Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 112 : Eldrigal
If you stretch out west from Reichart Territory and ride a boat, an island of vast scale reveals its appearance.
The official na of the island is ‘Eldrigal’.
But there are not many who call that island ‘Eldrigal’.
Most people called that island the ‘Island of Decline’.
Because the desolate and utterly barren island, which disallowed the approach of continentals, suited the modifier ‘Decline’ all too well.
But now the Grand Duke has declared that he will try to make business capital through the barbarians who are hiding in that barren land and baring their fangs.
‘And to think he intends to create a rchant guild that can traverse the continent based on this trade…….’
A situation utterly incomprehensible within the bounds of Sheldrick’s common sense.
However, the reason Sheldrick responded to this question and answer with a serious expression despite that was because the person who brought it up was none other than that ‘Hein Reichart’.
“Grand Duke, is there a reason you must trade with those hiding on this island?”
“It seems the Minister thinks there is a reason I should not trade with them.”
“Actually, that is so. Continentals cannot go to or stay in their land. I think this fact alone is reason enough not to trade with them.”
Sheldrick evaluated himself as having given a truly common-sense answer.
But looking at that expression of Hein smiling an enigmatic smile, he felt as if he had already been caught up in his pace.
“In their land, there is sothing humans, no, Zodiac needs, and in the continent, there is sothing they need. Wouldn’t this alone be reason enough to have to trade?”
“That is true but…….”
Sheldrick’s brow furrowed.
Thinking that perhaps his premonition had hit the mark.
“According to records, ores that receive very precious treatnt in the continent are literally scattered all over their land. Even if we can bring just 1/10, no, 1/100 of the ores scattered everywhere without needing to mine them separately, a price revolution will occur in the continent’s tal engineering world.”
“Of course, I know that fact too. What is more surprising is that in their land, those precious minerals naturally generate over ti without being depleted.”
“That is correct. Eldrigal would be a place like paradise to the tal Magic Engineering scholars of Milesian or Academos. Because it is a place where rare tals, which even they have to handle with trembling hands, are literally scattered everywhere. Of course, there is a disadvantage that the amount of grain produced in return is extrely small, and grassland is also insufficient, making it an environnt utterly barren even for raising livestock but…….”
Hein stretched out his finger and drew a line connecting Zodiac and Eldrigal, showing a smile.
“That disadvantage is actually very fortunate for us. Since the barren environnt will create a need for them to trade with us.”
“Haa…….”
Eventually, Sheldrick let out a sigh.
‘Providing food instead of receiving ores’ from them.
He could roughly understand Hein’s big plan.
As he said, the residents of Eldrigal were suffering from chronic food shortages.
But for trade to be accomplished simply by ‘need’, there remained one utterly big problem.
“Grand Duke, how do you intend to persuade the Chiefs and Priests who rule the Island of Decline?”
It was that the ruling class of Eldrigal stubbornly refused trade, no, contact itself with continentals.
According to records, the class ruling Eldrigal could be broadly divided into two branches.
The ‘Chiefs’ who manage secular rule and the ‘Priests’ who manage the religious aspect.
One commonality shared by these two ruling classes, which were completely different, was that they stubbornly refused contact with the continent.
“Why does the Minister think the highest class of Eldrigal refuses trade with the continent?”
If it were an ordinary person, they would have answered it was because of ‘Eldrigal’s doctrine’.
Because their doctrine considers protecting the island’s purity as the top priority.
However,
“Because they are not hungry.”
“As expected, you grasp the essence accurately.”
Hein laughed satisfactorily at Sheldrick’s answer.
“Actually, doctrines and whatnot would all be excuses. If the Chiefs and Priests also experienced the hunger the island residents experience daily, they would attempt exchange with the continent imdiately. To fill their starving bellies.”
Although Eldrigal is extrely barren, not everyone residing there lived a poverty-stricken life.
The high class of Eldrigal eats and swallows good things and spends a plentiful life.
Lying sprawled on top of a tower built with the sacrifices of the residents.
“As long as their bellies are full, what the Chiefs and Priests want to protect would be power. If viewing the situation only from the perspective of protecting that power, blocking contact is an extrely rational choice.”
“Because as contact proceeds and residents know more, control becos more difficult. Isn’t it originally that the more foolish and ignorant the people are, the easier rule based on closed doctrine becos?”
Sheldrick made a bitter expression and received Hein’s words.
Yes, hell is not only on the continent but also on the island.
And trash sucking the blood of the pitiful exists even at the top of hell.
Thinking of this ordinary fact, his chest felt stuffy anew.
“That is correct. Anyway, to them, sothing like the residents’ hunger is just a problem as light as a feather compared to the power held in their hands. Now, since the situation is roughly organized, shall we get into the main subject?”
After dipping the quill pen in red ink, Hein drew a line connecting Zodiac and Eldrigal with the shortest distance on the map.
“Let’s make an assumption in this situation. If we show a ship full of grain and livestock and ask to exchange for a few stones scattered ssily, what reaction will they show? I am certain they will accept the proposal with a very warm gaze.”
“Of course, the residents would think so. But Grand Duke, eventually the problem is how to persuade the ruling class ruling the island. Since even assuming the worst case, conquering them by force is an impossible task.”
Conquering Eldrigal by force is impossible.
This was not because the power Zodiac possessed was lacking.
Even if it were a country with national power several tis stronger than Zodiac, conquering Eldrigal would be an impossible task.
Because,
‘Eldrigal’s water, land, and wind are rejecting us.’
If one thinks about it, it was strange.
No matter how stubbornly the highest class of Eldrigal refused trade, there was no way continentals would have left alone a land with such trendous value until now.
Because if there was sothing they wanted, it was more natural for continentals to take it even by suppressing with swords.
But the reason no country in the continent had conquered this place until now was precisely the environnt surrounding Eldrigal.
Flowing water, energy of the land, scorching sunlight, blowing wind, etc., all of them are intensely imbued with Eldrigal’s unique scent.
And this was like deadly poison to continentals.
Those who were not born and raised in Eldrigal from a young age and failed to form a unique immune system all vomited blood and collapsed less than 3 days after setting foot on the island.
Apart from the power an individual possesses.
‘In the past, Spirit Summoners could be safe under the protection of Spirits, but that is rely an old story. Now that spirits have abandoned humans, no continental can last more than 3 days in their land.’
Sheldrick’s brow furrowed once again.
Eventually, to accomplish trade with Eldrigal, persuading the ruling class is the key.
But they are buried in extrely closed doctrine and lust for power.
“I think persuading all of the ruling class is an impossible task. Since trash who are only greedy while words don’t get through at all exist anywhere.”
Hein did not hesitate to denounce the ruling class of Eldrigal, whom he had never t directly, as trash.
“So I intend to exclude persuading the Priests. Because they are ones not worth it. I intend to target the other axis ruling the island.”
“Then do you an you will persuade the Chiefs?”
“Yes. Of course, I don’t intend to persuade nurous Chiefs one by one. Because that is inefficient. I will et the Grand Chief. I think if I can persuade him, trade will also be possible.”
And as soon as these words ca out of Hein’s mouth, a dull sound rang out in the Chief Minister’s office.
“No! The Grand Duke is the Grand Duke of this country and the person overseeing foreign affairs! How can such a person say he will step into such a dangerous place?”
It was Sheldrick slamming the table unconsciously and jumping up from his seat.
Since eting Hein, this was the first ti he showed such an intense reaction.
Eldrigal’s Grand Chief lives in their sanctuary located in the deepest part of the island and rarely leaves that place.
In other words, to et the Grand Chief, Hein has no choice but to visit the island directly, which was absolutely unacceptable to Sheldrick.
“What use is it to gain profit by losing the pillar of this country? I tell you once again, it is too dangerous.”
Sheldrick shook his head as if to receive a pledge.
“And His Majesty also will not permit this. Please change your mind, Grand Duke.”
“Haha, please calm down. I have never said a single word that I will go to the island.”
Hein smiled broadly and waved his hand.
“The Grand Duke clearly said you would et the Grand Chief…….”
“Of course I will et him. But the place is not the island. I will talk with the Grand Chief of Eldrigal at the Grand Duke’s Residence here in Abysin.”
“Do you an the Grand Chief of Eldrigal will accept the Grand Duke’s request and visit up to here?”
“No. I have never sent him an invitation, and even if I sent one, he wouldn’t accept the proposal.”
“Haha…….”
Eventually, Sheldrick could only let out a hollow laugh.
Because he couldn’t understand just what he was thinking.
“The Grand Chief will arrive in Zodiac soon. But by force, not by the Grand Chief’s will. Because he has to run away avoiding the Priests and traitors.”
“For what reason does the Grand Chief, one of the highest rulers of the island…….”
“The justification the Priests raised to drive out the Grand Chief is that he disturbed the peace of the island by putting personal greed first and defiled the sacred doctrine of God. Well, to explain a little more easily…….”
Gulp.
The sound of Sheldrick swallowing dry saliva was heard exceptionally loudly.
“Shall I say it is because he tried to attempt trade, breaking Eldrigal’s unwritten law forbidding contact with the continent.”
“Grand Duke! Is that truly a fact?”
“That is correct. And as that fact was revealed, he ended up in a situation where he had to run away from the island. It seems that a leader’s heart for those who trust and follow him becoming a reason for being ostracized sotis is not sothing that happens only here in the continent.”
A relaxed voice contrasting too much with the excited Sheldrick’s.
A calm voice continued as if stating an already determined fact.
“Since my subordinates went to escort him, the Grand Chief will reveal his appearance in Abysin soon.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers