One month after Emperor Folias’s wedding reception, I received a report that the Order dispatched to the Gradia Continent had returned. I headed to Amagi Castle with Prim and Mako.
Emperor Reinhardt and the Grand Ritter’s Masters were already gathered, and after our arrival, several Ancient Hunters serving as Union Leaders were summoned and appeared.
“It seems we are all here, so I will now commence the extraordinary Knights’ Conference.”
This was a military council, hence a Knights’ Conference, held in the circular conference room. The chairman was Grand Order’s Master Rex, assisted by his wife, Muse. Rosemary and Saya had given birth to children six months prior and were currently prioritizing their families, so it was still undecided if they would accompany the advance into Abaricia.
“Recently, the investigation team dispatched to the Gradia Continent returned and submitted their report. The sea charts confiscated from Solemne were confirmed to be largely accurate, and they also newly identified a small island to serve as a starting point for Traveling.”
It was welcome news that an island suitable for Traveling had been identified. We planned to use the Wing of Order, the large airship owned by the Order’s Guild, which had recently been completed, to travel to the Gradia Continent. However, advance reconnaissance was necessary, and having a safe base would be preferable.
“However, there are also problems. For that, Lord Nail, the First Order, will report directly. Lord Nail, please.”
“Yes. I am Nail Trainer, First Order, expeditionary force to the Gradia Continent, as just introduced. Though I am not worthy, I will now report in detail on this voyage.”
Nail, receiving the baton from Rex, stood and began his report.
“Regarding the route to the Gradia Continent, we encountered and defeated several P-rank and M-rank monsters, likely affected by the Divine Emperor’s departure from the Gradia Continent. Apart from these encounters, it was found that the route used by Solemne can be used without issue.”
We had already received this report, but it seemed that several more monsters, ranging from M to C-rank, had appeared since then, meaning they had no time to rest at sea. It was understandable that they would be on edge, as monsters of M-C rank, or even S-rank, could easily sink a ship. Monsters active at night also existed at sea, requiring constant vigilance, and monitoring the sea itself was no easy task, inevitably wearing down their nerves. Therefore, on the days they could land on an island, they repeatedly used Traveling to return to their Float and recuperate for a day before proceeding.
However, the problems began once the Gradia Continent came into view. This was because Long-distance Teleportation Magic, Traveling, could no longer be used on the Gradia Continent.
“Traveling can’t be used?”
“Yes, the reason is unknown. Other magic spells can be used without issue.”
“So, enhancement magic and storaging could be used?”
“They could be used. However, I must report that the magic power consumption was greater than usual.”
Even with increased magic power consumption, enhancement magic like Physicaling and Manaring, and storage magic like Storaging and Inventoring, could be used, but only Traveling was unusable. What was going on?
“The inability to use Traveling is concerning and problematic, but with the Wing of Order, it may not be a significant issue. We will investigate this matter further after the subjugation of the Divine Emperor.”
As Emperor Reinhardt said, investigations could only be conducted on the Gradia Continent itself, and given that not only the Divine Emperor but also demons resided there, any investigation would surely be obstructed. Therefore, we would hear the investigation results from Nail later. The assessment was that entering cities was too dangerous, so they posed as travelers and stopped at several villages. However, they were treated as outsiders in every village, and in some cases, their lives were threatened. The facts discovered were as follows.
* There is no Guild on the Gradia Continent; mercenaries are treated similarly to Hunters. Mercenaries hold a low status and are treated as disposable by nobles and soldiers, leading to many being lawless. However, there are several mercenary groups led by High Class individuals, and these groups seem to be treated with some respect.
* A nobility system exists, and state affairs are handled by ministers appointed by the Divine Emperor. The ranks are hereditary Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron, with Baronets and Knights who hold office only for their lifetime. It is rumored that Baronets are conferred upon those with sufficient skill.
* The Divine Emperor generally does not interfere with politics but holds ultimate decision-making power, leading to the occasional enactment of unjust laws. Recently, last year, taxes were increased, and conscription was implemented, leading to an increase in slaves sent to a certain mine.
* There are both criminal slaves and redeemed slaves, with no strict distinction among the latter. However, slave merchants who deal with slaves bribe the Divine Emperor for privileges, and while they do not enslave entire villages, rumors suggest they collude with thieves to prey on travelers.
* Magic requires aptitude, and magic beyond one’s innate aptitude cannot be used. However, magic is systematized and does not require self-development like Unique Magic.
* Healing magic also exists, but those with aptitude for it are fewer than for ordinary magic. Such individuals are forcibly taken to the divine capital, where they are treated as priests directly under the Divine Emperor and granted considerable privileges. Concealment of aptitude is a grave offense, punishable by death regardless of status.
* Border villages suffer from frequent monster attacks and high taxes, leading to constant hardship. The village that attacked the investigation team had also been selling their children annually to reduce their mouths to feed.
* The male-female ratio is close to 1:1, and monogamy is the norm among civilians. Consequently, military service is considered men’s work. However, due to the high mortality rate among men from monster habitation, nobles and the wealthy are permitted polygamy, and many take concubines.
* While some monsters are similar to those on the Philia Continent, many are different. There are also many methods and species used for taming monsters, with the use of taming magic items such as subjugation collars, subjugation bracelets, subjugation needles, and subjugation bait being common. Nail and his team surmised that the dragons used during the invasion of the Philia Continent were likely controlled using a combination of subjugation horns and bait.
Furthermore, according to unconfirmed information, there is a massive temple in the divine capital where the Evil God Abaricia is worshipped alongside the Divine Emperor. Those with healing magic aptitude spend their lives as priests in this temple, which is said to be as large as a royal palace. All citizens are obligated to worship by the age of 20; failure to do so, unless granted a special exemption, results in a death sentence for not being a citizen. Such exemptions include inability to move due to injury or illness, or unforeseen accidents while en route to worship. However, as the Evil God Abaricia is, as the name suggests, an evil deity, many of the priests who worship it are corrupt. In fact, those with healing magic aptitude are called Holy Priests, and they are said to do as they please. They are provided with the finest food and clothing, given rooms within the temple with several attendants, and are rumored to forcibly take whomever they desire as a partner and sell them to slave merchants when they tire of them, making them truly despicable. There are also rumors that the Divine Emperor actively condones this behavior rather than merely tolerating it, and that if word of this reaches the ears of the Divine Emperor or the Chiyou Army, who serve as his personal guard, a torture far exceeding a desire for death awaits.
“To have investigated so much in just one month after landing is remarkable.”
“It seems it was common knowledge on the Gradia Continent, so we were viewed with suspicion often. Moreover, we did not enter any towns, so the accuracy of our findings is lacking.”
“That is understandable.”
Like Emperor Reinhardt, I was impressed at how much they had investigated in just one month. It wasn’t that they didn’t enter towns, but rather that they couldn’t. The common knowledge of the Gradia Continent was unknown on the Philia Continent. Only Solemne’s spies likely knew, but they had either died in the Solemne war or were punished afterward, leaving none. Therefore, Nail’s investigation team was truly working in the dark.
“Lord Nail, you mentioned you couldn’t enter towns. Is it because, like on the Philia Continent, a license or something similar is required?”
“Yes, Grand Dragoner’s Master, you are correct. There are several types. For the head of a noble family, it is a dagger with their family crest, inherited through generations. For wives and children, it is a certificate or ornament with the family crest issued by the head of the family. However, commoners are tattooed on their left arm, which serves as their identification.”
Tattoos as identification? In a way, it would suffice to show their left arm, but tattoos involve damaging the skin, and I’ve heard they are quite painful to receive. Moreover, if they were unfortunate enough to have their left arm amputated, wouldn’t their identification be lost?
“Regarding tattoos, it is customary to have them done at six months of age, and magic items are used to complete the process quickly and without pain. As for Grand Yamato Tenshaku’s concern, in such cases, a temporary provisional ID is issued, and it is tattooed on the right arm within a specified period. What happens if that period is exceeded is unknown.”
Completed with magic items? So, it’s likely applied by pressing it on like a stamp. Since there’s no pain, and it serves as an identification, they probably don’t question it. However, if they lose their left arm and the deadline for the provisional ID passes, the unknown outcome doesn’t bode well.
“This policy is likely because Liblaring cannot be used, or rather, because the existence of Inn spells is not recognized.”
“Indeed. Moreover, as they worship an evil god, it is unlikely they would know of Inn spells even if they existed.”
“Indeed. Lord Nail, regarding magic, what is the state of magic on the Gradia Continent?”
Ah, that’s something I’m curious about too. From Nail’s investigation, magic on the Gradia Continent consists of elemental magic, healing magic, and some Supplication Magic, although the names and effects differ slightly. The magic classified as Supplication Magic on the Philia Continent is recognized as Unattribute magic. Still, only Physicaling, Manaring, Storaging, Washing, and Cleaning exist. Few can use Storaging, and its capacity varies individually, with the maximum capacity not exceeding about ten square meters. Still, even with limited capacity, being able to use it is sufficiently useful, and its users are treated quite favorably. The spell name is literally “Item Box.” Incidentally, Physicaling and Manaring, and Washing and Cleaning seem to have integrated effects, and are called Rise Up and Clean respectively.
“The magic attributes also differ slightly from the Philia Continent.”
“Yes. There are six attributes: fire, earth, wind, water, light, and darkness, making a total of seven attributes with the addition of unattribute magic.”
“Ice is integrated into water, and lightning into wind, then?”
“Healing magic is also classified as light attribute. It might seem straightforward, but it must be said to be peculiar.”
Given the different magic system, the Gradia Continent can only be considered to be completely under the control of the Evil God Abaricia. It is likely that Traveling cannot be used on the Gradia Continent for this reason. It gives me a terrible headache, but what can be done about it?
Due to a shortage of staff and a considerable increase in workload, updates will be infrequent, for which I apologize.
