13-3 Part 2
Country Girl, Unexpectedly Invited to
a Royal Dinner - Dead-Shot -
Translator : PolterGlast
Thus, by the time Jii returned, I had polished off the dinner. After that, Kachua
readied her bow and arrow and shot three perfectly ripe apples off a branch in
quick succession to show us.
「I hit
them...」
Kachua seemed
to be the most surprised. If I recall, the influence of the Emperor's Round
skill provides a correction when I'm nearby.
「That's
amazing, Kachua-chan! Amazing, amazing, so cool! I like you even more
now!」
「This
is certainly amazing deshu... Durin also respects Kachua deshu!」
「Mmmmmm...
Well, her skill seems certain...」
What is Jii getting competitive about at his age... Aniue also
acknowledged Kachua's skill as genuine and nodded, making me feel proud.
「This
is usable... Kachua, if you'd like, won't you join the military?」
「Eh...?!」
「Wait, Aniue,
what are you recruiting her for without permission.」
「I
don't want to hear that from you, who snatched Puis away.」
「Aaah,
so you were holding a grudge after all...」
But the military is
a bad idea. If an era of chaos is going to arrive, it'll be a dangerous job
that doesn't pay. Above all, Kachua came to the Imperial Capital
because she wanted to be an adventurer.
「My my,
fighting over me between brothers?」
「Puis,
it's it's getting complicated, so don't interject.」
「A
dead-shot Archer is an exceptional talent that surpasses even a single fierce
general. Depending on how she's used, a single technique from Kachua
could completely change the course of a battle.」
That's true. But
more than that, I can't help but feel uneasy that you're thinking under the
premise that a civil war will occur. However, that's right. I still had news
that I hadn't reported to Aniue.
「Aniue,
sorry, but I have something I want to talk about just the two of us.」
「Let's
hear it.」
When Aniue
stood up from his seat, I followed his back. We moved to the back of the garden,
hid ourselves in the bushes, and lightly glared at each other.
「I
seriously want that girl. If trained, she seems like she could become quite a
military commander.」
「That
is for Kachua to decide. More importantly, the talk isn't about that,
it's about what happened during the journey... I saw something there that I
cannot ignore.」
「I
assume it's information that makes up for your disappearance for the past
month?」
「Yeah,
unfortunately, the answer is yes. I got hold of some extremely dangerous news.」
Then Aniue
brought his face closer to me, as if telling me to speak quietly. It helps that
he's quick on the uptake.
「Actually,
the other day, I challenged the labyrinth of Ratatosk with Kachua.」
「Oh,
the labyrinth. I also want to enter a labyrinth at least once—no, wait, what
are you doing with your status as a Prince...」
「I'm
reporting it knowing full well you'd say that, so let that slide.」
「You
always do whatever you please, don't you...」
If you're envious,
throw away your status and become free. I wanted to say that, but it would
derail the conversation, so I stopped.
「I'll
be blunt; inside that labyrinth, I met Julius and Yord. Along
with a monster calling himself the Abyss
Knight Ventos.」
「Mu...
For someone lacking imagination like me, that's a story quite difficult to
accept... In other words, what does this mean?」
「It
seems those two have colluded with the Demon Nobles of the Abyss. As proof, Yord
had received a magic sword with unbelievable sharpness. Yord holding that
is dangerous, Aniue...」
「Hoh.
Is that the reason you aren't carrying your shovel on your back.」
Being pointed out on
that, I ended up tasting the feeling of becoming a timid child. The steel Shovel
that Aniue and Aneue had gone out of their way to gift me, I had
it broken.
「Haa...
That's right. I engaged Yord to protect my comrades, and lost the gift
you guys gave me... When his blade clashed with the steel, it was crushed like
clay and became useless.」
Aniue was
half in doubt. He stared at me, trying to ascertain the truth from my
complexion. Sorry, but it's not a lie. Because it's not a lie, I'm troubled.
「Even
if you say Yord cut steel, it's quite hard to believe...」
「I
suppose so. But that guy views you as an enemy.」
「...Umu,
a troublesome man.」
Having me taken
hostage, the young Aniue had no choice but to lose the match against Yord.
On top of that, one is the head of the Knight Order, and the other is the
General protecting the Imperial Capital. The history between the two is
likely beyond my imagination.
「Furthermore,
considering Yord received a magic sword, we should view it as Julius
also having received something troublesome. Aniue, be careful, who knows
what will happen.」
「A
magic sword and the Abyss. It's hard to believe, but I'll believe it. ...I've
received repeated invitations from that Julius. Saying that if the world
becomes turbulent, let us depose the Crown Prince together...」
「That
guy just wants the Emperor's seat; he doesn't desire peace.」
「Even
without you telling me, I know it well enough to be sick of it.」
With that reply from
Aniue, I was convinced that he definitely has no intention of siding
with Julius. That guy is the man who passed the Manor Expansion Law. For
the citizens, he must be the worst royalty.
「Fortunately,
there is a means to counter Yord. For some reason, I caught the fancy of
the Abyss Demon Noble Ventos and received an ingot of something called
Demonic Spirit Silver.」
「Wh-What
are you doing... Coming into contact with an existence of the Abyss...?!」
「He
spoke to me from his side. I really don't understand the White Knight Ventos.
If he's plotting a conspiracy with my brothers, he should have killed me in the
labyrinth as a hindrance to his plan. But he didn't do that, and instead gave
me the material to counter Yord's magic sword. Honestly, he's a guy I
don't understand...」
But right now, I
have no choice but to rely on this silver of the Demon World. If I don't forge
a weapon that can catch the magic sword, Georg-aniue will be cut down.
「Then
use that silver for your shovel.」
「What
are you saying, let's make an alloy and split it between the two of us.」
「We
don't know if that will be able to counter the Abyss magic sword.」
「That's
true. Even though the world is vast, there is probably no blacksmith in this
world who has processed the silver of the Abyss.」
Well, that's about
it for the messages. From now on, while doing what needs to be done, I'll have
to search for a blacksmith who can handle Demonic Spirit Silver.
「Wait,
someone seems to have come.」
「The
talk is over. Let's end the secret meeting here before the maids get suspicious
of our relationship.」
「Don't
say things like Puis. Mu... what is it.」
When we stepped out
of the bushes, a familiar officer spotted us and came running. He kneeled at Georg's
feet and raised his face to report. For some reason, he turned his eyes to me
next after my brother.
「I
apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, a strange report has
come in. Ah, it's fine that Prince Ashley His Highness is also here.
Rather, it concerns Ashley-sama...」
「What
have you messed up this time so soon after returning to the Imperial Capital,
Ashley...」
「I
don't know. I shouldn't have done anything.」
I didn't think I had
any credibility, but this is unexpected. Even I wouldn't cause a commotion on
the very day I returned—no, when Durin was kidnapped before, I messed up
right after returning from Corin Village, didn't I.
「Do you
really not know...? Actually, it seems that people who wish to meet Prince Ashley
are visiting Erin...」
「That's
strange. There aren't many people in the world who would specifically name me
as Prince Ashley.」
「Yes,
that's not the only strange thing. Those people are armed beastmen, and their
number reaches 500. If their story is to be believed, they came here across the
sea... They all say they want to become Ashley-sama's retainers...」
Georg-aniue
and I looked at each other's faces. It's a development not in our synopsis. 500
retainer applicants from across the sea...? I doubt it, but Zirant, this
isn't your doing, is it?
『Don't
be stupid. Rather than that, carry that steak to the bushes. Offer a tribute to
Wagahai.』
...That looks
exactly like feeding leftovers to a stray kitty. In any case, we won't know
until we head to Erin.
「Alright.
Tell them we will head there first thing tomorrow morning; I'll go too.」
「Aniue,
that is being too meddlesome. Do your military work.」
「500
volunteer soldiers from the beastmen country of Kaha. That falls well within the jurisdiction of a General's work. Assuming we accept them,
bureaucratic work will naturally accompany it.」
「Please
don't talk about things that give me a headache...」
Everything is
coiling around, and I don't even know what's what anymore... Also Zirant,
it's really not your doing, right?
『You
persistent man. But it's an interesting flow.』
As if it could be
interesting. If I accept retainers or followers or whatever, won't it become
even harder to flee...
『More
importantly, hurry with the steak... Before Kachua eats it all, hurry
up.』
Are you starting to
resemble me?
『I am
not! Energy is needed for resurrection, offer meat to Wagahai!』
Is that so... After that, I fed the stray kitty that looked like a dragon, showed Kachua my room as promised, and slept for the day.
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