Chapter 316: Camaraderie?
『X-Stick, what do you wanna do? It might take some time before they’re done with their discussion, so how about we poke some crabs by the rocky coast? 』
『Yeah, let’s go pokey pokey! 』
X-Stick replied energetically.
What about Arina? She’s dressed nicely, and I don’t think she should go play by the seashore looking for shells without the other two, but X-Stick will get bored if we were to stroll around the market.
X-Stick is usually a shut-in. He’s friendly, but he’s fundamentally a tree spirit so he doesn’t move much.
Zabuton slipped through the door and stuck to my back.
『We won’t leave you, we won’t leave you behind, alright? Everyone will gather by the harbor, so it’s alright, you can stick to Gramps, okay? 』
Plus I’m worried that Zabuton might get damp if it plays with us by the sea.
I soothed Zabuton, but it didn’t let go so I let it do as it pleased. Maybe I should’ve talked to it beforehand.
The huge windows in Soleil’s office were strategically placed behind her desk so that they’re the first thing you see the moment you open the door. The ceiling of the office and the corridor were also elevated to match those windows.
Naturally, the ceilings of the conference room and the drawing room were also raised, and although they’re not as high as the office, the interior was still enough to shock the guests.
A stereotypical chandelier hung from the ceiling of the drawing room. I couldn’t help but think that it might fall and cause an accident as I stare at it. It seemed to be a high-end luxury item and the latest model to boot, made with highly transparent glass so I won’t say out loud or else the others might cry.
「Ah, Master! I heard you kidnapped a little girl? 」
Red-haired Marlou called out to me; she was cleaning, judging from the feather duster she was holding. She’s probably going to be the first victim of that chandelier.
「She has guardians with her, and if it’s kidnapping then those guys are my target. 」
X-Stick was curious about the feather duster. The green pheasant feathers were very fluffy and it looked like an item that could drive a cat crazy, but the stick itself seemed valuable.
Maids typically stay out of sight while they’re cleaning, but in case they need to move unexpectedly or if there are changes in plans and they might be seen, they use feather dusters in the areas accessible to the customers. Hey, if they really wanted to pursue a fantasy world then why not have those maids dance too.*
「Ahh. Soleil and the others also gathered intel about that Grandpa, hoping he’d become the custodian for the 『Fae’s Bough』. So you’re just pushing the plans forward? 」
Marlou brandished the feather duster as she lightly struck X-Stick.
X-Stick chortled as he recoiled from the blow by bending his upper half. He could move his upper body freely, by the way, and I just held him lightly so he could do it as he pleased as he exchanged blows with Marlou.
「Ahh, so that’s how it is. I just brought the other guy here thinking maybe he could be Soleil’s rant buddies. 」
「Ahh, that Onee-san is drinking stomach medicine. Hey, isn’t it dangerous bringing the other guy here without checking his background? 」
Marlou’s gaze was still fixed on X-Stick as they continued sparring. It was extremely hard to tell, but she seemed pretty concerned so she talked to me.
「Faramir seemed normal, so it must be fine. 」
「I see, well, they’re also investigating the potential candidates, so if she’s still the same then that’s for the best. 」
Faramir was quite widely known as a Black Spirit Changeling in Nalluahdid, although it’s just a misunderstanding.
She originally lived in Nalluahdid and is old friends with Soleil. I didn’t pry into the details, but apparently, she left Nalluahdid because of discrimination and suspicions against her, and she worked shady jobs from place to place before Soleil invited her to the island.
Soleil would never show Faramir to someone she couldn’t trust.
「Mm, mm. Hey, this little guy’s doing great. What is it? 」
「Wahahaha, I’m Pokey Stick EX! Call me X-Stick! 」
「So it’s Etchan, huh. 」
「No, no, the ‘Stick’ is important, because ‘Bough’ is my identity! 」
「So Bough-chan, huh? 」
Why choose a name that sounded like bo-chan, the Japanese for ‘young master’, huh?
「Ahh, can you go to the office and get Orlando-kun and leave Arina to him? I couldn’t just let her wait by herself. 」
Even if she’s just an extra, she shouldn’t be left behind, and I’m reflecting on that.
Her eyes are probably sparkling because of the furnishings, or maybe she’s looking at the waterways from the window. There are snacks too, so I don’t think she’d be bored.
「I don’t wanna go to that room of stuffy discussions. I’ll just continue cleaning up, it’s more fun! 」
Marlou whistled as she whirled around and strode away, leaving me baffled. I don’t get what’s so fun about cleaning.
「I gave the snack pouch to Auro. 」
「I’ll go! I’ll go! 」
She immediately turned around energetically and dashed off towards the office.
And without a single sound of footsteps.
The folks working here have their own unique personalities, so I wonder if Gramps and Orlando-kun will get used to it. Oh well, let’s just make them do their best.
____
T/N: *You know, typical fantasy stuff like Cinderella, Snow White and other folks dancing and even singing while cleaning.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks for the treat.