The Principality of Craia

"Bandits again…"

Sei murmured and relayed the information to Kukuri and Gantz in the driver's seat.

"Well, the borders around here are complicated. Hiring guards is essential."

According to Kukuri, this region had been plagued by intermittent warfare ever since the Lemdoria Empire fractured.

War meant civilians fleeing the battlefields. Add conscription to that, and farmland fell into ruin.

People who could no longer produce food turned to banditry or flooded into cities, disrupting public order. It was only natural.

"Can we avoid them?"

"No, they're waiting in ambush on the highway."

According to Sei's Map, there were twenty bandits.

Checking their criminal records, only a handful had committed serious crimes like murder.

Small-scale bandit groups like this had been attacking them repeatedly for the past several days.

At first, Sei had knocked them all unconscious, disarmed them, and left them where they lay.

But after who knows how many encounters, Sei had realized something.

Unless the country itself improved, banditry would never disappear.

In this situation, all it took was one violent person becoming a leader, and ordinary people would quickly form into bandit gangs.

So Sei's approach changed.

Using the Map as reference, Sei fired magic arrows only at those who had committed serious crimes.

If the bandit group scattered and fled after losing their leaders, that was fine. If they resisted, Sei would beat them into unconsciousness and disarm them.

Ideally, Sei would have liked to escort them to a village or town, but the carriage could only hold so many people.

If only Unlimited Storage could store living beings, that would solve the problem.

However, according to Kukuri, bandits were either executed without question or worked to death as criminal slaves under harsh labor.

Even knowing it was naive, Sei continued responding this way.

The bandit group fled after losing their leaders.

After burning the bodies, Sei and the others observed a moment of silence.

"Kukuri, how do you think we could eliminate banditry?"

"How should I know? Halflings only form small settlements. That's something for the country's bigwigs to figure out."

"Someone with your power could rally others and establish a nation. That would be the solution."

Chaos offered a somewhat positive suggestion, but that was impossible.

Gathering people through strength was possible. Hiring mercenaries with money was possible. Using the position of Duke of Ogress to gather people was possible.

But Sei's mission was to return the Heroes and thereby avert Earth's crisis.

"If we send all the Heroes back, we'll buy forty-six years, right?"

Mako began seriously considering this with a grave expression, but Sei had no experience leading others in the first place.

"Well, if I meet someone who's thinking about how to improve a country, maybe I'll lend a hand."

Sei said this without much confidence.

The Principality of Craia was a city-state centered on its capital, Craia, with surrounding towns and settlements under its rule.

Its history was long, originating some 4,500 years ago.

It had defended against the great demon invasion through its fortified geography and strongholds, maintaining independence for 1,500 years.

A little over 3,000 years ago, it was annexed by Lemdoria's Great King Ryukhorin, but on nearly equal terms, and the royal families of both nations intermarried.

However, when Lemdoria split apart 1,000 years ago, Craia seized the opportunity to declare independence along with other city-states that had been annexed.

Allying with similar city-states nearby, opposing others, negotiating with Lemdoria, and occasionally warring with it - the country seemed quite busy.

Another distinctive feature was the massive lake facing the castle, which further enhanced its defenses.

Sei and the others had arrived at this capital city.

They used the gate reserved for nobles through their aristocratic privileges, but a small problem arose here.

Sei was ultimately a noble of Ogress, and a foreign noble entering the capital suggested some special purpose.

They passed through the gate, but word of Sei's arrival naturally made its way up the chain of command.

After securing lodging at an inn exclusive to nobles and wealthy merchants, Sei promptly wrote a letter to the palace.

The letter explained that the visit was merely to search for someone, nothing more, and therefore required no special accommodations.

Sei had Kukuri deliver it again, but he was handed a letter that had already been prepared.

It stated that the Archduke wished to meet privately in two days.

Now then, Sei was troubled.

The Governor of the Labyrinth City had been a Count. Since Sei clearly held higher status, knowing how to behave had been straightforward.

But this time, the other party was royalty of a foreign nation. Whether Sei was actually of lower rank, and if so, what protocols applied - these were uncertain.

Carla had taught proper etiquette, but would it apply here? Well, knowing Carla, that was probably covered.

"So, Ria-emon, please help me."

"It can't be helped, Sei-ta-kun."

Though Ria said this, she left the explanation entirely to Carla.

Hearing Carla's voice through the communicator, Sei felt relieved for the first time in a while.

"The highest authority in the Principality of Craia is the Archduke, so they are undoubtedly of higher rank than you, Sei."

Complex circumstances lurked in history that even the esteemed Carla-sensei hadn't fully covered.

The Dragon Bone Continent originally had an empire at its center, and the premise was that this empire ruled the entire land.

Until the empire collapsed, the empire appointed kings and nobles, and kings appointed nobles.

Nobles were basically subordinate to kings but held independent power, and landed nobles in particular would sometimes style themselves as principalities or counties.

Craia was a nation of an Archduke recognized by the empire. Therefore, the Archduke outranked a Duke of Ogress, which claimed to be an empire.

Though whether an Archduke of a once-fallen nation truly held authority was questionable.

As for attire, Sei was told that ordinary knight's clothing would suffice.

"So, you're free tomorrow, right?"

Mako said this while straddling Sei on Sei's bed.

"Um… what's with this position?"

"Continuing from last time…"

Mako said with a flushed face. Indeed, it had been impossible at the Governor's annex or while camping during their journey, but this was a luxurious inn with a bath.

Once that was decided, things moved quickly. Sei reached for Mako's clothes, trying to take the lead.

But that was naive.

Compared to Sei's less than two months of experience as a woman, Mako had been a girl since birth.

This naughty girl knew exactly where and how to touch to feel good on her own body.

Oh my?

Oh dear?

And then what happened next?

After their complicated exertions, Mako emerged victorious.

Though the victor Mako also reached her peak shortly after.

"Ugh… I lost…"

For Sei, who still considered herself a man inside, this was humiliating.

"It felt good, didn't it?"

Mako smiled with beads of sweat glistening.

That innocent face made Sei's arousal surge again.

"Round two."

Sei declared, pressing down heavily onto Mako.

"Eh, more?"

Mako's hands reached out to touch, but Sei had also gained experience.

Whether Mako intended to let Sei have her way this time or not, she didn't resist.

In something close to a forfeit victory, the second round went to Sei.

The next day was mostly sightseeing.

They gazed at the lake whose far shore couldn't be seen, and did ordinary shopping.

Most importantly, they purchased large quantities of food that Mako needed.

"Oh, a fellow Halfling."

Spotting a Halfling street vendor, Kukuri rushed over.

The two exchanged greetings and began chatting about various things.

"I'll go gather information at the Guild."

At Chaos's words, Gantz followed along.

They probably hadn't been considerate enough to do it intentionally, but the two of them ended up alone.

"Let's walk a bit."

Taking the initiative, Mako grasped Sei's hand.

It was a date. Between two people of the same sex, in another world of all places, but this was unmistakably a date.

It mostly turned into eating while walking, but it was still a date.

Craia was a beautiful city.

Buildings made of white stone dominated the landscape, and cleaning was thoroughly maintained.

Looking into the alleys, there were no vagrants or refuse to be seen.

Whoever governed this city clearly possessed considerable ability.

If not for the bandits they had encountered on the way, this would truly be a fine country.

Returning to the inn, the five exchanged the information they had gathered.

Combining Kukuri's and Chaos's information, the Principality of Craia itself could be called a good nation.

The problem lay with the surrounding countries - many of the bandits were refugees from those nations.

Currently, Craia was leading efforts toward peace negotiations.

If successful, the increase in banditry would stop, and refugees might be able to return to their homelands.

"It all depends on this country's king."

Kukuri said this nonchalantly.

The next day, the Archduke's carriage stopped in front of the inn.

The envoy who came to greet them was surprised by Sei's youth, but maintained a courteous demeanor.

Only Sei was scheduled to meet with the Archduke this time. Though Mako would accompany as an attendant.

"Where will the meeting with His Excellency the Archduke take place?"

Sei confirmed. If it was the audience chamber, some mental preparation would be needed.

"Since I understand you are not specifically an envoy from Ogress, a reception room has been prepared."

Though somewhat relieved by these words, Sei noticed a critical fact upon checking the Map.

"Mako, we have a problem."

At Sei's whispered words, Mako tilted her head and leaned in closer.

"There's a Hero here. Right next to the king."

Mako's complexion changed instantly.

"Who?"

"Sakamoto Ryota. His Gift is 'Seal.'"

Seal. A considerably powerful Gift.

It could seal part of a target's body or one of their skills. For example, sealing someone's breathing would cause them to suffocate.

As the level increased, so did the number of targets and the parts that could be sealed. At maximum, it could seal up to ten people.

And now, this boy's level had reached 10.

"That's troublesome…"

Even among the Gifts Ria and Carla had evaluated, this was one that would be extremely difficult to face as an enemy.

If magic was sealed, magic couldn't be used. If an arm was sealed, a blade couldn't be swung. If legs were sealed, escape was impossible.

Though it had apparently never been tested, if blood flow could be sealed, enemies could be incapacitated one after another.

Simply eliminating him would be easy. Using high-speed magic from long range to kill or knock him unconscious before he could recognize them.

Fortunately, according to Mako's knowledge, Gifts themselves couldn't be sealed. It also required being within a fairly close distance and recognizing the target. A brief moment of mental concentration was also needed, which was why it always lost to Time Stop.

What Sei found problematic now was that murder appeared in Sakamoto's criminal record.

After crossing the castle gate, the two dismounted. They surrendered their weapons upon entering the castle proper.

Every corridor they passed through was refined. Not ostentatious, but elegant.

Mako had intended to wait elsewhere, but they said a knight serving as an attendant was acceptable.

The escorting knight knocked on the door and announced their arrival. A response came immediately, and the knight opened the door.

(Now then, will it be ogres or serpents?)

With unprecedented tension, Sei stepped into the room.