We, who escaped the coup d’etat which took place in Bardiche, did nothing except having the carriage travel towards the north.
We encountered a pursuit party of Duke Nürnberg’s troops once when we were travelling the northern main road and a second time after we turned into the branch road through Earl Mizuho Country, but all of them were flas.h.i.+ly torn to pieces by Katharina’s spell 『Wind Cutter』.
Don’t they have sufficient coordination with their allies thanks to the communication blockade?
The rebel army didn’t let overly able magicians partic.i.p.ate in the pursuit.
They chased us while releasing Fire b.a.l.l.s and such, however having all of it blocked by Katharina’s 『Magic Barrier』, they got counter-attacked and killed by her.

『High-ranking magicians won’t appear in a pursuit.』 (Katharina)

『I guess they are busy with seizing the centre.』 (Wendelin)

Katharina talks to me while retrieving the magic bags and equipment of the magicians she defeated.
She seems to act completely like a bandit, but this is also how battlefields works, Burkhart-san said.

『No matter how celebrated and powerful the opponent, they become simple headless corpses once they die. Their bodies rot and turn into fodder for beasts. The weak are killed and have everything stolen from them.』 (Burkhart)

『Burkhart-san, do you have battlefield-experience?』 (Wendelin)

『It’s because me and Burkhart-dono were active as adventurers for many years. At places where the eyes of the authorities don’t reach, such things happen as well if sly old adventurers do their work, and you have no other choice but to understand that, Earl Baumeister.』 (Armstrong)

It’s no wonder that Dous.h.i.+ and Burkhart-san kill people without any hesitation.
It’s only natural since they have experienced it already. Even we turned into quite skilful murderers over this whole day.

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“Therese-dono, what kind of country is the 『Earl Mizuho Country』?”

“For us it’s a country with quite a different cultural shape.” (Therese)

Except for the times when we have the horses rest, we spent all our time moving, but once we travel for the whole day we will arrive in Earl Mizuho Country, and will apparently be able to take a breather.
I try asking Therese, who sits opposite of me inside the carriage, about Earl Mizuho Country.

“In the old times, still before the founding of Holy Empire Urquhart, it existed as an old country of an ethnic group.” (Therese)

There are many people with black hair and black eyes. It seems to be an independent country possessing an unique culture.

“Since they are even older than the Lan tribe which is the major ethnic group of Philip Dukedom, their existence is known to the empire.” (Therese)

The Great Basin Akitsu*, which is adjacent to Philip Dukedom, is their living sphere. Their population is about 1.2 million people. (T/N: Leaving it as j.a.panese p.r.o.nunciation like anything else related to Mizuho Country)
Given that it’s a basin the summers are hot and the winters are cold, but due to the abundance of water and the intensity in the changes between hot and cold temperatures, delicious rice is cultivated in paddy fields as staple food. It seems to be famous even as special product.
We can harvest large quant.i.ties of rice in the southern Baumeister Earldom and below as well, but if we talk about taste, it appears that the Earl Mizuho Country’s domestically grown rice has an overwhelmingly superior evaluation.
Which reminds me, there were many of j.a.pan’s famous rice-producing areas in Hokuriku (T/N: part of Honshu, lies west of Tokyo) and the Tohoku region (T/N: northernmost six prefectures of Honshu) with their intense variations of cold and hot temperatures.
In addition it seems they are the best by far in crafted goods, made with skilful handwork, and magic tool production technologies.
Leading quite the wealthy life among the subjects of Holy Empire Urquhart, they entertain visitors, who come to their territory, courteously.
There are also many places which earn their income by expanding to other territories with large companies and carpenter a.s.sociations. They became what is called on earth overseas merchants.

“(They resemble j.a.panese people…)” (Wendelin)

“Clothes, books, food, buildings, all of it is unique. They have been built in Bardiche as well.” (Therese)

Apparently it’s the architectural structures with tiled roofs and temple-styled buildings, I saw at the time when we arrived in Bardiche, which are referred to as Mizuho Style.
From my point of view, I couldn’t see it as anything but common j.a.panese style though.

“Usually most of them are docile, but once it comes to battle, they turn absolutely atrocious.” (Therese)

The knights, which are called samurai, defend their own territory with a struggle to the death by wielding their single-edged swords which are called katana.
Or rather, no matter what I hear, it’s the ancient j.a.pan itself.

“They are a group who stayed on the side of the Lan tribe. The empire dispatched soldiers to suppress them many times over.” (Therese)

All the subjugations ended in failure. They also suffered enormous losses, but the empire’s side suffered horrible losses each of those times, too.

“The empire in those days expanded its territory in all four cardinal directions. However, since the losses of the Mizuho expeditionary forces were each time disastrous, its advances in the other directions stopped every time as well.” (Therese)

And yet they regularly dispatched troops until the Philip household gained total control of the Lan tribe’s soil, but before long, at the time where the number of allied soldiers, who disembarked on the journey to the other world due to the people of Mizuho, reached into the dozens of 10.000 soldiers, the emperor at that time gave in and recognised their autonomy in the end.

“It’s because they don’t demand any other territory besides the Great Basin Akitsu. Being appointed to a special peerage called High Earl, their territory was named as Earl Country and they were treated differently from other earldoms. With the conditions that they yield diplomatic authority to Holy Empire Urquhart and a yearly paid tribute, Mizuho Country’s continuance was approved.” (Therese)

Even that diplomatic authority is in short something like telling them to not negotiate with Helmut Kingdom on their own accord.

“The empire feared an alliance being formed between the people of Mizuho and Helmut Kingdom.” (Therese)

Earl Mizuho Country was established like this, but once they attained peace, the people of Mizuho became docile.
They accept tourists as well. Their popularity for high-cla.s.s items such as high-quality fabric, alcohol, commodity, handicraft and magic tools, is high.

“It’s also the people of Mizuho who fished in my Philip Dukedom first.” (Therese)

Even though they are living in a basin with no sea, they love sea fish for some reason. Half of those fis.h.i.+ng in the Philip Dukedom seem to be people of Mizuho.

“There are many people working away from home. They are well-informed about the knowledge about edible fish, the methods of processing and the means of preservation and transportation. The haul limits*, the establishment of fish reefs, aquacultures and such, all that knowledge is from them. Also, they dry strange seaweed and create tough rods similar to wood out of a fish called skipjack tuna or such. They are an eccentric lot who are usually gentle.” (Therese) (T/N: Quite sarcastic is that the modern j.a.pan is the worst fis.h.i.+ng country abiding to no international haul limit rules, but authors can dream, can’t they?)

“(It cameee~~~! A typically j.a.panese culture appeared~~~!)” (Wendelin)

To me, whose mind went haywire due to the murdering in the imperial capital, it’s a reward after a long time.
I encountered a state possessing a j.a.panese-styled culture in this western-styled fantasy world.
Sightseeing, food and culture, I have to genuinely enjoy these during our stay there.

“It’s because Philip Dukedom and Mizuho Earldom are adjoining with each other. I won’t mind even if we stay for a night. No, should we stay for several days?” (Therese)

“To request reinforcements?” (Wendelin)

“That’s how it is.” (Therese)

Because the survival and actions of the other prince-elector lords and n.o.bles is unknown, Therese has to first start with the task of gathering the northern neighbouring feudal lords.

“Therese-sama, won’t that Earl Mizuho Country a.s.sist in Duke Nürnberg’s coup d’etat? What I heard from your story, their treatment is mostly that of an independent state…” (Elise)

I understand Elise’s worry.
From Earl Mizuho Country’s point of view, it will be fine if their current treatment is guaranteed, even with Duke Nürnberg as emperor.

“On the contrary, it’s not like that.” (Therese)

Duke Nürnberg tried to even kill Therese.
In order to centralize the authority of the emperor, he plans to remove the prince-elector lords.

“That man’s national policy is that of a powerful empire which was unified into one ent.i.ty. Something like Earl Mizuho Country, which hasn’t yielded to the empire even after thousands of years, is likely a hindrance. As a matter of fact, there were troubles with the treatment of the people of Mizuho who are staying in Nürnberg Dukedom.” (Therese)

Based on the drastic deficit in trade balance, Mizuho’s funds of companies and workshops, which have expanded into Nürnberg Dukedom, have been burdened with large amounts of monetary tariffs due to the reason of them oppressing the management of the domestic merchants. The confrontation between both parties seems to intensify.

“If it’s him, he would likely aim for a complete conquest of Earl Mizuho Country. Moreover, he will be able to obtain their technology and such.” (Therese)

“Then his way of thinking seems to be naive…”

He should realize that if the empire attacks with 1 million troops, a complete conquest of Earl Mizuho Country probably isn’t impossible.
However, afterwards a large amount of male providers, who possess technology and productivity, will have been killed in action. The empire would need to take care of the ruined, former Earl Mizuho Country’s territory.
Given that their resistance will be extreme, there’s no meaning in an unreasonable conquest either.
That’s probably the reason why the empire is approving of Earl Mizuho Country’s continuance.

“From Duke Nürnberg’s point of view, he is believing that it will be fine if there’s a restoration of the destruction afterwards. If he integrates Earl Mizuho Country into the empire and makes the people of Mizuho submit by using a large budget and taking a few decades, it will turn into a plus for the new empire when regarded at long term.” (Therese)

“A rigid ultranationalist.”

“He is troublesome because he has solid supporters outside and inside his territory which can be considered as his private domain or own country.” (Therese)

You can even say that the coup d’etat was performed so skilfully because there were a number of supporters in the imperial army as well.
In addition, magic tools and spells for communication and movement have been sealed away.
The empire’s government and the n.o.bles shouldn’t have escaped the chaos until now.
The possibility is also high that they have surrendered to the coup d’etat forces without any time to consider it.

“This is bothersome…”

“I don’t think that he has brooded over it to such an extent before though. He might have felt a sense of impending danger after receiving a report about that after all.” (Therese)

“That?” (Wendelin)

“Here. It’s what thee a.s.sisted to get operational, Wendelin” (Therese)

It’s the huge magic airs.h.i.+p which is a legacy of the historic ruins and was successfully restarted by using the magic gem of the ancient undead dragon I subjugated by chance. Recently it was christened as 『Lingaia』 and the huge s.h.i.+p with its over-all-length of 400 meters was safely placed in commission. Currently it should be in the middle of performing training in order to investigate outside the continent.

“It’s because thee were able to establish a lead even in the number of common 100-meter-cla.s.s large magic airs.h.i.+ps.” (Therese)

The ratio of the air forces’ war potential has expanded up to 2.2 to 1. This made Duke Nürnberg apparently feel quite a sense of danger.

“In other words, it’s my fault?” (Wendelin)

“At very least Duke Nürnberg believes that to be so.” (Therese)

I see, that’s why he stared at me with such a sharp gaze.
Since his usual look is sharp too, he might have simply looked at me though.

“In short you are telling me to kill Duke Nürnberg for the sake of having a peaceful future?” (Wendelin)

“I think that I want thee to partic.i.p.ate in the war as mercenary if possible. There’s no other way but to kill Duke Nürnberg. He is dangerous.” (Therese)

Based on his fluctuating radical beliefs, he even turned towards the use of force.
Large damage will be done to the empire due to his actions. Naturally dissatisfaction will gush out from the surroundings, if they can’t get compensation by crus.h.i.+ng the Duke Nürnberg household.
Something like an easy-going nation, that lets the ringleader of a rebellion live, doesn’t exist in any world.

“Before that there’s also the possibility that my group will be killed once and for all by Duke Nürnberg who succeeded in the coup d’etat.” (Therese)

“That’s ill omened…”

“There are also uncertain parts in a war.” (Therese)

There was the worrying aspect of the southern, western and eastern n.o.bles’ course of action, but as the communication blockade was tormenting us even here, we couldn’t obtain any information at all.

“You can’t count on them. I guess the lot, which went to Bardiche for the enthronement of the new emperor, has been captured or killed by the coup d’etat forces.”

Therese wants to gather the northern lords before Duke Nürnberg dispatches a punitive force towards the north.
It’s crucial that she carries that out in a hurry first, I guess.
Fortunately there were many among the majority of the northern lords who departed from the imperial capital on the same day or the next day after the new emperor got crowned.
It seems that countryside n.o.bles don’t have spare time to the degree I have been expecting.

“However, it’s something annoying, that communication blockade.” (Therese)

The hand-held magic communication device, we are possessing, stays silent even now although we are considerably far away from the imperial capital.
The part of restricting the magic types which are possible to be jammed widened the effective range quite a bit.
At this rate, it should have become impossible to operate magic airs.h.i.+ps and communication devices in the northern parts of Helmut Kingdom as well.

“I worry about Baumeister Earldom.” (Ina)

It’s as Ina said.
If it’s a situation where magic airs.h.i.+ps can’t be moved, it will cause large difficulties to the development.

“There’s no other choice but to believe that Roderich will handle it somehow.” (Wendelin)

I didn’t think that being unable to communicate will be this irritating.
I regarded it as reckless coup d’etat, but Duke Nürnberg might actually have a chance of success.

“Really, he doesn’t do anything decent, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d with his evil eyes.”

Moreover, that guy’s an ikemen.
I hear that his popularity among women is high thanks to that, but I end up believing that he’s a fellow that’s not worth to be trusted as human with only that much.
By no means does that imply that I feel frustrated because of losing to him with my face.

“I feel calm and enjoy being at your side, dear.” (Elise)

“It’s as Elise says. I think I would choke if Duke Nürnberg was my husband.” (Ina)

“If Inchan can’t handle it, someone like me will die by suffocation.” (Luise)

Elise, Ina and Luise start mentioning that they aren’t very good with Duke Nürnberg with his scary atmosphere although he is an ikemen.

It seems I would be warned about the amount of my meals by him. I would hate to be looked down on by his stabbing eyes.” (Wilma)

“That’s right, isn’t it? I can see a type of feeling like follow me without complaining since I’m right.” (Katharina)

Is it fine to say that he has an inborn despotic character?
Unexpectedly Wilma’s and Katharina’s opinions might peck at Duke Nürnberg’s true ident.i.ty.

“I’m absolutely fine with Wend-sama’s type of husband.” (Wilma)

“Me too.” (Katharina)

“Everyone, thank you!” (Wendelin)

Overcome by emotions, I hug the five of them one after the other.
Even I have parts which can win against Duke Nürnberg.

“I don’t understand. From Duke Nürnberg’s point of view, Wend is probably a target of jealousy…”

“I pa.s.s on such complicated, internal story.”

I drove Erw, who stated his opinion in a whisper, towards Dous.h.i.+ with silence.

“Erwin-lad, a man is all about muscles and ability!” (Armstrong)

Dous.h.i.+ forcibly took a pose emphasizing his muscles inside the confined carriage.
It’s a pushy logic, but for some reason I feel its persuasiveness if Dous.h.i.+ is the one saying it.

“No, it’s the charm of an adult which only grown men can possess.” (Burkhart)

Next Burkhart-san, who recovered his mana already, partic.i.p.ated in the talk, too.

“Honestly, either is fine. Don’t you think so, Therese-sama?”

“Thou husband seems to also have many, various problems, but let’s take a rest in Earl Mizuho Country for now.”

While having such a chat inside, the carriage arrived at the border territory of Earl Mizuho Country.
The Earl Mizuho Country consists of the Great Basin Akitsu and a mountain range enclosing it.
Since the mountain range doesn’t have that much of elevation, a highway to make the pa.s.sage of carriages possible has been laid out, but an inspection place had been created at the entrance of the mountain road.
Guards are standing at the entrance of a building which is similar to a simple fortress.
They are resembling j.a.panese people with their black hair and black eyes, but the size of their bodies has no great difference to the average height of the people of this world.
Once I looked properly, their garments had an appearance similar to the samurai of Edo period and three katanas were affixed to their waists.
On the left they have two long swords which can be regarded as j.a.panese swords, and on the right there’s one sword similar to a short wakizas.h.i.+.

“Three katanas, huh…? The 『Battou* Unit』 has been added to the defence.” (Therese) (T/N: Battou = drawing a sword (and striking in the same motion), imagine Kens.h.i.+n the Battousai, probably an unit specializing on sword drawing techniques)

“『Battou Unit』?” (Wendelin)

“In the empire they are called a unit ma.s.s producing war dead with ridicule put into the name.” (Therese)

Common soldiers don’t wear anything but two short and long katanas, but since the elite Battou Unit has been granted 『Magic Katana』’s which are magic tools, they wear three katanas.

“A 『Magic Katana』 is a sophisticated magic tool.” (Therese)

It appears that they cut and kill their enemies by cladding the katana with their preferred attribute of mana through an all-purpose magic tool.

“I happened to see it at a joint military exercise of our feudal armies. A samurai, who clad his magic katana with fire-attributed mana, cut through a steel armour target with a diagonal slash from his shoulder.” (Therese)

“What’s that? How scary.”

“I heard a story that a military force consisting of 10.000 soldiers melted and vanished after being attacked by a Battou Unit of a thousand in the past.” (Therese)

It seems that was the end of the empire’s invasion armies achieved at the past Earl Mizuho Country subjugations.
Of 20.000 soldiers, 15.000 were casualties and the rest escaped.
Although it seems that the 『Battou Unit』 lost half of its numbers as well, the loss ratio is weird no matter how you count it.
I wondered whether it was exaggerated, but there appears to be no mistake as it has been recorded in the military annals of the imperial army which suffered the loss.

“They have no interest in territory outside the Great Basin Akitsu, but it’s not like they are lenient towards invaders.”

“Even though it will be fine if you ma.s.s produce those magic katanas.”

“That’s impossible.” (Therese)

Since even the empire isn’t stupid, there exists an unit equipped with magic swords which had the same trick added to their swords.
However, it seems that they can’t take a single blow from a magic katana.
I hear that there’s apparently a difference completely separating them in performance of the equipment.

“You can avoid a magic katana’s blow or, in case of Wendelin, he will deploy a firm 『Magic Barrier』, I guess? There are no options besides those.” (Therese)

“How about plundered items?” (Luise)

“They become unusable before one month pa.s.ses.” (Therese)

Therese answered Luise’s question while showing a bitter smile.

“On top of its structure being complicated, it looks like it’s necessary to regularly give it a special maintenance.” (Therese)

By switching a lever to fire, earth, water and wind, it’s possible to freely clad it in an attribute’s mana. In addition there’s also a lever to adjust to the magic capacity included.
If mana is loaded into the embedded magic crystal, you can use it for a while, but it ends up returning to a regular katana losing its usefulness all of a sudden before even one month pa.s.ses.

“It appears to have even a maintenance of the katana’s blade itself. The empire’s magic tool craftsmen have attempted to a.n.a.lyse and reproduce it as well, however they haven’t reached any significant results either.” (Therese)

The technology around the katanas has been strictly concealed. It also serves as proof that the magic tool production technology of the people of Mizuho is outstanding.

“It seems that Duke Nürnberg isn’t pleased with that aspect either though.” (Therese)

Since they are treacherous friends nesting within the empire, he feels obliged to get rid of Earl Mizuho Country.
As he seems to harbour such notion, Therese believes that it’s possible to build an united front with them.

“Didn’t that High Earl Mizuho-sama go to Bardiche?”

“It’s because Earl Mizuho Country is essentially a different country. It has been decided that he will have an audience bringing congratulatory gifts after the emperor has been enthroned for a while and the situation has calmed down.” (Therese)

At that occasion the current Earl Mizuho Country’s position would be re-acknowledged by the new emperor.
This also seems to be a task of a new emperor to be carried out at the beginning.

“Accordingly, that gent hasn’t been dragged in like the other n.o.bles.” (Therese)

The coup d’etat has broken out three days after the enthronement of the new emperor.
The n.o.bles, who returned to their territories ahead of time, escaped the disaster, but of the prince-elector lords who were able to flee it’s probably only her, Therese said.

“Anyway, I have to raise an army. Either I die or Duke Nürnberg does. There won’t be any other conclusion besides that.” (Therese)

The carriage, we had boarded, successfully and safely entered the fortress which is at the national border of Earl Mizuho Country.

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