Well, that was a lot of fun. A trip.
　'Yeah. And the Cilician artifacts and stuff were beautiful.
　I got a whole bunch of books.

　Apparently, both Julia and Tetra were satisfied. I'm glad to hear that.
　........well, it was troublesome, but....


　''Now we just have to prepare a house and other things for the personnel coming later from Cilicia.
　Yeah. Now all that matters is counter-intelligence.

　If I were a Cilician, I'd mix spies in with the large amount of personnel.

　It's the paper and black powder technology that must be protected. Black powder is especially important.
　The paper, well it's not that difficult to make, so I don't think they'll need to steal it to copy it.

　As for the magic, I'm not worried about it. That's not something you can steal by thinking about stealing it. Or rather, if it's that easy to steal, no one will have any trouble.
　It is a technique just like building computer software.
　It's not something that can be done by imitation.

　We'll have to consult with Raimondo for now.
　Well also, I'd like to install a new anti-spell system.
　Hmm?

　New?　
　Did you come up with some new spellcraft?

　'I mean, it's just stealing Cilicia's technology. A defense system that borrows the name of God. First of all, let me briefly explain the system so far...''

　Until now, the wards were set using the sorcerers' own spell power.

　In the traditional system, each village has a curse-proof facility where third- or second-rate spellcasters pour their spellcasting power to set up the wards. If it's third-rate, there's one person in each village.

　In the center of a region of thirty to fifty villages, there are also anti-spell facilities, to which a second-rate sorcerer will pour the spell power and set up wards.

　You'll be able to use it to help your friends and family.

　The last one is a cursed facility that can oversee all the cursed facilities in the country - the palace itself, where Uriah and several top spellcasters set up wards.

　This is how they protect against the curse.
　This system was created based on the reflection of the famine about ten years ago (when Ron and the others were abandoned).

　Incidentally, the countries around King Rosais' country have built a similar curse prevention system.

　It seems that with this system, most curses can be played off.
　Even if a famine class curse of at least ten years ago comes, it is designed to prevent it.

　The problem is that the sorcerer is always on duty to prevent curses.


　'So God?　What's this system of borrowing the name of the "_______"?
　'To put it simply, we're going to convert people's faith into pure spell power and put up wards. That way it won't run out forever, and it'll be less of a burden on the spellcaster.
　Can you do that?
　Well, yeah. However, it can only be used for warding by nature. They can't be converted to magic or curses. Well that's just the plan. Just give me a quick word of warning. I'll submit it in a document or something next time.

　Hmm........well if you can do that, you can reduce the burden on the spellcaster considerably.
　I guess I could even convert from a sorcerer to a magician.

　'Do you have any tetras?'
　'Not really. I want you to focus on the manuscripts and training sorcerers.
　I'm afraid that's going to have to wait...

　I can't say I'm short on spellcasters for now...
　Magic is also too difficult to theorize, and most spellcasters seem to be dinged up.

　Spellcraft is 'Don't think, feel!'　It's a technique that says, "Don't feel it, think it!" but witchcraft is the opposite: "Don't feel it, think it! That's why.

　But spellcasters like Julia who are starting out in the field of medicinal research and such seem to have a relatively high level of education.







　So Raimondo. I'd like to enhance our counterintelligence.
　I see. Very true. Well, for now, let's put a watch on anyone producing paper and black powder. And a decent salary.

　People are afraid of losing their jobs.
　Everyone understands that if they tell their secrets, they will lose their jobs...or worse, they will be judged for leaking secrets.

　Still, there are people who talk about it. Why?　
　In short, it is because of the low salaries.

　In Japan we see news reports about technology being shipped out to foreign countries, but the reason for this is the low salaries.
　So, if you pay high salaries and show the country that you are important to them, there is no problem.

　As for paper, there is still money to be made even if you raise your salary two or three times, and black powder is not something you would consider making a profit on.

　As long as we pay the high salaries and put a watchdog on it, we'll be fine. If it leaks, that's the time to do it.
　It's not possible to have a complete counter-intelligence system.

　"We'll take an Earl to watch over it. He's got a real talent for that kind of thing.
　'I agree. I'm sure he'll pull it off.

　Anyway, as far as the technology spill goes, we're good to go.

　I'd like to see a crackdown on people who, other than technology, are selling out information about domestic military operations.
　You want it?　If anyone can do that, it's people around us.

　So you're telling me that one of the wealthy families and their relatives is a traitor?

　'No way, that's not possible but it's quite possible that he's being made to betray you as a result.

　As a result?
　I mean, you don't think you're a traitor to yourself, but to us, you're a traitor...
　A guy who is unknowingly passing information around.........

　Is that even possible?

　'When do you think people are most defenseless in a curse-proof way?'
　'It's ... when we're having s*x, right?　I know that much, but...
　The patriarch of a wealthy family is a man. And the sorcerer is basically a woman. Do you understand?
　No, no, no. It's not possible. I've learned some light anti-spellcasting techniques myself. That's because I'm confident that I could definitely hypnotize you if you were to be hit by a serious Yulia in the middle of s*x, but there's no Yulia class in the first place. Besides, my escort sorcerer can smell the remnants of the spell.

　Curses are far more difficult to attack than they are to defend. This is the foundation of spellcraft.
　As long as you have a certain amount of curse prevention skills, you can prevent it unless your opponent is a very good sorcerer.

　''What if that escort spellcaster himself is an interloper? ........Well, it was a bit of an exaggeration to say that they were directly targeting the great family themselves, but.... If you think about it in the right order, it would be their subordinates and the bureaucrats who serve the palace. There will be fewer people in those areas who have learned proper spell-proofing techniques, and they won't be wary of poisons and the like.

　It's true that if you can hypnotize those unsuspecting people, it could work...

　So there's a chance I could be stabbed by a servant all of a sudden?
　''You can't get him to act directly, can you?　Well, unless you regularly bully your servants and antagonize them... isn't the king very popular with the slaves living in the palace?

　That's true. Unlikely.
　Julia also said that it's incredibly difficult to get her to do something she doesn't want to do.

　''However, it's easy to at least talk about it. Not that there are people who are light-hearted even without magic.
　Well, you know... people do talk shit without meaning to.

　Only someone who says that will say, "I won't tell anyone! I said.

　'So you didn't mean to just speculate and tell me that?
　Yes, I don't have any hard evidence, but I do have enough alarming information.

　Saying that, Raimondo handed me a stack of papers.
　On the paper, it is written 'National Magus Registration Form'.

　It's a document that I just recently finished compiling. The only thing written here are the sorcerers who came forward, and I assume there are still more sorcerers in the country.

　I've looked over that one too. Did you find something odd about it?
　"Twelve of the sorcerers in our great family are not from our country.
　Isn't that strange? It's not unusual for a sorcerer to roam from place to place in search of work.

　A sorcerer is the kind of person everyone wants. That's why they move from place to place and try to be an officer in search of a higher salary.
　They're irreplaceable, which is why they can do this.

　"Have you read the interview material?
　"...I've read through it briefly, but...

　I'm busy, too. I can't be looking at everything.
　Do you think a CEO of a major corporation would check all the test records of a new hire?　You don't.

　The spellcasters in the class that can carry a soul on a stone have been firmly confirmed...............................but not any more.

　''Eight out of the twelve have been confirmed to have a Gallic accent. That is, from the Kingdom of Roselle.
　Suppose the eight were Roselle's spies. But they're not new to this country. They've been in the country for more than ten years, haven't they?　And if your theory is correct, not only our country, but other countries-especially Domorgar, with which we share a border- could have several times as many spellcasters as we do in our country. Would you send a valuable sorcerer out of the country for such a long period of time?

　It's impossible.
　Sure, information is important but would you use a sorcerer for an interloper who is supposed to be discarded in the first place?
　The most valuable spellcasters are the top-notch soul-runners................................but even less valuable.

　There are only a few more than a hundred sorcerers who can use the decently advanced spell of hypnosis in our country.

　'Lord Almus. It is said that the population of Roselle is lightly over three million. Our country is about twenty-five thousand at best. Purely the number of sorcerers is twelve times as large. And there's Merlin, the world's oldest sorcerer over there. That country is one of the most advanced spellcasting countries in the world.

　In other words, the amount of human resources is far different from that of our country. Twelve times as many, that's 1,200 people.
　With that many men, it wouldn't be that difficult to get a few people in each country.

　Well, do you want to try catching them and asking them?
　I have.

　.........hey, you're acting so fast without my permission.
　You can't just laugh at that, can you?

　'No, no, no. It was about ten years ago. There was a stream sorcerer I hired - a sorcerer who was about fourteen years old and spoke with a Gallic accent. I didn't really pay attention to him at first but he was acting a bit suspicious. I was keeping an eye on him and found him flying owls in the middle of the night.
　So, how did it go?

　Raimondo shakes his head at my question.

　'Not at all. I asked him, but he didn't say anything. I had no choice, so I tortured him...

　...with a 14-year-old girl, right?　You didn't think about being falsely accused or anything like that at all. You.

　"I'm sorry, sir. I'll tell you.　I was about to say........and then he died. The cause of death was a ruptured heart.
　So the curse ... the spies are real. But I don't have any information on whether or not Roselle's spies are spies other than the 'Gallic accent'.

　In fact, just because you have a Gallic accent doesn't mean you're from the Kingdom of Roselle.
　King Domorgal's country also has some children who are mixed with Gauls if you go to the north.



　For now, shall we mobilize reliable sorcerers who can be trusted to check for any traces of witchcraft? The lingering scent is hard to detect unless you're aware of it, but if you are, you'll be able to spot it clearly.

　There's a definite spider.
　If we suspect that and investigate, we'll be able to catch the fish for sure. That is, if the spies are real.


　You should give it a try in my country. Let's try Domorgar for now.
　That's good. It's a good idea to see if it's actually possible. It would be less dangerous if you used it on a lowly soldier.

　Focus on counterintelligence for now. When there's time to spare, I'll go outside and gather information.
　Alright, we've decided on a course of action in this direction.


　Oh, by the way, I didn't tell you about Julia's proposal.

　What do you think?
　'I think it's fine. The problem is which gods to use. If you do a quick search, you'll find a hundred names. Speaking of gods, Gryphon-sama is also a god. Well, the safest choice is Zelpia........the guardian deity of our Lossies family. But she's not very popular with the common people, so.......

　Mumbling, Raimondo began to think about it.
　Then something seemed to strike him.

　'This ... sounds like it could be useful not only for curse-proof defense, but also for political purposes. Give me some time. I'll give it some thought too.''
　Yeah, all right. Think about it all you want.

　Hate to say I'm not a fan of the mythological stuff, but...
　I have no idea. I only know five or six pillars.




　I finished my meeting with Raimondo and returned to my office.
　There are stacks of papers on the desk. These are all documents related to flood control.

　The purchase of land rights, water use...
　Anyway, it's a complicated thing.

　I'm the king, so it's not as troublesome as in Japan. But even so, we can't force a decision.
　If things went wrong, a water dispute could develop into a civil war.
　The Adelnian peasants carry swords and spears as well as plows, you see.


　'Oh I'll have to clean this one up too...'
　I may have branched out a little too far into various projects...
　I'm the only one who's in trouble, though.