from rivers.

Most of the houses in this country have running water, so it doesn't feel new.

Oh yeah, ...... is amazing.

Then I found the village watchtower. It's the first time I've actually seen a wooden watchtower.

It's the first time I've actually seen a wooden watchtower. I don't think it's that necessary when you're dealing with a beast...

The reason they exist is to protect against demons.

Come to think of it, I almost didn't mention it until just now, but demons and demon tribes do exist. I took the opportunity to ask Ilias about demons.

The area where the Demon Lord had ruled in the past was filled with special magical power, and the creatures born there, unlike beasts, contained a lot of magical power. That's what demons are.

So far, we don't know much about demons. They are human-like beings, but they are under the control of the Demon Lord.

It seems that demons still occur in lands that have been poisoned by the Demon Lord, and that other countries are frequently purifying their lands and defeating demons. This is most active in Mejisu.

Although there are such places in Tarz territory, the frequency of demons appearing in front of people is quite low. The reason for this is because of the Mountain of the Kuro Demon Slayer.

The former territory of the Demon Lord, where demons are born, exists on the other side of this mountain, and most of the demons that come here are dealt with by the slime that lives in the mountain.

The slime is so dangerous that even dragons, which are the most dangerous of all demons, avoid it. Since you killed the Demon Lord in the first place, you have no enemies.

However, some demons, like some otherworlders, are lucky enough to break through the mountain without being harmed by slime.

Most of them are flying demons, wyverns and the like.

Dragons are so crisis-averse that they don't even approach the mountain, but other demons with bad brains often try to cross the mountain. 　

In order to prevent damage from such monsters, there are knights stationed in every village.

That's about it.

I was wondering where the wyverns came from in Grandpa Kara's anecdotes, but that's cleared up now.

But it's a scary story that you find out later. I didn't realize that the first place I was thrown into was such a dangerous place.

It's awful that he could have encountered a demon if he wasn't careful. It's too gruesome.

Well, we've already encountered the most dangerous slime, haven't we?

I'm sure you'll be able to find something to help you out.

"Yes, there was a large scale demon attack about ten years ago. It is rare in the history of Tarz.

Ilias's expression was stern. Considering Ilias' age and lifestyle, he was probably the reason her parents were lost. I will not mention it now.

Basically, there is no system in the village that uses a lot of magic. The quality of education in the village is also lower than in Tarz's homeland, but it seems that people are taught to read and write. In this respect, it seems to be of a higher standard than in similar times on Earth.

What else is noticeable is the presence of a small garrison of knights and a church.

At first, I was shown some facilities that might help me understand the form of agriculture and forestry of the people in the village, and I investigated the flow of these activities.

In the meantime, Mr. Lakra and Grandpa Kara came back. They talked about the management of the church, the level of participation in mass by the villagers, and the budget that might be needed.

Then they got into the carriage and headed for the next village.

"If you're asking about the church's administrative costs, does the head office provide support money?

Yes, if there are a lot of believers in a place like Tarzan's home country, there will be a good amount of donations, but on the scale of villages, forcing people to bear such a burden will hinder their faith. That's why we've made it possible for the donations collected from volunteers to go to the temple.

"So this is an inspection to determine the allocation?

Yes. How about you, Mr. Shosho?

We're also checking the living standards of the villages. Even if we can't help the home country, we want to remove the disparity between villages.

In the carriage, I talked with Mr. Lakra. I was able to learn a lot about the relationship between Yugra and Mejlis.

It is no exaggeration to say that although Mejlis is a kingdom, its real power is held by the Pope of the Yugoslav religion.

The king of Mejlis is in charge of holding talks with the pope and propagating the decided policy to the people.

He is not a complete yes-man, and makes recommendations considering the current situation of the country, but the king himself does not make his own policies.

The king himself does not make any policy of his own. Well, almost all the people in the country are believers in the Yugoslav religion, and it would be difficult to run the country if there is friction with the pope.

Despite the disadvantage of being in control, the king's position seems to be somewhat comfortable, which is probably due to the fact that no one wants to be in charge.

However, if that is the case, my view of Mejlis will change somewhat. The reality of Mejis, which does not tolerate abstinence, is strongly mediated by the will of the Yugra cult.

Dokora, who was the dark side of the Mejis, was also deeply involved with the Yugra cult, and it was the Yugra cult that hunted him down.

In that light, Maya's generosity is quite remarkable. I think she is unique among the Yugoslavs in her intentions.

"By the way, Ilias's mother was a priest like Maaya, right? That means...

"Yes, my mother was originally from Mejlis. She came to Taze with Maja. She married my father, who was a knight of this country.

On Earth, Catholic sisters don't marry, do they? I wonder if they don't have such ties.

Although they are related to the saviors, there may be various differences in the teachings of the heroes.

"What do you think about the teachings of Yugraism, Mr. Shosho?

What do you think of the teachings of the Yugoslavian religion? "I have never had the opportunity to come into contact with such teachings until now, so I have never belonged to any. However, recently I have learned a lot from Maya, and I understand that the existence of Yugraism is very important and valuable to the people who were left with many flaws by the Demon King in the past.

"Well, well, well.

I'm not a believer in Yugraism at this point, but I'm not so twisted as to be obsessed with a minority religion. If I were to enter the faith in the future, I would prefer Yugraism.

"Even if you don't wait for deep faith, we are always waiting for you, Shosho-sama.

Hmmm... I'm nostalgic for this kind of politeness. The rest of the village tour went smoothly.

You find out the name of the village, whether or not it has facilities, and how old it is. The same goes for the expressions of the villagers and the way they live.

But they are not the same. And if there is a difference, there is a reason for it.

If it is a characteristic of the village, leave it aside. If it is a flaw or a problem, consider it and think about how to deal with it.

"Didn't you come here to learn about the differences between the village and the country?

"It's too good to just learn. There is a lot to be gained by just trying these things out. Maybe it will even pay off. You have to make the most of the opportunities you are given.

"I see, so today is a serious day.

I'm sorry, there is no such thing as a serious day. If I'm joking, I'm joking seriously.

Besides, I have Wolfe with me today. I have to show my dignity as a master.

I let Urufe, who is the most important person, compare the villages and mention what he noticed.

"This village's back is smaller than the previous one!

"Oh, I see. Aside from individual differences, if there is a general difference, it may be due to differences in the breeding environment. The climate and sunlight are basically the same. Then, the size of the rearing shed, the rhythm of the cows' life, the quantity and quality of their food, and so on can be expected. Observe the surroundings of the cows and try to figure out the cause from these differences.

"...... Moo?

I should try to avoid using too many difficult words, yes.

Think of yourself as a cow, wondering why you're so small.

"Yes!

And so it was late in the evening. Today, we'll be sleeping in the church of the last village we visited.

Ilias and Wolfe will share a room, and the others will be alone.

Only Karaji was invited to the village chief's house and stayed there.

Outside of the village, the old man, Kara, was more popular than Ilias' bravery.

Although it cannot be said that there is no prejudice or discrimination against the female Iliad, it is more moderate than in the home country.

I could have gone straight to sleep, but I'm at my desk trying to sort out the documents I've compiled today.

I hung this "illumination stone" from the ceiling of my room, which I had received from Ilias with magical power, and worked at my desk alone, relying on its light.

As I was doing so, I heard a knock on my door.

Come in.

It was Mr. Lakra who came in. Unlike her daytime attire, she was dressed in a loose-fitting white robe. It's quite lust-inducing.

"I'm sorry to bother you so late at night. I couldn't sleep and was walking around a bit when I saw a light from my room. ...... I hope I didn't disturb you.

"No problem. I was just writing down what I wrote down today.

You are a very dedicated person. May I have a look at it?

Yes, please. Sit down on the bed.

I sat Ms. Lakra down and handed her the document I had finished writing.

Ms. Lakra is quietly reading the document. I resume my work quietly so as not to disturb her.

After a while, I received a reaction from Mr. Lakra, who was reading the document.

He said, "You've put together a lot of details, haven't you? You've even written down the way the children of the village play. ......

"There is a reason for every little detail. There is a reason for every little thing, and it may well lead to the information you are looking for. The least we can do is to try to keep up with what we see whenever possible.

I see. ......

For example, there is a village where children play with homemade toys, and another village where they do not. For example, there are villages where children play with homemade toys, and there are villages where children do not. The difference in workload, efficiency, and skill between villages where the parents have the time and energy to make handmade toys for their children and those where they do not can be inferred.

......

"If you look at their work, equipment, and skills on the premise that there are such assumptions, such differences will clearly come to light. ......

If a person like ...... has risen to a position of responsibility, it must be reassuring for the people.

"Haha, thank you...?

Suddenly, a presence loomed behind me. When I turned around, I saw Lakra-san walking right up to me.

A sweet fragrance tickled my nose, and I could feel her heat nearby. I can feel my heart beating a little louder and faster.

"Oh, um, ......

"Mr. Shoushou, there's something I'd like to discuss with you.

If there is anything we can do to help, please contact us at .......

Lakra's hands were on her cheeks and thighs. Her face gets closer and closer, and her breath reaches my face.

There is another purpose for this inspection. ......

"What is it?

"What is it?" Lacla smiled lustily.

It is to find a book. Do you know of any books on necromancy?　

d*mn it, you're right!