Chapter 119

As various matters developed as though a giant rod had been thrust into Jirenu Territory and stirred around by force, information about abandoned mines here and there gathered through Frost’s hands in Roran.

Kururu and Cole, who had a rare day off from training, Gerario, and Falone as the representative of the magic circle research also attended, and in Iiria’s mansion, we spread out a map marking the locations of abandoned mines and held a discussion over which mine we should go investigate.

“As expected, they’re scattered in remote places.”

The map showed not only Azuria Province, but also the land called the Empire’s Western Frontier, where four provinces gathered.

The Western Frontier seemed to be roughly like a peninsula, connected to the continent on the eastern side.

Azuria Province was located at the lower left of that peninsula, and Jirenu Territory existed as a small dot in the southwestern sea even within that.

When seeing it on a map like this, I could tell that this place truly was at the farthest edge of the empire.

“Mines can become places of conflict too. They inevitably tend to be far from the political center.”

Gerario said that with a face that looked sharper than usual.

It was probably because he had gotten sunburned and his beard had grown longer.

“What do we do? Investigate them one by one starting from the closest?”

I did not really understand the scale, but Gerario and Falone had drifted into this land, so they taught me the general sense of distance.

They said that from Jirenu Territory, after landing on the nearest mainland, it would take about ten days on foot to cross Azuria Province’s territory, which was a horizontally long rectangle, to the east.

If one assumed walking thirty kilometers a day, the province’s size would be around four hundred kilometers across. Since its vertical length was shorter than that, perhaps it was around three hundred kilometers.

Even if there was some margin of error, that was probably roughly the right order of magnitude.

“If we’re going to investigate mines, we’ll need to negotiate with the local powers of each area, right? I don’t think checking them all one by one is very wise.”

“As for that, I feel like it’ll work out somehow if we have a letter from Iiria-chan. News that Roran was repelled has probably reached all over by now. Within Azuria Province, there should be plenty of people who want to get along with us.”

The provincial capital Roran was, so to speak, the ruler of the province, and those being ruled probably had grudges and resentment toward Roran.

If so, for those who had been forced to swallow Roran’s bitter medicine, getting along with someone who could defeat Roran in an emergency would not be a bad option.

That was probably the idea.

“Hmm… But most of the mines are concentrated in the east or north of the province, aren’t they? If we were to mine a place like this, for example, would that mean someone would have to stay there the whole time?”

This was not a world with airplanes or automobiles. When that distance had to be traveled by horse or on foot, it was almost the same as moving there.

“For example, what about not mining it permanently, but once we make an abandoned mine mineable again, we receive a share? Or I think selling the rights outright would also be fine.”

I felt that even without mining it ourselves, we could make a fairly large amount of money that way.

“You’re saying we wouldn’t dig a mine that we went to the trouble of reviving ourselves? What a waste…”

Gerario said that, then reconsidered.

“No, using that to make them owe us is an option too. We could make them allies for when the time comes.”

“What does Roran do about mines in distant lands like this? They collect magic stones steadily from far away, right?”

The one Iiria directed the question to was Cole.

“Roran is in a position where it governs the province on behalf of the empire. It sets contribution amounts for each local lord, and if they fall short, it threatens them with force. That is all. As long as magic stones are sent to Roran, that is enough, so it does not even care whether magic stones are being mined from a mine.”

Perhaps Cole had also gotten sunburned from training, because his good looks had been polished even further.

The way he spoke calmly was truly like a knight.

“So that means this area is, what, not very safe either?”

What Gerario pointed to with his finger was the edge of the province.

It was a frontier region even within Azuria Province, with mines dotted here and there.

“How can you tell even about public safety?”

Kururu asked Gerario.

Her informal speech was the same as before, but her expression was somehow different.

It was like the face one made when looking at an older club member, or something like that, and somehow it made me feel a little restless when I watched.

“It’s simple. Magic stones have no color. It’s just faster to steal them than to dig them up.”

Kururu lightly nodded in understanding, while Cole sighed.

“Jirenu Territory here is a very blessed land. The buyer of the magic stones is Roran’s Bax Company, so anyone who tries to seize them would be fighting Roran. Moreover, attacking them during transport requires ships, so attacking costs even more.”

From that story, I understood that Cole had deliberately come all the way to the island to receive the magic stones partly as an excuse to meet Iiria, but also apparently as a way to ward off pirates.

“To summarize the matter, if we revive an abandoned mine in a distant land and try to mine it continuously, we need to deploy a certain amount of military force. If we do not want that, then as Yorinobu said, we either receive a share from the local power, or if even that cannot be trusted, we quickly sell it off. It comes down to those two choices.”

At that point, someone raised a hand. It was Falone.

“Excuse me during the practical discussion, but we have no interest in mine management. If we are talking about mines old enough to have been forgotten in history, which locations would those be?”

This plan was not only to extend the lifespan of Jirenu Territory, whose economy relied entirely on magic stone mines, but also to investigate the secrets of magic.

Cole indicated the map.

“If we are talking about places that have been operating since before the current empire ruled them, then here… and here. Also, I think this whole region. However, I do not know how old they are. No one is interested in such things.”

“Hmm. What about you, Kengo-dono? Have you not heard anything from your colleagues?”

Falone directed the conversation to Kengo, who had been staying quiet in the corner of the room.

“There were many guys who knew the legend, but no one had actually seen it. Well, most mines that have been operating for hundreds of years would already have become abandoned mines long ago, right? So it isn’t strange that there’s no one who’s actually seen it. Though I do think it might be different if we went there in person.”

“Then, in any case, if we are to search, we have no choice but to steadily visit the sites?”

“Probably.”

“Then the obstacles are the poor public safety and negotiations with the local lords, as mentioned earlier… And every mine marked here is inland. Traveling inland on foot is truly exhausting.”

“It’s also a problem to leave this island unattended too much and wander around outside for a long time.”

Gerario said that.

Jirenu Territory had an overwhelming shortage of manpower.

Especially if it was a dangerous region, accompanying magicians would likely be essential, so it would mean scattering our precious fighting strength.

Then Kengo said,

“Would it not work to continue asking Frost in Roran to gather information? Then once we get highly reliable information, we investigate. Wouldn’t that be the compromise?”

Although he was in favor of this plan, like a former consultant, he seemed just as concerned about its various bad points as its good points.

In this inconvenient world, even sending people to investigate costs no small amount of money.

So what Kengo proposed was a passive approach.

In response, Falone spoke in a somewhat angry tone.

“Can we really afford to be so leisurely?”

It was not a loud voice by any means, but it carried well.

“The story that you all repelled Roran must be widely known. Before long, it will surely reach the ears of those on the imperial mainland and draw their attention. After all, there is the fact that you unleashed magic comparable to a large-scale magic circle. By common sense, they will assume you dug up a giant magic stone. But once they detect the existence of such a magic stone, they will undoubtedly investigate directly.”

From Falone’s manner of speaking, it seemed he did not think the absurd magic we unleashed when defeating Roran was simply because we had struck upon a large magic stone.

However, the fact that Falone deliberately did not ask about that method was probably the self-control of someone who had lived through dangerous circumstances.

“Are you not underestimating how persistent the empire and the church are regarding magic? Their tenacity is greater than a snake’s.”

When Falone, who had probably been chased countless times in reality and fled all the way to such a frontier, said that, it was persuasive.

“What I fear most is the possibility that the empire or the church has already solved every mystery of magic. If so, then the empire and the church will undoubtedly be watching carefully to make sure commoners do not sniff out that grave secret. Information that you fired a grand magic spell that silenced Roran’s fleet in an instant would be perfect bait for them. And if those who come to investigate learn that here in Jirenu Territory, the secrets of magic are in the process of being solved—”

Our game would end there.

Then should we keep our heads as low as possible, hold our breath, and stop all research so that even if an investigation came, nothing would be found?

I thought that was absurd, and of course, Falone did not think that either.

Because he declared,

“However!”

“We have argued that if we finish solving every mystery, then the situation should change.”

“Oh?”

Gerario raised his chin in interest.

“If we have reached the deepest part of the mystery by our own power, then the empire and the church should recognize our ability. The path of swearing loyalty, becoming vassals, and serving them would also open.”

“What if they are stubborn?”

“That is simple. At that time, we can negotiate by saying that the secret has already been passed on to our collaborators, so if they do not want it spread, they must guarantee our safety.”

Falone, who had likely survived again and again with bluffs like that, said further,

“To begin with, if we have solved the mystery, then we will have obtained extraordinary military power. If it comes to a fight, the other side will not get away unharmed either, so there should be that much room for negotiation. In any case, remaining in an incomplete state like we are now is the most dangerous thing.”

Was it like a rogue state that only possessed blueprints for nuclear weapons?

When I thought of the frightening country that had reigned over the previous world, bearing red and white stripes and an eagle emblem, I could understand how dangerous we were right now.

“I understand the logic, but…”

“If need be, I do not mind going alone. As long as you give me travel expenses, I have walked through dangerous places until now. I will visit them all in one year… no, in less than half a year!”

Falone went so far as to say that, but if he were attacked by bandits or wild dogs, it would end there, and no matter how much power was contained in Iiria’s letter, I could not imagine a suspicious man like Falone being allowed to freely investigate mines that were the source of the local powers’ authority.

Above all, we absolutely had to avoid losing someone with Falone’s talent and knowledge.

But if so, what should we do?

We had no choice but to move forward, but we could not move blindly.

At that point, Cole cleared his throat softly.

“Actually… regarding this matter, I have one proposal.”

“A proposal?”

When Kururu looked at him suspiciously, Cole nodded despite being somewhat overwhelmed.