episode_0037

The escort mission began in earnest the next day.

The team was divided into two teams, with Ad, Sarah, Kadira, and Cecilia including me in one team, and we were in charge of security in the morning and evening.

The reason is simple, it is said that it was decided to fit the princess’s meeting time as she was a non-commissioned officer.

And now I’m working the morning shift.

Perhaps because it was morning, there weren’t any major problems. Since there were guards guarding the palace, even if a problem arose, it would probably be easily resolved.

I continued to follow Asbel around and carry out my escort mission without thinking.

Asbel’s job was to meet with the king of this country, hold a meeting, and conclude a treaty that would be mutually beneficial.

“I think a more radical treaty would be better than this one.”

“But I don’t think there’s a better deal than this.”

The two continued talking for hours.

‘You keep laughing so much I can’t tell what you’re thinking.’

There was an ominous aura in the king’s expression that had not changed even once during that time. It was an aura I had felt somewhere before…

Is it just my mood?

“But this contract is the only one that can guarantee the safety of the people… ”

“Safety is right. It is important. But is it really necessary to guarantee the safety of the people?”

“Yes?”

The king’s expression changed for the first time, as if it were filled with joy and rapture.

“That’s not it. Winning the war and plundering the defeated country… !”

“Please stop.”

At that sight, Raves aimed his sword at him.

“Oh my. This is rude.”

“… Stop Lavez. Let’s talk about the rest later.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in the evening.”

‘…’

‘I guess it’s my fault…?’

I started to become conscious of the gazes around me that I had previously ignored.

They all seem to be wary of us. I couldn’t hear what they were whispering, but if I just listened to the tone of their voices, I don’t think it was a good story.

‘No, Commander!!’

I told you there would be no hostility!

Even as I walked down the hallway, that question kept coming to me. I was clearly being watched.

“Kids. Isn’t this a little dangerous?”

“What?”

“No, don’t you feel like they’re really wary of us?”

Sarah responded to my comment.

“I don’t know about a punk like you, but it’s the job of the royal guards to be on guard against everyone but the king. The king could be assassinated at any moment.”

“But this atmosphere… ”

“The previous king also passed away like that, so there’s no way around it. So don’t worry too much.”

“… Okay.”

Sure, it’s a tight security situation, which would be understandable if the previous king had died from assassination. But.

Isn’t this too much?

…No, don’t worry about it, like Sarah said.

Anyway, all we have to do is accept the treaty.

Still that king.

The king had better be on his guard.

Time passed quickly and it was already 12 o’clock in the afternoon.

“It’s shift change time now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you. You guys work hard now too.”

“Okay. See you later.”

The second team quickly followed Asbel as they finished their shift with us. We stood still until they were out of sight.

After confirming that the two teams had disappeared, Sarah, Cecilia, and Kadira immediately walked to their rooms.

“Just sleep!”

“Why are you so annoying.”

“Are you going straight to your room?”

“Of course. We have to escort them later too.”

“That’s…right.”

“See you later.”

“Yeah.”

Sarah and Kadira waved at me and went into their room.

Cow, wave your hand!? That’s crazy!

Here my fourth wish will come true!

I feel like I’ve made all my money back from this trip. Should I go home now?

With that thought in mind, I smiled and went into the room with Adwa.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“Just?”

“… What a strange guy.”

“You’re a weirdo too, obsessed with that weirdo.”

“What?”

“Just kidding. Are you going to rest too?”

“Of course.”

“Then get some rest.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have something to do. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“… Do it yourself.”

“It’s spicy.”

“By the way, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Did you come here alone?”

“At first, I was the only one riding in the carriage.”

“Is that so.”

He had a profound expression on his face and was resting his chin on his thumb and index finger. I asked him a question.

“Why did you ask that?”

“No, there’s one girl who didn’t come like you.”

“… Really?”

“Yeah, you came late so you wouldn’t have noticed, but no one, including you, came.”

“Is that someone important?”

“It’s annoying when the number of escorts decreases. It means that the number of people who are already small will decrease even more.”

“… I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If you understand, you can do your work later… !”

widely!

“ The baby is ruined !! ”

Ad’s screams spread from the room and filled the hallway.

“Oh, sorry!”

-It’s a shameless request, but I would appreciate it if you could deliver it as soon as possible.

But I can’t refuse a favor from Stephen!

***

“No, the map says here….”

As a result of following the address written on the letter.

The place we arrived at was a shabby house. To be exact, it was a shabby house in a slum.

The sign on the door that read “Martial Arts School” was crumbling and the ceiling of the house was in such poor condition that it needed to be repaired immediately.

And the most important person.

There are no people.

The current time is 3 o’clock.

It makes no sense that there are no people on the streets.

A gloomy atmosphere contrasting with the bright sunlight can be felt in every house.

‘Did Steven write it wrong?’

I don’t think so… then the map is wrong…

I brought it from the palace, so that won’t happen.

What happened?

‘…’

As I stood there quietly for a while, I began to sense the presence of several people.

Shimyo looked around carefully.

A rolling ball, food dropped in a hurry to withdraw, and dust flying around.

These are traces of a hastily hidden place.

I am just a man with a backpack and a letter. And this is a place where no rumors about me have spread. So why?

If there is a reason… this seal probably indicates that it came from the palace.

If that’s why you’re hiding.

He may be a more dangerous monarch than we think.

I’m sorry to judge you by your speech and impression.

It’s not an impossible guess.

Tyrant and evil ruler.

Which side does he belong to?

Whatever the repercussions, the fact that this country is doomed will not change, but help…

I shook my head.

I can’t give you the same thing.

Let’s stop thinking about it.

There’s nothing I can do for you, so what’s the use of worrying? For now, let’s just focus on my work.

Knock! Knock!

I don’t know if there are people. I can’t feel any noise inside.

“… ”

As expected, no one showed up. Just do it twice more and if there’s no one, let’s go.

Knock! Knock!

“… ”

Knock! Knock!

“… ”

I thought it wouldn’t happen.

They probably moved. No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense for people to live in a house like this.

As a result, I sighed at the fact that I couldn’t grant Steven’s request. What if I was disappointed…

I took a deep breath while washing my face dry.

‘Let’s do it one last time.’

I slowly raised my hand towards the door.

Even though I knew it wouldn’t work, I couldn’t give up. With a desperate hope that something might happen, I was on the verge of knocking on the door of my last hope.

Squeak…

“Who are you?”

An old man opened the door and came out.

“Oh, are you Mr. Luca Donar?”

“Then… for what purpose… ?”

“Steven’s house… no, I’m here to deliver a letter at the request of a friend.”

His stiff expression brightened and he let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh… I see. Come inside.”

“Yes? I just sent a letter… !”

“I don’t know what your relationship is with Steven, but I feel like if you just leave, I’ll feel really bad.”

“Then, wait a minute.”

“Okay, come in.”

Squeak.

With every step you take, you hear a sound coming from the floorboards.

“I’m sorry. It’s an older house than I thought… ”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

We walked down the dark hallway and into the living room.

In the living room there was a large desk with a large map spread out on it.

As soon as Luca saw the map, he looked surprised and hurriedly folded the map and placed it on the edge of the desk.

“Oh no… I made a mistake.”

“It’s okay.”

“Then I’ll bring you a cup of tea.”

“Okay.”

Luca took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen.

‘There’s no need to ask what it’s for.’

I looked around the room while waiting for him to calmly serve me tea.

As the name of the martial arts gym suggests, there were many weapons strewn across the floor, and we could sense a large crowd in the room across the hallway from where we had come.

There was no sign of life, so there was no need to worry. They were probably trainees.

I wish I hadn’t known. Why is the feeling so good?

“You’ve been waiting for a long time.”

“No.”

I took a sip of the tea Luca brought and smiled brightly.

“I guess you served in the military in the past.”

“Ah… ”

I looked at the military uniform hanging on the wall next to the table.

The military uniform was a different color from the uniforms of the Suljirik soldiers I saw today.

“It wasn’t that long ago. I quit the military a year ago when a new king took office.”

“… I’m sorry for something.”

“No.”

“By any chance… the reason you quit… ”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Luca smiled sadly and sullenly, and didn’t say anything for a while.

I waited for him.

“In fact, the king who has seized power now is not the prince, but a third party who appeared one day. He showed a royal edict and said that he was appointed as the next king. Because of that, many people opposed it… But I couldn’t overcome his power… ”

My eyes and his eyes simultaneously went to the military uniform.

“Ahem… This was too long. Please forget about it.”

“… Okay.”

“Back to the point. The only reason I quit was because I reached retirement age.”

“… ”

“Are you disappointed that there is no content?”

“No.”

“Haha… ”

We spent time talking about not-so-interesting things, from Stephen’s story to Luca’s old tales.

Talking to him was more fun than I thought.

“Then I will just get up.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I know you’re busy.”

“No, it’s me.”

Luca and I got up from the table and walked to the front door without saying a word.

And then I bowed to Luca normally and said goodbye to him.

I looked at the pocket watch in my pocket. It was already 4 o’clock.

It’s already been an hour… Time flies.

I looked up at the sky, suppressing a feeling of inexplicable melancholy.

The sky was still bright.

We passed through the quiet slums and came back into the downtown area.

Of course, unlike the slums, people started to appear again.

‘It’s so peaceful.’

In that state, I started walking slowly and arrived at the market I had come to on the first day.

My memories of that day aren’t all that vivid, but I remember this smell clearly. I followed the smell straight inside.

And before me I saw a group of people and a familiar-looking man in a cloak, trapped and helpless.

“Hey Elf, do you want to go and play with me?”

“You seem to be in a hurry right now too.”

‘Why is he always being hunted?’