Chapter 148 : Chapter 148
Chapter 148. Raviedel Lake
“We have prepared lodgings for the new guest on the north side of the Lord’s Castle.”
Radel was receiving a report from Chariot, the acting lord.
When Ishan Rau requested to set up a temporary research lab here, it seemed Chariot had given him a room on the northern side.
He had deliberately taken care to choose the location, saying that places with less sunlight were better for research.
“If there is anything among the monster byproducts we have hunted that you want, please feel free to take as much as you like.”
At Radel’s words, Chariot looked intrigued.
“This is my first time seeing a Lizardman who makes magical tools.”
“You will get used to it soon. You got used to the Chau tribe too, did you not?”
Chariot nodded.
“Your Highness is correct. The territory’s residents are very friendly toward the Lizardmen. At first, everyone was frightened, of course. Now, even the elders of the territory find them admirable, saying the Lizardmen are paying for the sins committed by their former chieftain.”
When it was announced that the Lizardmen would open a new road as a form of atonement for blocking the way in the past, the residents were overjoyed.
They even went to where the Lizardmen were working to bring snacks and small gifts.
“In particular, they seem to like the Lizardman sculptures made by the artisans.”
“Artisans? Do we have artisans in our territory?”
Radel was surprised by this new information.
To think there were artisans even in such a small territory.
“Yes. There is even a village where artisans live together. Their skills are better than you might expect. Before the road was blocked, they used to gather wooden crafts and paintings and sell them in other regions.”
According to Chariot, Raviedel’s housing was cheap and the natural scenery was beautiful, so quite a few artists without money came here.
On top of that, the air was clean and the water was pure, so many people in poor health also stopped by.
“Among ourselves, we joke that this is why the territory keeps remaining barren.”
It might not be helpful for fighting or farming, but……
They were people whose talents could be utilized in many other ways.
“Let us go and meet them sometime.”
Radel visited the village where the artisans lived together with Chariot.
From the entrance, the village was well arranged.
Flower beds made from broken pottery and stone walls decorated with seashells made the entire village quaint and full of things to see.
This might have been their everyday life, but to Radel’s eyes, it was an excellent tourism resource.
The artisans’ skills were decent as well.
When they heard that the Prince was visiting, they brought out only the finest works they had made.
There were various household tools, landscape paintings of Raviedel’s mountains, and jewelry that noble ladies would likely enjoy.
Radel judged that if they added some regional character, it would be more than competitive.
‘If done well, this could save the territory.’
Raviedel was a territory with no local specialties.
It was so barren that even self-sufficiency in food was difficult, so what could they claim as a specialty?
But if it became a tourist destination, that changed everything.
There was no need to worry about specialties.
If people came to visit, admired the beautiful scenery, relaxed and enjoyed themselves, then spent money before leaving, that would be enough.
Coincidentally, there was a place in the territory that was perfect for it.
***
Armandy arrived at the lakeside together with Radel.
“Today I have to check whether the rows in the potato field are properly aligned, and then go to the mine to set explosive magic.”
Armandy grumbled at Radel.
“Do you have any idea how busy I have been lately? It is vacation, but I am more hectic than during the semester!”
Since Armandy was the only proper magician in the territory, it could not be helped.
Inette, Gusto, and Radel could all use magic, but they were not as experienced as Armandy, so the residents always sought out the most skilled one.
“Fixing a clogged well, fine. But yesterday they asked me to solve the problem of a hen not laying eggs. Do they think magic solves everything?”
“That just means you look that impressive. They must have never seen a real magician like you before.”
After grumbling at Radel for a while, Armandy fell silent at his words.
Strangely enough, hearing that seemed to ease his mood.
“Ahem, anyway, why did you bring me here?”
“What do you think? Is the scenery not nice?”
Only then did Armandy look around the lake.
He had been so busy working in the territory that he had not had a chance to properly appreciate Raviedel’s scenery.
He was already used to mountains from attending the Academy near the Marcellent mountain range, so they were not surprising.
The sea had been novel at first, but once he grew accustomed to the currents, it had come to look like nothing more than a hunting ground.
But this lake was different.
The transparent water, the wildflowers decorating the surroundings, and the valley visible behind it all came together like a single painting.
And the faint mana drifting from the lake—what was that about?
Just standing here made his mind feel calm.
“What is the name of this lake?”
“They call it Raviedel Lake.”
“It has the same name as the territory.”
Places with distinctive mountains, wide plains, or large lakes were often named after the territory.
This lake had also been named after the territory.
Chariot, who had come with them, explained briefly.
“According to stories passed down from our ancestors, a spirit lives in this lake. They say the territory was named after that spirit.”
“That is a fine story.”
“Every territory has at least one legend like that.”
Seeming to like it quite a bit, Armandy spoke while gazing at the lake.
“Well, the scenery is fairly nice.”
“I knew it would appeal to you. Then let us go in together.”
“What?”
Go in? Where?
Armandy pointed at the lake and asked Radel.
“You mean enter the lake now?”
“Yes.”
Jumping straight into the water after working all day?
Armandy was dumbfounded.
“I do not mean just going in like that. We will ride that.”
As he said that, Radel pointed to a spot where, somehow already prepared, a small boat was waiting.
***
“Your Highness, you must not launch a boat on the lake. The lakeside is fine, but the inner area is Griffin territory, and if we are spotted, it will be dangerous.”
Chariot tried to stop Radel as he attempted to put the boat on the lake.
Swimming in Raviedel Lake had been forbidden because, with the water being so clear, people often misjudged the depth and got into danger, but there was another reason.
The inner part of the lake was the territory of the most dangerous Griffin in the area.
Among the monsters living in the Tsar Mountain Range, it was the strongest, and it would not tolerate any intrusion into its domain.
Normally, it only flew around the valley, but the moment someone entered the inner lake, it would appear as if by a ghost and snatch them away.
Then it would torment them mercilessly in the air before dropping them.
Hearing Chariot’s words, Radel made a vow to himself.
‘I absolutely have to tame it.’
Radel already knew that this was the Griffin’s territory.
But to think it was harassing the residents to the point that they could not even enter the lake.
Even though he climbed the valley every day to feed it fish, the creature’s temperament remained unchanged.
Without taming the Griffin, the tourism industry would be nothing more than a dream.
“Do not worry. If we stack several spells, we will not be noticed. Right, Armandy?”
“……So this is why you brought me.”
Armandy sighed and began casting spells on the boat.
By now, he was so used to it that he was not even angry anymore.
“What should I cast first?”
“You can stack protective magic, right? Make sure the boat does not break from impact, so cast it several times. And since we might be noticed, add illusion magic too. Then soundproofing magic, and…….”
Chariot was surprised by the string of spells Radel rattled off as if he had been waiting, but he was even more surprised by Armandy calmly casting them without complaint.
Every single member of the Prince’s entourage was extraordinary.
Thanks to that, they were of great help to the territory.
“Chariot, this should be enough, right?”
With Radel going this far, Chariot could only nod.
“Heave-ho.”
Radel set the boat, now layered with magic, onto the lake and boarded it together with Armandy.
The two rowed toward the inner part of the lake.
Armandy spoke, sounding puzzled.
“We could have just looked from the outside. Why go all the way into the lake?”
“I would not have come in if I were alone. I came because you are here, so I feel at ease.”
At those words, Armandy was left speechless.
“Is it not strange? That no life lives in this lake.”
The abundance of mana and many other aspects of the lake were odd.
Radel intended to uncover its secrets whenever he had the chance.
After rowing for a while, the boat reached the middle of the lake.
At that moment, Radel stopped rowing when he noticed something beneath the surface.
“Stop for a moment.”
As Armandy was about to respond, he looked down and his mouth fell open.
“No, what is that……?”
Beneath the transparent lake lay a submerged village.
***
BUBBLE.
Radel descended beneath the lake inside an air bubble created by Armandy.
According to Armandy, it was an application of water element magic, allowing one to enter the water without holding their breath.
Armandy said it would last at most five minutes, but that was more than enough time for Radel.
“It must be a sunken village.”
There were no fish, no aquatic plants, no life that should have existed in the lake.
That was why it was preserved so perfectly.
“Was life deliberately prevented from living here?”
Statues erected long ago, a plaza where people had gathered, narrow paths, houses where someone had lived, fences—seeing the traces of a village left intact made Radel curious about where this place was.
Fortunately, there was someone he could ask at a time like this.
“Spirit Summoning!”
Radel summoned the library spirit.
Since it knew all the knowledge of the world, it might know about this submerged village.
“What is it! I was enjoying myself during vacation when you summoned me!”
The library spirit had been lazing around in the library now that students were gone, and it was in a bad mood from being summoned.
However, the moment it saw the sunken village, that mood melted away.
“What is this now? Hmm, fascinating.”
“That is what I want to ask. Do you know what this village is?”
“There is a way to know everything.”
At Radel’s question, the library spirit closed its eyes and flipped through its pages.
FLIP FLAP!
Then it opened its eyes wide.
“I know! This is the place where a human brat once won a bet against a Great Spirit and made a contract!”
“Is that true?”
“Of course! Who do you think I am?”
Hearing the spirit’s words, Radel’s face lit up.
The story passed down across the Empire of a child who contracted with a Great Spirit.
The tale of a village facing the danger of being submerged, of seeking out a Great Spirit and winning a bet—the very story Radel had referenced when forming a contract with the library spirit.
That village from the old tale was right here.
“To think such fortune exists.”
For a tourism venture to succeed, a great story and a landmark were essential.
At this moment, Radel had discovered both.
Here, beneath the lake, lay evidence so undeniable that no one could doubt it.