Chapter 75

"Sorry, the explanation might be a bit long and hard to read."

*Beep!*

The Empire

A country located to the east of the Kingdom.

Founded by the Imperial Family, which is deified.

It was in a state of isolation for over 300 years but faced a food shortage due to poor weather last year.

It sought aid from the Kingdom, and currently, the first prince of the Imperial Family, Task Hinomoto, is in the country.

The language used is Imperial Language.

No one outside the Empire can understand it, which has become a hindrance in diplomacy.

Joshua smoothly answers, *Beep!*—the first beep was just a hallucination.

"But why can Lady Emma speak Imperial Language? Trade with the Empire was impossible even for the Rothschild Trading Company!"

Joshua laments, "You should have told us earlier. If even the Rothschild Trading Company couldn't manage it, the Kingdom must be in a real bind. I understand, but..."

"Why can't everyone else do it? I want to know that too..."

"Everyone should study more..." George, who couldn't speak English in his previous life, says, putting himself on a pedestal.

"Regarding the Imperial Language, it's not just a matter of lack of study. According to the research conducted by the Rothschild Trading Company, it is believed that the people of the Empire have a different language organ from those of other countries. Even if a foreign child is raised in the Empire from birth, they cannot understand the Imperial Language. Conversely, there is a case where an Imperial person raised in Baritu could learn the Imperial Language through study."

They are conducting some pretty intense human experiments... It's too bad for the children raised in the Empire.

"Then, wouldn't it be possible if there were someone who could speak both Baritu and Imperial Language?"

There should be people in the Kingdom who can speak Baritu.

"Unfortunately, that experiment was conducted about 80 years ago, and it's unknown where that person is now. However, thanks to that, the Empire has maintained some level of exchange with Baritu even during its isolation, and some Imperial people can speak simple Baritu for greetings."

80 years ago... Even in this different world, human rights and such have become a concern in recent times. Human experiments are probably frowned upon.

"But can the people of the Empire speak foreign languages?"

According to Joshua, there is no problem with the people of the Empire speaking foreign languages. In fact, Prince Task's Kingdom language is only hindered by unknown words; pronunciation is not an issue.

"Yes, but it seems that due to the national character and the fact that the Empire has been in isolation, the culture of studying foreign languages has not taken root... There was no need for it. It was only a few months ago that, due to the food shortage from last year's poor weather, the Empire finally felt a sense of crisis and started to take action. Prince Task, who is rumored to be a genius, can speak as well as he does, but it will take other people a few more years."

There are no teachers who understand the Imperial Language. They can only learn words through gestures. Prince Task is an exception.

While they were talking, Martha brought Joshua some sweets and tea.

A tart made with summer fruits and iced tea.

"Thank you, Martha!"

After saying thanks, he immediately savored the tart.

The tea, with plenty of ice, was perfect for the hot summer.

"You're not surprised?"

Joshua and Martha looked at the three brothers, who were enjoying their snacks, with curiosity.

What is there to be surprised about with a fruit tart and iced tea?

"...Oh! Come to think of it, this might be the first time (in this world) I've had iced tea."

In his previous life, refrigerators were a common thing, but there are none here.

In the palace, ice was stored carefully after being cut during winter. It was never used to cool drinks.

"Fortunately, we were able to obtain a high-quality magic stone."

Joshua took a small box from Martha.

It was apparently included with the sweets.

As soon as he opened the lid, a cold breeze filled the room.

"This stone is a magic stone that can store a mage's magic. In the Kingdom, there is only one vein, and it has been exhausted, making it very valuable. This one stores ice magic, so I used it to have Martha make ice."

The slightly blue-tinted magic stone was rapidly lowering the room's temperature. It was so cold that it was believable that ice could be made in such a short time.

When Joshua closed the lid, the cold air disappeared as if by magic.

"What? That's amazing! It's like magic!"

"It is magic."

Joshua nodded contentedly at Emma's innocent delight.

The three brothers, who were used to poverty, had never seen or heard of such a thing, but apparently, magic stones exist in this world. It's a fantasy world.

"Most magic stones are used to maintain barriers, so this kind of thing is rare. Some of the old shops in the capital have them. Mr. Robert's slime jelly was cold and delicious, as Lady Emma said, right?"

Come to think of it, jelly needs to be cooled to set. I ate it without thinking, but it was magic-cooled jelly. It was delicious—slime jelly...

"I searched hard for this to see Lady Emma's delicious face. It cost a bit of money, though."

Emma, lost in thoughts of the jelly, didn't hear Joshua's murmur.

"This magic stone is so valuable, right? My grandfather had a similar one, a slightly warm, light orange stone that he often used as a 'kairo' in his 'belly warmer' during winter."

Martha mused, looking at the small box that had contained the magic stone.

"Huh? Martha? What did you just say?"

Joshua looked at Martha with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, sorry! It can't be the same as Joshua's magic stone, right?"

Joshua's "a bit of money" must have been a lot. Martha hurriedly apologized, thinking she had said something rude.

"No, it's not that, but 'kairo' and 'belly warmer'... I couldn't hear it clearly..."

"What... 'kairo' and 'belly warmer'?"

"Kairo? Hara-ki?"

"Joshua? Is your ear okay? 'Kairo' and 'belly warmer'."

William continued Martha's words.

"Kairo and hara-ki?"

"......?"

"......?"

"......Joshua, should you see a doctor?"

Joshua couldn't hear 'kairo' and 'belly warmer.' He might be tired. I'm starting to worry.

He can have other conversations, so why just 'kairo' and 'belly warmer'...?

"Wait, 'kairo' and 'belly warmer'... are they... Imperial Language?"

Thinking about it, I've never used either in this world.

Why does Martha know them?

...Hmm?

"By the way, when I ate the matsutake and collapsed, you couldn't understand what I said, but you could hear it, right?"

Recalling a little over a year and a half ago, Martha indeed said:

"Oh... I wanted to have at least one sip of beer!"

To which she replied:

"Yes, everyone said the same thing! What kind of spell is it?"

What does that mean?

It was a short sentence, not just a word. Joshua shouldn't be able to recognize the same words he heard a few days ago.

"...? What is it...?"

The three brothers and Joshua looked at Martha, who tilted her head in confusion.

A person who can understand Imperial Language is right in front of us.

What is this? Is it some kind of elaborate prank by the King, diplomats, the old lady, and Joshua?

"Let's sort this out a bit. Martha's grandfather... had a magic stone called 'kainyo,' right?"

Joshua started to think, massaging his temples.

"Yes. Unlike Joshua's magic stone, it couldn't freeze water, but it was a warm stone even in winter..."

It's essentially a kairo, but is it really worth storing just a warming spell in such a rare magic stone?

"Actually, the Empire might be a treasure trove of magic stones, according to reports from the trading company. The Kingdom always collects magic stones to be ready for when mages appear. However, the Kingdom's veins have been exhausted in recent years. Once magic is stored in a stone, it cannot be reused. If this continues, even if a mage appears, we won't be able to store barrier magic in magic stones."

Joshua concluded that without magic stones, the barriers would disappear with the death of the mages.

The King's surprise at grabbing Emma was finally connected.

What the Kingdom wants from the Empire is magic stones. No country would willingly give up such valuable magic stones. The Kingdom, with its exhausted veins, desperately needs magic stones.

"Why would my grandfather have such a valuable magic stone?"

As the situation became clearer, Martha began to panic.

"If Martha can understand Imperial Language, it might mean that Martha has Imperial blood... It's likely that Martha's grandfather was from the Empire. Is there anything else your grandfather told you, anything related to the Empire?"

Joshua sat Martha down and calmed her before asking.

After a moment, Martha, who had been thinking with her hand to her chin, suddenly looked up.

"There's a curse my grandfather taught me when I lost something! He taught me a symbol to draw on things I don't want to lose!"

A charm... Was there something like that?

I don't have the knowledge of the Empire to judge. My head started singing "Koyama Masahiro" but that's because I'm Japanese, and it's not the time to be dancing.

Emma always has paper and a pen ready in her room for designing dresses and embroidery. She placed them in front of Martha and asked:

"Martha, do you remember the symbol for the charm? Can you draw it?"

"I used to draw it on all my belongings when I was little."

Martha slowly took the pen and carefully drew the symbol.

There, it read "Ono Masa."

A few servants from the palace came with the Stewart family. Martha was one of them, brought by Mersa as a valuable presence who could scold Emma.