Volume 21 (1/2)

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We arrived at the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Milis

I've finally co time

Although I visited Milis when I installed the teleportation circle, I didn't visit the capital

So, this is only the second time in my life

Even now I re the city from the north

The river flowing froon Mountain into the lake, the pure white palace floating in its center, the golden cathedral along the riverside, and the silver Adventurers' Guild

The seven towers encircling the city, surrounded by a vast meadow

Ah

”Dignity and har it the most beautiful city in the world”

I think that was it

Even though it was so long ago, I still remember that line

How nostalgic, that book

Ah yes, [Walking the World] by Adventurer bloody Count

It's an a name, I wonder what kind of person would have that kind of name

While traveling, I never heard of an adventurer by that name

He o

I wonder why Paul had such a book

Well it's fine

Milishi+on is beautiful from the south as well

You can't see anything unnecessary thanks to the high towers and walls

Only a pure silver-like palace glistening in the light

The beauty of that palace stands out, the walls conceal everything else

Simplicity is best

”Yeah, this city is the most beautiful in the world”

Cliff said with a sigh

He seems to have overheard

”But surely its contents are the dirtiest in the world”

In Cliff's eyes, only the white palace had been reflected

Now, that beautiful palace

Fro so would only be natural

Actually, I think Asura kingdom is dirtier

Ariel, and the other nobles, are pretty sleazy

In Asura Kingdom, you could say, the dirty parts were on the outside

I'dom of Milis

In certain aspects, surely Milis is dirty as well

”Cliff-senpai”

”Still, I'er a senpai?”

”Cliff If so happens, please tell me”

This time, I'm in a casual position

Even so, I want to help Cliff

But it's only at the level of going to buy juice at a convenience store, which is all right[1]

”Well then, for the tie to my family's estate”

”Ussu, by the future Archbishop's command”

On this day, Cliff returned to Milishi+on

After about 10 years

There are four entrances to Milishi+on

Last time, we entered from the Adventurer's District

That's because when an outsider uses any other entrance it beco

Anyway, as ent around the wall, I remembered that lively entrance

It's the same this time

However, because Cliff is here, there's no need to wait at the entrance

The entrance to the Adventurers' District on the south side was the closest

Though in truth, it matters little e're this close[2]

Rather than passing through the center of town, ita side street Cliff should want to hurry[3]

However, Cliff spoke

”I want to see the town again for the first ti time”

Ahh

After all, being away for so long, it's his first time back in 10 years

Though he'll likely be here for many years to come, today is a special day

The road hoia

There won't be a lot of opportunities, now's his chance

”Alright”

So, at Cliff's request, we rode in the front of the carriage

”I've missed this”

Cliff said that to hiate, and looked back out at Milis

Cliff was born in the Religious District, I've heard that he rarely visited the Adventurers' District

Yet, looking out froate at the Adventurers' District, he smiled

Hmm, I wonder what memories he'd have here

When I last came here, I only stayed for around a week

The only memory I have here is Paul

If I reettable memory

So, looking around, I can't help but think of the future

Fro a mercenary branch-office in this town

Around us, adventurers are strolling about

Codom there are a lot of Beast Race and Elves

Adventurers' ranks vary, but you can guess from their clothes

15-16 year old boys and girls wearing second-hand equips

Wearing new equipinners are around 18 years old

Adventurers in their 20s wearing a mix of new and worn-out equipment are mid-level

Although their equiplance, veterans can be seen wearing various ear

Though their professions vary, in the capital of Milis' religious co but few in offense

In the Magic City Sharia, you'd see veteran warriors and swordsicians

The dreaic University, and veterans come to scout them

There were mostly humans and Beast Race

Well regarding the Beast Race, they

In Asura's capital Ars, you would only see fledglings

Because there's so , there's a bit of a professional bias

Also, there were only humans

Other races, and er in the capital

There are probably so many different races and skilled adventurers in Milis because the Great Forest is so close

The Beast, Elf, and Hobbit races come from the Great Forest, and Dwarves from the south

After piling up experience in central Milis, adventurers head north to fight stronger demons in the Great Forest

But, because there's no Adventurers' Guild in the Great Forest, they use Milishi+on as a base

Some adventurers fa between Milishi+on and Saint Port

As a result, in this city, which headquarters the Adventurers' Guild, adventurers are treated without bias

Well, in this situation, I wonder hoould be best to launch the mercenary branch

In Asura Kingdos advanced easily

There were disenfranchised swordsmen, merchants, and nobles who all welcomed the work in Asura

Swords an adventurer, or the connections to become a tutor

Merchants' sons, who studied all their lives to be merchants, only to have the family shop taken over by the eldest son and forced into independence

And, although they were all educated, there were also the third and fourth sons of the lower nobility ouldn't receive any inheritance and couldn't be married off

We attracted talent, and presto, we gained influence in every district, and started taking on the work that the country's soldiers couldn't

Ultimately, Ariel introduced the fifth son of a senior aristocrat to become the branch chief

Iya, I had a long intervieith that guy before I acknowledged him, but I was happy with his results

While wearing sunglasses Aisha asked so like, [You, for those two years after you left ho?]

He replied [I hidso, and at the sa the differences in culture, I was able to learn the i each felloorker well]

His reply was articulate and thoughtful, [Oh, this guy] is what I thought

In fact, he was good at bringing people together

He was familiar with the differences between the social classes, so when disputes occurred, he was a guy who could easily understand and resolve it

He didn't have charisma, but he wasn't dislikable

Well that settled it

He's better suited to this than me

Well, that's just an aside

Noant to launch a good mercenary branch in this country

I need huer

And directionality for the mercenaries

Aisha see like ae have to ith

Therefore she's looking around restlessly like me

But, it's still too pre now

Though there are a lot of adventurers in the adventurers' district, there's also the religious district, the shopping district, and the residential district

Not just adventurers, we should try to include the other locals as well

After seeing the religious district and the residential district we should be able to draft a plan

”I didn't notice last time but there are a lot of different races here”

”Because the Great Forest is nearby”

I keep looking around while I answer

Really, there are a lot of races

A group of dwarves that roup of elves with thin limbs that look almost like dead trees

There are also a lot of different beast races Dog, cat, rabbit, deer, rat, tiger, wolf, sheep, bear

Incidentally I thought, when looking at livestock like pigs and cattle, do these guys think nothing of it?

No, even if I see a monkey kept at a zoo, I don't particularly feel a sense of camaraderie

They're different creatures

”Oh, oh!”

”Ah, it's dangerous if you stand!”

Looking back, I suddenly saw Zenith standing up on the horse-drawn carriage

Aisha panicked and tried to sit Zenith back down in a hurry while she staggered and pointed at soe

Beyond her finger, it's a monkey

Iya that's rude

It's a man with a face like a monkey

That reminds me, there isn't a monkey-like tribe in the beast race

Well, I wonder if monkeys are rare in this world

Zenith is happily pointing at him

Nuu, that monkey, I've seen him somewhere before

That said, it's not someone from the beast race

” Oh”

”Ooh!? Hey Zenith-senpai! What are you doing in a place like this!”

It's a demon race (Gisu)

”Geez, I never expected to see you in a place like this”

Gisu spotted us and ie

There was no hesitation at all

But I'm not about to cast an acquaintance aside[4]

”What a luck! How should I put it, this is once in a lifetime luck!”

Gisu seems exceptionally happy to meet us

He's got a full-face smile

Seeing that puts ood mood too

”Half the work, half the house”[5]

”Yeah yeah, by the way, I haven't seen any tears of joy--”

Gisu wasn't listening, and began telling us about what happened after we parted in Sharia

Gisu, Talhand, Vera, and Shera arrived on schedule in Asura Kingdom

There, they sold the ic stones for a fortune

Vera and Shera retired fro adventurers with their share

They returned to their hometown

Soht it would be s some kind of business

Well, about Gisu, how should I put it, he's addicted to ga

I don't know a town

Gisu can nor, but with that much money he couldn't help but lose control

After just a fewand then some

”Well, everything fell apart, all I had left were the clothes on my person, so I put that life behind me and ended up here”

Surely, if you'd kept going like that, you would have ended up at the bottom of the ocean with concrete boots

Talhand prevented that

As he was about to leave on his next adventure, he stopped by to greet Gisu, and saw him in that state

Although Talhand was disgusted, he sold off a pair of gauntlets he had made to help Gisu out

Those gauntlets werestone, apparently Talhand spent his entire fortune on development costs

Thanks to Gisu two people were broke

Those two couldn't afford Asura Kingdoh prices, so they journeyed south

If it were h spot, but to that extent and then starting a journey together, I wonder if it's because they've known each other for so long that this kind of thing is just a

Talhand helped Gisu, so Gisu helped Talhand

Well, that's friendshi+p

Just like that, those two left behind shi+rone with its bloody civil war, ignored the Kingdo rumored to be complicit, and returned to Milis[6]

They came back to their old home

Afterwards, Talhand returned to his hometown, and Gisu became a party of one

”That bastard, doing so back to his hometohat's with that”

Gisu was co, but somehow I understood

After such a long journey, it's nor your family and want to meet them

He's homesick

It's Nanahoshi+'s chronic disease

”Gisu didn't want to go home?”

”Me? That's stupid There's nothing interesting at all about returning to such a remote place”

Is that so

I always miss my home

Just touching Sylphy's chest restores th, even Roxy's chest will rise to the occasion, and it feels like hours fly by with Eris All under one roof

”That bastard, even though there were so many unpleasant memories”

”Well then, o fix some of those unpleasant memories”

No e

Even if soer, in the 20s it beco understandable, and in the 50s it doesn't even matter anymore

Talhand too, in his heart, s

”Maa, Talhand aside, I' my career as an adventurer here”

After Gisu separated with Talhand he see

However, he doesn't seem to be able to find any work

Well he's a demon race and has no combat ability

”So what is Senpai doing here?”

”With mother in such a state, I received a summons from her parents' house I took the opportunity to travel here with a friend, and make an appearance”

”Huh Zenith's parents' place”

Gisu saw Zenith's sorry state

Although Zenith norood mood

I wonder if it's because of Gisu

”Well, I've heard about Zenith's home somehow, too that seems, pleasant?”

” What have you heard?”

”I don't know the details, but they say it's a stubborn house”

Gisu shrugged

Infor

But, there's no choice but to go

”We're alet off here If a deious district it'll cause trouble”

At Gisu's word, I stopped the carriage

Gisu immediately jumped down

”Well, it was short, but we should , Senpai!”

Gisu waved and walked into an alley

As he was leaving, he looked back

”Senpai! Would you listen to a request!?”

”What is it?”

”What Paul said in the labyrinth, do you remember?”

What he said in the labyrinth

Even though a lot has happened, I still remember those words

Probably, it's that

”Yeah”

At that, Gisu nodded with satisfaction, and turned to leave

A sudden , and an abrupt departure

It really was a chance reunion

Even so, although it was by chance, it was nice to see a familiar face in such a tense atmosphere

While thinking that, we entered the religious district

By the ti

Cliff's house was more ordinary than I expected

An ordinary single family home, it looks like it could fit a fa

It looks just like the neighboring house

How should I put it, in the religious district, the houses are all uniform

Because it's the Pope's house I expected so similar to Ariel's estate, it's kind of anticlimactic

”It's unexpectedly small”

”Housing for the clergy is provided by the religious headquarters However, because grandfather has a room at the headquarters, this house isn't used”

Cliff explained to ry at my rude comment

To put it si

”Since we're already here It's late, please stay”

At Cliff's suggestion, I suddenly had a thought

Zenith's family home, it's in the residential area

That's right, it wouldn't take long

Although I have a hunch they wouldn't want us visiting so late

Visiting in travel wear, that ood idea

We could set up an appoint in the adventurers' district so we'd have to come all the way back here

”Well, thank you”

I decided to accept Cliff's offer

We unloaded the luggage, stabled the horses, stored the carriage, and brought everything inside

But, while I was dealing with the carriage, I noticed a white cloud of dust

”Gah!”

The dust had an acrid smell, Aisha let out a cute sneeze

”Keho terrible Jiisan, doesn't seem to have cleaned”

Cliff held a cloth over his nose, swearing

He probably didn't expect Cliff to be back yet and left the house unattended

In any case, the house is really dusty

”To thank you for letting us stay here, we'll help you out with the cleaning Aisha”

”Ah, sorry?

”Eh, me?”

Aisha said in disarray, and Zenith gave a reproachful look

No, Zenith is expressionless

However I can feel it from her eyes

Aisha also gave me that kind of look

Wasn't I supposed to entrust the cleaning to you?

Wasn't that it Every ti like, [Leave it to me!]

We have to express our gratitude

”Of course it's a joke? I'll help too?”

”Of course”

And so we began a night of housecleaning

We fully opened all the s, even ind

After that, iped everything down

Since nothing had been used in several years, I used hot air to clear any bugs out of the beds and blankets

The kitchen was also considerably dirty, but Aisha soed it

Meanwhile, Cliff and I gave the living roo

We finished in three times the normal speed

The Red Comet Aisha[7]

Then, using the food leftover froht dinner

”Cliff-senpai Congratulations on your return”

”It's still too early I have to meet with Grandfather”

While toasting with cups of water, we enjoyed a meal of dried meat and soup

As food goes, it's a little bland, but it's fine

I was troubled over howmotive to finish them

”Rudeus, what are your plans for tomorrow?”

”For the ti, I will visit the Latreia house”

”I see, do you plan to stay there?”

”I think that will probably happen”

Even if they have a bad reputation, they're Zenith's family

Even if we stay for awhile, it shouldn't be a problem

For establishi+ng theCliff when the ti in the Latreia house may limit my freedom to act but I won't know until I try

Well, after the greetings, I could always stay somewhere else

”So, I'll need to hire someone to do the housework”

”If you'd like, every couple of days I could send Aisha over?”

”No, that's fine You guys are going to be busy too, it's just so to think about”

Cliff said with a shrug

We slept in the guest room

Three people in a s shoulder to shoulder like the 川 character

And, Aisha's body is already that of an adult

The bed is small, it can't fit three adults side by side

So we left the bed to Zenith, Aisha and I slept on the floor

We made a makeshi+ft bed out of blankets and cushi+ons we borrowed from Cliff

Because there's carpet on the floor, it isn't exactly ca out

It's tio to sleep

Then, I noticed Aisha looking at me

”Ehehe, Oniichan, I wonder if Sylphy-ane would be jealous”

”Well, during this journey, it was fine right”

”Yeah, but somehow, ehehe”

Aisha laughed and huddled next to me

She has a cute smile

If it were Sylphy, I would already be past my limit

Sylphy, too, would have

But I don't feel that way about Aisha, and she doesn't particularly draw close to me too

I like Aisha, but it's a familial love

But, it's fine without physical contact

It's a strange feeling

She's still cute

”I have an abrupt question, you, about what Lilia said, what do you think now?”

”Okaasan has said a lot of things?”

”To be a maid, and work for me, stuff like that”

When I asked that, Aisha had a blank look

Then, she put her hand on her chin and had a look like she was thinking intently

”Hreeable but, perhaps, for Sylphy-ane, it's different So like this I wonder if it's selfish”

”No, I understand It's different”

It was a fuzzy conversation, but so clicked

It felt alright

”Nfufu, well it's a given, that Oniichan is loved”

While saying that, Aisha curled next to ainst my body

Warm and soft

A good holding pillow

” Someday, when you find someone you love, you can start a family of your own”

As I said that while enjoying my new pillow, Aisha suddenly sat up

She seems to have taken my comment seriously

”So Have you given it any thought?”

”What kind of person would that be I wonder”

Aisha's lover

It's hard to iine

An excellent-type, or an unreliable-type

Aisha can choose who she wants,but I don't like the idea of arranging a match

Aisha nors out with a certain crowd

The mercenaries there are a lot from the Beast race

Would one of those guys fall for Aisha?

My little sister isn't a bone for so to chase after!

If I ask Orsted, he should be able to tell uy that Aisha marries

No, let's just forget about that

If I heard sole for the rest of her life, it would be pitiable

Oh, that's right

I need to confir to sleep

”Aisha, to Zenith to her parents' house what do you want to do?”

Aisha inched away from my arm

But returned

”I will go Okaasan, because she asked me to earnestly”

”I see”

”Yeah”

Hearing Aisha's reassuring reply, I was also relieved

Tomorroe visit Zenith's house

That's the plan, but I don't knoill go

Going alone to a house with such a high status, I'm a bit uneasy

Afterwards, I'll work on installing a mercenary branch

If I can establish a good connection with the Latreia house, things should go smoothly

We need to adapt to the environment

”Well, I'll be in your care”

”I understand Leave it to me”

”Really, I appreciate it Cleaning today too, thanks Well, goodnight”

”Don't ht”

While listening to Aisha's sleepy voice, I fell asleep

Zenith's parent's house was huge

Just as I had iined it to be

A large gate, two lion statues standing on both sides, a long stone-paved path leading froate to the entrance, a fountain in the e form

And inside, as if enshrined a white beautiful

It really feels like an aristocrat's house

If I iine one, this is exactly what it feels like

Aristocratic district, the location of the residence

As, this location especially is lined up with buildings of high class noble people

The atmosphere here bears resemblance to that of the Asura's aristocratic district

Nevertheless, it's a huge house

Cliff's house was a disappointment but Zenith's house was as expected

Although, I for one also possess sodom

Since it was so I received from Ariel, I can't be too boastful about it

At least I possess so like this mansion

In a way it holds an atance

Therefore, it's nothing to be afraid of

I don't feel nervous

”Haa”

Next to hed

She is looking towards the mansion with an unpleasant face

Right noe are standing in front of the gate and waiting

Me dressed up in noble-like clothes and Aisha in a ht from our home

And Zenith put on a noble-ish attire as well, just like me

We were apparently entrusted to the guards stationed at the gate entrance by a person

I was trying to show the letter, but the lance at Zenith's face they immediately hurried towards the mansion

There are no signs of the yet

”Listen, Onii-chan, I'll warn you in advance, Obaa-chan is a REALLY unpleasant person”

”How many times have I heard this now?”

I'm afraid of this advice

However, I think I aainst unpleasant people

Because Imy previous lifetime

Compared to that, most people can be pardoned

Therefore, it should be alright

Even if the other party is rebellious and can't be endured

Talking about Zenith's present state of ether

It h it's plenty enough

”Ah”

While I was thinking, severalfrom the direction of the mansion

It's not just the previous guards

But people with the appearance of a maid and a butler are also there

A group of 12 people are approaching this ith a fast paced movement

The e of the path before the gate

The butlers standing in the front, lined up evenly fro towards us

It's just like an ”honorable greeting fora of a rich system

It was also done frequently in the Asura kingdom

When the guards opened the gate, the butlers deeply lowered their heads

Matching their rhythm, the maids also bowed their heads

”Zenith-sa you in our hearts and minds”

They lowered their heads towards Zenith

But Zenith being the same as usual, with an absent-minded face, as if they didn't even enter her field of vision

”Well then, Rudeus-sa This way”

”Yes, please take care of us”

The butler didn't mind it and bowed to uide us