Chapter 125 - The Fortress of Heilong, and the Birthday Party
“By the way, Master… once Shizuka is healed, are you planning on doing anything… naughty with her?”
Fam’s question was barely a whisper. She sounded lonelier than I had ever heard her.
“N-No, of course not.”
After hearing her heartfelt confession just moments ago, I couldn’t possibly say yes, even if I wanted to.
“Do you think she’ll keep working at that place?”
“I don’t know. But other transfers might be after her life, and she doesn’t seem to have any special skills or combat ability to defend herself. If possible, I’d like to bring her with us to Migul, where we can keep an eye on her.”
Fam nodded.
“We also have to find that person she called Ko-kun, don’t we?”
To be honest, I had no idea what to do even if I managed to gather all the transfers. For now, I just wanted everyone to share information so we could figure out how to survive in this world.
“She said she ran into Takemura’s group. He or Komachi might have some information.”
“Master, you’re forgetting you’re Mizuki-chan again. Also, your underwear is showing.”
“Ugh, sorry.”
I clamped my legs together and smoothed down my skirt. As we were talking, Shizuka returned by herself. It looked like she’d received her treatment. The pimple-like blemishes on her face were gone, and I could’ve sworn her features looked even prettier now. Mash-kun and Maira were probably still talking with the bishop.
“Mash-kun told me you’re all headed for Migul. I think I’ll quit my job on Longhorn Street and go with you.”
“I don’t mind, but what do you plan to do once you get there?” I asked, trying my best to channel the Mizuki in my head.
“Well, if Mash won’t have sex with me, maybe I’ll get a job at one of the shops in Migul? I hear there’s a district called Crystal Square with a bunch of places like that.”
Her blatant come-ons toward me seemed to have stopped. It looked like Fam’s pressure had worked.
“…No, your priority should be finding your boyfriend! If he dislikes how promiscuous you are, he’s not going to be hanging around a place like that, is he? And do you really want to get sick again?”
There was always the possibility that her boyfriend was the type of guy who was against her sleeping with other men but perfectly fine with sleeping with other women himself, but it was probably best not to mention that. I didn’t want to stir up trouble.
“I really do love sex, though. I want to keep sleeping with lots of different people.”
She gave a faint smile, her gaze fixed on something far away.
“Could you please not say such lewd things with that refreshingly pure expression, like you’re reliving a precious memory from your youth?!”
But even I had to admit, her wish shone with a dazzling light. If I could, I would shout to the heavens that I wanted to sleep with every woman in the world. But Fam was scary, so I kept my mouth shut.
“So, I have a little favor to ask,” Shizuka said, pressing her palms together and bowing her head.
“If I try to quit my job on Longhorn Street, the boss might try to do something to me! Could you come with me?”
“…”
So it was trouble after all. I had a very bad feeling about this.
Viewed from a distance, the city of Heilong was built on a low hill, much like the hilltop castles from my original world. The place Fam led us to, where Marmie was staying, was a fortress at the very peak of that hill. It was a massive stone structure with countless spires. From the front, it was covered in intricate carvings. The enormous arched entrance stood open, but it was so imposing that I hesitated to even approach. Just looking at it made me want to turn back.
“Are you sure you know someone in a place like this?”
Shizuka stared up at the castle, her mouth agape. I hadn’t expected Marmie to be staying in a place like this either.
“The person we’re about to meet is a real princess. Say one wrong thing and her attendant will smack you. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll be cut down where you stand, so be careful.”
“What? Seriously? I’m in deep trouble, then.”
While I was warning her, Fam ambled over to one of the guards on patrol. No one fit the description of “ambling along” better than she did. I watched her back as she told the guard that she wished to see Marmie. In our group was myself, Fam, Mash-kun, Maira, and Shizuka.
After a short wait, Patricia appeared with several knights in tow. She saw us and gave a polite bow. I couldn’t tell if the knights were from Heilong or if they were the ones who had come to escort her. Inside the castle, Patricia led the way, followed by Mash-kun and Maira. I, Fam, and Shizuka came next, with the knights bringing up the rear.
“I’ve lived in this city for about two years, but this is my first time inside the castle!”
Shizuka commented as she walked down the corridor, her eyes darting from the marble floor to the high ceiling. She was on the verge of saying something disrespectful enough to get her head lopped off, but since I was in the same boat, I kept quiet. It made me wonder, though—if one of us died while we were swapped, what would happen?
As I pondered this, my eyes fell on Maira, who was chattering animatedly to Mash-kun. In the end, she never believed that Mizuki and I had switched bodies. She just thought we were teasing her.
“Somehow, Maira seems really happy today,” I murmured. Shizuka let out a thoughtful “Hmm,” glancing from Mash-kun and Maira to me and Fam. Then, she grinned.
“The position where Maira is standing and the position where Fam is standing are the same, aren’t they?”
“Huh? No, they’re not.”
After retorting, I realized that the distance between Mash-kun and Maira was exactly the same as the distance between me and Fam. The spot Maira was currently occupying was Fam’s designated seat. Was Maira happy because she thought Fam had yielded the spot to her? Maybe it was my imagination, but she looked cuter than usual. The only problem was that she wasn’t doing it next to me.
Eventually, Patricia stopped in front of a room. The knights behind us passed by and opened the doors. It must have been a parlor. The room was vast, with luxurious tapestries hanging on the walls and silk curtains fluttering in the breeze from the windows. The gilt furniture, similar to what I’d seen in the mountain castle, and the ornately decorated fireplace caught my eye. In the room, Marmie was lounging on a sofa arranged around a large table. Marmie, Cecily, Aira, and even Wake were there. Marmie stood up, walked over to Mash-kun, stopped, tilted her head, and then came over to me. She delicately pinched the hem of her skirt.
“…I was waiting.”
“Yeah… I mean, hello. Mash-kun is over there.”
“…No. You’re Mash. I wasn’t sure, but Fam is next to you, so there’s no mistake.”
Did elves and dog-ears have some kind of sixth sense for identifying people? Meanwhile, Cecily and Aira were gathered around Mash-kun. I was a little jealous. As I was thinking that, Marmie took my hand.
“…You’re going to make me a cheesecake, right? Let’s go to the kitchen. I want to watch you make it.”
Marmie started pulling me by the hand.
“Wait, I’m just helping. Mizuki prepared the cream cheese, and only she knows the rest of the recipe.”
“…Right now, you’re Mizuki.”
Marmie’s expression said she expected me to make it, no questions asked, but that was impossible, so I decided to call Mash-kun over. As I did, Fam, on my other side, tugged on the hem of my clothes.
“Master, Mizuki bought a lot of eggs yesterday. I can help, so would you be willing to make a rolled omelet? I want to learn how to make it.”
I had to wonder if a rolled omelet would even go with cheesecake.
And so, the table was laden with cheesecake, a rolled omelet with dried mushrooms, and an assortment of fruits and baked sweets provided by the lord of the castle. Tea we’d bought from the Mateo Trading Company added to the festive spread. On a table filled with sweets, the rolled omelet stood out as the sole savory dish.
“Happy birthday,” Patricia said. Marmie, fidgeting shyly, gave a little nod. Twelve candles were lined up in front of her, and she carefully blew each one out. We had initially tried to put the candles on the cheesecake, but we didn’t have any that were thin enough. Her birthday party had begun.
“Is there anything special you do for birthdays here?” I asked Maira. She gave me another strange look, so I passed the question to Mash-kun with my eyes. Maira still didn’t believe we’d swapped. We’d explained it to Cecily and Aira, but they didn’t believe it either. This was getting to be a real pain. As for Cecily and Aira, maybe I should have Shizuka use her special skill on them later to expose the truth of whether they were in love. But then I realized it would be hard to prove the skill’s authenticity. Shizuka’s claim that people swap because they’re in love was just her own theory.
“Is there anything special you do for birthdays?” Mash-kun asked Maira again.
“Not particularly, but the age of adulthood differs between the races.”
“It does?”
“Yes, for humans, it’s sixteen. Most beastkin races consider it to be fifteen. For elves, it’s twelve. The latest is the dwarves, at twenty.”
Maira explained to Mash-kun. It was interesting that elves, who were known for their long lifespans, came of age so early.
“So, what happens when you come of age?”
“Nothing in particular, but you’re recognized as an independent adult and are permitted to marry.”
“What about alcohol?”
“We don’t encourage children to drink much, but there are no specific age restrictions.”
Mash-kun shot me a triumphant look. I had no idea what he was so proud of.
“The dog-eared race has a coming-of-age ritual at fifteen called the ‘pilgrimage dog,’ don’t they?” Maira said, looking at Fam. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the image of Fam going on a pilgrimage.
“Hmph! I thought you weren’t the type to make fun of the dog-eared race, Master!” Fam huffed, getting angry.
“No, it’s just that in my old world, back in the old days, there was a custom where people who couldn’t go on a pilgrimage themselves would have their pet dogs go in their place with a pouch of money. It just reminded me of that.”
“Is that so? In our settlements, it is customary for dog-eared boys to leave for the city for one year when they turn fifteen,” Fam explained. I’d always had the sense that she had a vague understanding of my old world. Perhaps the things Okita Soji brought with him when he saved the dog-eared race had taken root in their culture. I glanced over at Marmie, sitting in the seat of honor. As of today, she was officially an adult. But turning twelve didn’t mean she would suddenly mature overnight. She was still a child. Still, her chest was already about as developed as Fam’s, so I had high hopes for her future. Just as I was thinking that, Marmie’s gaze met mine.
“…Mizuki, Fam, I want you to stay the night.”
“Are you sure? Aren’t we already imposing enough with just Cecily and Aira here?”
“Why do I have to hear that from you, Mizuki?!” Cecily snapped at me. Her tone felt harsher than usual. Aira was also giving me a slightly thorny glare. It was unexpected. It seemed their attitude also changed depending on whether they were talking to Mash or someone else.
“…I have a request—or rather, a job—for the members of Levante.”
Marmie started speaking while I was still dumbfounded by Cecily and Aira’s reactions.
“…This castle is haunted. I want you to get rid of the ghost.”
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