※

　トントンという音が響き、カリスは目を覚ました。
　そこは山羊の毛皮で作られたテントではなく、船室のベッドだった。
　両腕を広げれば指先が壁に触れる程度の広さしかないが、ここが船の中であることを考えれば仕方がない。
　それに四方を囲む木材や家具の新しさを考えれば自分を迎えるためにかなり気を遣っていることが分かる。

「……ぐっ」

　カリスはベッドから体を起こし、口元を押さえた。
　原因は船酔いだ。
　自由都市国家群の港を出てから二週間が経過しているのに吐き気が治まらない。
　船員によればいつになく穏やかな波らしいが、初めて海に出る者と海に生きる者の差を思い知らされた旅だった。

「……旅」

　口の中で言葉を転がすと、視界が涙で滲んだ。
　これは旅ではない。
　自分には帰る場所がないのだから。
　カリスは顔も見たことのない男の妾になるのだ。
　事の発端は諸部族連合が進めている移住計画……その移住先の領主が女を欲したことだった。
　これだけなら不自然なことではない。
　領主が自分に逆らわないという保証……人質を欲するのは当然のことだ。
　こちらにも部族の者を領主の近くに送り込めるというメリットがある。
　本来ならば結婚適齢期……十五歳前後の娘が妾になるはずだったのだが、選ばれたのはカリスだった。
　長老会が土地のために女を差し出すのかと言い出したのだ。
　族長は長老会を無視できずにカリスを選んだ。
　石女（うまずめ）は女ではないという理由だった。
　それを聞いた時、カリスは自分の芯が折れたような気がした。
　トントンという音が再び響く。
　誰かが扉を叩いているのだ。

「もう少しだけ待って下さい」

　カリスは涙を拭い、ベッドから立ち上がった。

「……酷い顔」

　壁に据え付けられた鏡を見て、溜息交じりに呟く。
　髪はボサボサ、顔色は悪く、目元はクマで縁取られている。
　船酔いで食事と睡眠をまともに取れなかったことを思えば当然かも知れない。
　もう三十路を意識する年齢だ。
　十代の頃のように疲れ知らずとはいかない。
　トントンという音が響き、カリスは壁に掛かっているケープに手を伸ばした。
　ケープを羽織り、フードを目深に被る。
　これで少しは誤魔化せるはずだ。
　誤魔化せないにしても何もしないよりマシだ。

「……ふぅ」

　溜息を吐いて扉を開けると、赤毛の青年が立っていた。
　カリスと同じムー族の出身の若者だった。
　Behind him stands a sharp-eyed woman the Luca of the Fu tribe.
　It seems she was driven from her homeland just like him.

''Here you are. What can I do for you?''
The ship has arrived in Sylvania, and I've come to call you.

　I didn't tell her to get ready to disembark because I know she doesn't have her luggage with her.
　Karis touches the small leather bag that hangs from her waistband.
　It's the only thing he can call his luggage.
　Nothing else.

'Go ahead, over here.

　A breeze caressed his cheek as the red-haired young man led him out on deck.

''.........''

　Karis ran to the boat's railing and splashed vomit into the sea.
　He smelled the smell of the shore and felt nauseated.
　He had hardly eaten, so all that came out was stomach juices.
　Still, the nausea didn't go away, and the discomfort was intermittent, as if his stomach was turning over.
　The discomfort finally subsides and I slump into the spot.
　Then someone held out a handkerchief to her.
　Karis reached out and stopped moving.
　That's because the handkerchief was beautifully embroidered.

''Well take it off quickly.

　When I looked up, I saw Luca glaring at me sullenly.

''Well... uh, it's just so stunningly embroidered.''
It's not much. I'll throw it in the ocean if you don't use it.
Thank you.

　Maybe he's not a bad person, he takes the handkerchief and wipes his mouth.

'I'll wash it and return it to you.'
I don't need it. I'll sew you a new one.

　Luca turned away with a pouty face.

''........Are you okay?''

　The red-haired young man called out to me in a reserved manner.

'Excuse me,'
No so please follow me.

　The red-haired young man led the way and walked away.
　He passes a swaying pier and two men stand at the end of it.
　One of them is Sif.
　He is highly respected by those who work as mercenaries, but he is not thought of well by the Chiefs and the Council of Elders.
　Or perhaps I should say, they are wary of him.
　To the superior people, a competent person is an enemy who threatens their position.
　In the case of the Presbyterian Church, it is beyond alarming, it is hostile.
　But since he has lost his real power, he can't do more than complain about it.
　The other is a man with a frivolous smile.
　He is dressed in black.
　He appears to be of fairly high status, but his clothes don't match the atmosphere.

''Sif-sama, I've brought you two here.
You must be tired. You must be tired after your long journey. Have a good night's rest.
'Yes!　Thank you!

　The red-haired young man reported, and Sif replied in a low voice.
　There was no warmth in his voice for a word of exertion.
　Still, he replied with an excited look on his face and bowed his head cheerfully.
　A light tap on his shoulder, like a scrape.
　He looks back for a moment.
　What did he see?
　He broke into a happy face and headed for the city.

'Lord Karis, Lord Luca, I'm sorry to call you out at our convenience.
No, if I can be of any use to my tribe, I'll be more than happy to do so.
....

　Sif bows his head lightly.
　I wanted to say something resentful, but saying those words would make me feel less worthy.
　Thinking the same thing, Luca crosses his arms and turns away.

'Um, how are you over there?'

　Karis turned her gaze to the man with a frivolous smile on his face.
　When Sif gave him a look, the man zipped out of the room.

''I'm Kane, I'm the deputy of the Countess of Caddo. Today.........

　
　What he took out were two envelopes.

'I'll give them to you.'
Yeah, please.

　Sif took the envelope and held it out to Karis and Luca.
　The envelope had his name on it, probably because he didn't know which one to give it to.

'What's this?'
That's a residence permit.

　It was Kane who answered Karis' question.

'May I open it?'
Yeah, no problem.

　I opened the envelope and found a piece of paper from inside.

''It's lined up with some small sentences, but the gist of it is that it promises to treat you like a territorial citizen. If you have this, you should be treated accordingly in other territories as well.
That's the way it should be.

　This paper is my lifeline I don't rely on it too much, but it seems appropriate for me now.

'Don't be silly,'
Lord Luca.

　Sif chided, but Luca didn't take a step back and glared back at him.

''This was my bad way of saying it. Crono-sama and I will do our best to protect you guys if you are treated unfairly in any other territory.
You can say anything you want.
You'd know I'm not just talking to you if you'd seen my signature.

　I looked at the permit and saw three signatures.

Three lords guarantee the status of the three lords. A decent lord wouldn't try to pick a fight with three lords.

　Karis stared at the permit intently.
　He had felt unreliable earlier, but it was no wonder that some of them were willing to kill to get them.

''I'm in the process of laying the groundwork for Baron Mesartim, Baron Bossain, and Baron Treis, but the next permit will be in the joint names of six people. Are you relieved?

　Then Kane grinned.

'Then why don't you just say that in the beginning?
There's no such thing as a sure thing. Well, it's more reliable than a curse.

　Embarrassed, Luca turned away.

'I'll have the two of you rest at the Mercenary Guild and head down to Crono-sama's in the morning.
You okay?
'There are no transgressors in the Mercenary Guild.'

　Sif said, and Kane chuckled.

'And there are women in the pioneer villages.

　I'm sure he doesn't mean anything else, but the word "woman" makes me feel trapped.

'Not that one,'

　Kane glanced at her, and Karis pulled her hood over her eyes as Kane glanced at her.

'You look tired after two weeks on the ship, eh?
...hmm.

　Sif looked at Karis and Luca with price-taking eyes.

'Master Crono doesn't make a fuss over arriving a day or two late.
Can you do that?
Yeah, it's not much of a hassle.

　Kane undertakes it with ease.
　Since he was even appointed as a deputy, there is no doubt that the lord trusts him.
　From the conversation, it seems that he has a good rapport with Sif, but I don't know how a guildmaster of a mercenary guild can establish such a relationship with a deputy.

''I'm sorry.''
I just don't want you to be mad at me. Also, you might want to explain to me what you've been called in for.

　Kane leaned up and pointed at Sif.

'I thought you'd been briefed?'
'In my experience, the women in Crono-sama's place are either misunderstood from the beginning or they're misunderstood along the way. So I'm going to explain to them how it came to be that this happened and even that there's no meaning behind it.
Okay.

　Sif said with a sigh.

*

　The mercenary guild's base was located on the outskirts of the city.
　Its appearance was plain compared to some of the buildings that were on the way here, but its size was far superior.
　The only buildings that rivaled this would be the warehouses that lined the harbor.
　But I don't feel any intention to show off my power.
　I tried my best to embody quality and robustness, but I couldn't help myself any more.
　The building gives off such a sense of stoicism and resignation.
　That can be seen by looking at the garden attached to it.
　Or perhaps I should say the training grounds.
　There's nothing but a few logs lined up in a row.
　Even the undergrowth of grass has been driven to the four corners, probably due to intense training.
　What a waste, Karis touches the leather bag that hangs from her waistband.

''Well this is the base of the mercenary guild.
It's pretty quiet.
Many of them live in the village. Only a single person lives here now.

　Sif chuckled and replied as Karis spoke her thoughts.
　As he stared at the building in a daze, the door opened.
　A well-dressed middle-aged woman came out of the building.

''She's Saara. Normally, she does chores in the guild...''
Well, well, well, welcome to the long journey. It is my pleasure to serve as your stewardess, Miss Saara.

　Saara walked up to him quickly and hung her head.

''Can you ... ask?''
Yes, of course. Come on in.

　Saara led me into the building, where I found several horizontal sofas lined up.
　Beyond that, it narrowed rapidly to a long corridor.

''Those of you who have business with the guild will wait on this couch and be moved to the back room.
Yeah, so,

　Karis gave a small nod.
　The interior of the building was decorated with interiors.
　Most of them were spellcasting tools, though.

'Your rooms will be upstairs.
I need to wash up.

　Luca muttered to himself.
　It was a slightly rugged sounding voice, but Karis agreed with her.

''Yes, I'm ready to bathe and change my clothes.
Do you get to bathe in the water?

　Yes, Saara nodded proudly.
　Bathing in the hot water was synonymous with luxury in the Bethel Mountains, so she knew the feeling.

'Then let me show you to the bathroom.

　Saara led the way to the bathroom.
　The bathroom was up the stairs at the end of the corridor and across the hallway from each other.
　When I opened the door and entered, I found myself in a changing room.
　Large shelves were fixed to the wall and two baskets were stored in each.
　A closer look at the two baskets with a change of clothes in them.

'Are you okay?'
Excuse me?
Peeping Tom.
'I will keep an eye on you both until you have finished bathing, so don't worry.

　Luca blurted out, and Saara replied with a smiling smile.

'Then it would be nice,'
Enjoy your stay.

　Sarra bowed and closed the door.

*

　My body was lazy, probably because of the bath.
　Just not unpleasant.
　It was a laziness that even felt comforting.
　I wanted to get a good night's sleep until dinner, but in order to do so, I had to go down a long hallway.
　I reached the end of the corridor, encouraging myself to fall asleep as I walked.

'This will be your room, sir.
It's a big room.

　Luca said that when Saara opened the door.
　It's definitely a pretty big room.
　It might have been used as a large room, but right now it was only furnished for two people.
　There is a bed and a vanity table by the wall and a desk and table in the center.
　The furniture was arranged symmetrically, as if reflected in a mirror.

I'll be here for dinner, so please make yourself comfortable in the meantime. If you have any wishes regarding your meal, please let me know.
I'm hoping...
I haven't had meat in a while.

　Luca interrupts Karis' words and speaks of hope.
　He had been eating only fish on the ship, so to say he missed the meat of the beast would be an understatement.

'Accepted,'
Please.

　Saara bowed her head lightly and closed the door.

''Um....''
Don't you want some meat?

　Luca reached the table in the center and began to embroider.
　I guess there's a better way to say it.
　As he was thinking about this, Luca opened his mouth.

''I'm ... pissed off.''
Excuse me.
I'm not angry at you. I'm just pissed off at my tribe and the Confederacy.

　Luca rested his hand and bit his lip in frustration.

''It's a joke that they decided to marry me without my permission, divorce me without my permission, talk behind my back as they please, and to top it all off, I'm going to be the concubine of a guy who has no idea where his bones come from.

　'You said the stone woman wasn't a woman,' Luca said in a voice that sounded like he was spitting blood.

'Aren't you pissed off?'
I don't know.
Wow, you're a good girl. Are you going to be a concubine for your tribe?
'That's not what I'm talking about I probably don't have the energy left to do that.

　Oh," Karis pouted softly.
　He felt like he finally had it all figured out.
　Not only was my core broken, but I didn't even have the energy to be angry.
　So he accepted it if it was for the good of the tribe.
　This way I could comfort myself that I had sacrificed for the tribe.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
No, that's okay.
You look terrible.

　I touch his face, but I can't see what he looks like.

'You need to get some rest,'
I will.

　Karis crawled into bed.
　The bedding was warm and snug, as if she had just dried it, and for no reason, she began to cry.

*

　When I woke up, my pillow was wet with tears.
　I don't remember what kind of dream it was, but it couldn't have been a good one.

'You can sleep a little longer,'
No, I'm fine.

　Karis wiped her eyes and got out of bed.

'Were you talking in your sleep?'
It's a quiet one.

　Shortly after Luca answered, there was a tap on the door.
　Karis opened the door to find Sif and Saara standing there.

'You're looking much better,'
Thank you.

　As he bowed his head lightly, Sif gave a wry smile.

'Before we eat, I want to explain the situation to you. Would you mind taking a seat?

　Yes, Karis nodded and took a seat facing Luca.
　Sif stood in front of the table and hung his head deeply.

'First, I want to apologize on behalf of the Chief for calling you out at our convenience, and secondly, for the heartless words I've been subjecting you to. I'm truly sorry.
No.

　Karis replied in a shaky voice.
　It was all he could do.
　The fact that he apologized didn't change the fact that he was unnecessary to the tribe.

'The deputy told me to explain it to you?
Yeah, I'll explain it to you now.

　Sif looked up and covered his mouth with his hand as if in thought.

''.........The man who rules the Count of Caddo, where we are located, and the Marquis of Erakis to the east of it, is a man named Crono.
The man asked you to give him a concubine, didn't he?
'Master Crono didn't say anything. His wife's maid who works in the mansion - in short, he asked me to recommend her because there was a vacancy in the servants.

　The moment I heard those words, I felt giddy.
　If those words are true, then what I'm seeking is labor force.

''Anybody who can work as a servant is fine.

　Luca's face fell and he said in a stifled tone of voice.

'His wife is the daughter of the former Emperor. She has no authority now, but we had to show our sincerity.
Your daughter Quanto?　Why don't you send that guy in?
I disowned that one.

　Sif answered immediately.

'What?'
I disowned that one. I'm in charge of the agency now.

　When Luca asked back, Sif said matter-of-factly.
　He's not the type to tell a lie, so it must be true.
　But still, he's a terrible father to throw his own daughter out into the skies of a foreign country.

''Should we, well, work as maids?''
No, try to be a mistress.

　I couldn't continue with a second phrase because I was too direct in my speech.

'Master Crono is a womanizer. Probably, if you approach him, he'll have a pretty good chance of getting to you.
Didn't you tell me to make sure that didn't happen?
He just asked me to explain so he wouldn't misunderstand me.

　Sif said quickly.

'Um, what should I demand if I become a mistress?'
I have no specific requirements.
What do you mean?
It is what it is.

　Sif replied to Luca in a matter-of-fact manner.
　'Approach me so that I can be your mistress,' he said, but made no demands.

'Master Crono does not like to mix public and private matters. He may be able to be a mistress, but he will not wield power or gain money.'
So you're not making any sense.
'That man won't be able to cut us off as easily if a tribesman becomes one of our people. That's all that matters.

　Sif said quietly.

We cannot afford to lose this treatment.''

　We were given an environment where hard work was rewarded accordingly.
　It's only natural to want to maintain that.

When are we, well, under, you know, Master Crono?
Day after tomorrow.
Can I visit the village once, please?
I'll have her show you around tomorrow.
Thank you.

　Karis bowed her head lightly.
　Even if Crono was a villain, he knew he could endure it if he understood what he was dedicating himself to.

Do you have any other questions or requests?
....
....

　Karis and Luca didn't answer.

'Then enjoy your meal.'

　Relieved, Sif let out a small breath and walked out of the room.

'Yes, yes, here you go,'

　Saara pushed the wooden wagon into the room and began to lay out the food on the table.
　It was a large loaf of bread, a cream stew, herb-grilled meat, and a salad.
　Karis's eyes widened lightly.
　He was surprised at the size of the bread, but also at the abundance of vegetables in the stew and salad.

'Serve them before they get cold.

　Karis and Luca folded their hands and offered a prayer of thanks to the spirits.
　Then they fearlessly reached for the bread and broke it in two.

''It's ... white.''

　His eyes widened this time.
　The cross section of the bread was white as snow.
　This indicates that the wheat used to make the bread is free of adulteration.
　In the Bethel Mountains, where there is not much land suitable for cultivation, gray bread with a lot of adulteration is the norm.
　White bread is only eaten at festivals and weddings.
　The bread is broken into pieces.
　It is aromatic and slightly sweet.
　I put the bread on a plate and scoop up the cream stew with a spoon.

"Is that chicken?

　It was a hunk of meat on a spoon.
　When I put it in my mouth, it crumbled into a hollowed-out hollow.
　This is not how it works with a chicken that can no longer lay eggs.

'It's so crispy,'

　I look up to see Luca eating his salad and his eyes are wide open.
　She took a bite of the salad while backing away from the cream stew.

''.........''

　The crunchy, crunchy texture opened my eyes again.
　I knew it was a fresh vegetable, but I didn't expect it to be anything like this.
　Compared to this, vegetables from the Bethel Mountains were like shriveled weeds.

''Being a mercenary is a luxury, isn't it?''

　Luca ate his soup and blurted it out.
　'In a way, it's no wonder that mercenaries are so extravagant.
　They risk their lives to earn money and feed their tribes.
　If they didn't have this level of perks, they wouldn't be able to do it.

''This much doesn't count as a luxury.
What?
You can eat this much for a little money here.

　When Luca asked back, Saara replied with a smiling smile.

'Maybe we won't have to pay for it this year, huh?
How's the frontier going?
Yeah, that's right.　The harder you work, the easier it gets, so my husband clears the forest on his off-duty days!

　Saara laughed caracalla.

'What is Master Crono like?'
I've never met him in person, but I've often heard that he loves women. I've heard that you have three wives and more mistresses than you can count on your fingers.
It doesn't suck.

　Luca spat, but Karis was put off by it.
　He's older and has no means of seducing men, but he's being told to share in it and win their favor.

They laugh at the 'heroism' of the city. We don't mind it, either.
What about it?
They're realists. We're all realists. Well, if my husband hugged his mistress, I would beat him up. The lord is not bothering anyone, and he is administering the good government, so I won't complain.
Yeah, I suppose so.

　Luca moved his mouth to mug.
　She would like to be a little more considerate, but a mercenary's wife would have to be brazen to get by.

''Come on, keep eating.''

　Karis felt unreasonable, but she reached for the bread.
　The white bread was fluffy and delicious.

*

　When Karis and Luca had finished eating, Saara stacked the plates and placed them on the wagon.

''Thank you for the lousy meal,''
No, it was good.
My husband should have told me that.

　Saara put her hands on her hips and let out a small sigh.

''That was ... delicious.''
Ha, I'm sorry I sounded urgent.

　Luca said, resting his hand on his embroidery, and Saara replied with a laugh.
　Depending on the way she said it, the words could feel sarcastic, but they were charming.

''Well then, get some rest.

　Saara bowed lightly and pushed the wagon out of the room.

'That was good,'
Yeah.

　Luca began to embroider again.

'Do you like embroidery?'
'Yes, I like it. I don't have to get involved in anything else when I'm embroidering.

　I guess I'm supposed to shut up.

'But I'm glad to hear it. You seem like a good person.
What?

　Luca said as he spat.
　You said you didn't have to get involved in anything unnecessary, but you're good company.

''If you think you're wanted as a woman, you're not treating me like livestock. You made me come from the Bethel Mountains, what's a servant, a servant... ouch!

　Luca licked his index finger.
　Apparently, he had pricked his finger with a needle.
　He threw it all out and crawled into bed.

''I hate you all.''

　I knew I was going to spit it out.

'Why do you have to go through this just because you couldn't have a baby?
....

　Karis couldn't say anything.
　If she had the energy to rebel, she might have thought the same thing herself.
　He couldn't help himself, and as he climbed into his own bed, he heard sobbing.



　When Karis woke up, Luca was already in his seat, embroidering.
　Her eyes were red, but she didn't dare point it out.

'You slept well,'
Excuse me.

　I get out of bed and sit on the vanity table.
　I look at my reflection in the mirror and let out a breath of relief.
　Thanks to my sleep, my complexion is better and my dark circles have faded.
　I pour water from the ceramic jug into the tarai and wash my face.
　It wasn't there last night, so Luca or Saara must have carried it for me.
　I look in the mirror and notice that my hair is shaggy.

'There's a comb in the drawer if you want it.
Thank you.

　I pick up the comb and comb it carefully.
　Combing my hair while looking in the large mirror feels like a luxury, guilty and embarrassing.
　I heard a knock on the door at the same time I put the comb away in the drawer.

''Come in....''
'Good morning. It's another beautiful day.

　Luca opened the door, and Saara pushed the wagon into the room.
　By the way, there was no sign of Sif.

''The stew is left over from yesterday, though. It's tasty and full of flavor.''

　Saara says this as she lays out the dishes.
　Butter-filled toast, cream stew, salad, and bacon and eggs.
　Karis said a prayer to the spirits and reached for the toast.
　The edges of the bread were crunchy and the butter seeped out as he put it in his mouth.
　It wasn't stinky, it was salty but sweet.
　Next, he brought the stew to his mouth.
　Last night, the vegetables had left their firmness behind, but today they were soft to the core.
　The salad was as fresh as yesterday.
　No, it felt fresher than yesterday.

'I went to buy the vegetables first thing in the morning.
...that's great.

　I mutter to myself.
　I think it's great that I can buy food in the morning, not that I went to buy vegetables first thing in the morning.

'Is the empire the same everywhere?'
I'm just shuttling back and forth between the frontier villages and Sylvania. I don't know much about anything else.

　Apparently, this city is called Sylvania.

''The peddlers said the city where Master Crono's mansion is located is a festival every day, though.
"....every day is a celebration.

　I'm getting anxious to see if I can live in such a city.

'You'd better listen to half the story,'
Yes.

　I'm not sure I'd be able to live in a city like that, even if I'd heard half the story.

'Speaking of which, where's Master Sif?'
Don't worry, I'll show you around the settlement.

　Caris patted his chest.
　After all, I want someone I know to show me around, not a stranger.

''Can I have a drink?''
Yes, yes, I've got it all ready for you.

　Luca said reservedly, and Saara returned to the wagon and poured the incense tea into her cup.
　A slightly pungent aroma spreads.

It smells like something I've smelled before, doesn't it?
Is it ginger?

　'Oh,' said Luca, nodding his head in agreement.

''Yes, I was taught how to make it by a priestess who instructed me in pioneering and farming. I think it's better than it was in the beginning.''
Where's your faith?
Don't worry, I'm a firm believer in spirits.

　Saara said proudly.

'Wouldn't that be beneficial?'
The Chronosphere is a big contributor.

　I see, Karis nodded.
　In short, the priest-sama is teaching pioneering and agricultural work in return for his donation.
　It can be said that they are being spared and treated without being divided.

Now, before it gets cold.

　Saara placed the cup in front of Karis and Luca.
　Her tongue tingled as she picked up the cup and sipped the fragrant tea with trepidation.
　Luca sipped at the cup somewhat later.

''Well it's not bad.''

　He liked it and drank the incense tea again.

The priest says it's cold this year.
You're soft.

　Luca said in disgust, and Saara chuckled.

*

　Karis and the others finished their meal and took the wagon to the frontier village.
　Saara is the coachman's seat and Karis and Luca are in the cart.

It's a beautiful day.

　Karis looked up at the sky in the back of the pack.
　The wind was a little strong, but it was a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight.

''Well ... yes.''

　Luca agreed somewhat belatedly.
　More likely, though, he was just ministering as he embroidered.
　The carriage shook with a clunk.
　Suddenly, it slowed down.
　I looked ahead and saw that an ox - a race called Minotaur - was approaching us.
　There are no sub-humans in the Bethel Mountains.
　No one knows why, but perhaps their ancestors had been exterminated by their ancestors.
　Even now that the Confederation of Various Tribes was organized, the other tribes were still perceived as competitors.
　If the other tribe is not human, they can only feel fear.
　And they have a ship's eye.
　They are not stiff by any stretch of the imagination.
　And yet, Saara stopped the wagon.

'Oh, Mr. Hattie. Do you want to be in town?
"I've been asked to go shopping, you know.

　Karis held her ears.
　He heard the words and the squeal at the same time.
　The ring swung on the tip of the minotaur's nose.
　That reminded him of a certain spell implement.
　A curse tool that allows those with different languages to communicate with each other.

'Is your daughter in the back a new villager? (Bum?)

　
　Surprisingly, he was much taller than he was sitting in the back of the cart.

''Ah, these two will serve Crono-sama as maids.
Did you say migrant? (Bum?)

　Hahsan tilted his head, stroking his chin.
　No, it wasn't. It was different, but Karis didn't have the guts to point out the mistakes.

''We're strangers, you know. He was concerned about us.
I'm supposed to be on your side. (Bum?)

　Hassan exhaled through his nose as if to say he was out of his mind.
　To be honest, I'm scared to death, but all I can do is wait for the storm to pass.

Haha, well, so do we. I'm sure Mr. Crono wants you to know that we are not strangers.
"...so that's what it is...

　Apparently, he nodded his head repeatedly as if he was convinced.

''I'd like to talk to you some more, but...'' (Bumo)
We can always talk about it.

　With that, Saara began to move the wagon.
　Karis stared at Hassan's back and let out a grand exhale when he was out of sight.

'Did I startle you?'
Who is he?
They live in a frontier village. They said they came before us and built a harbor.

　The port?　Karis turned back.
　'I can't see the harbor, but I wonder how they built something that big.

'There are elves in the frontier villages, too.
"...elves.

　I've heard that the species has a lifespan several times that of humans.

'Are you okay with that?'
I was surprised at first, though. Once you get to know them, they're a pleasant bunch.

　'Huh,' said Karis, nodding vaguely.

'Ah, the village is in sight.
What about it?

　Karis narrowed her eyes and looked ahead.
　What looked like a roof could be seen among the treetops.
　As the village approached, the full extent of it became clearer.

'Mr. Luca, Mr. Luca!
'I do embroidery, so don't slap me.
'Look beyond that!

　Luca interrupted his embroidery with a sense of reluctance and stared at the frontier village.

''.........''

　I heard a gasp.
　It's not unreasonable.
　He had said it was a pioneer village, but the scene in front of him was beyond the level of a village.
　A city had emerged into the forest.
　Wooden houses lined the streets, and minotaurs and elves walked the streets.
　Surprisingly, the humans seemed to take it for granted.

'It's a good village, isn't it?'
Yes.

　Karis does her best to just nod, and Luca's mouth is open with a pout.
　The wagon goes deeper and deeper into the city.
　Suddenly, the city breaks off and a vast field appears.
　The wheat, which has grown to knee-high, stretches as far as the eye can see.
　I want to show them to the people back home.
　The scene before us is one that the people back home, or rather the people of the Bethel Mountains, have dreamed of for generations.
　With such vast fields, they would never have to suffer from hunger.
　They wouldn't have to fight for their lives as mercenaries.
　Karis clutched at his chest, "I would do anything to preserve this sight.



　After returning to Sylvania, the time passed without incident.
　We tucked into Saara's food and took a relaxing dip in the hot tub.
　No doubt the people back home would condemn her if they saw her, but it would be nice to have a day like this at least once in a lifetime.
　At least that's how Karis thinks about it, but Luca seems to be different.
　He's engrossed in his embroidery, and when he speaks to her, all he gets back is a raw reply.

'What's going on?'
...nothing.

　Luca's lips twitched in a huff.

'It was a good village, wasn't it?'
Well....

　Karis quickly realized her mistake.
　She could at least hear the gruff voice and know that she had failed in her choice of topic.

''Wow, I'm going to bed now,''

　I let out a sigh and crawl into bed.

"...d*mn it. Why would I do that to those guys?

　As I turned to the wall, I heard Luca's voice.
　It was a raw voice, tinged with vindictiveness.
　It wasn't just a failure, it was a disaster.
　Oh, it's cold.
　My heart is cold even though it's such a warm room.
　I wanted to leave on a positive note, even if it was only a self-deception, but the power of the lie was lost.
　They live a happy life while we consume ourselves as a labor force.
　It's hard.
　It's so hard.
　Too hard.

... cold.

　Karis muttered softly and closed her eyes.

*

　When Karis and Luca walked out after breakfast, the carriage stayed in front of the Mercenary Guild.
　It wasn't a wagon, but a fine box carriage.
　As Karis was pouting, Sif and Kane came out from behind the box carriage.

'Hey, you two. You look like you're in good shape.
What's in this carriage?
It was given to me by Master Crono. He came all the way from the Bethel Mountains to do me the courtesy of coming here.

　Karis asked, and Kane replied, cowering his shoulders lightly.

'I sent the necessities of life to the Marquis' mansion.
Thank you.

　He bows his head to Sif.

''And it is your Duran who is trying to open the door.

　When Kane pointed with his thumb, the man who was about to open the boxcarriage door stopped moving with a snap.
　He was dressed in black, but he looked a little tight.
　He's carrying a sword from his waist because it's probably dangerous on the road.

''He has his sword dangling, but that's just in case. After all, it's been three years since the bandits last showed up.
Yes.

　I can't get rid of my fears, even if they say it's just in case.
　At the very least, I want a dagger.
　Not for protection, but for self-determination.

"...greetings and greetings.
"Ah, ah, gee, I'm Duran, the gentleman. I usually work as a clerk in the Marquis' mansion. Nice to meet you.

　When Kane urged, Duran turned to me and bowed his head with a peck.

'It's nice to meet you too,'
Nice to meet you.

　When Karis bowed her head, Luca bowed his head in a reluctant manner.

'Well, we'll be leaving, but have you forgotten anything?
Yes, no.
No.

　Duran opened the door to the boxcarriage.
　The interior was quite large, with leather chairs mounted opposite each other.

''........Come in.

　Caris sat in the back seat by the window and Luca sat by the door in the front seat.

'I'll close it,'

　The door slammed shut, and a moment later the boxcarriage began to move.
　And I noticed that the swaying was small.
　I rode in the boxcarriage on the way to the port from the Bethel Mountains, and it was a far cry from the boxcarriage.
　How could the same boxcarriage make such a difference?
　I wanted to share my surprise, but Luca is embroidering.
　I have no choice but to look at the scenery.
　He would never come back to this city again.
　Thinking about it, the foreign city seemed unbearably lovely.
　Well, I fell asleep some time after I left the city.



　Karis felt a strong shudder and woke up to find the wolf looking at us through the window.
　With a bang, I moved away from the window and the wolf tilted its head curiously and left.
　I rubbed my eyes.
　From the wolf's neck down, it looked like a human.
　I thought I was looking at it wrong, but I wasn't.
　A beast-headed human body variant surrounded the boxcarriage.

You don't need to be scared.
What?

　I looked at the seat opposite me and saw Luca embroidering.

'Are you sleepwalking?'
Oh, yes.

　This is not the Bethel Mountains.
　As I recall, those are a race called werewolves.
　They have spears in their hands, so they look like warriors.
　The boxcarriage began to move, and Karis looked out the window at the city.
　Some of the cities he stopped in on the way to the port were littered with trash, but there was no trash in this city.
　People were coming and going and their faces were bright.
　If I remember well, Sylvania was the same way.
　Since the same atmosphere can be created in two cities, there seems to be no mistaking the reputation of being a lord who implements good government.
　The traffic of people became even more intense as we continued down the road, and it began to gradually decrease after we passed a section lined with shoddy shops.
　Careful observation revealed that the atmosphere of the city had changed.
　Up to the area where the shabby shops were lined up, I had the impression that it was chaotic, but the area I'm in now is more sophisticated in terms of building appearance.
　Hmm?　And Luca stops his embroidery and looks up.

'What's wrong?'
I heard a noise.
Sound?

　I closed my eyes and listened carefully.
　Then I hear a faint kern, kern.
　The sound gets louder and louder.



　When I opened my eyes, the castle and the four towers surrounding it jumped into view.
　The majesty of it left me speechless.
　I've never seen such a huge structure before.
　Perhaps that's why the ridiculous fantasy that this castle was inhabited by a mythical monster passed through my mind.
　The boxcarriage passes through the gate and enters the castle grounds.
　Its speed slowed down a little and it came to a complete stop in front of the castle.
　His heart beats like an early bell and his breathing becomes ragged.
　Luca, if I may say so, was hurriedly putting his sewing tools away in his pouch.
　Suddenly, the door opened and Karis cowered.

''........Did I startle you?''
No, no!

　Caris replied to Duran, waving her hands from side to side.

'Please, come down.
Yes, sir.

　I got off, my voice rubbing upwards, and Luca followed.

'Crono, where's Master?'
He'll be here soon.

　Immediately after Duran said it, the doors of the castle opened.
　The first person to come out was a woman.
　As if it was a rule to unify the color of her clothes, she wore a dress that was black like Kane and Duran, with a white apron on top of it.
　I can't help but pat my chest down.
　I thought the woman in the dress was about the same age as me.
　The next one to come out was a boy who looked more young than young.
　He too was dressed in black.
　Even his hair and eye color are black, so he's thorough.
　He has a large scar on his right eye, but he doesn't look like a warrior.
　He had a gentle appearance that would be more comfortable if he thought he had lost his sight in an accident.

'Well, I'll take it then.'

　Duran bowed and headed for the guru's seat.
　The boxcarriage began to move slowly and the boy approached.
　The woman followed the boy like a shadow.

''How do you do, I am the lord of the Marquess of Erakis and Count Caddo I am Crono.

　If I had to describe my feelings at this time in one word, it would be Pocan.
　I had heard that he was a womanizer, but I didn't think he was this cute.
　If I'm not good at it, I'm sure there's a difference in age between myself and Crono, as much as a parent and child.

'Excuse me, but how old are you?'
I'm 21 years old.

　Then the boy........Crono smiled with a sly smile.
　Looking at his innocent expression, it seems like the rumors are wrong.

''Where are your parents?''
"My father is in the southern frontier the Areos Mountains, if you know what I mean?　Well, anyway, I'm a lord at the foot of it, and my mother is sick...

　Crono slurred his words.
　He was wrong again.
　Surely he hadn't recovered from his mother's death.
　Kohon, the woman cleared her throat.

''My name is Alyssa, and I am the head maid. I have been asked to educate Ms. Karis and Ms. Luca for a while from today.
Oh, I'm Charis.
Yes, sir.

　Alyssa smiled softly.
　Perhaps Kane had conveyed their appearance in some way.

'Your education will begin tomorrow,'
Alyssa, look after me.
Yes, sir.

　When Crono called out to her, Alyssa nodded with a slight twitch of her mouth.

'I will show you to your room. Please, come this way.

　Alyssa turns on her heel and Karis and Luca follow.
　When we entered the castle, it was a huge space.
　We climbed the stairs and walked down a long corridor.

''It's an amazing castle,''
It's not a castle. It's a castle house.
Jokan?
'Yes, it doesn't function as a castle, as habitability is a priority. But that's just a take-away.

　Parroting the question, Alyssa replied in a calm tone.

'This will be the room for you two.

　Alyssa stopped in front of a door in the middle of the hallway.
　She got the door opened and went inside with her.
　The arrangement of the furniture is similar to that of a mercenary guild.
　There is a bed and vanity table by the wall, a chest of drawers by the window, and a table and chairs in the center.
　In addition, there are two wooden boxes on the table.

'What about those crates?'
I got it from Mr. Sif.
What's in it?
Come on, you're done.

　Alyssa smiled.

'Your education will begin tomorrow. As for the dining room I'll show you the dining room ... I'll show you the restroom and a place to cleanse yourself in the meantime.
Oh, um!

　Alyssa stopped turning on her heel when Caris called out.

'What's wrong?'
What kind of person is Master Crono?

　Alyssa's cheeks twitched for a moment.


Good.

　Karis patted her chest.

*

　In the evening, Karis released the weeds on the ground and wiped the sweat off her clothes sleeve.
　He looked at the flower beds and felt satisfied with his work.
　It had been several days since he had arrived in the Marquess of Erakis.
　At first, he had been confused and sometimes failed and felt depressed.
　But now I feel like I can do well.
　Alyssa was an excellent educator, and her elven and dwarven colleagues were kind.
　The fact that these women didn't know about our circumstances may have worked for the better.
　However, there were two things that bothered me.
　One was about Luca.
　She does embroidery in her spare time.
　I wish she could get along with her co-workers, but maybe she needs some time to calm her anger.
　The other was the flower beds.
　There are several flowerbeds in the garden of the Marquis' mansion, but they are overgrown with weeds.
　If I'm going to leave it alone, I want to grow flowers.
　I told Alyssa that, and she immediately gave me permission to grow the flowers.

"...after this, if you till the soil and plant the seeds.

　I touch the leather bag I carry from the apron strings.
　Inside are the seeds of a plant from the Bethel Mountains.

'Hey, that's spirited.'
.....

　Suddenly, I jumped up when he called out to me.

''Well you shouldn't be so surprised.''

　I looked at the direction the voice came from and saw Crono scratching his head awkwardly.

'Crono-sama, what can I do for you?'
'I heard you were going to plant flowers, so I came to see what you were doing. So what kind of flowers are you going to plant?
You know, the plant with the most beautiful little white flowers.
How long does it take to bloom?
Maybe this summer.
You know your stuff.
I've been growing them for years in the Bethel Mountains.

　I grew flowers five times after I was married.
　At first they were happy to see me, but each time I got more and more often, they treated me like I was evil.
　After the sixth year, I stopped growing them.

'Oh well, I'm looking forward to it.'
Yes.

　Karis could only nod.
　Alyssa had said that Crono was kind, and she was right.
　The kindness was so comforting that she felt like she could stay like this for a while longer.