by Dojyomaru
He was staying for free at Souma’s place, but because he wasn’t a formal vassal, he didn’t have any particular work to do, and he was spending most his time traveling around the kingdom to learn.
Kuu would submit a request to visit and learn about a place, and if Souma gave his permission, he had relatively free rein to look around inside the Kingdom. He had gone around to many places that way, and had registered as an adventurer along with Leporina, making a small amount of coin on the side by taking on quests.
Kuu crouched on the edge of the roof, looking out over the town of Parnam.
Still... I know I heard about it from Bro, but this country’s even more amazing than I expected.
There were things he had learned by coming to this country and living here.
The flashy things had caught his eye first. Initially, that was the broadcast programs of the Jewel Voice Broadcast. The idea of using the Jewel Voice Broadcast, which had only been used for official proclamations before, to provide entertainment for the citizens was amazing.
The singing program where many diverse loreleis sang, the news program where Chris Tachyon reported the events and incidents that happened in the country, the weather forecast run by one of Souma’s fiancées, and more... They were all new to Kuu, and drew his interest.
Of them all, the tokusatsu program called Overman Silvan was his favorite.
It was good stuff. Watching a hero fight for good and punish evil got him fired up.
Kuu was so into Silvan that, when he had watched them shooting the program in the castle, he had even gotten the autograph of Ivan Juniro, the actor who played the main character. It was incredible that, in an era like this, the son of a nation’s head of state would be begging an actor from another country for his autograph, though.
Now, as for the next flashy thing that caught his eye, it was religious functions.
Generally, nations that put a lot of fervor into their religious functions tended to be monotheistic, but the religious functions in this multi-racial, multi-religious state were surprisingly popular.
It seemed that ever since Souma had issued a proclamation saying that, “Any religion which registers with the government will be recognized as a state religion,” this country had gained a variety of state religions, and they had come to hold large religious functions to attract believers.
Furthermore, by turning those religious functions into national events, it was even possible for members of other religions and sects to participate.
The result was that, with the exception of the most fervent believers, there was an increase in the number of citizens engaging with multiple faiths, and a cooperative relationship where different religions would lend each other space for events was built.
This was because, if it was possible to hold multiple faiths, there was no need to fight to steal each others’ believers.
This sort of buffet-style approach to religion seemed like something that the comparatively tolerant Mother Dragon worship might allow, but Lunarian Orthodoxy with its focus on unity through the belief in one god would hate.
However, the head of Lunarian Orthodoxy within the kingdom, Bishop Souji Lester, said, “Multiple religions? Eh, sure, why not?”
And with that one utterance, they were gradually worked into the buffet of religions.
Souji was as impious as ever, but his loose management had the support of Orthodoxy’s adherents in the kingdom. For the adherents who had lived in the kingdom a long time, even if it was the center of their religion, they hadn’t been happy about taking orders from the Orthodox Papal State about all sorts of things.
On that point, Souji had said, “If you keep things in moderation, you can do as you like,” and left them to their own devices, so it was easier on the believers.
In the kingdom now there was open religious dialogue between all faiths, and they were in an exquisite state of harmony.
If you went into town, one weekend there would be a Lunarian Orthodox festival, and the next weekend there would be a day of celebration for Mother Dragon worshipers, and then the following weekend the sea god worshipers would have a ceremony opening the seas... There was always some excuse for an event to be held.
And so, people would gather where there were events, and things and money would gather where there were people. Holding religious events was tied directly into increasing economic activity.
Well, it’s easy to look at the flashy things, but what’s really amazing is the stuff you don’t see.
Kuu stood up and began bouncing along on top of the roofs again.
Beneath, he could see the people of this country going about their lives. He crossed a commercial street where the wives were out shopping, and then down a craftsmen’s street where the sound of hammers echoed unceasingly.
As he ran, Kuu had a thought.
The really unbelievable thing about this country is how easy it is to live in.
The kingdom as it was now still had these orange roofs, which gave it a sort of retro appearance, but beneath that, it had become incredibly livable.
The large cities had running water and sewer systems, and garbage collection had been nationalized, leading to an improvement in sanitation. Despite this being a large city, the air wasn’t that bad, and the water used for daily consumption wasn’t contaminated.
There was a transportation network, and many people came and went. The result was that there was a distribution network for products, their prices were stabilized, and public order was good because the military could be quickly dispatched anywhere.
If a person lived here for even a few days, living in any other country would start to feel inconvenient.
The only country that could compete with this one for livability had to be the great power of the west, the Gran Chaos Empire. The Republic of Turgis wasn’t anywhere close.
Dad, we can’t just stay where we are.
They had formed an equal medical alliance between the three countries, but at this rate, an incredible gap would form between them someday. In order to prevent that, Kuu would learn how Souma ruled here, and find a path of development for the republic.
“For that... I need to take a good look at Bro’s country!”
Voicing his resolve, Kuu let out a laugh.
Then a sort of weak voice came from behind him. “Y-Young masteeer. Wait for meee.”
When Kuu stopped and looked back, a girl with bunny ears came over to him, wheezing as she did. It was Kuu’s attendant, Leporina.
“Sheesh, you’re slow, Leporina. What happened to your usual healthy legs?”
“Hahh... Hahh... I-It’s because you’re running on top of these roofs, young masteeeer. Unlike your snow monkey race, the white rabbit race aren’t used to running in high places. Besides, there are proper roads, so let’s walk on those.”
“It’s faster to cut across the roofs than to waste my time dragging my feet on the ground, isn’t it? I’m inviting Taru to lunch. If I don’t hurry, lunchtime will be over.”
Kuu was in a hurry because he was meeting with Taru.
Unlike Kuu, who was a freeloader staying in Parnam Castle, Taru was renting a house near the craftsmen’s street with a workshop attached. It would have been fine for her to live in the castle, but she had felt it would be a hassle commuting from the castle to the town every day. Kuu frequently dropped in at Taru’s house.
Kuu was about to take off running again... then stopped and asked Leporina, “So, where was Taru at again?”
“You were running without knowing that?!” Leporina looked at Kuu with disbelief.
“No, I know where her house is. But she’s gone to train the blacksmiths today, right? I dunno where that training place is... What was it called again?”
“It’s Ginger’s Vocational School,” Leporina answered.
Ginger’s Vocational School was headed by Ginger Camus, the former slave trader. It taught children to read, write, and do arithmetic on one hand, while also being an academic institut
ion where many fields of study and technologies which were in their dawning days were researched.
Of all the fields of study and technologies researched here, those deemed to have promise for the future were recognized, and if a number of researchers on a subject were able to be secured, an independent new specialized school would be created. For that reason, Ginger’s Vocational School was called a “school for schools.”
The field of medicine had just recently become independent, and the former capital of the Carmine Duchy, Randel, was now home to a school for doctors and nurses, the Randel Medical School.
Now that enough personnel had developed to the point that they could teach basic medical knowledge, Brad and Hilde were freed from their teaching duties. They had opened a medical practice in the new city of Venetinova, and so there was no longer any reason for them to be chained down to the capital.
The reason the school had opened in Randel was that there was a practice ground for the National Land Defense Force nearby, which meant an endless supply of soldiers with fresh wounds who would make good guinea... test subjects.
Incidentally, though Brad and Hilde had made their return to the field, like they had wanted, they were still occasionally called to the Randel Medical School to hold lectures. Though they had quit their positions as teachers, they were now living legends in the world of medicine inside the kingdom.
It seemed that Hilde kept refusing because she was currently pregnant, but once she gave birth and she had gotten used to raising her child, she was sure to receive multiple requests for lectures.
Let’s get back on topic.
Ginger’s Vocational School was the place where Taru was teaching blacksmithing techniques.
Leporina sighed and ran ahead of him. “I guess there’s no helping this. Follow me, young master.”
Boing! Boing! Leporina jumped across the orange roofs. It looked like, in the end, they’d be going over the roofs, after all.
“All right! Sorry for the trouble!” Kuu followed after her with a laugh.
With Leporina leading the way, Kuu came to a place with wide grounds surrounded by a brick wall with a number of buildings inside. This was apparently Ginger’s Vocational School.
When the two of them came to the gate, they saw a single maid inside the gate sweeping the ground with a bamboo broom. That maid was a beautiful girl whose triangular ears and fluffy tail were typical of the beastman races.
“Oh! I found me a cutie!” Kuu cried excitedly.
“Oh... Not this again...” Leporina’s shoulders slumped.
Kuu was into women who had fluffy beastman parts. If they had breasts, that was even better.
That was why he’d asked Tomoe, “Would you be my bride?” on their first meeting, and then set about trying to woo her. He’d have to hold out hope for the future in the breast department, though.
On that point, the beastman maid in front of Kuu was checking all his boxes.
“Oookyakya! I wonder what kind of beastman she is. Maybe I’ll go woo her right now.”
“...He says, despite having eyes for no one but Taru,” Leporina said under her breath.
“Huh? Did you say something?”
“No, nothing... Or rather, I’ll tell Taru about this later, you know?”
“Urgh... I-It’s fine to look, isn’t it?”
Kuu pouted. He was so easy to understand.
While the master and servant duo were arguing, the beastman maid who had been cleaning noticed Kuu and Leporina were there. The maid narrowed her eyes as if wary. Readying her broom in front of her chest, she approached them with determination.
“What business do you have at our school?”
““Huh?”” Kuu and Leporina, who had been in the middle of an argument, looked at her with dumbstruck faces as she suddenly interrupted them.
The maid gave the two a slight bow, never taking her eyes off them. “I am Sandria, a maid in service to Lord Ginger, the principal of Ginger’s Vocational School. Pardon me, but... what business, may I ask, do you have at this school?”
There was a dangerous tone in her voice. Like she was wary of them, or she was angry. Kuu paid no mind to the atmosphere Sandria was exuding, and casually gave his name.
“Hm? I’m Kuu. This here’s my servant Leporina.”
“I-It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Unlike Kuu, Leporina sensed the disquieting atmosphere and gave a more hesitant greeting.
Sandria held her bamboo broom with a backhand grip and pointed the end of it at Kuu’s forehead. “What have you come here for... is what I am asking you.”
Sandria’s brow was furrowed. That hostile stance got Kuu angry, too.
“What’s this, out of nowhere? Is this how your school greets guests?”
“I don’t think we call those who attempt to enter our school while armed guests.”
“Armed? ...Oh, I guess we are.” That was when Kuu finally figured it out.
Kuu had a cudgel slung over his back, and his attendant and bodyguard Leporina was carrying a bow and arrows on hers. Sandria must have been wary that they were brigands, here to attack the school.
Educational institutes were the place where the wisdom of a country was gathered, and it was entirely imaginable that they would be targeted by brigands, or agents of other countries after their researchers and results. The two of them had been careless.
When Kuu realized that, he offered the cudgel he had been carrying to the maid. “Sorry to come so suddenly and surprise you like that. We’re just here to see someone.”
“That’s not how it looks, though?” Sandria said and indicated behind Kuu with her eyes.
When Kuu turned, Leporina had nocked an arrow and taken aim at Sandria.
“Wait, Leporina?! Why are you doing something so threatening?!”
“I-I thought my young master was in danger, so...”
Yes, she had immediately gone into crisis mode when thinking her master was in danger. That was the very model of what a servant should do, but... in this case, it was only making this conversation harder.
“Calm down! It’s just a broom!”
“Rest assured. This bamboo broom has something inside.”
With a flash, a blade about the size of a knife jumped out of the bamboo broom from the side she was holding. Sandria pressed the sharp edge to Kuu’s throat.
“It’s a cane-sword?! Why’s a maid carrying something so dangerous?!”
“There are many individuals carrying out unusual research at this school, you see.”
“Please, don’t move!” Seeing the cane-sword, Leporina drew back her bowstring even further. “If you move a muscle... I’ll fire.”
“...Very well,” the maid said. “I will, at the very least, kill your master before that.”
There were two beautiful women on either side of Kuu staring each other down. If it weren’t for the weapons, this would be a situation any man would be jealous of, but even Kuu couldn’t enjoy this one.
“Would both of you calm down already! Ugh, someone do something about this!”
Perhaps Kuu’s shout reached someone, because a young man came over. “Um... San? Just what kind of situation is this?”
There was a skinny, frail looking young man standing behind Sandria, and his cheeks were twitching as he looked at this scene in bewilderment.
“You mustn’t, master!” Sandria shouted, looking panicked for the first time.
His name was Ginger Camus. Despite his youth, he was the principal of Ginger’s Vocational School.
Ginger had just come over to invite Sandria to have lunch with him, but he’d panicked when seeing the situation near the gate.
Sandria had a broom with a knife on the end pointed at a young boy who looked like a monkey beastman, and a girl who looked like a rabbit beastman had her bow drawn and aimed at Sandria. Ginger had been taken aback by the dangerous scene, but...
“S-Stop, please!” he yelled.
The next moment, his body was mov
ing. Ginger interposed himself between Sandria and the archer so as to block the line of fire, and even in his terror, he managed to spread his arms and shout at Kuu and Leporina, “This is a school sanctioned by His Majesty King Souma! Please, stop with this violent affront to it!”
“Like. I. Keep. On. Saying. This is all a misunderstanding...”
“Master?!”
Cutting off Kuu, Sandria threw aside her broom-sword, embraced Ginger, and spun them around to change their positions. She ended up exposing her back to Leporina who was still taking aim with her bow.
“Wait, San?! That’s dangerous!” Ginger shouted.
“I will protect you, even if it costs me my life, master.”
There was Ginger who was worried for Sandria, and Sandria who was risking her life to protect him. It was a scene that showed at a glance what their feelings for each other were like.
Having been shown that scene, Kuu awkwardly scratched his cheek as he said to them, “Uhhh... Sorry to stop you when you’re all fired up, but we aren’t here to attack the place. Hey, Leporina. I’m free now, so how long are you going to keep holding that bow?”
“Huh...? Ah! Yes, sir!”
Leporina had been so focused on her task that only now did she realize Kuu had been released. She hurriedly lowered her bow and returned the arrow to her quiver.
With a laugh, Kuu turned to Ginger and Sandria and said, “Sorry to make a scene. I’m Kuu Taisei. I’m from the Republic of Turgis, but I’m currently freeloading at my bro Souma’s place. Well, think of me as something like his little brother. Bunny ears here is my servant, Leporina.”
“N-Nice to meet you. Oh, and sorry for the trouble.” Leporina bowed her head.
Ginger managed to pry Sandria off of him somehow, and stood in front of Kuu. “You’re an acquaintance of His Majesty’s, then. I am Ginger Camus, the one tasked with managing this school. This is my secretary, Sandria.”
“I am Sandria.” Sandria lifted the hem of her skirt a little and curtsied.
Her discomposure from earlier seemed like a lie, and she wore a look on her face like nothing had happened. However, she must have felt embarrassed inside, because her cheeks were just a little red.