Chapter 70 (1/2)
Volume 1
Atelier Tanaka Volume 3 Chapter 1 Part 2
Conflict 3
[Sophia-chan’s point of view]
They had been searching through the documents to hopefully find Tanaka-san’s location and were only about halfway through now. Their progress is slow. I can see Ester-sama and Fahren-sama becoming increasingly impatient with each document they look through.
“I can’t find him.”
“With this many documents to sift through it’s not surprising we’re having so much trouble.”
Perhaps their agitation is being caused by the Dragon continuously staring at them.
“You still can’t find him?”
The cake that one of the maids brought out for us is already gone. The Dragon keeps asking that same question, and each time she asks it her voice becomes more irritated.
I’m scared. Staying in this castle will become scary soon. My heart can’t take it.
“J-Just wait a little longer! We’ll find him!”
Ester-sama looked desperate as she scanned through page after page.
Fahren-sama looked serious as he pored over the stack of papers near him.
“Aren’t all these people under your command? Why don’t you know where they’ve sent him?”
“I’ve only recently taken control here so we’ve been going through a period of succession. My predecessor’s senior official is still in control of most things even though I’m technically above him in rank. I’ve been spending most of my time learning about the duties I’ll have to fulfil and about the area I’ve gained control over.”
“I don’t fully understand how the human world works. However, from what I’ve seen here, you’re doing a poor job of controlling your flock.”
“Gu.”
In response to the Dragon’s snide remarks, Ester-sama’s face stiffened.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
“you’re right. I should more closely oversee the work of my subordinates.”
She’s probably worried about Tanaka-san as well.
She raised no objection to the Dragon’s complaint.
But the Dragon kept up her usual behaviour.
“I’m glad you’re able to understand just how truly incompetent you are. Now that you understand that, find him quickly. Imbecile.”
“.”
She acts more high and mighty than most of the nobility I’ve encountered.
She’s overwhelming.
Because of the tense atmosphere this situation has created, it’s even more painful for me to sit here and do nothing. If there was something for me to do, even if it’s insignificant, I’d feel like I’d at least be contributing in some way. Could I maybe try looking through that smaller stack of papers?
“U-Umm, I’ll help with this.”
I dont know if this is the best idea. I can read letters, but in this situation, where two well-educated people are having difficulties, how useful will a self-taught maid be? I’m not feeling very confident. Honestly, I feel like I’ll just cause more problems.
“Can you read letters and numbers?”
“Y-Yessomewhat.”
“I see. Then, you can take this stack.”
“Yes!”
It was stressful talking to him, but I can be useful now. I reached my hand out to grab the top sheet of paper.
After reading the first few lines, this document appeared to be an order for supplies. There was an entire column of approval signatures. Many people with amazing titles had signed this document and at the very bottom was Ester-sama’s final approval. Earlier she said that officials from her predecessor were still doing most of the work, but it still seems she has to give the final approval.
“.”
I don’t understand.
Actually, based on the sheer number of documents here, it would be impossible for Ester-sama to read through all of these in the few days that she’s been here. Perhaps she’s just given a stack of documents and then told to sign at the bottom without even reading it.
Managing a territory must be hard work.
“.”
It must be harder being a nobleman than I thought.
While thinking about this, I continued reading through page after page. Most of them were just orders for supplies. I reached an order with two signatures on it that was dated very recently.
“.”
Is that around ten separate orders for supplies?
Something about that seems off to me.
The large amount of food and weapons seems way too excessive for the personnel that’s listed in each order. There’s also nothing at all related to troop movements among these documents.
In addition to this, they seem to be bringing a large number of knights to Tricklis. In total, the number seems to be around one hundred or so. Moreover, the vast majority of them have all been sent directly to the frontlines. What’s even more strange is the fact that almost all of them have been taken directly from the capital. Is this really okay?
Unlike average soldiers, knights are distinguished members of society. Those that belong to the Central Order are considered to be the elites among all knights. I’ve heard that if they’re killed their families are given a large sum of money. Sometimes, the son of a great noble family is required to serve time in the Central Order before he’s allowed to receive his inheritance.
No matter how serious the conflict is, for someone to be sending these knights straight to the frontlines is more than a little curious.
“umm, Ester-sama?”
“What is it, Sophie?”
“In regards to this order to dispatch more soldiers, it seems that the number of troops actually mobilized doesn’t match up.”
“Oh, that’s due to us using reinforcements from the Adventurers Guild. For the time being, we’re refraining from dispatching regular soldiers in preparation for a long-term war. This is what Dave told me. That’s why there are large orders for supplies but few soldiers. Most of the army on the frontlines consists of adventurers.”
“I-Is that so. I’m sorry for asking about something I don’t know anything about.”
As expected of Ester-sama.
I should have thought about it properly before asking.
“No, you should ask about things you don’t understand. What we’re looking for is a request for reinforcements from the Guild. We can use that document to find out exactly where he has been sent. I know for a fact I signed off on several of those orders, but there are so many that it’s hard to find the right one.”
“I see.”
I understand what I’m supposed to do.
However, the time limit is what’s stressing me out.
“I’m growing tired of this.”
The Dragon suddenly said this.
Everyone’s attention became focused solely on her.
“It would be faster to search for him from the sky using my wings than it is to search through all of these papers. This place is too cramped. How can anyone stand to live in such a confined space?”
She stood atop the sofa and opened the nearby large window.
Dragon, you still have cream from the cake on your face.
“Wa-Wait a minute, what are you planning on doing?”
“I’m going to go search for that man. Come with me.”
And, per usual, the Dragon flopped stomach first onto the floor. With a look full of confidence, she looked up at each of us. I can tell just by her expression that she wants us to hurry up and get on.
“I want to go out and search for him just as much as you, b-but it will be faster if we look through these papers.”
“If you want to search for him, then what’s keeping you here? Would you like me to go with my original plan and crush this castle to pieces? Then I can find him without having to deal with you annoying pests.”
“.”
The Dragon was staring intensely at Ester-sama.
She’s terrifying. Her golden eyes with those black slits are so intimidating.
I can’t handle this.
“What’s wrong? Hurry up and get on.”
“ButI’m not sure three people can.”
“I’m telling you it’s fine. Get on.”
She’s saying three people should be able to ride comfortably on her body.
If possible, I’d prefer to stay here and house-sit.
***
When I regained consciousness, I was lying down in a field of grass.
I was surprised that I could feel my body once more. All five sense were intact as if nothing had happened. My body was back to normal. Even my clothes were fully repaired. When I tried to raise my upper body off the ground, I was easily able to do so.
What happened?
I don’t understand.
But it seems that I’m safe. The last thing I remember before passing out is my vision being attacked by Allen’s bare member, a somewhat satisfying sense of superiority, and then darkness. But this is good. With this body, I’ll still be able to pleasure myself while thinking about Edita Sensei.
I looked around at my immediate surroundings to see Allen-san kneeling in the meadow tightly clutching my head to his chest.
Aside from my bloody neck, my head was terribly pale. How is he even able to hold such a disgusting thing? While looking down at my head, he was repeatedly muttering, ‘Tanaka-san. Tanaka-san.”
Why did I feel my heart twinge a little just now?
Wait a minute. I need to regain my composure.