Chapter 81: The Start of Journey

Chapter 81: The Start of Journey

Noreau, Barony of Arlez.

One of the finest ports in Arquell, facing the southern seas of the kingdom. This port town had prospered from ancient times through trade with the Omnia Empire and the mercantile city of Canales.

The blue sea shimmered in the gentle spring sun, and the melodious cries of seagulls echoed in the air. Along the pier, caravels and carracks were anchored, their weary hulls taking a momentary rest from their long journeys. Meanwhile, the crew unloaded cargo onto the docks or hurriedly stowed goods aboard the ships, sweating as they worked tirelessly.

In one corner of the bustling harbor, there was a place even louder, not in the typical clamor of the surroundings, but in a different sense.

"What in the world is that!?"

Nanda, aryaa!?

The lookout of a merchant ship that had just arrived was left agape at the peculiar sight in the distance.

Moving on the docks were robust, humanoid figures carrying what seemed like heavy cargo on their backs. That was fine. Such scenes were common in the port town. However, upon closer inspection, something was amiss with their scale. The top of these figures surpassed the deck height of the carrack ships anchored nearby. They were giants, easily exceeding four meters in height.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that these were not human beings performing the tasks. In fact, they weren't even living beings. Their bodies were composed of earth and stone. They took on a clumsy humanoid form, akin to a mud doll a child might fashion.

Mud Golems. They were a type of magical creature infused with a semblance of life through magic. Nearly ten of them had gathered, engaged in some kind of work in a corner of the harbor. They were working on a newly reclaimed area, driving long, thick logs into the ground, stacking up stone blocks

What they were doing was construction.

"So many golems"

Gremu ga konna ni

"They've certainly managed to gather some mages who can move all these."

Yoku mo maa, kore dake no mono o ugokaseru madou-shi o kakiatsumerareta mono da ze.

"I wonder if a lord of a port town is indeed rich, after all?"

Yappari, minato-chou no ryoushu tte no wa moukaru mono na no ka ne?

Sailors who had visited Noreau after a long absence watched the large golems hard at work, their jaws dropping in amazement, or sighing with disbelief. After all, mages capable of creating golems of this size were rare, and those who could control them effectively were even rarer. To manage this many golems at once would require at least twenty highly skilled mages. This was almost equivalent to maintaining a military unit of mages, which came with considerable costs. If you were going to employ them, it made more economic sense to take a little extra time and either hire skilled workers or buy slaves to do the job.

At the docks, recently disembarked sailors grabbed familiar traders to inquire about the situation.

"Hey, what is the lord here building over there?"

Naa, oi. Koko no ryoushu-sama wa asoko de nani o tateteiru nda ne?

"Oh, that? It seems they're building a new shipyard."

Aa, are desu ka. Arya nan demo, atarashii zousensho o tsukutteiru rashikute.

"A shipyard?"

Zousenshoo?

Confused by the answer, the sailors scratched their heads.

"By moving that massive number of golems, is it so urgent?"

Are dake tairyou no gremu o ugokashite, isogi de kai?

"We also don't know. If it's a shipyard, we already have a good one, though"

Watashi-ra ni mo, nani ga nanda ka wakarimasen yo. Zousensho nara rippa na mono ga sudeni aru no ni

In a port town vital for southern sea trade, they wouldn't be lacking a shipyard or two. There shouldn't be any need for a new one.

"Indeed, it's quite baffling."

Tashika ni, hogusenai hanashi da yo na.

"According to the rumors I've heard they say they're planning to build larger ships than ever before."

Uwasa ni kiita hanashi da to ima made yori ooki na fune o tsukuru da to ka nan to ka.

The merchant spoke with an eerie expression while looking over at the construction site.

The sailors, too, were intrigued and turned to see for themselves. Indeed, considering its size and the height of the pillars that would be used for the buildings, it would be a shipyard for constructing significantly larger ships.

"What on earth do they need such gigantic ships for? Are they planning to sail to a distant continent or something?"

Sonna dekai fune o, nani ni tsukaun dai. Itairiku ni demo ikou tte ka?

The crew snorted derisively, as if making fun of the idea.

Sailing across the open ocean in pursuit of a different continent was a venture that far more grueling than even a carefree aristocrat could imagine. The ever-changing weather, unknown climates and currents, monstrous storms unlike anything known to the people of Itucera, limited supplies of food and drinking water, the fraying and rowdiness of the crew in the confined quarters, and, most terrifying of all, the sea monsters that lurked beneath the waves.

Sea monsters were a nuisance. No matter how strong adventurers or armies might be, humans were land creatures at heart. Facing aquatic monsters that could freely swim underwater and attack the ship's hull and keel was a dire situation. If a ship's hull were breached in the middle of the ocean, it was game over, as they say.

As long as such creatures inhabited the seas, even circumnavigating the coastal areas of the continent was a life-threatening endeavor. Venturing to a different continent was almost akin to going on a suicide mission. Certainly, the exotic spices, rare flora and fauna, and abundant minerals from that land were tempting. Legends spoke of islands at the end of the sea filled with gold. But reaching a different continent and returning with anything to show for it required a rare breed of sailors, if they existed at all.

A different continent wasn't a place that could be reached with just the construction of a single large ship.

The merchant must be aware of this. He flashed a wry smile, as if to say, 'Surely not.'

"I highly doubt that. The overseas route to a different continent is currently a fiercely contested territory, with Canales and Morbaehr Kingdom competing for dominance. It's a little too late for Arquell to step into that now..."

Sasuga ni sore wa nai deshou. Itairiku kouro wa Kanaresu to Mrubea oukoku ga, gappuriyotsu de kumiau you ni shite kaitaku kyousou-chuu desu yo? Ima sara, soko ni Arukru ga watte haitte mo nee

Arquell Kingdom had a longstanding reputation for being sea-averse. It was wedged between the Northern Ocean and the Southern Ocean, with a peninsula to the west serving as a major obstacle for north-south navigation. This peninsula had become a haven for sea monsters, and it was a truly uncharted and perilous territory. Due to the immense and solid lid that had kept the north-south routes tightly sealed for so long, the Arquell Kingdom showed surprisingly low interest in the sea compared to other countries.

"Perhaps they're planning to build warships?"

Osoraku, sen-sen demo tsukurou to shite irun janai desu ka?

"Warships? Why in the south of all places?"

Sensou-you no fune kai? Nande mata konna minami de.

As the crew member suggested, if they were indeed planning to build warships, it would be more suitable to do so in the northern regions facing the Northern Ocean, which required avoiding the peninsula, rather than the south. After all, Arquell Kingdom's hypothetical adversaries, whether it be St. Gallen or Morbaehr, were concentrated to the north. On the contrary, Omnia in the south had an alliance with Arquell and had no need for large warships.

In that case the purpose of constructing such colossal ships in this location became increasingly unfathomable.

"Good grief, it makes no sense."

Mattaku, wake ga wakaran na.

"You're right But more importantly, about this business negotiation"

Desu nee. Sore yori, konkai no shoudan desu ga.

"Oh, right, that's true"

Otto, ikenee

The two of them put an end to their discussion of the mysterious large shipyard and shifted their focus to the trade negotiations. The people bustling around them did the same. Despite the noisy sounds of work, they remained devoted to their tasks without being distracted by the source of the commotion.

Noreau was one of the key ports in the southern part of the continent, a bustling port town where ships, people, goods, and money hurriedly came and went. The construction of a shipyard wasn't enough to attract the attention of passersby.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the wharf, passengers from Omnia Empire disembarked one after another.

"It's quite lively here, isn't it? Is Arquell Kingdom's port always this busy?"

Sugoi kakki desu ne. Arukru oukoku no minato tte, itsumo konna ni nigiwatte irun desu ka?

A young boy, his face mostly concealed by a hood, spoke as if overwhelmed. His hair that could be slightly seen from beneath the hood was black, and his skin, visible from his hands, was quite tanned than that of the average people of the continent. Because of those distinct features, it was likely a measure to avoid drawing attention.

On the other hand, the woman he addressed was anything but inconspicuous. She had striking features with her tied-up golden hair and a strong-willed expression. She was clad in light armor that gleamed like silver, and despite it being travel attire, she was impressively armed. The small, sharp sword hanging from her waist made a subtle noise with each movement, drawing the attention of the men around her. Eventually, the color of their gaze shifted from caution to astonishment.

Without paying the slightest attention to these reactions, the woman responded to the young boy.

"Not really. The reason it's this lively is probably because it's not long after the war. There's the recovery from the war damage, the development of new territories for the nobles as rewards There are plenty of reasons for the increased activity of people and goods."

Sou demo nai. Konna ni kakki ga yoi no wa, yahari sengo mamonai kara dearou yo. Sensai kara no fukkou, onshou ni azukatta kizoku no shin ryouchi seibi hito to mono ga hade ni ugoku riyuu wa ikura demo aru.

"I see"

Hee

While giving non-committal responses, the young boy stopped and looked around. He frequently brushed shoulders with busy merchants and dockworkers, offering a quick apology each time before returning to his sightseeing of the port. Eventually, his gaze came to rest on the construction site in question.

"What're those, golems? Is it normal to use something like that for construction?"

Nanda are, gremu? Aa iu no o tsukatte kouji o suru no ga futsuu nan desu ka ne?

"Well, even for large-scale construction, moving magical creatures requires a complicated application process, and skilled mages who can control them are rare. It's not something you see every day."

Iya, oogakari na kouji to wa ie, mahou seibutsu o ugokasu ni wa shichi mendou na shinsei ga iru shi, sousa dekiru madou-shi mo kishou da. Sou sou aru koto dewa nai.

"Mages, huh it's those people moving around over there, right? But they look more like butlers or maids, though."

Madou-shi kaa asoko de ugoki mawatteru hito-tachi ka na? Demo, mahoutsukai tte iu yori shitsuji ka meido mitai ni mieru kedo.

At these words, the woman's expression revealed a faint trace of suspicion. Butlers and maids who use magicthere seemed to be a connection there.

"Oh, speaking of The baron who oversees Noreau is a supporter of that guy, right."

Aa, sou ieba Noryu o azukaru danshaku wa yatsu no shinpa deatta ka.

"Hm? What is it?"

? Dou shita ndesu?

"No, it's nothing."

Iya, nande mo nai sa.

As they conversed, a haughty voice, brimming with authority, called out from behind.

"Why are you standing still?"

Nani o tachidomatte oru no da?

"We didn't come here for sightseeing. We merely stopped by on our journey. If you've disembarked from the ship, it would be wise to continue on as soon as possible."

Warera wa kankou nado o shi ni koko ni kita wake dewa nai. Akuma de tabi no tochuu dearu kara tachiyotta made. Fune o orita no nara, ikkoku mo hayaku saki o isogu no ga suji to iu mono dearou.

"Indeed. Well, to Holy-Knight-Candidate-dono, this should be a nostalgic homeland, and to a horse's skeleton* from some unknown place, unfamiliar scenery must seem exotic, right?"

Sayou. Maa, Sei kishi kouho-dono ni wa natsukashiki sokoku dearou shi, doko no dare to mo shirenu uma no hone mo, minarenu keshiki ga mono mezurashikarou ga na?

*TL Note: (uma no hone) literally translated as horses skeleton is often used to playfully address someone in a slightly teasing or affectionate manner. It can be roughly translated to "youngster," "kid," or "young one."

""Hahahahaha!""

The group raised sneers without overt malice. To act so brazenly in the public eye, one might assume these were lowly individuals. But to the astonishment of those observing, they were priests carrying holy crosses around their necks.

Naturally, the boy who was told this had a look of revulsion in his eyes hidden behind his hood.

"These people!"

Koitsu-ra!

There was a sudden stir of commotion, but there were no efforts to intervene from the surrounding crowd. In a port town where strong laborers and roughnecks from all over the world congregated, fights were not uncommon, and for the hot-blooded individuals present, it was more like a preferred form of entertainment. Attracting curious onlookers was the norm.

However,

"Cease this."

O-yamenasai.

The voice of restraint came from further behind the group of priests.

"That person is accompanying me at my request. Disrespect shown to him would be akin to disrespect shown to me, so what would you do?"

Sono kata wa watashi ga muri o itte o-tomo o shite itadaite iru no desu. Kare e no hirei wa, kono watashi ni muketa mo douzen to omowaremasu ga, ikaga?

For a moment, the clamor of the wharf and the uproar seemed to subside, creating an illusion of pure, clear voices. A girl appeared, dressed as a nun. She wore an unusual attire, not only with the holy emblem on her chest but also amulets sewn throughout her clothes. Odd as it was, her appearance strangely fit the picturesque atmosphere.

Though showing signs of trepidation at the arrival of the girl, the unruly priests attempted to defend themselves.

"Bu-but, you see"

Shi, shikashi desu na

"But what? What is it?"

Shikashi? Nan na no deshou ka?

Yet, when she countered with a touch of firmness, they immediately waned.

"No, it's nothing."

Ie, nan demo gozaimasen.

The men retreated, swallowing their dissatisfaction. The girl's gaze briefly shifted to the boy she had come to the aid of.

"Hmph."

Fun.

He, as if to say that such kindness was more of an unwelcome nuisance, turned his face away.

"Oh"

A

"What's with that attitude? Do you not even know courtesy, you foreign little brat?"

Nanda, ano taido wa. Rei mo shiranu no ka ijinshu no kozou-me.

"Having such an uncouth companion will not be in your best interest."

Ano you na hijoushiki na yakara o hata ni okarete wa, onmi no tame ni narimasenu zo.

"I've told you multiple times It's fine."

Nando mo iwasenaide kudasai Ii no desu.

As she kept the group surrounding them in check, she continued to send a hard-to-describe gaze towards the young boy. As if to cling to his clearly rejecting back, or perhaps to apologize.

(I need to be careful not to say anything strange and avoid dragging her into weird matters)

(Hen na koto o itte, kono hito o myou na koto ni makikomanai you ni shinai to)

The boy straightened himself up with a renewed sense of determination.

"Is that so. If it's your first time on a carriage, be careful not to get motion sickness. Of course, you can always ask for the saintess over there to heal you if you start feeling unwell."

Sou ka. Basha ni noru no ga hajimete nara, yowanai you ni ki o tsukero yo? Motto mo, kibun ga waruku nattara sochira no seijo-dono ni naoshite morau to iu te mo aru ga.

She said, glancing at Irmaella, who was awkwardly huddled in the corner of her seatthe high priestess who normally would be sitting more confidently.

"Oh, y-yes! If you're not feeling well, please feel free to ask"

A, ha, hai! Go-kibun ga sugurenai toki ni wa, itsu demo osshatte

"It's alright, Elisha-san. I didn't get seasick on the boat ride here, so I think I'll be fine."

Daijoubu desu, Erisha-san. Iki no fune demo yowanakatta shi, mondainai to omoimasu.

"Oh, I see Alright"

Aa, sou desu ka. Hai

As Irmaella dejectedly returned to her seat after her initial enthusiasm, Yuuto recalled the uncomfortable feeling he had when he was first assigned to this carriage.

In this delegation, Yuuto's role was that of an attendant of Irmaella, who was officially the face of the group. However, there was a different aspect to his position that was conveyed more discreetly. When the departure orders were issued, it was a veiled request from Phantony, but there was a subtle message delivered.

"Hero-dono should accompany Irmaella-dono, who is your summoner, as much as possible. Naturally, the priests of the Holy King Church have a duty to assist the Hero. Therefore, who is better than her, who possesses unparalleled divine power and has bound herself in a contract with you? During this journey, perhaps both of you should take this opportunity to deepen your mutual understanding."

Yuusha-dono ni wa narubeku, shoukan-sha dearu Irumaerra-dono to koudou o tomo ni shite morau. Gen yori seiou kyou no shinkan wa yuusha no hohitsu mo yakume no hitotsu. Deareba, kitai no houriki o yadoshi onmi to keiyaku o kawashite mo iru kanojo koso, buttetsuke dearou. Kono tabi o ki ni, tagai no rikai o fukameteoku beki ka to

That's what he had been told.

It was meddling he could do without. He didn't particularly want to be a hero or anything of the sort. However, he was starting to feel the limits of being cooped up in Omnia. It was a bit awkward to be stuck with her, but he had accepted the offer in hopes of getting outside for a change. He hadn't expected to be so tightly bound together. As a result, he earned extra spite from the other priests of the delegation, making his situation quite difficult.

His only consolation was that Elisha, who he knew well, was riding along with Irmaella and Yuuto, who acted as her attendant, because they were of the same sex. If not for this, it was possible that he might have used this opportunity to escape.

""

""

A stifling silence filled the carriage.

For Yuuto, he recently got into a fight with Irmaella and even resorted to violence. He certainly felt guilty for doing something incorrigible to a weak girl. But at the same time, he harbored a strong desire to hold the person responsible for bringing him to this otherworldly place accountable.

Irmaella also had a clear and pronounced fault in the matter. She must have her own feelings of remorse, as well as fear and distrust of Yuuto, who had violently expressed his frustration. Their relationship was incredibly awkward. Phantony's well-intentioned attempt to foster understanding likely didn't yield the desired results.

Speaking of, in an attempt to change the atmosphere, Elisha asked,

"It seems like we've been heading north from Noreau for quite a while. Are we going to continue straight into Volden?"

Noryu kara zutto hokujou shite iru you da ga, kono mama Vorudan ni hairu no ka?

"Yes. Continuing north along the eastern route is the shortcut to Armand."

Hai. Kono mama azuma-zoi ni kita e susumu no ga, Arumando e no chikamichi desu no de.

Irmaella also answered, feeling somewhat relieved.

However, Yuuto felt something unsettling. Since the travel itinerary was already well-known, there shouldn't be a need for questions, and it seemed that Elisha should know this information. He sensed that the discussion might be a way to break the awkward atmosphere within the group, but he also noticed that Elisha's intention to continue the conversation seemed weak. Rather, she appeared somewhat reluctant or hesitant in her tone.

"Is there something bothering you?"

Nani ka ki ni naru koto ga arun desu ka?

"Well, if we go to Volden, the lord there would come out to welcome us, right?"

Iya, na. Vorudan ni ikeba ryoushu ga kantai ni dete kuru darou?

It was only natural to expect such hospitality. During their stay in Noreau, they had been accommodated at the mansion of a noble called Baron Alrez, who was responsible for that region. Although they were growing weary of the constant receptions during their journey, it seemed to be a common practice in this world. She assumed that they would encounter a similar situation when they reached Volden.

"Is the lord of that region a bad person?"

Sono ryoushu tte, iya na yatsu nan desu ka?

"Yu-Yuuto-sama!"

Yu, Yuuto-sama!

Irmaella panicked and tried to stop him, but he ignored her. As a priest, speaking ill of others probably didn't sit well with her, but it has nothing to do with him. He was talking to Elisha right now.

His suspicions were not entirely baseless. Even the aforementioned Baron Alrez, from his point of view, had a demeanor that seemed to ooze the typical traits of a corrupt noble. Yuuto didn't want to think there were many such individuals, but when he recalled a certain someone's father, it didn't seem impossible.

Elisha didn't seem concerned about the interaction between the two of them and continued her story without any apparent hesitation.

"Well, you see At the very least, he wasn't the type that would be compatible with the boy and Irmaella-dono. Though I don't enjoy speaking ill of someone I've once fought together with before."

Sou da na sukunakutomo shounen ya Irumaerra-dono to ai sou ni wa nai jinbutsu da yo. Ichido wa kutsuwa o narabeta aite o, waruku iu no wa shumi dewa nai ga.

"Someone you've fought together with?"

Kutsuwa o narabeta?

"What, didn't the name ring a bell for you? The Volden Campaign Last year, it was the war with Arquell in that region that triggered the civil war and upheaval in the St. Gallen Federation. I was serving as a knight in this country during those days,"

Nanda, chimei de wakarankatta no ka? Vorudan sen'eki Zankutogaren renpou no taisei o yurugase ni shinaisen ni totsunyuu saseta no wa, sennen ni ano chi de okotta, Arukru to no sensou ga gen'in na no da yo. De, touji wa kono kuni de kishi o yatte ita watashi mo juugun shiteita.

Yuuto found her straightforward and unassuming tone somewhat unsettling.

War. Humans killing each other. The woman in front of him had taken part in such a brutal conflict. The fact that one of the few reliable allies he had in this one had been involved in a war. It was hard for Yuuto to digest, and he unconsciously clenched his fist.

Whether she noticed the boy's reaction or not, the woman shrugged in a rather exaggerated manner.

"To be honest, when they asked me to join this diplomatic mission as a guard, I was quite surprised. After all, I should have killed a fair number of their people."

Iya shoujiki na hanashi, kono shisetsu-dan ni goei to shite kuwaware to iwareta toki wa odoroita zo. Nanise watashi wa, mukou no ningen o soutou na suu, kirisutete iru hazu na no dakara na.

"Is this going to be alright? It might sound impolite if I say this, but even though we are envoys sent to stop an internal war, wouldn't this cause displeasure on the other side?"

Da, daijoubu na no deshou ka? Kou itte wa shitsurei kamo shiremasen ga, watashi-tachi wa naisen o tome ni iku shisha desu no ni, senpou no go-fukyou o katte shimau no de wa

Irmaella expressed a valid concern. However, the person in question didn't seem to take offense.

"Well, who knows? I wonder what this personnel assignment really means. Maybe this is some kind of threat? In other words, it goes like thisIf you continue the fighting, we have our own plans. Be aware that we might form a full-fledged alliance with Arquell and use forcehaving someone like me who achieved military success in the previous campaign is their way of signaling that intentions for example."

Sate, ne. Hatashite, kono jinji ni dono you na imi ga aru no yara. Moshi ka suru to, kore wa odoshi no isshu kamo shiren zo? You suru ni kou dakore ijou sentou o tsuzukeru you nara, kochira ni mo kangae ga aru. Arukru to honkaku-teki ni musunde jitsuryoku koushi o okonau kanousei mo aru to kokoroeyosaki no sen'eki de gunkou o ageta watashi o soeta no wa, sono ishi hyouji to ka na.

"I see"

Naru hodo

The two women living in this world seemed to understand each other, but Yuuto, who was originally a high school student from another world, had no idea. He had no experience in politics, and his interest in news or the affairs of these great continental nations was minimal. So, explaining diplomatic maneuvering among the four major countries of the continent to a typical modern Japanese youth like him was quite a challenge.

"By the way, what about the lord of that place, Volden?"

Tokoro de, sono Vorudan tte tokoro no ryoushu no hanashi wa dou shitan desu ka?

So, Yuuto decided to steer the conversation back to the main topic. Well, considering that this group was on a diplomatic mission, the discussion they had been having earlier might actually be more pertinent.

"Aah, you mean Count Marquis Oubeniel. He is how should I put it, someone that's hard to describe in a few words."

Aa, buniru-haku kou no hanashi da na. Are wa nanto iu ka, hito koto de wa arawashi gatai jinbutsu da yo.

In contrast to her usual straightforward manner, Elisha's speech was oddly laden with some internal conflict.

"And you mean?"

To, iimasu to?

"He's undoubtedly competent when it comes to his abilities. However, I can't help but think that there's something off about him. Yeah, 'off'. It's probably the best word to describe the impression he gives."

Nouryoku no umu de ieba yuunou dearu no darou. Da ga, dou ni mo nanika ga zurete iru. Un, zure da. Sore ga yatsu e oboeta kanshoku o ii arawasu no ni, motto mo fusawashii ki ga suru.

Elisha said as she rested her hand on her chin and made an expression as if looking off into the distance.

"Ever since he was a child, he's been obsessed with alchemy, which is said to produce gold. He even schemed to take his own brother's position as an earl. Through his achievements in the war, he climbed the ranks to become a Marquis governing three provinces. At first glance, he might appear to be an ambitious man, but"

Osanai koro kara kogane o umu to iu renkinjutsu ni tandeki shi, mi no ani o oiotoshite hakushaku no chii o ubai, sensou de no kou ni yotte san-shuu no taishu taru koushaku ni made nobotta. Kore dake o mireba yokufuka na yashin-ka no you ni mo mieru no da ga

"Is it not like that?"

Chigaun desu ka?

"He's not that simple of a man despite shedding blood indiscriminately, he acts mildly. When you think he's a coward, he acts recklessly. He seems to be accomplishing his goals efficiently, but it's hard to tell what his goal actually is. He's a bundle of contradictions. Somewhere along the way, something essential in him as a human is fatally skewed In that sense, he's a bit like the boy."

Sou tanjun na otoko dewa nai Midari ni chi o nagasu wari ni wa onkou ni furumai, okubyou ka to omoeba mucha o shidekasu. Kouritsu-teki ni mokuhyou o tassei shite iru you de, nani o mokuteki ni shite iru no ka kentou mo tsukan. Mujun no katamari da na. Hito to shite daiji na nani ka ga, doko ka de chimei-teki ni zurete iru Sou iu imi dewa, sukoshi shounen ni nite iru yo.

"Huh? Me?"

E? Ore?

Suddenly described in such a way, he had a surprised look, like a pigeon hit by a pellet gun.

"Don't react so reluctantly. No, it may not be unpleasant to be compared to that. What I'm saying is about common sense or, rather, differences in perspective. Even though we should be looking at the same thing, different things are seen. It's as if we're living in different worlds, as if we came from different worlds"

Sonna fuhon'i sou ni suru na. Iya, are to issho ni sareru no wa yukai dewa nai darou ga na. Watashi ga itte iru no wa, joushiki to iu ka, shiten no chigai ni tsuite da yo. Onaji mono o mite iru hazu na no ni, me ni wa koto naru mono ga utsutte iru. Marude betsu no sekai ni ikite iru you na, chigau sekai kara kita you na

His heart raced. It was as if she had somehow discerned Yuuto's origin, his status as someone summoned from another world.

(No, there's no way that's possible.)

(Iya, sonna wake wa nai daro.)

His true identity was known only to the highest-ranking members of the church and his summoner, Irmaella. There was no way his secret could have leaked to Elisha, who was still just a holy knight candidate. Most likely, she was referring to the fact that he came from a distant land, being of a different race from the people on this continent.

Ignoring his inner turmoil, the female knight attempted to continue her conversation.

"Well, it's hard to put into words. It would be faster if you see him with your own eyes. But I don't think he's someone you would want to get too involved with, though."

Ma, kotoba dewa arawashigatai otoko da yo. Jissai ni sono me de mite miru hou ga hayai darou Amari fukairi shitai aite dewa nai ga ne.

"Y-yes"

Ha, haa.

The conversation was becoming somewhat understandable yet still elusive.

Irmaella, seemingly sharing similar thoughts, asked with a perplexed expression,

"Will this person welcome us?"

Sono o-kata wa, watashi-tachi no koto o kangei shite kudasaru deshou ka?

"Who knows? We won't know until we ask the man himself. No, even if we ask, we can't be sure if he'll speak his true intentions"

Saa? Honnin ni kikaneba wakaran. Iya kiita to shite sunao ni honne o hanasu ka dou ka

"If possible, I would hope for his cooperation in establishing peace on the continent"

Dekireba, tairiku no antei ni go-kyouryoku negaereba yoi no desu ga

"Come to think of it, he might cooperate. He's not a man seeking war or turmoil, that much is certain. But whether his cooperation would align with what you're hoping for, I can't guarantee."

Sou ieba kyouryoku wa suru darou na. Ikusa ya douran o motomeru you na otoko dewa nai koto wa tashika da. Sochira no nozomu katachi de no kyouryoku ni naru ka made wa hoshou dekin ga.

In short, a mysterious figure that couldn't be understood or trusted. That was the impression Yuuto gained. What's worse, they couldn't predict whether the Lord of Volden, Marquis Oubeniel, was going to become an enemy or not. He began to regret asking about him. They were about to meet this unsettling, suspicious, and enigmatic person soon. Yuuto knew that he wouldn't be directly involved in the meeting as he was just there to assist Irmaella. But even so, he couldn't shake off his uneasiness. He wished he could have remained ignorant and avoided this meeting.

"Oh, it's about time we arrive at Volden"

Otto, uwasa o sureba sorosoro sono Vorudan ni nyuu

But Elisha's teasing tone was abruptly cut off as she looked out the window.

"What's that?"

Nanda, are wa?

It was like she had suddenly stumbled upon a heap of corpses on the roadside, a discovery that evoked disgust. The look on her face was enough to convey that. Yuuto was also drawn in, feeling an unpleasant foreboding. Following Elisha's gaze, they looked down.

The landscape below appeared to be ordinary farmland at first glance, with farmers tending to their fields, surrounded by the burgeoning greenery of spring. It was a pastoral and picturesque scene. But it was far from ordinary. Upon closer inspection, the disturbing reality became evident.

The people who appeared to be farmers could be roughly categorized into two groups: those giving orders and those doing the actual work. The former, those issuing orders, looked like regular farmers, without anything particularly noteworthy about them.

The issue lay with the latter group. They had alarmingly emaciated bodies and unsteady steps. Their heavy burdens, the loads on their backs, appeared excessive and clearly showed the signs of severe overwork. Strangely, even though they were overwhelmingly outnumbered and subjected to harsh labor, there was no sign of rebellion. They silently and obediently followed unreasonable instructions.

Yuuto felt a chill run down his spine. He recognized this scene. However, he had never witnessed it in person. He had only learned about it through history lessons at school. It was a dark chapter in human history, one of the shameful moments in the annals of Earth's history.

"It's as if they're slaves."

Marude dorei da.

"Not as if."

Marude, ja nai.

Elisha shook her head as if to dispel the discomfort.

"They are real, legitimate slaves."

Are-ra wa, shoushin shoumei no dorei da yo.

In front of their eyes, the people were all fitted with silver collars around their necks.

~~~

To be continued...

TL Note:

I didn't think that Tullius and Yuuto would meet each other this soon! I'm so excited~

This chapter was brought to you by my patrons, Sier, McConnaheyhey, TheHunt3r Gaming, Viks, Dan Ryder, and Eger. Thank you very much, guys!

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