June 12, noon in the western continental calendar 2813


　Downtown in the fortified city of Ipylos.
　A man came into the inn in a grimy back alley.
　The large man threw a gold coin into the reception area of the inn without speaking.
　The innkeeper, who was sitting in a chair organizing the books, lightly lifted his eyes and urged the man to go upstairs with his eyes.
　There is no need to ask who the man is.
　The story has already been passed on.

'Room 204,'

　The innkeeper muttered the number of the room on the man's back as he leaned his legs over the stairs, and the innkeeper told him the number of the room.
　When I told him what he needed to do, the innkeeper again turned away his gaze.　
　What is needed in this kind of business is an attitude of see no evil and hear no evil.
　Many guests try to avoid the public eye and visit.
　Although it's an inn, there are also guests who are not a combination of men and women.
　However, the rest was not important to the owner as long as they paid.
　He doesn't pry into his guests because he wants to live a long life.
　The demon of curiosity can easily blow out the lives of humans, let alone cats.
　Tucking the tossed gold coins into his wallet out of his pocket, the master turned his attention to the ledger again.
　If someone asked him what he did today, he would probably say
It's been a while," he would say, "It's good to see you, sir.


It's been a long time, Your Excellency, Baron Mikoshiba. I heard that you successfully defeated the pirates. Congratulations.

　As the man steps into the room his master has instructed him to enter, Simone, who has been sitting in a chair, stands up and quietly bows her head.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good idea to make sure that you're not going to be the only one who can do this.
　Today, she was dressed as sensational and decadent as a prostitute standing on the street.
　Even someone who knew her face would have a hard time connecting the current her to the acting chairman of the Kristoff Chamber of Commerce.
　For all intents and purposes, the current Simone was a real prostitute.

'Ah, it's been a while, Simone you're still a very fast eater.'

　Ryoma smiled at Simone, who had already received the information that she had reported to Count and Lady Salzberg just a few moments ago, and removed the hood she was wearing with a wry smile.

''Because rumors had already been circulating for about a month. More than anything else, the evidence is that the damage caused by the pirates has decreased dramatically. And His Excellency the Baron has come to Ipylos as well.

　When he said that, Simone smiled serenely.
　One day, he had stopped hearing about the victims who had been attacked by pirates.
　It was only natural for a slightly astute merchant to try to gather information about what had happened.
　Moreover, Simone is expected to be both an errand boy and a secret agent for Ryoma.　
　It's a good thing that you're able to get the information you've been collecting from before, and if you connect it to Mikoshiba Ryoma, who showed up in Ipylos after a long time, then the conclusion was self-evident.

''But you've designated a great place, Simone.

　At Ryoma's words of a bitter smile, Simone smiles like a child whose prank has succeeded.
　At this stage, for the two of them to meet face to face would make Count Salzberg needlessly wary.
　In the midst of all this, Simone has designated this dingy bring-in inn as a place to hide out from the public eye.
　A nobleman with a baronetcy, albeit of the lowest rank, and the deputy chairman of Christophe's Chamber of Commerce, who used to be the head of the business association of Iphiroth, albeit at a low ebb, are meeting with each other.
　It was too shabby and unsuitable a place for these two to meet.

''Because it's just right for a secret meeting between a man and a woman.

　Certainly not a bad place to avoid the public eye.
　A dingy downtown back alley.
　The area is as close to black as possible rather than stinking, but as long as you pay for it, you can do most of the impossible.
　It's also convenient to dazzle the eyes of Simone and Count Salzberg's surveillance attached to Ryouma.
　In the unlikely event that Ryoma is being followed, there are plenty of excuses for prostitutes and customers.
　If you say you went out to buy a woman, it can be the reason why you were hiding your face and trying to avoid the public eye.
　By the way, Simone was supposed to be sick at home for a few days.　

'So?　How far have you gotten with your preparations?

　Inwardly, Ryoma was taken aback by the bewitching charm that Simone radiated, but he still went on with his business.
　You can't just focus on her appearance forever.
　You will be able to find out what you need to do, and you will be able to find out what you need to do.

'Our people have already bought two ships and have them docked in Mispos.

　Simone takes the map out of the cloth bag she placed under her chair and spreads it out on the table.
　Mispos is a port city on the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Ernesgula.
　Although it is inferior to Fulzard, which is the largest trading city on the western continent, it can be said to be one of the continent's leading trading cities.
　While Ryoushin was establishing a base within the Woltenia peninsula, Simone was beginning to prepare her merchant ships in Mispos.

''Two ships ... how big are they?''

'One of the largest galleons ever sold. All the crew are highly skilled and experienced in naval warfare.

Well, that's quite an audacious thing to do.

We're also looking at converting it to military vessels.

　When Ryoma's question was asked, Simone made it clear once and for all.
　Despite the fact that she had purchased it with Kristoff's company's funds, she assured him that she didn't mind if Ryoma used it as a military ship in case of an emergency.
　At her words, Ryoma gave a disgusted laugh.

'You're a great competitor.'

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.
　The statement that it's okay to use a trading ship, which is not cheap, as a warship, is a sign of Simone's resolve.
　Simone smiled quietly at Ryoma's words and turned her probing gaze to Ryoma.

''How is the port?''

　The roles of the two parties are completely divided by prior arrangements.
　Simone is responsible for procuring the ships and securing the sales channels.
　Ryoma is responsible for eliminating the pirates and building the port.
　He has already eliminated the pirates, but he hasn't heard any information about the port.
　It's not that I doubt Ryouma's ability, but we've only been on the peninsula for a few months.
　It was natural for Simone to feel uneasy.

''No problem. The town and walls are already built. All that's left is the people.'

　At Ryouma's answer, Simone stared at Ryouma's face as he remained silent with a jibe.
　Unwavering eyes.
(Looks like you're really ready for this...)
　Simone sighed deeply when she saw that Ryouma's words were not lying.
　The man in front of him would have created his own foundation in that magical world just a few months after they met.
(This man....)
　If I had to put into words the feelings that came to Simone's mind, it would probably be more awe than fear.
　Fear is associated with exclusion, but awe is associated with submission.
　He has a face that is not exceptionally well-rounded and beautiful.
　On the face of it, he's just an ordinary young man with a good physique.
　But Simone knows.
　But Simone knows that the pirates have been destroyed.
　I have only fragmentary information, so I don't know for sure, but literally not a single one of the pirates and their families survived.
　Some merchant sent a man to the peninsula to find out the truth, and that information was confirmed.
　It seems that the town was built to hide in a cove, but the flames had burned it to a crisp, leaving nothing but charred buildings and corpses in its wake.
　When he saw birds pecking at the charred corpses, he thought it was hell.

　The end of the pirates was miserable, but at the same time, he thought they deserved it.
　While not everything should be strictly law-abiding, it doesn't mean that it should be ignored either.
　It is true that there are some laws that are reckless and irrational, but on the other hand, there are some laws that are essential for the maintenance of society.
　If Ryojin had shown mercy to the pirates, Simone might have stopped joining forces with Ryojin.
　It's true that she would be a great asset to the war effort.
　But there are people under her command who have lost their families to the pirates.
　Such a person would never forgive them.
　If they chose to join the pirates, it was obvious that they would cause serious problems.
　But Ryoma chose to annihilate them.
　If you think he is naive enough to free the slaves he buys, he is a man who can make as many ruthless choices as he needs to.
　He is a man who can weigh the risks and benefits with an icy heart.
(My decision was... right.)
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the city.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more than a few of them.
　Only the man who has both can stand on top.
(High King........)
　As those words came to her mind, an electric shock went through her back.

'What's wrong?'

　When Simone fell silent without moving her gaze from Ryoma's eyes, Ryoma said to her in a huff.

''No, I'm sorry,''

You okay?

Yes, sir.

　Feeling something unexplainable in Simone, who bowed her head as she said that, Ryoma proceeded to speak.

''Well, the city is already built, all that's left is the residents.

　The streets are already in place and ready to receive residents at any time.

'I understand. I will have slaves brought in from Mispos as soon as possible.

Yeah, did you get what you asked for?

'Of course. A thousand healthy men and women between the ages of ten and fifteen. We've already secured them there.

　It's better to buy it in Zaruda or Hernesgura than in Ipylos, without the Count of Salzberg realizing it.
　It's the same reason Simone bought the ship in Mispos.

''I understand. Do you want to pay for it in the fangs and skins of the monsters?

　Simone nodded silently at Ryouma's words.
　The tusks and skins of the "monsters" acquired in the peninsula are sold for a very good price.
　If you can hunt regularly, the fangs and skins of these "monsters" are an important specialty.

''By the way.......there are rumors that you met with a subhuman, is it true?　

　It's a casual and curious question, but at Simone's words, Ryoma's face changed color.

"Where did you hear about it?

　Simone gasped at the sharp, piercing gaze.
　Just because it is not an eye that sees the enemy, that eye is emitting a cold, sharp light.
　How much time had passed?
　Huff, Ryoma's eyes regained their calmness.

''Yeah, sorry but this guy is a bit of a complication.

　Noticing the pressurized Simone, Ryoma apologized with a smile.
　It's not that he was trying to scare Simone, but because of what happened, he couldn't help but look at her sharply.

'What in the world is wrong with you, sir?　Are you sure you met with the sub-human?

　Simone takes a deep breath as if to catch her breath and asks Ryoma why.

　To Simone, sub-humans are an extinct race.
　No, with the exception of a few humans, the majority of people living on the western continent would have the same perception as her.
　Although she occasionally hears rumors that they still live in hiding all over the continent, it's only a rumor level story.
　She herself didn't seriously believe that Ryoma had met an a-human.
　The rumor that sub-humans were hiding in the Woltenia peninsula, which had been rumored for some time, was just a rootless rumor connected to Mikoshiba Ryoma, who actually ended up taking possession of the peninsula.
　It was just a topic of conversation.
　I'm sure you've been thinking lightly about it, but it seems that Ryoma's attitude right now is not something that can be just a rumor.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　It's a story that can never be vague.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.
　It was a story of the deep hatred that sub-humans have for humans....