We departed from Mixen the day after the ritual.
Part of the reason was that we had spent half a day touring the city with the children. However, for Kousuke and the others, there wasn’t much to see in Mixen, which was a city primarily for Clerics.
Of course, Sylvia had plenty to see, but she didn’t insist on spending a whole day just for herself.
Besides, if we had business in Mixen, we could always come back using the Teleport Gate.
There was no need to go out of our way to tour the city during our journey and increase our luggage.
Therefore, Kousuke and the others immediately departed the city.
As Kousuke and the others began to proceed south, they started to witness the opposite sight from when they were heading to Mixen.
It was natural, of course, but the pilgrimage groups heading to Mixen came not only from the north but also from the south.
They began to pass by these pilgrimage groups coming towards Mixen from the south.
However, when we say pass by, we don’t mean we meet them multiple times a day.
At most, we’d encounter them about three times, and usually, it’s around twice.
Of course, it was natural to pass by other travelers like traveling merchants in addition to pilgrimage groups.
Shortly after passing the second village, we encountered a traveling merchant’s wagon.
Everyone was already accustomed to the surprise of seeing a wagon running without horses.
“Hmm. It seems that trade is indeed lively in this area,” Kousuke said.
“Perhaps because it’s between the south and the east?” Floria replied.
“That would be it,” Kousuke nodded.
Floria nodded as she responded to Kousuke, who was tilting his head.
The East Continent and the South Continent have more traffic with Razek Amamiya than the Central Continent.
Therefore, it was understandable that the East Town and the South Town, which directly interact with each continent, would see increased traffic.
Since there are Teleport Gates in the East, South, and Mixen towns, not all goods from the continents are transported by traveling merchants.
However, goods are transported by traveling merchants to towns and villages that do not have Teleport Gates.
Crown sometimes creates large merchant caravans and drops off goods in towns and villages along the way, but such large merchant caravans are not active every day.
In terms of moving lightly, the presence of individual traveling merchants is significant.
“I understand why there are many traveling merchants from the south in this area…” Kousuke said.
“Indeed,” Floria replied.
“Even though it’s closer to Mixen, why do we pass by more merchants heading away from it rather than towards it?”
If goods were being transported using Teleport Gates, there should be more traveling merchants heading from Mixen to each town and village.
The location where Kousuke and the others are now is still closer to Mixen than to the South Town.
Therefore, Kousuke wondered if there wouldn’t be more traveling merchants departing from Mixen than arriving. Floria shook her head in response.
“Kousuke, you’re probably not considering the cost of using the Teleport Gate, are you?” Floria asked.
“Ah…” Kousuke realized.
For large merchant guilds, it is often better to transport goods using the Teleport Gate along with other cargo.
However, for small guilds or individual traveling merchants, the usage fee can be a burden.
“If the goods have a long shelf life, it can be cheaper to entrust them to individual traveling merchants rather than using the Teleport Gate. Well, traveling merchants are likely targeting these niches to conduct their business,” Floria explained.
“I see,” Kousuke replied.
When large merchant caravans were first established, individual traveling merchants were expected to be eliminated.
However, there are always gaps in any system, and the remaining traveling merchants survived by operating in these niches.
Although, it is undeniable that their numbers have decreased compared to before Teleport Gates were established throughout the continent.
Of course, the traveling merchants who have decreased in number are not necessarily out of business; some have been absorbed by Crown or other merchant guilds.
The population of the entire continent has increased compared to before Razek Amamiya was established.
As a result, the amount of cargo moving within the continent has naturally increased accordingly.
Therefore, the volume of niche goods to be handled has also increased compared to the past.
Considering this, it is understandable that traveling merchants themselves have not drastically decreased in number.
“Trade with other continents has increased, but ultimately, is population growth the biggest reason?” Kousuke asked.
“It probably is. If the overall volume of goods handled hadn’t increased, the current number of traveling merchants couldn’t have been sustained,” Floria replied, nodding to Kousuke as he tilted his head.
Shurein, who had been silently listening to their conversation up to that point, tilted her head as if she had a question.
“You say the population is increasing, but are the towns and villages increasing as well? The places we’ve passed so far don’t seem to have changed much,” Shurein asked.
Shurein had barely traveled the continent since Mitsuki summoned her.
However, she had made journeys for Vampire-related business.
Considering that, she felt that the towns and villages they had passed so far did not seem to have undergone significant changes.
Floria nodded with a bitter expression in response to Shurein’s doubt.
“That would be the challenge for the future. While the overall population has indeed increased, this change is limited to major cities. Towns and villages in between still have a long way to go,” Floria replied.
“I… I see. So that’s how it is,” Shurein said, showing understanding at Floria’s explanation.
The increase in exports to other continents has led to an increase in commercial transactions and a corresponding increase in jobs, thus increasing the population in urban areas.
However, towns and villages that are not in this category have changed only gradually.
Some towns and villages with special processing techniques have undergone dramatic changes, but they are a select few.
For Razek Amamiya to further strengthen its national power, such towns and villages must also change.
As the conversation turned to population growth in towns and villages, Floria’s expression suddenly changed.
“….This is not good. It’s supposed to be a journey, but we’ve inevitably fallen into such a discussion,” Floria said, shaking her head, feeling that this was not a topic for someone who had retired as Queen. Kousuke looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t think it’s bad at all?” Kousuke said.
“Kousuke?”
“It’s not like you can’t bring up such topics unless you’re the leader of a country or a prominent figure, is it?”
As if responding to Kousuke’s light remark, Shurein nodded her head up and down a few times.
“Indeed. Rather, it’s a good topic to liven up a boring journey, don’t you think?”
When traveling, topics about the development of towns and villages often come up wherever one goes.
At least it’s much better than just moving forward without any conversation at all.
Incidentally, all the women around Kousuke are capable of keeping up with such political discussions.
None of them dislikes it when such topics are brought up.
If there were children, the journey would undoubtedly be more boisterous in a different sense, but a journey with only adults has its own unique flavor.
Most importantly, it’s not boring, and having various topics to discuss is one of the elements that makes a journey enjoyable.
Kousuke reassured Floria (or perhaps not?) that it was a much better journey than simply enduring a tedious time in the carriage.
I was vaguely discussing political topics, lol.
Since we’re traveling across the continent, I plan to sprinkle in such discussions from time to time.
