115-115
◆ Chapter 5.04
Once again, the whistle sounded at length.
The whistle of the second-generation fire-skull internal-combustion-engine powered ship, the Silver Podalgae, whose curves are as graceful as those of its female counterparts. You'll find a lot of people who've been in the same boat as you. The Podalge, lying on the bank of an irrigation canal, presented its mistress from its grasp.
Reinesia stepped off the ramp as Takayama Sancho took her hand with a complicated look on her face.
More than two dozen "eagle lions" (gryphons), flying in the sky with their bands of light drawn, escorting you from high above as you move along the short road to Akiba, sitting sideways on the back of a "unicorn" (unicorn) that has been summoned.
It was a parade of sorts.
The warrior maidens were dressed much the same as they had been in the past, but their short capes were decorated with the emblem of the Round Table. The flag of the attendant is the same. It is a crossed sword and spanner, a design not seen in the Yamato aristocracy.
"How do you say...
Don't worry. We'll be fine.
It's not quite right, sir.
No problem.
My shame is a big problem.
Instead of saying so, Reinesia's mouth was mushy and she mended her expression. If I had a futon, I would actually want to cover it up, but the place is already on the outskirts of Akiba, and I know enough as a nobleman's child to know that I shouldn't keep my face down during this procession with the public eye.
''Yes, it's all right.... Really. It's fine if you don't find out........
Elissa, dressed in a cape over her maid's uniform, murmured from behind the unicorn horse of a Takayama trio. It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time with the help of the aristocracy, but when you've promised your full cooperation, it's hard to object. I've been told that the princess is going to be married off and that we raised her well. I'm tempted to argue with that wording because it makes it sound like Reinesia is a tomboy and willingly wears this kind of armor.
The two chuckling allies of Reinesia are Liese and Kushi Hatama of the D3-hub, and the newly established D3-hub. Then there's the newly established D3-PG (Princess Guard), Takayama Sansa. Behind Sansa is Elissa, who is riding a summoned horse.
Turning off the road along the river, the group immediately headed for Akiba from the Forest of the Storeroom Tower.
As we had heard in advance, the parade was adding more and more members to its ranks.
Shiroe of the Record Horizon was the first to arrive at the entrance of Akiba. The white-robed sage with the group entered behind Reinesia.
In a large abandoned commercial district, Michitaka of the Organization of Oceanography entered, followed by the Roderick Trading Company. Roderick of the Roderick Trading Company.
The line grew longer and longer as each of them, accompanied by the leading members of their guilds, entered behind Reinesia.
Soujiro of the West Wind Brigade, dressed in pure white, entered at the right rear of Reinesia, and said to Shiroe at the left rear, "Senpai. You're all ready to go," he called out.
Akaneya from the RADIO Market and Marielle from the Crescent Moon Alliance joined the line on the main street, and a soft breeze passed over Reinesia and the others from somewhere.
The Daichijinshi are the ones who look up at you, chatting to you privately. Raynesia smiled and gave them a small wave. It was cute to see the children roll their eyes and hold out their hands to her, but she was worried about throwing herself in front of the unicorns. Fortunately, her mothers hugged her and held her down, so it was nothing serious.
Reynecia saw that and felt a sadness in her chest as she felt her heart tighten. Such a scene seemed somehow terribly precious, and the importance of protecting it hit home.
In the plaza at the Transport Gate, a large stage had been built as planned, and the first guests were waiting for us.
On the left was a red-haired man wearing the uniform of the Round Table with a jet-black greatsword hanging from it, and Isaac from the Black Sword Order.
On his right was Karashin of the Eighth Trade Network, a lightened version of the same uniform.
I walked between Karashin, who bowed reverently, and Isaac, who hugged his head in an annoying manner, and slowly made my way up the carpeted, improvised stairs.
The stage that she was brought to that day, without understanding the reason, is today's Leinecia, moving forward of her own volition. But it can't be helped, Reinesia smiled to herself.
For some reason, the anxiety and loneliness that the spectacled specter wasn't here to be seen through, now sustained Reinesia. Of course, it's scary enough to want to hide, but at the same time, it's also true that there's a sense of superiority, like a drop of honey in a cup.
(Even Akiba without you, I'll be fighting for you. You will be indebted to me, won't you? (Of course they'll make it a lot awkward, right?)
When I think of it, it's like courage - that of Reinesia, who can't yet proudly say it's courage, springs up.
A gust of wind came roaring past, encouraging Reinesia, who was still sullen, as if she were on the verge of swooning. A young man with long hair fluttering from the griffon jumped down from the eagle lion, a wild smile twisting his mouth into a wild smile, and a nod.
"I'm going to take over the task of guarding the princess. Shiroe-san.
Thank you. You're a lifesaver.
With one hand on Shiroe's, William, the Silver Sword, joined him at the edge of the stage.
The Transitional Gate between Cities.
Wrapped in a pulsating light, it was shimmering in the square visible from the stage, spitting out many people. Wherever you reside, you can vote for today, the people of Akiva.
Reinesia listened often to the murmurs of celebration, anxiety, and welcome to the reunion, and she shook off the temptation to listen to it all the time and sucked in her breath.
This city was lost in the dimness.
It was a separate, unremarkable, insignificant problem.
The only thing we need is a blessing, and without it we are all anxious.
Mother Saraliyah, and Kalashin, and Lise and Henrietta. And after listening to the difficult story of Siloe in white, Reinesia concluded that. They were all so humble that they couldn't give her the blessing that it was okay to do so. They didn't know if they could do such a great thing, and they gave each other away, thinking that there must be someone else who was better.
They are all very kind people.
Reinesia does not understand the political side of things.
So I thought, "Well, I'll put it into words.
Of course, Reinesia didn't think she was qualified to do such a thing, but even so, she was still the daughter of the Cowen family (even though they may have run out of steam with her after this incident and cut her off from the family), and the people around her were very supportive of Reinesia, and she had a lot to offer. It looked like he was there, so if you shelve yourself, it's not so bad, is it? I thought.
Because it would be a little better if someone else could put it into words than if no one else could.
Nice to meet you all. Nice to meet you. My name is Reynesia-El-Arte-Cowen. I am a compatriot of all of you who live here in Akiva. I'm sure you have already had the opportunity to say hello to the residents of this city, but I have been assigned to serve as a bridge between you, the Earthlings, and the Adventurers.
Akiba, the City of Adventurers, is a very special place for Yamato.
Most other cities are built and populated by us landowners, but Akiba is a place where the adventurers live and build. I would like to begin by thanking the landowners for accepting so many Daichi-into this place.
Blessings to all the warm-hearted adventurers.
Leinecia broke off here and lightly closed her eyes.
Struck by this gesture, the earthlings were mugging and clasping their hands here and there in the square to express their gratitude. The scene was naive and perhaps a little ridiculous, but it was a gentle one.
'A safe city is a precious thing in the demon-filled world of Yamato.' -- I was born into an aristocratic family called the Duke, and I have lived my life without being caught up in that danger, but living in this city, I've come to understand a little bit how you all felt about betting on Akiva. I wonder how much experience you people who come to Akiba will have in this city. I wonder how much experience you will have in this city, and if you will be able to make a living by it. Many of our friends have grasped their futures and flown away, even if it's only been a year. This city has the power to make your dreams come true. The dreams of all of you gathered here, from Ezzo and Sibuya, and eventually from all corners of Eastal, will also come true.
Bless the Earthling with all her dreams.
Leinecia saw the earthlings.
She saw many of the Earthlings here and there, desperately looking into the eyes of the people of the Earth.
They had nothing, so they were looking for something in Reinesia's story that would lead them to the future. Reinesia nodded. That hope would come true. There are many of them in this city.
But this is also a city created and lived by adventurers. But it's also a city built and lived by adventurers. This city was built by these adventurers, and we, as strangers, are like temporary travelers renting a garden.
At least that is how it was until now. The Adventurers who listen to me in the square are the ones who have been willing to lend their strength and wisdom to us.
Out of breath, Reinesia remembered the Old Court of Eternal Ice. It was in that elegant garden that Reinesia had been born. She had been assisted by a mean knight.
"We were very fortunate to meet and help. At first, there were some misunderstandings and haughty requests, but even so, the Adventurers have helped us get where we are today.
Shaking her head from side to side as she remembered her bottom-feeding guardian, Reinesia remembered her dependable friends. A night when she was at a loss as to what to do and was overwhelmed by the weight of her responsibilities. She met a dark-haired, swallow-like girl.
After falling to her knees in her own helplessness, her friends, who she could rely on, taught her that it was okay to try her best.
'Of course, I didn't just get help one way or the other. Of course, we didn't always get help from the Daichijinshi, but there were many things we could have helped with, such as crops, wood, oil, spices, and minerals. We think that you, the adventurers and the Daichijin, are now important residents of Akiba.
The red-haired warrior and the fox-eyed young merchant dismissed Raynesia's small concerns. If they gave one nod, their gang in the square would raise their handheld weapons in agreement.
'But there was a problem. The wise men's council of adventurers that governed Akiba, the Round Table, was not able to sufficiently listen to the voices of the Daichijins, since all of its members were adventurers. This is my own fault for not being able to adequately convey the voices of the Chichijins to them. In response to this problem, the Roundtable came to the conclusion that we should reform the system.
Reinesia trails off.
She wanted to hand over a detailed explanation of the new structure of the Roundtable.
She hadn't intended to speak for so long in the first place, and after introducing herself and greeting her, Reinesia had planned to give Siloe a full speech. She felt her cheeks stain as she remembered that.
Her long cane tapped steadily against the stage, and the tall figure in the white cloak advanced to gather her gaze. The guild master of the Horizons of Record, Shiroe, the 'bellybutton' glasses.
"The Roundtable is moving to a new structure. Until now, we had been building a non-profit organization made up of volunteers to dilute our responsibilities and authority, but that is no longer the case. It has been a year since I came to Cerdesia. The members of the Roundtable believe that the time has come for an organization with its feet on the ground. The chairperson of the Roundtable will be Princess Reinesia, replacing Mr. Krusty of D.D.D.
The murmur was never loud, but it still continued like a tidal wave.
Raynesia tried her best to keep her heartbeat from bouncing out and continued to smile.
Compared to Krusty, who was mean and monstrous and to the point and as huge as an ebony chest of drawers, he could understand his incompetence, but if he was blatantly disappointed, that would be a shock. That was what he had been bracing himself for, but Shiroe's words seemed to be received much more gently than Raynesia had expected.
Perhaps everyone had already made up their minds as soon as Reinesia began to speak.
The Recording Horizon, the Crescent Moon Alliance, the Radio Market, and the West Wind Brigade continued to participate in the event. The Maritime Organization, Roderick Trading Company will also continue to be in charge of the production side. The Eighth Shopping Street is renamed The Eighth Trade Network. We take part in stabilizing the distribution of Eastar. The Black Sword Knights have decided to relocate their headquarters and continue their participation. Furthermore,
Without raising his voice at all, he continued his careful, flowing commentary.
''We have invited Mr. Li-Gang as our technical advisor. In addition, I have invited Mr. Violet Star as a representative of the Sacrifice Clan from the standpoint of managing the city. Mr. Violet Star will also be entrusted with the operation of the Transitional Gate between cities, utilizing the magical power obtained from the release of the city boundaries. Please allow me to add that Mr. Li-Gun and Mr. Roderick made a great effort in restarting it. Thank you.
The two earthlings were invited to the podium to introduce themselves.
Li-Gun, the legendary Wise Man of Miral Lake, and Violet Star, the legendary Sacrificial Clan.
And the Violet Star of the Sacrificial Clan, the legend itself.
Although they were deeply engraved in the history of Yamato, they had never been seen on the political stage, but Shiroe had somehow managed to woo them. The "autonomy of Akiba and its surrounding area, including the Daichijin," was not just a name, but it was a sign to Reynesia and the Alliance of Free Cities Eastar that they were serious about implementing the plan.
I'm sure many of you here are aware of this, but some of you may not be. Today is a very important day for this city, the City of Adventurers, Akiba, and even more so for Yamato. And for Yamato, it's even more important.
Reynecia thought of Siloe's resolve.
The Adventurers are kind.
The Earthlings who gathered in Akiva were healthy and cheerful.
Some of them are selfish and twisted, of course, but the people Reinesia met were fortunate enough to be good people. Some of them are quiet, inscrutable, conspiratorial, disciplined, or demanding, but they are all good at heart. But they are all good at heart.
I think Shiroe's idea of inviting the two Earthlings is probably a blessing. Just as Krusty forgave the Gryphon for allowing the Eagle Lion to have his back that night.
Since the two of them were powerful, that blessing immediately changed the landscape around them, but it shouldn't mean that the powerless Reinesia didn't have to return the favor.
''This is because in choosing the future of Akiba, there will be a vote on which will garner more support, the Akiba Governing Authority led by Akiba Duke Ains-sama, who is recognized by the Saigu family, or the newborn Roundtable chaired by me, Reinesia. This will be an important vote that will determine the future of Akiba, or at least the future of East Yamato. --It may be difficult, but don't be afraid.
Raynesia raised her voice.
She wished as much as she could to reach someone, as much as possible.
'Your feelings will determine your future! For me, this is my first time, but it should come as no surprise to all of you who have come to Akiba with dreams of a future in the city that you've already passed through once. Don't hesitate to choose! Then grab it and flap your wings! We will continue to support you all, no matter what the outcome is.
It doesn't matter if Akiva has problems or Yamato has misfortune looming over them.
They just don't realize it, but all of us here are able to jump over that level of danger with ease. From a Reynesian point of view, the nobility, the commoners, the adventurers, and the earthlings are all amazing. They are all honest and courageous, unlike the lazy b*tc*es somewhere who only want to take a nap.
They can do it. It's not appropriate for them to be lying on their faces.
All we need is a little support, Reinesia thinks.
Blessings to all those who dream of the future.
That's what Reinesia has stood for.
Chapter 5.05
The voting ended and the polls opened at midnight.
Although the total number of votes was not immediately known, the two camps thought it would be over 70,000, and in fact, their estimates were quite accurate. In addition to all the adventurers and earthlings based in Akiba, the Daichijin from the surrounding areas had participated in the vote. In addition, Ezzo and Sibuya, as well as the Adventurers and the Dairymen from the northern part of the country, defied most predictions and swelled the vote count.
The votes were counted by those in charge from both camps, and they were mutually monitored.
The guild hall's main hall in front of the bank was temporarily confiscated and the atmosphere was heavily guarded, where the two-colored medals used in the vote were counted. The exact percentage was not known, but from a quick look at the results, "It's more competitive than I thought," was probably the thought of all the people involved who did not speak aloud.
The shock of the Akiva Duke Ains camp, who had thought that they would be able to clearly see the winner just by looking at the results, was not small.
It was immediately apparent that the tally was going to take a very long time.
In addition to the fact that both sides had little or no experience as election commissioners, both sides had adopted a method of having officials from both camps check each ballot box simultaneously, one by one, to prevent fraud, and everyone thought that at this pace it would take roughly a full day's time.
At the dawn of that thought, things moved quickly.
Duke Ains of Akiba had given up the idea of establishing the Akiba Governing Office.
--He had gotten them all involved and now they were retreating?
--You've got to be kidding me.
--You weren't going to help us after all, were you?
--I thought you were going to protect us.
--I risked all my money on Master Ains to secure the sales channel!
--It's all over.
--You just abandoned the entirety of the Circle of Fairies and the Reigning Palace.
--You don't care about anything as long as Minami pays you, do you?
--You're making Gilmen into a pawn. Are you the only one with good juice?
-- What happens when the Duke of Akiba abandons Akiba?
As soon as the news spread through Akiva, expectations for Ains had been reversed a hundred and eighty degrees and the city was engulfed in mayhem. Many of the Daichijin were deeply disappointed with this decision, seeing Akiba as a land of exile, abandoned by the Yamato royal family.
But it was the members of the Honesty guild who were more angry and contemptuous of the Ains. Ains, who had promised to improve their position and provide them with a better life, ended up destroying the Roundtable and scouring the streets of Akiba before fleeing. Feeling that they no longer belonged in Akiba, the members hated Ains, and their entourage had no choice but to flee.
Their entourage appealed for a change in the unavoidable situation, but violence broke out in the streets of Akiba, where they were scorned as "fire dogs defending Ains" and the automatic mobilization of the guards was gone.
A number of private executions in the name of demands for an explanation of the situation against Ains were planned, and Ains, Touri Saimiya, Malvez, and a small number of his entourage and attendants, sensing danger, were forced to move from one base to another.
''You've completely turned the city against them.
I'm sorry. Ains.
At Saimiya's unexpectedly somber voice, Ains answered shortly, "No.
Even though he had moved his base of operations,
''That's not to be expected. Such as the activation of the Intercity Transfer Gate.
Mm-hm. That was a bad idea.
Malvez grits his teeth and snarls.
'....Westlande has a proven track record in the past. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this," he said. Because of that experience, he cannot shake the idea that now that Akiva has the TransCity Gate, our home base will be invaded. Under these circumstances, we can't capture Akiba.
On the surface, Saigu looked the same, but his voice still had a hint of fatigue in it.
My power is still under the control of the Senate. If only the Senate hadn't spent its own soldiers to undermine the Free Cities Alliance of Eastar, they would have acquiesced to my war to the east.
The Saigu family's position in the Holy Empire of West Runde is in jeopardy to such a degree. The Saimiya family, allowed to exist as puppets, do not have an ounce of freedom in their nature. The current situation was a result of the confusion caused by the adventurer and the catastrophe that had created a gap in the balance of power in the arc-shaped island of Yamato. Regardless of Tohri's ambition and outlook, for the entire Holy Empire of West Runde, it was nothing more than a pawn in the hands of the Senate, who felt that the situation was in jeopardy and made a desperate move.
"Now that the TransCity Gate has been reactivated, the Senate will not allow Tori-sama to gain any more power, will it?
The Senate and the Intixes, I presume.
Touri Saigu smiled bitterly at Ains' confirmation.
The Plant hwyaden, which has a monopoly on the Intercity Transfer Gate, intends to shut out even our water transporters and monopolize their distribution. This is our once in a lifetime chance to get to Akiba's Intercity Transfer Gate before they do!
Even if we win the vote, it will take time to free the Transylvania Gate, and the engineers are on the side of the Round Table. And the engineers are at the Round Table. And we won't have that much time. Even if we do control Akiva, Mizfa and the others will come in, and we'll be used as puppets. And it would be unendurable if we were to drain the blood out of the good people who live in this land.
Ains chewed on his words and sighed.
Ains, who was the Eleventh Man of the Round Table, doesn't think for a minute that Akiva's guildmasters would use the Intercity Transfer Gate to plan an invasion, but from the other side, it wouldn't be surprising if it looked that way.
More than that, the Senate feared that Saigu, or more precisely, Akiva, a new power linked to the power of the Saigu family, would be given a strategic weapon, a transference device. While the Senate might approve of increasing the number of collared Akiba dukes, they were terrified that the Saimiya family, the source of their authority, would take a leap forward.
I'm sorry for your loss.
There was something he wanted to say, but Ains swallowed it down.
Both Ains and Touri Saigu were in a dry run after a long period of hymns. The regret that it was turned over at the last minute is going to be somewhat understandable.
''But is this also a conspiracy of that white-robed sage?''
This is a coincidence. There is no such thing as a coincidence.
It can't be a coincidence, right?
Relaxing his temples, Ains responds, "There were reports that the key to activating the Intercity Transference Gate is a large amount of mana.
It was reported at the Roundtable that the key to activating the Intercity Transference Gate is a large amount of mana. I had resigned myself to the fact that such resources could only be provided through inhumane means, but...
No, you mean no.
The mana output of the City Defense Wards was a disadvantage, but the loss of the Guard System was the catalyst that reactivated the Intercity Transference Gate.
Where was he reading from........ At Saigu's poetic lament, Ains, however, was thinking a little differently.
He thought that the defeat was probably the name 〈Akiba Ruling Office〉, the name itself.
Ains had chosen the name Akiba Ruling Office for his new system of governance. The reason for this is that although it is a city of adventurers, he feared that the Westlande's powerful Saimiya family would be led into the sphere of influence of the Alliance of Free Cities Eastal, even though it is a city of adventurers.
In the end, this is a problem for the city of Akiba. The inhabitants of the town chose the future of the town. As a way of expressing their intentions, they dared to call themselves the Akiba Governing Office. It was to prove that he did not have ambitions to join the League of Free Cities of Eastar. Of course, in support of this, he had intended to pay a visit to the Duke of Corwin's house.
I don't think that I made a wrong decision, but on the other hand, as a result of that decision, I removed East Yamato from consideration, except for the territory of Maihama.
It is Akiva's problem, Ains declared at the "Round Table", but Shiroe and his team need not agree with that. It was Ains' self-serving rule setting, if I dare say so.
An opening was exploited.
From the beginning, Shiroe must have been thinking about the relationship with Ezzo, or the rebirth of Sibuya, or the entire Eastern Yamato Daichijin, or even the Senate and the splintering of the Plant hwyaden. Otherwise, they would not have anticipated this outcome.
Shiroe must have seen that the existence of the Senate was a weakness for both Tori-sama and our camp to target. We weren't so much defeated as we weren't allowed to win.
They didn't let us win, did they? ...that's more miserable than losing.
Ains, who has no words to reply, gives a small nod.
'I point to a cunning hand that doesn't match his gentle appearance. If only such a one were in my hands.'
I think so.
... "Higashi no Gaiki". Shall I give it that name? Even though it is not in my possession, its existence must be heavy for Yamato.
Ains and Malvez nodded their heads in a low voice to Saigu, who closed his fan with a light sound. Normally, Touli has an open and wide attitude, but at times like this, his words had enough dignity to say nothing.
''And Ains. I'm sorry. I let that one get muddy.''
Saigu bowed his head lightly.
That was an unprecedented action for a high-ranking nobleman in this world, but even when he saw Malvez chiding him as if he had eaten a bubble, Ains couldn't respond well.
Saigu's apology would be the point that Ains was the only one who ended up being the bad guy. I don't know all the rumors in Akiba, but right now, Ains' reputation in Akiba is the worst.
A traitor. A clown. Incompetent. A greedy and evil guild master. A traitor who sold out Akiba. A cheater. A daredevil.
The members of the Honisty are the ones who shout such bad words the loudest. Apart from the entourage of Sigel and Nahomi, all the other members of the Honesty have now become enemies of Ains.
Ains, the man who plotted to overthrow Akiba, involving all the members of the guild in his laborious quest to find the Fairy Ring, enslaved them to line his pockets, and failed in his attempt to sell Akiba to Minami.
Only two days after the vote, there are only a few dozen members left in the Honesty, once close to 1,500. The Honesty was practically extinct.
No, it was not my choice. It was my choice, too.
That is true. The goods that were lost must be regained, right? You know? You know? Let's go back to Lake Io for a fresh start!
Malvez, who can't read the air at all, is closing in on Ains with his creepy face pressing on him with a giggle. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for, but it's not a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. If you think about it that way, the words you just said might be a concern in this monster's own way.
Hmmm. Hmmm... Io is a nice land. This is a good land, they drink well and the girl smells good. The mumble of 'I won't let you smell it,' ruined everything, but Ains could only laugh.
Thinking about it, it even felt like he'd lived for more than a year in the past month. I was reluctant to pass on the words that had raged before, and I was reluctant to do so.
'I suppose so. Ains. ........will you come along?
Yes. It's my choice.
Ains nodded. It was time to leave Akiva.
Chapter5.06
In this world of Seldesia, adventurers do not die.
There is a death, but it is a loss of mana resources and a move to the Great Temple, a penalty, but not a death as an end to life.
For that reason, the Adventurers, who had been hurling relentless abuse at him, had never really thought that they would let Ains finish the job. They were simply looking for an outlet for their irritation and anger.
Therefore, those people disappeared after the outskirts of Akiba, and Saimiya, Ains and the rest of the group were left to cross the zone boundaries in small groups.
It's Malvez who leads the way, chest out and proudly on his horse. Whatever he's thinking, he's leading as if to say that he is the master of this group. Behind them are a few guards and wagons. After a short pause, Touri Saigu and Ains. Of course, they are traveling on "summoned horses".
I'm sure the image of the word "Saigu" suggests that a carriage or a palanquin would be more appropriate, but when I asked him, he replied, "Come on. But he refused to ride in such an old man's stinking carriage.
You can find a number of things to do with your life, but you have to be careful about what you wish for. They are in charge of carrying our luggage.
Leaving the city of Akiba early in the morning, the group had the Old Court of Eternal Ice on their left, and by mid-afternoon they had reached the outskirts of the High Coast of the Eighth Canal. For this trip, Malvez's spirit ship would be waiting in Yokohama. We hope to arrive before nightfall, but if that is not possible, there is no problem, as we have an eye on making camp.
Conversation was scarce, but it wasn't a very uncomfortable trip.
This was Saigu, the pinnacle of nobility. I thought that he might go wild after this defeat, take a swing at Malvez, Ains and others, and even tell them to behead him as an accusation, but that seemed to be a groundless fear. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
His hawkishness and the precariousness of his sympathetic position were not unrelated to Ains' decision to leave Akiva to help him.
In this fully developed Seldesia, even in the ruins of Yamato, traveling by land is almost synonymous with following the ancient roads laid out in the divine era. The group proceeded without much of a hurry along the underpass of what those who lived in the Kanto area would have called the Tokyo Metropolitan Highway Yokohane Line - more precisely, the ruin of the elevated road, which was rotting at an angle.
'What a guy!'
Don't make a scene.
Wandering out of the room was Isaac, a red-haired warrior clad in a round table coat. He was sitting on a huge concrete column that looked like it had been smashed by a giant, waiting for the group.
'Mr. Isaac,'
Don't be so crunchy. Don't be so bitter.
Ains, who won over Malvez with a raised hand, kept his mouth shut with mixed feelings.
It was unlikely that Isaac, who is also the host of one of the strongest guilds
'I see...'
Humph, snorted Malvez, and quickly proceeded down the street as if it didn't matter. Touri Saimiya, who threw a cool gaze at Ains, also lined up next to that Malvez.
Following the escort who was glancing back with an eye on us, Ains and Isaac were to proceed to the back of the line.
If he had come to see us off, he should have said something, but Isaac was still grumpy and Buddha-like, languidly letting the war horse take care of him.
They are innately not on the same wavelength.
Ains is more of a scholarly type, valuing reason and discipline. He is a worker type who lives by intuition and reflexes, dare I say it, a different community than Isaac, who belongs to the brain family. It was only natural that he would not be able to match up with this man, who radiated an intimidating air of intimidation in every direction despite his lack of commitment.
We made our way through the not-so-short distance without conversation.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more information on this topic.
Hey, hey, Ains.
Suddenly, Isaac called out to him.
Without so much as a reply, if Ains looked in that direction, Isaac seemed to be squinting at the sea that he could see through the trees.
'I know a chap I know,' he said. 'Humans need a place to work hard, and when they work hard, they need a place to be told they've done well.'
It was something I said to myself, but somewhat loudly for a soliloquy.
I just thought to myself, "I see what you're saying. It's true that if you have a place like that, no one can get rotten. The role of the general is to create many such places.
With the huge sword that gave the guild its name on his back, Isaac separated his words from anyone else, as if to confirm. If he listened carefully, the wind seemed to have picked up high in the sky at dusk, and the torn clouds rushed away dazzlingly.
'Me, I think you're going to win this one,'
Ains was looking at him as if he had been shot, and Isaac was looking out to sea.
The Honesty crew is now thanking you for saving the Earthmen.
Ains was choked up.
The former members of the disintegrated Honesti must now be helping the Daichijin in the streets of Akiba. During the week of the election campaign, they had been busy helping the people of the city, receiving the influx of people who had been starved to death, and finding food and shelter so that they didn't have time to sleep.
And they were grateful.
After more than a year of smoldering in contact with no one, they came face to face with Akiba for the first time and realized that there was something they could do to help, so they cursed Ains for his betrayal, and now, once again, they were reunited with their newfound sense of purpose as the nameless "adventurers" of the city of Akiba. He's supposed to be working with the Round Table.
You have to be.
It was a dream that Ains had wanted so much. It was a wish that he wanted to fulfill, even to the point of antagonizing Shiroe, getting Saigu involved, and tricking all of Akiba into making it come true. It would be meaningless if the members of Honesty couldn't live happily in the new Akiba.
Ains desperately hid his expression, which was almost distorted by sadness and happiness, by looking forward.
'You win. ''Ains.'' --Shiroe, who said the same thing, that this is a parting gift.
With his mouth tied in a crooked knot, Isaac tossed a bundle of parchment tied into a tube and a silver and white card to Ains from a small bag at his waist.
One of the three cards for handling the Zone Contract Release document and the Sacrificial Gold. It's the most prized treasure in this world. A treasure in the truest sense of the word, not even close to the Phantasmal class.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'm still at a loss for words, and I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.
'I don't know. I don't know, I think you can do whatever you want. I'll do what I want, too.
But all that came back was a blunt, irresponsible yell.
And that was fine.
Now, kind or cold words could only be poison to me.
If Shiroe was here, I would be stuck in the middle of it. If Krusty had been here, I would have cursed him.
It's good that it's Isaac.
The last words of Isaac, who drew a long shadow from the pale sea breeze, remained in Ains' mind forever as he said goodbye.
Nobody's losing money. They're all going to be happy. --That's why you're Gilmour. I'll see you soon.
Ains, heading west, was saved.
The blessing was here, too.