We’re making progress with our plan to raise our strength. We spent everyday busily, like with the manufacturing and development of magic devices, and production of various potions and development of advanced potions.
On one such day, when we turned up at the Adventurers Guild, Hans-san said that a notification arrived to all branches stating that the Divine Empire of Sydnia performed a hero summoning.
「Apparently there were 3 people, a pair of young boys and a girl with black hair and eyes.」 「Has the Light God Faith said anything?」 「No, they haven’t said anything so far, but the Light God Churches in Lomaria Kingdom and Valkyra Kingdom seem to be making rounds.」 「A propaganda, isn’t it?」 「The Light God Faith wouldn’t miss this opportunity to increase their influence in Valkyra and Lomaria, now would they?」 「Wouldn’t that be impossible unless they reform their doctrine of human supremacy?」 「I think they’re that foolish to not understand that though.」
It appears the Light God Church plans to use the the heroes as publicity for a while. I imagine they’ve probably just been summoned and are currently in the middle of training. They’ll probably start moving for real once the heroes have increased their strengths. After all, the heroes were like nuclear bombs. I still didn’t know at this time that the heroes, who didn’t receive Goddess Norn’s divine protection, were frankly not that much of a threat.
But, I did gain something too. It was said that the 3 people summoned were two boys and a girl, and all of them seemed to be Japanese with black hair and eyes. At present, they’re likely being surrounded by Sydnia and are receiving training.
「Takumi-kun has a connection to the zealots of the Light God Faith so I find it very unpleasant.」 「They’ll come to the royal capital of Valkyra, right?」 「They probably will. Our country has few believers of the Light God Faith, after all.」
There will naturally be fewer believers of the Light God Faith in multiracial countries like Valkyra, Lomaria, and Samandour. The royal capital of each country has a church of the Light God Faith, but there weren’t that many other cities that had it. For feudal lords, they’d either similarly be human supremacists or they earned compensation for a church of the Light God Faith erected in their land.
「Moving along, there is a designated request from the Papeck Company for Takumi-kun’s party. It’s to escort a merchant unit until the capital, but this request can serve as Maria-kun and Laeva-kun’s rank up exam. Also, the Volton branch has recommended Takumi-kun and Sophia-kun for A rank, so if it is approved, you will publicly rank up to A rank at the the guild at the royal capital And so, it’s a nominated request, but what will you do?」 「Of course we will accept.」
「I’m home.」 「「「「Welcome home.」」」」
I talked to everyone about the nominated request when I returned to the mansion.
「I accepted a request that would also serve as Maria and Laeva’s rank up exam from Hans-san.」
Here, Sophia and I will be promoted to A rank, Maria to B rank, Laeva to C rank, and Marnie to D rank. With this, the party rank of 『Wings of Norn』 will rise to B.
「When will we depart?」 「The plan is to leave in 3 days.」 「Then I’ll speed up the delivery of potions.」 「I will replenish our foodstuff with Marnie-san.」
Laeva headed to the workshop to hasten the delivery of various potions. Maria invited Marnie to go shopping with her at the market.
「Now then, Sophia, shall we do maintenance on the equipment?」 「Yes, I will be waiting at the workshop.」
Thus, when we began preparing for our escort request, as a mischief of fate, a chance meeting with my countrymen drew near.
「Tch, can’t this carriage stop shaking? Like by adding suspension.」
Akira Jinguji spouted abusive language as he was waited upon by women at both sides.
「Apparently carriages with suspension are starting to appear in the markets of Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom.」
A muscular young man with short black hair, Yamato Taiga, answered thus.
「………………」
Akane Misato looked at them with cold eyes.
「(I have to escape during this expedition somehow.)」
The young people from Japan summoned to Mildgard through the hero summoning were given the task of going to each nation as an advert to acquire believers. Simultaneously, it is also a trip to gather large sums of offerings.
「We’re going to Valkyra Kingdom after this, so there will be beastkin and elves, right? Can’t we buy some at a slave dealer?」 「Akira-sama, with the exception of criminal slaves, the slave dealers of Valkyra Kingdom prohibit taking the slaves out of the country.」
A priest of the Light God Faith requested the brash Akira restrain himself.
「You can do something about things like that right? We’re heroes.」 「That’s right, we’re even over level 30, so we’re already among the top class adventurers. A little bit more and no one can match us in this continent, yaknow.」
Akane’s eyes grew even colder at the remarks of Akira and Yamato who unceasingly grew more arrogant, and her feelings of wanting to leave this place strengthened.
「Is something the matter, Akane-sama?」 「I’m alright, it’s nothing, Lulu.」
Seeing Akane make a displeased expression, her exclusive maid called out to her in concern. The exclusive maid of Akane called Lulu is a young Catkin girl. She is around 10 years of age, and on her neck was not a slave mark but a fastened slave collar, from which one could understand that she was a slave. For the Divine Empire of Sydnia, races apart from humans were practically slaves. This girl named Lulu automatically became a slave to Sydnia when her parents were beastkin.
「(This is definitely wrong! For them to treat even children as slaves affixed with collars.)」
Witnessing Sydnia’s wrongful treatment of slaves, Akane increasingly believed she had to escape from Sydnia. But in that case, she had to think of a way to save Lulu. She couldn’t use 『Dispel』 yet, so she couldn’t cancel the slavery contract curse.
「(But I have a feeling something good will happen at Valkyra Kingdom. Maybe, this is what the Divine Oracle skill is telling me.)」
With the Divine Oracle skill she received from Norn-sama whom the Genesis Faith worships, Akane felt that her fate would shift at the royal capital of Valkyra Kingdom.