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073 Reunion
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Translator : PolterGlast
After the ennoblement
ceremony and dealing with Akaba and his group, I was walking down the hallway,
about to leave, when I was called out to. It was a familiar face.
"Is something
wrong?" I asked.
"Could I speak
with you for a moment?" It was a former male classmate. He wore glasses
and was slender, but tall. He resembled a matchstick, and his appearance
suggested more of an otaku vibe than an intellectual.
"I was just about
to leave the castle, so can we settle this here?" I suggested.
"That's fine with
me, but wouldn't that be a problem for you, Fujii-kun?" he replied.
"..." This
guy, does he know my true identity? How did he find out? Where was I careless?
I kept quiet as much as possible, so I shouldn't have been found out. Who would
think someone with this appearance is Fujii? And, he stated it so
definitively...
"I don't mean to
be hostile. I just want you to hear me out."
"...Alright,"
I conceded. We returned to the waiting room.
"Everyone, stand
guard outside the room and don't let anyone in," I instructed.
"Master..."
Anneliese began, looking worried.
"Anneliese. I'm
Toi," I said, gently placing my hand on her cheek. "It's
alright."
"Yes," she
replied.
I entered the room and
sat on the sofa.
"So, what is it you
want to talk about?" I asked.
"I want you to
get me out of this castle."
"Huh?" What
is this guy saying? That's what a cute girl would say, isn't it? No, wait,
that's not it. Why do I have to get him out? Does he not have the freedom to
leave in the first place?
"Most of the
people in this castle are good people. But when I go out, the escorts are
annoying, you know. And as Fujii-kun knows, my classmates are all trash. I want
to enjoy this other world to the fullest. So living in the castle is against my
will, and having escorts every time I go out is... well, Fujii-kun, you'd
understand, right?"
The people in this
castle are all good people, huh? I'm a little surprised by that. I thought
there would be annoying nobles. Wait, getting him out isn't going out; it's
running away from home.
"Let me say this
first: I am not Fujii," I stated.
"Ah, right. Your
setting is Baron Toi Footscythel, isn't it?" Don't call it a
"setting."
"But Toi is
Fujii, right? And Footscythel means 'foot' and 'sickle,' which reminds you of
Fujiwara no Kamatari, or Nakatomi no Kamatari, doesn't it? And using wisteria
as a crest, which no one else in this world uses, you're definitely Japanese,
right? And it's clear you're from the Fujiwara clan's lineage. Fujii is a
branch family of the Fujiwara clan, right? That's why your family crest was
wisteria, wasn't it? It's common for branch families of the Fujiwara clan to
change their surname in the provinces. And there should be 35 classmates, including
me, but there are only 34. The missing one is Fujii-kun. With all these clues,
it's clear that Toi-kun equals Fujii-kun, isn't it?" He talked a lot. And
he completely seemed to think I was Fujii. He was right, but saying
"Yes" would feel like a defeat.
"I'm not asking
Fujii-kun to feed me. I just want you to take me under your wing. That's all.
I'll work too, you know. I'm an Item Creator, so I can make not only weapons
and armor but also convenient items. It'll be useful to keep me close."
He just keeps talking,
one thing after another. Is he harboring some resentment?
I knew he was an Item
Creator from the Detailed Appraisal, but what should I do? He doesn't seem to
be lying. I don't feel any hostility, nor does he seem to have ill intent.
What's the right choice here?
"I'm just a
Baron, I can't possibly protect someone like you."
"Then, won't you
let me stay as a lodger? That's all I ask. Since you're a Baron, you live in a
mansion, right? Wouldn't there be at least one empty room? Besides, if you
leave me in this castle, I might accidentally spill the beans, you know."
That guy's basis for
calling me Fujii—if he were to reveal them, things could get messy. The Duke
doesn't interfere much, to keep me from rebelling. But since I've made a name
for myself by subjugating demons, the Princess might believe his words and try
to get involved. I like my current life. I'd be troubled if that were ruined.
When he was in Japan,
he didn't interfere with my affairs. He rarely spoke to me, and even when I was
ignored by other classmates, he'd speak to me if necessary, regardless. That
was the extent of our relationship.
If the guys who harmed
me asked for help, I'd refuse now, but I don't have any ill feelings towards
this guy, who's less than a friend but more than an acquaintance, so I don't
particularly dislike being asked.
This guy is competent
in his own way, so taking him along is fine. I'll take him and make him create
items I want. Since I'm taking him along, I'll make him work like a dog. It
wouldn't be bad to demand that much return.
That's the extent of
our relationship.
"You'll have to
sign a magic contract," I stated.
"Okay. I won't
talk about Fujii-kun, no, Toi-kun. I'll make that contract," he replied.
"It's not
possible immediately, so I'll talk to the Duke. Wait a while," I said.
"Okay. I can wait
a little. Oh, right. You probably don't even remember my name, do you? My name
is Fujiwara Yamato. Call me Yamato. I'm not of the main lineage, but I'm a
descendant of the Fujiwara clan. We're the same, Toi-kun."
The Fujii family was a
collateral branch of a collateral branch of the Fujiwara clan. If you trace
their origins, they probably shared the same blood, but they were quite distant
relatives. In fact, people I considered strangers might be closer relatives.
We agreed to use each
other, and as we shook hands, it became noisy outside. I wondered what was
going on, then heard a knock, so I permitted entry.
"A visitor
requests an audience," Anneliese announced. I tilted my head at her words.
I had no acquaintances in this castle. Of course, not as Toi. I looked at
Yamato, but he shook his head.
"Understood. Show
them in," I instructed. As Yamato stood up, a guest entered.
"Oh..."
Yamato murmured.
What appeared was a
classmate of Yamato's. Someone I knew well.
---Sayaka Itsukushima.
She was the only
female student at school who worried about me. Ms. Itsukushima-san often spoke
out to protect me. She protested against those who said terrible things. What
business did Itsukushima-san have with me?
"Eh?"
Itsukushima-san
started crying as soon as she entered the room.
What's going on? Why
is she crying? I didn't do anything! I looked at Yamato, but he was also
flustered. We both shook our heads, indicating we had no idea.
Anneliese put her arm
around the sobbing Itsukushima-san, comforting her. I could tell Anneliese was
also bewildered, but I had no idea why she was crying.
"A-anyway, please
sit down," I stammered, asking Anneliese to help Itsukushima-san sit on
the sofa.
We could only wait for
her to calm down.
"I'm sorry. I was
just so happy..." Itsukushima-san finally said.
"Happy about
what?" I asked, asking Anneliese to stay with her. I wasn't good at
handling women.
"I was just so
happy that Fujii-kun was alive," she confessed.
Again... How did she
find out it was me?
I looked at Yamato,
and he was shaking his head so hard it looked like it might snap off. Since he
had made a deal with me, I didn't think he would purposely leak information
about me to Itsukushima-san.
"What do you mean
by Fujii-kun? That gentleman also called Master Toi 'Fujii' earlier, didn't
he?" Anneliese asked, looking straight at me. I couldn't hide this. I had
intended to tell her eventually, but I never expected it to be at this timing.
Before that, Itsukushima-san. How did she know it was me?
Was it an association with my name or crest, like Yamato?
"I recognized
Fujii-kun immediately from your posture and walking style. At first, I was very
worried because your appearance was different, but when I saw the way you
looked at Akaba-kun and the others, I was convinced," she explained. Was
my posture and walking style really that distinctive? My height had shrunk, and
my body shape had changed. And yet, she could still tell...? Well, I consider
Akaba and his group worse than raw garbage, so I can understand why the way I
looked at them would be distinctive.
"I'm really glad
you're alive. I never wanted to think I wouldn't see you again..." she
murmured.
"I seem to have
made you worry. I'm sorry," I replied.
"It's fine. As
long as you're alive," she insisted. It was very comforting to hear a
friend say that. She had always cared about me, so she was the only person I
wanted to protect.
"I'm planning to
live with Toi-kun, so Itsukushima-san, why don't you also come to Toi-kun's
place? You can be together forever," Yamato suggested. That Yamato, saying
whatever he pleases...
"Eh... is that
alright?" Itsukushima-san asked, looking up at me. I couldn't say no when
she looked at me like that. Of course, I had no intention of saying no.
"One or two, it's
all the same. If Itsukushima-san is willing, I don't mind," I replied.
"Yes. Please take
me with you," she said. The problem was the country. How would I justify
taking these two? If I just said I wanted to take them, I'd be laughed at.
I didn't quite
understand the country's stance on Heroes. If they just wanted them to hunt
monsters in the dungeon, then two production-job holders weren't that
important. However, since they had been semi-forcibly abducted, it seemed the country
intended to properly care for them, whether they had combat or production jobs.
I guess I had no
choice but to consult the Duke about these two. I didn't know what to do
myself, but the Duke would surely manage something. I had helped solve the Head-Chopping
Nest incident, and I had helped with the rebellion in the castle and the demon
subjugation, so making a small unreasonable request shouldn't lead to
punishment.
Now, how would I talk
to Anneliese about this? I guess being honest is best in these situations.
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