Chapter 121

War cost money.

Not only that, but the young people who became soldiers were also workers at the same time.

While they were gone to the battlefield, fields were not tilled, iron was not forged, and there was no one to raise pigs or knead bread.

For that reason, when considering cost effectiveness, mercenaries were sometimes hired.

However, that also cost money, so taxes were usually imposed.

But Voden Province had no particular industry, and because the land was not fertile, its population was sparse, so it lacked even the people on whom to impose those taxes.

Then, if one were to earn gold coins to hire mercenaries, what would one do?

“They sell beastfolk, huh.”

“The provinces of this Western Frontier region, including Azuria Province where we live, support the war by buying beastfolk slaves from Voden Province. If they do not, they will be seen as uncooperative with the empire’s territorial expansion policy.”

“And Voden Province attacks lands where its control is still uncertain and captures those beastfolk, huh.”

It was a hellish hunting-and-gathering lifestyle, but the European powers during the Age of Exploration were probably roughly like this.

“This is why no one would listen, no matter how much I opposed the slave trade.”

If beastfolk were regarded as second-class citizens and enslaved for historical and cultural reasons alone, there might have been a possibility of gaining more people who understood through enlightenment.

In fact, slavery seemed to be declining in the center of the empire.

However, if it was rooted in policy for the empire to expand its sphere of control, then the situation changed.

Because if they opposed the slave trade and stopped financially supporting Voden Province’s war, calamity would fall directly upon them.

“My brother… no, Frost, likely calculated that if Iiria-san heard about this mechanism, she would go to this mine no matter what.”

She must have been remembering the treatment of the enslaved beastfolk we had seen at Roran’s harbor.

Iiria’s lips were pressed together until they had gone completely white.

The fur on her ears and tail had puffed up to bursting, to the point that Kururu was at a loss as to how to calm her.

“What do you think Frost’s purpose was in informing us of this? It doesn’t feel like simple kindness.”

Kengo asked that.

“Jirenu Territory is formally part of Azuria Province. If we were to seize this mine that Voden Province has failed to take for many years, that achievement would belong to Azuria Province, and it could make a good impression on the empire. It should also allow them to assert rights to the mine against Voden Province. Even if those rights belonged to Jirenu Territory, I believe he thinks it would eventually benefit Roran.”

The Bax Company was trying to set up a company office on prime land in the new district.

The development of Jirenu meant the development of the Bax Company, and that would lead to the development of Roran.

“And…”

Cole hesitated to speak.

“The reason my brother sent this story was because Iiria-san. Iiria-san, you had consulted my brother about the slave trade, hadn’t you?”

“…”

Beside Kururu, whose eyes opened wide, Iiria tried to maintain a blank expression.

But it was obvious that the fur on her ears and tail was standing on end, and in the end, she gave up with a large sigh.

“Yes. I asked him what had to be done to make him stop that shitty business.”

When I imagined the position of Frost, a defeated general being asked such a question by a lord who possessed the military power to erase an entire town, I felt sympathy for him.

But the slave trade was not something Frost could do anything about by his own decision.

Because there seemed to be circumstances that set it apart from mere money-making.

“The reason I didn’t tell anyone… was because I thought that if you all knew, everyone would try hard.”

Iiria said that tiredly, first looking at Kururu as she spoke.

Kururu, who had learned that something this important had been kept secret from her, was clearly shocked, and even looked about to cry.

“And besides, there are people who can make even things that seem impossible happen through outrageous methods.”

Those words were directed at me and Kengo.

“The territory is right in the middle of reforms and already at its limit, so I thought it would be bad to take on an even bigger problem because of my selfishness. But I absolutely couldn’t bear it, so I wanted to at least look into the possibility, and I secretly consulted Frost-san. So I don’t think Frost-san brought up this matter with some evil scheme in mind. If that mine can be seized, then it’s true that the reason for the slave trade will be greatly reduced. Of course, that man is a merchant noble, so I’m sure he calculated the extra gains thoroughly, but that isn’t especially a bad thing, right?”

Whether this should be seen as the lord acting arbitrarily, or as Iiria behaving in her own way so as not to trouble those around her, was a delicate point.

Iiria was beginning to understand that if she carelessly spoke her feelings and thoughts, they would immediately stop being hers alone.

That was what it meant to be someone in power, but it must have been very cramped and suffocating.

“So we’ve just now heard Iiria-chan’s wish and the story about the mine.”

Gerario, who in a good sense did not try to read the room, said that in a light tone.

“It pisses me off that it feels like that Frost bastard skillfully led us along, but we can’t leave it alone either. For now, it fits our objective perfectly too.”

“But—”

As Iiria tried to argue, Gerario shrugged.

“Look at Kururu’s face, Iiria-chan. She might jump onto a ship by herself as soon as tomorrow.”

“…”

Iiria looked at Kururu, then immediately averted her gaze as though unable to bear the guilt.

Even so, Iiria must have thought that accepting Kururu’s gaze was her responsibility.

She slowly turned back toward Kururu and said quietly,

“I’m sorry I kept quiet, Kururu.”

Kururu pressed her lips together and even had tears in the corners of her eyes, but she did not shout.

Instead, she clung to Iiria’s neck and hugged her so tightly that Iiria’s tail stood on end.

As Iiria’s eyes darted in confusion, Gerario shrugged and turned his gaze to the men.

“Those two are like that… well, do I even need to ask you lot?”

“My astrological chart is groaning that we must go at once! It is a mountain said to have a god living in it, after all! And this place can be reached easily by ship. We can go and return quickly. The conditions are perfect!”

Falone’s head already seemed full of the investigation itinerary.

“I also think it would be good if we could seize this place, but…”

If ships could dock there easily, then deploying personnel for mining and shipping out magic stones would likely be relatively easy.

“However, from my perspective, if we seize it, I’m concerned that it would become a war of invasion…”

Moreover, that place was considered sacred by someone.

As someone who had lived in the modern age, where the word colony had long since taken on an evil color, imperialism inevitably seemed barbaric to me.

Even if I was now a member of that very empire.

“What about you, Cole?”

When Gerario called his name, Cole unconsciously straightened his back.

It seemed he had been thoroughly drilled in training.

“I…”

He hesitated, then looked at Iiria, who was calming Kururu.

“Say what you think. I taught you that if you’re going onto the battlefield, that’s basic.”

Because one never knew when one might die.

But I also thought that was probably an excuse for Cole’s sake, since he tended to swallow his words about many things.

Because Gerario was smiling in exasperation.

“I-I think we should go. There may be clues there that lead to the secrets of magic. However, I do not think we should decide yet whether to take the mine. It is true that the mine is one of the causes of the slave trade, but if we take it, I do not think that means the slave trade will disappear.”

Like a child of a well-born noble family, Cole calmly stated his thoughts.

“Because this mine likely still serves as a shield against the empire even now. And I hear that many beastfolk have fled into the barbarian territory. If we seize the mine and make it part of the empire’s domain, the empire will expand its area of control even further into the barbarian lands. And I think many tragedies will happen again.”

Iiria, who had been calming Kururu, looked silently at Cole.

“That’s true. It’s like removing a blockage from an irrigation canal, so to speak. The slave trade is a business firmly built into the whole province, and though it isn’t very popular, it still remains even in the imperial mainland. It can’t be eradicated that easily.”

“However, I do not think that is the only reason we should go to that mine.”

Gerario raised his chin as if telling him to continue.

“I think there is a possibility for negotiation.”

“Negotiation?”

“The barbarians are the empire’s enemies. If we can build a friendly relationship with them, then if we become enemies of the empire, we may be able to secure a place to go other than this island. Even if there is no god in the mine, and of course even if we have no intention of seizing it, I believe there is benefit in going there.”

“…”

Gerario stared at his new disciple, then shrugged.

“What do you think, Kengo-dono? You’re the most cautious one here.”

Gerario tended to keep a little distance from Kengo.

Since Gerario was sharp, he had probably sniffed out that inside Kengo, who looked like a gorilla, was actually an extreme intellectual.

“As the mine supervisor, if another mine is added right now, I simply won’t be able to keep up. However, if it only means increasing development candidates, I welcome it.”

It seemed to mean passive approval.

“Then shall we go, at least?”

Gerario’s tone was light.

But that was not thoughtlessness.

Because becoming serious and becoming grave were different things.

“A mountain where a god lives, huh. Wonder what’s there?”

Gerario murmured that and scraped his beard.