Are You Going to Break off the Engagement and Expel Me at the Same Time? ~I’m an Alchemist Who’s End

Chapter 13: Too Hard Now

“It’s easy for our lives to change just because the seasons change so quickly.”

“That’s true. Humans and animals are largely dependent on their environment. No matter how much we evolve, if the environment changes drastically, it’s over…”

“You just said that, even now, didn’t you? So the four seasons are still changing.”

“Yes, they change every month. Nothing has changed about that.”

Thomas sighs as he speaks.

It’s understandable to want to say, “Good grief.”

Regardless of the circumstances, the territory you’re supposed to be protecting… is the worst. If it’s not him, I’m sure I’ll complain and run away.

I won’t, because he is a strong man.

“But if it hasn’t changed, you’ve been here a long time, and the previous Lords left you information! It’s easier to plan countermeasures, isn’t it?”

“… It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“The only thing that hasn’t changed is the cycle.”

What does he mean?

Thomas opens the second book and shows me a page in the back.

Only the text on this page is written in an unusually rough and sharp style.

Looking at the content, you can understand why it turned out that way.

“About the war…”

“Yes. The greatest war in the history of mankind, three hundred years ago. You know that, don’t you, Amelia?”

“Yes, I learned about it.”

Nowadays there’s no one who doesn’t know about it, no matter where you were born.

Three hundred years ago, the world was a wild, uncivilized place.

Nations fought each other for territory and land, two nations at first, then influence spread and wars broke out in all corners of the world.

If they do not fight, they will be destroyed.

That is the reason they had to fight, that is the excuse many people have made throughout history.

No mistake.

In fact, it’s probably true.

But…

“There are people who were involved in these battles without being connected to them. One of them is the people who lived in this land at that time.”

That’s what the diary said.

Gradually they got used to the harsh conditions and began to build a life for themselves.

The Village had become a Town and was about to become a City.

But then a tragedy occurred.

They were drawn into the war that was spreading all over the world.

This land that belonged to no country and had nothing to do with anyone became a battlefield.

“It’s really bad, isn’t it? So much blood was shed, so much involuntary bloodshed. Using magic, they manipulated the weather and the terrain and made a mess of everything. This made the already harsh environment even harsher.”

At that time, each nation had its own wizards.

The decisive factor in war is not the number of wizards, but the quality of the wizards and the strength of their magical weapons.

The Kingdom to which we now belonged was the dominant one.

As a result, the Kingdom won the war and this area became one of the territories controlled by the Kingdom.

However, the administration is only nominal and no special support is given.

The land was considered dead during the war and was neglected for a long time after the war.

“It is still largely neglected today. We keep asking for help, but they don’t listen to us. I guess the kingdom doesn’t care what happens to us.”

“Well… they got us into this mess, and now they’re making it bigger.”

That’s irresponsible.

The Kingdom then and now.

The more I learn, the more dissatisfied I become with the Kingdom.

“I worked for such a country…”

I am ashamed of my ignorance.

That is what I am thinking.

I want to get back all the time and effort I put in.

I wish I could spend it all on Thomas and this territory.

“You don’t have to look like that, Amelia. You’ve done your job. And I’m sure there are a lot of people who would have been saved if you hadn’t. It’s not everyone’s fault.”

“I know, but … I don’t like it.”

“It’s enough that you’re angry. Don’t you dare complain to me, okay?”.

“Ugh, I can’t be that bold.”

But I thought about it for a while.

The more I think about it, the more I want to complain.

It’s best not to think about it at all.

“Back to the point, the war has made the environment worse. The cycles have remained the same, but the weather has become much more volatile.”

“That’s the thing, instability…. It doesn’t look like it.”

Yesterday and the day before it was sunny and mild.

The fresh air in the wilderness is delicious, and today there was a pleasant breeze.

It doesn’t look like it’s a bad place to live.

“The last few days have been pretty good. I think it’s because you’re here.”

“I haven’t done anything yet.”

“I’m kidding. But we’ll see. It’s spring… At this time of year, the winds are often so strong that they bring down buildings.”

“What, the buildings!? Are you sure about that?”

Thomas shakes his head.

No, he says.

According to him, the buildings are protected by a special magic tool bought in the Capital.

Thanks to the distribution of these devices to each house, the buildings are not blown up.

“Wasn’t it very expensive…”

“It was expensive. I had to save a lot of money when I bought all that stuff and I couldn’t eat two meals a day.”

“I don’t think you’re the same nobility.”

“It’s not the same. It’s just a name. But as a noble, I’m responsible for this land. I would do anything for that. Except for crime.”

There is a firm resolve in Thomas’ words.

We must protect the land and the people in a harsh environment.

I need to understand better what that means.

Otherwise, I can’t really see it.

I swallow as I hear his story.