Chapter 358: Second Room
「Lady Roza may be lying low precisely because we’re in an inland sea, but she’s a famous pirate in the oceans surrounding Claret and Shrum. Maybe she wanted this island as a base because of the abundant water, but where the heck does she plan to moor those big ships, huh? 」
Kiel asked doubtfully. Actually, it’s common for ordinary merchant ships to quickly become pirates when they’re entering the waters of a kingdom they’re enemies with. It also happens when ships from an enemy nation approaches their homeland’s territory. Thus, piracy activities outside the waters of Nalluahdid are usually treated as insignificant issues.
Generally, the opposing nations usually capture or sink each others’ ships, and there are also instances when they hire free pirates such as Lady Roza to attack specific enemy ships on top of engaging in maritime trades, apparently.
Still, Kiel, it’s quite surprising that you’re thinking so deeply.
「Even if the system is structured and well-organized here, there’s no denying that we are a newly established small island town. We are also in the possession of Spirit Bough and water. It’s a highly covetable place from an outsider’s point of view. They would just have to dig a bay if warranted. There are only a few individuals involved in the internal affairs residing in the castle, and they are all expendable and can be massacred if need be. 」
Auro has his usual, unchanging smile plastered on his face as he spouts such scary stuff.
「That might happen eventually, but perhaps Lady Roza wanted to replace me? You know, people still think I’m the Fief Lord even though I already denied it — and Lady Roza is also the same. Maybe she’s going to show what she’s truly capable of to draw Auro in… 」
Soleil said with a sigh.
「Indeed, there are a few individuals who mistakenly believe that I am the one connected to the original kingdom that possesses the King’s Bough. 」
「I don’t even hide the fact that I’m also hired to work here, and I even directly say that I’m just the deputy. 」
Perhaps because Auro is in charge of the Changelings and the security, he seems to be the number one employee to work in the shadows — ah no, it’s not ‘it seems’; it’s exactly that. Whenever Soleil denies being the fief lord, their attention shifts to the person above her — which is me, but they won’t be able to recognize that, so it goes to Auro instead.
「Yeah, I know it’s stupid, but nobody will believe that an original country doesn’t exist. 」
Kiel spat those words.
「Still, I appreciate you guys taking over the domestic affairs so that I can focus more on the trades. Thanks 」
Soleil shrugged with a smile to Auro and Kiel.
I’m not sure if it’s the same with Lady Roza, but I did feel that the other Rosa seemed to be slightly obsessed with spirit possession. Maybe she also has the same obsession towards the Changelings — the thought briefly crossed my mind.
「Seabird’s voicemail is supposed to be delivered to the second tallest chimney house in Sattar, apparently. We can leave Lady Roza be, as long as she not doesn’t mess with us. Right, let me say this — I hate the heroes to death. It’s okay if you want to exploit them, but don’t get involved too deeply, please. 」
Since those guys probably splurge on clothes, bags and jewelry, use our fabrics to squeeze them dry and make them bankrupt for me.
「Yes. We won’t concern ourselves with the wars and power struggles between the kingdoms, and just like what I told you before, our transactions are scattered so don’t worry. We’re dealing with expensive goods and novel items despite the company being a newly established one, so we’re always going through the Guilds in Nalluahdid. 」
「Great, safety first, please. Alright, let’s go to the next room, shall we? 」
Oh, Soleil froze! Why, when she had been on her business mode so far…
We went downstairs first. The first floor is a storage area, and you can only enter from outside the tower. We went down the narrow staircase inside the walls, and we finally arrived at the BBQ area.
「Uwuwu. What strange chairs and tables. I can’t sit down on them, and I definitely can’t grill on this wire mesh… Still, those lattice work should be illegal… and I’ve seen them once before… 」
The flowers on the lattice are buds from dusk to dawn, and they bloom beautifully when the sun is high. They’re gorgeous either way.
「Soleil-sama, please accept this. 」
Faramir handed a handkerchief to Soleil, who started tearing up.
『Oh? What’s up, Boss? 』
And bingo, Seabird-kun was here.
『Ah, I’m touring them in the tower. Oh right, I probably won’t be on the island most of the time when you have a message to deliver, so can you tell it to someone among the guys I’m here with now? I’ll be giving you mana later, though. 』
Since I learned that everyone can’t hear Seabird-kun’s own voice, we’re conversing telepathically.
I don’t wanna be seen as someone who talks to himself after all.
『Ou! You can count on me! Thanks to the mana I got from you today, I can fly faster, so I’ll let them listen first before I go deliver the message. Haaah, I can’t, this feeling of freedom is so~ 』
Seabird-kun happily flexed his wing biceps. Eh, is it really alright for wings to have biceps…? Muscles…?
「That’s the bird earlier… 」
「Where is it? 」
「Right in front of that foul player guy. 」
Kiel and Auro. Hey, Kiel, foul player, you’re talking about me, aren’t you!!
「You can’t See, Auro? 」
「It’s very rare for the Spirit Changeling to See. In return, many Human Changelings possess the Sight — it’s said to happen because the spirits gave up being spirits and chose to be humans instead. Well, it’s possible to See if the spirit agrees to show itself just like earlier, and I can also See the Spirit Realm if I muster enough willpower… 」
Auro hesitated. Maybe he’d faint if he uses too much energy, or it might affect Kiel.
「That’s unexpected. Oh well, Seabird-kun, whenever I’m not on the island, deliver the message to anyone among these four, please. 」
「Aren’t you being too casual, too casual in requesting spirits… 」
Soleil mumbled.
It’s fine. I’m not asking something that’s too much of a burden, and I’m also compensating him properly with mana — well, it’s true that they sometimes push themselves too far when I pay.
「Come to think of it, are there any contracted spirits of outsiders trespassing on this island? 」
「They usually come with their contractors. The spirits living on the island usually play with them, and even mess with them while at it. I haven’t seen a contracted spirit acting on its own so far. 」
「All the important documents are placed in a glass box with a magic circle on it, and Kiel tells me if there’s an eavesdropping spirit around, so even if there’s information leakage, it should be extremely minimal. 」
Soleil recovered.
Glass is one of the materials that most spirits can’t pass through. I see, such boxes also exist, huh.
『Her personality keeps on switching, huh? Is this what they mean by ‘a woman’s heart is as fickle as the autumn sky’? 』
Seabird-kun commented as he stared at Soleil.
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.