Chapter 42
Just as Roa had said, the crop failure came, casting a great shadow over the continent.
At Riese Fortress, where Zodia and the others were staying, traveling troupes who had heard the rumors came to them day after day. So far, Roa's proposal had generally been met favorably.
This was also true of information about the criminals, who were among the traveling troupes' customers.
However, only Zodia and the others, along with Gubeck, were aware of Roa's ulterior motive.
In the meantime, news reached them that Rudek had finally mobilized troops against Riflerea. The traveling troupe that brought them the news spoke anxiously, but Zodia did not waver in the slightest.
Rudek would win. Roa would win. Zodia believed this, and the news that arrived again some time later was exactly as he had expected.
This must have settled Rudek's long-standing feud with Riflerea. When Zodia read the stars, two large, ominous stars that had been in Riflerea had vanished. There had been many other changes as well, but presumably the people represented by those stars had been deeply entangled with Roa.
Then the new year began. Even as the effects of the crop failure began to emerge in earnest, Zodia and the others remained at Riese Fortress, handling the traveling troupes arriving from distant places.
It was highly unusual for Lu Pu Zea to remain in one place for so long.
They sometimes sang within the fortress, entertaining the Fifth Knight Order's soldiers, and had grown quite close to them. Even their companions, who normally made little effort to associate with others, freely came and went from the fortress, exchanging familiar words with the soldiers.
Denver, the youngest of them all, was especially doted on within the fortress, and there were quite a few heartwarming scenes to be seen.
Lu Pu Zea finally left Riese Fortress again around the time the snow had melted. Even then, they did not travel far. As a troupe, they decided to remain near Riese Fortress for the time being, so that no trouble would arise between the traveling troupes and the fortress.
Thus, they only made the rounds of nearby territories such as Hogbeck and Soleck when their lords requested it, taking a few days to do so.
Hogbeck's territory was governed by Wickhart's father, so Lu Pu Zea received a warm welcome despite the difficult circumstances. What they saw in the town there proved rather surprising.
The atmosphere was bright overall.
They learned that the Hogbeck family's standing had risen and that its food supply was stable, so there was apparently very little dissatisfaction among the people.
Although Hogbeck's territory had somewhat unusual circumstances, the traveling troupes that came to collect food reported that no major problems seemed to be occurring in any of the towns or villages.
By the time summer arrived, roughly three bands of bandits led by notorious criminals had been wiped out. It seemed to have been a thorough campaign of annihilation that left no survivors. The criminals who had cooperated with Roa must have been shaking at the thought of the price of making the wrong choice.
Then another autumn came. This year's harvest was more or less normal. With that, Roa's contract came to an end.
At the beginning of that autumn, Roa went all the way to Riese Fortress to thank Lu Pu Zea for their efforts.
"Zodia, and everyone else, you have truly been a great help."
Though he was now unquestionably one of Rudek's leading figures, Roa thanked them in his usual manner.
"Roa-sama, please raise your head. We are the ones who should be thanking you—the traveling troupe. Thanks to you, no one starved, and it looks as though we'll be able to set out on the road again."
As Belluman and every member of the troupe bowed deeply, Roa replied in an unhurried tone, "Then I'm glad to hear it."
"So, Zodia, have you already decided where you're headed next?"
"Yes. We've all decided to head west. We plan to travel through Rubral, Schulette, and the Sixteen Despotic Nations."
"Ah, that sounds nice. Even at the earliest, it should take two or three years, shouldn't it? Once you've visited them all, come and visit me again. I'd like to hear about the conditions in those countries, too."
"Of course. Right, Belluman?"
"Yes. I promise we'll be sure to visit."
"Thank you. Then may the Wind God Loref bless Lu Pu Zea's journey."
With only about three years having passed since they first met, Zodia watched Roa depart, thinking that no one else would ever come along with whom such a deep bond could be forged.
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"May the Wind God Loref's blessing be with Lu Pu Zea."
"May the Wind God Loref's blessing be with the people of Las de Neit as well."
The members of the traveling troupe Las de Neit departed, repeatedly waving to Zodia and the others, saying that they were headed toward the former Riflerea territory, now known as North Rudek.
Lu Pu Zea left Riese Fortress amid an enthusiastic send-off from the Fifth Knight Order, but they made little headway.
That was because other traveling troupes, having heard that Lu Pu Zea was leaving, went so far as to change their schedules to come and express their gratitude.
Since many traveling troupes had been touring Rudek and Golbel, the situation became one of making a little progress, receiving thanks, making a little more progress, and receiving thanks again.
In truth, Lu Pu Zea was a savior to every traveling troupe. This situation was only natural.
And Lu Pu Zea was not the only recipient of the troupes' gratitude.
Every troupe departed saying the same thing: it would repay its gratitude to Roa=Stein in the manner customary for traveling troupes.
The custom of traveling troupes.
That meant the performing arts.
Those who made their living through theater would put on a play with Roa as the protagonist.
Singers would sing songs praising Roa.
They scattered across the continent as storytellers, each using their own art to spread Roa's story.
Thus, Roa, the great strategist, quickly became known throughout the continent as a living legend.