Chapter 48
The cold of the Northern Region freezes people.
This is because it doesn’t just freeze the body, but the mind as well.
Northerners tended to be less active than ordinary people.
In a land where the body must always be tense, who could laugh and chat with ease?
However, a recent special event completely changed this atmosphere.
“Hah… To think that Bigfoot, the nightmare of our Tribe, would die with its legs cut off.”
“They said it was a One-Strike, right?”
“They say no one saw it, though? How is it a One-Strike?”
“The severed surface is too clean. Does it make sense for it to be anything but a One-Strike?”
“Didn’t they say the skin on Bigfoot’s legs is harder and tougher than most metals?”
“It didn’t make sense because it was both hard and tough, but I heard that bastard’s skin is currently in The Center of the Imperial Palace.”
Edelgard, the capital of the Northern Region, which had now changed its name.
In its Grand Plaza hung the head of Bigfoot, one of the Northern Great Demon Beasts.
Treated with Magic so it wouldn’t rot and didn’t even smell.
Bigfoot’s head was perfectly taxidermied for the Northerners to see.
Every time the Northerners saw that head, they talked until their mouths went dry about the greatness of the Crown Prince.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must have just cut it down with a One-Strike, for the… integration of the Northern Tribes.”
“Right, he’s different from people who are all talk. His Highness shows it directly through his actions!”
In truth, simply hanging a single Bigfoot head in the plaza wouldn’t make morale boil over.
Because as long as they maintained the front lines, people were still dropping dead at about the same rate.
Therefore, the reason the Northerners could be so lively right now.
Was fundamentally because the survival rate on the front lines had gone up tremendously.
“I didn’t know Magic was so amazing.”
Magic was actively utilized.
Always before battling the demonic beasts.
Before the demonic beasts even reached the front lines, they established a network of fire through massive amounts of Magic. Through this, they withered the demonic beasts' momentum.
At this time, Estella employed a strategy to deploy soldiers to quickly sweep away the demonic beasts.
“Because His Highness the Grand Duke Estella is well-versed in Magic.”
“If we had only done it like this before, there definitely would have been people who didn’t have to die.”
“Hmph, don’t say things like that needlessly. The days are good lately, so why are you being like this?”
“…You’re right. I couldn’t even think like this in the past, but things have definitely become more relaxed.”
And thanks to this strategy, countless people were able to enjoy a diverse daily life.
It was a truly simple strategy, but the former Northern Grand Duke had only ever ordered unconditional charges.
It was an example showing that it was difficult for a strong general to also be a good strategist.
Furthermore, it wasn’t just this.
“Come, come! Today, finally! Wand No. 3672's new creation! Northern Cheese Sausage! It’s not simply roasted over a fire, but guarantees a different taste from the original through a magical touch!”
“Crazy, this is crazy!”
“We absolutely have to buy Wand No. 3672's new dish!”
The presence of the wizards deployed en masse to the Northern Region brought tremendous convenience to the people.
They scraped together all the heating-related Artifacts in the Magic Tower and scattered them throughout the Northern Region; the effect was truly immense.
The overall survival rate of the Northerners rose exponentially.
Homes became warm, and people gained peace of mind.
“This is all thanks to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Thank you very much.”
Estella expressed deep gratitude to the Crown Prince who made all of this possible.
“A Grand Duke shouldn’t bow so easily.”
Bellon pointed out Estella’s attitude.
“I only did what had to be done. The Northern Region is also the Empire, so naturally I should pay this much attention.”
“Still…”
“I only just did what should have naturally been done… I thought the Grand Duke would reprimand me instead, so it’s a relief that isn’t the case.”
“H-How could I! How could I dare do such a thing to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Many things will change from now on. No matter how cold the Northern Region is, the people living here shouldn’t have to live in hardship.”
“You are right.”
Afterwards, Bellon received a report from Estella on the overall situation of the Northern Region.
Of course, he could see a summary through the Empire Status Window.
But Bellon had learned that this kind of process was also necessary through the Crown Prince’s Memory.
And during that process, he pinpointed the biggest problem at the current moment.
“They aren’t mixing with the Northern Tribes at all.”
“That is correct. There are some tribes we’ve had conflicts with, so…”
“There were actual conflicts?”
“Yes, it seems there was friction with nearby tribes while the former Northern Grand Duke was expanding the front lines. Fortunately, no bloodshed occurred, but still…”
“So it’s hard to trust each other since you’ve crossed swords.”
“That is correct.”
The Northern Tribes and the existing Northerners were not mixing.
“The newly migrated ones must have naturally settled in new residential areas.”
“Yes.”
“I thought they would naturally come out from there, but they’re keeping to themselves. Is that it?”
“That is correct.”
But the funny thing was that on the Battlefield, they were fighting while reliably supporting each other.
“It’s like watching awkward youths at their first social gathering.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.”
For hairy grown men to be this awkward about making new friends, good grief.
“We’ll have to do a food culture exchange later.”
“A food culture exchange, you say?”
“Originally, people get close by exchanging the food they eat.”
I should arrange a picnic or something.
Bellon muttered like that, then said.
“By the way, you said there’s a Warrior who is distinguishing himself?”
“That is correct.”
He finally brought up the main point.
“His name?”
“He is called Gorhan. He’s from the Black Mane Tribe, and he says he is walking the path to becoming a Great Warrior, in his own words.”
“The path to becoming a Great Warrior?”
“Yes, he said he will prove himself by hunting those called Great Demon Beasts.”
Great Northern Warrior, Gorhan.
Mirne would newly recruit a harem member.
Assuming the Demon King actually appeared in the Empire.
The Northern Great Warrior’s position would likely be around that of a Warrior.
“Did he meet Mirne?”
“…Are you speaking of Crown Princess Mirne? If it’s Crown Princess Mirne of the Maselin Kingdom, I haven’t received any reports of her coming here.”
“Is that so.”
As soon as he heard the answer to his follow-up question, he wondered if he had asked too obvious a question.
He didn’t know what kind of trick she was pulling, but it seemed impossible to detect Mirne through normal methods at the very least.
[Whether it’s Magic, Mystic Power, or the power of a Spirit]
Still, he could now deal with it no matter what method she used.
Thinking so, Bellon tried to change the subject appropriately, but
“If Crown Princess Mirne, no, if Mirne has perhaps secretly infiltrated the Northern Region, we could use this as an excuse to…”
Estella, noticing the subtle change in the Crown Prince’s expression, immediately took action.
“No, I was just saying it, so you don’t need to pay it any mind.”
“But…”
“Rather than worrying about such things, when you arrange a picnic soon, I’d like you to save a seat for me as well.”
“I will absolutely do so!”
But naturally, proving traces of Mirne’s Infiltration would be impossible at this point in time.
It was right to just quietly focus on what could be done right now.
[Gorhan, was it? I should go see him.]
Since he had heard everything he needed to hear.
Bellon was about to leave Estella’s office like that.
“U-Um, Y-Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Hmm?”
“…I heard there were various incidents in the Holy Kingdom.”
Estella urgently spoke up, catching Bellon.
“Did that story reach all the way to the Northern Region? I didn’t know.”
From what happened in the Southern Empire to the Proclamation Ceremony of Heavenly Mandate,
There were certainly many things related to the Holy Kingdom.
These were days that could be considered quite busy even in retrospect.
While Bellon was briefly lost in reminiscing about the past, Estella maintained a stiff face and forced her words out with difficulty.
“I am truly relieved that nothing happened to you. P-Please… I hope you only ever have good things happen to you.”
Even though there wasn’t a single word in the sentence that was hard to say just by hearing it.
Estella, for whatever reason she found it so awkward and embarrassing, clenched her fists tightly and barely finished her sentence.
Bellon smiled faintly at that sight.
“I also hope the Grand Duke is always happy.”
With those words, he left the office.
Estella stood in the office where the Crown Prince had just departed.
“I couldn’t even properly thank him for saving me back then… I never knew expressing myself could be this awkward.”
Estella blamed her woodenness.
+++++
While being incorporated into the Northern Region,
Most of them ended up settling near the capital, close to the front lines.
“Mmm! This kind of life is definitely better than Tribe life!”
“Gorhan, is that even a question? Stating the obvious.”
However, no matter how close they were, they couldn’t settle all the numerous Northern Tribes right next to the capital.
With the help of the existing Northerners, they were able to build quite a well-built village.
It was still sloppy and had many places that needed work.
Because a system was established, there were many more satisfying aspects than in their previous Tribe life.
The Northern Tribesmen were all in a very happy atmosphere.
As this atmosphere continued, naturally, the number of people thinking about starting a Family also increased.
And the most representative among them.
“I’d like to live in a place exactly like this with the woman I met a while ago. No, I wish it were an even better place than here.”
It was none other than Gorhan.
Dreaming of becoming the Northern Great Warrior, he hadn’t yet obtained the title, though his physique suggested he was more than ready.
He possessed an incredibly large physique and an easygoing impression.
Although most of his face was covered in unkempt hair and a beard.
The gaze that occasionally showed through gave a glimpse of how handsome he was.
“What do you mean by thinking about marriage with someone you met a while ago? Are you crazy?”
Gorhan’s friend teased him, as if his words were nonsense.
“No, I will still absolutely marry her. She taught me gentleness! To me, who only pursued strength…”
Gorhan spoke as if he wanted to keep the memory from a few days ago for the rest of his life.
“I’d like to hear the story in detail about this woman you met a while ago.”
Right then, a handsome man with Golden Hair and Red Eyes interrupted their conversation.
[He’s strong.]
As soon as Gorhan saw the handsome man, he felt his body tense up immediately.
It was an unbelievable strength. He was suppressing it as much as possible, but he could tell it was evident.
It was a strength that couldn’t be suppressed just by trying to suppress it.
His competitive Spirit boiled over.
He was already feeling regretful that Bigfoot had been caught by someone else.
A strong person suddenly appeared like this right in front of his eyes.
“…Heh heh, if you want to hear it in detail, first defeat me - urk!”
Wanting to properly spar for once, Gorhan suggested a bout.
WHAM!
Before he could even finish his sentence, Gorhan’s body flew straight back and smashed into a cliff.
“I won’t fault you for not recognizing me, since that’s not what I came here for.”
This was the handsome man who had sent Gorhan flying in an instant.
The Crown Prince, Bellon, swept back his hair and smiled deeply.
“Right, while we’re at it, shall we find out just how sturdily you are built?”
A setup where he’d spit out information if you beat him up - how simple was that?
Realizing that he would be able to hear a great many stories today, the Crown Prince smiled joyfully.