Chapter 13: To Oz – 08
“What a fool! To boast so loudly and yet bring such shame upon yourself! Even as my daughter, I cannot help but shed tears of disappointment!”
“Mother, please! We’re in public! Ouch, ouch, eek!”
We were in the Great Spirit Shrine, seated in a room marked as the Reception Room. The tatami mat flooring felt nostalgic even for a Japanese person like me, and we were sitting on cushions.
Across the table sat the High Priestess Miona and Lady Shizuna. After handing over the letter from His Majesty and finishing a round of discussions, Miona’s expression suddenly changed. She began to strike Shizuna with the mithril fan she held.
“What do you mean by ‘please forgive me’? To be deceived by Mecalinan and put the nation in peril is not just foolishness for a priestess, but for any citizen of the country!”
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! Please, just forgive me for now! I’ll accept any scolding later!”
The reprimanding continued for a while, but when Shizuna’s eyes began to well with tears, I decided it was time to intervene.
“High Priestess Miona, it seems that Lady Shizuna has been reflecting on her actions during the journey. Please, calm your anger.”
“Hmph… If the esteemed Soushi says so, then I shall let this matter rest for now. I apologize for showing you such an unseemly display.”
“No, High Priestess, your anger is understandable given your concern for your daughter. I can empathize with your feelings.”
“Thank you. I am grateful to the Spirit Queen for allowing my foolish daughter to meet a remarkable adventurer like you, Soushi.”
Miona tucked her fan away and bowed. Lady Shizuna, who had been slumped over on the cushion, managed to sit up again, though her expression was still quite wilted.
“However, I have no words of gratitude that could suffice for you, Soushi. Not only did you save my daughter, but you also rescued the Sacred Spirit Beast. As a nation, we cannot let such kindness go unacknowledged.”
“Regarding that, it truly was a matter of circumstance, so please don’t feel too burdened by it.”
“That will not do. Many have already witnessed you arriving on the Sacred Spirit Beast. If you do not have corresponding achievements, it would reflect poorly on the Spirit Beast’s majesty. Therefore, I must insist you accept our gratitude.”
“I see… If that is the case, I shall accept it.”
“I am grateful. However, how to repay you is something I must discuss with the High Priests. May I ask for some time? Would it be possible for you to stay in Oz for a while?”
“Of course. As adventurers, we intend to explore the dungeons around Gal-Oz thoroughly. If there are any subjugation requests, we would consider accepting those as well. And if possible, we would also like to explore the sights of Oz Country.”
“That would be splendid. I will arrange accommodations for you. I will send someone to assist you, so if you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask through them.”
“Thank you. We will gladly accept your kindness.”
After a light bow, Miona smiled behind her fan.
“Your manner of speaking and your thoughtfulness truly set an example for those living in this country. You must have some connection to Oz, am I correct?”
“No, not at all. I just feel that the culture of this country is quite similar to that of my homeland.”
“Is that so? Then you should take your time exploring this country. I hope your companions will also enjoy their stay.”
I had only sent Lady Shizuna on a royal request, but it seemed I would be receiving a reward in this country as well. Moreover, I was surprised to learn that Lady Shizuna was the daughter of the High Priestess. In terms of the kingdom, she was akin to a princess, and while I had suspected she came from a noble background, this level of status was beyond my expectations.
Well, for now, it seemed I would be spending my time as usual, delving into dungeons. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if that would be all… No, I hoped it would be.
The inn we were guided to was, unsurprisingly, one of the finest in Gal-Oz. It had a distinctly Japanese high-end ryokan atmosphere, which felt more calming to me than the accommodations in the Royal Capital.
In front of the tatami-floored living room was a traditional Japanese garden, and as I sat cross-legged on the cushion, sipping the tea that the attendant had prepared (it was more like black tea than green tea), I felt a wave of tranquility wash over me.
“I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen such a face on you, Soushi-sama,” Freinir said, sitting beside me with a curious expression.
“What kind of face am I making?”
“You look incredibly relaxed, as if you’ve let go of all your worries.”
“Is that so? This inn, along with the buildings and clothing in Oz, reminds me a lot of my homeland. That might be why.”
“Is that so? Is the custom of taking off shoes and sitting directly on the floor the same there?”
“Yeah, it seems to be more comfortable for me.”
“Actually, this style is the same for High Elves, so I find it quite relaxing as well. However, this tatami? It’s my first time experiencing it. It’s very comfortable, and the garden before us has a unique aesthetic appeal.”
As Sfenia spoke, Larni was attempting to step down into the garden from the veranda. It seemed she was interested in the small pond with fish swimming in it. However, it was clear that this garden was not meant for entry.
“Larni, you can’t go into that garden. You don’t have any shoes on, do you?”
“But I want to see the fish! It would be such a waste to only look at such an interesting garden from the room!”
“Even so, the garden is designed to be most beautiful when viewed from the room.”
“Is that so? Really?”
“Probably.”
I felt a bit uncertain about my answer, but from what I could see of the garden, my observation wasn’t entirely off. In the distance, the mountain range marking the border was visible, and it seemed they had incorporated the technique of borrowed scenery.
As Larni returned and began sipping her tea and reaching for the sweets, Mariane spoke up.
“I plan to visit the guild tomorrow. Gal-Oz should have dungeons ranging from F to A rank, but how far do you intend to explore, Soushi-san?”
“I’d like to at least reach B rank if possible. I’d also like to know if there are dungeons further away from Gal-Oz.”
“Understood. Since this is a rare opportunity, let’s aim to explore as much as we can.”
“Right. And in addition, if there are any good requests, please pick them up. I want everyone to reach B rank as soon as possible.”
“Got it. This royal request will count as a significant achievement, so if we complete one or two more requests, I believe it will lead to promotions. Sfenia-san might even get promoted from this one.”
“If that happens, I would be thrilled. I’ve been a C rank for quite a while, but I truly feel I’ve gained more than double the strength I had before.”
Sfenia squinted her eyes, lost in thought. It seemed she had her own feelings about this; usually so reserved, she looked quite pleased at the moment.
“Tomorrow, let’s all head to the guild together, and then take a stroll around the city. There might be things here that can only be bought in Oz.”
“Soushi-sama, I want to look at accessories and clothing. I’m very interested in the clothing of Oz Country.”
“Sounds good. I might buy something for myself too.”
As I replied to Freinir, it seemed everyone was excited about the idea of buying clothes.
After a while of relaxing, I sensed someone approaching down the hallway.
“Is it Shizuna? May I come in?”
The presence belonged to Lady Shizuna. She opened the door and peeked her head into the room.
“Yes, please come in. Is there something you need?”
“I apologize for the intrusion.”
Lady Shizuna entered the room with a serious expression and suddenly knelt before us, bowing deeply.
“I truly appreciate all the help and care you have given me, Soushi-dono. I would like to express my gratitude once more.”
“Uh… um…”
I wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but she had probably been told by High Priestess Miona to properly thank us. I approached Lady Shizuna and sat down to speak.
“Well… I appreciate your feelings, and I gladly accept them. But please raise your head. It would make me uncomfortable if you didn’t act as you usually do.”
“You are so kind, Soushi-dono.”
As Lady Shizuna said this and lifted her head, her expression was the usual carefree one. However, upon seeing my face, she suddenly turned teary-eyed.
“Soushi-dono! I have a request!”
With that, the priestess-clad girl suddenly hugged me. The horns on her chest poked me a bit painfully, but I realized for the first time that my Skill didn’t react in situations like this. No, that wasn’t the issue at hand. The others behind me seemed to be radiating a subtle tension… or maybe it was just my imagination.
“Please wait! What on earth is the matter?”
“Please, allow me to join your party! I beg you, please let me join Soushi-dono’s group!”
“Um, calm down and tell me the situation. Why do you say such a thing?”
“My mother told me not to return until I reach at least B rank. If I have become an adventurer, I should travel the world and at least be able to assist my sister. I made a big boast when I left the country, so I cannot ignore her words…”
“I see… And your sister’s assistance is what you mean?”
“Yes. Since I have left, my sister Seina has become the next High Priestess. She was always more suited to the role than I was, and I never intended to become the High Priestess myself.”
“I understand. I personally have no objections to Lady Shizuna joining the party…”
I knew from our previous dungeon experiences that Lady Shizuna would become a considerable asset as she grew. Though she came from a noble background, as the “Soul’s Guidance,” it felt like a moot point now.
When I turned to confirm with the others, I expected Freinir and Larni to nod in agreement, but Sfenia was looking at me with a somewhat stern expression. Could it be that the members were opposed to Lady Shizuna joining? It didn’t seem that way, but…
“Hey, Soushi, don’t you think you should get Shizuna to let go first?”
Larni’s words made me realize that Lady Shizuna was still clinging to me.
Did they think I was some old man enjoying being hugged by a girl? Well, I couldn’t deny that it didn’t feel bad… but still, it was an unavoidable situation, and I hoped they would understand.