Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma

Chapter 35 Inner Animal 3

In the great hall of the castle, where I had returned, fully armed knights and my father were waiting for me.

Naturally, Harriett and the Makiano forces were with them as well.

The tension in the room was palpable, which was only natural.

When we clashed with the Makiano, who are also people of the plains, Tanukan came to the brink of destruction.

“I’ve returned.”

“We’ve been waiting, Fushanklan. I’m thinking of speaking with the Zvaibe cavalry. Could you translate for us?”

Although Urok could probably handle that role, for my father and the others, the Makiano and Zvaibe are still essentially the same.

So, of course, I should be the one to act as the mediator.

“Of course. Where are they now?”

“We are hosting them in the dining hall.”

“I see. What do they want?”

“According to Urok, they want to speak with you.”

“Me?”

I glanced briefly at Harriett.

I was hoping for a sign, wondering if she had heard anything from Urok…

But she simply smiled at me and tapped her finger on the table, where a silver cup of tea was placed.

“Father, give me a moment.”

“Very well.”

I sat down in the chair that Harriett’s maid had pulled out for me, and beside the cup, a small baked treat was quietly placed.

After moistening my mouth with the tea I had grown so accustomed to drinking, I asked Harriett about the Zvaibe cavalry.

“Did you ask what they want?”

“They want you to come to their capital, Chionopolita.”

“To their capital? Why?”

Chionopolita is the capital of the Zvaibe. It’s said to be a much colder place than here, with a harsh climate and little rainfall.

“The Zvaibe are merely a country founded by one of Lao kan’s concubines’ sons. They’re desperate to imitate Makiano, who invited you to their capital.”

“Just because I went to Makiano’s capital, they want me to visit the Zvaibe capital too? I don’t see any reason why they would call for me…”

As I tilted my head in confusion, Harriett smiled cheerfully but with eyes so cold they sent a chill down my spine, and she responded:

“Then there’s no need to go. Let’s cut off their envoy’s head and send it back.”

“…”

She’s like this sometimes.

The way she draws a harsh line between those close to her and everyone else can feel almost chilling. She doesn’t abuse the weak for no reason, but she has absolutely no mercy.

“…You know, sometimes you say really frightening things.”

“Do I? Is it necessary to show consideration for someone who suddenly shows up and makes unreasonable demands?”

I swallowed the urge to say, “That’s rich coming from Makiano,” and instead tried to reason with her:

“You can’t understand anything between people unless you talk first. If it avoids bloodshed, that’s all the better.”

“How kind of you. You even say such things for soldiers you’ve never met.”

“You…”

Ahem! My father’s voice echoed through the room.

Instinctively, I turned towards him, and realized that everyone’s eyes in the room were on me and my wife.

“So, what do you think?”

“It seems they do want to speak with me. I think I should at least talk to them once.”

“I see. Then, let’s bring them here.”

My father clapped his hands, and a knight ran towards the dining hall.

There was a shing sound as someone unsheathed their sword.

Then came the twang of a bowstring being drawn.

It wasn’t just Harriett — the knights were all prepared and ready to act.

If these negotiations don’t go well, the envoy might not make it out alive… I braced myself for what was to come.

The envoy brought to the great hall looked exactly like someone from Makiano.

Same race, same clothes, and same language.

So, I could understand what they were saying.

“I am Fushanklan, the third son of the Margrave of Tanukan.”

Sitting in the middle of the great hall, positioned between the Zvaibe envoy and the members of the castle, I introduced myself.

The largest man among the four envoys, with a gruff voice, responded.

“So, you are… the one called Fu of the Wasteland… I am Tadurna from Chionopolita.”

“I hear you’ve traveled far across the wasteland to get here.”

“It had been forbidden for Zvaibe to cross the Blackwater Valley, which separates the steppe from the demon land of Rub’ark, but that ban has now been lifted.”

“The Blackwater Valley?”

“It’s a cursed valley where foul, undrinkable water flows. They say lighting a fire there will bring death.”

Wait, is that… oil?

“I’d like to know more about that place—”

“Before that, I will now read the letter from our great chief, Hachikuma of Zwaibe!”

I wanted to hear more about the Blackwater Valley, but the envoy quickly moved on.

“Here’s the message! To Fu, of the demon land Rub’ark… no, Lord Fu. Would you honor Zvaibe by visiting Chionopolita for an excursion? If not, we shall send the vanguard… or rather, another envoy.”

This letter seems oddly vague.

Tadurna, sweating profusely, continued reading, but to sum it up: they want me to come to Chionopolita for a visit, maybe bring a gift, and they promised all kinds of fun and a warm welcome.

But why would they go to all this trouble to invite someone like me? What could possibly be the point?

“The above is the petition from Hachikuma to Fu of the Wasteland,” the envoy finished.

Wait, a petition? Why a petition?

“For now… I still don’t understand why they would summon someone like me,” I said.

“Well… from what I’ve heard, Fu of the Wasteland visited Tsutomuporita in Makiano. Therefore, it would be embarrassing for us if you didn’t also visit Zvaibe’s Chionopolita.”

“If that’s all, just say I’ve been there. I’ll even send a gift,” I replied.

At this, the envoy glanced nervously at Harriett and the others behind me and vigorously shook his head.

“If we did that, Zvaibe would be the laughingstock of the world! I beg of you, if you could cross the Blackwater Valley, our clan will greet you every night with endless drink and hospitality!”

Tadurna, sweating profusely, bowed deeply as he spoke.

I could somewhat understand their concern about appearances, especially since Zvaibe and Makiano are so close in proximity. Even within the same country, the navy and army can often be at odds, competing over matters of pride and prestige.

“I’ll consult with my father. Please wait a moment,” I said.

“Of course,” the envoy replied.

I shifted in my backless chair to face my father and the others.

“It seems Zvaibe wants to invite me to their capital,” I explained.

“…Why?” my father asked, understandably perplexed.

“It seems to be a matter of pride regarding Makiano. Since I visited the capital and met the great chieftain there, they want the same treatment in Zvaibe…” I explained.

“Pride, huh…” my father muttered.

“Father, I think I should go. If we refuse, we might provoke Zvaibe into sending their soldiers again. This time, it could escalate into a conflict involving not only Tanukan but also Makiano.”

In truth, we don’t really have much of a choice. Tanukan is a small, insignificant territory with almost no military power. Even if we were attacked, we couldn’t expect any reinforcements from the homeland. There’s no realistic option of going to war with Zvaibe, a force comparable to Makiano.

Especially now, they aren’t even targeting the head of the family, my father. They just want me, the third son, to visit them for a bit. There’s no real reason to refuse.

“Fushanklan, do as you think best,” my father said.

“Then, I will go. Of course, not immediately, but I’ll make the journey to broaden my horizons,” I replied.

“…I see,” my father nodded.

Going isn’t really the issue. The problem is that Chionopolita is said to be much farther away than Tsutomuporita. I had seen a map at Makiano before, and to put it bluntly, it’s not a distance you can cover in a palanquin.

The Zvaibe region alone is said to be twice the size of the Makiano side of the wasteland. Being deep inland, I can’t take a ship either…

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I turned back to face the envoy from Zvaibe.

“Alright, I’ll go,” I said.

“Really?!” the envoy responded, his voice filled with surprise.

“Yes, but Chionopolita is far. I’ll need time to prepare.”

“If possible, we’d like it to be within this year…” he replied, a bit anxiously.

“That would be difficult.”

Even if they wished for that, I had other responsibilities here. To leave this year would mean departing in the middle of summer, and I still had obligations, such as paying taxes to the Kingdom of Folk. At the very least, I couldn’t move until the year was over.

“Then… what about next year?” the envoy suggested.

“I’d like to aim for that, but there are circumstances that may prevent me from leaving immediately.”

As much as I didn’t want to think about it, there was the chance that Folk could make even more unreasonable demands after I paid the taxes. If I returned to find my home gone, it would be too late for regrets.

While the envoy, Tadurna, bit his lower lip in contemplation, one of the three men behind him stepped forward, whispered something in his ear, and lightly patted him on the back. Tadurna seemed conflicted but then slapped his knee with a decisive gesture and turned back to face me.

“Alright, within three years. In three years’ time, there will be a tournament to decide the next great chieftain during the winter. If you can come by then, that’ll do.”

“…Are you sure? That would be a relief for me.”

Depending on what I uncover about the Blackwater Valley, I might be able to go much sooner. However, only those of us, including Laokan, would understand the full significance of that place.

Tadurna nodded, took out an ornate dagger from his robe, placed it on the floor in front of him, and took three steps back.

“This is the sword of my clan. Once you enter the lands of Zvaibe, show this to the locals. They should guide you to my clan,” Tadurna said.

“Thank you,” I replied.

“I’m looking forward to sharing drinks with the wasteland’s Fu,” he added, a smile on his face.

With that exchange, our conversation with the envoy came to an end. It felt almost surprising how accommodating he had been. Such flexibility in decision-making likely indicated that Tadurna belonged to a prestigious lineage.

Two days after sending them off with gifts, I dispatched an investigation team led by Medubal and Kintman to the Blackwater Valley.

In this life, I’m technically an alchemist, albeit a novice one. If the black water turns out to be oil, there would be countless opportunities in this world where scientific technology has barely advanced.

To be clear…

For me, the arrival of the envoy from Zvaibe was nowhere near as significant as the potential discoveries awaiting us in the Blackwater Valley.

◆◆◆

At the southern end, there lies black water.
Undrinkable, unboilable, unwashable, it is cursed water.
In the land of demons, this water alone flows.
Those who dwell there must live by this water.
They breathe fire, have pointed ears, red eyes, grow tails, and consume humans.
The Black Valley is the gate that seals the demons.
One must not trespass.

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