Chapter 100

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The entrance to the only port in the Imperial Nation.

A thousand giant vermilion torii gates lined up over the sea, and the ships passed through them.

"How strange..."

Oliver muttered with a sigh.

Behind Mersa, the ninja disguised as a Rothschild Chamber of Commerce member whispered in her ear.

"These torii gates are made of magic stones, and by the power of magic, ships cannot see or enter these torii without the royal family's permission. Outside the path of the torii, the waters are shallow and full of rocks. If a ship tries to force its way through, it will run aground. Therefore, ships without permission cannot enter the Imperial Nation at all."

Just seeing the giant torii gates made of the precious magic stones, which were scarce in the kingdom, made one think that the Imperial Nation's policy of national seclusion was justified. Magic stones are finite. If it were known that the Imperial Nation possessed such a large quantity of magic stones, it could lead to conflicts between humans and nations. Historically, there have been no wars between nations in this world, perhaps due to the threat of monsters or the fact that communication is only possible by crossing the sea. However, the magic stones, which are consumed and disappear year by year, carry a danger that could trigger such conflicts. In the past, magic stones were used by nobles as a symbol of status, but now, even their existence is unknown to many in the kingdom, as they are in short supply.

The shortage of magic stones and the absence of mages in the kingdom are problems that cannot be solved by human effort. Magic stones are valuable in every country, and it is unlikely that they would be easily given away. Even with a large sum of money, they can no longer be bought. Mages are a gift, and one can only wait for them. The barrier will eventually be lost over time. Not only the Imperial Nation, which is suffering from food shortages, but also the kingdom is gradually stepping into a crisis of national survival.

The Imperial Nation resembled the townscape of a period drama from a previous life. Wooden houses, earthen walls, plaster walls, tiled roofs, and lattice work... The old-fashioned Japanese-like appearance was intriguing.

"Is this... bengala?"

The buildings were all dyed red, similar to the torii gates at the entrance to the Imperial Nation, but with a slightly brownish tint. The ninja reacted to Mersa's casual comment.

"Wh-What? You even know about benigara..."

The pigment, discovered accidentally from the waste rock produced during the excavation of magic stones, has防腐,防虫效果, and is also durable and fire-resistant, and is applied to most of the buildings in the Imperial Nation. The red tiles, which are uniformly aligned, are due to the glaze applied before firing, and the ninja, without being asked, continued to explain that they contain the meaning of warding off evil spirits.

The Imperial Nation is the Red Country, a sacred land protected by the gods in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Oliver, who was walking in front, was looking straight ahead with a grand air, but Mersa, who did not need to show her authority, continued to let the ninja give a tour guide while checking the surroundings, even if she was called a tourist.

"Soon, you will be able to see the Imperial Palace. The people from the kingdom have been specially granted permission to stay..."

At the end of the straight road from the port, a large gate came into view. In every country, the residence of the noble family is located in a position close to the sea, where there are no monsters.

Now, around Mersa, there were many Imperial Nation citizens who had gathered to see the rare visitors from the kingdom. Some were wearing kimonos, others were in Western clothes. All had blue eyes and blue hair. Their facial features and body types were not much different from those of the kingdom. They looked Japanese, but they were not Japanese.

After passing through the gate, there was a wide Japanese garden. The surroundings of the mansion were like a Heian scroll, with a karesansui (dry landscape garden). In the far back, a tall, pitch-black castle loomed.

"That castle visible there is Edo Castle, where the Emperor and the Shogun conduct their official duties. It is also known as the Crow Castle and is the most sacred place in the Imperial Nation."

The ninja explained to Mersa, who was looking up at it.

"I didn't expect Edo Castle to be black..."

"Huh?"

"No, never mind."

"The Emperor is the spiritual pillar of the Imperial Nation. The royal family governs politics, and the Shogun and his samurai protect the people from monsters. We ninjas, while belonging to the Shogun, have the special role of guarding the royal family."

The Emperor and the Shogun conducting official duties in the Crow Castle... Listening to a story that was like Japan but definitely not Japan, Mersa tried to convince herself that it was a different world.

Mersa's group was guided to a mansion that resembled a Heian scroll, which was located before the castle.

"Please take off your shoes."

The ninja whispered in her ear. Stopping Oliver, who was about to walk in with his shoes on, Mersa translated the request into the kingdom language.

The inside of the building was not red.

"Say that earlier! Mersa!"

Oliver, unfamiliar with the foreign customs, lashed out at Mersa.

"Then, I will go and report. I will be away for a while."

After a brief word, the ninja quietly disappeared.

"Welcome."

A lady-in-waiting greeted Mersa's group. In the center was an old woman who looked well over 100 years old. Her hair was not white but blue. On either side, young ladies-in-waiting stood by.

"I am the head lady-in-waiting, Ume."

"I have come as an interpreter, Mersa Stewart. I am here to assist. This is Oliver DeFross, the kingdom's diplomat, and representatives from the Rothschild Chamber of Commerce..."

Although they were not here for a tour, Mersa was determined to do her job well. Ume and the ladies-in-waiting on either side were surprised by Mersa's fluent Imperial Nation language but quickly regained their composure.

"Your language skills are truly remarkable. I am impressed. After showing you to your rooms, we will have to ask you to meet with the Emperor and the Shogun, though I apologize for the rush."

The ninja silently moved to the top floor of Edo Castle, where the Emperor and the Shogun were.

"Momochi, you have returned. The support arrived earlier than expected. Was it successful?"

The Shogun, looking at the aid supplies being brought into the Imperial Palace, praised the ninja.

"Shogun, I don't know how to put it... The kingdom is not as easily manipulated as we thought. We have suffered a complete defeat in terms of military power."

The Shogun's eyebrow twitched, having sent the elite ninja, the best in the Imperial Nation.

"What? You... lost?"

"We were completely defeated. In terms of military power, intelligence, and national strength, we could not match the kingdom."

The ninja, who had prided themselves on their skills, could not even match the cats of a baron's family. The language of the Imperial Nation, which was thought to be incomprehensible to the rest of the world, was perfectly mastered by that girl, and her family as well. Most importantly, the ability to organize a large amount of food in just a few minutes and the swift decision to send a ship loaded with food the next day, bypassing the bureaucracy and obtaining the necessary permissions, showed a level of national strength that required a thorough understanding of the food reserves.

"Seeking help from the kingdom was the right decision. We need to treat them with respect. We must not act arrogantly just because we have magic stones."

All countries are beginning to realize that magic stones are finite. Among them, the Imperial Nation has been blessed with a large amount of magic stones every year and has kept it hidden. If they were to offer magic stones, other countries would likely bow to them, but even a baron's family had four cats. If there are still a large number of such cats, it might be possible to eliminate monsters without the barrier. It would be the Imperial Nation, not the kingdom, that would have to act humbly.

"I didn't expect the kingdom to be so advanced..."

The kingdom boasts the second-largest territory after the empire, and thus has a wider area of contact with monsters. It might have been impolite to dangle the promise of magic stones and attempt diplomacy. The information from Barito, where communication was finally possible, was not perfect.

"Your Majesty, the kingdom must be made an ally. Their military power and intelligence could save the Imperial Nation from the crisis of extinction."

"Momochi, you still haven't given up on the Imperial Nation, have you?"

The Emperor, who had a stern expression, let out a sigh. He was remembering his son, Task, who had desperately tried to persuade him to seek help from the kingdom to save the people from hunger.

"They can... surely..."

The ninja Momochi gave the Emperor and the Shogun excessive hope and great expectations. It was clear that both were in such poor health that they might collapse, and that the situation had not improved even after the kingdom's delegation had left, and the nation was still heading towards extinction.

The Imperial Nation, whose people did not want to move to other lands and were determined to perish with their homeland, could only prepare a brief meal for the Emperor and the Shogun. The ninja Momochi spoke of hope, believing in the family and cats he had seen at the Stewart household.

This would bring an incredibly disproportionate and abnormal pressure on the kingdom and the Stewart household.

What to do... No one is making a joke.

The Imperial Nation members... No one is making a joke.

It's the 100th anniversary, yet... no one is making a joke.