zChapter 49 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon Chapter 22 (2/2)

“…However, what sort of effect do they have? What if it’s only their size which is affected by the Grude influence?”

“Humm. A good question, Targes. I had also considered their efficacy as the primary problem. Just because they were the same medicinal herbs did not mean they would have the same benefit. The reason for that is because of the difference in environment of Schell Continent and Grude Continent… That’s why, I performed an experiment with them.”

“An experiment, you say?”

“Yes. I took some medicinal herbs back with me from Weiss Forest, then tested them for their efficacy.”

“…and how, exactly, did you do that…?”

Without hiding his uneasiness, Ganche asked that question.

Ernst, as if knowing that he was about to be scolded, averted his gaze from Ganche and quickly blurted out the words.

“I tested them out on myself…”

“Lord Ernst! How could you do something so dangerous!”

Sure enough, Ganche rocketed out of his chair, grasping both of Ernst’s shoulders in a powerful grip.

“Calm down, Ganche. As you can see, nothing happened to me… Besides, if I didn’t test it out, I wouldn’t know its effects, right? I just tested it out on some barely-mentionable cuts, stomachaches, and headaches, those kinds of simple things.”

“But… but even so… If you had just said the word, then I would have offered my own body to you…”

Ganche’s large body gently hugged him.

“I’m sorry, Ganche.”

A Dunbertian’s body was far too robust and sturdy to use as a test.

Even if Ganche were injured with a sword, the cut would heal in a day. It would be completely impossible to tell whether it was the herbs or his constitution which had healed him.

“Er… ahem. In any case…there are no problems with the medicinal herbs themselves, then?”

After Targes forced a cough, the two of them separated.

“There are no problems with them; rather, what I observed was that their efficacy is higher than that of normal medicinal plants. I anticipate that the medicinal plants in Weiss Forest were influenced by the Grude Continent in not only their size, but in their high effectiveness as well… Of course, before we can market these results, they must undergo much more verification by doctors…The only territories in Rintz Kingdom which border Grude Continent are our fief of Meissen, Siepp fief, and Pacas fief. However, unlike Meissen, the other two fiefs are near to the royal capital, and the King’s army are stationed along their borders to serve as security. In preparation for any invaders, the ground there was flattened, and not even forests remain. Lux Kingdom and Silus Kingdom both do the same, so the only forest which borders against Grude Continent exists solely in Meissen… The potential of the Weiss Forest is something which, without a doubt, can become a treasure which supports Meissen.”

“…Lord Ernst. For me, there’s just one thing I don’t quite understand…”

After gathering up his courage, Aldo spoke.

“I think that it’s good news for Meissen to have treasures in it, so I wonder why Lord Ernst doesn’t want to tell anyone? The only people who know about what you’ve said are the three of us here, right? And just earlier, Lord Ernst didn’t correct the head butler’s misunderstanding and let him leave so that he wouldn’t find out, either.”

Targes nodded along with Aldo.

“Lord Ernst had deliberately lead the head butler to leave the room… And, he had also said that he didn’t know what kind of actions someone who is prone to worry like him would take. But is there something he would worry over in what was talked about just now?”

“No… There is something. If I remember correctly, Lord Ernst had said that what protected Meissen was its poverty. What that means is that if Meissen digs out its hidden treasures and becomes wealthy, there would no longer be anything protecting Meissen…”

Ganche abruptly turned to Targes and Aldo, saying this.

“Aah, that’s right. He had definitely said that… By the way, Lord Ernst, what prices would we able to sell Ruifa wood and linua stone for…?”

When Targes asked this, Ernst made a few calculations in his head.

“Humm… let’s see. Although the areas where Ruifa trees can be produced are limited, in Rintz Kingdom alone are 12 fiefs which produce them primarily. Lux Kingdom maintains twice as many areas of production as Rintz Kingdom. In other words, the Ruifa tree is not something which would afford that much wealth. Even if Meissen paid a high transportation fee, it would be impossible to carry Ruifa wood across the Linz Valley. As such, if we do business with Caprix fief in Lux Kingdom, then estimating generously, it would be about 5,000 sitts per year.”

“But that still easily exceeds the amount of yearly tax Meissen has to pay to the Kingdom, doesn’t it…”

“That would be the case. However, the linua stone is an altogether different matter. If we say that all of the linua stone had been used for the estate, then this discussion will be over…However, if even after lavishly using this much of the stone, there still remained a sizeable amount left to be mined, then the wealth to be gained would be immeasurable. At the very least, the amount of linua stone this estate carries is enough to sell for… one, no, ten ritters or so.”

At Ernst’s words, Targes sharply inhaled and Aldo trembled minutely.

One ritter was over a thousand sitts.

To Aldo, who had been born and raised in a remote land like Meissen, a ritter was an amount so enormous that he couldn’t even fathom it. Ten ritters was enough money to support all 1.5 million members of the Rintz army for an entire month.

“I…if we have something so amazing like that… that’s, of course… If they knew that Meissen had something like that, then of course Lux Kingdom would want to come steal it.”

“At present, the royal family of Lux Kingdom faces a critical situation where the heir is as of yet undecided. However, this issue should be resolved within a few years. Once they have settled the issues around their own feet, the next thing they will turn their eyes on are other countries. Perhaps they can expand our territory, is what they will think.”

Ernst looked at the map of Meissen which hung on the wall. On that map, the Bastelis River looked insignificantly small.

“If Meissen continues to be as impoverished as it is now, then Lux Kingdom will not come to attack. However inferior Rintz Kingdom’s strength is compared to Lux Kingdom’s, the Kingdom of Silus also resides on the Schell continent. For many years, Rintz Kingdom and Silus Kingdom have built up an amicable relationship. Lux Kingdom does not have enough military strength to fight both of these kingdoms together… However, that statement will no longer apply should Lux Kingdom’s military grow more powerful than it is now. It is also possible for Lux Kingdom to hire the races of Grude continent, and it can also hire mercenaries from Sistica continent. Furthermore, it is also possible for them to win over Silus Kingdom.”

Ernst turned his gaze from the map to the soldiers. The faces of the two Kleber were stiff.

“If we unearth Meissen’s hidden treasures, or if we turn Meissen’s potential into reality, then becoming a wealthy territory will be an easy matter. Its people will no longer starve… However, if this were to happen, then we must be aware with certainty that Lux Kingdom will launch an assault. In some cases, Lux Kingdom and Silus Kingdom might come to attack together. At that time, Meissen will have to fight on its own. The reason for this is that the Linz Valley which is supposed to protect Meissen, also separates it from Rintz Kingdom, leaving it helpless.”

Ganche’s eyes began to shine. The copper color of his eyes changed to gold.

It was said that when a Dunbertian experienced the thrill of the battlefield, their eyes changed color.

“Now then, I wish to hear everyone’s opinion.”

Once Ernst had judged that Targes and Aldo had settled, Ernst asked them a question.

“Should we prepare to confront Lux Kingdom so that we can bring wealth to Meissen, or should we continue to live in poverty?”

A heavy silence fell over the room.