A few days later, my lord, Gelter, arrived from the frontier city of Batcombe.
　I had received word in advance and was greeted in front of the town hall with the two deputy lords, Erdena Biblina and I. "Sorry to have you come all the way out here.
''I'm sorry to have you come all the way out here to greet us,''
　Gelter smiled with a snicker as he got off the carriage.
''No, no, I rather think it would have been rude not to greet you like this before, so...''
It's just that I've been doing this all this time with no prior notice, and I said, well, don't worry about it. And it's just you and me, man.
　Gelter turned his gaze to Biblina as he said this.
　To Gelter, Vibrina said.
Why are you looking at a mistress there?
What, you haven't been taken care of yet? You.
What?
So that's it. I'm parent-approved, so take care of one thing about Biblina for me.
　Gelter said and tapped me on the shoulder.
　In front of Gelter, Biblina's face turned red and she was trying to say something, but it seemed to be all she could do to make her mouth crunch with an awkward smile
　Beside her, Erdena was smiling an icy smile, not only at Geltar, but also at me, and I had to walk down the corridor, horrified.......

　We transferred to the lord's office while exchanging such conversations.

　Gelter, who had been chatting with us until then, was
Okay, well, let's just cut to the chase.
　As he said this, he spread out a map on the reception desk.

　It was a simple map of this area.

I'm sure Safate is familiar with it, but this is a map of this area.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　As he said this, Gelter pointed out the map.
''There are also small frontier cities like Pyx and Eads, and quite a few villages and settlements around them.
　After pointing out a map, Geltor turned his attention to me once again.
''Well, this is still my own personal opinion, but I was thinking that we should conclude a union of frontier cities with these four cities at the center.
'When you say the Union of Frontier Cities, is it like the Union of Frontier Small Cities that was previously signed by the three frontier small cities of Gehmose, Pix and Eads?
Oh, yeah.

　Geltzer told me that....
　By forming a federation of frontier cities, it will be possible to protect villages and hamlets in the surrounding area, and even hold big festivals on a rotating basis.
If the outlying cities remain independent, the procedure for holding a festival together is going to be a huge hassle. It's also necessary to ask the Central Frontier Bureau in advance.
　But, if we are united, the notification to the Central Frontier Bureau will be exempted.
　It will also simplify the process of opening a store in one city to other cities.
　It is believed that this will lead to the creation of a large commercial area centered on these four outlying cities.
I think the shopping area interaction will be handled well if we leave it to the ants in the shopping area association, and the shopping area association in Batcombe is already in favor of it.
　Gelter snickered at that.

　I immediately asked Alea, the head of the Liberty Combe shopping district association, to come over.
　The Union has an office in the town hall now, so Alea came right away.
　When I told Alea about the story I had just told her about Geltor, she told me
As the head of the Liberty Combe Shopping District Association, I wouldn't wish that on you.
　He leaned forward as he said that.
　I thought it would be a good idea to check the intentions of the shop owners who belong to the shopping district association.
'Alea, I'm sorry, but can you hear what everyone else has to say as well?'
Yeah, it's all yours.
　As soon as he said that, he got up and left the lord's office in a hurry.
''I thought the only impatient people were the ants in Batcombe, but.......ants are like that everywhere, I'm a little relieved.
　Gerther chuckled as he stared at the door that Alea had just left.

　Gelter said he was going to tell this story to Greencombe and Urinacombe afterwards.
Well, of all the frontier cities in this area, I'm the longest serving lord, so I'll do at least that.
　Then Gelter smiled again and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Well, that's why I'm seriously looking forward to seeing you about Biblina. It's not going to be easy, is it?　A woman with a parent who tolerates a side room.
But I'm gonna stop talking nonsense and get to work!
　Biblina pulled away from me as she tightened her arms around Gelter's neck in a side hug.
　Geltar is being tightened up around his neck with considerable arm strength, but a smile of some kind of joyful feeling comes over his face.
I'm sure you'll be able to find it. I'm sure you'll be happy to oblige, son-in-law.
You tell me you're not my son-in-law yet!
　Biblina's voice rises again at Gelter's words.
'Not yet' ... did you say 'yet'?　Now.....
　In the face of Vibrina's words, Erdena turned her smile, which increased the cooling degree of her expression even more, to Vibrina and Gelter, but the two of them, sensing the strange atmosphere, sluggishly retreated.

　I watched them with a bitter smile.

　As I said that, I turned my gaze to Eldena.
　From the tip of my gaze, Eldena smiled smugly while her cheeks were slightly stained.
　That smile didn't include the cooling degree that had been directed at Gelter Vibrina and her son earlier.

　Not long after, Gelter, who had traveled around Greencombe and Urinacombe, stopped again at Libertycombe on his way back to Batcombe.
'Both cities have agreed to it, both the Lords and the Shopkeepers' Union have agreed to it.
　Gelter smiled happily as he said that.
　I had received a report from Alea that almost all of the shopkeepers in the Liberty Combe Shopping District Union were also in favor of this union, so I told that to Gelter.
　Geltar nodded with satisfaction after hearing that from me.
I'm going to proceed with the formalities to the capital then, I'll come back once the paperwork is ready.
No, I'll come to you this time.
Well, don't say that. That's what I want to hear.
But....
　As they were discussing the matter, Biblina, who came to the lord's office, gave him a puzzled look.
"Let your father do as he wishes, Safate," she said, "but the point is, he hates to do the paperwork, and he wants to get away from the city as much as possible.
　At Biblina's words, Gelter was scratching his head as he chuckled in a battling manner.
　From the looks of it, Biblina's words must have been a figurehead.

　Ever since Liberty Combe was promoted to a frontier city, I've been getting fed up with the mountains of paperwork I've had to look through, so although I have some sympathy for Geltor's feelings, I don't want to be stuck out of the city every so often for that reason....
　So I decided to make a compromise.
'Then why don't we have representatives from each city meet at Liberty Combe?
　The Liberty Combe is in the heart of this outlying area of the city.
　When I say that, Geltor
No, no that wouldn't give us much time to get out of the lord's office...
　I was about to argue with him, but in the end, Biblina threatened him, and Geltor agreed to the idea, albeit reluctantly.

　I saw Geltor's carriage off in front of the town hall as he headed home after his talk.
It looks like you're going to be a little busy again.
　At my words, Eldena and Vibrina nodded.
''But it's also for everyone's sake.
　Eldena smiles as she says that.
　I smiled and nodded at Eldena.
I'm sure your father probably won't be returning to Batcombe straight away, but he's probably going to the hot spring village and spending the night there.
　Vibrina is staring at the stagecoach with zit eyes.
　The stagecoach with Gerther on board is still visible, but for now it was on the shortest course to Batcombe, but when the stagecoach approached a certain corner, it suddenly turned.
　The road ahead of the bend leads to the hot spring village.
See, I knew it!
　Biblina sighed loudly as she said that.
　As I witnessed the movement of the carriage with Biblina, I just kept giggling, so...