Chapter 196: Teleportation Magic
The two-day voyage has been smooth, passing through the port of Grace on Britannia Island and the port of Aslo on the Sway Peninsula before arriving at the port of Twangste in the Kingdom of Rastore.
The former pirates of the North Sea are mostly under my control, allowing for safe navigation even without military ships.
I provide food and jobs for the cooperating former pirates, while those who refuse must unfortunately be dealt with. Supporting the impoverished people of the North Sea so they can live without resorting to piracy incurs significant initial costs.
However, considering that this ensures a sufficient labor force for stimulating trade in the future, it isn’t such a high cost after all.
By the way, the ambassadors from the southern countries were delivered by other Silesie fleets, so my diplomatic duties end here.
Twangste’s port, located to the northeast of the Kingdom of Rastore and facing the Inner Sea of Germania, serves as the gateway to the Eastern Triarchy.
Twangste was built by the clan chief Twang, known as the great sword king, who united the Rastore clan. It is a port city centered around a large castle constructed to protect this vital harbor from northern demons and eastern barbarians, often referred to as the port of the sword king.
「This is quite a good harbor; it will surely become a strong trading base.」
Being located in an inland sea, the waters are calm. The harbor is deep enough to accommodate large vessels, making it a natural harbor with a spacious bay.
The contract for leasing the land has already been signed, and staff from the Sawatari Company are currently on-site, constructing a large shipyard and commercial buildings to facilitate unloading ships. Although it is a small port town with a population of around five thousand (which is still one of the largest towns in the sparsely populated East, being the second city after the capital, as the ambassador mentioned), it will likely become even livelier with the boost in trade.
It is essential to secure prime real estate now while there is still space available for constructing warehouses and other facilities.
The city of Twangste is surrounded by high stone walls, and a hundred fifty knights from the Lanct Kingdom garrison the large castle, which ensures a favorable security situation even though it is close to the lands of demons and barbarians. In fact, one could say that the abundance of undeveloped land makes it all the more appealing as long as the peace is maintained.
TN: Yeah, for some reason, Lanct is called kingdom.
「I’ll be heading to the local cathedral to spread the word.」
「Nicholas, how long are you planning to stick around?」
What’s with this buddy-buddy attitude, sharing your plans with me?
Do you intend to hitch a ride until the return trip? For a moment, I considered just leaving him at this port, but… fine, I’ll send him to a Germania port.
Honestly, I really want him to go home, so I’ll have to drop him off here. The priests are from the city of Nant, so there’s no choice but to accompany them until the end.
It seems that the worship of Asama is fervent everywhere; even in this largest port of the East, there is a magnificent cathedral. The wooden church, while not extravagant, stands firm and robust, embodying the essence of what it means to be in the Kingdom of Rastore.
The simplicity and sturdiness of the construction reflect the strength of the Asama faith. Nicholas, reverently carried in like a portable shrine by the priests, enters the Eastern-style cathedral alongside a large drum.
Oh no, this cathedral might also be contaminated by the Neo Homotestant… I have a feeling that a strange ritual like praising the Goddess Asama while half-naked and beating drums would appeal to the rustic people of the East.
Well, separation of church and state means I can’t interfere. While religion doesn’t meddle in secular power, I can’t voice any concerns regarding the Asama Church either.
This is an internal issue for the Asama Church, and there’s nothing I can do but leave it be. Having safely delivered the diplomatic envoys from other countries, it’s time for me to focus on business.
Upon arriving at the port, I’m conducting market research, so after concluding discussions with the Sawatari Company representative at the Twangste port, I decided to leisurely stroll through the market.
While the outbound journey was an official event for delivering diplomatic envoys, I’m returning with Louise, Kaara, Are, and Eleonora in tow.
Louise and the others, especially Eleonora, have been busy with the war, so I plan to take it easy on the way back as a sort of honeymoon for us. It wouldn’t hurt to do some sightseeing once in a while.
「Wow, look at that, Takeru! It’s beautiful!」
「That’s amber. Indeed, it’s a large piece that you rarely see in Silesie.」
Eleonora is excitedly looking at the display of gemstones at the merchant’s stall. Despite being a knight who charges through battlefields, she’s still a girl at heart and has a weakness for shiny things. The port of Twangste is known for its abundant amber.
Amber is fossilized tree resin that has solidified over many years, and this land has rich deposits of amber that seem endless. Twangste is even nicknamed the ‘Land of Amber’ in addition to being known as the port of the Sword King.
「As you said, Takeru, it’s not just beautiful; it has an elegance to it.」
「Looks like Louise likes it too.」
Louise is holding a piece in her hands, which is rare for her, given her more rugged demeanor. When I mention it, she shyly nods, and it seems like her disposition has softened a bit.
「How about it, dear customer? Would you like to see some even more expensive pieces?」
「Sure, why not?」
Noticing our attire, the merchant has recognized us as potential big spenders. He invites us further into the shop, away from the entrance.
Inside, we are shown a collection of rare amber that has been carefully stored. Not only are there the usual amber colors, but also rare shades of red, yellow, and green. They are truly exquisite pieces.
「This is splendid. The red amber resembles the color of Louise’s hair; it would suit her well.」
「No, I—」
I intended to buy it for Louise, but she seems a bit hesitant. This reaction is unusual for her.
「Of course, I’ll buy one for all my wives, not just for Louise, okay?」
「Well, if that’s the case, I suppose I could accept one…」
It seems Louise was just being polite. I thought about making a hair ornament from this amber and borrowed a few red pieces to compare with her hair.
「Could it be this one? Yeah, I think this could work.」
「It feels a bit strange…」
「Strange? What do you mean?」
「Well, it’s just that being here with you like this, as your wife…」
I realized she was feeling quite fidgety; it seems she still hasn’t fully adjusted to the idea. After all, she was my bodyguard until recently, so this kind of situation must feel unfamiliar to her.
「What are you talking about, Louise? We’re already married, so you need to get used to it.」
「Yeah…」
I hugged Louise tightly, burying my face in her vibrant red hair, which was even more vivid than the amber. Since she was my wife, I could do such things now. I could even detect a hint of salty sea breeze in her hair from our voyage.
Since Sharon also liked amber, I decided to buy a good amount as souvenirs for her. While it could serve as a sample for the merchandise, it’s always better to have enough for everyone since girls love jewelry.
We got to see how they process the amber into accessories, but the crafting techniques in the East weren’t the best. So, I decided to buy raw stones in bulk. We could have them made into jewelry back in Silesie or Germania.
In addition to the unusual colors, there were large pieces of amber with strange ancient insects trapped inside—something that might delight Lyle-sensei, who doesn’t typically get excited about just jewels, given their more scientific value.
「Yeah, we made some great purchases.」
With the abundance of these gemstones, even though they are luxury items, the prices are reasonable. It’s always best to buy directly from the source. The port of Twangste offers a lucrative trading opportunity.
While the Kingdom of Rastore still has many undeveloped lands, with rich rivers and abundant forest resources, it seems that there could be other mineral resources waiting to be discovered in those areas.
On the downside, their food resources are rather scarce.
The crops produced here include wheat, barley, and rye, but the harsh climate near the northern limit doesn’t allow for very good yields, so there’s not much surplus to export.
Instead, the pastoral economy thrives in this grassland region, where horses and sheep are raised, making it a source of excellent steeds. I had a chance to see the horses in the market, and the northern horses were impressive, with beautiful chestnut manes, making them exceptional warhorses.
「I want this one!」
Eleonora exclaimed as she mounted a chestnut horse, grasping the reins. I thought she was already well-equipped with a magnificent white horse, but it seems that for knights, a quality steed is something special.
「Takeru…」
「Do you want one too, Louise? Alright, I’ll buy it!」
When I asked the horse trader in the stable for the price, I was surprised to learn that these exceptionally fine warhorses were going for just ten gold coins for two—a fantastic deal. The sturdy horses of the Kingdom of Rastore are known for their resilience in tough conditions. Considering the effort to transport them by ship or land, they seem like a worthwhile investment.
Interestingly, the horse trader doesn’t live in the wooden houses of the town but instead maintains a traditional tent lifestyle. While there are more and more residents and farmers settling down, the majority still lead a nomadic lifestyle.
Another specialty of the Kingdom of Rastore is the potent vodka made from rye. This hardy grain can grow even in cold climates, allowing for some brewing, although the prices are relatively high.
The clear distilled vodka is affectionately referred to as “the water of life” by the locals. Dwarves, known for their love of strong spirits, tend to name any high-alcohol beverage as such, and there’s a significant population of them in the Kingdom of Rastore.
The black elves, or dwarves, find their work here in the amber mines. Only the dwarves working in the mines consume the ‘water of life’ straight; for humans, it’s common to dilute it with water.
With so many horses around, there’s also a custom of drinking vodka mixed with mare’s milk. Regardless, vodka is quite expensive in this region, and it’s often used more as a stimulant or disinfectant than a drink.
「So if we bring in alcohol and food products, we can sell them at a good price. This country is a good fit for trade with ours.」
「Hero, stop talking about business and drink with us!」
Are and Kaara, who didn’t show much interest in the gems, were already drinking vodka mixed with mare’s milk at the inn where we were staying. Although we had been invited to stay at the castle by the lord of Twangste, the wooden tavern on the second floor seemed warmer than the stone-paved castle, so we chose to stay here.
Since this would be a trading city, I wanted to check out the taverns and inns, and I was pleasantly surprised to find them quite decent. Being a port frequented by merchants from Germania probably contributed to the quality.
「Nation’s Father, how about some alcohol?」
「Ah, since I’m here, I’ll have a glass.」
Though I wasn’t much of a drinker, I decided to try a little, thinking of it as market research. The strong distilled vodka, when mixed with the rich flavor of mare’s milk, created a surprisingly mild and easy-to-drink beverage.
It’s curious how two difficult-to-drink things can mix to create something that’s quite pleasant. I also heard there’s a fermented drink made from mare’s milk, which has a lower alcohol content and a milky taste.
「It has a unique flavor, but it’s actually pretty good…」
「Hero, drink more!」
「No, I can’t keep up with you two. I’ll stick to the food.」
Both Kaara and Are were heavy drinkers, and I couldn’t keep up with them. The roasted lamb and goat dishes were simple yet delicious.
Biting into the meat with the bone, juices dripped down. Besides the salt, the only seasoning was some wild herbs to mask any gamey flavor, but the meat from well-fed, freshly butchered livestock was tasty even without elaborate preparation.
I decided it might be fun to buy some lamb and try making mutton curry with spices. However, that would likely feel like a chore once I got too drunk.
After a good drink and feeling quite nice, I succumbed to sleepiness and headed up to the tavern’s second floor to rest. Later, I vaguely remember Are and the others tumbling into my bed, but I was too tired and deep in slumber to recall much.
※※※
During our return voyage, we set out to conduct a new experiment. In the center of the black cedar warship, a complex magic circle was drawn.
「Nation’s Father, the teleportation magic is finally complete.」
「Hmm…」
The intricate magic circle inscribed by Kaara glowed with a strong light. This teleportation magic was a peculiar spell once used by Jenny Walpurgis, the court magician of the Germania Empire who served the former Freed. It seemed that we had succeeded in the activation experiment.
The teleportation magic Jenny used was identical to the travel magic circle from the ancient magical relic, the ‘Tower of Trials’. She must have had some connection to the ancient holy queendom of Queen Liliella. The genius Kaara, who had mastered both human and demon magic, had finally unraveled the mystery of teleportation magic.
「Well then, here I go.」
「Be careful.」
With everyone watching, Kaara stepped through the gate opened by the magic circle.
Since she had drawn the same magic circle in the courtyard of the Silesie castle, if the experiment was successful, we should be able to travel back and forth between the two locations.
A pale blue gate materialized, and Kaara emerged from it, her face beaming with a broad smile.
「Nation’s Father, it worked!」
「Ohhh!」
Encouraged by Kaara, I stepped through the glowing blue gate and found myself in the castle’s courtyard, marked with the magic circle. I landed on one of the hexagonally divided panels of the courtyard’s rest area.
「The experiment was a success!」
「Yeah, now we can continue our voyage and return to the castle whenever we want.」
Teleportation magic consumes a large amount of magic power, so even the highest-ranking mage, like Kaara, can only use it once a day. If one wanted to use it multiple times, they would need to rely heavily on magic stones, making it cost-prohibitive for transporting supplies. Nevertheless, being able to return to the royal castle in an instant makes it a highly convenient means of travel.
I planned to set out on a grand voyage to explore the south to the Afri continent and discover the new continent far across the western sea. However, I felt guilty about leaving my pregnant wives behind at the castle while I undertook a solo mission. Instead, I came up with the idea of installing a teleportation magic circle on the black cedar warship for my adventures.
This way, I could spend half of my days with Silhouette and the others back at the castle while still engaging in my grand exploration. Moreover, the ability to instantly travel to various locations across the Eura continent would allow me to visit each area in turn and issue necessary directives.
The territories governed by the Silesie Kingdom and the trade areas of the Sawatari Company span the entire world, and I had been pondering how to manage them. However, if I could skillfully utilize this teleportation magic, governance would become much smoother.
One potential issue is that, even if I directly apply the magic circle technique that Kaara developed, only a few advance mages scattered across the Eura continent would be able to use the teleportation magic. But I choose to think positively about this limitation, as it reduces the risk of misuse.
By turning a technique that was previously a unique magic of Jenny’s into something that only advance mages can use, Kaara truly is a genius. While I ponder this, Louise and the others come through the gate riding the warhorses.
「It’s a bit scary to pass through this…」
「It seems we can go through even while mounted.」
As we were discussing this, the magical gate closed. Since this is a high-level spell, the duration it can be maintained is short. Today’s experiment had come to an end, but we could reconnect the gate to the ship tomorrow.
「Are you okay, Kaara?」
「Yes, it was my first time performing such a grand spell, so I’m a bit tired.」
After successfully completing such a significant task, Kaara seemed ready to collapse, so I rushed to support her. It’s rare for Kaara to express weakness; she must have been quite exhausted.
「You did a great job. You should rest.」
「Oh, Nation’s Father… that’s too much.」
Deciding to carry the tired Kaara to the bed in the inner palace, I cradled her in my arms.
「Don’t be modest; this is your achievement. If you want anything, just ask.」
「In that case, can I receive a reward too?」
Not wanting to seem dense, I simply smiled and said, ‘What do you want?’.
Thanks to Kaara’s teleportation magic, we had some time freed up, and I intended to enjoy that time slowly with her.