Episode 59 — Preparation
～ Part 1 ～
Read at
In the Maritime United Nations Albadanba, the trade fair with the continent which was opened twice a years, was treated as a big event. This year, the maritime caravan had an unfortunate accident so the number of merchandise was little, however, the goods brought by 2nd year class 4 who came together with the caravan, were going to work as its substitutes.
The trade fair was going to be held at a large beach in the northwestern part of Delf Island. Currently, the merchants of the caravan and the students were bringing in merchandise. During that time, the chieftains would have a meeting on Delf Island. Ryuzaki and Welkano-shi were also going to attend and decide the detailed program of the trade fair.
The trade fair was going to take place in front of many islanders, but actually, a certain amount of goods transaction was going to be done in this place before that. So to speak, the fair also served as a ceremony for each chieftain to show their dignity and bring back various rare articles from oversea, if some kind of difficulty was to happen at the purchasing step, they would expose a shameful sight, so well, that was the main reason (for this early transaction).
“Satomi, for now, please pull my tail again if someone tells a lie. I’m counting on you.”
“……”
Satomi Yamako the Satori made a slight nod.
Satomi was basically a reticent girl. It’s not that she wasn’t self-asserting, her emotion expression variety was relatively rich, but it was rather difficult to notice those unless you look carefully. Because this was Ryuzaki who had been stalking, er, properly observing all of his classmates that he was able to easily come to a mutual understanding with her in this way.
“You’ve been making quite a serious look.”
Just before they entered chieftain Bergel’s house, those words came calling from behind.
When they turned around, there stood the leader of the maritime caravan, Welkano.
“Welkano-san.”
“……”
Ryuzaki muttered his name, in contrast, Satomi escaped behind Ryuzaki.
He was an old man with small physique and twig-like limps, but there was a hale and hearty impression to him. His skin was also tanned and healthy. Not that he was distrusting them, but he always drew a definite line and tried to choose safety, in front of this man named Welkano, even Ryuzaki felt him very difficult to deal with.
“Even during the discussion this morning, it has been bothering be a little, but is that one over there a Satori-oni?”
∗Glance∗, Welkano shifted his gaze toward Satomi and said.
“Satori-oni…?”
“Oya, was I wrong? Was it about 200 years ago? There was an army of carnage that crossed over the eastern sea to invade this continent, at that time, a monster called Satori-oni was mixed within, or so I’ve heard.”
Was that the case? Ryuzaki recalled the monster memo left behind by Selena.
Within the monsters that the students of 2nd year class 4 had reincarnated as, there were several rare species that was rarely seen, and monsters whose name and figure only appeared in legend. Among those, the species that corresponded to Japanese youkai like Satomi’s and Karasuma’s, were hardly ever discovered.
Were the monsters that they had reincarnated as truly based on the ones living in this world, or was they based on the legend of the former world? No matter which way it was, he still couldn’t explain it adequately, so he had been wondering about it a little.
“I heard they can read human heart. So they are suitable to probing other intentions. Combine that with Ryuzaki-dono’s bargaining, and it’ll be terrifying.”
“I’m really not that good with politics or bargaining.”
At this time, he had easily spoke his feelings, perhaps it was because his fatigue was accumulating more than expected.
“However, I think a person who is leading more than 40 monsters, can’t be said to be poor at it.”
“I suppose so. It’s a difficult position.”
This elderly person, what on earth is his intention to be talking about this kind of thing?
Ryuzaki was unable to discern the other party’s real intention, and was a little on guard.
According to Ryuzaki’s observation during these two weeks, Welkano was a virtuous human. At the same time, his conduct principle was loyal to his instinct as a merchant. He deemed sincerity correct, but never would he trust the other party from the bottom of his heart. He was superior as a business partner, but Ryuzaki couldn’t show their weakness, accordingly, it felt difficult to breathe when meeting him.
“Chieftain Bergel is doubting you.”
Welkano lowered the volume of his voice and said that kind of thing.
“…Why did you teach me that?”
“I want to give you guys a loan. With my standpoint, I can protect you from the chieftain.”
Satomi had been tightly grabbing Ryuzaki’s tail, however, she didn’t pull it.
“The caravan also has people who doubt that you guys belong to that Red Moon gang, but I don’t think so. In exchange for yielding part of the profits in the trade fair this time, we will carry the selected materials to Werneus Kingdom, that’s a promise.”
“Yes.”
“If you could increase the percentage of that profits a little more.”
As before, Satomi didn’t pull his tail. Which meant Welkano wasn’t trying to trick them.
To have no need to worry about lies here, was very comfortable for a psychological warfare. It wasn’t so stressful.
Then, the rest was simply a matter of risk.
The heavy cruiser branch school was going to head to Werneus Kingdom after leaving this Albadanba. It was a peninsula protruded from the southeastern part of the continent, at the tip of the crescent shape; to its north was the Beast King mountain range and forest, as well the adventurer self-governing territory, therefore, it was one of the countries where the influence of the Empire was hardest to reach.
They were thinking to stop there for a while, receive the delivery of materials from Welkano company, then build anew the caterpillar unit and aim for the north. But perhaps, money would be necessary to carry it out.
This trade fair also served to raise fund. They would have the maritime caravan purchase the goods they obtained at the fair. Some of those was to be cash-back as procurement fee of material. Welkano was saying to increase that cash-back.
But this proposal was the best he could ask for.
For Ryuzaki, the story would never progress further without first clarifying the relationship of the vampires lurking on this island and the man named Toki who had a connection with chieftain Bergel. Now, a battle might have broken out somewhere on this island. As a result, they might defeat that Toki.
If they defeat Toki without solving the misunderstanding, a deterioration of relationship would be inevitable. Now that Kyousuke group was doing their best, what Ryuzaki could do was to work hard so that the result of their battle would not be taken in a bad direction.
“(In the end, it’s still politics…)”
While scratching his forehead, Ryuzaki closed his eyes.
“Understood. Welkano-san.”
“It’s really helpful that the story went fast.”
Thereupon, for the first time, Welkano showed his teeth, and grinned. There were many teeth missing but what remain was beautifully white.
“In fact, we already know Inugami’s whereabouts. We have sent a rescue unit, but worst case, a battle may have occurred already.”
“That’s not too gentle a story.”
“So there’s something about that, Welkano-san. Do you happen to know about a person named Toki? He seems to be a person very intimate with the chieftain.”
At Ryuzaki’s question, this time, it was the elderly man’s turn to narrow his eyes.
“I have never met him directly, but if the name is Tokihara, then I’ve heard of it. He has been living on this island since about 10 years ago, and seems to be a friend of chieftain Bergel.”
To be continued…
Comments
Post a Comment