Ch.9292. Venice (1)

Venice. This free city, particularly large even within the Holy Empire, is in fact a port city closer in scale to a city-state than a mere free city.

No matter how you look at it, the nations of this world remind one of countries from a past life, but Venice is a city where the ‘special’ relationship between Earth and this world is particularly evident in its very name.

To briefly summarize this city called Venice….. it might best be described as a ‘city of money worshippers.’

As a free city under the Emperor enjoying broad autonomy, Venice is among the most powerful of the Holy Empire’s numerous free cities.

It implements trade policies that are not merely innovative but revolutionary for this era, with tariffs approaching zero, and the various policies enacted by the city council are, in many ways, the most faithful to capitalist values.

Additionally, because Venice happens to be located at the point where sea currents flowing from the Western Continent toward the Southern and Eastern Continents converge, it rapidly became the hub of maritime trade between the different continents.

Naturally, Venice amassed enormous wealth through this process, and its citizens devoted themselves to using this wealth for their protection.

They employed the entire Reislaufer Regiment, a mercenary group famous for their halberd formations and discipline, for city defense, while also cultivating a navy of unbelievable scale for a mere free city, monopolizing 30% of the Holy Empire’s naval power.

With so much money at their disposal, frequent training has resulted in high proficiency with gunpowder weapons among the city’s military forces. Venice’s military power is at least sufficient to protect itself.

Of course, the impact of this capitalist development wasn’t limited to military power alone.

The most representative example is Venice’s International Financial Exchange. All manner of financial transactions take place at this largest financial institution in the Western Continent.

From trading stocks in specific trading companies to futures trading through raw materials or stocks, and even maritime insurance, long-distance trade, and investment in exploration—all these transactions typically occur here.

In particular, the futures trading of grain (mainly wheat) that takes place here influences the economy of the entire Western Continent, and the fact that the ‘ducat’—the currency second only to Rothschild’s gold coins—is issued in Venice speaks volumes, doesn’t it?

And upon arriving in such a city, we…..

“……..This one is definitely a necromancer! Yes, we’ll take care of it ourselves. Druid, we sincerely thank you for eradicating this evil.”

“Not at all, Priest. I merely did what any human ought to do.”

First, we began our business in Venice by handing over this necromancer to the temple of Chronima, the war god.

“Druid, if anything happens in this city, please seek us out! We’ll help you however we can!”

“Thank you, Priest. I’ll continue to diligently exterminate any cultists I see!”

“Yes, please burn many cultists!”

Despite the brutal content of our conversation, the priest’s offer of assistance was truly appreciated, so I bowed my head in gratitude before stepping back to rejoin my companions.

“Wow…..”

That is to say, I rejoined Sophia, who was marveling at the prosperous scenery of Venice.

Like the real-world Venice, this city has rows of buildings standing over water, with most roads replaced by canals. While beautiful from an aesthetic perspective….

For druids like us, it was also fascinating to feel the intense maritime mystique emanating from such a city.

It’s not for nothing that it’s called grandiose names like the “City of Water” or the “Queen of Cities.” The “mystery of water” felt throughout the city was truly one of the elements that captivated me.

Instead of roads for carriages, the city is filled with waterways for boats and arched bridges.

Magic applied throughout the canals purifies the water, making the water quality surprisingly clean.

Additionally, the clothing of citizens passing through the city mostly gives off an impression of being expensive, and even considering that the Empire is a multi-racial nation, the proportion of non-human races was quite high.

The most prominent are the fish-people called Sahakin, followed by what appear to be elven sailors.

The elves, who occupy the hat—I mean, the England position of this world, are veterans when it comes to intercontinental navigation, so their presence isn’t strange. What I found unexpected was that the Sahakin were wearing clothes and occupying the position of the city’s laborers.

Sahakin. This race, aptly described as “fish people,” is amphibious but has primarily evolved for marine environments.

They’re more accustomed to gill breathing than lung breathing. Their limbs, covered in fish scales, have webbed appendages.

At the back of their bodies, where the neck and head are indistinguishable, fins replace hair. A tail fin protrudes between their legs.

Their prominently bulging eyes make their faces look like fish with characteristics of both frogs and lizards. Their wide-open mouths are filled with sharp, densely packed teeth that appear threatening.

Thus, the Sahakin, essentially fish with limbs, might have superior physical abilities but aren’t a race accustomed to life on land, yet here they are, openly active above water?

‘……..Am I behind the times?’

The sight before my eyes was enough to make me wonder such things, truly giving me a novel shock…..

“Dru…id sir?”

“……..?”

At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind me—presumably addressing me—and I turned my head to identify its owner……

“….Knight of Faith?”

“Yes, it’s me! Druid, it’s been a while!”

There stood Dorthea, the Knight of Faith of Chronima the war god, whom I had encountered during the battle with the outer god.

“(Is that the knight from before…?)”

“Hmm, is this… a companion of yours, Druid?”

“Yes. The oracle is ‘Sophia.’ She’s Gregory’s only human companion.”

“Ah, Lady Sophia. Come to think of it… you were the one supporting us from the rear during that battle!”

As the two, who had never directly met during the battle against the outer god’s army, conversed, I sensed something through my wild intuition and was about to speak up when……

“Druid, Lady Sophia. What brings you to Venice?”

That thought cleanly disappeared as the conversing pair turned their attention toward me.

“Ah, we came to hand over a necromancer we captured to Chronima’s temple. A vicious one who commanded an undead army of over a thousand.”

“I see! Indeed, such creatures shouldn’t be given an easy death!”

Knight Dorthea, full of fighting spirit and showing no trace of her previous gloomy demeanor, addressed me enthusiastically with sparkling eyes.

I suspect that her previous demeanor was due to the casualties in that situation, and this energetic attitude is likely her true nature.

As I pondered this, a question suddenly occurred to me.

“Lady Dorthea. Forgive me if this is presumptuous, but… was the previous incident resolved well?”

“Yes, thanks to you, our brothers and sisters could rest in peace. The village that requested help has also returned to normal.”

“That’s… truly fortunate.”

As someone who dislikes bitter endings, this outcome was genuinely pleasing to me, so along with those sincere words… I voiced something that suddenly came to mind.

“But Lady Dorthea, your presence in this port city… are you perhaps planning to leave the Western Continent?”

“Yes, that’s right. Our temple of Chronima the war god departs around this time for a crusade to the Desert of Death, leading new priests.”

“……..Desert of Death.”

“Wouldn’t the Desert of Death be too dangerous for newcomers?”

While Sophia murmured the name and fell into thought, I naturally steered the conversation.

Of course, Dorthea, being somewhat insensitive to emotions, didn’t notice this and simply answered my question.

“We typically patrol the outskirts of the otherworld, focusing on exterminating undead. The level of undead that appear is low, and moreover, with plenty of intermediate priests leading, there’s no need to worry about the undead.”

As Dorthea confidently continued her explanation with a smile, I felt that Sophia and I were thinking the same thing, even though we weren’t facing each other.

This was it. This was the butterfly effect of our atonement.

“Lady Dorthea. Actually, we also need to visit the Desert of Death. So I was wondering……”

Thus convinced, I carefully requested to accompany them…..

“If that’s the case… we have no objections. After coordinating with our War Temple, we could arrange for you to accompany us in the form of a designated request for adventurers, which shouldn’t be a problem.”

The response was quite positive.