I have lived my life following orders until now. And I never questioned it before. I think it will continue to be that way. I believe that’s not so bad. I prioritize the orders of that person over my own dignity. To begin with, I was taken in. As someone who was taken in, it’s only natural to serve the master who took me in. I must not question it. I must not have hope. If told to die, I must die. I must die without hesitation or regret, and be useful to that person. I would gladly accept that. But if possible, I want to die by Princess Tevis’s order. She said I was cute like a dog. Or was it that I was like a dog? Anyway, the princess noticed me. She called me, who had been living like a beast, cute as a woman. I can die for that person. That’s who I am. Special Operations Unit, spy soldier Eutine.
I’ve been experiencing a series of confusions lately. The cause is Shuri Azuma, the cook of the mercenary group. Because of him, my heart is in turmoil. He’s a mysterious existence. A strange cook who captivates the taste buds of Princess Tevis, who is precious to me. I’ve also become captivated by the food he makes. He’s strange. I’ll say it again, he’s a mysterious existence. Somehow, he sees through the stealth techniques I use daily. When I was hiding in a corner to guard the princess, erasing my presence, he somehow came and gave me a snack. Even though no one should have noticed, he finds me in an instant. I was surprised… Even though no one should have noticed, only Shuri unhesitatingly looked straight into my eyes, approached me directly, and handed me a plate. I thought I shouldn’t eat while on duty… but the food served was simple, something I could eat lightly even while on duty, so I gratefully accepted it. I probably shouldn’t have, but I was hungry at that time. And oh, how delicious it was. What I ate then was a simple dish of rice stir-fried with vegetables and meat. But it was very delicious. Easy to eat, filling, and above all, not painful to eat. The meals of spies and covert agents sometimes require drinking mud. After all, we have to deceive others or gather information in secret, so we can’t expect proper meals. On top of that, I’m guarding the princess. So meal times are irregular. Meals aren’t always delicious. In fact, the food might not even be edible ingredients. Being able to eat such delicious and warm food was, well, delightful. And so, I came to like that dish called fried rice. It’s a secret that I looked forward to whether Shuri would notice and bring me fried rice during my guard duty.
And today, I was incredibly surprised. The second biggest surprise in my life. This morning, while I was guarding the princess as my job, I received an order.
“Eutine! Today you’re guarding Shuri! Go!” “Huh?”
For a moment, I thought I had misheard the princess’s instructions, that it was an auditory hallucination. I even tapped the side of my head to check my hearing. Because I’m the princess’s guard, right? What’s the point of abandoning the princess’s guard to guard someone else? What if something happens to the princess while I’m guarding someone else? To my doubts, the princess said with a smile:
My doubts are reasonable, right? How does guarding Shuri lead to protecting the princess? I’m troubled, I can’t understand with my brain. However, the princess suddenly put on a serious face and said:
“Well, I’ll tell you the reason when you come back. And it’s also guarding Aeclys. You understand without me saying it, right?”
I understood this. Aeclys is a blood relative of this territory. If she’s going to meet her real mother, we might be able to get some information. The princess is telling me to investigate this secretly, right? I understand.
“I will do, my best.” “Good, 20% information gathering, 80% guarding Shuri!”
Eh?
There was no time to voice my doubts as I was sent off, and I prepared my guard equipment. I still look like I’m in a maid outfit, but underneath I’m heavily equipped. Chain mail, hidden weapons, daggers, throwing needles, and so on, I headed to the stable. I heard they were departing on horseback. Considering the distance I heard, going by horse is the most efficient. In terms of fatigue, speed, and time.
“…Hmm.”
So when I went to the stable, I saw a strange sight. I understand Aeclys riding a horse. But Shuri wasn’t trying to get on.
“Come on, Shuri. Get on quickly.” “Y-Yes…”
For some reason, Shuri was afraid of looking at the horse. It’s unthinkable for a normal man, but somehow it’s understandable for Shuri.
“I-I can’t ride horses.”
Yes, Shuri can’t ride horses. Or rather, he doesn’t get along with horses. Even if he gets on a horse, he falls off. Even if he can ride, he hurts his back. He can’t connect with horses in the first place. I almost held my head in my hands. I can’t believe that a person with such a fundamental problem is right in front of me now. It’s not good to waste time here. I want to get back to guarding the princess quickly. In the first place, being able to ride a horse is an honor, and it’s a minimum skill necessary not just on the battlefield but in daily life. Even farmers, if not riding horses themselves, tame horses to load luggage. People who lack aptitude for horsemanship face major inconveniences in daily life. They should. In his case, it seems he can compensate for this flaw with his overwhelming cooking skills, but when I see him cowering before a horse, I can’t help but think otherwise. Shuri is struggling with a troubled face.
“To begin with, in the area where I lived, there wasn’t a custom of riding horses, and the act of riding a horse itself was a rare case.”
Hmm? Rare? Riding a horse? He says strange things. As if there were other means of transportation besides horses. His words are odd. He occasionally makes such otherworldly statements. His cooking itself is so otherworldly that it doesn’t stand out, but he has areas where he’s unworldly and areas where he’s strangely smart. More and more mysterious.
“Come here.”
Aeclys reaches out her hand to Shuri. Shuri grabs that hand. What is this? It looks like a dramatic scene of a knight princess and a prince from a story? Hmm… Aeclys is too handsome. Because of that, Shuri’s handsomeness seems diminished. It would feel more fitting if their genders were reversed.
“Okay.”
Shuri, if you take that hand, I feel like you won’t be able to turn back…
And so we depart. The purpose of this outing is for Aeclys to meet her birth mother. Aeclys’s birth mother, who had been missing until now, is reportedly a woman named Anby Sounité. Apparently, the two who were exiled were not allowed to go abroad, but they couldn’t interfere with anyone in the country, nor could anyone interfere with them, so they were pushed into a place where they couldn’t do either. It would be troublesome if they met someone and conspired, and it would be troublesome if they allied with lords or royalty in foreign countries and started a rebellion. That’s probably it. It can be said to be the correct measure. The path leads out from the initially flat highway into the forest, and apparently there’s a dilapidated church deep inside. It’s quite a distance that will take some time. Shuri and Aeclys are riding double on a horse, while I’m walking. Regardless of Shuri, Aeclys is not weak in her legs and back, and although the forest path is somewhat trodden, the horse is still essential given the distance. But I train my body daily, and for the sake of the princess, I’ve mastered martial arts, combat techniques, and even stealth techniques, so this distance is no problem for me. I have more confidence in my physical strength than the average soldier. In fact, I’m stronger than incompetent soldiers.
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!” “Y-yes…”
Yes, I can definitely say I’m stronger than that cook over there. In fact, in pure hand-to-hand combat, I could probably handle anyone except Kuuga. With magic and magic engineering included, I might struggle against Arius and Lill. That’s how confident I am in my abilities. Still… what a pathetic sight… I think it’s a man’s duty to master horsemanship and martial arts. Rather, in today’s world of constant warfare, mastering these should be the way to survive. You never know where threats to your life might come from, so you should at least have means of self-defense. But Shuri has no combat skills in his arms. What he has is culinary skill. And the quick wit to use that skill. I’m made to realize that this kind of strength exists too. After all, he has the power to survive well in this era of constant warfare. Not the power to harm enemies, but the power of skills to support allies. He has that.
“Are you okay?” “No, my butt hurts.” “Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
Shuri nods affirmatively.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.” “…Is that bad?” “Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Aeclys, you shouldn’t say that to a man… Shuri’s eyes are tearing up. It’s pitiful how his confidence as a man seems about to crumble.
“Um, Shuri.” “Yes…?” “Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
…Why aren’t these two’s genders reversed? If Aeclys were male and Shuri were female, I think it would be just the right picture.
…What if they were both men? Ah! I feel like I can see a new door! But if I open it, I don’t think I can go back, so I’ll lock it without opening it.
“Aeclys. You look cool.”
Shuri’s words, squeezed out, were mixed with pride trying to maintain itself at the limit and sarcasm that somehow came out. It’s probably a last-ditch effort at revenge. Stop it, Shuri. That ruined smile mixing guilt, sadism, and masochism. It’s very scary.
“Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
And so, the revenge was meaningless, and Shuri’s self-esteem was shattered to pieces by the strong comeback! Ah, it’s heartbreaking to watch…! Shuri’s eyes have become as empty as a black void! That’s a face I’ve seen before…! It’s the same face as a soldier just before dying in despair!
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
Ah! This is to redirect the conversation to me in order to protect his self-esteem that’s about to be shattered!
“The princess said, for just, in case.”
But with this opinion, it should be alright. The princess also said, “Shuri is somewhat simple-minded! This will deceive him!” I will accomplish the role given to me as my duty.
“Isn’t your role to protect the princess in case of emergency?”
…When you say that… it’s troubling.
“…In case of, emergency.” “I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Phew, it seems I managed to deceive him. I broke out in a bit of cold sweat. Shuri turned to face forward and asked Aeclys.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?”
Shuri said as if confirming. To paraphrase the princess’s thoughts, “If we let them go like this, it would just be a simple family introduction, wouldn’t it? It’s not as if he’s going to ask for the young lady’s hand in marriage or anything, but still, I can’t allow such a casual meeting to happen.” Anxious about going alone… I think Shuri decided to come along because he understands that feeling. Parents… huh. It’s a feeling I don’t understand. No, if I were to call the princess who took me in, the captains, and my comrades family, I could say so without any denial. But I don’t understand blood-related parents. Do they have to be blood-related? Do you have to live within the lineage recorded in the family tree to fit into the framework of family? No good, I don’t have time to think about such things. I need to focus on guarding.
“Yeah… I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time. I don’t know what kind of face I should make.” “I think you should smile.”
…Smile? Shuri said while counting on his fingers.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
Starting with a greeting. I wonder what Shuri is talking about? It can’t be such a simple matter. If everything ended with a greeting, there wouldn’t be such a simple story.
“…It’s not such a simple matter…” “Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
Eh?
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.” “Closure?”
Not for the other person, but for oneself… Before I knew it, I was also listening intently to Shuri’s words. There’s some mysterious charm in Shuri’s words that attracts people.
“You’re making a decision within yourself. First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Is that so? I try to think about it while standing next to Shuri who’s talking. I understand it’s not a simple matter. A parent and child who have been separated for a long time are reuniting, so who knows what developments await. Even I, who doesn’t know what parents are, can easily imagine. But isn’t it unknown for both the parent and the child? Maybe Shuri can say this because Aeclys and her mother don’t hate each other. I wonder how it is, I don’t know what feelings the mother harbors towards Aeclys. No, Shuri understands. He’s sure that they both want to meet each other. That’s why he said it. If they don’t hate each other, let’s reunite with a smile. …Sometimes Shuri surprises me. I thought he was always vague, but he says such profound words like this. Maybe his usual attitude is a disguise and he’s actually an intelligent person. I can’t imagine it at all from his usual behavior, though.
“…Yeah, thank you, Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous now.”
The color returned to Aeclys’s face as well. I suppose she’s recovered her spirits a little. If that’s the case, Shuri is quite an impressive person.
“Thank you.”
In response to Aeclys’s thanks as she turned around, Shuri’s pride as a man seemed to be slightly wounded, but let’s pretend I didn’t notice. Honestly, they might as well swap genders.
“What god does this church worship?” “God, of course.” “No, I mean, what kind?” “? God is God. There’s no other, right?” “I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.” “In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it.”
Shuri and Aeclys are having some conversation, but it didn’t reach my ears. As I looked at our destination that we finally reached after walking for so long, I was filled with deep emotions. Of course, I have no attachment to this place, but it reminded me of a similar scene. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a church like this. I too was once raised as an orphan in a church. Though I don’t know my parents’ faces, there were people who raised me, in a way. But the church where I was raised was just keeping children under house arrest. We weren’t given proper education or meals. They were just keeping us alive so we wouldn’t die. And when we grew up to a certain extent, adults would come from somewhere and take us away. I found out later that we were apparently being taken to bad mercenary groups as human shields. The church people were in cahoots with them, collecting children for money. At the time, I didn’t know the details, but I just didn’t want to be taken away by scary adults, so I ran away from the church and did anything to survive. Except for prostitution, I did everything including killing and stealing to live. And in the end, I was captured by the captain, met the princess, and here I am. I don’t know what’s become of that church now. I’m not involved, and I haven’t reunited with any of the children who were there. We were together, but there was no sense of camaraderie, so I never thought to do anything about it. I haven’t visited that church even once since then. Maybe because we were fighting over the scarce food for meals. That place was hell. There were times when we had to bring down the kid next to us to survive. So, I have no good memories of churches. Rather, they’re something to be avoided.
“The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans.”
If only I could have been in such a church, my life might have been different. Hearing this, I almost sneered in the shadows. So reality wasn’t so kind, huh? I guess I was just unlucky. It’s laughable. Sure, such churches exist, but in reality, there are also churches that sell children. There are evil churches that plunder in the name of faith, and churches that are no different from armed groups. What Aeclys doesn’t realize is that there are facilities that lords and countries aren’t aware of, churches that are nothing more than child detention facilities or donation extortion facilities. …Let’s stop. There’s no point in dwelling on such dark thoughts. It’s all in the past now. I’m no longer the person who was there.
“But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
Yes, in the end, churches can be left for such purposes. Probably, there isn’t even a priest there. Just the bare minimum necessary for living. It’s appalling to hear for a church. Thinking about such things, we arrived in front of the church, and Shuri got off the horse and looked around. It shouldn’t be anything unusual, but he’s looking around with interest. However, only Aeclys didn’t try to get off the horse.
“Aeclys?” “…I’m scared to meet them, after all.” “Aeclys…”
Indeed, Aeclys’s fear, or perhaps hesitation is a better word. Such hesitation was still there. Even if encouraged, this depends entirely on her own first step. Neither I nor Shuri can do anything about it.
“Aeclys, you don’t need to be so afraid…”
As Shuri approaches Aeclys with concern, I immediately sense a presence and turn around. A woman’s figure, opening the door and staring at us intently. A woman with silver hair reaching down to her waist, somehow resembling Aeclys in atmosphere. Though her clothing is no different from that of a farmer, it’s been properly washed and ironed. Ah, I see. I understand everything. I return the hand I had been reaching towards my waist and decide to watch how things unfold. From here on, it’s not something I should be involved in.
“Aeclys!?”
The woman passes by me and Shuri, approaching Aeclys on the horse.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!” “Huh? Huh?” “It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
So, it is her after all. I decided to watch silently. Shuri, on the other hand, is frozen in surprise.
“Are you… my mother?” “Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
Yes, this woman is Anby Sounité. Aeclys’s mother. The person we came here to meet.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!” “Mother!”
Aeclys dismounted from the horse and embraced Anby. She hugged her tightly and cried. Unlike earlier, her face showed no anxiety or fear. She was simply smiling and crying. Shuri, you were right. If they can laugh together in the joy of reunion, it’s enough for these two. Watching them draw close as if to fill the gap of all these years, I think to myself. So this is what family is, I wonder.
When the two of them calmed down, we were guided inside. The interior is no different from the church I used to live in. Several pews are lined up, with a platform and desk at the end. They say that in the olden days, when churches were in their prime, people would receive doctrinal teachings and offer prayers in places like this. But I don’t understand. In the place where I lived, I don’t remember anything like that happening, and it’s not hard to imagine what would have been done to me if I hadn’t run away. Sold, used as a human shield, or exploited. Something like that. Well, it’s also true that I don’t remember much because it’s in the past now. It’s not that I forgot because it was painful. I forgot because it didn’t matter. But when I see this interior, I remember a little bit. A dark room, children dressed in shabby clothes, glittering eyes targeting the scarce food in the darkness… Myself struggling to survive among them. Let’s stop, there’s no point in remembering such things.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!”
Lost in thought, I see a maid coming out of the waiting room. A woman wearing a well-worn maid’s uniform. But this person also had a familiar look. She resembles Garn Labor.
“Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?” “Yes, Marielle! Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!”
So this is Marielle Labor, Garn Labor’s mother. No wonder I thought she resembled Garn. However, I didn’t expect these two to be under house arrest in the same place. No, originally she had a deep relationship with Anby. She might have been pushed into the role of a glorified caretaker. Still… glancing at Aeclys, I see her smiling wryly. It’s impossible to say that after wearing men’s clothes for so many years, she’s become a woman who only suits men’s clothes. It’s also not easy to say that she herself has come to like it.
“Is that so… Thank goodness…! I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Saying this, Marielle brought chairs and a table from the waiting room. The pews here and the desk on the platform aren’t suitable for conversation, naturally. While Shuri and Aeclys are whispering about something, I have something to do. I need to investigate this facility. It’s strange to begin with. That the lord’s consort and concubine are confined in this place. Certainly, this facility is supposed to function as a refuge for the lord, disguised as a church. If so, it wouldn’t be strange to think there might be hidden passages for stockpiling or escape. If they used those, it wouldn’t be strange if they could escape from here. It might be impossible with just the two of them. But something feels off. It’s strange to begin with that there’s a church in the middle of the forest. Here, they can’t gain believers for their faith, nor can believers come to worship. Obtaining donations through faith. And using it for charity work. The location and function of this facility don’t even assume such basic religious activities. It’s too inconsistent. I left the place while they were engrossed in conversation. The talk seems like it will be long. There’s time. Waiting room, confessional, office, bedroom… I investigate various places. But here, I noticed. This place severely lacks the functions necessary for a religious institution. There are no symbols of doctrine, and no doctrinal books in the office. Indeed, as expected, this is a church in name only. And this is not a refuge facility for the lord. It’s a facility to house exiles from the lord’s family. In other words, this is an isolation facility. The reason I came to this conclusion is that upon investigation, I found there are no hidden passages for evacuation or warehouses to secure sufficient stockpiles of food. There are rooms of decent size, but it’s far too unreliable to welcome the lord’s family or serve as a last stronghold.
“I see.”
I finish my investigation and record it in the pen and paper I had hidden. It’s more correct to think that they didn’t escape, but couldn’t escape. There’s no evacuation route, and it’s far from any village. They can’t go to town, and being in such a place, they can’t prepare to go to another country either. And considering that their children are still in town, there’s no option to escape. …Still, it’s strange. I’m certain this is an isolation facility, but if they were going to make a facility modeled after a church, there must be a reason why they had to isolate them to this extent. Is it correct to think that in the past, there were 『relatives who had to be dealt with this way』, or was there a 『person who had to be contained』? It’s just speculation, but let’s consider this hypothesis. What on earth did this 『person』 do? Kill a relative, or… did they learn something they shouldn’t have known? Or simply lose a power struggle? …There are no traces or records of anything like that in the bookshelves of the office or in other rooms. No diaries or record books either. Just to be sure, I checked again for hidden passages, hidden stockpiles, or hidden assets to prove that this isn’t an isolation facility, but I couldn’t find any. What on earth happened here? Or was it built because something happened? …It’s no good, there’s too little information. I can only report to the princess what I’ve seen and investigated. Fortunately, I’m here under the pretext of being Shuri’s guard. If Shuri goes back, I’ll go back too. I don’t think Shuri will interrupt the family reunion. We’ll probably be going back soon. It’s about time I’ve been away from that place for too long. I should go back. I thoroughly erase all traces of my intrusion and return to the original place. Just mysteries… I’ll consider it good that I understood that much. If I report this to the princess, she should be able to make some deductions. I’ll believe in that. When I return to where Shuri and the others are, Shuri was heading to another room. This feeling… could it be cooking?! I follow Shuri stealthily, hoping for that. Fortunately, no one has noticed… For some reason, Shuri has the ability to sense my presence, but this time it seems okay. Following Shuri, I enter the kitchen where he’s selecting ingredients.
“I guess I’ll make some fried rice.” “Fried rice…!?”
Oh my, fried rice it is. Fried rice! I wait behind Shuri with sparkling eyes. I’m ready for any taste test or sampling! Shuri seems to have noticed I was behind him and turned around to say:
“Shouldn’t you be guarding Aeclys and the others?”
Ha! Shuri is looking at me with a disappointed gaze! It’s okay, I have a proper reason.
“I was asked, to protect, Shuri.”
But I have the strongest excu… reason!
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You should be protecting Aeclys more than me!”
Shuri is desperately arguing. But, Shuri. Those words are a bit off.
“…You haven’t, noticed.”
Yes, Shuri hasn’t noticed.
“Huh?”
Shuri’s own value. Shuri’s own importance. Shuri himself doesn’t understand. To Shuri, who looks surprised, I said seriously:
“I move, on the princess’s, orders. The princess’s order, is to protect Shuri. And, the princess, doesn’t give meaningless orders. The princess has judged, that at this stage, Shuri’s life is more valuable, than Aeclys’.”
To put it simply, the princess said that Shuri’s safety is necessary for this era. A catalyst or drastic medicine needed precisely because of these chaotic times. Or perhaps a cure. Moreover, for everyone in the Gungrave Mercenary Group, they’re protecting Shuri as a necessary existence. Without Shuri, the Gungrave members would be in the most trouble. He’s a necessary existence both for his cooking skills and as a person. Shuri’s easygoing, innocent, and natural demeanor. That personality binds the hearts of the Gungrave members and reassures them. That’s why they’d be in trouble without Shuri. The end or stagnation of the war, using the Gungrave members. Because the princess’s ideas would no longer work.
“Anyway.”
Well, he himself is completely unaware of such things. He looks like he can’t believe it, then makes a dubious face.
“I’m going to cook now, so don’t get in the way…” “I won’t. I absolutely won’t. I have no intention, of doing so, at all.” “Can I trust you?”
Shuri doesn’t seem very convinced, so I said:
“If I can eat, fried rice.”
At that moment, fear appeared on Shuri’s face. Why? Somehow, it’s as if he’s seeing something akin to the source of fear in me? Is it my imagination?
“…Oh well.”
The words that came out of Shuri’s mouth in a mumble. Those words felt like they were finally squeezed out after tremendous inner conflict, or like resignation… anyway, like words spat out based on a will that was forcibly solidified after an extraordinary conflict. But no matter what he says, Shuri’s cooking skills are amazing. Since he started cooking, he’s been moving smoothly without pause. It’s as if he’s grasping three or four future actions within one movement. There’s absolutely no waste in his movements. He checks the leftover rice, confirms the ingredients, and instantly constructs the cooking procedure in his head. He really seems to intend to make fried rice, and started by mixing rice and eggs and stir-frying them. Not grilling, nor boiling. He stirs the ingredients on the heated pan. I once asked the princess if there was any meaning to this technique. Then the princess insisted:
“What are you saying! That has…”
After that, she went on and on until I got tired. In short, I understand it’s different, so that’s fine. And I well understood that Shuri’s technique is exceptionally amazing. After all, even now as he’s performing this cooking method called stir-frying, he skillfully and beautifully mixes the ingredients. I was surprised to see the ingredients flying from the pan in beautiful arcs. To be honest, even when I see the cooking method, I can only recognize it as just cooking, but even I, who lacks an aesthetic eye, can tell it’s amazing. That’s the kind of person Shuri Azuma is. While I was watching, it seems the cooking was completed. Ah, beautiful golden fried rice. The more I look at it, the more delicious it looks… I want to eat it. I really want to eat it…
“Here, I’ll give some to Eutine too, so be quiet.”
I grab the plate before Shuri’s words are finished. I can’t wait. Ah, it looks delicious. It looks… delicious. I immediately scoop up the rice with a spoon and stuff it in my mouth.
Oh, it’s wonderful.
First of all, the point of adding chicken is excellent. In these times, meat is a rare and luxurious item. But depending on the type of meat, its value changes. Well, to put it simply, chicken and birds are generally cheap. Except for duck, they’re not very popular. Why? Because duck has fat and is delicious, but chicken meat is usually from old hens that have stopped laying eggs and are slaughtered for the market. Those are generally not tasty. For some reason, Aeclys is obsessed with karaage, which is made with chicken. But the chicken used in this has been properly prepared, it’s tender, and I can taste a flavor of poultry I’ve never known before. The umami of that bird spreads throughout the rice and all the ingredients, with a faint sweetness of fat and the original umami of the bird. I never thought it would create such a taste. Also, meat originally has an odor. But salt, pepper, and green onions completely eliminate that odor, leaving only the umami. And eggs. This is necessary. Absolutely necessary. Fat by itself can be… heavy. But the eggs coat each grain of rice like a film, eliminating that heaviness. And it also helps the salt and pepper blend well with the rice grains. Yes, salt and pepper. Normally, you’d use a lot of salt and pepper, but here they’re used in small amounts to tighten the flavor. That balance is also exquisite, bringing out the full flavor of the ingredients. That’s fried rice. That’s justice.
『Yes, that’s justice.』
Hm? For a moment, I thought I heard Lill’s voice… Was it my imagination? Well, never mind. I deliberately ignored the mysterious words echoing in my head and devoured the fried rice. Yeah, it’s still delicious. By the time I finished eating, my body was overwhelmed by satisfaction and a sense of euphoria from being full. It’s not unpleasant, so I indulge in it for just a moment.
“As expected, it’s delicious”
I muttered this and quietly placed the plate and spoon on the counter.
“Thank you, for the meal.”
I said this with my hands together. This is a gesture Shuri taught me. I don’t know the details, but I think it’s to express gratitude to the ingredients and the cook. If so, I need to do this. Because it’s my new favorite food that Shuri made for me. I’m very satisfied. After placing the finished plate and spoon in the washing area, I peek at Aeclys and the others from the kitchen, and Anby and Marielle seem satisfied too. That’s proof it’s delicious. Seeing this, I raise my evaluation of Shuri even further. His cooking is good enough for nobles. If the princess is satisfied, there’s no way other nobles, royalty, or lords wouldn’t be satisfied.
“Well then, I’ll clean up.” “Ah, Shuri. I’ll do it.” “Marielle, please wait. Cleaning up is the responsibility of the person who cooked.”
Shuri declined Marielle’s offer with a smile, collected the plates from the table, and brought them here. This is bad, if I’m found here unnaturally, they might suspect I’ve been investigating! In that case, I’ll switch places with Shuri… or so I thought, when the church doors opened. The one who opened them forcefully was Kuuga.
“Found you, found you, somehow made it here.”
Kuuga strode up to Shuri… and stopped when he saw Anby and Marielle.
“Is this Aeclys’s mother, Shuri?” “Yes, that’s right. But Kuuga, why did you come here?” “Hm? Well, about that. But before that…”
Kuuga passed by Shuri and stood in front of Aeclys, then bowed. This is surprising. For a senior official of the current Sounité ruler to bow his head to the former lord’s concubine…
“Nice to meet you, I’m Kuuga. I’m an executive in Sounité.” “That dialect… the intonation of your name… from the east?” “Yeah. I don’t remember, but somehow I’ve taken a liking to this way of speaking.”
Kuuga raised his face and said:
“I apologize for the rudeness to you, Madam Concubine.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “Originally, we should have welcomed you and carried you in triumph. Please forgive us for not doing so.” “Are those the words of that Gungrave person?” “It’s the consensus of Gungrave and us captains. In other words, you can take these words as Gungrave’s own.”
Sparks seemed to fly between the two. Depending on how you look at it, it’s extremely rude behavior. But Anby smiled wryly and said:
“I see, then I’ll take it as such.” “That’s mighty kind of you.” “There’s no point in making a fuss now, it’s not like I can become a person of power.” “That’s right.” “Besides, it’s more meaningful to protect me here in this forest, isn’t it?” “You were aware?” “My mind still works, you know.”
After this brief exchange, Kuuga turned to face Shuri.
“Come on, we’re going back, Shuri.” “Huh? Now?” “Yeah, now. Aeclys, if you’re done here, will you be coming back with us too?” “Um, I…” “Aeclys should stay.”
Anby said.
“I want to talk a bit more, just parent and child.”
At those words, Kuuga thought for a moment.
“…I see. So, what should we do?” “To begin with, isn’t it fine if I don’t go back?” “Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.” “But Garn and the others are still there, right?” “Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.” “Is that so… Then, shall we leave it to Eutine and go back?”
Whaaaat?! I couldn’t sit still and came out of the kitchen. I try to keep calm, but I’m not confident I’m succeeding. That’s how shocking Shuri’s words were.
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard.” “There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
In the end, Shuri left me to guard Aeclys and went back… I’m scared of the scolding I’ll get from the princess when I return…💬 2
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Chapter 48
I have lived my life following orders until now. And I never questioned it before. I think it will continue to be that way. I believe that’s not so bad. I prioritize the orders of that person over my own dignity.
To begin with, I was taken in. As someone who was taken in, it’s only natural to serve the master who took me in. I must not question it. I must not have hope. If told to die, I must die. I must die without hesitation or regret, and be useful to that person. I would gladly accept that.
But if possible, I want to die by Princess Tevis’s order. She said I was cute like a dog. Or was it that I was like a dog? Anyway, the princess noticed me. She called me, who had been living like a beast, cute as a woman.
I can die for that person. That’s who I am.
Special Operations Unit, spy soldier Eutine.
I’ve been experiencing a series of confusions lately. The cause is Shuri Azuma, the cook of the mercenary group. Because of him, my heart is in turmoil.
He’s a mysterious existence. A strange cook who captivates the taste buds of Princess Tevis, who is precious to me. I’ve also become captivated by the food he makes.
He’s strange. I’ll say it again, he’s a mysterious existence. Somehow, he sees through the stealth techniques I use daily. When I was hiding in a corner to guard the princess, erasing my presence, he somehow came and gave me a snack. Even though no one should have noticed, he finds me in an instant.
I was surprised… Even though no one should have noticed, only Shuri unhesitatingly looked straight into my eyes, approached me directly, and handed me a plate.
I thought I shouldn’t eat while on duty… but the food served was simple, something I could eat lightly even while on duty, so I gratefully accepted it. I probably shouldn’t have, but I was hungry at that time.
And oh, how delicious it was.
What I ate then was a simple dish of rice stir-fried with vegetables and meat.
But it was very delicious. Easy to eat, filling, and above all, not painful to eat.
The meals of spies and covert agents sometimes require drinking mud. After all, we have to deceive others or gather information in secret, so we can’t expect proper meals. On top of that, I’m guarding the princess.
So meal times are irregular. Meals aren’t always delicious. In fact, the food might not even be edible ingredients.
Being able to eat such delicious and warm food was, well, delightful.
And so, I came to like that dish called fried rice.
It’s a secret that I looked forward to whether Shuri would notice and bring me fried rice during my guard duty.
And today, I was incredibly surprised. The second biggest surprise in my life.
This morning, while I was guarding the princess as my job, I received an order.
“Eutine! Today you’re guarding Shuri! Go!”
“Huh?”
For a moment, I thought I had misheard the princess’s instructions, that it was an auditory hallucination. I even tapped the side of my head to check my hearing.
Because I’m the princess’s guard, right? What’s the point of abandoning the princess’s guard to guard someone else? What if something happens to the princess while I’m guarding someone else?
To my doubts, the princess said with a smile:
“It’s alright, guarding Shuri leads to protecting me!”
“I don’t, understand.”
My doubts are reasonable, right? How does guarding Shuri lead to protecting the princess? I’m troubled, I can’t understand with my brain.
However, the princess suddenly put on a serious face and said:
“Well, I’ll tell you the reason when you come back.
And it’s also guarding Aeclys. You understand without me saying it, right?”
I understood this.
Aeclys is a blood relative of this territory. If she’s going to meet her real mother, we might be able to get some information.
The princess is telling me to investigate this secretly, right? I understand.
“I will do, my best.”
“Good, 20% information gathering, 80% guarding Shuri!”
Eh?
There was no time to voice my doubts as I was sent off, and I prepared my guard equipment.
I still look like I’m in a maid outfit, but underneath I’m heavily equipped.
Chain mail, hidden weapons, daggers, throwing needles, and so on, I headed to the stable.
I heard they were departing on horseback. Considering the distance I heard, going by horse is the most efficient. In terms of fatigue, speed, and time.
“…Hmm.”
So when I went to the stable, I saw a strange sight.
I understand Aeclys riding a horse. But Shuri wasn’t trying to get on.
“Come on, Shuri. Get on quickly.”
“Y-Yes…”
For some reason, Shuri was afraid of looking at the horse.
It’s unthinkable for a normal man, but somehow it’s understandable for Shuri.
“I-I can’t ride horses.”
Yes, Shuri can’t ride horses. Or rather, he doesn’t get along with horses.
Even if he gets on a horse, he falls off. Even if he can ride, he hurts his back. He can’t connect with horses in the first place.
I almost held my head in my hands. I can’t believe that a person with such a fundamental problem is right in front of me now. It’s not good to waste time here. I want to get back to guarding the princess quickly.
In the first place, being able to ride a horse is an honor, and it’s a minimum skill necessary not just on the battlefield but in daily life. Even farmers, if not riding horses themselves, tame horses to load luggage.
People who lack aptitude for horsemanship face major inconveniences in daily life. They should. In his case, it seems he can compensate for this flaw with his overwhelming cooking skills, but when I see him cowering before a horse, I can’t help but think otherwise.
Shuri is struggling with a troubled face.
“To begin with, in the area where I lived, there wasn’t a custom of riding horses, and the act of riding a horse itself was a rare case.”
Hmm? Rare? Riding a horse? He says strange things. As if there were other means of transportation besides horses. His words are odd.
He occasionally makes such otherworldly statements. His cooking itself is so otherworldly that it doesn’t stand out, but he has areas where he’s unworldly and areas where he’s strangely smart. More and more mysterious.
“Come here.”
Aeclys reaches out her hand to Shuri. Shuri grabs that hand.
What is this? It looks like a dramatic scene of a knight princess and a prince from a story?
Hmm… Aeclys is too handsome. Because of that, Shuri’s handsomeness seems diminished. It would feel more fitting if their genders were reversed.
“Okay.”
Shuri, if you take that hand, I feel like you won’t be able to turn back…
And so we depart.
The purpose of this outing is for Aeclys to meet her birth mother. Aeclys’s birth mother, who had been missing until now, is reportedly a woman named Anby Sounité. Apparently, the two who were exiled were not allowed to go abroad, but they couldn’t interfere with anyone in the country, nor could anyone interfere with them, so they were pushed into a place where they couldn’t do either.
It would be troublesome if they met someone and conspired, and it would be troublesome if they allied with lords or royalty in foreign countries and started a rebellion. That’s probably it. It can be said to be the correct measure.
The path leads out from the initially flat highway into the forest, and apparently there’s a dilapidated church deep inside. It’s quite a distance that will take some time.
Shuri and Aeclys are riding double on a horse, while I’m walking.
Regardless of Shuri, Aeclys is not weak in her legs and back, and although the forest path is somewhat trodden, the horse is still essential given the distance.
But I train my body daily, and for the sake of the princess, I’ve mastered martial arts, combat techniques, and even stealth techniques, so this distance is no problem for me.
I have more confidence in my physical strength than the average soldier. In fact, I’m stronger than incompetent soldiers.
“Hang in there, Shuri! We’re almost there!”
“Y-yes…”
Yes, I can definitely say I’m stronger than that cook over there. In fact, in pure hand-to-hand combat, I could probably handle anyone except Kuuga. With magic and magic engineering included, I might struggle against Arius and Lill. That’s how confident I am in my abilities.
Still… what a pathetic sight…
I think it’s a man’s duty to master horsemanship and martial arts. Rather, in today’s world of constant warfare, mastering these should be the way to survive. You never know where threats to your life might come from, so you should at least have means of self-defense.
But Shuri has no combat skills in his arms. What he has is culinary skill.
And the quick wit to use that skill.
I’m made to realize that this kind of strength exists too. After all, he has the power to survive well in this era of constant warfare. Not the power to harm enemies, but the power of skills to support allies. He has that.
“Are you okay?”
“No, my butt hurts.”
“Shuri, have you never ridden a horse before?”
Shuri nods affirmatively.
“Ah, you’re not used to horses.”
“…Is that bad?”
“Yeah, by the standards of people on this continent, it’s uncool.”
Aeclys, you shouldn’t say that to a man… Shuri’s eyes are tearing up. It’s pitiful how his confidence as a man seems about to crumble.
“Um, Shuri.”
“Yes…?”
“Men shouldn’t show their tears.”
…Why aren’t these two’s genders reversed?
If Aeclys were male and Shuri were female, I think it would be just the right picture.
…What if they were both men?
Ah! I feel like I can see a new door! But if I open it, I don’t think I can go back, so I’ll lock it without opening it.
“Aeclys. You look cool.”
Shuri’s words, squeezed out, were mixed with pride trying to maintain itself at the limit and sarcasm that somehow came out. It’s probably a last-ditch effort at revenge.
Stop it, Shuri. That ruined smile mixing guilt, sadism, and masochism. It’s very scary.
“Hehe, I’m happy to hear you say that.”
And so, the revenge was meaningless, and Shuri’s self-esteem was shattered to pieces by the strong comeback! Ah, it’s heartbreaking to watch…! Shuri’s eyes have become as empty as a black void!
That’s a face I’ve seen before…! It’s the same face as a soldier just before dying in despair!
“…So, why is Eutine here?”
Ah! This is to redirect the conversation to me in order to protect his self-esteem that’s about to be shattered!
“The princess said, for just, in case.”
But with this opinion, it should be alright.
The princess also said, “Shuri is somewhat simple-minded! This will deceive him!”
I will accomplish the role given to me as my duty.
“Isn’t your role to protect the princess in case of emergency?”
…When you say that… it’s troubling.
“…In case of, emergency.”
“I understand. I won’t complain if you’re going to protect us.”
Phew, it seems I managed to deceive him. I broke out in a bit of cold sweat.
Shuri turned to face forward and asked Aeclys.
“So, Aeclys. This time we’re going to meet Garn’s mother and your mother, right?”
Shuri said as if confirming. To paraphrase the princess’s thoughts, “If we let them go like this, it would just be a simple family introduction, wouldn’t it? It’s not as if he’s going to ask for the young lady’s hand in marriage or anything, but still, I can’t allow such a casual meeting to happen.”
Anxious about going alone… I think Shuri decided to come along because he understands that feeling.
Parents… huh. It’s a feeling I don’t understand.
No, if I were to call the princess who took me in, the captains, and my comrades family, I could say so without any denial.
But I don’t understand blood-related parents. Do they have to be blood-related? Do you have to live within the lineage recorded in the family tree to fit into the framework of family?
No good, I don’t have time to think about such things. I need to focus on guarding.
“Yeah… I’m anxious too. I haven’t seen my mother for a long time. I don’t know what kind of face I should make.”
“I think you should smile.”
…Smile? Shuri said while counting on his fingers.
“Whether it’s ‘I’m home’ or ‘welcome back’ or ‘long time no see’… anyway, why don’t you start by smiling and greeting?”
Starting with a greeting.
I wonder what Shuri is talking about? It can’t be such a simple matter.
If everything ended with a greeting, there wouldn’t be such a simple story.
“…It’s not such a simple matter…”
“Of course it’s not. I talked about a difficult matter. I didn’t talk about anything simple.”
Eh?
“But I don’t think there’s any reason not to do it just because it’s difficult. Don’t think of it as for the sake of reconciliation or repairing relationships. It’s for your own closure.”
“Closure?”
Not for the other person, but for oneself…
Before I knew it, I was also listening intently to Shuri’s words. There’s some mysterious charm in Shuri’s words that attracts people.
“You’re making a decision within yourself. First, settle things with your past self. I say ‘settle’, but if you’re not harboring hatred towards each other, the distance will naturally close.”
Is that so? I try to think about it while standing next to Shuri who’s talking.
I understand it’s not a simple matter. A parent and child who have been separated for a long time are reuniting, so who knows what developments await. Even I, who doesn’t know what parents are, can easily imagine.
But isn’t it unknown for both the parent and the child?
Maybe Shuri can say this because Aeclys and her mother don’t hate each other. I wonder how it is, I don’t know what feelings the mother harbors towards Aeclys.
No, Shuri understands. He’s sure that they both want to meet each other. That’s why he said it.
If they don’t hate each other, let’s reunite with a smile.
…Sometimes Shuri surprises me.
I thought he was always vague, but he says such profound words like this.
Maybe his usual attitude is a disguise and he’s actually an intelligent person. I can’t imagine it at all from his usual behavior, though.
“…Yeah, thank you, Shuri. I feel a bit more courageous now.”
The color returned to Aeclys’s face as well.
I suppose she’s recovered her spirits a little. If that’s the case, Shuri is quite an impressive person.
“Thank you.”
In response to Aeclys’s thanks as she turned around, Shuri’s pride as a man seemed to be slightly wounded, but let’s pretend I didn’t notice. Honestly, they might as well swap genders.
“What god does this church worship?”
“God, of course.”
“No, I mean, what kind?”
“? God is God. There’s no other, right?”
“I thought there would be names, doctrines, and such.”
“In a world like this, people just pray to God for now. There used to be a headquarters that unified the churches, but it’s gone now. The great powers of the time disliked religious donations and attacked and destroyed it.”
Shuri and Aeclys are having some conversation, but it didn’t reach my ears. As I looked at our destination that we finally reached after walking for so long, I was filled with deep emotions. Of course, I have no attachment to this place, but it reminded me of a similar scene.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a church like this.
I too was once raised as an orphan in a church. Though I don’t know my parents’ faces, there were people who raised me, in a way.
But the church where I was raised was just keeping children under house arrest. We weren’t given proper education or meals. They were just keeping us alive so we wouldn’t die.
And when we grew up to a certain extent, adults would come from somewhere and take us away.
I found out later that we were apparently being taken to bad mercenary groups as human shields. The church people were in cahoots with them, collecting children for money.
At the time, I didn’t know the details, but I just didn’t want to be taken away by scary adults, so I ran away from the church and did anything to survive. Except for prostitution, I did everything including killing and stealing to live.
And in the end, I was captured by the captain, met the princess, and here I am.
I don’t know what’s become of that church now. I’m not involved, and I haven’t reunited with any of the children who were there. We were together, but there was no sense of camaraderie, so I never thought to do anything about it. I haven’t visited that church even once since then.
Maybe because we were fighting over the scarce food for meals. That place was hell. There were times when we had to bring down the kid next to us to survive.
So, I have no good memories of churches. Rather, they’re something to be avoided.
“The churches remained, but there are no donations or followers. Now, only a handful of devout believers maintain the churches on their own. Even so, the priests who can manage with that are loved by everyone and even raise orphans.”
If only I could have been in such a church, my life might have been different. Hearing this, I almost sneered in the shadows.
So reality wasn’t so kind, huh? I guess I was just unlucky.
It’s laughable. Sure, such churches exist, but in reality, there are also churches that sell children. There are evil churches that plunder in the name of faith, and churches that are no different from armed groups.
What Aeclys doesn’t realize is that there are facilities that lords and countries aren’t aware of, churches that are nothing more than child detention facilities or donation extortion facilities.
…Let’s stop. There’s no point in dwelling on such dark thoughts.
It’s all in the past now. I’m no longer the person who was there.
“But the church we’re going to now is only a church in name; in reality, it’s more like a hideout for the lord’s family. And now, it’s the place where my mother and Garn’s… brother’s mother are confined.”
Yes, in the end, churches can be left for such purposes.
Probably, there isn’t even a priest there. Just the bare minimum necessary for living. It’s appalling to hear for a church.
Thinking about such things, we arrived in front of the church, and Shuri got off the horse and looked around.
It shouldn’t be anything unusual, but he’s looking around with interest.
However, only Aeclys didn’t try to get off the horse.
“Aeclys?”
“…I’m scared to meet them, after all.”
“Aeclys…”
Indeed, Aeclys’s fear, or perhaps hesitation is a better word.
Such hesitation was still there.
Even if encouraged, this depends entirely on her own first step. Neither I nor Shuri can do anything about it.
“Aeclys, you don’t need to be so afraid…”
As Shuri approaches Aeclys with concern, I immediately sense a presence and turn around.
A woman’s figure, opening the door and staring at us intently.
A woman with silver hair reaching down to her waist, somehow resembling Aeclys in atmosphere.
Though her clothing is no different from that of a farmer, it’s been properly washed and ironed.
Ah, I see. I understand everything.
I return the hand I had been reaching towards my waist and decide to watch how things unfold.
From here on, it’s not something I should be involved in.
“Aeclys!?”
The woman passes by me and Shuri, approaching Aeclys on the horse.
“Aeclys?! Is that you, Aeclys?!”
“Huh? Huh?”
“It’s me, Aeclys! Anby Sounité!”
So, it is her after all.
I decided to watch silently. Shuri, on the other hand, is frozen in surprise.
“Are you… my mother?”
“Yes! Aeclys, it really is Aeclys… Thank goodness… I’m so glad… to see you…”
Yes, this woman is Anby Sounité.
Aeclys’s mother. The person we came here to meet.
“I thought you had been exiled too… but…! It seems that’s not the case…! I’m so glad… you’re safe…!”
“Mother!”
Aeclys dismounted from the horse and embraced Anby.
She hugged her tightly and cried.
Unlike earlier, her face showed no anxiety or fear.
She was simply smiling and crying.
Shuri, you were right. If they can laugh together in the joy of reunion, it’s enough for these two.
Watching them draw close as if to fill the gap of all these years, I think to myself.
So this is what family is, I wonder.
When the two of them calmed down, we were guided inside.
The interior is no different from the church I used to live in. Several pews are lined up, with a platform and desk at the end.
They say that in the olden days, when churches were in their prime, people would receive doctrinal teachings and offer prayers in places like this.
But I don’t understand. In the place where I lived, I don’t remember anything like that happening, and it’s not hard to imagine what would have been done to me if I hadn’t run away. Sold, used as a human shield, or exploited. Something like that.
Well, it’s also true that I don’t remember much because it’s in the past now.
It’s not that I forgot because it was painful. I forgot because it didn’t matter.
But when I see this interior, I remember a little bit.
A dark room, children dressed in shabby clothes, glittering eyes targeting the scarce food in the darkness… Myself struggling to survive among them.
Let’s stop, there’s no point in remembering such things.
“Madam, why did you suddenly go outside…!”
Lost in thought, I see a maid coming out of the waiting room.
A woman wearing a well-worn maid’s uniform. But this person also had a familiar look.
She resembles Garn Labor.
“Could it be… Lady Aeclys…?”
“Yes, Marielle! Aeclys is alive! She’s wearing men’s clothes for some reason, but she’s safe!”
So this is Marielle Labor, Garn Labor’s mother. No wonder I thought she resembled Garn. However, I didn’t expect these two to be under house arrest in the same place. No, originally she had a deep relationship with Anby. She might have been pushed into the role of a glorified caretaker.
Still… glancing at Aeclys, I see her smiling wryly.
It’s impossible to say that after wearing men’s clothes for so many years, she’s become a woman who only suits men’s clothes. It’s also not easy to say that she herself has come to like it.
“Is that so… Thank goodness…! I’ll prepare some tea right away! Please have a seat over there.”
Saying this, Marielle brought chairs and a table from the waiting room.
The pews here and the desk on the platform aren’t suitable for conversation, naturally.
While Shuri and Aeclys are whispering about something, I have something to do.
I need to investigate this facility.
It’s strange to begin with. That the lord’s consort and concubine are confined in this place.
Certainly, this facility is supposed to function as a refuge for the lord, disguised as a church. If so, it wouldn’t be strange to think there might be hidden passages for stockpiling or escape. If they used those, it wouldn’t be strange if they could escape from here.
It might be impossible with just the two of them.
But something feels off.
It’s strange to begin with that there’s a church in the middle of the forest.
Here, they can’t gain believers for their faith, nor can believers come to worship.
Obtaining donations through faith. And using it for charity work. The location and function of this facility don’t even assume such basic religious activities.
It’s too inconsistent.
I left the place while they were engrossed in conversation.
The talk seems like it will be long. There’s time.
Waiting room, confessional, office, bedroom… I investigate various places.
But here, I noticed.
This place severely lacks the functions necessary for a religious institution.
There are no symbols of doctrine, and no doctrinal books in the office.
Indeed, as expected, this is a church in name only.
And this is not a refuge facility for the lord.
It’s a facility to house exiles from the lord’s family. In other words, this is an isolation facility.
The reason I came to this conclusion is that upon investigation, I found there are no hidden passages for evacuation or warehouses to secure sufficient stockpiles of food. There are rooms of decent size, but it’s far too unreliable to welcome the lord’s family or serve as a last stronghold.
“I see.”
I finish my investigation and record it in the pen and paper I had hidden.
It’s more correct to think that they didn’t escape, but couldn’t escape. There’s no evacuation route, and it’s far from any village. They can’t go to town, and being in such a place, they can’t prepare to go to another country either. And considering that their children are still in town, there’s no option to escape.
…Still, it’s strange.
I’m certain this is an isolation facility, but if they were going to make a facility modeled after a church, there must be a reason why they had to isolate them to this extent.
Is it correct to think that in the past, there were 『relatives who had to be dealt with this way』, or was there a 『person who had to be contained』? It’s just speculation, but let’s consider this hypothesis.
What on earth did this 『person』 do? Kill a relative, or… did they learn something they shouldn’t have known? Or simply lose a power struggle?
…There are no traces or records of anything like that in the bookshelves of the office or in other rooms. No diaries or record books either.
Just to be sure, I checked again for hidden passages, hidden stockpiles, or hidden assets to prove that this isn’t an isolation facility, but I couldn’t find any.
What on earth happened here? Or was it built because something happened?
…It’s no good, there’s too little information. I can only report to the princess what I’ve seen and investigated.
Fortunately, I’m here under the pretext of being Shuri’s guard. If Shuri goes back, I’ll go back too.
I don’t think Shuri will interrupt the family reunion. We’ll probably be going back soon.
It’s about time I’ve been away from that place for too long. I should go back.
I thoroughly erase all traces of my intrusion and return to the original place.
Just mysteries… I’ll consider it good that I understood that much.
If I report this to the princess, she should be able to make some deductions.
I’ll believe in that.
When I return to where Shuri and the others are, Shuri was heading to another room.
This feeling… could it be cooking?!
I follow Shuri stealthily, hoping for that.
Fortunately, no one has noticed… For some reason, Shuri has the ability to sense my presence, but this time it seems okay.
Following Shuri, I enter the kitchen where he’s selecting ingredients.
“I guess I’ll make some fried rice.”
“Fried rice…!?”
Oh my, fried rice it is. Fried rice!
I wait behind Shuri with sparkling eyes. I’m ready for any taste test or sampling!
Shuri seems to have noticed I was behind him and turned around to say:
“Shouldn’t you be guarding Aeclys and the others?”
Ha! Shuri is looking at me with a disappointed gaze! It’s okay, I have a proper reason.
“I was asked, to protect, Shuri.”
But I have the strongest excu… reason!
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no! You should be protecting Aeclys more than me!”
Shuri is desperately arguing.
But, Shuri. Those words are a bit off.
“…You haven’t, noticed.”
Yes, Shuri hasn’t noticed.
“Huh?”
Shuri’s own value. Shuri’s own importance.
Shuri himself doesn’t understand.
To Shuri, who looks surprised, I said seriously:
“I move, on the princess’s, orders. The princess’s order, is to protect Shuri. And, the princess, doesn’t give meaningless orders.
The princess has judged, that at this stage, Shuri’s life is more valuable, than Aeclys’.”
To put it simply, the princess said that Shuri’s safety is necessary for this era.
A catalyst or drastic medicine needed precisely because of these chaotic times. Or perhaps a cure.
Moreover, for everyone in the Gungrave Mercenary Group, they’re protecting Shuri as a necessary existence.
Without Shuri, the Gungrave members would be in the most trouble.
He’s a necessary existence both for his cooking skills and as a person.
Shuri’s easygoing, innocent, and natural demeanor.
That personality binds the hearts of the Gungrave members and reassures them.
That’s why they’d be in trouble without Shuri.
The end or stagnation of the war, using the Gungrave members.
Because the princess’s ideas would no longer work.
“Anyway.”
Well, he himself is completely unaware of such things.
He looks like he can’t believe it, then makes a dubious face.
“I’m going to cook now, so don’t get in the way…”
“I won’t. I absolutely won’t. I have no intention, of doing so, at all.”
“Can I trust you?”
Shuri doesn’t seem very convinced, so I said:
“If I can eat, fried rice.”
At that moment, fear appeared on Shuri’s face. Why? Somehow, it’s as if he’s seeing something akin to the source of fear in me? Is it my imagination?
“…Oh well.”
The words that came out of Shuri’s mouth in a mumble.
Those words felt like they were finally squeezed out after tremendous inner conflict, or like resignation… anyway, like words spat out based on a will that was forcibly solidified after an extraordinary conflict. But no matter what he says, Shuri’s cooking skills are amazing.
Since he started cooking, he’s been moving smoothly without pause. It’s as if he’s grasping three or four future actions within one movement. There’s absolutely no waste in his movements.
He checks the leftover rice, confirms the ingredients, and instantly constructs the cooking procedure in his head.
He really seems to intend to make fried rice, and started by mixing rice and eggs and stir-frying them.
Not grilling, nor boiling.
He stirs the ingredients on the heated pan.
I once asked the princess if there was any meaning to this technique.
Then the princess insisted:
“What are you saying! That has…”
After that, she went on and on until I got tired.
In short, I understand it’s different, so that’s fine.
And I well understood that Shuri’s technique is exceptionally amazing.
After all, even now as he’s performing this cooking method called stir-frying, he skillfully and beautifully mixes the ingredients. I was surprised to see the ingredients flying from the pan in beautiful arcs.
To be honest, even when I see the cooking method, I can only recognize it as just cooking, but even I, who lacks an aesthetic eye, can tell it’s amazing.
That’s the kind of person Shuri Azuma is.
While I was watching, it seems the cooking was completed.
Ah, beautiful golden fried rice.
The more I look at it, the more delicious it looks…
I want to eat it. I really want to eat it…
“Here, I’ll give some to Eutine too, so be quiet.”
I grab the plate before Shuri’s words are finished. I can’t wait.
Ah, it looks delicious. It looks… delicious.
I immediately scoop up the rice with a spoon and stuff it in my mouth.
Oh, it’s wonderful.
First of all, the point of adding chicken is excellent.
In these times, meat is a rare and luxurious item.
But depending on the type of meat, its value changes.
Well, to put it simply, chicken and birds are generally cheap.
Except for duck, they’re not very popular. Why? Because duck has fat and is delicious, but chicken meat is usually from old hens that have stopped laying eggs and are slaughtered for the market. Those are generally not tasty.
For some reason, Aeclys is obsessed with karaage, which is made with chicken.
But the chicken used in this has been properly prepared, it’s tender, and I can taste a flavor of poultry I’ve never known before.
The umami of that bird spreads throughout the rice and all the ingredients, with a faint sweetness of fat and the original umami of the bird.
I never thought it would create such a taste.
Also, meat originally has an odor.
But salt, pepper, and green onions completely eliminate that odor, leaving only the umami.
And eggs. This is necessary. Absolutely necessary.
Fat by itself can be… heavy. But the eggs coat each grain of rice like a film, eliminating that heaviness.
And it also helps the salt and pepper blend well with the rice grains.
Yes, salt and pepper.
Normally, you’d use a lot of salt and pepper, but here they’re used in small amounts to tighten the flavor.
That balance is also exquisite, bringing out the full flavor of the ingredients.
That’s fried rice.
That’s justice.
『Yes, that’s justice.』
Hm? For a moment, I thought I heard Lill’s voice… Was it my imagination?
Well, never mind.
I deliberately ignored the mysterious words echoing in my head and devoured the fried rice.
Yeah, it’s still delicious.
By the time I finished eating, my body was overwhelmed by satisfaction and a sense of euphoria from being full.
It’s not unpleasant, so I indulge in it for just a moment.
“As expected, it’s delicious”
I muttered this and quietly placed the plate and spoon on the counter.
“Thank you, for the meal.”
I said this with my hands together.
This is a gesture Shuri taught me. I don’t know the details, but I think it’s to express gratitude to the ingredients and the cook.
If so, I need to do this.
Because it’s my new favorite food that Shuri made for me. I’m very satisfied.
After placing the finished plate and spoon in the washing area, I peek at Aeclys and the others from the kitchen, and Anby and Marielle seem satisfied too. That’s proof it’s delicious.
Seeing this, I raise my evaluation of Shuri even further.
His cooking is good enough for nobles.
If the princess is satisfied, there’s no way other nobles, royalty, or lords wouldn’t be satisfied.
“Well then, I’ll clean up.”
“Ah, Shuri. I’ll do it.”
“Marielle, please wait. Cleaning up is the responsibility of the person who cooked.”
Shuri declined Marielle’s offer with a smile, collected the plates from the table, and brought them here.
This is bad, if I’m found here unnaturally, they might suspect I’ve been investigating!
In that case, I’ll switch places with Shuri… or so I thought, when the church doors opened.
The one who opened them forcefully was Kuuga.
“Found you, found you, somehow made it here.”
Kuuga strode up to Shuri… and stopped when he saw Anby and Marielle.
“Is this Aeclys’s mother, Shuri?”
“Yes, that’s right. But Kuuga, why did you come here?”
“Hm? Well, about that. But before that…”
Kuuga passed by Shuri and stood in front of Aeclys, then bowed.
This is surprising. For a senior official of the current Sounité ruler to bow his head to the former lord’s concubine…
“Nice to meet you, I’m Kuuga. I’m an executive in Sounité.”
“That dialect… the intonation of your name… from the east?”
“Yeah. I don’t remember, but somehow I’ve taken a liking to this way of speaking.”
Kuuga raised his face and said:
“I apologize for the rudeness to you, Madam Concubine.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Originally, we should have welcomed you and carried you in triumph. Please forgive us for not doing so.”
“Are those the words of that Gungrave person?”
“It’s the consensus of Gungrave and us captains. In other words, you can take these words as Gungrave’s own.”
Sparks seemed to fly between the two.
Depending on how you look at it, it’s extremely rude behavior.
But Anby smiled wryly and said:
“I see, then I’ll take it as such.”
“That’s mighty kind of you.”
“There’s no point in making a fuss now, it’s not like I can become a person of power.”
“That’s right.”
“Besides, it’s more meaningful to protect me here in this forest, isn’t it?”
“You were aware?”
“My mind still works, you know.”
After this brief exchange, Kuuga turned to face Shuri.
“Come on, we’re going back, Shuri.”
“Huh? Now?”
“Yeah, now. Aeclys, if you’re done here, will you be coming back with us too?”
“Um, I…”
“Aeclys should stay.”
Anby said.
“I want to talk a bit more, just parent and child.”
At those words, Kuuga thought for a moment.
“…I see. So, what should we do?”
“To begin with, isn’t it fine if I don’t go back?”
“Without you, our cooking lacks a certain something.”
“But Garn and the others are still there, right?”
“Ah, well… It’s not bad. It’s not bad. It’s better than before. But still, without Shuri, it feels incomplete.”
“Is that so… Then, shall we leave it to Eutine and go back?”
Whaaaat?!
I couldn’t sit still and came out of the kitchen.
I try to keep calm, but I’m not confident I’m succeeding.
That’s how shocking Shuri’s words were.
“No, I am, Shuri’s, guard.”
“There’s someone you need to guard more than me, right? I need to go back once, so I’m leaving this place to you.”
In the end, Shuri left me to guard Aeclys and went back…
I’m scared of the scolding I’ll get from the princess when I return…💬 2
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