Year 7446, Month 5, Day 11
We arrived at the town of Ramudokku before the day ended.
.......................
On the northern road a bit closer to Mount Board that's right along the border to Viscount Yoraizu's territory, we passed through the villages scattered along the Board mountains. On our journey to Bakuddo we had heard that orks appear on this road, since it would be troublesome to get ambushed, we decided to completely detour around Mount Board as we advanced down the road going North through the western part of Viscount Yoraizu's territory.
There are some highs and lows of the mountain road but the elevation isn't all that different. The saddlebags on our two war horses are stuffed full with everyone's boots, the leather armor Gwine and Angela were wearing on the journey out, as well as blankets and such. While swaying on horseback as Miduchi and I sit in the rear position we were holding the rucksacks with change of clothes and such in them. Just from a glance it's not as if we don't look like a small scale peddler but if they see four people wearing what appears to be metal armor and heavily armed, there's no way we would be attacked by thieves so easily.
We arrived at Winro village in the evening but other than seeing some goblins in the distance the same as usual along the way there wasn't any particular problem.
The population of the village is about 600 and it's like one size bigger than Bakuddo. Obviously there's no inn.
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In the middle, "To Samisshu, Kaburokku Village, 7 hours."
In terms of size there was plenty for four people eat their fill. However, thinking about the portion for tomorrow morning and it's not quite enough.
"That's a considerable price..The firewood and fodder was 2,000 as well."
Miduchi made a bitter smile while giving Gwine the copper coins she paid in advance.
"By the way, can we talk for a bit? I heard something that bothered me a bit but"
Gwine lowered her voice as she started talking.
"It seems there was a Saint named Peggy-sama in this area. Somehow it seems she's able to heal diseases and injuries through the miracles of the God of the Ground, Nigiwa. I thought it was just healing magic anyways and tried asking that but supposedly it's different..it gives off light when she's healing it seems but it wasn't the blue spell light, but a white light."
"What.."
There's no culture for idol worship on Orth. The sole thing close to that is the temple, but even that is closer to the places local deities of Japan are said to be enshrined and customarily not something you pray to. Let alone, there's nothing like a small shrine in each household that you pray towards while speaking some chant or prayer either. In reality there might actually be something like that somewhere but I've never heard of anything like it even once up to now.
"That is~ certainly a Japanese person I'm sure...However, a cross and Nanmaida~ indeed. It's probably the words Namuamidabutu mispronounced though, I wish they would have came up with something a little bit better right. Putting that aside I'm going to go and listen to the story as well."
I wonder if that Peggy-sammy or Magaretto-sama or whatever is trying to make a religion? Through magic and Unique Abilities it's probably not difficult to show something like the miracles of God. Particularly when it comes to that shining hand or whatever if it's not the usual blue spell light then there might be a lot of people deceived by it. If someone actually had their disease or injury healed there then I think an overwhelming number of people might believe in it.
While think about things like that I picked a random, even then a decently constructed house that seems like that of a commoners and asked if the family would sell some kind of food to me. I was allowed on to the dirt floor so it seems that means wait there. I could hear a praying voice with a weird accent saying "Nanmaida~ Nanmaida~" from further in the house. I wonder if it's because it's dinnertime, it seems they're praying before meals as well. When the madam returned with some bread, I tried asking "What in the world was that voice?" and she easily replied, "It's a prayer of gratitude towards Peggy-sama."
I handed her the copper coins she requested while asking about Peggy-sama and she told me the same sort of things I heard from Gwine. "She was a very sacred being. She travels this land, a very grateful being who brings the miracles of God to the surface." is what she said. It seems they're doing a good job at tricking them.
I never even considered trying to become the founder or apostle or whatever for a religion. There's some pretty quick witted people in the world. Somehow I felt like I might be able to get along with them. In some cases religion exhibits immense power inciting the common people.
If it's really someone excellent then depending on negotiations it might even be good enclosing them in the future. If there's a doctrine or whatever then I can't say anything until I investigate that but if it's an advantage to the political side or seems like it can be changed to be an advantage then it might be worthwhile to adopt it as the state religion of my country.
Though I say that, it seems that Saint-sama appeared in the past few years and not to mention at the time there were suddenly some rumors going around but after that things calmed down. Around the time they were forgotten, it seems she came to the village stating she was the reincarnation of the Divine Mother of the Land Nigiwana and a Saint. And then gratefully distributed crosses purified by that Saint-sama herself for just the cost it seems. I said I would definitely love to see it and had her show it to me,
【Oak Wood, Magic Stone】
【Manufacture Date: 4/12/7444】
【Endurance: 7】
【Effect: None】
and that's what came out. I had expected, "I'm sure just the name of the materials will appear or at best it'll be displayed as a cross." but I was so surprised I thought I might fall over. It has a name attached to it!? That means it underwent the naming ceremony at a temple. In that case the price of 30,000 Z is too cheap though.
And, in other words I can think of several possibilities.
1. They really got it named at the temple and they're selling those cheap.
In that case they would be suffering some considerable losses on every one of them so no matter what the case this is unlikely. Though I say that, there is the possibility that through some reason they have a price reduction on the naming ceremony at a temple. It's difficult to imagine though.
2. There's a different Japanese person among the attendants and that person used their Unique Ability to do naming or made it.
In terms of possibilities I think it's the highest one? Though I feel like it might be different from naming.
3. They know of a special way of making things with these sorts of status. They founded a religion in order to make effective use of that.
Well I can't deny it. A magic stone is used in it after all.
It's probably one of those. Or it might be a combination. For example there's the possibility it's a combination of 1 and 3 as well. If they already knew the special construction first then they can pay less for the naming ceremony charge or something, it's also possible they know something that I don't as well. Probably not though.
Whatever the case on this Orth where no religion-like religion exists, it's quite the intelligent method. I'm sure right now they aren't profiting much at all but if they continue to spread out their influence and even the lords of villages and towns join it, then they might even be able to expand their influence by taking in the Viscount Yoraizu family. If they can skillfully control them and make them into a puppet on the outside they could seem like a normal small country, and in essence, it "might" be possible to found a religious state.
Even if they can't make the Viscount into a puppet, with the brain of a former Japanese person they should be able to succeed at profiting a decent amount from it with a reasonably success rate if they take their time with it.
..However, it seems that right now they're planting the seeds. If I try searching for them it might stand out in a bad way and cause trouble for that Saint-sama. Even in my case while I have a reasonable amount of leeway in time on the journey this time, I don't have enough to spare wandering around Viscount Yoraizu's territory searching for someone who's whereabouts I have no idea on. If I at least had some definite information on their whereabouts then it wouldn't have been bad to and try to at least get a look at their face now while I can though...
I discussed it with Miduchi but just as I expected, she said that even if we meet now there probably wouldn't be much of a plus to it. If they've already continued these sorts of plain propagation for several years then the chances of them abandoning that to join us as adventurers are low and on the contrary it might give the other party the suggestion that they have a future rival as well. We came to the conclusion that at the very least until I have my own territory to look after there isn't any harm in leaving them be.
If we're going to meet it would be best after I have a decent amount of authority. If it's possible then suddenly appearing in front of them after that and taking them in without giving them a choice would be best. If they intend to oppose us then we'll get to that when we get there.
Hmn, if that's the case then I'll need to be even more careful than ever with what territory I purchase~ On the Dirt Plains the areas that are adjacent to Devas has four territories lined up and they're all Royal Territories. There four Count's are stationed as governors and manage them. Excluding the one farthest to the East, the other three all seem to be obeying the King of Rombert. The one farthest to the East has their territory connected to the something or other Marquis or Duke, an influential noble in Devas, so it seems to be at a considerable disadvantage. As proof of that several years back they lost in quite the flashy way and it seems their area of influence has been reducing since.
I was told that as long as I pay the money any of the remaining three are fine, but of the three the one in the center is excluded from the candidates from the start. If we were looking from how fertile the land is then it's the two in the center and on the East but thanks to that there's a lot disputes. Assuming there's disputes 10 times, 5 of those will be concentrated on the center one it seems. As expected even if I make that sort of land a candidate it would be pretty harsh so the King didn't really recommend it either.
I'm sure from the King's standpoint he'd like me to give it my best for at least 10 years or so. Well, things around there I'll think about later~ and probably mention as well.
In any case, I should be satisfied with the fact that we were able to gain information on the reincarnated person named Peggy that is calling them self a Saint. Investigation is fine later on. I'm sure this Saint-sama will continue to grow after this after all. If I think about the money and labor requires for the investigation then the current information is just a bit better than nothing. Though if I have the chance to directly meet them and use Identify I'll aim for it. No~thing.
Year 7446, Month 6, Day 4
We quickly passed through Viscount Yoraizu's territory and started going North through the various small Royal Territories governed by emerging and high ranking nobles before arriving at Baldukk. It was a big harvest that we were able to gain information on what appears to be a reincarnated person and the biggest harvest was that we were to get precise mapping information on the roads.
I feel a renewed motivation as the outer crater enters my sight.