241: Change comes sudden, huh?

A few days passed since then.

After day after day of talks with the hermits, we finally decided to install the transfer gate.

When I used my communication golem, the Paradio hermits were so shocked they nearly flipped over.

Seeing that most of the team had one of those golems made them nearly pass out in disbelief. That part was kind of funny.

I hadn’t realized just how rare they were—until now.

Permission’s already been granted by His Majesty, King Van.

The destination’s the same place we first connected to Mizoho Shrine Nation. It’s outside the Golden Dune city walls, and already surrounded by alchemical-hardened stone walls, so handling emergencies’ll be a lot easier.

The elite guards from Golden Dune and the capital are being deployed for security. That’s already been relayed to the hermits. They accepted it without fuss—natural enough, really.

The hermits’ garden side, naturally, has security concerns too. We’ll be relocating the transfer gate slightly away from the central village area.

Here’s how it went when we talked to Paradio and the others.

“First things first—we need to build a protective barrier around the transfer gate. This island’s sizable, but compared to the mainland, resources are naturally limited. We’ll need something solid. Give us about a month to finish it—”

“Then just use alchemically hardened stone. We’ve just stocked up on volcanic ash. Gravel’s no problem at all, right?”

“Alchemically hardened stone?”

“Better show you. Leifan, you’re up.”

“Got it. Leave it to me!”

Pulling the necessary materials from the spatial storage, the hermits gather around, eyes sharp with interest. Seeing how into this kind of research they are, I can’t help but feel this really is a hidden mage village.

“Hm. This is alchemical reagent, volcanic ash, and lime? Then gravel and water are all we need?”

“Yeah. Mix them in the right ratio… ah!”

I remember the doubt about the materials right there.

“Damn it. Paradio. Can we get lime on this island?”

“Lime? Ah. Not much, but we can extract limestone.”

“Thank the stars! I had plenty of reagent and volcanic ash, but lime was scarce!”

“Part of the island’s made of coral reefs. Ancient strata contain coral turned into limestone.”

“Then the problem’s solved!”

After that, we were all stunned by the flexibility and strength of the alchemical hard-rock sample we’d made. But with the island’s craftsmen helping out, the construction of the defensive wall around the portal began right away.

This time, since we were in a rush, we used moisture-evaporation agents liberally and finished in no time.

The locals were dumbfounded. But it’s fine. They just didn’t know. They’ll get used to it soon enough.

Paradio muttered with a wry smile.

“…I wonder if it’s really okay to get used to this kind of situation…”

Once trade starts up, this’ll be normal in no time. So relax!

Guess he read my mind—Leifan piped up with a snort.

“There’s not a single thing to be relaxed about!”

“Huh.”

Anyway, that’s how the portal installation ended up being completed.

Security mages and soldiers were posted on the hermit's garden side too. The townsfolk wanted to stay and watch, but the hermits had them wait in the village. Fair enough, I guess. First things first—safety check, then greetings.

Under the watchful eyes of the mages, I activate the portal.

Yeah. Looks like it's working.

As a side check, I step through the portal. Heard a quick “ah!” behind me for a second, but already on the Goldendown side, so the sound’s gone.

On the Goldendown side, Alphard and… some unknown hot guy, and a handsome one—three of them standing side by side.

The hot guy’s old, got a big scar across his face, but built like a brick wall—serious presence. The other handsome one looks about the same age as the king’s Van, or maybe just a little younger. Both are wearing Van’s personal holy knight armor, so they’re probably from the royal capital’s holy knights.

For some reason, Alphard gives me a wry smile when he sees me.

“Craft… why the hell are you the first one out?”

“Huh? I just came to check if it’s working right.”

“Check it? Why not have someone else do it!”

“Huh? But we gotta check safety first!”

“Especially safety! You idiot!”

I don’t get what he’s even saying. What safety check? Who’s supposed to do it if not me, the one who set it up?

“…Whatever. Seems like talking to you’s pointless.”

He just dumped me like that! What the hell, man!

Anyway, let’s just get on with it.

"Exactly as I relayed via message—Paradio, the envoy, will be arriving with one guard mage and one swordsperson. No issues with that?"

"Ah."

With Alphard's approval, I stepped through the teleportation gate and returned to the village in a flash. The others were already chuckling.

"Uh… you mad?"

I asked cautiously, and Leifan just shook his head, hand on hip.

"Someone yell at you over there?"

"At Alphard…"

"Huh. Then it's fine. But next time, think before you move, okay?"

"Y-yeah."

I did it because I thought about it… but saying that out loud would just make him mad, so I shut up.

I waved Paradio and the others over to change the subject.

"Got the connection sorted. Let’s go."

"Y-yes."

First, the guard knight slipped through, came back right away, and reported to Paradio with wide eyes but no trouble—yes, the soldiers on the other side were waiting.

I’d just shown him it was safe… but yeah. That’s what Alphard meant. This was the drill.

Once I’d nodded, Paradio stepped through the transfer gate slowly, face tense. We followed right after.

On the Goldendown side, a line of holy knights stood in formation—casual, but still ceremonial.

Three of them stepped forward to greet Paradio: the handsome guy with a scar on his face in the center, Alphard on one side, the other handsome one on the other.

The scarred one seemed to be the leader. He saluted, then started guiding Paradio.

"Welcome, Representative Paradio Albator of the Hermit's Garden! I am Adel Gally, Grand Commander of the Holy Knights of Maugaria. Forgive the haste, but first we shall inspect the capital city of the Elixir Expansion Marquisate, Goldendoon, and afterward, you shall be received by His Majesty the King."

Paradio hesitated for a split second, then adjusted his robe’s collar and replied.

"Not even a word of agreement yet, and still you’ve gone to such lengths—my deepest thanks. I am Paradio Albator, visiting as representative of the Hermit's Garden. That Your Majesty himself requested this audience despite the suddenness—again, I am truly grateful."

Incidentally, the inspection came first by Paradio’s own request. The king, His Majesty Van, was the one who specifically asked for the audience that day.

I figure we should just get to the point, but it sounds like things got pretty heated at first. Especially Zaid—he was all up in arms about dignity and such. You don’t want to wake Kyle up as fast as possible, do you?!

I grumbled that to the crew a few days back, and to my surprise, Nobuna reacted.

“Hmm. I can see Zaid’s point.”

“Huh?”

“Kyle’s a great lord, I’ll give you that. But if you’re weighing the king’s dignity against a lord’s life, a true warrior would choose his lord’s honor.”

“Wait, really?”

“Defending your master’s name—that’s what a Mizoho warrior’s all about.”

“Damn, that’s kind of scary. Mizoho Shrine Nation, huh.”

“If you’re scared of them, then the soul of the warrior who cut his own belly is saved.”

“…Yeah. I see.”

To me, life’s worth more than honor. Mizoho’s talk’s going too far, but… maybe spooking the other side is just as important in diplomacy between nations.

Huh?

Wait—does that mean Zaid’s actually kind of noble, like a proper warrior!?

No, sure, Zaid’s been seriously serious and sharp since the curse broke… but still, something’s bugging me!