Yeah, it's starting to take shape.
I know, right?

　When I murmured about my impressions of some of the shops built along the street, old Naito's man beside me nodded happily. This man, Naito Masatoyo, one of the former Four Heavenly Kings of Takeda, was in charge of directing the whole place. I'm going to nab you like a daytime lantern. He looked like a tired businessman.
　There's still only a coffee shop, a bicycle shop, a weapon shop, an armor shop and a tool shop, but it doesn't look like a small shopping district.
　The people's houses are beginning to be built off the street. Well, I thought that shops and houses would be built in the style of Yisheng, but that's not the case. It's a brick house, just like in Belfast and the West.

'If you put too much emphasis on different cultures, people will be wary of you.

　Naito's old man said.
　I think it's a good start because travelers are stopping by here and there. They have swords in the arms shop (they even had a shuriken), and in the coffee shop you can have Yisheng's food as well as rolls, ice cream, pudding and French fries.
　Some rich people buy bicycles, and I think it's quite a busy place.
　At this rate, I think we can get by. Well, there aren't too many people here, so we can get by even if we don't make that much money.

Your Majesty. Itaro Yashima of the West Side Sekisho. I have a merchant who claims to be an acquaintance of Your Majesty visiting the barrier, Your Majesty.

　Hmm? I got a reminder. The west side, uh, merchants from Belfast? I've used an errand boy living in the JCS as an intermediary to get in touch with me, and it's quite convenient.

《Who are you? What is this merchant's name?
He calls himself Zanuck the Cloth Merchant, but

　Mr. Zanuck. You've come a long way from the riffles.

All right, I'll be right there. I'm on my way over.

　'The Gate' opened, and in an instant we were out to the Belfast side of the barrier, where an unfamiliar over-decorated carriage and Mr. Zanuck, also in unfamiliar clothes, stood beside it.

''Hey, it's been a while. Oops, I guess I shouldn't have spoken to the king like this.''
You're welcome. Welcome to the Duchy of Brunhild.

　This is the first person who was kind to me when I came into this world. Becoming a king doesn't change that, you know. I shake hands with Mr. Zanuck and start the conversation.

'So, what are your requirements for coming to this country? Do you have something to do for the Empire?
That's part of it. 'But the primary purpose is to start a business in this country, too. We would like to open a branch here. A branch of Fashion King Zanuck Brunhild.

　Haha. I see. It's very bold of you. You don't even know if people are coming.

Oh, no, no. It's your country. There's no reason why you couldn't get together. So, it can't hurt to get a good spot in advance.

　So that's the idea. I don't think clothing stores will thrive at this stage, but I wouldn't want them to have any at all. Right now, clothes are probably getting dirty and damaged too quickly due to the rush of construction and farm work.
　I return to the center of the street through the "gate" and introduce Zanuck to old man Naito. I asked them to consult with me about the land allocation, the construction cost, the staffing for it, and many other things. I am a novice in this area, so I leave it to them.
　But still, a branch office, eh? You're really good at it, Zanuck. It's amazing that you've gone so far as to reach out from a riffle. Well, I guess it's because of my influence.
　Speaking of riffletting, I'm wondering how Dolan and Mika are doing....oh?
　Wait a minute. I just realized that this country doesn't have any inns yet. I thought this place was just a transit point, but we need facilities for travelers and vendors to stay, don't we?
　Hmmm........an inn. If possible, I'd like this one to be in conjunction with a place to eat or get information. That requires a professional hand.... Let's ask them for help.



I was wondering if you could open a branch of 'Silver Moon' in our country.
Well, that's a big surprise, isn't it?

　Mr. Dolan sighed as he folded his arms. 'You're right. I'm aware that I'm being too abrupt myself.

'We'll build the inn on our end. I'd like to leave the management to Mr. Doran and the others. Well, in the form of a hired manager.
Is that called a branch office...?

　Mr. Dolan twitches his head. 'Well, the details are all over the place.

'So, you want to invite Micah over to that branch?
Come on, I wanna go! It's going to be fun!

　In the dining room of the Silver Moon, Mika interrupted Dolan, who was sitting across from me, from the side. It seems that Mica-san is on board.

But, well, if Mika is gone, things will be tougher for us too.
'Oh, I don't know. Why don't you ask Tania to help you? I have enough help now.
Hey, you're not that guy.

　Mr. Dolan suddenly starts to panic. So that's Mr. Tania. The wife of a widow who lives on the north side of town, as I recall. I've been greeted by her a few times. What's the matter? Are you and Mr. Dolan that close?

It's better if you don't have me to do something for you. But in that case, the king of the country is coming here to ask you personally, so how can you refuse?
"...! Oh, I get it! Go! Don't go crying to me later!

　A desperate Dolan agrees, and Micah does it! I gave a small gut punch.
　That would make me want to add a public bath to the inn over there, but there's a bit of a problem with that. That was brought from a secret hot spring in Belfast, right? As you might expect, it would be unfair to get something from another country.
　There is a canal in Brunhild, so we can use that as hot water somehow. There's no hot spring effect, but it's enough for a big bath. You can blend in "refreshment" and "recovery".
　Anyway, I took Mika and returned to Naito's old man in Brunhild.

'Oh, isn't that Mika-san? Is 'Silver Moon' here too by any chance?

　Mr. Zanuck, who was talking to old Naito, looked at me and laughed at me.

'I've decided to build a state-run inn, so I pulled him out to the manager.
Oh, I envy you. If you're going to make a clerk's uniform, come to my shop.
You're a good businessman.

　Micah laughs as if he thought Zanuck-san was joking. Maybe it wasn't a joke........ That was a businessman's eyes.
　I asked Naito's old man to talk to Mika as well and decide on a place for the inn. Since it is state-run, we'll need a larger room for the inn. We also need space to make a bath. We told Mika and the others to come to the castle and we said goodbye.
　As we were walking along the street towards the castle, a child's brother and sister on a small bicycle came running across the street.

Oh, hey! Hello!
'Hello! Heika!
Yes, hello.

　The kids run past me as they do, saying hello. I'm fine. I'm glad to hear that you like the bike. It's hard to believe those innocent kids are a clan of shinobi, though.
　As I looked away from the children's back and was about to start walking again, a familiar girl came running from in front of me, this time with something in her hand.

''Fuyou-sama!''
Hey, Lou. What's going on?

　Lou came running in at a trot, breathless, and offered me something in his hand. A double-decker stack of boxes and a water bottle,?

Here's your lunch. You didn't come home at noon so...
Yeah, well, I'm not there yet.

　I accepted my lunch and turned off the street and pulled out a chair and table from "storage" under the shade of a tree. He unfolded the bento he had received and found a wide variety of side dishes: rice and stir-fried meat and vegetables, sauteed meat and vegetables, sauteed sauteed burdock and potatoes, fried eggs and stewed fish. The shape of the food was a little misshapen, though.

''Hmm? I wonder if this wasn't made by Claire?
Oh, yes. Well...I made it myself. Claire-san and Fuyu-sama said she liked Yisheng's cooking, so Tsubaki-san taught me how to make it.......although it was somewhat awkward since it was my first time.......
Yeah.

　It's the first time I've made this and it's enough. I used chopsticks to try the meat and potatoes. Yes, it's usually good.

It's good. I can't believe it's my first time.
'Really? Good for you!

　Lou is bursting with joy. It's too much, isn't it? She's quite expressive, isn't she? I think she's cute like that. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.

''........What's wrong?''
Hmm, no. It's just so cute.
Huh?

　I don't know, I've got a real feeling. I try not to look too much at Lou, who has turned red in the face before I see him, and proceed to eat my lunch. I'm somewhat embarrassed. But it's delicious. This meat and potatoes or something like that is pretty much my favorite flavor.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to eat.
No? Not really. Oh, not anything extremely spicy or anything like that.

　Else's spicy chicken was awful. No one but she could eat it without batting an eyelash.

Then what do you like?
'Hmm, I guess it's still Japanese food...Yisheng's food. I like anything that goes with rice, but... Oh, this meat and potatoes is my favorite. It's the best.
Oh, thank you very much....

　His face, which had subsided when I complimented him on his cooking, turned red again. 'Busy.

''I've always been interested in cooking, but I wasn't allowed to do it at the castle... since I met Fuyao-sama, I've been enjoying every day.

　Of course not, she's a princess. There's no way I'd let her cook for me, right? It's a shame to let such talent go unattended.
　I finished my lunch and put the chairs and table away in the 'storage' and then we started walking back to the castle together.
　Lou, walking beside me, kept glancing at me, reaching out and pulling back, reaching out and pulling back, so I reached out and took her little hand in mine.
　She squeezes it back, surprised.

'Ehehe,'

　I held hands with Lou, who was smiling embarrassingly as we headed back to the castle. From the outside, they probably look like brother and sister. Well, there's no hurry. There will come a time when we will look like a couple, or even a lover.
　We are going to live in this country forever.