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764 - - Small group of countries

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　Over the mountains and across the plains beyond.

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　It is called a cluster of small states, where a number of countries are in disarray while avoiding interference from the Brillia Magus State and other countries.

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　It was a place of many rivers.

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　It is said that there are many rivers flowing through the area, and that they merge, thicken, and divide in the middle of the river.

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　Moreover, there is a flood somewhere every year.

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　They call it the Kutouryu Plain because the river looks like a rampaging dragon.

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　Of course, the name comes from the imagination of a dragon with nine heads running wild in all directions, not that there actually is a dragon.

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How can you live in such a place? It must be dangerous."

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"Yes, it is dangerous to live near a river. But historically, there are certain places that are less prone to flooding. In those places, big cities were built and then they became countries.

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"So that's the beginning of a group of small states. How can such a whole town be a country?

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　As a barque trader, I kept moving, carrying merchants and cargo.

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　During this time, he had heard stories of various places from Kristina and other merchants.

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　Although I had learned some of these stories at the House of Lords, it was interesting to hear from people who actually live and work in this region.

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　Among them, the small states themselves were unusual and interesting.

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　Many of the countries in this area are really small.

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　In fact, it seems that many of them are cities in each area that call themselves a country.

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　In places where there are few influences from the rivers that flood frequently, large walled cities are built and they call themselves a country.

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　In other words, the ruler who governs several cities does not call himself a king, but one city and the surrounding farmland complete the country.

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　Small states, or city-states as they are also called.

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　A large city with tens of thousands of inhabitants or more is itself a country.

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　Each city-state has its own belief in the worship of dragons, although there are many differences among them.

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　Every year, a ritual is held to worship the dragon, which is equivalent to a god, in order to pray for a good harvest.

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　The rule differs from place to place, but in general, people regard the wonders of nature as both their worst enemy and a blessing from the gods.

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　And there is one more thing that is different.

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　The ruler is not a king but a council in many cases.

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　Usually, a country has a king and nobles under him.

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　At least, for me, that was the normal form of a country.

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　But the management of a city-state is different.

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　It seems that in many places, historical or wealthy families are in the council and rule the country by debate.

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　I wonder how such a country can exist.

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But did I hear that the Orient is different among those countries?　You said something about it being in a place where there wasn't much farmland, right?"

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"That's right. They produce only a minimal amount of their own food. Instead, many of them were traditionally good at making weapons, so they bought materials from the surrounding countries, made weapons, and sold them. They did not favor any of the other countries, but they did not want to be looked down upon by others.

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"By having relationships with all the other countries, we were able to protect our country even though we had little farmland and a small army. But now the environment has changed so much that the Orient's ability to coordinate with other countries is no longer useful."

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　The Orient seems to have been in a special position among the city-states, which are unusual as a nation.

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　Although they had a small number of soldiers, they had managed to keep in touch with various countries around them and protected themselves by getting help from several other countries if any of them tried to attack the Orient.

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　This may be similar to the way small nations protect themselves from other powerful nations.

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　However, the countries that were built on such a last-minute power relationship have now completely lost their ability to coordinate their efforts.

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　Or perhaps it is too harsh to say so.

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　One day, the environment changed so drastically that it is no longer possible to adjust.

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　The reason for this is the fact that Ars gave magic to a man named Banagher in the Orient.

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　He brought the magic of [soil improvement] and many other useful magic to the land, which until then had been flooded by the blessings of the gods, and had produced a good harvest.

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　And it came with a means by which others could also obtain magic: naming.

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　At first, the magic was spread in the Orient by Banagher.

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　I think it was welcomed at first.

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　However, to those around them, the Orient was a dangerous country with new powers, or a magical fruit from which they could obtain their own powers.

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　Thus, the Orient, which had been a neutral country in a sense as a manufacturing country, was attacked by the surrounding countries all at once.

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　Are you all right?

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　Even though the Orientals asked for help, I wonder if they have any grudge against Brother Ars?

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　While heading for the Orient, which was in the midst of a turbulent time, we Barca traders were gradually approaching our destination, wondering if we would be accepted by the people of that country.

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