Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 01
With our spirits lifted by the acquisition of new weapons, we expressed our heartfelt gratitude to Village Chief Lianos and departed from the Dwarf Village.
Our first stop was to fetch Geshura, who had been holed up in the log cabin. Although she had been accompanying us on our journey, it seemed that her true preference lay in the calmness of crafting.
Inside the log cabin, Geshura was resting with her serpent lower half sprawled out.
“Geshura, are you ready to come out?”
“Hmm, I’m fine. You’ve completed the weapons, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, here it is.”
As I presented the ‘Equalizer of All Things,’ Geshura sat up and approached, her gaze fixed intently upon it.
“…I see, a splendid creation. I am not well-versed in such weaponry, but I can fully appreciate the high level of craftsmanship involved. Moreover, it possesses multiple effects. Creating divine weaponry by human hands is no small feat. Truly remarkable.”
Geshura, who was usually quite reserved, became quite loquacious when she encountered something impressive, which I found amusing.
“By the way, has the communication magic tool been completed?”
“Yes. I’ve crafted a pair and confirmed that they function correctly. This time, I only made replicas, but I gained new insights during the process. It was indeed the right decision to follow Soushi.”
“That’s good to hear, but we must handle it with care.”
When I inquired with Lady Dorozitte, she mentioned that the ‘Communication Magic Tool’ was currently something that could not be replicated; it was an ‘Artifact’ of sorts. I initially thought it was a tool from an ancient super civilization, as often depicted in fantasy worlds, but it turned out to have been created only about a hundred years ago. The original creator had passed away without passing on the manufacturing methods, leaving only the items he had crafted during his lifetime.
However, this meant that Geshura, who could replicate the ‘Communication Magic Tool,’ held an extraordinarily valuable position in this world. The question of how to handle her, including this information, would likely become a significant issue moving forward.
Once we finished tidying up the log cabin and gathered everyone, we began our journey back to Zanzagilium. We had arrived by carriage, but this time we would be walking. I had Sakurahime lead the way while I took up the rear, acting as the leader.
Not long after we started walking, Lady Dorozitte smoothly fell into step beside me.
“May I have a moment? Has Geshura finished the item we discussed?”
I hesitated for a moment, but it was she who had seen the ‘Communication Magic Tool’ with Geshura. She must have heard that Geshura could create replicas, so there was no point in hiding it.
“I just asked her, and she said it’s done. It seems she has confirmed its functionality as well.”
“I see… She mentioned, ‘With this, I could create one myself,’ but to think she could truly do it. The ‘Kin of Twilight’ seems to possess powers beyond our imagination.”
“No, I believe Geshura is simply exceptional when it comes to crafting. It seems that even a figure like the king of the ‘Kin of Twilight’ desires her.”
“I understand. The bag she carries at her waist must have the effect of an ‘Item Box,’ right? There’s no way a powerful individual would overlook someone who possesses such a thing.”
“I had told her not to use the bag in public…”
“Ha ha, that’s unavoidable. I possess the ‘Appraisal’ skill, after all. I can appraise anything suspicious.”
Ah, that was a blind spot… or rather, I had been careless. So, she could discern it with her ‘Appraisal’ skill.
“Don’t worry; as long as she possesses it, she should be fine. As a member of ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ no one would dare lay a hand on her. However, if she were to create a bag like that, it could become quite a serious matter.”
Lady Dorozitte cast a meaningful glance my way.
Since she could replicate the ‘Communication Magic Tool,’ it was only natural that she might suspect Geshura could create a bag with ‘Item Box’ capabilities. How to handle that information would depend on the discretion of Lady Dorozitte, the Grand Master.
“I want to provide her with as quiet a life as possible, but it seems that may be quite difficult.”
“You’re kind, Soushi. However, the simplest way to protect her from power is to have someone who cannot be touched by anyone else quickly surround her.”
“Someone who cannot be touched… you mean His Majesty the Emperor?”
I said this quite seriously, but Lady Dorozitte looked momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter, clutching her stomach.
Noticing her laughter, Larni and Shizuna approached us.
“What’s going on, Lady Dorozitte? Did something amusing happen?”
“Did Soushi say something strange again?”
It took a moment for Lady Dorozitte to catch her breath.
“Well, when I asked Soushi who the strongest person in this world is, he answered that it’s the Emperor, which I found quite amusing.”
“Oh, I see. Soushi is just that kind of person, so it can’t be helped.”
“I understand. While I can’t say I disagree with what Soushi is trying to convey…”
The two of them seemed to accept it oddly well, but if one were to think about it normally, the person who would be the least likely to be touched would be the leader of a vast nation.
Perhaps Lady Dorozitte was trying to imply that I was the strongest, but ultimately, an individual cannot compete against the tangible and intangible powers of authority.
“Well, I understand what you’re trying to say, Soushi. Indeed, the power of a nation is overwhelmingly strong against an individual, and it’s undeniable that the Emperor, who governs that power, is a formidable figure.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
“However, the foundation of a nation’s power lies in its military and law enforcement, which are physical forces. Against an opponent who is entirely immune to such physical power, even a nation would find it difficult to intervene.”
“However, a nation can also starve its opponent out. If an organization were to come at an individual from the shadows, there’s little one could do.”
“Hmm, it’s impressive that you possess such insight, but Soushi, you are not merely an individual, are you?”
“Well, I do have trustworthy members…”
“Many of those members are, surprisingly, key figures in various factions. Moreover, Soushi, you are revered as a hero across three nations, have strong ties with the Arshuram Church, and your name is already spreading throughout this Empire. On top of that, you possess power that even a nation’s military cannot restrain. A person like you should be treated as an equal, even by the Emperor. Though I doubt that’s your intention.”
“I’ve never considered such an intimidating notion. However, I understand that for Geshura, being with ‘Soul’s Guidance’ is the safest place.”
“Then that’s good. Even if the ‘Kin of Twilight’ were to attack afterward, I don’t know what kind of relationship you would have with them, but I want you to ensure her safety. In every sense of the word.”
According to Lady Dorozitte, there had been reports of sabotage at important strongholds, similar to what had occurred in the mines, after I defeated Rove. Thanks to our prior warnings, although there were some damages, the ‘Kin of Twilight’ had been defeated. However, it seemed that the ‘Kin,’ who had not shown themselves recently, were now taking organized action, leading both the Imperial family and the Adventurers’ Guild to believe that a large-scale invasion by the ‘Kin’ was imminent.
In that case, Geshura, who could engage in rational dialogue with humans, would hold significant importance as a bridge for ending the conflict or for what would follow.
The Imperial family would likely make moves to incorporate Geshura, but it might be wise to have another proper discussion with her about how to handle that situation.