Year 7446, Month 4, Day 28
In front of the fence that surrounds the house there's a large stable and on the other side of there's plaza that also acts as the training place for the squires. Even further in on the other side of the plaza is three storehouses that have been there since before I was born. From a position where we can see the plaza on the left side of the stable is the main building of the house that hasn't changed at all. In the back of the main building there should be the small storage room that I lived in for a period connected to it. Beyond that in between the storehouses and storage room is a bit of a plaza and that acts as the training place for the squire children under 10 years old to swing their swords. How nostalgic.
"What the, if you're going to come home you should say something. We haven't prepared anything."
Brother said that while smiling and welcoming me. It seems when he was patrolling around in the village he caught sight of us and came running back on his horse. He detoured around the gate of the house and waited for us.
"Sorry, brother. But, I wanted to return once now while I still could. There's something I want to talk to father and mother about as well."
I exchanged greetings with brother while putting my horse into the stables.
People came out of the house as well. It's father and mother. The two of them were smiling. I left Angela to take off the harness while I approached my parents with big steps accompanied by Miduchi and Gwine.
"I've heard from everyone. You're Chizumagurol-san right?"
Mother smiled seeing Miduchi.
She's grown a bit as well I see.
"Has this child been causing any trouble for you?"
"No way! I've always been in his care. Also, the other day Shanleid-sama and Milhaia-sama even prepared armor for me.."
"It looks good on you..{Status Open}."
Mother took Miduchi's hand and smiled while checking her status.
I guess it's no longer necessary, to introduce her.
"U..Umm, M..My name is Gullinel.Akdam. I'm always in the care of Al-san~"
..Why are you biting your tongue.
While we were exchanging harmonious greetings, an ear-splitting high voice echoed around ruining the atmosphere.
"Becky-sama!!!"
It's the voice of a boy.
"Uwaa~n!! Big brother hit me seriously again~! I'll tell father on you!!"
I made a bitter smile while asking my parents, "Just now was that Zetto and Becky?"
"The first voice was Al. Those kids, no matter how many times we tell them they start doing make-believe practice matches all on their own. Unlike you kids they're hopeless prankster brats. No, I guess Mill was like that as well huh?"
Father said while shrugging his shoulders. Al? Al is..Ailad huh! Come to think of it he was the same age as Zetto and Becky. Though I say that they should still be 6 years old. Have they already started training with the sword? Ah, No, in the past, since I said great-grandfather gave advice around when Mill was 5 years old, so I guess they're still continuing that...Isn't that my fault.
"Sister was intense but I think she properly obeyed the things she was told."
Remembering my respected older sister's pitiful chest I felt just a bit bad so I defended her.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, I'm truly very sorry.."
Sister-in-law Shani was making an apologetic expression while lowering her head deeply. She must be feeling responsibility. Come to think of it I remember hearing that when sister-in-law Shani was in the knight group she was quite arrogant as well. That, isn't it sister-in-law's genes?
I can hear the breathing from the horses that were pulling the carriage. We were forgetting about the congestion of the three carriages we left near gate. We keep the carriages parked in the area between the stable and the fence. The squires were making bitter smiles. After lowering her sister-in-law starting leading the horses and carriages. Since the carriages were almost completely empty, while we were standing around right near the entrance of the gate the squires were untying the carriages from the horses. A carriage that's close to empty can be pulled with just human power.
Asking the squires that started putting the horses in the stable, Angela who finished putting away the harnesses came forward and knelt in front of my parents to greet them.
"It has been a while, great master."
Father calmly nodded as Angela turned to mother to greet her as well.
"It's nice to meet you, great madam. I'm my master Alan Greed-sama's combat slave, Maruso.Angela. Pleased, to meet you."
"It's fine if you don't humble yourself that much in our household. I'm Shirley. Shirley.Greed. Call me Shal."
However, Angela just said, "I understand." without changing her posture and then stood up as politely as possible before taking one step behind me while keeping her head lowered without making eye contact.
Umu, that's good, Angela. It's a greeting that shows you've properly been disciplined. Mother is saying something like that but it's not that sort of problem. As expected of her having spent several years by my side. Mother might just be a madam that lives in a remote region now but in the past she was in a position where she was the grandchild of Duke Sandak in the capital. She should be used to seeing slaves that were properly disciplined. Father is nodding to himself as well.
"..Nn? I guess it's just a bit big huh...Well, I guess that's just right for now.."
Father whispered while looking at me.
Excluding the fact that the new model of rubber protectors that sister-in-law Shani brought were just a bit big, they fit perfectly on my body. Just in case I also brought along my old suit as well. Since my old protectors were a just right match to the physique of Jesu (Jesutasu.Manzokki), I took his sizes intending to request some small adjustments.
"That's right! Thanks, father. This armor, I really like it."
I forgot to say thanks to father for treating me to the protectors I received. Even though it should have been the first thing I said.
"Nn..It looks good on you. By the way, what's going on today? Did something happen?"
"Ha ha, it's not like anything has happened but it was just stopping by for a bit when I came to fulfill a promise...Also, some boots, I thought I'd like to make some proper ones for all of my allies and slaves...That's right, it's about this though. Ah, Yeah, I'll convey the improvements for them and I'm sure it'll take a reasonable amount of labor but I think they could be sold for a high price as a new type of military boots. A shoe maker, you hired one right...Also, I saw Kerry's wife's armor last year but I thought that model might be good for adventurers as well. I thought if I used this Angela, since she's a Dog-person, she might be just right for making adjustments to the model."
..I can't trick them with this sort of excuse.
"..Right now, we're stepping foot on the 8th floor on the dungeon in Baldukk...And, we've got good prospects for making it to the 9th floor. However, whether or not we can make it, whether we can surpass his majesty George Rombert the First or not, I don't know. It feels like it's just~ a bit dangerous as well. I intend to take responsibility and protect my allies and slaves with all of my power. I won't let even a single person die. Of course, I have no intention of dying even more so. But..But, I just wanted to see everyone's faces once more now when I could."
Mother's hand twitched as if she was going to embrace me. But, she pulled it back right away.
"Rebekkana..Hey~ why are you that strange color?"
This brat~! Don't say things like that to my woman, she'll get depressed!
Faster than I could reflexively glare at Becky sister-in-law who was in between the two kids slapped Becky. As expected of a Webdos Knight. That was beyond just having fast hands.
"Hey!! What kind of things are you saying this child!! Apologize to Miduchi-san!!"
"Bugyaaa~!! I..I'm schhai~ii~! I'mmsshowwry! U~uu...hikku"
"No..No way! It's fine! I don't mind it! It can't be helped..I'm sure you were surprised right? I'm sorry for surprising you, Rebekkana-chan."
Miduchi was the one who got a lot more flustered and she quickly ran over to Becky to wipe her tears as with a handkerchief as she cried in a loud voice. Father, mother, and brother all apologized to Miduchi as well. Even Sonia who prepared the food and was bringing it ended up doing her job with an apologetic face.
Zetto was peeking out from behind sister-in-law Shani's back to get a better look as it was his first time seeing a dark elf. I couldn't do anything but make a bitter smile on my own but honestly speaking, I felt a bit sorry as well.
After the uproar calmed down, we properly exchanged greetings and everyone sat down at the table. After all it seems that Zetto and Becky were curious about the dark elf as they were glancing at Miduch occasionally. Every time Miduchi noticed she would smile. Sorry about that. At the very least I'm sure it wasn't a good feeling.
While having dinner(obviously it wasn't anything luxurious but it seems the menu was improved quite a bit) we talked about various things. About sister, our adventures in the dungeon, and then baldoggie. It seems that the baldoggie father ate when he came last year was conveyed with quite a bit of exaggeration added to it. This time, we had sister-in-law eat it as well but she made just a slightly complicated face, even then she said it was good but I still felt something was a bit strange, so that's what it was.
It seems Zetto and Becky got used to Miduchi while we were having dinner and they started badgering her for stories about the dungeon and Baldukk. By the time we realized it the time had passed 6 pm. It seems that today is the day for women to enter the bath so sister-in-law Shani told the kids(In Bakuddo up until they formally started training with the sword or farm work at 7 years old, both boys and girls are put into the baths every day) to go and get ready to enter the baths and invited mother and Miduchi as well. Miduchi was looking forward to the baths as well so obviously there's no way she'd turn it down. Becky seemed to want to go to the baths while holding Miduchi's hand so Miduchi happily held her hand as they left.
Probably Gwine and Angela should be going to the baths about now as well. There's no way Gwine would miss her chance at the baths and I already told them that in Bakuddo even slaves enter the baths so Angela shouldn't hold back either.
After father, brother, and I took showers in order, we were drinking some alcohol.
"Are Zetto and Becky properly using magic?"
Close 1.5 years has passed since the two of them started magic training. Zetto's MP is 318 and Becky's MP is 330 with just a small difference but judging from the fact that they have a considerable amount I can already tell they're training properly. It seems Zetto can use earth and water while Becky can use fire, water, and wind. Their skill levels have already reached 3.
"Yeah, they're doing well. They have a high amount of mana after all. Their growth is fast as well."
Brother said that while nodding.
"It's good that the two of them seem to be blessed with talent. We're properly having them train with the sword as well. If it's possible then we'd like for both of them enter the first knight group."
Father said that in a good mood while tilting his alcohol cup filled with premium vodka I bought in the capital.
.................
"Good morning, master."
"Yeah, morning."
"That, bath! Ha~ I'm glad to be alive!"
"All of the fatigue up until now disappeared and it was heaven. So that's a bath huh..It's a waste for someone like me."
"Al, Akdam-san is a Free Person right? Has she entered a bath before?"
They'll probably wake up around lunch. We'll take showers in order..and when I was thinking that I was invited to the baths by brother.
Yesterday was the day for women but today is the day for men.
There was an exclusive person in charge of managing the baths and it seems that it's setup so you can enter the bath from the early morning. That's amazing~ or at least just as I was thinking that it was my job to make the hot water. It seems that since I'm here they told the person in charge yesterday to open the baths starting this morning. Brother and I took our time soaking in the bath and I was able to enjoy it for the first time in a while. In the rubber work shed nearby everyone centering around the Donneoru family had already started their work. The work shed was renovated and had become about double the size. It's already no longer a shed. It's a factory.
"Then, I'm going out to do patrols. If there's something you want to request for the boots or armor just say something. Everyone has already gotten considerably skilled after all. I think they'll probably be able to move just as you please."
I joined back up with Miduchi and the others and showed my face in the rubber work shed. With Rassegu and his wife Mili as the heads there was about 20 people working. Taylor is still the center of the work as usual. Enbert and Myun are here as well.
"Al-sama! Oh my! Oh my! You've gotten so big!"
Myun noticed me right away and ran over.
Soon after all the other artisans came over and surrounded me. It seems they've heard my reputation from brother and the other squires who came along as escorts and they all seemed to want to hear my stories. I'll tell some stories slowly later, it's difficult being a popular person.
I was finally released, so I asked for them to make a protector like the ones the Dokush family use in Angela's size. In regards to the boots it seems a shoe maker named Baru is making them so I'll have to go to him but since I've already passed it through brother there shouldn't be a problem.
Miduchi, Gwine, and Angela seemed interested in the manufacturing of rubber they were seeing for the first time but they were shocked by the smell of latex and sulfur which was incomparable to that of the workshop in the capital. However, they showed admiration over the fact that only all of the workers were making use of magic in their work. Among the people in the village who can use magic about half of them are gathered here. They were watching the process of stirring it in the buckets, then mixing in charcoal carbon powder which has had it's particles sorted with magic, as well as the adding of sulfur, heating, those sorts of processes.
"Al-san, how much is rubber armor?"
Gwine finally asked it.
"The employee price is 20,000,000 Z."
The employee discount is 33% less. Around that much should be good. Though my profits are zero.
Since he's the same age and the heir to the Tobas family, it seems Ailado was allowed to participate in the sword training from early on as well. It's only obvious but his MP was 2. Come to think of it, I gave Ailado a bayonet didn't I. It's the one with the rivet on the sword where you can take off the tip. I wonder why he isn't using it?
I wanted to know but couldn't ask. It could be she still hasn't given it to him. However, if he's going to use it in the future then I want to at least show him the forms. There's probably no one around who can properly teach him after all.
The bayonet is used in both the American and Russian armies but I've heard that now they fundamentally don't use the thrusting model. Even the length of the bayonet's blade seems to only be at the level of a knife. Or, rather, it might more correct to say they have fixtures which let them attach a knife to the bayonet. In the self-defense force of the Japanese army that originally had cultural roots with blades, putting aside the base of the bayonets made postwar, there were techniques for slashing, thrusting, and parrying as well. Of course, there's also the methods of attacking with the gun stock and magazine but it's still considered a gun "sword".
I used my bayonet which I brought along to show the forms. It seems it's the first time Zetto and Becky have seen the bayonet and they were looking at it curiously but Aildao was different. After all, it seems at the very least he's seen it before. He was closely watching my movements.
However, it's considerably difficult to call "Al". So we don't end up overlapping rather than calling him by the abbreviated version give him a nickname..Like Avu or Akkusu. Isn't that how it is in most cases.
Late that night, after waking Miduchi up the two of us quietly snuck out of the house. I pretended to be going to the toilet and intentionally called out to Miduchi while leaving saying, "I'm going to get some air." Miduchi made use of her stealth skills to sneak out from the window without making a sound. Miduchi was even holding both of our weapons and shoes. As expected she couldn't hold our protectors but there's no problem.
Just like that we put on our shoes and started towards the northern outskirts of town.
There's the things I wanted to talk about with Myun and that I wanted to introduce Miduchi to her as well but in the first place one of our objectives for sneaking out of the house is to go and hunt the monster called Shurika. The body of the Shurika is one of the necessary ingredients to make the medicine for Godu~guru-san. I've hunted them together with Myun when I was still small.
We steadily passed through the rubber fields in the north and arrived close to the outskirts of the village.
It seems that Myun still hasn't arrived.
Just like that we waited for about 30 minutes.
Myun has come.
For some reason Ailado is together with her.
Even though he's still small he had the large bayonet with him.
Come to think of it, Ailado didn't inherit {Disguise} from Myun.
It's a special skill that's unnecessary for him.
If he had inherited it I'm sure there would have been an uproar when he was born.
Back then, I think Myun lightly said, "I thought it would probably be fine." was it.
It seems that it's almost always inherited from the males of the Sagal family.
However, for her to bring along Ailado...
I wonder if her husband Bosshu knows?
Since Myun's capable of moving stealthy like Miduchi I wonder if they were fine?