第１９１９堀：北部は穏やかでっす (Part1)
**Chapter 1919: The North is Peaceful**
Side: Vilia
"How should I put it... it feels like the information is being strangely manipulated."
"Indeed. While the North is this tranquil, the Central region is in a total uproar, like a hornet’s nest that’s been kicked."
Just as Kishua-san and Sia-san said, the situation in the North is quite different from what we had initially heard. Our journey has been unexpectedly peaceful. Thanks to that, I’ve had plenty of time to relax at the inns and discuss the information my brother heard from Ena.
"Sia is wrong. Specifically, they are only staying quiet for now. There is trouble brewing, but it is still beneath the surface."
"Ah, well, I suppose it hasn't broken out into a major disturbance just yet."
"That is true. Though I suspect it is only a matter of time. Thanks to this delay, most of our preparations have ended up being for nothing."
"Yeah. Well, at least we haven't run into anything truly nauseating yet."
As Sia-san and Kishua-san noted, we haven't discovered any instances of demi-humans being captured or tortured here in the North. Instead, they are treated as precious comrades in the fight against the monsters. Consequently, we haven't had to play the role of "masked heroes" to rescue anyone; our work has been limited to light investigations of the churches and lordly manors.
"However, we cannot let our guard down. The discrepancy between the information in the North and the Center is too great. Someone is damming the flow of news. That is proof enough that there are enemies in the North."
"It certainly is strange that they claim to know nothing of the march on Oue. You’d think at least a few rumors would have trickled through, but there’s nothing."
It has been over ten days since we entered the North. We’ve moved on to our second town, yet there isn't a single word regarding the Central region, let alone the South. It is, quite frankly, unnatural.
"Well, it’s a mystery, but the people in the North are busy fighting monsters. I suppose it wouldn't be strange for them to be entirely focused on that."
"The possibility isn't zero. It’s also possible they know and are simply ignoring it. If they believe that the demi-humans currently in the North would head for the Central region if they knew the truth—leaving the Northern front unable to hold—then they would certainly restrict that information."
I see; that’s a valid perspective. If the treatment of demi-humans in the Central region became public knowledge, the demi-humans here would undoubtedly be furious. Many would likely take action. Given that the monster offensive is currently intensifying, such a defection would lead to a catastrophic defeat. Blocking information to prevent that is perfectly logical.
"Regardless, we cannot leave this alone. It is almost certain that the Clearstream Church is the source. We should use Archbishop Dodona’s connections to head toward their Great Temple in the North."
"True. If we head to the Kingdom of Ioa as adventurers, we can look into the Clearstream Church while taking on jobs. That would give us a perfect cover."
"I wonder. It wouldn't be surprising if the people behind all this have already set some kind of trap at the Great Temple."
"It is best to gather information cautiously. If we go around broadcasting Archbishop Dodona’s recommendation, we might catch the enemy's eye. Also, the existence of a Demon Lord hasn't been ruled out."
"A Demon Lord...?"
"Isn't the probability of that quite low?"
Kishua-san and Sia-san responded to Nina-san’s words with a look of slight exasperation. I also felt that blaming a Demon Lord might be a bit of a stretch.
"Low probability or not, there is a reason the name 'Demon Lord' is being whispered. Alternatively, it’s possible that a faction of the Demon Lord really is attacking the North, and they are a separate force entirely unrelated to the people in the Center."
"Wait a second. I mean, it’s possible, but if what Nina says is true, wouldn't that mean a two-front war? The people doing whatever they want at the Clearstream Church in the Center, and the Demon Lord’s lot attacking the North?"
"It feels like our headaches are only multiplying."
"Yes. I think my brother is going to be clutching his head over this."
He already has his hands full with the New Continent, and now there might be two separate causes for the chaos here. No...
"Could the northward migration of monsters in the South also be something separate?"
"..."
Kishua-san and Sia-san fell silent at my question. Then, Nina spoke with her usual expressionless face.
"Actually, the 'Great Flood' of monsters coming from the South is the most likely to be unrelated. We still haven't found a cause, but seeing as they aren't conducting organized attacks, they can be viewed as an independent phenomenon."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If the North or Center were systematically moving the southern monsters, it would be impossible for the monster supply to simply dry up like this. No matter how powerful Yuki and the others are, an enemy wouldn't commit their entire force at once. There would be reserves."
"That makes sense. If there were a commander or someone pulling the strings, the southern lands wouldn't be this quiet now."
"It’s far too quiet to say they simply thought they could win by throwing everything they had at us."
"Could they be standing by to observe the situation because my brother and the others from Weed appeared?"
It’s true that Oue might have fallen if Weed hadn't intervened. I thought perhaps the enemy's plans had been derailed, and they were now focused on gathering intelligence, but...
"...The chance isn't zero. However, those who attacked Oue were only a small fraction of the monsters moving north. Most of them entered the forest. If there were a commander..."
"Ah, that part is definitely unnatural. They should have at least concentrated their forces on Oue. Though, I suppose the current situation is still a nuisance."
"Indeed. The countries bordering Oue and the forest are struggling because the monsters that entered from the wasteland have stirred up the woods. Hunting and gathering have become dangerous, and travel is risky. It’s making life very difficult for the people..."
"...So you're saying it's strange that they aren't being *more* directly disruptive?"
"Yes. Concentrating force is the obvious choice if a commander exists. Above all, if they had taken Oue, they would have opened a direct route to strike the southern nations. It would be far easier than pushing through the forest. And if the monsters won't follow orders, then they can't really be counted as a strategic force to begin with."
That was true. If the goal was to damage the southern nations, it would be much more efficient to take Oue with total force rather than letting the monsters seep aimlessly into the forest.