Chapter 416

The Place We Head to First
Two days after the day I showcased the furisode, just as planned, we departed from Vardmoi.
As for the captured soldiers, those who were frozen remained as they were, and those trapped in the ice cages were transferred into ice-encased transport carriages with wheels before being moved.
By the way, there didn't seem to be any resistance.
Since the Kiblinki Saltas were keeping watch, and any reckless behavior would have gotten them frozen too, they must have been reluctant.
Nobody wants to be frozen solid, after all. Even if it doesn't mean death.

"Lily. For this journey, we'll first stop by the Old Royal Capital."

"The Old Royal Capital? We're not heading directly north?"

"Passing through the Old Royal Capital is the most accessible route to reach where the King's younger brother is. Based on the interrogation of Morogawarde, it seems there was a spot within the Old Royal Capital's territory where defenses were thin, and that's how they advanced their forces. Part of the reason is to inform them about that."

"You're just going to inform them?"

"Just inform them. No ulterior motives. I would prefer to maintain good relations with the Duke who governs the Old Royal Capital."

I see, this too is part of noble networking.
It's not really something that concerns me, so I'll stay uninvolved.
I'll leave political matters to Marquis Vardmoi.

Since I'm also a main figure this time, we'll be traveling by carriage.
I'll be riding together with Marquis Vardmoi.
The carriage seats six: Marquis Vardmoi, his two bodyguards, then me, Plum, and Talat.
Everyone from the Wildcat Claws and Plum’s attendants will travel using my magic car.
Once again, it's the Lumite Star Tiara.
We can't use the transport vehicle, the Lumite Grand Wing.
Besides that, there are cavalry escorts, horses for transporting the captured soldiers, and Kiblinki Saltas' group — it's quite a large contingent.
I had already resigned myself to that once I realized how many prisoners we were moving, but truly, it’s a massive group.
It’s important, so I said it twice.

"By the way, what’s the Old Royal Capital like nowadays?"

"Nowadays, thanks to the efforts of the ducal house that stepped in to maintain public order and governance after the old royal family, things have been considerably normalized. Solving the employment problem was the biggest factor. However, at the same time, a slum has formed around the outermost wall, and maintaining security there is taking up a lot of time and effort."

"A slum… I guess there still aren’t enough jobs?"

"The Old Royal Capital always had a bit of an overpopulation issue. Then, when the King's younger brother and the Third Prince fought a war in the north, refugees fled south. The countries formed to the east and west tightened their borders heavily, but the Old Royal Capital didn't have a proper border, so people settled around it."

"Mm, wouldn't those people try to make their way to Vardmoi?"

"There might be some who aim for it, but even though the roads to Vardmoi are maintained, traveling on foot takes several days, and there are areas where monsters appear. If just reaching the Old Royal Capital was already a life-threatening ordeal, few would have the strength left for another deadly journey."

That explains why we hardly see those people in Vardmoi.
Also, it seems that Marquis Vardmoi and the southern countries are providing aid to the Old Royal Capital to support the refugees.
In other words, the Old Royal Capital is offering a reasonable level of protection.
That would also explain why few aim further south.
It does feel like they’re pushing the burden onto the Old Royal Capital, but they are giving proper support.
Politics really are complicated.

What do you think about this chapter?