“Idiot!” (Lotomago)
Due to Midas being perplexed, Lotomago shouted in a thundering voice with a strict expression.
“Are you believing that you can save anyone by using your pedigree? Did that Earl Tohno obtained his victories by showing off his position as Earl? Is it only that much you, who watched him from close-by, gained from that person?” (Lotomago)
Due to Lotomago’s powerful tone, he usually doesn’t use, Midas was only surprised at the beginning, but at the time he properly grasped the things said, he was able to calm down and bow.
“I’m very sorry. I’m not very good at swordsmanship, but I have the experience of having seen many people by blending in amongst the populace. In that aspect alone I have confidence that I won’t fall behind or even lose to that Earl Tohno.” (Midas)
“Very well.” (Lotomago)
Lotomago returned his smile to the same one as before.
“Then, go back home holding that notice of personnel change at once and explain it in front of your family. Isn’t it necessary to have a talk with your wife first, also to prepare the moving? I have already called for people to tidy and polish up the mansion. A maid for around 3 people has been arranged as well.” (Lotomago)
“… You have my deepest thanks for your considerations.” (Midas)
In the eyes of Midas, who bowed once again, a few tears shone.
“What? If I consider the size of the things that will weight on your shoulders from now, this is the least I can do at the end. … I will vacate this place tomorrow. Also, I will rely on you.” (Lotomago)
“Ha! Please put your trust in me!” (Midas)
☺☻☺
Eventually the disturbances, which caused many victims to appear, primarily thanks to Hifumi, came to a temporary end.
Orsongrande and Horant established a firm bond using the territorial administration skills and combat engineering of Fokalore as materials for bridge building.
On the contrary, Vichy received a strong protest regarding the manoeuvring within the castle by the envoy and his attendants from Orsongrande. In the end, the cessation of hostilities took a shape close to a total capitulation of Vichy’s side.
Even concerning the independent Pyulsan, by using the method of forming a relationship of sending personnel for studying towards Fokalore, in order to successfully establish a pipe, which is stronger than Vichy’s, Vichy became unable to make a careless move on them. As a result Vichy recognized the independence due to them being an enemy they had no way to crush.
There were no countries, which perished, and the number of countries increased. Once they noticed, Orsongrande’s realm had expanded and they became a power, whose right to speak couldn’t be overlooked anymore as was custom in the past.
Although it was the common understanding of all nation that this was due to Hifumi backing them, Hifumi has a stance of not making any speeches or showing his face in the public field of diplomacy. Adhering to what they heard about his nonchalant attitude, the nations have become cautious in contacting him, which also includes Orsongrande, the nation he belongs to.
Instead, the appeal of his territory and not the person himself has increased.
Many people, who are engaged in territorial administration, guards, knights and people, leading territorial soldiers are coming to visit Fokalore. Because they stay with public funds and study there, the territory’s population is following the path of increase and the amount of money spent in the territory rises as well.
There’s also the influence of the war damages. Manpower from around the world comes gathering. Unnoticed, the population of the territory of Fokalore has become several times that when Hifumi was inaugurated as feudal lord first. Reaching the point that even cities like Arosel, being in the same territory, are gathering people, the developed cities, because of governors dispatched by Fokalore, rapidly put their appearance and institutions in order.
It might be only a natural outcome that the city turned into a festival merrymaking at the time the feudal lord came back to the city of Fokalore, which achieved a prosperity above the current capital.
“Let us through~ !!” (Alyssa)
Leading at the front, Alyssa shouts and the soldiers desperately pry open a path.
In the back of Hifumi, who is advancing on horse, there is Vaiya’s group of knights and civil officials and continuing behind them the trainees, who were just freshly recruited.
The population unanimously clamoured and welcomed Hifumi, who was seen to advance while being accompanied by many people, home.
In order to reply to them, once Hifumi raised his left hand and lightly waved, high-pitched shouts of joy were raised.
“It’s good that Origa-san isn’t here.” (Alyssa)
The soldiers nodded due to Alyssa’s murmur.
Hifumi and Vaiya head towards the lord’s mansion as is and Alyssa guides the remaining people, who came to study, towards the lodgings, which are being rapidly erected in Fokalore.
“””””Welcome home, Lord-sama.”””””
At the moment they entered the mansion, the 5 civil official slaves greeted them with a bow.
Stepping forward, Caim stands in front of Hifumi.
“There haven’t been any problem on the whole. Let me express our pleasure for you returning home safely.” (Caim)
Since he had a serious look that didn’t shame his nickname of arrogance, Hifumi wasn’t particularly happy either, but as it had been a while since he last heard his indifferent voice, he actually experienced a feeling of having come home.
As he casually looked around, he caught sight of Miyukare looking around restlessly without being able to calm down.
“What are you looking for, Miyukare?” (Hifumi)
“L-Lord-sama, hasn’t the Military Director travelled together with you?” (Miyukare)
“… She is guiding the trainees from the capital towards the lodgings.” (Hifumi)
“Thank you very much!” (Miyukare)
Bowing in a hurry, Miyukare darted away.
As he is astonished by this spectacle, Phyrinion comes down from the upper floor and bows towards Hifumi.
“I heard about your return. With this the burden on my shoulders will be lowered as well.” (Phyrinion)
With her seeming to have only a bit fatigue left, her eye colour can be seen to have become slightly cloudy, too.
“Thanks for your work. Since it’s alright now, it’s fine to take Vaiya along.” (Hifumi)
Phyrinion, who smiled sweetly due to Hifumi’s words, showed a beauty appropriate for her age.
“Thank you very much. … Well, then let’s go.” (Phyrinion)
Having his arm seized by Phyrinion, Vaiya gave his greeting to Hifumi in a hurry and, taking Krinola along, the two of them headed towards Phyrinion’s lodging place.
“Then, we want the privilege of reporting concerning the events during your campaign.” (Caim)
“Before that I want you to listen for just a minute.” (Hifumi)
Holding back the civil official slaves around Caim, who started to take out documents each gathered as report, Hifumi turned towards Caim.
“For example, will there be any problem, if you guys nominate someone to whom I can entrust the territory for a while again?” (Hifumi)
Caim closed his eyes for merely a few seconds regarding that question and opened them then again.
“It’s probably difficult. Even without the the issues of ability, the territorial administration brings status with it. If it’s Lord-sama and his family, or possibly a noble dispatched by the capital, there won’t be a problem, but I don’t believe the system will function well, assuming some commoner or slave takes the post.” (Caim)
“I see. How troublesome.” (Hifumi)
It’s difficult to summon someone from the capital again. I don’t know what kind of person will come.
However, naturally I have no family in this world.
“Family… family, huh?” (Hifumi)
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Grumbling up to here, the faces of his family in his former world didn’t appear in Hifumi’s mind.
And he didn’t feel anything about that not being the case either.
He also doesn’t think that there’s still some way to go before he wants to return to the world over there.
“That’s right. For example, there would likely be no problems to temporarily entrust it to your wife, if you were to get married.” (Caim)
“St…” (Doelgar)
Due to Caim’s suggestion, Doelgar tried to stop the flow of the conversation in a panic, but it was too late.
The topic of Hifumi’s marriage partner has flowed to the female staff member, who was pricking up her ears nearby and has been spread in a twinkling of an eye.
It didn’t even take 3 hours until the rumour ‘Hifumi is looking for a spouse’ spreads from the staff members to the soldiers and from the soldiers to Alyssa’s ears.
“This might turn into a disaster…” (Alyssa)
For Alyssa, if you ask her whether she sees the person called Hifumi as a man, she won’t be able to answer clearly.
I like him, but as result of having seen the fanatic called Origa from nearby, honestly speaking, it has cooled down in some respects. As for it becoming a competition, it will end by me being stabbed before it’s about whether I can win or not, Alyssa is assessing.
However, for a spouse looking at it as third party, he is a rising noble with popularity regardless of inside or outside the country. But, for Hifumi, who isn’t someone lining up huge achievements, it is easy to imagine that he will become the most popular partner, not just for nobles, but also for commoners, who will aim for the position of concubine.
“If Origa-san came back now, it would turn into a major disaster…” (Alyssa)
I don’t believe that that Hifumi is actively looking for a marriage partner, but concerning Origa, even only the rumour will doubtlessly give her a plenty excessive stimulus.
Issuing instructions to restrain the diffusion of the rumour in a hurry, Alyssa ordered to pass a message to the gatekeeper to notify her first, once Origa returned.
“Origa-san, I want to meet with you soon, but only for now, don’t come back, okay…?” (Alyssa)
With feelings similar to a prayer, Alyssa rushed towards the lord’s mansion.
Chapter 81: Marry You
Balzephon, who escaped the castle, rushed into the dormitory of the knight order, grabbed his spare sword and money, he had been safekeeping, from his own room and left towards outside the city.
Simply reporting 「It's an emergency mission」 to the gatekeeper, he borrowed a horse, which has been prepared for messengers, and galloped away on the highway.
The knight, chasing him, confirmed that fact from the guard. But he was in a situation, where he already didn't know how he should chase him, since it was more than 3 hours after the incident.
But Balzephon, being on the chased side, is rushing due to his dreadful feeling of Hifumiswooping down on him from behind while holding the blood-soaked katana any time now. He advanced on the highway with a speed, that was wasting his horse. He is heading towards Vichy. There is the necessity to pass through Fokalore, but once he enters Vichy and once he is within the cluster of city-states, which are engulfed in a maelstrom of chaos, it will likely be simple to hide as person of unknown affiliation.
Purchasing food in small cities and villages along the way, he obtained money and clothes by threatening a small number of tr avellers and merchants with killing them.
"I'm already in a state that makes me being called knight impossible." (Balzephon)
At the time he killed and discarded a merchant, who resisted, Balzephon laughed with a sentiment of self-deprecation. Once he thinks about his own figure scavenging the pockets of the corpse, it turns into a miserable feeling to the degree that he wants to Cry, but above throwing everything away, he has made his decision to survive no matter what he has to do until he accomplishes his revenge.
While repeatedly sleeping outdoors or in deserted houses of small villages, he heads for Vichy economising to the best of his abilit y. It's probably necessary to bribe the gatekeepers with money at the time of entering Vichy. Besides that, there's also the possibilit y of money becoming quite necessary. Currently isn't the time to talk about luxuries. On the contrary, really decent inns are strict on inspections.
If I consider that I might even inadvertently bump into noble acquaintance, it's absolutely no good to stay for a long period in hotels and large cities. I might encounter monsters, but I will try to proceed by travelling along the highway being only slightly away from it. He judged that he should also be cautious of patrolling soldiers.
However, thanks to that he ran into a troublesome opponent.
"... Who's there?" (Balzephon)
"That's my line. You have quite the wild appearance, but that sword is a wonderfully nice item. Where did you stealit from?" (Origa)
It was Origa, leading several soldiers, who appeared in front of Balzephon in a place close to the forest, only visible as distant place from the highway.
"This sword is my own. Even if tell you that, it hasn't the shape of being worn-out considerably. You don't look like some kind of bandit, but..." (Balzephon)
Putting his hand on the sword's hilt, Balzephon takes distance. Watching Origa's figure, which was clad in a robe, he considered the possibility of a magician. He feels uneasy about her not holding a wand, but Balzephon's judgement, sensing that she was someone with a dangerous aura, was accurate.
"You apparently still haven't seen anything... Since I will offer you to overlook us, get lost." (Origa)
"Seen?" (Balzephon)
"It's something unrelated to you. If you obstruct the mission we received from hi... our boss, I won't be able to guarantee your life, okay?" (Origa)
Balzephon felt a sense of discomfort during their talk. He saw that Origa has been constantly worrying about the are behind her.
"Mission, it is? Although you seem to be leading soldiers from somewhere, you yourself don't look like a soldier or knight." (Balzephon)
"It's pointless to pry too much. I have a premonition, that it's no good, if I don't hasten my return. If you don't disappear, I will go even as far as erasing you, but..." (Origa)
Suddenly a sound of grass being trampled down can be heard from behind Origa.
"Origa-sama, the monster is headed towards this place!"
Hearing a loud voice calling for her attention, Origa left the spot promptly.
As result it turned into a situation of the monster, which jumped out, to appear in front of Balzephon.
"Wh-What? This fellow is..." (Balzephon)
Howling with a volume to the level of causing the skin to prickle as if receiving an electric shock, it was a monster similar to a tiger baring its sharp fangs, but its length was two sizes bigger than that of a normal monster. You can see sharp claws on its thick forepaw. Even if only touched lightly, skin and flesh would be totally torn off. The soldier, who held some tool and was likely chased by the monster, came out of the forest, where the monster jumped out from. If you look closely, the monster's back has been stabbed by two things similar to short spears.
"I'm sorry, Origa-sama. It suddenly woke up and the restraints weren't in time."
"There's no problem. Because it seems to have grasped its fodder, we can leave it as is." (Origa)
Balzephon, realizing that he was designated as the fodder, Origa was talking about, quickly drew his sword and fixed his stance.
As the monster raises a growl, he is unable to let his view wander.
"This is likely your prey. Take responsibility and dispose of it." (Balzephon)
"Prey? Well, I don't mind if you think of it like that. Please do your best to gain time so that we can get away. Well then." (Origa)
"Since it will be a bother, if you come chasing", Origa threw a shuriken.
"Uh?" (Balzephon)
Balzephon, who received a woun
d on his knee, barely avoided falling down.
"Then, goodbye." (Origa)
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 5 Page 5
