Chapter 269 - Chapter 268: Crossing the Mountain Range
【Kernils' Perspective】
The private chambers of Kernils, King of the Kingdom of Ektrem.
After waking up, Kernils listened to the report from Nieslaza, an elderly maid, and let out a sigh.
The report was so terrible that all he could do was sigh.
Nieslaza, worried about such Kernils, silently watched over him.
"............What are you thinking....?"
A monster wearing the skin of the Pope who usurped the throne of the Gronoir Empire.
Hildinlander.
Kernils' intelligence organization had, of course, sent several people into the empire as well.
There is a department within the Ministry of Military Affairs for intelligence gathering, but this is a separate channel.
However, the information brought from both channels was terribly bad.
Several reports have been compiled and submitted after analyzing the information gathered on-site at the royal palace and the Ministry of Military Affairs.
"The national power of Gronoir has significantly declined."
"A decline in domestic production capacity is particularly noticeable."
"In urban areas including the capital, public order is rapidly deteriorating."
"Many citizens will move in response to Hildinlander's call for a Holy War "Crusade"."
"The number of armed citizens heading to the border is predicted to be approximately two million."
"A crowd of up to four to five million people may surge against the border defense wall."
What ridiculous content.
What the usurper Hildinlander is doing is, in the short term, strangling their own necks, and in the long term, simply suicide.
They are just using the position of Emperor, which they stole even by causing a rebellion, as a tool for suicide.
If they would just wield power as they please and indulge in pleasure without doing such things, it would be a relief for a neighboring country.
Like the former Emperor.
However, the man named Hildinlander is, if you will, a hardworking fool.
If he stays quiet, the damage is small, but because he is hardworking, he moves around.
Therefore, he can be said to be a typical example of expanding damage.
It is fine if Gronoir collapses on its own, but the worst part is that they are directing their spearhead toward the Kingdom of Ektrem (us).
They are trying to drag us into their suicide, surging forward without regard for propriety.
Kernils picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Today's tea felt unusually acidic.
Kernils wrinkled his face, propped his cheek on his hand, and looked at Nieslaza.
"............So, what about the evacuation?"
"It has already been completed."
At Nieslaza's reply, Kernils nodded.
Troublingly, traitors have appeared within the organization.
Not just one or two.
More than thirty percent of those sent to Gronoir have sided with the Emperor.
The common point among the traitors was clear.
Those who frequented the church for information gathering.
It seems that the church in Gronoir is doing something to brainwash people.
Considering the influence of that, the ridiculous prediction that 'up to five million citizens will surge to the border' was reached.
The population of Gronoir is approximately forty million.
Indeed, one in twenty, or up to one in eight to ten, seems to be dancing to the Pope's call and coming recklessly to the border.
Women, children, and the elderly, none of whom have received proper training.
Kernils continued to rest his cheek on his hand while thinking.
Currently, the kingdom's total military strength is just under two and a half million.
However, naturally, not all of them can be sent to the front lines.
Doing so would make it impossible to maintain public order within the kingdom.
(............At best, gathering fifty thousand is the limit.)
Fifty thousand soldiers against five million citizens.
It is ten times the number, but it is not an impossible number.
If the opponent were also soldiers, it would be a certain defeat, but the opponent is just citizens.
If we increase the number of archers, even an improvised unit can achieve sufficient effect.
Just release arrows in front, and that is enough.
After all, there is no need to aim.
Just release arrows, and the five million crowd will come and hit them on their own.
If possible, we should also organize a longbow unit with ultra-long range to rain arrows on them as they surge and get jammed.
Ultra-long range: Longbowmen.
Long range: Archers.
Mid-range: Mages.
Close range: Soldiers.
Even if it is shallow, dig a moat and use piled earth and thorn fences to stop their feet, and it should work somehow.
He thought of such a rough defensive strategy in his head.
"Is this Hildinlander still on his tour?"
Kernils removed his hand from his cheek and asked Nieslaza.
"Yes, he is inciting citizens in all cities and the Great Cathedral within the empire."
"Even after taking the throne, he hasn't shed his revolutionary temperament. The citizens being danced around are pitiful."
Currently, Hildinlander seems to be traveling throughout the empire, inciting citizens earnestly.
As a result, some excited citizens have turned into mobs, and public order is deteriorating further.
What a ridiculous story.
However, this was not a situation where one could laugh.
The kingdom absolutely cannot be caught in the collapse of the empire.
Kernils finished his tea and looked at Nieslaza with a serious expression.
"You have worked hard. Continue gathering information."
"I understand."
Kernils nodded at Nieslaza, who bowed respectfully.
■■■■■■
Day of the Sun, Week 3, Month 1 of Earth.
Mika came to the guild to dispel the accumulated cursed items for the first time in a while.
Recently, he can only come about once every few months, and he feels sorry about it.
Thanks to the cursed items, he became famous and earned a lot, so it is a bit hard to say "I won't do it anymore."
For Mika now, commissioned requests are not for money, but rather like a sense of obligation to the guild that has taken care of him so far.
Also, if he stops taking dispelling requests, the question of what his epithet "Dispeller" actually means would arise.
Therefore, he decided to clear them all at once once they accumulated.
Also, he felt the need to improve "Auto-Dispel".
He already has ideas, so he decided to handle the entrusted commissioned requests as a test for that as well.
And thus, with the completion of this request, he reached the points necessary for promotion to B-rank.
Normally, it takes over ten years to earn these points, but Mika rushed through it in about three years.
Well, there are no ordinary C-rank adventurers who handle dozens of commissioned requests a year, so that's why.
As a result, Mika achieved promotion to B-rank... he did not.
Because the person himself (Mika) refused.
Yunressa, sitting in front of Mika, had a slightly troubled expression.
This happened a little while ago.
While Mika was using "Auto-Dispel" in the reception room, Rosalinde came in.
As always, she just barges in without knocking, Rosalinde (that one).
Mika hurriedly retracted the wings on his back.
"It's been a while, Mika-kun. You're not a god anymore."
"What is it!? It is true that some call me 'Apostle of the Gods'..."!
Rosalinde, who apparently saw Mika's wings, refuted it for the sake of form.
There is a world of difference between a god and its messenger, after all.
By the way, Fee was also floating around the reception room, fluffily~.
Since Fee has become quite recognized, she doesn't hide as much when she is around Mika recently.
"Oh, right. Mika-kun, lend me your Guild Card."
While watching Fee with his eyes, Rosalinde, unrepentant, said "Lend me your Guild Card" again.
At that moment, Mika, who realized what was happening, questioned Rosalinde.
"............Why?"
"Why? Because there are procedures to go through."
"What procedures?"
"...................................................."
"...................................................."
Rosalinde did not answer Mika's very normal confirmation.
Mika looked up at Rosalinde with a glare, silent.
Rosalinde, noticing Mika's gaze, pretended not to know and followed Fee with her eyes.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
"............What is it? Do you say you don't trust your big sister?"
"Yes. Please reflect on your own actions well, and then say it again."
Previously, she just said "I'll do the procedures" and carved the epithet into him without permission.
However, Rosalinde is not the type to be discouraged by such things.
"I'll tell you as many times as you want! There isn't even a tiny bit of guilt in your big sister!"
"Think 'I'm sorry' at least a little!"
Is it wrong to ask Rosalinde (that one) to reflect!?
Rosalinde took drastic measures against Mika, who did not hand over the Guild Card.
She tried to stick her hand into the Magic Bag without permission.
"Hey! Why can't I take it out!? Is this broken!?"
"It's registered with mana, of course it won't come out! And anyway, why are you sticking your hand into someone else's bag without permission!? Officer, this is the one!"
They wrestled in the reception room.
Well, she wouldn't beat a general female, after all.
No matter the difference in height, I am a C-rank adventurer who deals with magic beasts.
Rather, I should be careful not to injure her.
"I, I, I, I said! Give it to me!"
"I told you I don't want to!"
Since it is registered with mana, no matter how much she tries to put her hand in, it won't go in.
But the opponent is Rosalinde.
It feels like common sense doesn't apply to her, and somehow the laws of this world don't apply either.
No, she will definitely do it.
If it's Rosalinde, she will surely break even the laws of the world and take out my Guild Card.
"............What are you two doing?"
While wrestling with Rosalinde, Yunressa entered the reception room.
It was noisy, and the sound of knocking couldn't be heard.
"I could hear your voices outside the reception room."
Saying that, Yunressa closed the door to the reception room.
"Mika-kun, is it done?"
"No............not yet. I was interrupted in the middle."
Mika said with a glare, and Rosalinde turned her head away with a pout.
Listening to Mika's story, Yunressa let out a sigh.
"What are you doing, Rosalinde. Interrupting requests."
"I'm not interrupting anything~?"
"You were! You really interrupted me, didn't you!?"
Mika shouted loudly, but Rosalinde acted as if nothing happened.
"Shi-te-ma-se-n. Please stop making accusations."
Damn it, that way of speaking really makes me angry.
Yunressa sighed again, looking at Mika and Rosalinde glaring at each other.
"Really.... Since I'm handling this, Rosalinde, you can go back."
"Haai. Iiiiiiiiiit!"
Mika gave a thumbs-up to Rosalinde, who bared her teeth like a child.
Naturally, he flipped the thumb over with all his might.
Yunressa sighed again, watching Mika and Rosalinde.
Soon after, the remaining cursed items were cleared, and the dispelling was confirmed via [Appraisal].
Yunressa told him during the request completion procedures.
"Congratulations, Mika-kun. With the completion of this request, you have reached the points required for B-rank."
"............So that's it."
It seems Rosalinde had anticipated that he would promote based on the points from this request and intended to make him B-rank without permission.
It seems a notification had already come stating that Mika should be promoted to B-rank once the points were reached.
Normally, the judgment for promotion is made after the points are reached, but well, there are exceptions to everything.
Due to Chirensta's consultation the other day, the judgment for promotion was made quickly.
"So, what about that...."
However, the story did not end there.
"Mika-kun has also been decided for promotion to A-rank."
"............Huh?"
The criteria for promotion to A-rank are not clearly shown.
The highest rank reached by earning points is B-rank, and there is something more important than simply earning points to promote to A-rank.
To put it simply, it is fame.
Of course, it cannot be infamy.
It is a prerequisite that one has contributed greatly to the guild as an adventurer, so being B-rank is also mandatory.
On top of that, one must be an adventurer who not only completes requests but is widely recognized by people as 'I feel safe with this person' and everyone agrees.
That was the reason Yaroibarov was A-rank and Sevvero remained B-rank.
There is a difference in skill, but Sevvero also has skills that can be called first-class.
However, with the current style of only doing commissioned requests, the name does not spread.
Something like Mika's name exploding in popularity is not ordinary.
Yaroibarov accepted requests other than commissioned ones even after becoming B-rank, and his name resounded throughout the kingdom.
When he heard a big shot was needed, he would rush to any corner of the kingdom and slay them.
Well, Yaroibarov's example seems to be a bit extreme, but it seems only adventurers who are active energetically like that get promoted to A-rank.
Adventurers like Sevvero, who just finish the work that comes to them, rarely become A-rank.
And most adventurers in B-rank basically have the same style as Sevvero.
Since they can eat, drink, and live comfortably just with commissioned requests, few people voluntarily take on high-risk, low-reward requests.
In Mika's case, he had a rare skill called "Dispelling," so his name spread regardless.
Thus, unrelated to requests, his achievements on the battlefield and the attack on the capital made him widely recognized as the Apostle or "Apostle of the Gods."
We entrusted the Information Broker Guild with controlling information, but it ended in vain.
Well, since it is the result of my own actions, I suppose I can't complain to the Information Broker Guild.
Even if they don't know the name Mika Noisheim, "Dispeller" = "Apostle of the Gods" is something even children know now.
Few know about the face of an alchemist, but the Apostle in the capital and the Apostle appearing on the battlefield were famous to the point of being too famous.
Therefore, at the same time as meeting the conditions for promotion to B-rank, he also met the conditions for promotion to A-rank, and Mika's two-rank jump has been decided.
Hearing such an explanation, Mika made a strange face.
Specifically, a face where he pinched and crushed his cheeks with both hands.
"............Why are you making that face?"
Yunressa made a strange expression at Mika's incomprehensible action.
"Can I refuse that?"
"Refuse!? What!?"
Yunressa was surprised at Mika's words, which she never expected.
"Recently, various things have happened.... Honestly, beyond this, I don't want to bear the title, or rather, the responsibility...."
Becoming an A-rank adventurer doesn't necessarily mean bearing anything.
However, expectations should be placed.
Since you are an A-rank adventurer, you should be like this.
Since you are an A-rank adventurer, you must surely be like this.
For someone who is already burdened with great expectations, just imagining it makes me feel a bit depressed.
It's not that I want to avoid it forever.
Since I am already burdened to the point of no return, I can say this is nothing compared to that.
Still, I wish I could wait until things settle down a bit more.
If there were no academy or "Apostle of the Gods," would I have gladly accepted it?
Honestly, I don't know.
I don't like being expected too much.
If I promote to B-rank, I can accept A-rank requests as needed.
Probably, I wanted to be an adventurer casually and freely like that.
By helping Kistil and Nerisfeene, I thought about the responsibilities that followed.
I decided to be prepared to fulfill my responsibility toward the two of them.
But in the end, Mika's actions did not change much.
I heard the front line collapsed, rushed there, and used my strength to turn the tide.
The capital was attacked by magic beasts, and many were injured, so I treated them.
It's a repeat of "I could do it, so I did."
As a result, people all over the country have placed great expectations on me.
It is the result of my own actions, but that fact was a bit of a burden.
Seeing Mika with a depressed expression, Yunressa smiled gently.
"I understand. I will put a stop to the promotion."
"Sorry...."
When Mika apologized, Yunressa shook her head.
"It's fine. Let's keep it on hold until Mika-kun can be happy about the promotion."
"Yes. Thank you."
When Mika bowed his head politely, Yunressa laughed laughingly.
"You haven't changed. Really."
Saying such things.
"You do a lot of amazing things, and everyone says 'amazing, amazing' about Mika-kun. But Mika-kun is still Mika-kun."
"Well............ I am who I am."
Mika scratched his cheek vigorously.
Yunressa laughed again at such Mika.
"Yeah. I thought you had suddenly become a distant existence."
"Did you think that?"
"Yes, right? You don't come to the guild much these days, so I thought 'You've become an amazing person, so it's unavoidable.' But...."
There, Yunressa took a breath and looked straight at Mika.
"I'm relieved that you seem unchanged."
Yes, she smiled with a radiant face.
■■■■■■
【Warterelam's Perspective】
A mountain range stretching long east and west lies to the south of the continent.
It is a mountain range dividing the Gronoir Empire and the Am-Tast Trade Alliance.
The eastern end of this mountain range is the border between the Gronoir Empire and the Trade Alliance, and the western end is the border between the Kingdom of Ektrem and the Trade Alliance.
Of course, there are borders within the mountain range, but due to the ruggedness, no one knows exactly where the border is.
In the first place, almost no one crosses this mountain range.
It is only that some people who cannot cross the border through regular procedures pass through.
A group climbed this mountain range, casually.
Warterelam, his retainers, and friends.
With the help of escort adventurers, they climbed the rugged mountain path.
There was almost no vegetation, just a rocky area with rough stones.
Warterelam had a reason for passing through such a mountain path.
Well, simply put, he could not cross the border through regular procedures.
If that were the only reason, he could have considered another route or another means instead of such a mountain path.
In fact, that was his intention.
However, that plan was crushed.
By the betrayal of his retainers.
There is a part where I wonder if I can just call this betrayal.
However, looking only at the result, it was betrayal, and because of that, Warterelam and the others had no choice but to enter this mountain range as if fleeing.
Warterelam and the others left the capital and were hiding in Mihasnada, a town close to the border with the Am-Tast Trade Alliance.
Sestendof had arranged a house on the outskirts of the town and prepared for reception, so this was not a problem.
Thus, Warterelam stayed in the base and consulted with the adventurers on the plan to escape the empire.
The actual arrangements were carried out by Sestendof and the adventurers, but this did not go as planned at all.
The eyes of the imperial army were strict.
It seems they really intend not to let anyone leave the border.
There was only one exception: carriages heading to the Trade Alliance to buy food and other things were allowed to pass.
Then, I thought if I could sneak in with them, but it was also difficult.
It is a town close to the border.
Naturally, there are people connected to such and such things.
Smuggling out of the country, which used to be possible with a bribe to the guard knights, seems to be impossible now.
So they seem to be searching for new routes and means, but nothing has been established yet.
While preparing food and travel supplies, they continued to hide.
Such were the daily lives, but three of the retainers occasionally went to the church.
The retainers of Warterelam's house were somewhat influenced by their master's thoughts and were not very devout followers of the Church of Light.
However, there were individual differences in degree, and some wanted to go to the church.
Warterelam allowed this.
It was an escape that was already mentally burdensome.
He thought that going to the church to pray for a little while would be fine.
However, the behavior of those retainers gradually became strange.
Warterelam did not notice, but some of the adventurers noticed.
So they said they were watching carefully.
And then, the news of the Pope's Holy War the other day.
Since that news spread as a rumor, the retainers' behavior became strange enough for Warterelam to notice.
"The servants of this house are all apostates who turn their backs on the gods!"
One of them suddenly shouted at the breakfast table.
When one shouted that, others followed suit.
The two who went to the church together.
The adventurers restrained them, but the commotion became a bit too large.
They were suspected by the neighbors.
Therefore, they had to move the base urgently.
They ended up fleeing with only minimal luggage.
The adventurers proposed killing the retainers to silence them.
"If they are found out, Warterelam (us) will die."
However, Warterelam did not want to take lives.
Because they had served him for many years.
Therefore, creating a temporary base in another place also involved considerable risk.
The restrained retainers were made unable to move, but it was only a matter of time before Warterelam and the others were discovered.
If that were the case, the opinion was to escape the empire as it is.
Sitting on a rock, taking a short break.
"As expected, this mountain path is tough on an old body...."
Lambaluel muttered with a pained expression.
The oldest in Warterelam's group was the steward.
Next was Lambaluel, who was also elderly.
The steward seemed to have quite a bit of stamina; it would be tough, but he was somehow keeping up.
However, Lambaluel seemed to have reached his limit.
Some of the adventurers who had some leeway carried him, and they managed to bring him this far.
"If we get this far, they probably won't chase us.... I cannot be careless, though."
"Yes.... Do not be careless. If it comes to it, leave me behind...."
Saying such things as if bowing his head.
Even for Lambaluel, crossing this mountain range seems to have been quite difficult.
"I thought you wouldn't die even if killed, but you say surprisingly noble things."
"...This is not the time for jokes."
With a serious expression, Lambaluel looked at Warterelam.
"In the worst case, we must use the retainers as bait and you must go to the Trade Alliance alone.... You should not be carried by the adventurers. It is you."
"Lambaluel.... you."
At Lambaluel's words, Warterelam had no retort.
However, after closing his eyes once, he shook his head.
"No. We all escape to the Trade Alliance."
"Warterelam, have resolve. Now, only you can convey it."
But Lambaluel persisted.
When fleeing from the base, they had left behind the Magic Bag containing the documents they had collected so far.
Even if loaded onto a carriage, a carriage cannot cross the mountain range.
Since the bag was registered with mana, the contents would not be known, but the knowledge of Warterelam and the others could now only be held by Warterelam and Lambaluel.
Valuable materials would never be taken out of the Magic Bag again, and the evidence would be buried in darkness.
He had set the stage for that.
"You saw the change in those retainers, didn't you? You must have suspected something was done to them at the church, right!?"
"T-that is....!"
Those retainers were indeed followers of the Church of Light, but they were not that devout.
In Warterelam's house, they were considered devout, so saying they wanted to go to the church sometimes was perfectly normal.
But suddenly, they started saying things like 'apostates'.
"This knowledge must be conveyed. We must revive the lost [Dispelling]. In the Trade Alliance, the Kingdom, or the Seven Duchies. It must be somewhere! Find it! No matter what!"
At Lambaluel's words, Warterelam swallowed hard.
If there is someone manipulating the current empire.
Their true identity is----.
"If you have that much energy, you can go now."
Sestendof arrived there.
"Sestendof! You say it too! Warterelam is----!"
"Yes, yes, I'm going. Stand up, stand up."
Ignoring Lambaluel's desperate plea, Sestendof smiled at Warterelam.
"When humans are in bad times, they only think of bad things. Right?"
At Sestendof's enlightened smile, Warterelam blinked his eyes.
There must have been great hardships that Warterelam did not know about.
"A... ah, yes."
As Warterelam replied, he admired Sestendof's calmness.
He was grateful for the luck of his life to be able to meet such a wonderful assistant.