CH 331

The next day after completing the request.

Today we’re supposed to make a third visit to the theater to finish up. As of yesterday, we’ve almost solved the problem, so all that’s left is the ghost …… That’s what I’m thinking, but there’s one thing I need to make sure of.

So I waited alone in the living room while everyone was still asleep.

“Well, thank you for your hard work today ～♪ I’ve been tearing up and throwing away all the work I’ve done ～♪ Haa!”

“You’re even whispering the chorus of the song …… You’re really skillful ……”

“Uwaaah!? Lars-kun!? How long have you been there!?”

“No, I was up first, so I was there from the start. Are you going to leave already?”

I offered Basleigh-sensei a cup of coffee, and she sat down in her chair, took a sip, took a breath, and opened her mouth.

“Well, I have some time. We have horses too. So, why were you waiting for me?”

“Well, I think it’s okay, but just in case, the two robbers from Sandiola. I want you to make sure if they’re members of the Gospel’s Descent. I couldn’t be there to confirm it in front of everyone, after all.”

“I see, I see, that’s certainly something to be concerned about. I understand, I’ll conspire with my brother to check it out.”

“You don’t have to say it in such a disturbing way. I’m sorry, but I’ll leave it to you, we’re going to the theater in the meantime. My brother and the others will be watching over the house today as well, but I’ll try to make it so that we’ll be home for dinner as soon as possible.”

“Okay. If you’re going to feed the Dedite-kun and the others, it should be hamburgers and fried chicken ……!”

“I’m going to do that. Well, I’ll make a smaller hamburger for Basleigh-sensei, though.”

When I said that, she left a mysterious moan saying “Fuguu ……” and headed for the castle. She put the baked bread in her mouth, thinking she was going to eat it.

“Now …… I guess I’d better get breakfast and dinner ready.”

I stretched out in my chair and went to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast. Fath-san would probably be the first to wake up, followed by Makina. I cut the bread while preparing the tea and coffee, and cut the tomatoes while making the scrambled eggs. Aina likes tomatoes, it’s not as great as Dad’s tomatoes, but this is not bad either.

“Mu, you’re early, Lars.”

“Oh, Fath-san. There’s tea there.”

“Fuah …… Huh!? Wasn’t it my turn to do breakfast!?”

“Haha, I woke up a little early, so I’m making it.”

I smile at the surprised Makina and she takes a couple sips of coffee before joining me in preparing breakfast.

Aina, Urka, and my brother, who woke up shortly after, joined Nora for breakfast, and we fed Schneider, Radia, and the horses.

We spent the rest of the day training Makina and playing in the yard with Aina and the others until the designated time, when I called out to them just afternoon.

“It’s time to go, let’s go. It’s still light, I’ll carry Ash, and Makina will take care of the little snow tiger. Sephiro if fine on my shoulder or head, right?”

“!”

“Lars, you’re really like a tamer now. Magic, swords, and taming, you’re amazing.”

“It’s just a matter of time, but I want to do what I can. They’ve grown quite fond of me, so I can’t just ignore them.”

“Kuoon♪”

As I walked out the door, Urka smiled and said so, and I replied while patting Ash. 

“Have a good day! I’ll take care of Schneider and the others.”

Nora sees us off at the door, and we walk through the brightly lit town to the theater. People on the street looked at us, wondering what was going on with the number of people, but when Aina smiled and waved, they all waved back with a smile on their face. It’s a benefit that she’s cute ……

Now, while enjoying such a harmonious daily life, we went to Kleinert-san’s place. We were ushered into the office through the back door, and it was Kleinert-san who started the conversation. Helena was at a concert and Milfy was practicing, so she wouldn’t be here today.

“Well, I’d like to talk to you now, but first I’d like to thank you. I want to thank you for what you did yesterday, you saved my life. This is the reward for my request.”

He then placed the case on the table and opened the lid to reveal a sum of money that was more than the original commission. Urka’s eyes widened in surprise, and I was surprised too, so I called out to Kleinert-san.

“Isn’t that a bit much ……? Me, Makina, Fath-san, and Urka, and this amount is …… Oh, I guess that includes Helena and Milfy.”

“No, this is for the four of you. I’m giving them a separate increase in the form of a salary.”

“Seriously ……”

A quick look shows 200,000 beryls per person. The request itself was originally 200,000 beryls, so it quadrupled in size.

I said that this was too much for three days, but Kleinert-san didn’t back down because he had saved my life and solved my case.

“I’ll take you up on your offer. So, where’s Maido and the others?”

“About that …… The two robbers were taken to the castle, so I don’t know what happened to them, but Maido and the others were fined and banned from the theater. I stopped there because Chucks is not a peddler and Hanza seems to have no additional crimes beyond stealing some small items. Maido, the main culprit, was fired, of course, but I’m supposed to get him a job with someone else I know.”

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that was a pretty lenient ruling for a punchline. This seems to have gotten through to Kleinert-san, who scratches his head and lowers his shoulders at me.

“Well, I didn’t check well enough, and they’ll be under scrutiny for some time to come, both professionally and personally. They have promised to reflect on their actions, so I’ve decided to call them fans who have gone too far.”

“Well, if the owner is okay with it, then it’s no problem. It must be painful for them that they can’t get near the theater. Anyway, do you have any plans to strengthen security in the future?”

“Yes–“

Fath-san laughed, referring to the punishment of Maido and the others, and asked about future security. They’re going to increase the number of them and the people they hire will be heavily penalized after a thorough investigation.

He also said that he would be recruiting from the guild and would be grateful if adventurers could come too. Well, I think it’s a good idea because we’re strong against rough stuff, and with the shining eyes of the guild, it’s hard for people to misbehave. The more of them there are, the better.

“–So, we’ve decided to change the theater every now and then and check them unannounced, so don’t worry. So, about the theater that I failed to mention, my father told me that a hundred years ago, and even longer ago, the town was not big, and there were villages all around here.”

Apparently, this was a time when the Reflexion Kingdom was still small, when there were more towns than territories, more villages than towns. The area where this theater stands had not yet been developed, and there were villages there. However, more than a hundred years ago, it was a time of repeated wars, and the village here, without exception, was caught in the crossfire.

The village was rebuilt many times, but each time it was overrun …… The ghosts that appear in the story are people who worked hard to protect the village, even though the times were different? That’s what Kleinert-san’s father told him ……

“…… It’s a sad story, isn’t it ……”

“Makina-oneechan, are you crying?”

Makina moistened her eyes and opened her mouth, while Aina called out to her with concern. It’s lonely and very sad. But thanks to those people, the country is made.

When he finished talking, I looked at Urka and he nodded with a smile on his face.

“I’m sure there are people wandering around who don’t even know they’re dead. I hope that with my [Spiritual Arts], I can make the ghosts wish come true.”

More time passes, and night falls on the theater again.

The final touch!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“There are times in life when you have to do things you don’t want to do. Especially in the past.”

Oh, you say goddess-like things once in a while.

“What do think I usually say!?”