“Gochisousama des.h.i.ta. It was delicious.”
“Really? I’m glad to hear it.”
The sun has set, and the fireplace is both warming and illuminating the room.
Mora and I are in the parlor of the main tower.
After realizing that we were both hungry, eating became our first priority.
Fortunately for us, the bandits had stockpiled a lot of foodstuffs, so we, erm, borrowed some.
Cooking dried meats and cheese over a fire, slicing bread, and boiling bean soup was, of course, all done by Mora. She finished everything so speedily that I didn"t have time to do anything. Let’s make sure to help her out next time……
I was so hungry that I didn’t have the leisure of tasting anything, but I got the feeling that what I had been shoveling down my throat was quite delicious. Condiments are probably much scarcer in this world, but many of the ingredients were so natural and fresh that I ate enough to surprise myself. The bread was hard and black though.
♥♦♣♠
“Well then, let’s try this again…..”
“Ah, yes.”
The conversation starts with me explaining my circ.u.mstances first. There are mountains of things about this world that I want to ask Mora, but I probably need to gain a bit more trust from her before that.
“I am from a country called Jiiteias that is so far away that it is probably beyond even one or two oceans.”
“Al……. right…… ”
Jiiteias is a country from the D&B campaign, and is actually the character Gio Margils’ birthplace. That’s why what I said was not a complete lie.
“As for the reason why I’ve come, even I am not sure. I think that most likely, I got caught up in some wizardry accident—ah, it might make more sense to you if I call it a magical accident. Due to that accident, I was blown all the way here, and while I was still unconscious, the mountain bandits captured me. At least, that is what I think happened.”
“I see……”
Mora is listening properly, but her face makes it obvious that she is not convinced. To her credit, even I think that my story sounds suspicious……
“Which is why in the eyes of people from around here—is this a country?—I might be a bit strange. However, I swear that I don’t intend people any harm, and that I’m not someone like Jyagul. That, at least, I really wish for you to believe.”
I then bow my head deeply towards Mora, to which she responds:
“...... Very well, I’ll believe you.”
“Thank you very much.”
“...... To be honest, half of it went completely over my head, you know? However, I really do think that you’re not an evil magician.”
“At this point in time, that is enough for me.”
I pat down my chest with relief. For now, let’s stick with this story while explaining to other humans.
“You’re really strange, Gio-san. You’re a magician, and even have a family name, but you’re still so kind to someone like me.”
“Back in my country, it is only natural to be kind to girls. Being a magician and having a family does not make someone great either……”
“At least in the city of Lelis where I live, only n.o.ble-samas have family names, and those who manage to become magicians are either n.o.ble-samas or, even if they are commoners, come from quite well-to-do families.”
As suspected, this is a medieval-like world. Social stratification appears to be alive and well.
“That sounds so different from my country…… Ah, this is also quite delicious.”
I take another sip of the tea that Mora had brewed—it is apparently called shil tea—and sigh appreciatively. It has a refreshingly bitter taste.
“Now, may I hear the circ.u.mstances behind how Mora-san was captured?”
Mora nods in response to my question, twisting her mouth once again into a へ shape.
Mora is the daughter of a commercial merchant based in Lelis city.
Lelis is a city state beside a gigantic lake called Lake Liuus that belongs to the Liuus Union, an alliance of small countries.
Mora’s father is someone who’s already built up a relatively large fortune, but he still frequently travels along with his caravans. Mora, too, often goes along to help her father.
While travelling over one of their usual highways, their caravan was attacked by mountain bandits. This happened yesterday morning.
Actually, this was not their first time coming across bandits. Rather, they meet some pretty much one out of every three trips they make. But usually, the bandits only demand a third of the merchant’s cargo and commodities as a ‘pa.s.sage fee.’ A third sounds like a very big loss, but even on safer roads, the tax levied by the local lords is about the same anyways, so the balance sheet ends up looking similar either way. Mora’s father just logs it all under ‘necessary expenses.’
This time, however, the bandits demanded all of the cargo and money that he had on him. Of course, there were guards travelling with the caravan, but their numbers were chosen with the a.s.sumption that the bandits would not be a problem, so they couldn’t put up any resistance at all. Furthermore, the bandits also kidnapped Mora, demanding 5,000 gold coins from her father as ransom money.
“After that, the bandits brought you to this fort?”
“Yes…… This is the first time that things had gone this far……”
Apparently, the mountain bandits who’ve been demanding pa.s.sage fee up til now are the exact ones who’ve been staying at this fort. So the question is, why did these (relatively) moderate bandits change their policy all of a sudden?
Oh, I can just dispel Jyagul’s petrification and ask him directly. But to be honest, I’m quite reluctant to do so.
According to Mora’s memory, I was thrown into my jail cell several hours before I awoke. When seen in that perspective, the timing was quite fortunate in regards to saving Mora.
“By now, I think that my father must have already arrived at the nearby village. Then, he’ll either be requesting the knights to rescue me, or preparing the ransom……”
“I see…… In that case, let us make haste tomorrow morning to reach this village as soon as we can.”
“Yes, please let’s do so.”
♥♦♣♠
“Seriously, what a crazy day it’s been.”
We’ve split up, me to the 2nd floor and Mora to the 3rd.
(T/N: Command room — him; private quarters — her. British counting, apparently.)
The moon that I can see from my windows looks the same as the one in my own world.
I finally have time to relax, but my mind is so full of thoughts. Due to the unfamiliar environment and actions that I am not accustomed to, I feel fatigue gathering all the way to the bottom of my heart.
What should I do if the mountain bandits come back? What method should I use to bring Mora home? And also, how am I going to make a living from here on?
Fortunately, the night is still young. Let’s take our time thinking through it all while drinking shil tea……
♥♦♣♠
“Goodness! What time do you plan to sleep until!”
“...... Hah?!”
The next morning came before I knew it.
I was slumped over the table in the command room when Mora came in to wake me up.
I had apparently nodded off while thinking about various things. Which means that I was completely defenseless for all of last night. I really need to be more careful.
“Breakfast is already done! Let’s eat it quickly and set off!”