Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

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…"

“Gōremu 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 gōremu 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 Mārubea oukoku ga, gappuriyotsu de kumiau you ni shite kaitaku kyousou-chuu desu yo? Ima sara, soko ni Arukēru 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. Arukēru 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, gōremu? 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 magic—there seemed to be a connection there.

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

“Aa, sou ieba… Noryuō 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: 馬の骨 (uma no hone) literally translated as horse’s 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."josei

“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.

Amid the subtle atmosphere that stood out from the bustling port town, the woman clad in silver armor let out a sigh.

"Good grief… It seems I've once again gotten myself involved in something troublesome."

“Yare yare… mata mendou na koto o, hikiukeru hame ni natte shimatta you da na.”

With these words, she complained to the man who had strongly urged her to join this group.

~~~

"S-sending the hero and my daughter to St. Gallen!?"

“Yu, yuusha to waga musume o, Zankutogaren e okuru da too!?”

The strangled, chicken-like voice reverberated in the conference room enclosed by white walls. The speaker was Emilio Lazzaro Callandra, the Commander of the Warrior Monk Corps of the Omnia Empire and a Cardinal of the Holy King Church. He was a man known for overseeing the secret rituals of hero summoning within the church and rapidly expanding his influence. Yet, he was now leaning forward, abandoning his usual assertiveness and biting into the round table as he confronted the other party.

On the other side, facing the interrogation, was Gianfranco Paolo Phantony, a Cardinal known as the long-standing political rival and the Commander of the Holy Knights.

"What's the matter, Cardinal Callandra? Do you have an issue?"

“Ikasareta ka na, Karandora sūkikyō. Nazo mondai ga aru no dearou ka.”

He countered without displaying even the slightest sign of disturbance, resembling natural rock faces. In response to this reaction, Callandra, on the contrary, reddened his nervously thin face and shouted once again.

"There's nothing but issues here, is it not!? I will not have you claim ignorance of the current state of that country!"

“Mondai shikanakarou!? Ano kuni ga ima dono you na kokujou dearu ka, shiranu to wa iwasenu zo!”

"In order to atone for the defeat in the Volden Campaign, they're intimidating the constituent nations of the federation and raising arms against those who refuse submission… In other words, it's a state of civil war."

“Vorudan sen'eki de no haisen o misogu tame, renpou kousei-koku o iatsu shi kyoujun senu mono wa hei o agete utsu… iwayuru, naisen joutai dearuna.”

Phantony calmly stated.

As he pointed out, the eastern powerhouse St. Gallen was indeed in the midst of internal strife. To be more precise, it could be termed a civil conflict within the community of nations. The federation of eastern countries, centered around the Grandenburg Kingdom, was formed to counter the western nations, led by the Arquell Kingdom. This was the reality of the St. Gallen Federation.

"That's precisely why we must send envoys from Omnia to that land, advising them to cease this fruitless war. The disorder in the world, the corruption of people's hearts, all serve as potential footholds for the return of the Demon King, inviting further calamity."

“Dearu kara koso, ano chi ni wa ware-ra Omunia yori shisha o hasshite mueki na sen o tomeru you kankoku seneba naran. Yo no midare, jinshin no kouhai koso maou fukkatsu no en’yosu ga tonari, sara naru saiyaku o yobu no dearu kara na.”

"Indeed, indeed. If the envoy is to be the current Saintess and the noble daughter of the highly honored Reverend, then it's a perfect fit."

“Shikari shikari. Sono shisetsu o tsutomeru no ga, tousei no seijo to no kikoe mo takai Gobou no go-reijou to araba, masani uttetsuke to iu mono dearou ni.”

TL Note: From now on, I’ve decided to change how Phantony and the other cardinals address Callandra to ‘Reverend’ since my translation of his way of addressing him in earlier chapters was inconsistent, sometimes ‘Your Eminence’ and the like. While in the raw Phantony refers to him as 御坊 (Gobou). It is a respectful and formal term used to address a priest in a position of authority or as a way to refer to a priest respectfully.

In response to the words of the Commander of the Holy Knights, those who shared his sentiments—other cardinals who were against Callandra—concurred.

Of course, Callandra didn't meekly accept these words.

"Don't be a fool! There's no reason for even the hero to come along on that journey, is it not!? It was decided that we would keep the hero summoning ritual secret from neighboring countries for some time!"

“Ba, baka o mousuna! Sono michiyuki ni yuusha made soeru hitsuyou ga aru wake ga nakarou!? Yuusha shoukan no gi o okonatta koto wa, ima shibaraku shuuhen shokoku ni taishite hishiteoku to kimatteotta hazu da!”

He resoluted himself and uttered a rebuttal.

The fact that the hero was summoned without any certain proof of the Demon King's resurrection was kept secret. They had to ensure that no unwarranted suspicions arose from other countries, such as the belief that Omnia was trying to expand its influence by utilizing the power of the hero. This decision had the unanimous consent of all eighteen cardinals. The Callandra faction, who wanted to keep their trump card hidden, as well as the Phantony faction, who were concerned about foreign opposition, had all agreed. He didn't expect Phantony would do something like sending the hero along with his summoner, Irmaella, to another country.

"Indeed, an oracle foretelling the signs of the Demon King's minions being resurrected has come down. But that doesn't give other nations a reason to cooperate! It doesn't even justify the hero summoning!"

“Tashika ni maou no tesaki taru mazoku ni fukkatsu no kizashi ari to no takusen wa kudatta. Da ga, sore wa takoku o kyouryokusaseru meibun to wa naran zo!? Yuusha shoukan o nattoku saseru koto mo da!”

As Callandra argued, even if an oracle had been received by the church, there was no reason for foreign countries to comply. Despite being the central hub of the Holy King Church that gathered faith from all across the continent, Omnia was just one of the Four Great Nations. In ancient times, it might have held more weight, but now it stood on equal footing with Arquell and St. Gallen. To convince other nations of the decision to summon a powerful pawn, the hero, the concern of a potential demon resurrection was insufficient. It would likely only work out if the demons actually took action or, even better, if a Demon King really resurrected.

After all, blindly obeying oracles would mean that everything would be governed by the whims of the priest who received the oracle—in other words, the will of the church. This would negate all secular authorities, such as kings and nobles, and resurrect a form of theocracy reminiscent of the old Omnia Empire era. For power players within the church like Callandra, this was precisely what they hoped for, however…

"Of course, I am well aware of that. Fortunately… or unfortunately, Hero-dono doesn't seem to have a clear sense of his mission. Therefore, it's unlikely that he would step forward and declare himself voluntarily."

“Muron, sono ten wa shouchi shite iru. Saiwai… to iu ni wa nan ga aru ga, yuusha-dono wa imada sono shimei ni taishi jikaku no ararenu go-yousu. Deareba, o-mizu kara nanori deru you na koto wa, mazu nai dearou.”

Phantony said with confidence. Indeed, the summoned boy, Erimiya Yuuto, was far from enthusiastic about the hero's mission. In fact, though being a horse’s skeleton* with yellowish skin that would make someone wonder if he was also human, he even held a sense of skepticism towards the teachings of the Holy King. It was doubtful that he would voluntarily self-identify as a hero.

*TL Note: Once again, horse’s skeleton is a teasing way to address a youngster in Japanese. And I didn’t think their racism is that strong, bruh. Considering Yuuto is a Japanese, I guess his skin is not that ‘yellow’ to the point that his humanity is being questioned. In fact from my perspective, Japanese people's skin is very fair. I wonder what if the one summoned is someone from my country for example. Maybe their skin would be so ‘brown’ that the people of this world would consider them as a monster.

However,

"…Are you joking, Holy Knights’ Commander-dono? Assuming that we send a boy who can't even declare himself as a hero, St. Gallen is unlikely to take him seriously."

“…Joudan o moushite oru no ka, seikishi danchou-dono. Yuusha to nanoru koto mo dekinai shounen o okutta tokoro de, zankutogaren ga matomo ni toriau hazu ga nakarou.”

This raised a new question: "What is the purpose of sending him then?"

But Phantony calmly responded, as if indicating that it was nothing significant.

"Reverend, have you forgotten what I have said earlier?"

“Gobou, sessou ga hajime ni nanto kiridashita ka o o-wasure ka?”

"What?"

“Nani?”

"'Sending the hero, Yuuto Erimiya-dono and Priestess Irmaella Callandra-dono'—that's what I said. But in this case, the official envoy is Reverend's daughter, and the hero, who cannot reveal his identity, will serve as her guardian."

“Yuusha Yuuto Erimiya-dono to Irumaerra Karandora onnashisai-dono o okuru――sou moushita hazu. Kono baai, seishi to naru no wa gobou no go-reijou de, mimoto o akasenu yuusha-dono wa sono goei to naru na.”

'Ah', Callandra gasped, covering his mouth. Upon closer consideration, this arrangement made sense. Irmaella, as the daughter of a cardinal and possessor of the highest level of divine power even in Omnia, was well-qualified to be a diplomatic envoy. She may lack some seniority and experience, but her surroundings could easily provide the necessary support.

However, it was still unclear why Phantony had suggested this arrangement. If Irmaella successfully fulfilled her role as an envoy, the one who would benefit the most from it would be Emilio Callandra.

"In the first place, heroes and their summoners typically act together and cooperate in their holy mission to defeat the Demon King. Therefore, if Irmaella-dono is to travel to a distant land, it is only natural for the hero to accompany her."

“Somo, yuusha to shoukan-sha wa tomoni koudoushi, maou toubatsu no seimu ni atatte kyouryokushiau no ga joudou. Deareba, Irumaerra-dono ga ongoku ni omomuku no deareba, yuusha-dono mo doukou suru no ga touzen ka to zonzuru.”

"Well, well, Phantony-dono's words are true."

“Iya iya, Fantōni-dono no gen ga mottomo.”

"Exactly, a brilliant idea. This serves as a perfect prelude to the upcoming journey to defeat the Demon King."

“Masani myouan. Kore wa kitaru maou toubatsu no seiryo, sono yokou to shite mo buttetsuke ka to.”

And then, the Callandra Faction was made tense by the invigorated members of the Phantony faction.

(Does he plan to use this as an achievement to steal the credit for the hero and the demon race's extermination from me!?)

(Yomoya koyatsu, kore o jisseki to shite watashi kara yuusha to mazoku toumetsu no kou o ubaou to iu no ka!?)

Sending the delegation to St. Gallen as a prelude to the Demon King's subjugation. In other words, if he insists that since he led the rehearsal, he will also do the actual performance. Then taking custody of the hero and the merits in the holy war by doing it will all be attributed to Phantony and his faction. Although Callandra would still have a credit in proposing the summoning, it would pale in comparison to the great achievement of averting a crisis for all of humanity in the future.

(Bastard…! You bearded Daruma's underwear! Even though you look like a brainless musclehead, you're crafty in just this kind of matter! Are you intending to block, no, steal my path to the papacy!?)

(Onore, onoree…! Higedaruma no nikujiban ga! Noumiso made mo kinniku no you na musai mitame o shiteoki nagara, kou iu tokoro dake wa kosukkarai! Watashi no, kono watashi no eitatsu o, kyoukou-i e no michisuji o habamu, iya yokodori suru tsumori ka!?)

All of his political clashes with himself were for the sole purpose of ambition and power. This was Callandra's interpretation. Having fallen in his ancestors' generation and spent his youth in poverty, in the literal sense of the term, he had risen from the slums of the imperial city to the position of a cardinal. For Emilio Lazzaro Callandra, gaining glory was everything. He considered anyone who obstructed it to be a devil's agent or something of the sort.

(I will not let you have your way, Phantony. I am not someone who would let lowly people like you come out on top!)

(Sou wa sasen zo, Fantōni. Kisama gotoki yahi na yakara ni dashi nukeru watashi dewa nai wa!)

He desperately contained his inner rage and smiled calmly.

"…Is that your considered decision? In that case, there's no other way."

“…Sayou na oboshimeshi dearimasu ka. Deareba, shikatanaki hakobi desu na.”

"I'm glad you understand."

“Go-rikai itadaketa you de nani yori.”

(Yeah, I understaaand very well. Your real intentions, it is!)

(Aa, yoooku rikai shite iru yo. Kisama no mokuromi wa na!)

While suppressing the urge to spit, Callandra continued,

"However, in appointing my daughter as the main envoy, we must be cautious in the composition of the envoy group."

“Shikashi, touhou mo musume o seishi to shite tateru ni atari, shisetsu-dan no hensei ni wa shinchou na hairyo ga hitsuyou ka to zonjiru ga?”

"And what do you mean by that?"

“To, mousareru to?”

"I believe the situation in St. Gallen is currently tense. Sending overly aggressive individuals there may lead to unnecessary disturbances."

“Zankutogaren no jousei wa kinpaku shite iru deshou. Soko ni amari ni mo bubatta-mono-ra o okutte wa, iranu soudou no gen ka to.”

In other words, the Holy Knights were to be excluded from the envoy.

During the meeting, an untimely murmur arose.

"W-wait, Callandra-dono! Given the current precarious state of affairs, it is precisely for that reason that we need to prepare for such contingencies!"

“Ma, matareyo Karandora-dono! Yodan o yurusanu sejou dearu kara koso, sono tame no sonae ga hitsuyou to naru dearou ni!”

"Exactly! Considering the format of the envoy group, not including the Holy Knights is too――"

“Shikari shikari! Shisetsu-dan no kakushiki kara itte mo, Sei kishi o tsurenu to iu no wa amarini mo――”

The cardinals belonging to Phantony's faction on either side of him raised objections. If the Holy Knights were excluded from the envoy, it would inevitably result in members of other factions taking those seats. Considering Callandra's nature, he might try to squeeze his monks into those vacancies. It was only natural that they opposed it.

However, this time, there was a trump card to prevent that.

"The Hero is accompanying her."

“Yuusha-dono ga owasu.”

"What!?"

“Nanto!?”

"To protect Irmaella, who has summoned and made a contract with, would anyone really think that the Hero is inadequate for the task? Would anyone dare to doubt a hero sent by the Holy King himself, who sits in the heavens?"

“Shoukan shi, keiyaku o kawashita Irumaerra o mamoru no ni, yuusha-dono dewa fusoku to o-kangae no kata nado orarenu dearou? Ten ni zashimasu sei ou-sama yori tsukawasareta yuusha-dono o, shinjirarenu to wa mousaremasenu yo naa?”

Yes, the Hero. Regardless of their status as cardinals, it was imperative to believe in the Hero's abilities if one followed the teachings of the church. The only possible exception could have been the Holy Knights' Commander, who oversaw the martial branch of the church. However,

"Even you, Holy Knights' Commander Phantony, should have no doubts, considering that you are responsible for training the Hero, isn't that right?"

“Fantōni seikishi danchou mo, go-jibun ga shugyou o tantou sareteiru ijou, yomoya fusoku to wa iwaremasen na?”

He was the one who had been training the Hero. Expressing doubt about the Hero's abilities would have called into question Phantony's own teaching skills. He wouldn't have opposed this even if his life had depended on it.

(Heh heh heh, he's trying to manipulate the situation, but he's about to be outmaneuvered. How does it feel to have your own tricks used against you?)

(Kukuku, kozaiku o rousuru kara ashimoto o sukuwareru no yo. Dou da ne, jibun no shikake o gyakute ni torareta kibun wa?)

Concealing his inner elation and masking it with a smile, he relished the sensation of victory. The opposing side remained silent. Phantony's expression didn't change, but it was unclear what was going on beneath the surface.

Finally, Phantony let out a small sigh.

"…What the reverend says has its merits. I have no objections, as per your suggestion. Let us refrain from sending a Holy Knight."

“…Gobou no ossharu koto ni mo ri wa aru. Sessou ni igi wa nashi. Sei kishi o dasu no wa enryo shiyou.”

(I won.)

(Katta.)

Callandra interpreted his political rival's words as a declaration of defeat. It felt very satisfying. He had protected his interests and thwarted his opponent's growing influence. Each time, an indescribable pleasure welled up within him. That's why the allure of power was irresistible.

As he basked in this feeling, the supposedly defeated opponent whispered something quietly.

"However, since we are going to go along with your proposal, I can't leave the personnel choices for the envoy untouched. I'd like to at least nominate one person from our side."

“Ga, hatsugi o okonatta temae, shisetsu no jinji ni tetsukazu de, to iu wake ni wa ikanu. Semete hitori kurai wa, kochira de shimei sasete itadakitai no da ga.”

"Ah, I see. That's fine."

“Aa, sonna koto ka. Betsu ni kamawanu yo.”

In other words, he wanted to save face. Callandra casually agreed, allowing this small concession. The sight of the defeated pleading humbly to the victor tickled the victor's sense of self-pride.

And so, the meeting was concluded for the day. Callandra left the room with his spirits high, his steps light. He had acquired yet another piece of material to strengthen his position. With a sense of achievement, he already had forgotten about any questions regarding who the individual Phantony intended to insert into the envoy.

In the days that followed, he would be utterly astonished, since he agreed that it was fine as long as it was not an official Holy Knight, the one chosen as part of the envoy was, outrageously, a Holy Knight Candidate. But that's another story.

~~~

Having no knowledge of such high-level political maneuvering, Erimiya Yuuto was under the open sky, traveling. Their destination, St. Gallen Federation, was a neighboring country on the map, but in reality, a massive mountain range separated them. While it was possible to cross those mountains with determination, it was the prevailing opinion within the envoy party that it was unnecessary and inconvenient. As a result, they would follow well-maintained roads within Arquell, heading north from the border region of Armand into St. Gallen.

The carriage they were currently traveling in was specially transported by ship from the Omnia Empire. Not to mention the horses pulling it, even the carriage itself, bearing the official insignia of the empire's envoys, was not something readily available in foreign lands. Therefore, they had transported it by sea, purchased horses upon arrival at the port town, and then set off. In his own way, Yuuto likened the situation to something resembling a car ferry, a modern memory from his family's past vacations in Japan, which tugged at his heartstrings.

"What's the matter, young boy? You seem a bit lost in thought,"

“Dou shita, shounen? Nani yara uwa no sora na you da ga.”

Elisha, who was traveling in the carriage with him, said, perhaps out of concern.

"No, it's nothing. It's just that… Well, I've been looking at a similar scenery for quite a while, so it's a bit boring."

“Ie, nande mo nai desu. Tada, nanto iu ka… chotto nita you na keshiki ga tsuzuku no de, sukoshi taikutsu de.”

He wasn't trying to dodge her question, it was indeed his honest opinion. These roads, despite being referred to as highways, were not paved like modern Japanese roads, and their means of transportation was not automobiles but horse-drawn carriages. Compared to the incredible horsepower of the vehicles he was accustomed to, the pace of this journey was agonizingly slow. Consequently, the scenery passing by the window remained unchanging.

"Hmm? But I think traveling by carriage is typically like this?"

“Fuun? Basha de no tabi nado taigai wa kono you na mono da to omou ga.”

"Ah, no. It's just that this is my first time riding in a carriage…"

“Aa, ie. Ba, basha ni noru nante hajimete deshite…”

Yuuto hastily offered an explanation, flustered by the nonchalant remark. His status as a summoned hero from another world was a well-kept secret, known only to a select few high-ranking officials in Omnia. She was still a candidate for a holy knight, and as a foreigner, this truth was concealed even from Elisha. She was the closest to him among the humans in this world, and her temperament was also similar to his, so during their conversations, he sometimes felt like he's going to accidentally have a slip of tongue. So far, nothing incriminating had been revealed――as far as Yuuto believed――but he couldn't guarantee how long this would continue.

(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 seat――the 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?"

“Noryuō 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, Arukēru 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 this――If you continue the fighting, we have our own plans. Be aware that we might form a full-fledged alliance with Arquell and use force――having 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 da――kore ijou sentou o tsuzukeru you nara, kochira ni mo kangae ga aru. Arukēru to honkaku-teki ni musunde jitsuryoku koushi o okonau kanousei mo aru to kokoroeyo――saki 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, Ōbuniru-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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