Chapter 617: Mysterious Rules
“Rest assured, we will ensure that no damage comes to the buildings or furnishings,” Auro said with a faint smile.
“Humans are not targets unless they wish to be,” Kiel replied with a sullen expression.
Is that really the case? Aren’t we just on the brink of a snack-fueled battle? Am I imagining things? If nothing breaks and no one dies, can we just pretend this never happened?
“Oh, my lord! My sovereign! I am grateful for the opportunity to train, even though I have yet to reach the same heights as you!”
Someone overly enthusiastic just barged in.
“Training…?” I muttered.
“Yes! I shall strive to be worthy of standing by your side, my lord!”
With that, he grabbed a cream puff and a rice ball and dashed out of the room. That was the Sword Master, right? I think.
What exactly does training entail?
“Hehehe~. Kiel, it seems you can’t participate. How unfortunate~!” A red-haired maid twirled in with a cream puff in hand.
“Grr…” Kiel looked frustrated, gritting his teeth.
Ah, he’s stuck guarding the table laden with cream puffs and dishes, so he can’t join the fray.
Auro didn’t seem to mind, but Kiel was quite combative. Maybe it’s because it’s all about sweets.
“I’ll let you know, while I have no loyalty, I’ll do my best to protect this place. Just think of it as riding a grand ship,” Marlu said, her playful demeanor shifting to a brief serious expression as our eyes met.
—Wait a minute, what exactly are we fighting against? Auro and Kiel too, but who is the imaginary enemy!?
Could it be because I once said I’d abandon them and run if things got tough back at the island’s start? Back then, I was worried that if I did something novel for profit, the local lords and merchants would swoop in and take over.
That much is true, but I thought if I fled quickly, the island’s residents would be fine.
Isn’t this island a bit overboard with the defenses? Am I imagining things?
“Well then, I’ll be taking Bartolone-kun’s cream puff,” Marlu said with a mischievous grin, spinning around before leaving the room.
Bartolone is the name of that Sword Master from earlier, right? I completely forgot his name, but it fits the vibe. So, this snack battle is part of the training, huh?
“…Grrr.”
“If you want to go, you can. It doesn’t seem too chaotic,” I said to the frustrated Kiel.
“No! I accepted this task from Soleil! Curse you, Marlu!”
He looked serious, his face twisted in anger. Kiel, don’t burst a blood vessel!
“Silence and tranquility are also rules, but Bartolone is quite noisy, isn’t he? …I’ve let some things slide as a handicap,” Auro sighed.
I feel like a lot of mysterious rules are being created without my knowledge. I understand now why Haulon mistook this place for Assassination Island.
The changelings, who usually have little expression, seem lively, so I suppose a little misunderstanding is fine, but I’d prefer if it didn’t add to the ominous impression.
“Well then, I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m off to deliver food to the Spirit’s Branch,” I said, heading towards Grandfather Paorul and the children.
“Leave it to me, my lord,” Auro smiled, placing a hand on his chest.
“…With just the sweets on this table, one could probably buy a house in the exorbitantly priced Naruadeid… Even that beautiful strawberry—oh, the one currently at the inn belongs to the head of the Shipping Guild.”
“Make sure to take care of Soleil too,” I called out to Soleil, who was muttering while staring at the cream puffs. She jumped slightly.
“Huh? Yes, I’ll distribute them properly. Don’t worry, I’ll only keep a few for myself,” she said, looking guilty as she eyed the cream puffs.
“Let’s avoid any disputes.”
Is the battle over the cream puffs and other treats not counted as a dispute? I pondered that as I left the room, keeping an eye on Soleil.
My destination was the Spirit’s Branch.
The garden, once ravaged by the Dragon, was now beautifully restored, with trees swaying gently and flowers blooming everywhere. Everything was well-kept, yet no plants looked cramped; they grew freely, branches and vines stretching out.
Not only that, but the areas that needed to be concealed were well-hidden, and there were subtle guides leading me in the right direction.
And why are there so many security measures!?
I navigated carefully, avoiding the security traps without making them too obvious. Should I just float a bit? No, it’s still manageable; there’s room to maneuver. As I dodged the traps, I found myself being led toward even more discreet security mechanisms.
If it’s not a trap, I wouldn’t mind getting caught. I’d probably be placed under even stricter surveillance for having noticed and avoided the spirit-based traps, but I should be fine with my face.
I should be fine, right?