“The royal capital is connected by waterway, you see.”
A transport ship of decent size.
There was not enough movement of people to operate a passenger ship, but it was a VIP transport ship that maintained enough refinement to satisfy people of a certain standing.
This time’s cargo was trade goods between the Forest Kingdom of Levresta and the United Kingdom of Aphrasia.
Wheat, thread, cloth, salt, and liquor. Dried small fish had also recently been added to the items.
“We will insert rest days along the way, but we are scheduled to arrive at our royal capital, beautiful Lindra, in about ten days.”
“Is the waterway something that can operate a ship of this size without issue?”
“Yes. Originally there were only seven lakes, and the rivers connecting them. In ancient times we made use of that, and our country continued to grow. And over many years, we widened this river, reinforced the banks, and dredged away the riverbed. It was already decades ago that everything was completed, though.”
Tiariada Elemes, and his wife, Eleka. And their attendants.
And the <Paraiso> representatives, Arborea=Heath and Alistarta=Heath. With two more as attendants.
This group was boarding the VIP transport ship.
The rest of <Paraiso>’s attendants were riding in the multi-legged tanks and the fusion-reactor power vehicle <Little Whale> following behind.
“Now then, it’s about time to depart, isn’t it. Is the rear all right?”
“No problem. You may depart.”
After confirming Arborea=Heath’s nod, Tiariada sent a signal to the captain on the bridge.
“Depart!!”
The anchor was hauled up. At the same time, the magical tools installed on the ship began operating.
The one called only a magic blower had an extremely simple mechanism.
A wind-generating magic stone was put into a box, and only one direction had a hole opened.
Strictly speaking, it also needed an air intake, but in short, it was a magical tool whose only function was to blow wind out to the rear.
And several dozen of these magical tools were installed on this VIP transport ship.
“It moved.”
“Without this magical tool, our country likely could not have developed to this extent.”
The VIP transport ship began moving leisurely.
Because it was a magical tool in nature, there was no operating sound.
There was only the sound of the generated wind striking the water’s surface and scattering spray.
Mass transport of goods using a long river.
Going upstream would be difficult, but if going downstream, it was possible to move things without any power at all.
This was an important transport method for raising economic power.
“Well, and this may be pointless to tell you now, but—horses exported from the United Kingdom of Aphrasia, those too became a major driving force.”
To ascend a river by ship, some kind of power was needed.
If there was a tailwind—that is, wind blowing from downstream to upstream—one could raise sails and ascend. But normally, wind is fickle, and in the first place, a river itself bends.
So one either rowed with oars, or ran a towline and pulled from the shore.
And they had made horses do the pulling from the shore.
“When the river current is fast. Or when the cargo is heavy. Or ships that are not even carrying these blowers. Horse towing of ships is still in active use.”
Lately, the number of imported horses has been decreasing, so in the end, we have begun putting effort into breeding within our country, Tiariada explained.
It had been cheaper to import mature horses from the United Kingdom of Aphrasia than to raise them ourselves.
That was why the trade had held, but if the numbers decreased, there was no choice but to supply them domestically.
“If your country desires it, horse exports can be resumed. The liveliness of each town is returning as well. There is room to breed horses again.”
“Is that so. Well, I will bring that to the Elders’ Circle. We will need adjustments so that the current horse ranches do not bear the burden, though.”
There was a custom called vested interests.
It was the reaction where, when something that should have become one’s income would not, due to external disruption, people hold resentment toward the cause.
No, strictly speaking it was different, but it was something along those lines.
If the imported number of horses, which had been decreasing, increased, then the operators currently supplying horses within the Forest Kingdom of Levresta would suffer the disadvantage of reduced shipments.
If that adjustment was not made, friction would arise and unnecessary disputes would occur.
Naturally, for <Paraiso>, it was a problem that did not matter.
Horse export was neither required nor essential for the United Kingdom of Aphrasia. If demanded, they would simply sell.
“The export numbers can be adjusted. If it seems it will become a concrete discussion, we will consider it.”
<Heath> let this topic pass lightly, and moved the multi-legged ground mothercraft <Planter> that it occupied.
<Planter> was an all-terrain model. Therefore, even in the river, there was no impediment to its operations.
If the ballast tanks were empty, it was designed to float, and it was also equipped with simple underwater propulsion. Of course it could also walk along the riverbed, but if it did that, Microwave Power Beaming would be obstructed, so in normal movement, it needed to keep its face above the water.
<Planter> slowly sank its body into the water. The multi-legged tanks were already behind the VIP transport ship ahead.
Its draft was deep, and only the top surface was barely above the water. At times, waves washed over the top.
This was the same for the following multi-legged ground mothercraft, and for the fusion-reactor power vehicle <Little Whale>.
However, because <Little Whale> had self-propelled multi-wheeled transport vehicles loaded on its vast top surface, its draft was lower due to the weight.
In any case, the group began moving without incident.
*****
Moving to the stern, Tiariada Elemes, who had been observing the <Paraiso> group, was sweating coldly.
These giant golems accompanying them this time were, as a matter of course, traveling together with the carriages specialized for movement, and were even following them into the water.
Their movement speed was the same as Levresta’s standard.
No—because they did not appear to be forcing anything, it would be better ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) to think they were capable of moving even faster.
As a diplomat, he could not help imagining it.
If this golem group were to invade Levresta.
The highway was already maintained. They had maintained it.
Could the military of their country hold back these gigantic golems advancing along the highway?
The chief diplomat could not bring himself to imagine the sight of defeating that huge bulk.
And if the defensive line were broken and they reached the Lanta River—
Using the river, using the maintained, wide, and deep waterway, the golem group would surge into the country at once. The destination of the Lanta River was beautiful Lindra, the royal capital.
No matter what, the United Kingdom of Aphrasia—no, <Paraiso>—must not become an enemy. And this threat had to be made understood by the elders without fail.
Tiariada Elemes swore that in his heart, and clenched his fist.
That state was being observed in detail by the high-sensitivity sensors of the multi-legged ground mothercraft <Planter>.
*****
What was served aboard ship was a steamed-baked large river fish that had been caught during travel.
Fresh herbs obtained from a small village where they had moored for lodging were rubbed in, it was wrapped in huge leaves, shoved into an oven, and heated whole—an audacious dish.
In addition, sautéed dishes and stews and the like—many dishes that used river fish lavishly—had been prepared.
“This is a specialty dish around the Lanta River. I want you to enjoy it.”
A whole fish steamed in its shape.
I see, there are dishes with this kind of character as well, Arborea=Heath and Alistarta=Heath nodded. <Heath> immediately uploaded the dish information to the strategic network. It should be processed with top priority.
Because it was ideal party food, it was a format Commander Eve would like.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Because the VIP transport ship carried magic blowers, its travel speed was quite fast.
Because of that, it passed the developed harbor post towns, and was moored at a small fishing village farther ahead. Naturally, there were no lodging facilities within the village.
That was why, tonight, they would spend the night aboard ship as-is.
The villagers had been stunned by the giant golem group that came up onto land for maintenance.
But after that, when the beast-eared girls came down and gave them various gratuities (mainly food), they loosened their guard, and it seemed they were holding a welcoming banquet.
Thanks to the plentiful lighting magical tools prepared, the deck was kept bright.
On the deck below the terrace attached to the VIP room, food and liquor—also provided by <Paraiso>—were being served, and the sailors were holding a feast.
