Chapter 26
The beginning and end changing isn't particularly strange, whether in the world of magic or reality.
When I first requested King Germis to grant me the El Berg Mountains, I just planned to hole up there.
Two years on the battlefield and three years in the Demon Realm.
In the grand scheme of life, it's just a fleeting moment, but when I realized I'd wasted about a fifth of my life, the despair I felt then made my broken engagement with Karin seem like a joke.
It felt as if powerlessness had replaced my blood, coursing through my entire body. I had no strength, no thoughts.
I just wanted to give up on everything, but when I came to my senses, in just a week, many people had gathered around me.
It all started with Ivanna.
Even if her initial intentions were different, I have nothing but gratitude for her.
"Is this not enough to recruit craftsmen and procure materials?"
I added my personal savings and the funds entrusted by the Baron's group to the two platinum coins on the desk.
Both amounts were insignificant compared to the funds Ivanna had prepared, but I added them anyway.
Viscount Hamkin waved his hands and said, "It's more than enough! If we add the support funds I was originally planning to give, we could relocate entire guilds, not just recruit craftsmen!"
"Support funds? But that would..."
"Please consider this my investment. After hearing the maid's story, I can guess the situation to some extent. None of us know when we might end up like the Baron."
"......"
While explaining the source of the funds, I unintentionally let slip what had happened in the kingdom.
Hamkin was shocked, but not to the point where his thoughts stopped, as mine had back then. He continued speaking with the attitude befitting an official in charge of a region.
"If that story is true, it explains some things that have been puzzling me. Including the fact that this country's fate isn't long."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Your Excellency. Given the situation, we'll stake this city's fate on your relocation. I'll also inform an administrative officer I'm close with."
"Heh, that'll help when absorbing the royal family's direct territories after everything goes down."
"Haha, you're more suited to be a general or strategist than a maid. Well then, Your Excellency, can we summon the guilds right away?"
"It's early morning, so it might be better around lunchtime."
We need to feed the newly added refugees too.
They might be terrified of demon magic, but isn't it better than starving?
"I hadn't thought of that. I'll spread rumors to the merchants in advance, though. Those folks don't care about day or night!"
When I returned to Bart after feeding the refugees in the temporary camp, several burly men had gathered in front of the government building.
They all had at least one or two impressive scars on their bodies, looking like warriors or carpenters.
As I was about to approach them, Ivanna, who was holding my arm, whispered quietly.
"Master. Why don't you descend from the sky?"
"From the sky?"
"A leader should have appropriate dignity, but wearing a crown or fancy clothes on the street would just look ridiculous."
She meant I needed to show off my power for smooth negotiations by descending from the sky.
Flight magic is high-level magic that can't be freely handled unless you're a fairly skilled magician.
It wasn't just about magical hierarchy, which is why even on the battlefield, magicians who could handle it were few and far between.
I'm not sure if they know this fact, but even if they don't, it doesn't really matter.
Anyone who isn't a fool would immediately recognize that someone descending from the sky isn't an opponent to be taken lightly, even if they don't understand magic.
Honestly, I don't like the idea of intimidating them.
But the result of endless concessions and boundless mercy might have been the relationship between Karin and me.
Moreover, I'm about to ask them to come with me to a place where they might die. How could I show weakness to them?
I flew up into the sky gracefully, then descended through the crowd of carpenters and blacksmiths, landing on the ground.
It was nothing special to me, but for them, it was definitely abnormal.
When a strange magician appeared in the center of their gathering, they initially stepped back in surprise, but quickly changed their expressions, trying to act nonchalant.
They all seemed to have guessed who I was, so I didn't hear the cliché "Who are you?"
Now what do I do?
Even though I was told to establish dignity, I had no experience with this either, so like them, my mind froze and my body stopped moving.
"Your Excellency!"
As I was momentarily flustered, Viscount Hamkin poked his head out of the window and called me with a bewildered expression.
Seeming to have guessed the situation from looking around, he chuckled and shouted to me.
"The craftsmen have gathered faster than expected. The guild leaders are waiting inside."
"I see. I saw people gathered in front of the government office and thought there might be a problem."
After saying this, I realized my mistake.
Wouldn't this sound like I came to solve that problem?
As the craftsmen tensed up, I tried to smile as friendly as possible to clear up any misunderstandings.
Then, in a calm tone, I spoke to the one who looked the oldest among them.
"I hope we can work together in the future. I'll see you again soon."
"Ah, yes..."
******
The guild leaders gathered upstairs looked so rough that if I hadn't been told they were guild leaders, they wouldn't have looked out of place in a prison.
It was unavoidable for people who do hard labor to meet such types of people often.
They didn't seem to have very positive feelings towards me, as they only glanced at me sideways when I entered, never making direct eye contact.
"I've already explained the Count's situation. It seems they haven't made up their minds yet."
"Ah, is that so...?"
I wonder how he explained it for them to avoid eye contact so thoroughly, as if they were looking at Medusa?
Feeling like the conversation might get complicated, I quietly said to the Viscount.
"They've been avoiding eye contact since earlier. Did I do something wrong?"
"Ah, no! They all believe some strange rumors! You know, the rumor that magicians can control minds just by making eye contact?"
"Ah, I see."
People unfamiliar with magicians often believed such superstitious stories.
Of course, even a succubus specializing in charm magic couldn't use such magic just by making eye contact.
To begin with, such charm magic makes thinking simplistic, so while it might be suitable for simple labor, it's not appropriate for work requiring knowledge like construction.
"Many people have such misunderstandings. If you're really uncomfortable, we can talk with your eyes closed or covered."
The craftsmen's wariness began to dissipate, probably not expecting a noble to go that far.
"Ah, no... That won't be necessary."
"I'm glad. I prefer making eye contact; it feels more sincere."
"...You're an unusual one. So, how much of this talk about wanting to pioneer the El Berg Mountains is true?"
"Wouldn't it be better to attack and take over neighboring territories rather than pioneering the El Berg Mountains?"
"Hey, you lot! Watch your words! This person is—"
"No, it's fine."
Just as the Viscount was about to stop them, thinking they were being too rude, I held out my hand to signal that there was no need and spoke instead.
"You're right, if I wanted good land, it might be better to wage war and take it. For example, a place like this Bart."
"Ah, no..."
"The royal family might not be able to send troops to Bart even if there's a rebellion. All the famous generals representing the kingdom are at the front lines. Even if they send someone, it would be a no-name commander."
"L-look here, I didn't mean it like that..."
"I know. I have no such intentions either."
"W-what?"
"...The fear of being invaded by someone. It's the same for everyone. Not just Bart, but everywhere else would feel the same. That's why I don't want to do such things."
That's why we need to aim for empty land.
There's also the reason that it's the land I can handle best, but right now, this is the biggest reason.
"I plan to accommodate refugees who lost their homes in the war and make them my people. So I can't create more refugees. That's the reason."
"......"
"......"
The conference room fell into silence.
The two guild leaders who had been staring intently into my eyes, realizing my words weren't lies, nodded.
"My lord... We understand your heart. And truthfully, it's not such a bad story for us."
"What? Really?"
"It's true, Administrative Officer. As you know, our young ones are exempt from conscription due to public works and such. But how long will that last?"
Young craftsmen were exempt from conscription due to repair work on castles and fortresses, but if the war intensified further, they wouldn't be able to avoid conscription.
However, if they were deployed to pioneer the El Berg Mountains, it seemed they thought it would be another excuse to avoid conscription.
No matter how desperate for recruits, they wouldn't send conscription officers to such a demon-infested land.
"It's not about money, it's about safety. My lord, if we send our children, can you keep them safe? If you can guarantee that, we'll send not only them but also some of our most experienced men!"
"I can guarantee it, but swearing on my honor or something similar wouldn't be convincing, would it?"
The two men nodded.
I've seen too many cases in history books where oaths sworn on honor were broken, so I don't find them very believable either.
But how else could I reassure them...
Should I show them magic that splits mountains?
No, if that caused a landslide, more than just one or two people would die.
After pondering what to do, I once again brought out my magical beasts.
"Everyone, let's step outside for a moment."
The two guild leaders and Viscount Hamkin tilted their heads, showing signs of unease as they went outside.
Once outside, the carpenters gathered in front of the main entrance looked at the two guild leaders, unable to grasp the situation, but they had no words to offer in return.
"Um... I'm going to demonstrate my power now. However, this might be a somewhat shocking sight, so please brace yourselves."
"No, what are you going to show..."
"The spirits and magical beasts I command."
"W-wait—!!"
Faster than Viscount Hamkin could speak, a shadow shot up into the sky, gradually eating away at the blue expanse and creating a black rift in the heavens.
As everyone was struck speechless by the surreal sight, just staring at the blackened sky—
Crack.
With a bizarre sound that no one had ever heard before, as if the sky itself was being torn apart, two enormous hands ripped through the sky, asserting their presence.
What emerged from the rift was a chimeric magical beast with three heads and hundreds of pairs of eyes, along with a mass of flame and lightning.
Three sharp, dragon-like heads adorned with hundreds of pairs of eyes.
The name of this grotesque magical beast, clearly not a natural being, was Dahaka, the Composite Beast.
It was a magical beast with power rivaling a corps commander, a composite beast that had absorbed all sorts of magical beasts and manifested the power of the Demon Eyes.
Behind Dahaka, a strange being straddling the line between human and beast, composed of intertwined flame and lightning, peeked out its head, observing the craftsmen.
This child was, so to speak, a hybrid of countless fire spirits and lightning spirits.
Strictly speaking, the term "chimera" might be more accurate, but neither I nor the child liked that expression.
Its name was Ketu.
Despite its appearance, it was a tender-hearted and shy child, and even now it seemed slightly embarrassed.
These were my strongest magical beast and strongest spirit.
They are my subordinates who will lead the way in conquering the El Berg Mountains.
"Well? If these children protect them, your sons and daughters can live without worry—"
"We get it, so please put those things away quickly!!! Oh, Goddess!!!"
That prayer won't be answered.