When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 197

Episode 197

The journey from the Kingdom of Tashman to the Divina Papal State proceeded smoothly without incident. Although there was some tension on board right after leaving the capital city Nevorista due to Victor’s blunder, Miriam quickly took control of the reckless alchemist, keeping him in check—at least on the surface.

Generally, traveling from the Kingdom of Tashman to the Divina Papal State takes between three months to half a year one way. This, of course, depends heavily on the chosen route and the travel speed of the group.

There are two main routes. One is the mountain path that crosses the Volodia mountain range in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Tashman. The other is the river route, which crosses the Salal River in the southwestern part of the kingdom.

These routes were originally used by the hero, the first King of Tashman, and Queen Amentis during their campaign into the current territory of the Kingdom of Tashman. Over many years, these paths were developed into proper highways. Each route has its pros and cons, and travelers must choose their path carefully based on these factors.

For instance, the mountain route across the northwestern Volodia range is significantly shorter in terms of distance. However, it is a harsh journey over mountains. During winter, it becomes even more difficult due to snow. On the other hand, the southwestern route crossing the Salal River is longer, but the terrain is flat and the climate mild. The only issue is the necessity of a boat to cross the river.

Ten years ago, Seraphina Lorentzi took the mountain route due to time constraints when traveling from the Divina Papal State to the Kingdom of Tashman for her studies. However, on her return to the Papal State, she used the river route and took about six months to get back.

Naturally, Jez and the others chose the shortest route this time. For those who travel by air, the steep mountains pose no obstacle, making this the obvious choice. However, the Volodia mountain range is home to flying monsters, which they had to watch out for.

The Kingdom of Tashman shares its southern border with several nations, including the Kingdom of Garanhorn, the Kingdom of Valendia, and the Regia Federation. On this expedition, after crossing the mountains, they would pass through the territory of the Kingdom of Valendia. From there, they would enter the Duchy of Melchia, the Kazaar Autonomous Region, the Kingdom of Asparia, and finally the Selix Republic before arriving in the Divina Papal State.

In total, they would traverse five different nations to reach the Papal State, underscoring just how far the distance between the two kingdoms is. These countries maintain friendly relations with the Kingdom of Tashman, and special agreements allow for the peaceful passage of Tashman’s people through their territories with just a post-journey report. Such diplomacy has been made possible through the efforts of the Kingdom of Tashman’s foreign ministers over the generations, as well as the current second prince, Levius Tashman, who frequently travels to other countries.

Even on land, the journey would take at least three months, even in a rush. If a relay method with messengers was used, it could be reduced to about a month, making communication much faster for organizations like the Divina Church, which has branches in various countries. Nonetheless, for an army on the move, it would still take several months. That’s the common understanding of how long such a journey takes.

However, Victor Alchemis completely shattered this common sense by creating the airship Mandjet/Mesektet.

By evening on the day they departed from the capital, they had already reached the borders of the kingdom. That night, they anchored in the wilderness with a view of the Volodia mountains, where they conducted their final checks within Tashman’s territory. The next day, they crossed the mountain range. As expected, they were attacked by numerous flying monsters. But between the ship’s cannon fire and the crew’s magic attacks from the deck, they managed to cross without any significant problems.

Upon entering the Kingdom of Valendia, Jez and the others anchored in the wilderness along the highway, completing the second day of their expedition. When they lowered the ship’s altitude to anchor along the road, the travelers below were thrown into chaos. 

It’s no surprise. After all, a gigantic, pure-white ship descending from the evening sky would be a shocking sight. Some even started praying, thinking a god had descended upon the earth. However, when they noticed the flags of the Kingdom of Tashman and the Fourth Saintess flying on the ship, they began to understand the situation. “Ah, that’s something only that kingdom would do,” they likely thought.

The same scenario played out over the next few days: the third day in the Duchy of Melchia, the fourth in the Kazaar Autonomous Region, the fifth in the Kingdom of Asparia, and finally, on the sixth day, they would stop in the Selix Republic before entering the Divina Papal State.

On the seventh day, Jez and his party finally entered the airspace of the Divina Papal State. Their first destination was the ancient city of Paradis, where they would meet with the newly appointed Pope, Seraphina XIII.

For safety, the airship Mandjet/Mesektet was flying at an altitude of 2,000 meters. As they neared Paradis, they noticed two large military forces spread out across the plains. Based on the flags each army was flying, it seemed that these were the forces of the Seraphina faction and the Calidius faction.

After assessing the situation for a while, Jez judged that battle was imminent. From the bridge, he gave instructions to the 11th Legion.

“I’ll go ahead. Everyone, remain at first-level combat readiness. We’ll intervene with force as soon as I give the signal.”

With that, Jez fastened the “Diplomat” armband to his left arm, put on a headset, and, without carrying any weapons, maintained his usual appearance as a civil servant. He headed toward the catapult.

The alarm blared throughout the ship as the Mandjet/Mesektet shifted into battle mode. Two catapults were deployed on the deck. Jez stepped onto the launch pad, ready to be fired.

“Jez Norman, ready for launch. First, I’ll issue a ceasefire warning, then we’ll intervene with force. All forces, remain at first-level combat readiness.”

The alarms continued to sound, and the ship’s atmosphere became chaotic. Amid the rising tension, Jez checked his uniform and stretched briefly. His headset crackled with a message from the operator on the bridge.

“The hatch is open, launch system engaged. Catapult thrust is stable. … All clear! Admiral Jez, launch when ready!”

At that moment, a powerful G-force hit Jez’s body, and the civil servant was launched into the sky.