Chapter 479

Plans from Tomorrow Onward
When I came back with some souvenirs, I found that a messenger from the Temple of the Eight Gods had just arrived.
It seemed that tomorrow's schedule would only involve travel.
We’d be heading to a town on the opposite side of Daikou Island, and from there, taking a ship to Taisha Island.
As long as the weather doesn’t turn bad, we should arrive at Taisha Island by evening.
Apparently, Taisha Island isn’t all that far from here.

"You will all stay overnight in the port town once you arrive at Taisha Island. The following day, we ask that you travel to the city of Eight Gods, where the Grand Temple of the Eight Gods is located."

"I see. So we won’t be heading there on the same day we arrive on Taisha Island?"

"By the time you reach the island, it will likely be nearing sunset. The road is well-maintained, but traveling by starlight alone would be unsafe."

It seems the city of Eight Gods isn’t all that far away either, but it’s not close enough for a whirlwind trip.
The road along the way passes through plains and farmland, so while visibility is good, there are no reliable light sources to guide the way.
Maybe a rushed merchant would do it, but there’s no reason to have guests invited from another country make the trip all in one day.
Makes sense, really.

After giving us the schedule, the messenger and Mr. Kouro left, and we gathered in a room at the inn with Priscilla and the others to go over our upcoming plans.
But since the agenda was already more or less set, and our responses had been decided too, it was just a brief confirmation.

"Now then, while tomorrow’s schedule is set, the day after that and onward is also mostly determined, so let me explain. As long as the weather holds, the day after tomorrow will be a travel day to the city of Eight Gods. The day after that, you’ll have a face-to-face meeting with the Eight Gods at the Grand Temple, followed by a welcome banquet. Then, after one day’s break, there will be a formal conference with the Eight Gods."

"The main topics are educational support for merchants and lending out the Kiblinki Saltas, right?"

"That’s right. The messenger spoke to me about that as well. It seems both topics are being positively received among the Eight Gods."

"There weren’t any issues with the Kiblinki Saltas? I mean, they are technically monsters."

"There were concerns, but it looks like Lady Kiri and Lady Byaku vouched for them, which earned their trust.
The school you run in the McFarlane territory has a Temple to the Eight Gods built alongside it, right?
There haven’t been any reports of issues from there either, and depending on the school, the Kiblinki Saltas come and go frequently.
They may not behave exactly like humans, being monsters, but they’re recognized as beings we can communicate and cooperate with."

Hmm, I see.
The Kiblinki Saltas will freely begin farming once you tell them where it’s okay to cultivate and where they’re allowed to enter—so yes, they definitely don’t operate on human logic.
But they farm under the condition that they don’t cause harm to the surroundings, and being naturally docile and reclusive monsters, they don’t go expanding the farmland on their own either.
While they can’t keep secrets, they can communicate through telepathy, so mutual understanding is possible.
They don’t consume monster magic stones or even meat, so they won’t cut into the food supply of existing residents.
Truly, the Kiblinki Saltas are beneficial creatures.

What do you think about this chapter?