CH 149

Volzard secretary

***---***

Although there was a grace period for having the internal situation of Resenburg stabilize, I was caught by Seraphima.

At Chowsk's palace, along with her two Idiot Brothers who had returned, I was treated to a very uncomfortable lunch.

Since Seraphima took care of my food, the other three people kept staring at me as if to curse me, and I didn't really know what I ate.

Even so, the invasion of Resenburg was stopped, so I decided to send Fred to scout the First Prince's faction and have the Kobold Corps keep an eye on Barshania's movements.

"Fred, I think that the horse that Camilla sent will come into contact with the First Prince's faction soon, so keep an eye on how they will move."

[ Understood ... Aside from the First Prince, I will keep en eye on Chief of Staff Torvil ... ]

"Also, the three main noble families."

[ Leave it to me ... ]

Even so, in addition to Camilla's case, if Seraphima's case is added, the chairman and the others may be seriously disgusted.

When I slipped into the shadows from Chowsk's palace, I involuntarily crouched down.

"Haa ... It's depressing to return to Volzard ..."

[ However, Kent-sama, is it okay not to tell your friend about Celia-jou? ]

"Ah ... That's right. I notified the garrison, but I didn't tell the key person, Takayama."

[ It would be better if you told him first. ]

"That's right. Well then, I'll go tell him ..."

Takayama exploded with joy when I went straight to the ramparts construction site and told him that Celia-san and Flosche-san were heading to Volzard.

"Yyyyyaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Takayama suddenly raised his arms and screamed, surprising the surrounding people, who stopped their construction work and turned their gazes to him.

"Ceeeeeeeeeliaaaaaaaaaa ..."

Without even having time to stop him, Takayama ran towards the castle gate.

No, she hasn't even arrived yet at this time, and at the earliest it would be evening ...

Celia-san, I wonder if it's okay to be like that ... I mean, it would be helpful if you could hold the reins firmly.

"Hey, Kokubu, what was that?"

"Ah, Oda-sensei, actually ..."

I was asked by Oda-sensei, who was among the people who were staring blankly, so I talked about Celia-san and Flosche-san.

"Hou, that Takayama, he had someone like that?'

"Ah, I see, the teachers were locked up in a different place."

The teachers were sent to a different facility than my classmates, so they didn't see Takayama and Celia flirting.

While meeting with Oda-sensei, I asked him to translate for the State Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"I see, so they're coming here to give greetings about the resource development we were talking about last time ... I understand. I will discuss this with the other teachers."

"Yes, please. I'll let you know when the exact date is decided."

When I was about to head to the guild after completing my business, Oda-sensei stopped me and asked me something unexpected.

"Wait a minute, Kokubu, about the next returnee. Please return either me or Katou-sensei."

"Eeehhh ... Is it a teacher?"

"Well, I understand how you feel, and to be honest, I don't want to kiss you either. However, even though the report was sent, it would not be a good situation to have no teachers to report back. I understand your feelings of prioritizing the return of the children, but Klaus-an warned me that unless a responsible adult returns ..."

"I understand. Then, tomorrow is the day of rest, so let's do it before noon on the day after tomorrow at the beginning of the week. But why Oda-sensei or Katou-sensei?"

"That's because I'm earth attribute, Katou-sensei is fire attribute, and Kokubu has already taken those attributes."

Nakagawa-sensei, who wanted to go home the most, had wind attribute, and Satou-sensei, who was my homeroom teacher, had water attribute, so they excluded them considering the burden on my body.

Senzaki-sensei and Ayako-sensei were earth attribute, but they were excluded due to mental weakness and being a trainee teacher.

Furudate-sensei was water attribute, and since he didn't want to go home, he was excluded.

I replied to Oda-sensei that I agreed, but honestly, I felt that the time had finally come.

After arriving at the guild, first ask Donovan-san ... I thought that, but in order to ask Donovan-san to act as an intermediary, I would have to talk to the receptionists, led by Fleur-san, since it's troublesome, I'll go directly to Klaus-san's place.

Luckily, Klaus-san was in the office when I knocked on the office door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Kent. May I have a minute?"

"Oh, it's open, so come in."

"Excuse me ... Huh? Why is Riche here?"

Beatriche was in Klaus-san's office.

"Recently, Kent-sama hasn't come to see me at all, so I am lying here in ambush."

Beatriche, who walked up to me leisurely, hugged me and kissed me on the cheek as usual.

Yeah, the original Idiot Father reflected in the corner of my vision is twitching.

"Kent-sama. What on earth is going on?"

"Eh, what?"

"It's not 'what'. You smell like another woman."

"Uuh ... Th, this is ..."

"Hey, Kent! Give an explanation that will satisfy me and Riche ..."

i was so caught off guard, I didn't think she would find out so quickly.

I forgot that Seraphima was snuggling up to me during lunch.

I was seated across the table from Klaus-san, and Beatriche sat to his right.

"Actually, I went to deliver iron to Barshania a while ago ... Well, at that time ... Seraphima, the daughter of Emperor Barshania, asked me to marry her."

"Haa ... What the hell are you doing ..."

"Of course, you refused, right?"

When I told them how I got engaged to Seraphima, Klaus-san was amazed and Beatriche stared at me, so it was really hard to continue.

"Of course, I said that I would refuse with a resolute attitude."

"You, are you going to start a fire between you and Barshania?"

"Even the Emperor, Constant, said something like war or marriage ... and so ..."

"Kent-sama!"

"Uhii ... I'm sorry ... It hurts ..."

Beatrice grabbed me and pinched my side.

Klaus-san on the other hand, was glaring at me with his arms crossed.

"So, did you decide to give up on Volzard and go to Barshania?"

"No way, my hometown is Volzard."

"Then, will the Princess of Barshania come to marry you?"

"Yes, if Resenburg stabilizes ... Also, it hurts, it hurts, Riche."

Beatrice pinched me to the point that I thought she was going to rip the meat out from my side.

"Kent-sama, did you report to Yuika-san and Manon-san?"

"No, that, still ..."

If the two of them join in this situation, and even Camilla's case is exposed ... Isn't it more of a pinch than when I was attacked by goblins?

Rather, Beatriche with a pouting face is cute too ... Well, it's not the time to think like that.

"Honestly, I would cut him down with my own hands if he touched another woman while still having Riche ... But, it wouldn't be a bad idea if he could form a relationship with Barshania."

"Papa!"

"Well, wait, Riche. If you're the Lord's daughter, then you should be able to understand the feelings of Princess Seraphima. How important the seemingly dull kid sitting in front you is ..."

When Klaus-san cut off his words, Beatriche nodded reluctantly.

"It's unforgivable as Riche's father, but I have to accept it as the Lord of Volzard. Or rather, Kent, what are you going to do about the house you live in?"

"Oh ... That's right. What should I do ..."

"Haa ... To someone like this, he's going to give his precious daughter as a wife, Barshania is probably also ..."

Rather, there is someone in front of me who is trying to marry off their daughter.

Even so, it's awkward to not have a home.

I was thinking of using a slightly larger apartment as a temporary residence, but it was quickly rejected.

"If you don't make it in time, I don't mind if you use a guest house temporarily ... Or rather, it will happen, but when it comes to the marriage of the Princess, there is likely a decent number of attendants. They can't fit in an apartment."

"Eh, the attendants are ..."

"She's the Princess of Barshania, so she might bring her bodyguards, maids, and maybe even a cook."

"Eeehhh ... I haven't heard about that."

"Idiot, that kind of thing is obvious. Needless to say."

"Haa ... How big of a house should I prepare?"

"Well, at the very least, you need a house with the same amount of rooms as the number of wives."

"Klaus-san, how much does a house cost?"

"Haa ... This kid wants to marry three or four people, it's the end of the world ..."

Klaus-san, with a stunned look on his face, promised to help me get a house and land.

"Speaking of which, Kent. Are you looking for a secretary?"

"Yes, but I won't choose from the guild receptionists."

"Don't worry, I found one."

"Eh, are you my secretary?"

"That is ..."

Klaus-san slid his gaze to the side.

"Eh, is it you, Riche?"

"Are you dissatisfied with me?"

"No ... But, what about school?"

"The graduation exam is already over, and I will be graduating in two weeks, so there is no problem."

Beatrice puffed out her chest as if to say that's how it is.

"Riche has been educated enough to not be an embarrassment as the daughter of a Feudal Lord. Not only about Landshelt, but also the surrounding countries has been taught. Moreover, you'll be together for a long time, so it won't be a problem, do you have anything to say?"

"Certainly, if it's Riche, her communication with Klaus-san is also perfect."

"If not for that, she was in a situation to go to the upper school in Bakkenheim, but Riche decided to stay for you. Be grateful, you bastard."

"Eh, is that so? Riche."

"Yes, but, I have decided that where I belong is by Kent-sama's side, so it is a natural decision."

Beatriche hugged my right arm and leaned her head on my shoulder.

Naturally, Klaus-san's forehead had blue streaks, and his mouth was distorted in a bad mood.

"Come to think of it, you said you delivered iron to Barshania. In other words, did you get Volzard's portion as well?"

"Yes, I have prepared iron equivalent to 100 corads, double the 50 corads you requested."

"Okay, Riche, you have to work right away. Arrange to buy the iron that Kent brought. No ... I'll be there too."

"As far as the purchase arrangement, I can do it by myself."

"No, it's just to see the iron that Kent brought. Isn't the smelting technology advanced?"

"Yes, even in Barshania it was evaluated as having a high degree of purity."

"Okay, carry the iron you brought to the training ground in the back."

Klaus-san tried to leave his seat, but please wait a moment.

"Klaus-san, before that, I have a little question for you ..."

"All consultations regarding women are rejected!"

"No, it's not about that, the Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs wants to visit Volzard, and I was wondering when it would be convenient for Klaus-san ..."

When I told Klaus-san that Japan wanted to develop resources and that the State Minister of Foreign Affairs wanted a meeting in relation to that, he sat down and began to think.

"If the schedule for the visit is the day after tomorrow, that would make it convenient for me. As long as there are no major problems, it'll be fine."

"Okay then, I'll check the schedule and let you know again."

"Resource development ... Well, let's hear about that from the Vice Minister."

Klaus-san didn't seem very enthusiastic about resource development.

Similar to Barshania, Landshelt was also facing problems with the power relations between the seven territories and the disparity between the rich and the poor.

Even so, if the economy of Volzard, which was even called the 'Farthest city', improved, Landshelt would welcome it.

At the training ground, there were Donovan-san, who called out to us on the way, Tebez-san, who was in charge of ore appraisal, and Reese-san, who heard about it from the Headquarters Guild.

Hey, Bran the Gigawolf has been staring at me along with his owner Ruija since a while ago, but they don't seem to be happy, right?

When everyone in the Kobold Squad carried out the rebars, the people who witnessed it had varying expressions on their faces.

The person who couldn't hide his excitement the most was Tebez-san, the appraiser.

"Amazing! This is amazing. There are rare high-purity ores produced in dungeons, but the purity is incomparable."

Hearing Tebez-san's words, Reese-san smiled and loosened her mouth, and Klaus-san, on the contrary, had a sour expression.

"Klaus-dono, you're not thinking of having Volzard monopolize this iron, are you?"

"What are you going to do if I say that's exactly what I'm going to do?"

"No then, Volzard is collecting high-purity iron, are you going to start with preparations for war ... Maybe I should ask the people around me as I walk ..."

"You fox ... But, even if I send it to another city, I can't sell it at the same price as ordinary iron."

"If you try to be too commercial ... It goes without saying for the Lord of Volzard."

There seemed to be a subtle power balance relationship between the Headquarters Guild and Volzard.

"Kent, I will decide the purchase price of this stuff and tell Riche, is that okay?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"Donovan, keep this iron in the warehouse."

"Understood."

"Now then, Reese-san. Would you like some tea?"

"Well, I've already decided on Kent as my companion for having a child ..."

"If you're just going to play around and refuse, that's fine, but I'll enjoy the delicious sweets alone."

"Fumu, it's not like a man to eat sweets alone, it can't be helped, I'll go with you ..."

I see, after this, the fox and the tanuki will begin making fun of each other.

In that case, maybe I should join in on the discussion.

"Kent, please decide the visit schedule of the Japanese Vice Minister as soon as possible. We can't afford not to make any preparations."

"Ah, yes, I'll get confirmation as soon as possible."

Klaus-san threw a glance at me as if telling me to go quickly.

It seemed that the delicious sweets was me.

Yes, yes, the delicious sweets won't be eaten and will go run errands.

[ Reinhardt, just take a peek. ]

[ Understood ... Well, Klaus-dono won't do anything bad ... ]

[ I don't think so, but it's probably about me, so it should be known. ]

[ Then, I will hear it in place of Kent-sama. ]

I told Beatriche that I would return to Japan and ask about the visit schedule of the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I went into the shadows.

Because Beatriche will be managing my schedule from now on, I'll have to make sure she understands all the issues I've accumulated so far.

I've instructed Hort to serve as Beatrice's escort and marker so that I don't have to look for her to find her.

When I went to the Investigation Headquarters in the Self-Defense Force's Nerima garrison, everyone was looking at the TV with a grim expression.

I thought that Funayama's father had done something wrong again, but it seemed that wasn't the case this time.

Kajikawa-san, who usually feels relaxed, was also looking at the TV with his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face.

"Kajikawa-san, did something happen?"

"Oh, Kokubu-kun, you're back. No, it's nothing to do with us, but there was a barricade incident. It seems that he broke into the bank with a pistol and took the staff and customers hostage and barricaded himself."

"Huh? Isn't that Heiwadai?"

The scenery projected on the TV was near Heiwadai Station, which I remembered.

"That's right, the Heiwadai branch of Yotsuba Bank was the scene, and the criminal was barricaded on the second floor with the hostages, and there were injuries reported in the media after being shot through the window."

Kanpachi-doori in front of the bank was blocked, and riot police with shields surrounded them from afar, according to media reports.

"The culprit seems to be one person, but he has a pistol, and he's holding seven women hostage, the police are trying to persuade him, but he seems agitated and refuses to talk."

When I turned my attention to the TV, I heard a dry pop and the screen shook.

A reporter wearing a helmet was talking about the situation with an excited voice.

[ Now I hear gunshots again, followed by a woman's screams. There is no indication that the shooter has shot outside. There is a possibility that a random shooting is taking place indoors. ]

Even though the TV screen, you could feel the tension at the scene.

"Didn't the culprit ask for anything?"

"He's asking them to bring him a stimulant and collect as much money as possible, but there's no way he'll be given a stimulant in this situation. They can't respond to rough requests."

Kajikawa-san was from the Cabinet Secretariat, so he was in a different field, so he was a general viewer, but Sudou-san and Morita-san, who were police officers, were watching the screen with a serious expression.

"Umm ... Sudou-san, would you like me to take a peek?"

"Eh, oohh, Kokubu-kun, can you go and see what's going on inside without the criminal noticing?"

"Yes, I can go unnoticed from the shadow space."

"I see, can you do me a favor? It would be helpful if you could just draw a diagram of the situation."

"The, I'll go there for a while."

My ability seemed to come in handy in unexpected ways.

I hoped this could be resolved before anyone was injured.