by Funa
With these thoughts in mind, the officer stopped suddenly as the men ahead of him came to a halt, the soldiers once again blocking the road.
“What are you all doing?! You’re causing a traffic…”
The officer started to shout but trailed off. He could not believe what he was seeing.
It was a familiar tent, with a familiar table, three familiar girls, and a familiar sign…
Traveling Restaurant – House of the Holy Maiden, Shop No. 2
“You’re kidding me!”
This time, however, ale and wine had disappeared from their menu. Apparently, they had not sold very much yesterday.
“Hey, can I ask you a couple of things?” the officer inquired, rushing up to the three familiar girls who sat at that familiar table before the familiar tent selling food and drink.
“My, you’re that helpful fellow from yesterday. What is it, then?” asked the red-haired girl.
“Just how many of the men of our army did you girls get around to serving yesterday? Instead of selling to us again, I’d rather you sell to the rest of the guys who didn’t get a chance to buy anything yet, if you can…”
“Oh? But we kept selling until the end!”
The officer thought that the girl appeared to not quite be getting the point, so he clarified, “That’s not what I meant. I’m asking how many of our men you managed to sell to before you ran out of stock.”
After giving directions to increase the efficiency of sales and ordering the soldiers not to linger around the tent, the officer had gone ahead with his men and had not stayed behind to determine this answer for himself.
“I’m telling you,” said the girl, “we kept selling until the end. We stayed open until the very last line of soldiers showed up.”
“Wha…?”
The amount that these girls could have carried could not possibly have been sufficient to achieve such results. If they could do such a thing, then that meant that their entire army’s supply units, wagons and all, could have been replaced with just a handful of “maidens.”
The officer fell silent. There were so many things he wished to say and so many things he wished to ask. However, there was one, most burning question that he had for the trio.
“What is that?”
The officer was pointing to a fourth, girl-like form, which stood apart from the three girls selling at the table.
The reason that the form was “girl-like” was that the small figure wore upon its head a headdress of childish make, which resembled nothing so much as the head of an ass, on top of which were figures of a dog, a cat, and a chicken. They were singing an out-of-key tune and playing an instrument the likes of which the officer had never seen.
Soo-soo-Sook! Ikhut-eigh!
“Ah, that… Apparently, that’s the song that you must sing if you’re going to sell water—or so she says,” said the redhead, seeming equally perplexed.
“Well then, what of those shabby clothes?” asked the officer.
The other three girls were properly dressed, so this clearly was not a matter of them lacking money.
The redhead, replied, looking troubled, “She said that you have to wear those kind of clothes if you’re selling water outdoors. But I mean, that’s something that she’s gotten herself fixated on, so that’s really none of our concern. She kept insisting that it was a ‘stalesuit,’ clothes that’ve gotten old that you don’t plan on keeping much longer…”
This was making less and less sense by the minute.
“W-well then, what’s up with that hat and those dolls on her head?”
“She kept going on about ‘The Fremen Town Musicians’… Look, stop asking! Please don’t ask me anything else! We have no idea what’s going on here, either!”
Both the redhead and the other two girls, who had kept the line moving this whole time, looked rather concerned. Any more than this would be an impediment to their sales. That meant slowing down the army’s pace of retreat. Plus, today it seemed that the line was moving smoothly from the outset, so there was no need for the officer’s assistance. He couldn’t continue interfering with their business just to satisfy his own curiosity. And so, he gave up, resigning himself to never having his questions answered.
“Thank you, then. We will never forget this kindness!” he said, bowing his head, before rushing back to his own men.
The other three turned to stare at the donkey-headed girl in exasperated silence.
***
The next day, as the army proceeded, the officer, walking in silence once more, looked ahead to see yet another incredible sight.
It was a familiar tent and a familiar table, with three familiar girls, a familiar wooden sign, and a familiar donkey-headed girl…
Traveling Restaurant – House of the Holy Maiden, Shop No. 3
“Yeah, I figured as much,” the officer muttered with a weary slump.
“My! We’re making a killing here! If we average about one half-gold per person, times 5,000 people, that’s 500 gold pieces!”
In terms of modern Japanese money, that would be around 50 million yen.
“What a blessed act of mercy! A labor of love!!!”
The other three stared at Pauline in utter disbelief.
Meanwhile, Mile, wearing the same strange get-up as the day before, was, as usual, completely spacing out.
This is a fantasy world, she thought. And this tent here is the temporary home for me, a donkey. A temporary home for a donkey… “Roba el Kaliyeh”?
It was an absolutely splendid pun, but there was not a single person around who would understand it.
“Mile, why are you crawling around with your hands on the ground over there?”
Such a cruel, cruel, cruel, cruel, terribly cruel existence living in this world was…
***
Upon making their way out of Ascham and into the border fief of Cesdol, the imperial soldiers had found all of the villages along the highway devoid of life and empty of food, all of the wells having vanished as if by literal magic. At this discovery, they had fallen into a deep despair. Faced with few other options besides welcoming death with open arms, the soon-to-be starving, thirsty soldiers were sure to begin defecting one by one, turning to banditry and spreading disorder and chaos throughout the kingdom.
However, there was still the very small amount of water that the mages could produce, as well as the one half-gold and one silver they had been receiving once a day for provisions. Thanks to both of these, it now seemed that there might be a viable road to making it home alive, meaning that there was no longer any reason for the men to abandon their families and turn to a life of villainy. It would be difficult, but they would return home safely as valiant soldiers who had fought for the sake of their country.
Plus, there was no one who would dare act in any untoward manner or try to threaten the girls who had been providing for them. It would be one thing if they had no way to obtain the food and drink that the girls offered, but they could come by it easily just by parting with the small change they carried in their breast pockets as expedition allowance. Under such circumstances, no one would make the mistake of acting in an uncouth way in front of their comrades and superior officers.
Furthermore, their partners in survival were a group of brave young girls who had risked the odds to carry heavy provisions all the way into a war-zone, just for them. To harass such brave creatures would see them talked about behind their backs for the rest of their lives or even court martialed upon their return home. In fact, they likely wouldn’t even make it that far; their fellow soldiers would probably slit their throats on the spot.
Anyone who did not have enough money on hand simply had to borrow it from their comrades or superiors. It was not especially rare to find those who were particularly well-off or, at least, who happened to have some spare coin or other squirreled away in the hems of their clothes for just such a rainy day.
And thus, somehow—just barely—the imperial soldiers were able to co
ntinue on with their honor and dignity still intact, and The Traveling Restaurant – The House of the Holy Maiden was able to continue selling food and water to the Albarnian army every day until they finally reached the national border and crossed back into their own homeland.
“Doing charitable work really is the best!”
“So, she really was Pauline, huh?”
“Looks like it was her the whole time.”
“It couldn’t be anyone else…”
Chapter 64:
The Capital Once More
“Pardon us,” said Monika and Aureana as they entered Marcela’s room, chairs in hand.
Marcela turned her chair away from her desk, facing it toward the other two.
“I wonder how the fight with the Albarn Empire is going…” Monika said worriedly.
Marcela replied in a soothing tone. “Well, our side is going at them with overwhelming military force, so I think they should be just fine.”
Though she spoke to placate her friend, this was not a lie. Marcela had a number of connections in the palace, so any information she obtained was highly accurate. It was not as though she could find out every single detail, but in this case, she knew there was “a large-scale incident concerning the fiefdom of Ascham,” and she had gotten her sources to inform her as best they could.
Plus, none of this was actually classified information, so there was no real trouble to be had.
One could not conceal a large-scale dispatch of military forces—nor was it something that needed to be hidden. After all, they were sending out all of these troops in order to defend territories in the borderlands who faced the threat of invasion; the event had been widely propagandized. Not only was it an opportunity to appeal to their subjects’ goodwill and boast that they were a kingdom that did not abandon even its most far-flung citizens, but it was also a perfect chance to boost the name of the first prince, who had been assigned as commander of the men.
“But before we talk about that…” Marcela signaled a pause to the conversation and looked warily around the room. Then, she suddenly turned to the bed and thrust out her right arm.
“There you are!!!”
“Gaaaah!”
“Eeeeek!!!”
The air began to shimmer as a form appeared over the bed, and Monika, Aureana, and the mysterious shape all shrieked in turn.
“I thought you might be there!”
“H-h-h-h-how did you…?”
Mile trembled violently as Marcela seized her by the collar.
“I told you before, did I not?” Marcela replied, matter-of-factly, repeating the same words that she had said the last time. “Did you truly believe that yours truly would be unable to detect you, Miss Adele?”
“Aha… Aha, ahaha…”
Mile—no, Adele—began to laugh through tears.
Marcela, deep inside her heart, muttered softly. Anyway, both this time and the time before, there was a weird, butt-shaped imprint on top of the duvet…
After that, Adele and Marcela filled each other in on everything that had happened since their last meeting.
That said, Marcela’s updates were mainly limited to academy life, so there was really not very much to tell. Naturally, it was Adele who dominated the conversation.
“And so, I ended up saying those same words to Sir Juno, the commander of the Ascham military,” she continued.
“Are you a devil?!?!” the other three shrieked.
Adele, of course, abridged the part concerning her Goddess Formation exploits.
“And we sold them back the water at five silver a cup…”
“You’re all monsters!!!”
“When we gave half of the 4,000 gold pieces we earned to the count whose lands had been the most devastated, and another half of the remainder to the people of Ascham, Pauline almost completely lost her mind!”
The other three burst out laughing.
Even though she too was a merchant’s daughter, Monika had little attachment to money, but she knew that Pauline would have been scandalized at the mere mention of dividing things up in such a way, even if the money in question had not been hers.
“So then, what about the remaining 1,000?” Monika asked.
Suddenly, Adele averted her gaze.
The other three stared at her, silent.
“But yeah, anyway, so the imperial army made their retreat, without any of the soldiers deserting or turning to banditry or widespread looting to cause chaos in the kingdom. If they ever decide to commit other acts of aggression in the future, at the very least I think they’ll probably avoid Ascham.”
In her retelling, Adele explained away her transformation as “a simple disguise,” and talked of “carrying the goods stealthily” rather than spiriting them away in her inventory. Marcela could guess at the truth. However, if one could not trust one’s friends not to broach such topics, then what were friends for?
“I do suppose you’re right. After the mysterious loss of their supplies, the appearance of the goddess, and the fact that they only barely made it home thanks to the benevolence of the holy maidens… If the goddess happened to get serious, or the maidens decided to abandon them, they would have been annihilated without even getting a chance to fight. Anyway, neither side took any damages, and Ascham is at peace again, so it sounds like all is well.”
“I wonder about that…”
Marcela seemed convinced that the most favorable outcome had occurred, but Aureana appeared to think otherwise.
“The only way to be utterly certain of the fief’s future safety would have been to wipe out the weakened imperial forces while they were down… Those soldiers who made it back safe may someday return to invade some other part of our kingdom, and we can’t count on things ending without some more serious damages next time. There might be many soldiers and peasants who won’t make it out alive…”
“So, are you saying we should have exterminated those 5,000 soldiers for the sake of decreasing the chance of future battles?”
“I-I didn’t say that!”
Marcela did not seem willing to consider Aureana’s line of thinking, but for a patriotic citizen—or even just a person considering the matter from a logical standpoint—Aureana was correct, and even Marcela could see that. Still, she could not countenance the notion of slaughtering thousands of fleeing men simply because they were soldiers.
“I think that the lives of a thousand soldiers and civilians from our own country are more important than the lives of 5,000 enemy soldiers,” Monika said softly. “But if they’re willing to buy the goods that our company sells, then every life is precious, no matter who they are!”
Infected by Monika’s goofy smile, the others began to laugh as well.
Monika’s always able to break the tension between Aureana and Marcela when they get serious, just like this… It’s been over a year and a half since I left them, but they haven’t changed a bit. Oh, and come to think of it, they’ll be graduating soon, won’t they?
The next time Adele saw the trio, they would no longer be students.
As she realized this, a strange loneliness welled up inside her heart.
The four of them chatted long into the night, but if they did not head out sooner rather than later, it would be a problem; not for Adele, but for the other three, who had lessons in the morning. She hated to leave them behind, but they would see each other again soon. Adele promised them this, and then once again left Marcela’s room behind. With only herself to account for, it was easy enough for Adele to move swiftly and make a late night escape over the walls undetected.
That said, it would have been hardly any more trouble for Adele to do just the same with other people under her wing. In truth, the other members of the Crimson Vow did not want to intrude on some of the only time Adele had with her old friends.
And thus, as she vaulted over the walls of Eckland Academy, the young girl transformed once more, from Adele, back into Mile. She headed for the inn, keeping a light magic barri
er up until she had made it back to their room—just in case.
Adele was the name that she used only with her classmates from the Academy.
It was that name she had received when she left her old world behind and was reborn into a new life. And then she had abandoned that name, and now she was Mile. She lived a new life in a new world with each new name.
Mile spread both of her arms wide and jumped up high.
Butter…fly!
No matter what, Mile could never take anything truly seriously.
Was that because that was truly the sort of person she was?
Or was it something else…?
As Mile gently opened the door to the room, she found a lamp still glowing over the other three who sat up talking.
“Oh, you all are still awake?”
“You would’ve been sad if we’d all been asleep when you got back, right?”
Mile could not reply.
This was the place where she belonged—where the girl named Mile belonged…
“Ah, hey! Don’t squeeze me like that! That hurts!”
Reina tried to push Mile away, a bit red in the face.
“You’re so shy, Reina,” Pauline said softly, smiling.
Mavis, meanwhile, wrung her hands peevishly, wondering why it was that Reina always got hugs from Mile, but never her.
In truth, Mile avoided hugging Mavis, knowing that doing so would land her face or neck right in the middle of Mavis’s bust. As a result, Mavis should not expect any hugs from Mile anytime soon, barring some extraordinary circumstance. It would not be until far, far later that Mavis gained any awareness of this fact.
“Time for sleep,” said Reina.
“Yep! Good night!”
***
“I think we can stop by the Guild branch and scrub a request or two pretty easily. Mile, you have a lot of stuff in your storage. Pull out something that we can use to fill a daily request. That’ll get us paid, anyway,” Reina said to the others. They had just crossed back over the border from Mile’s home country of Brandel to the country of Tils, from whence the others