220 ① To Castle Town

15th of the White Moon.

I woke up with the sunrise. I would first face the sleeping face of an adorable boy rolling at the tip of my nose, and I was made to look up from the bottom of my heart.

I'm not a girl. It is a boy.

He has yellow-brown hair, a boy with a face as soft as a girl - Rudd-Lou.

(... er?

Staring at that dreadful sleeping face, I snap my memories.

After the dinner party that welcomed the Zulo-Sung, me and Ai-Fa were supposed to be at Luu's main house, and Barsha was supposed to reveal the night at Sin-Luu's house.

This is because the vacant house I usually use had to give way to Zuro-Sung et al.

Barsha must have fallen asleep while Shin-Luu and Lyada-Lu took turns providing security and surveillance.

The Zuro-Sungs should be treated in the same way by the Graf-Zazas, who were to remain in the settlement of Luu in the same way.

So - it's me and Ai-Fa.

Since there were no vacant rooms in Luu's main house, Ai-Fa was in Grandma Ziva's bedroom, and I was in the men's bedroom, each of which was supposed to get some sleep.

Just for the record, when I was separated from my bedroom with Ai-Fa, I was evoked with memories of a captive life full of distress up to a few days ago, and I had a rather difficult night's sleep - something that seemed to have fallen asleep at some point while still exchanging pompous words with my thoughtful Rudd-Lou.

From the window, the soft sunlight of the morning is slipping in.

Rudd-Lou, who is an early riser for the manhood, doesn't seem to wake up at exactly the same time as dawn either.

(... you're a really cute sleeping face)

I finally got my memories sorted out, and I blurted out thinking about that while I was asleep.

Originally a neutral face makes her look cute as a girl when she laughs defenselessly, but its appearance of resting peacefully as she moves her mouth like a munya and child didn't seem to take a pull at all in cuteness either.

(Well, if I told him that in person, he's gonna beat me up)

I switched positions on my back and, um, did a big nagging.

Then when I casually turned my eyes in the opposite direction, I was to be made to look up again.

On the other side, what a rolling sleeping face of Darum-Lou was.

(... Speaking of which, was this Mitsuhito in the same room?)

Because Lew's main house was a large family, roughly two of us lived in a single bedroom.

So, there are only these two unmarried men in the main house, so nothing is a strange combination.

However, the sleeping face of Darum-Lou deserved a surprise.

Wild wolfy eyes, naturally, are hidden in their eyelids.

A face full of force, usually tingling and not leaning on others, is now also serene.

So, long, pitch-black hair, like the women, rests on her cheeks and neck.

Speaking of which, minus the noisy eye of the father's concession, the facial construction is also a little unusual by the woods.

Besides - I knew he was Rudd-Lou's brother. The nose is high, the lips are thin, the cheeks, etc. are sharp and tight, but somewhere delicate, with soft lines remaining. It was an extraordinarily calm and healthy sleeping face, not feeling as neutral as Rud-Luu or Rau-Ray, but still inspired the sentiment that he was only a 19-year-old.

(... I feel like I've seen something I shouldn't)

When I think about it like that.

Darm-Luu's eyelids opened loosely.

The obscure glance of a semi-awakening looks at me from close range.

"... what are you doing, you?"

"Uh, no, um... normal habit, I woke up with the dawn"

I had to forbid cold sweat, but Darum-Lou's eyelids closed loosely again.

"... the men fit when they're still asleep. If you wake up, help the women..."

"Yes, we will."

It was time for me to wake up and open the door to make as little noise as possible and make my escape outdoors.

So I breathed, and the door in the next room teased open.

"Oh, Asta..."

"Good morning, Asta"

It was Vina-Lou and Raina-Lou.

They also seem to have woken up with the sunrise properly.

"Asta can still sleep...? We'll take the wash..."

And so on, Vina-Lou chewed up the yawn, "Ahhh..."

It is a Vina-Lou with full pheromones in the morning.

"No, once I wake up, I can't sleep any more, so this is the bottom of the dish -"

And, to tell you, I think the business in Inn Town is also closed today.

Today is finally the day of the meeting with Cycleus.

"In the meantime, let's go outside......?

The three of us take each other together and turn our feet towards the hall.

Then, out of the aisle on the other side, just came out Ai-Fa and Limi-Luu.

Usually, Ms Tito Min accompanies Ms Ziva, but when Ai-Fa stays, Rimi-Lou offers to replace her bedroom.

The old lady Tito Min and Lara-Luu eventually showed up from the bedroom as well.

Everyone leaves the house with a whisper of morning greetings.

"Oh, come on, we're all in for it."

So, outside the house, Mother Meer Ray was waiting for me.

Now the women of the main house, with the exception of Sati Ray-Lu, are in full swing.

"Then the Vinas say hello to the laundry. We'll dry Pico's leaves and then we'll get our salaries."

"Then I'll help you with your salary."

When I raised my voice that way, Mother Meer Ray opened her eyes strangely.

"Oh, are you off business today, too? Then just relax until we're done. So why don't you and I go collect some vanilla and firewood together again?

"No. I owe you a bed every day, and let me help you with that."

"Right. I don't know what it is to say no too firmly, so if that's the case, let me help you."

So we all take each other out and head behind the house.

No matter how special your day is, you can't put your daily work behind you.

The contents of the work in the morning do not differ greatly, either in the house of Fa or in the house of Luu. Starting with cleaning up after supper, washing clothes, pumping water, etc., the work of collecting firewood and vanilla by Jomtien, when Gibba wakes up, and then managing the salary scale, the food pantry and making dried meat - all that can be done will be done exactly within the day.

Busy until dizzy, not so much.

However, they are all important and irreplaceable tasks.

Relax, but do your job solemnly, nurturing love loosely with your family. This was the routine of the women by the woods.

If our relationship with Genos is broken in today's talks, such a peaceful and beloved routine will also be crushed by wood dust.

But the women of the Lou family are all about to get to work in the morning with the same bright expression as usual.

You believe in Donda-Lou.

Whatever happens next, their parent and chief, Donda-Lou, will choose the best path, he said.

(In case - really, even if it turns out that the people by the woods have to abandon this woodland side of Morga - I guess everyone in the Luu family will walk down the path indicated by Donda-Lu with the same look on their face)

As I was walking along thinking about that, the subtle EY-FA came closer.

"Oh, Ai-Fa. Did you talk to Grandma Ziva slowly last night?

"Uhm," he nodded, "it's an eye-fa that's coming at something stronger.

"What's going on? Nothing happened here, either, okay?

"Right.... Didn't that second brother give you some weird little thing?

"Oh, Dalm-Lou just fell asleep, and I just had a little chat with Rudd-Lou, too."

"Well," he said again, "Ai-fa doesn't try to take his gaze off.

"... what's going on? You look worried."

"Worry..."

Ey-fa mouthed not even like Ey-fa, and then he leaned to my ear.

"... it's just that apart from you and your bunk, you remind me of those abominable days, and come on, my chest just gets painful"

I stared back at Ai-Fa in surprise.

Ai-Fa grips her lips in dissatisfaction.

"You seem to have had a healthy sleep with no connection to such misery."

"No, actually, I was in the exact same mood last night.... I just couldn't get it out of my mouth because I was ashamed."

Responding that way in a low voice, he was slammed on the flank with his elbow.

I'm not sure why they poked me.

Whatever it is, we also have to get back to the routine of Fa's house today.

"Oh, you were awake, too?

When we all arrived at the back of the house that way, Barsha was standing blurry.

Tang Lion's tough face turned to us and laughed.

"Oh. Is it time for work over there? If you want a salary, I can help you."

"I appreciate that. Isn't Tali-Lu with you?

A request has been made to Barsha not to wander the settlement alone.

Barsha looked a lot sorry as she put her head on.

"... Actually, there was something I wanted to think about slowly, and I was left to hang out alone for a walk. Can you not scold that spirited old man because I let him through?

"Hmm?" says Mama Meer Ray, frowning a lot.

"Nothing. I don't think you're being shrewd.... That was what you needed, wasn't it?

"Oh. It was necessary."

Often there was a strange silence.

Even so, Mother Meer Ray grins with a grin.

"I get it. Good luck today, Barsha, because I'm sure it's a sanctity for you, too?

"Oh, thank you, Meer Ray-Lew"

Mother Meer Ray nodded one big time before looking back at Ai-Fa.

"Then I'm sorry, but can I ask for a salary instead of a wash? I can't let Barsha hold a hunter without his watch. Take a bath with us later."

"Um. Got it."

And the young daughters came to the water field with the wash, and the elderly began to get ready to dry Pico's leaves.

So, it's me, Ai-Fa and Balsha.

"What's the matter, it's Balsha in Masala," asked Ai-Fa as he handed Balsha a huge wave.

"I think I'm worried about something. In advance of the meeting with Cycleus, did any concern arise?

"No, I'm not talking about concerns or anything like that. I just made up my mind. Let's fight with the noblemen who set the pavilion owner's gollum in a trap."

Barsha shows her white teeth and laughs.

"At dinner yesterday, you were ready. I've decided to come to my stomach.... but before I do, I wanted to worship my stupid son's face because I can see it at a glance."

"Maybe you were wandering the settlement all by yourself for that?

"That's sharp! I thought maybe he'd show up if there weren't people around, but apparently that stupid son of a bitch didn't even realize I was invited to a settlement by the woods."

That said, Barsha had a slightly distant eye.

"Well, fine. Nothing happens face-to-face. I'll let you do my job.... even for that stupid son."

"Hmm. If even Cycleus' sins have come to light, we can spend our days in peace again. All we want is the same peaceful days as before."

"The same peaceful days as before, huh? That's a very nice word. I'm sure it's worth a lot more than it deserves."

Barsha narrows her eyes so that she can see as far away as possible.

With a very calm look on his face, it felt to me as if his voice contained some kind of bottomless readiness and determination.

◇

That's how we did our numerous jobs before leaving the settlement of Luu.

Because of the large number of people, the luggage car cannot be used.

Nine participants in the talks, as well as seven Zulo-Sung and ten who guard them, make up a total of 26 people.

Participants in the talks will be three chiefs, Donda-Lou, Graf-Zaza and Dari-Sauti, plus Gazran-Rutim, Fou's parents, Baim's parents, plus me, Ai-Fa and Barsha.

Seven will be questioned for their crimes by Genos: Zulo-Sung, Diga, Dodd, Mida, Yamil-Ray, Oura and Zwei.

And he was appointed a guard - ten elite troops, each of two elected by Zaza, Dom and Gene, in addition to four familiar ones such as Darum-Lou, Rudd-Lou, Dan-Rutim, Lau-Ray and others.

Notably, both Gazran-Rutim and Dan-Rutim would have their faces together.

In the event of a disturbance, it is a Forestside lesson that either the parent or his/her trail remains in his/her home to protect his/her family. Even last night, the members participating in the talks stayed in the settlement of Lou to be monitored and guarded by Zulo-Sung and others, but Dan-Rutim returned once with Lou Ray.

Still, this time as an exception, Dan-Rutim was to be chosen as a guard.

It was Donda-Lou who ordered it.

Stepping into the unknown castle town, Donda-Lou would have also made the decision to come to this meeting in his strongest formation.

Think of it, there's even Ai-Fa and Mida, so this is going to be up to seven of the eight brave men chosen at the Lu family hunter's fight.

The only absentee is Ziza-Lou, and only he will defend the settlement.

It's not just the settlement of Lou that protects it. The safety of more than a hundred members of Lew's family was entrusted to Ziza-Lou, the heir of the parent's head.

Sin-Luu, who was not elected a member of the escort, will also do his job there.

Besides that, the fierce men who rushed from the northern settlements were also rolling.

They are the elites of Zaza, Dom and Gene, no less than the families of Lew in bravery.

Two hunters at a time, selected from it, each of whom was releasing a temper that was just awesome.

"The guard's compartment is left to Dick-Dom and Dan Rutim, so there's no difference?

Graf-Zaza called on Donda-Lou to do so while following the road to the boarding town.

Dick-Dom is apparently the head of the Dom family.

He is a great great big man, wearing a Giva skull on his head.

In stature above Donda-Lou and Graf-Zaza, countless scars are engraved on the face and arms. He is one of the most vicious looking hunters I have ever seen in the woodland.

"If Dick-Dom and I were there, we wouldn't be taking the delay in trying to be surrounded by hundreds of soldiers!

Dan-Rutim is laughing lavishly.

Dick-Dom is silent.

However, beneath Gibba's maxillary bones, black eyes were burning like fire.

"I've been waiting for you, all of you by the woods"

When we arrived at the boundary between the forest and the town, there was a late boy waiting for us there.

Barsha is inherently in the position of Camua-Josh's invited witness. Therefore, Late is accompanied into the castle town.

"Melfried has prepared this pass for me, but I still can't seem to move the Kingsguard Corps for personal use, so may I stay with you to the Cycleus Mansion?

"Hmm. Camua-Josh didn't make it, did he?"

"There's still time in Jomtien, so I can't say anything. Even for me, I just want you to be there in time."

Either way, there's no reason to come so far and refuse to accompany Leyt.

We were set to go for the castle gate together.

But usually, when the Donda-Lou and the others were heading to talks and such, they should have gone through the back of the groves and kept as far as possible out of the sight of the people of the Inn Town, but that is also difficult in this adult population.

"Nothing needs to be blinded. When you were exposed to your noble daughter, more of your countrymen were going down to town."

"Yeah... but today, some Zuro-Sung people are here, right?

Diga and Dodd had been released from restraint, but only Zuro-Sung is still tied to his arms and legs with leather strings today. Taking Zulo-Sung like that and racing around the Inn Town in grandeur - would it give people the same fear and confusion that Zulo-Sung once had when he was being pulled around?

Besides, it's Mida.

Mida used to work lawlessly to destroy stalls in Inn Town that served dishes she didn't like.

Although it is only a little less wasted meat, there will be no one in the Inn Town who missees it.

"Nothing needs to be blinded. … don't make me say the same dialogue over and over again"

That being said, Donda-Lou looked back at his compatriots.

"Zulo-Sung et al., in the center of the wheel. You stay by the ladies too, Asta of Fa's house."

"Yes."

So I finally understand that this is a necessary measure, too.

Will the Sung family, who have also worked lawlessly in the Inn Town, be forgiven by the people of Genos? Didn't Gazran-Rutim say that it wasn't just the lords of Genos who decided that?

Again, this is the moment of judgment for them.

If you look at it, Zulo-Sung would open his mouth as wide as a toad to see how the march on the mountain road had been.

Diga and Dodd are each dropping their gaze at their feet with a tedious look on their faces.

Digga was originally afraid of the people of the town, and if Dodd didn't have booze in it, he's no less vulnerable than Digga.

But - compared to before dinner last night, it felt like there was still a human light in their eyes.

"Let's go."

A group of 28 people swept up with the addition of a lait leads through the alley between the buildings and steps into the stone streets.

It's only half an hour to Jomtien, it's time for the town to get busy.

Naturally, the streets quickly swirled with signs of fear and confusion.

Surrounded by the hunters, Zulo-Sung and other figures may not have been so visible.

Rather than that, it was the furs on Gibba's head and the appearance of the skull-worn northern hunters that felt the most truly shocking.

The settlements of Zaza and Dom are far from the accomodation town. Even now that we've got the luggage truck, I'm sure only the ladies will go down to town.

So maybe it was the first time in decades that the hunters of the northern clan would expose that figure to the people of the boarding town.

And after all, even if he's driven to the center of the wheel, Mida's giant has popped out more than half his head.

The Zazz-Sungs and others were mostly working evil outside Genos, so it was Mida and Dodd who had threatened the people of the Inn Town in recent years.

This, the one who has seen the most human apart mida burst, etc. would have been imprinted with a sawdust of intense fear.

Some young women, old men and others were about to scream or come to the spot.

Few people in the south had a stronger sense of discrimination than those in the west, and few stood slightly stifled by the Mida's appearance.

With such a glimpse of fear and confusion all around him, the hunters by the woods walk wide down the stone streets.

Even the guards won't try to get close to us.

(Ah...)

Moving on for a while, I saw a familiar figure.

Milan-Math.

Standing in front of Kimmus's Tail Pavilion, he's turning his stern gaze to us.

The sinners are dead, there is no sin in the people left behind - Milan-Math who was telling me so, but the Zulo-Sung are the immediate lineage of their sinners.

What the hell kind of emotions swirl around in Milan-Math's chest?

Moving on, and leaning against the outdoor area, Jan was just getting ready for the stall.

Your daughter, who was helping with that, turns bright blue and shrugs, and Jan looks back at this one like she's hacked.

Jan herself is in a calm mood for Cycleus from the standpoint of being a Castle Town cook. As for the people of the woods and the certainty of Cycleus, nothing is involved. My husband Polearth would be asking me about the situation at the top of the street.

But Jan nodded forcefully, looking for me, even as I lost my complexion.

I nod back to you, too, for the shoulders of Ai-Fa and Rudd-Lou.

That's how I finally see the end of the Inn Town - one shadow popping out in front of a bunch.

He is Dora's father.

Donda-Lou, who was walking in the lead, stopped his legs and waved his right arm to everyone to stop as well.

"Also, the forest chief, Donda-Lou, right? Do you remember me? I must have seen you face to face a few times when Asta got caught."

My father, too, had turned pale.

He's a father who seems pretty big and powerful, but in front of this bunch, he looks weak like a puppy.

I was at the center of the wheel, eye-catching Ey-Fa, and then I rushed my legs to you, but in the meantime I kept asking questions.

"I don't remember hearing your name. However, I think it was a vegetable sale in Inn Town."

"Oh, yeah. I grow vegetables on a farm in Dalaim and sell them, Dora. Your son and daughter are going to leave my shop alone, right?

"If - you mean you grow and sell the arias and poitans that we usually eat"

Remaining in his royal capacity, Donda-Lou responded accordingly with a voice at the bottom.

The commuters watch the two exchange words, stuffed with breath.

"Oh, yeah. Asta and the Lew buy a lot of vegetables, so my shop is full of life.... oh, I hope to keep doing business with you guys, Donda-Lou"

So finally, me and I-Fa were able to move on and off to Donda-Lou's place.

Dora's father laughs powerlessly as she makes that meaty body tremble small.

"We want to live the same life - if we change, we want to get a different life in the right direction"

Donda-Lou said so.

"For that, today's meeting.... if it's all right, my daughters will be buying vegetables again."

"I sincerely hope so. The protection of Selva, the Western god. Good luck, Asta and the others."

"Yes, thank you"

Dora's father pulls himself back and Donda-Lou starts walking as if nothing had happened.

At your father's feet dropping it off, Tara jumped.

I twisted my neck and continued to follow it with my eyes until they were blind.

That way, through the Inn Town, the left and right sides of the street become sparse cluttered woods.

Further down, a new path appears in the direction of your left - and beyond that is Castle Town.

The walls that were gleaming from the gap in the jungle clearly reveal themselves.

A castle town, surrounded by stone walls about six or seven meters high.

This was the first time I saw that in the light.

The walls laze endlessly in the western direction along the streets.

All twenty meters down that street, I eventually saw the castle gate.

It's a huge gate, with its mouth clenched in arch shape.

A wealthy merchant or a soldier-guarded old man in a long coat crosses the great bridge from which he is given.

And - finally, as we walked to the bridge, a large crowd of people emerged from the jungle on the south side.

"I've been waiting for you, chief"

One of them moves forward before Graph-Zaza.

Just like Graf-Zaza, a long-sleeved young man in fur with a head - the eldest brother of the Gene main house.

All the thirty men following behind him were also hunters by the woods.

It's a mixed unit rushing from settlements like Zaza, Gene, and Sauti.

It was the mission entrusted to them to see on this occasion whether the Castle Town Militia showed any strange moves - and whether the Chiefs would return safely.

The Chiefs are wary of Cycleus attacking forestside settlements while they head out to the castle towns.

"In this castle town, they ring the bell six times between Jomtien and sundown. If the talks don't end by the third bell, I'll put you out to use one of the escorts, so wait here until then."

Copy that, sir.

The hunters hide themselves in the woods again.

Then one soldier approached from the bridge at a time as if he had anticipated it.

"I've been waiting for you, chiefs by the woods"

It is a large soldier - Jimmon - who engraved the seal of the Turan family on his chest.

He was transgressive to me and Rudd-Lou, too, and had changed his tone and attitude in front of the chiefs.

"My name is Jimon and I'm the first captain of the Guard at Count Turan's house. The dwarf will guide you to Count Turan's mansion.... with eight personnel coming to the talks, seven sinners to be questioned, and ten escorts every other day, no doubt about it?

"There's no mistake in the number of people, but let me just correct one thing. of these seven,

Only one person is in a position to be called a sinner. Are the remaining six guilty, though an inquisition to ascertain that?

"... sorry for the lack of words"

With no expression, all his feelings. Jimon bows his head.

With so many hunters in front of him, it was hard to deduce what the hell kind of mood he was in.

"And besides all the two of us are sticking together. It's not our job to deal with these guys."

To Donda-Lu's words, Leyt and Barsha advanced.

"We are invited by Lord Melfried, Commander of the Kingsguard Corps, to participate in today's meeting. We are ready for your pass, thank you for your guidance."

"… even from the Count, we accept that"

Saying, Jimon pointed to the bridge with his right hand.

"We've got the sheikhs' passes here, so please go over to the baggage truck there first"

"Luggage truck?"

When I saw it, I did almost see a bunch of luggage cars coming this way all the time.

Four huge, two-headed cars.

Sealed box-shaped, with the Turan family crest on the sides, of course.

"It's hard to pick you up in a luggage truck. Are you mistaken for a noble princess or something?

"No, but it will take too long to get there on foot from the castle gate to the mansion, and - let's just say - it will disturb people for no reason."

Zimon said in disgust, Donda-Lou snorts uncomfortably.

"It is possible to board up to ten people per car, so get on as you please"

"Hmm......"

Naturally, hunters with swords and those who did not were to be evenly allocated.

The ones who were to ride with me were Ai-Fa, Rud-Luu, Darm-Luu, Barsha and Leyt.

Three people each sit opposite each other in a truly spacious box-shaped luggage car.

I called out to the person on your stand while Ai-Fa and Rudd-Lou sat on my left and right.

"Um, can I open this window cloth?

"… at your disposal"

The person's voice was slightly trembling and he had not been as successful in pushing and killing emotions as Zimon.

Either way, I won't hesitate to open the curtains on the small windows.

"Oh, it's too careless not to know what's going on around you."

Even in the seat across the street, Barsha was imitating my actions.

There was also a half-moon knife back on its waist, so she is one of the warriors on this occasion.

"Then we will leave!

Along with Jimon's decree, the cars began to cross bridges one by one.

The lurking miscellaneous forest of our compatriots slowly moves backwards.

(Finally...)

It is finally time to settle.

I don't know how much the relationship with Genos, which has been complicated so far, will improve on this day alone.

But Camua-Josh had set up a calculation for uncovering the old evil of Cycleus in the footsteps of Barsha's existence, and the chiefs had set today as the time for settlement.

To a man named Cycleus - and hence to a man named Marstein, lord of Genos - it is a meeting to determine whether the people by the woods are worthy of offering a sword.

With all our thoughts in our hearts, we were finally set to board the castle town of Genos.