Chapter 415: Don’t Call Me a Coward
“Wahaha! That form! That color! My branch is one of a kind!”
“Indeed, it is quite remarkable. This is the first time I’ve encountered a branch that can sense such a presence.”
Grandfather and the Ex-Staff are having a conversation that seems to be somewhat out of sync.
“The ‘King’s Branch’… I can’t even make a quip about it to Lord Haynes…”
Orlando is holding his head in frustration, but honestly, I think he should just let it out and make a joke.
“By the way, Orlando.”
“What is it?”
“The magic circle I saw by the stairs and the fortress—does it make the same sound?”
Just testing the waters with a roundabout question.
“Unfortunately, I have never stepped on the castle’s magic circle.”
Come on.
“You should at least try it!”
We need to check if it actually works!
“The functionality tests are being conducted with those unconnected to spirits, alongside Lord Kiel and Lord Haynes. I didn’t witness it myself, but I did see the military police rushing by from the window, so I can assure you of its effectiveness.”
Orlando, what I want to know isn’t about its effectiveness…!
“…Doesn’t it need someone with malicious intent to step on it?”
Are they going to rush in if something happens?
“It seems they allowed a rather unsavory merchant to observe. I’m not well-versed in this, but it appears that if they’re going to call in a few others, they should at least allow a tour of the town to avoid any awkwardness…”
It seems the same magic circle has been set up at the entrance and exit of the village near the pier, as well as at the entrance to the town close to the fortress and the Town Square.
Asking, “Can you hear the ‘a-hun’?” is quite a high hurdle. Chris’s Jaw Spirit and Dean’s smelly spirit were visible to most people as the Ball of Light. I suspect something similar might be happening with sounds as well.
For instance, if I asked Orlando, “Does it sound like a bell to you? Do you hear ‘a-hun’?” I’d be in trouble if he replied. Orlando seems to hear Haniwa’s shout just fine, but it feels more accurate to say that Haniwa is the odd one out rather than Orlando being special.
So, I end up not asking and decide to head to the fields to check on things.
“It’s gotten lively!”
“Yeah. The alleys are still empty, but it looks like the main street is mostly filled up.”
I walk alongside the Ex-Staff.
There are quite a few people in the square. People rushing to the market, craftsmen hauling stones, and tourists looking around restlessly. It’s hot, so not many are stopping, but there are definitely more people than last time.
At the edge of the square where the ‘Spirit’s Branch’ is located, there was the aforementioned magic circle. Of course, I’m avoiding stepping on it. It’s quite wide, and to avoid stepping on it, I have to walk in an unnatural way.
As I walk down the street, I think about how lively it has become. I take a turn into an alley that leads to a spot with a view of the sea. It’s nice how the wide ocean suddenly comes into view after passing through a narrow alley.
I climb up a waist-high stone wall to enjoy the view during the day. There’s also shade from a lemon tree, making it a pleasant spot.
“Here you go, lunch.”
“Oh! This is it!”
For lunch, it’s the Ex-Staff’s favorite—hamburgers.
Buns, a patty, sliced onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and a fried egg. It’s quite a hefty burger, yet it has a beautifully rounded shape, almost like it was punched out of paper. The Ex-Staff has a slight overbite, but whatever he’s biting into, it definitely doesn’t leave a bite mark.
I think it would be a loss to dwell on that, so I take a big bite of my own hamburger. The tanginess of the ketchup and pickles, the savory juices of the meat, the saltiness, and the sweetness are all slightly mellowed by the lettuce, leaving a delicious aftertaste.
I nibble on some fries and sip my iced coffee. The Ex-Staff isn’t fond of coffee, so he’s having water. Some spirits show interest in tea or lemonade, but for the most part, they stick to water. Especially for the Ex-Staff, being a plant-based spirit, water is considered the supreme drink.
Once the satisfied Ex-Staff drifts off for a nap, I head towards the fields.
—Hey. Hasn’t the wall gotten unusually high since I last saw it? I can see some wicked protrusions on top, but what on earth are those…? Well, I can guess their purpose, but I’m going to pretend I don’t see them.
“I came to check on things, how are the vegetables doing?”
The iron grille of the gate looks quite sharp…
Where has the peaceful field gone? I hope the conflicts in the fields remain limited to battles against animals. There are hardly any animals besides livestock! I think this as I call out to the rest area and tool shed just inside the gate.
Out comes someone who looks like a military police officer.
“You can’t just come here casually. If you want to see, get permission from the castle. Seriously, how did you even think to enter this heavily guarded place?”
The military police officer seems exasperated. Yeah, this is definitely a military police officer, isn’t it?
“I have permission.”
Actually, I feel like I’m the one who gives out permission, but in reality, it’s Soleil and others who handle the paperwork.
And I’m only recognized by those I’ve spoken to face-to-face. It’s a small island, but many residents don’t recognize me as their lord.
“Wow! No restrictions on entering without a guide! Impressive!”
But to ensure they can handle people whose faces they can’t remember, I carry a card tied with a string that allows me to enter anywhere.
They call it a guide, but it’s really someone to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t do anything strange. I’m allowed to go anywhere on my own.
That aside, what direction is the island’s farming headed?