Chapter 445. Return of the expedition (1) About a year ago from now.
It was around the time when the kingdom of Ernesia was most deeply troubled by the issue of the Dark Church, a group of warlocks.
Outside the continent in such a chaotic time.
The expedition team sailing towards the southern continent was only moving forward, cutting through the waves.
The expedition team, centered around Professor Celtisten of the Royal Academy, finally reached its destination, the Southern Continent, after a not-so-short journey.
‘…It really feels like a dream.’
It took longer than originally calculated to arrive here.
This is because the route was changed to open up a new sea route.
Their target is another area of the southern continent.
and contact with unknown countries.
Ultimately, it is to return to the home country with the results through a friendly approach.
You don’t have to take the easy road for that.
Well, it was because of the power and speed of iron wire that such a bold decision was possible.
So it took time, but I was able to safely access the new land of the southern continent.
But it doesn’t end just by arriving.
The real journey starts now.
Reaching is just announcing the beginning.
We must do our best to set foot on the continent and achieve achievements to return with dignity.
It is not only here that we come into contact with it.
After that, as soon as the investigation of this area is over, you should head to the next point.
As far as resources and time permit, you should learn about the ecology of the southern continent as much as possible.
And I have to find the things that Arell asked me to do.
‘What kind of kola tree was that?’
to do.
I definitely remembered.
So the expedition gradually headed towards the continent.
As the huge iron wire approached, many residents who seemed to be the owners of the land could be seen wary of this side.
This is the starting point for a full-fledged start.
The expedition team did not forget the request of the king and the sponsor, Arell.
We must act absolutely for the purpose of peace and friendship.
You don’t even have to give up your life.
But they must not be the first to offend them.
First of all, you have to make friendly contact and show the trade goods loaded on this ship to win favor and start talking naturally.
Recalling that once again, Celtisten cautioned the crew.
“…Anyone who gets out of control at this time or does anything that harms them in the slightest will be severely punished.”
In some cases, there is even the right to execute on the spot.
Celtisten bluffed all the crew and instructed them to head for a place where they could land a boat.
Being alerted by the residents, the ship finally made contact with the primary exploration area.
Finally, the first exploration began.
First of all, unlike the tension, contact with the inhabitants of the southern continent was made without any problems.
You could say I was lucky.
Most of all, it was thanks to the mediation of a girl who led the residents there.
“The results are good.”
Even when we first landed, contact was made in an atmosphere of half worry, half nervous, and never relieved.
Of course, the conversation didn’t go very smoothly from the beginning.
Naturally, the locals have been quite vigilant, and have expressed their views and opinions that are openly concerned about whether they are invaders.
On the first day, I couldn’t even get close to the boat.
Since we are already interacting with countries that have trade routes in some of the southern continents, I thought that if I told them the names of their countries, I would be able to talk to some extent, but it was not as easy as I thought.
In the meantime, there was someone who intervened for Celtisten.
‘The current friendly situation is thanks to her.’
Celtisten remembered the first time he met her.
It is said that there is a woman who is honored as a “shaman” in the kingdom they come into contact with.
The residents there are wary of the expedition and have called the woman to ask her opinion.
It is said that she is the wisest woman in their kingdom.
A woman who knows things that even they don’t know because she has been given wisdom from God.
At first, I thought of an elderly elder, but surprisingly it was a child who came out.
A girl only about thirteen years old.
“It’s called Rerensen.”
Celtisten was surprised at the excessively young girl in front of him.
It is said that her wisdom is superior to anyone else’s, so even though she is young, the people there sincerely follow her.
It would be rude to question it.
Celtisten treated her as calmly as possible.
“…It’s an iron wire.”
The shrine maiden asks while making full use of interpretation magic.
Celtisten answered as politely as possible.
“It is the ship of our Ernesia kingdom.”
“Your country…? This iron wire’?”
Rirensen looked at Celtisten and the explorer ship alternately as if he was puzzled by something.
Something suspicious.
Are you sure you don’t believe it?
“Is it possible that the one who sent you was a man named Hariel? Or are you interacting with such a person?”
A strange hostility lingers in her gaze as she asks.
Depending on the answer, it implies the sharpness of being ready to cut down immediately.
Celtisten was appalled that such spirit emanated from a girl who was only thirteen.
“….no.”
Embarrassed by the first name he heard, Celtisten explained quietly.
The kingdom of Ernesia and its king, the first.
And the one who came up with this ship is a lord from a royal family named Arell Ernesia.
“….okay.”
Rerensen nodded and thought.
Rather than understanding, it seemed that he was thinking of something else.
At this time, Celtisten was concerned that the exchange might be wrong.
But soon the answer came out of her mouth.
“I would like to hear more. I would like to apologize on behalf of everyone for the rudeness so far. From now on, we will welcome you as guests. So I would like to talk to you in more detail.”
However, it was neither acceptance nor rejection, but a deferred answer.
Celtisten is not an uncultured person to the extent that he can’t understand that.
However, it was a much smoother result compared to the situation in which they were guarded against.
After that, after talking over several days.
It took more time, close to ten halls, as if they had gone through internal meetings as well.
And finally, Rerensen gave the answer that he was willing to trade with Ernesia Kingdom in the future.
Afterwards, the expedition will be guided as a formal guest.
Some areas were also allowed to be explored.
Celtisten readily thanked her for her decision.
“Thank you for your courageous decision.”
“Because I was also thinking that I should try to develop a little more. However, I was in the middle of thinking because I didn’t know how to do it.”
“Please, I will make sure that Mr. Lirensen’s decision contributes to the development of both countries in the future.”
“Yes, I hope that will happen… and then.”
She took something from her bosom and stretched out her small hand and held it out to him.
two letters.
“this is?”
“One to your king. And show another one to the lord who designed the boat.”
Is it a personal letter?
Celtisten received politely.
But the first is the second, why is it for Arel?
I was skeptical, but I got it for sure.
“I will definitely tell them.”
“Please refrain from looking at the content other than as much as possible.”
“It is natural.”
“…I don’t know what to look at.”
She muttered that with a strange wry smile.
? ? ?
Thanks to Rirensen’s active intervention, the expedition was able to carry out its first mission without any problems.
In addition, she even offered to write a personal letter so that there would be no friction with the countries at the other landing points that the expedition would contact later.
She speaks to some extent with influential figures throughout the southern continent.
“Even though it looks like this, there is a certain popularity. If you have my personal letter, useless disputes will be avoided.”
He said so proudly.
Incidentally, Rerensen, who is currently talking to Celtisten, is not using translation magic and is speaking in the language of the Kingdom of Ernesia.
With just a few conversations, she mastered the language the other person was using.
She was an extraordinary girl in many ways.
Celtisten, who was about to say thanks again, just remembered an important thing.
“Oh, come to think of it, there is one more thing I want to ask you.”
“As much as you like.”
“Actually, the lord who invented the iron wire has a plant he wants me to personally get.”
There is also a request from Arell.
I decided to ask because I thought it would be better to seek her opinion and find out if possible, rather than searching without a clue.
“…Which is it?”
When the lord Arell was mentioned directly, Rirensen seemed a bit nervous.
In fact, Celtisten also noticed.
For some reason, the girl in front of me is trying to dig up information about Arel in between conversations.
To avoid offending her as much as possible, Celtisten said nothing, showing the picture of the expected shape of the plant that Arell had handed him to him.
“This!”
Her eyebrows narrow.
“Do you know anything?”
“…Well, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.
I never thought I’d be asking this again before. Is this all you’re looking for?”
A voice that says something is missing.
However, there was no way that Celtisten could understand the inner thoughts of her reaction.
No, he is rather misunderstood.
“Do you know?”
“Yeah, I can guess… Rather than that, I’ve been eyeing it for a while in the past.”
Hearing Rerensen’s answer, Celtisten was convinced.
‘It is certain that it is also an important plant.’
When Arel first requested this, she couldn’t understand what it meant, but if even this girl, who is said to be one of the best intellectuals in the area, had a face like that, she must be no ordinary plant.
“It is the wish of the lord. Can I take over the plant?”
“To think he was looking for this… What the hell is he?”
“Don’t worry. We will not abuse it.”
“….yes? What do you mean by that?”
Rerensen’s expression was stained with bewilderment.
She looked at her intently, ‘What nonsense is this human talking about?’ but Celtisten didn’t notice her thoughts.
It’s just ‘you’re on guard.’ and just misunderstood.
Rather, misunderstandings accumulate.
“…It’s not that difficult. I know the area that grows wild here, so I will make a separate statement to the person in charge of that area so that they can ask for understanding later.”
“thank you.”
“If you take this instead, be sure to give it to him.”
“yes?”
She has a strangely mischievous smile.
“When it is finished, please make sure to share some with us. I was giving up because there was not enough material for this side.”
“Ah?…”
Yes.”
Celtisten, not knowing the meaning, could only nod stiffly.
Even after that, thanks to Rerensen’s consideration, the expedition was able to carry out the remaining missions smoothly.
Celtisten provides not only information about the geology and flora and fauna of the place.
Afterwards, in order to review trade, they even obtained some of the specialties of each country in the southern continent.
There is nothing better than performance.
Finally, after completing the first exploration, the expedition team finally made a decision to return.
I still have a lot of lingering regrets, but I have to go back and reorganize once in a while.
Because both people and materials have limits.
Besides that, there are overflowing messages and things to convey.
In this way, the exploration ship began its return home to Ernesia Kingdom.
