CH 352

“I didn’t expect Fath-san to scold me.”

“I’m on Aina-chan’s side, after all. I know you had a hard time when you were five, and I understand the discipline part of not spoiling her, but I think that’s only if you live with her. If you were in the same house and were being selfish, you would have to be strict, but Lars and Ash are far away. It’s lonely when someone you love is no longer around.”

“Master, that’s …… Well, it’s fine.”

Fath-san smiled with a faraway look in her eyes. I wonder if she was talking about her husband or not, but Makina and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.

It is true that it is Aina’s selfishness that she wants to stay here, but since she is not living with us in the first place, she is too young to hold back her desire to live with the people and animals she loves, like me and Ash.

This is why Fath-san told me not to make her put up with so much, but to let her experience the joy that comes with it.

I thought it was for Aina’s own good that I didn’t spoil her, but when she said it might cause her to run off in the future, I felt it …… that it was time to reflect on how I could have done the same in my previous life.

“Now, let’s ask Nibiru to take care of you guys. Thank you very much, Radina. You made my life so much easier!”

“Kuoon!”

“Garrr.”

“Woof!”

We were talking about Aina, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the castle. We came up to the castle with Basleigh-sensei to work today for a meeting with the king of Sandiola.

Ash and the others were with me, and I could have them to stay and watch the house, but I brought them with me because my brother and the others were gone and I didn’t think there was enough time to leave them at the tamer facility. There’s always a chance that something might happen, after all.

“Oh, Lars! The monsters’ garden is looking good. I’m looking forward to it too.”

“Good morning, Nibiru-san. It’s still going to take a while to get the garden up and running, but we’ve got it all under control. I appreciate your help.”

“Don’t mind it, I’m enjoying my job as a tamer. Did the older brother and his wife leave?”

“Yesterday. They asked me to say thank you.”

“The wife’s skill were amazing, too …… I wish I could have seen more of it, but alas.”

Nibiru-san chuckled at that, and then took Radia and Schneider to the garden square.

“Is it fine taking Ash and Sephiro?”

“Well, we don’t know if they’re friends or foes yet, and His Majesty thinks that we should show them what we can do. This also means as a check on the other king, but Lars is also a tamer, so I don’t see a problem with it. I think Schneider would be a good choice, though.”

“I see, so that’s why we came fully equipped ……”

Makina mumbles as she touches her gauntlet and breastplate.

I’ve heard that you don’t bring weapons to meetings with other countries, but you do wear armor. I’ve also brought my Sargeblade and armor with me.

“In the meantime, the meeting will take place in the main conference room on the third floor. Please follow me.”

“Umu.”

“I-I’m getting nervous. ……”

“We’re probably just going to be there, so I think we should just sit back and watch.”

I walked through the castle with Sephiro on my shoulder and Ash in my arms. When Basleigh-sensei opened the door to the main conference room, I saw a round table with knights and ministers lined up against the wall.

“Hello, Lars-kun, Makina-chan. You’ve come with Basleigh-chan, haven’t you?”

“That’s the fastest way to get here, after all. Good morning, Himmel-san.”

After exchanging greetings with other acquaintances, such as Hawk-san and Eagle-san, who we fought together with at Luitzar, the King and Prince Orden also entered the main conference room and sat at the round table.

And–

“Welcome from afar, the Kingdom of Reflexion welcomes you, Afmand-dono.”

“No, I am very happy that you were able to come on such short notice. Albert-dono.”

–The man who sat down at the round table was Afmand, the king of Sandiola …… a man with slightly long silver hair and the same light brown skin as Helena. Am I the only one who sees the slit eyes and smiling mouth as a challenge?

“Now then, I’ve come here for one reason and one reason only. It’s about how to deal with those who sully the name of our country.”

“I’m sure the letter confirms that …… But why has the king himself come here? I’m sure it’s fine if you just send a messenger.”

“Hahaha, well, you’re right, but I’ve only just taken over the kingdom, haven’t I? I thought it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to say hello. Oh, I’m twenty-eight years old, and people say I look young, right? I’m surprisingly old. But from Albert-dono’s point of view, I’m considered a young man, so it might not be a good idea for me to take over at such a halfway age. I’ve decided that when I have children, I’ll do my best to live up to them, yes.”

“I-I see …….”

“He really talk a lot, huh ……”

The king’s eyes glittered, and then king Afmand spoke flippantly. The Prince Orden was muttering to himself in a slightly reluctant manner. He looks very handsome, but when he opens his mouth, he’s so light that you get the impression that he’s a third wheel. 

“Ahem!”

“Oops, that’s not good. Our minister is upset. Oh, this is the minister and my aide, his name is Abol, so please make his acquaintance. Isn’t it a brialliant bald head? But this one is clean shaven, well, in our country–“

“I’m sorry, Afmand-dono. Can you cut to the chase, please?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. The two robbers in Reflexion’s custody will be paid reparations. After that, we’d like to take them in and put them to work as slaves.”

Reparations and slaves, huh?

I think that’s a reasonable line of thinking, since Sandiola has not yet abolished slavery. In the worst case scenario, they may demand only the handover and not talk about reparations, or they may say something unintelligible, such as that the environment is bad enough for them to commit crimes …… Well, I heard that most of them are harassing people before declaring war.

For the time being, he’s probably planning to make them slaves and make them work for the reparations.

“So, Abol.”

“Very well, sir.”

At King Afmand’s words, his aide Abol brought out a considerable number of jewels on the table and presented them in front of him. Black diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires? You can tell at a glance that they are valuable.

“This is …… a bit much, I think ……”

“No, please accept it as a token of meeting you. I want to continue to have a peaceful relationship with the Reflexion Kingdom.”

“Fumu, If that’s the case, I’ll take it. Then can I hand them over when you return? I heard that you will be staying for about two days. It won’t be the same as yours, but you can take your time.”

“That’s fine.”

The king closed the conversation, and we were relieved that everything was going to be okay, but the king thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Nevertheless, a slave, huh …… It was abolished in our country a long time ago, but does Sandiola have no intention of abolishing them?”

“Let’s see, we have no intention of doing so for now. People who don’t have money become slaves to earn money, well, it’s like a guarantee. It’s better than starving to death because they can’t find work, don’t you think?”

Is that what this man thinks about slaves? But then, just as I was thinking that, Prince Orden raised his hand and made a statement.

“I am Orden, son of Albert of the Reflexion Kingdom. Afmand-sama, is it not possible for the country to create workplaces instead of forced labor as slaves? If you have gems like this, you can cultivate them. ……”

“Well, that’s one way to look at it. If you do that …… oh, no, it’s nothing. Sandiola’s policies may change, but as I said, I’m not thinking about it right now.”

“I see ……”

Prince Orden is a light-hearted but serious man, and he doesn’t seem to think slavery is a good idea. However, his opinion was rejected and he let out a sigh of silence.

…… At any rate, despite his appearance and tone, he has a characteristic that make him seem like you don’t what he’s thinking. He was smiling at Prince Orden’s question, but I wonder what he was about to say. 

More talks continue ……

Now, what is this young king thinking about ……?

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“Hmm, it smells fishy.”

Well, I’m trying not to catch it at this stage, after all.