Chapter 95

"......I see."

Henry, looking at me in amazement, fell into deep thought.

I understood what he meant by "the shape of war will change."

"The war was more troublesome with the wounded soldiers."

"Hmm. Wounded soldiers require personnel for treatment and care."

"Hah, the dead are much easier to deal with."

Henry bowed his head silently.

Of course, the fewer deaths, the better.

However, in the short term, the burden on the army is lighter with dead soldiers than with wounded ones.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. I only understood this after a month of being in the Ministry of War."

"If this potion that can heal minor injuries instantly can be mass-produced... how much would our combat strength increase?"

"......At least three times."

Henry thought for a moment and then said firmly.

To that extent... no, that's probably right.

What Henry meant by "the shape of war will change" wasn't a joke.

I thought for a moment and then turned to Jessica.

"Jessica"

"Yes"

"Keep this properly. According to the empire's law, front-line soldiers cannot be transferred for personal reasons under any circumstances. The empire is a 'nation of warriors,' and this must never change."

"......Yes"

Jessica's expression became even more serious, sensing that I had something to say.

"You are my consort, and no matter what pretext is given, it will be seen as a personal reason. In other words—"

"Y-Yes"

"Your next return will be either in triumph or in defeat."

I didn't mention the other possibility of returning as a corpse.

"I naturally hope for your triumph."

"---Yes!"

"Do you really understand?"

"Eh?"

Jessica, who had nodded with determination, looked puzzled.

"You are my consort, and the empire is a nation of warriors. Therefore, the system of appointing a general from among the consorts can be changed. However, it wasn't necessary. But I did it—why?"

"......"

Jessica looked at me with a serious face, holding her breath.

"I thought you could do it, and I changed the system for you."

"---!"

The atmosphere around Jessica, who was standing in front of me, changed visibly.

She was already a formidable woman, but she became even more so.

I was not mistaken.

☆

To form her direct command unit, Jessica left the room, leaving Henry and me alone.

She looked at the door she had just exited and sighed, "Hm."

"Amazing."

"Hm?"

"In that instant when she received Your Majesty's words, she became so strong that it felt like she had been training for a year somewhere. That fighting spirit is not something an ordinary person can have."

"She had that from the beginning. I told her as much, and that's why I changed the system."

"Your Majesty's ability to inspire people is indeed remarkable."

"Speaking of which... let's get back to the topic. We need to find a way to mass-produce the potion."

"Yes."

Henry nodded with a serious expression.

"It would have been better if we didn't know about it, but now that we do..."

"Indeed."

I pinched my chin and thought for a moment.

"Historically, potions did exist, right?"

"Yes."

Henry nodded deeply.

I knew about healing magic, but I didn't know about potions until I heard from Henry.

Since Henry is saying this, he must have read about it in some book.

"Any clues on how to make them?"

Henry shook his head quietly.

"Probably not. If there were, someone would have already tried to reproduce them."

"Yes. It's worth investing the empire's annual budget to research, if we have any clues."

"Indeed. It's that valuable."

Henry had said that the combat strength would increase by at least three times.

For an empire that is a nation of warriors and constantly engaged in wars, this is the most important thing.

Even if Henry mentioned the annual budget, it's worth investing the entire nation's resources to research.

Throughout history, there have been countless emperors who pursued immortality and destroyed their countries and themselves.

Potions are not just comparable to that—no, they far surpass it and are essential for the empire.

"However, without any clues, we can't do anything."

"Yes..."

"The royal library has tens of thousands of books..."

"..."

Henry shook his head quietly.

Indeed.

The royal library contains the most important knowledge of everything that exists in this world.

Even so, it's probably not there.

...Well, if it were, it would have been reproduced long ago.

There are no clues.

That's the case in general.

But I had one lead in mind.

"Henry, do you know about Leviathan?"

"Yes... Your Majesty's magic sword?"

Henry asked cautiously.

Leviathan—originally Leviathan.

When the crown prince brought it, Henry was also present.

Thinking back, we've known each other for a long time.

He answered cautiously because he knew that Leviathan had become Leviathan.

"No, not that. Do you know anything else?"

"......—!"

After pondering, Henry was suddenly startled.

"The Silver Age!?"

"Yes, one of the Four Sages of the Silver Age, Leviathan."

"Impossible!?"

I nodded slightly.

I haven't heard it directly, but I am certain.

The mysterious voice I heard in a dream-like state.

Rutea to Bahamut.

And Leviathan to Leviathan.

After each confirmation, I became even more certain.

One of the Four Sages, Leviathan, is this Leviathan.

This leads to another fact.

"Leviathan."

I raised my hand and summoned Leviathan.

The non-human, human-like Leviathan appeared and knelt before me.

"Did you call, my lord?"

"Answer me, did you exist in the age when healing magic existed?"

"Yes, I aided the emperor of that time."

"Ah..."

Henry was amazed.

He is a smart man and quickly understood.

The information about healing magic and potions, which is not recorded in any book, exists in the mind of the "living witness" before us.

"Amazing..."

Henry looked at me with deep respect as I brought out the lost knowledge.

"Do you know about potions?"

"Yes."

"Teach me."

"There are 'dragon veins' in the earth, pathways of magic power."

"Dragon veins."

I repeated the unfamiliar word, rolling it on my tongue.

I looked at Henry, asking with my eyes, "Do you know?"

Henry, coming to his senses, shook his head.

I asked Leviathan again.

"What are these dragon veins?"

"They are, in a sense, rivers of magic power. They start as trickles, become tributaries, and eventually merge into the main stream, leading to the sea."

"......So, the condensed magic power materializes?"

"Indeed, my lord. That is correct."

I carefully considered what Leviathan said.

"Does that mean these dragon veins no longer exist?"

"Yes. All dragon veins, except for one, have been severed and depleted."

"One? It still exists?"

"It has been reborn, rather."

"Where?"

"Almeria, the state capital, Nishir."

"......What?"

It was completely unexpected.

I thought it would be a more remote or sacred place, but it turned out to be a familiar location.

It was my fief during my time as a prince, and I once lived and governed there.

"Dragon veins are the lifelines of the earth. Life is water."

"Water."

"That land was also damaged, but it has been regenerating in recent years."

"Water... regeneration...?"

I pinched my chin and thought.

Then, Henry spoke from the side.

"Because Your Majesty improved the top-grade waterways?"

"Indeed."

Leviathan nodded quietly.

"......"

Rarely, I was completely surprised by something unexpected.

"Amazing, indeed, Your Majesty."

On the other hand, Henry was even more amazed.