第２９８堀：火の杖 (Part2)
"There's nothing dangerous about this story itself. The problem starts from here. About a month ago, I was escorting a merchant to the Holy Capital of the Hifi Theocracy. The merchant I was with didn't have much cargo, but the merchants from outside—meaning, anywhere other than the August region—were hauling massive amounts of food. And iron, mostly. Even though there wasn't any talk of famine..."
"What do you mean by that?"
Teles-chan didn't seem to grasp the implication.
Gathering supplies like food.
And doing so when there was no famine...
There was only one answer.
"You mean they're planning a large-scale military operation?"
"Exactly."
"What!? A military operation, for what? The small nations around August have been quiet lately, haven't they? Isn't it just for monster subjugation?"
"That’s what I thought at first, too. But the information was all over the place. There were rumors of monster hunting, and other stories about settling border skirmishes. So, I asked a soldier I know in Hifi. And then..."
"And then?"
"It sounds ridiculous, but they were dead serious when they said every single soldier had been issued a magic sword."
"No way!"
"I had the same reaction as you, Teles-chan. And get this—the soldier I knew was a man. He didn't even meet the prerequisite of being a woman, which is the standard for a magic sword wielder."
"Well, obviously! Magic swords can only be used by people with strong talent, like my big sister."
Right. The common sense of this New Continent is that only women can wield magic swords.
However, I know better.
It’s likely that the previous inhabitants just set it up that way, and I happen to know an acquaintance who could make things that make magic swords look like toys—things anyone can use.
He’s mostly a drinking buddy of mine, though.
So, to me, their "common sense" is fragile.
But to them, it’s an absolute truth.
"But that soldier friend of mine insisted he was an exception and actually showed me how he used the magic sword."
"Ehh? Was it really the real deal? Didn't he just use magic on the sly?"
"No, the guy can't even use magic. So, it was probably real. Though, nobody believes me."
Right. Perhaps they’ve been hiding behind that shield of "common sense" all this time.
People hate having their common sense overturned.
Countless people have been flustered when facing my husband.
Myself included, I suppose.
"So, it seems the goal was to use that power to keep neighboring countries in check and handle local monster subjugation."
"Ah, that explains it."
"That’s the gist of it. There’s a chance you’ll run into the Hifi Theocracy while they’re out hunting bandits or monsters. This lake is right near the border. Well, I don't think they'd pick a fight with August, but since you're civilians, you could easily get caught in the crossfire or mistaken for bandits. It’s best to watch the Hifi Theocracy’s movements for a while."
"I see. We should be careful, too."
"Indeed."
"That would be wise. Milly and the others are saying the same thing, so don't you go telling your old man you want to go out there, Teles-chan. And obviously, you aren't going alone, either."
"I know that! My father wouldn't be the type to miss gathering this kind of information. I wouldn't go out to a place like this by myself."
It was a stroke of luck to hear about the Hifi Theocracy.
Momento-san’s words are likely the truth; there is no doubt that the Hifi Theocracy is the one making moves.
Judging by the story, they must have found a way to mass-produce magic swords and lift the usage restrictions.
It aligns with what Yuki-san told me, so the credibility is high.
While I was lost in thought, the conversation shifted to other local landmarks, and nothing else particularly caught my interest.
Just the usual talk about powerful monsters appearing on the road to the Academy.
Just as the conversation was wrapping up, a man called out to Momento-san.
"Yo, Momento. What’s this? Picking up women?"
"Nah, these two are in the same line of work. Your eyes going bad?"
"...Oh, you're right. Actually, wait. This is bad. These two aren't just some amateurs."
"Nice to meet you."
"We aren't that special. Are you a mage?"
The man was holding a staff.
Kirika naturally turned her gaze toward it.
"Hm? Oh, well, I was somewhat famous at the Academy back in the day."
"Don't listen to him. He wasn't even a single-digit ranker; he was barely a double-digit."
"Shut up!"
Momento-san, who was laughing as he spoke, suddenly opened his mouth as if he’d just remembered something.
"Come to think of it, I saw a strange staff in the Hifi Theocracy."
"Huh? You mean that story about the men equipping magic swords?"
"No, this was different from a magic sword. That soldier said it was a 'fire staff'—it was made of iron... it looked like a staff, sort of."
"Why are you phrasing it like a question?"
"Well, the shape was strange for a staff..."
Momento-san dipped his finger into his glass and began drawing the shape of the staff on the table with water.
"...That doesn't look like a staff."
"I know, but that's what it looked like. The soldier held it sideways, pressing the handle part against his arm."
"That’s not how you use a staff. And you said it was iron? What makes it a 'fire staff'?"
"Who knows? He didn't demonstrate it. Something about the center being hollow, and fire spraying out from the hole..."
"!!?"
We couldn't quite visualize it at first, but Momento-san's last words made us realize what it was.
Not planting it in the ground, holding it horizontally, made of iron, hollow in the center, and fire spraying out.
We looked at each other.
"A gun."
Since the drawing was made of water, we couldn't tell what type of gun it was, but we both reached the same conclusion.
I remember Jessica mentioning it.
That there was a country elsewhere that summoned people from another world and achieved rapid development.
"Hey, Momento-san. Is there any talk about someone from another land coming to the Hifi Theocracy and helping them develop?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. I think I heard something about them summoning a hero who surpassed the Holy Sword wielders in the name of God a few years back."
"That’s just a bluff, surely. Nothing has happened since then, and nothing has really changed."
"But the Hifi side seems to be thriving since they summoned that hero, doesn't it?"
"Is that what a hero is supposed to do?"
"I suppose."
...It seems certain that there is an outsider there.
And considering they are making things that resemble guns.
There is a high probability that someone summoned from Yuki-san’s world is in the Hifi Theocracy.
This is bad.
I have to tell Yuki-san immediately!!
"Thank you. I just remembered an urgent matter. Teles-chan, here’s the money. Momento-san, and your friend, thank you too. If anything else comes up, we’ll be back."
"Excuse us."
We said that and bolted out of the shop.
"Seriously, this is way beyond 'troublesome'!!"
"I hope they aren't on the same level as the Master."
"If they are, the New Continent will be a sea of flames. Regardless, I’m telling Yuki-san about this!!"
"Understood!!"
An otherworlder appears! And guns!!
A serious modern war is beginning.
Not a grand stage like a Monster King battle.
This is the start of a full-blown information war!!