Episode 221: Housemate
“Eh, me?”
“That’s right. It’s an invitation from Lord Amadio. Eventually, we’ll need you to come back here, but the environment is better over there for broadening your horizons.”
“I’ll go, I’ll go! Because Lord Amadio is there, right!?”
“Hold on, hold on. Well, yes. For now, live and study there for a few months, and if there are no problems, then for a few years. There’s not much more we can teach you here, and your father and mother agree. They said the pickup will be here in three days. Sorry for the short notice.”
“Understood! I’ll go tell everyone!”
Saarya, the village chief’s daughter, dashed off energetically at her father’s words.
“…Is she going to be alright? She’s never been to a city before…”
“Everything is experience, dear. Besides, I heard she’ll have a personal attendant, even if it’s just an apprentice, so there shouldn’t be too much to worry about.”
“I suppose so… She might climb someone’s house because there are no trees, you know.”
“………”
“Hey, say something.”
“It’ll be fine somehow.”
In the frontier village governed by Duke Amadio Silverhead, the village chief and his wife, known for their good relationship, sighed, thinking of their precious only daughter.
◇◇◇◇
“Oh, oh, they’re here, they’re here, Father! As expected, carriages in the city are magnificent!”
“Ah, well, yes… That’s not just any carriage… Is that a Motor Carriage? The kind that’s been popping up recently.”
On the day the pickup from Amadio Silverhead was scheduled to arrive, the village chief’s family was waiting on the second floor of the village’s carriage station, drinking tea. Saarya, seeing it from the window, cheered.
Villagers who heard her gathered around, standing up and rushing to the window.
“Is that made of Iron!? Amazing, it looks sturdy! And there are no horses!”
“Yes. It’s my first time seeing one too, but I’ve heard about them from merchants. Recently, large carriages that run without horses have appeared. But I heard they’re only seen around the capital, so how did it get all the way here?”
“As expected of Lord Amadio!”
Her father smiled wryly at his daughter’s innocent joy.
The arriving Motor Carriage was twice the length of a normal carriage. With a clatter, the door opened, and a woman stepped out.
“By order of Duke Silverhead, I have come to pick up Saarya-san. My name is Linanel.”
“Ah. The letter… I confirmed it. The village chief and his family are on the second floor, please go up. And this Motor Carriage…”
“The driver is inside. Can you instruct me on where to stop? If you specify a location, I can move it there.”
“Understood. Thank you for your trouble… Hey, can you hear me?”
At Linanel’s explanation, the guide ran to the Motor Carriage and called out. Then, the glass window on the right side slowly lowered. It was tinted, making it difficult to see inside, but there was a beautiful girl inside.
“I can hear you. Where should I park?”
“O-oh… There’s a space over there, can you see it?”
“Hmm. I understand. Is the closest one alright?”
“Ah…”
As the guide watched with a blank expression, the Motor Carriage began to move slowly, making a whirring engine sound. The guide whistled at the sight of it backing into the designated space.
“Amazing, it can really move backwards. Hey, we don’t need to take care of any horses, but we’re welcoming a young lady. I think they have seats on the second floor. You guide her.”
“Y-yes!”
The guide patted the shoulder of the apprentice next to him and started walking towards the Motor Carriage.
◇◇◇◇
Linanel, having gone up to the second floor, found the village chief’s family, who stood up to greet her, and approached them. The village chief pushed his daughter forward, so she smiled and raised her hand slightly.
“Are you Saarya?”
“Y-yes!”
Saarya froze, stiff as a board, in front of the suddenly appearing sophisticated and beautiful woman. She had heard that someone would come to pick her up, but she had not imagined that such a beautiful woman would come.
“Saarya, you’re too nervous.”
The village chief ruffled his daughter’s hair and bowed slightly to Linanel.
“Thank you for coming all the way to pick her up. You’re Linanel-san, correct?”
“Yes, Village Chief. This is a letter entrusted to me by Duke Silverhead.”
“Indeed, I received it. Thank you. Let me confirm it.”
The village chief received the letter, confirmed that the wax seal was indeed that of Duke Silverhead, and opened it.
“I’m Linanel. I don’t have a last name. Lord Amadio asked me to help you. Nice to meet you?”
“Y-yes! N-nice to meet you…!”
Linanel chuckled at Saarya’s innocent reaction.
“Don’t be so nervous. I’m older than you, but there’s no hierarchy. Besides, if things go well, we’ll be spending several years together. Well, more details on the way.”
“I-is that so, I see…”
As Saarya was bewildered by Linanel’s refined demeanor, a new character appeared from the stairs.
“Safran-san, please! W-we have prepared a seat over there!”
“Thanks.”
The second-floor cafeteria fell silent as they saw the girl who came up.
Black hair, and a large, military uniform-like jacket based on black. It looks like a skirt, but perhaps for ease of movement, it’s paired with flared half-pants and black tights. But the most unusual thing is the beast ears on her head and the black tail swaying behind her.
The two beast ears twitched. The girl turned to Linanel, who was chuckling.
“Linanel-dono. Departure is in two hours. I was told to wait here.”
“Yes, it seems so. I wonder if the person next to you will guide you?”
“A-ah… Yes, um, this way! Please!”
Guided by the apprentice boy, the cat-eared girl walked to the seat next to the village chief’s family.
“Ah, Village Chief. I’ll call you again when you’re ready. Hey, get the young ladies some drinks. Manager! Put the bill on the usual account!”
The guide, who came up late, nudged the apprentice boy and sent him running. The village chief’s family smiled wryly at the peaceful scene and returned to their seats.
“Ah, Saarya, let’s sit over here together.”
“Y-yes…”
Urged by Linanel, Saarya was made to sit at the same table as the cat-eared girl. Saarya hadn’t even confirmed the driver of the Motor Carriage, so she was confused by the sudden event.
“Let me introduce you. This is Safran-san from ＜Paraiso＞, who owns that Motor Carriage. She drove the Motor Carriage all the way here from the capital.”
“I’m Safran, Saarya-dono. Amadio Silverhead told me about you. It’s a short time, but I look forward to working with you.”
Saarya’s eyes darted around as she was given explanations that were difficult to understand. The lovely girl before her eyes is the driver of the Motor Carriage? Paraiso? In the first place, she’s calling the Duke by his given name?
“Ahaha. It’s no wonder you’re surprised. I’ll explain properly.”
And for about two hours until departure, the girls continued to chat. Saarya was given a brief overview of the situation in the country, or rather, the capital, which had changed drastically in less than a year, and she felt dizzy.
◇◇◇◇
The journey was long but short. They departed in the morning and arrived at their destination town around dusk.
“Well then, let’s say goodbye here for now, Saarya. See you again in the capital.”
“Yes… Thank you, Linanel. Thank you too, Safran-san.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be coming and going for missions, so let’s meet again.”
Here, Saarya will stay overnight at an inn and head to the capital Moor by rail. Safran and Linanel will return to Moor in the Motor Carriage. Saarya could have ridden in the Motor Carriage, but Amadio had instructed her to travel by rail for a social studies experience.
Saarya, having gotten out of the Motor Carriage, waved until she could no longer see the departing Motor Carriage, then took a deep breath and started walking.
“First, I’ll head to the inn. I heard the inn has already been arranged, so it should be fine.”
And so, Saarya arrived at the inn without any particular incident, where she would meet a person who would greatly change her future.
“You’re Saarya, right? I’ve been waiting. I’m Ixia. I look forward to working with you.”
――――――――――――――――――――――――
Announcement:
It has been decided that this series will be published as a book by Famitsu Bunko. The release is scheduled for around spring of next year.
Yui Haga-sama will be in charge of the illustrations!
I’ve also received the rough drafts, and well, there’s nothing to say. Really.
I will continue to post information on the activity reports and on Twitter (@Kaku_TenTenko), so please follow me.
(This information will continue to be posted for a few more episodes)