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Chapter 308: Unexpected

「If you’re free after this, would you like to have a meal together with me? And if possible, that hustler earlier… ehem, Tomas-san’s older brother, can he join us too? 」

Although I already decided to accept them, I still have to come up with a reason to hire them first. Bringing the『Fae’s Bough』to the table should be persuasive enough, but I also have to consider whether the Boughs will like them.

Alright, let’s go, let’s go right away! Yup, let’s do this while Soleil is not suffering from indigestion yet! Noth’s mage acquaintance will come tomorrow, so my chance is now!

「Hmm… 」

However, he rejected me, saying it was already late. Gramps is too tough! Well, if I brought up the island up so suddenly, it would be too suspicious, but then…maybe I should’ve gone straight to the point? Hah, can’t be helped, we just met after all.

I gave up and stepped back. No matter, I’m sure they’ll be appointed as Soleil’s emotional oasis in one month’s time.

— And so, the following day I was back again at Nalluahdid’s 『Fae’s Bough』.

Butler told me to expect the mage in three days! He hadn’t arrived yet!!

「I have come once again to invite you to dine with me. 」
「How whimsical. 」
「There’s no use trying to ride on Heinz-sama’s reputation. Please go back. 」
Tomas’s brother is too guarded!!

「No… Well, I’m free, so I’ll go with you. How surprising, I feel nostalgic for some reason. 」
But Gramps’s guard is too lax!

Oh well, Zabuton, the reliable support guy, tagged along today, after all.

I asked Zabuton about him. It turned out he was the previous High Priest before the predecessor of the current one, and is the foster father of that useless Robe, the guy that I met in the Labyrinth. I thought he was the predecessor, so I only asked Retze about that and nothing else. That was careless of me.

I heard that Robe’s predecessor received guidance from a high priest who retired early. Perhaps Gramps retired early and had become the backer of that predecessor who didn’t have a clear background? Or maybe he opted out of the power struggles that had been going on.
By the way, Zabuton and I mostly talk using gestures and choosing the answer from the options that I would give, so it’s a pity that I couldn’t ask about the finer details. Still, Zabuton seemed delighted that it met Gramps again — all the more reason for me to wish that he’d work with us.

Zabuton happily poked Gramps, but he couldn’t feel it, apparently. Ah, no, he seemed to react a little, maybe once every twenty pokes? Seems like Gramps’s mental resistance to spirits is in a totally different league, given that Zabuton even managed to make Retze sit on it. Oh, perhaps that mental hardiness is the reason why Gramps readily handed the position of High Priest to his successor?

「Grandpa, are you going somewhere? 」
A girl with orange locks suddenly appeared in the corridor.

「Arina. 」
Tomas’s brother Orlando called the girl by her name.

「Yeah, I’m accompanying Ny-dono for lunch. 」
Gramps’s eyes crinkled as he answered her, his expression softening a lot compared earlier. Oh, maybe he likes children? He did take the former high priest under his wing, after all?

And this Arina girl, she’s been stealing glances at Zabuton since earlier. Perhaps she can See?

Ny (the y is long e, as in bee) is my name. Since I’ve become a fief lord I needed a surname, so in the end my full name became Soleil Ny. Islands are usually named after the fief lord, but for some reason, that name never really caught on, maybe because there’s an issue in recognizing its owner, which is me.

Still, I can’t just go back to using the name of the previous fief lord. It’s inconvenient so I wanted to settle on a name for the island, but the moniker『Azure Island』 seemed to have stuck and is now becoming widespread.

「Arina wants to tag along. 」
「That’s… 」
「Please, come with us. 」
I intentionally said it over Orlando’s words.

「But you have to hold either Grandfather or Orlando-san’s hand, and you can’t wander on your own. Can you do that? 」
「Yup! 」
I squatted down to look her in the eye, and she happily replied.

I stood up and turned towards Gramps with a grin. He nodded with a strained smile, while Orlando-san clutched his forehead, looking like he’s having a headache. Good, good, Orlando-kun, you’re very compatible with Soleil, nice.

「Can’t I hold Onii-sama’s hand? 」
Arina looked up at me with puppy eyes as she tilted her head.

「Sure, you can. 」
I extended my hand and she gripped it with her tiny fist.

Great, hostage secured! Let’s go!!

Arina ended up holding Gramps’s hand too with her other hand, turning our trio into an awkward picture. The path was quite narrow, so we had to walk in a line at times and side by side at others. Zabuton also played a lot, like passing through Gramps like a ghost or perching on Arina’s head.

「Where are we headed to? There won’t be any restaurants once we pass through this area. 」
Orlando seemed uncomfortable, or should I say anxious.

「It’s as good a chance as any, so I think it’s better to have our meal at the island. 」
The dining halls of the island’s inns are open during the day, and they also have stalls for the craftsmen. I heard they have good food, so I’d like to try it.

「Island? 」
「The Azure Spirit Island. See, we can rent a boat from that boathouse. 」

I pointed ahead to the boathouse that I was familiar with, since I also have my own boat stored there. I usually rely on the retired old boatman to take care of it, but after learning how to row recently, I could also manage even when he’s not around.

「Huh? Are you out of your mind? Travel restrictions are imposed on that island — 」
「Onii-sama, can Arina go to the Azure Spirit Island too? 」
Orlando started spouting something in a high pitched tone, but Arina’s cheerful voice drowned his words.

「Yeah, for lunch. 」
「Then will I meet my own Spirit Bough-sama too? 」
Arina looked up at me with shining eyes. Eh, ‘my’?

「Arina is Asmomee’s niece. 」
Ehhh, Gramps, you should’ve said so earlierrrrrr!!!!!!!