第１５１１堀：当時の国内情勢について (Part2)
Thanks to Shera’s cooperation, we were able to move forward, though the divine protection she bestowed upon the Litea Church—which acted more like pouring oil on a fire—did wonders for our collective indigestion.
"I see. So you were in Hinsua at that time?"
"That’s right~. It was just before they annexed Vinosia, but there was already a massive influx of refugees flowing in~."
"I had heard reports of such things from the field, but I never imagined Lilishe-sama had been there... However, Vinosia’s annexation occurred while we were in the midst of subjugating the Demon Lord. Does that mean the migration had already begun back then?"
"It wasn't as long a gap as you might think~. Maybe a few months to half a year at most~. Well, things were truly dire, it seems~. I heard the stories myself from the people who fled at the time~. They said the taxes were so heavy they had nothing left to eat, and in many places, it had devolved into open conflict between the lords and the peasantry~."
"That is..."
"Ah, so it had reached that point, had it?"
When a nation stops protecting its people and they start tearing each other apart, it’s truly the end of the line. Destroying one’s own source of revenue is a one-way ticket to national collapse. And indeed, the nation had vanished—it was no laughing matter. For the people caught in the middle, it was even worse. They had migrated precisely because they realized they couldn't survive if they stayed.
"But you see~, the surrounding countries were also drowning in debt. Taking in the subjects of a nation that was squeezing its own people dry and even attacking them? That requires a tremendous amount of resolve~."
"……Litea had also issued notices to the surrounding nations, warning them not to meddle carelessly in Vinosia’s affairs."
As Rurua spoke with a pained expression, Seraria, who had been listening quietly until now, finally opened her mouth.
"Rurua’s judgment was not wrong. Even with the support they had received up to that point, there was nothing to be done. Unless one intended to go to war with Vinosia, accepting refugees was impossible. Between the debt collectors and the need to project strength through annexation, any other stance would have been truly disastrous."
She’s right. As Seraria pointed out, if they had accepted refugees recklessly, the Kingdom of Vinosia might have branded them enemies and launched an invasion. After all, by conquering them, they could seize not just resources, but money as well. They wouldn't have wanted to provide a pretext for an attack. Or rather, if they had taken in refugees, Vinosia would have likely blamed the poverty on those very countries to stir up national unity—the classic tactic of providing a convenient scapegoat.
Then, Eris and Ratz chimed in.
"As I mentioned before, the debt collectors would have come knocking on the annexed territory, so in that sense, we couldn't just intervene blindly. Above all, I doubt the Litea of that time had the luxury to do so."
"Haha, back then we were paying quite a hefty indemnity to Weed—or rather, to Roschur—and our internal affairs were in shambles, so~."
That’s true. At the time, we had forced the migration of ten thousand people to Weed, demanded payment for the costs, and crushed the dissenters ourselves. Furthermore, Alstaire was busy punishing those who had driven Rurua out; Litea was in a state of absolute chaos. They certainly didn't have the capacity to intervene in the problems of a small nation.
"I understand that Lilishe is well-versed in the internal situation. So, regarding our upcoming actions against Hinsua and Vinosia, what route do you think would be best?"
Exactly. I had brought this up with these two not just to gather information, but to scout out infiltration routes. I had hoped for someone knowledgeable, but the fact that Lilishe had actually worked in Hinsua was a massive advantage for us.
"Well now~. I’m sure I still have former colleagues in the Hinsua Kingdom’s church, so it would be best to contact them first and move through those channels~. As for contacting the upper echelons of the Hinsua Kingdom... I’ll leave that to your judgment~. We should adjust what we tell Alstaire-chan accordingly~."
"Indeed. If we intend to infiltrate without alerting the Hinsua Kingdom, there is no point in contacting the upper echelons. Alstaire-sama was quite concerned about the outcome of this auction, so we cannot avoid speaking with her. She was also worried about Canaria-san’s future."
"So, the first order of business is deciding which route to take."
Well, that makes sense. It’s a matter involving another country; we can’t decide it on our own. That brings us to the prerequisite.
"Shall we call Canaria and confirm?"
"Hm? Is she alright now?"
Lowell asked with a look of surprise.
"I’m not sure how to define 'alright,' but she’s mentally stable. She can hold a conversation, and she’s been eating her meals properly. Though, apparently, she spent a few days suffering from a bloated stomach."
"Ah, well, that should be fine. If she can eat her fill of delicious food, there’s no problem."
I wanted to say, *That’s not the same as you*, but I held my tongue and contacted Ria and Dressa.
Do you remember when Lilishe was summoned? It seems Vinosia was in total chaos at that time. It was around the fourth volume, I believe, when Shera and Kirue first appeared.