108-108
Chapter 2.04
The good thing about the large white wood and varnished vacation spec deck chairs was not only their comfort, but also that they were lighter than they looked and could be carried around if you were so inclined.
KR(Keiar) brought the deck chair in from the dark passageway of Icoma's detached palace and quickly set it up in the hall of the building known as the North Office Training. Next to her, a young girl wearing a white dress is setting up a deck chair that is the exact same design, albeit in a different size. They are so-called "matching".
They looked into the magic bag and took out a jug of well-chilled hibiscus tea, clear glasses, and a small round table similar to a stool, and set up the living environment. The spiral staircase great hall he'd been using for the last month seemed to have fallen out of use for the time being, and the comfort of his new workplace (aside from the greenhouse he was sleeping in) was an important concern for KR.
''........''
With an irritating breath, the sound of crushing echoes.
It's a good thing that you can't get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away from the fact that you're not going to be able to get away with it. I slumped my upper body. Of course, it had zero effect.
He muttered, "My God, you're such a small vessel.
The little girl (Gertan), KR's attendant and chaperone, said, "No wonder you're so small! and tried to step on KR's foot, but KR lifted one foot in a heap to avoid it. The most precarious part of his balance, though, was being picked up by his side and he had to hold back a scream.
After being shown such a ramble in front of him, Intix asked for a report in a voice that was cold to the bottom. From the tone of voice, the implication would be neither "I want you to report" nor "report to me" but "I will kill you if you do not report promptly and concisely".
KR smiled, "We've known each other for a long time, but I've really grown up," he said. She used to be a venomous beautiful girl from the countryside who was just fastidious and stubborn, but recently she has become a ruthless maid beauty who can plot and torture. I am deeply convinced that human beings are nurtured by their environment, after all. --It's just a pity that they haven't mastered the ability to make themselves happy at all.
Report!
Report!
He turned over his attendant (Gar-tan) who was imitating KR, and after thinking for a bit, he spun the words.
Well, you know what I mean, but at the moment Wet Feather has the upper hand and Intix is the underdog team. We're the underdog team.
KR told him.
It would be useless to embellish the words, and in the first place, it's troublesome.
After the rainbow-colored coma incident, Nureha's idea of cooperation with Akiba - the path of reconciliation - was not a bad one for many 'adventurers'. As a native Japanese, we don't want to fight a war, even a civil war between our own people, and the best way to do that is to have a relationship that isn't hostile, if not cooperative, with each other. Plant hwyaden's past practices were questionable in their eyes. And the merchants are generally in a welcoming mood for Wet Feather's change of direction. We can expect an increase in distribution to Eastar via Akiba.
KR gives a status report on the current situation.
However, this is a known, let's say, assumed background knowledge of this area.
'That's not what I want to hear,'
As expected, the unhappy-looking Intix also replied so.
''........You're not in a good mood. You know that, don't you, Intics? The situation has gone overwhelmingly in their favor. You've been holed up in your room all day and night, getting slapped on the cheek by Natsuwa, who has treated you well, right? I heard from the maid that Mr. Intix, as expected, was in tears too, blah blah blah blah.
You're in bad taste.
Bingo.
KR didn't stop talking lightly when he let Gar-Tan whine.
For one thing, it's style. No matter if Intix fished out his manicure and spent all his time fighting politics, or Kazuhiko thoughtfully shed blood for the sake of salvation, KR has no intention of changing this attitude in accordance with KR's beliefs. Absolutely; KR believes that his antics will fix things precisely because they are antics. For exactly the same reason that the two of them are dismissing the inappropriateness with a wry look on their faces, and that's why we're not going to stop talking this way.
Besides, it's not a great reason for this one, but if I don't do so, I'll feel sorry for the woman in front of me (Intix). A woman with bloodshot eyes who strives for the dictatorship of a huge guild is a turn-off, according to Japanese common sense. Unless he's a very crazy man, you don't want to be around him. That said, he is certainly a powerful man. There are many people who have treated him with reverence or left him. Not that this is why, but KR thinks it's okay to do something to them, at least to play hooky. I'm not going to be the one to play the serious game with you, save you, or let you fall, but I will make you laugh. I think so.
"I have no use for defeatists. If that's all you want, you can go lick Wet Feather's feet.
'It's not like I'm on that side. It's not like I'm on Intix's side either.
Just keep your word. (..../.../...)
And of course, we have to keep our word.
Something is going to happen anyway. KR thinks that if Kanami can get to Yamato, then something will happen, but now the sparks are everywhere, and this land of Yamato is a powder keg administered by an angel with a bite-sized cigarette.
There are things that even KR is willing to do to make it end somewhat better. A mass coma incident is said to have been caused by the dungeon in Sibuya. In the face of that crisis, Wet Feather finally turned against the Intix.
Despite his position as the ruler of Plant hwyaden, Nureha is in fact nothing more than a puppet to Intix. Now Nenuha has turned against the Intix.
Plant hwyaden has become an alley of deadly combat between the two serpents, Nenuha and Intix, as they clamp down on each other. The conflict between the two has given rise to factions, and even the originally unstable governing body of the Earthmen has become increasingly involved.
Contrary to the appearance of peace, Icoma has been reborn as the City of Darkness, a place where every dark corner is filled with secret talks, poison and daggers.
Of course it is. 'Of course, I should tell you that it's not without reinforcements. It seems that half the Senate has taken a stand against the wet feathers. They've begun to cut down the officials and lobby the merchants.
'I know. That's why I've been feeding you all this time.
I don't know... Kansai (Westarande) was originally going to swallow up Kanto (Eastal), right? Isn't it like you don't want to hear about reconciliation now?
And there is no man more skilled at exploring the dark abyss than KR. The combination of spirit messengers who can lurk in the shadows without a hint of a whisper, and the possession of the five senses by soul possession, can expose all the secret talks, all the secrets of this medieval court.
It's a good idea. That's right. The Holy Empire of Westland is a dark-rooted country that has been stewing and maturing old scores for hundreds of years. They have their own traditions. They are the original owners. We don't want to look like a bunch of pipsqueak Easterners from the countryside. We don't like it when other people are wealthy, more than we like it when we are needy. That's the only curse they've been hoarding. They will not stop until they have swallowed the Free Cities Alliance Eastar and made them bow down at your feet and drink. That's the kind of people the Senate is.
Oh. I know, I know. I feel that way, really.
The other half is just being cautious. If they get a hint of the right atmosphere, they'll rise up against Eastar like an avalanche. The only reason they haven't done so before is that the Free Cities Alliance Eastal has greater military power and the watchful eye of the Order of Ismo. If it weren't for that, they would really want to set fire to every possible village and town that they can't get their hands on.
Then, well, the rest of the Senate.
The Earthling community is not a monolithic one.
KR knows that, but the adventurers are one of the few who understand that. It's not that they still think it's a game, but there isn't much difference between them and their neighbors, even on Earth. There was no difference in understanding of one's neighbors in Earth society.
Knowing this, Intix smiled a sly and unpalatable crescent-shaped smile and said words that seemed to drip venom.
'I'll depress my hand over here,'
Plant hwyaden's wallet, are you sure you can count on that? Isn't the wet feather holding you?
I was the one who was in charge of running the guild. The princess isn't capable of running the guild at this late stage. I've already distributed the budget to the various committees, and I'm the one who is responsible for the dripping honey.
She's got some charisma, though, right? It's a big deal.
That's why I picked you up from the gutter. A hand-biting rat. Why can't they see that the only way to die is to get burned to death?
That was harsh.
Shrug.
As an individual, KR believes that both Wet Feather and Intix are both madmen. The thing to marvel at is the peculiarity that can be considered the magnetic field of the dark city of Icoma. Essentially, the misfortunes these two women have to deal with are nothing more than mundane.
Of course, it is the end of the world for the two of them, and that may be a good reason to challenge the world to a fight, but that doesn't mean that it is usually the end of the world. The world is a heavy place, and it's not something that can be solved by a little girl hitting it with all her strength.
'Everyone only sees what they want to see, don't they? ...The same is true of the Minami adventurers. It's true that they are beautiful to look at. But the smell of them is enough to convince me they're rats. I wonder how they will look when they find out that the portable shrine they were carrying is rotten sludge...
....
But not in this dark city of Icoma.
The mad fever of this woman (Intics), once a friend, has infected the city like a contagious disease. Consumed by jealousy of the Free Cities Alliance Eastar and dreams of Yamato unification, the Senate is stricken with the disease called Intics and is about to perform the zilba, the mad dance of fever.
Charisma? What does it all mean? Who has been guiding Plant hwyaden right up until now, and who is not worried about the forgotten footing? I wonder if the castle you think you've got is in compliance with the building code.
It's the same with Wet Feathers.
It's a magnetic charisma that even KR can't help but feel if he's staring at her. This woman is special. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who can do something for her. --The black-haired ruler with a magical nature that makes you think so is now driving the adventurer to reconcile with her sweet voice.
Nuremberg is now advocating cooperation with the city of Akiba and with the adventurers. That is a very good thing. But no matter how good it is, KR can't help but feel that there is something sick about it. The expression of relief on the faces of the many "Plant hwyaden" adventurers who are throwing themselves in the direction of Wet Feather's point of view makes KR's neck stand on end.
........The next report is Akiba, right?
I'm listening.
'Was it the lazy man's imposition scheme? I know that's been put on hiatus because of this mess. In that sense, the exodus of people has been somewhat muted. But the number of members of Honesty hasn't increased as much as I thought.
If you think you're making them hold out pretty well with Ains' level of leadership, before you know it, they're out of air.
I don't know.
So there's no movement on Akiba's side? Although Shiroe the Weathercock wouldn't have moved unless a crisis was imminent.
There's definitely no movement at the Roundtable. It's more like a thousand-day conference.
-That's the kind of person you are, to pass up opportunities and omens because of your stupid good intentions. I'm not going to say I wish he were dead, but...
Yeah, yeah. Come to think of it, it looks like the Saimiya family's overlord is headed to Akiva.
Oh, my. ...Well, is it because the Senate has loosened its grip on you? This political battle has loosened the chains that have been holding me back. Not that I can do anything about it. No, will that be enough to start a war? Or maybe we can tell them from here...
Should we leave it alone?
In this Ikoma, where everyone is being driven to run, KR is gritting his back teeth and holding on. I can hear a voice telling KR that now is not the time to run. The heat of a frenzy fills Icoma's night.
'It's fine. It's a mikoshi with no real authority. Just like Wet Feathers. I guess it's like I had a dream and ran away from the birdcage.
I don't know. Even I can't know what's going on in my head.
I trust your intelligence gathering abilities.
'So you haven't forgotten the price, have you? Two for the day.
....
KR lurks in this night's court to unravel the tangled threads of this night's court in order to avoid missing the all-important key to the stage that will eventually come. Like a spider nestled in the deepest depths of a forgotten abandoned house, he secretly gathers clues.
It's easy to look up events, books and documents.
Investigating what you can find out is, in the extreme, just work.
Of course, the degree of difficulty may vary, but with the power of the Summoner in KR, it's not impossible.
However, KR believes that the most important clue lies within the heart of man.
KR believes that the real clue is inside people's hearts and minds, and the qualification to be a hero is to touch that clue and restore a golden glow to them. As a fake, KR can't do that much, but that doesn't mean he should leave the mystery in front of him.
'Let me ask you a question. As promised, no refusals and no falsehoods. If I decide to do so, you will have no further information to offer. And Wet Feather might be willing to pay more for it.
I'm a man of my word.
So KR asked a question.
'Well then, the first question. 'Why do you want to go to such lengths to control Yamato? 'To start a fight' - why did you change so much? I don't need to do that. Plant hwyaden has grown large enough. Enough to satisfy even the most prissy young lady.
"Han. Not at all. ...Satisfied? You'll never get a single piece of what you want, ever. It's rubbish. And I'm the same person who never changed. I'm the same person I was at the tea party. I'm still the same guy, just on top of the world. It's the rules that have changed, not me.
"The rules...
It's a question that I thought was inevitable.
That day when Kanami announced her retirement, the crumbling and quietly deranged Intix appealed to Oshifuyu (Suikazura) and was rejected, then rejected by Kazuhiko, then pleaded with KR and was passed over, and finally fell to her knees to Shiroe, and even with all of that, she couldn't get help to hold Kanami back.
Kanami left him.
It would be meaningless to Intix whether it was true or not. It is the truth in her mind.
'That time it was to come out on top in a large scale battle (raid) race. That was the most worthwhile thing to do at that time. And it was to ask every player how it felt to be beaten by those weak, non-guild amateurs you made fun of. Hey, how does it feel? How does it feel to be snatched from the side by a weak group of people, a difficult obstacle that was said to be impossible to overcome only by a major guild? I was going to ask that after standing at the top of the blue sky as far as the eye could see. Now the rules have changed. In this world (Yamato), it is not the raids that are valuable now. There is a bigger battle in front of us than a raid. So, at the top of the heap, I just have to ask again. Hey, how do you feel? How does it feel to lose to a little girl like this? You know.
That's not going to bring Kanami back.
The girl who shyly confessed that she was aiming for the top of the Yamato charts to dedicate to Kanami was smiling broadly with cloudy eyes in front of KR.
The Prodigal's Tea Party was a cozy place. So much so that he wished for eternity. That obsession probably destroyed the Intix.
'Kanami had nothing to do with it. Not Kanami, not Kazuhiko, not Shiroe, not KR, not you. I haven't lost even once. That time Kanami just happened to escape on her own. I was hoping for the blue sky, I was hoping for the top. That woman was driven by a cowardly wind and ran away. So she got a new set of wings. Nothing is finished. I still--
KR remembers what happened after Kanami left.
Kazuhiko was the one who took care of Intix. For a while, he stayed close to Intix's frenzy, and KR worked with Kazuhiko to separate him from the other members of the Tea Party.
''Yes ok, ok. Wow. Well it's not that I don't like that about you, you know. I believe that a person should have the freedom to complicate things without any other kind of freedom.
That's why Naotsugu retired. Even though he got a job, there was no need for him to do so suddenly. The reason for his retirement was to disband the Tea Party completely, and to prevent gentle members like Shiroe and Soujiro from seeing the Intics spewing a curse on Kanami.
(I don't understand how I, who am not a good person, can be a poor loser, I really don't.)
Could this woman possibly be a dark attribute?
'Oh, yeah, I know, but let's not talk about Gar-tan.
d*mn. It's not a good way to treat me, but I'm still scared for my own good.
With a frightened little boy behind him, KR still pursues the key.
Intix is an old friend of the Prodigal Tea Party, but there are still questions to be asked.
I have no intention of reporting to Intix about the encounter at Aorsoy. However, since an 'enemy' has appeared in Sibuya, and since I have a suspicion that its clutches may be approaching here as well, I think it is KR's duty to exterminate it as well.
KR looked into Intix's eyes and saw a flicker of iridescence there.
It was with a sad mood that he saw the rainbow of irretrievable guilt mixed in with the cloudy despair and impossible craving in the marble eyes.
'Now then, my second question. 'Does the name Yazel sound familiar to you?'
.....
In spite of the chaos in Akiba, the giant guild that controls the city of Akiba, the heart of the guild, which is also controlling the West Yamato, is mingling with a disaster that will shake the history of Yamato and is falling into a night that will never end.
Chapter2.05
"Well, well. It's not that big of a deal, I'm told.
Scratching her head in embarrassment, Isuzu said those words. It was because when she played the last chord as if she was unraveling the last chord, she was wrapped up in praise of the amazing and amazing. Well, Gohon, let's have the next one. and then a rakugo-like preamble to the next song, followed by a quiet serenade.
This is one of the buildings in Akiba called the "Dougo Hall".
It's a huge building, big enough for two or three basketball courts. It's a high-ceilinged concrete building, but it's not very well made. The floor is made of hardened ground, in short, what we call an earthen floor. The walls are paved with wood, but the pillars and beams from the original abandoned building give the building a rugged look, and the only decorative elements are the flags of the various territories hanging here and there.
The Togo Hall is the base of the Daichijin in Akiba.
Akiba has all kinds of shops, as well as several public facilities, such as the Guild Hall and the plaza in front of the Great Silver Leaf Tree, but there are few facilities that the Daichijins believe are for them. The Tonganghou Hall is one of the few places that are open to the public.
This open space is designed for meetings. Isuzu has heard that it can hold up to two hundred people, but it's not always the largest gathering of people. Rather, it's more likely that there are several groups of about ten people forming here and there in this vast space, as there are now. The reason why there are so many hearsay types is because Isuzu is not a regular visitor to this facility, but comes only once a week at most.
In front of Isuzu, eight children with their mouths wide open are sitting in a row in front of her. It's a temporary seating area with a demon skin on top of the dirt floor.
Isuzu is playing a song he learned in this world. The lyrics are fuzzy, so he hums.
The kids let out a snorting exclamation that doesn't sound like an "ooh" or a "hommu". I don't know if they liked the performance, or if the seven colored notes spilling out of the lute (flying dolphin) they were plucking were unusual. It is hard to tell if the audience enjoyed the performance or not, but the fact that they didn't seem to have any leverage over the music made it difficult for me to listen to them, so Isuzu's practice and recital continued.
In this spacious room, where the afternoon light still shines through, there are several other groups of children. A dozen or so, mostly young men and women, were huddled around a high table, chatting away.
It's not that there are only children in many of the groups, but rather that a percentage of each group includes children with their children, who have come to Isuzu's side. Isuzu was, to put it simply, babysitting.
''Is that so?''
Yes. I heard that this Duke Akiva is a very talented man. I heard that he plans to set up a job placement service as well as provide for your immediate living expenses.
I hear it's called a gift certificate.
Well, that's a rousing story.
'Well, but that's not the point, we're just glad that Duke Akiva is standing up for us.
Such a conversation could be heard.
There are several groups in this huge space, and one of them is joined by Isuzu's bodyguard and partner, Rundelhaus. He brought me to this building.
Even as he played, Isuzu nodded one thing.
It seems that the trusty doggy (Rundelhaus) is fulfilling his mission today as well. It seems that he is in a position to act as a consultant for the various people who gather at the Luthijins' meeting place. In other words, it's just as I was told in Saphir's town.
After returning from that trip, Isuzu was brought to the "work" of Rundell House. That is, to visit this "hometown hall". It's not that I don't believe the story of Rundel House's volunteer work as a consultant, and given its usual frivolous and mischievous demeanor, I found it difficult to give a quick nod of approval, but above all, I'd like to know if Rundel House has been causing trouble for anyone else without my knowledge --because I felt like I didn't like doing something to hide a face I didn't know about.
If you ask them together, the hazy feeling was eventually overwhelming. The Rundell House is after all the Rundell House in this place as well, listening to the various voices of the
But no matter how you look at it, it's a large Western dog, Rundell House, but it seems to be very reliable in this place.
I heard that this "hometown hall" is a place where the Daichijin, who come from all over Yamato, look for acquaintances and hometown people to exchange information. Isuzu didn't understand why such a place was necessary, but now that she had heard about it, she was convinced.
For example, there are no job magazines in this world. To tell the truth, even job posters are not common. If you want to find a place to work, the only way is to ask someone who is already working or someone you trust to introduce you to them. The only way to get the word out is through word of mouth.
If you are an adventurer, you can find a job at the Quest Agency, but this is not the case for the Daichijin. It's rare to find a job that only lasts one time, and the majority of them are live-in jobs. In a world where the majority of work is done on a live-in basis, introductions and referrals are a lifeline.
I've heard that many of the people who come to Akiba have nothing to offer in succession. In other words, they are second or third sons, or women with special needs. As a high school girl from the middle of the country, it's not that I don't understand. The bottom line is that the first son or daughter can stay at home and carry on the family business and farm. But for those who don't, I suppose that means they have to move to Tokyo to find a job.
But this brings us back to the problem I mentioned earlier.
For those who have left the countryside for the big city of Akiba and have no one to take their place in the world, there is no such thing as a connection to rely on. That's where the "Tongou Kaikan" comes in. If you roll in here, you'll have a roof over your head. If you talk to a senior colleague from the same region who is already working in Akiba, and if you manage to gain their trust and get them to introduce you to a job, you'll be able to get a place in this town.
This is the kind of place I've heard about.
'Onee-chan. Is that it?
Uh-huh? Oh.
The child pointed out that he had finished a song before he knew it, and Isuzu nodded in agreement. Isuzu swallowed half a cup of water into the cup handed to me, moistened my throat, and let out a breath of air.
'.........hmmm........it's tough after all. Employment.
Yes, but they say it's better than back home.
Hersia, a twelve year old girl who was mingling with the child, politely answered Isuzu's murmur that was a soliloquy. The sight of the child, still a toddler in her arms, being held at the edge of her skirt by the rambunctious boy next to her, gives her a maternal air that is not appropriate for her age.
This is the oldest of the children's group in the Hometown Hall, a girl who could be called a babysitter. Isuzu and Isuzu know each other, and moreover, it is Isuzu's role in this place to help babysit Harsia. She couldn't be underestimated just because she was younger, and Isuzu's side didn't even think to treat this intelligent girl that way.
''Is that so?''
There are so many jobs in Akiba.
Okay.
Isuzu nodded in agreement with the translator's face.
It's true that Akiba right now is in short supply of people here and there. There are always a lot of applicants for the Bloom Hall floor vacancies, but that's because of the fact that Isuzu and the other minstrels can listen to their music for free (it's background music during work), and all the surrounding restaurants are just black labor.
Speaking of employment, Isuzu is no stranger to the subject.
Isuzu's generation has a resident job counselor at the school, but I heard that the generation of the direct descendant of the same guild was in a bad way. Such a stout, hailing and dependable Naotsugu said in response to Touya's casual question, "I want you to send me a prayer letter, what's that, a silent prayer? What kind of super magic is this, like silent chanting? Isuzu was in tears.
Even though the prospects for employment have become a little brighter due to the declining birthrate, Isuzu understands that working is hard work.
"It's not just about finding a job...
"Huh?
Isuzu, who had folded her arms in deep conviction, listened to Harsia's words again.
It's not that the family came to this city with nothing, right? It's not that we are poor as the adventurers say, or rather, I don't really know what the meaning of poor is, but.......
What?
This area is called a culture gap.
Isuzu was inwardly in a cold sweat because of the outrageous stories that came out of it, but I'm getting used to that part of my relationship with the Rundel House a little bit. Pulling herself together, she nodded her head and said, "Alright, I'll accept whatever comes my way.
(It's only natural that there's a difference between me and Daichi-jin. That's why I went out of my way to stick with Rudy and go to this meeting place. If there's something you don't understand, you have to ask.
It's only natural that you don't have a house or gold coins, since you've been in the village.
Oh, I see.
I was a little relieved.
From all the stories I've heard so far, it seems that bartering is still the norm in rural villages. It doesn't mean that they are a primitive society with no money at all, but they grow their own food such as wheat and vegetables, so they don't have much need to trade. Even minor repairs to buildings and lending and borrowing of tools are done within the confines of the small village, so they only need to be helped or assisted.
As for the houses, Isuzu and most of the people I know had apartments or rental houses, so it's not that unusual.
It's not that you're poor, but that's what it means to not understand poverty.
Right? Hersia shook her head in a shake as Isuzu tried to check with her.
''It's not like that, it's just that he didn't seem to have a place in the village. I heard that his father was the third son, and his mother was an abandoned child of a traveling entertainer, so he didn't have a farm....... She didn't have a farm... Even in the village, she was left in a corner of her relative's house to help with the farm and share her food, and then I was born. My mother cried every day...
'Ew.'
It is a doodle.
It's not that I don't know what you're talking about, I know what you mean, but I thought that kind of thing was something you'd find in a newspaper's op-ed column or on a web consultation site.
(Uh, um, this. A stay-at-home? A marriage made up in a small family home? And then your mother-in-law and mother-in-law in Alexandria snapped at you? Wow. (I mean, wow!
Abandoned child, corner of the house, shared rice, born.
Four dangerous words in a row in a short conversation.
Staccato, or orchestra hit, or whatever it is, it's too cheap and dazzling. I guess it's called "don't mix it up" danger. Isuzu nodded inwardly, though I was already quite full of it, but Isuzu forced a nod. From the outside, the way they ministered to each other looked just like the twin horses, Danish and Croissant, raising and lowering their heads to get a drink of water, but Isuzu herself doesn't have the luxury of that right now.
'So my dad says I'm finally getting a break after coming to Akiba. We have a home now.
Uh-huh.
Isuzu regained her fretful posture and folded her arms.
The "house" is an apartment complex behind this "Doukou Kaikan". To the best of Isuzu's knowledge, it's a two-story building that resembles the clubhouse building near the gymnasium, with stairs and corridors on the outside. In other words, it's an apartment of sorts. Isuzu says that each room doesn't have a kitchen, let alone a bath, but it's a fine house for the Daichijin as long as it has a common cooking area and a common bath.
Isuzu has never been to a public bath, but I heard there is a public bath as well, so is that a possibility? Maybe? I guess.
I've heard that an aristocrat is coming to Akiba next. It's not a good idea. Now we can all relax, right?
What? Why? Come to think of it, Shiroe and Rudy said those names.
Isuzu asked back, not knowing why that was a relief.
''Why..... Well, up until now, Akiba was not ruled by a nobleman, right? So, you see, there are adventurers, but they are just like a self-made frontier village, aren't they? A village like that, even if you try your best to cultivate it, some unknown nobleman or something will come and take it all away.......
It would be a crime to take them away without permission! Isuzu was tempted to contradict this, but come to think of it, it's the aristocrats who decide the laws, so maybe it's not a crime.
According to Isuzu, Minori and Serara's high school girl (one of them a junior high school girl) view of the world, Japan is Japan, and therefore, every town in the country of Japan is Japan. It may seem obvious, but it is.
Therefore, based on this natural sense, I had the feeling that Japan is above Akiba, but when I thought about it, there is no Japan here because it is Yamato and not Japan. Isuzu's head was getting confused from thinking so hard. So, if you ask me if the organization above Akiba is called Yastal, it's not, and if you think about it, there's nothing up there.
(If it was his dad, "It's called Rock! (I know you're going to say that, but I don't think that's going to be enough.
I heard that the Duke of Akiba is coming to Akiba to protect everyone here at the Daichijin. Then the fields and houses we have now will be ours, right? That's why everyone is happy!
Judging by Harsia's spilling smile, that was apparently very good news. Rocking was important, but Isuzu knew that it was a struggle when life in general was covered in rock music. So he smiled and nodded back at Harsia.
'Yeah. I hope you get it right!'
The Daichijin girl and Isuzu had a kind of rapport, but it wasn't an interesting topic for the children in the area. After all, "One more song, one more song! In response to the request, Isuzu readjusts her lute.
Chapter2.06
A day without a hunting trip is a very long day.
It's a very long day without going out to hunt, the Rundelhaus checked the location of the sun and invited Isuzu to go to the artisanal street.
It was probably about fourteen o'clock.
At this time of year, people would start getting up past five o'clock. From there, they'd get ready, do some light training, and have breakfast with everyone at the guild house. Normally, I would head to the outskirts of the city from there to hunt or go on a quest, but on a holiday like today's, that time is completely open. After breakfast, I helped out with the chores at the guild house for two hours, then took a break and moved to the Hometown Hall. Even after four hours of conversation over lunch, it was still early afternoon.
What shall we do now?
'Shall we go somewhere and have a cold one? Miss Isuzu
Hmmm, that's it. I'm going to be so hungry.
Isuzu had been hydrating while she was playing. She felt a raspy throat, but her stomach would swell if she only drank water. Rundelhaus nodded and thought about that, but smart ideas don't come up that often.
'Let's walk, Rudy!
But then Isuzu spoke cheerfully to Rundelhaus.
'You're not out in the suburbs today, are you? It's something that makes my feet itchy. A walk would make for a good dinner!
If you ask me, I am convinced that you are right.
It's nice to walk around Akiba with just the two of us. Unlike his hometown, this city has few ups and downs, but the scent of moist greenery and the breeze that passes through the city is refreshing and nostalgic. It wasn't noisy, but Rundell House loved the signs of people's lives. The smell of food drifting in from somewhere, the voices of children running around in the back streets, the women on the street corners talking to each other without getting bored. Not that any of it was pretentious or noble, but that's why it was so precious and needed to be protected. All the more so when I remember that expedition that went over Boksult.
Isuzu had been depressed for a while, but after the large-scale battle (raid) in Sibuya, I think she became much more positive.
Isuzu was also busy attending the Daichijin's meetings since then, and was surprised and pleased to hear various stories. The fact that Isuzu came to know the Daichijins, as well as the fact that we had more things in common was also a plus for us at Rundel House. I was delighted that I, as a country girl, had something to explain to the Adventurer, who had advanced knowledge in every field, and I never grew tired of talking with this slender "bard" girl.
After they had cooled off from one store to another and passed the Great Silver Leaf Tree, they felt the noise of the town intensify. As they turned their feet to listen to it echoing from the main street, they could see a considerable group of people advancing over the heads of the crowd.
'What is it?'
Let's go out front.
Rundelhaus frowned a little as he remembered the topic of conversation at the Hometown Hall, and then he reflected on it and cracked open the crowd. It's no use looking gloomy while you're escorting a lady out.
'It's like a period piece,'
Isuzu murmured in a careless voice, the group seemed to be a group of nobles. A knight in curved metal armor carries two fluttering banners, followed by a group wearing the same armor and the main bodyguard unit that looks like the Adventurers. Behind them is a white-painted representative on a fine horse. I'm not sure if he's a martial artist or if he wants to sell his face. Behind them are the carriage in the back and a slew of servants. At a rough count, there was a group of less than fifty people.
The person on the horse, whom you would think was a nobleman, was probably a nobleman.
Wearing the traditional white palace makeup of the Holy Empire of Westland and a hat with flashy tasseled decorations, their physiques themselves were magnificent, but they were strangely bony and gave the impression of being inhuman.
That's how Rundelhaus had observed it, but Isuzu's casual murmur that it looked like a deep-sea fish probably summed up his first impression of it. The eyes, which were a perfect circle, were dazzlingly different.
The group advancing down the main street was attracting a lot of attention.
It's no wonder. The adventurers of the West Wind Brigade seemed to be organizing the traffic to keep the area in order, but the number of Akiba's Daichijin, now quite large, had come out onto the central avenue to have a look, and there was a commotion. The Adventurers don't have the same unconditional reverence as the Daichijin, but even so, Rundell House could sense a number of eyes watching from the surrounding ruins.
It could be said to be quite a headache.
(I'll have to see this one through. In some cases, I'll have to report it to the guild master (Shiroe-san)...)
Rundelhaus, whose expression is naturally grim, thinks so.
I wonder what it is. It's not a festival.
'Yeah..... Right.
Isuzu, who nodded his head, didn't seem to feel any doubt at all. It's always a saving grace for Rundel House with its insensitivity. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the Daichi-jin, but it's not a good time to show that ugly side of yourself.
Rundelhaus, having guessed their destination from the group's gaze, felt this desire to be stronger.
The unpleasant feeling he had been having since he had heard the discussion from the residents at the 〈Township Hall〉 was in the process of growing.
I guess I should return Isuzu to the Guild House to see what's going on here, Rundelhaus forewent her hair and smiled a special smile, trying to convince the insensitive girl to do so.
'Miss Isuzu. Well, what the hell. So it's very insufferable to throw out the Lady's guards--
I don't care about that. Come on, Rudy. Let's go.
What?
Looking alternately at the expression on her face and the small, white hand that was offered to her, Rundelhaus took the hand with her own personal gratitude, which Isuzu could not understand.
She would always abruptly give Rundelhaus a treat that he should not have been able to give her. It's a reward that should not be appreciated, so Rundelhaus always has no choice but to quietly accept it, but every time she does, she feels more grateful to this rare partner.
Although she is a natural girl who doesn't even understand that kind of gratitude.
With practiced smoothness, Rundelhaus activates the "Cloudcock Shoes" (Fly) spell. Her body lifts up as if freed from gravity and she can glide five meters with a single kick, and the two run through the back streets of Akiba.
'Where are we headed? Rudy.
The House of the Waterflies.
Answering briefly, Rundelhaus sprinted, leading Isuzu in a posture that was reversed before he knew it from when he ran off.
That nobleman looks familiar.
I don't know his name, but he should be the nobleman of the Holy Imperial Westland, who was invited to the House of Waterfleet for the last year's
But if this is the case, the fact that the same aristocrat has reappeared in Akiba at this time of year is a cause for concern. There are three possible destinations for that nobleman to head to when he arrives in this city.
The first is Akiba's Guild Hall. Although this is not unlikely, Rundelhaus thinks that in a way it is the easiest or least problematic. The adventurers of Akiba have no problem with the aristocratic reception they receive when they're in the mood, just as they did more than a year ago when they received an invitation from the League of Free Cities Eastal to visit the Old Court of Eternal Ice. The guild master (Shiroe), who is always blabbing to himself, is held in high regard by Rundel House without telling anyone. Both as a lone magic practitioner and as a lord without a fiefdom. So if you're an emissary for exchanging letters and so on, there's no need to worry.
The other candidate destination is the Guild Hall of Honestly. Rundelhaus thinks that this possibility is the most likely. With the word "Duke of Akiva" now sweeping the Earthmen, the most likely candidate is the messenger from the Holy Empire of Westland, which is related to it. However, if that was the case, that nobleman would be invited to the Guild Hall of the
-- Since that was the case, there was no one meaningful reason for Rundell House to run through the streets of Akiva, but there was still one strong feeling of discomfort in that procession.
Why did that messenger enter the city of Akiba on such a large scale, and not by carriage, but by horseback? The story of Akiva Duke Ains is talked about like a hope among the 'earthlings'. To enter the city by exposing yourself under such circumstances is already meaningful on its own. It's so deliberate that even the little, much of the contents of Rundell House's aristocratic education is recognizable.
Isn't that procession an attempt to attract the ears of the Akiva city's
Considering the direction in which the group of nobles was going, it was also significant that they were aiming in the opposite direction from the Guild Hall of the Honesti.
Akiva was not a large zone. If we were to talk about a straight-line distance, it would be an area that is less than fifteen minutes away on foot. No matter how many flight spells they used, the time they were able to get ahead of us was minimal. When Rundell House and Isuzu were attached, the gates of the mansion were already open, and in the vestibule where you could peer in, the welcoming maidservants were spreading out on either side like a fan.
The two of them made a sudden stop as if they were being pinned down, and were unable to enter the mansion, but were forced to observe from the pathway across the street.
''Rudy........ It's like. Scary vibe?''
It feels that way.
Since a maidservant's work is the result of her master's education, the better the maid, the more restrained her expression would be. The more skilled a maidservant was, the more restrained her expression would be, as she would receive guests from the outside, and she would be nervous and expressionless. However, the servants in the mansion conveyed an air of sternness, as if they were evading uninvited guests.
While the two faint-hearted men were hesitating like that, the situation was progressing rapidly. Before I knew it, the number of "earthlings" began to increase in the surrounding alleys, and as I didn't want them to come when the human wall was broken, a banner-carrying knight appeared, leading the group.
The movement accelerates as the Japanese dressed adventurer, who polices the city, speaks a few words to the guard of the house.
''I welcome the arrival of Viscount Malvez.
A petite silver shadow with a handmaid behind it snapped at the waist.
The arrival of Princess Reinesia and her cool voice caused the earthlings around them to groan, but as a rundell house, they seemed to lose all their strength thinking about the hassle that would come afterwards.
Princess Reinesia was beautiful.
Rundelhaus had seen her from afar a few times, but in terms of beauty, he could swear that this day was the best day of the year. But that was not a welcoming direction in the slightest. She was a beautiful young girl who was clear and white and was described as "doll-like," but today's Princess Reinesia was devoid of any expression. But today's Princess Reinesia has lost all expression, which gives her a doll-like impression, and as a result she has a fragile, glasswork-like beauty.
It was the kind of beauty that Rundel House did not like at all.
I can understand the joy of the Daichijin (How to).
For them, who can't feel comfortable with property that isn't backed by authority, the recognition of Akiva as an official territory is the perfect ending. For them, who have been shunned as property-less room dwellers in the village, without the right to inherit from their lords and deputies, the best news is that they will be able to build a life as the people of their lineage in the rich, directly controlled land under the Grand Duke's rule. In the eyes of the brothers and sisters and family members they left behind in their homeland, it was a great career and would surely be envied.
However, although the Rundell House is the same as the Daichijin, it's a little different. As a former aristocrat, I received a good amount of education, and I learned from watching my hometown burn to the ground that the protection of the aristocracy does not absolutely protect my property and rights. As an adventurer, I'm participating in the Log Horizon, so I've received some information.
I also understand that Duke Akiva's inauguration is the result of a rumored conspiracy by a higher and more unreachable lord in the court of the Lande realm.
Looking at the expression on Princess Reinesia's face, it's not hard to imagine that one of his schemes must have come to fruition.
Rundelhaus couldn't decide whether he should be happy for the people of the city or sad for the princess who had worked so hard for Akiva.
The Winter Rose of Eastar, the pride of the Duke of Maihama, is the one who welcomed you with open arms. It is my pleasure to be entrusted with a messenger from horseback.
Yes.....
A messenger is shouting in front of me.
It was like a stage play, and the people around them seemed to be silent and attentive, as if they were baffled. At this point, Rundelhaus became more and more convinced.
(This is what this aristocrat wants the city of Akiba to hear.)
But there was no stopping it now that the situation had come to this point. However, whether it should be stopped or not, and what the consequences would be if it was stopped, Rundelhaus, who was forced to leave home before he turned 20, could not decide.
The only thing that is true is that he feels an unearthly sense of urgency, as if a monster has beaten him to it in battle. The same is apparently true for the girl next door, who was holding Rundelhaus' hand.
That feeling seems to be the same for the Princess of Maihama.
Rundelhaus noticed that both of her clasped hands were trembling slightly.
That princess, come to think of it, should be the same age or slightly younger than him.
Perhaps she had been trained in the Great Domain of Maihama, but her dignified expression, leaning back and dignified under these circumstances, was certainly worthy of the adoration of those around her.
I, Malvez-Ainhard-Malvez, present you with a letter from the Saimiya family. "I will deliver the letter from the Saigu family to you, Malvez-Ainhard-Malvez. --I am ready for the engagement. Now go with Malvez to the capital of Kyou. I don't need help. The marriage and the new house are in the city. Touri Saigu was very attentive. It will only take about a week to prepare?
'It is! I have a job to do in this city. I can't just throw that away...
But Princess Raynesia's shrill voice was interrupted by the sticky, condescending words of a nobleman apparently named Malvez.
'Don't worry about that! Lord Saigu Tori is concerned about the protection of the Daichijinshi in this city, and he has appointed you the new Duke of Akiba. From now on, you may leave all the work to Lord Ains, if you leave it to him!
Rundel House received the cheers of the Daichijin around them with a sense of misery. This incident would not go unnoticed by Akiva. In order to report it as soon as possible, Rundelhaus tried to tell his guild master a "telepathic story".