In The Name Of Ingrad! (26)

After dealing with the Demonic Tribe’s army, I received a report saying it was necessary to secure living space for the many people of the East Continent, so I was inspecting the coastal area in order to develop it into a living space.

“I think the geography itself is not bad. What they had been doing was securing food through fishing, so I do not think there would be much of a problem if they continued that work. Would it not be good to help them settle here?”

Moreover, the area was surrounded by walls. Since safety had been secured…

“However, the boats are in far too outdated a state. It will take time and effort to repair and maintain them.”

Matilda had said this while she had come for a regular report and was examining the situation with me.

“If it is that, I can work on them. If they are the same size, simply making them sturdy should be enough for there to be no problem with their activities.”

“Your Majesty, you are not alone. I am saying that you are no longer the lord of a single small domain. How can such a person make efforts here for people who are not even related to the country?”

It could be said that Matilda’s words were correct, but to put it another way, if we were able to occupy this place as well, the circumstances would change.

The East Continent was currently in a position where it had no owner.

In reality, the entity called the Demon God had not occupied and ruled this region. Therefore, the country that recovered it could claim rights over that region.

At present, as one such case, the Dradnos Empire was rapidly attempting to expand its territory.

From what I heard, I remembered hearing that they had settled near the entrance of the East Continent, proclaimed it an “autonomous territory,” and were gaining the cooperation of allied nations.

The place we were currently in was roughly a week away on foot from that autonomous territory, so it would not have much to do with it, but to put it another way, it could also be said that we had secured a good location as an independent area.

“Since we have Gate magic, if we make good use of it, would it not be possible to include this place as part of Ingrad’s national territory as well?”

I said it because it was practically land we had already occupied, and Matilda looked at me with a slightly surprised expression as she asked.

“Are you thinking of proclaiming this place as Ingrad territory?”

Perhaps because she was surprised, her tone had also become lighter, and I said to that Matilda,

“I am not saying that I will do that right away. From what I hear, most of the surviving people of the East Continent are peoples from numerous nations. They could be called the descendants of nations that had fallen over a long time. Even if we tell them to come to us all at once, I do not know whether they will respond just like that. So I am trying to proceed gradually after going through various preparations.”

“They are humans who have already lived as slaves for hundreds of years. They may not have any will to resist left.”

“That may be so. Since they have lived as slaves for a long time, they may certainly try to treat themselves as less than human. But they were not ruled by humans, were they?”

That was the part I was focusing on.

The point was that they had not been ruled by humans, but by a god. Though the ruler could be called “evil,” the Demon God, he was a “god,” and the Demonic Tribe, who could be called the minions of that god, had reigned over them and exploited humans.

I considered this to be the blind spot.

“Because the one who ruled them was a god, they must have lived without even thinking of resisting. And violence must always have been close by. But how is it now?”

Most of the humans of the East Continent had anxious expressions, yet there was not a trace of worry around their mouths.

“All of them are afraid of the Demon God, but after realizing that the Demon God did not try to do anything to them directly, they are in a state where they are placing their expectations on us, who can drive back the Demonic Tribe.”

“What if the Demon God moves someday?”

“When that time comes, we will act accordingly at that time. And even if the Demon God moves… I do not think he is absolute.”

If the Demon God’s power were absolute, the whole world would certainly have fallen into the Demon God’s grasp. Yet humans had been resisting.

One could think that there was some restriction preventing the Demon God from moving, or, if not even that, that the entity called the Demon God might not actually be a “god.”

‘It is still… a sensitive issue to say out loud…’

For now, I would keep silent, but I did not think the possibility was nonexistent.

“For now, I am thinking of using them to make this area into a place where people can live. And given the terrain’s lack of trees, it is also certain that I am the only person who can do something for them. There is also the issue of the boats… Hah, now that I say it, there really is a lot to do, is there not?”

As I thought that I had been hit with a flood of work and grinned, Matilda let out a sigh, and most of the other retainers who had come with her were looking at me with expressions that said, “Of course it would be like this.”

I felt rather sorry about the fact that everyone made those expressions when I became stubborn, but since this act itself was not something that would bring loss, I thought of it positively and said,

“First, Wijel and the others commanding each force should grasp the terrain around the fortress and identify terrain where you would like temporary forts to be built.”

“…Would forts not be excessive?”

At Wijel’s words, I shook my head and said,

“Since ancient times, land-grabbing has always begun with staking claims. Right now, only the Demonic Tribe will continue to be in a confrontational position with us, but if other countries come to know of our situation, where we are walking an independent path and enjoying the benefits, circumstances will probably change rapidly in a competitive direction.”

The size of national territory would not necessarily appear as an advantage, but because most of the East Continent was fertile and even the climate was mild, if one considered only its potential, its room for development was nearly limitless, so I judged that they would become greedy.

‘Even I, who do not have much greed, am like this, so how much more so would others be?’

Since we were in a position where we could take it first, I did not think there was any need to wait like pushovers and have it taken away. Moreover, we were currently scouting a wide range through the Rangers and others, and according to reports being delivered one after another recently, the Demonic Tribe’s forces were moving all at once somewhere.

I had wondered whether they were confronting the Empire and had put together their directions, but rather, they seemed to be retreating. They were moving in the opposite direction from us, so Jorban had asked whether they should observe the situation a little longer.

“How far are you aiming to expand, Your Majesty?”

At Wijel’s question, I grinned and said,

“As far as we can. At the very least, I would like to secure up to the position where the Demonic Tribe counterattacks again.”

“War… will break out one after another, and the people will shed blood.”

“That is true. But I think those who remain will live in even greater glory by using their noble sacrifices as a foothold. I think… perhaps we are in the middle of making that foothold.”

Even if I were cursed as a hypocrite, I would have nothing to say. However, it was not wrong either, and right now it was literally ownerless land. I only had to move as far as my feet could reach and designate it as my land.

However, I had no intention of explaining the circumstances one by one, and for now, I merely moved past the situation as I watched Wijel nod at my words and say he understood.

After going through several skirmishes and crossing the East Continent, Riana was once again forced to join the conversation between the Demon God and Goddess Artemisia, who had appeared again.

“How long exactly do you intend to do nothing but interfere with my work?”

“I intend to interfere until you give up and accept it. Even if that takes hundreds or thousands of years.”

“…If you want to stop me, you only have to give up. And I am saying that if you wait only fifty years, I will stop!”

“It may turn out as you say. But I came to stop you because I do not think it will.”

After hearing the two gods’ words, it felt only like a conversation that was not between “gods.” However, the presence emitted by the two gods clearly made it feel certain that they were gods, and it was then.

“Are you trying to interfere with me because of that?”

The Demon God suddenly pointed at Riana, and while the gazes of the three behind the Demon God, presumed to be Demon Kings, focused on her, Goddess Artemisia said,

“Do not make an innocent human suffer. However… she is not unrelated, is she? You are fated to fail by the hands of the person this child loves.”

“…Nonsense!”

Rage burst out in every direction and made the earth crack apart. It was a magnificent sight that truly could be called the dignity of a god, but Goddess Artemisia opened her mouth while looking at the Demon God, completely unharmed and without even a single hair damaged by such power.

“To begin with, you have descended to this place for too long… You may become a worthless existence that can no longer maintain its dignity… Do you know that?”

At Goddess Artemisia’s words, the goddess flinched in surprise and bit her lip, and Riana thought that something like restrictions on gods must exist.

However, she was not in a position to open her mouth rashly, so she had no choice but to remain silent, and Riana was somewhat surprised by Goddess Artemisia’s words.

‘That person… is going to stop the Demon God… What price will he end up paying…’

Riana thought that she was afraid and wondered whether going to him like this was truly the right answer.

“I will restore ‘@#^#,’ who made a foolish choice.”

“…You cannot. ‘@#^#’ will never try to return.”

There was a word in the middle that could not be understood, and as if everyone had perceived it, puzzled expressions appeared on their faces.

Since they had never experienced such a thing in their lives, they became even more puzzled, but the two gods’ conversation continued.

“The soul is over there, and the body is in the sea. But unless the ‘seal’ is undone, the two can never become one. You know very well who placed that seal, do you not?”

“That woman… I will tear her to pieces with my own hands.”

“That existence, too, is ultimately an existence that has risen to the same rank as us. It will never be easy.”

“…So what are you telling me to do?”

“I am telling you to give up. As you are now… it is too soon.”

Now, at the Demon God’s force, the earth began to boil and melt. Even as Riana thought that this absurd miracle truly made the Demon God a “god,” on the other hand, the fact that the being who would make such a Demon God retreat was “him” made her feel immensely proud.

“I cannot give up. So… you are the one who should step back. This is my final warning not to interfere.”

“My, have you forgotten that with your ability, you cannot even touch a hair on me?”

Only then did Goddess Artemisia, who had been quiet, begin to raise her force, and in that instant, every being except Riana was forcibly made to kneel and collapse. Only the Demon God, Artemisia, and Riana stood firmly on the earth, and Goddess Artemisia, looking a little surprised, turned to Riana and asked,

“Riana, why is it that you are not kneeling…?”

Because she looked at her with snake-like eyes and an extremely curious expression, Riana felt as if her heart would stop.

“Could it be that the owner of the ring is different after all…?”

Goddess Artemisia showed an extremely bright and radiant smile, but it was far too grotesque and unpleasant. That was what Riana felt.