Chapter 39

While Ichirou was drinking stomach medicine at the Haber residence, Isaac was facing Nelson in the study of the Nelson residence.

Usually, Nelson would listen to Isaac's report while skimming through other reports on his desk, asking questions as needed and summarizing Isaac's report simultaneously. However, this time was a bit different.

"…Isaac, could you repeat that? Who appeared?"

Nelson, who had been looking over a report, raised his head and asked with a puzzled expression, having just heard Isaac's report as he entered the room, replacing the civil servant who had been there a moment ago.

In response, Isaac, undisturbed by Nelson's gaze, repeated the words he had just said with a serious expression.

"It was Lord Gracior. Lord Gracior appeared in the village of Grisea."

When Isaac said this, silence fell over the room.

Neither of them spoke or moved.

The shadows of the two men, cast by the candlelight, swayed aimlessly on the wall.

"…Ah, you mean, is this Lord Gracior the god of mercy and abundance from the legends? Are you saying that a god actually appeared?"

Nelson thought Isaac might be joking, but his serious expression didn't look like he was. Besides, Isaac wasn't the type to make such jokes.

"Yes. The fact that water flowed through the village's irrigation channels and that the village didn't fall into ruin due to famine is all thanks to Lord Gracior extending a helping hand to the village of Grisea."

"Be specific. What exactly happened in the village of Grisea? Did Lord Gracior bring food, as in the legends?"

"Yes, about a month ago, Lord Gracior appeared in the village of Grisea and provided a large amount of food. Additionally, to bring water to the village's fields, which were in a state of ruin due to drought, Lord Gracior gave the village a water wheel, a device that lifts water from a lower to a higher place. Furthermore, using the power of his blessing, Lord Gracior made the village's crops grow rapidly and provided the villagers with many tools and knowledge that we have never seen before, continuing to support the village."

"…"

Nelson was somewhat confused by the unbelievable story Isaac started telling as soon as he entered the room.

Lord Gracior appeared and saved the village on the brink of famine?

He is still staying in the village, continuously providing tools and knowledge to the villagers?

…It's completely unbelievable.

The idea of a god descending into the mortal world, a myth-like event, is hard to believe.

By the way, the story about the rapid growth of crops being due to Lord Gracior's blessing is Isaac's own interpretation.

The village chief, Barin, had explained that the crops grew rapidly after mixing forest soil into the fields, but it's hard to think otherwise if Lord Gracior appeared.

"That's quite a story, but it's hard to believe. Did you see Lord Gracior yourself in the village of Grisea?"

"Yes, I actually met and spoke with him. …However, I committed several grave insults to Lord Gracior… Although he said he forgave me, I cannot help but regret it deeply…"

Isaac's expression turned sad, and he lowered his gaze, perhaps remembering the time he met Ichirou.

Nelson, on the other hand, continued to look at Isaac with a puzzled gaze, even after hearing that he had met Lord Gracior.

After a moment of looking down, Isaac raised his head and tightened his expression.

"Lord Nelson, there is someone I would like you to meet first thing tomorrow morning."

"…What, you don't mean…"

"It is Lord Gracior."

Nelson was about to say, "You must be joking," but he held back when he saw Isaac's serious gaze.

Although he still couldn't grasp the reality of the situation, if what Isaac was saying was true, it was important.

However, while the various acts of kindness Lord Gracior performed, as mentioned by Isaac, were concerning, the purpose of Lord Gracior meeting him was also a mystery.

"But even if you say first thing tomorrow morning, it's too late to rush to the village of Grisea from now. If Lord Gracior is in Isteria, that's a different story… but surely not."

"Yes, Lord Gracior is currently staying at the Rousseau residence. Ideally, I should have invited him to my home, but we had to act in utmost secrecy… Currently, only I, Deputy Commander Haber, two subordinates, and the residents of Grisea village know of Lord Gracior's existence. I have strictly ordered the two subordinates not to speak of it to anyone."

At this point, Nelson finally began to realize that something extraordinary was happening.

The appearance of a god in the mortal world, an unprecedented event outside of legends, required careful handling.

Moreover, if Lord Gracior was a fraud, the person would be an extremely dangerous criminal who had manipulated Isaac.

It was essential to determine whether Lord Gracior was genuine.

"Alright, then I'll set aside time first thing tomorrow morning. …So, what does Lord Gracior want to talk to me about?"

Relieved by Nelson's agreement to meet Lord Gracior, Isaac's expression relaxed slightly as he opened his mouth to answer Nelson's question.

"Yes, Lord Gracior says he wants to support us who are suffering from famine. He says he will teach us how to make the water wheel I mentioned earlier and how to increase crop production. Additionally, he says he will provide food, even if in small amounts."

"Hmm, that's a generous offer, but…"

Nelson, still skeptical, exuded an air of distrust.

Seeing this, Isaac inwardly smiled wryly, understanding that it was natural for Nelson to be skeptical.

Even Isaac had only come to believe that Ichirou was Lord Gracior after seeing various tools and witnessing a person disappear right before his eyes.

It was expected that Nelson wouldn't be convinced just by hearing the story.

"Lord Nelson, the Lord Gracior you will meet tomorrow is genuine. You will understand when you meet him."

"…I see."

Despite Isaac's confident tone, Nelson was still considering whether to ask more questions, but he decided to stop and agree with Isaac's opinion that everything would be clear tomorrow.

If Lord Gracior was genuine, as Isaac believed, there was no need to ask many questions now. All doubts would be resolved by meeting Lord Gracior in person.

He could thoroughly verify the tools and knowledge they had never seen before.

"Then, I'll go tell Haber about the meeting time tomorrow."

Isaac bowed and quickly left the study.

As Nelson was reflecting on the conversation while looking at the door Isaac had just exited, the door opened again, and this time Zirconia entered.

Zirconia was holding two copper cups, apparently bringing drinks.

"Is something wrong? Isaac ran out of the room as soon as he left."

Tilting her head, Zirconia asked. Nelson, about to tell her the story, suddenly thought of something.

"Zil, I believe you're from the mountainous region in the northwest, right?"

"Yes, but no one lives there anymore. What about it?"

"There's something I need your help with."

Seeing Zirconia's puzzled expression, Nelson began to explain the content of his conversation with Isaac and his idea.

The next morning, after finishing breakfast at the Haber residence, Ichirou and the others headed to the lord's mansion with Haber in a carriage.

It was 7:00 AM.

The main street along the high-end residential area where the Haber residence was located was quiet, with almost no one passing by.

The road in this area, close to the city center, was paved with cobblestones, and street trees were planted here and there.

The road was spotlessly clean, with not a single piece of trash, in stark contrast to the cluttered outskirts of the city.

After a 10-minute carriage ride through the city, the group arrived at a large fortress-like building.

The outer perimeter of the building was surrounded by a stone wall about 5 meters high, with armed guards in leather armor visible on top of the wall.

A large wooden gate reinforced with bronze was attached to the stone wall, and two guards were standing in front of it.

As the carriage approached the gate, the guards approached, calling out to stop them.

After confirming the Rousseau family crest on the carriage, the guards exchanged a few words with Haber and called out to the other guard waiting at the gate to open it.

After passing through the gate, the carriage entered a cobblestone square.

Several carriages were parked at the edge of the square, indicating it was used as a parking area.

The carriage Ichirou and the others were in moved to park next to the other carriages.

"Lord Kazura, good morning."

As Ichirou got out of the carriage and helped Valletta down, Isaac ran up from behind.

"Thank you for coming so early. You can meet Lord Nelson immediately, so please follow me. I'll carry your luggage."

"Captain, can I join the meeting?"

Haber, who had gotten out of the opposite side of the carriage, handed the carry case covered with a cloth to Isaac.

"Yes, please do. We might talk about what happened while I was away from Grisea village."

Isaac, holding the carry case with both hands, started walking, leading everyone.

Haber also took the Boston bag covered with a cloth from Ichirou and followed.

"(It looks like a fortress…)"

Following the two, Ichirou looked around.

He had been told by Haber that they were going to the lord's mansion to meet Nelson that morning, so he had expected a building similar to the Rousseau residence but more luxurious. However, the actual building was completely different.

It looked more like a military fortress where troops were stationed rather than a place where people lived.

Valletta and the village chief, who were also entering the lord's mansion for the first time, were looking around with interest.

However, after walking for a while with Isaac and passing through a large gate similar to the one they had entered earlier, a completely different, peaceful space with lush vegetation appeared.

While the outer perimeter of the building was dominated by sturdy stone walls and watchtowers, and the doors were mostly thick and heavy, the area in front of them was a well-maintained garden.

A large four-story stone building stood at the end of the garden, but unlike the rugged fortress they had just passed through, its design was similar to the Rousseau residence.

It seemed that the outer perimeter of the mansion was a military facility, while the central part was a residential area.

After passing through the garden and entering the building, they walked a short distance before Isaac stopped in front of a door and knocked.

"Lord Nelson, it's Isaac. I've brought the person I mentioned last night."

When Isaac spoke to the door, it immediately opened, and a young woman with silver hair appeared.

Seeing Ichirou and the others behind Isaac, she smiled.

"Oh, thank you for coming. Please, come in."

The woman opened the door wide, inviting Ichirou and the others in, and then moved to the back of the room.

In the back of the room, a middle-aged man was standing next to a large long table and smiled at Ichirou.

"Lord Nelson, this is Lord Kazura. The two people behind him are the village chief of Grisea, Barin, and his daughter, Valletta."

Isaac, moving to the side to avoid getting in the way, introduced Ichirou and the others to Nelson.

Haber also moved next to Isaac and looked at Ichirou and the others with a slightly tense expression.

"Nice to meet you, I am Kazura."

Ichirou, slightly nervous, straightened his posture and bowed to the man Isaac called Nelson.

After bowing, he thought it was strange for a god to bow, but it was a reflex from his days as a company employee.

"Lord Gracior, thank you for coming to my residence. I am Nelson Ister, the lord of this territory and the commander of the 1st Army Corps of the Isteria region in the Arcadia Army. It's a pleasure to meet you."

When Ichirou raised his head, Nelson bowed deeply and introduced himself.

"!? Lord Nelson!?"

When Nelson greeted them, Isaac and Haber showed a surprised reaction for some reason.

Perhaps they were surprised that the lord had bowed.

"I am Jirconia, Nelson's wife. I am the commander of the 2nd Army Corps of the Isteria region in the Arcadia Army. We are truly grateful for the support Lord Gracior is providing to the Ister territory. If possible, I would also like to receive advice on military equipment, in addition to tools and agriculture…"

"Jirconia-sama, what are you saying!?"

Isaac and Haber, who were still flustered, seemed to be reacting strongly to what Jirconia said.

Was what they said so shocking?

"I can provide advice on tools and agriculture, but military equipment is outside my jurisdiction… I'm afraid I may not be able to meet your expectations."

When Ichirou said this with a troubled expression, Nelson and Jirconia looked at each other with slightly surprised expressions.

Isaac and Haber, who had been flustered, exclaimed in unison:

"Oh…"

"…Then, I would like to discuss the purpose of my visit here."

"Ah, yes, please take a seat."

Confused by the reactions of the four, Ichirou tilted his head and said, and Nelson offered him a chair at the long table.