第７１６堀：てがみのなかみ (Part1)
Chapter 716: The Contents of the Letter
Side: Noble Ex
What on earth am I doing here?
"Hey, put your back into it! Is that really how the man called the God of Swords swings his blade? And you, God of War, your efficiency is abysmal! Like this, move like this..."
Behind us, the strangely fired-up Faide, God of Agriculture, is raising his voice and barking orders.
"...Damn it. Getting involved in this was a mistake."
The one muttering bitterly beside me is Nogosh, the God of Swords—a fellow deity like myself—who, just like me, is currently swinging a hoe and slamming it into the dirt.
Why has it come to this? I want to ask, but thanks to that, I remember that we were the ones who sought out this situation in the first place.
Yes, it was just last night.
"A letter from a child... I’ve never had children of my own, so I wouldn't know, but surely it must be filled with all sorts of emotions."
"I suppose so."
Nogosh and I were discussing this on our way home. We had just finished a meeting with Yuki regarding the letters addressed to Faide and Lilishe.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a matter of much concern, but the timing was atrocious. These letters appeared just as intercontinental exchange was about to begin—letters from their two deceased daughters.
If the letters contained anything untoward, it could worsen the already strained relationship between the two. Furthermore, Lilishe is the very deity worshipped by the Ritea Holy Religion, a major faith and nation on the Rogari Continent. Among us gods, she is the goddess with the most profound influence on the mortal world.
While she is generally a very gentle goddess, she is scathing toward her ex-husband, the God of Agriculture, Faide. If the letters were to incite that friction, it wouldn't just be a massive scandal; it could potentially halt the intercontinental exchange entirely.
We are friends, and as fellow gods, we want to trust them, but trust alone is not enough. One cannot entrust the future of so many people solely to the hope that things will turn out well.
Yuki, who received the letters, surely understood this gravity when he consulted us, but without a clear strategy, we decided to deliver them to each of them separately. It was deemed easier to handle any fallout that way.
Thus, we were tasked with being present when Faide received his letter to verify its contents.
"But how are we supposed to be present when he opens it?"
"A drinking party is out of the question, isn't it?"
"Indeed. I’ve never seen Faide lose his temper while drunk, but this is a delicate matter. It’s not something to be revealed when one’s judgment is clouded by alcohol."
"Hmm. In that case..."
As we were brainstorming how to watch Faide open the letter after our meeting with Yuki, I suddenly received a call from him.
"Hm? What is it? Did he forget to tell us something?"
I wondered, and when I answered the call...
『A problem has arisen. After the meeting, the High Elf Queen, who knows about the letters, arrived in Weed.』
"Hmm. So what of it?"
Beside me, Nogosh tilts his head in confusion.
『Are you still all muscle where your brain should be?! Simply put, what happens if they find out we haven't delivered the letters to Faide and Lilishe yet? Our international credibility will plummet.』
"But surely that can't be helped, given our circumstances?"
『If it ended there, that explanation might suffice, but what happens if Faide or Lilishe hears that we were holding onto the letters?』
"...That would be disastrous. It would mean we were hiding them."
『Exactly. And if the contents of the letter are a bombshell, it’s even worse. So, I want to move up the delivery date. Specifically, by tomorrow.』
"That’s sudden."
『There’s no point in dragging this out, so we’ll do it all at once. Besides, that’s about as long as we can keep the High Elf Queen distracted. If she’s allowed to wander around Weed freely, that would be a real headache.』
Indeed, unless we place restrictions on the Queen’s visit or stop Faide and Lilishe from moving, there’s no way to keep this hidden. Either way, the risk is high. If we’re suspected, it’s over.
『So, I’m counting on you. Hifie and Nonoa are already handling Lilishe. Leave the delivery to Aslin and the others; I’ll be the one to deliver the letter to Faide, so decide how you’re going to be present for the handover.』
"Wait, what are Hifie and Nonoa planning to do?"
『Oh, they have plenty to talk about regarding the training of a new goddess.』
Ah, right, there was someone like that.
『Well, even if that weren't the case, women seem to have tea parties with just women all the time, so they felt they could manage it easily.』
"I see."
"But it would be strange for us to join a tea party, wouldn't it? And we already ruled out drinking."
『Drinking is definitely out... Well, wouldn't a normal meal be fine? I’ll join you there.』
"...That’s the best approach. Nogosh and I will finish our work early and come to Weed before noon. Then, we’ll head straight to a meal."
"Hmm. Not bad."
『Then it’s settled. I’ll be guiding the High Elf Queen through the commercial district for free exploration in the morning. That should keep her occupied for the day.』
"True. If we leave her there, that should be enough of a distraction."
"A week wouldn't be enough just to tour all the food stalls, after all."
And so, around noon—or rather, around 10:00 AM—I met up with Nogosh and showed our faces at Faide’s farmland in Weed, but...
"Hm? Lunch? No, I still have work to do... Oh, that’s right. You two, give me a hand."
Caught by those words, we foolishly agreed to help, and as a result...
"Don't collapse from just this! A farmer's job is to fight the earth every single day without rest. What are you two whining about?!"
We ended up being strictly taught farm work by Faide, the God of Agriculture. It’s a good experience, I suppose, but...
"...This is tough. Tougher than I imagined."
"How is this anything like swinging a sword? My arms won't even lift tomorrow..."
The act of simply digging up the earth that stretches out before you is mentally exhausting. I had instructed my subordinates to cultivate farmland, but I never realized it was this grueling. Knowing about it and actually doing it are two entirely different things.
I finally understand why farmers are so reluctant to part with their land. How could I ever let land that required this much toil be easily seized by those in power? And war is even worse.
Realizing this belatedly, Nogosh and I swing our hoes, challenging the earth...
"Man, you really saved me. John was supposed to plow this all at once with the cultivation machine today, but he’s busy with other work."
I see, so we were used as substitutes for this "John" fellow. As I was nodding in understanding, Nogosh tilted his head.
"Hm? Wait a second, is this John the Orc under Yuki’s command?"
"Yeah. He’s an amazing farmer. Especially when it comes to growing vegetables, he’s even better than I am."
...John is that Orc General? Yuki’s subordinates really can do anything.
"Here. Cold barley tea. It’s the best on a hot day."
Saying that, Faide hands us the barley tea, and I gulp it down. The fragrant aroma of the roasted barley spreads through my mouth, and the coldness soothes my parched throat.
" "Phew..." "
Ah, is this heaven? It was a moment of healing, but...
"So, what did you two come here for?"
" "..." "
I felt as if I had been plunged straight into hell.
"You, you...!" Nogosh starts to shout, unable to accept being cast into hell, but I quickly silence him.
If we reveal the truth about the letter here, everything will be ruined, and all of this will have been for nothing.