Disappointing Teleportation Magic ~ Even Though The Movement Distance Is Only 1 Millimeter, I Will Rise Through Ingenuity ~ - Chapter 64.1

Up until I stopped at Count Zarettino’s mansion, I hadn’t really felt the atmosphere of war, but the closer I got to Fulmelinta, the more the surroundings began to change.

Near the major towns in the Kingdom of Yurefelt, there are open spaces where merchant caravans can set up camp, but now they had become refugee camps filled with people from Eberwein’s territory.

Rows of tents stood, and a large number of people sat with vacant expressions, as if their souls had been drained. A long line of people waited for their food rations, and even from the carriage, the unsanitary conditions were apparent.

“Do you think these people will be able to return to their lands once the war ends?”

“Rather than ‘able to,’ they must.”

“Oh, right. They don’t get to choose where they live.”

“Yes. And even if this peace agreement is reached, the Kingdom of Yurefelt will lose the land in the central region. The people who have lived there will lose their homes.”

The land in the central region, which has been contested up to now, has had its upstream side governed by Fulmelinta and the downstream side by Yurefelt, but with this peace agreement, Fulmelinta will take all of it.

Though the land isn’t large compared to the parts of Eberwein’s territory that are occupied, officially acknowledging Fulmelinta’s possession of it is still a significant event.

Naturally, the people who have lived on this land will lose the place they call home. On top of that, Duke Eberwein, who managed the allocation of land, has died in battle.

If a new lord of Eberwein’s territory is not decided, the people who have lived in the central region will be left wandering aimlessly.

The day after our stay at Count Zarettino’s mansion, the lodging was heavily guarded by many soldiers.

When I stepped down from the carriage, a knight in full armor greeted me with a salute.

“Thank you for your long journey, Lord Kirikaze.”

“No, compared to all of you, I’ve just been enjoying my trip. But more importantly, the security seems rather intense…”

“Prince Belnort is staying here.”

“Should I go pay my respects?”

Not being well-versed in noble customs, I asked the question, but the knight hesitated and his expression clouded.

“Well… as long as you refrain from using magic…”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“No, the prince does not wish for a meeting, so I’ll take you straight to your room.”

It sounded like a vague and awkward response, but if I could avoid meeting him, that was all the better.

The knight led me to a separate building from the heavily guarded one.

“Apologies, but we would appreciate it if you could stay inside this building tonight.”

“It seems there are some circumstances, but I don’t plan on going out anyway.”

“Thank you.”

From the separate building, I could admire the well-maintained courtyard without needing to step outside.

The room wasn’t as luxurious as the ones I’ve stayed in previously, but it was still more than adequate.

“They’re probably doing something embarrassing they don’t want us to see.”

“Most likely.”

If I listened closely, I could hear vulgar laughter and the playful voices of women carried on the wind from far away.

Though ordered by the king to reclaim Eberwein’s territory, Prince Belnort was probably not of much use on the frontlines, perhaps even a hindrance, and was thus relegated to staying at this lodging.

He must have seen plenty of refugees on the way here. Whether he ignored them on purpose or felt nothing at all, I didn’t know, but if I had to witness him indulging with women and idling away, I wouldn’t be able to restrain myself from using magic.