by Dojyomaru
Still, the only one here who would notice that was Ginger, who had been together with her for a long time.
Kuu smiled and shook Ginger’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Ginger. You’ve got a good subordinate there who cares for her master.”
“Yes. She is a reliable partner.”
“Guess I can’t take her for myself, huh. Her looks are just my type, though.”
“Huh?!”
This sudden talk of taking her away and how she was Kuu’s type made Ginger panic.
Compared to that, Sandria didn’t seem flustered in the least. “I regret to inform you that I have already devoted my body, my heart, and every last drop of my blood to my master.”
“Whoa, San, what are you saying?!” Ginger cried.
“It goes without saying that if my master orders me to spend the night with him, I am prepared to bite back my tears and do it.”
“Don’t say things that make me sound bad! I’d never order any such thing!”
Ginger was panicking. That seemed to satisfy Sandria somehow.
Looking at Ginger get toyed with by his maid, Kuu found himself sympathizing despite himself. “I dunno how to say this, but... you’ve got it rough, too, huh?”
Now that Kuu thought about it, he felt like his bro, Souma, who was also the king of this country, had times where he couldn’t stand up to his fiancées, too. Were the women being stronger than the men a part of this country’s national character?
She’s too sadistic, so I can’t bring myself to ask if she wants to be my wife, like I did with little Tomoe... Wait, huh? Is that what she’s aiming for, maybe?
Had she been trying to keep Kuu from being interested in her by deliberately being sadistic to Ginger? So Kuu wouldn’t try to take her away from him? Considering the loyalty she’d demonstrated by using herself as a shield to protect Ginger, it wasn’t out of the question.
Kuu thought that while looking at the two of them, but...
“Master... will you keep me by your side for life?” Sandria asked.
“Of course. You’re an important partner to me. I can’t run this school myself, after all. So... please don’t leave my side.”
“Those are not quite the words I wanted to hear, but... of course I will stay at your side, serving you always. Master.”
A correction, Kuu thought. It seems a good half of it was just Sandria’s personality.
Ginger seemed a little airheaded, so he’d been able to dodge it without recognizing her intentions, but if the maid had said that to Kuu, he’d have picked up on it, and she’d have had him right there.
“That’s one scary maid,” Kuu said to Leporina in a quiet voice.
Leporina giggled in reply. “That just shows how important Ginger is to her. Did you see that show of devotion, young master? If it’s for the man she loves, a woman can become as calculating as she need to be.”
“Is that how it works? ...I’m just a little afraid of girls now.” Kuu sighed. “Thank goodness my servant’s so simple.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about thaaat,” Leporina said with a mischievous smile. “Do you think any simple girl would be allowed to serve as your bodyguard? You might not think it when you look at me, but Master Gouran regards me quite highly, you know?”
Leporina puffed her chest out with pride. Though her chest was being held down by the breastplate she wore, when she took that pose, it was clear she had more than Taru.
For an instant, Kuu almost stared, but the fact of her chest size fact rubbed him the wrong way, and he forced himself to look away.
“Hmph... Well, I’ll recognize your skill with the bow, at least.”
“It’s not just Master Gouran, you know? I’m childhood friends with Taru, too, and we get along great. When that time comes, I’m confident the two of us can get along.”
“...When what time comes?”
“That time is that time.” Leporina dodged the question with her usual weak smile.
That smile made a shudder run down Kuu’s back.
That was because, while he’d always been under the impression he was running Leporina around, she had become an important person to him at some point. If Leporina got fed up with him, that would hurt his relationship with Taru, who she was also close to. And at this point she had become so reliable a presence for him that he’d never dream of replacing her with another servant.
While Kuu was still confused, Leporina started giggling. “Hee hee, I’m just joking. You always run me ragged, so I wanted to tease you a bit. Sorry.”
“T-Tease me?”
“Yes. You don’t have to worry about what I said now in the slightest.”
O-Oh, so that’s how it is... Is it?
Kuu was almost satisfied, but there was a small part of him that couldn’t accept it.
Leporina said she was just teasing him, but Leporina’s position hadn’t changed. Kuu didn’t know anything about stories from Earth, but this must have been how Sun Wukong felt in the palm of the Buddha’s hand.
And, in fact, Kuu didn’t know what Leporina was really thinking at all.
Hm... the young master seems like he’s misunderstanding what I meant by “when that time comes.” While the confused Kuu glanced furtively at her, Leporina smiled wryly. Hee hee, I’d never do anything you wouldn’t like, Master Kuu. I know very well how you and Taru feel. That’s why, when the time comes, I’m confident I can get along with Taru. I won’t get in the way of the two of you, so don’t treat me badly, either. Okay, Master Kuu?
Leporina gave Kuu a troubled smile.
Noticing that smile, Kuu thought, Eek... Bro, I don’t get girls, after all...
He felt like he could understand Souma’s feelings just a little.
“What’s wrong, dumb master?” Taru asked Kuu, who had a slightly odd look on his face while they were eating.
When Kuu had explained to Ginger and Sandria that he had come to invite Taru to lunch, they’d suggested they all go together, and the five had gone to the cafeteria inside Ginger’s Vocational School.
Kuu laughed awkwardly and said to Taru, “Well, you know... A lot happened,” and glanced at Leporina who was standing next to him.
Kuu, Taru, and Ginger were seated at the table, while Leporina and Sandria were acting as servers. It had ended up with them in positions like it was a meeting, but Kuu and Ginger were able to have a rousing conversation about their respective circumstances.
“I see,” Ginger said. “You’re the son of the head of the Republic of Turgis. Even though she didn’t know any better, San... our Sandria... was awfully rude to you.”
When Ginger bowed his head, Kuu laughed.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s partly my fault for showing up without an appointment.”
“The dumb master was just being dumb. There’s no need for you to bow your head to him, Sir Ginger,” Taru said with a cool look on her face.
Taru was as merciless with Kuu as ever, but her behavior made Ginger’s eyes go wide.
“You’re a craftsperson, weren’t you, Taru? Aren’t you being a little too casual towards the son of your head of state?”
“Hm? The dumb master is just the dumb master. That is all.”
“She’s a childhood friend of mine, you see,” said Kuu. “We don’t stand on ceremony. I mean, she likes me enough she followed me to this country... Gwah!”
Kuu tried to put his arm around Taru’s shoulders, but Taru elbowed him.
She looked away from him, and in a sharp tone she said, “The dumb master has nothing to do with it. I came here at King Souma’s request.”
“Ouch... Honestly, you sure can’t be honest with yourself.”
“You’re just too honest with your desires.”
Seeing the lively exchange between Kuu and Taru, Ginger more or less figured out their relationship and smiled wryly. “Ahaha... I think I get the idea.”
Kuu munched on some bread as he asked Ginger, “So, is Taru getting along fine here?”
&nbs
p; “Yes. The people in our blacksmithing techniques department are happy to have a talented craftsperson here.”
“The people here are passionate about their studies. They have a long way to go, but I think they’ll master it eventually,” Taru said with a serious look on her face as she drank her tea.
It was moving for Kuu, who rarely ever saw Taru praise anyone, to see that face.
“You even have a blacksmithing techniques department...?” he said in amazement. “What other research do you do here?”
“All sorts, really,” Ginger said. “Sciences to technologies of all kinds. We study a wide range of topics, from things like agriculture that we know are important, to things that, at first glance, are not important at all. For an example, we even have a newly created Department of Dungeonology.”
“Dungeonology?”
“Yes. The study of dungeons, which exist everywhere on this continent, and are a place where monsters exist outside the Demon Lord’s Domain. We record and categorize the layout of dungeons, and the monsters that reside within. It was established with the sponsorship of His Majesty, who wanted to know more about monsters.”
“My bro Souma?”
If Souma was involved, there had to be some meaningful intent behind it. Monsters, huh... Kuu developed a pensive look on his face, but Ginger continued on without noticing it.
“We cooperate with the adventurers’ guild, and ask active adventurers to tell us about their experiences for our studies. Occasionally, we have novice adventurers use the gym here, and have veteran adventurers come to train them... Though, for some reason, San goes and joins them in training.”
“As one who serves you, Lord Ginger, I want to have at least a bare minimum knowledge of self-defense,” Sandria said unabashedly, causing Ginger to smile wryly.
“So that’s why...” Kuu felt like it finally made sense. Her moves when she had put that broom-sword to his throat were something an adventurer had taught her.
Kuu crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. Dungeonology, huh? Even that’s a subject for academic study in this country...
Scholarship. For Souma, whose policy particularly emphasized the importance of basic research, Ginger’s Vocational School was a clear representation of that. They were building up a pile of plain and possibly useless research. However, even if that research was seen as being useless, it was not meaningless. That pile of research would eventually become a driving force for the development of this country.
In his interactions with Souma, Kuu had gotten to the point where he could think that way. It’s a country that’s even more incredible than it looks. We can’t let them outdo us.
Then something occurred to Kuu. “Hey, Ginger. This school, could me and Leporina attend it, too?”
“Dumb master?” Taru asked.
“Young master? What are you saying all of a sudden?”
Taru and Leporina cocked their heads to the side, but Kuu ignored them and made his request of Ginger.
“Please. I want to learn all sorts of stuff in this country, too.”
Having received such an earnest request, Ginger scratched his cheek.
“Erm... We don’t turn away anyone who wants to learn, but you’re from another country, right? I’m sorry, but I think you’ll need permission from His Majesty.”
Kuu stood up with a look of glee on his face. “Got it! I’m gonna go get permission from my bro right now!”
“Huh?! Right now?!”
“Strike while the iron’s hot, they say! C’mon, Leporina, let’s get going!”
“H-Hold on, wait, young master!”
Kuu took off, and Leporina rushed after him. The two had run off like a storm, and Ginger was left dumbfounded.
“What can I say? He’s a very decisive individual, isn’t he?” Ginger said at last.
“It’s always like this,” Taru said while quietly drinking the tea Sandria had poured for her. “Oh, Master Kuu... You really are dumb.”
However, when she whispered those words, she was smiling just a little.
Some days later...
“All right, Leporina, let’s go study in the Department of Dungeonology today. I hear we can see a dungeon relic provided by the House of Maxwell.”
“I-I get it, so please stop pulling. Geez.”
At Ginger’s Vocational School, there was Kuu, who had been attending with enthusiasm since receiving clearance from Souma, and Leporina, who he was dragging around with him, but who didn’t seem to mind that, and...
“Oh, dumb master, you’re so dumb.”
There was Taru, watching the two of them from a distance, with the corners of her mouth turned ever so slightly upwards.
What would they study in this country, and what would that bring about in the Republic of Turgis?
That, we would not learn for a while yet.
After Returning to the Country Arc – 3: The Flower that Blooms in the Field and the Bird in the Cage
The summer sun had begun to set, and it was getting a little cooler.
I was in the governmental affairs office, fighting with the documents that had piled up while I was away in the republic. Why, when I was working so hard, did the amount of work left not seem to be decreasing?
There was always work I needed to do. I couldn’t fight 24 hours a day... I wanted to go home... This was home, though...
Augh... I can’t concentrate anymore...
I had been working in the office all day today, so my mind was exhausted.
Physical labor brought about lethargy of the body, but mental labor brought about impairment of mental function.
I leaned back in my chair.
The sense of exhaustion felt stronger than usual.
It’s because Liscia’s not around...
Ever since Liscia, who had always helped me in a secretarial role, was found to be pregnant, she had been resting at Sir Albert’s former domain. I still hadn’t found time to go see her.
With days going by in which I couldn’t see her, I now understood that Liscia had been a soothing presence, just by being near me. Even when I was tired, when I looked at her well-balance proportions wrapped in a red military uniform, I felt like I could try a little harder.
If I told her I’d been ogling her during work, would I be in for another lecture...?
I wanted to talk to Liscia... No, for now, it didn’t even have to be Liscia. I just wanted someone to talk to.
Sigh... Time to call it a day, I guess.
If I forced myself to work and entered the wrong information somewhere, it was bound to create more work down the line. I was running out of concentration, so it would be better to leave the rest until tomorrow and get some rest.
There was a sudden voice from the terrace, which should have been vacant.
“Your Majesty, may I have a moment?”
Considering the time, it was probably one of the Black Cats. It used to make me jump every time I suddenly heard my name, but... it had happened often enough, I was used to it now.
As expected, the unit’s second-in-command, Inugami, was the one to open the terrace door and come in.
“Did something happen?” I asked.
“Yes, sire. I have something I would like to report.”
After I heard Inugami’s report, I was left agape.
“Huh? Why is she here?”
“It will do you no good to ask me. I suggest you address the matter with the person in question.”
“I guess you’re right... But I’m impressed they knew.”
“The one who found her was a member who went to the Republic of Turgis,” the man said. “If any of the other members had found her first, it would have been dangerous. For her, of course.”
“I know. How could she do something so dangerous...?”
I pressed my palm to my forehead and sighed. Seriously, what was she thinking?
“So, what will you do?” Inugami asked, looking to see how I would respond.
“...Can you lead he
r here?” I asked wearily.
“You wish to meet with her?”
“We could run her off, but she’s not the type to give up.”
“Understood. Please, wait a moment.”
Inugami went out to the terrace. He had to be going to get her.
I leaned back in my chair, thought about what was to come, and became a little gloomy.
◇ ◇ ◇
We now turn back time to around when the sun was low in the sky.
In Parnam, bustling with people who had finished their daily toil, there was a green-haired girl walking down a shopping street.
“Yeesh, everyone just goes off whenever they want...”
The one who walked along, muttering that to herself, was the adventurer Juno. The party Juno was a member of had returned from the Republic of Turgis to their usual base of operations in the royal capital Parnam.
Juno stuck her hand in the pouch at her waist. There was more money in there than usual.
Here I am, with hazard pay, but I don’t really want to drink alone...
The emergency quest they had taken in the republic had resulted in a hefty reward.
Even divided between the five of them, the money had been enough to pay for all of their new equipment, and they had decided they would each spend the day doing whatever they wanted.
The swordsman Dece had invited the mage Julia, who he had a thing for, out to dinner, while the brawler Augus had said he was off to party hard at a place with pretty girls. The priest Febral was childhood friends with the innkeeper’s daughter, so he had said he was going to go see her.
All of that being the case, Juno was now left out.
Sigh... Isn’t there something interesting around here...?
“Hm?”
Suddenly, down the road, Juno spotted something. A roly-poly silhouette that walked with slow, easy steps.
“I think I’ve found it,” she said with a grin. “Something interesting.”
The object walking down the street was the kigurumi adventurer, Little Musashibo.
He had once been treated as an urban legend and viewed as an oddity by the townsfolk, but because he was now a major character on the Prima Lorelei Juna Doma’s broadcast program Together with Big Sister, he was popular with the children.