Volume 4 Chapter 1 Part1 (2/2)
If possible, I want to personally take either Aisha, as the strongest one, or
Juna-san, who could gather intelligence. Then,
「Your
Majesty. May I have a permission to present a counsel?」(Serina)
The Chief Maid, Serina-san, who
was waiting near the wall, bowed with a refined demeanor.
「Serina-san?
What is it?」(Souma)
「If
Your Majesty is searching for a bodyguard, then I have someone that I wish to
recommend.」(Serina)
「Fumu. Who is that person?」(Souma)
「Your
Majesty’s martial arts instructor, Owen-dono.」(Serina)
「Gugh…… That jii-san[5],
Owen, huh……」(Souma)
Owen Javana, a n.o.ble who is the
Head of the Javana House and also a military veteran. He has a tremendously
zealous and honest temperament and I appreciate him for his direct and frank
speech. Currently, he is my advisor and martial arts instructor. A
“Gahaha”-type of jii-san. Well, if it is that jii-san, his combat prowess is dependable
and he might be bored when I’m not here …… When I was pondering this, Serina
continued.
「Also,
Your Majesty may freely take Carla-san from the Maid Squad.」(Serina)
「Eh!?」(Carla)
The one who let out that yell was
not me, but the surprised Carla who was standing beside Serina.
「She
might be officially part of the Maid Squad, but her position is Your Majesty’s
slave. Isn’t this an occasion, where we can put this meat sh-…… cart-horse to work?」(Serina)
「Head
Maid!? Were you just going to say meat s.h.i.+eld!? Or rather, I think you
correcting it to cart horse is also quite terrible!」(Carla)
「……(immediately
taking out a whip used for maid-training)」(Serina)
「Hiiii!? I will be working with all of my body and soul!」(Carla)
Carla made a bow. It was as if
she had been completely domesticated.
「Th-then,
I will be relying on you.」(Souma)
「A-……As
your wish. Master.」(Carla)
With this, the members who will
follow me to the city will be Liscia, Owen, and Carla. I wonder why….. Just by selecting
those people, I suddenly feel tired. Give me a break.[6]
◇ ◇ ◇
「Gahaha, This one[7]
is very happy to be taken along as a bodyguard! Your Ma-」(Owen)
「Sssst! Owen…… How many times do I tell you not to call Your
Majesty in the city like this?」(Souma)
「Ulps,
please excuse this one.」(Owen)
Owen-dono laughed in such
easygoing manner that it made my head hurt. Even Liscia made a wry smile when
she looked at me.
Under the broad daylight, Liscia,
Owen, Carla and I were walking in the middle of the city. Since we were
travelling incognito and didn’t want to be too overt, we didn’t use a carriage
and were going on foot instead.
…… It’s just that, even though we
should be travelling incognito, we were strangely conspicuous. It was because I,
who was wearing the travelling garb of a Northwind Youngster[8],
which was now the standard garb for me when travelling incognito these days, Liscia,
who was wearing the Academy’s uniform like she wore when we first visited the
city, the maid outfit-wearing dragonewt Carla, and a Macho jii-san, who was
wearing an adventurer-like light armor, were walking side by side. What’s with
this messy mishmash that was all over the place. It wouldn’t be strange for pa.s.serby
to unconsciously take a second look at us.
「Even
a temporaryily a.s.sembled party would have a more matching feel……」(Souma)
「Then,
wouldn’t it be better for Souma to wear an Academy uniform like before? Then, Owen-dono’s
appearance would surely look like a practical skill teacher.」(Liscia)
「If you
said it like that, then Liscia should have an adventurer-like appearance, so we
would be seen as a party, right?」(Souma)
While we were talking, we looked
at the dragon maid who was walking behind us.
「W-what!?
Both of you are looking at me.」(Carla)
「……In
any scenario, Carla will be out of place.」(Souma)
「……You’re
right.」(Liscia)
「Aren’t
theboth of you being too cruel!?」(Carla)
Carla might raise her voice to
protest, but…… She was wearing a maid outfit after all. Of course, we had
planned for her to wear a different attire, but Serina firmly refused it. Carla’s
maid outfit was not the typical long-skirted cla.s.sic type, but the frilly
dress-type (or rather, it could be called the maid-café type). To order her to
walk in the middle of the street wearing those clothes, Serina-san was really a
super-s.a.d.i.s.t.[9]
Even Carla had been completely flushed red due to shyness for awhile now……
「By
the way, Your-…… Kazuya-dono. Is this road, really the correct direction?」(Owen)
Owen asked, slightly bewildered.
「Hmm?
Yes, it’s the correct one…… Is something wrong?」(Souma)
「No,
but if this one’s memory serves right, this road will lead to……」(Owen)
「Ah!
…… It’s true. This is the way to……」(Liscia)
It seems Liscia had realized something
and didn’t complete her words…… Ah, so that’s the reason.
「This
is the way to the former slums.」(Souma)
「Yes.
That is not a place where someone like Kazuya-dono or the Princess should go.」(Owen)
Even in the Capital City, there was
a dark side. In the large population, there were those who were successful in
their businesses, people were neither affluent nor poor, and those who had failed.
There was a place where, the people who had failed, but who didn’t fall so far down
that they were enslaved, drifted away into and spent their lives barely being
able to earn money for the daily essentials one way or another. That place was
the slums. There were many shanty-like houses, the hygiene situation was bad,
diseases were rampant, where people gathered about without looking at each
others’ origins, and so it was infested with crimes. That kind of place.
「Well,
that’s an old story though.」(Souma)
「It’s
different now?」(Liscia)
「…… It
might be quicker if you see it for yourself. At any rate, when we go to have an
inspection in the slums,」(Souma)
I made a gesture as if my hand
was holding a hose-like object.
「There
is someone who will be strangely energetic, shouting “Filth will get sterilized!”」(Souma)
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
That’s one chapter down. 3 more to go!
Another quirky character will appear!
<script>