Chapter 34

The party boarded the three river boats owned by the Earl's family. Among the boats proceeding in a single file, Sora and the others were on the largest one in the middle. Lulyu, who had to be within sight to prevent the head of the guard from doing anything, stood right next to Sora.

Perhaps because they were entering the territory of the Bercze Marquis, the river boats provided were large. They were splendidly made, reflecting the grandeur of the nobility.

Sora tilted his head, wondering if riding such a grand boat into the territory of the opposing faction, the Bercze Marquis, would be seen as a military invasion. However, he was only met with exasperation and sighs, as he was told that the other nobles were already aware of his father's reputation.

The boats were about five meters wide, taking up one-tenth of the river's width. Since the river had no waves, the boats hardly rocked. Sora, who had only ridden boats in his previous life, was relieved that he didn't have to worry about seasickness.

"The Mizunara trees are starting to thin out."

As Sora gazed at the scenery on both sides of the river while going upstream, he noticed a subtle change in the vegetation, realizing they had reached the upper reaches. The mixed forest of black pines and Mizunara had been replaced by cypress trees.

While all the trees were salt-resistant, cypress did not grow along the coast. The presence of cypress indicated they were approaching the edge of the Kleinzelt territory.

"Razetto, if there are any guards from this area, bring them over... but they're sleeping."

Sora shook Razetto, who was drifting off to dreamland despite being on the boat. Razetto rubbed his half-open eyes, glanced at the riverbank to confirm they were still moving, and then closed his eyes again.

"Please wake me when we arrive..."

"Lazy maid."

Sora gave up and carefully observed the riverbank.

"Cypress should be suitable for smoking, I think. If we import fish from the coast or pigs from the Bercze Marquis territory, we could make smoked products...?"

Sora mumbled while looking at the sparsely growing cypress trees. There were only three types of trees native to the Kleinzelt territory, each with its own characteristics.

The most common black pine had a lot of resin and was not suitable for firewood. However, it was the most salt-resistant, and in the Kleinzelt territory, pine resin was solidified and applied to the planks of boats to prevent corrosion.

The second most common was the Mizunara. It was a large tree that could grow up to thirty meters tall and had high salt resistance. Even after being cut down, it could regenerate from the stump, making it a valuable resource for securing wood.

However, Mizunara was not ideal for firewood due to its high water content, which made it difficult to dry. Despite this, it was the only option for firewood in the Kleinzelt territory, which was a headache.

Lastly, there was the cypress. It had salt resistance comparable to black pine but was only grown in the inland areas of the Kleinzelt territory. Standing about ten meters tall, it was not in high demand for shipbuilding in the coastal areas, which needed large pieces of wood.

Sora wanted to replace all the black pines in the territory with cypress, but he feared it would affect the ecosystem, so he dismissed the idea.

"Ah, I want to eat smoked salmon with a strong drink in hand."

Sora dropped a rather adult-sounding complaint onto the river. He remembered that there were villages and towns in the inland areas that operated small-scale forestry using cypress and was trying to think of ways to utilize them.

By the time lunch came around, they had entered the boat. Sora, who had brought along his favorite cook, Kor, watched as he struggled with the unfamiliar boat kitchen and then ate the meal before going back outside. They were about to arrive at the city in the Bercze Marquis territory.

"... What kind of joke is this?"

Sora stared blankly at the scorched wasteland along the riverbank. The Bercze Marquis territory, which was not affected by seawater, was known for its forestry and agriculture. Especially near the border with the Kleinzelt territory, it was a source of various types of wood.

However, for some reason, it had become a vast scorched wasteland. Blackened, charred trees and ash flying like cotton filled the area that should have been a well-maintained forest.

"Are they practicing slash-and-burn agriculture?"

This guess would be proven wrong as soon as they reached the city. The residents of this city, known for its forestry, were facing a problem with no solution and had become despondent.

Sora, surrounded by guards, got off the boat and boarded a carriage, heading towards the inn in the city. The order in the city seemed to be breaking down, and the knights of the Bercze Marquis were patrolling fully armed. The emblem on their backs depicted a giant holding a tree as a staff.

"... The Bercze Giant Troops, huh?"

Sora, who had seen the emblem in the documents of the manor, matched it with his knowledge. He already knew about the neighboring noble territories, their specialties, and the knight orders.

"Are they strong?"

When Razetto asked, Sora nodded.

"The requirement for joining is to be over two meters tall and able to use magic. They are the elite force of the Bercze Marquis. Two of them could probably wipe out all the guards here."

While total annihilation was an exaggeration, the Giant Troops were a popular force in the Bercze Marquis territory and had a decent reputation within the kingdom. Considering that the Bercze Marquis was not a family known for military prowess but rather for administrative skills, the strength of the Giant Troops was a testament to their power.

"But why are they here? They are an excessive force for city security."

As he crossed his arms and thought, he recalled the scorched wasteland he had seen earlier. He was tempted to investigate further, but since they were heading to the capital, he couldn't.

Upon arriving at the inn, Sora bombarded the innkeeper, who had come to greet him, with questions.

"There was a fire."

The innkeeper averted his gaze as he answered. Three knights of the Giant Troops stood nearby, watching over him.

"That can't be all. The residents are despondent, and the Giant Troops are patrolling, which clearly indicates something is wrong."

"No, there isn't."

"... What are you hiding?"

Sora's narrowed eyes, which seemed to peer into the innkeeper's soul, made him freeze. A knight who had been standing behind the innkeeper stepped forward, shielding him and glaring at Sora.

"Lord Sora Kleinzelt, do you intend to interrogate the people of the Bercze Marquis?"

"Concerning the people of the kingdom is a duty as a citizen. Moreover, this is land close to my father's territory. If there is an urgent problem, it is natural to consider taking action."

The knight, who had underestimated Sora, was taken aback by his smooth response.

"However, if you cannot answer, I have no choice. I will ask the Bercze Marquis directly in the capital. One last question, innkeeper, can you not answer?"

"Yes... I cannot answer."

Sora, who had pretended to back off, nodded in satisfaction. The knight, realizing too late that he had been outmaneuvered, was left speechless.

"Lord Sora Kleinzelt, we will take our leave. If you have any business in the city, our troops will accompany you. 'Please understand.'"

"Ah, 'I understand.'"

Sora lightly agreed, understanding the implication that they would be watched to prevent him from uncovering the city's secrets.

November 16th revision