ERTHMB Chapter 64

Stagnant Water

 

The typhoons that occurred simultaneously that year, sweeping across all continents, wouldn’t leave the front pages of newspapers for quite some time.

 

Even in Evergale, which was located in a region that was spared and suffered no particular damage, Helena would encounter news of it each time.

 

She approached the large map posted next to the calendar. It was decorative, showing only rough shapes without detailed features, but it was sufficient for tracing the path.

 

Her index finger, starting from the worn and frayed edge, stopped in front of a duck-shaped landmass.

 

‘If my memory is correct… Dairon will take a direct hit.’

 

It would still be just a bearable storm for now, but in just five days, it would double in size.

 

By then, it wouldn’t come as a simple storm. This would become a disaster.

 

Something had to be done before that. The guild’s manpower and meager preparations would not be enough.

 

‘I need an order that can legally mobilize all of Dairon.’

 

If there’s someone who could do that…

 

Helena ignored Angri, who was staring at her with bewildered eyes, and stormed out of the dining room.

 

****

 

“We need to secure as much drainage as possible and set up barriers along the forest boundary.”

 

A single voice filled the vast hall completely.

 

Lord Garta of Dairon sat in a chair rimmed with pearls and gilded, frowning.

 

He knew well the oppressive feeling the space gave, and had made the hall abnormally large to make maximum use of it. Money didn’t lie, so most things flowed according to his intentions.

 

Whoever set foot in the corridor, it was natural for them to become completely intimidated from that moment. By the time they passed the ornately carved tall pillars and reached him, their backs would invariably be naturally bent.

 

However, from the woman before him, he could read not even a trace of hesitation, let alone fear. That was the reason for the current wrinkle in Garta’s brow.

 

Garta deliberately spoke even more leisurely.

 

“Water flows naturally, so if left alone it will resolve itself naturally, and I have no idea what you mean by barriers.”

 

This time it was Helena, facing Garta, who frowned.

 

But it was soon skillfully smoothed into a calm expression. Helena knew how meaningless arguments could ruin things.

 

This was a hard-won opportunity for a private audience. She had business that brought her here, even going so far as to slip some bills to his subordinates.

 

“There is also water that doesn’t flow. Stagnant water is bound to rot.”

 

Keeping to herself the observation that this described him, Helena continued.

 

“Of course, as you say, my lord, water flows naturally, so if we just make the path well, it will be fine. But the problem is the forest. More precisely, the dangerous things the forest holds.”

 

Garta also realized what this referred to. Dairon’s biggest headache. Magical beasts.

 

However, Garta was someone who had never fixed anything with his own hands, nor had any intention of doing so.

 

His way was to let situations roll along through the sacrifices of those around him who couldn’t bear to watch.

 

If he just abandoned a few people, it could be done. He didn’t want to waste precious resources for the sake of those few insignificant bodies.

 

“Rain like this has passed through every year. There was some damage, but it was recoverable within days. Do I look foolish enough to believe a woman who comes barging in and tells me to waste taxpayer money on uncertain assumptions?”

 

Hollow words poured out smoothly. Helena’s blue eyes observed him carefully.

 

The thick gold rings on each finger joint, and the flashy garments draped all over his body. Everything revealed raw luxury.

 

So this is how someone can say they’d rather bathe in gold than spend a penny on their people’s welfare. She truly couldn’t help but be amazed.

 

Helena felt mockery rise up but barely swallowed it and made her plea again.

 

“This time will be different. A typhoon of a scale that cannot be measured by previous standards will strike. Thorough preparation is necessary.”

 

“What, are you worried that magical beasts will fly through the sky in the wind? Is that why you came here?”

 

Garta burst into laughter as if it were nothing. He immediately looked her up and down with gleaming eyes and sneered.

 

“Why don’t we stop this boring talk and you warm my bed instead? Then you’ll forget all about typhoons. I can make you very… warm.”

 

Helena felt her fingers itch terribly and had to clench her fists. She felt her already tight jaw clench even more.

 

“Have you ever been to the forest?”

 

“What?”

 

“Dairon’s central district is located in lowlands below the forest. When the magical beast eggs laid during spawning season pour down with the mudslide into the village, it will be too late. No matter how much restoration work is done, magical beasts may appear throughout the village within a week.”

 

“There’s no need to assume the worst-case scenario.”

 

“What I’ve told you is the most optimistic outlook.”

 

“Too far-fetched.”

 

Garta openly displayed his displeasure. However, Helena pretended not to notice and continued.

 

“It’s not far-fetched.”

 

“We call arguing without basis being far-fetched.”

 

“You, my lord, would have been the first to experience that basis firsthand.”

 

“Me?”

 

Garta let out a hollow laugh. Helena didn’t mind and took a step forward with a requesting gesture.

 

“You haven’t been able to smell new wine lately, because wine and cheese supplies have been cut off. The Borneux region, which was a main trading partner, couldn’t avoid the typhoon either. Even at this very moment, disaster is approaching, my lord.”

 

Garta let out a displeased groan at her attitude of not backing down easily.

 

“No one has ever brought such trivial matters to me before. Everyone else lives without complaint, so why are you stepping forward alone? Do you think you have the right to do so in the first place?”

 

Finally, Helena’s molars ground together.

 

Rights. If you want to talk about rights.

 

“In the name of Helena Evergale—”

 

Helena, who had spoken without thinking, stopped midway. She had endured well until now, but her reason wavered for a moment as she flared up.

 

She was no longer the Grand Duchess. She could no longer command in Evergale’s name.

 

But that didn’t mean she was nothing either.

 

She couldn’t be nothing. There were too many things that had taken root within her, too many things she had begun to take root in.

 

Helena closed her eyes and quietly drew in a breath. Then she opened them again and spoke.

 

“I demand it in the name of Partren of the guild responsible for Dairon’s defense.”

 

Her voice was as firm as the will contained in her eyes.

 

Garta, facing her directly, found his brow furrows deepening even more. They deepened so much that his face crumpled as if he had chewed bitter medicinal roots.

 

“…Partren?”

 

No man would dislike conversing with a beautiful woman, and Garta was no exception. He had been listening to her chatter thinking he might as well pass some idle time.

 

But if the clueless lark belonged to the crow’s faction, that was a different story.

 

“Did Gelda send you?”

 

His heavy voice even carried a chill. In the suddenly tense atmosphere, Garta burst into mockery.

 

“If you left on your own feet, you should live quietly as if dead, but you go around stirring up trouble everywhere, so how can I leave you alone? Spreading such vulgar blood scent around, that bitch won’t do.”

 

He uncrossed his legs and jerked his head toward the exit.

 

“At most, a few colts being swept away will be the biggest damage report, so stop making a fuss and leave.”

 

“…Making a fuss.”

 

Helena watched Garta leisurely tilting his wine bottle and clenched her fists tight. She hoped the pain of her nails piercing her flesh would bring back her reason, but it was difficult. Words began to burst out like sneezes.

 

“You who live in a high mansion just need to look out the window at puddles that barely wet the ground, but the village people living down there will have their homes swept away. While you comfortably sip wine, someone might lose their livelihood and die. We must build barriers.”

 

“Not necessary.”

 

“People’s lives are at stake, how can it not be necessary!”

 

Garta let out a deep sigh as if this was truly bothersome.

 

“You seem to be mistaken about something, but if I don’t need it, then Dairon doesn’t need it either. If there’s no problem with what I have, then there’s no problem with Dairon either. Do you understand?”

 

Though she tried to maintain composure, faint despair finally spread across Helena’s face.

 

‘He’s wrong, he intends to completely pretend not to know.’

 

Garta pulled a cord. A knight who had been waiting outside entered promptly. Clad in full iron armor, he looked formidable at first glance.

 

Helena’s face grew paler as she guessed he would drag her out.

 

Eventually, the knight reached the two and raised his arm.

 

But what happened next was neither what Garta had expected nor what Helena had anticipated.

 

“Barriers, would this money make it possible, my lord?”

 

A heavy sack fell onto the silver tray used for offerings with a dull sound. Gold coins poured out through the loosely tied opening.

 

Garta’s greasy eyes gleamed, and Helena looked at the knight in surprise.

 

The knight beside her took advantage of Garta’s attention being completely focused on the sack of gold coins to lift his helmet and meet her eyes. Then he leaned slightly and whispered in her ear.

 

“If it’s a pig that moves for money, you have to control it with money.”

 

Beneath his slightly dampened blonde hair, red eyes glinted mischievously.

 

After that, things went smoothly. Helena felt it was almost unfair how much she had struggled in that stubborn argument with Garta.

 

But since the matter was resolved anyway, joy took precedence, so she followed where the man led.

 

“How did you know I was here, or rather, how did you know I was having this conversation here?”

 

“I came here on my own business and saw you, so I secretly followed. I like interesting things, and your face looked exactly like someone about to cause such trouble.”

 

Helena unconsciously touched her cheek and asked further.

 

“How did you get into the hall? They wouldn’t have let you in easily.”

 

He lightly tapped the surface of his shoulder guard with the knuckle of his bent finger, as if showing off.

 

“Transformation-like disguise.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

I asked something too obvious. Combined with what had just happened, a small embarrassment washed over her.

 

Helena turned her head to the opposite side to hide her face.

 

“I’m being too stupid.”

 

Instead of trying to see that face, Elai grabbed her elbow and changed direction.

 

Whether it was because of the soft carpet laid in the corridor, or because he was naturally skilled at hiding his presence, there was no metallic sound characteristic of armor.

 

Just as Helena was thinking this was quite remarkable, Elai spoke.

 

“You have your own way, and I have my own way, don’t I? Rather, I only know how to use shortcuts, so I actually envy your straightforward nature.”

 

“Using money isn’t all shortcuts.”

 

“It is when the money isn’t mine.”

 

“…?”

 

Did he borrow it, or did he raise funds somewhere? When she looked up with a puzzled gaze, he let out a small laugh.

 

The lopsided grin suited him better than expected. Like wearing perfectly fitted clothes, his face seemed to wear a perfectly fitting expression.

 

He confirmed they were at a distance where the knights standing on either side of the exit at the end of the corridor couldn’t hear, then revealed the truth.

 

“The real fool is that guy. He probably doesn’t even realize it’s just going back into his own pocket—by now, he’s probably grinning from ear to ear.”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

“I stole it.”