Chapter 38
I feel like this is too late in the story to ask, but who cares. Basically, I've been translating Setsuna to say "Yeah" whenever she says "ん". The thing is though, I've seen quite a few other people translating it as "Nn" (Like Fran in sword-s.h.i.+sho) and it technically shouldn't be "yeah" anyway, because that would be saying "うん". So, I just wanted to ask if I should change it to "Nn" or keep it as "Yeah". Thanks for reading~
We have arrived near the national border. Looking at what was there, mixed feelings of shock and respect came to me.
"It seems the Dioral Kingdom has a pointless amount of money." (Kearuga)
If I just pa.s.s through here, I can leave the Dioral Kingdom. However, near the national barrier, a gigantic wall is there with soldiers protecting it. Although I will check for detours, as far as I can see, it's just wall, wall and more wall. I can't see the wall's end. I wonder how much money and labor they had to use to make this. I search around my memories; ah, I remember now. If I remember correctly, they built this after collecting money from countries all over the world under the pretext of blocking the demon's advance. In reality, they used it as a way of freely giving money to the citizens that failed at getting food to eat instead though.
"That is a big wall. I wonder how tall it is." (Freya)
"It should be about 10 meters. Well, I should be able to clear it if I'm by myself though." (Kearuga)
"It's easy for Setsuna too, because Setsuna can use her nails to hang and run even on a vertical wall." (Setsuna)
Setsuna clads her hands and feet in ice; it should be easy for her with that. The shape of her ice can be freely changed, and it is sharp enough to pierce through stone. Coupled with her physical ability, there's no wall she can't overcome it.
"Although Setsuna and I are okay, there's Freya and the raptor as well. It would be too conspicuous if I pulled you up with rope, so we should just go from the front. We have a pa.s.s after all." (Kearuga)
It would be a waste to let go of Freya, and I have also gotten attached to the raptor. I don't want to leave them behind. Destroying the wall or forcing our way through the gate is a poor plan, because although it's possible to do, it's the same as shouting that we destroyed the Dioral Kingdom's national border and escaped.
I got the pa.s.s from the merchant I traded with by stealing… receiving out of grat.i.tude for helping him out of a predicament. Since we have arrived at night, the gate is completely shut, so we have no choice but to wait for it to open tomorrow morning. With this pa.s.s, we should be able to go through without any problems.
"It seems we will have to camp today." (Freya)
Freya said that with glazed eyes.
"Setsuna doesn't mind. Survival skills are my strong point." (Setsuna)
Setsuna makes a triumphant face. In reality though, we should be able to camp safely if we have Setsuna, since she's a pro at it.
"You don't have to worry about that, because there will definitely be an inn near the national border gate. There are a lot of visitors after all." (Kearuga)
There are many travellers like us who arrive at night and have no choice but to pa.s.s the night. And if there are many people, merchants gather. After searching for a bit, we find an inn and decide to stay there. A tavern was also there and it was crowded with people.
Because many travellers come here, a place to keep horses was also there, and I entrusted them with my raptor. The cheap rooms were all taken, and because only the expensive rooms for rich purveyors remained, we took it. Thankfully, I have plenty of surplus money on hand that I got by making a killing from selling medicine; it's an amount of money that will let one family live happily for their whole life.
"Uwaaa, Kearuga-sama, the beds are softer and fluffier than the ones we used in Ra.n.a.litta." (Freya)
"It smells good, it's the smell of the sun. This smell can't be made unless they dry it every day." (Setsuna)
As expected of an expensive room. The room is s.p.a.cious and clean, and they have set up good furniture.
"With this, it seems we will be able to enjoy ourselves more than usual tonight." (Kearuga)
When I say that, Setsuna and Freya both blush.
"That reminds me Kearuga-sama, was it fine to not inform that person you were going to leave the country?" (Freya)
"If you're talking about Kureha, it's okay since I already sent her a
Freya strangely hates Kureha. I wonder if it's the so called woman's obstinacy.
"As expected of Kearuga-sama. To say the truth, she is displeasing as an individual, but that person is strong and convenient." (Freya)
It seems that the part of being strangely calculating and a realist hasn't changed from when she was princess Flare. Even if princess Flare felt that someone was unpleasant, she would still use that person if they can be used. (TL Note: I don't think anyone would actually think this, but when I say realist, it means the actual English definition, not a riaju.)
"We should head to the downstairs tavern soon. I'm hungry." (Kearuga)
"I agree!" (Freya)
"Setsuna is also very hungry." (Setsuna)
Like that, us 3 went downstairs together.
"As expected, this is good enough to be t.i.tled their specialty." (Kearuga)
"Since Ra.n.a.litta had nothing but fish from the sea, river fish has a fresh taste." (Freya)
"The wild boar meat is also delicious. Because of the monsters near our village, wild boars didn't come near it." (Setsuna)
Since this place is abundant in nature, the menu mainly has food from the river and sea food. What we ordered is a somewhat small river fish with its intestines already extracted, grilled on multiple skewers and then covered in a specially made sauce. It's quite nice to be able to eat the whole thing, with the bones inside. The meat dish was roasted wild boar meat that was thinly sliced and stacked. It's supposed to be eaten together with the soup made from the wild boar's bone stock, and it was quite delicious.
"It's been a long time since I had ale." (Kearuga)
"Yes, since we had wine for a long time." (Freya)
Although the most common alcohol was wine in Ra.n.a.litta, the alcohol being served here is ale made from wheat. This is good in it's own way. For a tired body, rather than wine, ale is better.
Overall, the menu and alcohol served is rural and is a menu that gives energy. There are many customers in the tavern, and there are a considerable amount of eyes are gathered on us. Because both Freya and Setsuna are extraordinary beauties, men can't help but become curious.
"Okay, Kearuga-sama, say ahh." (Freya)
Freya carried a slice of roasted wild boar meat to my mouth.
"What are you trying to do?" (Kearuga)
"It is insect repellent. Since I am a beautiful girl, plenty of insects will come unless I flirt with you." (Freya)
"… That's true I guess." (Kearuga)
It should be better if she appeals that she's my property. Setsuna comes closer. Is Setsuna also going to appeal that she's my property? While antic.i.p.ating what she's going to do, she suddenly kisses me.
"Kearuga-sama, there was some sauce on your mouth." (Setsuna)
She seems embarra.s.sed, because she bashfully told me that.
"Thanks, I'm happy you took it off for me." (Kearuga)
"Yeah." (Setsuna)
Having accomplished her aim, Setsuna hurriedly returned to her seat. She's strangely being restless. She must have just done it in the moment and only became embarra.s.sed afterwards. By doing this much, there shouldn't be anyone who would call out to them.
If someone does call out to them, it will be fine to just exterminate that person anyways. Pest control is my field of expertise, and I can just do what I skillfully did in Ra.n.a.litta.
While eating and chatting with Freya and Setsuna, I was focusing my ears on the surroundings. Rumors of what I did until now at Ra.n.a.litta… I was confirming whether princess Flare's survival and the hero of healing's fight had reached this place. The raptor is faster than a horse, and because I left Ra.n.a.litta immediately after the uproar, the information shouldn't have arrived, but I did it just to be sure. If the rumors did reach here, it would definitely be the talk of the tavern, but there aren't any rumors like that. However, there is one rumor I'm worried about.
"It seems that a large-scale expedition is being planned in the imperial capital."
"Oh, that's amazing. So where is it heading to?"
"People say they're heading to Buranikka. Apparently, the town where demons co-exist with humans was a big lie, and the people are actually being brainwashed, turning into evil vanguards."
"Well that's scary."
"Yeah, that's why there was talk of the Dioral Kingdom planning to a.s.sist by destroying it. Apparently, that little princess is going to be in command."
"Oh, I should make sure not to come close to it. Even so, the guys from Buranikka really have no luck. To think that of all people, the G.o.d of war is going to go there too."
What great timing. It doesn't matter whether this gossip is true, because if people are aware of the crisis, they would choose not to get near Buranikka for the time being. However, this is also a perfect chance.
The person who inserted poison into the villagers at the execution is most likely the younger sister princess, but I have no positive proof. However, if she is publicly declaring that she's going to take command, and if I use Kureha to take information, I can reliably conclude that it's the younger sister princess's actions.
In the worst case scenario… I can coincidentally stay at the preceding Buranikka, coincidentally make a friend and coincidentally have that friend killed under the younger sister princess's orders. That will be a laborious revenge. Standing at the edge of grief and despair… I will have no choice but to kill the younger sister princess. Splendid.
I always wanted to quickly dispose of that younger sister princess; that thing is too dangerous. Furthermore, the best part of it is that we can take the first move because they wouldn't know that Freya and I are here. That younger sister princess's strategies are G.o.dly, so if she finds out we are part of the enemy, she will create suitable counter-plans, so it will become hard for me to simply kill her. This time, I'm obsessed with different prey. The moment an animal shows its biggest gap is the time to hunt it, and the living things called humans aren't an exception to that.
The moment the younger sister princess thrusts her fangs into the new friend I make in Buranikka, I will cut her throat. Isn't that the best? Let's go with that. I should quickly send a letter addressed to Kureha. It's starting to become interesting. (TL Note: I'm pretty sure 'I will cut her throat' isn't what it means, but I put it there because I don't know what to translate it to. その喉元を書き切る。
書き切る can mean: To use up something, to do something till the very end or to accomplish. Well yeah, I can't really think of anything, so I just ignored the first half of the word which turns it into 切る, and used that.)
"Freya, Setsuna. Buranikka is a good town. It has a lot of cultural characteristics peculiar to the demons, you can eat delicious food you can't eat here, and you can enjoy various things with the public entertainment as well." (Kearuga)
"I am looking forward to that." (Freya)
"Setsuna is interested in the delicious food." (Setsuna)
It seems that Freya and Setsuna are both looking forward to going to Buranikka. I'm looking forward to arriving at that town soon. If by any chance this rumor was just a rumor, and was delayed because of the disturbance I created at Ra.n.a.litta, it's fine because I was already planning to go to Buranikka.
However, there is one thing that I can't help but get curious about it, and it's the fact that there was no attack on Buranikka in the first world. The gears of history are helplessly beginning to crumble, and my advantage is disappearing. I guess there's no helping it, and my objective when I created this world was to have fun; there's no meaning if I just continue to trace the history of the previous world. Now, make this world interesting. That's the reason I used【Recovery Heal】on this world after all.
Author’s Note: Thank you for always supporting me! I am extremely happy when I receive bookmarks and ratings!