Chapter 138: Desolate Poltaz

Clatter. Clatter.

The carriage passed through the border far too easily, to the point it felt empty.

Fordman held the reins as his shoulders bounced lightly.

At that sight, I asked with a curious expression.

“Are all the borders between kingdoms like this?”

“As a wandering merchant, passing borders without obstruction was only natural!”

“Customs duties? Don’t you need to pay those for goods to cross borders?”

“Most of the goods I handle are items ordered by nobles. Naturally, I pay the required duties before the season passes.”

“Do you even profit doing all that?”

Considering the massive earnings Fordman had made so far, there was no reason to doubt him.

But when I thought of the Estabratz wine he had just sold cheaply to the border troops, along with all the other goods and the seasonal duties he claimed to pay, it became difficult to understand.

“That is simply the job of a merchant. Whatever I do, I prioritize profit above all else, so you need not worry.”

His explanation didn’t go beyond a vague excuse.

Originally, in the future, Fordman would become a renowned figure who founded a sizable trading company in the Empire under his own name.

It felt as though he had his own hidden method.

“You really are something…”

“It’s not that I’m great. It’s that Master’s products are good enough to cause trouble! Whether Empire or kingdom, everyone likes them.”

The Theron production district in Kanas continued to produce goods.

Sometimes I sent Fordman new designs for new items.

Every time, he traveled as a wandering merchant from nation to nation selling them.

“So we’re just crossing the next border like this as well?”

“It would be nice if it were that easy, but… is that alright?”

“No problem. But the way ahead won’t be peaceful.”

Fordman—who was normally the embodiment of lightheartedness—suddenly wore a serious expression.

Patrick, seated with us on the coachman’s bench, asked back in confusion.

“Is something happening in the Empire’s outer territories?”

“To be honest, earning money is good and all… but the sight ahead is simply too miserable.”

“…Miserable? What exactly?”

“It’ll make more sense if you see it yourself rather than hear my explanation.”

The carriage sped through a valley surrounded by mountain ranges.

The first territory we arrived at after crossing the border was a place called Poltaz.

Normally, a territory should have green hills and farmland cultivated by its people surrounding the lord’s castle.

But what lay before us from the hill we stood on was not just desolate— it was nearly a desert.

“Was it always like this?”

Since it was my first time stepping on Dior Empire soil, Patrick answered my question.

“Poltaz is famous for having more greenery than other territories because the Serban Mountains stretch widely across the border.”

“Greenery? Doesn’t look like it…”

At my doubt, Turklan poked his head out from the carriage cover to add on.

“Sir Patrick speaks the truth. Up until two years ago, this place was unquestionably lush and green.”

“Then why did it become like this?”

Even from afar, it was doubtful if anyone still lived in the lord’s castle.

It didn’t look strange to imagine it collapsing at any moment.

“I’m not sure either. Sir Turklan, do you know anything?”

“I’m not certain, but I heard rumors involving the Empire and the priests.”

“The Empire? Priests?”

“Two years ago, priests from the Empire came to stay here, and not long after, it turned into what you’re seeing now.”

Priests were figures acting under the authority of the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.

There was no way priests were involved in something bad.

But I became curious why the Empire had sent priests to Poltaz in the first place.

“They didn’t say why?”

“At the time, the Empire claimed they sent priests to stop a curse, but it was already too late. This is the result.”

It wasn’t easy to find the connection.

And then, from deep inside, an ominous feeling began creeping up on me.

‘The only major future I knew was that the Dior Empire proclaimed the unification of the continent and attacked the kingdoms…’

But I didn’t know the detailed circumstances.

I had no idea what had been happening within each nation.

Since it was crucial information, I needed to know accurately.

I took out a Post, a communication magic device, from the storage and connected to Regina Foster.

—Yes, Master. What do you need?

Regina’s face appeared on the small screen of the Post.

I told her what I required.

“I need information about the Dior Empire and the Poltaz territory under it.”

—About that place?

“How long will it take?”

—Getting older information isn’t difficult. But recent information might be hard since we’re separated from the Black Crescent Moon.

“Please gather as much as you can.”

—I will.

Cutting the connection, I headed toward Poltaz Castle with my companions.

The interior was far more terrible than the view outside.

At the castle gate—where well-trained guards should have been standing—only the soldiers’ drooping atmosphere filled the area.

Inside, only clouds of sandy dust blew about. Not a single territory resident could be seen on the streets.

“This is quite serious.”

“So this is what they meant by priests failing at something.”

Patrick and Turklan nodded.

I also wore a serious expression as I opened my Sense.

Countless people appeared as translucent silhouettes on the screen-like display.

There was barely any movement. And judging from their conditions, their stamina and health were terrible.

“This entire territory is in danger.”

“Is it that bad?”

Patrick knew, at least roughly, what my abilities were.

Naturally, he understood the weight of my words and became worried.

Thud—!

Then, a child walking nearby bumped into my leg.

A girl whose height reached just slightly above my waist.

“S-sorry.”

She looked drained. Her arms and legs were so thin that she seemed barely able to stand.

“Are you alright?”

Right now, I wore the kind of traveler’s clothes people commonly used instead of armor.

The others also dressed similarly.

Perhaps because we looked like outsiders, the girl seemed slightly frightened.

“……”

Grrrrrr…

The sound came from inside the girl’s stomach.

I looked at her with a sympathetic expression before taking out a piece of bread from my pocket.

Of course, it wasn’t from my real pocket, but from the Storage where I kept soft bread.

“Do you want to eat?”

“…C-can I? Mom said I shouldn’t eat anything strangers give me…”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Grrrrrr…

Drool dripped down the girl’s lips as she stared holes into the bread.

Seeing that, Deborah quietly crouched down and met the child’s eyes.

“You can eat it. Do you have more?”

“There’s plenty to eat. But we can’t feed everyone here.”

The territory had turned desert-like, causing a severe shortage of food.

Because of that, I could feel eyes on us from all directions—

people watching from hiding because of the bread given to the girl.

“R-really… can I eat it?”

“Of course.”

At Deborah’s answer, the girl took the bread and immediately gobbled it down.

Eating too fast, she began coughing as if the bread got stuck in her throat.

“Keck! Cough! Cough!”

“You have to eat slowly.”

Deborah handed her water, her eyes filled with pity.

At the same time, resentment toward the Empire grew in her.

Poltaz was an Imperial territory. That meant either the Empire or the lord should have taken responsibility for caring for the people.

But the current sight was one where anyone could drop dead at any moment.

In fact, it was strange Poltaz hadn’t already vanished from the Empire’s map.

Then Fordman, driving the carriage, muttered,

“It’s worse than in the Canel Kingdom. Because of scenes like this, I usually bypass Poltaz instead of stopping.”

“Do you know what the lord of this place is doing?”

“The lord is in the same condition. Practically a territory abandoned by the Empire.”

What could you even harvest from a territory turned into a desert?

Even the farmland that was supposed to produce income only blew sand.

In some ways, the situation was worse than Kanas Territory.

“Are you planning to help them?”

“If we do, the lord or even the Empire might notice us.”

Patrick and Turklan worried first.

I was concerned about that too.

But it was hard to ignore what was happening right before our eyes.

“We’ll help. But we’ll need a cover so people won’t identify us.”

“What kind of cover?”

“We’ll distribute food under the name of the Holy Kingdom. In the name of Francis Bachenan the 22nd.”

He meant the current Holy King of the Bachenan Holy Kingdom.

“Is it safe to use the Holy King’s name?”

“It’s a good deed. They’ll be pleased if the Holy Kingdom’s prestige rises.”

“I’ll search for a place to distribute the food.”

“Once the location is decided, I’ll bring out as much as we can.”

Unlike Turklan’s worries, Patrick and I moved quickly.

Soon after, a line formed at the central square of Poltaz Castle.

There, people cloaked entirely in white robes, faces and bodies covered, began distributing piles of bread, meat, and fish to the residents.

At first, the people were suspicious, but gradually their faces brightened.

However, as the numbers grew, Turklan—carrying a box of meat—began to worry again.

“Will the territory’s authorities stay quiet? They might come and try to uncover our identities.”

Turklan wanted to return to his wife as soon as possible.

Everyone understood that feeling.

But leaving while watching people dying in front of us was also a problem.

The countless faces of the territory residents we had briefly ignored back in the Canel Kingdom rose in my mind, making it hard to walk away.

Clack-clack-clack!

At that moment, the territory’s soldiers entered the central square and surrounded us.

“Who is in charge here?”

At the shout of the man who appeared to be a knight commander, I bowed my head slightly and stepped forward.

“There is no particular person in charge.”

“How dare you do such a thing without permission.”

“We are those who revere the dignity of the Holy King and simply wished to show grace to those in hardship.”

“The Holy King… Don’t tell me you are from the Holy Kingdom?”

The grace of the Bachenan Holy Kingdom was treated as extraterritorial authority in all nations.

And from the perspective of other countries, it wasn’t a bad thing when their suffering people received help.

Most people knew that, so the knight commander nodded.

Smiling faintly beneath my robe, I said,

“One does not need to belong anywhere to bestow grace. All of this is for those who bear the sun and blessings in their hearts—children of Zigasis.”

A deliberately vague statement.

“As expected, you are from the Holy Kingdom. Thank you so much! In these difficult times, to grant our territory such rain-like mercy…!”

“All is according to the revelation of Goddess Zigasis.”

“If it is not too rude, would you meet our lord? He dearly wishes to see you.”

At that, I paused for a moment before replying,

“Grace is simply grace. We wish only to pass quietly, so we ask for your assistance with that.”

My tone was devout and calm.

Of course, inside, I felt a ticklish awkwardness.

‘Ha… this is exactly the tone those people in Korea used when they’d ask, “Have you found the Way?”’

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