Northern Road-3
Compared to other places, the culture of the North was free-spirited.
A mere mercenary corps swept through the region and was recognized, so compared to the aristocratic culture of the center, it could be said to be a heavenly difference.
If the ball in the center is the place for socializing and where all sorts of strife take place, the banquet in the north is completely different.
A small festival to celebrate the fact that you have a new relationship.
To put it simply, it means that there is no harm in drinking alcohol with an empty head.
As I put on the clothes hanging in the room and went out, a person with an exceptionally large body caught my eye.
No matter who sees it, I’m not an ordinary person, I look twice as big as others.
He was too big to pretend he didn’t know, so I walked up to him and greeted him.
Slightly surprised by my greeting, he then took my hand and shook it slightly.
In fact, I was close to being swung around with that body, but I managed to prevent it from falling by moving my body accustomed to it.
“You have pretty good strength.”
“Oh…it’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone enduring this.”
“My name is Robert Taylor. If you are going to the banquet hall, would you like to come with me?”
“It’s me, call me Bunta.”
It was supposed to be a name I already knew, but I shrugged once and said hello.
It could be said that it was a mixed blood mixed with Orc blood.
A man who was destined to be persecuted if he went to the center, but joined Adele’s mercenary group and made good use of his unique superpower to reach the position of an aide.
Of course, because of their low intelligence, Adele and Lotos handled most of the administrative matters,
Bunta’s job was to lighten the mood at banquets.
Bunta’s glancing glances at me from time to time bothered me, and when I looked up, Bunta smiled awkwardly and scratched his head.
…Sometimes like that, there’s something to hide.
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Judging from the reactions of Lotos and Bunta, it wasn’t like I couldn’t guess what it was.
Maybe someone close to Adele, if the misunderstanding gets worse, they would think it was Jeong In.
I’ve been thinking about it ever since I decorated my room like that, but I don’t know what I’m doing when I get caught by Adele.
Isn’t Adele’s personality the type to punish misunderstandings quite firmly?
If they are buried leaving only their heads, I think it’s a pretty light punishment.
If it gets worse and Adele feels uncomfortable, then she will raise her sword and look at her hands.
Anyway, Adele’s lover. There had to be times when Adele’s subordinates tried to tie Adele with me in the past.
It must have been very strange that I, a stranger, was close to Adele.
However, getting close to Adele wasn’t that difficult.
Especially if she showed interest on her own, after that I was able to maintain the relationship just by matching the words.
When I asked what was difficult about this, I remembered the look on Lotos’s bewildered expression.
I think I can probably see it at least once today.
The reason why she brought the sword was because she had somewhat anticipated what Adele would do today.
#
Coincidentally, my seat was right next to Adele.
It was pretty blatant at this point, but Adele, whether she knew it or not, just stared at me curiously.
After all, since she was a guest, she probably thought it wouldn’t matter if she sat next to Adele.
The only problem is that seats at this banquet are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Adele would have been the first to take the seat, but the only seat next to her was empty.
Lotos, who was sitting next to me, smiled softly and extended his hand.
The beard that had grown like a goat was still there, which made me feel bad for some reason.
“I said hello before, but my name is Lotos. Is this your first time in the North?”
“That’s right. I know a little about the greeting method.”
“Usually, there are often people who don’t know anything about coming here, but I’m glad these days, people’s awareness of the North is getting better.”
“Looks like there are other people besides me.”
Then, after laughing for a while, Lotos continued talking while pointing to the northwest.
“Recently, Her Highness the Princess stopped by. You haven’t returned yet, you said you’re inspecting the northwestern terranite mines yourself. It was so sudden that I was a little surprised.”
“…Aha.”
Being in the northwestern region, it was so obvious what Mirazen was thinking, so an empty laugh leaked out.
I told you to pay attention to the Northwest, I didn’t ask you to go and inspect it yourself.
Even if I just stayed still, it was clear that there would be results around the New Year.
It’s because I overestimated Miragen’s intelligence.
I should have added that it’s better to observe the situation instead of going there yourself.
If it was in the northwestern part of here, would it be close enough to Adele’s territory?
If I could afford it, I thought it would be a good idea to go northwest as well.
Perhaps Adele’s subjugation of the immigrants will lead to the Northwest as well.
There may also be a situation where aliens occupy the mine,
If I didn’t warn him, I might stay there for a while.
By now, you’re probably nervous, waiting to see when the terranite ore will be discovered.
When I let out a small sigh at the thought of Miragen, Lotos looked at me with a puzzled face.
There was a high probability that Hagiya Lotos didn’t know about Miragen’s contact with me.
Even if you know, you won’t be able to know exactly how much the relationship is in public or private.
“Were you acquainted with Her Highness the Princess?”
“It’s a moderate acquaintance. I got some help from here and there.”
“I know the princess too.”
When I heard Adele’s voice, I turned my head, and she was looking at me with a rather curious expression.
Come to think of it, did he have that expression when he said he was acquainted with the saintess?
He seemed to be smiling softly, but there was a slight coolness in his eyes.
Adele, who drank from the drink in front of her, licked her lips quietly.
“I know with the saintess, I know with me, and I know with the princess. Your network is quite extensive, unlike what I know.”
“Something happened. After all, he said that he would become the head of the household, so I couldn’t stay still.”
“Yes, I guess. But that’s your situation, should I even care about that?”
Adele, who stared at the empty glass, continued by poking my shoulder with her finger.
“The only thing I care about right now is you. Whether you’re close to the princess or the saint, you’re the only one left in the north. It’s better not to talk about other people here.”
“…Did you say you would leave it?”
“Yeah, wasn’t that what you meant by coming this time?”
There was a strange silence in the banquet hall over Adele, who was casually drinking.
It was clear that there were many misunderstandings in what she had just said,
What mattered more was what he said next.
Leaving it behind, could it be that they intend to keep me in the North?
“Didn’t I tell you before that I like you? I was thinking of making you an adjutant, but I guess you didn’t know.”
“I think I just told you that I would become the head of the household.”
“After all, I am a grand duke. If you want, there’s nothing I can’t do with you as my lieutenant.”
Her words, spoken in a serious tone, seemed quite sincere.
But I’m not really saying this, I’m just a little surprised that this story is thrown so lightly.
Perhaps if someone in this place spread the word out, it might spread greatly.
Does that mean he believes in the person in this place?
“I don’t believe you mean it.”
“Seriously.”
After staring at me as if I was a bit fed up, Adele immediately smiled and poured me a drink.
Filling her glass half way and mine full, she raised her glass and opened her mouth.
The serious atmosphere from earlier quickly dissipated, leaving only a playful smile.
“Of course, I just did it. I know what you have come here for, and there is no reason to interrupt it.”
“Did you? I could have been pretty sad.”
“…Bring me a cup, don’t talk nonsense.”
Tada- As soon as the glass was emptied, Adele took a deep breath.
I wondered that a bit of regret had passed by, but my eyes soon returned to normal and turned to me.
“As for the purpose of your coming here, isn’t it a ploy to take things with you while returning the handkerchief?’
“If this or that.”
“You probably need my support. Didn’t you say it with your mouth, Robert?”
Indeed, to some extent, he had seen through it.
I didn’t think I would go unnoticed, but I was a bit surprised that I noticed it sooner than I thought.
To say this would have meant that I had been certain from the moment I sent the letter that I would come to the North.
It must have been known that the competition for head of household had just begun here as well, so she must have inferred it in her own way.
When I didn’t deny it because it was true, Adele glanced at my sword and continued.
“If it’s for you and me, I think I’ve already paid off enough. I was beheaded. I’m sorry, but I ended up not asking you about the secret you said.”
“…yes, I remember.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you seeking my support, but you’ll have to pay the price to get it. So I have something to offer you, would you like to hear it?”
He looked at Adele again in a serious tone, then nodded and replied.
Actually, this conversation was somewhat expected.
As Adele would someday find out about my original purpose, there was a high probability that she would not be very pleased with it.
If there is a chance to set a condition, and if it is now that her attention is on me.
There was only one thing left for her to offer me.
“As long as you stay in the North, be my lieutenant. Listen to my orders and follow them, but I promise to treat you on par with other lieutenants. I will decide whether or not to support it based on how you behave during that time.”
“As an adjutant, there must be something I need to do in battle.”
“Aren’t you sure? It doesn’t look like you have that skill.”
“Not like that. But I wonder when did you prepare such a proposal?”
Adele responded with a small smile.
It came quite naturally, as if he knew I was going to ask this.
“From the moment I first saw you. Didn’t I tell you, I will make you my lieutenant?”
“You weren’t kidding…”
“If you do it too well, I won’t let you go. So you should behave well. Just enough so I can let you go, but well enough to get support.”
Isn’t that a very difficult order?
After laughing lightly at the absurdity, Adele casually drank and emptied the glass.
It must be her sincere words.
I’ll set a standard, and if I can’t cross it, I’ll say I won’t support it.
Making me an adjutant means taking me to the imminent subjugation of the alien race.
However, the atmosphere around it was a bit chilly.
I tended to fully abide by Adele’s decision, but her lieutenants seemed to disapprove of me.
From their point of view, I would be nothing more than a rolled stone, so it wasn’t that they couldn’t understand such a reaction.
What would the young master, who was well-to-do in the center, do?
There were even rumors about me that I had never held a sword since I was born, so there were people who openly expressed their uncomfortable feelings.
A typical example is Bunta, who had been laughing well until now, glaring at me and breathing heavily.
It’s Lotos who saw my swordsman. I stayed still as I grasped Adele’s thoughts,
He also seemed to notice that the people around him were uncomfortable.
Lotos, who looked at me with a troubled expression, sighed heavily and opened his mouth to Adele.
“Your Excellency, I think there will be quite a difference of opinion on this decision.”
“I see, if so, how?”
“There is only one, right? We have to do it our way.”
Then Adele’s eyes turned to me.
I knew it would turn out like this at the time I said I would make him my lieutenant, but I smile bitterly at the look in my eyes asking what I’m going to do now.
Last time I showed you a sword skill and said it was a secret. Perhaps this time, it seemed to mean that I would show my skills properly.
It was full of eyes pouring down on me.
The tumultuous banquet hall suddenly became quiet, and soon a suffocating silence came over me.
The heavy pressure on my shoulders, the eyes ignoring me and a wary attitude.
When I came to the North, I always used to get this kind of stare.
However, the reason why I became close friends with them was simple.
Because I have skills.
He stood up and looked at Bunta as he opened his mouth.
Bunta snorted at his index finger, which moved recklessly.
“Can we just fight one round?”
“We must fight and win.”
“okay.”
My attitude was still relaxed. Also, it was because it wasn’t the first time he’d been in a situation like this.
Bunta at first, bunta after that. And is it a bunta this time too?
In fact, he had the confidence to survive even if everyone in this place attacked him.
It would be a little daunting if Adele intervened, but I’m sure I’ll get through it somehow.
did not hold the sword He had little magic power, and compared to before, his body was so shabby that it could be called trash.
However, I am the one who was called the Sword Saint.
With a sword, it wasn’t that difficult to defeat someone.
Could it be the Sword Saint, and would that name be false?
I laughed lightly. It was a much more relaxed laugh than usual.