Chapter 180

180 . Uncharted island

(The spy’s POV)

I came here to investigate this countryside, mainly ordered .

Countryside is countryside, a small-sea facing viscounty located at the very end of the kingdom, completely opposite to the center of the continent .

It was originally a small barony with little profit .

If you’re wondering why a highly capable man who is deeply trusted by his lord like me was dispatched to such a place . …because this territory is the territory of that [Himemiko-sama], the famous Yamano viscounty .

Viscount Yamano .

One day, she suddenly appeared in this country, subjugated a group of wolves alone to help a village girl .

She managed the Debutante Ball of a daughter of an emerging noble, and with great success, it set the girl’s future to rock solid .

She also saved the third princess from crisis, helped a restaurant… and finally revealed her identity, the one who saved the kingdom from doom, the Great Hero of Salvation, the Himemiko of Thunder-sama .

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I’m grateful and fully respected her, but this time is a completely different matter . I have no other choice because this is a mission issued by my dear Lord .

Besides, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to bring harm nor is this a hostile act towards Himemiko-sama . I was simply ordered to collect information . It’s just a trivial matter that even the goddess would overlook .

So it’s all fine . If done well, there would be nothing to worry about .

…or that was it supposed to be .

That should have been the desired outcome!

There was no problem when I’m seeing the salt fields, the foot-powered water wheel and other sections . I felt the stares of the villagers, but if a stranger was staring at them, it only natural that they would be wary .

And there was nothing happened when I went to the fishing port and a warehouse-like building near the port .

…but the rumor has it that [There’s a bright light, that you can’t imagine it came from candle or lamp, coming from the lord’s house late at night] .

The lord’s house where many sacred items such as thunder wand and the voice of the goddess is stored .

And in order to sneak into the lord’s house, I secretly entered the garden at midnight, but…

Bash! (SFX)

Suddenly, I was struck by an intense torrent of light along with the sound of something operating .

My eyes which has accustomed to the darkness were dazzled by a radiant light, and my body became rigid for a moment .

… As a professional, I was in a certain serious blunder .

And along with the light, a loud alarm sounded .

It was not a simple sound such as gong’s or drum’s . It was a sound I’ve never heard, resounded at super loud volume, disabling my thinking ability!

And…

“I wonder whose spy is this guy? Well, it doesn’t matter whose minion this guy is…” (Mitsuha)

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The next moment I’m standing alone by the sea .

…indeed, Yamano Viscounty is a sea-facing territory .

But I was in the backyard of the Viscount’s house! A few hundred meters away from the shoreline!!

The area is completely dark, forget the Viscount’s house, I can’t even see the buildings in the villages or the town which should be visible under the moonlight . And there was no such beautiful sandy beach near the fishing village there…

Don’t panic! It’s not the time to panic!!

It’s as good as suicide if you move around carelessly in the dark, in such an unknown place . Here, you should calm down and wait until morning and check the situation after it becomes bright . That’s what professionals would do .

…alright, let’s look for a place where I can rest safely .

And the next morning .

I spent the night on a big tree nearby, while being cautious of my surroundings, and got down to return to the sandy beach again . And look around…

“Island?” (the spy)

Right, the shoreline is curved towards the land on my both left and right side, smoothly drawing a circle, and this is the projecting part that protrudes into the sea, and this is the part that protrudes towards the sea… to put it in simple term, this is an island .

And there’s a high possibility that there’s no one here…

“Wh-why…” (the spy)

I know there’s only one possibility .

…[Migration] .

The rumored miraculous ability of the Himemiko of Thunder-sama to move a long distance in an instant .

And I heard a girl’s voice in the backyard last night .

Well, there are many other girls such as maids or cook apprentices .

But that word in a stunning, composed tone in front of a suspicious intruder at midnight was not something a mare servant would say . That means…

“As expected, it was Himemiko-sama…” (the Spy)

No, of course, I noticed it a long time ago .

I just have to check the surrounding terrain and situation first, before taking any conclusion .

…I had long enough time to think… no, it was a little too long since can’t sleep on the tree last night…

“Oooi!” (the mysterious man)

I turned my head towards the source of the sudden voice from behind and stared at the man who is coming here .

He wouldn’t called me from a distance If he’s going to do harm suddenly . At least until the opponent let off their guard . So, I’m waiting for the approaching man with a relaxed face .

…of course, I’ll always be ready to pull out a knife from my pocket at any time .

“No, I know you’ll be on guard, but don’t worry . If I have a bad intentions, I would’ve shoot you with a bow from a long distance or surround you with a large number of armed man” (the mysterious man)

Said the approaching man while smiling bitterly .

I guess that’s right . They could’ve easily killed or caught me at any time if he brought a crew along with him . I guess I should obediently listen to him…

“Well, I think you’ve realized it to some extent, but it’s the work of Himemiko-sama . Those who has maliciously attempted to harm the territory would bedealtin a snap . And those who weren’t so malicious, but have crossed the line such as espionage, would be thrown here . …in other words, this island is [a dumping ground for the enemies who doesn’t deserve to be killed]…” (the mysterious man)

“Du-dumping ground?” (the spy)

This place being an island is still within the scope of my deduction . However, what is this [dumping ground]?

A place just to abandon those who doesn’t deserve to be killed?

What about the interrogations?

Was there any torture to make you spit out your employer or purpose?

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I asked the man that…

“It doesn’t seem necessary . No matter who’s their employer, those who did no harm would be just thrown to this island . But those who did harm would have to spit out their employers, purpose, everything, and *snap*… “ (the mysterious man)

“… what is that …” (the spy)

In other words, there’s no use in dealing with the small fries, huh…

“So how long until I can get released? I’m sure for a gentle Himemiko-sama…” (the Spy)

“I don’t know” (the mysterious man)

Eh?

“Everyone who comes here will always remain here . No one has ever gone along the way . Ever since the first one came here…” (the mysterious man)

“Wha! Wh-what about Himemiko-sama!? When will she come to question…” (the spy)

“She won’t . She just threw us here and it’s over . That’s why we have to live on our own, catching fishes, hunting beasts, collecting wild plants and fruits…” (the mysterious man)

“No way! I have a wife and a child! And my employer isn’t Himemiko-sama’s enemy! He just wanted to get a little hint of the territorial development! My employer will properly admit it…” (the spy)

I desperately said so, but the man only smiled .

“…not an enemy, huh… just so you know, my master is Count Bozes . Perhaps the most trusted and best ally for Himemiko-sama in the country is the family members of Bozes Family! …and yet, I’ve never got the chance to meet, or to hear anything from them again…” (the mysterious man)

What… did you…

“Well, let’s get you introduced to everyone . Over there, we have a dugout hut and a field that we all worked hard on . …are you good at fishing? Can you do carpentry or hunting? Are there any special skills that could be useful for daily life?” (the mysterious man)

“……” (the spy)

“Ah, I forgot to tell you, here, everyone has nothing to do with their original country, status, or name . No matter what the position, we are all equal here, just prisoners . So here, we discarded our old names and call each other by number . Be it anonymous novices or famous top-notch spies, we are all equal… tte, I guess there’s no way a [famous top-notch spy] would be here . Everyone here is known to be less than 3rdgrade spies, hahaha… ah, that’s right, your new name is [Number 28] . And I’m [Number 6], the prisoners just call me [six] though… And this prisoner island is probably uncharted, so it can’t be found on the map…” (six)

It seems that the long, long days will begin from now on…