Chapter 80 – Frighteningly Clever Hag
“I am Ling. According to that introduction, you sound like a promising customer. We’re glad to have you.”
“Uh, yes.”
The old woman sat down in front of her. Menew had gotten up when she entered, but he also sat back down.
She really was white. Hair and skin. And covered in wrinkles.
“You must already know, but that fool of a king has started a war. And so we can never have too much medicine.”
She said while exhaling smoke. Did she just call the king of this country a fool?
“Don’t you underestimate our security, and measures against eavesdropping. I didn’t survive this long by accident.”
Apparently, she had seen the suspicion on his face.
“By the way. You have lost your memory, eh? When I came in, did you not think it strange that I could live for so long?”
She said as inhaled from her pipe.
Indeed. He had never seen a woman as old as her in this world. Older women seemed to be fewer in general. He thought about how both Ralph and Totto had lost their mothers.
“Do you mean… Women have shorter lifespans?”
“Well, in a way. We are often born with weaker bodies. And if you happen to become a mother… Thankfully, I have never bothered with that.”
While Menew had met female Adventurers, they were all on the young side. Definitely, there were no older women.
“And it is Magikargia that is doing research in order to do something about it. Only a fool would declare war on a country that is conducting research that would affect the world’s fate. And all because of a famine, that they could prepare for twice over.”
And so Menew asked Ling for more details about the war.
In exchange, he offered some of the dryad flowers that they had left.
Such materials for medicine were very expensive, and so Ling agreed happily. And then tea was brought out. It seemed like it would be a long story.
“First, the war was declared one week ago. Our country…Nadia, to the magic country of Magikargia. Of course, they did nothing wrong. But our country is a large one. We are the food storage house of the world. And so the other countries will not go against it.”
“And so have things already…”
“Ah, the fighting has begun. However, we do not have magicians worth anything. After all, most Adventurers do not have countries. They see that Magikargia is in the right, and they have gone over to that side.”
Ling said as she sipped the tea leisurely. Menew was deep in thought.
“And so does Magikargia have food…?”
You could not fight without food. You could not live.
If Nadia controlled their food, then surely they could not just make up for it with their own produce.
“Aye. You would expect that. For things to get bad.”
Ling took out a map and spread it out on the table. This was Menwe’s first time seeing a world map here, and so he looked at it carefully, so that he could duplicate it later.
“Here, the golden city of El Drado. An island nation that is self-sufficient. And they make profits with their exports as well. Not only is Magikargia a good customer, but they would want to offer help, in order to benefit from the magic research related to healing and enchantments.”
“…”
Menew considered this.
Enchants and transferring magic energy… It was no wonder Ralph had been mad. It was very advanced.
Well, Menew could only ‘do it.’ It was not some technique he understood.
So it was best to keep it a secret. As for Menew, he now wanted Magikargia to win.
“Nadia has no shortage of food or people. They will advance with their superior soldiers, in superior numbers. It is so ridiculous.”
Ling snorted with a bitter expression.
“If this continues, it will be difficult to support the increasing population. Our foolish leaders will just push their failures onto other countries.”
“You don’t mean they want to use the war to lower the population?”
“Thankfully, I think they are too foolish to think of that.”
Though, it was still worrying.
Being inept could be worse than being cruel. Especially if you were the leader of a country.
“No, they just want what they see as free land.”
“But then…it will just repeat itself.”
“Well, they seem to have thought of that, at least. They intend to make them use their magic research to improve the yields of crops. It does not sound like a very good idea to me.”
It was like that saying about counting your chickens before they hatch.
“In any case, that is how things are. The people here are not happy about it. But they have no choice but to cooperate. But it’s different for those who aren’t residents here… For travelers.”
Ling said with a grin.
Menew had a bad feeling, but it was too late. He had been in the palm of her hand before he even arrived.
“Is this not time for him to appear? The Mysterious Mask Z.”
Menew held his head and sighed.
Thanks!