Chapter 215

Chapter 215 - Tollgate Mountains (1)

A mountainous region occupying one axis of the eastern part of Roman. Since ancient times, Dwarves have settled and lived there.

It is a strategic point for land trade connecting the three sides: the continent, the peninsula, and the east.

Its official name is the Elysium Mountains, but it was called by its nickname much more often.

"Tollgate Mountains. A headache-inducing name no matter when you hear it."

"Since we completely lost the plains, it can't be helped in order to survive."

Rampage smiled bitterly.

The Dwarves install large gates on the highways passing through the mountains and collect tolls.

Whether it's a king or noble of another country, there are no exceptions. Because for over a thousand years since the gates were completed, there hasn't been a case of passing through for free.

"Still, it's different from other regions that only swallow money and ignore management. There are almost no travelers who suffer harm from landslides or robbers."

"I heard that if such a person occurs, you even compensate them, is that true?"

"If it's thoroughly investigated and proven not to be a self-fabricated play. The quality and trustworthiness of the highways are the lifeline of the Dwarf kingdom."

The highway quality, which is frequently maintained, is at the highest level on the continent. At regular intervals, waterways are pierced and even pastures are created for packhorses to graze. At night, patrols roam around, so as long as you're near the highway, you can sleep comfortably.

Therefore, people coming and going have no particular complaints despite the quite high tolls. Because it's the neighborhood that gives the best value for money on the continent.

Eugene also admired the level of service transcending the era.

"Things like this are true taxes. Because it's not just filling the nobles' bellies but returning it as public benefit. In a situation without plains, it's also a means to support that population. I think highly of that business acumen."

"Thank you for speaking well of it."

The Dwarves sign various contracts with passing factions. Receiving goods in kind instead of tolls, or having priority in purchasing food in exchange for discounts, etc.

As much as their dependence on imports is high, the supply and demand of grain, livestock, and other consumer goods had to be strictly managed. The mountain pass business is the survival means of the Dwarves who have difficulty with self-sufficiency.

"Enough with admiring other people's businesses here."

Thanks to that, it was difficult for Eugene to find a place to park. Because the Vagrant Castle cannot descend in places where people's souls are present.

"Despite the entire area being mountainous terrain, goodness, why is the floating population this high."

"Because the Elysium Mountains provide many things."

It is a place where the highest quality mines are concentrated even on the continent. Since it's a region where 3 climates meet, it's full of various wild animals and plants, making it a sacred ground for hunting and gathering as well.

The abundant rain poured down by passing clouds blocked by the mountains did not let that abundance dry up.

"Now even this place is in a situation of getting swept up in Roman's civil war."

In just a little bit, the civil war will enter its 3rd year. As the consumption of money and troops worsened, the Emperor's faction and Nobles' faction slowly began reaching out their hands even to regions that advocated neutrality.

The Dwarves, existing on the flanks and rear of the Nobles' faction while also being outstanding warriors, were a force both sides wanted to win over.

"So this was the only remaining place."

The place contained in the landscape painting is the land spread out on the right side of the mountains. A vast and dark wasteland.

People call this place the Black Wasteland. It's a rocky area where it's hard to find even dirt let alone grass, and the proportion of basalt is high, so it's entirely pitch black.

"Beyond the Black Wasteland, a desert where sand-worms appear unfolds. In the great plains beyond that is the city-state alliance, and going further east, the territory of the easterners appears."

A dry, uninhabited abandoned land. It's the perfect location to land the Vagrant Castle.

"Good. Departure is tomorrow."

Nodding his head, Eugene notified through a maid that he would visit the sanctuary.

"Are you going to see the Goddess?"

"I'm going to an unfamiliar land, so there's nothing bad about receiving a blessing, right?"

"As long as I take the lead, there will be no such thing as harm coming to Your Excellency."

"Of course I trust you. But because there are many subordinates who feel reassured just by me worshipping."

When one reaches the level of a Great Lord, religious events are close to mandatory. Because the authority endowed as a deity's proxy further solidifies the specialness and status of the ruler.

And the Vanas religion was strategically introduced to the Vagrant Castle.

It's been a long time since customization according to Eugene's taste was finished. All empty formalities were shaken off, and any ritual is finished within 1 minute.

Vanas, who gets stronger day by day merging and acquiring the powers of other evil gods, has no actual power.

Because she too is an icon and product rebranded by Eugene. And a filial product that sells very well and contributes to the company at that.

* * *

"Welcome, Lord. The Goddess will also rejoice at your visit."

A beautiful tribal priestess welcomed Eugene, bowing her waist politely.

With the Goddess's believers increasing rapidly, there are many subordinates who come to pray ahead of big events. However, the knight before her eyes was always the top VIP.

"The number of people has increased more while I wasn't looking?"

"Because the Goddess always answers faith."

There is an opportunity why Vanas's popularity grew rapidly. That beginning was a knock that rang in the middle of the night in a certain Dark Elf household.

Knock knock.

-...Hmm? Father?

- Father?

When the awakened son and daughter-in-law got up, the father was standing at the threshold. How he looked, having lost a lot of weight recently, was worrisome just to look at.

He was once a great warrior who commanded the continent riding a warhorse, but now he had reached the end of his life.

- I just had a dream.

The father's complexion wasn't bad, but for some reason, he looked completely devoid of vitality.

- A dream of walking into a dark sea, I mean. But the Goddess held my hand and stopped me. Saying I shouldn't leave like this. That she would grant me a brief period of grace.

- ...!

Everyone in the Vagrant Castle knows Vanas's authority.

A short time additionally granted to those facing death. Precious time to share farewell greetings and hugs with loved ones.

They had heard the story that slave traders misused it in an evil way, but it was the first time an inhabitant of the castle received the benefit.

The Blackhand Tribe is a nomadic mercenary group.

There were many times they fought in harsh environments, not abundant like now. There are also many who were forced to retire due to injuries big and small.

Those people inevitably have shorter lifespans than ordinary Fairy folk. Though this is a part that applies to nomadic Fairy folk overall.

It was the same when another old man closed his eyes 4 months later.

- My baby.

- Mother!

- Our precious son. You know Mommy always loves you?

The son, who hurriedly returned after receiving an urgent dispatch during outside activities, was able to share a final conversation for 20 minutes.

Vanas held the believer's soul at the boundary line of death and sleep for the 3 days it took the son to return.

- Thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to share our final greetings.

- This insignificant soul takes refuge in you...

It is natural for those families to become new believers. Whether from a heart of gratitude, or to enjoy the same grace when they face their own deaths in the future.

'Even if it's not a state religion, there's nothing bad about getting along.'

One soul.

Two bodies.

Eugene, who became one with the Vagrant Castle, is the sole existence directly capable of communicating with Vanas enshrined in the Vagrant Castle.

Therefore, the inhabitants also called him by the burdensome title of 'Knight of the Goddess'.

"Oh Goddess. We enter the outskirts of Roman engulfed in war. It is the path my subordinates go to bring their families. Please bless us so that peace and luck may be together on the path ahead of us."

In front of Eugene, who stood up drawing the sign of the cross, is a beautiful yet provocative statue of the Goddess.

Although Eugene doesn't visit often, he can tell that the Goddess statue has changed somewhat.

"Seems she still hasn't been able to give up?"

"Mmm. Because the Goddess is... a chaste person."

The priestess smiled awkwardly.

Ghost stories about moving stone statues exist in any world. However, in this world, it's not simply a ghost story. Because it's a phenomenon that actually happens like gargoyles or golems.

And the Goddess statue before his eyes is even more special. Stripped bare, posing with one leg bent to emphasize curves, and the buttocks and breasts are full but the waist is slender.

Rather than being sculpted with 100% pure faith, it's a figure where a considerable amount of the impurity called capitalism is mixed in.

'Pure iron must have other things mixed in to become steel.'

Eugene viewed it positively, but the Goddess doesn't really like her own lewd appearance.

As her influence on the present world strengthened with the increased believers and offerings, and the acquired divinity of evil gods, she tried to change her pose.

- L-Lord! The Goddess statue! The Goddess statue!

- Calm down. Because it's nothing big. Not a single piece of stone is broken or has fallen off, right? Interesting. It's like living skin.

When the change first occurred, the startled priestesses came to Eugene as a group.

However, a god is the master and slave of believers. The basic pose of Vanas is already imprinted in the brains of numerous people.

The first impression or stereotype sunk into the deep consciousness of believers is something even a god cannot touch.

Even if Vanas changed her pose, the faith and unconsciousness sent by the believers forcefully corrected it to its original appearance.

'Is this pose the result of the will to close the legs and the will to open them clashing?'

The knees, twitching as if holding back urine, are thoroughly pitiful.

The more believers increase, the stronger the image becomes, so it will become even harder to fix. It seems she wants to somehow correct it before then, but well?

She is a Goddess who is sorrowful in many ways.

"Still, to the point of moving your avatar, the storehouse of your authority must have become abundant."

Eugene placed the flowers he brought in his embrace upon Vanas's foot and offered a kiss.

Beneath her sculpted skin, instead of flesh and blood, other things are filled.

Divine power.

Joy regarding offerings.

Shame.

Pride.

Frustration.

If it wasn't an illusion, it seemed like the tips of the toes sculpted from stone wriggled for an instant. As if representing her sorrow.

Probably if it's that much, it will be fine. Would the believers even care about the extent of toes being moved?

* * *

The next day, from Britannia, a giant lightning bolt soared into the sky.

"H-Has he gone?"

"It's early to be relieved. Who knows when he'll suddenly return!"

Those who committed corruption but avoided punishment due to the scale being small and luck following.

Action captains who suddenly became captains as the higher-ranking executives were swept away.

Those caught but pardoned through judicial deals via snitching.

It took quite a long time for those living in the shadows to loosen their stiff bodies even though Eugene left.

That he could appear together with the army at any time and conduct surprise inspections. Because they clearly saw what a terrifying disaster this was.

- Pray. If you die having committed sins without atoning, you will fall into hell!

Even though they snorted even at the afterlife the priests frightened them with, they were sincerely afraid only of the lightning strike that might fall at any time.

With that fear as a propellant, the Vagrant Castle, via the plane world, descended on the eastern part of Roman.

Buuuuung!

A fierce storm blowing was the same as usual, but this time neither dirt and sand, leaves, nor snow fluttered.

Gureureureung.

When the main gate of the Vagrant Castle opened, the people in the lobby only smelled the scent of dry rocks.

"It's somewhat scary. The shadow and the ground cannot be distinguished."

"Can't raise horses in a place like this."

Even Samur's desert reflected sunlight during the day, giving its own sense of relief. However, looking anywhere here, it's only dark rocks.

Basalt creates many cracks. With hills or cliffs soaring like sharp blades, it looked even more threatening.

Even the children who were lively in the Snow Country or the jungle shrunk back held in the embraces of their older sisters or mothers.

"It's the smell of rocky mountains."

"We've finally returned."

However, the Dwarves' eyes welled with tears at the part of their hometown that remained exactly the same no matter when they saw it.

"In the Dwarf kingdom, exile is handed down instead of the death penalty to those who committed great sins."

"You mean to that Black Wasteland?"

"That is so."

Rampage shook his head left and right looking at the pitch-black earth.

"I know of no one who survived. Because there has never been a time the names of those exiled were heard in other regions afterwards."

"If we visit from this direction, it will be another uproar."

"You should get used to it by now."

Unlike Eugene who looked troubled, the subordinates had a reaction seemingly enjoying it.

* * *

For all guard posts, there is what is commonly called a cushy job.

The Dwarf guards guarding the gates are famous for their strict military discipline, but the single exception is the east. Everyone approached the Black Wasteland direction with the feeling of going to rest.

Because there is no army that can invade passing through the desert where sand-worms appear and the basalt wasteland.

Here, let alone a gate, a formal fence and a single guard post similar to an observatory are all there is.

"What?!"

"Emergency! Emergeeency!"

"It's monsters!"

Therefore, discovering creatures they had never seen in their lives over the hill, they were startled.

Bigger than a wild boar, covered wholly in solid scales, at a glance it's not a common bastard. They aren't 1 or 2, but dozens flocking together and approaching straight towards them.

A Dwarf dozing with his feet up on the table fell over as he was, and those playing cards also hurriedly picked up their weapons.

"Wait! Wait! Aren't those the Hammer guys?"

"???"

The Dwarves of the mountains discovered compatriots riding on top of the creatures they considered monsters.

The sight of them looking down solemnly with their arms crossed majestically is exactly the same for everyone as if they had done close-order drill practice.

The army stopped at a certain distance, and 3 Dwarves among them approached the guard post riding those monsters.

"I am the Hammer Brotherhood's thousand-man commander Rampage. As Lord Mayer's guide and one born in the mountains, I request passage."

"No! Just how on earth did you come from there? And what on earth are you riding?"

No one can cross from the east.

Dwarves are infantry until they die.

The guards of the mountains couldn't come to their senses at the sight of their two eternal common senses being broken simultaneously.