kscans

Chapter 66 - A Quiet Time

Prince Alphonse had landed in the Republic.

He had come to bring his sister back.

The time goes back four days.

In the Kingdom, in the office, Prince Alphonse said.

"...That is all for my sister's current situation."

He reported to the King with a bitter feeling.

This matter had already been briefly reported, and what the prince had just spoken of were the detailed contents.

The King, sitting in his chair, said.

"...Haaa... The tea is delicious today too."

He said while looking at the view from the window.

Seeing that figure, the prince said.

"?! Father! Please get a hold of yourself!! If you become strange now, the country will be in great trouble!"

To the shouting prince, the King said.

"Do not panic, Alphonse. I am aware of that. ...It's just that when so many unexpected things happen one after another, it actually becomes refreshing. ...If I solve all of these, I might be engraved in history as a rare king. ...Thinking that makes me motivated."

The King said with a faint smile.

Alphonse realized. His head was aching from the problems that were piling up all at once, and far from collapsing, he was actually becoming somewhat reckless.

It was a situation similar to a runner's high. The prince said.

"...Then Father. I will take a few knights to bring my sister back. Since we cannot make it public, I will have them disguise themselves as adventurers. ...I will also accompany them as the client who hired them. ...Father, I would like to ask you to handle this work."

What he handed over were documents about exports.

The prince said business-like.

"Recently, the export of ore from the Empire has increased, and we have received a letter requesting us to provide Adamantite. ...Apparently, it is necessary for a new material being created by the Empire's development center."

He explained the business contents.

The King, who received the documents, said.

"...The Empire, huh. They fight against a group of monsters, while the Kingdom is relaxing in a safe place. ...They badmouth us and have been repeatedly saying to sell them ore cheaply. ...The Kingdom is not safe either, but well, there is no meaning in such an argument. ...Let's have a meeting with the prime minister and the nobles right away."

He said while looking at the documents.

With this content, it was obvious that the nobles would object. Because Adamantite was valuable to them too. They would surely suggest that it should all be stored for an emergency. ...What kind of emergency it was for, I could generally guess, but I couldn't think about that now.

Seeing the situation, the prince said.

"...Well then, Father. I will be going."

To those words, the King said.

"Yes, be careful."

He took a curt attitude, but his words conveyed his concern.

The prince changed into noble-style clothes in his private room and approached the soldiers dressed as adventurers in front of the gate.

The soldier saluted and said.

"We have been waiting for you. The carriage is already prepared. Also, the arrangements for the ship have been completed."

He reported flatly.

The prince nodded and got into the carriage. Their destination was the Republic.

To bring back his sister.

Returning to the present, in the Republic.

When the prince arrived at the port, he said.

"...We will get a room here right away. It will likely be a long-term stay since we won't find her immediately. As soon as we have a room, we will first gather information. She probably hasn't done anything to stand out, so please investigate her knight escort. ...From Glad's atmosphere, he probably can't help but stand out."

He gave instructions to his subordinates.

They saluted with correct posture.

At that gesture, the prince said.

"...I should mention, you are not knights right now. You are adventurers hired by me. Please act accordingly. ...That was the behavior of a knight. ...I want to settle this peacefully."

He gave instructions again.

They were bewildered, but they bowed their heads and began to act. The prince looked satisfied and went with them.

We gathered information about the Empire while going around the shops.

We looked around the tool shop, weapon shop, and herb shop as if we were tourists. There was nothing noteworthy in the tool shop or weapon shop, but we found and purchased vegetables, or rather herbs, at the herb shop. I wanted to add a little something extra to tonight's meal.

After we had gone through all of them, around noon, we entered a cafe-like shop and were taking a break. While eating the coffee and sandwich that came out, I said.

"...I've asked around a lot, but the Empire's impression of the Kingdom is that they are in a safe place. ...That's a rather resentful thing to say."

I said with a sigh.

Putting together the information I had gathered so far, the Empire was constantly engaged in a life-or-death struggle with monsters, with not only injured but also dead. To compensate for the labor shortage, they were recruiting personnel from the Republic and the Church, and since the treatment was quite good, those in need of money were going to the Empire. At the same time, the Empire's technology development center was developing weapons using ore and magic stones. They had almost no holidays, which was the current situation in the Empire.

On the other hand, the Kingdom was relaxing because there was no threat, it had many mountain ranges, and there was an abundance of ore. In addition to that, there were monster pelts, magic stones, meat, fangs, and claws. There was a variety, and it was a rich country where it was not very difficult to catch them. From the Empire's point of view, it was an unbearably safe country.

Honestly, there was nothing that could be done.

What happened in that region could only be called misfortune. If it had been an incident caused by humans, various things could be said, but natural disasters do not change no matter what people say. There was nothing that could be done.

Only helplessness remained.

Monsters were the same. A sudden mass outbreak and strength, and many species that could not speak human language, so human negotiation skills were meaningless in front of monsters.

Violence against violence.

That was the only way.

As I was thinking that, Tina said.

"...Shinsuke, I generally know what you are thinking, but... please do not speak of it. Although this is the Republic, there are those who volunteer for the Empire, merchants from the Empire, and soldiers. ...If it reaches their ears, a commotion will occur."

She warned me.

I nodded and said.

"...I understand. I'll just think about it. ...Thank you."

I answered with a smile. Tina seemed relieved to hear those words and looked as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Princess's Party.

In another cafe across the street, two people were drinking while watching the two of them.

Olivia, while drinking her coffee, said.

"This is nice. I don't know the details, but it's a good atmosphere♪ ...I feel like I could write a good poem."

She said with a happy face.

Seeing that, Sakura said.

"That's wonderful, Lady Olivia. ...However, His Majesty the King and the others may be making their move soon. ...I think you should be careful."

Sakura said worriedly.

Olivia put her cup on the table and said.

"It's fine. ...I'd like to say, but it's about time for my brother to make his move. ...I have to be more careful with my actions than ever before."

She was contemplating.

At that moment, from behind.

"As expected, Olivia. You have a fearsome intellect for my sister. ...However, you were too late."

At those words, the two turned around.

Standing there was Prince Alphonse. Behind him were three attendants. And Glad.

After looking at all the members, Olivia said.

"...Glad, what is the meaning of this?"

She asked with a serious expression.

Glad, looking apologetic, said.

"...I am sorry. I was seen entering this shop by the prince's knight. ...After that, when I stepped out, I was caught by the prince and confessed."

Glad said apologetically.

Alphonse said with a gentle face.

"Glad, don't worry about it. You were in a position like a victim too. ...There is no need to feel bad. ...Now then, Olivia. We are going to the inn where I am staying."

He said with a smile.

However, his eyes were not smiling.

Olivia thought that causing a scene here would be troublesome and gave up.

Night, Shinsuke's side.

Tina and I had dinner in our room at the inn. It was grilled fish, bread, and pumpkin soup. I took a bite of the grilled fish and felt the taste was bland. As expected. Thinking that, I decided to use the daikon I bought at the herb shop.

First, I made a grater, cut the daikon into a suitable size, grated it, and made grated daikon. I put it on top of the grilled fish and drizzled the soy sauce I bought at the Church on it. The taste became pleasantly bitter. Simple, but that was what was good about it.

Tina, who was watching, said.

"...May I have some too?"

As she said that, I nodded and shared some with her.

Tina ate it in the same way. Her face contorted a little, but she continued to eat it. It seemed she liked it. After finishing the meal, I was about to write a report when Tina, who had changed into green armor, said.

"...Shinsuke, may I have a moment? ...How long do you plan to stay in the Republic?"

To this question, I replied.

"...Let's see. I'll take on an adventurer's request here, and once I feel I've seen enough, I plan to go to the Empire. ...I'd say in a few days."

To this answer, Tina said.

"...I see. In that case, there are several old ruins in the Republic. If you go there, I think you'll find some fairly tough monsters."

She told me information about the Republic.

I was about to ask about the ruins when I heard a scream from outside.

A little while ago, at night, on the princess's side.

The prince and his party were staying at one of the top inns in the Republic. The princess's party was with them. After finishing a detailed debriefing, they had dinner.

While drinking coffee after the meal, the prince said.

"...Olivia, you've always said you wanted to be a bard, but... this time you've gone too far. ...Father is so stressed that he's actually become defiant and is working. ...To a worrying extent."

He said with a sigh.

Olivia said in a cheerful voice.

"That's wonderful. I'm glad I could be of help to Father."

She said with a beaming smile.

Seeing that, Alphonse said.

"...I meant that sarcastically."

He said with a hint of anger in his voice.

Olivia, as if the wind were blowing past her, said.

"...I'm just kidding, brother. ...If you get so angry, your wrinkles will increase, and you'll look old."

She said in a way that lightened the mood.

Alphonse put his finger to his brow and pondered.

He was about to say something when a scream was heard from outside.

A scream heard from both of their inns.

What on earth had happened?

Going back in time, to the gate of the Republic.

The soldiers were on night duty. They were more alert on night watch than during the day. Because night was the perfect time for bandits and monsters to attack. Amidst that, a human figure was seen approaching from the darkness.

The soldiers immediately readied their spears. However, the speed was slow, too slow for someone walking. They were suspicious but remained vigilant. When the figure came close to the bonfire, its identity was revealed. A woman in thin Japanese clothes was walking with an unsteady gait. The soldiers thought she had been attacked by bandits, put away their spears, and approached.

The soldier said with a worried face.

"Stop. ...What happened? You're in a terrible state. Were you attacked by bandits?"

In response to the barrage of questions, the woman kept her head down and did not answer.

The soldier was wondering what to do when the woman raised her face. The soldier was about to ask about her situation again, when the next moment, the woman suddenly lunged and bit the soldier's neck.