Matters particularly important to the country were discussed by these three so that other nobles could not interfere.
「And so, are you certain that a World Tree seed had sprouted in the savage lands and is growing up as the World Tree seedling?」
「Your Majesty, it is not a World Tree seedling, it is called a Spirit Tree. Its location is by the west coast, close to the west of Wedgefort. It appears that the location, which was previously a monster nest, had been covered by a barrier that does not allow entry.」
It was reported to Lobos that what was once a barrier that covered only a small village is now a barrier with a scope that could even cover the entire royal capital, and that no one is able to see what was within. Soldiers from Valkyra were also dispatched to scout, but, of course, since they couldn’t enter the barrier, they could not advance with their investigation.
If the Spirit Tree comes into their possession, their gains would be immeasurable.
Currently, materials for all kinds of advanced potions were difficult to obtain in places aside from labyrinths. Until now, they could only obtain materials from Yggurle Kingdom in small quantities, and at irregular intervals. It isn’t unjustifiable for any country to extend its feelers.
That didn’t change for Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom, and they’ve dispatched soldiers and established garrisons on the site.
Furthermore, not only Triaria Kingdom and the Divine Empire of Sydnia, but even Samandour Kingdom, which was located at the southern portion of the continent, had sent out reconnaissance teams.
The only country to not mobilize is the Dwarven country, Gnomstoll Kingdom. That’s probably because only Dwarves were there. They have no interests aside from mining, smithing, metal working, and alcohol.
「Still, a portion of the Elves and the troops of Triaria Kingdom attack the barrier, but it seems they have had no results.」
「Elves likely want to say that the Spirit Tree is theirs. It is agreed upon by the nations that the rights over the savage lands is to whoever reclaims the land, and they seem to be in a hurry.」
「Still, Simon-dono, who could it be that put a barrier over the land that is said to have that Spirit Tree ?」
Knight Commander Galahad raised the innocent question towards Prime Minister Simon. No country in this continent has received a report of any individual being able to cross the barrier. Barriers are not something that generate naturally, after all.
「In the information I have acquired from my elven connections, it was because the Spirits have manifested.」
「I have not heard of Spirits manifesting. Is that true?」
「Your Majesty, even the Elves are unable to enter the barrier. There wouldn’t be any confirmation.」
「Simon-dono, supposing that the Spirits did manifest, do you know what the spirits could be attempting to do in that land?」
Simon shook his head at Galahad’s inquiry.
「Matters like the Spirits’ intentions are not something that I, nothing more than a mere human, could understand. The only fact before our eyes is that the miasma of the monster nest had been purified and it had changed to a land overflowing with sacred energy.」
「Yggurle Kingdom is claiming ownership. If they are able to prove this, the savage lands would increase their territory by a size equal to a small country.」
「Also, Your Majesty, strange information around the barrier had come in.」
「Strange?」
「Yes, we have confirmed that there are children coming from a town in a territory of our country that are heading towards the barrier.」
Simon was reporting that a group comprised of orphaned children were heading to the barrier.
「Why are those children going towards the barrier? If they lost their parents, wouldn’t they be living in an orphanage? Did they sneak away?」
「Your Majesty, not all towns have an orphanage. The report I received on the investigation of the children’s identities were that they lived in a town without an orphanage, and likely without anyone to depend on, they were simply waiting for death. I do not know what their motive for going to the barrier is, but when they approached the barrier, they suddenly disappeared.」
Simon had reported that there were no traces of being attacked by monsters, nor were there any corpses discovered.
「If the children passed through the barrier, they can’t live there alone.」
Lobos had given Simon instructions to investigate the town in that territory. The borderlands are exposed to plenty of monster threats, and there were many children that, inevitably, lose their parents. Orphanages were supposed to be the minimum safety net, but there were a number of feudal lords that did not implement this. He lamented the fact that the children went to the barrier was a consequence of his efforts not being enough.
「Simon, keep a watchful eye on the individuals that approach the barrier.」
「Yes, I will convey it so.」
Lobos had assessed that the barrier over that land was not made only by the Spirits’ powers. If he investigates that, he would naturally be able to see it as a whole…………….
When many countries were deploying troops to the place where the Spirit Tree was, only the Divine Empire of Sydnia had sent a sorry excuse of a reconnaissance team.
Originally, purified land would be something any country would desire oh so desperately, but only this nation’s circumstance was different. The main forces of the Holy Knight Order find it difficult to approach the barrier.
Pope Warvaal and four people, Prime Minister Musudan, Head Magician Homer, Sydnia’s Holy Knight Commander Packard, and Imperial Princess Elizabeth, were having a private discussion.
「And so, that land which rejects us is overflowing with evil?」
「Yes, Pope-sama. It would be difficult for the Holy Knight Order to approach.」
As Packard had reported, even the most rank and file soldiers have a tendency to dislike approaching the barrier. That is because, the closer they are to the heart of the Divine Empire of Sydnia, the more they are encroached by miasma. The people themselves are not aware that they’ve been encroached by it though.
「Father, would it not be alright for the Divine Empire of Sydnia to leave those savage lands be?」
「………… you are correct, it is quite distant, and much like the materials of the Spirit Tree, there is nothing impossible for us to procure.」
Warvaal agreed to Elizabeth’s proposition. From the start, in this nation where there were many users of Light Attribute Magic, the Pharmacist Guild’s abilities were not effective. There was little meaning in pursuing savage lands located too far west from the center of the continent.
「Indeed. It would be best for us to avoid showy movements because we are building our strengths.」
「And, there’s that.」
With low grade potions appearing on the market for cheap prices in Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom, it was difficult to secure large sums of offerings using recovery magic. Furthermore, the propagation of the Light God Faith is not advancing, so a reorganization is urgent business.
「Well, maintain a watch over the movement of each country.」
「「「Understood.」」」
Elizabeth and the others nodded at Pope Warvaal’s request then returned to their respective tasks.
Those at the heart of the Divine Empire of Sydnia, Pope Warvaal and his subordinates, were not aware that they have already changed to existences that avoid pure land. They did not realize that the heart of their empire was a polluted land that contravenes with sacred land.
***