Chapter 72 (1/2)

Chapter 72

Chapter 72 – Herthania Valley Liberalization Operation

“Although it’s vast, it’s really a barren wasteland” (Wendelin)

The Herthania Valley, which the Earl Baue for a reduction of the reconciliation e

The alle area is mostly occupied by wasteland and rocky areas where no decent vegetation is growing It’s just a rocky reat nu

In addition, it was a plot of land that was unsuited for soriculture, even if it wasn’t a monster domain, as it’s snapped apart in the centre by a ravine with the depth and width of around 100for 100 kilometres to the east and west

As a matter of fact this Herthania Valley is close to the borders of the South and East and has becoraviate

According to the books written in the era of the Ancient Magic Civilization, this place is an area filled with dense ore deposits where

In that ancient document the places and types of mine-able minerals were recorded It seems like the ravine in the centre is mostly a deposit of minerals

To begin with, it has been mentioned that the ravine itself spread this far because of the

For soic Civilization abandoned this Herthania Valley, but the influential people, who gained control of this area afterwards, have failed altogether to make effective use of this mountain of treasures

Needless to talk about the Margrave Browig household, but even countless other noble households and the past royal family failed to liberate this place

Alongside their failures, the nureat Since there were many opinions like 『Are they really able to liberate it?』 even the current adventurer’s guild has settled down to an evaluation of 『Given that it’s reckless, it’s preferable to not trespass there』

Probably for that reason the release of information didn’t take place in the adventurer prep school either

It’s likely aadventurers, who are filled with an adventurous spirit, don’t head there to invade recklessly after being taught about it badly

I also didn’t know about the existence of the Herthania Valley at all before coe

For Katharina to have known about it was because she was searching for a place to obtain achievee

“Did you know about it, Burkhart-san?” (Wendelin)

“Only by its name In the past there werea fortune at one stroke with a liberalization of this place” (Burkhart)

We, who otiations first, departed to a ridge of a rockyout on the Herthania Valley with Hendrik’s sic airshi+p

“There’s no presence of living creatures” (Wendelin)

“We are standing here and over there’s a stone monument, isn’t it?” (Burkhart)

“Yes” (Wendelin)

At the place, where Burkhart-san’s finger was pointing at, was a stone raved erected

“Erw-boy Try to pass over that line just a little bit” (Burkhart)

“Yes” (Erwin)

Once Erw enters inside by taking one step past the stone monument as told by Burkhart-san, I detect a reaction of a ht away

“Erw!” (Wendelin)

“Got it!” (Erwin)

Suddenly a wolf jumps out from a shade of a rock and leaps upon Erw

If properly observed, this wolf is made out of rock

“Rock golem?”

Next, t

olves appear and the nu Erw, is in total three

If it was my sword skills, it would be out, but Erw cut down one wolf after other as if co

If a rock wolf is cut at the head or heart part that are si

Finishi+ng bythree scattered mountains, Erw picks up stones that seeic cores from there and returns

“Aa~~~ah Even though it was a fine sword… If I don’t fix and sharpen it later, it will be useless” (Erwin)

Erw sighed after seeing his oord having a chipped blade

“So, well, that’s how it is” (Burkhart)

Because of the past victims, a stone monument like that was built to show the border of the do this place since there’s wasteland and rocky s

If you take just one step across the boundary line,and you will obtain ores and ic cores once you defeat those

“Wend, what’s this ore?” (Erwin)

“Umm Low quality iron ore” (Wendelin)

“Baah~~~! How very unprofitable!” (Erwin)

Once I examined the composition of the ore with 『analyze』, it was iron ore with a low concentration

The quality of the ic core is very loell

Thus, Erw ended up having to fix and sharpen his quite expensive sword, which he uses habitually, just because he cut merely three monsters

“In other words, thatzero profit, it will become a loss”

It’s unsuitable even as adventurer hunting ground If Erw reer in the do would have increased to dozens, several hundreds and then thousands

“If you lead in an aret surrounded by rockit And then they will turn into corpses after being outnumbered” (Burkhart)

According to what Burkhart-san says, there are cru if you enter a bit further inside

Given that the recovery is dangerous, they have been apparently abandoned just like that

“According to the ancient docue-scale mithril deposit”

It’s a ic tool structures Because there was always too little of it, its price continued to stay at a high level

It’s possible to produce it by adding icians including me as well, but the amount is extremely low

The currenteven low-quality ores

Naturally that share of labour increases the costs,

The mithril mine, newly discovered in our territory, had its operation accelerated after being told by the kingdo quickly!』

“Obtaining a large-scale h choice… U?” (Wendelin)

“What is it?” (Burkhart)

“Why is Karla-san here?” (Wendelin)

Even though the arbitration negotiations between the Margrave Browig household and the Earl Baumeister household should have ended, Karla followed to this place without leaving our side for some reason

“Why you ask, it’s probably because the arbitration negotiations between the Margrave Browig household and the Margrave Breithilde household haven’t finished” (Burkhart)

“She was a prisoner of the Margrave Breithilde household?” (Wendelin)

“A half of it The other half lies with the Earl Baumeister household since she has beenpersuaded by Erw-boy” (Burkhart)

“The concerns about the rights in such matter are severe, eh?” (Wendelin)

“Even ransom is an important source of income after all” (Burkhart)

By no means there’s a way to split a person in two

Nevertheless, as it’s dangerous to put Karla in a place filled with only men, she has been entrusted to us

Therefore, e headed to the Herthania Valley, she acco with her while looking happy

From the standpoint of Erho has fallen in love with her, it’s a great joy for her to coether with us

“Erwin-san’s sword skills are wonderful” (Karla)

“No, compared to your archery skills, Karla-san, it’s probably nothing to talk about at all” (Erwin)

Being praised by Karla, Erw had a lewd look on his face

“However, it’s nice that it was accepted by the Browig household” (Wendelin)

“Even if I stayed with them, I wouldn’t play any role anyway But, if I accompany you, Earl-sama, possibilities will appear” (Karla)

“Yeah, yeah Youin love with you, Karla-san” (Wendelin)

“Her elder brothers are probably confident Karla-ojousan is a beauty as anyone can see” (Burkhart)

Certainly, she is a beauty that won’t be outdone by Elise or Katharina

Rather, giving a slightly huladly take her as their wife if it’s the men of this country

“What’s your opinion, Earl-sama?” (Karla)

“I think that you are a beauty…” (Wendelin)

There’s no doubt that she’s a beautiful woirlfriend

Therefore I thought that it s of love towards her

At first I was surprised by her skill in archery and since I ended up harbouring a little feeling of respect, feelings of love didn’t take root in me

“Is that how it is?” (Karla)

“Besides, it would be somewhat evil towards Erw…” (Wendelin)

Seeing Erw’s attitude towards Karla, there’s no one ast the people of our Earl Baus

It’s obviously a love of different social standings, but since I’ from a distance increases

“That guy Does he understand his own position?” (Wendelin)

“He is uess” (Klaus)

“Klaus…” (Wendelin)

The one who interrupted the conversation between me and Burkhart-san was Klaus

Actually, I knew it

Klaus has given Erw so like an advice

At the moment he said that, he was extreested an evil deed to Erw either

Erw shouldn’t have accepted such either

However, noat front

“Are you airilling Erw?” (Wendelin)

“Even if I schemed that in the current situation, I believe that no one would lend their ear to me” (Klaus)

I had always such impression, but there’s actually also a part where my sarcastic attacks help Klaus himself

Because he was the person responsible for realizing the rebellion no es the criticis showered with sarcasm by me

“I wonder about that, eh? So, what did you tell Erw?” (Wendelin)

“So simple” (Klaus)

If the Earl Bau the Herthania Valley, it will drive the Margrave Browig household into even more of a dilemma

If that happens, the Browig householdKarla married into the Earl Baumeister household

“The probability is high, but how does that story connect to Erw?” (Wendelin)

The other nobles of the central government or the other influential nobles of the East, who have a vigour towards rebuilding the fallen Browig household, there are as many other candidates as she likes

“That probability is high, but in the current situation there’s nothing left but clinging onto that possibility Besides, I think he has more of a chance than expected That’s because Karla-sa with Wendelin-sama” (Klaus)

At the present ti her into s

In that case even the losses suffered in the recent dispute will be recoverable in some way

“Ither as retainer of Wendelin-sama” (Klaus)

“She has already been made my mistress or such, you mean?” (Wendelin)

“I don’t think it will go that far, but the intention of the Browig household will be clear to the surroundings” (Klaus)

The Browig household wants to send Karla into the Earl Baumeister household no matter what it takes

Although they excuse it with the fa as possible, won’t it be no proble into further dilemma?

Especially Erw, since he is close tofor hiht time

Certainly, currently Erw is receiving a treatment as favoured retainer from me

Though it’s not like I said so, the surroundings are arbitrarily thinking that

“It feels like a very light viewpoint, but…” (Wendelin)

Even so, for Erw it’s wrong if he doesn’t work in the Herthania Valley as retainer of the Earl Baumeister household

Harbouring the hope that he ht be able to marry Karla, it was necessary for him to raise his tension

“Putting aside Erwin-dono’sin the liberalization of the Herthania Valley?” (Klaus)

“Quite so Though it’s necessary to prepare a bit Also, the recruit war potential will take a few days?” (Wendelin)

“We will be on standby for a while here then” (Klaus)

The Baumeister army, which is less than 100 in total, decides to wait for reinforceht outside the boundary of Herthania Valley

Within the Herthania Valley, which was transferred to us fro to the arbitration draft, there was no kind of limitation for us to act inside since it even included the barren rocky mountain area that’s not located within this monster domain

Even the territory outside the area where rock-made monsters appear if you set foot in the Herthania Valley has been declared as area where it’s not recommended to trespass so that no one accidentally sets foot into the domain

As those are row decently, they were treated as buffer zone of the dangerous Herthania Valley since mineral resources can’t be mined there

Nowadays there’s apparently no person that enters this area

“Even goats can’t be raised in such wasteland Agriculture is out of the question When adventurers entered previously, they apparently looked for mineral resources as well, but…”

As there’s nothing but rocky mountains, Herthania Valley had been apparently transferred to us as freebie

“In that case we have to take counterainst intruders for the sake of the tiot liberated”

“You are terribly confident, Earl-sama” (Karla)

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have gone as far to decrease the reconciliation money in order to acquire this place” (Wendelin)

Taking Burkhart-san and Katharina along, we begin building rock-ic at the borders to the territories of other nobles

It declares our intention 『Entry for strangers forbidden since fros to the Earl Baumeister household』, but once the three of us did the tedious task of gathering materials such as the rocks of the rocky mountains, the residents of the other noble’s territories looking from outside watched at us with suspicious looks

“It’s because 『Even if you claily, on’t enter such place』”

No ht have, that place is nothing but a pie in the sky if you can’t enter to mine there

For the Browig household to transfer the territorial rights easily due to seeing the char the reconciliationan inferior property

“Even so, no matter how much walls we make, it doesn’t quite come to an end…” (Katharina)

Adding the buffer zone area as well, it will take ti wall has to cover approximately 23000 square kilometres of the Herthania Valley

It was a work just for the sake of claihly, but it’s likely necessary to reinforce the vigilance and true construction work readiness to defend against ore thieves after the liberalization of Herthania Valley

“Is it really possible to liberate it?” (Katharina)

“Didn’t you plan to liberate it before, Katharina?” (Wendelin)

“I did, but I gave up because the prospects of succeeding were too low no matter how I calculated it I understood that I would be outnumbered” (Katharina)

She realized that it would become a difficult situation even if she invaded because even if one slaughters several hundred rock- a wide-area advanced spell with one or two excellent ush forth one after the other

“In the first place, the principle behind creating those golem-like, rock-made monsters is unknown” (Katharina)

“There’s a helper who knows about that” (Wendelin)

“Is that true?” (Katharina)

“The explanation will follow after the powerful helper arrives” (Wendelin)

“I’…” (Katharina)

———————————————————– End of Part 1 ————————————————————–

Several days later, after we returned to the troop headquarters since the work to build a wall had azed at Herthania Valley while drinking tea poured by Elise there

“I have heard the rue monsters made out of stone, huh? Moreover, for me to participate in the liberalization of this…” (Ar)

The powerful helper was of course doushi+

I want him, who is appropriately called 『hudom, to join in on the liberalization operation

“It’s been a while, doushi+” (Wendelin)

“It’s has really been quite a while! Although it was probably great for you, Earl Baurave Browig household, I was bored!” (Ar)

“(Bored, you say…) As it was a dispute, I had plenty of free ti what I asked you to?” (Wendelin)

“I brought it after getting per you discovered anyway, Earl Baumeister There’s no proble)

“An object that has already been analysed?” (Katharina)

Katharina tilted her head to the side in confusion, but I called asince it’s probably better to explain to everyone

The participating members are me, doushi+, Burkhart-san, Erw, Elise, Ina, Luise, Wilma, Moritz, Thomas and Klaus

If we talk about the usual members, those are the ones

“First off, there’s a reason forthe reconciliation money” (Wendelin)

That is soulation』

When I was reading a book in Earl Ischrubak’s library to kill time, it contained notices about this Herthania Valley as well

“At that ti household, thus I didn’t have overly much interest in it” (Wendelin)

Even if I were to be requested to liberate it, I wouldn’t accept it unless there was quite a large reward I didn’t have any intention to liberate it before that either

As a matter of fact they never approached me to request the liberalization

They likely considered it iin with

They thought that Margrave Breithilde would interfere even if they asked or it’s also possible that they had no will to liberate it from the very start

“After that, once they harassed my family’s home and because I was sued that I had to have e somehow and this is the place for that” (Wendelin)

“The Browig household cheaply transferred Herthania Valley, which they treated as bad property, to you, Wendelin-sama”

“That’s how it is”

“Don’t you think that those rock-oleulation, Elise?” (Wendelin)

“I believe that to be true except for their propagation” (Elise)

“However, even the 『propagation of their appearances』 is oleulation” (Wendelin)

“In other words, it’s a defence syste in this Herthania Valley!” (Ar)

What doushi+ brought along was an old book

It’s 『Catalogue of my oorks』 written by Earl Ischrubak and found in his library

“Differing from historic ruins, the Herthania Valley is vast Moreover, since it’s a natural environoleradation over ti)

Even if they were to maintain an une

They would have to exchange parts because of the intense degradation There was the risk of the defence systeradually once a numbers of years had passed

“Thus, that’s the reason for the rock-olems”

With a , they are able to be constructed with rocks noas it’s within Herthania Valley

For ores to have been mixed in is apparently by chance due to the location of the

“Since they are able to make up the nue area!” (Ar)

“Me, me, doushi+!” (Luise)

“What is it, Luise-jou?” (Ar)

“I wonder froolems, I believe they should have an artificial personality crystal When Erw defeated one, it didn’t seem like that monster had one…” (Luise)

“Certainly he didn’t collect anything but ore and a ic core”

Erw examined the remains after he defeated that rock-ment of an artificial personality crystal

“The reason for that is simple! This Herthania Valley has a ole)

According to Earl Ischrubak’s 『Catalogue of on called 『Gigantic Rock Golem』 enshrined within the crevice located in the centre of Herthania Valley

“If you consider it the other way around, you can even say that there’s no other goleantic Rock Golem”

Inside of the Gigantic Rock Goleth of 100 e artificial personality crystal ereat number of rock-made monsters at the same time

Once it detects intruders fro on the scale of the attackers and if the numbers decrease, it will carry out a restoration up to a number it can control

What can be regarded as propagation by its appearance enius Earl Ischrubak

“How about the ic cores?”

“There’s a hint at the point where the Gigantic Rock Gole)

It was recorded in the old book that it has been deliberately enshrined on top of a large mithril vein

“I heard froe amount of mana to silver will create mithril” (Ina)

Just as Ina says, there are many monster domains with dense mana and mithril veins below

The silver, which is located there, changes intomana as time passes

“Staying at a point with lots of ic cores?”

“It looks like that’s how it is!” (Ar)

Although they are rock-th to wolves, boars and bears since their nu like a war potential

Even the monsters like hawks and wyvrens who are able to fly are only ily

They aren’t stronger than the real ones

“However, their nu” (Ina)

“Indeed, just as you say, Ina-jou, their nu)

Even if one has a bit of confidence in their ic and destroys a few thousands of them on the first day, those losses will be already recovered on the next day

“Just one of those is plenty of a threat to a co)

Even if you destroy several thousands of the with 10000 military forces, it’s not like the side of the human military forces will come out unhurt

They will be attacked once again at the location, where their nu ounds, on the next day

It’s unthinkable to succeed in the liberalization like that

“The aforementioned old book has records of the abilities of the 『Herthania Valley defense gole)

This ritten on a certain page of the old book opened by doushi+

The Gigantic Rock Golem can’t move as it’s enshrined within a ravine where

A huge artificial personality crystal is ee build that can control 100000 rock-olems at maximum

It also has a device to gather ic cores, that becoolems, installed

Its ic core production ability lies at around 5000 cores per day

Once the nuolems decreases, the artificial personality crystal will try to make up the lost part

The antic Rock Goleoleole the material which they are composed from

Although it can be seen as if they are born going by appearance, it’s actually a splitting The children, ere born in the sae due to the rocks in their surroundings

Their si eaten the same rock

“A completely autonomous defence system, huh?”

That’s why it has likely been operating till now

“It means that the mystery was at last unravelled, but while that do)

The method to liberate Herthania Valley is actually very simple

All will be fine if you se artificial personality crystal eantic Rock Golem

Since this artificial personality crystal is the source olems will turn into simple masses of rock once you destroy it

“The method is easy But the means are very difficult…” (Erwin)

Just as Erw has said, breaking through gole a maximum amount of 100000, won’t work unless you reach the location of the Gigantic Rock Golem

“The inally so household” (Katharina)

No dodo household

It was as Katharina said, but this tie chance

If the Browig household didn’t notice the value of Herthania Valley just as before, the kingdom would have taken responsibility for a part of the reconciliation otiations and confiscated this place It was possible that they would have requested us to liberate it afterwards as well

“His Majesty showed a bitter smile It was nicely snatched away by you, Earl Bau)

“Now that I think about it, it was useful for round labyrinth Even if it’s a siness if it becomes my own possession” (Wendelin)

Therefore, this tied even for the previous party members

It has taken the shape ofadventurers as antic Rock Golem

As it’s troublesome to split the concessions of the mines, I decided to pay one hundred million cents upon success in advance

“Although the degree of difficulty is high, the reward is exceptional”

Given that it’s 10 billion in japanese Yen, it’s not an excessive reward to begin with

“You will take charge, Burkhart-san, right?” (Wendelin)

“I have been told by master to accept it” (Burkhart)

If you consider the time after the liberalization, there’s no other choice for Burkhart-san, who is a rave Breithilde household, but to accept

Since there’s no way for just the Earl Bau areas of Herthania Valley, it will be necessary to consign quite a few of the operations

“I’ private support fro Minister” (Ar)

For the kingdom that means that they want to obtain even a bit of the concessions of the Herthania Valley, which was snatched away by me ahead of time

Though the property rights are ardingand transportation

Also, if the royal fauard for the Earl Bau household after the liberalization

Since they will likely be jealous, if I keep it completely to myself, I considered a method how everyone can be happy

Though I still didn’t knohether the Browig household will join in on that

“The group, who can’t fly by ic, will be a diversion here, huh?”

“Yes”

I want Erw, Ina, Wilma and Elise to participate in the diversion as people belonging to the Earl Baumeister household

The antic Rock Gole in the air

During that tiround unit will barely enter and leave the boundary as they were given the task of drawing the rock goleround

“Wend-sama” (Wilma)

“What’s up, Wilma?” (Wendelin)

“The numbers for the diversion are too little” (Wilma)

According to the docuround forces and 20000 airborne forces

As expected, Wilma pointed out that it would be too harsh to run a diversion with less than 100

“I have called for reinforcements Before that, ill have a bit of combat practise” (Wendelin)

To preserve oleood efficiency

For that reason I wanted to check how olems

It would be best for the diversion unit to grasp the strength of the golems, too

Because of that, aited right at the boundary line for the goleroup, froround, and started our co those

“According to the old book, the antic Rock Golem is 5000 Therefore, if we kill more than that, the recovery won’t be able to keep up!” (Ar)

“Doushi+, don’t state so troublesome…” (Erwin)

Erw is checking his sword

Once doushi+ clad hied into a flock of wyvren-shaped and hawk-shaped rock gole them

“Certainly, only by their appearance, they aren’t that powerful!” (Ar)

“As usual, a…”

At the sa in, he pulverises one after the other with kicks and fist-strikes that were clad in htly away, he throws a small snake-shaped tornado, made out of mana, at it