Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village Volume 7 E-Book

Mizuumi Amakawa

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts With a Village
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 418

Beschreibung

Thanks to the research laboratory’s efforts, Ash and the Territory Reform Promotion Office have successfully driven off the werewolves! However, the aftermath of the territory’s destruction has created a huge influx of refugees seeking shelter. Ash takes on the task, but will he succeed given their dwindling supplies? With experience helping Ajole village and plenty of allies at their side, the Promotion Office is also ready to help under a brand new name! Meanwhile, Princess Alicia works to rally the capital in support of Sacula.

The story of the boy who wanted to change the world concludes in the final chapter of Fushi no Kami!

Leseprobe

War of Papers

Alicia’s Perspective

While Sacula prepared for battle against Viscount Yanga, we in the capital were working on our own preparations. While we had no need to worry about any military force, we still needed to lay out the groundwork for our plans with the king. Before entering into an all-out battle with the House of Yanga, Sacula first needed to adhere to a few protocols. First, we had to present the king with a general outline of the war between the regions. This included details like: “Who is in the wrong and who caused the conflict?” and “How do we plan to resolve it?” If we hadn’t done this much, there’d be an uproar. It’d give reason for a third party to discredit the both of us and claim that we were both betraying His Majesty.

Count Gentoh, while reluctant to be in the palace, was walking through its halls to avoid that exact outcome.

“Datara’s lot sure are giving us a lot of trouble,” Count Gentoh grumbled as we headed toward the lounge room.

“Please do your best. Everyone in Sacula is working so hard, so it’s important that you support them as their count,” I said in an attempt to encourage him.

“I understand, Your Highness. I understand that completely. That’s why I’m here walking through this awful palace.”

Yes, you certainly are trying your best. The count was acting like a petulant child being made to drink bitter medicine, but, with me placating him along the way, we eventually arrived at our destination.

I gave a nod to the royal knight standing guard at the door. He then closely scrutinized our documents before asking us the reason for our visit. If we were central nobles, we probably wouldn’t have had to waste time following these unnecessary formalities. Feeling he was still not taking us seriously, I answered with a smile befitting a princess conducting royal business.

“I have an appointment today with His Majesty the King. I am Princess Alicia, and this is Count Gentoh of Sacula.”

“Of course, this was written in His Majesty’s agenda for today. He has yet to arrive, so please wait inside.”

While he had wasted our time with protocol, there seemed to be no ill will beyond that. When we’d first arrived at the palace, we weren’t permitted to arrange a meeting with the king at all, so this could be considered as us climbing up the ranks. It was the result of my gaining the support of the Church and the Frontier Alliance following the Royal Sword Fighting tournament. At the very least, I was now able to meet the king in my role as princess. If I weren’t in this position, it would have been difficult to support the House of Sacula and fulfill my role of making the king aware of our intentions.

The guard opened the door and I headed through, overjoyed to have this opportunity to help Ash. But the sight before me quickly turned my joy into bitter despair. For some reason, in the common room stood my elder brother, the king’s firstborn son, Prince Albert. Ever since Viscount Datara lost his position, it seemed that Albert had seized control of power in the palace. With that in mind, it wasn’t odd that the prince had taken an interest and was attempting to intervene, but it was still an obvious hindrance.

“How do you do, dear brother?” I gave a polite bow to try and disguise my dissatisfaction, but my brother remained seated and responded with a simple nod. He seemed to be convinced that he was of a higher rank than me.

“Oh, Prince Albert, I didn’t expect you would be here. I suppose you had nothing else to do today?” responded Count Gentoh, skipping any form of pleasantries.

“Not at all. I thought that today’s discussion would be beneficial for my future studies, so I made some time.”

“I see, that’s very diligent of you. An admirable trait, not something I enjoyed much myself.”

My brother had come here as a display of power, demonstrating the fact that he was next in line for the throne; however, it didn’t seem to faze Count Gentoh. Naturally, I had no interest in the throne and Count Gentoh also had no intention of using me as a way to gain power in the central regions. Albert had wasted his time coming here, and I was appalled by his unwarranted suspicion. The count was also quite obviously unimpressed, choosing to directly comment on it.

“I’m jealous you have so much time to dedicate to your studies. Since it’s so laid back here in the central regions, I ought to take it easy myself.” Count Gentoh’s noble upbringing shone through his arguments and thinly veiled sarcasm. I was oddly impressed.

Albert, as one could expect, was here to simply make a statement; however, I wondered if the king was also partly responsible for this—he may have just neglected to tell us the prince would be present as well. Sitting opposite my brother on the sofa, I tried to work out the meaning behind all of this. Although the king was my father, I very rarely interacted with him, so I was unable to discern his real intentions. If it were Ash before me, I’d be able to say right away, “That’s something Ash would do.”

While I pondered on what they could possibly be up to, there was some commotion on the other side of the door, followed by a knock.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

Albert sprung to his feet, while I stood up calmly, and Count Gentoh sluggishly lifted himself up.

We all greeted the king, which he returned with a light nod.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting. Please, relax and take your seats.”

“Before that, Your Majesty, may I ask what’s going on here?” Count Gentoh asked before we moved on to the discussion at hand, glancing in the direction of my brother.

“Very well. Just like yourself, I’m not getting any younger. With the future in mind, I thought it was about time to start building up the prince’s experience and broaden his horizons.”

“That’s certainly important in regards to his education as a royal. That, I understand. However, I wish to know why there were no objections to the prince being in attendance today.”

“This isn’t an official meeting. I was told that this is just a preliminary inquiry.”

It seems they thought this was an informal meeting and thus didn’t feel the need to seek Sacula’s approval beforehand. I had heard that Count Gentoh was on good terms with the king, but even then, that didn’t make this any less inconsiderate. I was unimpressed with this so-called father of mine, but brother Albert was even more discourteous.

“It seems me being here in attendance is an inconvenience to Count Sacula.”

“It’s past being an inconvenience,” said Count Gentoh shortly. He shot a disapproving glance at the disruptive prince.

“It seems that Count Sacula is just as bold as they say.”

Count Gentoh had already turned away from Albert, but the expression on his face looked like he wanted to spit out the words, “rude brat.” At this point, I had to intervene.

“Prince Albert, the king and the count are in the middle of a conversation. Although we may be members of the royal family, I think it best if you do not interrupt. Of course, that goes for me too.”

“Unlike you, I’m actually involved in the affairs of the palace. I should have the right to have my say in a conversation between the king and a noble representative,” Albert snapped back.

“According to His Highness, His Majesty is allowing Prince Albert to be here as a part of his studies as a member of the royal family. If he is joining us as a part of his palace duties, then that changes the premise of this meeting,” stated Count Gentoh.

This was why Count Gentoh was questioning His Majesty so persistently. It was true that we were here for a preliminary inquiry, but this wasn’t a personal catchup; we were here on official business. If this were just useless small talk over tea, a sudden unexpected guest wouldn’t be that much of an issue.

However, there’s no way we would be okay with it in a meeting where we would be discussing private matters. Even more so when the party we were holding the meeting with wasn’t the most amicable. The king who allowed this, and the prince now proudly sitting here, were prime examples of the fact that the apple really doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Count Gentoh understandably let out a sigh.

“I have established a good relationship with you, Your Majesty. I believe that is due to the fact that I have no interest in the central regions, and that the central regions have rarely imposed on our humble city. Thus we’ve rarely had much in the way of political discussions.”

He didn’t say that they had never imposed on Sacula at all. He was indirectly alluding to the fact that we had been given some trouble and had not been appropriately accommodated for it.

“Thus, I am honored that you thought to be at ease with me and think this an informal meeting. However, I would like you to recognize that I am here with permission from Her Highness the Princess as an intermediary for the interests of the frontier regions and the Frontier Alliance. I am not just here as Gentoh.”

I could easily tell that Count Gentoh was being very careful with his words and trying not to break formality. Internally, he was probably screaming with rage. Or, rather, at a point of complete despair and at an absolute loss for words.

“Is that so? I underestimated the situation. Would it be better if Albert took his leave?”

“It’d be quite harsh to ask him to leave now. As long as you understand, then it’s fine,” Count Gentoh replied maturely. He was reminding Albert that he could only stay as long as he stayed quiet. The count was completely different from how he usually was in private; it was a reminder that he truly was a noble after all. Albert smiled and bowed. He might have even looked grateful if he didn’t have a slight smirk while doing so. Instead, his expression gave off a look that said, “If you’re going to back down anyway, then don’t throw a tantrum in the first place.” You were the one who barged in, weren’t you?

Our eyes met and Albert returned a sharp look. It certainly seemed like he wasn’t pleased that I was also here.

“Well then, let’s begin.” Count Gentoh started to explain the reason for their meeting—the dispute between Viscount Yanga and Sacula. According to the refugees who deserted the viscount and fled, taxes were high, and the roads and rivers weren’t well maintained. There were also no backup plans for bad harvests, and seeking help from government officials amounted to nothing. They had no choice but to abandon their hometowns and seek refuge in Sacula, which prompted Viscount Yanga to go as far as accusing Sacula of kidnapping his citizens.

“As Count of Sacula, I can’t overlook such unseemly behavior from a noble. I believe Viscount Yanga’s title should be revoked and offered to someone else.” The Frontier Alliance had been talking about finding a distant yet blood-related relative of the viscount’s to take his place. Count Gentoh handed a written summary of the issues over to the king.

“Hm, if true, then the situation is serious. However, it is no simple task to unseat a viscount. Must we go that far?” questioned the king.

“We in Sacula do not wish to bring about unrest. Our first priority is to challenge his false accusation regarding our sudden intake of refugees,” replied Count Gentoh. “That should be a better way of handling it. However, according to information we’ve gathered from other houses, Viscount Yanga has been stockpiling food and weaponry.”

“Is he preparing for war?” asked the King.

“It certainly seems that way. We have been strengthening our defenses.”

The king shook his head. “How wretched,” he muttered. It wouldn’t just be Sacula that would be affected. Demons were attracted by war between humans. For those in Sacula, which was located near the Roaring Dragon mountain range—a place where dragons were often sighted—it was a real threat. The townspeople were so afraid that any discussion of demons was done in hushed voices. I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or appalled that Sacula had gotten caught up in Viscount Yanga’s foolishness.

“However, that is mere hearsay from the refugees...or rather, from Sacula itself,” spoke the man I considered my brother in blood alone.

“I do not find it proper to replace the head of a noble house based on just one party’s side of the story. Should we not ask Viscount Yanga for his account first, father?” Albert continued, clearly forgetting he was meant to be staying out of this conversation. Even though Count Gentoh continued to ignore him, the king seemed to be paying attention. To uncomplicate this situation, I had no choice but to rally behind the count.

“Albert, are you saying that you do not believe what the count is saying?” I asked him.

“Not at all. It’s just a matter of principle. How do you think the other noble houses would feel if we were to make a decision based merely on one side’s report? I am simply saying that it is only reasonable if we hear from both houses, carefully carry out an investigation, and only once the results of said investigation are made public can we then make our decision.”

He’s right. That is reasonable. However, where the politics of the central regions were concerned, “principles” were merely a tool for persuasion. So, I put forth my own persuasive measures.

“What happened to Marquis Datara was a shame.” Even though it seemed off-topic, I brought up Datara’s name deliberately. My wording was very euphemistic, but to those present, the meaning was apparent. When members of the royal family started dying unnatural deaths one after another, many started to suspect Marquis Datara. However, we were unable to condemn him for it and his house continued to hold influence behind the scenes.

They had made fools out of the royal family. The Sacula-led Frontier Alliance had managed to more or less ostracize the marquis from high society thanks to a trap they had laid—successfully stripping him of his influence and cornering him in the capital. But Marquis Datara continued to wield the viscount like a dagger—could the royal family save face if they forgave Datara’s right-hand man?

“Hmm,” Albert responded to my hidden question. “I can’t really respond to that. However, some central region lords would be opposed to what you have suggested.”

By “central region lords,” you mean yourself, surely. Even if there were opposition, haven’t you been working to suppress their factions? Do you not have the ability to overpower them completely?

“But if we do nothing, then the remote region nobles will not stay quiet,” I replied.

“I believe that Sacula’s accusations are valid. However, a quarrel in the remote regions has nothing to do with the central lords; all it comes down to is power.”

“If it has nothing to do with them, then why are they opposed to the remote regions dealing with their own problems?”

“If only that kind of logic applied in high society.”

“There is also the question of how much the leaders of the remote regions participate in that high society. Not to mention, surely the subject of the former Marquis Datara is more important to them than issues within the remote regions?” I asked. The downfall of a great house was like the door of a grand treasury being opened. The central region’s nobles were likely more focused on who could take advantage of the opportunity and to what extent.

There probably were central region nobles who would complain about the Frontier Alliance’s actions. However, if we remind them of everything Marquis Datara had to lose—and what they had to gain—they would surely come around. That would mean it would be better for Albert to focus on trying to trip up the Frontier Alliance than curry favor with the central region nobles. In a way, that seemed almost obvious, but Albert was focused on the central regions regardless. I found his decision to look down upon the remote regions that took down Marquis Datara somewhat foolish. That reminds me, what was it that Ash said? It seems the crown prince has a clear perspective on the present but is making no attempt to look ahead. He’s so focused on keeping Sacula in check that he’s failing to see the bigger picture. Having said that, I realize that I also had my biases—I was too focused on the remote regions, Sacula in particular. With that in mind, it seemed like it was time to end this discussion.

“Of course, I acknowledge Sacula’s statement.” The king interrupted our war of words. “There have been rumors that Viscount Yanga and the former Marquis Datara were friendly and often neglected their regions due to them always being in the capital. The marquis has caused quite a stir, and those working under him are not innocent either. Some adjustments will be necessary, but I do not wish to worsen this situation,” said the king.

Once the king looked closely at the submitted documents, it seemed that the Frontier Alliance’s request had largely been accepted. Count Gentoh stood up and bowed. “I am grateful for Your Majesty’s wise decision.”

“I am also grateful, Your Majesty. With this, you will earn even more respect among the remote region’s leaders,” I added as I stood and bowed. As a princess, I was finally able to pay back Sacula for their continued support. With the conversation now over, it would have been proper etiquette to promptly take our leave. I was the only one not occupied with royal duties. That said, I was still busy acting on Ash’s behalf in the capital.

“Alicia.”

As I headed toward the door, the king called and stopped me in my tracks. “Yes,” I replied. As I turned to face him, I saw he had an odd expression on his face.

“I hear you’ve been quite busy lately. Are you looking after yourself properly?” Was he asking that as “the king” or as “my father”? If he’s speaking in his role as a monarch, then did that mean he thought I was up to something? Maybe because I’m close with the Frontier Alliance? Did he think my activities in the capital felt a little too convenient? But what if he was asking as a father? I came here today as Princess Alicia. It’d be a little awkward to say something so personal now.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s gracious hospitality, I am fully enjoying my day-to-day life here,” I responded. The conversation with His Majesty the King—my father—ended there.

On the way back, Count Gentoh bent down and asked me in a hushed voice, “Wouldn’t it be better to be a little friendlier when talking with His Majesty? You are father and daughter after all.”

“If...we had some private time together, I certainly could be more affable. This time, however, we were on official business as princess and count to inform His Majesty of the Frontier Alliance’s views,” I replied.

“But even the prince manages to be somewhat friendly, addressing him as ‘father,’ at least.” Count Gentoh commented.

“Yeah, that’s true,” I responded.

Honestly, I felt uncomfortable with how the king and Albert acted. As if it were just some informal meeting where we happened to be delivering official information. I wondered what the prince would do with what he’d learned there. Did my father invite my brother without knowing what Albert planned to do with it?

“Anyway, since my brother was there, I can’t help but think that my father—His Majesty—is more focused on the prince than he is on the princess. If they expect me to be friendly, they are gravely misreading the situation.”

“Hmm...that’s fair.” Count Gentoh lowered his head and sighed. “However, speaking as a father, it’s difficult being treated like that by your daughter.”

Maybe that’d be true if we’d spent any real amount of time together in the first place...

“I’d never had the feeling of being looked after until I went to that ‘health resort.’” The only notion of a family I had existed in a distant region atop a windy hill.

After our meeting had concluded, we’d heard from Amin, the representative maid of the royal family, that a large horde of demons had appeared in Viscount Yanga’s territory. She’d been sent to Count Sacula’s quarters as part of a routine exchange of information where she then delivered the urgent news with an ashen face. The scale was unheard of—ten dragons and one hundred werewolves. To the citizens of the central regions, those numbers probably seemed like something out of a fairy tale.

Even in Sacula, you’d only hear of attacks on that scale in old records—a reminder to the guards never to get complacent. Even the knights of Sacula—who, during my time at the academy, I’d heard were the strongest in all of the land—would have been unable to do anything against such numbers. However, those teachings were from before Ash had begun to make a name for himself.

With that in mind, I broke out of my trance and sprung into action. There’s no time to be idling around, Alicia. Time is crucial and every step is important. Even though Amin didn’t seem like she was doing too well herself, she was looking at me with a worried expression. That’s right. If I appear anxious, then the servants will end up spending more time worrying about my well-being than their own. Everything will be all right. I can handle this much. Because I believe in Ash.

The reported number of demons would be enough to make anyone’s face turn pallid. But things had changed now. Since Ash had joined the academy and become a knight, our old ways of fighting demons were no longer relevant.I’d heard that Ash was currently focused on building a fort to be used in the war against Viscount Yanga. But surely it could also be used to protect against demons. Maybe I’m being too hopeful, but I believe Ash could do it. He could defeat the demons there.Ash will always be a figure of hope for me. My faith in Ash turned into a smile and I nodded. In response, Amin let out a sigh of relief. Much like how Ash always had a way of making me feel reassured, I also had to make sure those around me felt reassured.

With Amin put at ease, it was time to move on to the next task. Okay, think about it, Alicia. What can I do to help Ash while I’m in the royal capital playing princess?

This initial report would now be about a week old. Considering the time it would’ve taken for the information to get from Yanga to Sacula, plus the time to write the report, plus the time it’d take to send a message from Sacula to the capital...the situation could be a lot worse now. The attack may have happened over ten days ago—perhaps, worst-case scenario, more than two weeks. It might even be over already. How did they fight? What was the result? Did they manage to wipe out the demons? Did Sacula sustain any damage? Working with unclear information was like walking around at night without even the moon as a guide. I had no way of confirming what was happening, so anxious thoughts began to crawl through my mind.

Amin and I had both been standing stock-still in the dark, so I reached for the spirit lamp—a made-to-order item designed by the Phoenix—on top of the table. It reminded me of Ash and Maika and illuminated the dark thoughts in my mind. There wasn’t much I could do to aid in the battle against the demons—even as a princess, I couldn’t command a single soldier. It would be best to leave that to the rulers of the affected regions. Hopefully, they were requesting aid from their neighbors. It was for that purpose that their lords and representatives were out there. It would be no use for me to rack my brains regarding the battle—instead, I had to see what I could do to help in the aftermath. The happy memories of my short two years in Sacula helped to push the dark thoughts from my mind, the light of those fulfilling, sunny days continuing to shine here in the capital.

Even if Sacula had successfully held the demons off, Viscount Yanga’s region would have no doubt taken a lot of damage. If that were the case, then there would be a lot of refugees. Postwar, that often ends up being one of the main issues. To avoid starving, many end up turning to banditry and plaguing the neighboring regions. Normally, the plan would be to increase the number of guards and improve the defenses in the villages within Viscount Yanga’s region. However, what about Ash? What would Ash do?

Ash, who had once made sure not to overlook a small village suffering from a bad harvest. Ash, who went above and beyond to help me, his bothersome roommate, escape from assassins. Ah, of course, that’s it. Ash, if it were you, you would never hesitate to help. You would be the first to hand a cup of warm tea to someone frozen by fear. I am here today because I was that frightened person once. That’s why I now need to share that warmth and do anything to help you. It’s strange. Whenever I think about you, I’m able to jump from one thing to the next.

“Amin, I know this is sudden, but I would like you to set an appointment for a meeting.”

“Of course. With His Excellency Count Sacula?”

Yeah, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see what Count Gentoh thinks. He might know more about the situation. However, the information available in the capital was probably still outdated. I needed to move fast, or I wouldn’t be able to keep up with Ash. I spoke the name of the most appropriate person to meet. “I would like to meet with Father Birkan. As soon as possible.”

If my plan was to only mobilize the remote region nobles, I could do that without even being in the capital. However, mobilizing a huge organization such as the Church was something I could only do here in the capital. This is definitely the best way I can help Ash.

The title of Head Priest of the Royal Temple held enormous power. They held authority over every region, especially those in close vicinity to the royal capital. That meant they had a large amount of the population under their control. It also meant that with the number of believers that followed the Church, they also had high mobilization and power. The influence the head priest held was comparable to that of the king. Head Priest Birkan’s daily schedule was crammed; people with power often attracted much attention. That’s why even if a princess like me asked to meet with him immediately and even if I was on friendly terms with him, I could still expect to wait a few days. But apparently, that was not to be the case.

“My goodness, I did not expect to be able to meet with you so soon. Thank you, Father Birkan.”

“No need to thank me. I just happened to have time. No doubt it was thanks to the guidance of the Monkey God.”

I performed a light prayer motion to show that I appreciated his kindness. It was apparent why he had gone out of his way to make time for me; it meant that he had also heard about the abnormal events taking place in Yanga’s territory. Ash had gotten to know him well too, and Father Birkan had been sympathetic to his cause. Ash had done a great job making such a strong ally—someone with influence in the capital and an understanding of the regional nobles.

“Father Birkan, I believe you have already heard, but it’s about Yanga’s territory,” I said, skipping the usual pleasantries. Father Birkan gave me a nod.

“I hear there was a horde of over one hundred demons—werewolves and dragons.”

As expected. Despite Father Birkan’s gentle expression, he was someone who stood at the head of a large organization, and he was no soft touch. I had only become aware of this news thanks to my connections with Sacula, but Father Birkan already seemed to know. I wanted to ask where he’d learned of the attack, but that was a different matter altogether.

“I believe the Frontier Alliance will work together to respond to this disaster.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. To have already established an alliance before this great trial could have only been the work of someone blessed by the Monkey God’s love of harmony.”

While it was a very pious way of putting it, Father Birkan was complimenting the young red-haired mastermind behind the Frontier Alliance. “I completely agree,” I said with a smile. “However, from what I have heard, we can assume that the damage done to Yanga’s territory has been quite severe. I believe it may be too much of a burden for the Frontier Alliance to bear alone.”

“Quite true. The Church, we who act as servants to the gods, also need to offer our aid.”

“Yes, I was hoping that we could discuss exactly that. Unfortunately, while I don’t know much about the current situation, I can offer some knowledge about the Sacula region that may be of help.”

“Local wisdom would indeed be most helpful,” he replied. “We will keep that in mind.”

With that, I was confident that I could trust Father Birkan to help aid Sacula. However, while that may have been what Father Birkan wished to do, that did not mean that it was the wish of the entire Temple.

“Thus, it would be a discussion of how much you would be able to help...”

“Yes, that is somewhat of an issue. Even if we frantically pray to the gods, it’s not as if we can bring about endless miracles. It is the will of the Monkey God that we rely on our own strength when it comes to our own lives,” responded Father Birkan.

Although the Church held much power, it took much of that just to maintain the status quo. Even if the head priest wanted to help Sacula, without a balanced approach, there would be a lot of opposition. The same went for other nobles and even the royal family. A certain territory continuously inventing new things and always creating a surplus was an abnormality. Ash was the epitome of the, what was it again...that “if there’s not enough, make enough” productive spirit.

“I apologize. While it may be noble to starve oneself when someone else is in need, it also makes light of one’s own life. As a person of wisdom, I must strive to keep the balance.”

In short, as for the relief supplies, I would have to offer something in return that would satisfy those opposed to the idea. It was time to use my head and come up with an idea to help maintain that balance. Ideally, something that would benefit us more.

“By the way, I heard that you were quite fond of new and novel things.”

“Yes, though I would say it’s not very befitting of someone my age...” laughed Father Birkan, looking a little bit embarrassed.

“I think it’s befitting someone as wise as yourself, the Head Priest. I also like new and inventive things. I’m always looking forward to seeing what the research lab at Sacula comes out with next.”

Father Birkan folded his arms, nodding in agreement.

“How did the Church respond when Sacula said they were looking for exchange students?”

“Why, there was a lot of excitement among the youngsters who wanted to go. There’s no way I could scold them for it—if I were their age, I would have been thrilled too.”

“Yeah, I understand completely. If I weren’t a princess, I would have also joined in on the commotion.”

We shared a chuckle. Our positions did seem to clash with what we’d actually like to do. There wasn’t anything dark about it, but our laughs were still tinged with a tiny bit of pain. When our laughter faded, Father Birkan nodded in agreement.

“If you were to aid Sacula, it would be possible that the Church would then be able to send a few exchange students of its own,” I continued.

“Yes, numbers are quite low here, so we may be able to gather more people if we tell them they’d have a chance to study at the very popular Sacula.”

The recent commotion around Sacula was no doubt an issue for the Church. Their priests were seen as an image of wisdom. However, those very same priests, who weren’t fit for anything other than worship, would end up being stationed as regional knights. Father Birkan was friendly, but it would be hard to keep the unfriendlier priests’ objections in check. Of course, if Father Birkan could get the exchange students, it still wouldn’t mean that the arguments would die out completely. Still, it would be a lot easier to keep them under control.

“Central nobles will no doubt hold back on their support, so if we were able to turn this around, the Church may come into a position where they can manage the central nobles’ personnel.”

“Even the central nobles cannot ignore the recent developments and accomplishments from Sacula. But, if they are presented with a chance to know more about it...then they’d have no option but to rely on the Church.”

This would be a great boon to an organization like the Church. It would also be an opportunity to restore the temple’s authority—which had been somewhat weakened due to several recent scandals. Father Birkan’s face lit up. “What a great idea. That’s a fascinating outlook,” he said with an intrigued nod.

“Up until now, the Church has been heavily biased toward the central regions,” I added. “However, the Frontier Alliance now has something that can surpass them. We could use this opportunity to gain some footing in the rural areas. Who knows who will be regarded as the center of wisdom one hundred years from now?”

“If we can overcome this disaster, I believe your idea should be taken into consideration.”

Nodding as if he wanted to say he was all in on the idea, Father Birkan let out a mischievous laugh. “Your Highness Alicia, you wholeheartedly believe that the Frontier Alliance will overcome this situation, don’t you?”

“Of course. I am very aware of the abilities of those who reside there.”

“Well, well... Then I must respect the opinion of someone with such a good grasp of Sacula’s circumstances.”

“Oh. Surely you also have at least an idea of what it’s like over there?” The main source of Sacula’s strength was none other than Sir Fenix, to whom Father Birkan was particularly close.

Father Birkan let out a kind laugh. “Well, that is quite true. Ha ha ha, yes, come to think of it, that boy can do anything he sets his mind to.”

“That’s right. Regarding the appearance of the demons in Yanga’s territory, please wait until I receive news of how those in Sacula fared. Then we’ll be able to discuss it properly at the Temple,” I responded.

“That’s true. If we were to lose everything in the demon attack, there’ll be no place for our exchange students in the first place,” stated Father Birkan. “Let’s summarize. We do have a lot of people who will be willing to help upon hearing the name of Sir Fenix. If we are to lend our support, have you any idea yet what would be best?”

“I’m still working on that. I hope that’s all right.”

“Of course. If you come up with anything, you can discuss it with Father Folke or Lady Tris. They are more than suited for the task.”

To be honest, there was no one more suitable than them. I had known Father Folke for a long time—ever since Sacula—and Lady Tris was very knowledgeable. They would be able to offer a lot of advice.

“Thank you, Father Birkan.”

“No need to thank me. I owe Sir Fenix, after all. I need to give something back in return for that delicious tomato sauce.”

Father Birkan and tomato sauce. Now that was an odd pairing, but it seemed somewhat familiar...

After what felt like a short moment, my meeting with Father Birkan had come to an end.

Renge’s Perspective

I was abnormally cowardly.

I was so cowardly that even if I mustered up all my courage to talk with someone, it still wasn’t enough. So when I heard that a horde of demons had appeared in a neighboring region and were now heading this way, my heart beat so fast that I thought it might burst. But, of course, there was no way I’d be at the front line. But even reminding myself of that fact wasn’t enough to dispel my fear.

“Viscount Yanga was unable to hold off the werewolves and the condition of the other regions’ knights and soldiers is currently unknown. Communication has more or less ceased. All we have is the information from the refugees...”

There was no good news from the intelligence department. All we knew was that the attack had significantly damaged Yanga’s territory. It was a catastrophe. A devastating catastrophe. I instinctively held my hand up to my chest, and felt the frigid fear within—like a water well in the dead of winter. Then, taking a deep breath, I dived straight in.

“The emergence of refugees is genuine. We do not know how large the population is in Viscount Yanga’s territory, so we also do not know how many more will come.”

Based on what we’d learned from Ash and what the intelligence department had managed to dig up, I could foresee the future I feared.

“However, if the group of werewolves is heading this way, it is only inevitable that it will bring more refugees,” I continued. “Based on what they have told us, we can expect a lot more refugees based on how much damage Viscount Yanga’s territory has taken.”

I was scared. Their numbers were impossible to know, but either way, it would be challenging. Trapped, hungry people often become rash and often have little regard for their own and others’ lives, especially if they have a family to protect. When the Agricultural Research Institute was established in Ajole, Ash was very vigilant, no doubt thinking that if Ajole village were to be destroyed, its residents would turn to banditry. Ah. Now I get it. That’s the real reason why I’m so afraid. If Ash had not been there, and if he hadn’t acted, no doubt the Ajole village name would have faded from existence, with a hive of bandits rising in its place. But even though Ash tried his hardest, Ajole village was now an abandoned ghost town. I should be afraid. This werewolf attack is just like the time my childhood friend was injured.

I couldn’t forget what happened then, and it was similar to what was happening now. But even though I was so cowardly, there was still something I could do this time. I had to do something. I raised my head and tried to push down my fear. We still had documents from the Territory Reform Promotion Office’s activities in Ajole village. I stood up and headed toward the bookshelf. All the Agricultural Research Institute’s records were stored here. Even though the operation was one mere step away from completion, it had failed and Ash had declared we would store it away. We couldn’t toss it, nor could we forget about it. We just kept it so that one day it could help lead to a different success instead.

I won’t let this pain be for nothing. The cold ache in my chest turned into a roaring flame as I pulled out the roll of papers. These were from the time when Ajole was suffering from a famine. The food distribution records listed should be able to help with our situation now. I read the report multiple times, flicking through the pieces of paper until I found what I was looking for. There it was, written in Ash’s handwriting, the exact food distribution process and the consequent upgrades and modifications, all neatly detailed. “If I show this to Suiren, we’ll be able to put together a plan of what we can do to help.” If anyone knew what to do with this, it would be my best friend, the village chief of Ajole. I headed toward the door with documents in hand ready to call for her. Then the door opened before me.

“Renge! Did you hear already?!” said a strong, firm voice. It was accompanied by a stern gaze filled with anger and resolve. I knew exactly who it was.

Suiren, my best friend, opened the door, no doubt having received the same information as me, and had run here thinking the same thing. She must have been unable to wait. Our eyes met, and we both nodded at one another, instantly knowing what to do.

“Suiren,” I said, holding out the documents toward her. They were filled with emotions from that time, and my best friend held her hands out and accepted them. Suiren was always so direct and strong...however, her hands were shaking.

“Renge, I guess I am weak,” Suiren said. She took the documents and started shaking even more.

“It’s scary. If I act now, there are people I can save. Not only that, I can also take responsibility for those I couldn’t save. If I think of it like that...”

It was terrifying. Yet even though she talked about being a coward, I wondered whether she knew what kind of expression she was wearing.

“But Suiren, I know you can do it,” I responded. They weren’t my words—it was the message written all over her face.

“I’ll do it. I may be weak, but as both a resident and village chief of Ajole village, I have to be strong. I’ll definitely do it.”

My best friend, who would often drag me around by the hand, had become so strong and was pulling me along with her all over again.

“Me too...”

I placed my hand on hers. It was soft.

When we were younger, she was always there for me, but when we graduated from the academy, I could not be there for her in turn. Around the time the Agricultural Research Institute was established, I didn’t have the strength to be able to help her. If my best friend called herself weak, I was even weaker. After all, we were best friends. Even at times like this, we were both thinking the same thing, and we could hold each other by the hand and push on.

“I-I also want to get stronger, so let’s do it together,” I responded.

“Thanks.” She blushed and laughed. She knew I would say that. Suiren cast her head down and looked up at me just like I used to do when I was a child. “I-I guess...that was obvious, right? Of course, we’d do it together. I mean...we’re best friends, after all, right?”

“Yeah!” Even I was surprised by how loud my response was. She looked surprised too. It was a little embarrassing, but I was just that happy. Finally, Suiren was referring to me as her best friend. We parted ways once, but we had finally reconnected, and once again, Suiren stood by my side.

“Let’s do it, Suiren. I feel like we can do it properly this time.”

“Of course, especially since we’re together now!” Suiren said, giving me a light fist bump. That made me even happier. It was something Ash and Hermes always did and it made them look so close. The knights did it a lot too, so I wondered if Suiren had picked it up from Glen. I returned her fist bump. We both laughed, and I no longer cared about the cold fear I had felt before. “Well, is it okay if I ask you to put together a plan for the supplies?”

“Of course, I wanted to get some documents to help with that, so I came here. Back then, I couldn’t write very well, and I couldn’t think very well either. Ash asked questions and then summarized what I needed to do...” Now you can show us just how strong you are by thinking on your own, writing on your own, and acting on your own. My best friend was incredible—and even more impressive now.

I felt a burning flame in my chest. My friend had overcome a lot to be here today. I can’t give up now.

“In that case, I’ll show our seniors the documents, and then I’ll see how much food surplus our territories have.”

“All right. Even if we do come up with a distribution procedure, we can’t do anything if we don’t have enough food in the first place. Plus, I think this situation will continue for a while, huh?”

“I believe so,” I said with a nod. Suiren tilted her head deep in thought. “If we go ahead with the plan, the hard part will be pacing the distribution. Back at Ajole, we could see how much we had and how much Ash had prepared...but then we had that incident, and it ended up being all for nothing.” Suiren pulled a sour face. “We can’t rule out something unexpected like that happening this time too.”

“Didn’t Ash bring extra food supplies?” I asked. “I think that helped in the end.”

“He did, so this time we’ll probably also have to pull out more food supplies from our stockpiles. If we do that, it would make sense to ask if our seniors can find out how much food the merchants can bring in from other territories.”

If we could just get an idea of how much the major trading companies have, that would be enough to work out a rough estimate of how much food we can import. That would cover, as Suiren said, any unexpected developments. For example, the stockpiles increased when there were rumors of a war, and they decreased when there was a demon invasion. Along with the aid we could receive from Ash and the Frontier Alliance, the total amount could either increase or decrease.

“We need to make these plans while considering any fluctuations in numbers. But, of course, it is still a rough draft, so that much is obvious.” I said.

“Yeah, what I have in mind now is to start small, and then, as we start to understand the scale of distribution, recruit people to help as we go along.”

“For example, say we put together a plan for one hundred refugees, if we then have five hundred more knocking on our doors, then we’d just quintuple those numbers?”

“Exactly!” Suiren confirmed. “We’ll have one group ready to handle one hundred people, although most likely, we’d need to increase that group when more refugees arrive. If the scale of this project gets even larger, then we’ll need ten different groups...but then we’d need to find someone to manage those ten groups...”

If we started out small, then we could build the project up as we went along. It was the most reasonable proposition based on us not being able to tell how the situation would turn out. We had no clear idea of what it was like in Yanga’s territory, so we couldn’t even guess at how many refugees would end up at our doors. We didn’t even know how many people lived there, to begin with. There was no precedent for this kind of situation. Suiren’s idea of what to do was purely born from the position that we were once in.

“Plus, we heard that the territory had been attacked from the refugees themselves, right?” she theorized. Just how exactly did we get that information? That was the simple conclusion, huh? “That means refugees must have already reached Sacula. They probably have no belongings, are hungry, tired, and have no idea where to go. They’re probably crushed with worry.”

My childhood friend cast her eyes downward. She knew exactly what it was like. She and the people of Ajole village had been in the exact same position. That’s why my best friend didn’t stop there. “We have to do something. But I’m still weak. I can’t just look ahead into the future and know exactly what to do. It’s annoying, really annoying. Maybe it’s impossible for me...”

Suiren, no doubt, was about to continue with, “If it were Ash, he’d definitely be able to handle this...” I was about to say the same thing. However, Suiren stopped herself and chose strength instead. “But I’m not so weak that an impossible task would be enough to stop me. And I’m certainly not so weak that I’d just give up without trying. Even if it’s small steps, I have the strength to keep moving forward.” Her positive outlook made me happy. I was delighted to be able to see her strength. And, in turn, it made me feel stronger as well.

“Exactly. Let’s take it bit by bit. Suiren, you start with organizing the smaller tasks, and I’ll ask around to get an idea of the bigger picture.”

“Yes, please do! If you learn anything, we can revise our plans!”