554 Twenty-two Days of the Green Moon ② - The Way of Hope

Then we saw the baptism of all our compatriots, and then we were to leave the cathedral behind.

One head was for two minutes. No matter which ritual, there were nearly a hundred human beings, so a considerable amount of time has passed. By the time I left the castle gate, the sun was already a lot higher.

The ten Totos cars will continue to the woods, and the people who have completed the great work will return to their original jobs.

Except me, Ai-Fa, Yun-Sudra, and the hunters of the Sudra family were in a step to leave in Inn Town.

I'm here to take part in the stall business, and I'm here to take part in the work of the escorts. Ai-Fa had today set it as an unusual half-day off, saying it would return to the settlement after the stall was commercialized and then into the woods.

"Yo, that was cool. But, well, we're gonna make it by Jomtien."

As the leaving group stepped out of the Totos car in front of the Blue Sky Dining Room, Rudd-Lou, who was acting as an extraordinary escort, laughed. They're going back in the Totos car instead of us.

Rimi-Lou, who also worked in the Blue Sky Dining Room, said, "Ah!" and raise a loud voice.

"That kid, he's the lion dog from that time! Why? Why? Why is that kid with the i-fa's?

"Therefore this man was to be welcomed to the house of Pha. His name is Zilbe."

"Fine! This kid is big and cute! If I'm angry, it looks so scary!

Limi-Luu was overjoyed, but the guests of the Blue Sky Dining Room were a bit uniform. Because guard dogs are only used in the castle towns in Genos, dogs themselves are unknown beasts in the boarding towns.

"Now, don't touch this Zilbe yet. It's not until we get back to the settlement that the people of the woods tell us they're not enemies."

"Okay -! Then let Limi get along too!

Regarding the handling of guard dogs, it was to be from now on that the person in charge would come as far as the boarding town. but as long as it is by Ai-Fa, Zilbe, the lion dog, is obedient itself. This lion dog, like a hound, seemed so much more intelligent than my hometown dog.

"Bye. Don't be alarmed until the end."

Leaving those words behind, the young people of the Luu family, headed by Lud-Luu, entered the Totos car.

Watching it constantly disappear across the street, then I turn to the stall first.

"Good job, Asta. This one is working without delay."

Apparently it was just about the end of the first peak of the morning, and there were just a few customers lined up in the stall.

In it, Tool-din, who was taking the daily menu stall instead of me, grins at me.

Since it was only me and Yun-Sudra who were unable to participate in the morning, the stall business was open as usual. The shortage of manpower is compensated by two additional members who usually participate in the rotation.

However, those members were all Gaz, Ratz and Baim blood families who would be baptized in the afternoon, so Lily-Lavitz is the only one who can stay after that. That would leave only five members, including Yamil-Ray, who would be placed two fewer than usual, but there should have been no problem because they were making hassle-free contributions in anticipation of that.

"Thank you very much, Tour-Din. It would have been harder to prepare under the morning than the street business, wouldn't it?

"No. With today's dedication, nothing was difficult... so I could finish it without a problem"

As the family of the Zaza family, the Din family had completed their baptism within yesterday. Otherwise, you wouldn't have dared to do the street business just as well. This Tour-din was supposed to be the only one who could take the morning off without the help of me and Yun-Sudra.

"Then I guess me and Yun-Sudra will be helping out in the dining room until Totos' car gets back. Yamil Ray on Fay-Baim, is that okay?

The reliable word "no problem" came back from the left and right stalls, so me and Yun-Sudra decided to go back to the Blue Sky Dining Room.

The hunters of the Sudra family were already on the usual placement, so only Ai-Fa and Zilbe follow them later.

"Um, does Zilbe keep it out there? I could put him to rest in the van."

"No, it seems more dangerous to keep an eye out. If only I were there, I'd peel my teeth off the others."

That's how we arrived at the Blue Sky Dining Room, and now the guests were going to say curious words.

"Hey, is that a lion a beast? It looks like the figure is smaller."

"This, he said, is something called a lion dog. A dog similar to a lion, I guess."

"Heh, is that the one with the dog? It's quite a pleasure to meet you."

Apparently, the customer had seen a lion. Maybe he also saw it in the tent of "A Seat of Gamleys".

(That's an unthinkable story in my hometown about knowing a lion and never seeing a dog. Well, it looks like the dog was originally only in Jagal, so maybe it's no surprise)

Thinking that way, I joined the cafeteria.

but at the moment there are the usual number of people there, so not much work is left. I often wondered if it would be smarter for me and Yun-Sudra to take the stall and give rest to the members who would be heading out for baptism.

"Right. The Fay-Bames have been working since morning, so I think you can assign them an easy job."

I also got the endorsement from Yun-Sudra, so I decided to switch policies early.

But sooner than I acted, I could see a bunch of familiars approaching the stall.

They are soldiers of the king's capital, dressed like quilted materials.

Discovering Doug's long strengths in it, I got a little worried and then turned back to Yun-Sudra.

"Sorry, I'm just a little bit over here, so can Yun-Sudra take turns with Faye Baim?

"Yes, I understand"

Yun-Sudra walked away towards the stall as she leaned her little neck strangely.

Ai-fa is staring at me so much more than that.

"What's the matter with you? Do you even run errands on those people?

"Yeah. I just wanted to make sure... you see, I told Ey-Fa last night, right?

"Oh, is that the story? … but it would be inexplicable to steam back such stories now"

"That's true, but I figured I'd be a little concerned."

In such a conversation, all ten soldiers headed by Doug approached the dining room. Some of them include Iphius.

"Hey, hiccup, Asta at Fa's house. Weren't you baptized today?

Doug, who also removed the bandage on his head and totally regained his previous rigour, laughs at me with a lot of laughter. Ifius was watching me and Ai-Fa with unreadable eyes of emotion, scattering shroud and breathing sounds.

"Oh, is that the lion dog of the auditor? I was talking about losing my temper because of the temper of a female hunter, and you look a lot better."

"Therefore this man was to be welcomed into my house. His name is Zilbe."

"Yeah. I don't know, a sign of reconciliation or something? Well, I could put the conversation together in peace, above all."

Saying it as if it were some other HR, Doug lowered his back to his dining room seat.

Other faces have already started eating, and Iphius is trying to put a forelock on them with graceful hands.

"... you look fine and above all. It wasn't until that inn night, was it?"

"Oh. Since that night, I've been told to stay out as long as possible. Still, my men would have looked at you, wouldn't they?

Yes, since touching Morga's contraindications, many of the soldiers have been drawn to their quarters.

In it, when just a few soldiers showed up at the stall, they were buying tons of Giva food for their friends. But Doug and Iphius did not show up at one time.

"Well, I'm due out of Genos tomorrow morning, and the guys in town seem completely settled, so I'm just going to eat whatever I want in the sun at the end. After this, the rest of us will be all over our faces."

"That, thank you. I'm so glad I managed to put some noise away."

"That must be the result of all the trouble you guys have had with your heads. If you want to win, do what you want."

"No, nothing to be proud of..."

In my chest, I knew I was obsessed with something moist.

To get rid of it, I'll say, "Um."

"I'm sorry during the meal, could you just give me a moment?

"Am I right? Is that what you're telling me? There doesn't seem to be much more to talk about."

"There's only one thing I want to ask you. I won't let you have that much time."

Doug frowned at the urchin, then stood up.

"Well, this will be the last time I'll be exchanging words with you. If you say so much, I'll listen to you."

"Thank you. Okay, here you go."

I left the Blue Sky Dining Room with Doug.

Of course, Ai-Fa and Zilbe follow suit.

I turned to Doug in a position where I stopped at the end of the street and my voice could not reach the dining room here.

"Um... you were also listening to Ruid about the relationship between Tall On and Dreg, weren't you?

"Well, then you do. A mercenary lion leader like me has an opportunity to exchange words with your people, and I don't think so. It was the Troop Commander who taught me what kind of sexual roots a nobleman has."

"Really? So... at the stage where you were sent to Morga Forest, Ruid was already a little bit aware of Talon's plans."

Doug narrowed his eyes more and more.

A sharp glance looks at me like a shot.

"You don't know what words mean. Are you trying to get our captain into some kind of obsession?

"No, I never meant to... It's just that Talon seems to have put you in a much worse position for touching Morga's contraindications..."

Doug, he's, like, closing his face.

Fire-like eyes are poked from a close distance of about 15 centimeters.

At that moment, Ai-Fa spoke low, "Hey".

"Stay away from Asta, scattering such signs. I have no intention of antagonizing you."

"That's the same thing over here. But you can't keep your mouth shut if your precious troop leader makes you suspicious."

"Then clear your suspicions with words. Did that Ruid dare touch Morga's contraindications in order to uncover the sins of a man named Tall On?

That was the suspicion that came to my mind.

Tal-on wasn't really going to touch Morga's contraindications, he just wanted to prove that he could hunt Gibba without the help of a hunter by the woods. It was necessary to claim that the people of the woods should be brought down from the woods.

But that prospect was to be broken because the Dougs had touched Morga's contraindications. Moreover, thanks to the buying of strong objections from the inhabitants of Genos, they have since been unable to take any action.

Even if the aim of Talon was to inspire the people of Genos and the woodlands to take their own swords, they would not have been allowed to trample the law so openly. Justice had to be on the side of the king's capital. It was thought that if the side of the Wang capital were to be atrocious and, therefore, if Genos were to wage a rebellion, the justification for exercising force would also be lost.

Therefore, the most effective way to stop Talon's plot was for the people of the king's capital to imitate the lawless first.

That's why I suspected it was all Ruid's plan.

"... then I'll answer you. Our Troop Commander is serious enough to be a fool. There are people who don't care how much they cheat, and they don't cheat and cheat."

Doug dumped it that way as he turned to my nose tip.

With his hands on the knife on his hips, Ey-Fa snaps low, "Right." In response to Ey-Fa's haunting temper, Zilbe, the lion dog, also seemed to have a grumpy, swordswallowing groan.

"Then let's back off, too. So get yourself out of Asta, too."

"Hmm... Damn, you're the one who comes up with something smart"

Doug pulled himself back and ragged his black-brown hair.

"Now that we've had a peaceful conversation, we're not going to make this any more troublesome. If the Troop Commander had given such an order, it would be unfavourable for him to proceed in the interrogation room?... the seriousness of the Troop Commander is well known in the King's capital, so I don't suppose he'll ever suspect that."

"Really? I'm so sorry I put you under suspicion. However, thank you so much, it caught my heart strangely..."

I know what caused it. It did not come to pass that a soldier as good as Doug touched Morga's contraindications.

So I stuck around wondering if it was by order of Ruid - which, apparently, was a conundrum of the lower house.

"I don't care what you think, but the Troop Commander is honestly your own personality. More or less, he wouldn't give such disgraceful orders to his precious men, would he? How much shame do you think we put on you because of all that exposure?

"Shh, excuse me. I haven't had much opportunity to exchange words with someone named Ruid, so... of course, he thinks he's a fair and respectable person."

"Naturally. He doesn't have the sexual roots to order his precious men to do such dirty work."

After saying so, Doug laughed at the lid.

"But well... while working under such a troop commander, it may be possible for some mercenary idiots to elope."

"Huh? What is that..."

"If we pretend ourselves to be the great idiots and play the Great Failure. Ah, maybe we can let the shameless aristocrats bubble us up. Besides, you could return the favor of not having your toes cut off to someone by the woods. If you think about it, it's weird that all 50 soldiers pretend to be dumb."

I was stunned and breathtaking.

Ey-fa is Ey-fa, staring at Doug with the kind of eyes he sees, even if it's hard to believe.

"Hey, now, you guys..."

"We're a huge bunch of idiots who can't see where we're going. Don't worry about it. It'll be a hassle later."

That's what Doug said, and returned the twitch.

Then he points his gaze at me with laughter in his shoulder.

"Our troops will never be dispatched to Genos again. So this is it for both of you. I don't owe you anything, so do me one favor."

That's all I left to say, Doug walked away to the dining room.

Ai-Fa strokes Zilbe's head looking up worryingly, sighing deeply.

"This is why the people in town... but in the future, we have to try to think of them as compatriots."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to abandon the people by the woods."

"I know that from the beginning. Or it would be impossible to imitate that from the beginning"

That's what I said, Ai-Fa glanced down the street.

Jomtien is nearer and the streets are growing. There were different born humans disturbed, but of course the people of the west were the most noticeable.

Some people look good as merchants, while others dress much thinner and dirtier. Some outlaws have been drinking since noon and making a humble laugh. Little children, young women, old men almost old - there were all kinds of people in this lodging town.

"... just the Inn Town of Genos, this number. After all, it's not that easy to talk about thinking of all the people of the West Kingdom as compatriots."

"Yeah, I think so too."

"But I was alone until I met Asta. Even the same people by the woods know their faces and their names only enough to count, and since losing their parents, they have also tried to cut off their ties with Rimi-Lou and Ziba women... really, they have lived alone."

That's what I said, Ai-Fa looked back at me.

Those blue eyes have a very gentle light on them.

"That now allowed us to bond with different clan humans. Sometimes I don't get annoyed with that... but I have no doubt that I'm only happier than I was back then. If we can think of the people who live in Genos as compatriots, maybe we can have more happiness in our hands."

"Yeah, I really hope so."

Following the warmth that arose in my chest, I made Ai-Fa laugh.

I = fa shakes his body about once for why, then kneels on the spot and hugs Zilbe's thick neck.

"What's the matter, Ai-Fa?

"It's weird. Your defenseless smile has shaken my heart again."

Ai-Fa cuddles the zilbe as she dyes her cheeks red.

Zilbe blinked wonderfully while still seemed happy.

"Whatever it is, it goes one step at a time. There is nothing else. I'm sure in Luu's settlement, we'll be inviting people from the town to celebrate again."

"Oh, you can finally make that happen, too. But before that, we're going to have a harvest festival."

"Mm-hmm. Since we will be a period of rest, we can also wish to prepare for the feast at the Lew family. I'd like you to invite as many people as you can from town and from the woods."

Tomorrow, the people of the King's capital will leave Genos and finally return to their daily routine as before.

But not everything is what it used to be. We, baptized by Western God, are going to have a fresh start here.

Either a new auditor or a diplomat should come along, and even if not, different waves will be waiting for us. It's only natural that a person as peculiar as the people by the woods is about to be a compatriot of the people of the town.

But we could have challenged a new path with greater hope than anxiety.

If you can truly believe that this is the right path, you need not be afraid of any ordeal. That should have been borne out in this whole year of life.

"Well, I should probably get back to work."

When I let him proclaim it, Ai-Fa finally stood up and nodded "uhm".

Its face was still slightly red, but its eyes bearded with a smile full of mercy.

Shoulder to shoulder with such an eye-fa, I slowly stepped out.

What future awaits ahead of this road? My chest was clearly pounding into endless hope.