We arrived at the town of Ramudokku before the day ended. Northeast from the town of Ramudokku Mount Board towers over at an elevation of about 1,300 meters and acts as something like a gate into the Jindaru peninsula along with the Pitosu mountain range. We intend to take a detour even further to the East around this Board mountain and then go North towards the capital.
We entered a random inn and ate at a restaurant.
We really wanted to gather some information on what kind of place Viscount Yoraizu's territory, that's just 10 km or so to the East right before our eyes is like, but we were only able to hear common things and unable to gather any useful information. The reason for this is largely because there were no caravans belonging to Type-2 companies. When they're around I'm sure they're around but I guess we had bad luck.
In any case it seems that along the 20 km road to the first village after we enter Viscount Yoraizu's territory, the roads will change to mountain roads. Since it acts as the boundary between territories there's a considerable distance opened up. Since tomorrow is going to be on a different level from 20 km through the plains it would be best to get some rest early today.
.......................
Year 7446, Month 5, Day 12
In the early morning we departed the town of Ramudokku. On the northern road a bit closer to Mount Board that's right along the border to Viscount Yoraizu's territory, we passed through the villages scattered along the Board mountains. On our journey to Bakuddo we had heard that orks appear on this road, since it would be troublesome to get ambushed, we decided to completely detour around Mount Board as we advanced down the road going North through the western part of Viscount Yoraizu's territory.
There are some highs and lows of the mountain road but the elevation isn't all that different. The saddlebags on our two war horses are stuffed full with everyone's boots, the leather armor Gwine and Angela were wearing on the journey out, as well as blankets and such. While swaying on horseback as Miduchi and I sit in the rear position we were holding the rucksacks with change of clothes and such in them. Just from a glance it's not as if we don't look like a small scale peddler but if they see four people wearing what appears to be metal armor and heavily armed, there's no way we would be attacked by thieves so easily.
We arrived at Winro village in the evening but other than seeing some goblins in the distance the same as usual along the way there wasn't any particular problem.
The population of the village is about 600 and it's like one size bigger than Bakuddo. Obviously there's no inn. We put in a word with the lord and got permission to setup camp in the vacant lot near his house.
"It's not as if monsters don't appear in this area but if you're inside of the village then it's pretty much safe."
The son of the lord said that trying to give us peace of mind. Just in case we kept lookout in shifts, or rather it was just to make sure the campfire didn't go out. After we left this WInro village, there were several forks in the road but fundamentally if we follow along the left side (north side) while trying not to get too close to Mount Board then in 100 km or so we should leave Viscount Yoraizu's territory, and it'll supposedly take us to the center of the Kandeiru area where there's a group of small territories and royal territory in the south of Rombert Kingdom along the northern Dirt Plains.
.................
Year 7446, Month 5, Day 13
Inside of a deep forest, there's carved trees standing on the sides of the road that act as signs.
On the left side, "To Board Mountain, Massozu Village, 3 hours." In the middle, "To Samisshu, Kaburokku Village, 7 hours." On the right side, To Zarakkusu, Visshu Village, 5 hours."
The left side is rejected. What are we going to do going towards the border of Viscount Pendlaido's territory. The direction leading to Zarakkusu on the right is probably referring to the capital of Viscount Yoraizu's territory, Zarakkusu I'm sure. Ahead of that is close to the Zarakkusu mountain range which is at the edge of the Dirt Plains. Rejected. There's no choice but the direction towards Samisshu down the center but, seriously 7 hours...
The current time is roughly 1 pm. Since we're riding on horses we should be able to arrive a bit faster than the time written on the signboard but I'm absolutely sure the sun will set along the way. However, we do have the spell {Light} and I guess we should be arriving at Kaburokku Village around then? Or at least we should only be a short distance away from that village by then.
"I want to go straight ahead, but how about it?"
I just felt like saying it. Honestly speaking I was hoping for some objections but if there's some opinions that I can accept just continuing straight ahead like this is technically fine as well.
"Nn..Shouldn't it be fine? Both Al-san and Miduchi-san are here, so we shouldn't have any problem with light after all."
This beard-san is no good, she's not thinking about anything~
"We should do whatever master pleases."
Hearing the loyal hound completely throw it onto her master shows my own stupidity. There's no way this girl would object to it.
"Even if we don't push ourselves to walk at night..Even if you use {Light} it's difficult to see where you're stepping? Couldn't we go to Massozu Village and see if there's a road that joins up from there?"
According to the map there isn't one. No, there might be but it's not on the map.
"There isn't one right~ That is. It's fine going towards the North in hopes of there being a road that joins up but if there isn't one we'll end up having to come back again. Even then that's 3 hours and 7 hours so if we have all of tomorrow we could make it to Kaburokku Village. Should we do that?"
"I think that's the better option. If we keep going like this to Kaburokku Village it's certainly true we'll arrive one day faster but it would be pointless if in the darkness we make a mistake and go down the wrong road at a fork right? Even though Gwine and I have {Infrared Vision}, since the horses are here as well {Light} is indispensable and as expected I can't say we wouldn't overlook these sorts of signs."
"That's reasonable. It's not like we're in a hurry, I guess we'll do that."
We started walking down the road approaching Mount Board in the North.
We were able to arrived at Massozu Village with any major problems in particular. It properly took us 3 hours for the trip. Less than 1 hour after we started down the fork we were attacked by orks. We ended up losing time gathering those magic stones. According to Identify the value of the ork's magic stones was over 4,000, in other words if we sell them they're worth 30,000 Z after all. There's no choice to ignore them.
The scale of Massozu Village we arrived at was about 50 households and a population of around 300-350. We immediately went to the lord of the village to ask for permission to camp in the village and were told, "If you're not peddlers then it's 1 large copper coin (1,000 Z) per person to provide a lodging place." Occasionally there's these as well. It seems like a poor village after all, this can't be helped. After obediently paying the money and the camp site was a vacant lot at the edge of the village on the side of the large river. Since we still had time to spare we took our time leisurely going there and started making preparations to camp. In the brush on the edge of the lot there were a never of stakes just left knocked into the ground. A caravan that comes to this village must have used it for tying up their horse or cows.
Also, it's only obvious but I asked the lord whether there was a shortcut to Kaburokku Village but unfortunately there wasn't something like that. Tomorrow we need to wake up early and follow the road 3 hours back the way we came.
Since it was close to evening, the villagers were finishing up their work for today as they passed by our camp. Either because they rarely have outsiders come to this village or otherwise because we were heavily armored and armed despite not having much belongings, there was almost no one who talked to us, and it was just 10 year old or so children. It doesn't seem like their parents were scolding them for that so it's not like we're being avoided. I gave Angela the job of buying some fire wood and straw for fodder while giving her several large copper coins just in case, and request Gwine to see if she can buy anything to eat.
During that time Miduchi and I were taking our belongings off the horses and tying them up to the stakes. Since the stakes were hammered in right near the flowing river, our two horses stuck their faces into the river and started drinking the water. Miduchi took the rock salt we stocked up on in the town of Ramudokku out of her saddlebag and started letting them lick it one at a time. I poured water over the backs of the horses and thoroughly scratched the areas around where the saddle was that seemed like it would have itched from us riding it all day.
While we were doing that Angela returned carrying fire wood.
"I'm very sorry, it ended up being a bit expensive."
She said that while lowering her head and handed me the change. Unexpectedly it had decreased by two large copper coins. It seems she was able to buy another two trips of fire wood and about double that in fodder. Even then 2,000 Z, isn't that expensive? Going off the market price even 60% - 70% of that is a bit high. Well, it doesn't seem like a very wealthy village, it's poor looking village on a smaller scale than Bakuddo after all. It can't be helped for them to charge a bit extra. We're probably an important source of income for the people of this village. Of course I have Angela taking care of negotiations like this during this journey. Also, it's difficult to think that someone who was born a serf like her would be coaxed over.
"Nn..I'll leave that to you. We'll be looking after the horses and starting the fire."
"Yes, master."
Angela started walking towards what seems to be the house she made the negotiations again.
The firewood Angela was carrying gathered in the area we had prepared for it while Miduchi and I were focused on taking care of the horses. There, Gwine returned carrying what looked like considerably hard brown bread.
"Please look at this, this amount was 8 copper coins!"
Gwine raised her voice as if he she was discontent. In terms of size there was plenty for four people eat their fill. However, thinking about the portion for tomorrow morning and it's not quite enough.
"That's a considerable price..The firewood and fodder was 2,000 as well."
Miduchi made a bitter smile while giving Gwine the copper coins she paid in advance.
"By the way, can we talk for a bit? I heard something that bothered me a bit but"
Gwine lowered her voice as she started talking.
"It seems there was a Saint named Peggy-sama in this area. Somehow it seems she's able to heal diseases and injuries through the miracles of the God of the Ground, Nigiwa. I thought it was just healing magic anyways and tried asking that but supposedly it's different..it gives off light when she's healing it seems but it wasn't the blue spell light, but a white light."
"What.." "Is that.."
Miduchi and I choked up on our words. It's dangerous to make a decision based on just this information but it's possible that Peggy or whatever is a reincarnated person.
"That's right isn't it. I thought that might be the case as well. And, somehow I was able to find out that it seems she travels around in this Viscount Yoraizu's territory. It seems she came to this village about one year ago as well. Followers..it seems she has several allies as well. I couldn't find out about them but supposedly Peggy-sama's hair and eyes were both black."
""..""
"It seems that when she came to this village she was able to heal the lord's mother who had a cold and a young serf girl who had weakened shortly after giving birth just by touching them with her hand. Unfortunately they didn't know anything more than that and they don't know where she is now."
""..""
"Supposedly she explained herself as the reincarnation of the Divine Mother of the Land Nigiwana. Of course the lord and squires didn't believe her that far but since they actually saw her healing right in front of their eyes so they're half in doubt about it. It seems the serf people completely believe in it. They were saying something like Nanmaida~ in front of something like a cross."
""What in the world is that?""
Miduchi and I reacted at the same time.
"Well, I was able to notice because of that as well. It seems that they purchased the cross from Peggy-sama's attendant for 30,000 Z but when they were saying Nanmaida~ towards that I had trouble holding back from bursting into laughter, really."
Gwine said that while laughing. Miduchi and I exchanged glances but this is definitely Japanese person. There's no culture for idol worship on Orth. The sole thing close to that is the temple, but even that is closer to the places local deities of Japan are said to be enshrined and customarily not something you pray to. Let alone, there's nothing like a small shrine in each household that you pray towards while speaking some chant or prayer either. In reality there might actually be something like that somewhere but I've never heard of anything like it even once up to now.
"That is~ certainly a Japanese person I'm sure...However, a cross and Nanmaida~ indeed. It's probably the words Namuamidabutu mispronounced though, I wish they would have came up with something a little bit better right. Putting that aside I'm going to go and listen to the story as well."
I wonder if that Peggy-sammy or Magaretto-sama or whatever is trying to make a religion? Through magic and Unique Abilities it's probably not difficult to show something like the miracles of God. Particularly when it comes to that shining hand or whatever if it's not the usual blue spell light then there might be a lot of people deceived by it. If someone actually had their disease or injury healed there then I think an overwhelming number of people might believe in it.
While think about things like that I picked a random, even then a decently constructed house that seems like that of a commoners and asked if the family would sell some kind of food to me. I was allowed on to the dirt floor so it seems that means wait there. I could hear a praying voice with a weird accent saying "Nanmaida~ Nanmaida~" from further in the house. I wonder if it's because it's dinnertime, it seems they're praying before meals as well. When the madam returned with some bread, I tried asking "What in the world was that voice?" and she easily replied, "It's a prayer of gratitude towards Peggy-sama."
I handed her the copper coins she requested while asking about Peggy-sama and she told me the same sort of things I heard from Gwine. "She was a very sacred being. She travels this land, a very grateful being who brings the miracles of God to the surface." is what she said. It seems they're doing a good job at tricking them.
I never even considered trying to become the founder or apostle or whatever for a religion. There's some pretty quick witted people in the world. Somehow I felt like I might be able to get along with them. In some cases religion exhibits immense power inciting the common people.
If it's really someone excellent then depending on negotiations it might even be good enclosing them in the future. If there's a doctrine or whatever then I can't say anything until I investigate that but if it's an advantage to the political side or seems like it can be changed to be an advantage then it might be worthwhile to adopt it as the state religion of my country.
Though I say that, it seems that Saint-sama appeared in the past few years and not to mention at the time there were suddenly some rumors going around but after that things calmed down. Around the time they were forgotten, it seems she came to the village stating she was the reincarnation of the Divine Mother of the Land Nigiwana and a Saint. And then gratefully distributed crosses purified by that Saint-sama herself for just the cost it seems. I said I would definitely love to see it and had her show it to me,
【Divine Mother of the Land, Nigiwana's Symbol】 【Oak Wood, Magic Stone】 【Condition: Normal】 【Manufacture Date: 4/12/7444】 【Value: 30】 【Endurance: 7】 【A model made with oak wood with a magic stone embedded in it.】 【Effect: None】
and that's what came out. I had expected, "I'm sure just the name of the materials will appear or at best it'll be displayed as a cross." but I was so surprised I thought I might fall over. It has a name attached to it!? That means it underwent the naming ceremony at a temple. In that case the price of 30,000 Z is too cheap though.
And, in other words I can think of several possibilities.
1. They really got it named at the temple and they're selling those cheap.
In that case they would be suffering some considerable losses on every one of them so no matter what the case this is unlikely. Though I say that, there is the possibility that through some reason they have a price reduction on the naming ceremony at a temple. It's difficult to imagine though.
2. There's a different Japanese person among the attendants and that person used their Unique Ability to do naming or made it.
In terms of possibilities I think it's the highest one? Though I feel like it might be different from naming.
3. They know of a special way of making things with these sorts of status. They founded a religion in order to make effective use of that.
Well I can't deny it. A magic stone is used in it after all.
It's probably one of those. Or it might be a combination. For example there's the possibility it's a combination of 1 and 3 as well. If they already knew the special construction first then they can pay less for the naming ceremony charge or something, it's also possible they know something that I don't as well. Probably not though.
Whatever the case on this Orth where no religion-like religion exists, it's quite the intelligent method. I'm sure right now they aren't profiting much at all but if they continue to spread out their influence and even the lords of villages and towns join it, then they might even be able to expand their influence by taking in the Viscount Yoraizu family. If they can skillfully control them and make them into a puppet on the outside they could seem like a normal small country, and in essence, it "might" be possible to found a religious state.
Even if they can't make the Viscount into a puppet, with the brain of a former Japanese person they should be able to succeed at profiting a decent amount from it with a reasonably success rate if they take their time with it.
..However, it seems that right now they're planting the seeds. If I try searching for them it might stand out in a bad way and cause trouble for that Saint-sama. Even in my case while I have a reasonable amount of leeway in time on the journey this time, I don't have enough to spare wandering around Viscount Yoraizu's territory searching for someone who's whereabouts I have no idea on. If I at least had some definite information on their whereabouts then it wouldn't have been bad to and try to at least get a look at their face now while I can though...
I discussed it with Miduchi but just as I expected, she said that even if we meet now there probably wouldn't be much of a plus to it. If they've already continued these sorts of plain propagation for several years then the chances of them abandoning that to join us as adventurers are low and on the contrary it might give the other party the suggestion that they have a future rival as well. We came to the conclusion that at the very least until I have my own territory to look after there isn't any harm in leaving them be.
If we're going to meet it would be best after I have a decent amount of authority. If it's possible then suddenly appearing in front of them after that and taking them in without giving them a choice would be best. If they intend to oppose us then we'll get to that when we get there.
Hmn, if that's the case then I'll need to be even more careful than ever with what territory I purchase~ On the Dirt Plains the areas that are adjacent to Devas has four territories lined up and they're all Royal Territories. There four Count's are stationed as governors and manage them. Excluding the one farthest to the East, the other three all seem to be obeying the King of Rombert. The one farthest to the East has their territory connected to the something or other Marquis or Duke, an influential noble in Devas, so it seems to be at a considerable disadvantage. As proof of that several years back they lost in quite the flashy way and it seems their area of influence has been reducing since.
I was told that as long as I pay the money any of the remaining three are fine, but of the three the one in the center is excluded from the candidates from the start. If we were looking from how fertile the land is then it's the two in the center and on the East but thanks to that there's a lot disputes. Assuming there's disputes 10 times, 5 of those will be concentrated on the center one it seems. As expected even if I make that sort of land a candidate it would be pretty harsh so the King didn't really recommend it either.
I'm sure from the King's standpoint he'd like me to give it my best for at least 10 years or so. Well, things around there I'll think about later~ and probably mention as well.
In any case, I should be satisfied with the fact that we were able to gain information on the reincarnated person named Peggy that is calling them self a Saint. Investigation is fine later on. I'm sure this Saint-sama will continue to grow after this after all. If I think about the money and labor requires for the investigation then the current information is just a bit better than nothing. Though if I have the chance to directly meet them and use Identify I'll aim for it. No~thing.
....................
Year 7446, Month 6, Day 4
We quickly passed through Viscount Yoraizu's territory and started going North through the various small Royal Territories governed by emerging and high ranking nobles before arriving at Baldukk. It was a big harvest that we were able to gain information on what appears to be a reincarnated person and the biggest harvest was that we were to get precise mapping information on the roads.
I feel a renewed motivation as the outer crater enters my sight.
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