3.03


　Ikoma, Minami, and the capital of Kyou. They are independent zones, but at the same time, they are cities that are very close together in a symbiotic relationship. To get from Icoma to Minami or to Keogh, it takes a full day to get there, even in a carriage driven by the Daichijin. That time can be reduced to two hours by river, and even less if you are an adventurer.
　According to the aristocrats who reside in the capital of Kyou, the city of Minami is "a city like a kitchen door set up by the capital of Kyou to the sea", or, to borrow a phrase from the adventurers who call Minami their home, Kyou is "an abandoned city in the mountains that gives you quests".
　The reason for this is because they are connected by logistics and human interaction as an inseparable living sphere.

　For a long time, the Holy Empire of West Runde was a cramped country.
　The Senate, the capital of Kyou, rules the country, but the people who are actually posted to the villages of the Daichijinshi scattered throughout the region - the living quarters of Nishi Yamato, Kishu and Set - are not the nobility. They are the servants of the nobility.
　They collected taxes without going to their posts, which, in the opinion of the Adventurers, was a manor in the annals of Earth's history.
　The actual rule of the Senate, which does not have the military might of a knightly order, is limited to the capital of Kyou and a small area around it. Yet, they boast an ancient bloodline and hold down the local villages. But the aristocrats of Kyou continue to cheat on such pleas by calling in the Adventurers and issuing quests. This has been going on for more than a hundred years.
　The catastrophe brought the Senate and the Adventurers together for a moment, but the two sides were joined in history. This was the founding of Plant hwyaden. It was here that the nobles finally had real military power and peace was restored throughout western Yamato.
　However, the Adventurers are not puppets that are at the mercy of others.
　Although they had been given their status and livelihoods in Yamato by the nobility of Kyou, the Adventurers were, to begin with, superior in terms of power, economic power, military strength, and prestige to the Adventurers. It was only this knowledge of Yamato's history and dynamics, as well as his expert political skills, that made the Senate superior to the Adventurer.
　The relationship between the two sides, therefore, gradually and eventually became a tug-of-war. Of course, it wasn't as simple as a battle between the Senate and the Adventurers. If that were the case, the Adventurers would have ruled Western Yamato long before now.
　Like the Senate, the Adventurers were not a monolithic entity, and Udel had taken advantage of this fact to bring the Adventurers into conflict with each other. Even though this resulted in tensions among the nobles and merchants, and even among the city's inhabitants. And that tense atmosphere has been the bass line that has characterised Kyou's urban area in recent years.

　That urban area is now boiling over.
　With the arrival of the delegation from the Alliance of Free Cities of Eastal, the people are boiling over like a soup on the verge of boiling.
　This is not only because of the arrival of guests from the east, but also because the winds brought by these guests may loosen the city's stiffness, which has been hardened for a long time.　It was also a sign of hope. Gradually, the division of Plant hwyaden into two halves was being revealed, and the fact that the Senate was involved was becoming clearer and clearer to both the astute adventurers and the earthlings in the city.
　The mission appeared at a time when a single moment of uncertainty could have swung the tide in favor of a resolution. This seemed to be a sign that the future of Western Yamato as a whole would be revealed in the near future.
　People talked about it on the streets and in the taverns, and everyone was eager to divulge their thoughts as if they were a bit of a connoisseur.

　As steward and duke, Udell is the de facto ruler of Kyou's capital, a megalomaniac who controls the Saigu family as puppets, but there are few voices these days pushing that he is the next generation's main man. It's not that he's lacking in political power, it's just that he's inferior to the Adventurer, which is an order of magnitude greater than anything else.
　But when you add in the rivalry between the two beauties in Plant hwyaden and the two guilds, the story gets a whole lot more complicated. --A well-placed source provides a good explanation of the conflict between Wet Feathers, the Jet-Black Nun, the mastermind behind Plant hwyaden and the heart of the Adventurers, and Intix, the Howling Silence, the ruler of all government and darkness in the guild, with no end in sight. It is said that they are in the middle of a battle for leadership.
　The battle for power between the two men is a close one, and the number and power of the subordinates and collaborators who crown each other are balanced and not easily settled. There are those who assert that Wet Feather has almost won the war, while others argue that the amount of hidden assets of the No. 1 and Intix is immeasurable, and this is a topic that cannot be settled even in the bars of the city.
　And in the power relationship between these two antagonists, who could be called a thousand-day-old hand, the element of Duke Udell, who must be said to be inferior in strength, cannot be ignored. The wisest of the drunken men who talk in the tavern talk like that. Woodell will sell himself high and take advantage of the fishermen, he says.

　At any rate, so Touya walked alongside Rundell House on the boiling streets of Minami. He was accompanied by Soujiro, who had followed him, saying he would be a bouncer. As Touya, the man who asked for the connection, he needed Souzya to introduce him to the other side. To be precise, Touya was not in trouble, but Rundel House, which had some requirements, was in trouble.
　Speaking of that Rundell House, it seems that they are nervous. Normally he is so noisy that he is restless, but now he is hurrying down the road with a hard expression.
''It's okay, brother Rudy.
'Hmm. ...Maybe I looked difficult?
Yes.
　Rundelhaus was taken aback by Touya's honest nod.
　The two of them were looking at each other and Soujiro chuckled.
You two are really good friends, aren't you?
Well!
You're my best friend!
　They squared their shoulders in front of Soujiro and laughed at him. To the two of us at the Rundel House, this may look like a "cool, hot warrior pose", but to the untrained eye it looks like a big dog playing with each other.

　The sun is slowly setting, and one by one, the hurried stores begin to light up their "Hotarubi Lanterns". It's the time of day when the town is colored by the dimly blurred lights. The three of them went against the flow of the crowded streets, crowded with the Daichijin and the Adventurers, who were making dinner arrangements and heading to the mound.
　The three of them went against the flow of the group. Touya checked the map in hand and arrived at a small restaurant named Kamogawa-tei. The back street was faced with a small back door, and when you walked through it as if you were bowing your head, there was a small garden just a few meters in front of it.
　The entrance to the restaurant itself was small, and we had to watch out for each other as we passed through the narrow corridor, where we were greeted by a cat-eyed woman of the Cat People tribe.

You're going to be able to find out if you're going to be able to get a good deal more. Your companion is waiting for you.
Yes!
　Unsure of the etiquette of a place like this, Touya answered vigorously and followed the back of the waiter into the tavern.
　The narrow passageway was lit by soft lights, and also had many twists and turns. The question of why such a cumbersome structure was so cumbersome was answered when we entered a private room with a sliding wooden door that resembled a brazier. A wide, foot-long window opened onto a small wooden deck facing the courtyard.
　The three of us, left behind by the waiter who bowed his head politely and left, forgot to take our seats and enjoyed the scene.
　The courtyard, with its neat and clean purple and white flowers, stood out fantastically in the dusk and the light leaking from the private rooms. This restaurant must offer its customers four or five private rooms facing the courtyard. Touya was impressed that this was why the corridor connecting the private rooms was winding and unnatural.

''It's been a while, hasn't it? 'It's been a while, hasn't it? Have you met the two of you a few times in Akiba?
　Returning my gaze from the scene in the garden, I saw Ains, a hunched-over man with a slightly complicated expression, sitting in front of an upscale looking table.
''It's been a while, Mr. Ains. Have you gotten used to the water here?
　Touya draws back a little as Soujiro smiles carefreely at her.
　As far as Touya knows, this "adventurer" named Ains was the one who broke up the "Round Table" by ordering the Duke of Akiba to set up the "Akiba Governing Office" at one time. I don't think it was a big fight that turned sour for him, since he didn't have anything to do with it and the atmosphere in Akiba hasn't deteriorated since then, but that doesn't mean that he has any hesitation in greeting people the way Soujiro did, which is amazing.
　In the eyes of Touya, Soujiro is the second highest master of swordsmanship after Naotsugu, but his inner workings have a depth that is impossible to imitate. Nazuna and Tetra warned me not to imitate them.

It's not a hardship on me to live. Things seem to be going well with Akiva.
Mr. Ains has left me a lot of things.
　I see.
　The short conversation that Ains replied like that seemed to have cleared his mind. Ains' narrow eyes, which had been showing the color of caution and challenge, suddenly relaxed and became gentle.
　What the heck. He seems to be a much nicer person than I've been told.
　Rudely, Touya thought of that.

　Just as they were seated, the waiter reappeared, brewing some kind of expensive honey-colored drink and laying out the sweets. Ains gives a questioning look to Touya and the others who have taken their seats.
　Touya doesn't know how to speak in this kind of formal-looking atmosphere at the table. Since Touya was the one who asked Soujiro to listen to Rundel House's wishes, Soujiro must have sensed that Touya's head was spinning around, assuming that he had to do something to trigger the conversation. He turned the water on, "Today, me and Ains-san are both sort of substitutes.
　Touya was a little relieved and said, "It wasn't my brother Rudy - I have a favor to ask. It's the Rundell House of Record Horizons (Log Horizon).
　He introduces his blonde friend sitting next to him.
'As for wanting to see Touri-sama...'
Rundelhaus-Code. I requested it.
　The gesture of standing up from your seat and bowing gracefully is sophisticated.
　It's a cool look, unlike his brother Rudy, who is usually flirting with his fellow adventurers. What's in it is a dungeon buddy who can attack and annihilate Touya, but I can't help but admire her for doing it so well.
　Isuzu sis can't honestly admit this kind of thing either, so she'll always be at a standstill, Touya folded his arms in his mind and nodded his head.

''What are your requirements?''
I want an account of the fallen House of Code of the Nine-Tiered Territories. And if you can, I want a commendation to replace them.
　Rundelhaus told him briefly what he wanted.
　Time passed between Rundelhaus and Ains as they stared at each other across the table, not even sitting down.
　The faint sound of insects leaking from the garden, Touya thought to himself. It had been much easier than she had thought, and Rundelhaus had succeeded in reaching out to the powers that be in Minami. It was due to the fact that Soujirou had been able to take the skin off, but that was why the excitement in his heart was so strong. Of course, such concerns couldn't be spilled to Shiroe and Soujirou, let alone to Rundell House. For now, we are making good progress towards our goal.

''........I understand. Let me tell you.
　Ains nodded. With that decision, the 'Horizons of Record', to which Touya belonged, would obtain a thin bond to the land of Nine Tail. The three of them, having obtained an understanding for the time being, prepared for a detailed meeting.



◆3.04


　A week opened and Shiroe and her group visited Kyou.
　However, the distance from Minami is close. They had to travel with a few days' worth of cargo while leaving their base of operations behind.
　My first impression of the capital of Kyou was that it was more secluded than I expected. But that's just my first impression, as the Daichijin officials led me straight down the central street early in the morning.
　We arrived at the White Sand Palace, where a ceremony and banquet was to be held to welcome the delegation from the Alliance of Free Cities Eastal.

　However, it was not a grand celebration as soon as they arrived, and they were first guided to a specially set up antechamber for a break. It's a larger space than an elementary or junior high school classroom, but it's minimally furnished, which suggests that this is the antechamber for Shiroe and the other special envoys to the Round Table. In the adjoining hall, Yserus and the other members of the League of Free Cities Eastal were also housed, and it was more of an antechamber than a waiting room.
　At first glance, this palace seems to be a beautiful place. As its name suggests, the White Sand Palace is made up of several gardens with deep greenery connected by paths of white sand that seem to have been bleached white.
　To me, Shiroe, who has no aesthetic background, it looked like a wedding hall.
　For modern Japanese people, a building for a ceremony is not very familiar. Unless you go to worship services every week, you may not be familiar with them, but for the rest of us, school auditoriums and physical education are probably just huge spaces where we can gather. If those spaces are not geared toward a particular ritual, then wedding and funeral halls would be the next most obvious choice. In that sense, Shiroe's point was not far off the mark.

'Change of plans, huh?
Yeah, that's the word. I'm gonna move it up a couple hours.
　Shiroe and the others, who had been spending their time listening to the noisy atmosphere of the main hall, received such news.　
''That's--. Has it been communicated to Prince Yserus as well?''
Over there. I just got a call that sums it up.
Well, since this is the kind of liturgy that we're talking about, I think it would be better to go along with their instructions. I don't know, maybe it was just a mistake.
　The people in the hall seem to agree with Karashin, who states a bit dismissively.

　Shiroe, Karashin, Soujiro, Isaac and their deputy are wearing dull indigo roundtable uniforms. They are wearing it with a more formal air, but if that's the case, it's much easier to put it on than it is for the nobles of the Earthmen. An hour is enough time to carefully comb your hair, and there is a relaxed atmosphere in the room where you have been waiting since morning.
　It's not that the living environment is bad, as Shiroe and the others had brought a table and chairs as well as snacks in their "magic bag," but the atmosphere of the gorgeous ceremony hall, to which they are not accustomed, is not relaxing.
It seemed to be a bit sluggish.
　At Rezaric's shrug, Shiroe and the others gathered in one sofa set looked in that direction.
''I think we're in a struggle,''
　Waving his finger, Taro continued.
''I've been asking around a bit. Apparently, the relationship between Mr. Wetha and Mr. Intix has gone sour, and then the tea of the nobles came in, so who's name will be called first in the ceremony?　And who will sit next to who?　They're behind in their preparations because they're complaining about it.
It's not funny.
　Isaac, nibbling on the fruit, cut off and discarded Taro's report, dressed in his short-pants round table uniform, in his usual fashion.
What's going to happen now?
　And Karashin's tone of voice is not so troubled.

　What will happen?
　Shiroe tried to repeat those words in her mind without any idea what to expect.
　Of course, Karashin said, "What will happen to today's face-to-face ritual? Id. Even if we were to read a little deeper, at best it would be "What are the nobles of Kyou going to do with us? It should be a light question of the degree.
　However, the question on Shiroe's mind after receiving that statement was, "What will happen to the land of Minami in the future?
　The decision to dispatch Prince Iserus, Duke Maiama's son in law and heir to the throne, was a landmark decision in the history of the Free Cities Alliance Eastar and the Holy Empire of Westland. It could be said that the Free Cities Alliance Eastar had played the best card it could currently play.
　That's why this problem is over with the Free Cities Alliance Eastar. With the decision to send a goodwill delegation led by Prince Ysersus and the adventurers involving the Round Table, the ball was now in the hands of the Holy Empire of Westlande. Whether the League of Free Cities of Eastar held or rejected the hand of the Free Cities, the decision now rested with the Holy Empire of Westarande.
　The role of politics, of course, is to make those kinds of decisions and take responsibility for them.
　That's why Holy Empire West Runde should make those decisions. --But here's the thing. But there is one problem here: the Holy Empire of West Runde, or rather, the Ten Seats Council of Plant hwyaden, which is the actual governing body of the Holy Empire, is divided.
　And in this scene, the battle for control of the Ten-Seat Conference is directly related to the decision on how to deal with the League of Free Cities of Eastar. Now that Wet Feather had advocated appeasement with the Round Table, the Intix would have to reject it as a political axis of conflict, or at the very least make a decision in a different direction. Otherwise, the point of contention would disappear.

　Wetuwa said, "Wait a while longer. What he meant by that was the pride of winning.
　Shiroe recalls the garden that night.
　He intends to win, and the odds are that he will win. There was no sense of grief in the wet wings that night. There was tension and fear, but there was intent.
　But on the other hand, what about Intix?
　Shiroe didn't know what she was up to these days, but she didn't seem to be the kind of person who would go into a losing battle with a big smile on her face. At least that was not the case with her in the Prodigal's Tea Party.
　Shiroe did not know who would win.
　Nor does she have any intention at the moment of getting involved in that conflict. From the point of view of Shiroe and the rest of the Akiba community, the conflict at the Ten-Seat Conference is a matter for the people of the Kansai region to handle. It's not to say that they don't want to be bothered to do what they want, but the main reason for this is that they don't think it's a good idea for them to interfere. There is something apologetic in the minds of Shiroe and the Akiba delegation, who have the spirit of modern Japanese people, where it would be irreverent to interfere in the future of the people who live here.
　Of course, if strictly analyzed, Shiroe doesn't have the guts to jump in between two women who are constantly peering at each other (and both are classified as so-called "beautiful women"). I feel a little pathetic myself, but the way women mediate conflicts was not part of the credits I've acquired so far.

'What do you want, Mr. Intix?'
If I can't understand something, I can't understand it either.
　It was an inward thought that I let out with a sigh, but I got an unexpected response from Soujiro. Soujiro smiled and scratched his head as he met eyes with Shiroe, wondering what was amusing him, "Tehee.
'Is there something my lord doesn't understand?'
I'm a woman.
　At Akatsuki's point, Shiroe frowned and raised his hands in surrender. At the sight of this, Isaac substituted an "Ah" interrupted voice for a comment. He couldn't tell if the meaning of that indication was "I can agree with you that you don't understand women" or "Shiroe is that kind of guy, he's incompetent". If it was the former, it would be a little better, but it's more likely the latter.
'My lord is a nibbler, you know.'

Do you understand Akatsuki?
I'm a good burglar and I'm investigating.
　Shiroe laughed to retort after being told that much, but what she heard was Akatsuki's unexpected response. Incredibly, Akatsuki pulled out a small scroll from somewhere in her Roundtable uniform and unrolled it sloppily. It seems to be her way of writing a memo pad.
Originally, Plant hwyaden's guild master Nureha was never seen outside of guild launches and events, but was actually run by a sub-guild master named Intix.
　Akatsuki read out her chest.
　It seems that in the week or so since she arrived in Minami, she has been using her special skills to gather rumors about the surrounding area, as she has disappeared frequently. Of course, Shiroe and Karashin's duo had access to similar information, but the fact that Akatsuki had even voluntarily collected and organized it was impressive.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that Wet Feather came out in full force to spearhead the recent incident. It seems that the two of them began to fall out of favor after that incident. The Intics have been promoting something called the "pass system.
The pass system?
Dinner ticket. You get a meal.
　Akatsuki roughly answered Isaac's question with a scowl.
　Shiroe decided to help out with the quicksand.
The guild members, in other words, all the adventurers of the west, that is. It's a system to give them their own issued passports. This is a system that rationed food, potions, arrows and other consumables for free according to the rank of the passport.
I knew it was a dubious system.
　Isaac sniffed wildly.
　Apparently, that's his way of thinking.
To put it bluntly, it's a civil service for the adventurers. In exchange for buying all the monster materials and other items you create at Plant hwyaden, you'll get a passport based on the quantity and quality of the items you deliver.
What does that even mean?
　To Karashin's explanation of Karashin's undertaking of the second half of the explanation, Akatsuki tilts his head slightly with his scroll at the ready. Even if you know what kind of rules exist through research, you need to analyze them to understand their purpose, and it would be difficult to understand for Akatsuki, who has little experience in large scale combat (raids).

'I think there are a number of objectives. Efficiency improvement through planned production, savings in actual money, and stability in the feelings of guild members through guaranteed living expenses.
　Shiroe put into words a few of the predictable objectives that were mild and streetwise.
　--I hear that by consolidating living materialization and living conditions into a passport rank system, the power of Plant hwyaden will be increased and sanctions against rebels will be possible.
　--It is said that by separating the internal economy of Plant hwyaden from the Elder Tail's original gold coin system, it will increase its defensive capabilities even if an economic war breaks out between the East and West.
　There are many fishy reasons for this, but Karasin is the only member of this group who understands the subtleties of this area.
　As expected, he hollowed out his mouth, but did not open it. From the point of view of the Alliance of Free Cities Eastal and Akiva, it's an awkward move, but from the standpoint of the Ten-Seat Conference, it's quite a clever move.
　By shifting to a point system for daily transactions, the Ten-Seat Conference can use all of its cash earnings from gold coins to buy up and maintain the zone. With its ample funds behind it, the efficiency of its land acquisitions would greatly exceed that of Akiba.
　Wary of pressure from the same Adventurers, it was a defensive move.

''Bang!　Here I am, an idol who shines even when dressed modestly!
　It was Tetra who showed up with complete disregard for such an atmosphere.
　It's a good idea to be aware of the fact that it's a ceremony, so she's wearing the Roundtable's uniform, but she's wearing a small dark blue school cap, a ribbon tie with a dark pink line running down the front, challenging hot pants and sai-hai socks. The same uniform is supposed to be used, but the style looks like a stage costume, and while everyone is at a loss for words, she slurps up to me and dives from her ass into the gap in the sofa and bounces a couple of times.
You can't do that. The place of residence has been changed, everyone has a dark look in their eyes, and I can't get in touch with Kazuhiko-san. I'm afraid that my little girl has been forgotten!
Yeah, I've been trying to reach you.
　Shiroe took another look at his guild mates.
　She looked at Tetra, who sighed exaggeratedly, wondering if she was tired, and thought for a moment. The sun was high outside the window. It shouldn't even be noon yet.
　If the ceremony is delayed for two hours, someone from the Ten-Seat Conference might already be at the venue in charge of setting up. In the event that you're not in the ceremony room, both Wet Feathers and Intix should be present in a specially prepared antechamber, even if they're not in the Shomyo-den, the ceremony venue.

　--I'll see Intix.
　As if to scold herself for hesitating due to her lack of confidence earlier, Shiroe made up her mind. We already know from the reports that Intix is increasing his ambition and dominance in the land of Minami.
　Shiroe wasn't a saint enough to accuse them of that unilaterally, but they were still friends who had fought together under Kanami. You should have something to say to him, and he should have something to say to you.
　I know that it's not Intix who will continue to fight an unwinnable battle, and if Shiroe's instincts are correct, Intix should have an enormous amount of money and strength in his hands. Even if Intix and Wet Feathers are forced to settle the matter, they should at least confront each other like Shiroe and Ains, hopefully leaving the possibility of restoration intact.
　Shiroe, who was aware that he had been spoiled by Ains' goodness, sat up and said that was why he had to talk to Intix.
''I'll go and find someone I know.
　There's probably still time for the ceremony to begin.
　With those words, Shiroe set out to explore the White Sand Gosho.
　Right now, aside from Yamato, there are enough important people in this place to decide Minami's entire destiny. It is never a waste of time to exchange words with them. With that in mind.