"...... wind."

Back in time a little.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

On the evening of October 7, Saki Eschenbach was walking along the shore of Lake Tosmo.

Not on the side of her parents' house, but on the side of the capital, Leusert.

She came to this side of the lake by a ferryboat after she had been transferred to her parents' house by a warp gate.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

I came to this side by ferry because I was likely to meet a familiar face near my parents' house.

I had some money. I would not have a chance to spend it if I stayed on Horai Island.

The only one who came with me was Aal. He is a servant automaton made by Jin and Reinhard.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

She has a neutral appearance and is currently wearing a maid's uniform.

"Well, I think I'm a bit pathetic..."

Saki mutters to herself. Aal listens in silence.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

It all started when her father, Toa, told her that he was going to marry his friend, Stearina, a female magecraftsman.

"I don't think you have to stay single forever, and I know she's a good person."

There was no reply from Aal. Still, Saki continued to speak.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"My mother died when I was two years old, so it's no wonder I don't remember her."

Saki sighed and opened her mouth again.

"But, hey, I wonder what ...... this feeling is."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

I looked up at the sky and saw three or four quick stars twinkling in the sky.

The wind across the lake is getting colder.

"......I'll have to put this feeling aside and find a place to stay. Good grief, people are a pain in the ass.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki left the lakeside and started walking towards the town.

This is the town of Trom.

It is a fishing town, mainly fishing in Lake Tosmo.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"It's still early, so I think I'll have something to eat.

Saki had skipped lunch. She used to be fine with such an irregular lifestyle, but now that she is living a more regular life, even skipping one meal is too much for her.

"It's my first time in this town, so I don't know where to go."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

So, I walked through the entrance of the first diner I saw, the Ebi-cororiranpu-tei.

"Come in."

It was a little early in the day, so the restaurant was only a little more than half full, but there was still plenty of room.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki sat in the back corner.

It is a common sense not to bring a golem or an automaton into a small restaurant such as a popular diner, because it is too small to bring them in, unlike a fine restaurant. Therefore, Aalu is supposed to wait outside the restaurant.

"Daily set meal ...... and beer."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki usually does not drink much, but for some reason she felt like having a few drinks tonight.

"Here you go."

A tanned middle-aged woman left a wooden beer mug and a few snacks. The set meal would be served a little later.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hmmm, it tastes good because I'm thirsty.

Saki drank half of the beer mug in one gulp, and bit into a piece of dried meat that was offered as a snack.

She drank on an empty stomach, and soon became intoxicated. Looking out the window through dimly blurred eyes, she could see the lights of the shrimp catcher boats swaying on the surface of Lake Tosmo at dusk.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"The daily set meal is waiting for you.

A tray with a large piece of grilled fish, barley porridge, bean soup, and a little vegetable salad was placed in front of Saki.

"Oh, this looks delicious," she said.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki, who was basically a picky eater, started with the grilled fish.

"Yes, it is a little salty, but it tastes good.

The salty taste is probably due to the large number of workers. Saki drinks the rest of his beer and takes a bite of barley porridge.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"......Oh, this one is a few steps better than the one at Jin's place. ......"

She murmured in a small voice and suddenly burst into tears.

"......Ah, what is it?　Why?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Wiping her tears with the sleeve of her dress, Saki gulped down the soup in one gulp. It was a little hot, but she shoved some vegetable salad into her mouth to cover it up.

"I wonder if I'm this weak.

Saki was feeling self-loathing as she picked up the rest of the grilled fish and put it in her mouth.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Why did I feel lonely in the first place, just because my father was getting married?"

Her head was getting drunk, and she couldn't even think straight.

"...... lady, one more beer."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Incoherent thoughts demanded more chaos and alcohol.

The tray of set meals was lowered in exchange for the mugs of beer.

"...... wind."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Saki sighs, resting her cheekbones on the table after downing half of the mug.

"Oh, I don't care anymore. ......"

Saki is not a strong drinker to begin with. No, to be frank, she is weak. A glass of wine is all it takes to get her pleasantly intoxicated.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Girl, you should stop now, okay?"

A man sat down in front of Saki, who was drunk after one and a half beers. He was a tan man, about 40 years old, probably a fisherman.

"Are you worried about ...... your family, drinking beer alone and getting drunk?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

But Saki laughs and replies.

"That hurts my ears. But unfortunately, I'd rather be doing this right now.

"I don't know what's going on, but you're too young to be drinking away your sorrows. That's something you have to do when you're middle-aged."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hmph, can't you get drunk when you're young?"

Saying this, he downed the rest of his beer in one gulp.

"Hey, hey, don't be reckless!

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I'm not ...... being reckless ......, I'm just ...... being reckless ......."

Saki's speech was getting a little dubious, and she finally plopped down on the table.

"Hey, sweetheart,......."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Another voice came from above the worried man's head.

"Oh, I'm sorry about your friend."

The man looked up to see a reasonably well-dressed man of about 30 standing there.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I was having a bad time, so I thought I ran away from home, but I didn't realize you were drinking here.

He says this, and pulls Saki out of her squishy state.

"Oh, so she's with you. Don't let her out of your sight again, okay?

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yes, I'm sorry."

The man who helped Saki on his shoulder pays for the meal and leaves the restaurant. Saki seems to be unconscious. She is just mumbling something.

The man walks into the darkness with Saki on his shoulder. There is another man waiting for her, a small, fat man.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Well, brother, looks like it went well."

"Geez, you're a real piece of work, aren't you?

The two men laugh at each other in a disgusted tone.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"You've always got a great eye, brother.

"I can smell a psychologically unstable woman, you know, by her smell."

They exchange such comments and try to take Saki further into the dark ..........

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Please wait!"

A voice called out.

"What?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The two men looked in the direction of the voice and saw a slender-built samurai woman.

"Hey, another duck is coming from over there.

"Heh, can I do that one?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yeah, whatever you want."

The fat man licks his lips as he reaches for the slender maid .......

"Whoa!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

In a flash, she's on the ground.

"What the f*ck?　What the hell did you do?"

Aaru is an automaton created by Jin and Reinhardt, even though he is not powerful. He has been tuned on Horai Island and is capable of producing power equivalent to that of five adult males.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Its reaction speed is more than ten times faster than that of a human being. He also has a sense of touch, so he can be as gentle as he likes.

Give me back my daughter.

Aalu kicked the fat man lying on the ground in the tail, knocking him out of consciousness, and turned to face the man he called his brother.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"You've got to be kidding me!"

The man produced a knife from his pocket and threw it at Aalu's face. Aalu ducked with a tilt of his head and took a large step forward.

With that step, Aalu closed the distance. He thrust his left fist toward the man's jaw.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

It was a clean hit, and the man called "big brother" fell backward and fainted.

"My lady!"

As Aalu picked up Saki, who was lying on the ground, another man came in.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Oh, I knew this was going to happen."

It was a man of about 40 who sat in front of Saki in the cafeteria.