Episode 70: Interlude (Leon Degraaf 2)
“Welcome, Leon Degraaf. It has been quite some time.”
“Yes. Thank you for the welcome, Lord Radaeri-sama.”
Leon had not anticipated being granted an audience with the lord so soon after arriving as a mere herald, and as such, he was somewhat nervous.
It had been eight years since he last met the lord of Flattala City, when he accompanied a different delegation as the captain of the guard.
“So, this is rather sudden. I haven’t heard the details of your business yet, so perhaps you could enlighten me?”
“Yes.”
Normally, a herald would communicate via letter. Leon had brought one with him. Occasionally, one might meet with a steward directly under the lord, but even that was unusual.
This was the first time he had been granted an audience with the lord directly.
“We are forming a delegation from Telek Port City to East Gate City, and we wish to stop by Flattala City along the way, hence my visit as a herald.”
“Oh? East Gate City, you say? Is the destination Forest Country (Lebresta)?”
“I apologize, but I have not been informed of the purpose.”
“Hmm? …Hah hah hah, well, I suppose not. I was a bit hasty. I shall hear the details from the delegation leader. So, you are merely a herald?”
“Yes.”
The lord nodded and summoned a steward who was standing by.
“Arrange for their lodging.”
“Understood.”
“Leon, I shall take care of your stay in this city. Will you be staying for about two days?”
“Yes. If we enter the city today, we would like to depart on the morning of the day after tomorrow. During that time, we hope to rest and replenish some supplies.”
“I see, I see. Hmm, these are troubled times, so we may not be able to provide much… Well, how is it?”
“Excuse me. As for food, we may not have much to spare. However, we can provide ample fodder and water. We have a stockpile of Salt. As for lumber… well, we should confirm with the guild as soon as possible. If it’s rope or cloth, we just finished sorting our inventory, so we can provide some.”
“Hmm. Leon, how does that sound?”
Leon nodded at the steward’s response. He lowered his head, expressing his gratitude.
“Thank you. I understand the circumstances, so we have prepared our own food. As for other materials, we haven’t used much, so we will check with the guild directly. A letter of introduction would be sufficient.”
“Is that so? It must be difficult, traveling after such a long hiatus.”
Upon being asked, Leon hesitated slightly before replying.
“…I believe it would be best to confirm the details with the delegation leader. We are accompanied by a very capable ally, which has made the journey considerably easier.”
“Hmm…? Such an important figure?”
“Yes. They are currently our city’s most important trading partner.”
After a few more exchanges, Leon completed his role as herald and scout. Fortunately, he was able to secure lodging for the entire group.
Well, he had rented out an entire inn that was practically closed due to the lack of domestic travel. He had also left a tip for cleaning the dusty rooms.
It was an unnecessary expense, but delegations were expected to spread money around during their travels. The lord probably expected as much.
After quickly surveying the market (though it wasn’t very lively), Leon and Zwanzig left Flattala City and urged their horses and Golem to rejoin the main group.
“Ten attendants. Three attendants from Paraiso… and one carriage, and… Golem? Hmm. Three Golem, you say. That’s quite a small group.”
“Yes, the Golem we are working with are extremely capable, which has been a great help. It is only because we can travel with this number of people that we were able to dispatch our delegation in this situation.”
Currently, Radaeri Furatara, the lord of Flattala City, and Agritend Ruvannia, the leader of the delegation, were in talks. They couldn’t prepare dinner in time, but there was a request to meet as soon as possible, so they went straight to the lord’s Mansion after arriving in the city.
“Golem… hmm. What are they like? I’ve heard rumors of such things.”
“I apologize, but I have not been informed of the details. However, there is no doubt that they are made with extremely complex and delicate technology. They are incomparable to the Magic Tools we use. They are larger than a carriage, faster than a horse, and can easily defeat Monsters, making them quite powerful.”
“Hmph. This isn’t something to discuss in a place like this, but I can’t help but wonder if they could aid us in our struggles.”
Those words revealed just how dire the situation was for Flattala City. It was as direct a request as one could make. However, Agritend Ruvannia had no intention of involving his benefactor, ＜Paraiso＞, in a civil war.
“I have considered it myself, but there is the issue of distance, so it may be difficult. However, if we can continue our exchange, there may be hope.”
“Is that so? Hmm, I would like to meet these people, if possible.”
“…I see. I will confirm. Leon, would you?”
“Yes. I will go and ask.”
However, he couldn’t refuse the request for a meeting. He excused himself, left the room, and called out to Drei, who was accompanying them.
Fortunately, there was no particular objection, and the meeting was approved. Accompanied by the steward, he escorted Drei back to the reception room.
“This is Drei, the representative of ＜Paraiso＞.”
“Let them in.”
And she entered the room. She wore Magic Tools (goggles) with some kind of function, and her hood was still up. Her unusual appearance made Lord Radaeri Furatara frown.
“Excuse me. They are quite conspicuous, so they are spending their time in the city in this attire. Drei-san, would you mind showing your face?”
“No problem.”
She nodded at Agritend Ruvannia’s request and first removed her hood. What appeared was silky white hair and a pair of fox ears.
Her eyes were still hidden by the goggles, but one could easily imagine her well-defined features.
Then, she reached for the goggles, and with a soft scraping sound, they fell into her hand.
“…Ho.”
Hidden beneath the goggles were golden eyes that captivated those who beheld them. Though expressionless, her charm was not diminished in the slightest.
“Nice to meet you. I am Drei Ringo, the squadron leader of ＜Paraiso＞. I have been ordered to accompany this delegation as a guard.”
“I am Radaeri Furatara, the lord of Flattala City. Please, have a seat.”
“I will take your cloak.”
Drei nodded, casually removed her cloak, and handed it to the steward. What was revealed was her slender figure.
It was assumed to be a uniform, but it was a style of clothing that had never been seen before. Tight-fitting trousers, a large knife at her waist, and a gun.
“Excuse me.”
She sat down next to Agritend Ruvannia, and Leon stood diagonally behind her. It was an assertion that Drei was an important figure to their delegation.
“….I’m surprised. A Beastkin, perhaps? They actually exist.”
“I don’t think we are the same as the Beastkin you have in this country, but it is true that we all have this appearance.”
As Drei answered, the lord let out a deep sigh and raised one hand.
Sensing an ominous atmosphere from that gesture, Leon instinctively, though very rudely, reached for the hilt of his sword. That action was correct, but it was not successful.
Almost simultaneously, the door burst open and several people rushed in.
“Don’t move. Don’t resist unnecessarily. We have soldiers waiting outside as well.”
“…This is…”
It was an event that had been considered, at least. But from the state of Flattala City and the content of the meeting with the lord, it was an event that had been removed from the list of possibilities.
In other words, an attack on the delegation, an act of plunder.
“I am very sorry, Agritend-dono. This city is far more desperate than you think. There is no turning back. Hand over everything you have.”
“…Surely, this is… Radaeri-sama, this is problematic. To demand everything…”
“Either way, you won’t know what happens. Besides, that woman of yours is a stroke of luck. She would be a top-tier tribute.”
Laughing at Agritend Ruvannia’s protest, they were surrounded by soldiers with swords, and they had no choice but to obey the lord’s wishes—
“Designated as a hostile act.”