I’m always thinking. The meaning of my birth. What I should do. What I want to do. If I had been born in a different form. I wonder if I wouldn’t have to worry like this.
I am Aeclys Sounité. I have a different birth name, but I’ve been Aeclys for so long now that I respond more naturally to it. Born as the eldest daughter of the lord of the Sounité domain, I was raised as a girl in my early years. I think that was probably the happiest time of my life so far. I was a child who was good at reading, writing, and arithmetic. Particularly strong with numbers, I could spot mistakes in administrative documents by mental calculation. So in my tutor’s lessons, while etiquette was of course important, I excelled in arithmetic classes. By the age of seven, I had mastered the four basic operations perfectly. Noticing this, Father tried having me do various things. Administrative work, tax calculations for the domain, grasping the market economy, and so on. As a result, it was discovered that I had a talent for internal affairs. Looking back now, I think it was a foolish thing to do. If I had tried to hide it even a little, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. I tackled everything seriously, just wanting to be praised. And so, Father decided to raise me as his heir. At that moment, my life as a woman ended. What began was an education and correction as a man. All traces of girlishness were stripped away, and in its place stood the figure of First Prince Aeclys Sounité. I had become nothing more than a machine for calculating the domain’s finances. While working, I learned of the existence of my brother. Garn Labor, who was my attendant. I found out he was Father’s illegitimate child, and my half-brother.
The trigger was trivial. One day, I was wondering about the strange resemblance between Garn’s and my facial features. I overheard a conversation between Father and Garn. He said not to burden his sister any further. He said she should be raised as a girl even now. When I heard that, all my questions were resolved. Ah, so I had a brother, I thought. That’s why we looked alike, I realized. When I told Garn about this, he apologized to me. But I had no intention of blaming him at all. Rather, I told him I was grateful to have met one of the few understanding family members. From that day on, I began to cooperate with Garn. If the problems in the domain could be settled, surely we could escape from this situation. That’s what I believed.
One day, a problem arose in the domain. The cook of the Gungrave Mercenary Group, the key player in the current war, had allegedly shown disrespect to Father. Of course, for a normal problem, it would end with his head being cut off. But this time, strangely, I said to wait for the execution. The word “Stop” that the cook had said. I suspect that he had sensed that poison had been added to the wine and acted on it. But when I had it investigated later, there was no trace of poison being added to the wine. They say it wasn’t applied to the wine glass either. In other words, my personal view is that it might not have been poison. Something other than poison. Perhaps he sensed someone trying to shoot an arrow at Father from inside the castle and instinctively diverted attention. However, my younger brother Gyngus is adamantly insisting on an early judgment, and we’re at odds over it. I don’t know why he’s in such a hurry, but by opposing him, I’m buying time. There’s plenty of time to investigate. But no evidence or traces can be found. I can somewhat guess that Gyngus did something just by observing his behavior.
It was during such days that Garn brought me information. The cook, Shuri Azuma, had information. The content was surprising. Apparently, when Shuri Azuma saw the wine glass that Gyngus had previously presented to Father and also given to me, he hurriedly knocked it over. However, when I had the wine glass investigated, there didn’t seem to be anything strange about it. No poison was applied, it was just an ordinary glass. Father was happily using it, but I hadn’t used it much. It wasn’t that I disliked it. I used it occasionally and liked the design. However, that wine glass had been tampered with. Just iron plating. If that was all, I wouldn’t even question it. Father had a peculiar constitution. Sometimes, after practicing with an iron sword, his hands would turn red and itchy. Everyone, including myself, thought it was just fatigue showing in his hands. But what Shuri Azuma knew was much more serious. A rare disease. In a word, that’s what it was. This rare disease was a terrifying illness where by drinking iron or water soaked in iron, something like poison would accumulate in the body, and suddenly manifest one day. There’s no way to cure it, and while at first it might seem insignificant, one day it suddenly appears with frightening symptoms. Nothing could be more terrifying than this. Especially since there’s no means of treatment. I had also used the wine glass, but since I used it less frequently and unlike Father, I didn’t have a constitution that was affected by touching iron, it hadn’t become severe. If this is true, Gyngus is guilty of a serious crime. We must confront him with this issue and work to resolve the situation properly. With this determination, I decided to go with Garn to meet Shuri Azuma.
“Hey Garn. I want to ask you something.” “What is it, Lord Aeclys?” “How should we go about observing this Shuri person closely?”
Garn seemed at a loss for words, perhaps unable to grasp the intent of my question. We are now heading towards Shuri Azuma’s prison cell, trying not to be seen by anyone. It’s nighttime now. There’s no sign of people in the corridors, with only the faint light of candles to rely on. We don’t know who we might encounter where. It’s bad enough for me, but it would be even worse if Garn and I were seen together. Garn’s current position is supposed to be Gyngus’s subordinate, spying on me. That’s why we need to be extremely careful.
“Even if I read your report, I can’t quite understand Shuri Azuma as a person. He didn’t seem too flustered when he knocked over the lord’s wine glass, but now he’s acting a bit panicked. He’s cooking in prison, and doesn’t even seem to have any intention of escaping. Even though he might be killed at this rate. Based on the report alone, he seems like a rather strange person.” “In that case, it might be good to have him cook something as a test.” “Cook?” “Yes. I think that would give us a good understanding of what kind of person he is.”
I’m not sure I understand, but Garn seems to be saying this with confidence. If we have him cook, we’ll understand what kind of person he is? Let’s give it a try.
“Then, what kind of dish do you think would be best?” “A dish using potatoes would be good, I think.” “Potatoes?”
I was imagining something more luxurious, but is that really okay? Potatoes are an easily obtainable ingredient. They’re cheap per unit. If you cultivate them, you can get a large quantity. In other words, it’s just an ordinary, commonplace ingredient.
“Yes. If you eat his potato dish, you’ll understand what kind of person he is. You’ll also understand, as I wrote in my report, that he has the potential to change the history of cooking.”
Hmm, indeed, something like that was written. There are many variations in potato dishes. All of them are delicious and easy to imitate. And it’s the dish that best represents the person’s dangerousness, he says.
“I see. Let’s have him cook with potatoes and… how about bacon?” “Lord Aeclys.” “I know. Even bacon is considered a luxury ingredient in our current domain. If we don’t end this political strife, the people will only continue to suffer. That’s why it’s necessary to understand him and stop this conflict.”
If Shuri Azuma turns out to be a man beyond even my comprehension. I’ll have to do something about his situation. And in a direction that prioritizes safety. In the worst case, I might have to secretly help him escape and return him to the Gungrave Mercenary Group, and try to draw out a compromise. If we don’t do something like that, that devil is probably eagerly devising strategies to sink his fangs into our throats by now. The political strife with Gyngus, the Gungrave Mercenary Group in the castle town. Ah, it’s giving me a headache. If I steer wrong, this domain might be destroyed. Although, I’m not that attached to the position of heir to the lord. I don’t really care if I can’t become the heir. I just don’t want the worst-case scenario where Sounité disappears completely.
“Well then, Garn. Shall we go with the potatoes and bacon you’ve been hiding in your pocket?” “W-What are you talking about?” “You don’t need to hide it, it’s obvious that you were planning to secretly buy food and have Shuri cook it for you. It was just a bluff, but I can’t believe it actually hit the mark.”
My intuition isn’t too bad after all. He looks like he’s about to cry looking at the ingredients, but it’s Garn’s fault for trying to eat secretly.
As we prepare the ingredients and descend to the underground prison, I can’t help but feel uneasy. As always, this place has a… how should I put it, I didn’t want to come here. It’s like there’s a swirling of resentment, a dark atmosphere.
“Garn, is Shuri really eating delicious food in a place like this?” “Well… yes.” “In such a damp place?” “That’s right.” “In such a dark place?” “…Yes.” “Hmm.”
One thing is clear. He’s an eccentric, isn’t he?
As we reach the bottom and stand in front of the prison cell, there he is. Black hair, and a build that doesn’t look at all like someone who fights. And his face is somewhat different from ours. It’s like looking at a person from a different country. He’s trying to lie down to sleep.
Well, but his sleeping face is cute. It’s like, he looks like a peaceful civilian who doesn’t know about fighting.
“Shuri, are you awake?”
Garn called out to him. Shuri is trying to get up, looking sleepy. He’s a big shot, isn’t he? Trying to get a peaceful sleep in a place like this. Normally, one would lament their misfortune and curl up.
“Yaaawn… What’s up at this hour? Well, I don’t really know what time it is.”
Shuri is speaking, looking really sleepy.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.” “Can’t it wait until tomorrow…?”
He’s definitely a big shot, isn’t he? This insolence in front of me. It wouldn’t be surprising if he became a king in the future.
“No, I need you to meet him today.” “Who is it…?” “It’s Lord Aeclys, the eldest son of the lord who rules this domain.” “Oh! Please, come in anytime!”
Seeing Shuri suddenly jump up and sit formally, I realized my judgment was wrong. He’s a coward. Just like ordinary people, he’s the type to be humbled in front of someone of high rank.
Or so I thought, but… what’s this feeling? I have a hunch that he might play the fool even in front of important people. Why is that?
“Well then, Lord Aeclys.” “Thank you, Garn.”
Prompted by Garn, I stood in front of the prison cell. Looking at him again, he’s indeed different somehow. If asked what’s different, I’d be at a loss to explain, but what’s different is different. What is this feeling? I can’t stop my curiosity from growing.
“Hahaha. Did I surprise you? I’m Aeclys Sounité. What’s your name?” “Yes, Your Highness! My name is Azuma Shuri! Azuma is my family name, and Shuri is my given name!”
What an unusual name. The family name comes first, and the given name comes after. I’ve never heard of such a naming custom. He’s really different after all.
“So, can I call you Shuri Azuma then?” “Yes!”
I see, it was good that I said it in this way. However, looking at him like this, I wonder if he’s a coward? There’s a hint of nonchalance in his words here and there. He looks serious, so I might be wrong, but… Is it just my imagination?
“Well then, Shuri. I’d like to talk to you for a bit. Is now a good time?” “Of course, at your service.”
It’s not my imagination. This is probably his true nature. Even when he tries to be serious, he can’t help but joke around.
But it’s rare to find someone who tries to play the fool and make people laugh like this. It made me chuckle a bit.
“You’re an amusing person. It’s rare to find someone who can make me laugh like this.” “I’m not sure I understand… Was I being disrespectful…?”
You are being disrespectful. Absolutely and completely disrespectful. But you made me laugh, so I’ll let it slide this time.
“Ah, don’t worry. This is an unofficial visit, so you don’t need to be so formal.” “If you were disrespectful, I’d have already cut off your head.”
Garn, wait! Did he intervene because he couldn’t bear it? He’s giving a stern warning with a slightly fierce look! Look, Shuri is cowering now. Well, it might be better if he’s a little intimidated and subdued.
“So, Shuri. I have a favor to ask. Is that alright?” “A favor?” “Yes, I hear you’ve been cooking a lot of dishes for Garn?” “Huh?” “No need to hide it. I’ve read the reports. Thank you for looking after Garn’s health.”
He made dishes to help curb Garn’s drinking. In this situation where there was hardly anything to eat except potatoes, he devised creative dishes. He’s also a kind person who can be considerate of others. The fact that he can calmly engage in dialogue even in front of a member of the family that imprisoned him is good evidence of that. If that wasn’t the case, he might have tried to attack me somewhere.
“I just wanted to make delicious food…” “Hehe, you’re modest, aren’t you? Now, here’s my request.”
Yes, this is the main point. Through the conversation so far, I understand about 40% of his personality. But I still can’t grasp the remaining 60%. Is he a coward? Is he bold? Is he careless? Is he a calculating person? I need to figure this out now. As I gave a signal with my eyes, Garn took out the potatoes and bacon he was secretly trying to eat from his pocket. He looks like he’s about to cry, but that’s what he gets for trying to eat something delicious by himself.
“Right now, our domain is facing a severe food shortage. Even for me, the lord’s son, having these two ingredients on the table would be considered luxurious. So, how would you cook these ingredients?”
Bacon and potatoes. What comes to mind is frying them. Frying the potatoes and bacon together. Next would be steaming the potatoes and serving them with bacon. This would be the orthodox method, I think. There’s also the trick of wrapping the potatoes with bacon. Now, what will you do?
“Do you have any salt?” “For this task, no seasonings are allowed.”
Come to think of it, we didn’t prepare any. When I signaled to Garn with my eyes, he shook his head. Hey, didn’t you used to carry around fish sauce and dried clams? Well, never mind.
“Is this bacon already seasoned?” “No, it’s just regular processed bacon.”
This bacon has been rubbed with extra salt, considering preservation. After all, it’s something Father would eat. We can’t let it spoil. Also, it’s been marinated with many seasonings to adjust the taste. If you eat it normally, it has enough flavor on its own. After all, it needs to be seasoned to the point of being salty, or else it would spoil quickly.
“Then, let’s make a potato galette. It should have plenty of flavor.”
Galette? That’s a name I’ve never heard before.
He takes the potatoes and starts peeling them with practiced hands. I really thought, he’s really used to this. I mean, he’s peeling the skin in one connected piece, with even width and thickness. Then he cuts the potatoes into thin slices. Thin? And then he mixes the thinly sliced potatoes with finely chopped bacon. He puts it in a pan floating on some strange paper that spits fire, and turns up the heat to fry it. I can see that he’s being careful not to let the shape collapse. He’s shaping it into a circle. After frying both sides, he now lowers the heat and slowly cooks it through. Ah, the smell is irresistible. It’s strange. There shouldn’t be any seasoning added. Yet just the potatoes and bacon being fried. I’m freshly realizing that this alone can produce such a wonderful aroma.
After it’s done cooking, he takes a nearby plate and serves the round, fried dish to me.
“It’s ready. Please enjoy the flavor of the bacon.” “Thank you. But I’ve never seen a dish like this before. It looks like the potatoes have been thinly spread out with the bacon embedded inside.”
Yes, it looks like scattered potatoes have been brought together into one with bacon embedded in it. Yet mysteriously, it looks delicious. Simply put, this is a stir-fry of potatoes and bacon. It should be. It should be. But, how should I put it? When such an unusual twist is added, it’s visually interesting too. I think this might be something that goes well with alcohol. When I prompt Garn behind me, he prepares a fork and knife for me. He probably wanted to eat this himself. This level of preparedness. Well, let’s try it. I easily cut off a bite-sized piece and bring it to my mouth.
“…Oh.”
The first thing I realized is that this is a simple and easy dish, but well thought out. The bacon’s fried oil flows into the gaps between the potatoes, mixing the flavors in a way that wouldn’t happen if the potatoes were mashed or boiled. When you bite into the potatoes, the umami of the potatoes and the bacon fat comes out from those gaps. That fat and the sweetness of the potatoes mix in your mouth, creating a wonderful flavor. The texture of the potatoes is good too. Crispy and crunchy. It’s like eating a light snack at 3 o’clock, with that kind of lightness. If this were served as an appetizer, it would be a flawless dish. Of course, this alone doesn’t have the power to make you full. It seems like I could eat another dish even after this. But strangely, I feel like I could get hooked on this taste. Above all, the ratio of bacon is excellent. It’s not too much, so it doesn’t overpower the taste of the potatoes. It’s not too little, so there’s enough umami from the oil. If there was too little bacon in this dish, I suspect it probably wouldn’t have any taste. It’s because of the seasoning already in the bacon that the taste of the potatoes comes alive. I see, that’s why he was confident even without seasonings. This bacon indeed has a salty taste to begin with. The potatoes are mildly tempering the saltiness that was added for preservation. That’s why it’s not overpowering. And it’s delicious.
“This is wonderful. It certainly has a rich flavor. How strange. You didn’t add any other seasonings, did you?” “That’s because the flavor of the bacon itself transfers to the potatoes, and combines with the natural sweetness of the potatoes to create that taste.”
I see, it’s just as I thought. By transferring the overly strong taste of the bacon to the potatoes, it’s making it just right. It’s like subtracting the bacon with potatoes. It’s closer to a snack than a dish. Or maybe it’s more like an appetizer.
“Yes, yes, that’s exactly right. This bacon, which is good as a preserved food, would enhance the quality of taste just by being served alongside breakfast. But that would just be serving it or frying it. It’s rare to see bacon embedded in potatoes to create a single dish like this. The people in town could easily imitate this.”
Yes, the most praiseworthy point is that it’s “easy to imitate”. All the dishes I’ve seen in the reports are “simple” ones. And they’re all made with “easily obtainable” ingredients. Potatoes, clams, fish sauce, butter. Bacon is a bit different, but before the current political strife caused food shortages, these were all things that common people could buy. In other words, for an organization like a mercenary group where managing funds is difficult, he’s able to create meals that don’t cause complaints using affordable ingredients. Surely in Sir Gungrave’s mercenary group, while there might have been some minor problems and disputes, there probably weren’t any fatal issues. If such meals were provided separately from wages every time, there wouldn’t be many complaints.
“Wonderful. I can certainly understand why Sir Gungrave wouldn’t want to let go of someone with such culinary skills.” “How is Gungrave doing?”
Shuri asked worriedly. I see, that’s certainly a point of concern. Sir Gungrave is currently confined in an inn in the castle town. Along with his captain-class subordinates. His other subordinates are being held in groups of a few people in other inns, or in groups of dozens in guardhouses. However, they could explode at any moment. Even though we’ve told them they’re under house arrest and confined them, they won their battle and their contract ended at that point. Yet, we’re taking hostages and giving orders, which is an outrageous act. It’s true that Shuri committed a disrespectful act. That fact will probably be corroborated once we investigate and question the relevant parties. The wine glass was tampered with, and he made a snap judgment because it was harmful to the lord. To put it bluntly, Shuri is a benefactor. If that becomes known, Sir Gungrave won’t stay quiet. Right now, we’re dangling the hostages and land grant as bait, but if they decide to, they could stage a mass uprising with their subordinates.
Ah, my head hurts.
We need to hide this fact, skillfully draw out a compromise, and settle this peacefully. I’m getting sick of it. Thinking about this, I realize how attractive Shuri’s position is. He’s the cook in a mercenary group with a low casualty rate, and he has an even lower casualty rate himself. He makes the food he likes, and it’s his daily bread and butter. Ah, how fulfilling each day would be if I could live freely doing what I like like this.
I might as well join the Gungrave Mercenary Group.
Such a proposal suddenly occurred to me, and I thought it was a really good idea. Once this political strife problem and the response to the Gungrave Mercenary Group are over, I might hide my identity and join the mercenary group. At that time, I could return to being a woman, and since I’m good at calculations, I could handle accounting or clerical work. I could bring Garn along, have him work under Shuri while gathering information. Eating this food every day while working hard.
Somehow, it feels like an ideal life is there.
If that’s decided, let’s try negotiating subtly. I might be able to do it if I guide him in a way that he can’t refuse while eliciting sympathy.
“They’re currently being held in the castle town. We’ve separated them and confined them to various inns.” “So they’re safe then?”
Shuri shows obvious relief. As I thought, he hasn’t been told anything by Garn. I haven’t stopped it, but Gyngus has been adamantly preventing it. It’s certainly effective since we don’t know what kind of action he might take. As you can see, it can make the other party anxious, and in the worst case, it might cause them to go out of control. It would have been better to give appropriate reassurance, even if mixed with some lies. But this time, I’ll use anxiety rather than reassurance for negotiation.
“However, since the reason for your actions was unclear, you might face punishment for disrespect.” “What?!”
This is not a lie. Even now, only the three of us – myself, Gyngus, and Garn – know the truth. There’s even a proposal to interrogate Shuri to confirm the reason since it’s unclear. They’ll surely impose their own ideas and conveniently alter the information.
“I understand what you want to say. I’ve received the report from Garn. But right now, there’s a political struggle going on in our domain. Unless we do something about that, I can’t even get you out of here. Moreover, if time passes idly like this, the Gungrave Mercenary Group might lash out. If that happens, I’ll probably be killed.”
This is also true. I wonder what action Sir Gungrave would take if he realized this truth. If I were him, well… First, I’d question the lord’s side for unjustly imprisoning my comrades. Then I’d make demands under the guise of negotiation, asking for a larger land grant and the return of my comrades. I’d also demand money. Expenses for the inn, compensation, late fees for the employment period, allowances for subordinates, and so on. The employment period issue might be a false charge. It’s certain that there would be permanent employment at the stage of discussing land grants, and at that point, they would undoubtedly become subordinates, so it shouldn’t violate the mercenary group’s employment regulations. The fact that they’ve accepted the confinement should mean that treatment is not wrong. But Sir Gungrave won’t show mercy. Having his comrades taken away and being disgraced, he won’t stay quiet. If refused, or rather, assuming refusal, he might negotiate and then, when talks break down, start taking control of the castle town and overthrowing the lord’s faction under the banner of justice. After all, it’s been several days since Shuri was imprisoned. During that time, the castle town has been suffering from food shortages due to the political struggle. There are many discontented citizens, so they might just need to incite them. And they’ve probably made a map of the castle town. Since they’re being held in our midst, they can investigate as much as they want. Of course, we have other spies watching them, but it’s obvious that they’re acting without us noticing. I’m really anxious about the inn where the captain-class members are being watched by ordinary spies. If it were Garn, I could rest easy. Once they’re fully prepared, they’ll start acting. While inciting the citizens, they’ll take control of the castle, condemn the lord’s faction for the food shortage, the chaos in the castle town, and all the anxiety and dissatisfaction up until now. Since there’s no one to govern the domain, they’ll volunteer to do it themselves. And there you have it, the birth of Lord Gungrave. At that time, I’ll probably be killed for sure.
“So, I have a proposal.” “?” “Would you run away with me?” “Eh, Lord Aeclys?!”
Of course, Garn behind me is surprised too. Well, that’s natural. I didn’t consult with him, and suddenly the lord’s eldest son (daughter) is talking about running away from home. It’s only natural for him to be surprised both as a subordinate and as a brother. But this is necessary for me to survive and lead a meaningful life.
“I’ve been thinking. Whether it’s this current problem or past issues, the more I try to unify this domain, the more something seems to ‘warp’. So, I thought, maybe it would be better if I disappeared. But to do that, I had concerns. Could I escape from here and live among the common people? That’s where you come in. With your cooking skills, and with Garn and me supporting you, we could definitely make a living among the common folk. Of course, I’ll do my best to resolve this issue first. Once it’s over, I’ll renounce my right of succession and retire. What do you think? Would you help me escape from here?”
It’s a bit of an unfair negotiation, but Shuri probably won’t understand. This way of eliciting sympathy, lavishly praising the other person, showing concession by saying I’ll cooperate too, and then making a request. Indeed, Shuri looks really troubled. He’s probably confused by a situation he never imagined, and feels like a hand is being extended to him. After pondering for a bit, Shuri looked at me and said,
“I understand. After we get out of here, it looks like you’ll end up being a cook under Gungrave, but is that okay with you?” “That’s fine. As long as I can get out of here.”
With this, 『my and Garn’s last insurance』 is set.
After that, I left the prison and carefully returned to my private room. Fortunately, no one saw us, and I think 60% of the problems are solved. However.
“Lord Aeclys. What was that about?!”
Garn confronted me, asking urgently.
“For someone who is the eldest son of the lord to make plans to run away, what are you thinking?! And with a criminal from the prison, no less!” “…Garn. Are there people around?” “…No. I don’t sense any presence.” “Then it’s safe. You can speak normally.”
Garn loosened his collar, took a deep breath, and said to me,
“It’s true that Shuri is reliable and trustworthy. I’ve learned that in these few days. But Aeclynnis, there’s no way you can just run away and live outside. The mercenary group is that chaotic of a social organization. The reason he’s been able to survive is because his rare cooking skills were recognized. What could you do if you joined there?”
That’s a reasonable opinion.
“Listen, elder brother. You’re coming too when that time comes.” “What?!”
Garn’s eyes widen in surprise. Well, that’s to be expected.
“Why should I?!” “Well, if you stay here, you’ll just keep being used by Father and Gyngus. Rather than that, don’t you want to go outside on your own feet and see various things? I want to see them. The world as seen through him is surely vast. More than this private room, you know.”
Ah, it’s expanding my dreams.
“You… are you an idiot…?” “I thought living like an idiot might be fun.”
And, I said with a serious face,
“Listen. Sir Gungrave isn’t stupid either. He will definitely grasp this fact at some point. When that happens, surely neither I nor you will be safe. We’ve been worried about this, haven’t we? It’s insurance for when that time comes. Fortunately, I’m known publicly as a man. When the time comes, we can just wear tattered clothes with Shuri and enter the prison, and we’ll manage somehow.” “Sigh… You really are an idiot.”
While saying that, Garn is smiling a bit too.
“But I had promised to learn cooking from him too. I’ll go along with you when the time comes.”
Hahaha. I knew Garn wanted to leave too.
“I’ll be counting on you then.” “Of course!”
At that moment, Garn looked at the window and rushed over. He opened the window and looked down.
“What’s wrong?” “An intruder!” “What?!” “I let my guard down. There was no presence at all! That’s… Sir Tegue!”
Tegue?! I hurriedly look out the window too, but all I can see is a mysterious shadow racing through the darkness of the night. It’s inhuman. Is that the bow saint Tegue’s scouting technique? I couldn’t detect him at all. This is the fourth floor room and there shouldn’t even be a balcony, so how was he here?!
“This is bad, he might have overheard our conversation just now!” “How much do you think he heard?!” “Probably from beginning to end. Judging from the marks left on the window, he was clinging there for quite a long time. Since the time I brought the report here.”
That long?!
“This is troublesome… Sir Gungrave has learned the truth.” “This is indeed a troublesome situation… We might be facing the worst-case scenario…” “Aeclynnis. We might have to use your insurance plan.” “You’re right…”
I sigh and say. This is the worst-case scenario…
This was how I, Aeclynnis, met Shuri.
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Chapter 30
I’m always thinking.
The meaning of my birth. What I should do.
What I want to do.
If I had been born in a different form.
I wonder if I wouldn’t have to worry like this.
I am Aeclys Sounité.
I have a different birth name, but I’ve been Aeclys for so long now that I respond more naturally to it.
Born as the eldest daughter of the lord of the Sounité domain, I was raised as a girl in my early years. I think that was probably the happiest time of my life so far.
I was a child who was good at reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Particularly strong with numbers, I could spot mistakes in administrative documents by mental calculation.
So in my tutor’s lessons, while etiquette was of course important, I excelled in arithmetic classes. By the age of seven, I had mastered the four basic operations perfectly.
Noticing this, Father tried having me do various things. Administrative work, tax calculations for the domain, grasping the market economy, and so on.
As a result, it was discovered that I had a talent for internal affairs.
Looking back now, I think it was a foolish thing to do.
If I had tried to hide it even a little, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.
I tackled everything seriously, just wanting to be praised.
And so, Father decided to raise me as his heir.
At that moment, my life as a woman ended.
What began was an education and correction as a man. All traces of girlishness were stripped away, and in its place stood the figure of First Prince Aeclys Sounité.
I had become nothing more than a machine for calculating the domain’s finances.
While working, I learned of the existence of my brother.
Garn Labor, who was my attendant.
I found out he was Father’s illegitimate child, and my half-brother.
The trigger was trivial. One day, I was wondering about the strange resemblance between Garn’s and my facial features.
I overheard a conversation between Father and Garn.
He said not to burden his sister any further.
He said she should be raised as a girl even now.
When I heard that, all my questions were resolved.
Ah, so I had a brother, I thought.
That’s why we looked alike, I realized.
When I told Garn about this, he apologized to me.
But I had no intention of blaming him at all.
Rather, I told him I was grateful to have met one of the few understanding family members.
From that day on, I began to cooperate with Garn.
If the problems in the domain could be settled, surely we could escape from this situation.
That’s what I believed.
One day, a problem arose in the domain.
The cook of the Gungrave Mercenary Group, the key player in the current war, had allegedly shown disrespect to Father. Of course, for a normal problem, it would end with his head being cut off.
But this time, strangely, I said to wait for the execution.
The word “Stop” that the cook had said.
I suspect that he had sensed that poison had been added to the wine and acted on it.
But when I had it investigated later, there was no trace of poison being added to the wine. They say it wasn’t applied to the wine glass either.
In other words, my personal view is that it might not have been poison.
Something other than poison. Perhaps he sensed someone trying to shoot an arrow at Father from inside the castle and instinctively diverted attention.
However, my younger brother Gyngus is adamantly insisting on an early judgment, and we’re at odds over it. I don’t know why he’s in such a hurry, but by opposing him, I’m buying time.
There’s plenty of time to investigate. But no evidence or traces can be found.
I can somewhat guess that Gyngus did something just by observing his behavior.
It was during such days that Garn brought me information.
The cook, Shuri Azuma, had information.
The content was surprising.
Apparently, when Shuri Azuma saw the wine glass that Gyngus had previously presented to Father and also given to me, he hurriedly knocked it over.
However, when I had the wine glass investigated, there didn’t seem to be anything strange about it.
No poison was applied, it was just an ordinary glass. Father was happily using it, but I hadn’t used it much. It wasn’t that I disliked it. I used it occasionally and liked the design.
However, that wine glass had been tampered with.
Just iron plating. If that was all, I wouldn’t even question it.
Father had a peculiar constitution.
Sometimes, after practicing with an iron sword, his hands would turn red and itchy. Everyone, including myself, thought it was just fatigue showing in his hands.
But what Shuri Azuma knew was much more serious.
A rare disease. In a word, that’s what it was.
This rare disease was a terrifying illness where by drinking iron or water soaked in iron, something like poison would accumulate in the body, and suddenly manifest one day.
There’s no way to cure it, and while at first it might seem insignificant, one day it suddenly appears with frightening symptoms.
Nothing could be more terrifying than this. Especially since there’s no means of treatment.
I had also used the wine glass, but since I used it less frequently and unlike Father, I didn’t have a constitution that was affected by touching iron, it hadn’t become severe.
If this is true, Gyngus is guilty of a serious crime.
We must confront him with this issue and work to resolve the situation properly.
With this determination, I decided to go with Garn to meet Shuri Azuma.
“Hey Garn. I want to ask you something.”
“What is it, Lord Aeclys?”
“How should we go about observing this Shuri person closely?”
Garn seemed at a loss for words, perhaps unable to grasp the intent of my question.
We are now heading towards Shuri Azuma’s prison cell, trying not to be seen by anyone.
It’s nighttime now. There’s no sign of people in the corridors, with only the faint light of candles to rely on.
We don’t know who we might encounter where. It’s bad enough for me, but it would be even worse if Garn and I were seen together.
Garn’s current position is supposed to be Gyngus’s subordinate, spying on me.
That’s why we need to be extremely careful.
“Even if I read your report, I can’t quite understand Shuri Azuma as a person.
He didn’t seem too flustered when he knocked over the lord’s wine glass, but now he’s acting a bit panicked.
He’s cooking in prison, and doesn’t even seem to have any intention of escaping.
Even though he might be killed at this rate.
Based on the report alone, he seems like a rather strange person.”
“In that case, it might be good to have him cook something as a test.”
“Cook?”
“Yes. I think that would give us a good understanding of what kind of person he is.”
I’m not sure I understand, but Garn seems to be saying this with confidence.
If we have him cook, we’ll understand what kind of person he is?
Let’s give it a try.
“Then, what kind of dish do you think would be best?”
“A dish using potatoes would be good, I think.”
“Potatoes?”
I was imagining something more luxurious, but is that really okay?
Potatoes are an easily obtainable ingredient. They’re cheap per unit. If you cultivate them, you can get a large quantity.
In other words, it’s just an ordinary, commonplace ingredient.
“Yes. If you eat his potato dish, you’ll understand what kind of person he is.
You’ll also understand, as I wrote in my report, that he has the potential to change the history of cooking.”
Hmm, indeed, something like that was written.
There are many variations in potato dishes.
All of them are delicious and easy to imitate.
And it’s the dish that best represents the person’s dangerousness, he says.
“I see. Let’s have him cook with potatoes and… how about bacon?”
“Lord Aeclys.”
“I know. Even bacon is considered a luxury ingredient in our current domain. If we don’t end this political strife, the people will only continue to suffer.
That’s why it’s necessary to understand him and stop this conflict.”
If Shuri Azuma turns out to be a man beyond even my comprehension.
I’ll have to do something about his situation.
And in a direction that prioritizes safety.
In the worst case, I might have to secretly help him escape and return him to the Gungrave Mercenary Group, and try to draw out a compromise.
If we don’t do something like that, that devil is probably eagerly devising strategies to sink his fangs into our throats by now.
The political strife with Gyngus, the Gungrave Mercenary Group in the castle town.
Ah, it’s giving me a headache.
If I steer wrong, this domain might be destroyed.
Although, I’m not that attached to the position of heir to the lord.
I don’t really care if I can’t become the heir.
I just don’t want the worst-case scenario where Sounité disappears completely.
“Well then, Garn. Shall we go with the potatoes and bacon you’ve been hiding in your pocket?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“You don’t need to hide it, it’s obvious that you were planning to secretly buy food and have Shuri cook it for you.
It was just a bluff, but I can’t believe it actually hit the mark.”
My intuition isn’t too bad after all.
He looks like he’s about to cry looking at the ingredients, but it’s Garn’s fault for trying to eat secretly.
As we prepare the ingredients and descend to the underground prison, I can’t help but feel uneasy.
As always, this place has a… how should I put it, I didn’t want to come here.
It’s like there’s a swirling of resentment, a dark atmosphere.
“Garn, is Shuri really eating delicious food in a place like this?”
“Well… yes.”
“In such a damp place?”
“That’s right.”
“In such a dark place?”
“…Yes.”
“Hmm.”
One thing is clear.
He’s an eccentric, isn’t he?
As we reach the bottom and stand in front of the prison cell, there he is.
Black hair, and a build that doesn’t look at all like someone who fights.
And his face is somewhat different from ours. It’s like looking at a person from a different country.
He’s trying to lie down to sleep.
Well, but his sleeping face is cute.
It’s like, he looks like a peaceful civilian who doesn’t know about fighting.
“Shuri, are you awake?”
Garn called out to him.
Shuri is trying to get up, looking sleepy.
He’s a big shot, isn’t he? Trying to get a peaceful sleep in a place like this.
Normally, one would lament their misfortune and curl up.
“Yaaawn… What’s up at this hour?
Well, I don’t really know what time it is.”
Shuri is speaking, looking really sleepy.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Can’t it wait until tomorrow…?”
He’s definitely a big shot, isn’t he?
This insolence in front of me. It wouldn’t be surprising if he became a king in the future.
“No, I need you to meet him today.”
“Who is it…?”
“It’s Lord Aeclys, the eldest son of the lord who rules this domain.”
“Oh! Please, come in anytime!”
Seeing Shuri suddenly jump up and sit formally, I realized my judgment was wrong.
He’s a coward. Just like ordinary people, he’s the type to be humbled in front of someone of high rank.
Or so I thought, but… what’s this feeling? I have a hunch that he might play the fool even in front of important people. Why is that?
“Well then, Lord Aeclys.”
“Thank you, Garn.”
Prompted by Garn, I stood in front of the prison cell.
Looking at him again, he’s indeed different somehow.
If asked what’s different, I’d be at a loss to explain, but what’s different is different.
What is this feeling?
I can’t stop my curiosity from growing.
“Hahaha. Did I surprise you? I’m Aeclys Sounité.
What’s your name?”
“Yes, Your Highness! My name is Azuma Shuri!
Azuma is my family name, and Shuri is my given name!”
What an unusual name.
The family name comes first, and the given name comes after.
I’ve never heard of such a naming custom.
He’s really different after all.
“So, can I call you Shuri Azuma then?”
“Yes!”
I see, it was good that I said it in this way.
However, looking at him like this, I wonder if he’s a coward?
There’s a hint of nonchalance in his words here and there.
He looks serious, so I might be wrong, but…
Is it just my imagination?
“Well then, Shuri. I’d like to talk to you for a bit.
Is now a good time?”
“Of course, at your service.”
It’s not my imagination. This is probably his true nature.
Even when he tries to be serious, he can’t help but joke around.
But it’s rare to find someone who tries to play the fool and make people laugh like this.
It made me chuckle a bit.
“You’re an amusing person. It’s rare to find someone who can make me laugh like this.”
“I’m not sure I understand… Was I being disrespectful…?”
You are being disrespectful.
Absolutely and completely disrespectful.
But you made me laugh, so I’ll let it slide this time.
“Ah, don’t worry. This is an unofficial visit, so you don’t need to be so formal.”
“If you were disrespectful, I’d have already cut off your head.”
Garn, wait!
Did he intervene because he couldn’t bear it? He’s giving a stern warning with a slightly fierce look!
Look, Shuri is cowering now.
Well, it might be better if he’s a little intimidated and subdued.
“So, Shuri. I have a favor to ask. Is that alright?”
“A favor?”
“Yes, I hear you’ve been cooking a lot of dishes for Garn?”
“Huh?”
“No need to hide it. I’ve read the reports. Thank you for looking after Garn’s health.”
He made dishes to help curb Garn’s drinking.
In this situation where there was hardly anything to eat except potatoes, he devised creative dishes.
He’s also a kind person who can be considerate of others.
The fact that he can calmly engage in dialogue even in front of a member of the family that imprisoned him is good evidence of that.
If that wasn’t the case, he might have tried to attack me somewhere.
“I just wanted to make delicious food…”
“Hehe, you’re modest, aren’t you?
Now, here’s my request.”
Yes, this is the main point.
Through the conversation so far, I understand about 40% of his personality.
But I still can’t grasp the remaining 60%.
Is he a coward?
Is he bold?
Is he careless?
Is he a calculating person?
I need to figure this out now.
As I gave a signal with my eyes, Garn took out the potatoes and bacon he was secretly trying to eat from his pocket.
He looks like he’s about to cry, but that’s what he gets for trying to eat something delicious by himself.
“Right now, our domain is facing a severe food shortage. Even for me, the lord’s son, having these two ingredients on the table would be considered luxurious.
So, how would you cook these ingredients?”
Bacon and potatoes.
What comes to mind is frying them. Frying the potatoes and bacon together.
Next would be steaming the potatoes and serving them with bacon. This would be the orthodox method, I think.
There’s also the trick of wrapping the potatoes with bacon.
Now, what will you do?
“Do you have any salt?”
“For this task, no seasonings are allowed.”
Come to think of it, we didn’t prepare any.
When I signaled to Garn with my eyes, he shook his head.
Hey, didn’t you used to carry around fish sauce and dried clams?
Well, never mind.
“Is this bacon already seasoned?”
“No, it’s just regular processed bacon.”
This bacon has been rubbed with extra salt, considering preservation.
After all, it’s something Father would eat. We can’t let it spoil.
Also, it’s been marinated with many seasonings to adjust the taste.
If you eat it normally, it has enough flavor on its own.
After all, it needs to be seasoned to the point of being salty, or else it would spoil quickly.
“Then, let’s make a potato galette.
It should have plenty of flavor.”
Galette?
That’s a name I’ve never heard before.
He takes the potatoes and starts peeling them with practiced hands.
I really thought, he’s really used to this.
I mean, he’s peeling the skin in one connected piece, with even width and thickness.
Then he cuts the potatoes into thin slices.
Thin?
And then he mixes the thinly sliced potatoes with finely chopped bacon.
He puts it in a pan floating on some strange paper that spits fire, and turns up the heat to fry it.
I can see that he’s being careful not to let the shape collapse.
He’s shaping it into a circle.
After frying both sides, he now lowers the heat and slowly cooks it through.
Ah, the smell is irresistible.
It’s strange. There shouldn’t be any seasoning added.
Yet just the potatoes and bacon being fried. I’m freshly realizing that this alone can produce such a wonderful aroma.
After it’s done cooking, he takes a nearby plate and serves the round, fried dish to me.
“It’s ready. Please enjoy the flavor of the bacon.”
“Thank you. But I’ve never seen a dish like this before.
It looks like the potatoes have been thinly spread out with the bacon embedded inside.”
Yes, it looks like scattered potatoes have been brought together into one with bacon embedded in it.
Yet mysteriously, it looks delicious.
Simply put, this is a stir-fry of potatoes and bacon.
It should be. It should be.
But, how should I put it?
When such an unusual twist is added, it’s visually interesting too.
I think this might be something that goes well with alcohol.
When I prompt Garn behind me, he prepares a fork and knife for me.
He probably wanted to eat this himself.
This level of preparedness.
Well, let’s try it.
I easily cut off a bite-sized piece and bring it to my mouth.
“…Oh.”
The first thing I realized is that this is a simple and easy dish, but well thought out.
The bacon’s fried oil flows into the gaps between the potatoes, mixing the flavors in a way that wouldn’t happen if the potatoes were mashed or boiled.
When you bite into the potatoes, the umami of the potatoes and the bacon fat comes out from those gaps.
That fat and the sweetness of the potatoes mix in your mouth, creating a wonderful flavor.
The texture of the potatoes is good too.
Crispy and crunchy.
It’s like eating a light snack at 3 o’clock, with that kind of lightness.
If this were served as an appetizer, it would be a flawless dish.
Of course, this alone doesn’t have the power to make you full.
It seems like I could eat another dish even after this.
But strangely, I feel like I could get hooked on this taste.
Above all, the ratio of bacon is excellent.
It’s not too much, so it doesn’t overpower the taste of the potatoes.
It’s not too little, so there’s enough umami from the oil.
If there was too little bacon in this dish, I suspect it probably wouldn’t have any taste.
It’s because of the seasoning already in the bacon that the taste of the potatoes comes alive.
I see, that’s why he was confident even without seasonings.
This bacon indeed has a salty taste to begin with.
The potatoes are mildly tempering the saltiness that was added for preservation.
That’s why it’s not overpowering.
And it’s delicious.
“This is wonderful. It certainly has a rich flavor. How strange. You didn’t add any other seasonings, did you?”
“That’s because the flavor of the bacon itself transfers to the potatoes, and combines with the natural sweetness of the potatoes to create that taste.”
I see, it’s just as I thought.
By transferring the overly strong taste of the bacon to the potatoes, it’s making it just right.
It’s like subtracting the bacon with potatoes.
It’s closer to a snack than a dish.
Or maybe it’s more like an appetizer.
“Yes, yes, that’s exactly right. This bacon, which is good as a preserved food, would enhance the quality of taste just by being served alongside breakfast.
But that would just be serving it or frying it.
It’s rare to see bacon embedded in potatoes to create a single dish like this. The people in town could easily imitate this.”
Yes, the most praiseworthy point is that it’s “easy to imitate”.
All the dishes I’ve seen in the reports are “simple” ones.
And they’re all made with “easily obtainable” ingredients.
Potatoes, clams, fish sauce, butter.
Bacon is a bit different, but before the current political strife caused food shortages, these were all things that common people could buy.
In other words, for an organization like a mercenary group where managing funds is difficult, he’s able to create meals that don’t cause complaints using affordable ingredients.
Surely in Sir Gungrave’s mercenary group, while there might have been some minor problems and disputes, there probably weren’t any fatal issues.
If such meals were provided separately from wages every time, there wouldn’t be many complaints.
“Wonderful. I can certainly understand why Sir Gungrave wouldn’t want to let go of someone with such culinary skills.”
“How is Gungrave doing?”
Shuri asked worriedly.
I see, that’s certainly a point of concern.
Sir Gungrave is currently confined in an inn in the castle town.
Along with his captain-class subordinates.
His other subordinates are being held in groups of a few people in other inns, or in groups of dozens in guardhouses.
However, they could explode at any moment.
Even though we’ve told them they’re under house arrest and confined them, they won their battle and their contract ended at that point.
Yet, we’re taking hostages and giving orders, which is an outrageous act.
It’s true that Shuri committed a disrespectful act.
That fact will probably be corroborated once we investigate and question the relevant parties.
The wine glass was tampered with, and he made a snap judgment because it was harmful to the lord.
To put it bluntly, Shuri is a benefactor.
If that becomes known, Sir Gungrave won’t stay quiet.
Right now, we’re dangling the hostages and land grant as bait, but if they decide to, they could stage a mass uprising with their subordinates.
Ah, my head hurts.
We need to hide this fact, skillfully draw out a compromise, and settle this peacefully.
I’m getting sick of it.
Thinking about this, I realize how attractive Shuri’s position is.
He’s the cook in a mercenary group with a low casualty rate, and he has an even lower casualty rate himself.
He makes the food he likes, and it’s his daily bread and butter.
Ah, how fulfilling each day would be if I could live freely doing what I like like this.
I might as well join the Gungrave Mercenary Group.
Such a proposal suddenly occurred to me, and I thought it was a really good idea.
Once this political strife problem and the response to the Gungrave Mercenary Group are over, I might hide my identity and join the mercenary group.
At that time, I could return to being a woman, and since I’m good at calculations, I could handle accounting or clerical work.
I could bring Garn along, have him work under Shuri while gathering information.
Eating this food every day while working hard.
Somehow, it feels like an ideal life is there.
If that’s decided, let’s try negotiating subtly.
I might be able to do it if I guide him in a way that he can’t refuse while eliciting sympathy.
“They’re currently being held in the castle town. We’ve separated them and confined them to various inns.”
“So they’re safe then?”
Shuri shows obvious relief.
As I thought, he hasn’t been told anything by Garn.
I haven’t stopped it, but Gyngus has been adamantly preventing it.
It’s certainly effective since we don’t know what kind of action he might take.
As you can see, it can make the other party anxious, and in the worst case, it might cause them to go out of control.
It would have been better to give appropriate reassurance, even if mixed with some lies.
But this time, I’ll use anxiety rather than reassurance for negotiation.
“However, since the reason for your actions was unclear, you might face punishment for disrespect.”
“What?!”
This is not a lie.
Even now, only the three of us – myself, Gyngus, and Garn – know the truth.
There’s even a proposal to interrogate Shuri to confirm the reason since it’s unclear.
They’ll surely impose their own ideas and conveniently alter the information.
“I understand what you want to say. I’ve received the report from Garn. But right now, there’s a political struggle going on in our domain. Unless we do something about that, I can’t even get you out of here. Moreover, if time passes idly like this, the Gungrave Mercenary Group might lash out. If that happens, I’ll probably be killed.”
This is also true.
I wonder what action Sir Gungrave would take if he realized this truth.
If I were him, well…
First, I’d question the lord’s side for unjustly imprisoning my comrades.
Then I’d make demands under the guise of negotiation, asking for a larger land grant and the return of my comrades.
I’d also demand money. Expenses for the inn, compensation, late fees for the employment period, allowances for subordinates, and so on.
The employment period issue might be a false charge. It’s certain that there would be permanent employment at the stage of discussing land grants, and at that point, they would undoubtedly become subordinates, so it shouldn’t violate the mercenary group’s employment regulations.
The fact that they’ve accepted the confinement should mean that treatment is not wrong.
But Sir Gungrave won’t show mercy.
Having his comrades taken away and being disgraced, he won’t stay quiet.
If refused, or rather, assuming refusal, he might negotiate and then, when talks break down, start taking control of the castle town and overthrowing the lord’s faction under the banner of justice.
After all, it’s been several days since Shuri was imprisoned. During that time, the castle town has been suffering from food shortages due to the political struggle. There are many discontented citizens, so they might just need to incite them.
And they’ve probably made a map of the castle town. Since they’re being held in our midst, they can investigate as much as they want.
Of course, we have other spies watching them, but it’s obvious that they’re acting without us noticing. I’m really anxious about the inn where the captain-class members are being watched by ordinary spies. If it were Garn, I could rest easy.
Once they’re fully prepared, they’ll start acting. While inciting the citizens, they’ll take control of the castle, condemn the lord’s faction for the food shortage, the chaos in the castle town, and all the anxiety and dissatisfaction up until now.
Since there’s no one to govern the domain, they’ll volunteer to do it themselves.
And there you have it, the birth of Lord Gungrave.
At that time, I’ll probably be killed for sure.
“So, I have a proposal.”
“?”
“Would you run away with me?”
“Eh, Lord Aeclys?!”
Of course, Garn behind me is surprised too. Well, that’s natural. I didn’t consult with him, and suddenly the lord’s eldest son (daughter) is talking about running away from home. It’s only natural for him to be surprised both as a subordinate and as a brother.
But this is necessary for me to survive and lead a meaningful life.
“I’ve been thinking. Whether it’s this current problem or past issues, the more I try to unify this domain, the more something seems to ‘warp’.
So, I thought, maybe it would be better if I disappeared.
But to do that, I had concerns. Could I escape from here and live among the common people?
That’s where you come in. With your cooking skills, and with Garn and me supporting you, we could definitely make a living among the common folk.
Of course, I’ll do my best to resolve this issue first. Once it’s over, I’ll renounce my right of succession and retire.
What do you think? Would you help me escape from here?”
It’s a bit of an unfair negotiation, but Shuri probably won’t understand.
This way of eliciting sympathy, lavishly praising the other person, showing concession by saying I’ll cooperate too, and then making a request.
Indeed, Shuri looks really troubled.
He’s probably confused by a situation he never imagined, and feels like a hand is being extended to him.
After pondering for a bit, Shuri looked at me and said,
“I understand. After we get out of here, it looks like you’ll end up being a cook under Gungrave, but is that okay with you?”
“That’s fine. As long as I can get out of here.”
With this, 『my and Garn’s last insurance』 is set.
After that, I left the prison and carefully returned to my private room.
Fortunately, no one saw us, and I think 60% of the problems are solved.
However.
“Lord Aeclys. What was that about?!”
Garn confronted me, asking urgently.
“For someone who is the eldest son of the lord to make plans to run away, what are you thinking?!
And with a criminal from the prison, no less!”
“…Garn. Are there people around?”
“…No. I don’t sense any presence.”
“Then it’s safe. You can speak normally.”
Garn loosened his collar, took a deep breath, and said to me,
“It’s true that Shuri is reliable and trustworthy. I’ve learned that in these few days.
But Aeclynnis, there’s no way you can just run away and live outside.
The mercenary group is that chaotic of a social organization. The reason he’s been able to survive is because his rare cooking skills were recognized.
What could you do if you joined there?”
That’s a reasonable opinion.
“Listen, elder brother. You’re coming too when that time comes.”
“What?!”
Garn’s eyes widen in surprise.
Well, that’s to be expected.
“Why should I?!”
“Well, if you stay here, you’ll just keep being used by Father and Gyngus.
Rather than that, don’t you want to go outside on your own feet and see various things?
I want to see them. The world as seen through him is surely vast.
More than this private room, you know.”
Ah, it’s expanding my dreams.
“You… are you an idiot…?”
“I thought living like an idiot might be fun.”
And, I said with a serious face,
“Listen. Sir Gungrave isn’t stupid either. He will definitely grasp this fact at some point.
When that happens, surely neither I nor you will be safe.
We’ve been worried about this, haven’t we?
It’s insurance for when that time comes.
Fortunately, I’m known publicly as a man.
When the time comes, we can just wear tattered clothes with Shuri and enter the prison, and we’ll manage somehow.”
“Sigh… You really are an idiot.”
While saying that, Garn is smiling a bit too.
“But I had promised to learn cooking from him too.
I’ll go along with you when the time comes.”
Hahaha. I knew Garn wanted to leave too.
“I’ll be counting on you then.”
“Of course!”
At that moment, Garn looked at the window and rushed over.
He opened the window and looked down.
“What’s wrong?”
“An intruder!”
“What?!”
“I let my guard down. There was no presence at all!
That’s… Sir Tegue!”
Tegue?!
I hurriedly look out the window too, but all I can see is a mysterious shadow racing through the darkness of the night.
It’s inhuman. Is that the bow saint Tegue’s scouting technique?
I couldn’t detect him at all.
This is the fourth floor room and there shouldn’t even be a balcony, so how was he here?!
“This is bad, he might have overheard our conversation just now!”
“How much do you think he heard?!”
“Probably from beginning to end.
Judging from the marks left on the window, he was clinging there for quite a long time.
Since the time I brought the report here.”
That long?!
“This is troublesome… Sir Gungrave has learned the truth.”
“This is indeed a troublesome situation…
We might be facing the worst-case scenario…”
“Aeclynnis. We might have to use your insurance plan.”
“You’re right…”
I sigh and say.
This is the worst-case scenario…
This was how I, Aeclynnis, met Shuri.
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