Chapter 1.04　



　Before she knew it, a lot of time had passed.
　In a daze, Reinesia stared at the letter at hand.
　It was a thank you for the intermediary that arrived from the merchant in Tukuba and an introduction to the newly added transport wagon fleet (caravan). Of course, although it was in the guise of an introduction, it was probably a sign of the merchant's lack of talent to explain and lay the groundwork beforehand, as he might rely on them if any trouble arose in Akiba.
　Now Reynesia can see that.
　In this vast land of Yamato, nobles and merchants alike are all struggling to survive. They take up swords and use their wits to protect themselves and the people they shelter. Sometimes they rely on the mercy of those who are more powerful than they are, and sometimes they cooperate with others to get things done.
　That's what this letter to Reinesia from a young, nameless merchant, in the eyes of the lord of the Free Cities Alliance of Eastar, means.
　Perhaps it is politics.
　The letter is the result of the forehead-to-forehead meeting of Reinesia's grandfathers at the Old Court of Eternal Ice. Politics is a succession of activities to build and maintain relationships, according to the words of Fenera's father. The fruit at the end of the great tree is this letter, and likewise the news of Reinesia's engagement.
　The flame-colored light of the evening sun was slowly building up its heat.
　Sitting in a luxurious chair in the darkening office, Reinesia ran her fingertips over a stack of letters arranged in a tray.
　Each one was insignificant, but important communication. There was one from the Clendit family. Since it was coming from that house now, it was probably a birth report. I've already received a letter saying the baby will be born this month. I'll have to find something to celebrate and send it to them. Fortunately, this is Akiba, the city of adventurers. There is no shortage of unusual and useful items.

　I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to find the right one. So when the lights suddenly appeared, she was startled by an unexpectedly loud voice. It was Elyssa with a Western light (lamp).
'Princess......... It's already dark, right?
Elissa...
　Yes, it's Elissa, and a small smile made Reinesia feel a little guilty. She hadn't meant for Elissa to worry, but by the look on her face as she stared at us, Reinesia realized that she wasn't her normal self.
　I pinched my cheeks, but they were cool and stiff.
　This is a mistake because I don't know what kind of expression I usually have on my face.
'You can't do that, sir. Princess. It will only make you red and sore.
I'm not so sure, Elissa.
　Raynesia stroked her cheek with her hands to cover it.
　Fortunately, she didn't feel any cold drops. It was probably just a troubled look on her face. It's not very aristocratic to worry about a maidservant, Raynesia thought.
　Elyssa had a casual but worried expression on her face, as usual.
　Reinesia was somewhat troubled and gave a small smile.
　It was very unusual for her strong-minded girlfriend to shirk her ears as if she was at a loss like this.
''Princess........ Its
'I don't worry about it too much. I knew that this kind of thing would come up sooner or later. I was surprised to learn that you are the head of the Saimiya family.
　So he spoke that thought out ahead of time.
　It was probably just a show of force, but Reinesia wanted to believe that her words would give her the strength to deal with such a situation.
　In the first place, even Reinesia didn't know how to feel about it.
''........''
And if that happens, this time with three meals and a nap!　I think so. The Saimiya family is one of the most prestigious families in Yamato today. Their castle is probably larger than Maihama's. Or is it a temple because of Lord Saimiya? Or is it a temple because he is a Saimiya?
　I've never been west of the old court," she said.
　Raynesia continued, but her words grew less confident as she continued.
　Yes, I've never been west of the Old Court.
　Reinesia had never been farther from the maihama.
　What version of Westlande has a version of the map, of course, Reinesia has that knowledge as an education for the children of the nobility. But if you can actually imagine the scenery of the territory or the city, nothing comes to mind. They are not even familiar with it.
　The words of the people of Leinecia drifted about like a trading vessel on a distant sea, swept away by a wave of anxiety.
　Reinesia wondered why she hadn't felt this anxiety in the past. She never used to feel this kind of anxiety. The children of a nobleman are a cripple. Courtesy, song and dance, chastity, neatness and purity - they have been stuffed with these things, but they have no knowledge of anything else. I knew that I would eventually marry off and go somewhere else, but those things were not at the disposal of Reinesia. On the contrary, he thought there was nothing to be free of in Reinesia. So he hoped that he could spend his time lazily in the faded landscape.
　There was no point in doing anything if the result was the same no matter what I did.
　I had no fear of the future. Whether you know it or not, the result is the same. Whether you're worried about it or not, it doesn't matter. The marriage that was to come, so Reinesia was able to look at it as something else. Reinesia remembers herself in the distance, smiling in the greenhouse. It was a vague memory that, looking back on it now, was not even her own.

'Princess......... Is that a letter from Yunoki-sama?''
Yes. He's going to increase the number of transports (caravans). A letter of greeting to that.
　Elissa suddenly looked at the letter in Elissa's hand to divert the conversation and asked.
'I see. You're moving toward your dream, aren't you?
Really?
　Reynecia questions.
　There had been a merchant named Yunoki once. He was the master of an upstart merchant association based in Tukuba that was somewhat less than dignified than a medium-sized one. He was middle-aged, but lean and slender, with a gaze full of vitality. He was polite, but a little impatient, which I remember as being strangely fitting in this Akiba atmosphere.
'Yes. Yunoki-sama wanted a branch office in Akiba. I'm sure he's going to increase the number of transports, train people, and open a store, even if it's small.
That's a lot of work.
　Raynesia thought for a moment and nodded.
　Elyssa has helped her with most of the tasks that Raynesia has been holding. Not only is she a full-time maid of honor, but the scope of her work is so extensive that it extends into the realm of civilian and internal affairs officials. It would be very difficult to do this at Maihama Castle. A civilian official has his or her own turf, and it's inevitable that there will be a backlash if the civilian official gets involved in the work from the side. It is because of the manpower shortage at the House of Waterfalls, and because Reinesia is the master, who is unfamiliar with diplomacy and business.
　It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're doing. The company's newcomers to Akiba are the only ones who know this.
It's not that Akiba is booming and full of new opportunities, but there are still many people, especially merchants, who are aiming to make a go of it. They must have the courage to throw themselves away to find success in the midst of it.
　And it's not just Elissa and her team of handmaidens, but all the Daichijins.
　It's true that the city of Akiba is full of unimaginable curiosities, new technology, an abundance of goods, and opportunities (opportunities). However, they are like a torrent that swallows up or swallows down our days. It is impossible to keep up with this city with a half-hearted determination.
　New things happen in this city every day. It's a blessing, but on the other hand, it's also a great challenge to keep up with. Reinesia came to this city in the first place when she was dredged up by a flying gryphon.
　Therefore, anyone who tries to find a new position or a new fortune in the city is bound to pay a fair price. It may be a day and night effort, or it may be the courage to make a once-in-a-lifetime gamble, as Elissa says.
　This letter, in a few lines of words, contains that thought.
　It's a very heavy and sacred letter. Raynesia thought so.
　There were dozens of those important letters stacked up on the office desk.
　Every one of them was desperate, every one of them as best as it could be, and every one of them was special.
　It would not be easy for Raynesia to say that she would understand. They are trying to carve out a future for themselves beyond the hardships and trials that the aristocracy of Reynesia can't even imagine.
　She loves naps and cool evenings and snacking, but she still doesn't throw herself away and continues to visit with them, trying to answer their letters and take care of them even though she can't, because she feels it's noble.
　Raynesia thought about that vaguely.

'Princess,'
What?　Elissa.
　The head maidservant of Reynesia's housekeeper made a very gentle noise in the pale moonlight coming through the bay window, as if she hadn't realized how much time had passed without her realizing it.
　Reinesia always listened to the pleasantries, but she had known Elissa for a long time. It was a picture of compassion in Elissa's voice that was a little less memorable than the rest of her voice.
''Elissa is prepared, sir. May the Princess be good.
What do you mean?
Elissa thinks it's time for the princess to do her thing.
My... thing...?
　It was a quiet evening. There was a serenity there, as if one could hear nothing but the sound of rustling treetops somewhere in the wind, and something was still and watchful.
　Elyssa, her gaze downcast, began to speak in a strange tone, as if she were reminiscing about something, singing a distant fairy tale passed down from her ancestors.
'How many times in a lifetime can a man burn his life, I wonder?　It is not only knights who fight. Merchants fight in their trade, craftsmen fight in their craft, hunters, hunters, and singers fight in their own way. The princess's grandfather fought to defend himself in the Council of Lords. --However, it could be said that all of these battles were fought for the purpose of defending themselves, their friends and their land.
　Raynesia didn't understand Elissa's kindness or her words.
　Elyssa, who had been next to her since she was a little girl, was the closest family Reinesia had ever had. As the daughter of a nobleman, an aristocrat who hadn't had the custom of raising children on his own, or maybe even the daughter of the Duke of Cowen's family, she was the one who had been with him longer than his mother, Saraliya.
'How many times in a lifetime does a child born into this world jump into battle of its own volition, determine that this is the meaning of its birth, and summon all its strength? Once?　Twice?　As far as Elissa has seen and heard, there aren't many of them, even among long-lived elves. No, Elissa believes that most of them never get to meet one in their lifetime.
　That's probably true.
　Unlike Ycells, who would take over the Corwin family as a legitimate son, Elissa was only the eldest daughter. Of course, the possibility exists that she could take over the Corwin family's rightful place in the family if she wanted to. But it is a path coated in the blood of their blood brothers and sisters. Raynesia has learned the history of Yamato, too. She knows that some families still continue to exist after repeated dark struggles by their successors. But that is not what Reinesia wants, and she knows that her parents and grandfather did not want her to do so.
　Reinesia's sister, Lyselthea, was the first to surrender as a knight's wife because she saw that. I don't want to understand, but I understand that even Reinesia's appointment here in the city of Akiva is a check on the forces that are trying to carry Reinesia around the Corwin family, and that it is a measure to allow her brother Ycelus to inherit the house.
　And it's not just aristocrats like Raynesia.
　Farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. No, the most famous guild masters of the Adventurers are not free from their own self-imposed mission. They will not be allowed to freely burn their lives for the sake of what they want.
　This is what Reinesia was taught.
　A nobleman who should be the norm for his people, that is the least of his duties.
　That's why Elissa's words are a pipe dream.
'So you can do as you please, Princess.' -- whether that is to marry, to do business, or to bury your bones in this Akiva.... Or is it to fall in love and give birth to a baby, like the love song in The Adventurer, Elissa doesn't know.
Elissa?
　Taken aback, Reinesia looked over at her.
　Elissa, with a calm expression on her face, gives a mischievous wink, along with a dexterous movement of only one ear.
　Why are we talking about that mean youkai (Krusty) here?
　Elissa bowed her head as if she knew everything by heart, taking advantage of an unspoken opportunity to protest.
It's best to do what's best for you after all, Elissa thinks. It's all right," she said. I'm sure Elissa knows exactly what she can do when she's a princess.



Chapter 1.05　



Hi. Good evening. Shiroe-dono.
　That same evening. Shiroe, who is quite a workaholic at this point in her life, visited Karashin, the guild master of the Eighth Shopping Street, after finishing an early dinner and thinking of doing some more work.
　Karashin, wearing his usual white cape and matching hat, walked into Shiroe's office, always looking as if he was smiling.
　Shiroe himself says this room is his study, but the guild members call it his "work room," "reception room," "Gilmouth room," "study room," "Shiroe's room," or "withdrawal room," among other things. I'm happy to compromise and agree that it's the best "office room" in the world. The "office" is Minori's brainchild.

''Thank you. It's unusual for you to come to the guild house. Karashin-san.
I'm kind of giddy about it.
　Karasin, who had been guided by Minori, sat down on the couch with a casual wave of his hand. Karashin was a young man of undaunted nature(tachi), but since he had made up his mind to be prepared in this world, it seemed to lead to a fearlessness.
(Dependable or untouchable...)
　Shiroe, who had been waiting for Karashin to arrive, also took the teacup from the desk and moved directly to the reception set. This was how the two of them often talked to each other in the guild house. Without wasting time in greeting each other, the conversation quickly shifted to recent events.
''I see.... The construction, after all?''
The interior of the Podalgae is a bit hollow, but it's doing well. It's not that bad because I've been neglected by the Maritime Organization. I think it's Shiroe's fault.
　The Podalgae was the fourth ship to be powered by a fire-skulled steam engine (salamander engine).
　Her first experimental ship, the Occupy, was converted into a general-purpose transport and sold to the Eighth Shopping District. The second ship, the Steneau, was designed to be used for combat and transport, while the third, the Euryale, was designed for wide-area exploration and transport, and is already in service. In Shiroe's opinion, they are all transport ships. The main contractor is the Japan Maritime Organization, with technical and financial support from the Roderick Company and the Eighth Shopping Street, but as is customary with Akiba's elaborate and fun-loving engineers, they always come up with new ideas for their ships. In terms of actual operation, the Podalgae was tasked with transporting people between Akiba, Ezzo and Forland.
　As for the Podalgae, I've heard some outlandish ideas about the direction of the Podalgae, but other than the idea of downsizing it, I don't listen to them. This is because when I go out with them, I have endless amounts of profound knowledge.

　It's Shiroe-dono's fault, though.
　Even though I'm having a hard time.
　When Karashin returns his attention to the Podalgae as he continues to speak in an unhurried tone, Shiroe asks, "Did you get the numbers? I ask. It was supposed to be a signal to me to move on to today's topic.
　Karashin, who never learned his lesson, looked exhausted and said, "I want you to thank me...I want something sweet. I want to eat something sweet. I want to eat something sweet... I wish Minori would come and serve us.
　It was no coincidence that Minori happened to come in with a tray of tea on top of it, probably because she had noticed him walking down the corridor. Shiroe watched, weakly, as she thanked Minori with a cheerful face.
'Thank you. You always helped me out, and Taro thanked me too.
''Haha, haha.... I haven't done anything, you know?
'No, no, I was just reporting that to Lord Shiroe that Minori-chan was helping me out!
(Did I ever do that?)
　It's a good idea to have a look at Karashin, but come to think of it, it's probably the only way to be able to lead a business association in Eastar, where there are thousands of nobles from all over the world.
　Karashin smiled and waved at Minori as she left the room after recommending matcha dorayaki (green tea pancakes) as a tea snack, but when she drank the strong tea, she said, "I knew you were a good girl. I wonder if you'd like to come to the Eighth Shopping Street.
''Are you really that short-handed?
''We're a big guild, you know. We're a large guild, but we're a chat guild by nature. Each member does their own thing, whether it's business or adventure. That was fine in the game days (long ago), but now it's the same with the headquarters staff.
Would you like to run out?
The Daichijin help me out a lot, too. But there are some things that only an adventurer can help me with.
I'm sure that's true.
　While he talked, Shiroe silently looked over the materials he received.
　It wasn't much in quantity. One simple table. One graph. And then there are about five report cards containing the testimonies gathered from the interviews.
　It was the cause of what Karasin called 'Shiroe's fault', the result of the work he asked for.
''Huh.... It's not as much as I thought, or as little as I thought it would be.''
If there were more, you'd be upset.
'That's true. But still, about two-thousandths, huh?
I'm so tired!
　It was a report on a phenomenon whispered by some to be called a "log-leave". We have long been aware of a case of "missing persons".

　There are people who have disappeared among the Adventurers.
　In fact, the rumors began to circulate six months after the disaster, if not sooner. Initially, it was thought to be just a coincidence, a rumor that someone had left the group for some reason or another.
　Shiroe became convinced when he lost contact with his friend Oshima, the Adventurer.
　Telekinesis, the most common means of communication for the Adventurer, has been established without a doubt as a function too common for modern people accustomed to cell phones, but there are a few differences. One of them is the display of a list of contacts. As long as they are reachable via telephonic communication, i.e., as long as they are on the same server, the names of their registered contacts are displayed in bright colors. Of course, if you try to make a call, if the other person refuses to accept the call, telephonic communication will not work. But even in that case, you can still check to see if the other person is alive and well. That's the kind of function I'm talking about.
　Shiroe doesn't know much about it, but the number of missing persons in modern Japan must have exceeded tens of thousands a year. Most of them have lost contact with their loved ones and are living in rural areas, hiding their identities, as I remember seeing in a documentary program.
　However, in Seldesia, it is difficult for most of the "adventurers" to hide behind such a cloud. Of course, it would be easier for them to hide themselves if they were completely isolated and didn't have access to a friend list, but in a world that has gone through a catastrophe, such a thing is quite rare.
　In fact, there have been reports of friend lists going dark.
　That was the content of the report handed to him by Karashin.
''If it wasn't for the Eighth Shopping District, I wouldn't have been able to compile this material. I apologize for the trouble I've caused you.
Does Lord Shiroe think you're home?
That's what I'm hoping for, but that's what I'm thinking.
　The number is small.
　The number of cases in the report is thirty-six. Of course, there are probably some misunderstandings and explainable incidents among them. Such as the case of Krusty, who was suddenly transferred to the next server.
He was missing anyway, right? I mean, we know he's not on the next server.
'Yes. In fact, I'm thinking this is more of a 'death'.
So the Odyssey was all right for you.
I've heard of such cases. There are a variety of patterns that happen to disappear suddenly one day, a pattern that doesn't show up in the hall, a pattern that gets separated from the Circle of Fairies and disappears, and a pattern that goes to sleep. And then they disappear in their sleep.
　After carefully separating and tracing the circumstances that could be explained like Krusty's, tracing and asking a dreadful amount of questions, there were still thirty-six people left. There was more variety in the cases than they had thought, but the decisive one was the Pattern of Sleep and Disappearance.
　Shiroe followed the text of the report with her eyes and let out a small breath of relief.
'It's occult, isn't it, when it comes to this?'
Perhaps this 'annihilation' won't happen unless you wish it to.
Why?
The enemy in the Sibuya case told me. I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. |I believe that without our consent, they can't exert that effect. I think so.
　The sleeping "adventurer" was one of the few victims of Sibuya's incident.
　He faded before the eyes of the nursing staff, who were watching him, and disappeared. This is a clear case of "God's Hiding" (Loglieb) occurring under observation.
　Shiroe tried to find a hint of this phenomenon in the words of Tariktan, the Divine Calamity.
　There was no proof, of course. It's not something that can be experimented on, and it would be impossible to report the results of the experiment in the first place.
--The return will be made in exchange for 640 million units.
--Contractors who agree to accept access and choose to remain in a sleep state.
　Did the comatose person "return" to Earth as a result of some payment?
　Is that what Roe 2 calls an empathic child?
　The hesitation he felt at the time refrains in Shiroe's mind. Perhaps if all the Adventurers had followed Tarikutan's words and gone to sleep, they could have left this world. But that was not an option at that point in time. It was impossible for Shiroe to make a bet with no certainty of success or failure, or to abandon the Earthmen and abandon this place.
　I have no regrets.
　It's one thing to have no regrets, but it's another to pursue the mystery of the return.
　Shiroe certainly dared to say in front of Kanami and the rest of her friends that she would make it possible for them to return to Earth, but she knows that going back is a much higher hurdle than just going home. There are also hints for getting home in the Logreave.
"Summoning Taliktan, huh? I've read the report, but is it true?
'I don't completely believe in it either. I have to assume it's true and continue to grope around to find out, otherwise we won't be able to proceed.
　The report from Liese, an executive member of the D.D.D. team, who has an outstanding sense for recording and organizing information, has been submitted to the Round Table. While there are still a number of mysteries to be solved, the major incident that shook Yamato is considered to be tentatively closed.
　However, as with all major incidents, a lot of time is needed to clean up the mess, and it's unclear how far it needs to go to be considered truly over. The city of Akiba has seemingly emerged from the effects of the incident and has returned to its former hustle and bustle, but there are adventurers who are still in the process of cleaning up the mess. You can't say that Shiroe and Karashin's consultations with each other, forehead to forehead, were not affected by the Sibuya incident.
''I can understand. It's like being transferred to an emerging country all by yourself!
Really?
We're all fumbling around, you know. There's no manual.
　That's right, Shiroe nodded.
　The most he agreed with was in response to the part about 'groping and not having a manual', and Shiroe himself didn't really understand Karashin's boilerplate.
　For Shiroe, who lived in a research institute called a graduate school and belonged to the "Debauchery Tea Party", a group of attackers called the "Debauchery Tea Party", groping around without a manual was a state of affairs, and to put it bluntly, a part of him didn't doubt that all work was like that. In other words, the sense is that it's just a "every time, but it can't be helped" phase.
　Of course, in the case of Karashin, there is a certain degree of discretion that new development is like that, and I feel that it's a challenge, so I'm not seriously reluctant to do it. It's just that they have experience in the working world, so they know that "there are more lukewarm manual jobs out there.
"....
....
　They exchanged glances with each other and let out a collective laugh, hahahaha. Each of them asked, "Am I a little off? After thinking about it, they decided to laugh and cover it up. We don't know what each other's thoughts are, but the only thing we agree on is the hope of cheating, and the air is dry.

''Ah, gohonkho, gohonkho.''
　As he regained his composure with a cup of tea, Kalashin seemed to hide the tele with a series of deliberate coughs. At the blundering expression on his face, Shiroe straightened his posture. Although the exchange of information up to this point was important, he didn't think it was enough for Kalashin to visit him if that was all he had to do. Although the matter of the 〈God's Hidden〉(Loglieb) was important, he had received several interim reports by now.
　Based on his past experience, the guildmaster in front of him, who was unflappable in spite of his appearance, should have come to him with one or two more consultations that would burn him if he touched them.
The day after tomorrow we're having our regular 'roundtable' meeting, aren't we?
Yes.
I thought it was time for Mr. Ains to go off the rails.
....
　Shiroe kept his mouth shut.
　It was a matter of concern that had been plaguing Shiroe, and no, the entire , for the past few months. In his own way, and in Karashin's own way as we speak, he had taken steps to deal with the matter, but up until this point, they had never had a separate discussion outside of the meeting. It's not that he was averse to discussing things like root and branch because of his fastidiousness, but it's hard to deny that he still had a bad feeling about the nature of the problem.
"I'm sure Shiroe-dono understands the problem. But isn't that place-- Plant hwyaden's hand is in there, isn't it?　Like, I'd be in trouble if I left it unattended.
　Shiroe, not helped by Karasin's light tone, nodded with a bitter expression.
　It seemed that the problem that needed to be solved was buried underneath his feet before he could get his hands on Shiroe's quest of getting back to the city.




◆ Chapter1.06　



　A white light shining through the three-dimensionality of the room was a huge hall.
　The Six Tilt Princess (Luquinje) looks down on the Round Table in this room. In a broader sense, and in general, the Round Table is known as the name of the organization at the top that protects Akiba's lifestyle. Strictly speaking, however, the Round Table is the name of this room, and the name of the meeting of the guilds that gather in this room. In reality, it is a meeting of the eleven members of the Round Table Declination.
　In that meeting hall, located at the top of the guild hall, a confusing discussion had begun from the beginning.
''It's impossible.''
It's a little difficult.
　Michitaka and Kalashin shouted negatively.
　Shiroe glanced at Ains and saw that his fist was clenched tightly. It trembled in detail, and it showed every bit of inner frustration.
'You'll have to start a new project--irrigation or flood control. I'd like you to give us a reasonable budget for that. That's what Akiba needs right now.
There's no budget for this.
'Why don't we collect them?　Akiba's development has been dizzying. Both the Eighth Shopping District and the Maritime Organization guilds must have huge assets. You don't want to submit from there?　It's a big aspect of the asset oligopoly that's damaging the public morals of the city,
'I hope you don't think the guild is big enough to have money.
　At the moment, the proposal from Ains of the Honesty was being rejected by the Maritime Organization (Michitaka) and the Eighth Shopping Street (Karashin). However, they were not the only ones opposed to it. The atmosphere of the whole meeting was negative, and the two men, as representatives of the negative, were almost opposed to the idea.
'We're poor,'
　Perhaps to soothe the nearly boiling air, Karasin made a gesture of holding back tears in a frightening manner. Marielle chuckled, shaking her green hair, but even that response seemed to put Ains off.
''The Eighth Shopping Street has a new trading post in Maihama, right?　That alone must have cost more than one and a half million gold coins. Most of the adventurers in Akiba had never seen or heard of such a large amount of gold coins. How can you say that they are poor?
　Pursuing with a sharp tongue.
(Ah, but that would be a bad move...)
　Shiroe rubbed his temples to himself.
　It's true that the Eighth Shopping Street has begun operating a trading center, and they may have a generous budget in relative terms. However, directly pointing out the other guilds' pocketbooks is going too far, even for involvement.
　Karashin, who as expected had become more repulsive, smiled cynically and returned the words with room to spare.
''Ah. That shopping center isn't under the name of the Eighth Shopping District, is it? It's under the name of the 〈Maihama Commercial Facility Management Committee〉. We collected the construction costs from the Gilmen by dividing the rights to the warehouse and retail space in advance. Members of the Eighth Shopping Arcade who didn't invest in the facility ended up renting the rights to use it at a premium later on. Therefore, the guild is not the property of the Eighth Shopping District, and they are not making any money, and the guild is a poor one. Hi.
　Karashin's words, which he explained so carefully and carefully, seemed to pierce Ains even more because of his politeness. The guildmaster with a deep vertical crease between his eyebrows and the clown in an aloof white hat are glaring at each other around the round table.
　It's a good thing that the other members of the guild are feeling a little nervous as well, perhaps because of the atmosphere.
--I'm not sure if it's because of that.
--I don't know what the hell that means, man.
--That's all right. It's all right, Mr. Isaacs. I don't understand!
--Ask White to explain it to me later.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about. It would be a disaster if he looked in that direction poorly and ended up being forced to explain it here and now. That's exactly what will happen, you will be interrupted between Karashin and Ains. The reason why Shiroe sometimes shows barbarism (or so everyone thinks) is because it's the most effective path Shiroe can think of to achieve his goal, even if it doesn't seem so to those around him, and not to intercede with his friends in such a fiery meeting.

　That day when Karashin had visited them, their conversation had turned to the topic of Ains' outburst. I know he's up to something. It's because messengers from Minami frequent the Guild Hall and there was no indication that he was trying to hide it. Ains had long been concerned about the rough atmosphere that pervaded Akiba's streets and the disparity between the 'adventurers'. They must be trying to do something, and that would cause a rift in Akiba's streets.
　That insight was agreed upon by Shiroe and Karasin.
　Beyond that, however, it can't be said that there was much fruitful conversation.
　Neither Shiroe nor Karashin predicted a future in which the Adventurers would engage in a full-blown war with each other. The world, however, is like that here in Yamato. For better or worse, it is hard to imagine that someone from Japan, who has been living in an environment of too much peace, would spontaneously start a war. Even if there were one or two people who were ahead of the others, the overall feeling of disgust is probably greater than that of disgust.
　But the Daichijin didn't think it was right to be so optimistic. According to the information Akatsuki had told him, the lords of the Alliance of Free Cities Eastal were originally noblemen appointed by the Emperor of the Westlande Imperial Dynasty. The survivors of the defunct West Runde region call themselves the Holy Empire of West Runde, and are now pressing the eastern lords for vassalage. This is the background to the political situation in Yamato.
　The Alliance of Free Cities of Istal, which has steadily advanced along the path of self-government throughout its history, and the Holy Empire of West Runde, which has fallen behind in terms of military power. In a sense, this is why peace has been maintained, but with the addition of the adventurers, the relationship of power has been thrown into chaos.
　It is believed that this is what led to the assassination attempt on Prince Yserus last month.
　The current situation is reflected in the depression that is accumulating in the city of Akiba, and the ties between Honesty Ains and the giant guild of the south|Plant hwyaden. What can be done about that kind of stubbornness?　When asked, the two of them were unable to come up with a decisive means to do so.
　However, it wasn't so much that Shiroe and Karashin were incompetent, it was more like they couldn't determine an exact response move because of their opponent. Shiroe, in his own way, had thought of a number of moves to prevent such an unfortunate future, and that was true of Karashin, but even so, he was far from perfect.
　In Karashin's opinion, Shiroe's move was "If you can get the opponent's king, you can't help but sacrifice your entire army, or if you're playing chess, you can win, but in reality, it's too egregious," and from Shiroe's point of view, Karashin's method was "too green-fielded, investing in waves and people that you can ride and praying that it will work.
　In the end, they only agreed that it was Krusty's fault for going missing since they weren't suited for it, but that didn't mean Krusty would come back from the Chinese server (another headache).

'That kind of ingenuity is the mark of a strong man. The big commercial guilds should pay more attention to the average [adventurer].
No, the chairman of this "My Hamma Commercial Facility Management Committee" is a little over forty levels above level, you know. I've heard that he's not afraid of combat and doesn't have a subordinate job in production, so he started a plan that involves just greeting people and doing office work. He's a great guy, isn't he?
What?
　That's why it was supposed to be settled down with a discussion about seeing how Ains would respond and come out of the meeting, but it's turned into a very rough meeting. At first I thought that they were trying to find out if there would be any rags by provoking them, but it doesn't seem to be in that mood. This is.....
(Mr. Karasin, I'm guessing you and Mr. Ains aren't a good match.)
　It was the untrue intention of the doldrums.
　I was convinced that this was why I was avoiding arguing with him head on. The line now, of course, was mangled, but it was probably Karashin's true feelings as well. Although Ains is blindly calling for help, as Karashin showed, there is a possibility that the "mid-level underprivileged 'adventurers'" as Ains calls them, can make a profit from their projects and businesses. In fact, there have been successful cases.
　Karashin can only see Ains's request as indulgence because he sees it in reality, while Ains, perhaps, can only take Karashin's as a victor's conceit because he sees the sorrow of his comrades who are cowering in frustration.
　In that sense, they were like water and oil to each other.
I don't know, but if that's the case, why don't you and Ains do something like that?
　I got a great idea!　Isaac, whose expression brightened with a puff, as if to say, "I'm sorry," told Ains. It wouldn't have been with any other intentions or malice, of course, but that was how Shiroe knew that he had definitely stepped through Ains' land mines. He felt it so clearly that it made him wonder even more why the other members didn't hear the sound of the fuse being activated.

'Mr. Ains. Mr. Ains," he said, "listen to me. It's not that we don't want to support the low-level Adventurers, nor do we not. We have a clear idea of what to do with the Seventh Falls Fortress. All of the adventurers we know of at the Adventure Brokerage are now level 30 or above. This is the figure we had originally set when Krusty was there. I think it's safe to say that we've obtained a level that will allow us to defend ourselves and fend for ourselves.
　Siloe had to intercede because of the feeling.
　He spoke to Ains in a tone of appeasement. He still had no choice but to give a moderate opinion, as if he couldn't believe his own tone of voice, as if he couldn't believe whether it would be effective or not.
'Where is this Mr. Crusty?'
As we reported at the end of last month, we believe the subject is currently somewhere in the territory of the Ured server. D.D.D. is planning to send a search party as soon as they're ready.
'Isn't that dysfunctional? What's the point of this place where we can't make any decisions?
　The furious Ains is greeted with a swift, "Hey" voice.
What does that mean? I'm not sure what that means. Why does it mean anything without those glasses?
I'm sure you're right. What value is there in a roundtable with no representatives and no leadership?
　Again. Shiroe really felt like screaming and running away.
　What would he do, of all things, to pick a fight with the great beast of Akiva, he thought, almost getting his head out of his ass. Isaac was glaring at Ains with his fierce sitting eyes.
　Before the representative of the , who was denied to exist, could say anything, Shiroe quickly interrupted his words. Why did he have to play such an arbitrator, even though he could only think such backward thoughts in the confusion.

''Mr. Ains-san. --The Roundtable is an autonomous organization, but it is not a governing body. It is an extension of mutual aid, and its activities are based on the good will of its participants.
　Isaac sat down, almost floating, when Shiroe interrupted him somewhat abruptly and loudly. Marielle, who was pale and tottering, Akaneya, who was still pale, and Michitaka, who had a look of bitterness on his face as he bit down on a bitter bug. Karashin with a thin smile and a hint of frustration in her smile. Soujiro, with his eyes downcast, shows his composure. Shiroe manages to continue speaking, feeling the attention of everyone around her. What's bad now is the silence, and if there's a gap, the argument will flare up again.
'The eleven members of the Round Table 《Round Table Declination》 should exist as a compilation of Akiva. We guild masters should also be gathered here to represent the will of each guild member, and also to represent the will of the guild unaffiliated and even 'Daichijin' that exists in Akiba. It's not about governance, it's about autonomy. That's the premise of each resident's will for the future, and this is a meeting to gather their opinions. Therefore, Mr. Krusty, who was our representative in relation to the external sessions, is not the president, even though he is a representative, and his absence does not change our mission.
So this meeting, then...
　Ains raised his voice to say something back, then slumped as he lost his graft. He pressed his fist against the huge marble round table. He realized that his rebuttal was going to be a loop.
　Shiroe was aware of that, too.
　What Shiroe had just advocated was indeed a good argument. The roundtable was a place for consensus among the participating guilds, and the meeting itself had no compulsion whatsoever. All plans can only be implemented with the agreement of the participating guilds. It's such a place. In that context, Ains' appeal was rejected, at least for now.
　Ains still hung on to the possibility that his opinion could be adopted by a higher power - such as Krusty - but even that was denied outright by Shiroe. The Roundtable is a self-governing, collegial body, and even if Krusty was present and agreed with Ains, that did not automatically make his opinion the consensus of the Roundtable. Only the consensus of the residents of Akiba will move the Roundtable.
　Shiroe's opinion was an implicit reminder of that.

I understand, Shiroe-san. Well, then, let's see if the Honesty can find its own way.
　The voice of Ains was infinitely bitter and seemed to have sunk to the depths of disappointment. Even Karashin, who had just taken the opposite side of the argument, felt pain, but at the same time, the members of the Roundtable were relieved to hear that the leader of this issue, Ains, had taken a step back, so to speak. Ains, who was the spearhead on this issue, stepped back, so to speak, and the issue itself was put aside for now. Of course, that's not a solution, and complaints will continue to smolder here and there, but it takes time to deal with these problems in the first place. Everyone thought that they had a reprieve for that time.
　But that was until the next day when they heard the news that Ains had been appointed as the Duke of Akiva.