novelraw Vol 4. Chapter 716: Visit to Witnash
Vol 4. Chapter 716: Visit to Witnash
Two days after His Majesty the King and the Premier Duke’s party left the royal capital, they arrived at the port town of Witnash in the morning.
They entered the town still in their carriages, and from that point on, crowds had already gathered along the roadside.
No one was waving flags, but the whole place was filled with a mood of welcome for His Majesty the King...
Through that atmosphere, King Abel’s carriage advanced under the protection of the First Royal Guard Regiment and the Kingdom’s knight orders.
“Long live His Majesty the King!”
“Abel!”
“Ah, he waved to us!”
“What a gallant figure...”
“The person in the robe beside him is adorable too.”
Voices like those drifted from among the people.
Abel smiled and waved from inside the carriage.
He was waving from inside the carriage because Captain Dontan of the Kingdom’s knight orders had warned him in no uncertain terms not to step outside.
“It was a festival last time we came here, but it’s just as lively now.”
“Witnash’s development over the last two years has been remarkable.”
Abel answered Ryo’s comment while smiling and waving to the crowd.
“Witnash was already a major port town to begin with, but now it has become one of the five largest cities in the entire Kingdom.”
Abel kept smiling and waving as the party continued on and reached the port.
At the port as well, people watched from a distance around the place where the party arrived.
And cheers rose for Abel as he stepped down from the carriage.
To be watched constantly.
Following along behind Abel, Ryo murmured, “His Majesty the King has it hard.”
When Ryo and Abel climbed down from the carriage, two people were waiting for them.
One was a woman in her early thirties, with long hair, blue eyes, and striking brown skin.
“Your Majesty, I am deeply honored that you have come all this way.”
“Darlene Dingley, I hear you have governed well as magistrate. Splendid work.”
“You do me great honor.”
Abel praised her, and the Witnash magistrate called Darlene bowed her head.
The other was a man in his late forties, with chestnut hair, black eyes, brown skin as well, and a tall build, though his overall impression was supple rather than heavy.
But more importantly, he was someone Ryo already knew.
“Goro, isn’t that you?”
The man Ryo called out to was Goro Ganda.
He was the magistrate of Kona Village, which produced the Kona coffee Ryo loved so much... so why was he here?
“Ryo, you know the Lord of Oceans?”
Abel asked in surprise.
“Lord of Oceans? The minister of the Ministry of Oceans... wait. Goro, you became the minister of the Ministry of Oceans?”
“Yes, Duke Rondo.”
Goro greeted him with the same gentle smile as before.
“The Ministry of Oceans is the place you mentioned before, isn’t it, Abel? The one that manages everything related to the Kingdom’s seas...”
“That’s right. You said before, didn’t you, Ryo, that you would march in as the wicked Premier Duke, inspect the Ministry of Oceans, and confiscate its property?”
“What...”
Ryo was struck speechless by Abel’s words.
Magistrate Darlene and Lord of Oceans Goro both widened their eyes in surprise.
“Th-that was a joke, of course.”
“That sounded very much like an admission that you did say it.”
“Foul play, Scheme King Abel!”
This was Abel and Ryo fooling around with each other.
The two watching them averted their eyes.
They seemed to be desperately holding back laughter.
Yes, naturally they had to hold it back.
The people before them might be acting silly, but they were still the king and the Premier Duke.
They were the two most powerful figures at the top of the Kingdom.
“The Ministry of Oceans, through Your Majesty’s administrative reforms, has moved its main office from the royal capital to Witnash. Your Grace’s inspection may take place at any time.”
Goro, smiling slightly, joined in their little interlude farce.
“O-of course, if you are Lord of Oceans, Goro, then I’m sure everything is being handled properly. There should be no need for me to conduct an inspection.”
Ryo concealed his panic—or at least he thought he had concealed it—and nodded magnanimously.
“Are you sure, Ryo? At the time, if I remember correctly... didn’t you say something about the Ministry of Oceans having escaped the harm of vertical administrative divisions, only to grow too large and lose its ability to innovate? You said the Ministry of Oceans was in that state, didn’t you?”
“I-I did say that... but if Goro has become its head, then he must be reforming it in a good direction. I can tell.”
“You can?”
“Goro used to send me Kona coffee. I know how capable he is.”
“You judge him for a reason like that...?”
“Trust is a precious thing formed between people. Abel, you should try a little harder to become a king trusted by others.”
“I don’t understand why I’m the one being lectured...”
A sharp back-and-forth between Premier Duke and king.
At that point, even Goro and Darlene pretended, with unchanged expressions, that they had heard nothing.
Ryo suddenly remembered something.
It was from the first time he had come to Witnash.
He had come on an escort request with the three members of “Room Ten” and “Coffee Maker.”
At the time...
“Witnash used to have a noble lord, didn’t it?”
“Yes, it did.”
“Was he fired?”
“There was that incident at the garden party, remember?”
“Yes, I know it. The one where you shut yourself in a room and let the whole commotion pass you by, Abel.”
“That’s accurate, but... somehow the way you say it annoys me.”
Ryo stated a fact, and Abel grimaced.
In the middle of the garden party, Abel had been caught by the guildmaster of the town and forced into a private meeting in a room in the detached building.
On top of that, they had been using a sound-blocking magic tool, so he had not noticed what was happening at the garden party.
As a result, he had not been injured, but...
“That incident got the lord transferred to another domain. Witnash became royal demesne after that.”
“Surely that commotion was a scheme orchestrated by the royal family to acquire Witnash...”
“No. It was the work of an assassination cult receiving money from the Federation.”
“Ah, so that’s what happened.”
Apparently, the Kingdom government had investigated all sorts of things after the fact.
Ryo’s fantasy had been nothing more than a fantasy.
“And Darlene is the magistrate of that royal demesne, then.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Ryo confirmed it, and Darlene nodded.
“You said the Ministry of Oceans moved from the royal capital to Witnash. Why?”
“What use is it in a landlocked royal capital?”
Abel answered Ryo’s simple question as if the answer were obvious.
“That’s true, but...”
“On the contrary, why does it need to be in the royal capital?”
“...To secure its budget?”
“That’s something the people allocating the budget—meaning me and Marquis Heinlein—should be careful about, isn’t it? A ministry’s job is not to secure its budget, but to devote itself to its own work. The sea is the Ministry of Oceans’ workplace, so I think it ought to be beside the sea.”
“That is a sound argument I can’t even begin to refute.”
Ryo nodded at Abel’s explanation.
Indeed, there was no need for government ministries to be concentrated in the capital.
Ryo even thought that being tormented day after day by both tangible and intangible pressure from politicians might prevent them from throwing themselves into their real work.
As a result, bureaucrats would not look toward the people, but instead be made to look only toward politicians.
Yes—made to.
Such a condition would bring happiness to no one.
If the central ministries themselves relocated, the places they moved to would develop.
It would become an ignition point for regional revitalization.
Officials could raise their children while enjoying the delicious food and activities of their new locations.
Prices should be overwhelmingly cheaper than in the capital... and with central ministry officials’ salaries, they ought to be able to live with considerable ease.
Their families would be happy.
They themselves would be able to devote themselves to their work.
Truly, a wonderful world for everyone.
That form was likely the Ministry of Oceans, moved here to Witnash, now standing right before his eyes.
Ryo felt that the Ministry of Oceans’ relocation had contributed to Witnash’s rapid economic growth over the last two years.
The important thing was not the relocation of part of a ministry, but the relocation of the main office itself.
“Lord of Oceans, I read the report regarding that ‘opening of an eastward sea route.’”
“Thank you. What Your Majesty told us about the Rain Shooter drifting into the archipelago region became the decisive factor. However, during the exploration the Rain Shooter was conducting, the crew did not return. Therefore, I believe we must proceed with a certain degree of caution.”
“I agree.”
Abel nodded at Lord of Oceans Goro’s words.
Magistrate Darlene was nodding as well.
However, there was one person tilting his head.
The Premier Duke.
“What is this opening of an eastward sea route?”
“A project to open a sea route from the Kingdom to the archipelago region, and eventually to the Eastern Countries.”
“What was that...”
Ryo was shocked.
Certainly, he had seen the Rain Shooter, which had left this Witnash, in the archipelago region.
At present, it had become the royal vessel Bralkau of Queen Ilyaja of the Suje Kingdom.
But to be honest, no one knew how the Rain Shooter had reached the archipelago region.
No one knew what lay along the way.
No one knew what lived along the way.
Ryo suddenly remembered something.
It concerned His Majesty the King standing beside him.
“Abel, you were aboard a smuggling ship and washed up at my place, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.”
“Was that a ship that had been anchored here in Witnash?”
“Yes.”
“In other words, ships can go from here to Rondo’s forest?”
Ryo confirmed it fearfully.
“Yes... that would be true.”
“There are Kraken on the coast where you washed ashore, you know?”
“Yes... there are.”
“And on land where I lived, there are even worse neighbors, you know?”
“Yes... that’s bad.”
Abel seemed to understand Ryo’s concern.
They might end up passing through a sea where Kraken definitely existed.
And if they landed somewhere along the way... and angered Ryo’s neighbors who lived there... dragons, Behemoths, Griffins, or the like...
Perhaps Goro sensed something ominous in their conversation.
And perhaps he also sensed that it was related to his own work.
He asked a question.
“Pardon me, Your Majesty, Your Grace. What is Rondo’s forest?”
“It is Ryo’s... Duke Rondo’s domain.”
“What...”
“It’s very far from the Kingdom mainland. Umm, was it called Demon Mountain? It lies on the other side of that.”
“On the other side of Demon Mountain...”
Goro was at a loss for words.
Of course, Darlene was silent too.
For the people of the Kingdom, Demon Mountain was quite literally a demon mountain.
A place where humans must not set foot.
Even the claim that a domain existed beyond it was unbelievable... and if true, even harder to understand.
What was more, based on the flow of the conversation, King Abel had apparently once washed ashore there.
“Lord of Oceans, let us proceed with opening the eastward sea route even more cautiously than we said earlier.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. First, we shall focus on the west.”
Abel said it, and Goro nodded.
But again, one person was unable to follow the conversation.
The Premier Duke.
In the first place...
“Abel, I haven’t heard what we’re here in Witnash for.”
“Hm? Is that right? I didn’t tell you?”
“You did not. I heard there would be a ceremony, and I heard we would return to the royal capital after one day, but I heard nothing about the details.”
“Ah... well, that’s...”
Just as Abel tried to explain, a voice rang out across the port.
“I see it!”
Apparently, the lookout watching the western sea from the watchtower had shouted.
“Ryo, it seems seeing it for yourself will be quicker than having me explain.”
Abel smiled.
“Your Majesty, a spyglass.”
Captain Dontan of the Kingdom’s knight orders handed Abel a spyglass.
In the same way, Goro and Darlene—and Ryo as well—were handed spyglasses.
Ryo immediately looked west.
“A ship... right...”
Of course it was.
If a carriage came from beyond the sea, that would be far more surprising.
Still, somehow, compared to the ships floating off Witnash, the shape of its sails felt... different.
As it drew closer... it appeared to be quite a large ship.
No, not only the ship itself. The size of the sails was incredible.
The ships floating off Witnash were, at most, of a type called galleons.
Compared to those, the approaching ship had larger sails, but its hull looked slimmer instead.
It looked somehow familiar...
“Huh? A clipper? Ah, could it be... Skidbladnir!”
Yes. It was the Skidbladnir, the ship Ryo had procured in the Republic of Mafalda.
They had needed to procure a ship for the joint maritime survey with the Holy State, and Ryo had gone to the Republic... where all sorts of things had happened. In the end, because Neil Andersen had left the Republic, construction on the clipper had been halted midway.
Ryo had succeeded in purchasing the ship by completing its alchemical aspects.
As Premier Duke of the Knightley Kingdom, he could take pride in having done proper work... and this ship was the result.
“To think it could come from the Western Countries all the way to the Central Countries...”
“Yes. I couldn’t believe it when I received the report either, but... it’s amazing.”
Abel nodded at Ryo’s words.
Under the contract Ryo had concluded, the crew should have been people from the Principality of Gosron, which neighbored the Republic of Mafalda.
They were all exceptional people who had acquired skills equal to those of sailors from the Republic, a country known as a maritime nation.
Regarding the management of the Skidbladnir, a treaty had been concluded between the Knightley Kingdom and the Principality of Gosron.
In a sense, excellent personnel had been procured and were operating the ship with national backing... and that was likely why it could come this far, to a region so distant.
Of course, that alone could not be the whole reason.
The sea was home to terrifying monsters such as Kraken.
If such creatures attacked, a ship carrying humans would not stand a chance.
That was why there was a “monster repellent” that prevented °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° attacks by sea monsters, but...
“So because the sea-monster-repellent technology used on Skidbladnir might make it possible to go from the Kingdom to the archipelago region, that led to the opening of an eastward sea route you mentioned earlier.”
“More or less. But leaving aside Kraken, the frightening people on land...”
“Yes, yes. Let’s avoid the east for now.”
“Agreed. First, the west.”
While they discussed this, the Skidbladnir entered Witnash’s harbor.
The people of Witnash greeted the unfamiliar ship with cheers.
Of course, because the Knightley Kingdom’s flag was raised on the ship, they understood it was their own country’s vessel.
To begin with, they had been informed that King Abel was coming in order to welcome this ship.
“It’s huge!”
“Those sails are incredible.”
“The sails are amazing, but the hull is narrow.”
“It looks narrow at first glance, but it seems like it can carry a fair amount of cargo.”
“But what about its stability? With sails that large...”
“Yes, I’m interested in that too.”
Perhaps one should expect nothing less from the people of one of the Kingdom’s foremost port towns.
Conversations like that could be heard from all over.
Perhaps inspired by them, the Lord of Oceans and the magistrate began talking.
“Yes, the stability does concern me.”
“It came here from the Western Countries, so... it must have some sort of mechanism that prevents it from sinking even under considerable cross seas or in storms.”
“It would be good if that technology could be applied to the Kingdom’s ships as well.”
“I hear it will be in port for twenty days. We should have them show us the inside during that time.”
The two of them were, so to speak, top administrators, yet they seemed interested in on-site technology as well.
Listening to them, Ryo nodded deeply.
Having studied history, Ryo knew that precisely this kind of attitude and action in people like them became a great force that moved a country.
At the same time, he also knew that once a country matured and passed its peak, administrators would lose such attitudes, their actions would shrink in scale, and they would stop going out to the field.
It was a sad thing.
“That is why I moved the Ministry of Oceans to the place closest to the field.”
Abel said it with a smile.
Yes. That was the sort of decision demanded of politics.
“You’re excellent as a king too, Abel.”
“Hm? Am I?”
Ryo praised him from the bottom of his heart, and Abel’s face reddened slightly.
No matter how much time passed, Abel remained shy.
The people who disembarked from the Skidbladnir were people Ryo knew.
The three of them had not originally been scheduled to join the delegation to the Western Countries, but after various events... one of them was Abel’s nephew, and carried precious direct blood of the royal family.
The three knelt on one knee before Abel and paid their respects.
“Your Majesty, we three—Harold, Sieg, and Gowan—have returned on behalf of the delegation.”
Yes. Those three were the members of “Room Eleven.”
“Harold, you look like a different man.”
Abel addressed him happily.
Yes. Before Harold had gone to the Western Countries, he had had many immature aspects.
To begin with, he had carelessly sought power and ended up afflicted by a Demon Man’s Rupture Spirit Curse.
To break it, the Demon King’s blood needed to be dripped onto his forehead, so he had been forced into the delegation.
But the Harold who had now returned was, without question, a fine person.
Seeing that from the side, Ryo nodded for some reason with an air of importance.
Of course, Ryo had also contributed to Harold’s growth, but...
“We have brought personal letters from each delegation leader.”
When Harold said that, Sieg took them from inside his coat.
Captain Dontan received them and handed them to Abel.
“I have received them. I’ll read them later. Good work, all three of you. Rooms have been prepared at the magistrate’s office. For now, rest.”
At Abel’s words, the three stood.
But they did not immediately head to the magistrate’s office.
“Ryo... no, Duke Rondo, it has been some time.”
They went before Ryo and bowed their heads.
“All three of you have grown during the short time we haven’t seen each other. Harold, I imagine you will found a new ducal house, and now I can support you with confidence as Premier Duke.”
“...Thank you very much.”
Ryo praised him without reserve, and Harold bowed his head shyly.
Behind him, Sieg and Gowan looked happy as well.
Yes. The reason these three had returned ahead of the others was that Harold was Abel’s nephew and carried precious direct blood of the royal family.
It would not have been bad for him to gain further experience in the Western Countries... but Hugh McGrath, who led the delegation, had likely judged that he should return to the Kingdom.
To begin with, Harold had gone to the Western Countries to break the spirit curse.
Since that had been accomplished, they wanted to return him safely to the Kingdom while they could.
Of course, there was likely also the aspect of having them escort the Skidbladnir.
Even if it carried sea-monster repellent, monsters were not the only problems at sea.
There were also pirates.
As a precaution against them, the three members of “Room Eleven” had originally been powerful combatants.
From many perspectives, they were well suited to be placed aboard a ship bound for the Kingdom.
“Hugh’s judgment really is impressive.”
“Yes. He’s the sort of person who can assess many things from multiple angles.”
After sending the three away, Ryo and Abel discussed the matter of their return.
“You’re going to keep the three of them in the Kingdom, aren’t you?”
“Yes. They’ll gain experience here. Once that’s done, Harold will found a ducal house.”
“Things are starting to look pretty good.”
“Pretty good?”
“Your father has recovered, the north and east have settled down, Harold has grown and come back, and relations with the elves, including Sera, are good.”
“That’s true.”
Abel nodded at Ryo’s explanation.
After nodding, he murmured, “Perhaps it’s about time we turned our eyes outward.”
“Outward?”
“The inside of the Kingdom is recovering from the chaos that began during the Liberation War. The east is lagging a little, but if we look at the Kingdom as a whole, it can be said to be on the path to recovery. If things continue like this, it will reach its peak in a few years.”
“I see. Once that happens, domestic production will reach its peak... and unless there is a new market, it will then begin to shrink and fall into recession.”
A state where supply exceeded demand.
A kind of deflation.
“In other words, you’re going to invade the Empire and seize its market!”
“No!”
“If you need military strength, I’ll help.”
Ryo made an evil-looking face and an evil-sounding suggestion.
“That face... you understand too, don’t you, Ryo?”
“Unfortunately, we are not going to lay a hand on the Empire. You want to develop full-scale trade with the Western Countries, or perhaps even the Dark Continent beyond them... that’s what you mean.”
“So you did understand!”
“I tried acting out the wicked Premier Duke who tempts Evil King Abel.”
Ryo laughed.
“You want to turn Witnash into a true international trade port.”
“Yes. If possible, I had thought of the east as well, but...”
“A relay point between west and east. But...”
“Yes. The east is on hold for now. We’ll start with the west, without rushing.”
Ryo and Abel were of one mind.