“Although it’s vast, it’s really a barren wasteland.” (Wendelin)
The Herthania Valley, which the Earl Baumeister household received in exchange for a reduction of the reconciliation money, is huge.
The almost rectangle area is mostly occupied by wasteland and rocky areas where no decent vegetation is growing. It’s just a rocky mountain with a great number of mountains where no plants are spouting.
In addition, it was a plot of land that was unsuited for something like agriculture, even if it wasn’t a monster domain, as it’s snapped apart in the centre by a ravine with the depth and width of around 100 meters which is running for 100 kilometres to the east and west.
As a matter of fact this Herthania Valley is close to the borders of the South and East and has become an enclave of the Browig Magraviate.
According to the books written in the era of the Ancient Magic Civilization, this place is an area filled with dense ore deposits where many mineral resources are sleeping.
In that ancient doc.u.ment the places and types of mine-able minerals were recorded. It seems like the ravine in the centre is mostly a deposit of minerals.
To begin with, it has been mentioned that the ravine itself spread this far because of the mining.
For some reason the Ancient Magic Civilization abandoned this Herthania Valley, but the influential people, who gained control of this area afterwards, have failed altogether to make effective use of this mountain of treasures.
Needless to talk about the Margrave Browig household, but even countless other n.o.ble households and the past royal family failed to liberate this place.
Alongside their failures, the number of victims was great. Since there were many opinions like 『Are they really able to liberate it?』 even the current adventurer’s guild has settled down to an evaluation of 『Given that it’s reckless, it’s preferable to not trespa.s.s there』.
Probably for that reason the release of information didn’t take place in the adventurer prep school either.
It’s likely a measure so that young adventurers, who are filled with an adventurous spirit, don’t head there to invade recklessly after being taught about it badly.
I also didn’t know about the existence of the Herthania Valley at all before coming of age.
For Katharina to have known about it was because she was searching for a place to obtain achievements that would allow her get a peerage.
“Did you know about it, Burkhart-san?” (Wendelin)
“Only by its name. In the past there were many adventurers who dreamed of making a fortune at one stroke with a liberalization of this place.” (Burkhart)
We, who managed to get out of the arbitration negotiations first, departed to a ridge of a rocky mountain looking out on the Herthania Valley with Hendrik’s small magic airs.h.i.+p.
“There’s no presence of living creatures.” (Wendelin)
“We are standing here and over there’s a stone monument, isn’t it?” (Burkhart)
“Yes.” (Wendelin)
At the place, where Burkhart-san’s finger was pointing at, was a stone monument with no inscription engraved erected.
“Erw-boy. Try to pa.s.s over that line just a little bit.” (Burkhart)
“Yes.” (Erwin)
Once Erw enters inside by taking one step past the stone monument as told by Burkhart-san, I detect a reaction of a monster appearing right away.
“Erw!” (Wendelin)
“Got it!” (Erwin)
Suddenly a wolf jumps out from a shade of a rock and leaps upon Erw.
If properly observed, this wolf is made out of rock.
“Rock golem?”
Next, two wolves appear and the number of rock wolves, who were attacking Erw, is in total three.
If it was my sword skills, it would be out, but Erw cut down one wolf after other as if completely performing a dance with a time lag.
If a rock wolf is cut at the head or heart part that are similar to normal animals, it will apparently stop functioning.
Finis.h.i.+ng by making three scattered mountains, Erw picks up stones that seem to be ores and marble-sized magic cores from there and returns.
“Aa~~~ah. Even though it was a fine sword… If I don’t fix and sharpen it later, it will be useless.” (Erwin)
Erw sighed after seeing his own sword having a chipped blade.
“So, well, that’s how it is.” (Burkhart)
Because of the past victims, a stone monument like that was built to show the border of the domain. There are no people approaching this place since there’s wasteland and rocky mountains in the monument’s surroundings.
If you take just one step across the boundary line, mysterious rock-made animals will come attacking and you will obtain ores and magic cores once you defeat those.
“Wend, what’s this ore?” (Erwin)
“Umm. Low quality iron ore.” (Wendelin)
“Baah~~~! How very unprofitable!” (Erwin)
Once I examined the composition of the ore with 『a.n.a.lyze』, it was iron ore with a low concentration.
The quality of the magic core is very low as well.
Thus, Erw ended up having to fix and sharpen his quite expensive sword, which he uses habitually, just because he cut merely three monsters.
“In other words, that means, even if you defeat these monsters, far from yielding zero profit, it will become a loss.”
It’s unsuitable even as adventurer hunting ground. If Erw remained a bit longer in the domain, the number of rock-made monsters coming attacking would have increased to dozens, several hundreds and then thousands.
“If you lead in an army aiming to mine at the ore deposits, it will get surrounded by rock monsters before realizing it. And then they will turn into corpses after being outnumbered.” (Burkhart)
According to what Burkhart-san says, there are crumbled ruins of military forces remaining if you enter a bit further inside.
Given that the recovery is dangerous, they have been apparently abandoned just like that.
“According to the ancient doc.u.ment, there is supposed to be large-scale mithril deposit.”
It’s a metal that won’t chip in high quality armour and magic tool structures. Because there was always too little of it, its price continued to stay at a high level.
It’s possible to produce it by adding mana to silver for a part of the high-ranking magicians including me as well, but the amount is extremely low.
The current mines are forcibly mining even low-quality ores.
Naturally that share of labour increases the costs,
The mithril mine, newly discovered in our territory, had its operation accelerated after being told by the kingdom 『At any rate, start the mining quickly!』
“Obtaining a large-scale mithril deposit or getting annihilated, huh? That’s a tough choice… Umm, by the way is it fine to ask one thing?” (Wendelin)
“What is it?” (Burkhart)
“Why is Karla-san here?” (Wendelin)
Even though the arbitration negotiations between the Margrave Browig household and the Earl Baumeister household should have ended, Karla followed to this place without leaving our side for some reason.
“Why you ask, it’s probably because the arbitration negotiations between the Margrave Browig household and the Margrave Breithilde household haven’t finished.” (Burkhart)
“She was a prisoner of the Margrave Breithilde household?” (Wendelin)
“A half of it. The other half lies with the Earl Baumeister household since she has been made into a prisoner after being persuaded by Erw-boy.” (Burkhart)
“The concerns about the rights in such matter are severe, eh?” (Wendelin)
“Even ransom is an important source of income after all.” (Burkhart)
By no means there’s a way to split a person in two.
Nevertheless, as it’s dangerous to put Karla in a place filled with only men, she has been entrusted to us.
Therefore, when we headed to the Herthania Valley, she accompanied us as well. Currently Erw was talking with her while looking happy.
From the standpoint of Erw who has fallen in love with her, it’s a great joy for her to come together with us.
“Erwin-san’s sword skills are wonderful.” (Karla)
“No, compared to your archery skills, Karla-san, it’s probably nothing to talk about at all.” (Erwin)
Being praised by Karla, Erw had a lewd look on his face.
“However, it’s nice that it was accepted by the Browig household.” (Wendelin)
“Even if I stayed with them, I wouldn’t play any role anyway. But, if I accompany you, Earl-sama, possibilities will appear.” (Karla)
“Yeah, yeah. You mean me falling in love with you, Karla-san.” (Wendelin)
“Her elder brothers are probably confident. Karla-ojousan is a beauty as anyone can see.” (Burkhart)
Certainly, she is a beauty that won’t be outdone by Elise or Katharina.
Rather, giving a slightly humble impression, there should be many people who will gladly take her as their wife if it’s the men of this country.
“What’s your opinion, Earl-sama?” (Karla)
“I think that you are a beauty…” (Wendelin)
There’s no doubt that she’s a beautiful woman. As a matter of fact, her mood resembled my student days girlfriend.
Therefore I thought that it might be dangerous, but to be honest I don’t have much feelings of love towards her.
At first I was surprised by her skill in archery and since I ended up harbouring a little feeling of respect, feelings of love didn’t take root in me.
“Is that how it is?” (Karla)
“Besides, it would be somewhat evil towards Erw…” (Wendelin)
Seeing Erw’s att.i.tude towards Karla, there’s no one amongst the people of our Earl Baumeister household that hasn’t realized his feelings.
It’s obviously a love of different social standings, but since I’m uninterested in marrying Karla, the time for just watching from a distance increases.
“That guy. Does he understand his own position?” (Wendelin)
“He is motivating himself because he knows it, I guess.” (Klaus)
“Klaus…” (Wendelin)
The one who interrupted the conversation between me and Burkhart-san was Klaus.
Actually, I knew it.
Klaus has given Erw something like an advice.
At the moment he said that, he was extremely suspicious, but by no means has he suggested an evil deed to Erw either.
Erw shouldn’t have accepted such either.
However, no matter what, his shadiness and suspiciousness end up appearing at front.
“Are you aiming to cause confusion at the Earl Baumeister household by grilling Erw?” (Wendelin)
“Even if I schemed that in the current situation, I believe that no one would lend their ear to me.” (Klaus)
I had always such impression, but there’s actually also a part where my sarcastic attacks help Klaus himself.
Because he was the person responsible for realizing the rebellion no matter how you cover it up, he lightly dodges the criticism of the surroundings by doing his job while being showered with sarcasm by me.
“I wonder about that, eh? So, what did you tell Erw?” (Wendelin)
“Something simple.” (Klaus)
If the Earl Baumeister household is successful at liberating the Herthania Valley, it will drive the Margrave Browig household into even more of a dilemma.
If that happens, the Browig household might relax on the condition of having Karla married into the Earl Baumeister household.
“The probability is high, but how does that story connect to Erw?” (Wendelin)
The other n.o.bles of the central government or the other influential n.o.bles of the East, who have a vigour towards rebuilding the fallen Browig household, there are as many other candidates as she likes.
“That probability is high, but in the current situation there’s nothing left but clinging onto that possibility. Besides, I think he has more of a chance than expected. That’s because Karla-sama came along with Wendelin-sama.” (Klaus)
At the present time they want to encroach on our development rights by marrying her into my surroundings.
In that case even the losses suffered in the recent dispute will be recoverable in some way.
“It might be a strategy to impress the other n.o.bles by attaching her as retainer of Wendelin-sama.” (Klaus)
“She has already been made my mistress or such, you mean?” (Wendelin)
“I don’t think it will go that far, but the intention of the Browig household will be clear to the surroundings.” (Klaus)
The Browig household wants to send Karla into the Earl Baumeister household no matter what it takes.
Although they excuse it with the family head as long as possible, won’t it be no problem if it’s a retainer if they become poor by falling into further dilemma?
Especially Erw, since he is close to me as a good friend, they should consider aiming for him at the right time.
Certainly, currently Erw is receiving a treatment as favoured retainer from me.
Though it’s not like I said so, the surroundings are arbitrarily thinking that.
“It feels like a very light viewpoint, but…” (Wendelin)
Even so, for Erw it’s wrong if he doesn’t work in the Herthania Valley as retainer of the Earl Baumeister household.
Harbouring the hope that he might be able to marry Karla, it was necessary for him to raise his tension.
“Putting aside Erwin-dono’s matters, are there any prospects of succeeding in the liberalization of the Herthania Valley?” (Klaus)
“Quite so. Though it’s necessary to prepare a bit. Also, the recruitment of the partic.i.p.ating war potential will take a few days?” (Wendelin)
“We will be on standby for a while here then.” (Klaus)
The Baumeister army, which is less than 100 in total, decides to wait for reinforcements and sets up an encampment in a place just right outside the boundary of Herthania Valley.
Within the Herthania Valley, which was transferred to us from the Browig household according to the arbitration draft, there was no kind of limitation for us to act inside since it even included the barren rocky mountain area that’s not located within this monster domain.
Even the territory outside the area where rock-made monsters appear if you set foot in the Herthania Valley has been declared as area where it’s not recommended to trespa.s.s so that no one accidentally sets foot into the domain.
As those are mostly rocky mountains and wastelands where even weed won’t grow decently, they were treated as buffer zone of the dangerous Herthania Valley since mineral resources can’t be mined there.
Nowadays there’s apparently no person that enters this area.
“Even goats can’t be raised in such wasteland. Agriculture is out of the question. When adventurers entered previously, they apparently looked for mineral resources as well, but…”
As there’s nothing but rocky mountains, Herthania Valley had been apparently transferred to us as freebie.
“In that case we have to take countermeasures against intruders for the sake of the time when this place got liberated.”
“You are terribly confident, Earl-sama.” (Karla)
“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have gone as far to decrease the reconciliation money in order to acquire this place.” (Wendelin)
Taking Burkhart-san and Katharina along, we begin building rock-made walls with magic at the borders to the territories of other n.o.bles.
It declares our intention 『Entry for strangers forbidden since from here on out it belongs to the Earl Baumeister household』, but once the three of us did the tedious task of gathering materials such as the rocks of the rocky mountains, the residents of the other n.o.ble’s territories looking from outside watched at us with suspicious looks.
“It’s because 『Even if you claim your territorial rights this strongly, we won’t enter such place』.”
No matter how many ore deposits it might have, that place is nothing but a pie in the sky if you can’t enter to mine there.
For the Browig household to transfer the territorial rights easily due to seeing the charm of reducing the reconciliation money could be seen as proof of this place being an inferior property.
“Even so, no matter how much walls we make, it doesn’t quite come to an end…” (Katharina)
Adding the buffer zone area as well, it will take time since the enclosing wall has to cover approximately 23.000 square kilometres of the Herthania Valley.
It was a work just for the sake of claiming the territorial rights by fencing it in roughly, but it’s likely necessary to reinforce the vigilance and true construction work readiness to defend against ore thieves after the liberalization of Herthania Valley.
“Is it really possible to liberate it?” (Katharina)
“Didn’t you plan to liberate it before, Katharina?” (Wendelin)
“I did, but I gave up because the prospects of succeeding were too low no matter how I calculated it. I understood that I would be outnumbered.” (Katharina)
She realized that it would become a difficult situation even if she invaded because even if one slaughters several hundred rock-made monsters by casting a wide-area advanced spell with one or two excellent magicians, the monsters would gush forth one after the other.
“In the first place, the principle behind creating those golem-like, rock-made monsters is unknown.” (Katharina)
“There’s a helper who knows about that.” (Wendelin)
“Is that true?” (Katharina)
“The explanation will follow after the powerful helper arrives.” (Wendelin)
“I’m right away able to imagine who’s coming…” (Katharina)
———————————————————– End of Part 1 ————————————————————–