NOVPUBTwo days later, when it was almost noon, the secondary residence was welcoming a carriage in a fuss. I immediately realized that Rook and Suzuya had arrived.
‘If Rook comes here alone, he usually comes upon an eagle in half a day, but when Suzuya also comes, that won’t be the case. The eagle can’t seat two people, so they will have to ride a carriage. Occasionally, when the couple had to attend an event, they would come to the royal capital in this way, but since it was a slow-moving carriage, it would take three days if they were in a hurry, and four days if they came leisurely.’
Although it’s not like a daimyo procession, a carriage with a person in a position like Rook comes with about thirty lightly dressed bird cavalry and approximately seventy infantries. Cavalry is lightly dressed because the Galloping Bird is less physically fit than horses and cannot march for days with a heavily armed human wearing a lot of steel on their back. Then, it would be better to ride a horse, but it seems that this part is similar to the daimyo processions, it’s done as they are prioritizing the superiority.
‘If anything, there is a tendency that Knights riding birds are more prestigious than Knights riding horses. As a matter of fact, horses are much heavier than the Galloping Birds, so there is a part where horses are superior in assault force when plunging into a group of infantry. For that reason, I’m wondering about this conviction, but there is a history that horses couldn’t cope with archers, and they could only deal with Galloping Birds.’
‘Rook and Suzuya’s procession isn’t a formal celebration. It’s a normal thing to say. So, when people are lining up at the secondary residence, Rook has to put some effort into saying something in order to dissolve the crowd.’
‘The personnel who followed the guard changed with the personnel who were guarding the villa until now and they would be working as gatekeepers for a while. Since this mission also means a vacation in the glorious royal capital, there is almost no hardship except for the occasional night shift. After all, there is no training, so they have a lot of free time. They are free to go out on holidays that are almost two days, and they can even stay out in time for the morning roll call. They also can go to the brothels in the royal capital for a night stay.’
‘Of course, in the event of an emergency, the total mobilization will be done immediately, and the holidays would be over, but there are always surplus people in normal work. Although it is a 24-hour security, it is a 4-shift system, which means that they only have to work six hours a day on two days, two of those six hours are breaks. Since the work isn’t done for a few days after arriving, many soldiers immediately go out to the capital when they arrive here.’
—
Actually, that should be the way, but when I opened the front door to meet them, the situation was different. Rook’s talk should be over already, but the soldiers were looking at me while they were aligned. It seemed that they hadn’t been dismissed.
Rook and Suzuya were in front of the soldiers who remained in line.
“Yuri…!” (Suzuya)
When Suzuya found me who opened the front door, she ran up with excitement and hugged me.
I was much taller now, and when I was hugged, Suzuya’s forehead hit my collarbone.
“Okaa-sama…” (Yuri)
“I was worried, you know…” (Suzuya)
Suzuya was in tears.
‘It’s not acting. There’s no way it’s acting. I don’t know how to accept her tears.’
“Sorry. I’m grateful for your concern.” (Yuri)
“It’s fine. That’s because you’ve returned like this.” (Suzuya)
Suzuya said so and let go of her hugging arms.
‘What’s this?’
Suzuya slapped me on the shoulder, crouching from shoulder to arm, from arm to leg, and slapped me with both hands.
“It seems… there’s no injury.” (Suzuya)
‘Was it a confirmation of an injury?’
“Aah, my foot is a bit… But I’m fine already.” (Yuri)
“Eh, really!? Are you alright!?” (Suzuya) 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Suzuya seemed to be worried.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t even need a cane anymore.” (Yuri)
“Really… aah, but I’m glad. I’m glad… there’s no risk to your life.” (Suzuya)
“Yes, there’s none.” (Yuri)
‘Come to think of it… I was supposed to be dead when I crashed and started to move with Carol. The first half of the trip was treated as missing, but the second half was considered to be mostly hopeless. It’s natural, but she worries a lot.’
“Suzuya.” (Rook)
Rook, who was watching from behind, put his hand on Suzuya’s shoulder while saying so.
“Yuri, you’ve returned.” (Rook)
“Yes, Father.” (Yuri)
“Anyhow, we’re already here. Shall we go inside?” (Rook)
He held Suzuya’s shoulder and urged her inside.
‘Well, it is certainly painful under the soldier’s eyes. Even if it’s painful, they aren’t staring in condemnation, but rather, a respectful look. However, it’s suitable to spend time on the family gathering in front of them.’
“Thank you for your hard work. You may be dismissed.” (Rook)
Rook only turned his head and said so. The temporary captain (the escort was a temporary formation of several platoons) turned to the soldiers and…
“Well then, all but those in charge should be dismissed!” (??)
Then, the platoon leaders gave light instructions to their men, and the soldiers dismissed.
Normally, Rook would casually say ‘Enjoy the royal capital. But don’t enjoy it too much’, but this time, he didn’t say it.
—
After passing through the entrance hall, we went to a place like a guest room where we can talk in private. All three of us sat on the sofa.
“Goodness. Anyhow, I’m glad you’re safe.” (Rook)
Rook said with a relieved appearance. For the time being, he felt relieved.
‘In this world where information can only be transmitted by hearsay, there are some parts that can’t be relieved unless you actually check it with your own eyes.’
“I want to say that you shouldn’t worry your parents too much. After all, it’s a parent’s job to worry from the beginning…” (Rook)
‘It seems that Rook describes a Knight as a job. Normally, the description of work isn’t familiar to Knights. It’s normal to feel like a birth rather than a profession. In other words, it is a natural status, not a choice.’
“Is your foot really fine?” (Rook)
“It’s still tingling, but it seems to be fine. Well, there will be marks left.” (Yuri)
“Eh…” (Suzuya)
Suzuya, who heard that, looked uneasy.
‘Oops.’
“Suzuya, it’s about the soles of the feet. It doesn’t matter if the marks remain.” (Rook)
Rook calmly said.
‘Well, certainly, it’s not the face, but the sole. If I don’t have a tumor in the shape of the face and start talking, I don’t care.’
“That’s true.” (Suzuya)
Perhaps, Suzuya thought so too as her expression returned back to normal.
‘She’s a farmer and she isn’t someone who cares about the details very much.
When I was a kid, Rook was pretty calm when his arm was cut roughly when mowing grass around the house. When I think about it now, the reason why sickle and kitchen knives were so sharp was probably because Rook sharpened them with a finishing whetstone like a sharpening spear or sword.’
“Have you shown it to a doctor? If you sew it while it’s out of alignment, it would be a big problem.” (Rook)
“Yes, I’m fine on that part.” (Yuri)
‘I don’t know if there are aftereffects in the nervous system since there is no numbness left, but there is no problem moving all the toes, so I think I’m good.’
“If so, you’re fine. I’m glad.” (Rook)
“Yes. It is somehow safe.” (Yuri)
“I’m really relieved. Say, Yuri, can you stay with me all the time today?” (Suzuya)
“I can stay. I have already had an audience with Her Majesty, so I’m thinking of recuperating for today.” (Yuri)
“Then, I’ll make dinner today.” (Suzuya)
‘Ooh. Splendid.’
Somehow, I was surprised by how happy I was.
‘I can eat as many delicious foods as I want in the royal capital, but if I’m in the secondary residence, I will find something above the standard. However, mother’s home cooking is exceptional. Since Suzuya became the wife of the head of the General household, she hardly stayed in the kitchen and held a kitchen knife. Therefore, it’s also purely unusual.’
“That’s great. I’m looking forward to it.” (Yuri)
“Rook… is that alright?” (Suzuya)
Then, Suzuya turned to Rook.
‘From a standpoint, it’s not a good thing to let Suzuya stay in the kitchen by herself. It’s not suitable for social status, and it’s not suitable for cooking since her clothes are simply too good. On the other hand, she has gone through a lot of difficulties, such as being unable to wear tattered clothes and appear in public.’
“It would be nice to have a day like this. I’m also looking forward to it.” (Rook)
“Well then, I’ll borrow the kitchen right away.” (Suzuya)
Suzuya left the room with excitement.
“I’m glad.” (Rook)
‘Glad?’
“About what? Is it because of Mother’s homemade food?” (Yuri)
“No, there is a matter not suitable to talk about in front of your mother. She doesn’t need to know the bloody story of war.” (Rook)
‘Well, he’s right. I don’t want to talk either. It will make her worry.’
“So how was it? I mean, the war.” (Rook)
Rook looked at me, exploring my feelings with his eyes. He was unprecedentedly serious.
“I let Stardust die.” (Yuri)
I said that first.
“Aah… is that so? She was your first eagle. It’s tough.” (Rook)
Rook sounded a bit discouraged when hearing it.
(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
“Yes.” (Yuri)
“The eagle is a really compassionate animal. They see people and learn from people. Especially that eagle that was smart…” (Rook)
‘Surely, Stardust wasn’t particularly strong or big, but she was smart.’
“Did you give me such an eagle?” (Yuri)
“I thought that it was hard to make her into a commodity, but I thought she would get along with you.” (Rook)
‘An eagle tends to have a habit of despising or poking if it’s too smart. However, it is better to be smart because they can understand many things with minimum handling. It’s easy to handle complicated maneuvers. Therefore, it has both merits and demerits. It’s not bad, but if you want to sell them, you have to choose a buyer.’
“A smart eagle chooses its master. If they didn’t like being kept, they would take a chance and run away. I took care of her, and she was growing well.” (Rook)
“Was she a blessing?” (Yuri)
‘I’ve heard such an eagle gives no profit.’
“I don’t know.” (Rook)
Rook said so.
“You’re talking about whether an eagle is happy when it carries people and flies. Well, if you think about it normally, it would be annoying. It’s simply heavy and it will live trapped in a cage. It can’t fly as it likes.” (Rook)
‘That’s true. Just as the birds, caged animals don’t fly freely in the sky. The eagle is also similar. They will not be given an opportunity to fly in the sky without having a person on board. Since it may run away, humans will not let it go freely. So, when I think about it, it sounds harsh.’
“However, speaking of having a person riding it, the eagle doesn’t really hate that much. As you know, the trained eagle will not fly as soon as you release the reins. If it shakes off the rider, it will come down to the place where the rider fell.” (Rook)
‘In the school of Knights, there are many cases where it’s not possible to build a good relationship with the eagle since the rider is inexperienced. So, the eagle flew away when the reins were released. There are many accidents. However, when I was helping at Rook’s ranch, there wasn’t such an eagle.’
“In the wild, it has to hunt for meals. There is a turf war, and if they get injured, they will die. It’s also not possible for them to hibernate during winter. Then, it’s true that they are living longer in captivity compared to the wild.” (Rook)
‘Rook must have thought about the same thing as me every time his eagle died. From Rook’s narrative, it seemed that he could see the footsteps of his thoughts in the past.’
“Well… After all, I don’t know them well. Even humans don’t know what the dead person was thinking.” (Rook)
“That’s right.” (Yuri)
“I also want to think that the eagles are happy to be kept due to my work… Well, the only thing I can actually do is to make them as good as I can while they’re alive.” (Rook)
‘Make them better. It’s an abstract concept.’
It might be a relief. After taking a short moment, Rook continued.
“Yuri, you have done well enough. I assure you.” (Yuri)
“Yes.” (Yuri)
Rook said it was a relief, but it was true that he thought so.
“Well, the eagle is good. What I want to hear is about the war. It’s about killing people or people being killed.” (Rook)
Rook said something strange.
‘Rook doesn’t like war, but he doesn’t deny it. Of course, he’s not a believer in resistance, so this doesn’t mean he is condemning me.’
“You must have had a hard time living or dying. So… Do you hate it?” (Rook)
‘?? What do you mean?’
“I hate it…? Normally, I think that I don’t want to see it again.” (Yuri)
“That’s not it. Well… did you come to think that you don’t want to kill people again, or that you don’t want to be involved in the war?” (Rook)
‘Aah, is that it? Is he worried about that?’
Considering how Rook left the school of Knights, it may be natural to be worried about it.’
“No, I don’t hate it in that sense. I will fight if I have to…” (Yuri)
“I see…” (Yuri)
“I think that’s the case, but if the same thing happens again, I think I’ll do better, but I don’t want to run away.” (Yuri)
“…Then, that’s fine. If you don’t like war, killing people, fighting, that kind of thing, it’s just boring to be the head of a General household.” (Rook)
‘Well, that’s true. This kind of work is often envied by others, but it’s unsuitable for humans. If a person gets flustered in a gambling house, he isn’t a useful person to be a yakuza. From that perspective, Rook isn’t supposed to be suitable for his current job.’
“Is that so? Does that mean I’m going to succeed the natural nobility of the Hou Household?” (Yuri)
“Yes. Well, it’s not an immediate story, but if you have that intention, it would be good to succeed within a few years after graduation.” (Rook)
‘Within a few years? Please don’t put it that way.’
“Father, how about you? Do you feel that you don’t like your job, but you can’t help it?” (Yuri)
‘If you hate it and can’t help it, I want to release you from the job as soon as possible. If I do that, Suzuya will be saved too.’
“Well, it’s not like I don’t like it, but it’s not suitable. Fortunately, you have a good reputation, so I’m doing well.” (Rook)
‘I wonder if my reputation has anything to do with it?’
“How so?” (Yuri)
“There are many. If I have to say it, your reputation will be a good connection until you take over the household. I would say that to that person in front of me, but if it gets too bad, it may have been a discussion about Shamu-chan’s husband.” (Rook)
‘I don’t like that.’
“Has it been done?” (Yuri)
“Not yet. Satsuki-san hates marriage of convenience.” (Rook)
“I see.”
“Besides, there’s also the intention of Her Majesty the Queen. If it becomes a family conflict and someone other than you becomes the successor, there will be interference.” (Rook)
“Does that make sense?” (Yuri)
‘The Hou Household holds the natural nobility right, which was given by Her Majesty the Queen, but in reality, the Hou Household has independent autonomy. Her Majesty the Queen doesn’t have the right to nominate the head of the Hou Household. To put it briefly, the Queen reports that ‘Such a person has become the next head’ and she will grant the natural nobility.’
‘I don’t know if it’s possible for the Queen to say ‘don’t respond negatively to discussion’, ‘don’t accept the natural nobility right’, ‘don’t become the successor’ or ‘don’t attend the investiture ceremony’. For example, if there were an eldest son who was recognized by his vessels, experienced in battles and has won a hundred battles, and a second son, who is foolish in manners and customs. If the royal side never admits the first son, various things will become a mess. It’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed as a treatment to the General households. If you look at the history, there were different response, such as war or assassination by advising the dethronement.’
“Well, it’s up to us in the end. I have to consider it a bit. After all, it’s bad luck to be against the royal family.” (Rook)
‘Well, that’s right.’
“Her Majesty the Queen too seems to be very tired when I had an audience the other day.” (Yuri)
“Well, I guess the anxiety is gone now. It’s hard to act in the middle with the Witches all the time while thinking about the war. You have to sympathize with her.” (Rook)
“Yeah. Surely.” (Yuri)
‘If I were in the same position, I might go crazy. I would send out soldiers and clean up all the Witches before going crazy, but she seems to be the type to put up with them.’
At that point, I remembered something.
‘Aah, that reminds me, but did someone come?” (Yuri)
“Ooh, yes. I forgot. It’s Gin. Well, I met him.” (Rook)
Gin was the man I met in the forest when I went to Kilghina for a preliminary inspection before the war. I wrote a letter of introduction to the Hou Household for him to enter the service while sharing a bonfire.
“What happened to the person? Did you hire him?” (Yuri)
‘I don’t know if Rook hires him just because I wrote a letter of introduction for an interview.’
“I hired him. I have him work by my side because I have no experience in combat. It’s helpful to have someone outside the Hou Household who has experience in combat.” (Rook)
“Then, that’s good.” (Yuri)
“As for the sons of a household, even if they are the members of the Hou Household, they still think about their household. They’re not bad people, but… If they have trouble, they don’t think about the entire Hou Household.” (Rook)
‘The best position for that man would be an advisor. The Hou Household has a lot of experience in actual combat, but of course, they all have their own households and are also representatives of their own interests. It would be strange to say that their advice isn’t reliable, but they are saying things that will benefit them.’
‘In that respect, Gin is an outsider in a good sense, so you can expect advice that doesn’t take any bias. I think he is similar to an external consultant.’
“Even so, he is the former head of a General household. It’s good that you have found him.” (Rook)
“It just happens, you know.” (Yuri)
“No, it’s fate.” (Rook)
‘Fate?’
Suddenly, some suspicious words came out.
“Haha, Father, did you start with a strange religion?” (Yuri)
“Don’t make a joke out of it.” (Rook)
“No, it wasn’t a joke.” (Yuri)
‘I was rather a person who laughed at the concept of fate, so maybe, I was making a fool of myself.’
“That guy is enthusiastic. He is a person who has enthusiastically devised strategies and led people as a leader, and not under someone. That’s the reason to say that he is a rational man.” (Rook)
‘Certainly, there’s such a thing.’
“The Hou Household army unit has reached a sufficient number, and it’s time to complete it. With his advice, by the time I hand over the Hou Household, the military system will be much better. You can expect that.” (Rook)
‘I wonder if it means by fate. Fate is pushing my back. The wind is blowing. Surely, steadily…’
‘No, no, no… don’t get in the flow. If I look at it from the side, it may look like a tailwind reference record, but I’m having a hard time and I don’t feel that I’m being pushed by mysterious power. Rather, I feel that it’s getting in the way, and I was going through the bushes.’
“Well, if Father thinks so, that may be the case.” (Yuri)
‘Let’s let this topic flow properly already.’
“I don’t mean that you need to seriously think about it. When I heard about this matter… Oh that’s right. I’m talking about something that doesn’t matter.” (Rook)
Rook said as if he noticed something.
“I have to listen to more details than that. From your mouth…” (Yuri)
“The story of my trip… Well, you will be here for a few days, right?” (Yuri)
“It’s fine, isn’t it? We can talk until Suzuya finishes cooking.” (Rook)
‘Since she excitedly said that she would make the meals… I guess it’s going to take some time.’
