Satou here. Love comedies of all ages tend to use misunderstandings or disagreements to push the story to a climax. In real life, I’m afraid the relationship might end right there!
I can hear the sound of people outside. Did I oversleep a bit?
Not only did I learn a lot of knowledge yesterday, but also how Arisa became a slave.
If she were to be freed, it would violate the condition of the Geass, and she would die a painful death. Seems to be a curse-like skill.
When I first found out Arisa was hypnotizing me with magic, I planned on sending her back the next morning, but after hearing about her tragic past, I’m not so heartless that I would abandon a helpless Japanese girl in this turbulent world.
The advantage of being Level 310 and having wealth rivaling a nation will trump everything.
—without knocking at all.
Martha-chan is already so energetic this early in the morning.
“Good morning.”
A little cold—Right, Arisa took off my shirt yesterday.
Martha-chan admires my bare chest with interest. As for Zena-san, she is standing in the back covering her beet-red face, but her eyes are peeking curiously through her fingers.
“Excuse me, I have been inconsiderate. I will put on something right now.”
“Aahn ♪”
Looking down, I see a half-naked little girl. My hand had landed on her chest—Oh yeah, she fell asleep like this last night.
“…Goshujin-sama…if you’re that rough…I’ll break…”
Looking over, I see her fast asleep facing away from us, having just turned over. Her short clothing is raised up, completely exposing her cute butt—speaking of which, she isn’t wearing underwear!
What? I didn’t do anything to her though?
Zena-san cries as she bolts out of the room.
Martha-chan only scratches her head and says, “Pardon me~ Please take your time~” before shutting the door.
—First time I hear someone say “indecent” in real life.
“Goshujin-sama, can I get some clean cloth? Lulu seems to be on her period.”
“Thanks. Shouldn’t you give chase? If you don’t hurry, she’ll be quite mad, you know?”
Still, I don’t want a friend to think of me as a lolicon, so let’s go clear the misunderstanding.
Checking the radar, I see Zena-san running out the inn into Central Boulevard. As expected of a soldier, she is fast on her feet. In a few seconds, she will pass right in front of this room.
While contemplating this pointless problem, I hop out the window just in the nick of time.1
Then, blocking Zena-san’s way, I land carefully. I catch the startled Zena-san, and cancel the momentum with a dance-like spin.
>>> Skill obtained: “Dancing”.
“Zena-san, it’s not what it looks like.”
If I do, “unwilling to believe yet wanting to trust”—such a paradoxical maiden heart will surely react negatively.
“She probably got on the wrong bed!”
My shorts stayed on the whole time yesterday too. I really want to scream out my innocence.
“There was that black-haired girl too! Ooh, uh…”
It’s not really something you can say out loud, so I whisper into Zena-san’s ear.
“Bu-, but, men alway buy female slaves for nightly service, Lilio said!”
In my head, I yell at Lilio, who seems to be patrolling outside Seiryuu City right now.
“That’s not the case at all. I bought those sisters to serve as maids. Liza and the others do well as guards, but they can’t be sent on errands.”
Her mind understands, but is her heart still unconvinced?
“Your outfit today is quite refreshing! All those frills give a clean yet elegant look. It really brings out your charm, Zena-san.”
Embarrassed, Zena answers, “But that’s…It’s just clothing…” yet she looks somewhat delighted.
“No, it’s fine, because I have trained.”
You have to grab the guys arm and say “I can stay warm like this, no?” to tease him!
“Really? Let’s go see!”
It’s the store Martha-chan went to on my first day in Seiryuu City.
Though there is a bit of back-and-forth before she accepts it, she cheered up by the time we leave the store.
…Women sure take a long time to shop, no?
Back at the inn with Zena, I see Arisa waving, standing some distance from the entrance. She seems to be in front of the carriage path leading to the courtyard.
Hearing her speak as if she wasn’t the cause of the problem, I give her a light flick on the forehead.
“I’m back. What are you doing out here?”
“Did everyone eat?”
Right, it would be hard to digest cheese and smoked meat when she isn’t feeling well. I give Arisa several Coppers, asking her to buy some fruit for Lulu.
Zena is waiting for me in the tavern on the first floor of the inn having a fruity drink.
Back in the room, I pour water from the Bottomless Waterskin into the bronze basin to wash my face. I don’t seem to have bed hair, so I merely put some water on it. When I have time, let’s look for hair gel in this world!
“Sorry for the wait, Zena-san”
After saying “I’ll be out of your hair now”, Martha-chan returns to work.
Lulu doesn’t look well, so I let her stay in the room to rest. I also ask the young maid Yuni to bring water up to the room, giving her a couple of Micro coins as the tip.
“Use this money to buy some clothing and everyday items for everyone. Leave the haggling and calculating to Arisa. Liza, you make sure Arisa and the others don’t get pickpocketed or harassed by kidnappers.”
Since it’s dangerous to keep all the money together, I use the trick I learned from traveling abroad.
“Pochi will guard too no desu!”
“Alright, you two stay near Arisa then.”
“Yea yea~”
Hmm, since they bathed every day in the citadel, their hair is smooth and clean unlike when we first met.
Saying that to Arisa and everyone else, I give them a couple more Silvers to pay for the Life Magic.
“One Large Copper at most. It’s almost lunchtime, so don’t get too much snacks.”
With Pochi and Tama at her side, just like a neighborhood bully. Liza following behind them would be the parent.
“It might not be proper behavior for slaves, but it’s less stressful this way.”
Judging by all the knowledge about about slaves Nidoren taught me, this should be within the acceptable range.
“So are you on a break today?”
Zena-san answers merrily, but with only a half-day break before this after she escaped the dungeon, the working conditions seem more cruel than at a heartless corporation.
“Are you going back to your team tomorrow?”
According to Zena-san, County Patrol may either go on longer, two- to three-day excursions, or a short one-day patrol.
—I remember now, Arisa said she wants to go to a dungeon.
“Yes, seems like it will be closed for several months at least. You don’t mean, there’s someone you know who still hasn’t come back?”
Apparently, Arisa’s wish won’t be granted here.
It’ll be sad to leave Zena-san here, but I can come back to visit!
While contemplating such things, I answer Zena-san’s question without much thought.
“Uh-, um, is it alright if I come along?”
“No problem, but are you really fine with using your vacation day on something like this?”
Still, I don’t think it would be any fun accompanying me on house-hunting… Since she is responding with such a bright smile, I won’t push further.
With Zena-san on my side, we head to the All-Round Agency across the gateside plaza.
“Hello, is anyone here right now?”
I know people are on the second floor through the radar, so I was exactly as loud as I need to be. Thanks to the “Broadcast” skill I obtained, it doesn’t hurt even if I yell loudly.
Inside the All-Round Agency, there is a wooden reception counter near the entrance, with a set of sofas and a heavy-looking office desk further in.
“Thank you for waiting. I am Nadi of the All-Round Agency.”
“So, how may I help you today?”
I add on that I would like some place that will accept demi-human slaves and is decently safe.
“If you have demi-humans with you, it has to be the west side or the parts of the craftsmen sector that border it. The west side has safety concerns, so I don’t recommend renting there.”
I’m surprised she has files on this—it would be rude if I say it out loud.
“Let’s see, I’m thinking around two Silvers. If that’s not enough, anything under one Gold is acceptable.”
At the slightly high-end Gateside Inn, the rate is one Large Copper per night, so accounting for the the number of people, I came up with two-Silver budget.
“These three properties, I think they fit your requirements. Only…”
Seems like all three are problematic.
Since I took the time to come, I’ll let her show them to me before deciding whether to actually rent.
The first property. A two-floor house on 300 tsubo4, whose previous owner was murdered by a criminal guild. With the vines covering the stone fence, my first impression is of a gloomy mansion.
I suppose that’s where the killer broke in, and left it like that after the act.
Since it seems to be blocked by potted plants from the outside, I lead Nadi-san towards the hole while she is giving a tour of the interior—of course, I pretended to be lost.
At the second property, the rental carriage passes directly in front of the house without stopping. It’s right in front of the road that leads to all the brothels.
The way she is lowering her reddish face is kinda cute.
The third property is a haunted, broken-down shack near the outer wall.
Part of it is that I can’t stand horror and gore, but more importantly, a criminal guild has set up shop right under this mansion.
My guess, they are here to wait out the storm, and spread the rumors of ghost sightings.
The dots on the radar are behaving oddly. They have gone past the mansion’s range.
I stop Zena-san who is about to enter.
Hearing me say that, Zena-san’s face shows surprise. Yeah, it sounds nothing like what someone who had been through a dungeon infested with skeleton monsters would say.
Nadi-san suggests a solution true to this Fantasy world, but even if I ask priests to come, the criminals would just hide underground.
Surely, the skill “Covert Operation” will come in handy.
In the end, none of the properties we visited was satisfactory, so the tour ended there.
If Nadi-san is that confident, I’ll come to the All-round Agency again in the evening.
Right, I really should have made it clear.
Seeing Zena-san at a loss for words, Nadi-san gives a recommendation.
Hearing Nadi-san add “It’s a great place for a date!”, Zena-san blushes hard.
According to Nadi-san, the flea market has an outdoor stage performing the ever-so-popular romantic drama “Tragedy at the March of Mouno5”.
Since the flea market will be crowded, I decrease the range of the radar while enlarging the display, showing me every movement within five meters. This way, I can clearly tell whoever comes close.
“Goshujin-sama, nano desu!”
Pochi and Tama tackle my waist.
“Oh? Where are the things you bought?”
Taking off her hoodie and handing it to Liza, Arisa does an in-place spin.
They probably bought new clothes on Tepta Boulevard.
Pochi and Tama want to imitate Arisa and show off with a spin, but since the crowd is getting thicker, Liza stops them.
While placing my hands on Pochi and Tama’s hooded heads, I praise them.
“Oh, and the wig?”
Yeah, Arisa is sporting a blonde wig.
“It’s fine, right?”
To avoid trouble, this is a necessary expense.
Arisa presses her flat chest against me, and looks up with puppy eyes.
I pull Arisa away, and ask what she wants.
After making sure Zena-san doesn’t mind, I go check out what Arisa wants to buy. I am brought to a stall where karuta-esque cards6 are displayed.
The front has drawings of things like “well” or “bucket”, while the back has the corresponding words in Shiga language.
One set contains a hundred of these cards, each hand-drawn with much care.
“Quite interesting cards.”
He explains that he originally used charcoal to draw on scrap lumber. When he realized he can sell them, he commissioned an artist he knew to craft an entire set, planning on making a pitch to the merchant’s guild.
“Every one of these cards are hand-drawn?”
If he can make block printings, wouldn’t the cost go down a lot?
“What?”
Arisa speaks with a hushed tone, so I play along and also whispher.
“I have never seen block printing during my time in the castle. It’s dangerous to carelessly spread around technology, you know?”
“That is what technology is like.”
I do wonder why the Transmigrators and Translocators who came to this world before me never promoted the printing press or block printing.
The hushed talk ends here, and I turn to the young owner again.
“I should be the one apologizing. Not many people are interested…”
“We’ll buy one set. How much?”
“Is it really fine? Don’t you make no profit from this?”
His depressed mannerism is a little too much to bear.
“What do you plan on improving for the next batch? Since there seems to be some demand, the issue must be the cost. Maybe look for a cheap material, or develop a low-cost production method? Trial and error is an enjoyable process!”
After seeing some light return to the young owner’s eyes, we leave the store.
I give the flash cards we bought to Arisa.
“Just some small things. If they’re within budget, would a sewing kit and a hand mirror be fine?”
Since it’s too much trouble to use the water in the basin to check out my reflection every time, I actually do want one of those.
Separating from everyone else who are going to keep shopping, I prepare to take Zena-san to the Theater, but Arisa calls after me.
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“No, haven’t.”
Since there are a lot of people, we could probably get in by going with the crowd.
“That works too, but you’d have to stand at the back! The tickets are two Coppers each, but you can sit down to watch.”
Despite Zena-san’s surprise, I think it’s more like standing is much cheaper.
Since Arisa and everyone else want to go see it too, we’ll buy six tickets in all—As I announce this, Liza volunteers to go buy the tickets for everyone.
I feel a little sorry for Zena-san, but just like that, we browse the market with third wheels in tow.
I did try apologizing to Zena-san about it, but seeing her joyously looking at the stalls holding Pochi and Tama’s hands, she doesn’t seem to mind at all.7 Even so, let’s not forget to appease her again later.
The quality of the items sold at the stalls in this flea market varies a lot.
“These go quite well with your blond hair!”
Zena-san happily puts them by her ears asking “Look good?” while I answer with praise.
Of course, not just Arisa, everyone gets one, including Lulu who’s resting back at the inn.
While Arisa and the others run to the next store holding Zena-san’s hand, I take this chance to buy the earrings. They’ll be a present for her on the way back!
After meeting up with Liza who has bought the tickets, I get her a tassle for her spear as thanks.
On the way to the outdoor stage, we ran into pickpockets and scoundrels twice. Since the Radar will alert me about the approach of anyone with ill-intent, they were quickly disposed.
It’s fine to deal with these criminals using harsh methods, but we had to be a little more careful with the men trying to hit on Zena-san.
Still, before they can even put a hand on Zena-san, either Liza or I would brush them away, phsically.
“O fair maiden! I wish to admire your smile under the brilliant sun, not under moonlight!”
On the stage, an actor in a magician’s robe is conveying his love to the black-haired actress in a dress. Their passionate acting really outshines the shabby full moon stage prop.
I don’t care much for tragedy, so while I tune out the play, I think about various things.
Since this tragic romance is based on a true story, the characters are somewhat complex. Unable to keep up with such a story, Pochi and Tama started napping on my lap.
Every time the fragrance of grilled chicken is carried over by the wind, without fail, her eyes would narrow as if having found prey.
“I have you at last! As a mere commoner magician, you dare kidnap Princess Lilutiana, the fiancée of I, Marquess Mouno! Your crime is unforgivable!”
Our hero stands on a cliff, as indicated by the props, bravely raising up his staff to protect the heroine. For some reason, a woman in a servant outfit is behind the two.
The chubby actor waves his hand dramatically at the end of his line, and background hidden behind black curtains is revealed.
“Ugh!”
The background depicts people being executed on the guillotine.
This city really has a high tolerance for violence.
“You have no right to be angry! You are a commoner rebelling against I, the Marquess. It’s only natural that a rebel’s family would be executed! You should be thankful for me graciously sparing them from torture!”
The hero’s magic summons a violent gale, blowing the knights guarding the Marquess to the side of the stage.
Since there are real magicians in this world, I wish they’d use real Light or Wind magic in the performance.
The hero raises his staff.
Intentionally facing the audience, she slowly draws her hidden sword.
Zena doesn’t make a sound, but seems to be deeply invested in the story. Her grip on my arm is getting tighter. It’s starting to hurt.
At that moment, the servant actress runs up and stabs the hero in the back.
“It’s because the princess deserves someone better than you!”
Finally, the heroine runes to the hero’s side.
The servant says to the audience in exposition.
“My love, let us meet again in the next life—”
The hero kicks the bucket.
“Never! I belong to Zen. The Marquess shall never have me!”
The audience—especially the female crowd—exclaims out of their emotional investment in the heroine.
The two of them immediately put their heads back down on my lap. As I scratch the back of their ears, I look back to the stage.
I thought this was the end, but there is apparently more.
Just as the servant once again stabs the hero’s chest with the poisoned short sword, the hero exclaims “That poison is useless against my undead body!” and returned the favor, cleverly mirroring that scene in the first half. How interesting.
Apparently, more than a few people agree with me, as the audience begins to boo.
Oh, it’s not over?
Black smoke blasts out from under the hero, and when it clears, the background has become a scene of ruin.
“Ooh, what a noble resolve! As expected of the head of the Mouno House that has existed since the time of Our Founder Yamato-sama!”
At last, the play finally ends on this note: “the Marquess sacrifices himself to cancel the curse on the march”.
After the play ends, Arisa, who had been watching intently, says she is thirsty, so I give her some juice and let her rest in the shade.
“Thank you.”
Like I thought, Zena-san was quite thirsty too.
I’m a little hungry, so I go to a nearby stall selling something like flatbread.
They come in two flavors, plain and green onion with soy sauce, and I get one of each. The crowd after the play ended had bought all the food, and left not a single one ready.
While I’m waiting, a middle-aged woman also waiting for her Krups makes conversation. She was sitting right in front of us.
“That’s right. I’m the traveling merchant, Satou.”
After introducing herself, in order to kill time waiting on the Kraps to be ready, she explains to me why the play came to have such a disastrous ending.
“You mean how the paladin came out of nowhere, and the Marquess had changed character?”
According to her, when this play was written twenty years ago, the original ending had the Magician successfully taking revenge on the Marquess before being defeated by the Paladin. But due to opposition from nobles, the ending changed to the current one.
—I see, so the story was later twisted and that led to those weird developments, huh.
When the flatbread and Krups are ready, I thank her and return to where everyone else are.
“What did you buy?”
Everone reaches curiously for the sliced Gabo flatbread.
—Bitter!
Maybe it’s acceptable for locals who are used to this, but not me. I turn on Pain Resistance, hold my breath, and swallow.
When I feel alive again, I look around, seeing the beastgirls eating normally but with odd expressions, and Arisa chewing with a teary face.
“Thanks, this is impossible for me.”
Speaking of which, Zena-san did warn me “Gabo berry is disgusting”. The smell was covered by the soy sauce so I got careless.
It looks like a more thoroughly cooked thin okonomiyaki, but the dressing is not Worcestershire sauce but miso, so maybe it’s best to treat it as an entirely different dish.
“That series of classic blood-pumping scenes really took my breath away~”
Zena-san wipes her slightly reddish eyes.
While stuffing her cheeks with Krup, Arisa retorts Zena-san.
“Delicious~?”
On the other hand, the three beastgirls are focused not on the play but the Krups.
“But, since Princess Lilutiana rejected the fiancé her family decided, didn’t the tragedy start from there?”
Arisa’s “Love trumps everything” and Zena-san’s “A noblewoman should marry for the good of her house” are clashing against each other.
“…I-, I don’t have a fiancé though.”
Well, Zena-san and I aren’t even lovers, and I won’t even consider her an option before four or five years have passed.
Arisa sure knows a lot.
“Women here have to stay home after marriage.”
High-class nobles are another story, but as a low-class noble, Zena-san probably doesn’t need to make such a decision so urgently.
“But, I can’t ignore the House’s wishes either…”
Arisa has gone a little overboard, I think, so I lightly flick Arisa’s foreheat to stop the bickering.
I understand Arisa’s feeling, but she can’t force Japanese values onto a country with a completely different culture.
She was a little reluctant, but still says “Sorry” to Zena-san in the end. She is surprisingly frank.
>>> Skill obtained: “Mediation”.
>>> Title obtained: “Mediator”.
Perhaps thinking we are arguing, Pochi and Tama are becoming restless.
“Kebab~?”
“Allow me to go purchase them—goshujin-sama?”
Especially Liza, who has already gotten up to go to the kebab stand.
I give the money to Liza and tell her, “Get one for each person.” Arisa leaves with Liza after declaring “Leave haggling to me!”.
“I’ll help nano desu!”
After struggling with the tough, sinewy kebab, Zena-san finally relaxes her expression, but seems to still be bothered by Arisa’s words.
Uh, wasn’t the window too small to even fit his head? I don’t think they changed rooms… Ehhhh, as they say in Japan, 気にしたら負け. I don’t think Zena relaxed because she trusted him. Remember, Satou has her in his arms, and is whispering into her ear. I think he could make up any excuse here and she would just melt. A nandemo-ya (何でも屋), a business that would fulfill any kind of request for a fee. About 1,000 square meters or a quarter of an acre. A march (or a mark) is the territory of a marquess. Also, a marquess (or marquis) is one rank above a count. Its female equivalent is a marchioness (marquise). Karuta (from Portuguese “carta”) are Japanese playing cards. One type of these cards has illustrations on one side, and corresponding phrases on the other. Trivia: Uta-karuta, a type of card pick-up pame, is the focus of the animeChihayafuru. Moral of the story, as long as there are really cute pets, girls don’t mind if you bring third wheels to the date. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake.