The fertile Busen Plain, for a large part, directly belongs to Grand Duke Philip's territory, with another part near the edge of the Greenland Great Forest owned by two nobles who are very close to the Duke.
This land consistently provides the Duke and his close friends with a generous income every year, through food, wineries, and some logging yards. It has become one of the most important regions in the Homer area.
Komer and his companions, traveling along the relatively smooth avenue, passed the uneventful landscape for three days and finally crossed the Busen Plain, entering the outskirts of the vast Greenland Great Forest.
As soon as they reached the edge of the forest, almost everyone could feel the environment changing, as if even the climate had turned somewhat cooler.
In the distance, the unending darkness of the forest stretched on and on, the shrubs near the road gradually gave way to towering old trees. This seemed like a paradise for plants, with iron oaks, firs, spruces, cedars, and other tall trees reaching skyward. At their feet, a diverse array of unnamed bushes and vine plants densely intertwined, filling every gap between the trees.
This area barely saw any logging yards; nobody would choose to log in such a densely canopied primal forest. It's far too dangerous here, not because of the fierce wild animals that might inflict harm, but because these unexplored forests are often the kind where otherworldly Magical Beasts might dwell.
Through the years, there haven't been many rumors about Magical Beasts attacking travelers or caravans in this region. But it's a concrete fact that traces of Magical Beasts are intermittently discovered in this vast forest, especially in recent years.
Ever since Magical Beasts appeared, they have always been a nightmare for the common people living on the Blue Continent. It is said that, five hundred years ago, there were no Magical Beasts on the Blue Continent. Magical Beasts only existed in legends and could truly only be found on the vast Continent. This was clearly recorded in the histories of various races on the Blue Continent.
For unknown reasons, Magical Beasts that originally lived only on the vast Continent started appearing on the Blue Continent gradually starting five hundred years ago, and the trend was increasing.
These species from another continent quickly began to wreak havoc on the Blue Continent, displaying their formidable prowess with their special abilities. They continuously attacked ordinary citizens in forests, rivers, lakes, swamps, woods, and even oceans. No matter whether Mortals, Beastmen, Half-Beastmen, Barbarians, Elves, Dwarves, or other races, all were targets of their attacks, with Mortals, in particular, suffering the heaviest losses.
The lack of effective restraints and natural predators allowed them to become one of the most feared entities on the Blue Continent, to the point that no one sought to understand why they were appearing on the Blue Continent.
Fortunately, with the rise of the Church of Light, they took up the battle standard against the Magical Beast attacks. Priests, Mages, and Knighst of the Church who excelled in magic fully embodied the devotion, charity, bravery, mutual aid, and perseverance preached in their teachings. In the struggle against the incursions of Magical Beasts, one could always see members of the Church present.
This earned the Church of Light an extremely high reputation among the common folk everywhere, and the Church of Light began to occupy a place on the Blue Continent, which was multifaceted in its worship. It continued to expand its influence, gradually securing the undisputed leading faith among the most numerous Mortals.
However, to give credit where it's due, the Church of Light did indeed expend a lot in the battle to eliminate Magical Beasts over three hundred years ago. Countless Mages, Priests, Knights, and other clergy sacrificed themselves in this fight. While they didn't manage to completely eradicate Magical Beasts from the Blue Continent, they significantly curbed the rampant spread of these creatures.
Moreover, perhaps the Magical Beasts had also gradually adapted to the environment and climate of the Blue Continent. Their temperaments had evolved as well, with many species becoming less aggressive and their range of activity significantly reduced. Now, they lived more in the secluded forests and mountain woods.
This also meant that the threat Magical Beasts posed to common people had reached an unprecedented low point. In fact, many Small Warcraft had even become domesticated creatures for those with special abilities. It was at this point that the fierce war to defend human existence finally came to a close, and by then, the Church of Light, having earned enormous reputation among Mortals, had deservedly become the premier choice for worship.
As for why the Magical Beasts migrated from the vast Continent where they had always lived to the Blue Continent, the reason remained undiscovered. Given the mystery and danger of the vast Continent, few were willing to risk their lives to seek out this reason. After all, with the threat of the Magical Beasts largely neutralized, and with most adventurers who had ventured there over the centuries failing to return, it posed too much of a risk.
Of course, there were a few lucky ones who managed to return alive. They brought back immense wealth and became, over the centuries, a magnet for adventurers and desperate individuals from the Blue Continent seeking fortune against all odds.
"Is that the Greenland Great Forest up ahead?" Puber, who had not been participating in the conversation with Komer and others, gazed with a special intensity towards the vast, untamed forest stretching endlessly before them.
"Yes, it extends two hundred li from north to south, and a thousand li from east to west. It really is a natural barrier, separating the Leon Region and the Fertile Busen Plain. This thick barrier, coupled with the Nissai River, serves as a boundary line dividing the two areas into different worlds—one becomes the famous granary of The Kingdom of Nicosia, and the other a notorious slum, a breeding ground for riots. The contrast is just too stark," said Komer with a touch of emotion, which affected the others too.
Komer's tone, tinged with feeling, impacted everyone present. The Leon Region was so impoverished, while the Busen Plain was so rich and thriving; but who remembered those living at the bottom of the Leon Region?
"Your baron, I've noticed you have a compassion that others lack. There's so much disparity in the world, and our Church of Light is eager to strive to eliminate these inequalities. It's just a pity that Grand Duke Philip holds deep prejudices against our Church. Otherwise, I believe the Church of Light would be very willing to make a difference in your territory," said the lead knight, who was also slightly older. He nudged his horse gently to keep pace with Komer.
"Ha, I have long heard of the good deeds of the Church of Light, but unfortunately, I am still a lord who has not yet taken office. I don't even fully understand the situation in my own territory, otherwise I too would hope to improve the lives of my citizens," Komer replied with a slight nod, acknowledging the other's kindness. However, deep inside he didn't like the Church of Light—it wasn't just that one encounter, but rather an inexplicable hostility that emanated from the depths of his heart, perplexing him.
"Embracing light and goodness is never too late, especially in uncivilized places like the Caucasus region, where people are likely in greater need of spiritual sustenance and support. I believe, Your Baron, once you take over the Caucasus region, you'll definitely feel this need. If you require assistance in this regard, our Church of Light is willing to work hard to allow the holy blessings of the God of Light to bathe every corner of the world."
Although he knew the other was still under the watch of his Knights regiment, the habit of preaching had him promoting his faith at every opportunity.
Despite Komer's feelings about the Church, he couldn't help but admire the knights' dedication and professionalism. No matter the situation, they always found opportunities to promote and spread their beliefs, even if it sometimes seemed inappropriate. Yet the persistent shadow that had formed in Komer's heart made it difficult for him to accept their good intentions.
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