Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 214

Infiltration, Divine Empire Sydnia

We started our covert infiltration into Divine Empire Sydnia as the Trination begins their march towards Triaria Kingdom.

We stealthily crossed the border through Lomaria Kingdom until we reached Sydnia.

During our walk in the main road leading to the capital, the scenery that reflected in Sophia’s eyes made her mutter.

「……how dreadful.」
「We haven’t passed by anyone.」
「There are no people nya.」

Even Akane and Lulu-chan were surprised by the desolation in Divine Empire Sydnia now that they’ve come back after a long while.

This time, we’re infiltrating Sydnia with all members except Marnie and Laeva[1].
Lulu-chan had already been released from slavery, but she’s wearing a dummy slave collar just in case. As for Sophia, I allowed her to participate in disguise using an illusionary magic device in addition to her usual perception inhibiting overcoat.

From the national border to the capital, it wouldn’t take more than 5 days with Tsubaki pulling her carriage, but Tsubaki is clearly too conspicuous, so we thought we’d move by escorting a carriage when we’re in public view. However, after walking for a day from the border, we didn’t encounter a single carriage, much less a person.
I considered stopping by a village, but since I didn’t want us to leave footprints as much as we could, we erased our presence and did some reconnaissance.

「Are they alright? Normally, wouldn’t people who are distressed by their situation become refugees and head to other countries?」
「H~mm, that would be difficult nya.」

Feeble-looking villagers were in barren fields. You could tell they were malnourished at a glance.
Lulu-chan shook her head when I asked myself why they wouldn’t run away.

「Sydnia is the country of the Light God Faith nya. They can’t go to a country of the Genesis Faith nya.」

What Lulu-chan was saying was that people who lived a life looking down on Beastkin as subhumans as if it were only natural simply couldn’t live in Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom. Racial discrimination isn’t extreme even in Samandour Kingdom, so if they were to escape, their only choice would be Triaria Kingdom which has similar views. However, even if they escaped to that country, they would only be used as meat shields in times of war.

「The citizens of Sydnia have lived for many generations being taught the doctrines of human supremacy. Even if racial harmony was declared now, it would be difficult for them to accept it. When we were summoned, I was appalled when I found out how they treated Beastkin, but they tainted Akira and Yamato.」
「For Sydnia’s people, their sense of values can’t easily be changed so it’s inevitable, but Akira-kun and Yamato-kun were brainwashed a bit too much.」

A deeply ingrained sense of values can’t readily be changed. That’s the same even in my old world. People want to prop themselves in a higher position at any cost.

「I heard talks within the village that tax rose abruptly recently. Young people were conscripted and everyone is barely living by.」
「There were many that sold their children, right?」
「Yeah, they even offered to handle it if I wanted to sell myself. I gave them a bit of money and some food as thanks for answering my questions, but that’s just a temporary solution.」

The village chief said that Divine Empire Sydnia was troubled by poverty, villages and towns were not only taxed heavily but also extorted of alms by the Light God Church, regardless of the community’s size.

“Don’t run away to Lomaria even if you’re in trouble.”
“Don’t go to a country that’s on good terms with subhumans.”

Such feelings grew stronger the older the citizens were.

「Even so, there were no Beastkin slaves in the village.」
「That’s weird nya. There should have been one or two Beastkin slaves no matter how small the village is nya.」
「……I didn’t want to consider it, but they might have been requisitioned to be used as guinea pigs.」

When I said this, everyone recalled the most recent war and agreed.
I recalled the immortal soldiers army of Divine Empire Sydnia. The likelihood of the country buying that drug from the dark guild and testing it out on living people was high. Then the Beastkin slaves, who weren’t treated as people, became test subjects and were used for all sorts of experiments.

We travelled in Tsubaki’s carriage when we were at inconspicuous places and walked when we were close to towns and villages as we made our way to the capital.
When we were in a slightly larger town, we got rooms in the inn. We’ve teleported back to the mansion in the Sanctuary for a number of nights, but I decided to gather information in the larger town this time.
However, Akane said she wants to return to the Sanctuary mansion as soon as I entered the room.

「The town stinks. This is just too much.」
「Akane-sama, even the capital was like this………」

In towns with a large population, the smell of fecal matter was horrendous, and even Valkyra Kingdom was also like this until a little while back. Was it because Akane and Lulu-chan had gotten used to life when the Purifier MD and Toilet MD had been thoroughly popularized? They seemed to be unable to endure this smell anymore.

「No choice then. We’ll be back early tomorrow morning.」

When I said so, not only Akane, but everyone looked delighted.

Is it that once you get used to living cleanly, an excretion-covered town like those in the middle ages becomes unbearable? I hated it too.

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Footnotes:
1. Extra information: LN says the Beastkin would really be too conspicuous.[↩]
2. Now that I know that Akane is a fuwafuwa maniac lover, I wonder just how much more appalled she was at Sydnia’s discriminatory acts towards her dear fluffies while she was there?