Chapter 22

"Alright, let's head to King Rosace's place first. We need to confirm if the refugees really tried to escape to his country."

"Uh-huh..."

Tetra replied in a small voice. She seemed to be deep in thought.

"Then, let's go on horseback."

I attached the saddle and stirrups to the horse. By the way, I made these myself through trial and error.

I was quite surprised that Reia didn't know about saddles and stirrups.

I decided to keep this technology a secret. It could be very useful, and it wouldn't be funny if our enemies got stronger.

"Here."

"Uh-huh."

I reached out and helped Tetra onto the horse. We were riding double.

This horse wasn't particularly large, but it was capable enough to carry two people.

"Hey, Almus."

After a while, Tetra, who had been silent, spoke up.

"What's up?"

"Would you be surprised if I said I knew King Verm?"

"A little."

Tetra wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her body against me. I could feel the strength in her arms.

"He's a scary person. Greedy, and he doesn't care about the means to achieve his goals. But he has a power that makes people fear and obey him, so they naturally follow him."

"I see. So if he finds out about us, there's a possibility he might try to take our food."

Indeed, these refugees might be his vanguard. We were heading to King Rosace's country to confirm this.

"How powerful is King Verm's country?"

"Population is around thirty thousand. So, the regular army is about five hundred. In wartime, it's a thousand. In an emergency, I think they can mobilize two thousand."

"Does he usually mobilize five hundred?"

"He just... killed the noble Radou As, who belonged to King Rosace's country, and became king. So, his position is unstable."

"He's maintaining his unstable position by constantly keeping soldiers, which is causing heavy taxes and making the situation even more unstable."

"Exactly."

Still, five hundred... Our population is a hundred, and there are sixty-two men. Of those, about forty can fight.

Twelve times... No, in wartime, it's twenty-five times.

Either way, we'd be completely overwhelmed if we fought. Numbers matter in battles.

"Can we win?"

"Not a chance in our current state."

"What if we prepare?"

"Fifty-fifty."

We would need to acquire the right weapons, conduct guerrilla warfare, and request reinforcements from King Rosace, even if it meant becoming a vassal. We could also buy combat slaves from the Kirisia merchants. If we could cooperate with people who resent King Verm's rule and undermine him from within... we might have a chance.

"Right..."

Tetra looked down, deep in thought.

"If I may..."

Tetra whispered in a small voice.

"What if the daughter of the previous noble, Radou As, is still alive? Would that increase our chances of winning?"

"Sure. If she reveals her identity and helps us, it would be great. From King Rosace's perspective, she's the daughter of a vassal, so supporting her is natural. There are probably people in King Verm's country who miss the rule of that noble."

"Right."

Tetra fell silent again.

After some time, as we approached King Rosace's country, Tetra spoke up.

"Will you protect me?"

"Of course. You're family."

"...Then I'll help."

With that, Tetra hugged me tightly.

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"I see. So you did refuse them, then?"

"Yes, that's right. We're short on food lately. We couldn't afford to feed them. If we accepted thirty, more would come. Besides, it would be troublesome if there were spies among them."

That's strange. I thought King Rosace's country had a population of about 170,000. A hundred or two hundred people shouldn't be a big deal. Besides, our village had a good harvest. So...

"You plotted this, didn't you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

How disingenuous.

"The reason for the poor harvest in King Verm's village was a curse from another country. In fact, our village didn't have a poor harvest because we weren't cursed, fearing the griffins. King Rosace's country has excellent curse casters like Yuria, so they wouldn't have a poor harvest. In fact, the villages along the way didn't show any signs of famine, and I heard from Yuria that they had a good harvest. So, King Rosace's country has more than enough capacity to accept them. Even if three hundred came, it wouldn't be a problem, right?"

"True, but they would still be a burden. It's natural to drive away useless eaters..."

"That's unnatural."

I interrupted King Rosace.

"An increase in population is a good thing. Especially since these refugees are from the enemy country, King Verm's. We should attract them. If we do, the people of King Verm's country will flood into King Rosace's country. Yes, the food supply will decrease, but we can recover it through taxes. Moreover, it would be beneficial if King Verm's country's power decreases."

If King Rosace's country were short on food, that would be a different story. But they have plenty of food. So, there should be no problem.

If the language or culture were different, I could understand the refusal, but they are all Adelneans, and they were part of the same country a few decades ago. There should be no problem in accepting them. In fact, helping fellow countrymen would be a good reason to welcome them. There's plenty of uncultivated land.

Besides, they said they would be slaves if necessary. They must have said the same to King Rosace. Free slaves? In this world, there are no annoying human rights groups. They can be overworked or sold.

Moreover, accepting them would create a good story about King Rosace being a benevolent ruler. Refusing them would be a bad move.

There's another inconsistency.

"It's also unnatural that they came to our village. The Adelnean Peninsula has more than just King Rosace's and King Verm's countries. If you really didn't want to accept them, you could have pushed them to another country. You could have given them a travel permit instead of assigning guards."

King Rosace's country had a good harvest.

So, the surrounding countries should have had good harvests too. The climate doesn't change drastically in nearby areas.

The surrounding countries should have enough capacity to accept refugees.

Yet, they came to the forest and found our village, which is in a vast forest.

That's quite a feat. It's hard to believe it was a coincidence.

"Didn't you tell them something like, 'There's a paradise over there'?"

"Hmm... Impressive. You're 90% correct. But there's still something missing."

"The reason you sent the refugees to my village? That's easy."

I looked at the smirking King Rosace.

"You read that I would likely accept the refugees. I'm a bit of a softie, after all. But kindness can't fill bellies. So, I would need to acquire wheat from somewhere. And that somewhere would be..."

"Your country."

I could buy from the Kirisians, but they're far away. It's more practical to get it from a nearby source.

"You intended to lend me wheat, didn't you? The chance of getting it back is higher if you lend it to me rather than the refugees."

"Ah, 95% correct."

He's grinning. It's annoying to look at.

"And you intended to ask about the Sueki pottery, honey, and paper-making techniques as conditions for the loan, right?"

King Rosace must desperately want these technologies. But he can't force them out of me with military power. I might run to King Domorgal. Plus, King Rosace is sick and can't move around. If he starts a military action, he might be attacked from behind by ambitious nobles. Most importantly, he would be hated by Yuria, his only daughter.

So, he tried to get the information indirectly.

When I said this, King Rosace clapped his hands.

Is that a sign of approval? It's not very satisfying.

"99% correct!! Excellent. If you were my son, I would have made you my successor without hesitation. But you're missing 1%. Can you figure it out?"

...

I can't.

King Rosace smiled wickedly at my expression.

"This time, I was the one who had King Verm's country cursed. How about that? Hahaha, cough, cough, cough."

Don't overdo it. You're sick.

When I looked at him with a blank expression, King Rosace leaned back as if nothing had happened.

"Well, how much do you need?"

"No, we're fine."

When I said that, King Rosace's face twitched.

In the Adelnean Peninsula, two-field farming is common.

But in our village, we use crop rotation. The productivity is different.

Moreover, we plow deeply with oxen and horses.

King Rosace seemed to have predicted a food shortage... but that's only in the case of two-field farming.

What a miscalculation! Idiot!

"That's now, right? It will run out soon."

King Rosace said this as if nothing had happened.

What is he talking about?

I'm saying we're fine. When he saw my puzzled expression, King Rosace said:

"You're missing something important. Anyway, you'll come crying to me for wheat within three days."

What's with that smug look? I won't come crying to you.

Whatever.

"By the way, what if the previous ruler of King Verm's country... Radou, right? What if his child is still alive? What would you do?"

"I would protect them. Radou was a dear ally. We can confirm if they are truly his child by the sacred mark and family crest on their back."

"What if they ask for an army to reclaim their territory?"

"It depends... If there's a chance of success, I might lend them an army. ...Don't tell me, you're Radou's child?"

"Of course not. It's not me."

It would be easier if it were true.

"...May I ask one more thing?"

"What is it?"

"Who is that woman?"

Before I could answer, Tetra hugged me and declared:

"I am Almus's wife."

I don't remember getting married... but, whatever.

It's more convenient this way.

"That's the situation."

"I see..."

King Rosace looked at Tetra closely.

I looked at Tetra.

Tetra nodded vigorously.

"She is Radou As's daughter, Tetra As."

"I see. I thought her face looked familiar. She's a spitting image of him."

"Shall we confirm?"

In response to Tetra's question, King Rosace shook his head.

"There's no need. I can tell by her face. Besides, you're not the type to tell a trivial lie. What matters is not whether she's the real deal, but whether she can do the job of the real deal."

So, as long as people recognize her as Radou As's daughter, it doesn't matter if she's the real one or a lookalike.

That's like him.

"Still, you're quite resourceful. If you can cause trouble for King Verm, we might attack him and make you a noble."

"Hehe. Thank you. If I cause trouble for King Verm, it will be when he attacks me."

It's not decided yet.

I don't particularly want power. I just want to use what I can.

If King Verm turns out to be a peaceful person, nothing might happen.

"Anyway, I'll be going. I'm going to see King Verm's country."

"Ah, be careful."

We left King Rosace's presence.

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"Hey, Almus."

"What is it?"

"I'm your wife now, is that okay? You're not forcing yourself, are you?"

Tetra said worriedly.

"What are you talking about now? I'm not forcing myself at all. You're cute. I'm actually quite happy. Besides, after all the hints you've given, what are you saying now?"

Actually, I like Tetra quite a bit.

I don't fully understand love... but Tetra is fine.

I think.

"What about Yuria?"

"...She's of a different status, after all."

She is King Rosace's only daughter.

She will eventually have to marry a powerful noble.

We have no future together.

I'm not completely dense, so I know Yuria has strong feelings for me.

I like Yuria as much as I like Tetra. She's my type in appearance. ...It's a bit strange to think this after accepting Tetra, but...

If she asked to be my wife, I would say yes.

But the status difference is a problem.

"By the way, how do we enter King Verm's country?"

"Let's go as merchants from the south. We'll say we were passing by and noticed the empty houses, so we asked about it... That should work."

We look decent enough.

We just came from an audience with King Rosace, so we can pass as wealthy merchants.

"By the way, do you know anyone who can help us?"

"Um, my relatives are all dead except for me... I don't think there's anyone. Besides, I was only ten at the time."

"I see. It's been seven years, after all."

It feels like a long time, but it's also short.

Looking back, it feels like a distant past.

"Let's just do some reconnaissance today."

First, we need to deal with those thirty people.

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"Um... Excuse me. This village seems deserted... What happened? There are so many soldiers here. Was there a plague or something?"

I asked with a frightened expression.

"No, the residents fled in the night. We're forming search parties to bring them back. It's a hassle, but since King Verm is leading the army, it's suspicious whether they'll really bring them back."

"Fled in the night? Why?"

The soldier looked around and whispered to me.

"Heavy taxes. They couldn't pay. I'd like to quit being a soldier, but if I don't work, my family will be taxed heavily, and I can't send them money."

That's tough.

There are many sources of discontent.

"By the way, why are you here?"

"We're merchants. We were planning to travel north through this country, but we got curious when we saw all the soldiers gathered in this village."

I lied casually.

"Wow, having a horse is impressive. Is the person behind you your wife?"

Tetra blushed slightly and nodded in response to the soldier's question.

"We're here to find out what sells. Is there anything that sells well around here? Local specialties are fine."

"There's nothing like that. Food might sell, though. Everyone is starving. The only thing we can offer in exchange is people."

The soldier laughed bitterly.

We managed a polite smile.

This country seems to be in bad shape.

By the way, are you okay with being so talkative?

"By the way, how do you plan to bring them back? If I were a resident, I'd escape to King Rosace's country. They're probably already there."

"No, they're not in King Rosace's country. King Rosace doesn't want useless eaters. We don't want them either. Sigh. They're probably wandering in the forest. There's a rumor about an ideal paradise protected by griffins. They probably believed it and went there. How foolish."

Before we knew it, we were considered residents of the ideal paradise.

Was it because we were too prosperous? Or did we use the authority of the griffins too casually? Or does it look like an ideal paradise to starving people?

"Isn't it hard to search in the forest?"

"Not really. We have a few curse casters in our country. With dogs, it would be quick... Sigh, it would be nice if the curse casters could help build a barrier."

Maintaining a barrier constantly consumes magical power.

King Verm, who is always ready for war, conserves the magical power of his curse casters.

By the way, Yuria can cast a barrier over our fields because she has an abundance of magical power.

If a regular curse caster's magical power is a cup, hers is five bathtubs.

A legendary genius, beautiful curse caster, and princess.

It seems the heavens have given her too much.

Incidentally, the person behind me is the daughter of a former great noble and claims to be the world's oldest magician.

The people around me have too many talents.

"Is it okay to go where the griffins are?"

"Well... I'm worried too. But King Verm said two hundred people would be fine... The griffins are more frightening than King Verm."

It seems the authority of the griffins isn't very effective.

Or is King Verm just fearless?

Or does he know a lot about griffins?

"Almus, this is bad. They're coming to our village."

"Two hundred? That's a hassle."

I scratched my head.

At least, we know the thirty are almost certainly spies.

We should hurry back.

"Then we'll be on our way. Take care."

"Alright! You two have a good life together."

I hurried back to the village.

So, we're engaged.

Almus is quite strategic. He wouldn't attach himself to someone he dislikes, no matter the benefit, but he's more strategic than the average person.

Tetra is fine as long as she can be close to Almus.

Engagement match: Tetra wins.

The remaining milestones are marriage, first kiss, Almus's virginity, and the firstborn.

Will Yuria have a chance?

She seems to be a loser...

By the way, King Verm is quite reckless, so he will boldly invade the forest.

He knows the griffins' territory is deep in the forest.

This is also a test to see where the