From the Gate in the Sanctuary Mansion’s basement, I teleported to the Gate installed in the basement of the Volton Mansion.
I immediately made an appointment with Margrave Volton, getting a promise to meet.
「Haa, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t my job, is it?」
「Still, the Great Spirits do not have contact with Human countries. They are free, after all.」
At my grumbling, Sophia implicitly stated that it couldn’t be helped.
「Even so, I think the Elves would be suitable as the Spirit’s representative though.」
「From the worst of the impressions that they have of the Elves, such as with Earl Hordia, I doubt the Great Spirits would negotiate with other countries through the Yggurle Kingdom as their mediator.」
「Haa, that’s the noble obsessed with you, right? Though Yggurle Kingdom doesn’t have soldiers stationed on the outer edge of the Sanctuary, he continues to send in private armies.」
The troops stationed just outside the of the Sanctuary were there for investigative purposes, but Sophia said that the sole group continuing to attack the barrier pointlessly was the private army dispatched by the porcine noble, Earl Hordia.
「Anyway, Margrave Volton-sama and Earl Rockford-sama’s towns have orphanages, so the children were from other territories, weren’t they?」
「Indeed. Our goal is to have Margrave Volton appeal to the King to make a law obligating the establishment of orphanages.」
Both Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford were devoted to tackling the poverty within their territories. Even so, it is currently difficult to counteract the growing slum district.
This time, only Sophia and I came to Volton. I have asked our remaining members to look after the newcomer Mermaids and the recently rescued kids, Tom’s bunch.
We’re walking towards the white castle in the middle of the town where the Margrave lives. It would typically be a good idea to take the carriage, but our carriage is way too conspicuous. Though, rather than the carriage, it’s Tsubaki who has too much presence, so using the carriage to move around town is troublesome. She is too intimidating.
Sophia and I were gestured into the parlor room, and as we were waiting, Margrave Volton entered with Chamberlain Xervus-san and Knight Leader Dorn-san in tow.
「Long time no see Iruma-dono, you’ve been quite busy as of late, haven’t you?」
「Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today.」
「So, is it about the Divine Empire of Sydnia? Owing to the Barrier MD that Iruma-dono supplies, attacks by those people have been reduced to zero. You have my gratitude.」
Just when I thought I haven’t heard anything about the zealots of Sydnia recently, they inform me that the damages done to Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom have practically stopped occurring.
「The Light God Faith too. Their believers have been decreasing in our country, Lomaria, and now even Samandour. They’ve been quiet lately.」
「I see. Well, today’s matter is different though.」
Margrave Volton had apparently assumed that Sophia and I came to talk about the zealots that acted violently for a period of time. Though I was indeed curious about that too.
「Well, I would like to ask you for something different today…………」
「Un, so it was a separate matter.」
「Yes, umm, Lord Godwin, are you aware of the land covered by a barrier southwest of the continent from Volton.」
Of course Margrave Volton would know about it, but I wanted to clue him in, so I tried asking him that. Margrave Volton and Knight Leader Dorn-san’s faces then soured.
「Ah, so Iruma-dono knows of it as well. Haa, actually troops from our country, Lomaria, and even Triaria have thoroughly investigated it, but we only know that it is said to be similar to the barrier of Yggurle. That barrier can’t be passed through nor destroyed. There are rumors among the Fairykin, the Elves and Dwarves, that it was a Spirit Tree’s sanctuary, but only to that extent. Our territory has dispatched soldiers, but military expenditures will be absurd if this is prolonged.」
Margrave Volton complained about the stationing expenses of an unprogressing investigation.
「Actually, about that……………」
From there, I talked about the facts regarding the Spirit Tree in that place. That I was involved in the sprouting of the Spirit Tree. The sequence of events, starting from how the Undead that took the World Tree seed was defeated, the planting of seed, and the Spirits’ request to take care of it. How, during that course of events, the land encroached by miasma was purified.
「My word! That barrier was placed by Iruma-dono?!」
「No, the current barrier is something that was later put up by the Great Spirits.」
My barrier also still works, but it’s fine even if I don’t say that, right?
「The Great Spirits that have now manifested are the pillars of Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Tree, Light, and Dark. Thus, the Sanctuary was created with the Spirit Tree at its center, and a strong barrier was raised.」
「…………Iruma-dono, you seem awfully knowledgeable, do you know what is inside the barrier?」
Of course he’d think that. I can’t deceive him, huh.
「Haa, well, I can freely enter the barrier.」
「「「What?!」」」
The trio, Margrave Volton, Xervus-san, and Dorn-san, were surprised and their mouths hung wide open. Right? Of course they’d be surprised if I say it that simply. And they had just mentioned the cost of stationing troops there too.
Margrave Volton held his forehead, looking up to the heavens.
「…………fumu, well, that place is in the savage lands, therefore it is fine no matter what Iruma-dono does there. Fumu, is that not so, Xervus?」
「Yes, as it is land that does not belong to any country, there is no issue.」
「……yes. Wedgefort town is an example. Anyone can reclaim the savage lands, as they have the freedom to do so.」
「Fumu, and, that is how it is, Iruma-dono. The savage lands are littered with small monster nests. No country had been able to reclaim it, that is why it is the savage lands. As such, I believe it is not a problem. Well, I would have liked it if you had reported it much sooner, but that is just my opinion.」
「I am very sorry.」
Margrave Volton told me to hurry and report to the royal capital.
「Lord Godwin, actually, today’s discussion starts here.」
「There’s still more…………」
Margrave Volton’s face showed that he was worn out.
「Yes, actually……………」
I had talked about how the children, who lost their parents from towns without orphanages, heard rumors of the Sanctuary. Prepared to lose their lives, they passed through the savage lands and reached the Sanctuary. After that, I mentioned the oppressed Fairykin, who capable of hearing the Spirits’ voices, that headed to the same place the orphans went to.
I also told them that, at present, there is a hurdle known as the Great Spirits’ assessment which must be passed to be able to cross the barrier.
「It was very fortunate that we safely sheltered the kids, but from here on, I can’t imagine we would be able to rescue all of them.」
The current Sanctuary also has the rare Fairykin, the Cat Siths and Faeries, so I conveyed the policy of not being able to enter and leave normally.
「……certainly, free entry and exit is risky.」
「Indeed. There are likely individuals who hunt Cat Siths and Faeries even among the citizens of our country, which is open minded towards the various races.」
「…………how about this? Establish gateways in Valkyra Kingdom, Lomaria Kingdom, Yggurle Kingdom, Samandour Kingdom.」
Dorn-san had proposed we make gateways to manage the entry and exits of the barrier.
「Fumu, that might be possible. Wedgefort and that place aren’t too far from each other. We can use it as a stopover.」
「It is necessary to make it well known that only those deemed acceptable by the Great Spirits may pass through the barrier. Rash children must be prevented from entering the savage lands and losing their lives.」
Margrave Volton and Xervus-san already accepted the matters regarding the Sanctuary and have now begun talking about how it would concern them.
「…………umm.」
「Ah, sorry. In any case, this matter must be discussed with the King, and the Kingdoms of Lomaria, Samandour, and Yggurle. Hearing of Fairykin’s stories about the Spirit Tree, there will be a portion of each country that move to their desires for the materials, after all.」
「Your Excellency, a unit from our army will patrol around the Sanctuary and Wedgefort.」
「Then I will inquire as to which of the noble families have not established orphanages.」
Dorn-san promised to patrol the savage lands. This will reduce the number of children of Valkyra Kingdom heading to the Sanctuary from being stranded or attacked by monsters.
Xervus-san said he would investigate the noble families and towns without orphanages in Valkyra Kingdom.
「Iruma-dono, we must have a talk with the King.」
「So that really is how it would be.」
I’m not a noble or anything, so why? Why do I get dragged into these things? Sheesh, I’ll end up half thinking it’s a curse.
***