Because of the girls’ wrath, all dark guild bases within Valkyra Kingdom had been crushed and their members apprehended. 10 days after, based on the interrogations and investigations done all over by the Knight Order and Intelligence division, they figured out that the bases were used by the dark guild known as 『Moonlight Owl』.
The activities of the 『Moonlight Owl』 became clear after that, and that brought about mayhem within Valkyra Kingdom.
It had come to light that the dark guild and several noble houses were connected. The King, Prime Minister, Knight Commander, Minister of Armed Forces, and Minister of Finance were moving about without sleep for several days.
There was no issue dealing with the noble houses with connections to the dark guild that were low in ranking. However, some among them were even Earls that hold administrative and judicial positions so the royal palace was in turmoil.
The houses that couldn’t simply be removed were obligated to retire the head of their household and fined heavily. As for the truly unpardonable houses, the head of their household are subjected to death by hanging and their possessions seized.
For that reason, we had more free time than the three countries, but it’s been decided that they would observe the Sanctuary.
They don’t know whether they would be able to pass through the barrier or not until that time comes. The representatives of the countries were told this, but there’s no way no one would be able to go in, right?
The representatives of Valkyra are Prime Minister Simon[1] and Margrave Godwin Volton. Coming from Yggurle Kingdom are Prime Minister Balza and Princess Mimir. Meanwhile Prime Minister Drehd and King Lomaria had come to personally represent Lomaria Kingdom.
The party first observed the outer edge of the Sanctuary. They discussed the location of the city-to-be and its scale.
Such as how far the construction should be from the Sanctuary, or what materials and personnel should be allocated by which country. They also discussed things like the space and location of each country’s embassy in detail.
「Hooh, are the Spirit Tree and the Great Spirits’ Sanctuary ahead? It does not look like there is anything there. How terrifying, this barrier of the Great Spirits.」
「King Lomaria, for you to have come personally……」
「What, I would like to know even a fragment of the secret to the rapid expansion of Valkyra Kingdom.」
Valkyra Kingdom’s Prime Minister Simon started a conversation with King Lomaria who had been looking in the direction of the erected barrier.
King Lomaria looked towards Princess Mimir and, as she is the only one among them that knows what is inside the Sanctuary, asked her for information on it.
「Princess Mimir, do you perhaps know what is within the Sanctuary?」
「Yes, as I was fortunate to receive the favor of the Great Spirits, ……yes, it has been well.」
「Hou, how enviable.」
Although it’s for an observation, it isn’t known if everyone could enter the Sanctuary. They heard beforehand that the escorting knights have almost no chance. Princess Mimir only had her usual lady attendant to accompany her.
「Your Majesty, we are almost there.」
「Ou, I see. However, not using a carriage is difficult. Simon-dono, Godwin-dono, Balza-dono. Especially Princess Mimir, is it not?」
Princess Mimir, who always entered the Sanctuary in a carriage, is walking on foot with everyone this time.
「Please be at ease. The carriage awaits us in a place past the barrier.」
Mimir’s sole lady attendant drove the carriage past the barrier and was on standby. Mimir didn’t think that the escorting knights of the King and Prime Ministers of each country could pass through the barrier with them. That’s why she expected that her carriage would be plenty.
Hence why they’re on foot at first. If they were on the carriage, it might turn into a disaster when they’re repelled by the barrier.
「Well then, let us be on our way.」
Princess Mimir led the way, while King Lomaria and the other representatives followed.
They began walking in a line to pass through the barrier. Sure enough, the knights were obstructed by the barrier. At Undine and the Great Spirits’ discretion, individuals possessing weapons were repelled. Actually, among the escorting knights, there were those qualified to enter the barrier, but all the knights were barred entry to the Sanctuary this time.
When they passed through the barrier, the gigantic Spirit Tree naturally pervaded their sights. There’s still some distance to go, but aside from Mimir and her attendant, the representatives were all in blank amazement at the size of the Spirit Tree.
When the Elves that immigrated started taking care of the Spirit Tree, it grew even larger.
The representatives boarded the awaiting carriage in the eastern grasslands. The carriage ran across the terrain.
Not long after they saw the forest and copses, they arrived at the heart of the Sanctuary.
「…………was this truly the barren savage lands?」
「It is overflowing with pure energy.」
King Lomaria murmured at what came into view, and Prime Minister Drehd expressed surprise regarding the overflowing pure energy.
Unlike their expectations, this environment was not a forest-type monster nest, it was true wilderness. As a matter of fact, from the moment they stepped past the barrier, the scenery had changed completely. An expanse of lush grasslands then further ahead were knolls covered in blooming flowers in various colors, and when they arrived at the heart of the Sanctuary, there was a spring filled with clean water and near it towered the gigantic Spirit Tree.
What was most surprising were the two splendid mansions erected there.
King Lomaria had surmised that the mansions standing at the heart of the Sanctuary were the mansions of the individuals governing this Sanctuary.
Since Princess Mimir knows that the mansion is owned by Takumi’s group, she was composed. But Prime Minister Simon and Margrave Volton, who guessed it was Takumi’s, actually saw it, they were once again made to realize that he is an important figure to this Sanctuary.
「A mansion built slightly farther away is one I am renting personally. Therefore let us rest momentarily before the observation.」
「My word! You also have a mansion, Princess?」
「Balza, please stop.」
When Princess Mimir was about to lead them to the mansion she personally stays in, Yggurle Kingdom’s Prime Minister Balza was astonished that their princess had already secured a foothold in the Sanctuary, growing jubilant as he was one step ahead of the other countries.
Despite Takumi’s mansion weighing on the minds of the observation party, at Princess Mimir’s lead, they headed for her mansion.
***
Footnotes:
1. Typo, Simon is still written as Monterey.