Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 124 : Kingdom of Other Races
Rustle.
The montum of the pages turning was quite light, but the gaze examining the contents of the report was by no ans careless.
I, Hein Reichart, who entered all the necessary information into my head while scanning the report with agile eyes, spoke in a satisfied voice.
"As expected of Aurora. To think such an investigation is possible in such a short amount of ti……."
The docunts I was examining were trend reports that compressed the political flows of major powers on the continent, such as the Empire and Maganus.
Whether the nickna 'The 3 Great Intelligence Organizations of the Continent' was not an empty na, Aurora's reports were satisfying in both quality and quantity.
"Good job. This is the promised reward."
"I am simply grateful for those words and I will decline this. I'll consider this a special service for Your Excellency."
Watching Eos slightly push away the gold coin pouch I handed over, I tilted my head.
"I believe your sister said not to expect such services?"
"My sister is my sister, and I am myself. I can handle this much on my own level."
Looking at Eos, who brushed back her hair with a haughty expression, I nodded lightly.
"Then, I'll accept the kindness gratefully. By any chance, is the item I requested last ti ready as well?"
"Of course."
A wooden box wrapped in a soft silk cloth,
The pride in Eos's expression was palpable.
She must be very happy to have found an opportunity to clearly show their skills to the Grand Duke, who had always held the clan in his palm and swayed them until now.
"……."
Opening the wooden box to check the contents, I nodded.
I had requested a procurent of items that were 'within a week of being shed' from Eos, and looking at the condition, it seed less than three days had passed since they fell.
"It must not have been an easy task to obtain items this fresh."
"To be honest, there were several cumberso processes. But we are 'Aurora', after all."
Hearing her voice, which was thick with pride in the organization, I held out a leather pouch much larger than the one I had taken out a mont ago.
"I'll continue to ask for your help often in the future."
"We should be the ones saying that. Please tell us whenever there is sothing you need."
Eos did not decline this ti.
The gold coin pouch looked quite heavy, but she lifted the pouch effortlessly.
"If Your Excellency does not think it presumptuous, may I offer one piece of advice?"
"By all ans."
"I believe Your Excellency knows better than anyone that there has been a change in the flow of magic minerals supplied to the continent recently."
Eos's gaze turned toward the gold coin pouch in her hand.
The fact that the Grand Duke was able to pay such a large sum so casually would not be unrelated to that flow.
"And?"
"Of course, it's not like they are particularly on guard yet. However, it is certain that the big shots of the continental business world have begun to take an interest in where the place leading this change in flow is."
"Naturally, that would be the case. From their perspective, it's a matter of their own livelihood."
She gave the advice with a big heart in her own way.
And he wouldn't be unaware of what his words ant, yet he was so composed?
Was he arrogant? Or was he bold?
"……It seems I have said sothing unnecessary."
"No, it was useful advice. To the point where I'd like to continue asking for it if possible."
Eos, who was once again taken aback by my boldness, shook her head once and then closed her eyes.
"Ah, and my sister asked to convey this. That there will likely be great progress in the request Your Excellency made the other day soon."
"That is indeed welco news."
And when Eos opened her closed eyes, her appearance was that of Leon Denhart.
"Then, if I have anything to report, I will visit you again."
Watching with interest as her white hair, which was like a snowfield, changed to blue like the sumr sky, I nodded.
Click.
Left alone, I opened the wooden box from earlier and began to carefully examine the item inside.
"……."
The identity of the item was 'tree bark'.
It was bark that naturally fell off in the process of a tree growing and passing through seasons.
However, there was a reason why I was examining this bark fragnt so carefully,
'As expected, the condition is not good. And for the condition of the bark that fell recently to be like this…….'
Because this bark was a piece that fell from the most famous and massive tree on the continent.
'The World Tree is losing its health. Did Suleiman take action this ti as well?'
Confirming that my assumption was correct, I nodded with a firm expression.
The Imperial operation targeting the World Tree had begun in earnest this ti as well, following my past life.
The occasion that led to have suspicions that an operation threatening the World Tree was underway lay in the suspicious movents that 'Veradora, the Kingdom of Other Races' had been showing recently.
If one draws a diagonal line from the Zodiac capital Abysin toward the southeast and goes straight down.
One arrives at the vast country of forests and adows.
The na of that country is Veradora.
A land of mysterious hermits where those different from humans live together.
The Empire and Veradora had not been on good terms for a long ti.
Because Veradora had refused to recognize the Empire's laws from long ago, citing the reason that 'We do not follow human norms'.
However, Veradora did not just pursue a bellicose foreign policy just because they rejected the Empire's implicit rule.
Rather, Veradora was famous for pursuing a gentle foreign policy, befitting its nickna, 'the Country of Hermits'.
However, that by no ans ant the power they possessed was small.
Veradora was one of the five great powers of the continent, and excluding Akrishima and Maganus, there was no nation anywhere that could guarantee an advantage in a head-on confrontation with them.
'However, a country with such strong power has been just crouching like a fool for the past few years.'
Since Veradora is located on a truly blessed land, conflicts with neighboring countries coveting the fertile soil had been very frequent from long ago.
Nevertheless, Veradora endured the invasions steadfastly without backing down a single step in all those conflicts.
'Lately, the atmosphere is clearly different from before. They are showing no reaction even when even trivial bastards are acting up at the border areas and getting on their nerves.'
While Veradora, which was like the tiger of the southeastern continent, lost its vitality.
Various neighboring countries entered into operations to gnaw away at Veradora's flesh.
The country conducting the most diligent operation among them was…….
'The Esper Kingdom. Looking at what these bastards are doing lately, they are poised to stick a straw into Veradora altogether.'
Veradora, which lost its vitality as the World Tree lost its health.
The Esper Kingdom, which took advantage of that gap to play tricks.
And Wind Tail, which was as good as one body with the Esper Kingdom.
'I need to check with my own eyes exactly what is happening.'
Having made up my mind, I imdiately began to write a business trip request for official duties to be submitted to the King.
Of course, just investigating what the potential enemy of Zodiac, Esper, was plotting was worth taking action myself.
However, the reason I decided to move personally was not just because of my hostility toward Esper and Wind Tail.
'There is not much I can do with the power of Zodiac alone. An alliance is necessary even to prepare for the future.'
I thought it was now ti to raise the international status of Zodiac.
And I chose Veradora as the first partner to help with the flight.
Of course, if things could go as planned, the best alliance partner was naturally Maganus.
However, speaking coldly, there was currently no reason for Maganus to even consider an alliance with Zodiac.
Because there was far too distinct a difference in weight class between the two nations.
Therefore, in order for Zodiac to stand beside Maganus, it was necessary to grow the weight class a little more.
From this perspective, Veradora could be called the optimal partner.
'True friendship originally sprouts when each other is in trouble.'
Fixing my gaze on the bark of the World Tree, I raised my hand and tapped the crystal ball of the magic armor.
Hummmm-
Then, a vibration that had now beco quite familiar rang out loudly, as if cheering on.
***
"Grand Duke, it has not been long since you returned from the Empire, and you say you are going out again for official duties? I am worried about the Grand Duke's health."
"This business trip will not be very long, so you may put aside your worries about this humble subject, Your Majesty."
"But I heard the Grand Duke's contribution was decisive even in the process of expanding the national finances recently. Yet you repeatedly shoulder all the burdens of this country alone……."
Looking down at the business trip request submitted by , Friedrich bit his lip.
Looking only at the contents stated in the request, it was naturally right to permit the business trip.
However, he could not shake the thought that I was overexerting myself too much.
"Thanks to the excessive royal grace you have bestowed, this humble subject is overseeing the foreign affairs and military affairs of this country despite my lacking abilities. I have rely fulfilled the duties appropriate to my position, so please retract your overwhelming words."
"Grand Duke……."
In the end, Friedrich had no choice but to clench his two hands tightly this ti as well.
He thought that thanks to his diligent efforts recently, they had beco closer by at least half a step.
However, his hero moved several dozen steps further away today, leaving the boy as he was.
"Grand Duke, I am always simply grateful for the Grand Duke's hard work for this country. And please keep in mind that the Grand Duke's body does not belong to yourself alone and I hope you do not overexert yourself!"
Ultimately, Friedrich had no choice but to nod, resolving to one day narrow that distance that seed only distantly far away.
"I will keep it in mind, Your Majesty."
And I, as always, moved slowly away from the Great Hall, leaving behind a bold smile.
***
"Master, you see……."
"What is it?"
Sherazade, who was staring at as I packed my luggage, asked in a cautious voice.
"Will you get angry if I ask you to take along too?"
"Anyone hearing that would think I'm a person who only gets angry at you every ti."
"You didn't get angry, but there were many tis you acted like a skinflint, right?"
"A skinflint? ?"
Looking at Sherazade, who was peeling a layer of a rolled pastry and bringing it to her mouth, I burst into a hollow laugh.
I had many things to argue back, but I did not want to bicker, so I shook my head instead and said.
"If you want to go together, get ready. We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning, so it would be good to get so sleep quickly."
"Oh! Really?"
Whether she was surprised by my appearance or readily granting her request, Sherazade's already large eyes grew even larger.
"If you can't sleep, maybe pass the ti with this."
But the surprise was short-lived.
Sherazade could tell why I had readily allowed her accompanint.
"This looks like tree bark?"
"Good eyes. But as you can see, the condition is not very good. Is there a way to revive it by using the strength of these friends?"
I spoke while handing the Spirit Soul Magic Armor, which had been around my neck until a mont ago, to Sherazade.
At the ti of the Continental Unification War, the King of Veradora had referred to Skada as 'the benefactor of our kingdom'.
In fact, Veradora faithfully kept its place by its side as the most faithful ally of Maganus until the day Maganus fell.
However, because both Skada and the King of Veradora t their deaths without revealing the reason, no one knew in detail the reason why Skada beca the benefactor of Veradora.
However, I had a guess of my own regarding that reason.
'The fact that Veradora, which had only shown a continuously shrunken appearance, stepped forward for active resistance was imdiately after Skada's visit to Veradora.'
The operation to contaminate the World Tree was carried out under the leadership of the 4th Prince.
Since all processes were completed before the civil war began, Alexar did not know exactly by what thod the 4th Prince contaminated the World Tree.
'Suleiman, if only that insane bastard hadn't set fire to the lab and committed suicide on the day he was defeated…… records regarding this incident would have remained.'
However, recalling Veradora's actions, which had only beco increasingly shrunken as the contamination progressed.
It seed certain that even after Suleiman died, the condition of the World Tree, far from improving, had gradually worsened.
Yet, on the day Skada, who had obtained the Spirit Soul Magic Armor, visited Veradora.
Veradora broke its long silence and declared that it would beco the eternal ally of Maganus.
That would an,
'Perhaps Skada used the Spirit Soul Magic Armor to treat the sick World Tree and gained Veradora's trust?'
Of course, this was rely my unilateral assumption.
However.
'The World Tree is an existence like the purification of natural power, scattering life force to every corner of Veradora. If it fell ill, treatnt would be impossible by conventional thods. But it might have been possible if one borrowed the power of an existence that resembles the World Tree.'
Considering the essential similarity possessed by the World Tree and spirits, it was not a completely groundless assumption.
Well, if the assumption was wrong, I would just have to make it the goal of this journey to directly confirm the conflict occurring between Veradora and Esper.
"Understood, I'll give it a try. Then goodnight, Master."
Sherazade gathered the bark of the World Tree and the Spirit Soul Magic Armor and returned to her room.
I, who finished packing the rest of my luggage, also turned off the light.
"Neighhh!"
And the next morning.
Two black horses began to gallop toward the Reichart Estate.
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