CH 107

Klaus' outlook

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After playing the Demon Lord in Camilla's office, I returned to Volzard and showed up at the guild.

I don't intend to affect Volzard, but I thought it would be better to let Klaus-san know about it, as the foolish Princes' fuss could lead to an unexpected situation.

In the guild, the hustle and bustle of the morning is over, and it feels like time is flowing at a leisurely pace.

At this time, Donovan-san must be participating in the class ... I thought, so I headed towards the counter and was beckoned to by Otto-san who saw me.

"Good morning, Otto-san."

"Good morning, it was a treat last time."

"No, I have been indebted to Otto-san in varous ways, from the time I came to Volzard to the registration of my classmates."

"Yeah, it's a big deal to be able to care so much at your age, well, to get three wives, you have to be able to do that much."

"Right ... I'll do my best."

"By the way, what are you here for today? If it's about Donovan, he's in class."

"Yes, I want to meet Klaus-san for a little report ..."

"I see, he's on the second floor, so you should go."

"Yes, I will."

After slightly bowing my head to everyone working behind the counter, I was about to walk towards the stairs when Otto-san stopped me.

"Oops, by the way, Kent, I almost forgot."

"Yes? Did something happen?"

"Yeah, the guild master is coming from the guild headquarters, and of course you're the target."

"Is that so? I'm glad because I have something to ask them, too. When are they going to come see me?"

"They will probably arrive at Volzard sometime this week."

"Okay, I understand ... Umm, Klaus-san said that the guild master at headquarters is over 250 years old, is that true?"

"Ah, I've heard stories like that, but I've never met them in person, so I can't say anything ... Well, if you meet them, you'll understand."

"Is that so ..."

Muell-san's teacher, Corey-san, also looks quite old, but I have never heard her age, so I don't know how old she really is.

The guild master at the headquarters probably looks like a wizard too ... Huh? Is it an old man, or is it an old woman?

While I was walking while thinking about such things, I arrived in front of Klaus-san's office.

"Who is it?"

"It's Kent, can I have a minute?"

"Come on in."

When I knocked and asked, a somewhat harsh voice came back.

"Good morning. As always, I'm sorry for being so sudden."

"Really. It was a treat the other day ... My daughter, before getting married, kissing in front of her father ..."

Aah, so he was still in a bad mood about what happened at the dinner party.

"I'm sorry. I thought I had to accept Rise's feelings and actions ..."

"This guy ... don't you have such a nice personality ..."

"Thank you. This is also thanks to my father-in-law's guidance."

"Hmph! So, what are you up to this morning? I'm not free either."

No, no, I've heard rumors that you're wandering around quite a bit.

"Yes, there was some movement in Resenburg, so I came to report it."

"Hmm, the Minotaurs just arrived, did something else come?"

"No, it seems that both the First Prince faction and the Second Prince faction began to move after Camilla informed the royal capital about the Minotaur incident."

"Tch, are those idiots seriously trying to start a civil war?"

"It's not confirmed yet, but Basten seems to think there's a high possibility of that."

"Can he predict the battlefield?"

"Yes, this is also Basten's prediction, but it seems likely that Kabasa Pass will be the decisive battlefield."

Hearing about Kabasa Pass, Klaus-san frowned a little.

"Since the Minotaurs headed for Lastock instead of Volzard, it is certain that the direction of the seasonal winds has changed. In that situation, if there was bloodshed at Kabasa Pass or something like that ..."

"Yes, Reinhardt is also concerned about that. Also, while they are crushing each other in the country, I'm worried that Barshania will attack."

"Oh, did your eyes reach that far, as expected, it's different if you have former knights as genus."

"Yes, so, Reinhardt and the others are unaware of the recent situation in Barshania, but are they planning to invade Resenburg?"

"No, it hasn't been done recently, but it seems there was a pretty fierce battle a few years before I was born."

"Have they never invaded since then?"

"Right ... As far as I know, I haven't heard anything like that, but according to rumors from peddlers, they're continuing to increase their strength year by year."

As expected, Klaus-san seems to have a Barshania on his radar.

"I feel like it's a country that's not easy to deal with."

"That's right. If the Prince of Resenburg is a complete blockhead, it wouldn't be strange if the country was easily taken over, and if that happens, the next thing is ..."

"It means that Volzard is not someone else's problem either."

"Barshania is a country that grows hemp and cotton. Do you know what this means?"

"Weaving and other handicrafts are prosperous ... Are they skillful with their hands?"

"Of course, that's part of it, but the other side is ... drugs."

"Ah ..."

When I heard Klaus-san's words, the first thing that came to my mind was the Second Prince's promiscuity.

"In Barshania, of course, the use of drugs is prohibited, and it is said that using drugs is punishable by death, but there are rumors that the country is pulling strings from behind the scenes to produce drugs. Naturally, drugs are not allowed to be brought into Resenburg, and there are inspections of belongings at the border of the highway, but it seems that people are entering through loopholes."

"Does that mean that they want to spread it around Resenburg, destabilize the country, and invade it?"

"That's right, and the desertification of western Resenburg, but there's a rumor that Barshania has a hand in that as well."

"Eeehhh ... Is that true?"

"I don't know if it's true or not, but when the west wind is blowing like in the coming season, they are using wind attribute magic to boost the sandstorms ... There are rumors like that. However, there are so many rumors about Barshania, so it's fine to discount half the story."

"But, discounting half the story ... If Barshania is planning something like that ..."

In response to my question, Klaus-san smiled with a satisfied grin.

"It's fine, Kent, you're from another world, so you're not bound by the common sense of this world. If you tell the people of this world that Barshania will attack, most of them will just smile at you. If that's what Barshania is aiming for ... then the country of Resenburg will disappear, and the other side of the Devil's Forest will be Barshania."

"That's not a welcome situation for Volzard, is it?"

"Naturally. No matter how much there's the Devil's Forest in between us, we want to avoid having a country try to invade a neighboring country and become bigger."

"But, will Barshania really come to attack Resenburg?"

"Well, that's something I also want to ask, aren't you starting to probe anyway?"

"Yes, I'm having Fred look into it now."

Klaus-san nodded twice, thrice, and smiled again with satisfaction.

"You can even get information about Barshania while sitting in Volzard."

"Volzard is already an important town where I live. I will do my best. But what is Barshania's aim? Is there a reason why they have to expand their territory so much?"

"Is there a reason ..."

Klaus-san folded his arms and lost himself in thought for a moment.

"The only reason to invade other countries is to get something that your own country doesn't have."

"Something that Barshania lacks ... is it?"

"That's true, but as I said earlier, Barshania is also an agricultural country where hemp and cotton are thriving, so the food situation shouldn't be bad. Even after hearing the rumors of the peddlers, there are no reports of any years of extremely poor harvests."

"Then, I don't think there is any reason to attack Resenburg."

"If there is, it's a story of further west of Barshania."

"Eh, further west of Barshania?"

"Kent, even west of Barshania there's a lot of land."

According to Klaus-san, Volzard is located in the eastern part of the large continent, there is a country beyond the high peak in the north, there is another country in the east, and there is another country to the west of Barshania. It seems that there are many countries.

"To the west of Barshania, there is a country called the Felciane Empire that goes around the mountainous region, the northwest of it is the Republic of Kilia, and to the southwest is the Jogesen Empire. It seems that a war is taking place between this Kilia and Jogesen."

"Does that battle affect Barshania?"

"If the emperor of Barshania is a madman ... but."

The country next to, next to, next to Volzard. When it becomes a story about such a country, it's not possible to imagine it at all.

"Somehow, it feels like a story of a very far away country, but is there something that could be the cause of the fight between Kilia and Jogesen?"

"Comparing Kilia and Jogesen, Kilia is only a quarter of the size, and one-third of it is a small mountainous country. Jogesen, on the other hand, is an agricultural country with fertile land ... It seems that Kilia has the upper hand in the battle."

"Kilia has the upper hand ... Is that the reason why Barshania is targeting Resenburg?"

"Oh, did I completely forget about that? There are two reasons why Kilia has the upper hand. One is something called explosives, the other is iron."

Klaus-san showed me two fingers.

"Explosives ... what are they?"

"Regarding the explosives, I haven't seen them in person, but rumor has it that anyone can use powerful fire-attribute magic. The real thing is hidden by the Kilia guys, so not much is really known, but there's a roaring sound, a mighty flame, a storm, and it's said to be powerful enough to blow people apart."

"Haa ... is it gunpowder ..."

"What, Kent, do you know about explosives?"

"Yes, I don't know the details of the manufacturing method, but on the planet Earth where I lived, the tools for warfare are more advanced than this world."

"Are explosives that dangerous?"

"Right. If it evolves following the same process as our world, weapons more powerful than magic will be created."

I told Klaus-san that gunpowder began to be used in matchlock guns, then developed into cartridges, pistols, rifles, and machine guns, as well as hand grenades, mines, bombs, and missiles. After listening with his mouth half open, he shook his head as if to shake off a nightmare.

"That can be used by people who can't use magic, right?"

"Yes, in the first place, there are no humans who can use magic in our world."

"Does that mean you don't even need to chant?"

"Right. You don't need to chant, but if it was just invented, it woudl be difficult to handle gunpowder in various ways."

"Handling ... For example, what do you mean?"

"Gunpowder shows its power when it burns instantaneously, of course, if you bring fire close to it, it will explode even when you don't want it to, static electricity, the thing that shocks you when it's dry, that will also make it explode. Also, gunpowder won't explode if it gets wet."

"In other words, if you shoot a fire arrow at the place where they keep it ..."

"That's right."

Klaus-san folded his arms again in thought.

"But, Kent, in your world, it's easier to handle it, right?"

"That's right. In my country, the general public is prohibited from possessing one, but if you get a license, you can use it for hunting and other purposes."

"In case of emergency, can you buy that weapon from your country?"

"Hmm ... If I remember correctly, the sale of weapons to foreign countries was prohibited ..."

"Then how about disclosing the method of making explosives?"

"Hmm ... Gunpowder is a dangerous substance, so I don't think they'll tell me the details of how to make it. However, the most basic gunpowder is charcoal and sulfur ... huh, what is it, umm ... gunpowder has a strong smell ... gun smoke ... smoke reaction ... yes, saltpeter! I think it was a mixture of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter."

"Kent, you, to learn such a thing."

"It's something that appears in novels and manga ... But I don't think it will explode well if the purity and composition don't match."

"Charcoal, sulfur, saltpeter ... I'll have to look into Kilia's condition a little more, but if necessary, I'll have to do some research."

Klaus-san has an unimpressed expression on his face, but from the standpoint of protecting the territory, it's no good if he doesn't have countermeasures if necessary.

"Klaus-san, gunpowder ... I understand about explosives, but iron is that kind of iron, right?'

"Ah, a few years ago they discovered a vein of high-quality iron ore in Kilia. It seems that the amount of iron production increased all at once."

"Are you saying that they are using that iron in weapons?"

"That seems to be the case. With the discovery of the ore vein, it seems that the production technology has improved, and it seems that is is used in various weapons to increase the offense power and defense power."

"Gunpowder and iron ... How about Barshania? If the gunpowder manufacturing method is a secret, is it about the iron?"

"Well, I haven't heard of any big mines in Barshania, and they should be relying on trade for things like iron."

"Huh? There was a mine in Resenburg, right?"

While listening to the story, something stuck in the corner of my mind.

"Oh, there's a big mine in Gaso, a mountainous area in the northeast."

"The lord over there ... Is it perhaps a Margrave?"

"Margrave Calvine. Is there something wrong with it?"

"In Barshania, the government handles drugs behind the scenes, right?"

"It's a rumor, but it's almost certainly true."

"That, is it called Falzala?"

"Kent, where did you hear that name?"

As soon as the name Falzala was mentioned, Klaus-san's expression tightened severely.

"Falzala was used by the Resenburg's Second Prince, Bernst, along with his entourage and led to an orgy, so I heard it's name from Reinhardt."

"Tch, is that stupid Prince using it ..."

"It's his followers ... I think they're sent by Margrave Calvine."

"What! Is that true?"

"They were ugly and didn't look like knights at all, so I thought they were chosen from the mine thugs ..."

Klaus-san sank into thought for a while, furrowing his brows.

"Kent ..."

"Yes, what is it ..."

"This is just my hunch, but it's highly likely that Margrave Calvine and Barshania are connected behind the scenes."

"But, Margrave Calvine is a noble of Resenburg, isn't he? Wouldn't it be bad if his country was invaded?"

"If the territory and tax share are guaranteed, it will be the same regardless of whether the head is Resenburg or Barshania. No ... maybe he's thinking of taking the lead in the confusion."

"Do you mean a rebellion?"

"Considering the worst-case scenario, it won't be so. However, from Barshania's point of view, even if the invasion is not possible, it woudl be enough if they can appoint a person who works conventietly for them as King, I wonder if they want to create a system to have them disappear when they become inconvenient. In any case, it would be better to investigate Margrave Calvine a little."

"Even though Resenburg may be attacked by a maximum outbreak of unprecedent scale, is that guy only thinking of himself?"

With Reinhardt at the top of the list, everyone is struggling to defend Lastock, but it really pisses me off that the important royal family and the nobles are only interested in making money for themselves.

"Kent, it's still in the speculation stage, so it hasn't been decided yet. Besides, giving up on the royal family of Resenburg may be to protect the people of the territory."

"Is that so?"

"Just think about it, the Landshelt Republic where this Volzard is located was originally Resenburg. The reason it's independent now is probably because it gave up on the Resenburg royal family."

"Ah ... come to think of it, that's true. Hmm ... Certainly, you might want to give up on that royal family ..."

The King has been playing around with women in the daytime, and the Princes are only interested in the succession to the throne, so I feel that it can't be helped if the nobles abandon them.

"If that's the case, even if Margrave Calvine has ties to Barshania behind the scenes, it's not necessarily an action that he should be blamed for."

"I see ... does that mean that the good and bad of things change depending on the point of view?"

"That's right. On top of that, what we should think about is whether it's a good thing or a bad thing for Volzard. Kent, when you're in doubt about your decision, think again about your position. Feeling considerate of others is necessary, but there are times when you have to make the ultimate choice. Don't lose sight of where you stand at that time."

"Yes, I understand. The place where I stand is here in Volzard."

Klaus-san nodded twice, three times with satisfaction.

"Even so, Margrave Calvine doesn't care ... can you look into it a little?"

"Yes, I'll have Basten or Fred look into it."

"Thank you, I'm counting on you. So ... Kent, how do you plan to settle the quarrel between the stupid Princes of Resenburg? Kabasa Pass is across the forest, but it's not far from Volzard. If the conflict spreads poorly, there may be refugees who risk their lives to cross the forest."

Klaus-san, of course, is concerned about the impact on Volzard.

But it's okay, there's no need to worry.

"Yes, myself and my genus will defeat them all."

"Hou, don't you talk quite big, isn't the opponent an army of more than 10,000 units?"

"It seems so. But they're not our opponent. I'll make them say 'Kyaa'."

"I see, I see, you're pretty confident, but will you be okay? As Volzard, it would be troublesome to lose you guys now."

"It's okay. If I think it's dangerous, I will run away."

"Fuhahahaha, in that case, it's fine. If you ask me, the stupid Princes of Resenburg are someone else's business after all. If you think it's dangerous, pack up and run away."

"Yes, I will."

I promised to report back as soon as the situation changed, and left Klaus-san's office.

Yeah, after all, the active-duty Feudal Lord is reliable.

I feel like I'm studying more than taking classes at school, but I wonder if I shouldn't skip classes.