Chapter 102 - Chapter 5: Drawing Lots
When we went to the main street to do some rat extermination, a crowd had gathered at the bulletin board in front of the town hall.
Everyone had a dark expression, as if there had been some bad news.
Even Owen-san, who is usually late in the morning, was there.
"Did something happen?"
Beatrix immediately called out.
"The port of Primordia has become unusable for a while. It seems they were invaded by Engrio and surrendered."
"Primordia... you mean that small country at the edge of the island?"
"That's the one. Our ally, Sertoria's ally."
He had his arms crossed with a grim expression.
Just then, the owner of the pub where we usually eat lunch arrived.
"Owen. You were here."
"Yeah. You came too?"
"What do you think will happen? Do you think Engrio will attack?"
"I don't know. It's said to be an old custom not to lay a hand on a country where the Demon Lord has been resurrected, but the opponent is that Engrio. You never know what they might pull."
It might turn into a war.
Beatrix and I looked at each other.
"Hey? Is there going to be a war?"
When Beatrix asked, an answer more pressing than expected came back.
"I don't know. Even if it happens, it'll be a while later. Maybe around summer or autumn?"
If it's summer, there are only about three months left. I heard the winter offensive against the Demon Lord's army was successful, but even so, they've only occupied about a third of the forest where the Demon Lord lives. The Kingdom's Central Army cannot move.
"You guys are also part of the vigilantes. You'd better decide what to do in case of an emergency."
"What do you mean, 'what to do'?"
"If Engrio attacks, Nakanohara will be the front line. We vigilantes will also serve. However, it's voluntary participation. Whether to participate in the defense of the border, or to protect the people of the town... if you don't want to fight, you can quit the vigilantes and do nothing."
After saying that, Owen-san went to the vigilante meeting hall with the pub owner.
"What should we do?"
"It's decided. We'll protect the town."
She said it firmly. It was as if she had expected this to happen.
"So that means we won't go outside the town?"
"That... I don't know. If it's necessary to protect the town, we might go outside. For now, let's ask Paul-san."
I never thought Nakanohara would become a battlefield.
Finally, all our companions have graduated, and just when we were about to start... why this...
When Beatrix and I went to the Marcelo Company holding hands, Lyudmila was there, having returned from the fields and tidying up. She didn't seem particularly different, jumping at us with her usual "Good morning."
"Good morning, Lyudmila. Is Paul-san here?"
"He's here. What's wrong? You both look pale."
"A little something. We'll talk when we're with Paul-san."
Lyudmila goes to the fields at dawn. She probably doesn't know the town rumors.
Just then, Paul-san showed his face.
"Oh, you're late. Today was rat extermination, right? By the way, are you ready to go to the Royal Capital?"
Paul-san also seemed unchanged, perhaps not knowing the contents of the bulletin board.
"Even if you say the Royal Capital, there might be a war, right?"
"War? What, are you worried about that? It's fine."
"But everyone says that since Primordia surrendered, Nakanohara is next..."
"In my opinion, they won't come to Nakanohara. Don't worry."
When I looked at Marcelo-san and Angelica-san, they were smiling as usual.
"Listen. It's not that the country is being taken over right now; they surrendered in a localized battle. In other words, the country of Primordia itself remains. They just lost a certain amount of land to Engrio."
"I don't really get it, but war won't break out?"
"In my opinion, not within the year. Since the King of Primordia surrendered early, Engrio was forced to halt its army. There will be no participating as an ally or being invaded. They'll spend time preparing to receive Engrio's garrison and maintaining the port starting in spring. The nobles at the southern border will also be busy participating in the struggle for interests. In short, they won't come for a while."
"What, I worried for nothing."
When I looked at Beatrix, she was pouting, but her eyes were laughing heartily.
She was squeezing my hand and shaking it so hard that my fingers hurt a little.
"However, the way the fortress in the border mountain region was taken bothers me. From Engrio, the march should have been impossible due to being snowed in, yet it was apparently wiped out in a single night. Since no one survived, there seems to be no one to testify."
"Didn't the whole fortress defect?"
"That would actually have more realism. Well, something will eventually be passed along."
In any case, it was good. There's no point in worrying about next year now. We'll just do our best with monster extermination.
"By the way, what should we prepare for going to the Royal Capital?"
The mage, who had been crushing my hand and even digging her nails in, was now asking about that, leaving me aside.
"When people from the provinces are decorated for the first time, it's customary for those who wish to have a week of sightseeing in the Royal Capital. Of course, the lodging costs are on their side. Unless you're going to keep wearing Green Marble for a whole week, that won't do."
"I have the shop, so just the decoration is fine for me. Please enjoy yourselves for that portion."
"Wait a minute! Even if you say that so suddenly, we're going next week, right? I can't suddenly buy a week's worth of clothes."
Are you planning to spend every day changing into new clothes?
"One outfit is enough. Once you get the reward, you can just buy good ones in the Royal Capital."
"I see. That's true too. Let's do that."
As expected of Angelica-san. That's certainly true. It's better than getting them in a rural place like Nakanohara, though I say so myself. Of course, in terms of feeling, that is.
"Are we going to the Royal Capital by carriage?"
"It's a Teleportation Circle. Nowadays, the Royal Capital and the Royal Army garrisons in Nakanohara, the Eastern Plains, the Western Plains, and the Coastal Plains are all connected by magic circles."
Marcelo-san was smiling. It must have resulted in good sales.
"Then, are we going into a cage again?"
"Call it a Gate. Don't call it a cage."
Paul-san gave me a sour look.
I think a cage is a cage, but I understand the feeling of not wanting to equate going to the Royal Capital for a decoration with going to the bandits' fortress led by Lewis-san for monster extermination.
"Then Angelica-san can go too, right?"
"I have to stay for two nights. To stay overnight beforehand so as not to be late for the ceremony, and to attend the banquet on the day of."
"A banquet!"
I've never been to a banquet. Should I go wearing my vestments?
"What kind of clothes should I wear to a banquet? If it goes well, it's a chance to marry into wealth. Can I buy them in the Royal Capital during the pre-stay and make it in time?"
"Don't worry. They should lend them to you at the Royal Palace. There are first-class tailors, so you don't have to worry about anything. If you say you want to aim for a wealthy marriage, they'll dress you accordingly."
The Royal Palace is quite witty to even listen to such requests. Moreover, apparently you can keep them.
Even so, Angelica-san is quite knowledgeable.
"Angelica-san. By any chance, are you a past recipient of a decoration?"
"Ufufu. Well, yes. A long time ago. But it's not just me."
Marcelo-san was smiling.
Paul-san was puffing out his chest.
"Could it be that all three of you have received medals from the King or Queen before?"
"Naturally. We are high-level mages, after all."
I see. That's amazing.
"It might be too late to say this now, but you really hired us, didn't you?"
"You two are also amazing. Receiving a decoration at fifteen is the youngest ever."
"Eh? Is that so?"
"Yes. After all, only adults can receive decorations."
"Ah, I see..."
Marcelo-san was smiling mischievously.
He got me again after a long time. I had forgotten he was this kind of person.
"How nice. Both of you can go to the Royal Capital. I want to go too."
Lyudmila was looking on enviously.
"You can go together for the Royal Capital sightseeing. One person or two people per group can be invited. This time, since the decoration is for the Marcelo Company, we can invite two people. Of course, the decoration ceremony will be as observers, and you won't be able to attend the banquet."
"Now then, who will participate? I don't intend to invite anyone, so you two can choose."
"I'll also go alone, so please invite two of your acquaintances."
They all started smirking together.
Who to invite? This is going to be a battle.
The candidates are the six from the Class of 175, plus Hanna-san.
Dune can apparently be called even from far away, so we don't need to invite her.
As for priority, it would probably be Beowulf and Will, who fought with us, Hanna-san, and then Lyudmila.
"This has turned into something interesting."
While stroking the head of Lyudmila, who held a bundle of bath-heating vouchers in her hand, Beatrix began to smirk.
You can't decide with bribes! As a priest, I won't allow it!
Thanks to Adolf-san's consideration, Hanna-san was included as an attendant from the town hall, so she could be excluded.
I gathered everyone in my room at the Ghost Mansion to consult.
"Actually, all ten members of the guard who participated in the operation in the Eastern Plains have been decided to receive medals. Since they are military personnel, they won't go to the Royal Capital but will be awarded by the guard captain, but the value is the same. So it wouldn't be right for me to participate."
It was probably consideration for her superiors. Beowulf declined.
"I also have experience living in the Royal Capital, so I'll decline. It's better for someone who has never been there before."
With this, Will was removed from the candidates. Both of the strongest candidates had withdrawn.
"Since those two are out, it's two out of the remaining four. Anyone who wants to go!"
"Me!"
Three people except Matilda raised their hands.
"Matilda, are you okay with that?"
"I'm fine. I'm not particularly interested in the Royal Capital. Just buy me a souvenir."
"What would you like?"
"A high-quality spade sold in the Royal Capital."
"A spade? The kind used in the fields?"
"That's right. There are many orders for repairs because the ones used in the fields have become worn out. I want something that can serve as a model."
I see. Truly a craftsman. It's not often a fifteen-year-old girl wants farm tools as a souvenir.
"Then, three people. Two of you will be chosen."
Beatrix took out four strings.
"Isn't there one too many?"
"It's a handicap. Lyudmila actually participated in the operation in the Eastern Plains and fought Fenrir and such, after all."
"Eeeh. No way. If you had invited me, I definitely would have participated."
"Mary, you weren't an adult yet. If I had taken an orphanage student to the battlefield, the Headmistress would have killed me."
Lyudmila was handing three bath-heating vouchers to Bonnie and Mary. This was her way of asking them to overlook it.
"I guess it can't be helped. I'll let you have it this time."
"Whether you let me or not, we're still drawing lots."
Mary held up one index finger to Lyudmila and received a fourth voucher. How shrewd.
"Then, is it okay if Lyudmila goes first? The first and the last are Lyudmila's. If she draws the winning one on the first try, she'll take one losing one and we'll have a showdown with two."
Mary clasped her hands in front of her chest and was praying to the small stone statue in my room, saying "Goddess, Goddess." She was surely praying for her to lose. Is it okay to ask for something so negative?
When Lyudmila drew the first one, it was a loss.
"Aaaah!"
She collapsed onto the floor.
With this, Lyudmila just had to wait.
Mary's prayer seemed to have been heard.
She was rejoicing with a flashy victory pose as if she had drawn the winning one.
I wish she'd stop swinging the stone statue around. What if she drops it and it breaks?
"Next, me."
It was Mary. She was going to draw with that momentum.
"Kyaa! I did it! Goddess, I thank you. I'll buy a souvenir and offer it to you too."
I don't know what she intends to buy for the Goddess, but with this, the banquet will have two people in wealthy-marriage fashion.
Next, Bonnie lost.
"Ah well. I felt like it would turn out like this."
Is that why you lost? Lyudmila was praying so hard it was as if she was putting a curse on you.
But with this, the participants were decided.
"Bonnie. Sorry, but please take care of the rat extermination."
Beside her drooping figure, Lyudmila was dancing wildly.
I told you, let go of the stone statue!
"Then, Lyudmila, you have to choose a high-quality spade for Matilda. The money will come from mine and Jeanne's reward."
In any case, we'll be pestered by Angus-san and the others. It's better to buy souvenirs and use it for ourselves. We just need to inform the owner of the Bird's Head Tavern of the remaining balance and consult on the party's contents.
"Got it. Yay! The Royal Capital!"
"Will you buy me a souvenir too?"
"Fine. Only one per person for others."
"Thank you."
"What are you going to buy?"
"The older sisters always say they want aphrodisiacs."
"Are those even sold?"
"I don't know. Let's have Paul-san take us to a brothel in the Royal Capital. We might find out if we ask there."
If Paul-san took five girls to a brothel, he'd surely be mistaken for someone procuring prostitutes.
I'll definitely go wearing my priest vestments.