Episode 166: Making excuses (6)
─What….
─What if you don’t want the land to dry out?
“Can you explain exactly what you mean?”
Instead of answering, I threw a scroll of leaves to the Lord of Ednium Castle.
“This is…”
“This is the answer I received from the priests who serve the descendants of the six ghosts.”
“…! “Six Ghost Ramen!”
─If it’s the Six Ghosts… aren’t they ancient beasts that live in the Great Forest?
─I heard that the Great Forest is closed so exchanges are difficult…?
I wonder if people were a little surprised by my answer.
“You demon knight…”
The Archmage immediately understood the meaning of my actions.
Lord Ednium is quickly but elegantly unfolding the scroll.
“Is this… the letters of the Great Forest? “I can’t read it. Is this an interpretation?”
He spread the leaf scroll in the middle of the table for everyone to see and then recited his interpretation.
“To the Black Thunder Snake, the benefactor of the Great Forest. I heard the story of the messenger sent by the serpent. Just as he saved the Great Forest, he is also saving other people…”
The letter was a little long, but not that long.
Excluding the praise for myself (thank you, I felt a little embarrassed reading it), the praise for the group, and the well-wishes for their well-being, there are only a few paragraphs left that are really important.
“…Sangun says that ancient beasts have nothing to do with the flow of the world. Although their power is great and they may interfere a little, life in the area does not disappear even if they die or leave.”
Yeah, that’s it. That’s exactly what I wanted.
An affirmation that this land will not be destroyed even if Lake Biryu collapses. That’s what I wanted so I sent a letter.
“I would also like to add to the sentiment of old women. I heard that in the West, the land becomes dry for no reason at certain times. It is not said that it was like that from the beginning, but that it arose after the ancient beast that held the foundation left. If so, the cause could be a departed ancient beast…!”
─What!
─Wait a minute, what does that mean?…
He himself started to express his emotions before reading it, but Seongju Ednium first raised his hand to stop the people.
And then I finished reading the article. The voice, which had more power than before, echoed through the hall in a deeper tone.
“I told you earlier. The ancient beast is so powerful that it can interfere with the flow of the world. The form of interference usually involves speeding up or slowing down the flow. “It is impossible to stop it completely, but it is possible to temporarily prevent the birth of life.”
The reading voice seemed to be gritting its teeth for a moment.
“Of course, maybe not. However, Sangun seems confident. So, my benefactor, please be careful. The benefactor is the protector of the young, the liberator of the persecuted, and the judge of the unjust. I know that when he knows this, he will move to punish him appropriately. One opponent is a spirit beast who has lived on this land since time immemorial. “He will be a formidable opponent.”
Rather, Lord Seong, are you reading until the end? Make people feel embarrassed.
“You are the one who will go forward to save everyone, so I hope that victory follows the Black Thunder Snake. “I’m coming from Warchief Ekua.”
Fortunately, you didn’t read the P.S.
In fact, the messenger I sent – the Information Guild – asked for a little cooperation (providing information) in the future, and the main question was whether it was okay to do so.
If I had read that far, I would have doubted his discernment. That’s completely unnecessary for this meeting.
“…I think this letter needs some explanation.”
Would you like me to explain further here?
“This is this…”
“That is all and nothing more is required. So decide. “Will I resist the unreasonable power, or will I submit to it by sacrificing other people’s blood because I don’t want to shed my own?”
I’m sorry, but I don’t have the confidence to talk nicely, so let’s just end this.
“I will just warn you. Just because the blood you shed now is not yours, there is no guarantee that it will be the same next time.”
Anyway, the only option given to them is Easy Choice.
─How can that be false…
Still, it seems like someone is afraid of the blood that will be shed right now. There are those who try to deny the evidence given.
“That is the truth!”
─You…?
“He is a warrior.”
─Heh.
But the Inquisitor defeated him right away. It is a bonus that those who tried to sympathize with Seongju, who first spoke, immediately shut up.
“Before we came to this land, we passed through the Great Forest, and we saved people there! Also, the Demon Knight was at the center of it all, so the Demon Knight is fully qualified to receive a reply from them!”
The reliability of this letter was confirmed by this. Now there are only two options given to them.
Reservation and neglect are no longer options.
─If that is true.
At that moment, an extremely clear voice echoed through the conference room.
─Camborough will fight.
He was the minor lord of Camburgh.
─Camburgh Little Lord!
─The story goes that Camburgh will never back down. No matter what the results are.
─Lord of Camburgh Castle, don’t you speak?!
─That is….
─Lord of the castle, please speak quickly!
─That I….
─Is this true when the citizens do not even want it? Camburgh Castle!
Of course, she immediately ran into a crisis. The lords of the castle tried to silence her by taking advantage of the fact that she was the lord of Soseong.
However, Lord Camburgh, who was right next to Lord Soseong, only hesitated and did not open his mouth.
When I see his eyes moving back and forth to So Seong-ju several times, it seems like he is watching.
-Ah, I had no idea that you guys would be kind enough to even take care of the citizens of our city. I thought you would brush this arrangement off as not a big deal since you were naturally going to sacrifice a city’s minor lord.
Also, the Lord of Camburgh was not taken lightly either.
She, who appeared to be at about 80% Opacity, smiled brightly.
─Soseongju!
─So, can we just ask the citizens’ opinions?
─That’s right! Aren’t citizens’ opinions the most important? They will object!
─Wizard, can you convey the sound coming from outside?
─Ah, it’s difficult if you don’t prepare…
─I heard that research funds are insufficient.
─Is there anything you can’t do? Let’s give it a try.
Wait a minute, I just gave birth…
-There you go!
Fortunately, just before I got into a strange mood, the wizard of Camburra succeeded in completing the subquest for research funds. “I will continue now.” As soon as the words are finished, a huge cheer follows.
─Let’s kill Biryuho!
-What did that damn tiger do to us!
─The Lord of the Small Castle gave us the future and spoke! Rights are something we create with our own hands!
─You are a spirit beast, you are an animal, it is none of your business! I want to be paid for my child’s blood!
─Let’s kill Biryuho! God and all, there is no reason for us to be endlessly tested by injustice!
Loud shouts filled the conference hall.
“This is Camburgh Soseongju…”
―The rumor spread that the real culprit of the wild beast incident was Biryuho. I had no choice but to confirm it and this is what happened. Although I have so far ignored their cries as much as possible for fear that the subjugation of Lake Biryu will cause damage to other cities… If what I have just heard is true, then I am not sure. I wonder if I really need to do that.
─Soseongju! If you become the lord of Soseong and spread the word…!
─That’s our city’s problem. It’s not your concern.
─…!
─No matter what, if Lake Biryu dies and it does not affect the eastern part, or if it is true that Lake Biryu caused this land to dry out every year, then we, Camburgh, will hold that damned tiger cub responsible for all the damage we have suffered so far. no see. There is no compromise on this.
And amidst those shouts, Lord Kamborough declared with utmost clarity.
─We will fight for our rights.
As a modern person who has learned about the history of the struggle to find dignity and the right to freedom, it was an echo that could not help but warm the heart.
Of course, let’s forget for a moment that the person saying that is of noble class. Just as jade does not cease to be jade because it has spots, just because its meaning fades a little does not make it worthless.
─…If the dryness is truly the work of Lake Biryu and there is no harm in killing him, then our city will agree.
─The lord of Bemurchen Castle!
─The famine that comes every year takes dozens of soldiers. It’s been a long time since it piled up and exceeded a thousand units. I would never back down if this situation meant that sewing one stitch on time meant nine times.
─That is…
Also, because she opened fire, other people also changed their opinions.
I was still skeptical that the city was not affected by dryness, but those in the area immediately transferred Camburgh’s heat to their own bodies.
“I tried to save this because it hasn’t been verified yet… but I always learn something from you. “I was only trying to collect examples from the West.”
At that time, the Archmage quietly whispered. It would be hard to notice that she was talking to me if I wasn’t close because she didn’t even look away.
“Thank you. “Thanks to you, there is a way out.”
Separately, was the Archmage collecting examples from the West?
After all, she wasn’t stupid and must have at least prepared herself for the obvious ending.
It’s surprising that I didn’t think of asking the mountains of the Great Forest, but whatever. There was nothing strange about it.
Is it because he knows a lot, or is it because the Magic Tower is a treasure trove of knowledge? Archmages rarely tried to gain knowledge from places other than the Magic Tower.
More accurately, I should say that I tend not to think that I can get it.
─But wasn’t it the descendant of the Six Ghosts who said those words? There is a possibility that the descendants’ thoughts and the truth may be different…!
“Now, don’t be like that, just listen to this. I already had something to say about this, but…”
As she added the evidence she had gathered, the flow shifted further in this direction.
Of course, according to the Archmage’s words, the West’s case has not yet been verified… but Sangun’s letter made up for the lack of credibility in those words. The opposite is also true.
─Hmm… If we kill that Biryuho… how many troops will we have to give…?
“That…”
“It’s not necessary.”
“Me too… uh.”
Also, crucially, they did not have to take any losses even in the act of catching Biryuho.
“It’s enough for a beast with a stinging odor to cool down.”
I will be the one to catch it.
─Who is that young man from earlier…
─The devil knight? He is a well-known adventurer in the northwest region.
─Adventurer? So now, I am just an adventurer….
“At the same time, I am also a comrade chosen by the hero.”
─…No, he must be so interesting because he is the hero’s chosen companion.
More than that, who is the lord of the castle who just said Tallulah? You’re at max level for evasive maneuvers.
─But it’s not just you, the hero, but your comrade who is so
confident …
If the person who attacked a human appears, he will immediately cut off his head and make a trial.
However, I could not find the castle lord Tallulah, and the Inquisitor, who had been chewing on words from earlier, was also unable to speak.
This is because one person continued speaking while looking directly at me.
─The hands are cruel and show no mercy, but faith is visible in the fact that they never cut down innocent people. His mysterious whereabouts are full of questions and speculations, but his presumed actions alone are worthy of being labeled a hero.
The other person even smiled when our eyes met.
─In the name of Osla, I would like to dare to bestow the name ‘Knight’ on an adventurer.
The narrow eyes were so thin that the pupils were not visible. On the top of his head are triangular, broad ears, like those of a fox.
─It happened when I was in Osla. Oh, of course, that’s not my opinion. I was just an apprentice engineer at the time. Well, thanks to you, I was able to go out to practice and see your performance with my own eyes.
I felt dizzy for a moment.
What did you see just now?
─I thought it would be nice to see you someday, but I never thought I would see you at a moment like this. It’s something the world doesn’t know about.
─In Osla… the name of the knight.
─Well, it’s not that important, is it? Because it doesn’t seem like they even remember me. But at least… I think it means that that adventurer is qualified to speak?
“…From the very beginning, he was the one who participated in the suppression of this great evil. “It would never be arrogant for someone who caught the Great Devil to talk about Biryuho’s head.”
─Well, that’s right. I meddle for no reason.
“I, too, will step forward!”
“What are you talking about hunting Biryu Lake? Berserk will also come out! “Tiger hunting!!”
─I don’t think there’s anything more to say since the hero has expressed his intention.
I could barely stop my eyes from blinking reflexively. Instead, I chewed the inside of my cheek discreetly.
The Demon Knight’s past.
The bomb that I had been trying to ignore, making all kinds of excuses, came close to me without me having time to prepare.