第１９２８堀：新大陸の最新情報まとめ (Part1)
Chapter 1928: Summary of the Latest Intelligence on the New Continent
Side: Stasia
“...And so, the situation in the vicinity of Oue has certainly calmed down compared to the state of war we saw initially. The number of monsters emerging from the forest is also on a downward trend.”
I present the report for the Oue region covering the past month.
While calling it the "main theater of war" might be a stretch, since the coalition forces—primarily the Giadana Kingdom—were repelled, the conflict has shifted toward the central regions, focusing mainly on political maneuvering. Consequently, the pressure on the southern nations has eased.
Thanks to that...
“...I have a report to add as well. We’ve managed to restore the fields that were ravaged. And since we’ve been implementing monster countermeasures, we can expect a harvest in four months.”
As Kaya reported, because the monster threat has subsided, we were able to begin the restoration of the fields outside Oue’s defensive walls.
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“““Oh!”””
That report drew gasps of surprise from everyone, including the King of Oue and Yuki-sama’s group.
After all, those fields had been thoroughly devastated.
The fact that they are being reclaimed carries a deep significance, and above all, it means that Oue’s food production capacity is being revived.
“Also, to increase our food self-sufficiency, we are expanding the fields. Please check the documents regarding that. For now, most of it is just preparing the land; we only expect a harvest from about ten percent of the restored fields.”
“You managed to expand it by ten percent?!”
The King of Oue raised his voice in excitement.
One might think ten percent is a small amount, but these are fields for the populace to survive on.
To increase it by that much requires a vast amount of land.
The way Kaya says it as if it were a matter of course is just bizarre.
Nevertheless...
“Yes. I’ve been teaching the people in the northern town magic for tilling the soil, so expansion is easy. Well, maintaining the fields and harvesting will require manpower. I’d like you to keep that in mind.”
“Understood. You have my gratitude, Lady Kaya.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s all part of the job. Now, what concerns me is the movement in the Southern Wilderness.”
With that, Kaya turns her gaze toward Tori, who is overseeing the south.
“Nothing has changed on this end. As I wrote in the report, the number of monsters is decreasing. I barely see any monsters reaching the southern town. If there are any, it’s one or two at most, and the frequency of encounters is about once every three days if that. The fortresses are seeing about the same frequency.”
It seems the Southern Wilderness is truly experiencing a drought of monsters.
The number of encounters has clearly dropped, and if things continue this way, the issue of the monster population explosion might be manageable.
Well, that is a hopeful observation, at least...
“Still, we haven’t investigated the entire Southern Wilderness, so I can’t say for sure. Also, regarding the elite team—or rather, Aslin and the others who are aiming for the southern tip—it seems that valley connects to the forest at the far south. I’ll let them explain the details...”
As Tori says this, the monitor switches to Aslin and Firia.
“Reporting. As a result of our investigation while heading south through the valley in the wilderness, we found that the valley connects to the forest at the southern tip. We have currently set up a camp at the boundary between the valley and the forest and have begun surveying the surrounding area.”
“Furthermore, regarding monster encounters, while we cannot say for certain as we lack precise data on the southern forest—unlike the valley—we have confirmed that monsters do inhabit it.”
As Firia says this, she displays data on the monsters they likely encountered.
Among them are monsters we are all too familiar with.
Not just humanoids like Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres, but also individuals that dwell in forests, such as Wolves, Giant Snakes, and Lizardmen.
These are not monsters typically seen in the wilderness.
And these were the majority of the monsters that headed north and attacked the southern town.
In other words...
“This means... the monsters weren’t coming from the wilderness, but from the southern tip?”
“It is not yet confirmed. We have also confirmed that there are other forests beyond the wilderness.”
Aslin explains this with a detached tone.
That is true.
While the largest forest is at the southern tip, it is not the only place where forests exist beyond the wilderness.
“Hmm. Indeed, while we cannot state it definitively yet, it means the candidate locations have been narrowed down.”
“Yes. I can only say ‘probably,’ but the locations have been narrowed down to some extent. However, the area is vast, so investigating even one spot takes time. Alternatively, if the monsters head north once more, it would be easier to understand their movements more clearly than before.”
Incidentally, Aslin’s appearance is not her usual childlike form, but one that could be called an adult.
This is only natural, as she is in the presence of the King and Prime Minister of Giadana.
That childlike form would only cause confusion.
Of course, there are species whose adult forms appear young, but since Yuki-sama’s group has already met them as humanoids, there is no need to go out of our way to cause confusion.
“I see. May I continue to leave the investigation of the cause to you and Yuki-dono’s group?”
“Yes, we don’t mind. We have been granted territory in the wilderness, and we are simply acting to ensure the safety of our own land.”
“Normally, I should be sending reinforcements... My apologies.”
“Not at all. Oh, but when we do find the cause, we would like you to accompany us for the subjugation. Would that be acceptable?”
“Ah, of course. It would serve as proof that our expansion into the wilderness was not a mistake.”
That is exactly it.
If Oue also confirms the cause of the monsters heading north and participates in the subjugation, it will put the minds of the southern nations at ease.
And that will surely reach the central regions as well.
If there is some ulterior motive at play, there will likely be further movements.
Actually...
“Speaking of which, about the Clearstream Church—it’s good that you’ve seized the church in the Giadana Kingdom, but have there been any subsequent developments?”
Yuki-sama asks this question.
For the record, we are currently visiting the northern town, and it feels as though we are participating in this briefing while on an inspection tour.
“Ah, regarding that. We seized the Clearstream Church within the Giadana Kingdom, but the other churches remain untouched. Complaints are flying in, but Archbishop Dodona stepped forward and revealed what had been happening at the Clearstream Church within Giadana, silencing them. Well, they are likely in the middle of concocting excuses.”
I see. Well, if they could come up with excuses on the spot, it wouldn’t be strange for them to have already had the Giadana Kingdom in their grasp.
That just goes to show how much of a nuisance they considered the Giadana Kingdom to be.
And...
“Archbishop Dodona’s influence is stronger than I thought. Isn’t it treated as a separate sect, after all?”
“Ah, I thought so too, but it must be due to the fact that it was the origin of the Clearstream Church, combined with Archbishop Dodona’s physical prowess. She marched into the Giadana royal castle and shouted down the Clearstream Church dignitaries who had come to complain.”
“That sounds like something she would do.”
No, Yuki-sama.
I believe anyone who saw that atrocity would have voiced the same complaints.
“On top of that, she ended up punching them.”
“Huh? Wouldn’t that cause a problem?”
If you punch a dignitary, that is certainly a problem.